Watching Hela act like a whirlwind of energy, Ryuuto realized something surprising — underneath all that bravado, the Queen of the Underworld was genuinely innocent. Well… mostly. Just a little speechless sometimes, but innocent all the same.
Good thing his "original world stripping" technique hadn't accidentally killed her, otherwise he'd never forgive himself. Hela, after all, controlled souls — in future crises, a simple request to her could undo tragedies no ordinary power could touch.
As they stepped away from the alley, Ryuuto asked, "So… you can bring back a deceased soul?"
Hela nodded. "Yes."
"And if a friend dies… you could put them back in their body?"
"Only if the body's organs are intact," she explained. "If the heart is gone or irreparably damaged, the soul won't hold. Minor injuries, missing limbs? No problem. I can fix that."
"Good to know," Ryuuto muttered, already scheming future "requests."
Before Hela could ask about a reward, Ryuuto acted — leaning in and kissing her. Cold. Smooth. Soft. Her lips were like… a popsicle wrapped in silk.
Ryuuto frowned. Is there any warmth at all in this woman? The Queen of the Underworld might be immortal, but somewhere under that icy exterior, could there be a spark? He shivered at the thought.
Hela froze, lips tinged red. She'd never been kissed by a man before. After a deep breath, she murmured, "If your friend dies, just call my name in your heart… I will appear."
Ryuuto smirked. "Good. Now, amusement park?"
Her eyes lit up. "Fun!"
Hours passed in a blur of laughter, games, and the sheer chaos of New York's lights. They wrapped the evening with steak, then Hela dropped him off at school. Ryuuto hugged her, marking the end of their date. Hela vanished back to her underworld realm, satisfied and glowing, while Ryuuto returned to his room, tired but alive.
He had lived with Susan for a while now, but tonight he wanted a quiet moment for himself — though he still had plans with her. Knocking on her door, no answer came. Pushing it open, he found her absent.
"Rooftop," Natasha Romanoff's head popped out from the hallway. "Susan's been waiting for you all afternoon. She's about ready to explode."
Ryuuto smirked and climbed up to the roof. There she was, sitting at the edge, deep in thought. He crept up behind her and patted her shoulder.
"Ah!"
Susan startled, lost balance, and fell straight down.
"Earth Style — Lightweight Rock Technique!" Ryuuto called. With a soft glow, Susan floated like a balloon, completely unharmed.
Back on the rooftop, still drifting, Susan frowned. "No ninjutsu release this time?"
"Works fine like this," Ryuuto replied, crouching to grab her calf and lift her effortlessly. "Waited long?"
"Yeah! You've been missing a whole day. Where were you?"
"On a date," he said casually.
Susan blinked. "A date? You're telling me the truth?"
"You're my girlfriend. Why would I lie?" Ryuuto said with a grin. "Nothing happened with Hela, so it's easy to be honest. If someone talked to you, that's enough — no need for me to cover anything up."
Susan hesitated, then asked, "Can I ask… would you want only one woman in your life… or more?"
Ryuuto smirked. "It's not about quantity. It's about temptation. You… tempt me. Even if there were several, I'd treat you just like this — no difference."
Susan's eyes widened. "You… really mean that?"
"Of course. You're not just anyone. Anyone else I bring along has to be my friend too, someone you'd be okay with."
She grinned. "In that case… I should be rewarded."
Ryuuto chuckled. With Susan floating in his arms thanks to the Light and Heavy Rock Technique, he leaned closer, whispering against her ear, "We haven't even tried the rooftop yet… now's the perfect time."
Susan's protests melted under his gaze, leaving her completely at his mercy — floating, soft, and helpless against the Red Mirage's teasing.
....
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