The sun had begun its descent on the afternoon of the parent-teacher conferences.
"So, you're setting your sights on the Faculty of Economics?"
My father posed the question after dinner. Having heard the details of the conference from my mother, he wore an expression that bordered on profound sentimentality.
I nodded in affirmation.
"Well, for now. If I'm going to university, I figured it's best to have a clear goal for what I want to study. There are things you can only truly grasp at that age, after all."
"I see. I've heard many kids these days just drift into higher education without a second thought… but to hear you've given it such serious consideration? To be honest, it makes me proud."
"Oh, truly! My foolish son, who used to be nothing but a bundle of carnal desires…! I think I might cry!"
"Ah…! I feel you, Mother!"
…I couldn't help but feel they were being incredibly rude. Why did my libido have to become the topic of conversation here? Granted, I won't deny it's strong! But still!
Father cracked open another beer with a flourish.
"Alright, Issei! Drink up! You're twenty now, you can handle it, right?"
"My physical age might be twenty, but I'm passing as seventeen! Can you please stop!?"
Despite my protests, old man Maurice chimed in.
"Come on, drink!"
"Why you too!?"
"When you get to be an old man, there are days when you just want to share a drink with the younger generation."
"I don't care about your mid-life whims!"
Just how much did these people want to get me drunk?
At that moment, Alice, who was sitting next to me, reached out.
"Fine, fine, fine! I'll drink it!"
"Wait, isn't that your second bottle!?"
"It's fine! I'm drinking my sorrows away!"
Alice snatched the beer from the old man and began chugging it down. What on earth had happened to her? She let out a cry, half-sobbing.
"Risha! How could you blab about all that!?"
"Oh? I only spoke the truth. Your career path is to become Issei's bride, isn't it, Alice?"
"Pffft—!?"
I nearly sprayed my drink everywhere. She actually said that during the parent-teacher conference!? That's definitely crossing a line! I mean, she's not wrong? She's not wrong, but still! There's a time and a place, and a formal conference is neither!
Alice collapsed onto the table, burying her face in her arms.
"It's over… I can't show my face at that school anymore…"
Good grief, just how much did Risha spill? Alice was completely knocked out.
Rossweisse offered a gentle, encouraging smile.
"Having a goal is a wonderful thing. Deciding early helps one focus on their studies. So… you truly want to study management, then?"
"Yeah. Eventually, I'll be entrusted with the Gremory territory. I thought it would be irresponsible to go in with zero knowledge."
As I answered, Rossweisse leaned in closer and whispered in a voice meant only for me.
"I-If that's the case… I can teach you those subjects myself. As a… private tutor, perhaps? I could even give you… one-on-one lessons?"
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. One-on-one…? Does that mean what I think it means? Is she suggesting some kind of 'tutor roleplay'!?
No, no… get a grip, me. She's offering to help out of the goodness of her heart. To harbor such lewd thoughts is utterly beneath me! It's disrespectful to her!
And yet… looking at her expression, she seemed to be anticipating something. A reward after a long study session. Pinning her to the desk and then—!
Whoops, calm down!
I cleared my throat loudly.
"Yeah, I'll count on you then. But first, I have to actually get into the university department."
Right. Everything hinged on passing those exams. Today's discussion was predicated on the assumption that I'd make the cut. Without that, none of this mattered. Fortunately, thanks to studying with Miu and the others, I seemed to be at a passing level. I'd just have to keep at it.
Rossweisse, still blushing, gave a small, formal cough before continuing.
"It is expected that nearly everyone here will find employment within Gremory-affiliated enterprises after graduation. Among the faculty, it's even referred to as the 'Gremory Internal Track.'"
"For the record, there's a 'Sitri Internal Track' as well," Rias added helpfully.
Ah, so the Sitri track exists too. I imagine that's mostly for the student council and the Sitri retainers.
"Man, my parents can be so dramatic. I do think about the future, you know. Though I suppose I'm in a position where I have no choice but to."
Having just stepped out of the bath, I vented a bit to Miu, who was also drying off. She gave a wry little smile at my grumbling.
"It just shows how much they care about you, Big Brother."
"Care about me, huh… By the way, how did it go for you, Miu? You told them you're heading to the university department for now, right?"
"Yeah. It's already decided that I'll be helping you afterward, so I told them that much. But if you've committed to your studies, I need to step up too."
Miu rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought. She'd likely be helping me as part of my household in the future. She wanted to start preparing now for that day. I couldn't be more grateful.
Seeing her so serious, a thought occurred to me.
"You're still aiming to become a High-Class Devil, right?"
"Mhm. I made a promise to Dill, after all."
A promise to Diarmuid. The vow that one day, when Miu reached the rank of High-Class Devil, she would take him into her own household as a servant. It was a story I'd only recently heard, but it seemed they were both quite earnest about it.
Miu spoke with a hint of joy in her voice.
"Dill told me… he truly thinks of me as family. I think it's similar to the feeling I have for you, Big Brother."
"Does that mean he sees you as an older sister?"
"Probably. He said that since coming to this house, he's been able to laugh again. That he feels like he's reclaimed something he'd forgotten."
Able to laugh again, huh…
When I first met that guy in Kyoto, he radiated an aura that kept everyone at a distance. He was a dangerous wildcard who would snap even at his supposed allies in the Hero Faction. Now, she was a slightly eccentric girl with a massive appetite. I often saw her laughing when she talked to Miu.
…Though she did have her maidenly(?) moments. I thought she was going to kill me when I accidentally ran into her in the bathroom. She was crying while pointing that spear at me…
Well, I guess it means she's managed to change for the better.
"Big Brother, I will become a High-Class Devil. I'll get my own pieces and make Dill my first servant. I don't know when that will be, but…"
"You'll get there in no time, Miu. You've got the talent and the brains. There's no need to rush. Besides… jumping ranks all at once is incredibly taxing. It's definitely better to ascend through the proper stages."
A recommendation to jump from Low-Class to High-Class Devil. In an era where such promotions are rare to begin with, being offered a chance to skip ranks is a massive honor. Especially for someone who hasn't even been reincarnated for a full year. It was confusing, but of course, it was also exciting.
However, you only realize the weight of it once you've been promoted. The position you find yourself in. Everything that comes with it. For someone like me, who still lacks deep knowledge of the Underworld, it's a grueling path. I've only managed to make it this far because of the support from Rias, Ravel, and everyone else. If I were alone, I wouldn't have stood a chance. I can say that with absolute certainty.
That's why, if Miu truly aims for that height, I want her to take it one step at a time.
"I'll be cheering you on, though."
"Thanks, Big Brother."
Miu smiled and tucked her arm through mine. A pleasant scent wafted from her hair and skin, and the warmth of her body felt incredibly comforting.
Right… once we're back in the room, it's fluffing time.
With that thought in mind, I headed upstairs, only to spot a large cardboard box sitting at the end of the hallway.
"Big Brother, do you know what that box is?"
"No clue… Whose is it? Was it always there?"
Cardboard boxes usually brought Gasper to mind. He isn't as bad lately, but in my head, Gasper and cardboard are a package deal. However, the presence I felt from the box wasn't his.
"Oh, for crying out loud…"
Sighing, I approached the box and pulled it open.
And there she was.
"What are you doing… Valerie?"
A blonde beauty was curled up inside the box. I stared down at her, and her red eyes met mine as she offered a serene smile.
"Oh, good day."
" "Er, good evening," " we both replied in unison.
Valerie stood up gracefully and stepped out of the box. Thanks to the pendant crafted from a shard of the true Holy Grail—a gift from the Church—she had finally regained consciousness. However, the professor had warned us that her progress needed careful monitoring, and her movements were supposed to be restricted.
My first question was simple.
"Why the cardboard box?"
Was she trying to play a prank? If she's coming up with stuff like this right after waking up, she might be more of a handful than I thought… just like our Alice.
~Meanwhile, with Alice~
In the large underground bath.
"Whoa, Big Sis, your boobs have gotten bigger! They used to be so flat."
"S-Shut up! I'm finally having a growth spurt there too!"
"A growth spurt~? Or is it because Big Brother has been kneading them? I know all about it, Sis… You can produce milk now, can't you?"
"H-H-H-How do you know that!?"
"Big Brother told me~♪"
"That idiot! Why is he talking about that!?"
"So, so? What does it feel like to have them sucked? Does it feel good when Big Brother touches you?"
"W-Well, that is…"
Blushing furiously, Alice began to recount her nights with Issei.
~End of Alice's Segment~
I imagine Alice and Nina are getting along just fine as sisters right about now.
Anyway, back to Valerie.
"I was just imitating Gasper. He told me that being in this box helps him feel calm, so I thought I would try it too."
Gasper! What kind of habits are you teaching your benefactor!? I hope you aren't giving her lessons on the 'art of being a shut-in'! And you still feel calmer in a box!?
As I screamed internally, Miu asked Valerie with a wry smile, "How are you feeling?"
"Quite well, thank you. Thanks to the teleportation circles, I'm able to visit this house now. I'm here with Gasper today."
Walking long distances was likely still a strain for her. Using magic for travel was the wise choice. Suddenly, Valerie tilted her head, her gaze drifting toward an empty part of the hallway.
"Come to think of it, I can't hear 'their' voices anymore. It's strange."
'Them'—the side effect of the Grail dwelling within her. She used to see and hear things that didn't belong in this world. The professor said they were things that should never be seen or heard. Continued contact would normally pollute the mind and drive one to madness. That was exactly the state Valerie had been in when we found her in the vampire town.
Now, because she wasn't using the Grail and had the protective pendant, her consciousness was clear, and the clouded look in her eyes had vanished.
Relieved, I asked with a smile, "Is there anything you're struggling with? Just say the word and I'll support you."
"Hmm, let me see…"
She tilted her head in thought before answering with a bright smile.
"Not really. I'm not lonely as long as Gasper is with me."
That kid Gasper, look at him being relied on… He's really growing into a fine man!
Yeah, it looked like they were going to be just fine. They'd finally found a place of peace. Now that she was awake, she deserved to enjoy life with him.
"Ah, Valerie! There you are! You shouldn't be wandering around! We're still supposed to be monitoring you!"
Gasper came rushing down the stairs, looking frantic. He's certainly much more proactive when it comes to Valerie. Between him and Kiba doing well with Tosca…
"I guess it's springtime for the boys of the Occult Research Club."
"It's always springtime for you, Big Brother," Miu quipped.
Well, when she puts it like that, she's not wrong. It's been one long spring for me.
But having someone to protect—someone special—is a big deal for Kiba and Gasper. Of course, they've always fought for Rias and their friends, but now they have girls who mean the world to them specifically. They might still be reckless as men, but they won't do anything that would leave those girls behind.
I'm looking forward to seeing how those two grow from here.
"I told you, you have to stay with me when you move!"
"Hehe, Gasper is so strict."
They truly were a heartwarming pair.
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