[A/N] - Support & Read Up to 12 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!
...
Back at the Gremory estate, they were warmly welcomed by Grayfia in her maid attire.
"Everyone, the hot springs are ready," she announced.
This was met with instant smiles; everyone felt a well-deserved soak was in order.
"Let's discuss things while we relax in the hot springs," Rias suggested.
With enthusiastic agreement, they all made their way toward the baths. Badr had intended to head to the men's side, but Rias casually took his hand and pulled him along with her, bringing him into the ladies' side without a second thought.
Once settled into the warm waters, everyone sighed in contentment. Even in the Underworld, hot springs had their own unique appeal.
"So, Koneko's sister wanted to take her away… that's really heartbreaking," Asia said sympathetically after hearing Rias recount the recent encounter.
"It's tragic, having to face her own sister as an enemy," Akeno murmured softly.
Badr glanced over at Koneko. She sat quietly in the spring, gazing at her reflection in the water, lost in thought.
Despite her calm exterior, the pain of facing her sister, now a Stray Devil, was clear in her eyes.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Koneko. We're your family now," Badr said gently, wrapping an arm around her and drawing her into a comforting embrace.
Koneko flinched slightly but then relaxed, nestling into his warmth. After a moment of quiet reflection, she looked up with a determined expression.
"I know… I'll learn to accept this, whatever it takes, whether it's about my sister or my own powers."
Koneko, or rather Shirone, gave everyone a small, brave smile.
"President, is it alright if I still go by Shirone?"
"Of course," Rias said warmly, nodding.
Seeing her rare smile, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Badr's right. We're all here, together, and we always will be," Rias added with a gentle smile.
With Koneko feeling reassured, everyone allowed themselves to fully unwind.
After rigorous training and the intensity of the recent events, this was the first time they could truly relax and let the hot springs wash away their fatigue.
A little while later, Badr moved to sit at the edge of the pool, Koneko still curled up in his lap, seeming to find comfort in his steady presence.
The thought of being taken away had frightened her more than she cared to admit, and it was Badr's protection that had kept her safe. For her, being near him now was the only place where she felt at peace.
As Badr held Koneko, he suddenly felt someone press up against him from behind.
Akeno's smooth, warm skin was now flush against his back as she playfully leaned over him, taking full advantage of the moment.
"Hehe… gotcha~"
Caught off guard, Badr could only give a small chuckle as Koneko looked up at him, blushing slightly. She gave him a shy glance before mumbling, "Perv."
She slipped out of his lap and retreated to a quieter spot by the edge, dipping her legs into the water, trying to hide her flushed cheeks.
"Hey, that wasn't my fault, it was all Akeno's doing!" Badr protested, casting Akeno a bemused look, but she only smiled wider, seemingly enjoying every second.
"Hey! Akeno, you're way too close!" Rias quickly interjected, stepping forward to reclaim her spot next to Badr. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed close, clearly staking her claim.
"Akeno, hands off my man!"
Rias wasn't about to let Akeno get the upper hand, but Akeno had anticipated this move, her own arms clinging tightly around Badr, refusing to let go.
"No way~ I'm going to enjoy being close to Badr too! I want to feel his warmth, just like this, it's so comfortable~" Akeno cooed, leaning in even closer, her voice sweet but mischievous.
Rias gritted her teeth, clearly annoyed. "Let go of him already! He's mine. You think all these moves of his didn't come from our time together? He's so good at holding people because of me! He's mine, body and soul."
With Rias and Akeno now openly vying for his attention, Badr was left speechless, unsure whether to intervene or simply let them be.
Maybe it's best to just let them sort it out… he thought with a sigh.
As the two pressed against him, Akeno suddenly leaned down, taking full advantage of Rias's distraction.
Badr tensed, feeling Akeno's mischievous lips near him.
This bold move left Asia and Xenovia watching wide-eyed, completely taken aback by Akeno's confident approach.
Their reactions ranged from shock to admiration; clearly, Akeno's experience far surpassed their own.
Even Rias was left speechless for a moment, not expecting Akeno's sudden boldness in front of everyone.
Asia and Xenovia glanced at each other, both clearly intrigued by Akeno's confidence and grace.
"So… that's a thing we could do too…" Xenovia murmured, nodding thoughtfully, while Asia's eyes sparkled with new ideas.
"I… I want to be that close to Badr too…" Asia whispered, her voice filled with a hint of longing.
"Taking Badr from both of them might be tough. Maybe we should wait until they're done," Xenovia said, her resolve growing as she added, "But I'll definitely try something like that soon!"
Badr could only manage a sheepish smile, sensing that the others were getting all sorts of ideas. This playful rivalry was quickly getting out of hand…
In the corner, Koneko watched the scene unfold, her face half-submerged in the water, hiding her flustered expression as she blew bubbles to distract herself from the sight.
Badr certainly hadn't expected that their return from the gathering would lead to a spirited bath-time competition back at the family's hot spring.
---
The days in the Underworld passed by swiftly. Following the gathering, Badr finally enjoyed a few days of relaxation.
Rias's family had fully embraced him, treating him as if he were already part of their clan. Even Sirzechs's son affectionately referred to him as "Uncle" now…
Badr found it amusing. Though he and Rias hadn't formally wed, her family's enthusiasm was undeniable.
After all, it seemed that in every world, it was always the families who grew most eager and excited about marriage, sometimes even more so than the couple themselves.
A week passed in a flash, and soon, the New Generation Tournament was upon them.
With everyone geared up and ready, they prepared for the upcoming days of competition.
They were about to engage in a series of Rating Games, a tournament that would pit the most gifted young devils from the Six Great Houses against each other to crown the strongest among them.
...
Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters. Ahead of the rest!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available on my Patreon!