He who is no longer an ordinary man

III

Was it fine for him to be anxious?

It felt like it would be fine for him to be anxious.

Perfectly normal reaction.

"Roman, if you smile any harder, you're going to break your teeth."

Leona whispered to him and he was shocked at it.

He didn't even know he was smiling.

Just like that, the tension slipped away from his face and it was replaced with fatigue and soreness, he raised a hand and rubbed away at his lips as if that would remove the feeling. He had no idea he had been doing it that badly, or for how long.

"Do you think we should have brought something?"

"Like what?" Leona sounded more curious than dismissive, which was expected. She would probably take whatever he said seriously.

The problem was that he didn't have much of an idea of what they were supposed to have brought, it just felt like it was the right thing to do when you got invited round someones house.

Especially when they were neighbours.

Or, well, landlords.

Rather literal ones at that.

So he just shrugged. "A casserole?"

He cringed as soon as he said it, turning his head and rubbing the back of his neck.

Did he really go and say something like that?

If the ground could open up and swallow him whole, he might appreciate it.

Leona sighed, then took hold of his hand and dragged him closer to her, voice dropping into a whisper.

"You don't need to worry about trying to make an impression on them already, Roman. I think you've done more than enough to warrant a slight absence of friendly casseroles…Though maybe next time, hmm?"

Next time?

Romani thinned his lips. "I don't even know how to make a casserole."

"You can help me make it then."

"Do they like casserole?"

"We can ask them."

Okay, that was good.

Operation casserole.

Actually, Rias would probably know, wouldn't she? So maybe he could ask her if there was some food that their parents liked on the off chance they got invited around again and they could at least show a bit more gratitude for all they did.

That did raise a question.

"...Do you have an idea why we're being invited?"

Leona shrugged. "No more than you, but the Gremory's are a rather friendly family. They do so love to showcase their affection towards their close allies and friends rather openly to the point it's become something of a staple for their image."

That didn't sound like a particularly bad image to have.

"So it's probably nothing?"

"Could be."

Then she sighed and glanced up at him, eyes soft.

"Don't worry too much about it, Roman. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"And even if it is, you needn't worry. We shall all endeavour to keep you safe."

That came from the other side and was certainly a touch mocking, though at least it wasn't malicious.

But it did very little for his sense of serenity for the situation, turning his eyes onto the girl he flattened his gaze.

"You're probably used to this sort of thing, I take it?"

Akeno rolled her lips and shrugged. "It does happen on occasion, but the chances had been fewer since Rias moved away to the surface. Though growing up in her peerage, it was more often a sight to find myself at the table of the Gremory family and subject to a rather rigorous interrogation."

Her eyes flashed, her lips curled up.

"I dare say that they shall drain you rather swiftly."

…Could he be nervous now?

"...Of?"

"The chefs like to have an idea of those they are cooking for." Akeno continued on without an ounce of hesitation. "So the greatest thing you have to fear within that house would be a man asking you for your favourite meal or perhaps a fondness of childhood sweets."

…Seriously?

That sounded a little intense for just some food.

He wasn't quite sure if she was joking or not either, there was nothing to tell him that she was.

But it was her normal smile.

So it could go either way.

"...Uh-huh."

He turned back to see what Leona thought of this.

And she was just nodding her head as if she heard something perfectly reasonable, so that was just fine.

"If I were to be honest, I am surprised it has taken this long for them to extend an invitation for you."

"Really?"

"Mmmh." Akeno nodded her head, looking truly intrigued about the topic. Her chin pinched between her fingers. "Though perhaps they were giving you a chance to settle in first? Or maybe you were too busy running yourself ragged to know about that."

Ah-hah.

She might have been smiling, but her eyes weren't all that funny.

It was like being scolded without being scolded.

"...Not that ragged."

Akeno dropped the smile entirely.

Her gaze turned cold and stony.

Romani was not fool enough to weather something like that, so he did the smart thing and quickly turned away from her and straight ahead.

Though he was pointedly aware of Leona giving him the same stare from the opposite side.

Did they plan this or something?

If he turned around and looked for solace elsewhere, would he find Asia giving him that exact same stare?

It felt like he would.

"So…do I…bow?"

"...Bow?"

Akeno sounded rather bemused.

"Why would you ask such a thing?"

He didn't realise he was being silly-

"Of course you bow."

Huh?

He looked down at her with brows raised.

Akeno frowned, hands on her hips.

"Better yet, as you are human, it would be wise for you to get on your hands and knees and prostrate yourself immediately to them when they arrive. They might also ask you to kiss their feet as well and-"

Romani felt his expression slip away as he stared down at her.

Akeno no longer showed the interest in continuing, the cracks in her performance showed until she was chortling through her words.

Right around the time she got to him having to speak many numerous titles as well.

"Akeno…"

Rias voice echoed from up ahead, though it sounded resigned.

Akeno looked far from apologetic. "He looks much too tense, Buchou. Surely you assured him that there were no worries to be had?"

"Well, I did try to explain that. He's already met my father-"

"I met him when he visited the school." Romani felt his expression strain just a little. "And that was when he was there as just another parent…this is me going round the house of him, his wife and also one of the rulers of the Underworld. I think I am handling this pretty well."

He turned to one of the few people he was sure would understand his plight.

"Right?"

Issei blinked and looked up, "Huh? What? Buchou's parents? They're nice."

…Wait, was that it?

"...So…they were fine?"

Issei cocked a brow and tilted his head, looking more confused.

Really, Romani felt he should have been the confused one here.

"...Yeah? I mean, they seemed alright when I met them. We kinda talked for a little bit, they went off and spoke with my parents about something and then…"

He trailed off with a shrug.

"Yeah, they're nice people. I can see where Buchou got her boo-her looks from."

Romani stared at him.

Issei stared right back, eyes flitting away to the side.

"...That's not really something I was in a rush to know."

"...I couldn't ignore it."

Of course he couldn't.

Romani slumped his shoulders and sighed, turning back around as they approached the gates.

Well.

They were not exactly a picket fence.

And it was definitely a mansion.

Rather, if someone were to look up the definition of a mansion in the dictionary, not having a picture of this felt like it was doing it a disservice.

Romani felt his neck crane as he looked further and further up at their approach, eyes flicking to the windows - the few dozen of them that there were - which signaled the multiple floors of the building. Several of them, not to mention the fact it was about as wide as the school he used to work at was.

"...That's a lot of space, isn't it?"

Leona let out a small hum beside him. "Imagine how many craft rooms I could fit in something like that."

Romani chuckled. "I think you'd still find a way to run out of space before the end of the year."

"Oh?" She poked his cheek, he felt her grin in her words. "Are you underestimating me, Roman?~"

Oh yes.

Most definitely.

"Oh?"

Rias, from up ahead, turned about to face them, her eyes widening as if she had somehow just considered something.

"If you wish for more room, we can arrange for extensions to be made onto your current house."

"...I'm…erm…fine with it."

"We'll think about it."

They would?

"We will?"

Leona smiled. "Yes."

"...I guess we will."

Rias looked between them, brow raised, then shrugged her shoulders and turned back around.

Apparently they would think about it.

Also she was just going to offer to build them a bigger house just like that?

Rich people could be scary sometimes.

Gathering his confidence, he raised himself up as much as he could the moment he watched Rias open up the door.

He wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to expect when the door opened and they were all led inside.

If he were to be honest, he expected to walk in and find rows upon rows of butlers and maids all lined up and waiting to receive them.

Then again, that might have been a little stereotypical of him to assume, so he just sort of put the thought away and decided that if that did end up happening, he would just blot it all out so he didn't get even more anxious about meeting them.

Of course, then Romani stepped through the door and all of his expectations just sort of blew up in his face.

Which was kind of typical, really.

"Hey, Roman."

It was a casual getting reserved for friends that you were not shocked in the least about seeing.

Clearly something the person in front of him could afford to do.

Romani just sort of stood there as his brain tried and failed to catch up with it.

Blinking once, then twice, he tilted his neck and stared at them.

Were they a trick of the mind or something?

No, that would be a weird hallucination.

"...Hey, Penny."

She smiled and lowered her hand. "Surprise?"

Who was being surprised here?

He felt like he was.

But then he glanced about and saw similar expressions on the face of the others as well.

So…a surprise for everyone?

No, wait.

Was this weird or not?

Romani kept his brow raised.

"...Did you get invited as well?"

Penemue - he was always just going to think of her as Penny though - offered a strained smile as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Something like that, although it was more like I got strung along as soon as someone found out that I was in the area. Azazel came around for a visit and I was serving as his aid and then one thing led to another."

She sighed, slipping her hands into the pockets of her coat and made a carefree face.

"Hope that my presence doesn't come off as too intrusive, Lady Gremory."

It was a relatively short silence that followed.

"Well." Rias cleared her throat. "If it is by the word of my parents and with the permission of my brother that you are here, who am I to deny them? Though I would like to hope you find our family generosity to your liking?"

Penny gave a rather brief look around, lips in a faint and casual smile, then she dropped her eyes back to the group.

"You've got a very nice house here."

"Why thank you."

"Ah, Rias!"

Romani glanced up at the voice from across the length of the doorway and up the stairs.

Standing right at the summit, in a very smart suit, was Zeoticus.

Smiling fondly, the man briskly descended.

"You're all here! I hope that trip was nothing too arduous? The notion for the carriage did not even occur to me until after I got word of how far you all were from the house. But please, do not hesitate to ask for a ride back, I shall see to it all post-haste."

That was really generous of him.

"And Romani!"

He jolted at the sudden intrusion of his personal space, Zeoticus looking rather disheartened.

"I am terribly sorry that it has taken us so long to invite you around for a meeting. I fear that I have been a rather poor host in that regard."

Huh?

What?

When?

Who?

"I-It's fine? Uhm…"

Why was he being apologised for not being invited around this house immediately?

It was not like it bothered him or anything.

Actually, he was fine with not being made a big spectacle of.

"You had a lot of other stuff on your plate and your son was hurt so…"

Zeoticus flinched almost minutely at the mention of Sirzechs, Romani wanted to kick himself for being so careless with that comment.

"Even so…" The man gathered himself and drew in a breath, shifting into a more serene smile. "It is fortunate that you are all here now. My daughter and her many, many friends. Something of a dream to play host to such a wide array of people."

He stepped back, then immediately dropped to the side of said girl with a chuckle.

"But it was all as expected, I knew my daughter was the popular sort."

"Father…" It was a minute whine, Rias shifted in the hold of the man and parted away from him.

Zeoticus chuckled. "Come now, Rias. Indulge me, it has been too long since we had your friends around for meals."

Romani wasn't sure how comfortable he was being labelled as her friend.

Was it weird?

He shared a brief glance with Penny as his thoughts bubbled at the surface and she looked back at him with a strange sense of understanding, though he could have sworn that there was something else in her gaze as well.

"Then again, there are quite a few other guests already here."

"Are we hosting a party?"

Romani tensed and went a bit stiff.

He really hoped he hadn't just been invited to a party while still in his work clothes.

That would be mortifying.

Zeoticus light chuckle was like someone tearing lead weights off his shoulders, more so when he waved his hand as if to brush away the thoughts.

"Nothing at all like that, Rias. We are merely celebrating your brother's recovery and making use of the many allies who have come here to wish him well during this time…it is not often we have distinguished guests such as these."

Romani let out a faint breath. "So he's getting better then? That's good."

Zeoticus glanced back at him, he looked a bit touched by the words as well. "He is. Slow indeed, but he's my son. Of course he could bounce back from something like this and I dare say he shall return stronger than before. Such is the way of Gremory's and he would not hold the title of Lucifer if he could be felled so easily."

Even Romani could tell just how troubled the guy was about all of this.

But that was expected.

It was his son they were talking about.

And someone had tried to kill them.

Maybe it might have been a bit forwards of him but…

Romani slipped away from Leona and took a couple steps forwards, coming up beside Zeoticus and holding a faint and what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

"He'll be alright."

There was a short silence, then the man seemed to slump only a little before he puffed himself back up.

"I am pleased you have such confidence, my daughter chooses her friends well."

"Roman has a knack for those instincts of his."

Penny suddenly spoke up, he turned her way and saw the faint smile on her lips.

"He's good with those gut feelings. So if he's saying that your son will pull through and make a full recovery, then you can trust him on that."

Well, he didn't know what to say about such confidence in his words.

But he couldn't help but feel like she was alluding to something else.

…Was she?

She…might have been.

…They hadn't met one another since the…

…

Romani rubbed the back of his neck and glanced down, breaking eye contact.

"Sorry, for suddenly-"

"No, it is fine." Zeoticus rumbled a laughter, "Truly. I am grateful for your confidence in my son and I know my wife shall be as well. But please, do not let me keep you standing around for much longer, the other guests present will doubtless wish to speak with you all as well."

Alright, now he was a little curious.

"...See you soon then?"

He stopped, then waved a hand around.

"Also it's a nice house. Very big."

Zeoticus beamed. "Thank you."

Then he frowned.

"I understand your house is on the small side, if you want, we could make arrangements to have it expanded?"

…Were they all operating on the same wavelength or something?

And yes.

That was definitely Akeno giggling at his expense when she caught sight of his face.

He didn't know what expression he made, but it must have been hilarious.

"...That's fine." Romani replied slowly. "You don't need to go out of your way for that."

Zeoticus hummed. "Well, if you say so. But the offer remains open."

He believed that.

"Now then."

The Devil glanced across and raised his hand, gesturing. "Gwladus, if you would be so kind as to show our guests the way?"

Who?

"Certainly, Master."

Romani turned his head about.

There was a woman here now.

A maid, rather, and he had no idea when she even got here. Midnight black hair which flowed past her shoulders, the slightly shorter woman bowed her head and then brought it up to gaze at them.

"If the guests would please follow me."

And then she turned around and started to walk off.

Romani just sort of stood there, at least until someone snorted by his side.

"You look like you're about to pass out."

Did he?

"Do I?"

Penny made a so-so gesture. "To be honest, it's more like when you let a puppy into a new room and it just sort of stares about and has no idea where it's supposed to go."

Charming image.

"Thanks. I certainly feel it."

Why would he argue with something he agreed with?

"I take it you're used to this sort of thing then?"

"What? Taking strolls around Devil homes in the middle of the underworld? No, I can't say that it's a familiar experience."

Her tone was kept rather light as she walked along beside him, he flattened his gaze as he turned on her slowly.

That wasn't quite what he meant and she knew that.

Her lips curled upwards as her eyes dropped to him. "Just think of them as a big house and you'll do fine. You're lucky with the Gremory's, most of them prefer familiarity over ceremony when you fall into the category of friends or friends of friends…or family of peerages."

Family of peerages.

Then where were Issei's parents?

Or had they already arrived or something?

"I'm really only her guardian."

Penny gave him a look that spoke volumes of incredulity before shaking her head. "Yeah, if you say so but I guarantee that the moment she calls you dad, you're going to just die on the spot."

"She won't call me dad and I wouldn't do that."

The eyes remained unblinking.

"She wouldn't and I wouldn't."

Could she stop looking as if she didn't believe him?

And if he could stop sounding like he was trying to make feeble defences, he would appreciate it as well.

"So how have you been?"

Very slowly, she raised an eyebrow at him.

Yes, he had been a bit obvious with wanting to change the subject, but he also wanted to know.

He was worried about her.

She looked unharmed but that didn't mean she was unharmed.

"You sort of vanished after…"

He trailed off and pursed his lips, she wore an equal expression of discomfort before sighing.

"It…it's been stressful for the last few days. I'm more shocked at how easily we all slipped back into it, really."

"Into what?"

Her smile turned sad, even empty.

"...Battle preparations. I guess we never really lost any of that? Kokabiel would have fit right into it though."

That crazy guy who wanted to start another war?

Well…

Maybe he would have done.

"Didn't you say he also hated the other two as well?"

She inclined her head in a nod. "Alright, there was that as well but when it came to fighting he was always to the up and coming guy. Pretty much handled most of the war effort logistics for the most part and…no, I don't think you really want to hear about this, do you?"

Not especially.

But at the same time.

"...Are you alright?"

Penny thinned her lips, her shoulders dropped and her eyes moved away.

"...No."

He wanted to say something that might comfort her, or at least do something to make her feel better.

But what could he say?

That it would be alright?

That was already not true.

"...You've got people to support you, you know?"

Penny let out a faint chuckle. "Roman, if I should see your skinny ass anywhere near a battlefield again, I will personally hog-tie you and dump you back at your wife's feet."

…

The two of them slowly turned about to the faint and almost muffled sound of laughter.

He was unsurprised to find Akeno and Leona directly behind them wearing faces that looked as if they had been cut from stone.

Devoid of any emotion.

So Akeno could get over her feelings when it came to bullying him, could it?

He wasn't sure if he could be happy about that or not.

With a shake of the head, he turned back around and faced her. "Well…I wasn't really planning on doing something like that, to be honest."

"Good. I want you to become an old and senile man."

"That sounds like you're trying to curse me here."

"I'm wishing you a long life."

"Yeah, but you said it like a curse."

"Okay, I wish for you to become frail."

"That's not any better, you know?"

Penny grinned, it was perhaps the brightest sort of expression she made so far. "So you want to remain a regular jock even up in your years? I had no idea."

Romani rolled his eyes, of course he hadn't said something like that.

But it was nice to know she cared.

"What about Azz? How is he getting on?"

Her smile dimmed. "...He's been a little busy lately. I can tell that he'd rather be locked away in his lab and working on his latest semi-insane invention."

Trading a brief glance over her shoulder, she leaned towards him and dropped her voice into a whisper.

"If you could come and visit at some point just to get his mind away from the war for a couple hours, I'd appreciate it."

She even needed to ask that?

"I'll see what I can do, but there's a lot of responsibilities here as well."

Penny leaned back with a hum and a nod of the head, but she also looked a little bit bemused as well.

Like he'd said something surprising.

"Yeah, I heard about that but…you really went and became a doctor-slash-representative for everyone in the town?"

Representative was stretching it a bit.

He…was that how people saw him?

Rubbing the back of his neck, he found himself a little unsettled by the idea.

"Well, I am qualified to be a doctor and it seemed like the best use of my skills."

Penny made a small 'hmph'. "I hope you've not been overworked, I mean…look at this."

Next thing he knew, her hands were in his hair and pulling out the faint streaks of white. He could see her eyes narrow somewhat as they dropped down to his own, letting go of it when he pulled his hair back down.

"I said I wanted to see you frail, I didn't say by the end of the week."

He sighed. "Yes, yes. The stress is driving my hair white…also something to do with spells my body can't handle."

She grumbled and folded her arms.

He didn't quite hear what she said, but it sounded displeased.

Was it just the week when everyone would come crawling out of the woodwork to tell him how very worried they were about him?

Because he was definitely a bit flustered under all the attention he was receiving and he could only give the same answer so many times.

His eyes flicked ahead to the door, the moment it was opened ahead of them - leading them into another room - he became aware of a conversation already ongoing and a rather…well…

The laugh that he heard was borderline angelic.

Not even in the literal sense but it was such a melodious laughter that he had to stop for a brief moment to comprehend that he hadn't just imagined it.

How did a person laugh like that?

"Now that is a laugh."

He turned his head very slowly towards Leona as she strode past him, he saw that grin on her lips and knew what he should expect.

"Well, that's that then."

Penny grumbled something in agreement. "This is gonna be something at least."

Either he was imagining it, or Penny very much sounded as if she was eager to see what was going to come next. Romani had an idea that she might have some clue as to who was in that room.

"-ure that means he valued your friendship so deeply that he saw you as an equal."

The voice met his ears.

…Okay, wow.

That was definitely a voice.

It was spoken by a person.

Somehow.

Romani was unsure what he was supposed to be feeling when he heard a voice as rich and as smooth as that. Heck, having it meet his ears made him shudder in a strange way to the point where he felt almost dirty having heard the voice when stood next to his actual wife.

Pursing his lips, he leaned back ever so slightly and heard the muffled chortle of Penny.

Sending her a side-eye and a huff, he marched onwards as Leona just walked through the door and into the room like she owned it.

Likely seeking out the speaker for a proposition or something-

"Beautiful!~"

Or she would just walk in there and loudly shout out praise in italian.

Romani wasn't all that surprised.

But he should probably hurry along.

Quickening his steps and fully aware of how that might have made him look - did it make him look eager or something? Yikes. - he sent a thankful smile to the maid as he passed them by and came up right beside Leona, entering the room and briefly taking note of the fact it was definitely large.

Overhanging portraits of a multitude of different paintings and all were quite well done.

…He still thought Leona's were better, but he might have been a touch spoiled when it came to praising art.

Huh.

Maybe that was what she was-

Then he turned his head and the notion was banished from him quickly.

"Oh!"

The smooth voice, the one that sounded like silk spun into words, came from perhaps one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life.

Literally, bar none.

Well, except one.

But Leona was a given, surely.

And she said it first, so that made it alright for him to think so, right?

Leona who was currently…

…Pacing around the blonde woman with the eyes of a predator and humming along.

Ah.

That might have been a little much.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

At least she was enjoying herself?

"The proportions are perfect. Cheekbones elevated to just the right amount and hair not too long, not too short."

Leona cupped her chin and shifted into her sort of work mode.

"A faint sprinkle of gloss on the lips without losing the natural hue, eyes being without discoloration…"

She came to a dead stop and gestured down at the seated woman.

"You are perfect!"

And then she whipped around and stared right at him, smile almost ear to ear.

"Isn't she, Roman!? She is the perfect muse, right?"

Uhm…

"...She's-ahem-probably a bit confused about this…?"

Leona waved her hand, at first, then stopped and furrowed her brows before lowering it back down again, placing it on her hip while the other cupped her chin.

"Mmmmm. Yes. I suppose that might be quite right."

"Muse…?"

The blonde woman spoke up, brows pinched for a moment - he was going to cease paying attention to how pretty she looked - then they shot up as she rose to her feet, hands clapping together rather quickly.

"Oh! This is one of those artistic things! I love those! Are you saying you want to make a painting of me?"

The enthusiasm was infectious.

Really, he was somewhat concerned it was.

Leona's grin was back in full force, mixed with a little bit of indignation. "Just paint you? Hardly! I haven't felt inspiration like this strike me for quite a while and I intended to take hold of it with both hands. So we're going to start with paintings, then move onto sculptures, textiles, fabrics, dresses, the works!"

It did occur to him, as Leona was becoming lost in her little world, that they were not quite alone in the room and there were other people.

Romani rubbed the back of his neck and turned around to face the others who had just come in, giving a sheepish shrug.

"...She gets a bit…like this when she's inspired…"

At least they all looked semi-amused, but there was a degree of shock in some of their faces as well.

Except Issei.

His eyes remained glued to the scene as if blinking it away would make it vanished.

Which was about as expected really.

Was it good for him to be relieved Issei wasn't all that different?

Meh, he's taken what he could get.

And then his head jerked away, eyes going wide as he looked right at him?

No, it was something behind him.

Romani turned about and looked over his shoulder.

Oh!

That was the exorcist girl who was around last time, wasn't it?

Irina.

Sitting beside…Issei's parents?

Huh, it made sense for them to be invited as well.

It would be a bit strange if they weren't here, he supposed.

Everyone else was.

"Issei! Xenovia!"

With an excited cry, Irina was on her feet and all but flying across the room towards the pair. Already with some enthusiastic greetings spilling out between them - mostly on her part - and their rather shocked but nonetheless happy expressions back.

Still gratifying to see.

Romani took a step back and away from the interactions, content with letting them all get them out of their systems.

"Ah, Roman!"

He made a half turn.

"Miki-san. Gorou-san."

Nodding to the pair, he made his way towards them. "I see you got invited here as well?"

Gorou was a bit more expressive with his long glance around the room. "To be honest, I'm still at a loss for all of this…Issei having such exciting friends is…"

Trailing off and going silent, Miki instead took over as she reached across the short length and took her husband by the hand, smiling towards Romani as she did so.

"We've still getting to grips with Issei's friends, but I'm happy that their families are such accommodating people."

Her eyes slid past him and towards someone, but the knowing glint in them told him that there was something more in that gaze.

He might have suspected she was looking at Asia, if her next words hadn't made it obvious.

"And I suppose we both have to wrap our heads around all of this?"

Romani, with a small huff, nodded his hands and slipped his hands into his pockets. "Have they made you the 'small extension to the house's offer' yet?"

"Second day we were here."

Miki exhaled, eyes glancing down.

"...I'm just content with being close at hand to Issei…but the large kitchen isn't a terrible addition."

He snorted at that, it was such a simple thing to be happy about.

"Leo is probably going to come after me about getting a bigger craft room at some point. I know she'll be happy with some expansions or the like."

And he might need a larger room for his…hobby.

Which was unfortunately all destroyed.

Until Serafall started weeping and then making all these promises about seeing his prized collection restored as a small repayment for something or other.

He'd folded on her offers immediately.

"Have you met much with Rias parents before?"

Gorou nodded along, looking up with a half smile. "Once or twice, but I can say that I'm a little jealous."

Yeah.

"But they are decent people-er-devils?"

The man gave a helpless shrug of the shoulders.

"They are…I'm just…a little out of place, I guess? I never really interacted with high-class people at all."

Despondency fell upon them all with that knowledge.

"...Do you suppose all that talk about the three different spoons is real?"

Romani shuddered as soon as the man commented.

He really hoped that was just a rumour but who knew.

"What about the forks and the knives? Or even the plates?"

The trio looked between one another for a brief moment.

"...You're both such worry-warts." Miki let out a small huff, pulling her hand back and folding her arms."I'm sure that if you are both polite enough, they will be willing to overlook one or two little hiccups in decorum…such as using the desert spoon for soup."

Putting it like that made it sound really trivial-

"Is that Romani?"

Was someone calling his name?

He perked up and turned his head-

"Grrrk!"

And abruptly leaned back as the rather pretty woman from before was right in his face, literally inches from it, and peering into his eyes with this eerie stare.

Like she never blinked at all.

Also the fact she was very nearly the same height as him was definitely something else.

"Hmmmm."

There was something inquisitive about her hum, her head cocked to one side as she leaned back.

"...She made you seem much taller, but I suppose she was younger?"

He…had no context for this conversation at all.

"Gabriel, please."

Penny to the rescue, she pulled the blonde back a half step with a hand on her shoulder.

"We need to worry about Romani's delicate heart, he's very shy about meeting new people. You need to coax it out of him."

…Nevermind, she was a menace.

"I do?"

The aforementioned Gabriel-

…Hang on.

What?

"Alright then."

The face of the blonde was suddenly very determined as it swung back towards him, then turned horrifyingly gentle.

Bordering motherly.

As she then…pat him on the head.

He went stiff at the contact, more so at the gentle voice.

"I understand it might be intimidating meeting new people, but I promise that everything is going to be alright. I've actually been told a lot of nice things about you so…I suppose I was very excited."

Why was she still patting his head and-

Issei was giving him the most dead stare possible.

It was cold.

Horribly cold.

Did Issei think he had a clue what was going on here?

"Uhh…"

Yes.

Not what he wanted to say.

"You can talk with me when you're ready, but I'll keep an ear out for you, alright?"

She was still patting his head?

Why did Leona look jealous of him now?!

"Gabriel, please."

Another voice, one he didn't know…did he?

It was oddly familiar for some reason but he couldn't place it right now.

Someone took hold of his sleeve and started to pull him along and to the right.

"I think that listening to the advice of your old sister might not be the wisest thing. She might, after all, be trying to play a little prank on you."

"...Eh?"

Gabriel looked downright shocked, then turned towards Penny.

Who was whistling innocently.

Romani sort of blanked out as he was led away from the duo and to the corner of the room by whomever was pulling him.

Was he being abducted by strangers again?

"Here you go."

They gave him a gentle push towards a chair and let him take a seat.

Really, he needed it.

"I understand this might have been a little bit more sudden than you would appreciate."

"Yeah…" He said in a daze as he slumped into the comfortable chair.

It felt like everything had been moving in a blur.

He glanced across to the speaker with a gentle voice.

A nun.

A more traditional looking nun with the white veil and dark…dress? Suit? Cloth?

The black gown that Sisters wore.

She sat opposite him and placed her hands on her lap, offering him a small and understanding smile.

"Lady Gabriel is someone who means well, but her affection is rather personal. Even when one has not truly come to know her, she acts as if they have been friends all their life. It can be daunting."

Ah, so an extrovert then.

Leona was like that as well.

Probably why he didn't immediately pass out from shock.

He shuffled up and into a more seated position rather than flopped back.

"It's…well…It's fine."

There was no real harm done.

Well, not to him.

But he got the feeling Issei would wish death upon him when they next spoke.

Leona might have done that as well too.

"I am glad." The Sister smiled, visibly relieved. "She would be rather distraught if she found that she had spoiled a first impression and made you uncomfortable."

"I was more confused, to be honest."

The woman giggled at that.

Huh.

That was a…

…That was a laugh he thought familiar.

He stopped for a second, then looked at the woman.

Really looked at her.

Squinting at her face and leaning forwards a little.

This might have been a bit weird but he was sure that she was familiar.

There was just something about her face but…

He was sure he'd met her before.

Certain of it really and-

…He looked at her eyes.

Then felt his own widen considerably.

Dropping back in shock and raising a shaky finger at her.

There was surely no way that she was who he thought she was.

Definitely not.

That was be crazy, right?

But…

Her eyes were glinting with something, her smile was widening by the second, like she liked whatever face she saw him making.

"...You got taller, doctor."

…No way.

"Ah." Her smile turned softer, her fingers locked together. "I'm glad I can finally call you that without a correction as well."

"...You…"

She said he got taller?

He got taller?

"You…"

He shuffled a little.

Were his eyes stinging a little?

They might have been.

"...You got big."

His voice maybe cracked a little, but that was fine.

She got bigger.

She was smaller when they last met.

Much smaller.

His hands found the arms of his chair, curling his fingers and gripping them tight.

"I suppose I did."

She sounded so casual, but it was hard to ignore the little hiccup towards the end of her sentence.

Like she was fighting back the same reaction.

"Though, really…after all these years and the first thing you comment on is my chest-?"

Romani coughed.

Leaning forwards and started hacking.

W-what did she just say!?

She threw back her head and laughed, covering her mouth as she did so.

"I suppose if it is you, I can forgive you."

He barely heard her over his own coughing.

Why?!

Why did she have to go and say that-!?

Was this some sort of karma against him?!

Did every woman he met need to tease him in some way!?

"You-why?! Go back to being innocent!"

Leaning back, her expression changed to shock.

Or a close approximation of it.

Her eyes betrayed her immediately.

"Are you accusing a sister of the faith of being anything but? I'm astounded, doctor. Have these Devils truly changed your perception of it all? Don't worry. I'll see to it that you're back on the right path."

She was definitely lying!

But he…well…

His coughing gave way to a laugh.

Because…well…

It had been years.

Years and years.

A mystery he'd never had answered.

"You…you…"

He dropped forwards and let his head fall into his hands.

"...You're still alive."

His voice croaked.

She was still alive after all this time.

She got bigger and older.

She lived.

"Thank goodness…you're still alive."

Now he was crying.

That was a little embarrassing.

Who wanted to have a grown man crying in front of them like that?

"Yes."

Hands fell on him and started to pull forwards, he felt the embrace as the voice softened.

The mischievous glint faded entirely.

"...I'm still alive, doctor. Thanks to you, I'm still alive."

Thanks to him?

What…no.

He wouldn't ask about that.

He was just happy she was still alive.

With a sniffle, he pulled his head back and rubbed his face, wiping away the tears on his sleeve.

"...It's good to see you again, doctor."

Romani let out a loose chuckle and nodded his head back at her, something about her smile made it impossible to not reciprocate it.

"You as well, Kiara."

It was a relatively short moment.

Then a loud noise broke it.

"Awwwwww!~"

He froze up.

Ah.

They were still in the room.

His head whipped about and…ah.

They were all looking at him.

Romani made a strangled noise and shifted backwards.

"I told you he would remember you, Kiara!" Gabriel all but squealed, hands clasped together and with a smile that was like staring at the sun. Was she actually glowing or was he imagining things? "It is like it was meant to be! You can be friends again!"

Someone coughed after that.

Very loudly.

Issei stood with his hand raised.

Ah.

Wow.

Romani had never seen them look so dead inside.

"...Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on?"

…Right.

This might have looked weird without context, huh?

"That is remarkable."

Buchou's father put the thoughts into his mouth once more.

More so as Issei folded his arms and stared across the table towards the rather abashed looking Romani.

Not even as he heard the story a second time around could he make an ounce of sense of it.

That was just crazy.

Some childhood sweetheart remembering a promise of marriage levels of crazy that just wasn't supposed to happen in real life.

Issei was jealous.

He was really jealous.

Romani was over there living the literal dream of having all of these beauties just appearing before him one after another. They all had some interest in him - via friend or admiration - and to top it all off was his wife who was literally an actual model, or very close to it.

"Yeah."

Romani-sensei looked a little sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I…never would have thought I'd ever run into her again and even if I did, this would probably be the last place I would expect to find her."

Yeah, no kidding.

Issei was fairly surprised himself.

All these years he thought someone like Kiba would have been his natural enemy, a typical bishounen who just looked in the direction of a girl and she would be falling head over heels for him. That was the type of person he always hated, the ones who had it easy for getting girls to like them.

Who needed no effort.

But Romani?

…It turned out that perhaps his greatest enemy had been right beside him, one he once called a brother in arms.

The signs should have been obvious when he first heard that Romani was married, but he never would have suspected things would spiral from then on.

Whether Romani realised it or not, he had the formation of an actual harem.

Crazy.

"I was fairly surprised myself."

The nun - her name was Kiara Kissyoin - spoke up with a rather delicate smile. The sort he had seen on the face of Asia too many times and Issei was seeing more than one or two parallels here.

Was this what it was like to look at his future self or something?

That would be so weird.

"It was only when Agent Bow delivered her report on the happenings in Kuoh that I was made aware of who was there and I was…rather shocked."

She looked the way of the nurse with an expression of clear affection, and quite a lot of worry as well.

"I knew him only as the kind-hearted visitor on my bedside for a long time and then I placed his face in such a terrible situation and…I could not help but hold him closer in my prayers with the hope that he would be found safe."

Then she was turning her head and looking right at Asia.

Issei shuffled a little, unsure of what to expect.

Except the woman's smile turned knowing, he would say she looked happy.

"But with such kind souls by his side, I see now that I was doing little more than offering surplus faith."

…That was really nice of her to say.

From the other end of the table, there came a rather amused chuckle. "With the ties that seem to bind around you, Roman, it could almost be said that you are the very first to have ever bridged the gap between us all. Whether or not there was any realisation on our part for that matter."

Issei…hadn't considered that.

Now he did.

Wow.

That was actually some really weird luck that the nurse had going on there.

He sat up a little more, looking first towards Romani and then towards the nun. "Uhm…how come you're…you know…"

Issei didn't want to come off as rude but it was strange how she apparently went from dying little girl to literally being at the side of Gabriel.

"Oh, that I can answer."

And speaking of which, the next in his line of envy leaned forwards with palpable excitement.

Excitement which definitely translated into movement.

Of the chest.

Issei was utterly transfixed by her.

Because it would definitely be rude not to look at someone when they were speaking.

"Little Kiara is what we call a Miracle child."

That definitely sounded important.

Someone took in a sharp breath, which sounded like Akeno.

He turned ever so slightly to see that she was looking right across the table towards Kiara in a rather shocked manner.

What?

What was it?

"Yes."

Kiara turned and looked right back at her, smile widening ever so slightly.

"Hello, cousin."

…Cousin?

What?

"You guys are related?"

It was hard not to blurt it out, but he supposed if he looked at her hair then it was both dark?

No, that was kind of it.

…Well, they both had really impressive boobs, but he didn't know if people could be related through those.

"It's not something really talked about all that much." Gabriel continued on, "And I'm glad you think of her as such."

Issei felt confused now.

Buchou whispered at him, "Miracle children are the offspring of Angels and humans. It can be counted on one hand the number who have existed in history."

…Woah.

Wait, Angels and humans?

"But aren't they like-"

Buchou shook her head slowly, "I know what you are thinking of, but it is not like those of Fallen Angels. The angelic parent would have remained pure of thought during the ordeal and would have never succumbed to temptation or fell."

Huh.

That sounded strange.

Wait.

Issei furrowed his brows and turned his head ever so slightly as he thought of something.

Did that mean it was like…a really boring affair or…?

Could that even happen?

Weird.

No wonder it was so rare.

He definitely couldn't do anything like that.

"That's…woah."

Romani-sensei sounded downright shocked by this revelation, which told him he had no idea.

Kiara shrugged. "It was not until a short time after you departed, Roman, that lady Gabriel appeared in the hospital and took custody of me…it seemed I was never truly ill but…"

Gabriel's expression turned a bit sadder.

"She was unaware of how to properly control her nature and it was…reflecting badly on her body. Miracle Children are rare not only for their parentage, but also for the divide between free will and duty."

Issei cocked his head.

"How do you mean?" He pointed across to Irina. "She's fine, isn't she?"

Then he looked at her, feeling a little more worried. "You are fine, right?"

Irina blinked, then laughed. "Of course I am, but I am a reincarnated Angel. There is a small modicum of difference."

There was?

"Angels, that is - pure angels - do not truly possess free will. Not as you would understand it as a human, a Devil or even a Fallen Angel would."

Gabriel thinned her lips.

"A human is a being crafted purely of free will and has mortal flesh. It is not a mingling meant to occur so when it does, there comes a need for control or the contradiction would consume the child from the inside out…their auras clash and they perish. It starts young, very young."

Oh.

That was…really sad.

"...What about Fallen Angels?"

Gabriel offered a shrug.

Then Penemue spoke. "We forsook our role as Servants of Father and made our own choices. Clawing out some modicum of free will and self-determination. Our only difference would be that of immortal bodies. It's more a transference of mentality than of power. But your inner nature is telling you that your existence is wrong on both sides and when your power is affected by emotion?"

She grimaced.

"...That leads to some bad results."

Then she turned about, cocking a brow.

"But I never thought I'd get the chance to meet you…or, at least, in a civil way."

Kiara chuckled, hand over mouth. "I myself never thought to be beside Lady Gabriel in the very heart of the underworld and breaking bread with Grigori and Devils, but it seems as though the world can change swiftly. I would consider it a blessing that I could change with the times."

Sirzechs cleared his throat, but Issei could see the slight strain in his movements.

The twitch in his expression also.

Sure, the guy had walked to the table, but it had been like he was fighting back a more physical response to moving.

"Now we might all enjoy joining hands in friendship, even if there are those who would seek to widen our divides…but as it has been proven tonight - in a rather unorthodox way - we might have more in common with one another, then we have different. As with our choice in friends."

Romani leaned further back into his chair and looked like he'd try to sink into it.

"A charming speech."

Buchou's mother abruptly said, a mere ghost of a smile on her lips.

"You should offer that to the crowds when you return to your duties. I suspect it would earn you a standing ovation."

Sirzechs gave a muted laugh. "I hope so. I'd rather stick to public speaking for the duration of my time as Lucifer, in all honesty."

"I'm sure it will be a long, long time."

Gabriel cheered from her little spot.

"I'm sure Michael would like that as well."

Sirzechs smiled. "Then I will most certainly try my best to live for his sake."

"And on the topic of living."

Buchou's father raised his voice.

"It seems that our food has arrived. Please, enjoy yourselves as my guests."

Issei glanced about as the butlers and maids arrived one after another, each carrying a tray of food with them as they did so.

Silver platters set down before them all and he subtly eyed the multitude of spoons and forks on either side of his plate.

Also the knives.

There were, like, three or four of those.

He stopped counting after two.

Rich people really did have more than one set of cutlery at a time, huh?

"So."

He heard Romani speak.

"...Do you have wings?"

Issei blinked and looked up.

He was curious about that too.

"I do not, no."

Really?

"How come?"

"Not all Miracle Children reveal themselves in the same manner. I inherited the strength of my parents, rather than their physical attributes…the wings did not develop for me and then again, I would prefer myself grounded all the same."

She smiled.

"It lets me remember my roots."

Vaguely poetic, he thought to himself.

Then glanced down at his plate and took up a knife and fork.

He didn't really look all that long for which he was grabbing and just assumed one or the other would be good enough.

"Now then, Mrs Archaman."

Kiara started speaking and Issei…there was something in that tone he found strange.

Almost coy.

It reminded him a little of the voice of Akeno.

"Yes?"

"I understand this might be too forward of me, but there is something I would very much like to ask…would you be willing to offer some stories of doctor Archaman? It might be a touch intrusive, but I would like to hear of what his life has been like ever since he walked ever onwards from the side of my bed."

A short pause.

Ah.

Right.

Now he knew why that sounded familiar.

It was basically asking for some embarrassing stories.

"Oh, oh!"

Gabriel raised her voice rather enthusiastically.

"I want to hear all about how you two met. And how you all met Asia as well."

Huh.

Oh boy.

That was a story and a half.

Issei let out a small huff.

"The…first meeting with Asia wasn't all that cheerful, really."

It was actually a little nasty.

"First meetings can come from some of the very worst places."

Sirzechs spoke up.

"I met my beloved Grayfia on the battlefield."

"Are we doing first meeting stories then?"

Oh no.

That was his parents.

Issei felt his face sour a little as he knew what was coming.

Then slowly glanced across until he met the eyes of someone else.

From across the table, there was a shared sense of brotherhood between himself and Milicas.

It seemed universal that no one wanted to hear about their parents getting together.

"My wife just walked in front of me, sat down and then stared at me for a few minutes in silence."

Penemue started laughing at that. "Tell them when you finally realised that you were actually a couple."

Romani stammered. "Tha-that's not really-erm-"

"Surely it cannot have been that bad."

Akeno said one thing and Issei heard another.

Huh, wow.

This duck was really good, wasn't it?

These chefs knew what they were doing.

He glanced up and towards the red and embarrassed face of Romani as he was practically torn apart with a series of embarrassing stories.

Issei barely suppressed a snort.

Couldn't be him.

He'd have known if a girl was interested in him like that.

…Maybe?

…Probably not.

At least Kiara seemed happy and-

Hey.

Wait a second.

Issei looked at Romani, then to his wife, then to Penemue and then finally to Kiara before something just clicked in place for him.

…Maybe being jealous of Romani wasn't the best idea.

That guy seemed to attract a very specific type of girl around him.

Then he very slowly glanced at Akeno as something clicked again.

…Ah.

Oh dear.