Chapter 298 - Serafall!?
Mahiro woke to a faint fog in his mind, the lingering buzz of divine wine.
Compared to human-world liquors, the Danmachi vintage was in a league of its own—thousands of times smoother, with barely any hangover.
The mental haze cleared quickly, his thoughts sharpening as he took in his surroundings.
His body, though, felt heavy.
A dull ache settled in his lower back.
He groaned, sitting up in an unfamiliar bedroom.
Clothes—his, mostly—lay scattered on the floor, tossed haphazardly.
The bed was pristine except where he'd slept, and the air carried no trace of alcohol or… anything else.
Magic had clearly tidied the room, leaving it unnervingly spotless.
Memories flickered, vague and fragmented.
The divine wine.
Sona passing out.
Serafall's laughter.
Then… a hazy silhouette in the dark, moving closer.
Mahiro's face heated up.
Had he… been taken advantage of?
The scene felt eerily similar to his afternoon with Rias.
He rubbed his temples, chasing away the last wisps of confusion.
In Danmachi, he'd suspected the divine wine could double as an aphrodisiac, but he never thought he'd be the one caught off guard.
Shaking his head, Mahiro grabbed his clothes, pulling them on.
His body protested—yesterday's marathon with Rias, followed by whatever happened with Serafall, had drained him dry.
Even his stamina had limits.
He needed to train harder.
If one could push him this far, handling the others would be a nightmare.
He stepped out of the bedroom, catching sight of Sona emerging from her own room.
Her conservative nightdress covered her fully, but her sleepy expression—hair slightly mussed, eyes half-lidded—gave her a rare, unguarded charm.
"Morning, Sona," Mahiro said, keeping his tone casual.
Sona froze, her drowsiness vanishing.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she realized Mahiro was seeing her in pajamas.
"Morning, Mahiro," she mumbled, smoothing her nightdress.
For all her usual poise as Student Council President, Sona was still a teenage girl.
Being caught like this by a guy she liked—especially after passing out drunk while hosting him—left her flustered.
"Where's Serafall?" Mahiro asked, shifting the topic.
He glanced at the living room, sensing no trace of the Maou's vibrant presence.
Sona hesitated.
"She… probably went back to the Underworld last night." Her voice lacked certainty.
"I was out cold, but she must've moved me to my room and cleaned up. The living room's spotless."
Mahiro's eyebrow twitched.
So, Serafall had tidied up, possibly had her way with him, and then bolted back to the Underworld?
He'd need to have a word with her later.
Getting played by her wasn't on his bingo card.
"Want breakfast?" Sona offered, her blush deepening.
"I can whip something up."
The domestic vibe made her heart skip, like they were playing house.
She quickly pushed the thought away.
"You just woke up, and that wine hit you hard," Mahiro said, flashing a grin.
"Go freshen up. I'll grab some food from outside and be back."
Sona nodded, a soft smile breaking through her embarrassment.
"Alright. Thanks, Mahiro."
He headed out, picking up some convenience store bento—rice, egg rolls, and miso soup.
They ate quietly, the awkwardness from last night lingering but unspoken.
After breakfast, Mahiro said his goodbyes and left for his villa.
Stepping into the living room, he found Rias and Akeno sipping morning tea, their elegance a stark contrast to the chaos elsewhere.
Koneko and Asia were sprawled in front of the TV, engrossed in a new racing game.
The rest of the club was nowhere in sight, leaving the room oddly peaceful.
"Well, well, look who's back," Akeno drawled, her eyes glinting with mischief as she set down her teacup.
"Gone all night, Mahiro-kun? Did Sona sweep you off your feet?"
Koneko paused her game, hopping up to approach Mahiro.
She leaned in, sniffing him like a curious cat.
Her nose wrinkled, but she stepped back with a nod.
"No weird smells. He's clean."
Akeno's grin widened.
"Oh, Koneko-chan, don't be so sure."
"Our Mahiro's clever. He probably scrubbed away any evidence before coming back."
Koneko's gaze sharpened, scanning Mahiro from head to toe like he was hiding contraband.
"Relax, Koneko," Mahiro said, ruffling her hair.
He turned to Akeno with a mock-serious nod. "You got me."
"Last night, I drank a ton with Sona and Serafall."
"Then Serafall invited me for a… private party. Had to crash at Sona's."
"Liar," Koneko said, her face blank but her eyes skeptical.
Akeno gasped dramatically, clutching her chest.
"Mahiro-kun, aiming for a Maou now? You're bolder than I thought!"
Her playful disbelief was obvious, her grin daring him to keep up the act.
Rias arched an eyebrow, setting her tea down.
"Careful with those jokes, Mahiro."
"Serafall's got a fanclub in the Underworld and human world."
"Say that too loud, and you'll have a mob after you."
Mahiro spread his hands.
He'd tried to keep it vague, but the truth—that Serafall might've taken advantage of him—was too wild to admit.
For now, he'd let them think he was joking.
The last thing he needed was Akeno stirring trouble or Rias getting jealous before the tripartite talks.
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