As they arrived in the capital, Kazuki and his harem rented out a cozy inn near the center of the city. While they were settling in, Princess Akane suddenly excused herself, saying she had to pay her family a visit. She promised to return soon and left them with a plan for the day.
As they waited for her return, Rei and the demon king took turns going out to explore the city, leaving Kazuki alone in the inn. When it was his turn to go out, he took a walk and found himself standing in front of a small cafe. He decided to enter and sat at a table by the window. It wasn't long before he saw a familiar figure walking down the street - it was Rei.
He waved at her and she smiled, walking towards the cafe. Kazuki's heart skipped a beat when he saw her. She was wearing a simple white sundress, which made her look more beautiful than ever. He stood up and pulled out a chair for her, which she gracefully accepted.
They spent the afternoon together, walking around the city, trying out different street food, and just enjoying each other's company. As they walked, they stumbled upon a small park and decided to take a rest there. They sat down on a bench, and Rei rested her head on Kazuki's shoulder.
"It's been a wonderful day," she said, smiling at him. "I'm so glad we could spend it together."
Kazuki felt a pang of guilt. He knew that Princess Akane was supposed to come back soon, and he had been spending the day with Rei instead. He looked away from her, feeling ashamed.
"What's wrong?" Rei asked, sensing his discomfort.
Kazuki sighed. "I'm sorry, Rei. I've been neglecting Akane today. I should have been with her instead of you."
Rei looked at him, her expression softening. "It's okay, Kazuki. You don't have to apologize. We're all here for you, and we understand that you can't spend time with each of us all the time. Akane will understand."
Kazuki felt relieved, but he still couldn't shake off the guilt. They sat in silence for a few moments until Rei stood up and held out her hand.
"Come on, Kazuki. Let's go for a walk. I want to show you something."
Kazuki stood up, taking her hand. They walked around the park, and Rei led him to a small pond. They stood there for a few moments, admiring the tranquil beauty of the water.
Suddenly, Rei turned to Kazuki, looking up at him with a coy smile. "You know, Kazuki, there's something I've been wanting to do for a while now."
Kazuki looked at her, curious. "What is it?"
Rei leaned up and kissed him on the lips, and Kazuki felt a rush of warmth spread through his body. He kissed her back, and they stood there for a few moments, lost in each other.
Eventually, they broke the kiss, looking at each other with a mixture of love and desire.
"I love you, Kazuki," Rei said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kazuki smiled, feeling his heart swell with affection. "I love you too, Rei."
As they walked back to the inn, Kazuki's mind was racing with thoughts of Rei and Princess Akane. He knew that he had to find a way to balance his time between them, and make sure that no one felt left out.
When they arrived back at the inn, they found that Princess Akane had already returned. She was sitting in the common room, reading a book. She looked up when they entered and smiled.
"Welcome back," she said. "How was your day?"
Kazuki sat down next to her, feeling guilty once again. "It was good. Rei showed me around the city."
Princess Akane's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "That's nice. I'm glad you two had a good time."
Kazuki knew that she was trying to be understanding, but he still felt like he had let her down. He took her hand and squeezed it gently, hoping to convey his remorse.
"I'm sorry, Akane. I should have been with you today."
Princess Akane looked at him, her eyes softening. "It's okay, Kazuki. I know you have to spend time with all of us. I'm just happy that you're here with us."
Kazuki felt a wave of relief wash over him. He knew that Princess Akane was a kind and understanding person, but he still felt like he had dodged a bullet.
The rest of the evening was spent in a comfortable silence. They all sat around the common room, talking about their adventures and sharing stories from their past. Kazuki listened intently, feeling grateful to have these people in his life.
As they went to bed that night, Kazuki lay awake, thinking about his relationships with Rei and Princess Akane. He knew that he had a lot to learn, and a lot to figure out. But for now, he was content to just be with them, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.