"Do we even have a plan?" Issei asked. The two of them were walking on the dirt road leading to the training camp.
"I've got nothing," Rias admitted. "He's surrounded by girls. No way we can break through them. Especially that black haired one will be a problem."
"According to Azazel, Yandere Dozuki can temporarily surpass even my Balance Breaker."
Both Attraction World and Yandere Dozuki were among the top Sacred Gears. They could not destroy a God due to the nature of their power, but they were definitely Longinus-tier.
The only thing they had was Buchou's Power of Destruction and Issei's Boosted Gear. Azazel and Kiba would join them, but even then.
"We don't lack firepower," Buchou said. "The problem is that his defense is entirely made up of innocent girls."
"Maybe we should just leave it like that. He's not hurting anyone after all."
"Ise. How can you say that? He's making a harem against their will."
How was that any different from what Ise tried to achieve?
"They are hypnotized. They won't feel bad. I'm not saying he shouldn't be stopped, but if there is no other way, maybe we should just leave it like that. Attacking them will risk all of their lives. We can't do that."
"You don't want Asia-chan back?"
"She'll be happy, right?"
"But it won't be real. I want the real Asia back."
"If we charge in there we'll have the real dead Asia. She already died once, not again."
"We'll find a way."
They had reached the training camp.
"I'll scout the area just in case. Someone may have told him about our training camp," Issei said spreading his dragon wings.
/
/
"Nothing," Issei said, landing next to Rias.
"Didn't expect anything else. Come on, I'll make us some dinner."
"I'll help you."
Together, they starting making dinner.
"I don't think he views us as a threat," Buchou said. "Even if we find him, no way we can beat him without hurting all those girls."
"Probably."
Rias sighed. There was something very wrong with Ise. Usually whenever Asia or anyone other girl was in danger, he would charge straight in there. Ise's persistence had won them basically every battle they had ever fought.
But now, that persistence had made way for a calm surrender.
They ate in silence.
Since it had been a long day, they went to bed early.
As usual, they slept together.
She had hoped he would calm down, lying next to her naked body, but he didn't. He twisted and turned, not catching sleep.
/
/
Rias Gremory woke up.
It was nighttime, the full moon shining brightly outside.
Ise was no longer next to her.
She quickly put on nightgown, which, ironically, was never used to sleep in.
Getting out of bed, she went downstairs.
He wasn't there either.
A suggestion sparked in her head.
With resolute steps, Rias walked outside.
He was sitting on the edge of the pavilion, looking at the moon.
"Can't sleep?" she asked.
He sighed. "Not really."
"You know, this is the place," she said, standing before the fountain.
"Huh?"
Ise looked around.
Oh, of course.
During their training for the fight against Raiser, he had gotten up to get a glass of water and found Rias. They had come to this pavilion and talked.
Both of them had said what bothered them at that time.
"You know, this was when I realized…" Rias started, but Ise wasn't listening.
He was staring at the mountain. A part of that mountain had been blown off during their training.
Only now she noticed that their positions were reversed, she was standing in front of the fountain and he was on the wall, looking in the distance.
"Ise?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Were you saying something?"
"Why don't you tell me what's bothering you? Since we're at this place."
Ise took a deep breath.
"Harem king."
What did that have to do with the girls? Surely he wasn't thinking about making a harem while all the girls were abducted by Itou.
"Ise, what do you-"
"Like I said. Harem King. That was my dream, wasn't it? My goal.
But, you know. It's just… I never considered how they would feel about that."
"You mean the girls?" she asked, sensing where he was going.
"Yeah. You know. In my dream, all the girls are perfectly fine with me having a harem, but in reality, I can't see why any of them would be okay with that."
"Look, Ise. What you're doing is different from him. He's forcing them to be part of his harem against their will, you would never do something like that."
"Because I don't have his Sacred Gear. Maybe if I had. It's like he said, even if he deactivates it, the power leaks out. If all of you fell in love with me, I'd surely abuse that."
Rias smiled inwardly. Seriously? He was talking as if this was a hypothetical situation. Akeno, Asia, Xenovia and even Koneko all liked him to a certain extent. Ise was like catnip to them.
But how could she make him see that?
"You saved Asia," she said, choosing her words carefully. "You beat Raiser Phoenix."
"That's-"
"Something Itou would never do." She closed the distance between them.
With both hands, she grabbed his left arm. "You sacrificed your arm for me. Because I didn't want to marry Raiser. Not because you wanted to marry me instead. No, because you wanted me to marry who I wanted to. You went against the entire underworld, for me. Because you never wanted to see me cry again."
"Well." He was clearly taken back by her words. "I did say something like 'Rias Gremory-sama's virginity belongs to me'."
She smiled. "It's yours. Whenever you're ready."
Their eyes locked.
Hesitantly, Ise leaned closer to her.
Hyoudou Issei had kissed three times before.
He had been kissed three times before to be precise.
This was the first time he leaned in himself.
Softly, very softly, their lips touched.