**7:30 PM**
The sun had already set, and the streetlights cast a warm orange glow over the quiet city streets. Subaru and Akeno walked home hand in hand from the movie theater, the happiness of the day still lingering in the air like sweet aftertaste. Subaru kept stealing glances at Akeno, who smiled back at him — that smile that always made his heart skip a beat.
"You know, Subaru…" Akeno whispered, leaning closer, "today really felt like we were living in a dream. I've never felt so… free."
Subaru blushed but smiled more confidently now.
"Me too. It's like everything just… works when I'm with you. Everything feels so easy."
Akeno giggled softly and squeezed his hand.
"Then promise me tomorrow will be like this too. And the day after."
"I promise. I can't even imagine it any other way," Subaru replied, stopping for a moment to gently press a kiss to her forehead.
But the tender moment didn't last.
A dark shadow suddenly flashed overhead, followed by a cold, mocking laugh that shattered the quiet.
"Well, well… look at the two lovebirds. How sweet. But sweet things always turn bitter so quickly," a female voice purred, dripping with malice.
Raynare materialized in front of them, black wings spread wide, a glowing light spear already forming in her hand. Her eyes glinted with cruel amusement, lips curved in a seductive yet deadly smile.
"You pathetic mortals… always so weak when it comes to love. But I'm the one who ends little fairy tales like this. I want that boy's power… and you, little hybrid, are just in the way!"
Subaru's eyes narrowed instantly. His body moved on pure instinct — he swept Akeno into his arms in a bridal carry and leaped sideways, effortlessly dodging Raynare's first spear of light. The weapon exploded into the pavement with a deafening crack, sending sparks and dust flying.
"Akeno, stay behind me!" Subaru called, his voice cold and steady, though his eyes burned with barely-contained fury.
Raynare laughed — a deep, wicked sound.
"Ohhh, look at the little hero! Think you can protect her? I am the Queen of Darkness, the most merciless among the fallen! I'll drink your blood, crush your soul to dust! Come on — show me what you've got!"
Subaru gently set Akeno down at a safe distance, then stepped forward. His aura shifted dramatically — a freezing wind swept through the street, yet anyone who looked into his eyes would see a volcano raging beneath the ice. Akeno watched in stunned silence: Subaru's face was the perfect collision of erupting volcano and arctic glacier — deadly calm on the surface, apocalyptic rage underneath.
"Looks like you just can't leave your own kind alone," Subaru said quietly, almost whispering, but his voice cut like a blade.
Raynare attacked again: a barrage of light spears shot toward him in rapid succession. But Subaru moved like liquid shadow — left, right, forward — dodging with impossible grace and speed. Akeno could barely follow him with her eyes; he was nothing but a blur. The spears detonated around them, kicking up clouds of dust and shattered concrete.
"How?! You're supposed to be just a mortal!" Raynare snarled, frustration creeping into her voice. "You can't escape your fate! I am your doom — the dark angel who devours light!"
Subaru didn't answer with words. He lunged forward instead, catching one of her spears mid-air, twisting it aside, then countering with a blazing blue rune that exploded in her direction. Raynare blocked it, but the force sent her skidding backward.
"You're… you're not human!" she hissed, summoning a black energy net that shot toward Subaru like a deadly spiderweb.
He spun out of the way — a movement so fast Akeno only saw a streak of motion. The net slammed into the ground, scorching the asphalt black.
"You still don't get it?" Subaru said, voice low and dangerous. "Your weakness is your arrogance. But I won't let you touch her!"
Raynare laughed again, but this time it sounded forced.
"Love's power? How cliché! But I rule the shadows! Behold this!"
She conjured a massive sphere of black energy and hurled it at Subaru — the orb screamed through the air, scorching everything in its path.
Subaru didn't retreat. He raised both hands and summoned a shimmering blue shield of runes. The sphere collided with it in a blinding explosion that shook the street — but Subaru stood firm, untouched.
"Enough!" he roared.
Now it was his turn. He unleashed a storm of magically-enhanced strikes — rapid kicks, punches, palm strikes — each one trailing blue fire. Raynare blocked desperately, but Subaru was faster. One strike grazed her wing, burning black feathers and eliciting a pained scream.
"Ahh! You filthy—! I am the mistress of the fallen! You will not defeat me!" Raynare shrieked, desperation clear now. In one last gamble she formed a pitch-black lance and thrust it straight toward Subaru's heart.
He sidestepped — again, so fast Akeno only saw a ghost of motion — grabbed her wrist mid-thrust, twisted, and unleashed a final, blinding rune-blast. Raynare screamed as the light consumed her, reducing her to ash and fading darkness.
Silence crashed down like a curtain.
Subaru stood breathing hard, turning to Akeno, who stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.
"Subaru… how…?" she whispered, stepping closer. "That speed… I could barely follow you. You were… incredible."
Subaru gave a small, tired smile, though his eyes still smoldered.
"Sorry if I scared you. I just… couldn't let her hurt you."
Akeno shook her head and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"You didn't scare me. You amazed me. But… why? Why did you protect me so fiercely?"
Subaru hesitated, then spoke softly:
"Because… you're the first person I really want to fight for. Not just survive — but protect."
Akeno's heart fluttered. She hugged him even tighter.
"I'd protect you too. Always."
But then Subaru's expression turned serious again.
"Why?" he asked, a mix of disappointment and relief in his voice.
"What do you mean?" Akeno asked, confused.
"Why are you a hybrid? I mean… I don't like most fallen angels. Because of their assassination attempts. Akeno, you're different from the rest. Especially since you're half… so whose side are you really on?"
Akeno took a deep breath.
"Ara ara… it's a long story, Subaru. I'm half-devil, half-fallen angel. But I stand with Rias-sama. She saved me when everyone else rejected me. She's my family. And yes… you already sensed the rest of us, didn't you? That we're devils?"
Subaru nodded.
"Yeah. I could feel it. But… you're different. I don't sense that same darkness in you."
Akeno smiled — sadly, but warmly.
"Thank you. Now it's your turn: what are you really, Subaru? Even Koneko couldn't sense it properly, and she's an expert."
Subaru answered calmly:
"I'm half-kitsune, one-quarter wizard, and the last quarter human."
Akeno's eyes widened.
"You understand magic too?"
"Of course. Merlin taught me," Subaru replied casually.
"Merlin?! The legendary wizard taught you?!" Akeno exclaimed in disbelief.
"I'm glad I went on that date with you. You've impressed me in every way. Somehow… I feel a strange connection to you," Akeno thought to herself.
"Yeah. Why are you so surprised?" Subaru asked.
"He's doing this on purpose. I'm going to be so sadistic with him," Akeno thought wickedly.
"How could I not be?! We're talking about Merlin — who's over a thousand years old!" Akeno said incredulously.
"A deadly shiver just ran down my spine. This girl is planning something terrifying," Subaru thought nervously.
"Yeah. I always forget how old he is. He acts like an energetic teenager," Subaru said.
"It's hard to imagine the legendary wizard as a teenager. You know what? I believe you," Akeno said with a playful wink.
"Heh, thanks. And if you're curious… I have an even older master," Subaru said with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh dear. Did I scare my poor little Subaru? I can't stay mad at him. I can't wait to get even closer," Akeno thought longingly.
"Please don't think anything evil about me," Subaru pleaded in his mind, half-joking, half-terrified.
"What?" Akeno asked, noticing his expression.
"Oh, right. At the very beginning… there was one. His name is Kurama. The very first kitsune," Subaru explained.
"That's impossible! He's a legend! Why would he teach you? I don't mean that rudely. It's just known that he hates humans," Akeno said, bewildered.
"He actually hates arrogant humans the most. And he despises the Susan type even more," Subaru answered lightly.
"How do you know? Did he tell you himself?" Akeno asked.
"Yeah. He told me," Subaru said, rubbing the back of his head.
"I have to bring him to Rias's side. He might not be able to join because he's stronger, but he could return my feelings. Riser is finished. Subaru's immense energy could even defeat him. I wonder… is he powerful enough from below too?" Akeno thought, her mind wandering in various directions.
"Want me to introduce you to him?" Subaru asked curiously.
"What?" Akeno blinked, caught off guard.
"Meditate next to me. And close your eyes," Subaru instructed.
Akeno followed his words exactly.