(DRAFT) DW DXD Chapter 106 (Patreon)

Morning, Lakeside Hyoudou Mansion

The morning sunlight poured through the enormous windows of the Lakeside Hyoudou Mansion, filling the living room with a warm golden glow that stretched across the polished wooden floor and illuminated the comfortable collection of couches, tables, and decorations the family had accumulated during their stay in Fiore. 

Outside, the lake glittered beneath the clear sky, its surface occasionally disturbed by the movements of fish or the distant shadow of Kuromaru wandering around the estate grounds. It was the kind of peaceful morning that made it easy to forget that only recently Issei and Karasuba had returned from an unauthorized S-Rank quest that had ended with an entire mountain range being partially obliterated, a hidden laboratory being destroyed, and both of them earning the collective fury of Miya and, eventually, Master Makarov. 

Thankfully, the worst of that particular storm had passed, and today Issei had something considerably less dangerous planned. At least, he hoped it would be less dangerous. Considering the women he lived with, there was never any guarantee.

Issei sat comfortably on one of the large couches, dressed and ready to leave, one arm stretched across the backrest while his other hand held a folded map of Fiore. His eyes repeatedly traveled between the map and the staircase leading toward the mansion's upper floors. He had been waiting for Misuki for a while now, although he wasn't particularly bothered by the delay. If anything, it gave him additional time to think through today's plans. 

Unlike Karasuba's definition of a date, which apparently involved stealing an S-Rank quest and dragging him into a battle against an enormous monster, Issei had deliberately chosen something he believed Misuki would genuinely enjoy and, more importantly, might actually help her with the business she had slowly begun building in his world.

This had been Lucy who once again had unknowingly given him the idea.

During one of their conversations, she had mentioned Love & Lucky, a large merchant guild located in the market town of Acalypha. It wasn't merely some ordinary shop where merchants sold vegetables, clothing, or magical trinkets. Love & Lucky had connections with merchants and businesses throughout Fiore, dealing with the movement and sale of countless different goods. More importantly, Lucy had explained that her parents had once belonged to the guild before eventually leaving and building the Heartfilia family's enormous fortune. That little detail had stuck firmly in Issei's mind.

Misuki already possessed a sharp mind for business. Since arriving in Fiore, she had taken surprisingly well to buying, selling, negotiating, organizing household finances, and identifying opportunities that most of the others overlooked. 

Issei had watched her become increasingly enthusiastic whenever she discovered something new that could potentially be sold through their growing business. With Matsu constantly creating unusual technology, Uzume producing clothing and other handmade goods, Tamamo and Miya possessing extensive knowledge of medicines and magical materials, and their adventures routinely bringing home monster parts, crystals, Lacrima, herbs, and resources from places most merchants would never dare enter, their household possessed an increasingly bizarre collection of products that could potentially become incredibly profitable.

The problem was figuring out exactly how to turn all of that into a proper business. That was where Love & Lucky came in.

If Misuki could speak with experienced merchants, learn more about Fiore's trade networks, see what products were currently popular, and perhaps establish a few useful contacts, then maybe the trip would help her business flourish. 

At the very least, Issei hoped walking through Acalypha's markets would give her ideas for new products they could produce, import, purchase, or resell. Afterward, once all the business talk was finished, Issei intended to forget about work entirely and give Misuki a proper date, good food, sightseeing, shopping, and whatever else caught her interest.

Considering everything Misuki had done for their strange household since joining them, Issei thought she deserved it.

"You've been staring at those stairs for the last ten minutes." A female voice said, causing Issei to blink before turning his head as Yashima sat nearby with a steaming cup of tea held delicately between her hands, amusement softening her normally gentle features. 

Across from her, Karasuba lounged lazily in a chair with one leg crossed over the other. The Black Sekirei looked considerably less battered than she had after their adventure in Oak Town, although a few remaining bandages could still be seen beneath parts of her clothing. 

Considering the punishment Miya had given them after returning, Issei suspected some of those bandages might have been covering injuries that had absolutely nothing to do with their S-Rank quest.

"I haven't been staring," Issei immediately defended himself.

Karasuba gave him a flat look. "You have."

"I've been planning things out."

"You've checked the staircase nineteen times," Karasuba replied.

Issei slowly narrowed his eyes. "Why were you counting?"

"Mostly boredom."

Yashima covered her mouth to hide a quiet giggle. "Misuki shouldn't be much longer, Ashikabi-sama. The others are helping her get ready with Uzume helping her choose an outfit, Tamamo and Yuuka insisted on handling some of her makeup, and Miya went upstairs a little while ago because apparently nobody could agree on what jewelry she should wear."

Issei's eyebrow twitched. "They're treating this like she's getting married."

"Considering you," Karasuba said dryly, "give it time."

Issei's face immediately reddened. "That's not what today is about!"

Karasuba's lips curled into a predatory smirk. "Sure."

Before Issei could defend himself further, another thought suddenly occurred to him. He glanced around the unusually quiet living room and only then noticed the absence of several people who normally would have been nearby.

"Wait." He frowned. "Where's Mom and Dad?"

Yashima's expression immediately became suspiciously innocent while Karasuba's smirk widened.

Issei stared between them. "...What?"

"Being distracted," Karasuba answered.

"Why?"

"Misuki's orders."

Issei lowered the map completely. "Why does Misuki need my mother to be distracted?"

Yashima shifted awkwardly in her seat before explaining. "Misuki doesn't want Miki-san finding out that she's going on a date with you."

There was a long pause.

Issei blinked, then blinked again. "...Why?"

Karasuba shrugged. "Ask her."

"Does she really think my mom would make that big of a deal about it?" Issei asked incredulously. "Mom already knows what my relationships are like. She literally lives here with us."

"Knowing that you have multiple women and discovering that her own friend is one of those women are two different things," Yashima gently pointed out.

Issei opened his mouth then stopped as he thought about what his mother would actually think about Misuki dating her teenage son. "...Okay," He conceded. "Maybe Misuki has a point."

Apparently, the household had divided itself into two separate operations that morning. One group had dedicated itself to preparing Misuki for her first proper date, while everyone else had been assigned the extremely important mission of keeping Miki occupied somewhere else in the mansion. 

What exactly they were doing to distract her, Issei didn't know, and after considering the possible answers for several seconds, he decided that ignorance was probably safer. He was about to ask another question when footsteps finally sounded from the staircase causing Issei to turn and every thought in his head promptly disappeared.

Misuki emerged from the hallway at the top of the stairs with the rest of the girls gathered behind her, and for several long seconds Issei simply stared.

He knew Misuki was attractive. That had never exactly been difficult to notice. She possessed the mature beauty of an older woman, with the confidence and warmth that came from years of experience, yet there was still something surprisingly youthful about her whenever she genuinely relaxed. 

Today, however, the others had apparently made it their personal mission to emphasize every attractive quality she possessed without transforming her into someone completely different. Her outfit was elegant rather than extravagant, chosen carefully for walking around a busy market town while still making it obvious that today was special. 

Her short hair had been carefully styled, framing her face while allowing a few soft strands to fall naturally around her cheeks, and the light makeup Tamamo and Yuuka had applied enhanced her features rather than hiding them. A few tasteful pieces of jewelry completed the appearance, catching the sunlight whenever she moved.

Issei's mouth slowly opened but nothing came out.

For perhaps the first time that morning, Karasuba looked genuinely entertained while Yashima smiled knowingly.

Misuki reached the bottom of the stairs before noticing that Issei hadn't moved. The confident expression she had been trying desperately to maintain immediately began cracking beneath his dumbfounded stare. "Well?" Misuki asked, nervously smoothing her outfit. "Are you going to say something?"

Issei continued staring for another second before his brain finally restarted. "Wow."

Misuki's cheeks instantly turned pink while behind her, Uzume's grin became enormous.

"That's it?" Yuuka asked, folding her arms. "We spent all that time helping mom and all you've got is wow?"

"No, I mean—" Issei quickly stood from the couch, nearly dropping the map in the process. "Misuki-san, you look amazing!"

The blush spread further across Misuki's face. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Issei answered without hesitation. "Seriously, you look beautiful."

That simple declaration struck Misuki far harder than Issei realized.

For all her maturity, experience, and usual composure, an almost embarrassingly girlish happiness suddenly bubbled through her chest. She found herself fighting the ridiculous urge to fidget beneath his attention. She was a grown woman. She was a mother. She had a teenage daughter of her own.

And yet one sincere compliment from the boy taking her on a date had somehow reduced her to feeling like a schoolgirl preparing to meet her first crush.

Misuki looked away, touching one warm cheek with her fingertips. "Thank you, Issei..."

Her soft response only made Uzume's grin widen. "Awww, look at her!" Uzume teased. "She's blushing!"

"I am not!"

"You absolutely are," Yuuka said.

Tamamo giggled behind one sleeve. "How adorable. Our mature Misuki has suddenly become a maiden."

"Tamamo!"

Even Miya smiled at her embarrassment, though unlike the others, she mercifully chose not to add to it.

Issei scratched his cheek, his own blush deepening as he looked Misuki over once again. There was one thought he simply couldn't shake. ‘How does this woman already have a teenage daughter?’ If someone had introduced Misuki to him without explaining anything about her family, he never would have guessed it. Standing there surrounded by the other women, flushed from his compliment and clearly excited about going out, she looked considerably younger than the image the words mother of a teenager normally created in his mind.

Karasuba suddenly spoke from behind him. "Close your mouth, Ashikabi-sama."

Issei's jaw snapped shut. "I wasn't staring!"

Every woman in the room looked at him.

"...Okay, I was staring a little."

Misuki laughed softly, and whatever nervousness had been tightening inside her chest finally began to loosen. Seeing Issei become so flustered because of her had accomplished more for her confidence than all the encouragement upstairs combined.

Issei quickly gathered his things and tucked the map away. "Ready?"

Misuki nodded eagerly. "I've been ready for almost an hour. They wouldn't let me leave."

"Presentation requires patience," Tamamo declared.

"It does not require forty minutes of arguing over earrings," Yuuka countered.

"They were important earrings."

"They looked almost identical!"

"They absolutely did not."

Before another household argument could begin, Misuki quickly stepped beside Issei and took his arm. "We're leaving."

"Good idea," Issei agreed immediately.

The others followed them toward the front entrance to see them off, offering various farewells, warnings, teasing remarks, and in Karasuba's case, a recommendation that Issei find something dangerous to fight so the trip wouldn't become boring.

Issei rejected that suggestion immediately. Today was supposed to be about Misuki.

When Issei opened the front door, the cool morning air swept inside, carrying with it the fresh scent of the lake and surrounding forest. Waiting beyond the mansion was Kuromaru, the colossal black wyvern already crouched patiently upon the grass with his enormous wing-arms folded tightly against his sides. His saddle and reinforced harness had already been secured across his broad back, and the moment Issei appeared, the wyvern lifted his horned head and released a deep rumble of recognition. The sound vibrated through the ground beneath their feet.

"Morning, buddy!" Issei called, raising one hand.

Kuromaru answered with another rumbling huff.

Misuki stepped outside beside Issei and looked toward the enormous creature before drawing in a slow breath. She had ridden Kuromaru before, but knowing that she would soon be soaring across Fiore with only Issei beside her made the approaching journey feel strangely different. More intimate.

Issei turned toward her and extended his hand with a bright smile. "Ready for Acalypha?"

Misuki looked down at his offered hand and her heart fluttered again. She smiled and placed her hand in his. "Absolutely."

Together they walked across the lawn toward Kuromaru while their family waved from the mansion behind them, completely unaware that elsewhere inside the enormous residence, several conspirators were still desperately ensuring that Miki remained occupied long enough for the pair to leave unnoticed.

For Misuki, however, none of that mattered anymore. Her first proper date with Issei had finally begun.