"Uuu~ Sona-chan, you're disdaining me again—your big sister is very hurt!" Serafall hugged Sona's shoulders and, with zero dignity, started acting spoiled on the spot. Paired with her magical-girl getup and sweet, youthful looks, at first glance she almost looked like Sona's younger sister.
Faced with such clinginess, Sona could only look helpless. Precisely because of this, she'd kept her distance—yet it only backfired. Watching Serafall throw a public tantrum, the girls around them all broke into a cold sweat. They traded glances, not sure what to say.
"You all head back first. This isn't something you should get involved in," Takumi quietly told Miko Yotsuya, Hana Yurikawa, and the others.
The crowd thinned at once until only Rias's household plus Mio, Maria, and a few remained.
"Nice to meet you, Demon Lord Leviathan, Serafall. I'm happy to welcome you," Takumi greeted, neither humble nor overbearing, a faint smile on his face.
Serafall's eyes slid to him; releasing Sona, she bounced playfully to stand before Takumi. "I'm very upset with you, you know—becoming Sona-chan's fiancé so easily. As her big sister, I haven't given my approval~"
Her tone drew out bit by bit, and the air suddenly grew tense. Sona wanted to speak, but Takumi calmly lifted a hand. "It's just a political engagement. Besides, even if you're angry, it won't change anything."
Hearing him talk to Serafall like that, Rias and Sona both went taut like bowstrings. Please don't go needle vs. needle right now…!
Just when they thought things would go south, Serafall puffed her cheeks and put on a hurt face. She stepped up and looped an arm through Takumi's, shaking it as she pouted, "Mmm~ I'm Sona-chan's big sister, Takumi-kun—at least show me a little respect!"
"…" Takumi, a bit dumbfounded, felt his tone soften despite himself. "Ahem… um, Serafall, maybe don't play around like that. I don't mean anything by it."
A soft, abundant pressure smooshed against his arm—especially with Sona watching. The feeling was… stimulating in a way that was hard to describe. Sona herself was stunned; she'd thought her siscon of a sister would blow up. She hadn't expected Serafall to accept Takumi like this.
Sensing Sona's thoughts, Serafall giggled. "Takumi-kun is very handsome and easy to like. And since you like him, Sona-chan, this big sister can't exactly throw punches, can I? You called me here to save Takumi-kun, after all. I won't do anything that would make my little sister hate me."
"Big sis…" Sona murmured. Even after so long deliberately keeping her distance, her sister still doted on her like this.
The very next second, Serafall leapt up and glomped onto Takumi's back.
Duang~~~
The springy fullness pressed in waves against him, battering his mental defenses. If not for being in sage mode right now, he might not have held out.
"Serafall, what are you doing!" Sona snapped.
"Mmm~~ I just want to get a little closer to Takumi-kun. And I keep thinking you smell really nice~" Serafall nuzzled like a kitten, sniffing here and there.
Takumi suddenly realized—this must be the concentrated hormones left over from crushing Katerea; they hadn't dissipated yet.
Catching the scent, Serafall's cheeks warmed and a rosy glow rose on her skin; she herself seemed oblivious, only clinging tighter.
"Hey hey~ Takumi-kun, do you know about magical girls?"
"Uh… yeah. We actually have one at our school."
"Eh!! Really? I adore magical girls! Takumi-kun, can you take me to meet her?"
"Ah, when there's a chance. I'm not that close with her yet."
"Then it's a promise—you can't trick me, Takumi-kun! Otherwise I'll cling to you and never let go." She said it with such seriousness that Takumi's pile of retorts condensed into one line. "You're already clinging to me and not letting go…"
"Big sis!!!" Sona rushed up to pull her off her fiancé, and Mio immediately came to help. Together, they pried Serafall away.
No matter how much she pouted or played cute, Sona and Mio's iron wills didn't budge. Seeing this, Serafall could only surrender and stop clinging.
Before leaving, though, Serafall finally turned to business. "Takumi-kun, your victory over Katerea will spread through the Underworld soon. I think it's time you had territory of your own down there.
"This is a communication spell you can use with me. Once I get your territory approved, come down and confirm it." She tossed him a string of spell-nodes. With the communication formula, plus a unique sigil, they'd be able to talk directly.
"All right. I'll wait for your good news, Serafall." Takumi memorized the spell and saw her off with a smile. He had to admit—Sona's big sister was verywell-proportioned, in no way inferior to Rias and the others. And she was Leviathan—her status couldn't be higher. If he could enjoy her support… and maybe sisters both… that would be pretty great.
Just then, Rias looked at Takumi with a complicated expression, hesitating. "Takumi, I didn't expect you to rise so quickly, with power like this. You alone are a newborn devil house already. About Mio… I'm sorry for before."
In the current situation, Mio's issue had become a small matter. Knowing how deep Takumi's feelings ran for her, Rias wanted to apologize; she didn't want to turn him into an enemy over it. If the Underworld was a board and the devils were pieces, Takumi now sat as a player at the table.
Seeing Rias grow awkwardly reserved, Takumi shook his head. "I'm not small-minded. Besides, you didn't actually wrong me. Rias, we're still friends. If you run into trouble, you can ask me for help."
"Just… friends, huh… I understand." Rias's heart thumped a few times; staring at Takumi's gentle smile, a strange feeling spread through her chest. Then, almost fleeing, she led her household away.
Sona dragged Serafall back to the Underworld. The once-bustling park was down to just three: Takumi, Mio, and Maria.
"Let's go home." Takumi's low words drew quick, happy nods from Mio and Maria.
Right then, several light spears fell from the sky, skewering a few lurking monsters. A slightly bedraggled trio—Raynare, Kalawarna, and Mittelt—flew back in.
"Master, our apologies—we just…" The three hung their heads in shame. Katerea had blasted them away with a single strike earlier; they'd had zero ability to resist. Not being able to help weighed heavily on them.
...
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