City of Osaka
Azazel's Mansion
Issei caught his breath after the intense training, his clothes soaked in sweat as he sat on the floor of the training room in Azazel's mansion. He looked around, expecting to see his mentor return at any moment, but time passed, and there was no sign of the fallen angel.
"Azazel is taking a long time to come back, Ddraig," Issei murmured to his partner, the Red Dragon. "He said he was stepping out for a moment and would be back to supervise my training, but so far, nothing."
Ddraig, the great red dragon residing within Issei, replied with a deep and powerful voice in his mind.
"Perhaps he's been called for an emergency or something," Ddraig suggested. "Or maybe he got distracted with some research or experiment. Azazel is known to be quite busy."
Issei nodded, accepting Ddraig's explanation as he rose from the floor and began to stretch his tired muscles.
"That's true," Issei agreed. "But I was hoping he'd be back soon. I have a lot of questions for him about the next stage of my training."
"I'm glad to see your dedication to becoming strong," said Ddraig, his voice resonating in Issei's mind. "That way, you'll be worthy of being the wielder of the Boosted Gear."
Issei smiled, feeling encouraged by Ddraig's words. He looked at his own muscles, imagining how powerful he could become with time and dedication.
"That's right," Issei replied, a determined gleam in his eyes. "And the stronger I become, the closer I'll be to being the Harem King."
"Your motives may not be noble," commented Ddraig, observing Issei with a mixture of resignation and humor, "but they'll do."
Issei laughed as he continued his exercises. He was determined to become stronger, not just to achieve his goal of becoming the Harem King but also to protect those he loved.
"Alright, let's get back to training," said Issei, his voice determined as he lowered himself to do more push-ups. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5..."
Gremory Mansion
Rias sighed as she watched the image reflected in the mirror, the expression on her face revealing the mix of emotions consuming her at that moment. Akeno worked skillfully with the brushes, putting the finishing touches on her makeup, but Rias could hardly concentrate on the process.
"Thank you, Akeno," murmured Rias, her voice a whisper filled with gratitude. "I really needed this."
Akeno smiled at Rias through the mirror's reflection, her eyes showing understanding and solidarity.
"No need to thank me, Rias-chan," replied Akeno, her voice soft and comforting. "I'm here to support you, no matter what."
Rias nodded, feeling a lump forming in her throat as she struggled to hold back the tears threatening to escape again.
"I know, Akeno," she murmured, her voice choked with emotion. "And I'm so grateful to have you by my side."
Akeno finished touching up Rias's makeup and put the brushes back in her bag before sitting next to her on the bed.
"All set, it doesn't even look like you've been crying," said Akeno, her gentle smile lighting up her face.
Rias forced a smile, trying to hide the pain that still echoed in her heart.
"It's amazing how makeup can hide so many things," commented Rias, her voice tinged with melancholy. "But inside, it still hurts."
Akeno placed a comforting hand on Rias's shoulder, conveying her silent support.
Rias sighed as she stood up from the bed. She looked at Akeno, determination shining in her eyes.
"I said I was going to have fun, and that's what I'm going to do," said Rias with a determined smile. "Let's go find Koneko, call her, and head to Riser's party."
Akeno stood up, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Ara Ara," said Akeno mischievously. "Looks like I'm not the only one interested in Riser."
A shiver ran down Rias's spine, nervousness mixing with irritation.
"What are you talking about?" asked Rias, her voice trembling slightly. "I only care about the party, not about my ex-fiancé."
Akeno raised an eyebrow, amused by Rias's reaction.
"If you say so," she said, nonchalant, "but I'm still curious to see how he'll react to your new marriage contract. It'll be interesting to see his reaction."
Rias rolled her eyes, impatient with Akeno's insistence on bringing up the subject.
Akeno watched her with a gentle smile, but there was a glint of mischief in her eyes that Rias couldn't ignore.
"What reaction? Have you forgotten everything I did to break off my engagement?" murmured Rias, her voice filled with frustration. "Riser won't care whether I'm going to marry or not."
"Maybe yes, maybe no," replied Akeno, her voice soft and calm. "But you need to remember that your father wasn't as decisive about your marriage to Riser as he is about Diodora's."
Rias furrowed her brow, confused by Akeno's words. She turned to face her, seeking a more detailed explanation.
"What are you trying to say?" questioned Rias, her curiosity evident in her voice.
Akeno smiled, her expression mysterious as she chose her words carefully.
"Riser is a Devil from a great family, and if he perceives that your family is being disrespected, he may get angry," explained Akeno, her voice soft but firm. "While you may not be able to stop your marriage, Riser could."
"You're watching too many romantic movies," commented Rias, trying to steer the conversation to something lighter. A sad smile played on her lips as she tried to maintain composure. "Let's just enjoy the moment of freedom I have."
Akeno nodded, understanding Rias's desire to have fun despite the challenging circumstances.
Rias and Akeno left the room, leaving behind the atmosphere charged with conflicting emotions. They walked silently down the hallway, each lost in their own thoughts, until they reached the room where they found Koneko.
"Koneko, let's go to Riser's party," announced Rias, trying to cheer herself up with the prospect of distraction and fun.
"Yes, Senpai," replied Koneko obediently, a small smile forming on her lips.
The three girls joined hands in a circle, and Akeno began to channel energy to perform the teleportation. In an instant, they disappeared from the Gremory mansion and reappeared in front of the imposing castle where Riser's party was taking place.
As Rias, Akeno, and Koneko approached the castle, Rias could barely contain the anxiety consuming her. She was determined to enjoy Riser's party as an opportunity to distract herself and temporarily forget the challenges she faced regarding her marriage contract. However, her plans were abruptly interrupted when she saw Riser firmly holding Diodora's arm, a serious expression on his face.
"What's going on here?" questioned Rias, her voice filled with surprise and confusion.
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