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~ I'm planning to increase the number of advanced chapters to +50 this weekend!
~ I've edited some of the previous chapters to remove anything you might consider "cringe" or "unnecessary." I'll continue reviewing them from time to time!
~ Very soon, we'll return to releasing two chapters daily, including bonus privileges for Power Stone contributions!
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He tensed when Ophis suddenly gripped his collar and held him possessively.
"Do you understand, Issei? I do not like it when you are not happy. I do not like it when you are not with me. I do not like that, not at all."
Issei blinked several times, before he closed his eyes and gently grabbed Ophis's hand.
"Sorry, Ophis. It's just that I'm not used to…being with someone."
He then opened his eyes and looked into Ophis's own.
"I don't know what will happen in the future, but I do know this. I'll be with you all the way, Ophis. I promise you."
In emphasis to his statement, Issei tightened his hold on Ophis's hand and sent her a smile. Ophis smiled in response and placed her head on Issei's shoulder.
"My Issei."
Outside of Kuoh Academy
Issei relaxed into a comfortable position as he sat under the shade of the tree. His back was currently leaning against the tall plant, his eyes closed in a peaceful manner.
He had no idea what compelled him to wake up so early in the morning. Perhaps it was his old habit of wanting to see the Sun rise up to the sky as much as he could.
"Wake up, sleepyhead." A familiar voice uttered gently.
At the sound of the voice, Issei opened his eyes and looked up to see a brown-haired young woman gazing at him with crimson-ruby eyes. His vision slightly blurry, Issei blinked as he leaned forward to see who it was.
"Leiko-san?"
"Rise and shine, Ise-itoko." Leiko Hyoudou greeted with a smile.
The young man blinked again. What was Leiko doing here?
Moving her eyes away from Issei for the moment, Leiko turned to look at the rising Sun in the sky. A small smile formed on her face as she chuckled softly, and she looked back to her younger cousin.
"Mind if I sit with you?" She asked.
In response to his cousin's request, Issei scooted over to give her some room on the ground, to which Leiko happily took. As she sat down next to her cousin, Leiko laid her elbows on her knees and leaned her head on the tree.
The two cousins were silent as they watched the short cycle of the Sun. A few minutes later, the silence was broken by the elder Hyoudou.
"It's been a long time since we've done this." Leiko remarked with a nostalgic air in her voice, "We used to watch the Sun when we were little."
"...Yeah." Issei said softly with a faint smile of his own.
Looking over to her cousin, Leiko tilted her head slightly. She watched her cousin as he looked up at the sky almost wistfully.
Just as Leiko's mind was about to become almost side-tracked, the sound of her younger cousin's voice brought her back to reality.
"Leiko-san?"
"Hmm?" She hummed in reply.
The younger Hyoudou moved his head to look at his older cousin.
"Your hair's back to normal." He observed, "Did you stop dyeing it or something?"
Leiko suppressed a snicker as she folded her arms.
"I'm glad you noticed." She said, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did stop dyeing it. Why do you ask? Do I still look like an Angel?"
She was only teasing her cousin when she asked him the question; so the response he gave her immediately made her mind stop in its tracks.
"Of course you do, Leiko-san." Issei answered sincerely.
"?!" Leiko gasped at her cousin's answer.
"Now that I think about it," Issei continued as he rubbed the back of his head, "I think some Angels have brown hair too."
Leiko was silent as she felt her cheeks heat up. She quickly looked back up at the sky to avoid her younger cousin's eyes.
"It's a little weird actually." Issei said as he frowned slightly.
"What's weird?" Leiko couldn't resist asking.
"That you still kind of look like an Angel, Leiko-san." Her younger cousin began, "And yet I haven't really seen anyone try to ask you out or show any interest in you."
Leiko could practically feel her entire face steaming due to the impact of her cousin's words. Nevertheless, Issei was a bit correct. No one had ever asked her out before.
'That's because you're not interested in anyone but hi-' Her conscience almost told her before she quickly shut it out.
Leiko struggled to gather her thoughts and ignore her conscience. Her face was still red, and the spiraling thoughts that consisted of her younger cousin wasn't making things any easier.
"It's because of you." Leiko said quietly.
"Because of me?" Issei repeated, causing Leiko to jump in shock.
Leiko's eyes widened in shock as she quickly shut her mouth.
Had she said that out loud?
"What's because of me?" Issei asked innocently.
The elder Hyoudou's mouth remained open as she tried to think coherently. Seconds later, she turned her head away as she attempted to form a legitimate frown.
"T-that my face is all red, you dummy!" She pouted, "You shouldn't say things like that. Especially when you don't mean them."
"But I do mean it, Leiko-san." Issei insisted, unintentionally making his older cousin's heart flutter.
Leiko's attempted frown immediately disappeared and was replaced by a look of shock. She mustered up the will to hold in her ever-growing blush, and gave her younger cousin a false look of annoyance.
"You shouldn't lie to your cousin like that." She muttered.
"But I wouldn't lie to you, Leiko-san." Issei insisted again, "What kind of cousin would I be if I never told you the truth?"
The elder Hyoudou felt her entire body shake, her heart beating and fluttering quickly. As her frown disappeared, Leiko reacted and suddenly hugged her cousin tightly.
"?!" Issei gasped in surprise, not expecting his cousin to do that.
Not hearing or either ignoring Issei's response, Leiko tightened her hug and moved her lips to her cousin's cheek.
"Chu..."
Issei's eyes widened as Leiko placed a sweet yet chaste kiss on his cheek. Seconds later, Leiko ended the kiss and released her cousin from her embrace.
"L-Leiko-san?" Issei said as he rubbed his cheek in confusion.
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