After getting dressed, I headed down to the dining hall with Rias walking right next to me.
Maybe a little too close.
Not that I was complaining.
She clung to my arm like it was the most natural thing in the world, her body brushing against mine every few steps. Her crimson hair flowed behind her like a royal banner, and she was practically radiating satisfaction.
She's definitely sending a message.
When we entered the breakfast hall, all eyes immediately turned toward us.
Aika was already sitting at the table, sipping on some orange juice. Her gaze flicked from me to Rias—and lingered just a bit too long on the way Rias was glued to my side.
She raised an eyebrow, looking mildly annoyed—but to her credit, she masked it quickly behind a teasing smile.
On the far side of the table, Mittelt was standing stiffly, dressed in a freshly pressed black-and-white maid uniform that showed off her slender legs and petite frame. She was holding a tray but wasn't even pretending to serve anything.
Instead, she was glaring daggers at Rias.
If looks could kill, Rias would've been vaporized where she stood.
And then there was Asia.
Poor Asia.
She was poking at her scrambled eggs with a fork, her face beet red, stealing awkward little glances at me every few seconds like she was remembering exactly what she saw this morning.
Not that I blame her.
I led Rias to a seat beside me—well, more like she sat herself down and practically pressed against my side.
Aika set her cup down with a soft clink and smirked.
"So," she said casually, her voice sweet but laced with sharp curiosity. "Whene did the two of you get so close, hmm?"
Before I could answer, Rias chimed in, completely nonchalant.
"Since last night," she said, picking up a croissant and taking a bite like she wasn't dropping a bomb at the table.
Aika's smirk twitched.
Mittelt dropped the tray she was holding with a loud clatter, her cheeks burning. She immediately scrambled to pick it up, muttering curses under her breath.
Asia just froze, her fork halfway to her mouth, her face somehow turning an even darker shade of red.
The tension around the table was so thick I could practically taste it.
Heh. This is fun.
Aika leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. She shot me a sly look.
"So you've finally started putting your hands on all the women, huh?" she teased, her voice dripping with fake disapproval.
I gave her my best cocky smirk.
"Jealous?"
Her cheeks puffed out slightly in annoyance, and I could see the little twitch in her eyebrow that told me I hit a nerve.
Before she could fire back, I added, "Don't worry. We haven't gone all the way yet."
Aika blinked.
Mittelt, who had just finished cleaning up the tray, visibly relaxed. She let out a breath she must've been holding and even let a smirk tug at her lips.
Little tsundere angel is relieved, huh?
Not that she would admit it out loud. Instead, Mittelt scoffed, crossing her arms under her modest chest and looking away dramatically.
"Hmph. I-it's not like I care or anything," she muttered. "A stupid devil like you probably can't handle someone like Malrik anyway..."
I chuckled.
Mittelt, of course, had conveniently forgotten that she herself had already given me a little gift before—one she thought nobody else knew about.
Asia, meanwhile, still looked like she wanted to dig a hole under the table and bury herself alive.
The breakfast itself was a mess of awkward glances, fake small talk, and tension so thick you could have cut it with a butter knife.
Every time I reached for the salt, Aika's eyes followed my hand like she was tracking an enemy movement. Every time Rias leaned closer to me, Mittelt's mouth tightened into a thin line.
And Asia?
Asia just kept dropping her fork.
By the end of breakfast, even Rias looked amused.
She gave me a sly side glance, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
This girl... she knows exactly what she's doing.
Finally, after surviving the battlefield that was the breakfast table, we grabbed our bags and headed out for school.
The fresh morning air helped clear the leftover tension.
Aika walked slightly ahead of me, pretending she wasn't peeking over her shoulder every few seconds.
Mittelt walked next to Asia, muttering tsundere grumblings under her breath like, "Stupid Malrik... getting all the attention..." while Asia tried her best to pretend none of it happened.
And Rias?
Still glued to my side.
Like she was staking a claim for the entire world to see.
I didn't mind.
Not one bit.
Walking toward Kuoh Academy, I slid my hands into my pockets and allowed myself a slow, smug smile.
I can't wait to see everyone's faces today.
Especially Riser's.
If he dares show up today like he's supposed to, I want front-row seats to his little meltdown.
After all... Rias isn't his fiancée anymore.
She's mine.