Using teleportation magic, Ryuya returned home, sorting through the textbooks he would need for tomorrow's tutoring session while calling Rias to share the good news.
Signing five contracts in one go was a rare stroke of luck—of course Rias was genuinely happy for him.
But since she was still busy with a client request, Ryuya didn't bother her for long.
After finishing his preparations, he moved on to his daily physical training, stopping only once he was drenched in sweat.
A quick shower later, he collapsed into bed—ending a very productive day.
Feeling quite cheerful, he decided to call Sakurajima Mai. She should've been home by now.
The call connected quickly, and that familiar, soothing voice flowed through the speaker.
"Hello?"
"It's me. Ryuya."
"I know. You're the only one who would call this late just to bother me."
Her tone held a lazy softness.
Ryuya didn't mind her grumbling; with a personality like hers, he actually found it adorable.
"Are you already in bed?"
"Not yet. I just finished my shower and I'm changing clothes."
As Mai answered, Ryuya indeed heard the rustling sounds from her end.
He raised an eyebrow, smiling lightly.
"Then what do you look like right now? Please describe it to me."
"I'm already wearing my pajamas."
…Eh?
So fast?
"Sleeping with clothes on is heresy."
"Sleeping without pajamas will give you a cold." Mai countered calmly, unfazed by his teasing.
"You should let me hold you to keep each other warm."
"…Mm? You sound like you're in a very good mood today."
Even while talking about something so intimate, Mai remained steady as ever.
Whether her face was red on the other side of the phone—Ryuya had no way of knowing.
But clearly, Mai understood him well enough to sense his mood.
Normally, Ryuya was quiet and withdrawn; only when talking to her did he become livelier—sometimes even bold like this.
Being exposed so easily, Ryuya let out a small laugh and admitted it.
"I ran into something good today."
He then told her about signing five contracts at once.
Mai responded in a faint, wistful voice:
"So… having just me wasn't enough?"
Ryuya blinked, then chuckled.
"…Looks like Mai can get jealous after all."
"I'm not jealous."
"You sure?"
"Of course I'm not…"
She denied it stubbornly, but after a brief two-second pause, she added in a soft, begrudging murmur:
"It's just… when you only had me as your sole contractor, that feeling of having you all to myself was… satisfying.
Though, I did know you'd eventually find more contractors."
Ryuya couldn't help smiling.
"Why am I so happy hearing you get jealous? Mai, you're too cute."
"Don't get carried away."
If they weren't on the phone, Ryuya was certain Mai would've already pinched his cheek—or stepped on his foot.
His heart felt sweet, warm.
"Mai, I form contracts to become stronger. Only then can I protect everything that matters to me.
I know you understand that."
Ryuya's words made Mai pause. Sitting at the edge of her bed, she stayed quiet for a moment before giving a small nod.
"…I know. You have your own brilliant world."
"No. My world is brilliant because all of you are in it."
Ryuya spoke with complete seriousness.
"That's why I need to become stronger—so I can protect everything precious to me. If I lost any of you, what meaning would there be in living forever alone?"
"So when you say 'all of you', you're including me… but why do I have no idea who else is in this 'all of you'?" Mai asked softly.
Ryuya paused, then answered quietly:
"There's my master… and the companions who serve alongside me. They all know about you. They just haven't had the chance to meet you yet. I'll make sure to introduce you next time."
"…It feels like I don't really understand you at all," Mai murmured. "Maybe I'm just someone passing through your life. After all, you and I are different—my lifespan is so much shorter than yours."
Her voice held a wistful calmness, but beneath it was a soft, helpless ache that Ryuya could clearly feel.
Ryuya cleared his throat lightly.
Hearing the faint sadness in her tone, he rose to his feet, gathered his magic, and teleported directly to Mai's home.
"It won't be like you think. We'll be together forever. You're already the devil I'm aiming for—there's no escaping now."
He said this with a smile while standing at the foot of her bed.
Mai, still holding her phone, stared at him blankly for two seconds before snapping back to reality.
"You—this is breaking and entering." She pouted slightly.
Ignoring her, Ryuya lifted her quilt and slipped into her bed—only to see that she was indeed fully dressed in cute pink pajamas.
"Ah… you actually did finish changing…"
Mai: "..."
Her cheeks flushed as she suddenly raised her leg and kicked him in the face.
"Who told you to get in my bed, you pervert?"
Her face was bright red—not surprising, considering Ryuya had just showered and teleported over wearing nothing but a pair of thin underpants. It was quite a shock for her…
"Mngh…"
Ryuya caught her foot, played with it for two seconds, then let go and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I came because you were sad."
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, then asked softly, wearing a gentle smile:
"So, Mai… would you be willing to live forever with me?"
Mai's cheeks burned hotter. She refused to look into his dark eyes, quickly turning her head away.
"I mean—of course immortality sounds great…"
"Eh… that's not the answer I wanted to hear." Ryuya clicked his tongue.
"If you didn't hear it, then forget it. Go to sleep."
Mai's eyes curved slightly with amusement as she lay down, turning her back to him as if she were really going to sleep.
Smiling, Ryuya closed the distance and embraced her from behind, sliding his arm around her soft waist and finding her hand.
She immediately opened her fingers and intertwined them with his.
No words needed—their hearts were already in sync.
Ryuya breathed in the faint fragrance of her hair, then pressed gentle kisses along her neck.
"D-don't… No hickeys. I have an audition tomorrow…"
Mai turned slightly, giving him a small apologetic look.
"Oh—sorry."
Ryuya immediately pulled back—only to kiss her lips directly.
This time, Mai didn't pull away.
Her heart throbbed sweetly as she kissed her lover back…
---
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