One week after the incident with Kokabiel, Kazuya and Chaldea's routine had returned to normal—or at least, as normal as life could be when dealing with angels, demons, and fallen ones.
That weekend, Kazuya found himself far from Japan, sitting on a polished stone bench in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. The afternoon sun made the water shimmer in shades of blue, reflecting like falling crystals. The air carried the scent of street flowers and nearby cafés, mingled with the lively chatter of tourists tossing coins into the fountain, each whispering their secret wishes. It was one of Italy's most romantic postcards, perfect for dates… perhaps too perfect.
He let out a heavy sigh, resting his chin in his hand.
"Having multiple wives is already a nightmare, since they all want to spend time alone with me… and now this…" he murmured, low enough not to be overheard.
Beside him, Gabriel smiled, her eyes sparkling like a child at an amusement park. She leaned slightly to admire the details of the fountain's sculptures, marveling as if it were her first time seeing something so mundane. She wore a light white dress that swayed gently in the breeze. Despite her innocent and angelic beauty, the contrast between her perfect curves and pure gaze made every man passing by turn their heads, some staring shamelessly.
Kazuya massaged his forehead. It wasn't surprising. After all, how could someone so alluring carry such innocence? It felt like a prank God Himself had orchestrated.
Michael, always with his "responsible older brother" demeanor, had asked him to entertain his sulky little sister, as Gabriel had been complaining about her lack of free time. And now, here he was… trying to relax while the entire world ogled her as if she were a living masterpiece.
Gabriel turned to him, holding a golden coin between her fingers.
"Kazu-chan, is it true that if I toss this and make a wish, it might come true?" she asked, her expression so genuine it was impossible not to smile.
He took a deep breath, letting out an ironic chuckle.
"Hah… who knows? Maybe it'll work for someone like you," he replied, with that carefree attitude only he could pull off, even with half the plaza staring at the angel beside him.
Gabriel lit up at his response, her blue eyes sparkling, and leaned a bit closer to the fountain. The movement intensified the stares from the men around, and Kazuya could only think that God truly had a strange sense of humor.
"…Life definitely doesn't get any easier," he muttered, resigned, as he watched Michael's "sulky little sister" enjoy herself. Of course, he had come of his own accord too…
What kind of person would he be to ignore his guardian angel?
The sound of water splashing against the stone was constant, but Gabriel's soft laughter seemed to stand out above it all. She tossed the coin gently, closing her eyes for a brief moment, as if she truly believed the wish would be granted. When the coin disappeared into the clear water, she clapped her hands discreetly, smiling with satisfaction.
"Done! I made my wish," she said, turning to him with a victorious glint in her eyes.
Kazuya raised an eyebrow.
"And are you going to tell me what it was?"
Gabriel shook her head, her golden-blonde hair catching the sunlight with an almost celestial glow.
"I can't. If I tell you, it won't come true, right?"
"Heh, you really believe in that stuff?" Kazuya let out a low laugh, but there was something amusing about seeing her embrace even the most trivial superstitions.
"Of course I believe," she replied instantly, raising a finger as if correcting a student. "If humans believe in it, there must be something special about it. I like to think every sincere wish has power."
He stared at her for a few seconds, as if weighing her words. In the end, he looked back at the fountain, chuckling to himself.
"You're really one of a kind, Gabriel."
They continued walking through the plaza, leaving behind the crowd gathered around the Trevi Fountain. Gabriel seemed fascinated by everything: the small souvenir shops, the street musicians playing violins, even the pigeons approaching in search of food. Every little detail made her stop, point, and smile, as if she were discovering the world for the first time.
Kazuya, on the other hand, followed her at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets, his expression relaxed but with that air of someone who'd seen it all. Still, there was something refreshing about watching her innocence.
As they passed a gelateria, Gabriel gently tugged at his shirt sleeve.
"Kazu-chan, can we try some?"
He sighed theatrically.
"You really don't need to ask twice."
A few minutes later, they were seated at a small wrought-iron table, each holding a cup of gelato. Gabriel had chosen fragola and limone, while he went with pistachio.
She took her first spoonful, and her eyes widened.
"It's so sweet!"
"…It's ice cream. It's supposed to be sweet," Kazuya commented, but the way she smiled afterward made him let out an involuntary laugh.
Gabriel leaned forward a bit, eyeing his cup.
"Can I try yours?"
"You're gonna end up stealing it, aren't you?" he teased but extended the cup toward her.
She took a delicate spoonful and tasted it, closing her eyes as if it were the most delicious thing in the world.
"Hmmm… this one's even better!" she said excitedly. "Why do you always pick the tastiest flavors?"
"Natural talent," he replied with a lazy smile.
Time seemed to pass slowly at that little café. Gabriel swung her feet in the air, watching the people around with curiosity. Couples walked hand in hand, children chased pigeons, and the sun bathed the ancient Italian buildings in golden light.
Suddenly, she spoke, almost in a whisper:
"It's so different…"
"Different from what?" Kazuya asked, leaning in slightly.
"From Heaven," she replied, turning her gaze to him. There was a soft hint of melancholy in her voice. "Up there, everything is perfect, pristine. Here… it's chaotic, noisy, full of strange smells, but… it's beautiful too."
Kazuya didn't respond right away. He just looked at her for a moment, taking in the sincerity of her confession. Then, with a half-smile, he said:
"Imperfection has its charm."
Gabriel smiled back, as if she'd received exactly the response she'd hoped for.
Later, as they walked through the narrow streets near the Piazza di Spagna, she stopped in front of a flower shop window. The reflection in the glass showed her radiant face, her blue eyes lost among the vibrant colors of the bouquets.
Kazuya sighed, already guessing.
"Want one?"
She turned, blushing slightly.
"Can I?"
He stepped inside without waiting for an answer and bought a single white rose. When he handed it to her, he saw the brightest smile of the day.
"Thank you, Kazu-chan."
"Don't thank me. I'm just following your brother's orders," he said in a teasing tone, but the way she clutched the rose to her chest made him look away, hiding a faint smile.
As night began to fall, the city lit up with golden lights reflecting on the cobblestone streets. They returned to the fountain, now less crowded. Gabriel leaned against the railing, watching the water gleam under the moonlight.
"It was fun," she said softly, as if reluctant for the night to end.
Kazuya stepped closer, leaning beside her.
"Don't get used to it, little angel. I don't have time to play tour guide every day."
She laughed softly, tilting her head.
"Then I'll savor every moment."
With that said, after a long stroll, Kazuya and Gabriel ended up at a traditional restaurant with a simple but cozy facade, featuring wooden tables and red checkered tablecloths. Outside, the Roman night glowed with street lamps, and cheerful voices echoed through the streets.
They settled near the window, where they could see the city's movement. A waiter brought warm Italian bread and olive oil, while Gabriel flipped through the menu as if it were a sacred relic.
"Kazu-chan, look at this… so many different things. Carbonara, lasagna, ravioli… I don't know what to choose!"
Kazuya shrugged, grabbing a piece of bread and dipping it in the olive oil.
"Close your eyes and point to a random name. It's all good here."
Gabriel puffed out her cheeks, a bit sulky.
"You don't take anything seriously, do you?"
"I do," he replied with a lazy smile. "I'm taking this amazing bread very seriously."
She couldn't hold back a laugh, and soon they placed their orders.
While they waited, Gabriel played with the white rose she still carried, twirling it between her fingers. Her gaze, however, grew more pensive. After a few seconds of silence, she asked bluntly:
"Kazu-chan… is it true you're going to marry Serafall?"
Kazuya raised an eyebrow, surprised by the direct question.
"…Who told you that?"
"My brother was talking to Ajuka, and he mentioned it vaguely," she replied, looking away. Her voice carried a childish hint of poorly disguised jealousy. "She keeps saying she's my rival… and that she won't lose to me."
He rested his chin in his hand, chuckling softly.
"Is that so? And what do you think about it?"
"I… don't think she's bad," Gabriel continued, biting her lip. "She's funny, even fun… but…"
"But you don't like the idea of me ending up with her," Kazuya finished, blunt, with that carefree tone that always defused any attempt at drama.
Gabriel blushed, hiding her face behind the rose.
"…Maybe."
Kazuya let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"Look, I don't even know if that's going to happen. Probably just going on a few dates… and handling the situation like an adult."
"Like an adult?" Gabriel blinked, confused.
"Yeah. Talk, evaluate, decide if it's worth it," he explained, swirling his glass of water. "Marriage isn't something you settle just because someone declared they wanted to commit politically, right? At least I don't."
She stayed silent for a moment, processing his words. Then, she gave a soft smile, still with a hint of sulkiness.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Jealous, huh?" he teased, leaning closer.
Gabriel looked away, the tips of her ears red.
"It's not jealousy… it's… just concern!"
Kazuya let out a light laugh, his tone playful but his eyes full of calm.
"Sure, sure. Concern."
The waiter arrived with their dishes, interrupting the sweet tension between them. Gabriel received her lasagna with sparkling eyes, and Kazuya got his steaming carbonara.
As they ate, the conversation turned light again, filled with laughter and silly comments about the food. Still, every now and then, Gabriel's gaze drifted to him, as if reassuring herself that his earlier response was genuine.
The dinner ended amid laughter and teasing. Gabriel insisted on trying half of Kazuya's dish, and he retaliated by stealing bites of her lasagna. The waiter, clearly charmed by the girl's angelic beauty, even brought an extra dessert "on the house," which only made Kazuya sigh with a wry smile.
After paying the bill, they stepped out into the street. The Roman night was calm, lit by yellowish lamps reflecting on the ancient cobblestones. The cool air carried the distant scent of flowers mixed with the sound of violins from a nearby plaza.
Gabriel walked beside him, clutching the white rose like a treasure. Her face glowed with genuine happiness, as if that simple outing had been the most special thing in the world.
"Kazu-chan…" she began, turning to him with a shy smile.
"Hm?"
"Thank you for today. It was… really fun."
He shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"It was fine. Better than spending the night arguing with Azazel about things I don't care about."
Gabriel laughed softly but soon adopted a more serious expression. She stopped walking, her heart beating too fast to hide.
She stepped closer, standing on her tiptoes.
"As a thank you…" she murmured softly, "…I'll give you a kiss."
Kazuya had already sensed her intention seconds before. As her lips neared his cheek, he turned his head slightly, with that lazy, provocative smile.
Her lips brushed against his. A brief, soft kiss, but intense enough to freeze the entire world around them.
Gabriel's eyes widened, and her face exploded into a vivid red, hotter than any flame.
"I-I-I-I-I…! T-That wasn't…!"
Unable to finish her sentence, she covered her face with her hands, letting out an almost inaudible sound of pure distress. A golden glow began to envelop her body, and before Kazuya could tease her further, the little angel transformed into light and shot toward the night sky, vanishing in seconds.
Kazuya stood still in the street, watching the luminous trail fade among the stars. He touched his lips lightly and let out a sigh, half-exasperated, half-amused.
"…That little angel is definitely worth winning over…"
He adjusted his coat, shoved his hands back into his pockets, and started walking as if nothing major had happened. But the smile lingering on his lips betrayed otherwise.
_______________
(A/N: By my calculations, by chapter 116, the entire main plot in DxD will wrap up, at least regarding Rezevim, his army of Super Demons, the revelation that one of the Outer Gods was helping him, and all that.
Until then, I need to tie up the loose ends in my mind, hence this chapter. I wanted to show the current state of Kazuya's relationship with Gabriel. The next one will focus on Yasaka, then the other relevant DxD characters in the story, like Vali and such… Kuroka will show up too.
I hope you enjoy it.
I'm cooking up the battle to be something exciting.
Not completely one-sided in Kazuya's favor.
I'm more excited to write about the Tensura world.
Anyway, in ten or twenty chapters, we'll be there.
When I get to the Tensura world, I'll update Kazuya's entire profile. I might take a week off from the story to think about the direction and deliver something high-quality when the DxD world wraps up. What do you think?
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