In his fading consciousness, Baraqiel heard Kazuki Fuwa's voice. "Haha, to think you could defeat me with a technique bearing the name of [Lightning]... You're an incredibly arrogant fellow..."
Having defeated Baraqiel, Kazuki walked over to Akeno. Standing before her, he dismissed his Guyver Armor and looked into her eyes.
"Kazuki…"
"Now it's your turn, Akeno. You already know the truth, don't you?"
"…"
"If you keep being stubborn, you might never get another chance to see him. Is that alright with you?"
"!!?"
"It's okay if you just want to vent about him never coming to see you or about all the resentment you've built up over ten years. Go talk to him, Akeno. I'll be waiting."
Kazuki took Akeno's hand and gave her a gentle push on the shoulder. Akeno, who had been looking down, raised her face and ran towards Baraqiel.
As Azazel watched her go, he spoke to Kazuki.
"Good work, Kazuki. What did you think of Baraqiel?"
"He was strong. I won because it was our first fight, and he fell for my strategy. I don't know what would happen if we fought again."
Especially that final heel drop—if Guyver's head sensors hadn't been able to track his position, the outcome might have been reversed.
"I see… Kazuki, thank you."
Azazel bowed his head with uncharacteristic sincerity. He must have been carrying the guilt of having inadvertently destroyed his close friend's family all this time.
"It's too early to thank me. In the end, it's up to Akeno…"
Even as he said it, Kazuki sat down on the spot, thinking it would probably be okay, and watched the father and daughter who were likely talking…
"Are you alive?"
Baraqiel was awakened by a woman's voice and opened his eyes slightly.
There, peering into his face, was his beloved daughter Akeno, the spitting image of his deceased wife Shuri. Unbelievably, she looked worried.
Even in this situation, Baraqiel felt strangely happy.
"Well? My boyfriend is strong, isn't he?"
"Yes… I was completely defeated. Truly, he said whatever he wanted, an utterly impertinent young man… But he was right about everything."
"… Akeno, I spent these ten years running away. After losing Shuri and being rejected by you, I was reminded of the pain of losing someone I loved. I didn't see you for ten years because I thought I wouldn't be able to bear it if you rejected me again. He was right to hit me for calling myself a father… It's pathetic…"
"It really is as you say. Afraid of being rejected by your daughter, you left her alone for ten years, then call yourself her father, pick a fight with her boyfriend, and on top of that, you're completely defeated. You really are an unfit father, aren't you?"
"Completely defeated!? Ugh…! Was it necessary to say it so bluntly…?"
"Hehe, it's the truth, so please accept it."
Akeno laughed happily. 'So, you can laugh now…'
Suddenly noticing some commotion, Baraqiel turned his head to see friends, including the Gremory household members, gathered around Kazuki Fuwa.
Devils, angels, and fallen angels—members of the Three Factions were laughing together, standing together. The scene he had once dreamed of was realized here.
At the center, Kazuki Fuwa was receiving a scolding from Rias Gremory while being treated by the Healing Saint, bearing it with a wry smile.
"I'm alright, Father. I'm not alone anymore. I have Kazuki and my friends…"
"So don't worry." Saying that, Akeno left his side.
'I see... It's a little, no, quite frustrating, but I'll leave the responsibility of protecting Akeno to you, Kazuki. At least, as long as that girl can smile...'
Baraqiel slowly closed his eyelids. Behind them, he felt as if Shuri was smiling.
The morning after the day Kazuki and Baraqiel fought…
"G-good morning, Akeno..."
"Good... morning..."
At the awkward greeting between the Himejima father and daughter as they met in the dining hall, everyone around them smiled wryly.
After talking a little following the previous night's confrontation, the two had taken a small step toward each other, settling into this kind of atmosphere. They were originally a close father and daughter, so Kazuki found himself hoping they could return to how they once were.
Perhaps everyone else felt the same, as a warm, gentle air enveloped the dining hall at the clumsy exchange between father and daughter. But,
"Let's go, everyone! The boobies are waiting for meee!!"
The moment was ruined…
Several days had passed since old man Odin arrived in Japan. Issei and the others had reached their peak of exhaustion.
Odin had been traveling all over Japan under the guise of sightseeing. During the day, he visited famous places, savoring local delicacies, and at night, he went to the erotic establishments recommended by Azazel, enjoying the hospitality of beautiful women.
He seemed to be having a wonderful time.
The daytime was fine. They could visit tourist spots they'd never been to before, and they got to eat delicious food.
'Ah, the tuna from Oma is incredible...'
But the problem was nighttime. Naturally, they couldn't enter the hostess clubs or girls' bars the old man went to, apparently, even if one was of age, students were not allowed.
While the old man and Azazel were enjoying themselves, Issei and the others had to wait endlessly in the waiting room near the entrance, leaving everyone exhausted both mentally and physically.
Rias, of course, was visibly irritated, and the others seemed drained from the consecutive days of fatigue. Even Rossweisse, the old man's attendant, looked fed up.
Their motivation wasn't just dropping; it had crashed.
'Damn it, I bet Grandpa and the Sensei are doing this and that with pretty ladies right now...' Issei thought.
'I wonder what kind of things they do at a boob pub? Ah, if only they'd take me just once...' Issei clenched his fist, suppressing the rising anger.
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