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And with that, everything finally ca to an end.
Bokue Keikain's group didn't attend the Current Demon Lord faction's victory celebration afterward.
After all, even though everyone knew it had been a staged match, they'd still fought representing the Old Demon Lord faction. Having the Current Demon Lord faction win the decisive battle only for them—the supposed losers—to join the celebration would've been bizarre no matter how you looked at it.
And so, evening arrived in the blink of an eye.
Beneath the deepening twilight and the sa starry sky over the Northern Territory, their final dinner at the Old Capital's royal castle had officially begun.
"Phew~ Everything's finally wrapped up!"
At the dinner table, Kuroka humd a little tune as she leaned forward slightly, picking her favorite dishes from the table and adding them to her bowl bit by bit.
"So now we can head back today... oh wait, we probably can't make it today. Tomorrow should work though, right?"
"Yeah, let's head back tomorrow morning."
Rias, sitting on Bokue's other side, agreed for once.
"At least this whole affair is finally settled."
"Ara?"
Just as she finished speaking, Akeno Hijima—sitting one seat over from the redheaded girl—let out a curious sound.
Rias turned to her friend with a questioning look.
"What is it, Akeno? Sothing wrong?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it a problem exactly..."
Akeno smiled slightly, resting one hand against her cheek with eyes narrowed.
"I just didn't expect President to be so concerned about Miss Mio's situation. Could it be you actually do care for Miss Mio as your cousin after all?"
"What do you an 'as'... Even from an objective standpoint, Miss Mio really is my cousin!"
Rias's cheeks flushed slightly as she hurriedly explained.
"Besides, when did I say I wasn't concerned? If I really didn't care, why would I even co here?"
"Hmm, perhaps for Bokue-kun's sake?"
Akeno tapped her lip thoughtfully with her index finger.
"After all, President hasn't really spoken to Miss Mio these past few days. Ah... could it be you were deliberately acting indifferent?"
"No, there's nothing deliberate about it..."
Rias was starting to crack under pressure.
Honestly, she wasn't unconcerned about Mio Naruse, but she also wasn't deliberately acting indifferent. They were just peers who'd been complete strangers until recently. They'd only t because of recent events, only then discovering they were cousins—family from five hundred years ago.
But they'd still just t! She wasn't the type to suddenly beco warm toward soone just because of blood relations.
"Then why not try sothing tonight?" Akeno suggested sweetly.
"Try sothing?"
Rias looked confused, not following.
"Yes~" Akeno continued with her smile. "Good sisters should be sincere and open with each other, and that usually happens through sharing certain activities together. For instance, serving Bokue-kun together..."
"A-Akeno??"
"Th-that's impossible!"
Before she could finish, two red-haired girls at the table shot to their feet in perfect unison, faces flushed.
Oh, actually there was a third—Kuroka.
"No no no NO!!!"
The cat-eared girl slamd down her chopsticks, pounding the table with a voice that drowned out everyone else.
"Bokue's sleeping with and Shirone tonight! You can't steal him away!"
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Rias's already red face turned even redder.
Before it had been from embarrassnt. Now it was anger.
"Why are you doing this again, Miss Kuroka? Didn't you just yesterday in the kitchen with Bokue..."
"Well by that logic, didn't Miss Rias do the sa yesterday?"
"Ugh..."
Rembering yesterday afternoon's kitchen "party," Rias fell silent.
Right, she'd done it too.
"President, I have to support my sister on this matter."
The white-haired cat-eared girl who'd been quietly eating her grilled fish looked up.
"What? Koneko, you're actually..."
Completely unprepared for this betrayal, Rias looked utterly shocked.
With her sister's support, Kuroka pressed her advantage, her twin tails swishing triumphantly behind her.
"Hmph~ So you understand now? Besides, I'm Bokue's official girlfriend, nya! Miss Rias, you're the latecor!"
"I..."
The redhead was instantly silenced.
But the next second, Irina Shidou stood up from across the table, pointing dramatically at the cat-eared girl with conviction.
"Objection! By that logic, I'm Bokue's childhood friend who knew him first!"
"Overruled! Childhood friends can't beat heaven-sent maidens, wahaha!"
Kuroka pointed back decisively—she'd watched Bokue play the Ace Attorney series.
The groups went back and forth like this, the dinner table transforming into a courtroom.
Even the blonde nun sitting beside Irina timidly raised her fingers.
"Um, actually Asia would also like to be with Mr. Bokue..."
Unfortunately, her voice was too soft for anyone to hear.
The debate raged on with no one able to convince anyone else.
At this rate, if nothing unexpected happened, it would probably end up like yesterday afternoon in the kitchen... Bokue thought to himself.
Not that he minded. With his current power, if he wanted, he could easily release an entire ocean's worth.
The girls' appetites were nothing in comparison.
But just because Bokue didn't mind didn't an everyone felt the sa.
A light cough interrupted the girls' heated discussion.
"Ahem..."
The cough ca from Sapphire, who'd been eating quietly until now. Even during the most intense argunts, she hadn't said anything. This sudden cough felt less like a reminder and more like simply clearing her throat.
After coughing, she didn't say anything more, just continued eating on her own.
But for the girls, this created an incredibly awkward situation.
They'd gotten so caught up in their discussion that they'd completely forgotten an outsider was present.
The table imdiately fell silent, like a noisy classroom when the horoom teacher walks in. The air practically dripped with embarrassnt.
Finally, Maria broke the silence first.
"Oh right, since the Council is gone and the Current Demon Lord faction agreed to preserve the Old Capital's royal castle, doesn't that an Aunt Sapphire can keep living here?"
"No..."
Sapphire shook her head.
"I have no reason to stay here anymore. This royal castle is my brother's legacy for you and Miss Mio, Maria. I'll probably leave here afterward and travel alone."
Then she looked at Sheila, who hadn't spoken since dinner began.
"Sheila, I'm leaving Lucia in your care."
"Of course, don't worry."
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