*48

Lunch Break – A Chaotic Peace Offering

By the time lunch rolled around, I found myself seated at the center of attention—and chaos.

Two beautiful girls sat on either side of me, alternating between arguing with each other and force-feeding me their homemade lunches.

On my left was Tsubaki, my actual girlfriend.
On my right? Akeno, her flirtatious rival who, in her own words, "might have skipped a few relationship steps."

Tsubaki shot her a sharp glare, practically vibrating with irritation.
"Get your own boyfriend, and stop trying to steal mine, you homewrecker!"

Akeno just smirked and countered, "I already borrowed him. You’re just mad he liked my cooking more."

I, the human chopstick-target practice, said nothing.
Why? Because every time I tried, food launched into my mouth mid-sentence.

Also, last time I tried to interfere, I ended up as the bad guy. Go figure.

Note to self:
Don’t tease Akeno when she’s in one of her moods.
Last time I did, she… well, let’s just say her blush reached dangerous levels.

At least the jealous stares from the rest of the male student body were good for my ego.


---

Later that Day – Trouble in the Park

After Devil club activities wrapped up, I headed home through Issei’s old park.

My Sacred Gear pulsed.
A barrier shimmered into existence overhead.

Instinct kicked in. Visor on. Bow summoned. Shields up.
Danger was near.

A familiar, sultry voice rang out.
"Look at you. All grown up and deadly. Still walking through our old park like nothing’s changed. Hello again, boyfriend."

It was Raynare, in her glamorized adult form.

Floating just above the pond, she sat with her legs crossed, smiling like this was a reunion.

“I’m surprised you didn’t turn me in to Rias,” she said, twirling her hair. “Don’t tell me you still care?”

I kept my tone cool. “You’ve done nothing yet to threaten my territory. For now, I let you go.”

It was a lie, of course. I had my reasons for keeping her alive—one of them being a certain Sacred Gear-wielding nun who hadn’t arrived yet.

Raynare didn’t take the rejection lightly. “Not your type? Please. You were obsessed with me once!”

I stared her down. “I only date women with class and honor.”

That hit hard.

Smoke curled around her as she growled, “Next time, you won’t be so lucky.”

And with a flap of her wings, she vanished into the sky.


---

An Urgent Visit

No sooner had I returned home and phoned Rias to tell her about Raynare, the call dropped.

Seconds later, she teleported into my room.

In a sheer red nightgown.

I blinked. She blinked. I was in boxers. She was... not dressed for battle.

“Are you okay?!” she gasped, scanning me for injuries.

“I’m fine,” I assured her, calming her with a soft smile.

We sat on the bed. I turned serious.
“I let Raynare go on purpose. She’s tied to a larger plan.”

Rias stiffened. “What are you planning?”

“I need her alive to help save Asia, your future Bishop.”

Her eyes widened. She listened as I explained the ritual—how Fallen Angels wanted to rip the Sacred Gear from Asia’s soul.

“There’s a bigger hand at play,” I said. “A noble Devil. One I’ll deal with… in time.”

“You can’t kill a noble so easily,” she warned, her concern genuine.

“I don’t intend to… yet. But in the right setting, under the right rules…” I gave her a fox-like grin. “Say, in a Rating Game?”

She looked at me in disbelief. “You’re serious?”

I nodded. “For people like that, death isn’t a punishment. It’s a mercy to everyone else.”

Rias grew quiet, her gaze lingering on the emotions I barely kept beneath the surface.

“Knowing the future hurts, doesn’t it?” she asked gently.

I smiled, tears in my eyes, and didn’t answer.


---

A Quiet Night

She didn’t leave. Instead, she folded her nightgown neatly to the side, slid under the covers beside me, and whispered, “Move over. I’m staying.”

I nodded.

“Thanks for trusting me,” she added quietly, curling against me.

I smiled softly, her warmth pushing back the cold thoughts I’d buried all day.

“You always know how to pull me back,” I whispered. “And I’m glad I chose you.”

That night, I held her close, grateful for the rare peace.