"What the hell was that? I can't believe he was taken down just like that." Feldway's voice dripped with irritation as he grumbled right in front of Rizevim.
"Hyoudou Issei... I initially pegged him as nothing more than a common reincarnated devil, but it seems I was mistaken." Rizevim's voice was sharp, carrying an unsettling depth.
"I'm not interested in your excuses! Just explain to me how our pawn could be defeated so effortlessly!"
"Pipe down! You saw it yourself, didn't you?!" Rizevim snapped back, his temper flaring.
"Wh-at...?" Feldway stammered, momentarily rendered speechless by the outburst.
"That brat's power! He isn't an opponent you can face with half-hearted measures."
"...You have a point."
"Instead of wasting energy moping over Cao Cao's failure, why don't we focus on drawing up a new plan? As long as we stay one step ahead, we have absolutely nothing to fear from anyone."
"Fine then. This time, I'll be the one to orchestrate the next move."
Rizevim nodded in silent agreement.
"Very well. Show me the legendary brilliance of a transcendent being from another world."
"Just you wait. You'll be more than impressed."
It was the day before the long-awaited school trip when Issei found himself summoned by Sona Sitri.
'Why would Sona-kaichou call me out here? And of all places, why this spot? It's where people usually come to confess their love...'
Sensing Issei's confusion, Sona's face flushed a deep crimson, and she cast her gaze downward in a rare show of bashfulness.
"Ahem! There... there is something I've been meaning to tell you..."
'Thump-thump!'
Seeing a 'kuudere' like Sona wearing such a shy, vulnerable expression was almost too much for Issei to handle. He felt like screaming at the top of his lungs, completely captivated by her sudden charm.
'Thump-thump... Thump-thump...'
Sona struggled to find the right words, her lips trembling. But when she finally managed to speak, the honesty she intended was nowhere to be found.
"Tomorrow... please, look after my family..."
"Eh...?" A wave of inexplicable disappointment washed over Issei's heart.
Unable to bear the overwhelming embarrassment any longer, Sona turned on her heel to flee, but Issei's hand shot out and caught her by the arm.
"Sona-kaichou, please, wait a second!"
"Ehh?! I-I can't! I have to get back to my student council duties!"
"Just three minutes! Please, just give me three minutes!"
Sona had every intention of refusing, but the moment she saw the sheer determination etched onto Issei's face, her resolve crumbled instantly.
"Alright... only three minutes..."
"Thank you..."
Issei slowly released his grip on her hand. A flicker of disappointment crossed Sona's face the moment the contact was broken.
'Damn, she's so freaking cute! Just as cute as her petite chest!'
Issei knew he'd be in deep trouble if he ever said that out loud—especially right to her face—but he couldn't hold back the surge of emotions bubbling inside him.
"Issei-kun?" Sona called out tentatively.
"Ah, sorry. I just got a bit lost in how beautiful you are, Sona-kaichou."
Sona froze, her face turning as red as a ripe tomato. She looked away, her voice tinged with a sudden lack of confidence. "Are you just trying to cheer me up? Compared to Rias, I'm not... I'm not that beautiful..."
She gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile, her voice heavy with a deep sense of helplessness.
"That's not true at all! Sona-kaichou, you have a charm and a beauty that Rias doesn't have."
Once again, Sona was stunned. Her eyes widened in disbelief before they were clouded by a silent, longing sadness.
Realizing he needed to take the leap, Issei's tone turned serious. "Sona..."
"Eh? What did you just call me?"
"Sona..."
"..."
"Is it okay if I call you that?"
Sona nodded repeatedly, her face lighting up with pure joy. Her emotions finally overflowed, and tears of happiness began to prick at the corners of her eyes.
"Sona, will you... will you be mine?"
"Eh?" Sona froze for the third time. "Issei-kun, what did you just say?"
Instead of answering immediately, Issei dropped to one knee before her, taking her hand gently in his.
"Sona Sitri, I want you to be my Queen, along with the others."
The sheer weight of happiness was too much; Sona could no longer hold back the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
"Sona?" Issei called out softly.
Coming back to her senses, she gave him the most radiant, pure smile he had ever seen and nodded.
Issei stood up and pulled her into a firm embrace. Sona didn't resist; instead, she buried her face into his chest, seeking his warmth.
"It's so comfortable... just let me stay like this for a little while..."
"Of course. You can stay as long as you want..."
After what felt like an eternity, Sona suddenly pushed him back slightly.
"Had enough—wait!" Issei gasped. Sona had her eyes tightly shut, her face tilted upward and her lips slightly parted in a pout.
For a split second, Issei hesitated, unsure of what to do—until he saw a single tear of hope trace a path down her cheek.
'How can I hesitate now after making my decision? You idiot! Useless! Coward!' Issei cursed himself, fueling his own courage.
Leaning down, Issei pressed his lips against her shimmering, crimson ones in a deep, heartfelt kiss.
Sona's body tensed up for a fleeting moment before melting into his touch, becoming soft and yielding in his arms. She stole a glance with her beautiful eyes, her expression brightening the moment she realized just how close they were.
But a simple touch of the lips wasn't enough for Issei. Slowly, he let his tongue slip past her lips.
Initially, Sona was startled by the sudden intrusion, but she quickly became submissive, opening the gates to a sweet, shared intimacy.
Under the golden glow of the setting sun, the two of them shared a passionate kiss, completely oblivious to the world around them.
...Unbeknownst to them, Sona's entire peerage was watching from a distance, including Saji, who looked like his entire world had collapsed.
And then there was the blonde girl, Asia. Having accidentally stumbled upon the scene from the other side, she stood there in total shock, watching Issei and Sona lost in their kiss.
"Issei-san..."
To be continued...Anvanced Chapter patreon.com/AgamYupi02