«What can I get you, master?» Iris asks one of her customers at the maid café — a charming boy with jet-black hair and mesmerizing blue eyes.
Around his neck, he wears one of those lockets that open and contain a photo — in his case, a beautiful woman in her forties with burgundy-colored hair. It's made of black metal, and strange symbols with no obvious meaning are engraved on it.
Wearing that maid outfit, Iris is a huge draw for customers. Many people go there just to be served by her. Even Ren gets so turned on by seeing Iris in her work clothes that he often asks her to wear them at home… only to tear them off a moment later.
And that black-haired boy also seems very interested in her.
«I'd like an ice-cold beer… and to see you after you get off work.»
Iris makes a slight grimace. Both because of the request for a beer so early in the morning and, especially, because that is clearly an invitation to a date.
«For the beer, I need an ID to check that you're at least twenty. As for the other thing… I think my boyfriend wouldn't be very happy to know that, rather than going back to him after work, I'm going on a date with a customer. Don't you think, master?»
The boy takes his ID and hands it to Iris.
«Jace Lance… twenty-two… alright, everything is fine — I can serve you the beer. And… out of curiosity, why do you want to see me after my shift ends?»
Jace shrugs.
«Oh, what's the point in knowing? You're taken, and I'm a decent guy — I'd never dare flirt with a girl who's in a relationship.»
«If it's flirting, no. But if it's just a quiet walk between friends… I'm sure my boyfriend would understand.»
Iris adds those words with a mischievous wink.
She leans toward him so much that the neckline of her maid outfit shows more than it should. Her voice becomes warm and irresistibly sensual. So does her gaze.
«How about going somewhere secluded… far from prying eyes? You know, people talk too much, and I wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand, especially my boyfriend.»
Jace grins with satisfaction.
«That's exactly what I had in mind too.»
Iris's shift ends at 2 p.m., then she starts working again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
And as soon as her morning shift ends, Jace is outside the maid café waiting for her.
«You're even more beautiful now than in the maid outfit. And believe me, that wasn't easy,» Jace says.
«You're such a flatterer — it's just a normal white T-shirt. Hey… you're not trying to seduce me, are you?»
Yet, judging from Iris's teasing smile, she doesn't seem too displeased.
«I just like simple things, that's all.»
«What a shameless liar… anyway, where were you planning to take me?»
«It's a surprise, my dear. Just follow me. I chose a place far from prying eyes, just like you asked.»
Iris smiles at him, and the two walk side by side through the streets of downtown Ashiya.
During the walk, they laugh and joke like lifelong friends. Yet, despite what this kind of date suggests, neither of them tries any physical contact at all. Not even their fingers accidentally touching.
Despite that, they both seem eagerly awaiting the moment they reach that secret place.
Forty-five minutes later, they arrive at an old industrial complex abandoned for decades. Around them, only rows of deteriorated warehouses stretching for hundreds of meters, and not a living soul in sight.
«A really unusual place for a first romantic date. But one thing is certain — whatever happens here, no one will ever find out,» Iris comments.
She looks around, as if she were looking for something in particular.
«Didn't you say it was supposed to be a normal walk between friends? If you say things like that, I'll start getting cocky. Anyway, it's the most isolated place in Ashiya — you couldn't find anything better.»
Iris suddenly stops while Jace keeps walking.
«A perfect place to do what we need to do…» he adds, moving forward.
«Yeah, I couldn't have asked for better…»
And suddenly… WOOOSH!
Jace steps aside from a purple energy sphere hurled at him, as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
«Didn't they teach you it's rude to attack from behind?» Jace mutters casually. There's no hint of surprise in his voice.
And when he turns around, his eyes — now scarlet — are fixed on Iris, in her succubus form.
A purplish aura swirls around her, and huge demonic wings spread out from her back.
«You've got guts to face me alone, little girl. I'd be tempted to tell you "you have no idea who you're dealing with," but if we've gotten this far, I guess you know very well.»
As he speaks, a wound opens in his palm, and his blood forms into a massive axe.
«My brother has suffered enough already because of you, and I won't let you hurt him again — not after everything he's done for me and my sisters!»
The energy aura surrounding Iris turns into a truly devastating storm, so intense that it cracks the asphalt and nearby buildings.
«You'll pay for all the pain you've caused my family, Jace Lance! I… I'll wipe you off the face of the earth with my own hands!»