Marvelous Shop, Chapter 26 (Patreon)

After Riser left... I was actually stunned for a good bit. Like, what the fuck was this Riser, and how the hell could I see us going fishing and just getting blasted as we talked about our harem as we fished?

This world I had utterly fucked it up with the world changes I put in to find this particular world line. And I had zero idea how to react to a Riser that wasn't initially a complete prick to me, especially.

I mean, sure he was a bit of a dick and rude. But I was a dude who was being used as a shield by his fiancee he was supposed to marry. It was perfectly valid to be a little shitty.

But no, his first words to me was. 'Here is a hot picture of my little sister. Whatcha think?' And then in the midst of making a Rating Game, he instead set the stakes that I had to go out on a date with Ravel at some point.

Then my face twitched as I realized something. "Wait... Regardless of whether Rias wins or loses. Riser himself is going to break off this engagement. The only difference is myself getting pimped out to his little sister and Rias's own reputation." 

There was a pause as everyone digested my words, and the moment of silence went on for a good moment, and even Grayfia was looking uncomfortable at the realization.

And then I coughed and said quietly. "Sooo... Rating Game tomorrow? Or are you guys going to try to push it back for some reason?"

Rias finally seemingly mentally reset and taking a deep breath. A breath that was clearly keeping her from throwing a tantrum and screaming into the couch pillow, she was almost tearing into it with her fingernails.

"I am not going to avoid this Rating Game... You are strong Jake, so it's not like we need to fight for every moment to make you stronger." 

'Hmm, I am sensing some shade being thrown here.' I thought with some amusement.

Then Koneko helpfully added with two fingers spread to mean V for victory. "Kick the chicken's ass for lunch. Then we can be home in time for dinner."

Akeno and Kiba both chuckled at Koneko's words with Grayfia finally clearing her throat and saying with a helpless expression.

"This... The explosive meeting was not what either of our parents were expecting, Rias. I need to confirm things with your father. Who will need to confirm things with Riser's own head of house in his mother." 

Rias's face pinched before she said flatly. "Latatina Phenex? More like will father even be able to get a call with her when she is busy? It is a Tuesday, remember? She only does clan affairs on Sunday to spite the Abrahamic Diety." 

Grayfia's expression became even more pained at the reminder that the head of the Phenex family had done her damn best to revive her clan by becoming a super slut. Who spent more time with her knees folded behind her head than actually on her feet.

"Be as that may well be. Lady Venelana has a private line to her that is more likely to be answered... Please excuse me, Lady Rias." Grayfia finished with a bow that exposed some cleavage. And then, without another word, she flared with power and then teleported away.

Then, with a shrug, I looked to Rias and everyone before I said thoughtfully. "Soooo. How about a sleepover? We can eat junk food, watch movies, and possibly ruin our friendships with Bario Cart?" 

Rias's peerage shared a look before Rias tossed the couch pillow she was mauling, and she said. "No Bario Cart! After Riser's nonsense, I don't need any more rage bait. So we are going to play Stardew Canyon and heal our souls."

Then Akeno said more kindly. "Alright, Rias. You and Kiba can get the laptops ready while Jake and I go get the snacks, as I don't know his favorite snacks still. If that's alright with you Jake?" 

I nodded as it obviously wasn't any trouble, and while the devil heiress worked to get the stack of gaming laptops that were in the corner ready to go. I followed the other super busty member of this peerage out to get snacks.

Once we were in the kitchen, Akeno turned towards me and spoke with a small frown. "Jake.... Are you alright with this? I mean, Rias hasn't asked you for your help directly as far as I know." 

"I just really don't want you to feel like we are trying to use you or anything. But Rias, she just loves her closest friends like family and more. And she just doesn't understand boundaries at times." Akeno said a bit helplessly.

I chuckled lightly and Akeno raised an eyebrow in interest as I patted her shoulder before I said. "I know what Rias is like, Akeno... Even now, I know that should a random god come here specifically to hunt me down for having a Longinus. Rias would, without a doubt, throw herself at that god."

"If she is willing to throw her life away to protect me already, and cares for me so deeply. How could I, who also likes and cares for her as... Actually, my best friend not help her as well?" 

Honestly, it was a bit of a realization for me as I realized that so far in this new life of mine. Rias Gremory was actually my best friend.

Nora, back in the world of Fallout 4, was a good friend. But we were survivors who trusted each other to protect one another. In my base Marvel Universe? I was hiding in my shop so I didn't get fucking mulched by a kaiju or supernatural monster.

Which apparently, for that damned Marvel worldline, was just a common thing. Oh, it's Monday. Yeah, a giant cockroach more than forty meters long decided that the filth of Detroit was too damned much even for it and decided to go on a rampage.

Koneko, Kiba, and I were also really chill, though we weren't as close as Rias and I were. As for Akeno... Too much sexual tension and teasing for a truly 'great' friendship to be born.

Rias could hit me with a blue shell, and I could call her a soulless ginger devil and other slurs. It was all in good fun as she would promise to tap dance on my grave in turn when I died of old age like a chump.

If I called Akeno slurs, she just moaned, called me daddy, and told me to start pulling her hair. Really ruined the flow of my Extraction Shooter game loop when my teammate was possibly masterbaiting and hot-micing the shit out of her headset as I called her slurs in russian as I tried to listen for footsteps in Escape from Duckov.