I placed the flowers next to a marker.

It should have at least said "Mara Amon," but she didn't even receive that dignity. Only an unmarked grave in an expansive field of grass, only known to me through a ritual I undergo once a year.

"Happy birthday, Mother."

"Still going through that charade, Milcom?"

Father said this as he appeared behind me.

"So, you finally emerged from her bedside…"

"She has been in shock for days... But there's another reason I wanted to speak to you. You won't believe where your sister went off to…"

Volume 5: Training from Hell

"I don't really care if you wake up or not, but could you turn your alarm off? That would be grea-"

After long-last, I finally managed to get a solid night's sleep. The recent chaos had impeded my sleep in one way or another for the past few days.

But this morning, as I silenced my silly alarm clock, which, today, was a kuudere, I felt more refreshed than I have for a while.

However, something about my surroundings felt off. It was almost as if I could hear soft breathing next to me.

I turned around right next to me.

Akeno!?

The only factor that kept this situation from becoming 100 percent scandalous was the thin nightgown she wore to bed. Even that didn't change the situation much, Akeno was sleeping in the same bed as me!

She rubbed her eyes, smiling. "Good morning, dear…"

"First off – why? Second off – how?"

"My, my. Isn't it customary to sleep next to the person you love?"

"For a married couple, maybe. But isn't it too early in our relationship for this!?"

Akeno giggled. "That's why I fell in love with you. You're so hopelessly naïve."

"Good grief… I'm not naïve, I just have standards."

Asia shortly came into the room to escalate the situation

She was holding two cups of coffee, one presumably for me. She froze up as she saw Akeno and I on the bed.

"I- I'll leave you two alone!"

"My, my. I was just about to head down to breakfast," Akeno said as she began to head out the door. "See you… darling~"

Asia sighed as she passed me my coffee.

"Thank you, Asia."

"Your mom wanted me to give this to you, since you have an early day and all…"

My "early day" consisted of getting to the school an hour earlier with Rossweisse to make up an exam I missed while taking a couple days after returning from the Underworld off.

I finished the exam and gave it to her to grade.

A few moments later…

"Hmm… Not bad! 95!"

She handed me back the exam, "Well dang…" I said as I confirmed the grade.

"That's better than your fellow club members did," she replied. "Even Yuuto made a 92."

"And I barely even studied…"

"Well! If you studied more, you could have made a perfect score!" she suddenly chided.

"Hold on. A second ago you were commending me for the grade…"

"You are not just my student, you are my master." she said, crossing her arms. "As such, I should hold you to a higher standard."

"Good grief," I muttered. "With how serious you are about studying, it's no wonder you couldn't find a boyfr-"

I stopped myself mid-sentence. As I suspected, that last bit began to make tears well up in her eyes, making her look like a hurt puppy.

"Sorry!" I exclaimed, grabbing the nearest tissue box I could find. "I forgot that was a sensitive thing for you."

"No. It's fine," she said, wiping her eyes. "I got a bit ahead of myself, anyway."

"I'll make it up to you. I'll get you a drink from the vending machine."

"Thank you. I knew I was right in choosing you…"

I went across the hall to the vending machine and purchased a canned coffee for Rossweisse, when…

"You've been looking a lot brighter as of late!"

Matsuda said that as he and Motohama snuck up behind me.

"What makes you say that?"

"You can usually tell when a boy has found a girlfriend," Motohama explained. "More color to his face, neater clothes, and whatnot"

I sighed. I did not want to spill the beans to them about Akeno being my girlfriend this early. They would literally die of a heart attack.

Matsuda dramatically pointed.

"You're going out with the beautiful new teacher, Ms. Rossweisse!"

"What!?"

"You were walking to school with her early this morning!" Motohama commented. "That's proof right there!"

"I've walked to school with several girls."

"Oh really?" he responded. "Then what was that comment we overheard about her 'choosing you,' huh?"

So they were peeping on me as well. Talk about gender equality…

"Well," I said. "I am her… tutor."

"You're… tutoring Ms. Rossweisse?" Matsuda said.

"Yes!" I said. "Since she's not from these parts I'm helping her get settled in."

"Lucky…" Motohama said. "Speaking of new teachers, I know you will like the new science teacher, Mr. Astaroth."

"Excuse me," I said, before abruptly bolting off.

I moved swiftly to the Science Lab. If this "Mr. Astaroth" is who I think he is, Asia is in serious danger.

I opened the lab doors as a familiar face was mixing chemicals.

As the two chemicals mixed, it caused a sizable explosion.

I immediately doused out the fire with water magic.

"Nice save, Makoto," Ajuka said. "It's a good thing you were here."

"I assume you're Mr. Astaroth."

"Yes, I am," he replied. "After being part of the security team, I was invited to stay and assist your efforts on Earth. I'm using my family name here since the name 'Mr. Beelzebub' would make my identity too obvious."

"That's a relief," I said. "I was suspicious when I first heard that name. I believe it was your brother who gave us a lot of trouble a while back."

"Diodora?" Ajuka replied. "Oh yes, my little brother causes trouble for just about everyone, related to his supposed connection to the Khaos Brigade or not. I still don't know why the family hasn't denounced his title as heir yet."

"You're asking the real questions right there," I commented. "Suspicious doesn't even begin to describe him."

I began walking out, "Well, I gotta get this to Rossweisse. See ya!"

He waved me out.

That day was the last day before the Summer Break. The upcoming weekend is when I planned with Akeno to have our first date as a couple.

I was quite high in spirit, though, understandably, a bit nervous as I wondered how "eager" Akeno is gonna be.

However, I noticed a strange post as I walked out the front gate of the school.

It was a notice issued by the city.

"BEWARE: GANG ACTIVITY: DEVIL HEAVEN"

The notice included an insignia – a circle that I'm assuming is a halo with a devil's wing inside of it.

Mother went out after me as I was looking at it.

"You have any idea about who these guys are?" I asked her.

"Girls, actually," she replied. "There a ladies' biker gang that have been causing problems around these parts. Haven't been an issue until fairly recently…"

"Hmm…"

We walked home together.

I began walking towards Downtown at around noon that Sunday morning.

Akeno did not specify where to meet. All she said was "You'll see."

Once I got to a familiar intersection, I did see…

"How do I look, Makoto?"

I had to do a double-take.

That's Akeno!? Her frilly dress and hair down give off a much different image than usual.

Granted, I saw her put her hair down when she scattered my dragon spirit, but that was a more in line with the sensuous nature I had come to expect from her.

Even the tone of her voice gives off a different vibe. She normally seems like a "my, my" ladylike woman, often seeming older than one year my senior. But here she was… cute!

"… Good!" I responded, giving a thumbs up.

"Yuma suggested the dress and the meeting place. It isn't too weird, isn't it?"

"No. Not at all."

"That's wonderful!" She exclaimed, grabbing my hand.

This vibe was kind of given off a few times. Particularly when we confessed and the other morning when she woke up with me, but here, her adorableness is in full-force.

We walked together hand-in-hand. Akeno was, again, uncharacteristically happy-go-lucky.

But that city notice from earlier was putting me off.

Any time I heard a motorcycle or similar-sounding exhaust I was on my guard, flinching and looking out at the street.

After a few times of me doing this, Akeno asked me, "Is everything alright?"

"… Yes."

She gave a big smile and continued walking with me.

Yuma's influence in her date suggestions continued with the restaurant selection.

We even had a familiar waiter!

"You seem to have become a regular at this establishment, Yuuto." I commented.

"Well, the Manager was so pleased with my performance last time, she offered me a permanent position," he replied. "Plus, I got a contract offer to help her take care of things at her house after hours."

"Figures."

"That was very nice of you, Yuuto," Akeno giggled.

After we ate and later had dessert we continued walking around together.

We went to a clothing store and she tried on clothing for me to judge.

"Would I look good in this one or this one?"

It was staggering how much of a normal girl Akeno is turning out to be.

However, as we were walking around, I was still continuing to flinch at the motorcycle exhausts.

It got to the point where Akeno suddenly gripped onto my hand and began to pull me away.

"Hey, wait!"

We both dashed off the main road and onto a smaller side-road.

I had to catch my breath.

"I don't think those scary motorcyclists will be following us here," she said.

"It's not that. I just saw a notice about a biker gang and I'm just a bit paranoid, that's all."

"If any scary cyclists attack us, I'll protect you. Okay, darling?"

"Usually I would be the one doing that, but okay…"

Where is this place, anyway?

I looked around…

Signs were posted for nightly rates.

Love hotels!

I sighed.

"Akeno, you know I'm a-"

"My, my. I know you're an angel. I'm just playing with you."

There's the Akeno I remember…

"I must say though, you didn't look that embarrassed about it. If you weren't an angel, would you be up for your first time?~"

"Well…"

I had to quickly wipe my nose to hide my reaction to that statement.

However, I wasn't able to give her an answer as several motorcyclists suddenly stormed the side road and confronted us!

"You were saying about shaking off the 'scary motorcyclists'?"

Akeno began surging with energy, understandably pissed off somebody was about to ruin her perfect date with me.

I responded in turn by extracting Excalibur Mimic from my watch.

"Well, well," the woman who seemed to be the leader of the gang said. "I never thought I would run into you two lovebirds…"

Her voice sounded familiar.

She began to remove her helmet.

"Especially you, White Dragon Emperor…"

"Rahab!" I exclaimed. "So, you're the leader of Devil Heaven."

"Correct. After you separated me from my blade, I formed this little gang to hunt you down and finish the job I was sent to do. What did you do with Ascalon?"

"It's away from here. And don't bother looking where it was last time, she moved it somewhere that even I don't know!"

"And I won't give you the luxury of fighting him!" Akeno exclaimed. "I was on my first date with him, and you ruined it!"

"Jesus! Hell hath no fury…" Rahab commented. "Let's go, girls. I guess we'll have to leave the two lovebirds alone for now."

She tossed me a coin that I caught in midair.

"Consider that penance for interrupting you two. We'll finish our business some other time, White Dragon Emperor!"

The coin was silver and it had the Devil Heaven insignia in gold.

"My, my, they were an awfully friendly motorcycle gang." Akeno said. "I almost feel bad for trying to fry them all to death."

"I'm just glad I made it through a date without someone trying to kill me."

"Oh, dear. That's true!" she said. "I don't think you got to do this either…"

She walked over to me and kissed me.

We were then interrupted by someone handing me something. It looked like a coupon.

"ONE FREE NIGHT"

A middle-aged couple who appeared to be running the love hotel across the street had come up to us and gave us that.

"We wanted thank you for driving off those nasty Devil Heaven folks."

"You two are more than welcome to redeem that tonight."

Akeno was giggling uncontrollably, and I was chuckling myself.

"Thank you, maybe some other time…"

We walked off.

"Well, that was an experience…" I commented.

"I agree," Akeno replied. "I guess our date was not ruined after all." She giggled.

"Still, I don't think this is gonna be the last we see of Rahab or Devil Heaven," I said, holding up the coin. "She literally went to Hell and back so she could complete her mission to kill me."

"Now you know I won't let that happen, won't I, darling?"

"Once I complete this upcoming training in the Underworld, nor will I."

We continued walking along.

We were not out of the hole, though, as I noticed some odd eyes looking at us.

One of them was familiar brown hair and braids wearing a hat and sunglasses.

The other was short, had white hair, and wearing a wrestler mask.

Another girl, glasses obscuring what I assumed was tears of joy, familiar blonde hair.

And… That's just Yuma waving at us.

"My, my. We have some looky-loos, have we? We may have to shake them off as well."

We dashed off, hand-in-hand, into the sunset.