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"Excellent... All done!"
Mika announced, his smile widening as Asia's Falna inscription was complete. He picked up the paper containing her copied status and returned to his seat, comparing it to Issei's.
Asia's Skills and Magic were less numerous than Issei's—only one of each. However, even so, in Orario, she would be considered exceptionally talented.
This was partly due to Mika's modified Falna, which was more effective at unlocking latent potential, and partly due to her and Issei's inherent talent.
Issei returned with Asia, who had quickly redressed, and Mika handed them their status sheets.
"You might have some questions about your new abilities. Don't worry; Rias is waiting for you. You can ask her anything," he said, his voice warm and reassuring.
"Okay." They nodded.
"We'll be going now, Mika," Issei said.
"Go ahead. And tell Akeno it's her turn."
"Got it!"
As they left, Mika returned to studying their statuses, his mind already working on their personalized training plans.
Copying their status sheets was a trivial task for him.
He was deep in thought when he heard Akeno's approaching footsteps.
"Is it my turn?" Akeno asked with a smile.
"It should have been, but... certain people required special treatment." Mika set aside the papers and looked up at her, a subtle teasing tone in his voice. In this world, seniority mattered.
"It's fine. I understand your reasoning," Akeno said, stepping closer.
"You do?" Mika shifted slightly in his seat. She was standing a bit too close, and the atmosphere in the room, with just the two of them, their mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface—it was a bit too intimate.
"Do you remember what Rias told you?"
"Of course," she replied with a smile.
"Good. Then let's begin."
"Very well." Akeno readily agreed, then, much to Mika's surprise, removed her shirt, revealing her bare back.
"Could you be a little more discreet?" he said, his voice laced with amusement and a hint of exasperation.
While he couldn't exactly turn away—the sight of her bare skin sent a wave of warmth through him, a reaction he quickly suppressed. He had to maintain his composure.
Rias was nearby...
"What do you mean? I'm simply following your instructions," she said innocently, though the mischievous glint in her eyes betrayed her true intentions. She leaned closer—her face inches from his, before turning and lying down on the bed.
"That's... not what I meant," Mika muttered, shaking his head, his earlier amusement now tinged with exasperation. He picked up the vial of Divine Blood, setting aside the brush he had used for Issei and Asia.
He wouldn't be using it for her...
He was going to retaliate. He would use the traditional method, a direct, skin-to-skin application. He had no qualms about touching her, but the thought of their fingers intermingling, their bodies so close.
A sudden knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Akeno, are you done yet?" Rias's voice called out from the other side of the door. Startled, they quickly separated.
The intimate atmosphere dissipated.
"Almost. I'll be right out," Akeno replied, her voice slightly breathless.
As they both quickly regained their composure, Akeno approached Mika and, wrapping her arms around his neck, whispered in his ear.
"Come to my house next Saturday. There's something I need to discuss with you."
"Saturday? Couldn't wait any longer, huh?" Mika teased, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Akeno glared at him playfully. "It's business."
"Business." Mika's smile widened; he understood. Given the timing, and his reputation in certain circles, it had to be the Archangel Michael.
He had met Issei in the original story, bestowing the Holy Sword Ascalon upon him—Now, it seemed, he was interested in Mika.
'My actions truly have changed things...'
By the time Akeno had finished dressing—Mika had already cleaned the room, using a simple spell Mellie had developed—called "Instant Clean."
Back in Orario, when he, Mellie, and Airmid had lived together, their daily morning training often involved—vigorous activity—resulting in a considerable amount of laundry.
Yahweh, amused by their antics, had often teased them, her knowing glances making Airmid incredibly embarrassed. Finally, she had asked Mellie to create a spell to simplify their morning routine.
And now... that spell had proven unexpectedly useful.
Akeno—after giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, said, "I'll keep Rias occupied. You handle this." She then left the room, her status sheet in hand.
Mika, listening to the sound of her and Rias's conversation fading down the hallway, nodded.
He had a feeling this "business" with Michael would be...interesting.
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The Falna rituals for Koneko, Kiba, and Gasper proceeded smoothly, each one revealing unique abilities and hidden potential that excited Mika.
Finally, only Xenovia remained.
Mika, having spent considerable time with her, was confident he knew her well enough to anticipate her reactions. He expected the ritual to be uneventful, a straightforward process. However—
As soon as he finished inscribing her Falna—she turned to him—her expression serious.
"Mika," she said, "Let's have a child."
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"A...child...?"
Mika's mind froze, his earlier confidence shattering like glass. He blinked, certain he had misheard.
"Did you say...a child?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes. Let's have a child," Xenovia repeated, her expression unchanged, her voice calm and steady, as if she were discussing the weather. However, while her demeanor might have seemed casual—her words were anything but.
Mika, having recovered from his initial shock, realized he hadn't misheard. It was real—Xenovia had just asked him to have a child with her.
He instinctively raised his hands, stepping back—though Xenovia was still undressed, her exposed skin no longer held his attention; his mind was reeling from her unexpected request.
He pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to process the situation.
'What is going on today? First Akeno, now Xenovia...' He had thought Akeno's earlier advances were the most surprising event of the day. But Xenovia's request had surpassed even that.
'Calm down, Mika. Think. Xenovia is usually reserved. Before becoming a Devil—her entire life revolved around her faith, her duty to the Church. She was a warrior, trained to fight Devils and Fallen Angels. She's...inexperienced in...other matters. Her social skills are...limited. Perhaps she doesn't understand the implications of her words. It's likely a misunderstanding.'
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, then asked cautiously, "Xenovia, you don't mean that literally—do you?"
"Of course I do," Xenovia replied, tilting her head slightly, a puzzled expression on her face. She didn't understand why he was asking. Her words had been clear, hadn't they?
"BAM!"
Mika slammed his head against the wall—Trying to maintain his composure, though inwardly he was screaming. The thought of having a child had never even crossed his mind.
He was still young, his journey just beginning. His focus was on becoming stronger, not on starting a family.
But Xenovia's words had planted a seed, his mind now filled with images of children, his children, their mothers—the women he had formed close bonds with in various worlds.
"No! Stop! Focus, Mika!" He pinched himself hard, the sharp pain snapping him back to reality.
"Could you...explain your reasoning?" Mika asked, his voice strained, forcing himself to meet her gaze.
He knew there had to be a reason for her unconventional request—He had to understand her thought process. A simple refusal wouldn't suffice.
Seeing his serious expression—Xenovia's face flushed slightly, a rare display of emotion from the usually stoic warrior. However, she didn't try to avoid his gaze.
"Before becoming a Devil, my life revolved around my faith, my duty to the Church. My dream was to serve God—to fight against Devils and Fallen Angels. I dedicated my life to that dream, suppressing my femininity, forging myself into a weapon. But now I'm a Devil. My past, my dreams—everything is gone. I'm lost..."
She looked up at the ceiling, her eyes unfocused—as if lost in the memories of her past, her voice filled with a quiet despair that touched Mika's heart.
He understood her feelings, her confusion, her struggle to find a new purpose in a world that had suddenly turned upside down. He relaxed slightly; her words made sense, even if her conclusion didn't.
"I confided in Rias. She told me that Devils are beings of desire—that we should embrace our desires, fulfill them, share them. She said I should simply follow my heart," Xenovia continued, her voice gaining strength as she spoke.
"Her words... they resonated with me. I decided to reclaim the parts of myself I had suppressed, the parts the Church had forbidden. And so... I chose a new dream—A new purpose: to have a child."
She looked at Mika expectantly—her gaze filled with a quiet determination that made him hesitate.
This wasn't a whim, but a carefully considered decision, a way for her to break free from her past—to embrace her new life as a Devil—
And Mika—the one she had chosen to share this new life with. He couldn't simply dismiss her feelings.
"So... you want to experience motherhood. Because you suppressed that part of yourself before," he said slowly, finally understanding her reasoning.
"Yes," she confirmed, nodding eagerly.
"And I've heard that such things can only be done with one person. Of all the men I know—I've chosen you, Mika. I want to have a child with you." she declared, her voice filled with conviction.
Mika's mind reeled; he hadn't anticipated such a direct—confession. This was unlike Xenovia, the stoic warrior he knew.
It was as if she had become a different person—her earlier awkwardness and social ineptitude now replaced by a quiet confidence, a newfound strength.
He could feel the weight of her expectations. This wasn't a casual request, a passing fancy, but a carefully considered decision, a way for her to break free from the constraints of her past, to truly embrace her new identity, her new life.
And Mika was the key to that new life. He had to give her an answer.
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