Sona's sharp gaze swept over Rias, cold and unwavering.
"Rias," she said, her voice measured, "if you have time for all this… You really should start focusing on building your peerage. You-know-what day is approaching. Enjoying your life isn't a problem, but don't forget your goal."
Rias's expression softened, a hint of sadness flickering in her crimson eyes.
She nodded gently.
"Don't worry, Sona. I haven't forgotten," she replied quietly, her voice steady but carrying the weight of promise.
I furrowed my brow, curiosity getting the better of me.
"What are you girls talking about?" I asked.
Rias still looked a little downcast, so Sona spoke instead.
"It's nothing for you to worry about—just a family noble matter. However, you should seriously consider joining one of our peerages already. While you're powerful as a summoner, you're… completely incompetent at everything else."
I shot her an offended look.
"Hey! I'm not incompetent at all! Just wait—give me three or four years and I'll be stronger than all of you, even without my summons!"
Sona raised a single eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Really? The guy with zero combat sense?" she asked, teasing.
She leaned slightly closer, adopting a more serious tone.
"So that you know, summoners are actually one of the weakest classes. Take down the summoner, and their summons are powerless. That's why summoners spend so much time training with their summons—to make sure they aren't a burden."
I felt my pride prick a little, but I was reasonable enough to admit she had a point.
Even if I was offended, her advice wasn't wrong.
It was actually… useful.
I looked down a little, my voice losing its earlier bite.
"…Well, it's not like I haven't thought about it before…"
Sona sighed softly, but there was a rare warmth in her eyes.
"That's exactly why I'm saying you should join—either mine or Rias's peerage. We don't treat our peerage as tools or soldiers. We treat them as family. If you joined, you'd not only gain strength, but also people who would stand by your side."
The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard.
For a moment, she didn't sound like the calculating, composed president… she just sounded like someone genuinely worried for me.
…Is she in love with me, too?
The thought flickered for only a moment, but I shook it off.
The old me—the one from before all this—would've definitely clung to that idea, maybe even built my hopes on it.
But lately… things feel different.
Being here, living this life, it's forcing me to question myself.
I keep comparing everything to anime, to fiction.
That's just how I make sense of the world.
But I can't forget—this isn't a story I'm watching from the outside.
This is my life.
Reincarnation, illusion, dream, or reality… whatever it is, it's still mine.
And because it's mine, I don't want to treat it carelessly.
I wasn't a good man in my past life.
If anything, I drifted, selfish and aimless.
But now… here, surrounded by all of them, I feel something I never did before.
I don't just want to grow stronger.
I want to grow better.
Not just as a summoner, not just as a fighter—but as a person.
Sure, I was scum; I could have grown if I tried.
I could have connected to others, but in this life, I want to make it better than my previous one.
Sona's words reminded me of that.
I lifted my gaze, meeting her eyes, then letting it wander across everyone present.
Their faces—these people who had somehow become so much more than just companions.
Taking a slow breath, I spoke carefully, not with calculation, but with honesty.
"Sona," I said quietly, "I truly appreciate your offer. I know it comes from a place of care. But I have to decline again. Not because of gain or loss, not because of fear or pride… but simply because I want to stay human, for as long as I can. For no greater reason than that—just because it's what I want."
I let the words hang before continuing, softer now but with a weight I had never carried before.
"And about what you said… about family. It's tempting. More than tempting. But I don't need to seek one anymore."
I allowed myself a faint smile.
"Because I already have one."
The room seemed quieter than before.
I could almost feel their eyes on me as I bowed my head slightly.
"You girls… you've given me something I never thought I'd have. You made me feel what family truly is—something warmer, better, than anything I ever knew in my past life. I don't think I can put into words how much it means to me. But please know this: to me, you are already my family."
I straightened up, voice trembling just slightly at the edges.
"So… thank you. All of you. For everything."
The silence stretched.
For once, not even the clatter of dishes filled the room.
Rias was the first to move.
Her crimson hair trembled as she lowered her gaze, cheeks burning softly.
"You really… know how to say things that are unfair," she whispered, voice almost tender.
"Family, huh… I… I don't hate being called that."
Akeno chuckled lightly, though the sound carried none of her usual teasing sharpness.
Instead, her violet eyes shimmered.
"Fufu~ I suppose that means I don't need to hide behind games anymore," she said gently.
"If you see us as family, then… I'll protect that bond. Even if it costs me everything."
Koneko, who had been chewing slowly, set down her chopsticks.
Her golden eyes narrowed in their usual cool stare, but this time there was something softer in them.
"…Idiot," she murmured, almost too quietly.
"Saying things like that… You'll just make us worry more about you."
Still, her small voice held no bite—just a strange, fragile warmth.
Asia's hands trembled slightly as she pressed them together.
Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, spilling freely before she could stop them.
"F-family…" she repeated shakily.
"I never thought I'd have one again. But… if you really think of me that way, then… then I'll treasure it forever!"
She sniffled, smiling through her tears.
Tsubaki, always so composed, studied him with calm eyes.
Her lips curved in a rare, genuine smile.
"You're surprisingly wise for someone so reckless," she said softly.
"I can see why President Rias and President Sona value you. Words like that… they carry weight."
Finally, Sona adjusted her glasses, the faintest trace of a smile touching her lips.
Her tone was steady, but her eyes betrayed something gentler.
"I understand your decision," she said.
"And I respect it. If you truly believe we are already your family… then I'll do my best to make sure you never regret those words."
For a moment, none of them spoke further.
But the silence no longer felt heavy—it was warm, like a quiet fire burning between them all.
I smiled softly, reaching out to brush away the tears running down Asia's cheeks.
"Look, Asia," I said gently, "even if you didn't have one before… You have a family now. We're here. I'm here. So stop crying, alright? None of us are ever going to abandon you. You don't need to worry about that anymore. All I want is for you to smile happily."
Asia's lips quivered as more tears spilled, but this time they weren't from sadness.
She nodded quickly, clutching my sleeve as if it were a lifeline.
"O-okay… I'll smile! Because I'm really, really happy…"
Her innocent, trembling smile filled the room with a warmth that even Rias and the others couldn't resist softening to.
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