I'm not a perfect person~
I never meant to do those things to you~
"Oh? Is that a street performer?" Tsubaki asked, tilting her head curiously.
As the two walked through the bustling shopping district, the sound of soft guitar strumming and gentle singing floated through the air, rising above the noise of chattering crowds and rolling storefront music. The pair followed the melody around a corner and discovered a man in his mid-twenties performing at a small street corner. His voice was amazing—smooth and heartfelt—but his guitar playing left something to be desired. As a result, only a few people had stopped to listen.
Kousuke suddenly had a bright idea. He waited until the performer finished his song, then walked up to him, leaving Tsubaki behind. She tilted her head in curiosity, wondering what he was up to. So far, she had thoroughly enjoyed the date. After their time at the café, Kousuke had taken her window shopping and even bought her the beautiful necklace she was now wearing.
She watched him chat animatedly with the street performer. The man looked surprised at first but eventually handed Kousuke the guitar. Her boyfriend turned toward her, caught her gaze, and smirked before leaning into the mic.
"I haven't played in about ten years, so forgive me if I mess up—but otherwise, I hope you all enjoy this song, dedicated to every beautiful soul out there."
I... I just woke up from a dream~
Where you and I had to say goodbye~
The moment his fingers touched the strings, everything seemed to slow. The chaotic energy of the street faded into the background. Kousuke's voice was smooth, warm, and surprisingly clear. It wasn't the voice of someone rusty or inexperienced—it was practiced, heartfelt. People began to pause. More and more turned toward the sound, drawn in by the unexpected sincerity in both his lyrics and voice.
Tsubaki's lips parted slightly, amazed. The crowd was mesmerized—and so was she.
Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow~
Nobody's promised tomorrow~
As he sang, Kousuke's mind wandered back to his time in the other world. The suffering, the despair—it had been the hope of returning home that gave him the strength to endure it all. The sleepless nights, the nightmares that clawed at him from the shadows… it all felt so recent.
So I'm gonna love you every night like it's the last night~
Like it's the last night~
He locked eyes with Tsubaki and gave her a playful wink. Her face turned pink, and the onlookers let out a few appreciative whistles and claps.
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you~ oh~
If the party was over, and our time on earth was through~
I'd wanna hold you, just for a while~
And die with a smile~
As he sang the last lines, Kousuke's vision blurred for a moment. In place of Tsubaki, he saw another girl—one with fluffy ears and a radiant smile that haunted his memories. But when he blinked, it was Tsubaki again, her expression full of concern. That's when he realized his cheeks were wet.
The performance ended to thunderous applause, and couples threw coins into the hat at the performer's feet. Kousuke returned the guitar with a bow of thanks, then walked toward Tsubaki as the crowd parted for him.
"How was it? Did you enjoy my little performance, my lady?" he asked with a dramatic bow, his usual playful tone back in full force.
Tsubaki smiled, though a part of her still ached at seeing him cry. It reminded her of a time before she became a devil—alone and isolated in a dark room.
"Maybe~ I didn't know you could play guitar so well," she teased. Honestly, she hadn't expected much. His earlier disclaimer made it sound like he was just going to mess around, but what she'd witnessed was far from amateur. He wasn't just good—he was passionate. She found herself wondering about his past. Had he been in a band? A musical club? Or was it something even more personal?
"It's just a hobby," he replied with a nostalgic tone. "I used to do song covers for fun." He couldn't help but wonder how that girl from his past was doing now. They used to duet together, her father's guitar always in hand. He still had his own guitar tucked away in his room, untouched since his return.
"If you ever want me to play a song for you, just give me a heads-up~"
"Really? Then can I expect a lullaby every night before bed?" she joked, though the idea of him singing sweet nothings to her was more tempting than she'd like to admit. Her cheeks warmed at the thought.
"Oh? That's a lovely idea." Before she could react, he slid his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close. Then he leaned in and whispered into her ear.
"Then I can tell you how much I love you every night~"
Tsubaki gasped in surprise, her face and ears turning crimson. Kousuke smiled contentedly, pleased with her reaction. As they continued their date, he pretended not to notice the overly conspicuous trail following behind them. Tsubaki probably noticed too—after all, it was her Master—but she didn't say a word.
...
Elsewhere…
"Wow! Singing and public displays of affection? He must really like your Queen," Rias commented, slightly envious. Somewhere deep down, she wished Issei would do something like that for her.
"…Tch."
"Did you just click your tongue?"
"No such thing. Come on, let's keep following them!"
They tailed the couple as they resumed window shopping, eventually entering a traditional-looking building. Sona paused to look up at the sign before stepping inside with Rias close behind. It was… a bookstore?
She had expected him to take Tsubaki to an arcade or something equally flashy. But clearly, Kousuke had done his research. Tsubaki loved reading literature during her breaks. This was a carefully planned date.
"…Where are you going?" Sona asked, catching Rias as she tried to sneak away.
"Ah, I just wanted to see if the latest volume of my series is out," Rias replied casually, glancing toward the R18 section. Sona gave her a deadpan look and silently muttered, 'Weeb.'
"You can do that later. We've got better things to do," she said, dragging Rias away by the sleeve.
"Noooo!" Rias cried dramatically, reaching toward the distant shelves like a heroine in a tragic farewell.