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Rias awakened the next morning with her body fully rejuvenated, her spirit calm yet sharpened with newfound resolve.

The intense experiences from the day before—Yuuji’s guidance, the revelations, and the battles—had sparked a clarity within her.

She felt enlightened, her mind no longer clouded by doubt or pride.

Today marked a new phase in her growth: hands-on combat training with Aika.

Though Aika wasn’t a seasoned instructor in the traditional sense, her battle instincts and adaptability were unparalleled.

The training would be unconventional—raw, direct, and aggressive.

They would spar deep in the mountains, far from civilization, where ancient trees and jagged cliffs formed a natural coliseum.

Magical and physical barriers surrounded the area, obscuring their presence and containing the overwhelming magical force they would unleash.

The area was also reinforced with arcane dampeners to prevent catastrophic destruction from stray attacks.

Meanwhile, back at the estate—a sprawling mansion that had been repurposed into their personal training grounds—Erika was already hard at work drilling Issei, Kiba, and Koneko.

The three were predominantly physical fighters, so Erika tailored their regimen to push their bodies and refine their instincts. Grueling obstacle courses, high-impact sparring, and precision-based melee drills made up the bulk of their training.

But Erika had one more element planned.

Today, she would also be overseeing Asia’s training.

To help her develop greater healing endurance and spell efficiency, Erika subjected the trio to relentless cycles of physical punishment—forcing them to fight until exhaustion and injury, only for Asia to heal them and repeat the process.

It was brutal, but effective. By day’s end, both the fighters and Asia would have grown significantly—body, mind, and soul.

Elsewhere on the estate, within a serene courtyard surrounded by sakura trees, Yuuji stood across from Akeno, who looked both eager and uncertain.

Today was her turn.

Yuuji’s lesson was focused entirely on lightning magic—her specialty. But more than just flinging bolts of power, he intended to show her what made lightning one of the most lethal magical affinities when mastered.

"Lightning is powerful," Yuuji said calmly, hands behind his back. "Perhaps the most offensively potent form of elemental magic."

Akeno tilted her head. "Eh? Isn’t the Bael clan’s Power of Destruction more powerful?"

"In terms of raw destructive capability, yes. But it comes with a price."

He raised a hand and conjured a flickering orb of lightning that danced between his fingers.

"The Power of Destruction consumes a tremendous amount of mana, requires deliberate aiming, and its casting and travel speed leaves much to be desired. You’ve seen it yourself—Rias must take time to charge and aim. And against fast-moving enemies, that’s a fatal flaw."

Akeno nodded slowly, recalling how opponents had managed to dodge Rias’s spells during past battles.

"Lightning, however..." Yuuji’s voice became firmer, "...is nearly instantaneous. It’s difficult to dodge, hits hard, and can be summoned from the sky itself. You can strike enemies mid-air, suppress them with barrages, and even manipulate its currents."

He stepped forward, eyes gleaming.

"At its peak, you can channel lightning through your own body—enhancing your speed, reaction time, and even physical strength. You become a living weapon of nature."

Akeno’s eyes widened slightly. The idea of wielding lightning not just as a weapon, but as an extension of her own body... It thrilled her.

"Now," Yuuji said, voice low but commanding, "show me your strongest. Let’s see what the Priestess of Thunder is truly capable of."

Akeno took a slow breath, the faint scent of morning dew and sakura blossoms swirling around her. Her violet eyes locked onto Yuuji’s as she raised her hand up into the sky.

Clouds gathered above, shrouding the once-clear sky in darkness. Thunder rumbled in the distance, deep and ominous, as arcs of lightning danced within the roiling mass. The atmosphere crackled with tension and anticipation.

"Haaaah!!!"

Akeno’s voice rang out like a war cry.

From the heavens, a colossal bolt of lightning descended with divine fury, slamming into the earth with a deafening roar. The ground split open where it struck, charred black and steaming. The raw power left a scar on the land—a testament to her strength.

The air shimmered with residual energy.

Yuuji stepped forward, a soft smile playing on his lips. He tilted his head slightly, observing the impact with calm interest.

"Well done," he praised, crouching to examine the scorched earth. "But... I can’t help but feel you’re still holding back."

Akeno’s lips quivered, but her eyes flickered—betraying an emotion she quickly tried to hide. Yuuji noticed, of course. Nothing escaped his gaze.

"Oh...? I thought I was just being considerate," she said lightly, her tone teasing but brittle.

"There’s no room for kindness in battle," he said, standing up straight again. "You hesitate—especially when your heart’s unsettled. That kind of hesitation will cost lives."

His words weren’t harsh, but they cut deep—honest and piercing. Akeno flinched slightly, not from fear, but from the way he saw through the mask she wore so easily.

Still, his gaze wasn’t judgmental. It was gentle. Concerned.

And that... unnerved her even more.

She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. Her teeth gritted as she turned away, the weight of her own thoughts bearing down on her.

"...Don’t worry," Yuuji said softly.

She looked up, startled. His expression remained calm, his voice reassuring.

"There’s still time. You can work through it—at your own pace."

"But... what if I can’t? What if it’s too late...?" she murmured.

"Your friends are getting stronger. Strong enough to protect themselves. And if something beyond your power does come... there are others who will protect you."

His eyes met hers, steady and unwavering.

Akeno stared at him, heart thudding. Despite their short acquaintance, and their less-than-perfect first meeting... there was something about him. His presence felt grounding. Safe. Warm.

Her lips curved upward, her usual playful expression returning, albeit softer this time.

"Ara~ Are you saying you’ll protect me, Yuuji-kun~?" she purred.

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well, we’re acquainted now. And of course I’ll help Aika’s friend."

"Fufu~ Aika-chan is such a lucky girl~ To have such an understanding and impressive boyfriend~"

"I’m the lucky one," Yuuji said simply.

That quiet sincerity struck something deep in Akeno. She gazed at him—at his genuine smile—and felt a strange, unfamiliar flutter in her chest. A feeling she hadn’t expected. A subtle ache.

Jealousy?

She shook it off.

Yuuji’s tone shifted. "Now then. Let’s continue."

He took a step back and faced her fully, the air around him shimmering faintly with power.

"Something’s holding you back. So imagine I’m that very thing—and unleash everything you have. Don’t stop until you’re drained of magic."

Akeno blinked. "Eh? Are you serious, Yuuji-kun? I know you’re strong, but if I go all out..."

He raised a hand, revealing a glowing vial of deep azure.

"I’ll be fine. And I have plenty of mana potions to spare. Just focus on letting it all out—your anger, frustration, sorrow, regret—everything. I’ll take it all."

The vial vanished as quickly as it appeared, and he gave her a firm nod.

"Come at me."

Akeno stood frozen, eyes wide. Her breath caught. Tears threatened at the corners of her eyes—but instead of falling, they were burned away by a fierce smile.

Her heart raced, but not from fear. Excitement? Relief? Maybe something more.

"I won’t hold back, Yuuji-kun~" she said, lightning dancing across her arms as power surged within her. "I wonder how it feels... to punish such a handsome young man like you~"

Yuuji chuckled, preparing for her assault. "Let’s find out."

And then, the storm began again—wilder than before. Lightning fell and the reverberating thunder soon followed, echoing hundreds of meters.

Then fire. Water. Ice.

Akeno kept casting spells upon spells at Yuuji. Every single one unleashed with everything she had.

Yuuji stayed unaffected. And when she fell to the ground, exhausted, Yuuji approached her and fed her a mana potion, replenishing her magic.

Then, they would start over.

Every casting of a spell, Akeno didn’t only fill it with magic, but all her anger, her frustration, her sadness, her regret, and her pain.

With every blaze, she recalled the fire that burnt her childhood home and the blazing anger she felt for her father.

With every water spell, she recalled the rain that drenched her as she stared at the burnt remains of her home, washing away the warmth of her mother’s embrace and warm meals she would never get to taste again.

With every ice spell, she recalled the bone-piercing coldness of that rain that followed her to this day, and the chilling intent to hurt her father just as much as he had hurt her by abandoning her and her mother.

And with every flash of lightning, she saw the moment her mother died, killed by her own family, and how she embraced her cold body amidst the blazing flame, hoping to warm it up so she would wake up and embrace her as she had countless times before.

Time seemed lost to her as painful memories flashed across her mind. And before long, Akeno lost consciousness.

Her body limped, like a puppet with its strings cut, and fell, only for Yuuji to catch her before she hit the ground.

He looked at her tear-stained face, pale, pitiful...

Her appearance broke his heart... because he knew what had pained her this much. And he was also one at fault for forcing her to relive those horrible moments.

Although it’s necessary for her to grow... it’d definitely still be difficult for her, no matter how strong she appeared to be.

He knew that Akeno, deep down, was a very delicate girl who had been hurt greatly in the past, and simply masking her wounds behind an ever smiling mask and flirtatious personality.

Then, a thought inevitably crossed his mind... He recalled a spell.

A clerical spell from Yggdrasil. A spell of the tenth-tier, so powerful that it could bring back those who suffered untimely death. Not even a body would need to be present.

The name alone would carry them from the afterlife to the world of living once again. And he knew the name of Akeno’s mother.

’Perhaps... When she’s prepared.’

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"Fufu~ Rias-senpai, how was yesterday~? Did you have fun with Yuuji~?"

Aika’s lips curled into a mischievous grin as she eyed the crimson-haired Gremory heiress, who instantly felt her heart skip a beat and her face flush with heat.

They stood on the magically reinforced training ground—an area Yuuji and the others had prepared, complete with enchanted barriers for their sparring. On the surface, Aika’s question sounded like casual small talk. But her tone and sly smile suggested otherwise.

Rias couldn’t help but recall Yuuji’s gentle, encouraging words, his comforting smile.

.. and the moment he caught her in a princess carry after she collapsed from exhaustion mid-air.

Though she fainted soon after, his smile—the last thing she saw before darkness claimed her—was now etched into her memory.

Just thinking about it made her heart flutter all over again.

"It was... enlightening. H-He helped me a lot and gave me a new perspective on how I should use my power," Rias replied, deliberately skipping over the second half of Aika’s teasing question.

"Eeeh~? That’s it? That’s no fun~" Aika pouted, her lips forming an exaggerated frown. But Rias could see through her act—Aika was clearly enjoying this.

That girl loved teasing others, especially when it came to romance. And judging by the glint in her eyes, Aika had already seen right through Rias’s feelings for Yuuji.

’N-No! What am I thinking?! I don’t feel that way about him... right? It’s just respect... isn’t it?!’

As the beloved daughter of one of the most powerful noble houses in the Underworld, Rias had always been raised to be straightforward. She never hid her likes or dislikes. She was someone who would take the initiative, act on her desires, and lead—especially in matters of the heart.

She imagined that in any relationship, she would be the one to take charge, showering her partner with love and protecting him. If her partner were to have a harem—as was not uncommon in their world—she would naturally be the first wife, the one to manage it all, like her mother before her.

That was how she envisioned it.

But now... everything felt different.

Her heart raced beyond her control, her emotions ran wild whenever she thought of him. It felt like the reins had slipped from her fingers, and instead of leading, she was being swept along—dragged into an unfamiliar whirlwind of feelings.

Unease. Confusion. And yet, a thrilling sense of anticipation.

She didn’t know how to deal with these emotions. Not at all.

Placing a trembling hand over her chest, Rias tried to calm the frantic beating of her heart. Meanwhile, Aika watched her silently, her grin widening in amusement and glee.

As expected of her hubby. Just one day with Rias, and she was already acting like a love-struck maiden.

And now, with Yuuji spending time with Akeno? He was probably melting her heart too—whether he meant to or not.

That was just who Yuuji was. Stupidly handsome, yes—but more importantly, impossibly kind and loving. A man who made it easy for anyone to fall for him.

He probably thought his appeal was just his looks. But Aika and the rest of his lovers knew the truth.

What made them fall in love wasn’t his face, or even his undeniable power, or his incredible prowess in bed—it was how he treated them. Despite having a harem, he gave each of them his full love, his complete trust. His whole heart.

He would do anything for them—face hell, topple nations, whatever it took to protect their happiness.

And that wasn’t just a belief. He had proven it.

In Tatsuya’s world, Lelouch’s world, Suzuki’s world—he had fought wars, slaughtered armies, subjugated empires. All for them.

How could anyone not fall in love with a man like that? A man who would give them the entire world if they so desired.

And now... Rias had started to see that side of him.

"Fufu~ Well, I still have pleeenty of time to figure out how you really feel~" Aika giggled. "But for now, show me the results of your training!"

Aika released a bit of her aura, and Rias immediately snapped into attention and flared her magic.

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