He lowered his gaze, slipping the mask of timidity back into place, as if he didn't understand the real weight of what he had just said. The soft steam of tea still rose from the cup, but the atmosphere in the room had taken on a new temperature.
Rias averted her eyes for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly around the porcelain. A blush still marked her cheeks, though her posture remained flawless. The silence lingered, filled only by the sweet aroma of tea.
Koff, koff.
The soft cough broke the air, a quick and precise sound to dispel the unspoken subject still vibrating between them. She raised her head, regaining an air of natural composure.
"Sorry, Rias-senpai..."
Gasper's voice was low, steeped in rehearsed guilt. His eyes lifted just enough to meet hers before retreating once more to the floor.
Rias set her cup down on the saucer with an almost imperceptible sound.
Clink.
Her lips curved slightly, but the gesture carried no trace of offense.
"Don't worry about it."
Silence returned, reclaiming its space, while Gasper kept his gaze lowered. Inside, his mind was spinning.
'This tea… sweet, warm, intense. Almost as good as blood, but without the weight of instinct. If I hadn't controlled myself, I might've said something even worse. Something stupid that could've exposed me.'
The sweet aroma still filled the air, slow and persistent. Rias leaned slightly back in her chair, her eyes glinting with something sharper than courtesy.
"Ah, Gasper… since you're in better spirits, I think Akeno can take you to the mall today."
The words came like a silk-wrapped arrow. Subtle revenge, perfectly delivered.
Akeno's smile widened instantly, bright and satisfied. Her violet eyes gleamed as if she had just been handed an unexpected gift.
"President, I would love to."
She stepped closer, her movements light and confident, leaning down so her gaze met his at eye level.
"We're going to have so much fun, Gasper-kun."
Inside, he didn't care. But the mask of timidity had to remain flawless. His face flushed lightly, his eyes darting away as if unsure how to respond.
"If… if Rias-senpai thinks it's a good idea…"
Akeno's smile grew even more vivid. Without waiting another moment, she grabbed his arm firmly.
"Then let's go!"
The tug was followed by the rapid sound of footsteps.
Tap, tap, tap.
The hallway blurred as Akeno dragged him forward with genuine enthusiasm.
'These girls… their school life is way too easy.'
Just as they were about to disappear through the door, Rias's voice cut the air with a teasing tone, carrying a smile he didn't need to see to feel.
"Have fun, Gasper. And don't do anything I wouldn't do."
As Akeno and Gasper's footsteps faded into the corridor, the room reclaimed its silence, and the warm air of tea seemed to resume its slow rhythm. Rias remained standing for a few seconds, gazing at the open door before closing it softly.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips, discreet but heavy with relief. She was alone. The confident leader's façade softened, revealing a burden that came not from battles or training, but from commitments that suffocated her.
In recent days, Riser Phenex had intensified the pressure to move up the marriage. Messages, invitations disguised as orders, and veiled reminders arrived without pause, tightening around her like a chain. It was a fate she did not want—and against which she needed to find an escape.
The challenge was twofold. Beyond the engagement, her peerage was still incomplete. Vacant spots remained unfilled, and no candidate of true worth had crossed her path. Each day without new pieces deepened the disadvantage she felt for the matches ahead.
Rias stepped away from the table, her fingers sliding over the back of the main chair. Her expression hardened again, reforging the mask of command. Yet the weight behind her crimson eyes lingered, as real as the warmth still rising from the tea.
Kuoh Shopping Mall
The shopping center buzzed with the constant hum of conversation, the echo of footsteps, and the distant clinking of silverware in the food court. Among gleaming storefronts and polished corridors, two figures drew attention as if starring in an improvised parade.
The first, Akeno Himejima, exuded grace and confidence with every step. Her serene smile, silky black hair flowing with her movements, and her perfectly tailored uniform—all of it radiated elegance.
The second… also drew stares. Delicate features, platinum-blond hair falling softly, pale and flawless skin. Pink eyes that seemed shy, always darting away from direct looks. A face adorable enough for a magazine cover—or an idol poster.
But one small detail made the scene all the more curious. That "girl" walking hand-in-hand with Akeno, posture bashful and steps reserved, was in fact Gasper Vladi.
And no matter how many times he told himself he was just "keeping up the act," the embarrassed blush coloring his cheeks told another story to the spectators.
Through the broad corridors and gleaming displays, Akeno moved with the confidence of someone ruling her territory, her hand firmly entwined with Gasper's. Eyes turned toward the pair as if inevitably drawn.
"They're gorgeous! They look like models."
"That blonde is so cute I want to take her home."
"You two look perfect together."
Inside, Gasper's patience was crumbling.
'Unbelievable… I've fought to survive, I've seen people die before my eyes… and it's here, in a damn mall, that I feel the most humiliated.'
Akeno leaned slightly toward him, her smile radiant as though the situation were a gift.
"I love shopping, Gasper-kun. And today, I'm going to have so much fun dressing you up like a doll."
His eyes widened for a moment before he slipped the timid mask back on.
'A doll? I should be training to control my powers… and instead I'm being dragged into a dress-up game.'
They passed another shop, where a cheerful attendant waved at them.
"You two are so beautiful! Come try our new dresses."
'Dresses. Perfect. In my first life, not even in my worst days did I go through something like this. And I've seen plenty of bad.'
Akeno, never breaking stride, gave a polite nod and pulled Gasper deeper into the central corridor. Her steps were light, almost playful, each movement staged to showcase her "shy friend" in tow.
As they went, new voices rose, repeating variations of the same compliments. For Gasper, each one felt like another nail in the lid of a social coffin he had never wanted.
Outwardly, he kept his face flushed and his gaze lowered, the perfect image of an embarrassed companion. Inwardly, he counted every second, promising himself he would find a way to repay this debt—and make it worth something.
Akeno guided him naturally until they stopped before a store displaying mannequins dressed in elegant men's clothing alongside perfectly arranged children's outfits. The contrast between the display and his obvious destination drew an invisible sigh from Gasper.
Inside, the store was moderately busy. Most customers were men accompanied by women or mothers with small children. The hum of chatter dipped briefly, as if Akeno and Gasper's entrance had captured everyone's attention.
Male gazes swept Akeno with open admiration. Women smiled at what they saw as a harmonious pair—the confident young beauty and the delicate "friend" at her side. Quiet whispers arose, coupled with brief smiles and knowing looks.
Akeno, sensing the attention, kept her polite smile. Her violet eyes flashed with a brief, hypnotic red. The effect was immediate and silent: customers began to disperse, suddenly remembering urgent errands elsewhere.
The flow was so natural no outside observer would suspect anything strange about the shop's sudden emptiness. Within minutes, only the two of them remained, the quiet hum of the air-conditioning filling the space.
'So she could've done this from the start…'
The thought came laced with cold irritation, almost comical in its contrast with the docile expression still fixed on his face.
'She let me be treated like a shopping attraction just for her amusement. This sadist… when the time comes, I'll make you pay for this.'
Completely oblivious to the silent promise he had just made, Akeno squeezed his hand and pulled him further inside. The animated sparkle in her violet eyes showed she was in her element.
"There we go, Gasper-kun. Now we have the whole store to ourselves."
She walked lightly, turning her head to smile at him as if offering a precious gift.
"Let's pick something that suits you. I promise you'll be surprised."
Gasper followed, letting her lead him through the central aisle. Yet with every step, his silent determination grew stronger. With every hanger she pushed aside, with every piece she held up to judge, the image of "Akeno's Doll" solidified.
And with it, so did the certainty that this humiliation, this debt, would be repaid.
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