Rias clung to Tenra as if she might lose him if she let go. She didn't need words—Tenra could read her heart in the tremor of her embrace.
"I'm sorry, Rias..." he murmured, fingers gentle in her hair.
"Do you think apologies fix anything? Do you have any idea how terrified we were?"
Rias lifted her face, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Even now, the memory of Tenra's duel with Vali sent a chill through her. What if he hadn't snatched victory from the jaws of defeat? What if he'd fallen to Vali's Juggernaut Drive?
Akeno would have shattered. And Rias herself—
"I'm sorry..." Tenra repeated, voice low.
"There you go again. Just like Akeno said—you're too sly, Tenra."
"I'm sorry..."
He knew he'd been selfish. The thrill of battling Vali had been his alone, but the worry—he'd forced that onto the girls who cared for him. Still, ambition, pride, power—he had to fight. Weakness meant forfeiting happiness, and he would never let those he loved suffer for his failings.
Rias understood all that. But love didn't care about logic; it only worried.
"Tenra, love me..."
Her voice was barely a whisper, but it hit him like a lightning strike. Blood rushed, breath caught. He wanted nothing more than to sweep her onto the bed and claim her completely—yet he forced himself to stay calm.
"Rias, you're my fiancée. Your body, your heart, your love—they're all mine. But I don't want you to regret anything done in the heat of the moment. Take your time—however long you need, I'll wait."
He brushed her forehead, gentle yet firm. Tenra could be domineering, greedy, but for those who loved him, he could be tender, too.
But—
"I don't want to wait anymore!"
Rias met his eyes, fierce and unyielding. Diodora, Kokabiel, Vali Lucifer—Tenra was always fighting, always facing stronger foes. Rias was terrified that one day, he'd meet someone even he couldn't defeat.
She didn't want to wait. She didn't want regrets. Tonight, she would give him everything.
Tenra held her gaze for a long moment, then—
He swept Rias into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
Her decision was made. He had no reason to refuse.
Outside the room—
"You missed your chance. Our princess already made her move," Ravel said, lounging against the wall, eyes glinting with mischief.
Akeno barely spared her a glance. She wasn't about to engage with Ravel's provocations.
But Ravel pressed closer, voice low and knowing. "You love him too, but you're still lost, aren't you? I can see it in your eyes."
"My feelings are none of your business," Akeno replied, sparks of electricity flickering around her.
"Touched a nerve, did I?" Ravel grinned. "Just work hard, Akeno Himejima. I'm looking forward to the day you serve Master beside me."
With a mocking wave, Ravel slipped into her room, leaving Akeno alone.
She didn't want to admit it, but Ravel was right. Rias had already taken her leap; Akeno was still hesitating, stuck at the edge.
But—
"Stupid Tenra. If you'd just asked, I would've said yes too..."
Akeno's eyes flashed with a hint of longing, then softened into a sigh. She turned and retreated to her own room.
Tonight, she'd yield to Rias. Next time, she'd have her chance.
Elsewhere in Kuoh Town, in a rundown, abandoned building—
Issei Hyoudou sat with his knees hugged to his chest, eyes darting nervously between two familiar figures.
"Gahaha, Issei! Bet you didn't expect to see us again!"
"Issei, you're no friend! When the cops dragged us off, you didn't visit once!"
"Matsuda, Motohama—what the hell happened to you guys?"
Issei had been thrilled when he got their messages, sneaking out to meet them while his parents weren't looking. Now, he was starting to regret it. Something about this felt... off.
"Those damn cops sent us to a psych ward! Said we needed 'treatment'..."
"We're not crazy! We just want to chase true love!"
"We weren't about to stick around for their weird therapy, so we bailed the first chance we got."
Matsuda and Motohama were fuming, recounting their recent misadventures. Everyone seemed out to stop them, but all they wanted was to pursue true love. Was that so wrong?
"Issei, you get us, right?"
Both stared at him, hopeful.
"I get it! I get it, Matsuda, Motohama—I totally understand!"
Issei nodded so hard his head nearly fell off. Whatever was going on, he didn't want to set them off. And honestly? He did understand. He wanted to chase true love, too.
If not for his endless fixation on the Oppai Faction, he'd probably have ended up just like them—on the path of no return.
"We knew it! If anyone understands, it's you, Issei!"
"You're our best friend for life!"
Issei flushed with embarrassment. "Haha... yeah, we're bros. Of course we get each other."
He'd worried that they'd gone off the deep end, but maybe they were just the same idiots as always.
But then—
"Issei, we actually came back to find you."
"Issei, come chase true love with us! The three of us—let's get married together!"
"Yeah, yeah, let's—"
Issei almost agreed out of habit, then snapped to attention, horror dawning on his face.
"M-m-married?!!!"
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