In the heart of the lush Tempest forests, Luminous Valentine lounged beside a tranquil pool, her ever-regal gaze fixed on her current project: convincing a decidedly unenthusiastic Hinata Sakaguchi to try on a bikini she'd picked out. Luminous' expression was smug, though her eyes sparkled with clear anticipation.

"Oh, come on, Hinata," Luminous purred, holding up a tiny black bikini with a gleam in her eye. "This would look exquisite on you! It's about time you let loose and enjoyed some frivolity. I simply can't let you hide beneath that armor forever."

Hinata crossed her arms, face impassive but resolute. "The answer's still no, Luminous. And this is the fifth time you've tried this. I'm not here for your fashion experiments."

Luminous grinned, unperturbed. "Don't be such a spoilsport. It's not every day I get to see you out of uniform. The… contrast," she emphasized with a teasing lilt, "is just too tempting."

Hinata looked away, cheeks tinged with the faintest pink, but her tone remained steadfast. "It's never going to happen, Luminous."

As the two continued their back-and-forth, a small, curious form wriggled out of the bushes nearby. Rimuru, in his slime form, bounced over to the two women, observing them with a look of interest.

"What are you two arguing about now?" Rimuru asked innocently, clearly sensing the tension.

Luminous shot Rimuru an annoyed glare, her delicate eyebrows twitching. "This doesn't concern you, slime," she said coldly, turning back to Hinata. "Go find somewhere else to be."

"Hey! I live here, too, you know," Rimuru huffed. "And just because I'm a slime doesn't mean I don't have feelings!"

Hinata smirked to herself. An idea started forming in her mind—a little mischief to balance the scales after Rimuru had polished off all the sushi at their last feast without leaving her a single piece. She gave a slight, almost mischievous smile.

"Well, Luminous," she began casually, "since I won't be wearing the swimsuit, why not let Rimuru here give it a try?"

Rimuru froze, the very idea almost too much to process. "Wh-what?" he stammered, bouncing back slightly, looking horrified.

Luminous turned to Hinata with a frown, clearly unamused at first. "Are you honestly suggesting I waste my efforts by…dressing up this slime?"

Hinata shrugged, expression nonchalant but a hint of mirth in her eyes. "Think about it, though. It'd be… memorable, wouldn't it?"

Rimuru was already backing away, realizing just how dangerous his situation had become. "Hold on, hold on! Let's not get hasty here! I'm just a slime! I wouldn't even look good in a swimsuit!"

"Oh, I think you're underestimating yourself," Luminous said with a wicked grin, a newfound interest gleaming in her eyes as she considered the prospect. "Besides, if you're going to insist on intruding, you may as well contribute."

Luminous held the bikini up, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Come now, Rimuru. Don't be shy."

"You're not seriously considering this, are you?" Rimuru asked, edging back a little more, even though he was fully aware there was no easy escape route from the two of them.

"Oh, but we are," Hinata said with a little smirk, finally allowing herself to indulge in the idea. "It might just teach you not to hog all the food next time."

"W-wait, this is because of the sushi?" Rimuru wailed, desperately scanning the area for any sign of retreat. "I was hungry! That's all!"

But Hinata's resolve had only strengthened, and Luminous seemed fully won over. She stepped forward, the bikini clutched like a weapon as Rimuru attempted to slither out of reach. "You've avoided my fun long enough," Luminous said with a chuckle, now moving in with the predatory grace of the vampire she was. "Hinata, if you'd be so kind?"

Hinata moved to cut Rimuru off with a quick sidestep, blocking his path of escape. Rimuru tried to dart the other way, but Luminous swooped in, trapping him between the two of them. With a little leap, she tossed the bikini right onto Rimuru's slimy form, where it clung in the most undignified manner.

"Ah! Get it off! Get it off!" Rimuru wriggled and squirmed, but the two women only watched with barely-concealed laughter as he tried to shake off the swimsuit, to no avail.

"Oh, it fits him perfectly," Luminous noted, pretending to assess Rimuru with a critical eye. "Wouldn't you say so, Hinata?"

"Absolutely," Hinata agreed, her usual stoic expression softened by a small, but genuine, smile of amusement. "I might even say it suits him better than expected."

Rimuru, now completely flustered, gave up wriggling and finally slumped in defeat. "Fine! You've made your point. Now can I please take this off?"

Luminous tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Hmm… maybe I'll allow it. But only after a photo."

Rimuru squeaked in horror, already anticipating the blackmail to come. "A photo? No way!"

But with a flash of light, Luminous captured the image on a small, enchanted crystal before Rimuru could react.

"Oh, don't look so sour," Luminous teased. "Just a little something to remember the occasion by."

Rimuru heaved a deep sigh.

The next day, the scene was set at a bustling dining hall in Tempest, with long tables laden with platters of sushi and all manner of delicacies. Hinata sat at the center of the table, eagerly indulging in an impressive stack of sushi plates, savoring each bite without a care in the world. Rimuru, however, stood across from her in his human form, arms crossed, and wearing his regal Demon Lord outfit, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"There," Rimuru said flatly, his tone carrying a hint of frustration. "Are we even now?"

Hinata didn't bother to look up, too engrossed in the delicate flavors of each sushi roll to pay him any mind. She picked up another piece, popping it into her mouth with an expression of pure satisfaction, completely ignoring Rimuru's question. It was clear she had no intention of stopping—or answering.

Rimuru sighed, rubbing his temples. "Honestly, I went through a whole day of embarrassment for this, and you can't even give me a yes or no?" His expression softened as he mumbled, mostly to himself, "I don't know if this was worth it…"

He barely finished his thought when he felt a soft, delicate presence behind him. Luminous Valentine, in her elegant gown and bearing a devilish grin, leaned in close—far too close for Rimuru's comfort. Her voice, smooth and silky, whispered playfully into his ear.

"Hmm, such a serious expression for such a cute Demon Lord…" Luminous purred, her warm breath grazing his ear. "I almost miss the way you looked in that little swimsuit yesterday…"

Rimuru stiffened, his cheeks instantly flushing crimson as he backed away from her, almost tripping over his feet. "L-Luminous!" he stammered, attempting to regain his composure. "That was… that was yesterday! You got your laugh, so let's drop it, alright?"

Luminous chuckled, her eyes glinting mischievously as she took a step forward, closing the distance he'd tried to create. "Oh, don't be so shy. You were adorable," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. "I may have captured a bit of your charm in that moment for… safekeeping."

"You didn't!" Rimuru gawked, mortified.

"Oh, I absolutely did," Luminous replied smoothly, waving her hand dismissively. "Don't worry. I only keep it for myself… unless, of course, you want to give me a reason to share it."

Rimuru swallowed, glancing over at Hinata in the hope she might rescue him, but she was still too busy eating to notice his plight. Rimuru muttered under his breath, "Great, just leave me to the wolves…"

Sensing his discomfort, Luminous let out a soft, mocking sigh. "Relax, Rimuru. I'm only teasing," she said, her smirk softening just a bit. "Consider it… repayment for all the times you've interrupted my fun."

"Uh-huh, sure," Rimuru said, still flustered but trying to shake off his embarrassment. He shot a glare at Hinata, who was still polishing off her sushi. "I see how it is. It's fine when I'm the one in the hot seat."

Finally, Hinata looked up, wiping her mouth with a napkin, a faint, satisfied smile on her face. "Well, it was entertaining, I'll admit," she said with a shrug. "Besides, I thought you'd like the attention."

Rimuru sighed. "Yeah, well, maybe some things are best left unnoticed," he grumbled, straightening his posture. Despite his flustered look, he felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth as he glanced between Hinata and Luminous.

"You two are dangerous," he muttered with a shake of his head. "Guess that's just something I'll have to get used to, huh?"

Luminous gave him a sly wink, a faint laugh escaping her lips. "Oh, you have no idea."