A few minutes later, inside the old school building, Rias smiled softly as she served Sai Akuto a cup of hot tea.
"Akuto-kun, do you know why Sona wants to meet you three days from now?"
Rias got straight to the point.
"Why?" Akuto sipped the tea calmly and asked unhurriedly.
"Because the higher-ups of the Underworld arranged a marriage contract between you and Sona. Sona doesn't want to accept this engagement, so she's thinking about how to annul it with you." Rias explained.
"I see..." Akuto nodded. As expected, nothing too surprising.
Still, there was something he couldn't quite understand.
Sona—does she really not want to marry him that much?
Logically speaking, he should meet most of Sona's standards in a partner.
Academically, Akuto's grades were about equal to Sona's, and in terms of intelligence, they were likely on par as well.
In strength and potential, his battle with Reya revealed that he possessed power far beyond his peers. As someone who had both the pure-blooded demon lineage and the Boosted Gear of the Red Dragon Emperor, his potential was limitless.
As for personal charm—there was nothing to discuss. His natural qualities were already top tier, and coupled with his succubus bloodline, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
So why would Sona refuse a marriage contract with him?
It wasn't that Akuto was narcissistic enough to demand someone marry him. He was just curious about Sona's reasoning.
[So far, I can only think of one possible reason.]
[If Sona really is rejecting this marriage for the reason I think... then I can only say, Sona... you really are kind-hearted.]
...
After some casual chatter, Rias finally brought up her true purpose.
"Akuto-kun, to be honest, I actually have a request for you. Or rather, I'd like to propose cooperation between us—for mutual benefit."
"Once your engagement with Sona is dissolved, you'll be free."
"So, would you be willing to help me annul my marriage contract with Riser Phoenix?"
"Hm? Rias, you mean..."
Akuto feigned ignorance.
"I'd like to ask you to temporarily act as my boyfriend until graduation. That way, I'll have a reason to reject Riser's engagement."
"Of course, I won't ask you for free. Until our arrangement ends, I'll provide you with an additional set of the same resources that the Underworld already grants you—to help you grow stronger faster."
After laying out her offer, Rias lightly bit her red lips and gazed at him nervously, filled with expectation.
Under her gaze, Akuto slowly spoke.
"Rias, I'll agree to act as your temporary boyfriend. But... I don't want any resources."
"Eh? Then what do you want, Akuto-kun?"
Rias swallowed nervously. Could it be that Akuto actually liked her? Was he willing to help her annul the marriage just because of that?
Surely... not?
"No, I just want a different kind of reward."
Hearing his reply, Rias first sighed in relief, then felt a twinge of disappointment. So, it really was just her imagination?
"Then, Akuto-kun, what reward do you want? As long as it's within my ability, I'll do my best."
Rias forced a smile and continued negotiations.
"A reward, huh~"
"I want your lap pillow, Rias. Is that alright?"
"Eh?"
Rias tilted her head in confusion, her lips parting slightly, their gloss glimmering under the sunlight.
It wasn't just Rias—her servants were also shocked at Akuto's request.
Akeno: Ara ara~ Akuto-kun is really bold.
Koneko: Unexpected. Senpai is actually the carnivorous type of man.
Kiba Yuuto: President... congrats. Should we retreat and leave the room for you and Akuto-kun?
In general, Rias's peerage found his request for a lap pillow amusing and were eager to see how it played out.
...
"A-Akuto-kun, what did you just say?"
Rias's cheeks flushed red, and she began stammering.
"I said, if you could give me a lap pillow, I'd be very happy to help you annul your engagement." Akuto repeated casually.
"B-but, why do you want my lap pillow?" Rias stuttered again.
"Obviously because I like you, Rias."
Akuto answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Don't you often gaze out the old schoolhouse window at the campus? Haven't we exchanged glances several times? Actually, back then, I had already started thinking of pursuing you."
He chose the simplest and most direct approach—throwing a straight ball.
"So that's... that's how it is..."
Her voice became as soft as a mosquito's. The confident, forward-leaning negotiator suddenly shrank back into a shy girl.
Thump, thump, thump!
Her heart pounded wildly, her once-fair complexion completely dyed red.
So this... this is what it feels like to be confessed to by a boy...
...
Hearing Akuto's explanation, Rias recalled those moments of eye contact.
Back then, the reason she was watching him wasn't because of his face—it was because of his grades.
His academic performance rivaled Sona's, which intrigued her greatly. If she could recruit him into her team, she'd gain a significant advantage against high-intelligence opponents.
As for romance... she had never once considered dating a normal human boy.
But now...
After seeing his battle, and after hearing his straightforward confession, Rias had to admit: she was a little moved.
Akuto-kun wasn't so bad.
Grades, personality, bloodline, looks, strength—he fit her standards for a partner. Not to mention... he had liked her for a long time.
"I... I..."
Rias admitted—she did feel a flicker of affection. But... wasn't asking for a lap pillow a bit too fast?
Seeing her hesitation, Akuto gave her one final push.
"If you don't agree, it's fine. I'll still help you with your engagement problem."
"Eh? Even if I refuse, you'll still help me? Why?"
She blinked in confusion.
"Hahaha~ Rias, you really haven't been in love before, huh?" Akuto laughed heartily.
"If you like a girl, of course you can't allow her to marry another man."
"So, even if you turn me down, I'll still help you."
His words landed like a depth charge, stirring up waves in Rias's heart.
So this is what it feels like... to be liked by the opposite sex?
This feeling was completely different from familial affection. It was so fulfilling, so... heart-throbbing.
She knew this wasn't something just any boy could make her feel. After all, so many boys at Kuoh Academy and so many devils in the Underworld had admired her, yet none had ever stirred her like this.
Akuto was the first.
Looking at it this way... perhaps she liked Akuto-kun too?
"Alright... if it's you, Akuto-kun... I'm willing."
Her face still red, Rias gave her answer.
...
But only a minute later, she regretted it.
Because Akuto had laid down on her thighs—face down!
"Akuto-kun, who gives a lap pillow facing downwards?!"
Her voice trembled as she spoke. His breath tickled through the gap between her thighs, brushing against her plumpness.
"In my hometown, that's how we do it."
His muffled voice came from beneath her.
No... his breath was getting hotter. She couldn't hold on much longer...
"Isn't your hometown just Kuoh Town? Where on earth do they do this?!" Rias protested in a trembling voice.
But even so, she didn't move his head away.
In fact, she found... she rather liked this closeness.
(End of Chapter)
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