— POV Akeno —
Sunday morning was quiet and calm, with light streaming through the window into the room where I sat, thinking about everything that had happened the night before. After our conversations about Mephisto and everything we were feeling, my thoughts still swirled like wind that refused to settle.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized the confusion wasn't just about Mephisto — it was about something more. About what was happening between me and Rias. And most of all, about what was happening between me and him.
As I sat there, someone I had been expecting entered the room. Rias looked at me for a moment, but said nothing. We both knew that, despite trying to set our thoughts aside, it wasn't really working.
"Akeno," Rias began, her tone different than usual. "What are you planning today?"
"Nothing special, really," I replied, trying to stay calm. "Why do you ask?"
"I was just thinking… about what you told me yesterday about Mephisto," she said as she sat on the bed across from me. "Things between us are starting to get a little complicated. How do you really see things with him?"
"I don't know. I'm still lost in it all. But today…" I paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "Today is Sunday. What do you think about taking a break from all this and just… pausing for a while?"
Rias smiled. "That doesn't sound bad. I suggest you take it as a chance to relax a bit. The moon is slowly descending… maybe you'll come to realize something that helps you."
— MC POV —
After a moment of silence, I sighed, wondering what to do next. Sunday felt perfect for something other than heavy conversations about secrets and magic. It occurred to me that this was the ideal opportunity to ask Akeno out on a date.
So today, I made a decision. Today, I'd try. Something told me that if I didn't take the step now, it would only get harder.
Honestly, I'd never asked anyone out before — so hopefully, it would be okay…
"Akeno,"I typed simply into my phone, "how about lunch today? This afternoon. I think we should talk."
I instantly felt… nervous? That was new.
After a short while, her reply came: "I'd like that. Looking forward to it."
Seeing her answer sent a flutter through my stomach. I was determined, but it still stirred that familiar feeling of uncertainty. Still, I knew I'd made the right move.
That afternoon, I arrived at the spot — a small café with a cozy interior, perfect for sitting quietly away from the chaos. Akeno was already there, seated by the window.
From the square below came the distant hum of traffic, but inside, it was peaceful — broken only by our conversation.
"Akeno," I greeted her softly as I approached. "It's good to see you."
"You too," she replied with a slight smile, lifting her gaze from her coffee cup. Her eyes stayed on me — but not just with curious anticipation. There was something more in them. Something that made me think.
"This place is nice," she said, glancing around. "Didn't expect you to choose something like this."
"Sometimes it's good to be away from everything. Sometimes we just need peace," I said with a smile. "And I think we've both earned it today."
She smiled back, but there was a strange mix of curiosity and held-back laughter in her eyes.
"So, Mephisto?" she said playfully. "What brought you to this date?"
My heart skipped for a moment. Her words revealed something I hadn't fully admitted to myself yet.
"I want to get to know you better," I replied calmly, even though I knew I wasn't telling her everything. "And I think there's something between us… more than I originally thought."
Akeno paused in thought. Her gaze grew deeper, as if her mind drifted far from the present. When she spoke, her voice was softer, more serious.
"Mephisto… do you think what we have is just a coincidence?"
"No," I answered simply, because I knew. "Not at all."
For a moment, we just sat there, the silence between us calm and comforting. We both felt that this wasn't just an ordinary conversation. It was something that connected us — something that couldn't easily be put into words. And yet, in that moment, it made sense.
"What if we just forgot everything else?" I asked, looking into her eyes again. "The past, all the problems and mysteries that surround us? What if we just… stayed here, now?"
Akeno looked at me, her eyes a little softer now. "I think that's exactly what we both need."
As we continued talking, moments of quiet passed between us, each one full of understanding. It was never just about what we were saying — it was about what we were feeling.
And today — today was something that couldn't be explained. But I knew one thing: this wasn't just lunch.
It was the beginning of something… that had the potential to change everything.