The three of them settled at a sturdy wooden table beneath a wide, canvas umbrella, a recent addition to the burgeoning town square. The atmosphere was surprisingly pleasant, with the distant sounds of construction and the cheerful chatter of Tempest's diverse inhabitants creating a lively backdrop.
"So, Rin-dono," Shuna began, her voice soft but her gaze sharp and perceptive as she poured them some freshly brewed tea, "you mentioned you were lost. Where exactly do you hail from? Your attire is quite… unique. I don't believe it's from any of the nearby human settlements."
Rin knew Rimuru hadn't yet revealed his reincarnation status to most of his subordinates. "I come from a very distant land," he said vaguely, echoing the kind of answer Shizue might have given. "Actually, Rimuru-san comes from the same place."
Shuna's eyes flickered with interest. Shion, however, looked skeptical. A distant land? Lord Rimuru is from such a place too? Shion pondered, then mentally shrugged. Well, it doesn't really matter where Rin-dono is from. What matters is that he's here, and he seems… less annoying now.
Shuna, ever graceful, didn't press on the potentially sensitive topic of his origins. Instead, she shifted to more personal inquiries, her smile sweet but her eyes glinting with mischief as she frequently glanced at Shion. "Tell us, Rin-dono, what are your favorite foods? Do you have any hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"
With each question directed at Rin, Shuna would add a subtle, teasing remark aimed at Shion. "Perhaps Shion could attempt to prepare your favorite dish, Rin-dono? Though, I would advise caution." Or, "Shion here isn't much for hobbies beyond training and… well, let's just say her domestic skills are still a work in progress."
Shion bristled at each jab, her cheeks flushing, but she found herself strangely unable to retort effectively, especially with Rin present. Her usual fiery competitiveness was dampened by a confusing mix of embarrassment and a dawning awareness of Rin's gaze on her. She wanted to storm off, but also didn't want to leave Rin alone with the clearly amused Shuna. So, she endured, her fists clenching and unclenching beneath the table.
Shuna, for her part, was thoroughly enjoying herself. It had been a long time since she'd had her "older sister" (as she sometimes still thought of Shion from their Ogre village days) so flustered. Their rivalry, usually focused on serving Rimuru or matters of state, had taken on a new, rather entertaining dimension with Rin's arrival.
Rin, while not exactly enjoying being the catalyst for Shion's discomfort, found the dynamic entertaining. He answered Shuna's questions politely, keeping his answers general, all the while listening to their contrasting internal monologues – Shuna's playful scheming and Shion's flustered indignation mixed with a growing, confused attraction towards him.
Finally, Shuna rose, her expression one of pure, satisfied amusement. "Well, this has been most enlightening. I must attend to some duties. Rin-dono, I hope we can speak again soon. Shion, do try to keep your temper." With a graceful nod, she departed, a happy little hum escaping her lips.
Shion let out a massive sigh the moment Shuna was out of earshot, slumping slightly in her chair. "That woman…" she muttered. Then, she seemed to realize she was alone with Rin again, and a fresh wave of self-consciousness washed over her. Remembering her earlier worry, she straightened up. "Rin-dono, you just woke up. You must be hungry. I can prepare something for you!"
Panic flared in Rin's chest. "No, no, I'm really not hungry at all, Shion-san! Thank you, but—" His stomach chose that exact moment to let out a loud, embarrassing growl.
A bright, triumphant smile lit up Shion's face. "You see! You are hungry! Just wait right here, Rin-dono, I'll whip something up in no time!" She stood up, already heading towards the direction of the communal kitchens.
Nononono! Not her cooking! Desperate, Rin lunged, intending to gently stop her, perhaps distract her. Before he even thought about it, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind in a hug. "Shion-san, really, it's fine!"
Startled by the sudden physical contact from a man she was becoming increasingly flustered around, Shion reacted purely on instinct. Her body tensed, and she spun, her fist lashing out in a defensive reflex.
CRACK!
Rin saw stars. He flew backwards, landing in a heap several meters away. System! Max Defense! he'd thought, a split second before the hug, a precautionary measure born from a vague understanding that women inexperienced in romance could be… unpredictable. Tsundere reflexes were a real hazard.
The maxed-out defense stat likely saved him from being turned into paste, but the sheer kinetic force of a Kijin's accidental punch was still monumental. His body was, technically, unharmed, no broken bones, no internal bleeding. But the impact, the raw, concussive shock, was something his mind struggled to process. Agony, pure and white-hot, flooded his senses. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe properly. He didn't lose consciousness this time, but it was a near thing.
"RIN-DONO!" Shion shrieked, her face paling in horror as the dust cleared. She rushed to his side, her expression a mask of utter panic and regret. "Oh, by the Great Rimuru, I am so, so sorry! Are you alright?! I didn't mean to!"
Eventually, with Shion's frantic and overly solicitous help, Rin was half-carried, half-dragged back to the clinic. The Hobgoblin doctor, after a thorough check, declared him physically fine but recommended more rest due to "severe systemic shock." Shion, looking utterly crestfallen, had no choice but to leave him, promising to visit later (and to not bring any food she'd cooked herself).
Lying in the clinic bed once more, Rin was served a simple but surprisingly palatable meal by one of the nurses – likely a recipe influenced by Rimuru's Japanese palate. It lacked some spices, but it was a far cry from what he imagined Shion might have produced. Rimuru really is trying to build a second Japan here, he mused.
As night fell, Rin stared at the wooden ceiling, his mind racing. What would he do tomorrow? Back in his own world, he could have a date with Sona, perhaps a three-way with Rias and Akeno, or even a four-way including Ai. The possibilities were… extensive. He closed his eyes, anticipating his return.
He woke up.
The ceiling was still wooden.
He was still in the clinic in Tempest.
A jolt of panic, quickly suppressed, went through him. Okay, don't freak out. Think.
He hadn't gone back. Why?
He mentally accessed his system, boosting his "Intelligence" and "Wisdom" stats further. He needed answers. He spent the next few hours replaying events, cross-referencing anime tropes, considering every cliché about interdimensional travel he could think of.
His first trip here: Shion knocked him out.
His return to his world: He fell asleep naturally in Akeno's bed.
His second trip here: He fell asleep naturally in his own bed.
His failure to return now: He fell asleep naturally in the clinic.
Then it hit him. The common denominator for arriving here was falling asleep. But the one time he'd returned to his DxD world from here was after Shion knocked him unconscious. His "dream" about the Tensura world after his first night with Ai wasn't a dream; it was his arrival here after falling asleep. He'd woken up in his DxD world because Shion had knocked him out here.
The trigger wasn't just falling asleep. To return from Tempest, it seemed he needed to lose consciousness here, likely in an involuntary manner.
A week in Tempest was roughly a day in his DxD world. He wasn't in a rush to get punched again. A wry smile touched his lips. Since he was stuck here until his next "accidental" knockout, he might as well enjoy his extended vacation in the Jura Forest.