(Should I add full explanation on each ability on the stat sheet? I mean most are self explanatory or easily found in DxD fandom. Also do anyone want to see the other characters profile?)
Another day passed. Leo feels odd. Incredibly so. Not just Mittelt but also Ravel.
Early in the morning, Mittelt already woke up and prepared breakfast. It's something simple. Two pieces of toast, two fried eggs with half cooked yolk and a few strips of bacon.
The Mittelt he knew is biologically incapable of waking up at six, much less four in the morning.
'Do I ever bought bacon before?' Leo questioned as he stared at the food while also being stared by Mittelt who was eager to see him eat.
"What is it? Is there something wrong? Something you dislike?" Mittelt anxiously asks like she is walking on a fragile glass.
Leo looks at Mittelt. Her hair still look disorganized and wearing a black silk nightgown under the apron. Leo concluded she just woke up and rush to make the breakfast. A little earlier than him who wake up at 4 am.
It's suspicious…
"It's nothing." Leo decided to stay silent and keep observing.
Leo then proceed to eat the breakfast until finish. Only then Mittelt stop staring at him. She quickly takes the dirty dishes and wash them while telling him he should go and watch TV.
Leo nods and does as told but his eyes never stray away from Mittelt's figure as she goes back into the kitchen and wash the dishes.
After the sound of running tap water stopped. He saw Mittelt in the middle of his eyes leave the kitchen then to her room for a few moments before humming happily as she entered the bathroom.
The Mittelt he knew disliked taking showers or even baths in the early morning because of the cold water.
"Did you do something to her?" Leo immediately suspects his System.
[...]
[What can I even do to her?]
The System replied, feeling offended by the accusation.
This leaves him confused. If not his system then who?
Ignoring the offended System in the background, Leo is feeling very spooked right now. Mittelt suddenly became like she was possessed by another person overnight. He unconsciously keeps his gear in the forefront of his mind, ready to summon at any moment. That is how rattled he felt in his mind.
After another twenty minutes, Mittelt exited the bathroom with the smell of fragrant soap and shampoo wafting into the living room as she disappeared into her own room with a happy hum accompanying her light and hurried footsteps.
After that, nothing happened for the next few hours. When the sun is up, Leo takes a quick shower and decides to go on a morning walk as usual. He put all the odd occurrences with Mittelt into the back of his mind and shrugged it off as maybe something good happened to her that's why she is in good spirits.
But when he is about to leave the apartment. Mittelt suddenly exits her room, dressed in white sports tank top and jogger pants with her hair tied into a ponytail.
"Are you going out for a morning walk?" She asked. "Let me join too."
"Sure…" Leo didn't even know what to say as he agreed.
It didn't even end there.
When he and Mittelt left their apartment and reached the elevator room. Leo pressed the button to call for one. When it opened. Ravel was inside, dressed for exercise.
"O-Oh! What a coincidence. Are you two going for a morning jog?" Ravel said as if she was reciting a script and almost fumbled.
At this point, Leo is too afraid to ask and just went along with what these two girls cooked up. They obviously are working together on whatever they are trying to do.
"Yes." Leo replied flatly and walked into the elevator followed by Mittelt.
They went for a morning walk while remaining awkwardly silent throughout the way. Half an hour later, they reached the park Leo usually went to if he wanted to do physical exercise.
Leo jogged around the park for a dozen laps while the two tried to copy and stay close to him. He purposely jogged faster and faster while they tried to keep up but Ravel was the first to go out of breath and tapped out.
"I can't. *Huff* This is too much. *Huff*" Ravel sat on a bench and tried to catch her breath.
Another lap later, Mittelt joined Ravel. Both sweating like a cow and drenched all over. Clearly not used to physical exercise. But they do last longer than normal humans at the very least.
Leo then went to a nearby vending machine and bought two bottles of water before handing each of them one.
"Thanks." Mittelt and Ravel said before they accept the water.
Leo watched them drink the water thirstily while the suspicion never left his eyes. Then he decided he had enough of staying silent. So, he opened his mouth and asked.
"What are the two of you trying to do?" He asked while the two stiffened up after being called out.
"W-What are you talking about? Hahaha…" Ravel laughed wryly and turned her head away looking guilty.
"Yeah, we just wanted to do a morning jog with you. Right, Ravel?"
"Yeah! That's right… We just wanted to do a morning jog."
Leo didn't even need to pull up their profile to know that's not the real reason. Their poor acting is enough to sell them out and Leo simply stared at them with a deadpan face, obviously isn't buying that excuse.
"It's fine if you two didn't want to admit it. Just don't overdo whatever the two of you are trying to. It's very… disturbing." Leo sighed and didn't pursue the matter anymore.
Mittelt and Ravel then argue between themselves, blaming one another for being too obvious. Leo didn't want to get caught in it and continued his jog to fill his usual quota of 1 hour before he stopped and brought the two back home.
On their way back, they stopped their weird act at the very least. They engage in small talk. Mostly from Leo, asking how Ravel is doing with her education in Kuoh Academy.
"Uhm… about this morning. We just want to cheer you up." Mittelt suddenly admitted out of nowhere.
"Cheer me up? For what?" Leo was confused.
"Mittelt told me that you look sad and depressed lately. We consulted with Rias and her peerage. They said you might be having trouble with your bad memories. So…" Ravel explains. "I'm sorry if we made you feel uncomfortable." She suddenly stopped and apologized.
Leo then suddenly recalled the other night in the kitchen where he fell into a daze. Then everything clicked.
"Pfft. Hahaha. I think the two of you misunderstood. I'm not depressed or anything. Just some thoughts that troubled me a lot." Leo laughed and explain.
"It's nothing you two need to worry about." He assured the two and reward them with a hug. "But thanks for worrying about me."
It felt great to have someone looking out for him. For him who live and struggle alone almost his whole life. It warms his heart to have someone that genuinely cared about him not just because of benefits or money.
Mittelt and Ravel also feel very happy and giddy to be appreciated.
After a few moments, Leo released the hug because he noticed people were watching. Someone even called the cop.
'Do I really look like a child predator? Damnit!' Leo scowled inside as he made the run for it while carrying the girls.
Probably some dissatisfied and jealous virgin that can't see people happy and try to ruin it for others.
———
When Leo returns home. He let the two rest or take a shower to wash the sweat off while he went and brewed some tea. This time, he didn't let his thoughts get over him and make the girls worried.
When he is done. Only Ravel was on the table while Mittelt went for a quick shower.
"Didn't you need to attend class today?" Leo questioned after remembering Ravel is a student.
"I ask for a leave today." Ravel replied rather quickly as if she was expecting it.
"I see…"
Leo took a cup and poured Ravel the tea he made. It is a high end green tea he bought from the supermarket. Quite an expensive one but not really that much for him since he has a lot of money to spare.
There is an awkward pause for a moment because both didn't know what to talk about and Leo being a less talkative person didn't help in that matter.
"Leo-sama, early you said that you have something troubling you a lot. I wonder what it is." Ravel recalled and hoped Leo would answer because she is eager to help him.
"It's a complicated matter. You are still too young to worry about it." Leo smiled as he answered.
The matter about Khaos Brigade is something he isn't willing to involve a young girl into. Not because he is petty but he wouldn't let such a young mind be corrupted by the horror of bloodshed and battle. She should live a fulfilling life rather than fighting in battle and walking with death.
But, Ravel wouldn't understand and pouted when she thought Leo called her a little girl.
"I will let you know that I am not a little girl anymore. I am a proper lady of the House Phenex." Ravel defended rather fiercely.
Leo simply sighed at this tsundere act. Why would girls always be obsessed with being seen as mature?
"Yes. Yes. You are a proper and mature lady." Leo said in a patronizing manner.
"Don't try to coddle me! I am being serious!" She became angrier when Leo obviously didn't take her seriously but indulge her thoughts.
"Fine. But I would rather not involve you in my problem." He said softly.
"Why?" She stopped sulking and asked.
"Because it's dangerous. I would rather not bring you any harm because you are that important to me just like Ophis and Mittelt." Leo answered truthfully. Although he doubts Ophis will need his protection.
"I-Important…" Ravel instantly becomes bashful and tries to cover her face. "I-I suppose I can forgive your previous remark." She crossed her arms and whipped her head to the side with a snort.
Maybe she is trying to hide her bashfulness with that look.
"Cute." Leo whisper and chuckled a little, seeing the little Tsundere trying to hide her burning red face.
Mittelt returned later and told Ravel she can go in next for a shower.
This moment of peace and joy, Leo hopes it can continue. Just peacefully enjoy his new life with the girls. But the foreboding feeling kept making him feel restless and unable to maintain these dream-like moments.
After all, one will have to wake up and the dream will fade away when the time's come.
A fleeting ephemeral dream.
That is the fate of the RAYs for their aberrant and twisted existence that defy the law of nature.
Only when they transcend the shackle and binding of fate can they truly control their future. Otherwise, they will continue to suffer and pay for the karma caused by their progenitor.
——————
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