The corridor stretched endlessly before her, the sound of her own heartbeat echoing louder than her footsteps.
Serafall Leviathan—Maou, symbol of childish energy, the so-called "magical girl of the Underworld"—found herself speechless.
Her heart had never beaten this fast before.
Sona's fingers were gripping her wrist, guiding her away, but Serafall's eyes were locked on the receding figure behind them—the brown-haired boy who had introduced himself so simply, so casually, as Issei Hyoudou.
That name replayed in her mind like a spell.
She had met countless people—nobles, warriors, politicians, angels, and even monsters. None had ever made her feel this way. Yet that boy, a mere devil pawn, had looked at her with such calm sincerity that it had thrown her entire world off-balance.
What was that feeling…?
She could still feel the ghostly warmth of his hand in hers. His grip had been firm but not arrogant, his gaze direct but unthreatening. There was no fear in his eyes, no reverence either—just a natural acceptance, as if he were meeting an ordinary girl, not one of the four Maou.
That, more than anything, made her heart race.
Sona glanced at her sister with furrowed brows, feeling the tension but not daring to speak yet. The silence between them was heavy and unusual. Normally, Serafall would be humming, teasing her, or bouncing with energy. Now, she looked… lost.
When they finally turned a corner, away from Rias and her peerage, Sona stopped walking and crossed her arms.
"Alright," she said softly. "What was that?"
Serafall blinked as if waking from a trance. "What was… what?"
Sona's violet eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb, Sister. You froze back there. You're never quiet like that—especially not when meeting new people."
Serafall looked down at her own hands. The faintest tremor ran through her fingers.
"His hand was warm," she murmured absentmindedly.
Sona frowned. "Who? Issei Hyoudou?"
Serafall didn't answer immediately. Her heart was still thundering, and her chest felt tight. She pressed a hand against her sternum, feeling the wild rhythm beneath.
"I don't understand it," she whispered, almost to herself. "It's strange. When I touched him… it felt like my magic pulsed. Like something inside me reacted."
Sona raised an eyebrow. "Reacted?"
Serafall nodded slowly, her eyes distant. "It wasn't magic. It was… something else."
She laughed weakly then, the sound soft and uncertain—a sound Sona had never heard from her before.
"Is this what they call love?" Serafall asked quietly, half to herself.
Sona nearly tripped. "Love? You just met him!"
"I know." Serafall's voice was calm, but her cheeks were flushed. "But it's not the kind of feeling I can explain. I've met heroes, kings, and warriors. None of them ever made my heart skip like that."
Sona sighed, rubbing her temples. "Sister, you are aware that he's Rias's servant, right?"
Serafall smiled faintly. "I'm aware. That doesn't make the feeling disappear, though."
Sona could only stare. This was… surreal. Serafall Leviathan, one of the Maou, struck silent and blushed like a teenager after meeting a high school boy.
"Are you seriously telling me you fell for him at first sight?"
Serafall tilted her head, her long dark hair swaying slightly as they continued walking. "I don't know if it's love. But when he said his name, my heart just… reacted. Like it recognized something."
Sona exhaled sharply. "That's ridiculous."
"Maybe," Serafall said softly, her tone unusually thoughtful. "But I've lived for centuries, Sona-chan. And I've never felt something quite like this."
They walked in silence for a few moments. The sound of Serafall's heels echoed softly against the marble floors of the Gremory estate.
Finally, Serafall broke the quiet again. "You seem to know him, though. You didn't act surprised when I shook his hand."
Sona hesitated. "He's… interesting."
"Interesting?" Serafall repeated, glancing sideways with a teasing look.
Sona rolled her eyes. "Don't misunderstand. I made him a promise."
"What kind of promise?"
Sona adjusted her glasses, trying to sound casual. "I told him I'd teach him chess. He seems eager to learn."
Serafall blinked once, twice, then pouted. "You're teaching him chess?"
"Yes."
"That's so unfair! You're spending time with him already?"
Sona gave her sister a tired look. "You're acting like a teenager again."
Serafall crossed her arms, lips curving into a half-smile. "Maybe meeting him just made me feel younger."
"Or delusional," Sona muttered under her breath.
But Serafall didn't argue. She just looked forward, eyes unfocused, lost in the echo of that brief moment—that simple handshake.
The way he said his name. The way he didn't flinch under her title. The way his eyes met hers—not with fear, but with a strange sort of understanding.
There had been no magic, no charm, no supernatural link. Just an inexplicable connection that left her breathless.
"Issei Hyoudou…" she whispered, tasting the name again like a secret. "He's… different."
Sona sighed, shaking her head as they approached the teleportation circle. "Please don't do anything reckless, Sister."
Serafall smiled faintly, her gaze softening as she looked at her younger sibling. "Don't worry, Sona-chan. I'm just… curious."
But even as she said it, her heart thudded again, betraying her calm words.
~~~
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