The ordeal with Valkenhayn was in a rather positive note for Ragna. Rachel opened the door to see Valkenhayn, Nago and Gii eavesdropping to their conversation, and the baffled expressions were exposed on their faces. It turned into a soured scared expression as Rachel shook her head and gave them a scowl. He couldn't even believe that he witnessed Valkenhayn looking so scared and sweating rapidly while both of her stuff toys cower behind the old man's back. Rachel severely lectured the three of them, her eyes filled with deadly venom as her tone was cold and harsh. Honestly, if Rachel was doing that to him instead, he would literally kneel before her and beg for her mercy. The way she scolded them sent shivers down on his spine. He never imagined the girl in this situation, and seeing it live made him thankful that she was never like this when placing him back on the right track.

Time sure flew fast as they were back on her room before he knew it. Rachel still retained her casual clothing, with the socks and boots removed and placed back on their respective cabinets, while his signature jacket was neatly placed on the top of another table along with her shoes. Ragna was sitting on the bed as he lazily held on Rachel's shoulder as she let the girl had the privilege to squeeze his cheeks without any consequence. She was on top of him, her legs wrapped around his waist as support. Short giggles escaped on her lips as she took advantage on his face by pinching his nose and ears, playing with his white hair, and sticking out her tongue as she does all of those.

Ragna kept leering at her whenever she giggled. "Are you done, rabbit?"

This was the sixth time he asked that. Quite repetitive for her ears. She stuck out her tongue playfully. "No."

"When will you stop?" He wanted to ask her something, and he had no courage to ask her when she was having fun like this.

Rachel ceased her work and thought for an answer. "I don't think I will stop myself. I don't even know why I cannot hold myself back anymore. It was honestly quite frightening that I'm acting out of my usual manner."

"Since you stopped now," He carefully carried Rachel off him and placed her next to him. "Are we... a thing now?"

Without hesitation, she gazed straight at his eyes. "Yes."

"Uh..." Really? All it took was just one shitty confession for her? "No things for me to do that proves that I really love you? Like, giving you flowers everyday, and, whatever you want me to do?"

His baffled expression was definitely priceless, enough to not trigger her anger from his dumb question. "Why would I even bother to ask you to be more formal, more sophisticated, have better IQ, and other things I wish you would change? Why in the world would I even need to change your unlikable attitude just to suit my taste?"

Note-to-self: Never fuel Rachel's anger. Ragna gulped in fear. Being bombarded with hard-hitting questions was out of his power to answer in one swift motion. He was sweating in buckets now. He needed to calm down. "Because... we're different, and I'm not the best person to be with, for your standard. And, I do have to make an effort, you know?"

He knew that he had to change something from himself, so their future relationship would last a lifetime, despite the incoming obstacles they would face together.

The girl shook her head in disapproval. "Ragna, that will be just forcing ourselves to be together."

"Forcing ourselves together?" This was making him dumber than ever.

Oh, how she wished he would improve his common sense. "You do not have any clue about how true love works, do you?"

Ragna fell silent and averted his gaze to the ground.

"Ragna."

No answer.

Rachel sighed in defeat and rubbed her head against his chest. The man was taken aback by her sudden act, which he never even thought of Rachel doing.

"You are really such an idiot." She cupped his cheeks to make him stare back at her. "I have fallen for you for who you are, and by acknowledging your feelings toward me, I am accepting you as a whole, no matter how many traits that I do not like on you."

He flashed a cocky grin. "So that means I can still act rude toward you?"

She pinched his cheeks harder each words she spoke. "Yes. You. Can."

"Well then," His speech were gibberish thanks to Rachel, but he would soon gain the upper hand. Grabbing hold of her wrist firmly, he planted a quick kiss on her right cheek. "Two can play this game, bunny-leech."

Rachel grinned, happy to know that their usual smack-talk had took the next step. "You still have yet to seal our love before you do anything drastic."

Ragna's lips formed into a demonic smile. "Oh, I will do the seal, alright." He clasped his hands and rubbed it together, chuckling darkly.

The girl was aware on where this will head to. "I fully suggest you use your head in your head than in your crotch."

That definitely broke Ragna's self-esteem. He roared Rachel's name in extreme humiliation as his cheeks flushed bright red. Rachel celebrated her victory by giggling non-stop as he suffer from a breakdown. In the end, Ragna let that one slide. He would get his revenge one day. And that day was when he was finally free to do what he wished to do with Rachel.

A/N: I'm no good at writing chapter stories, especially for a scheduled one. Sorry for the bad quality. Personal life got in the way, and my exhaustion too. Hope you reader still enjoyed it nonetheless. And Happy Holidays.