Author's Note: I'm republishing this chapter after making some revisions to the beginning by adding a couple of new scenes and adjusting the last part of the chapter. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to review.


Issei had been on dates before. Kissed girls. Seen them naked – right in front of him. Got to feel actual breasts in his hands. Somehow, he did all that without having an actual girlfriend, but now that he had one, staying committed to her came with some unique challenges.

Take sleeping in his own bed. In Kyoto, he didn't really worry about being alone because it wouldn't last forever. It was a different story back home. Waking up next to some of the loveliest girls in the country had been a luxury straight out of a wet dream, but once he chose to date Rossweisse, he had no choice but to give it up.

It wasn't easy. He got away with it his first night back because he was legitimately tired, but he had some explaining to do last night. Convincing Rias – and Asia, for that matter – had been the hard part, for more than one reason. Hearing them insist that they wanted to sleep with him (in the same bed) almost made him cave right there and then.

Then he remembered who he was sacrificing this for.

Oh, they didn't like it, at all. However, Rias and Asia understood that he needed some space and that it'd only last for a couple of nights. Lots of nights, actually, but that was a conversation for another night. Fortunately, they kept their word, and Rias kept the others fell in line, which was kinda strange considering how Akeno and Xenovia loved to corner him.

Who was he kidding? Asia was the only one who didn't corner him, and that was only because she was the first or the second person to interrupt him when things were getting spicy. It was like she had a sixth sense just for cockblocking him, and it was at least one reason why he was going to be training with her and Rias this afternoon.

The other reason was that he just couldn't say no to anyone he cared about.

If there was any benefit to waking up alone, it was waking up early. He used his old alarm clock, programmed with a crew of anime girls to get him out of bed, and it was nostalgic to hear a stacked, mature maid chide him for sleeping in. It didn't even take him five minutes to get ready, and that was including the time he took to admire his physique.

At this time of day, when the sun had only just come out, his house was fairly quiet. He heard Xenovia training on the roof, but he didn't expect to see another early bird up and about in the living room.

Rossweisse put down her cup of coffee on the table and stood up from the sofa, a wide smile on her face.

"Good morning, Issei!"

"Good morning!"

He was about to join her when she leaped over the sofa and into his arms. He caught her easily, spun her around and set her down... but he didn't let go of her waist. Talk about spontaneous. Was it the coffee?

"Someone's in a good mood."

She giggled. "It's the coffee. Also, getting to see you so early. I wasn't expecting you for at least an hour."

He cracked a smile. "Me too. But hey, that means we can spend more time together, right?"

"Definitely. Should I wake you up from now on?"

Now that would be something to look forward to. Unfortunately, life at his house wasn't that simple.

"I got an alarm clock. Besides, I wouldn't want anyone else to get ideas."

He quickly explained his habit of waking up next to naked girls without even asking them to, and his recent efforts to avoid temptation now that he was off the market, so to speak.

"Good job," she said.

"Thanks, but I don't know if I can keep on making excuses that'll work."

She put her hands on his shoulders. "I can lock up your room. Stand guard at your door."

Seeing Rossweisse decked out in her Valkyrie gear would've been quite the sight, especially if she came to wish him good night with her cleavage on full display. She wasn't wearing anything as risqué right now, only a thin blue shirt and some sweatpants, but she smelled really good. Fragrant.

Issei laughed, forcing his head out of the gutter. "You don't have to. I made this mess, I'll clean it up."

Rossweisse pursed her lips. "Then take charge. Be more assertive. I know, it's a bit rich coming from me, but you won't be shunned for putting your foot down."

"I hope you're right."

She rubbed his shoulders, squeezing them a bit, overtaken by curiosity. It was strange how easy it was to talk to Rossweisse about this stuff, his insecurities, and in turn, how he could say stuff that might disappoint her without being scared to death.

"You want something to drink? I was about to get a refill."

"Nah, I'll wait for breakfast," he said.

Issei watched Rossweisse leave with a hop in her step, and took a seat on the sofa. This afternoon, he'd be spending some private time with two girls that he cared about a ton, but weren't his girlfriend. What did he get himself into?

If he was going to go through with this, he'd have to keep Rossweisse in the loop. When she returned, he asked her about where she got her coffee from, even though it was the last thing in his house that he'd drink.

"It's your mother's blend," she replied, taking a seat next to him. "If it were up to me, I'd get the cheapest espresso out there."

"For 100 yen."

Rossweisse smiled. "You know me too well." She took a sip from her steaming cup of coffee. "You look like you want to tell me something."

Issei sighed. "I kinda agreed to train with the president and Asia this afternoon. I didn't want them to hurt each other, so I just said the first thing that would make them stop."

"If it's just training, then what's the problem?"

He looked down at the table. "It's never just training. They can be really affectionate, you know?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm aware. This is why boundaries are important."

"I know," he said, even though he clearly didn't judging from his track record. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. I don't want you to worry about anything."

She stared into her cup and inhaled. Her cheeks were pink. "I'll think of something. Have fun, okay?"

Issei smiled, relieved that Rossweisse gave him her blessing. But much like his attempts at keeping his bed empty, his girlfriend wouldn't tolerate his antics forever. He had to be more assertive, more effective at keeping the peace. How he'd do that without being a raging jackass, he wasn't sure, but he had to figure it out.

And fast.


After school, Issei found himself at the old school building with Rias and Asia. Just them, and they were all in their school uniforms.

Honestly, he was expecting there to be a bigger turn-out, but apparently, he had Rias to thank for that. It was some American saying that she applied, 'loose lips sink ships', which was exactly what he was doing by keeping his relationship with Rossweisse a secret.

Not that his relationship with her was a literal ship, but he dreaded everyone finding out the truth that he'd hidden.

"Is something wrong, Issei?" Asia asked, holding a hand to her mouth.

Issei shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine."

Rias crossed her arms. "We need you to be at the top of your game, Issei. I've come up with a couple of ideas I want to try out, and they start with your Boosted Gear."

Together, they brought Rias' theories to life, creating the blueprints for more than a couple of techniques. With his ability to transfer his boosts, Rias was able to transform his energy into fuel that empowered her Power of Destruction. She used that power to forge a barrier that would protect Asia while she was busy healing, and a shield that would wrap around Asia's healing projectiles.

They also tried combining his dragon flames with Rias' destructive blasts, but figuring out the correct combination so that one blast wouldn't dominate the other was a bit more complicated.

"Harmony, Issei," Rias said, "that's what we're trying to achieve. And not just in battle. If we aren't in sync, then we won't get anywhere."

"Right."

Working with Rias wasn't the issue; if push came to shove, she could just amplify his flames with her crimson sigil. Harmony must have meant that they were on the same page, united without anything holding them back. He could see that in action when Rias combined her powers with Asia's: the effects of Asia's healing hadn't been diluted and her projectiles were being protected even from a Dragon Shot that packed a decent punch.

Not only that, they barely had any setbacks.

Issei imagined training with Rossweisse, augmenting her barrage of magical blasts, tricking out his flames with a unique rune or magical spell. He didn't doubt that they could work wonders together.

But he couldn't think too hard about her now, when she wasn't around. It'd be disrespectful to Rias and Asia. By the time this session was over and done with, they hadn't figured out the exact combination of power they needed, but it was getting a lot easier to use his dragon flame attack. He could even use a weaker version of it without activating his Balance Breaker.

All in all, he did a good job and built a good foundation for the future. Now, it was time for him to head home and rest.

"Where are you going?" Rias asked. "We need to clean up."

He took a look around and winced. Yikes, the field was a battleground razed by scorch marks and trails of carnage.

"Sorry," he said.

Since he wasn't any good at magic, he just followed Rias' orders as she and Asia used their magical skills to fix the field. What they couldn't fix easily, they left for him to clean with some tools he found in a nearby shed.

Before long, the field was pristine, but he worked up a sweat in a way that he hadn't while he was training and it left him drenched. Asia had a towel waiting for him while Rias went to put his tools away.

"You did really well, Issei," Asia said.

Issei smiled. "So did you." He wiped his face and neck clean, then folded up the towel. Surprisingly, she took it from him. Man, he'd kill for a shower right now. "Thanks, Asia."

"You're welcome." She started to blush, biting her lip. "You've worked so hard helping us today. Next time, we can focus on helping you learn more techniques, like a new Dress Break."

It was Issei's turn to blush. Yeah, he remembered how committed Asia was to helping him master that move, very well.

"I always wanted to see through clothes," he said. "I'll think about it."

Asia smiled. "I think we should invite Rossweisse to join us."

"We could definitely use her input," Rias said, joining them. "I'll ask her later."

That saved him the trouble of asking her. It'd be great if he could spend time with Rossweisse without having to sneak around, and this was the perfect way for her to get even closer to Asia and Rias. He'd also be able to break the news to them without making it a huge spectacle.

"Sounds like a plan," he said.

Rias smiled. "Shall we get going, then? I could use a bath right about now. Or a shower. Whatever you'd prefer."

"As long as I get to bathe with Issei!" Asia said.

Issei shut his eyes. Damn it, damn it, this was tough. But he had to be assertive, for Rossweisse's sake. "I can't. Can I take a rain check?"

When he opened his eyes, he saw Asia's curious stare, and Rias' concerned frown. "First you want to sleep alone, and now, you refuse to take a shower with me. I usually wouldn't suggest this, but if it'd make you happy, Asia can join us."

Shit. That was super tempting, and Asia didn't seem to be against the idea. It wouldn't hurt to bathe with them as long as he was careful, but no. He couldn't. Do it for her.

"Maybe some other time," he said. "But I appreciate the offer. Really."

Rias sighed, shaking her head. "If that's what you want." She smiled. "Thanks for joining us today, Issei. You never cease to amaze me."

Issei returned her smile. "I'm happy to help."

But even though he managed to escape from what would've been a great time with two beautiful girls, all he did was delay the inevitable. What was it going to take for him to set some actual boundaries?


The next day, Issei and his friends got to put on a stage show for some devil kids and adult fans. He did his whole shtick as the Grabbing Dragon with Rias playing the Switch Princess, and both of them put in their best effort, but it was Kiba who stole the show as the evil villain.

Honestly, he felt like a fraud, knowing that he didn't need breasts to power up, but if there was one legacy he wanted to leave behind, it was getting people to realize the glory of breasts.

Telling human boys and girls that they could get superpowers from grabbing and poking breasts would get him censured so hard that his grandkids would have it memorized, but if there was any proof devils were different, it was this, but whatever, different values.

Besides, Issei was for the children, everywhere.

Once their part of the show was done, Issei and Kiba were having some bro time complimenting each other's acting skills when Irina came inside their dressing room. She wanted to fill in for the narrator who got injured, but was having a rough time fitting inside her outfit.

That sounded like a job... for Kiba.

But Issei wasn't that brave, so against his better judgement, he tried to help his childhood friend zip up in a private dressing room. The problem was that Irina was too tall and too... big for the pink and white jumpsuit to fit properly. There was a way to force her inside, but who knew how long it'd stay on?

For once, he wasn't looking forward to seeing a hot girl's titties burst out of her top.

"Don't you have one of these things in a bigger size?" Issei asked.

"I wouldn't be asking you to help me if I did!" Irina said.

She was completely embarrassed, and he totally wasn't supposed to be here. He could probably make some adjustments if he had a sewing kit, and –

"I've got an idea. I'll be back in a sec, just hold on, okay?"

Issei didn't even wait for Irina's response to high-tail it out of there, immediately sending Rossweisse a message.

Can you get me a sewing kit? Irina's costume's too tight.

Somehow, he had incredible service on his cell phone. In the Underworld. Whatever this place was, it sure as hell wasn't Hell.

Give me a minute, Rossweisse replied.

Issei smiled to himself. His smile evaporated once he read her follow-up message.

You're way too nice to these girls.

That was a good thing, wasn't it? He was nice to all of his friends. But it felt like an warning. Well, she had nothing to worry about. He had a plan to deal with Irina's tight fit, and once he met up with Rossweisse in private, he told her all about it.

"Are you sure this will work?" she asked, ever the skeptic. "I could help you help Irina, you know."

"If that happens, Irina won't stop asking me to solve all her problems!"

"You can always say no. But then you'd hurt her feelings and you know what? Never mind." Rossweisse sighed, handing him the sewing kit he requested. One from her personal collection, apparently. "Don't take too long, Grabbing Dragon."

Part of him, most of him wanted to thank her with a quick kiss, but he didn't know who was watching, so he just gave her a big smile.

"Don't worry, I got this."

The easy part was done. The hard part was convincing Kiba. Back to the dressing room it was.

"How good are you at sewing?" Issei asked.

Kiba flinched, but recovered fast, setting down his manga. "Good enough. Why do you ask?"

He held out Rossweisse's sewing kit. "Irina needs your help fitting in her costume."

All he got was a blank stare.

"Does Irina know about this?"

"It's a surprise. The real question is, can you do it?"

Kiba's eyes flitted between the sewing kit, Issei's desperate smile, some of the costumes hanging around, his manga. Then he stood up from his chair and took the sewing kit.

"I'll see what I can do."

Issei grinned for real. "My man! I owe you one."

He didn't return his smile, oddly serious. "That isn't necessary. I'm helping you because you're my friend, Issei."

Kiba left the dressing room and Issei watched him go, at a loss for words. Talk about surprises, now that was a real friend. He glanced at the manga his friend was reading. Bleach, huh? Well, Kiba was a swordsman, and this one was all about swinging spirit swords. It sounded right up Kiba's alley.

As he sat down to give it a crack, the dressing room door opened, revealing none other than Xenovia.

"I was wondering where you were, Issei," she said, closing the door behind her, ready to pounce.

Aw, crap.

"Xenovia!" he shouted. "How's it going?"

Xenovia pulled out a book from behind her shorts. Probably with magic, because those shorts were tight.

"I was reading this book Aika gave me. It's called the Kama Sutra, and – "

Issei grabbed his phone, hammered a text to his girlfriend.

HELP.

But Rossweisse couldn't travel at the speed of light, so he'd have to play keepaway. What was Kiryuu teaching these girls?

"Uh, isn't that a bit too advanced for you right now?"

She smirked, and for a second, he remembered the way she'd been before she became a devil: a cunning, overzealous exorcist.

"On the contrary. All I need is a partner to practice these positions with."

Issei wracked his brain, desperate for release – a way out. Who could blame him for that slip? Even in that blocky blue sweater, Xenovia was still hot. Which was exactly his problem.

"Um, erm, what about, uh, Kiba? Yeah, Kiba's a guy! You guys have swords in common!"

"I can cross swords with Kiba anytime. Right now, there's only one man on my mind."

And there was only one woman on his. He saw Kiba's Bleach manga in the corner of his vision, and grabbed it, thrusting it out. Somehow, someway, it stopped Xenovia in her tracks.

"Can we talk about this instead?"

"Get that filth away from me," Xenovia said.

He was nearly floored by her venom, the disdainful sneer that carved her face. Before he could ask about it, in came the cavalry to surround him and Xenovia. Except, his princess was in another castle.

"Kama Sutra?" Akeno said. "How quaint."

This wasn't good. He set aside Kiba's manga; didn't want it to get wrecked in the crossfire.

"Scared, Akeno?" Xenovia said, all calm now.

She smiled, no mirth or joy to be found. "Hardly. I don't need a step-by-step guide or crude drawings to charm Issei."

"You losers try too hard," Koneko said. Unlike the other girls' casual wear, she was dressed up like a cat burglar in all black, a fitting costume for her role as Lady Hellcat. "I just make my move. Works every time."

Xenovia took a seat, but not on the table. She sat on his lap.

"You mean like this?"

His heart skipped a beat. Xenovia's thighs were firm, packed with muscle, but at the same time, they were really soft.

Koneko scowled. "You're doing it wrong."

"How so?" Akeno asked. "Is it her size? I've sat in Issei's lap way before you and he loved it."

It might've been because Xenovia was sitting sideways, but Akeno just had to needle Koneko even worse.

"That's before I showed him the way. Tell 'em, Issei: cats are better than cows or sheep, nyah."

Xenovia huffed. "Since when am I a sheep?"

If Rossweisse walked in right now... He wasn't sure where Rossweisse was, but at this rate, he'd reach the point of no return well before she arrived. It was time to nip this in the bud.

"Can't we all just get along?" Issei asked. "I mean, you all have your strengths." He pointed Xenovia's bicep. "Xenovia gets things done, no questions asked, and she's a fast learner." He waved in Koneko's direction. "Koneko, you're super quick on your feet, and you always tell it like it is. And Akeno, you're not just the epitome of grace, you really know how to make someone feel like a million yen."

Akeno placed a hand on her blushing cheek. "So do you, Issei."

"That's how he is," Koneko said, fighting a smile. "But how can we get along if Xenovia's still hogging him?"

Xenovia got off his lap, though she took her sweet time. "There you go. I understand you a bit better now, Koneko."

"Good. Issei's lap is mine."

"It wouldn't be fair to Koneko if you took away her only advantage, Xenovia," Akeno said. "Get Issei to rest his head on your thighs."

She tilted her head, humming. "I'll give it a try."

He was too 'stiff' to stand up properly, and Akeno's advice wasn't helping. At the same time, he wasn't in the middle of a catfight, so it was worth it.

"Does that mean you're gonna stop fighting each other?" Issei asked, a hopeful smile on his face.

The answer, of course, was a resounding no. Why? Xenovia called it healthy competition, and Akeno agreed, saying it wasn't personal. Koneko hated sharing. Azazel's schedule idea sounded more and more appealing by the second, but it wasn't like he was official with any of them. All he had to do was put his foot down, lay down the law.

Thankfully, he didn't have to do that as Rossweisse entered the room, along with Asia, who was seconds away from running at him before Rossweisse stopped her with an outstretched arm.

"Is everything okay?" Rossweisse asked.

Issei sneaked a peek at his shorts, then gave his girl a thumbs-up. "Definitely!"

"You should have seen him in action, Rossweisse," Akeno said.

"We're all friends now," Koneko said.

Rossweisse smiled. "How swell. It sure beats jockeying for first place."

"That's easy to say when you aren't competing," Xenovia said.

Rossweisse's eyes narrowed. "Competing over what? You shouldn't be taking advantage of Issei's kindness in the first place. That goes for all of you."

The dressing room became dangerously still, tension so thick Issei felt like he was chained to his chair.

Akeno frowned. "Are we taking advantage of you, Issei?"

Hearing her doubt and mounting guilt hit him harder than a gunshot. He wanted to soothe her, tell her she had nothing to worry about, but it wouldn't accomplish anything good in the long run if he left things as they were.

"You aren't," he said, "but I get where Rossweisse's coming from. Maybe you guys can lay off the insults? I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Koneko sighed. "Fine. But only 'cuz it's you."

Xenovia nodded an assent, and eventually, so did Akeno. She was still frowning, violet eyes lidded and heavy. Asia reached out to comfort her, but Akeno brushed her off.

"I never meant to take advantage of you, Issei," Akeno said. "You know that, don't you?"

Issei frowned. "Hey, don't talk like that. You didn't do anything wrong."

She didn't look convinced at all. He never thought she'd take this to heart... this was exactly what he wanted to avoid.

"Issei's right," Asia said. "We all you know mean well, and so does Rossweisse. She just sees things differently. She'd never accuse you of trying to hurt Issei."

Rossweisse nodded. "That's right. I really didn't mean to offend you, Akeno."

Akeno shook her head. "No, it's okay. You didn't. I'm glad that you care about Issei."

So was he. So was he. Rossweisse just smiled, a bit flustered.

Issei took the opportunity to give Akeno a smile of his own, one filled with his affection for her, his concern. She'd been nice to him from day one, teased him in ways he could only dream of until she did it, let him in when she was struggling. He was more than happy to help her, be the support she needed.

As he was mired in his thoughts, Akeno returned his smile, and he seriously appreciated how someone as beautiful and graceful as Akeno didn't reject him out of hand for breathing her air. He was glad to call her a friend, a good friend.

"Shall we get going?" Rossweisse asked. "I imagine Issei needs some time alone. We can talk to him later."

From the tone in her voice, she wouldn't take no for an answer, but Asia and Akeno and Koneko and Xenovia didn't refuse. Once Issei was alone, he leaned back in his chair, taking in a deep breath, before he stared at the Bleach manga Kiba left behind.

Might as well see what damage his little scheme did to the poor guy.


Issei found Kiba in the same dressing room he bolted out of in his attempt to avoid a sticky situation with Irina. He wasn't sure what he'd get to see, but when he saw them sitting on a platform, talking and laughing, he breathed a sigh of relief. Irina was even in her outfit, and it wasn't bursting at the seams.

Well, he wasn't just going to leave Kiba's manga on the nearest table and dip.

"Sorry for interrupting," Issei said, approaching his friends, "but you forgot this, Kiba."

Kiba took his manga back, and returned Rossweisse's sewing kit. It all worked out, just like he hoped.

"Why didn't you come back, Issei?" Irina asked.

Or not. Issei hesitated. How could he put this without sounding like a big jerk?

"I didn't want to screw up, so I asked Kiba for help. Then I got sidetracked. Sorry for running out on you, Irina."

Irina looked right at him, staring so hard it was like she wanted to peer into his soul. Would she figure out the truth? No, that was impossible, she couldn't read his mind like he could read the inner thoughts of a woman's breasts. She blinked, and the pressure faded, going away entirely through the presence of her bright smile.

"I'll forgive you this time, but that's only because Kiba did such a great job!"

Issei smiled, so grateful that he hadn't turned Irina against him.

"It was nothing," Kiba said.

"It wasn't nothing to me," he said. "By the way, it's great to see you two getting along."

"Your friends are really interesting, Issei," Irina said. "But I won't let anything distract me from reaching my goal!"

Kiba only smiled. The strong but silent type, that's who he was.

Same old Irina, he thought. He had a sneaking feeling what that goal was, so it was time to make like a banana and split.

"Don't let me stop you. I'll see you two lovebirds later."

Sewing kit in hand, Issei made a beeline for Rossweisse. If he didn't waste his time, he'd be able to spend some time with her before the rest of the show began, and maybe grab something to drink.

Instead, he ran right into Rias. Well, almost.

"Why do you have a sewing kit, Issei?" she asked.

He shrugged. "It's a long story."

She hadn't changed out of her pink dress and gold tiara since their part of the show ended. Issei, on the other hand, was still chilling in a teal tank top and white shorts.

"Are you busy?"

"Not really, but –"

Her green eyes lit up. "Come with me!"

And just like that, Issei was dragged inside the nearest room, taking a seat on some comfy chairs. The only consolation to not seeing Rossweisse right now was that Rias had an energy drink for him. He didn't mind talking to Rias, not at all, but when it came to standing his ground, he let himself down again.

Rias didn't waste any time, though. She told him all about this little kid she met who was desperate to meet the Grabbing Dragon, and even though he was crying his eyes out, Rias had been able to calm him down, inspiring him to be strong and brave so he could find his own Switch Princess, one he truly loved with all his heart.

"The manager wasn't too pleased that I was willing to speak to your fan, but it was worth seeing the smile on his face."

There was a gentle smile gracing Rias' full lips right now.

"Guess you like being a Switch Princess after all," he said.

She blushed a bit. "I'm coming around to it. You've been a big help, of course, but knowing I can inspire all sorts of people makes all the difference."

Issei smiled. "Helps that I don't need to, you know."

"That too," she said, laughing. "But like I told you, we can always do that when we're alone. After all, you're pretty good with your hands."

Since the door was still open, he wouldn't have to worry about anyone barging in, but whether power boosts were involved or not, even though Rias' breasts never ceased to amaze him, it was way too intimate for his liking. He was saved from having to refuse a taste of Heaven thanks to a pair of visitors: Rias' nephew Millicas and Rias' mother.

They showered him with compliments about the show and how it was supporting the Gremory family, and he took it in stride. Devils needed money, they needed food and entertainment, and since he was one of them, he could do his share to make up for all the good Rias had done for him.

"I won't let you down, Ms. President's mom, don't you worry!" he said.

"Thank you," she said, "but I'd prefer you call me something else." She lifted his chin with her gloved hand, and he got to make eye contact with her pretty amethyst eyes. "You can call me Mother, if you'd like."

"S – sure," he said. Wow, what a knockout; Rias' mother put the M in MILF. He'd call her whatever she wanted him to, he just didn't understand why she wanted to call him Mother when he wasn't even dating her daughter.

"You needn't be so formal, Issei, be it with me or my daughter. I'm not sure why you're still call Rias 'President' when you're clearly much closer than mere master and servant."

"Just trying to be respectful."

Though even as he said it, he fought the urge to cringe. Rias' mother let him go, patting his cheek.

"Respect is all well and good, but Rias has chosen you. Do you understand how significant that is?"

Was she talking about that special trial he helped Rias with? That was important, but it wasn't as if Rias choosing him for that was supposed to be special.

"Good question."

"Perhaps you should think about everything you've been through with Rias. Then you'll understand." Then Rias' mother turned to her daughter. "It's not just Issei that needs to do some thinking, Rias. If you're serious about him, then don't leave him in the dark."

"Of course, Mother," Rias said.

They said their goodbyes, and once again, Issei was left alone with Rias. His president, his King, his Master. Was it really such a problem to be so formal with her?

Rias walked towards the door, looking over her shoulder. "Once we get back home, we should start preparing for the upcoming festival. I'm sorry about my mother, by the way. She worries too much."

"Don't worry about it, Prez," Issei said. "That's what mothers do."

She smiled, a wistful one. "I know. I'll see you around."

Once Rias left, Issei felt his shoulders sag. He needed to give Rossweisse her sewing kit back, but as he went to find her, he became lost in thought, so much so that he almost didn't spot his girlfriend leaning against a wall when they crossed paths near the dressing room he'd used.

"There you are," Rossweisse said. "Did your plan work?"

"It didn't blow up in my face."

She smiled, showing him her perfect white teeth. "That's good to hear."

Rossweisse took her sewing kit from his hands, letting her fingers slide against his. With nothing but a thought, her kit disappeared in a flash of crimson light.

"I underestimated how much your friends care about you."

Issei blinked, and it wasn't because of the light. "What do you mean?"

"They all adore you. I shouldn't be surprised, but that's what I get for assuming it was only physical."

"It isn't?" he asked.

"No, Issei, it isn't. Perhaps you were right to keep this secret."

Before, he would've agreed, but now, it felt like he was lying through his teeth.

"I dunno. I mean, I did try to tell the president the other day, but I got cold feet. I'm really trying, you know, but it isn't easy."

"I don't blame you. You really are a good friend, and I'll admit, it is a bit frustrating to see you show so much affection to other women." Rossweisse looked around, before clasping his hands. "But that doesn't mean I regret choosing you."

Issei smiled, staring into his girlfriend's sparkling eyes. Since no one was watching, he pulled her into a warm hug. She returned it, embracing his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her waist, nestling his head into the crook of her neck.

"Thanks, Rossweisse. That really means a lot."

"I'm here for you, Issei. Always."

Her voice was so soft, so sincere that he knew she wasn't lying to him. How could she, when she accepted his trauma and helped him become better? He hoped, yearned that he could return the favour, any way he could.

Then one day, Rossweisse would never have to worry about not being good enough ever again.