The evening sun painted Kuoh Town in soft gold as Issei Hyoudou stood nervously outside the Hyoudou Residence, fiddling with the collar of his button-up shirt. He'd actually ironed it — a miracle Rias still teased him about. Tonight wasn't training, wasn't a rating game, wasn't fighting gods or grim reapers. Tonight was a date. His first real, official, one-on-one date with Ingvild Leviathan.
His newest Queen. The girl who had looked at him with those beautiful orange eyes and said, "I want to live this age with you, Ise."
Just thinking about it made his heart pound harder than when he first activated Balance Breaker.
A gentle voice called from the gate. "Ise...?"
He turned — and forgot how to breathe.
Ingvild stood there in a sleeveless white sundress that hugged her curves in ways that should be illegal. The skirt fluttered just above her knees, and the neckline... well, it was perfectly modest by normal standards, but on Ingvild it was criminal. Her long purple hair cascaded down her back like a violet waterfall, catching the sunset light, and she clutched a small purse to her chest as if it were a shield.
"You... you look incredible," he managed, voice cracking like he was thirteen again.
She blushed a shade that nearly matched her hair. "T-thank you... Rias-san and Akeno-san helped me pick it out. They said you'd like something that 'shows off the goods without showing everything at once'... I still don't fully understand what Akeno-san meant by 'tease him until he cries, then reward him.'"
Issei choked on air. Akeno, I both love you and fear you.
He offered his arm, trying to be smooth. "Shall we, my Queen?"
Ingvild smiled shyly and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, fingers curling gently against his forearm. The contact sent a shiver through him — not perverted (well, mostly not perverted), but something warmer. Deeper.
They had decided on something simple: a seaside restaurant an hour away by train — a quiet place near the beach she'd mentioned loving during one of their late-night talks. Ever since waking from her century-long sleep, she'd dreamed of seeing the ocean again. Issei wanted to be the one to give that to her.
On the train ride, Ingvild pressed her forehead to the window like a kid, eyes shining as the city gave way to coastline.
"I slept through a whole century of sunsets," she whispered. "I don't want to miss any more."
Issei squeezed her hand. "Then we'll watch every one together if you want."
She turned to him, eyes soft. "You always say such embarrassing things so easily..."
"Only to you girls," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "You're all special."
Ingvild pouted cutely. "You say that to everyone."
"Yeah, but I mean it every single time."
That earned him a tiny, happy smile and her head resting on his shoulder for the rest of the ride. Issei sat perfectly still, terrified that if he moved she'd vanish like a dream.
The restaurant was small, family-run, right on the shore. The owner — an old fisherman devil who recognized the Sekiryuutei on sight — gave them the best table on the outdoor patio, just meters from the lapping waves.
They shared a seafood platter (Ingvild's eyes sparkled at every bite of grilled sea bream), and Issei discovered she loved anything with shrimp. She ate daintily, but with such pure joy that he barely tasted his own food — he was too busy watching her.
After dinner, they kicked off their shoes and walked barefoot along the beach. The moon hung low and silver over the water, turning Ingvild's hair almost luminous.
She stopped suddenly, toes curling in the sand. "...I used to sing to the sea when I was little. My mother said the waves would sing back."
Issei's heart clenched. "Would you sing for me?"
Ingvild hesitated, then nodded. She stepped into the shallows until water lapped at her ankles, closed her eyes, and began.
The moment her voice rose — soft at first, then stronger — the ocean answered.
It wasn't just beautiful. It was magic. The waves calmed, rolling in perfect rhythm with her melody. A school of silver fish leapt in arcs around her like an arc of water that caught moonlight and hung suspended, forming a perfect circle above her head like a halo. Even the wind held its breath.
Issei recognized the song now — the one she'd sung during the fight with Nyx. The one whose lyrics had confessed everything she felt before she could say the words aloud.
When the last note faded, the water circle gently collapsed into a shower of sparkling droplets that rained over her, leaving her soaked and laughing breathlessly.
Issei stared, chest tight. "Ingvild... that was..."
She turned, cheeks flushed, hair clinging damply to her skin and dress in ways that made his brain short-circuit for a solid five seconds before he yanked his jacket off and rushed forward.
"Here! You'll catch cold!" He wrapped it around her shoulders — then froze when she looked up at him, eyes shimmering.
"Ise," she whispered. "When I was asleep... I dreamed of a voice calling me. Warm. Kind. Angry that I had been hurt. Determined to save me." She reached up and touched his cheek. "It was you. Even before we met, I think... my soul knew yours."
The dragon in his heart roared.
He leaned down slowly, giving her every chance to pull away.
She didn country instead, rising on tiptoes to meet him.
Their first kiss tasted like salt and shrimp and something uniquely Ingvild — sweet, shy, then suddenly not shy at all as she pressed closer, arms winding around his neck. Issei's hands settled at her waist, pulling her flush against him, and—
A massive wave crashed over them both.
They broke apart sputtering, drenched from head to toe.
Ingvild blinked seawater out of her lashes and burst into laughter — bright, musical, perfect.
Issei started laughing too, falling back into the sand and pulling her down with him. She landed on his chest, still giggling.
"Sorry," she gasped between laughs. "I got too excited and lost control of the sea a little..."
"Best. Date. Ever," Issei declared, grinning up at the stars spinning above them. "Even if I'm gonna have sand in unholy places for a week."
Ingvild traced idle circles on his soaked shirt. "...The others are going to be so jealous when they hear the ocean itself tried to third-wheel us."
"Let them be," Issei murmured, turning to nuzzling her damp hair. "Tonight you're mine."
She snuggled closer, humming contentedly.
The waves sang back, soft and approving, as the Red Dragon Emperor and his Leviathan Queen lay together under the stars — just two teenagers in love, stealing a perfect first date from a world that usually demanded everything of them.
And when they finally teleported home hours later — clothes mostly dried by dragon flame and demonic power — Rias's only comment was a knowing smirk and a quiet, fond, "Welcome to the family, Ingvild."
But that's another story.
Fin. ♡