My Teenage Highschool Romance Comedy Can't Be This Perverted! Chapter 119 (Patreon)

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Next update is An Archer's Promise

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-???-

I had plenty of time to reflect on my decision-making, and if someone asked whether it had been the best plan among the countless possibilities available to me, my answer would be a definite no. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't some master strategist capable of seeing every possible outcome infinite steps ahead. My ability to think things through had its limits, as did the time I had available. Spending another three days searching for a better solution would have been a waste when the King of Gods could lose his patience at any moment. Not that he hadn't shown considerable restraint already, especially when dealing with Serafall, but there was only so much I could expect from someone with his temperament.

Even Zeus should understand that unleashing his full power in the middle of a city would be an exceptionally stupid move. Such an act wouldn't merely attract the attention of the Devil Faction. The other Biblical factions and the remaining supernatural powers would also take notice. 

If the Greek God could cause that much destruction in one country, what would stop him from doing the same in theirs? Even those who might secretly welcome the destruction of the Devils couldn't afford to let such a dangerous wildcard roam freely. Sooner or later, the other factions would demand restrictions on the Greeks, and Zeus would have to deal with the consequences of his own recklessness. Unfortunately, knowing all that didn't make his smaller acts of interference any less annoying. If impersonating me hadn't been enough, he had apparently decided to try another approach, one intended to sow discord between me, Akeno, and the other girls. Our relationships weren't so fragile that a little meddling would tear them apart, but that didn't mean I wanted to put them through such an experience. 

This wasn't some cheap netorare revenge novel where the protagonist had to outwit a villain through an elaborate series of mind games. I had neither the patience nor the inclination to turn the situation into one.

The irony of that thought wasn't lost on me as I looked at the beautiful red-haired woman sitting opposite me. Hera's curly hair shone beneath the light, framing a face whose bewitching smile could make plenty of men forget whatever sensible thoughts they might have possessed a moment earlier. Was she perfect? Compared to someone like Gabriel, I wasn't entirely sure how to answer that. 

The angel possessed a beauty so pure that it could not be defiled but possessed a body that made such thought possible, two contradictory mindsets clashing within the one who looked at her, that turbulence and shock was what many felt looking at her. It would be a lie to say that my own gaze would not linger on certain parts longer than necessary.

Hera, on the other hand, possessed a mature beauty that gave her a more composed, almost motherly quality, although that hardly made her any less attractive. Her golden eyes were another matter entirely. Beneath her pleasant smile lay the gaze of a woman who wouldn't tolerate being treated like a fool. Considering the myth surrounding her, I had little reason to doubt that impression.

"Although I may accept your offer and treat this as a test of sorts, what exactly do you expect to accomplish?" Hera's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "Even the might of the Black Dragon King wouldn't necessarily be enough to defeat my husband. Your words may cut like a sword, but Zeus has developed a thick enough hide after centuries of scars and repeated insults. Call him arrogant or prideful if you wish, but he's no fool. Even an old bull can recognise a trap when one is placed before him. I have agreed to follow your plan, dear, but don't lead me blind."

Oh, now she was asking for details, I figured she wouldn't appreciate being left in the dark.

"I know my limitations, and I won't promise you something impossible.”

For some reason, that answer made her smile. It wasn't an unpleasant expression, exactly, but it gave me an uncomfortable feeling between my shoulders. Rather than a wife seeking revenge against a husband who had repeatedly wronged her, she looked like someone who had just been invited to participate in an entertaining game. I couldn't tell whether she was amused by my proposal or simply curious about how far I intended to take things. Either way, the expression made me wonder whether accepting my offer had been a decision she intended to take seriously. 

Then again, when your husband has spent centuries repeating the same mistakes, perhaps even a goddess would eventually grow accustomed to the situation. She might have agreed to cooperate, but deep down, Hera probably didn't believe I possessed the means to resolve the problem. Unfortunately, I couldn't exactly announce that everything would work out and ask her to sit back while I handled it like some self-important protagonist. I needed her cooperation far more than she needed mine, and the balance of power between us reflected that rather inconvenient fact. Whatever promises I made, she understood perfectly well that I had little to offer in return.

"So, what do you propose?" she continued, tilting her head with an air of curiosity. "Shall we take a stroll through the red-light district together? Perhaps walk along the seaside with our arms linked, confess our love for one another, and let the entire world witness our beautiful romance? Or do you want me to send a message to every faction that I, Hera, have decided to take upon a second husband?"

What a shrewd woman, she was basically asking if I would force her to taint her own name.

"As lovely and, admittedly, rather tempting as that sounds, I'm afraid we won't be going with that option. I have something a little simpler in mind."

"Oh? Then perhaps you're suggesting a night of passion?"

Oi, now she was genuinely trying to get me killed. “You'd burn me to ashes before I even managed to lay a hand on you."

"How perceptive of you. You've read my mind."

“...”

This woman was messing with me.

Hah… At least we were in agreement about that. I wasn't particularly interested in discovering how quickly a Greek goddess could turn a man into charcoal, and I had a strong suspicion that my life would become considerably more complicated if I tried. 

"At this point, Zeus is most definitely still engaged in a fight against Serafall."

"Serafall?" Hera's expression brightened with immediate interest. "Oh, my! It's been quite some time since I last asked about her. How has she been?"

"Still as crazy as ever."

A pleased smile spread across her face. "Then she sounds perfectly fine. If she's involved, my husband will have a little trouble dealing with her."

That reaction gave me something to think about. That crazy magical girl Devil held the title of Maou, but still was known to be amongst the strongest. She did not mention her husband would lose… surely that guy ain't at the level of a Super Devil? Unlikely, Serafall would have noticed. 

"Out of curiosity, how well would your husband fare against Serafall in combat? I mean, purely in terms of their abilities."

"It would be a fairly even match. It's been centuries since our factions last went to war, so my husband's abilities have diminished a little compared to what they once were. Not by much, mind you. He's still fought his share of battles over the past century, and Serafall's power is close enough to his that neither of them could claim an easy victory."

I hadn't expected that answer. Zeus was a major deity of one of the most prominent pantheons, and I had assumed that his position and history would give him a considerable advantage. Yet Hera spoke as though Serafall could stand against him without being overwhelmed. Perhaps I had underestimated her. Then again, Serafall belonged to the same generation as Sirzechs and Ajuka, so it wasn't as though her reputation had appeared out of nowhere. If anything, the fact that she could match Zeus made her even more troublesome to deal with than I'd initially imagined.

"Then he should eventually return sooner than later." I reasoned, keeping the rest of my thoughts to myself. "Fighting Serafall can't go on forever."

"Eventually, yes."

"Good. That should give us enough time to prepare."

“Hoh?” Her eyes narrowed again, and I could practically see her trying to work out what I had in mind. "What exactly are you planning? Or have you decided to take a more direct approach? Perhaps spread some compromising photographs of me in the arms of another man around and watch him crumble from the inside? The kind of pictures that barely showcases my face and leaves him questioning if it's really me?"

I gave her a dry look. Please stop talking. Every additional sentence was doing terrible things to my image of her. Was this really the goddess of marriage and family, or had centuries of dealing with Zeus finally corrupted her senses? At this rate, I was going to start questioning every myth I had ever heard about the Greek pantheon.

"Please stop joking with me. I'm afraid I'll have a heart attack, and my lovers will end up killing me first. Not that I'd even consider doing something like that in the first place." Again, my skin was not tanned and I do not recall having blonde hair. The Loner used to be my title and currently I occasionally juggled with ‘unfair bastard’ by the jealous boys at school or Black Dragon King… I did not wish to add Gold Sun to that list.

"Then what do you have in mind?"

"I do have a plan." I straightened slightly, deciding it was time to bring the conversation back to the reason we'd agreed to meet. "However, as I mentioned earlier, if you're going to become my temporary lover, the arrangement has to be believable. For that to work, I may need to ask you one particular question. I know I mentioned that Zeus' pride wouldn't allow it even if he knew the truth, but it shouldn't be so obvious enough that even he won't fear any outcomes between us."

"Oh?" Hera leaned forward a little, interest returning to her face. "And what would that be?"

"How good are you at acting?”

{Break}

-Kuoh-

The mountain range surrounding Kuoh had become a battlefield.

Lightning tore through the sky, striking the ground hard enough to leave enormous craters across the rocky terrain. Trees had been reduced to splinters, and several sections of the mountainside had collapsed under the force of the fighting. The supernatural energy filling the area was so intense that nearby factions had undoubtedly noticed it by now. Yet nobody had intervened.

At the centre of the destruction stood a certain white haired god, his white hair stirred by the energy surrounding him. His eyes blazed with white light, and lightning flickered around his body, occasionally striking the ground at his feet. Several frozen constructs floated nearby, each containing bolts of lightning trapped within their crystalline forms.

Opposite him stood Serafall, one of the Satans, who had been fighting against him for years. Neither had managed to secure a decisive victory. Their battle had reached a stalemate, and both knew why.

They were holding back.

Neither wanted to unleash enough power to draw the attention of every faction in the area. The consequences of such a battle would extend far beyond the mountains, and neither side had much to gain from allowing the conflict to escalate further.

Serafall regarded him for a moment before breaking the impasse. "Are we going to continue this dance, or have you finally had enough?"

Zeus's expression soured. "I underestimated you, Serafall Leviathan. Your power differs greatly from the original carrier of the Leviathan name, you carry that name well. I won't make that mistake again."

"At least you're not as pathetic as I imagined."

His eyebrows twitched, but he recognised the taunt for what it was. She had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of an emotional reaction, and losing his temper would only make things worse.

After a brief pause, Serafall's expression turned ice cold. "Don't come back."

Before he could offer a response, she disappeared, leaving him alone among the ruined mountains.

“Hah… “

Zeus released a long breath, not out of relief, but from the exhaustion that followed a fight against an opponent of her calibre. He had prepared extensively for this encounter, yet his plans had fallen apart anyway. Serafall's presence had been unexpected, and the situation had become even more troublesome because Hachiman had decided to use her as a bait of all things.

"What a terrible day. Though from their last conversation… he had not anticipated her presence. What is going on?” Perhaps he was simply unlucky. Alternatively, the human might have been playing him from the beginning, though Zeus had no proof of that yet.

Then there was Hera.

He had anticipated her reaction ever since he had taken Hachiman's face and made his following plans. Similar situations had occurred before, and although she would eventually forgive him, that did not mean she would let him off easily. He had expected to face her after accomplishing his goal, when he would at least have something to show for his efforts.

Instead, he had failed.

Trying again would be considerably more difficult now, but he refused to accept defeat at the hands of a human. At this point, the matter had become one of pride. The original objective of winning a beautiful flower had long since lost its importance.

Snap!

With a snap of his fingers, light surrounded his body. His appearance changed, and a white chiton replaced the garments he had worn during the battle. Once the transformation finished, he looked towards the distant horizon and considered his next move.

Returning immediately to that house would be foolish. He needed time to cool his head, so he decided to lay low for a while before making any further decisions.

Whoosh!

A moment later, the scenery around him changed.

Mountaintops that stretched above a vast sea of clouds, with enormous trees rising from the surrounding land. Their branches spread across the sky, while unfamiliar plants flourished beneath them, glowing faintly with the magic permeating the air. Ancient structures stood among the trees, their architecture unlike anything found in the human world. The entire place possessed a mystical atmosphere, as though it existed beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.

Olympus remained as beautiful as ever.

Unfortunately, he was not alone. Aphrodite stood waiting for him, a small smile resting on her face. "Welcome back home, Zeus."

An outcome he should have foreseen, in fact, part of him was surprised that she had not shown up during his battle. Silence lingered between them, neither wanting to say anything.

"Did you honestly think that was a good idea?"

Zeus's fists clenched, but his face remained calm. "I had my reasons. Still, whether it was a good idea or not doesn't matter. We are gods. Mortals need to be reminded of their place."

"Is that so?" Her smile remained, but those eyes were anything but smiling. "Our goal was to establish a working relationship with the human in order to convince Hera to not side with the Khaos Brigade. How exactly does shattering that relationship within a few days help us accomplish it? Your actions have alienated us from proceeding smoothly any longer.”

Zeus's eyes narrowed further.

"What is really going on?" Aphrodite continued. "This is unlike you. I know you're not acting this way over a pretty face alone. How many women have thrown their bodies at your feet for all these centuries? I have seen them and that Himejima child does not necessarily stand out as the most beautiful."

"Silence!”

Crackle!

The sky rumbled in response to his anger. Even here, on Olympus, the weather reacted to his mood as the skies darkened with thick gray clouds.

"Aphrodite, I won't have you questioning me. Don't forget who I am."

"How could I forget?" She met his gaze without flinching. "I know who you are, and I know who you were over the past few decades. That is precisely why I'm asking. You've changed, Zeus."

He offered no reply.

Aphrodite was one of the few gods who had never feared him, and she had good reason for that confidence. Despite her title as the goddess of love, she was far from weak. Their relationship rested on mutual respect, and both understood the consequences of crossing certain boundaries with the other.

After a moment, Zeus finally asked the question that had been bothering him. "Did you tell her? Does she know?"

He expected Hera to have learned about his failure by now. Aphrodite had been present for the negotiations, and he had little doubt that Hachiman did not tell her what happened. On top of that, there was little reason for her to keep such information to herself.

She shook her head. "Not yet."

"Not yet?"

Rather than explain herself, the woman turned and began walking away. "It's not my place to tell Hera about these things."

Before Zeus could press her further, she disappeared from sight. 

“...”

Aphrodite rarely did anything without a reason, and her decision to leave him with so little information was hardly reassuring. Still, if Hera had not learned about the battle, perhaps the situation was not as bad as he had feared. He could only hope that she remained unaware of his failure for a little longer.

With that thought in mind, Zeus made his way into the main temple.

Hera sat on a sofa when he entered. Appearing perfectly relaxed, and when she noticed him, she greeted him with a pleasant smile. "Oh, you're back. How did the negotiations with the human world go?"

He stopped for a moment, unsure how to respond. Zeus awaited anger, accusations, or at least a few pointed remarks about his behaviour. Instead, she acted as though nothing had happened. Showing no sign of suspicion, and her voice sounded as casual as ever.

"It went well, I would say. How was your day?" 

"Quite productive. I've been reviewing the meeting between you, Aphrodite, and Azazel’s group — I do have a feeling you must have said something about me, but I'll let it pass."

He scoffed, “You are the one thinking about helping Loki’s group along with those runaway rats of the former devil faction. Khaos Brigade, a group where failures gather to lick their wounds and deny the reality that they have fallen. Aside from that, yes. It was quite an informative meeting."

Sitting on the sofa did help him relax, given where the conversation was going, perhaps she really was ignorant. If Hera had truly heard nothing about his encounter with Serafall, he could still salvage the situation. What confused him was why Aphrodite had not informed her… what was her ploy here? To have him feel guilt?

To make him confess his actions? 

That goddess was not delusional.

Maybe Hikigaya Hachiman had kept the matter quiet as well. The human might have avoided spreading the news because he understood how quickly such an incident could escalate. A confrontation between his side and one of the three Devils was not something the biblical faction could afford to ignore if it developed into an open conflict.

The three Biblical factions were hardly in an ideal position to wage another war. The Devils had begun recovering thanks to the Evil Piece system, but their numbers remained far below what they had been before the previous conflict. Serafall was a Satan, so she must have understood the consequences of allowing another war to break out. Even if the Devils wanted to retaliate, there were limits to what they could do.

Zeus gradually relaxed as he considered the situation.

The Greek Pantheon might no longer hold the same dominance it once had, but it remained a formidable faction. Unlike the Biblical factions, it had not suffered a devastating war that had crippled its numbers. Its population had remained relatively stable and had continued to grow over the years. 

And while Sirzechs Lucifer was often described as a Super Devil, a monster who should not exist, Zeus was confident that he could match him on Olympus if both of them unleashed their full power.

‘Humph, try as much as you want, but even you should realise how hopeless your current situation is. You are not as invincible as you like to think.’

His thoughts were interrupted when Hera glanced down at her phone. Something on the screen appeared to have caught her interest, and she seemed more amused than concerned.

"What are you looking at?" he asked out of genuine curiosity, it was not everyday his wife would be this interested.

"I'm curious about our soon-to-be partner." 

“Partner?” 

Had he heard her correctly? 

“Hachiman Hikigaya, the Black Dragon King. What do you think of him?"

“Eh?” The question caught him off guard. Did she know after all? 

Zeus cleared his throat. "He's a human who acquired a powerful Sacred Gear and made a name for himself. A cunning boy I would say, he knew how to talk."

He kept his response neutral, unwilling to praise Hachiman and equally reluctant to criticise him. Either could invite questions he had no intention of answering.

"Interesting," Hera murmured. "An ordinary mortal who became acquainted with Baraqiel's daughter. When the mother and daughter were about to be burned and hunted by their own clan, he awakened his power and tried to play the hero. He made that mistake seven times and paid for it, then spent years trying to undo the damage by helping others. Now, after all that time, he's returned to the limelight."

She looked up from her phone.

“Are you watching his battle against Sairaorg again, Hera?” 

"Tch, do not remind me of that. Devils and their pride have robbed me of a good show had he been allowed to fight. Let's forget about that, thinking about everything earlier, I'd say that's the perfect description of a hero, wouldn't you?"

Zeus responded with a quiet hum, offering no opinion.

"It's no wonder the Hero faction showed him some interest. I'm a little disappointed that he has so many lovers, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. He's associated with the Devils, after all. Still, I'm glad he cherishes his family."

"What are you thinking?" 

The edge in his voice was difficult to conceal, not liking the direction this conversation was heading. If possible, he did not want to hear about that boy for the next month.

Hera placed her phone on the table. "Although outsiders associate Hachiman with the Devils because of his contract, he also works with the Fallen Angels. There are even rumours that he works with the Angels. Yet he doesn't appear to be truly bound to any one faction."

"A rogue element."

"Exactly." She nodded. "I'm surprised he managed to gather all the pieces of Vritra, though. The Hindu faction hasn't tried to take him back, at least not openly. Perhaps they tried and failed, or perhaps they haven't considered it yet."

A bad feeling settled in Zeus's stomach.

"What are you planning?"

Hera's smile brightened. "You and Aphrodite gave him the condition to prove himself to me, didn't you? What better way to do that than by becoming my champion? I'm intending to meet him soon and make him an offer. I have more to offer him than the Devils do, don't I?"

“...What?”

Zeus stared at her, unable to find a suitable response, her eyes sparkled with interest and a smile he had not seen for a long time stretched onto her beautiful face.

“I always wanted a dragon. Fufufufu~!”

{Break}

-Kuoh Academy-

“I wonder if he took the bait, or if he noticed anything.”

Leaning against the classroom window, I watched the students outside make their way across the school grounds. The bell had rung a little while ago, marking the end of another ordinary school day. Well, ordinary by Kuoh's standards, anyway. After yesterday's mess, I was beginning to appreciate the days when nobody tried to kill me, kidnap me, or drag me into some ridiculous supernatural dispute.

Today's events had been surprisingly uneventful. The Devils and Fallen Angels had managed to cover up the fight between Zeus and Serafall, reporting it as a local earthquake accompanied by thunder and heavy rain in the mountains. Considering the damage those two had caused, I was impressed they had managed to make it sound so mundane. Most people had accepted the explanation without asking too many questions, which meant I could proceed without worrying about the entire town panicking.

I managed to calm Baraqiel down as the man was this close from mimicking Kokabiel and starting a war against the Greek Faction. I could not blame him for his reaction, but Akeno did find it quite funny. At least she remained positive, more worried about me than herself.

Ring~!

A message? Oh, so it was her… “Looks like I'll have to make my move then. Can't choose the restaurant he went to, that place is still under construction. No matter, I'll figure something out. All right, time to get into action."

I had made a deal with Hera, and now I needed to see it through. That didn't mean I could rush everything in a single day. If I pushed too hard, Zeus might decide to stop playing games and take his rage out. That would turn an already troublesome situation into a disaster, and I had no intention of allowing that to happen. “Should I ask Motohama to help out? He's good with cameras… no… too soon.”

As I made my way towards the school gates, a thought crossed my mind considering what my plan amounted to. Had it been any other time, the disgust would have been enough to knock me unconscious, after all, one could argue I was falling at the same level as that man. 

"Urgh, I might as well dye my skin and dye my hair blonde. It should set the mood."

"What will set the mood?"

"Whoa!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Turning towards the voice, a certain redhead stood there with Gabriel beside her. The former looked worried, while the latter just waved at me.

"Are you all right?" Rias caught hold of my arm, examining me as though she expected to find an injury. "Rossweiss told me what happened. They're still investigating last night's attack, and I still can't believe Zeus's actions."

The concern in her expression quickly gave way to anger. I could practically see her preparing to launch into a rant about Zeus, probably followed by a promise to blast him into ashes the next time they met. Not that she could.

Before she could begin, I placed a hand over her mouth.

"Calm down. I'm angry too, but you can't let it consume you. Leave the rest to me."

Her eyebrows drew together, and she gently pulled my hand away. "Why won't you let my brother handle this, Hachi-kun? This is more than enough reason to get him involved."

"He could certainly make Zeus back off for a while. The problem is what happens afterward. Your brother might convince him to leave us alone today, but that doesn't mean Zeus won't come back once things have settled down." While I appreciated her offer and even considered getting Sirzechs involved, it was not worth it. 

But that did not mean I gave up that option, he was the last resort in case things went awry.

"Do you really think he'd do something that dangerous?"

"Do you want to take that chance?"

Rias hesitated before shaking her head. I already knew the answer upon seeing the look she gave me. "No. I want nothing more than to turn that bastard into ashes. He tried to get his hands on Akeno, and he hurt you. I can't forgive him for either of those things."

"Neither can I. If it gives you any comfort, I'll make sure he learns his lesson and never tries anything like this again, even a thousand years from now. Although, considering my circumstances, I probably won't be around to see it."

Her arms linked with mine, with Rias then leaning further against my body — using my shoulders to rest her head. Before I could say anything else, her lips brushed my ear.

"Don't say that. You'll be here, forever. I'll make sure of it."

"That sounds vaguely threatening."

"It should." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Your mind, body, and soul belong with me for eternity. Devils can live for a very long time, and we don't even know what our actual lifespan is since there are no cases of a devil dying of old age. We'll find out together, with you at my side."

To say such words with so much certainty… could one even enjoy life after so long? Even the most positive and joyful of individuals would end up going numb. I figured one needed to have a twisted mind to be able to live for thousands of yours, a human mind was not made to stay around for so long. But… I kept those thoughts to myself.

"You're getting better at this." I pulled her closer, pulling onto her waist till we were practically glued together. A faint blush spread across her cheeks, though she didn't try to push me away. 

"At what?"

"Making terrifying declarations sound romantic."

We continued walking until a flower stand near the street came into view. Rows of colourful blooms had been arranged outside, and the owner was busy tending to them as customers passed by. I stopped to look over the selection before choosing a red rose.

Rias watched me pay for it, looking confused when I turned and offered it to her.

"For you."

Her eyes widened slightly as she accepted the flower. "For me? What's the special occasion?"

"I'm trying to get on your good side. That way, you'll be more inclined to forgive me later."

The warmth in her expression disappeared almost immediately.

"Hachiman Hikigaya."

Woah, scary. 

There it was. My full name, delivered with the sort of suspicion usually reserved for someone caught standing over a broken window with a baseball bat. Was it weird that I wanted to elicit more reactions like these in the future?

"What are you planning?"

"Nothing dangerous."

She continued staring at me.

"Probably."

"Hachiman."

"All right, all right. I'm just going to put a green hat on a certain god."

"A green hat?"

Ah, she did not get the reference. 

"Trust me, I'm about to play the role of the worst kind of bastard around. One that might make your blood boil…”

“You mean aside from your usual self on most days? You used to make me pissed off before we even became an official couple, still do sometimes.” She said, those words bringing back a lot of memories. I couldn't deny that it was indeed fun poking fun at her back then.

"I give you my word that I'll deal with this soon without putting my life in danger.” Wow, it was getting easier to lie. I should have been more worried, but then again, I could always ask for forgiveness later when I would explain the full plan. The last thing I wanted was to create unneeded misunderstandings of me playing an unfaithful hooky. The Raynare situation already put me on thin ice. “In the meantime, make sure Akeno is doing okay. I'll talk to you later, too."

Her gaze searched my face, as though she were trying to determine whether I was hiding something particularly troublesome behind my usual expression.

“I'll explain everything in a bit, it's just not safe to say anything here.” 

"You promise?"

I nodded. "I promise."

At least satisfied with that answer, she moved closer and kissed me on the lips. I returned the gesture before she finally stepped away, still holding the flower I'd bought her.

"Don't make me regret trusting you."

"I'll do my best."

"That isn't quite the reassurance I wanted."

"It's the best one I've got."

She shook her head, though a small smile returned to her face. With one last look at me, she turned and headed off, leaving me alone by the flower stand.

Now, then. One down.

I returned to the flower shop and purchased another bouquet. This one being of yellow roses, the heart of a Goddess like Hera would not be swayed but to sell the image, one had to take it seriously. Especially when he would be watching eventually if they could keep going without any hiccups. 

"Ahem!"

I turned around to gaze at Gabriel standing behind me with her arms crossed, her cheeks puffed out in an adorable pout. Just looking at those cheeks just flamed the growing desire to pinch him, molding her face to my desire and entertaining myself to her cute reactions. Ugh, why did she have to be so adorable? This was a crime! 

"Do you need something, teacher?"

"So you've finally decided to acknowledge my presence!" Her foot stomped the ground with indignation. "You two have been ignoring me this entire time! And being all lovey dovey!”

I blinked.

Thinking back, I knew she had been following us since we left the school gates. I figured they were discussing yesterday's matter, so I waited for her to get involved with the conversation, but she kept quiet and at some point… I may have forgotten about her. Safe to say, I felt guilty. Still, the woman had kept her distance and remained quiet while Rias and I talked, apparently content to watch the entire exchange without interrupting. 

"Sorry. I assumed you were enjoying the show. You seemed perfectly happy watching from the sidelines, so I thought I didn't need to acknowledge you."

"Well, I was!" Ah, she took my attempt of teasing her seriously with how her expression brightened at once. "It's lovely seeing a scene like that between you and Rias. From a distance, you look like a perfect couple. And then you bought her flowers! How gentlemanly."

"You're easily entertained."

"Perhaps."

I held out the third bouquet of red roses and lilies for her. Part of me was surprised why she hasn't asked for me to buy her one as well. 

“Oh my!” Her eyes widened, and the pout vanished so quickly that I wondered whether it had ever been genuine in the first place. "For me?"

"Unless there's another angel standing behind you."

Gabriel accepted the flowers with both hands, looking delighted. "Thank you! This is the first time someone has given me flowers directly."

"Seriously?"

She nodded enthusiastically, bringing the bouquet closer to admire it. “Yup, Michael would usually stop anyone from doing so, he once had the flowers Azazel checked to find anything unusual or some potion sprayed on it.”

Are you sure she isn't a siscon?

"What does siscon mean?"

Of course she would ask that.

"Forget about it."

She tilted her head, deciding not to press the matter. I took the opportunity to ask a question of my own.

"You're not going to ask me what's been going on?"

Gabriel shook her head. "You already told Rias what you needed to do, and you said you'd handle it. I trust you."

That was an unexpectedly straightforward answer. I'd prepared myself for questions, demands for an explanation, or perhaps an attempt to convince me to let someone else handle the situation. Instead, she accepted my word without hesitation.

"Sometimes I worry about how much confidence you place in me."

"It's not confidence." She looked up from the flowers. "It's certainty. I know you can handle things your own way, and if you need help, I'll always be there for you."

I found myself at a loss for a moment.

"...Thanks."

The words came out more quietly than I'd intended, though she looked pleased all the same. Smiling at me, then glancing towards the road. "Where are you going now?"

"I probably have a certain goddess waiting at my house to make me an offer. It's nothing serious, so don't misunderstand."

"I won't if you say so."

With that settled, I tried to leave.

The Seraph stepped in front of me. 

“Hn?” I stopped, apologised, and moved to the side. She followed my movement and blocked my path again.

Uh… strange, I raised an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"

Rather than answering my question, she clasped her hands behind her back and looked around as though she hadn't heard me. It was a terrible performance, made even worse by the cheerful smile she couldn't seem to suppress.

I tried going left.

She stepped left.

I moved right.

She moved right as well.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

Gabriel continued smiling.

I did give her flowers, both of them, so it couldn't be that. But since she was watching me with Rias. Well, I think I had an idea. Rather than ask another pointless question, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.

“Ah~!”

A cute little noise escaped her before she returned the hug, pressing herself against me with a lot of enthusiasm. “Hehehe~!” Her arms settled around my back, and the bouquet became trapped between us as she leaned closer.

Both breasts pressed against my chest, I could already feel the jealous stares — not that it mattered, I relished the sensation shamelessly. I could also catch the scent of her perfume, a pleasant fragrance of lilac that seemed to grow more noticeable the longer I held her. It was familiar in a way I couldn't quite explain, and I found myself wanting to stay there rather than let go.

That was dangerous.

Not because there was anything wrong with hugging Gabriel, but because I was beginning to enjoy it a little too much. My heart had picked up an unusual pace, and the longer I held her, the less inclined I felt to end the embrace.

‘What the hell is this feeling? So damn addictive.’

“Ahem!” I forced myself to loosen my arms and cleared my throat.

"Well, I'll be going now."

She still didn't move.

“Could you let me through? I can't afford to be late for this matter."

She shook her head and the pout returned, and looked almost offended that I still hadn't worked out what she wanted. This could go on for a while, seriously, was I missing something? Thankfully, my answer came soon enough with her raising one beautifully manicured finger, its glossy almond nail catching the light, and gently tapped it against her lips.

Once.

Twice.

Tap

Tap

Tap

Oh.

This was quite bold, “We are still in public, and the school wasn't far away. There is every possibility that a student might walk past and see us, which will undoubtedly lead to questions I had no desire to answer and cause you some trouble, you know? At this point you're already one of the great Onee-sans 

Gabriel, however, appeared unconcerned. She continued tapping her lips, her eyes fixed on me.

“Hah…” 

There were probably several sensible responses available to me. I could have asked her what she meant, pretended not to understand, or simply walked away and left her standing there with her bouquet with a bad excuse. Yet part of me was certain she knew I already figured out what she wanted… I wasn't that big of an idiot.

So, I leaned forward.

It began as a brief kiss, little more than a gentle touch of our lips. I could taste the faint trace of lipstick she'd left on mine, and drawing back slightly, I expected to find her eyes closed.

They weren't.

The woman watched me with her eyes wide open, studying my face with an almost curious expression. For a moment, I wondered whether I'd misunderstood her intentions after all and made a fool of myself. No, that couldn't be the case, what else would tapping one's lips even mean? Then the corners of her eyes curved into delighted crescents, almost mischievous.

I had a bad feeling.

“Mmm,” before I could retreat, she leaned closer and deepened the kiss. Something warm and slimy slipped into my mouth, the sudden intrusion enough to make my eyes widen and my body freeze up. Unsure how to respond to her sudden boldness, but her fingers had already moved to the back of my neck, making any thoughts of pulling back impossible.

The touch sent an unexpected jolt through me. My body trembled slightly with both arms intending to embrace her yet I hesitated, but that movement of my arms… Gabriel took that as encouragement, opening her mouth further as her tongue explored mine, the tip of her tongue pushing my mouth open, squeezing past my teeth and soon caressing my own.

‘Is this heaven? This must be heaven, I regret nothing. Hera can wait, who was she again? I even forgot the plan. Aaaaah, oh Heavenly Father, your daughter is just too good, I promise I'll take care of her, so rest easy. You can't blame me for having lewd thoughts at the moment, I am no monk.’ I couldn't deny that I enjoyed the sensation. 

She tasted of strawberries, so unbelievably sweet, probably a light snack she had. Our saliva mixed, heartbeat synched and our body heat continued to rise. For a few seconds, I allowed myself to remain there, caught up in a moment I hadn't expected and couldn't quite understand. 

Then something caught the corner of my eye.

A black feather.

“—!?”

My eyes snapped open.

“Wait!” 

The sight jolted me out of the kiss, and I gently pulled away before I could lose myself in the moment again even though the sensation of her pulling at my lower lips for a brief moment almost pushed me off the edge. We parted reluctantly, Gabriel's fingers lingering near my neck while I struggled to catch my breath.

“Haha… hah… hah… hah… that was dangerous.” 

For a moment, she seemed just as surprised as I was. Her lips parted, and she touched her lower lip with her fingertips, only now realising what she'd done. Did she do all of that unconsciously? I was having a hard time believing that. Colour spread across her face, and her eyes widened as she glanced around to see whether anyone had witnessed the exchange.

"I'll b-be go-going now!" she blurted out. "A-Asia is waiting for me. Have a good day!"

Without giving me a chance to respond, she hurried away, still clutching the bouquet. Her face remained flushed, and she seemed determined to put as much distance between us as possible before either of us could say anything else.

I stood there, watching her leave. What could I even say? 

Then I looked down at the black feather.

It had fallen nearby, and when following its path back to its source, I spotted a raven perched atop a pole. The bird was busy preening its feathers. Right, even Gabriel wouldn't bring out her wings here, not that she hadn't done so, but this place was far more busy than the park. I wanted to let out a sigh of relief that it did not come from her.

I stared at it for several seconds before placing a hand over my chest. My heart just wouldn't calm down.

"What the hell is up with this ominous sign? Am I just being too paranoid?”

Were her actions earlier really without a drop of lust?

"Should I just ask Hera? Surely she would know more..."