Rias looked at me quietly before speaking.
"You're right. I'll make it worth it with my own hands. I suppose I forgot… with everything that's been going on. Thank you, Zevion, for reminding me."
As she said that, her lips curved into a smile—this time a genuine one, soft and radiant, unlike the fake, hollow smile she had worn before.
I returned her smile, relieved.
It seemed she had finally set aside some of her worries.
…Wait. I almost forgot—there was something else I needed to tell her!
"Uh, Rias… there's something else I need to discuss with you."
Rias tilted her head, her crimson hair swaying gently as her gaze fixed on me with quiet curiosity.
My throat tightened, and I found myself fidgeting with my fingers.
Just the thought of saying it made my chest feel heavy—it was my first time trying to talk about romance with a girl.
... Or well, anyone else for that matter.
"Umm… Rias, about you… loving me…"
Her eyes widened, a spark of surprise flashing in them.
She straightened slightly, almost instinctively, and I could see her shoulders tense.
Then, little by little, color crept into her cheeks, staining them a soft pink.
I forced myself to meet her gaze, even as my heart pounded in my ears.
"I… I also love you, Rias."
The words tumbled out awkwardly, yet carried every bit of the weight in my chest.
For a heartbeat, the world felt still.
She started blushing even more.
I took a shaky breath and forced myself to go on.
"…But… unfortunately… I can't choose just you."
My voice wavered as the words left my lips.
"I… I want others as well. I know it sounds selfish, but I don't want only one of you—I want all of you."
The weight of my own admission pressed down on me, and I lowered my head in shame.
"I love all of you… Every one of you is too important for me to cast aside. I can't bring myself to pick just one…"
The silence that followed felt suffocating, my heartbeat echoing in my ears as I braced myself for her reaction.
Somehow, as the words spilled out, tears began to well in my eyes.
I didn't even know why, but I didn't bother to wipe them away.
Maybe… it felt right to let them show.
I swallowed hard and pressed on.
"I know you might not accept me for this… but I can't lie about what I want. I want all of you, not just one of you. Maybe that makes me selfish, maybe it even sounds like I'm asking for a harem… but it's the truth."
My voice cracked, and I clenched my fists, forcing the words out.
"I don't want to lose anyone—not after finally finding something that feels like family to me…"
"Pfft—"
…Pfft?
I froze, blinking in confusion as a sound slipped through the silence.
Slowly, I lifted my head—only to see Rias pressing a hand to her lips, her shoulders trembling as she tried, and failed, to hold back her laughter.
My mind went blank.
If this were a manga or anime, there would've been a dozen question marks floating above my head while I wore the dumbest expression possible.
Then, without warning, Rias burst out laughing.
Her melodic voice echoed through the room, leaving me even more bewildered.
Between her laughter, she managed to say,
"Pfft—Zevion, you worry too much! In the supernatural world, harems are more common than not! Honestly, finding a couple without one is harder. Hahaha! You've been so serious over something that's basically common sense. Hahaha—you really are too precious!"
And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse… the real demon appeared.
Akeno strolled in gracefully, balancing a tray of tea in one hand and—of all things—a video camera in the other, as if nothing unusual was happening.
She set the tea down in front of Rias with a smile that was far too innocent.
Then she turned her gaze on me, her lips curling into that mischievous smile I knew all too well.
"Fufufu… my, my, Zevion. I never knew you were the emotional type of guy~ Look—I've got all of it recorded in HD. Fufufu~"
I lunged forward on instinct, reaching for the camera.
But Akeno moved with a teasing swiftness, pulling it just out of reach, her laughter trailing behind her like a taunt.
I straightened myself and forced a smile, acting as if I hadn't just tried to snatch the camera a second ago.
Akeno smiled back—sweet, innocent… and completely fake.
Without warning, I shot my hand out again.
She slipped away just as quickly, her laughter ringing in my ears.
And so it began—the battle.
I lunged, reaching and swiping desperately for the camera, while she danced out of reach every time, protecting it like a treasure.
The room filled with the sound of scuffling footsteps, laughter, and my increasingly frustrated growls as our ridiculous tug-of-war raged on.
Finally, I triumphed.
With a victorious shout, I snatched the camera and hurled it to the ground, stomping on it relentlessly until I was certain it was destroyed.
I wiped the sweat from my brow, proud of my "hard work."
…Then I noticed something that made my stomach drop.
Akeno, still smiling that infuriatingly calm smile, leaned forward slightly, and between her ample cleavage, she revealed a single memory card.
I froze.
Of course—it was the one with the video.
The camera itself was empty.
I've been tricked!!
She'd known all along and had just been playing with me.
Silently, she tucked the memory card back into her deep valley, her smile never wavering.
"Fufufu~ I made sure to capture every single one of your tears, Zevion~ Oh, and by the way, that camera wasn't cheap. What should I do?"
She spoke as if it were a minor inconvenience—but to me, it was clearly blackmail.
I sank into a perfect 90-degree bow, thrusting money forward as I said, voice trembling with a mix of defeat and urgency:
"Please… let me pay for it!"
Suddenly, her voice dropped into a chilling, icy tone.
"Where is the 'Mistress,' you slave?"
…? What?
I slowly looked up, and all I saw were her eyes—cold, sharp, and filled with an authority that froze me in place.
My mind raced.
Umm… maybe I'm totally screwed…?
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