"You did what?" Tsubaki asked, her voice sharp as her eyes bore into him. She had just learned from Akeno that the school's new English teacher was none other than the witch who had once abducted them, and apparently, someone who knew Kousuke far more intimately than she'd expected.
He had told them about his journey in the Otherworld before, how he became what he was now, a Hero, and a powerful force comparable to Satan, but never once did he mention that the Witch had been part of his party. At least, not until today.
"Oh my, you sure work fast, fufufu," Akeno teased with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She wasn't angry that he'd found another woman, no, she had half expected that, especially given his past records. However, the problem lies in the fact that he hadn't told them about it, and that stings a little.
Kousuke rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding their gazes. "Well, I never thought she would be in this world, much less alive and well, so I... may have signed a marriage certificate," he admitted at last, guilt written across his face. A heavy silence followed.
After the stunt Morgan had pulled in the classroom earlier, he figured it was only a matter of time before the whole school found out anyway. And knowing her, she was definitely enjoying the chaos unfold right now, smiling that smug little smile of hers while hiding in the shadow.
At the moment, Kousuke was kneeling on the floor while Tsubaki and Akeno sat on the couch before him like a pair of judges. They'd taken over the Occult Research Club room since Rias and Issei were out on a date. Kuroka tried to rekindle her relationship with Shirone/Koneko, so the two were also out. Kiba, the diligent knight as always, is training in the open field just outside the building. Meanwhile, Asia was praying at the abandoned church under the watchful eyes of Rias's familiars so that the previous kidnapping incident won't happen again.
In other words, there were no witnesses to plead in his case, that means his impending execution is inevitable.
"He isn't lying, you know," came a familiar, lilting voice from his shadow. Morgan stepped forward and placed a piece of paper on the table. It was the marriage certificate—an official one, though a copy since she kept the original paper somewhere safer. Both women's eyes narrowed when they saw Kousuke's signature on it.
"I'm legally his wife, in name and by law~" Morgan said sweetly, standing behind Kousuke with a triumphant smile. The subtext was clear as crystal: You're his girlfriends, but I'm the wife.
Her words carried more than pride, they were a declaration of hierarchy. From the very moment she noticed Kousuke's return to this world, she had no intention of standing on equal footing with the others. No, Morgan le Fay wanted the top position, and in a single calculated move, she had claimed it and proudly showing them her card.
Akeno and Tsubaki exchanged glances and sighed in unison. They weren't furious. If anything, they had a faint suspicion since the Witch abrupt appearance during the meeting with the Three Factions. The way she was acting around him seems too familiar, like someone who's certainly close to him.
Now that Akeno thought about it, everything made sense. Despite kidnapping them, Morgan hadn't truly hurt them, she had simply locked them in her basement for a while. The only reason they'd ended up in danger afterward was because of Diodora's interference, meaning she knew someone would eventually came to their rescue and even left the key for Diodora.
Kousuke looked up, meeting their gazes with a determined look on his face. "Just because she's my wife on paper doesn't mean my feelings for you two, or for Yasaka mean any less to me. You're all precious to me. And I'll make sure each of you is happy. That's my vow and I promise to follow it to end of my life." His voice carried the weight of conviction. He didn't look away either when they stares at him, as if to show them that he truly meant every words he said.
Akeno and Tsubaki both blushed almost immediately, heat spreading across their faces as they looked away simultaneously. His determined expression struck straight at their hearts, making it impossible to stay mad. Their pulses quickened, and their embarrassment only deepened when they realized why. They fallen too deep to care.
"Just give up," Morgan purred, wrapping her arms around him from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder. "Not everyone can win against him when it comes to resolve, he's a hero after all~"
Then her tone softened, but her grip tightened possessively. "Plus with me around, I'll make sure he doesn't lay a finger on any other girls, or else… fufufu~"
"I won't! Am I such an untrustworthy worth person?" Kousuke said with a pout.
"Your past records said otherwise," Morgan rebuked. "Who knows, you might ended up charming those two angels while we weren't looking. Isn't that girl Irina your childhood friend as well?"
"That won't happen, I swear!" Kousuke firmly denied her false accusations. He never considered Irina and Xenovia as potential partners. However, he can see himself getting along with Irina considering her cheerful and upbeat personality, but not with the latter. Xenovia is too tight, she wouldn't take kindly on his jokes.
"Sigh, how can I stay mad when you're so good with words? Do you have some powerful convincing skill that you hadn't mentioned to me before? ...Fine then, but promise me a date, just the two of us!" Tsubaki said with her arms crossed.
"Oh my, then I wanted that as well, though I don't mind waiting a little bit," Akeno muttered while sipping on a tea. Kousuke exhaled in relief, grateful the situation hadn't ended with Akeno's divine lightning or Tsubaki's Sacred Gear smashing his head. He survived yet another day, what a real scumbag, he thought sarcastically in his mind.
"Alright then," he said, rubbing his temples with a wry smile, "I'll make it up to both of you. One date each, I promise."
"What about me then?" Morgan interjected smoothly, her voice honeyed but sharp in his ears. "I'm your wife, so shouldn't I be prioritized, dear husband~?"
"That's not how it works!" Kousuke protested, only for Morgan to smile knowingly, brushing a stray lock of silver hair behind her ear. Obviously she wouldn't listen, so he could sigh and admitted defeat. Then she whispered something to his ears, the time and place. He tried asking her where she's taking him, but she wouldn't budge and instead, make him play the guessing game. If he got it right, he will be reward but if not, well, he never once had any other options.
To think I had fallen this far, haah, love can really had such a big impact in life, Kousuke thought to himself as he lost himself surrounded by the love of his life. Unknowingly, a smile surfaced on his face.