[New Fanfic is Up!!]
[Bleach: No System, Just Skill]
Morning light spilled through the gaps in the curtains, laying several bands of gold across the room.
A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air. It was the scent of the shampoo Rias often used, mixed with the warmer, more intimate presence that belonged only to her.
The moment Genichi opened his eyes, he felt the familiar weight beside him.
He turned his head slightly.
Rias was curled up in his arms, her red hair spread across the pillow like embers after a fire, dark and lustrous in the morning light.
Her breathing was even and soft. Her lashes cast faint shadows across her cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted in sleep.
One arm rested across his chest, her fingers lightly curled as if afraid he might slip away.
One long leg was draped across his waist, pinning him in place.
Genichi took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
By this point, he should have been able to face this situation with perfect calm.
As if.
He was not made of stone.
And after what had happened with Demeter, it was impossible for him to have no thoughts at all.
Some things, once experienced, left a memory in the body.
Looking at the defenseless woman beside him, he had to grit his teeth to restrain himself.
But he did not dare move recklessly.
Not because he did not want to.
Because he did not dare.
Rias Gremory, heir to the House of Gremory and younger sister of Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the Four Great Satans.
Her identity weighed on him like a mountain.
She also had an engagement. Her fiancé was the youngest son of the Phenex family, one of the oldest noble houses in the Underworld.
Although Rias herself was deeply opposed to that engagement, an engagement was still an engagement. It was a contract between two great houses, and something Satan Lucifer had personally approved.
Sleeping beside each other like this, clinging close, and sharing a few intimate moments was not necessarily dangerous as long as the final line was never crossed.
After all, Rias was free. No one could control who she chose to be close to.
But if he truly crossed that line with Rias, who knew whether it would bring fatal trouble?
The Phenex family would not let it go, and Lucifer would not stand by if the dignity of the Gremory family were involved.
A sword of Damocles hung over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
So he could only endure.
Genichi sighed softly and carefully moved Rias's arm away from him.
Then came the leg across his waist. He moved it aside with extreme care, keeping his movements light for fear of waking her.
Only then did he rise from the bed and stand beside it.
Genichi lowered his head and looked at himself.
Somehow, his pajama top had come loose during the night, the buttons sitting crookedly and exposing part of his chest.
His pants were still on, but the belt had been undone.
He clearly remembered going to sleep alone, fully dressed and properly put together.
Yet by morning, his clothes always ended up like this.
And there would always be one more person beside him.
Genichi sighed again and began straightening his clothes.
He had already lost count of how many times this had happened.
Ever since the day he reincarnated as Rias's peerage member, this situation had begun.
At first, he had tried to resist. He had tried locking the door before bed. He had tried all sorts of ways to stop her.
None of it worked.
A mere door could not stop Rias.
Eventually, he gave up. In any case, they were only lying beside each other. Nothing truly happened.
As Genichi buttoned his shirt, he smiled bitterly to himself.
He was still a normal young man.
If he had never crossed certain lines before, perhaps he could have endured this more easily.
That sort of inexperience might even have made simple closeness enough.
But now, his body remembered too much.
Every morning, waking beside Rias while she slept so trustingly against him required nearly all his willpower.
If not for the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, he truly did not know how long he could keep restraining himself.
Genichi thought this silently, then sighed again.
On the bed, Rias turned over and let out a lazy murmur.
Her arm searched across the sheets as if looking for something. When she found nothing, her brows drew together slightly, and her eyes slowly opened in a daze.
Genichi looked at her.
This sleepy, confused version of her was completely different from the sharp and capable heir of the House of Gremory he usually saw.
Her hair was messy, her face still carried faint marks from the pillow, and her slightly pouting lips made her look like a lazy cat.
"Genichi."
Her voice was a little hoarse, still heavy with sleep.
"Help me get dressed."
Genichi looked at her, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
What could he do?
He could only agree.
Rias had already sat up. She seemed completely unconcerned with her half-awake state, lazily stretching before opening her arms toward him like a child waiting for an adult to help.
Genichi took a deep breath, walked to the wardrobe, and opened it.
Rias had many clothes, all neatly arranged in a row.
He glanced over them and took out her Kuoh Academy uniform.
When he turned back, Rias was watching him with a bright smile, her eyes full of expectation.
Genichi walked over, keeping his movements careful and his gaze steady.
Rias cooperated obediently as he helped her put on each part of the uniform.
First came the blouse.
The white shirt had delicate lace trim around the collar and cuffs. Genichi helped her slip into it, then fastened the buttons one by one.
His fingers were not quite as steady as he wanted them to be, and by the time he reached the upper buttons, he had to put more effort than usual into keeping his hands from trembling.
Then came the skirt.
The deep-red pleated skirt was part of the Kuoh Academy uniform. Genichi helped her settle it properly and fastened it at the side.
Rias stood up and turned in place, the hem of the skirt swaying lightly.
"How do I look?"
Genichi looked at her.
The uniform suited her perfectly, emphasizing her elegant, noble air.
"Good."
His answer came out dry.
Rias smiled, walked up to him, rose onto her toes, and gently kissed his cheek.
"Thank you."
Genichi touched the spot where she had kissed him and felt more exhausted than if he had just fought a battle.
(End of Chapter)
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