Runeas then gently pinched the cheek of Ophis, who was sleeping on the sofa like a doll. Miki, having just finished tidying her room, was slightly startled to see another unfamiliar woman in her house. She looked at Issei and smiled, asking, "Issei... who is that? A guest like Sirzechs yesterday?"
Issei sighed and replied, "Yes, and... can we implement a strict rule in this house? No overnight stays for suspicious or troublesome strangers?" He then put the groceries in the refrigerator.
Miki, watching Issei put the food away, asked, "Did you use your own money for the shopping?"
Issei sighed again. "Yes. I have 100 Yen left since the money you gave me at Christmas. I only used that money to buy bento and ingredients. I'm not wasteful with money."
Miki smiled. "Thank you. I'll give you your school allowance later." She then turned to Runeas. "Could you introduce yourself?"
Runeas turned and introduced herself cheerfully. "Runeas Gremory! I'm interested in Issei-chan because I'm curious, and Ophis-chan here is just so cute."
Issei then brewed tea and offered it to Runeas. Miki smiled and said, "I'll prepare some snacks and cakes in the kitchen." Issei sat on the sofa next to the sleeping Ophis and looked calmly at Runeas. "Why is the Gremory Ancestor in this city?"
Tiamat smiled. "I'm curious too. You shouldn't be showing yourself. Many factions are watching this city, although I don't care because... who could possibly cause a real disturbance in a city with 2 Dragons and 1 Anomalous Dragon?"
Issei narrowed his eyes. "Hey, at least I'm still human. I can't fully transform into a dragon because of this Imagine Breaker."
Runeas smiled in response. "Because I'm curious! It's rare for three Dragons to gather and get along. I feel safe here, and... staying in the mansion is too boring."
Issei looked at Tiamat. "You know what I'm thinking, don't you?"
Tiamat drank her tea calmly. "I know. You don't want her staying here because the house will get cramped and the bathroom is limited."
Miki called from the kitchen, "Done! Here are pancakes and other cakes." She brought them to the dining table. Ophis, who was asleep, woke up smelling the cakes. Slowly getting up, even though her eyes were still sleepy, Ophis took a pancake and sat on Issei's lap.
Miki smiled seeing this and stroked Ophis's head. "Eat up, don't worry about running out." Ophis just nodded. Runeas watched, her eyes twinkling. "Ophis... the one who fought Great Red... is such a cute little girl. How could Great Red be so cruel?" She then tried to stroke Ophis's head. "Ah, heaven. I want to take her home."
Tiamat took another cake and ate it slowly. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Issei looked towards the front door. "Who's coming here in the middle of the day? I haven't seen Irina-san and Xenovia-san since earlier." Issei then placed Ophis back on the sofa, though Runeas immediately took the position of holding Ophis in her lap while stroking her head.
Opening the door, Issei saw Sona. "Hello... Sona. What's up?"
Sona stared sharply. "As I suspected. You didn't read my messages. What kept you so busy that you couldn't reply?"
Issei scratched his head. "A lot of things happened."
Sona looked at the Void Gauntlet. "Including that artifact?"
Issei sighed. "Yes, this thing is called the Void Gauntlet, and... there's a troublesome guest."
Sona narrowed her eyes. "Who is it this time? A woman?"
Issei swallowed hard. "Yes, but I'll kick her out after this."
Sona immediately entered and grabbed the collar of Issei's shirt, her words cold. "We should speed things up."
Issei, being dragged by his collar, his heart pounding, asked, "Speed up what?"
Sona answered, "The engagement matter."
Upon entering, Sona saw Tiamat eating cake calmly, Miki relaxing watching TV, and... Ophis being held on the lap of Runeas Gremory. She then looked at Issei with a sharp gaze. "Why... is Runeas Gremory here? Do you know this will become a scandal? And... that's the Ancestor, are you crazy?"
Issei swallowed nervously. "Please calm down, Sona... she just latched onto me even though I tried to shoo her away."
Runeas smiled seeing Sona. "Hello, Sona-chan."
Miki turned to Sona and smiled. "What brings you here again?"
Sona bowed her head slightly. "Sona Sitri. This time, I really need to restrict Issei to prevent any random girls from approaching him and causing a scandal."
Miki was a little surprised. "Eh? Issei... has a woman finally fallen for you?"
Issei answered sheepishly, "That was since yesterday, and... it's too embarrassing to talk about."
Sona looked seriously at Miki. "Miki-san, could you come with me to my house? I want to officially meet my parents. We can discuss this at my place."
Issei looked at his flustered mother. "Mom, where are Irina-san and Xenovia-san?"
Miki smiled. "They're handling transfer documents at the civil office for school tomorrow. And I need to get ready first. It's impolite to wear simple clothes. Issei... you should change your clothes too."
Issei sighed. "So troublesome." He went back to his room to choose suitable clothes, then prepared to wait for his mother.
Ophis, being hugged by Runeas, looked at Issei and said, "I... come too."
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned silent. Tiamat smiled seeing this. "If Ophis comes, then the world will know the Infinite Dragon has returned, and all factions will be wary of the Sitri Clan. This isn't just an ordinary visit."
Runeas, who was hugging Ophis, pouted. "You should just stay here, Ophis-chan. I'll buy you cakes or snacks."
Issei then looked at Sona. "Call Rias and the others to come and watch over their Gremory Ancestor and Ophis." He then approached Ophis and stroked her head. "Next time, maybe during a holiday." Ophis just remained silent and nodded.
Sona immediately contacted Rias, urging her to come quickly so Ophis wouldn't get bored and to send Runeas home.
Miki finished changing into formal wear. "Does this look good on me?"
Issei sighed, looking at her. "It's fine, as long as it's not too flashy. Now we just wait for Rias-san and the others to arrive."
Sona hung up the phone. "I've contacted them. They'll be here in a few minutes. We can teleport to my house later."
A voice echoed from within the Sacred Gear, Ddraig's voice: "It's better to take the normal route. If you use teleportation, a Dimensional Distortion will occur. The side effect isn't death... but your body arriving without a soul. That Void Gauntlet is Anti-System and Anti-Reality's Laws. Even if successful, it's highly likely to open a Rift out of this world."
Sona was shocked to hear that. "Alright, I'll call for a car instead."
Tiamat smiled. "That's correct. A normal journey is best."
Ophis looked at Issei. "If you force teleportation, even if successful, the destination coordinates will be different."
Issei looked at his mother. "Is it okay if Dad doesn't come? He's still at work?"
Miki smiled. "It's fine, Issei. Besides, I'm happy my son is building a serious relationship with a girl. By the way, Sona, is it okay if we don't bring anything?"
Sona answered, "No need, Miki-san—"
Miki immediately cut Sona off. "Call me 'Mom'. You're my son's fiancée."
Sona's face blushed slightly. "Alright... Mom."
The doorbell rang. Sona adjusted her glasses. "That must be Rias. Now we just wait for the car from my family."
Issei opened the door to find Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba. Rias, slightly out of breath, said, "Let me introduce Koneko and Kiba, other members of my club." Koneko, a small girl with white hair, a tail, and twitching cat ears, hid shyly behind Akeno. "Hello... Issei-senpai. Sorry for following you when you had a fever before."
Akeno, seeing this, smiled. "Ara~, Koneko-chan. Your true form is showing, and you're being shy."
Kiba stepped forward and introduced himself politely. "Yuuto Kiba."
Rias caught her breath. "Is Obaa-sama inside?"
Issei replied, "Yes. I'll be going out for a while. Please watch over her and Ophis for a bit."
Not long after, Sona's family car arrived at Issei's house. Miki and Sona came out, surprising Rias and the others. Miki smiled. "Please look after the house for a while. I'm going out for a bit."
Akeno, seeing Miki in formal wear, and Issei and Sona about to leave, grew curious. "Where are you going, if I may ask?"
Miki answered, "To Sona's house, to meet her parents. I never thought Issei would have a girlfriend."
Akeno's heart beat fast, and a stabbing pain shot through it. She forced a fake smile. "Well then, I hope it goes smoothly."
Sona, seeing Akeno's expression, knew she had feelings for Issei. She approached Issei and said firmly, "It seems Akeno has feelings for you. I don't know how many girls have been affected by your Dragon Pheromones."
Issei just remained silent, looking at Akeno's smiling face before turning away. "I know. Only those I know... I didn't expect Akeno to fall for me."
Sona sighed. Then Issei, Miki, and Sona got into the car to go to the Sitri residence.
On the way to Sona's house, Issei watched the scenery outside the car. Suddenly, Ddraig's voice sounded in his head: {Be careful with Devil politics. They are cunning and unpredictable, with hidden betrayals.}
Issei stared blankly outside. 'I know. I hate politics. I won't hesitate to kill silently, or even use my full power, if anyone dares to hurt those I know or my family.'
His left hand clenched tightly. His heart desired to protect those important to him. Suddenly, the skin on his left hand began to turn black... not from burning, but from merging with a dark, hardening aura.
It wasn't Magic.
It wasn't Technology.
It was something born from pressure.
Issei slowly looked at his changing left hand and muttered, "Haki."
Ddraig was silent for a moment, then spoke softly. {You haven't had time to train and only learned the theory, yet you unconsciously awakened Busoshoku Haki due to the political pressure.}
Issei answered in his heart, 'I... don't know why Busoshoku Haki appeared unconsciously.'