"Haruto-san, here's your tea."
"Thanks, Asia." I accepted a hot cup of tea after we all ended up sitting together. Issei was deeply enjoying the rest he was granted from his training, Gremory-senpai maintained her respectful and elegant demeanor, Asia and I were casually enjoying our time, and Mittelt was sitting off to the right of our group, sitting on her knees and her face beet-red. The poor girl didn't even touch her tea. "You really didn't have to come though. You deserve as much of a rest as I do what with healing me every time I fell out of a tree…"
It's a long story involving more boulders tied to my back and me practicing my climbing and jumping skills in the place of flying with my wings. Gremory-senpai had to call Asia out of the blue to keep me from ending up with permanent skeletal damage.
Asia's face turned a light-pink color. "Well, Haruto-san, Issei-san, and Buchou-san are training everyday and I don't really do much other than heal and make tea."
"And I had to come to make sure Asia got here alright." Mittlt piped up. She turned away, blushing as she specifically avoided looking at me. "D-Don't think I c-came for you, you dummy! I-I didn't even know you were training here, stupid!"
….
Resist. Urge. TO HUG!
"Uuu, Asia! I'm deeply moved by your kindness Asia!" Issei cried. "Aaah, I never expected that there would be a day when a girl would say that to me!"
I turned to Asia and smiled softly. "But you DO do enough, Asia. You're the one who has to support us during battles with your healing abilities. After all, even a tank can be crushed like a soda can if it isn't kept in good condition by its support…or something like that." I place a gentle hand on her shoulder. "When the time comes, your healing will be like our trump card! No matter how many times we get knocked down, we'll be able to get right back up with you by our side." It may have been my imagination, but I could've sworn I saw a light pink on her face.
"Besides," Issei took a sip of his tea before looking at Asia, smiling, "this is delicious, Asia!"
Asia smiled at our compliments. "Thank you very much." I felt happy seeing her smile. I made a promise. For Asia and all of my other friends, I would get stronger so I wouldn't have to see such a sad expression on their faces.
Especially Serafall…
I subconsciously touched my lips, blushing as I remembered my dream. I was filled with a strange longing…
It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but it was rather invasive and made me wonder how I felt…
Prior to that dream, I had no actual romantic connection with Serafall. I liked her and enjoyed the "attention" she gave me, but I didn't feel any kind of bond like that, but now there's this weird feelings in my gut… It's difficult to describe in words.
"Something wrong, Haruto-san?" Asia asked, a cute worried expression on her face. I then realized I had been making a difficult expression. I smiled, shaking my head slightly.
"No. It's fine. Thanks for worrying about me though, Asia." I said, thanking my friend. "It really means a lot."
Asia smiled back, blushing slightly. "Well…A wife is supposed to worry about their husband's welfare, is she not?"
I felt myself blushing deeply as well. I managed a more awkward smile as a response.
"Yeah… I guess."
"I still say it's no fair that this blondie gets first-dibs on Haruto." Mittelt spat out in a harsh whisper behind Asia's back. Why are you calling Asia "blondie" like it's a derogatory term? You're blonde, too, Mittelt.
I still hadn't found the right time to tell Asia about the misunderstanding concerning my proposal. I couldn't do it in front of Gremory-senpai because she WOULD LITERALLY RIP MY NUTS OFF if I ended up making Asia cry but I can't ever seem to get her alone.
"Buchou…What's with that strange expression on your face?" When Issei drew my attention to Gremory-senpai, she seemed to have a weird look on her face. Like she was thinking about something sad.
Senpai snapped out of whatever thought she was thinking and made a cough noise.
"No, it's nothing. More than that, it's good timing. I decided to have it done today, so let's head over to Haruto's house now."
I blinked. "Why my house?"
"It's about time that the luggage arrives." Senpai answered as if it were obvious enough.
"That does not answer my question in the slightest." I replied, deadpan.
…Wait. Whose luggage?
***
My jaw dropped at the amount of luggage piled in my front yard. After Gremory-senpai's sudden announcement, she led the way back to my house (how she knew where I lived, I did not even wanna think about it).
I opened and closed my mouth several times, trying to find the proper words to describe my reaction.
"What…the Hell?" I resisted the urge to drop an unnecessary 'F-bomb' with Asia around.
I couldn't help but wonder why there was a mountain of luggage there, in front of my house
Gremory-senpai smiled at me innocently, as if trying to say 'What? This has always been here, waiting for you.'
I stared viciously at her, screaming mentally "CUT THE SHIT!"
"Could you please take these bags upstairs, Haruto-kun?" Senpai asked in a disgustingly sweet and polite way.
I just stared at her. "I-I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?" Maybe I misheard her?
Gremory-senpai nodded. "I need you to carry all of Asia's belongings into the house."
There was another long period of silence. I stared emotionlessly at Gremory-senpai, she stared at me, Asia, Mittelt, and Ise were constantly shifting their gazes between the two of us, mentally debating who would break this seemingly tense silence. As fate would have it, it was I who broke the silence.
I inhaled deeply, carefully considering my words. Then I spoke.
"Da fuck you talkin' bout, Gremory?"
Asia covered her gasping mouth in response to my foul language that slipped out of my mouth. Issei's eyes widened as he stared at me, clearly wondering why I was saying such things.
Gremory-senpai just smiled politely. "It's only natural you would need to take Asia's things inside as, starting today, Asia will be living in your house."
"...What?"
"I said—"
"No nonononono!" I raised my hand to silence Gremory-senpai. "I heard that. What I was asking was how the hell you thought I would allow you to force Asia to live in my house." I put on a scolding expression for Gremory-senpai. "You're rich. Why don't you buy her a big house or something rather than trying to push her off on others."
Asia then tugged on my sleeve shyly. "Actually, Haruto-san… I was the one who asked Buchou-san to… to choose where I lived."
"And another thing-!" I had already said by the time I processed Asia's words. "What?" That question was directed towards Asia.
Gremory-senpai crossed her arms, a reasonably smug expression on her face. "Yes. It was in fact ASIA who asked to be housed in the same home as you, Haruto-kun. She desired to begin living with the man who will be her husband." I noticed a hint of maliciousness at the end of that, reminding me of Gremory-senpai's threat if I ever hurt Asia.
I felt a strangely pleasant chill go down my spine.
Asia wore a nervous and apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, Haruto-san. I simply told Buchou-san my honest wish, but I don't wish to be an inconvenience. I'm sorry if you're upset with me."
Shit! Asia thinks I'm mad at her!
I shook my head. "No no no! You're no inconvenience, Asia! It was just such a sudden request and I was surprised is all! I personally have no problem with you staying!" Damn. Backed myself into a corner with that one. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mittelt glaring at Asia with an envious look and Gremory-senpai still having such a confident if not amused expression. "But…er…I…"
Everyone was staring at me expectantly, only worsening my nervousness.
"W-Well…What about Serafall!? Yeah!" Haha! Got it!
Gremory-senpai raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean?"
I began gesturing wildly, trying to relieve some of my stress through this outright lie of mine.
"Yeah! Serafall's really possessive and stuff! It took enough convincing to get her to let Jack, a little sister-like girl, to stay at my house! I don't think she would want this!"
"Then why don't you ask her?" Gremory-senpai shot back, not losing any of her composure.
Shit. Didn't think she would call me out on my bluff.
I sighed, hanging my head. "Fine…" I turned around, walking over to the door and, before my knuckle even made it to the door—
SLAM
""Welcome home, master/Onii-chan~!""
If this were a cartoon, my jaw would've hit the ground from shock.
I was currently staring at Jack and Serafall… dressed in sexy maid outfits
Cue nosebleed…
No matter what else happened, I could tell today would be an awesome day.
While Jack looked cute, Serafall… well… she was GORGEOUS! Her body filled out the outfit very well! It felt really weird seeing her dressed as something other than a magical girl though. I couldn't resist ogling her though. I just stared, my nose bleeding.
Over my shoulder, I noticed Issei's dull face pulling the same exact expression.
Serafall struck a magical girl pose that seemed horribly out of place with that outfit. "Do you like it, Haru-tan?"
"I…Hibu…bulluba…" My tongue was kind of disobeying me, messing up the words I was trying to speak as I just stared, ogling my sexy master. "...Igger…the pla…its…life's just so great."
Sera-tan giggled in response to my reaction. "I was hoping you'd like it, Haru-tan! I always catch you ogling the Fallen Angel maids—" Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mittelt shrink away, seeming mildly afraid of Serafall's gaze. "So I thought I'd give it a try myself and see what Haru-tan thought."
I felt myself blushing deeply. "W-Well, i-it feels kind of weird to see you wearing a different outfit, Serafall…" For a brief second, I thought the usually cheery expression on Serafall's face drop for a second, revealing a nearly impossible to see hint of hurt. "But I don't think it matters. You look beautiful in just about everything you wear. So, it's not whether you look more or less hot in whatever outfit you wear, it's that you change your STYLE of hotness with each outfit."
"Awwww~! Haruuu-taaaaan! You're so sweet and huggable that I-Know what? HUG TIME!" I instinctively opened my arms wide to receive the incredibly foreseeable hug tackle from my incredibly adorable master. I was almost knocked off-balance, but careful practice and just being used to this kept me from being knocked over like a bowling pin. "This is why I love my Haru-tan! He's so sweet and cuddly and just makes me wanna kiss'em! This is exactly one of the reasons I don't mind! Just like I said before, Haru-tan is one of the only two people I wouldn't mind doing ecchi things to my body! He's the only one I love as much as So-tan!"
A brief moment of silence followed that.
"""EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?"""
Issei, Mittelt, and Asia all screeched in perfect unison. Issei held an expression of shock, surprise, and envy while Mittelt and Asia both held an expression of shock and envy (albeit most likely for different reasons).
"What do you mean-?!"
"ANYWAAAAAY!" I shouted loudly just as Issei ried to cut in.
It was then that Sera-tan seemed to notice the presence of Issei, Gremory-senpai, Asia, and Mittelt.
"Oh…Hiiiiii, Rias-chaaan, Issei-chaaan, Asia-chaaaan, Mittelt-chaaaan!" Sera-tan greeted casually. "Whatcha doin' here?"
Gremory-senpai then gestured to the large pile of suitcases and belongings.
"Well, Asia desired to be allowed to stay in the same house as her beloved Haruto-kun, so I arranged for her things to be brought here." Gremory-senpai explained. Then she put on a sympathetic expression. "But he's worried you would never consent to Asia staying here. He really did want Asia to stay, but he wasn't sure whether or not to ask you."
Sera-tan turned to me with a sympathetic expression. "Haru-tan, you don't have to be afraid." She said, unaware that Gremory-senpai was stretching the truth (read: a TOTAL LIAR!). "Of COURSE Asia-chan can stay!" She wrapped her arms around me, allowing me to glare at Gremory-senpai who held a victorious expression on her face, hiding it under a mask of appreciation. "You don't have to worry! I'm a lil possessive of Haru-tan, but you ARE a Devil and monogamy isn't in our dictionary. A couple of concubines is no issue to me."
I groaned, hiding my embarrassment by covering my face with my hand. "That… I'm not entirely sure how to respond to that…"
"L-Leviathan-sama!" Asia cried out in embarrassment.
"That's good to hear." Gremory-senpai said, clapping her hands together while smiling. "Isn't that good, Haruto-kun?"
Essentially, what she was really saying was: "Hahaha. I win!"
I sighed, shrugging my shoulders. "Whatever. I was never really against it. I was just worried on how we were gonna convince sister. If you think you can convince her, then go for it is what I say."
Senpai nodded, acting as if the most difficult challenge has passed.
Issei, however, paled considerably as he realized the complications with completing such a task.
"O-On second thought… Buchou, maybe… m-maybe we should find A-Asia another place to live."
Gremory-senpai shot Ise a curious look. "Why?" She waved off our clear concerns about Naru-nee. "There's no need to worry, Issei, Haruto-kun. I'm sure that Namikaze Naruko is a reasonable woman. I'm sure I can convince her with my words."
I did a dry spit-take, suppressing a fit of laughter at the fact that Gremory-senpai used "Namikaze Naruko" and "reasonable" in the same sentence.
"Sure," I choked. "Go right ahead."
With her usual noble and elegant manner, Gremory-senpai made her way inside the Namikaze Residence…