I was so mixed up…
After we flew away on Ruto's Griffon yesterday… Buchou… Buchou had kissed me. SHE KISSED MEEEE!
It was awesooooome! I was so excited and happy at being kissed by Buchou! She also told me it was her first kiss! It was my first also!
I beat the shit out of Riser and saved Buchou…
So why did I feel so sad? Oh right… My bro was still in the Underworld. I hadn't voiced my desires carefully enough. I was so focused on getting Buchou back, that I forgot about trying to Ruto back. I couldn't help it… Buchou… Rias Gremory-sama… she was the woman I was in love with. I didn't have the courage to outright confess yet, but I would get there…
But I left my bro behind… How would I ever explain this to Otou-san? Oka-san? Oh dear Maou-sama… how was I ever going to explain this to Mito!? That woman would castrate me in a fit of rage before I even had time to finish explaining!
And that's why heading to the ORC… that's why it felt so hollow. It was easy to protect Ruto when we were little. All I had to do was work with another friend of ours and scare the bullies away… but how could I fight against the politically BS situation he was stuck in?
I had wanted to talk with Buchou alone, either to try to confirm what we were to each other or to find a way to get Ruto back. So I was disappointed when Buchou called together a meeting the day following our return to the human world. I stared at my arm… the arm I had sacrificed to the Dragon in order to attain that Balance Breaker. It had been a big sacrifice, but any sacrifice was worth it if it was for Buchou.
"Haru-kun, do you know why we were called here today?" I looked to see Yuuki meeting me at the door, a confused expression on her face. She didn't know why we were called together either. "I thought, that after everything that happened, we would at least be given some time off…" Her voice trailed off. After Ruto had been unable to return with us yesterday, Yuuki had seemed so down. She didn't even smile or attempt to keep a light atmosphere.
"... Maybe Buchou wanted to discuss any ideas you had about Ruto-senpai." Koneko-chan suggested.
"I really can't imagine Buchou calling a meeting so soon. It must be something serious." Akeno-san said. She hid it better than the other two, but Akeno-san also deeply missed Ruto.
"Ruto-san…" Asia sniffed, trying to keep from breaking down into tears again.
Auuuuuu! When I told her what happened last night, Asia had understood, but she still broke out into tears! It only made it worse!
A part of me kind of hoped that Akeno-san was right. It would be nice if Buchou thought up a way to fix the Ruto-problem, but…
"Hm? What are you all doing here?"
We all spun on our heels to see our crimson-haired master approaching us from behind, blinking in confusion.
"Buchou, what do you mean?" I asked, confused while trying to fight a blush at the thought of last night. "You were the one who texted us." I opened my phone and showed her a text message that was clearly from Buchou's own phone. It invited us to the ORC clubroom that evening. It was strange that Buchou would not remember that…
"Rias, can you tell us what the meaning of this is?"
"E-Eh?" Buchou turned to see a cross-looking Sona-kaichou. She was flanked on her sides by Hanakai, the washboard Nimura, Yura, and (oddly enough) Shinra-fukukaichou. Buchou was one thing, but what were THEY doing here?! "What do you mean?"
"Jack also got a text from Rias-buchou."
An adorable loli appeared beside us, holding up a small toy phone that looked like it shouldn't have been able to work let alone receive text messages. Jack… what are you even doing here?
Honestly, I had no idea what that loli had been up to since we first lost to Riser.
"Explain, Rias. I was in the middle of important Student Council matters." Kaichou explained. "What was so urgent that you required me to drop everything and come here?"
"E-Eh?!" Buchou seemed genuinely confused. "I… I didn't send any messages. I lost my phone earlier and have been looking for it all day. I wanted to find it before I did… other important things." Other important things related to Ruto… I think that was what Buchou intended to say.
Nimura frowned. "But… if Rias-buchou didn't call us here… then who…?"
Wait… so… Buchou's phone went missing… and somebody sent us all a message… This level of mischievous manipulation… this trickery… No way. No. Noooo. It's too obvious. It can't be…
But at the same time, my heart continued to hope.
I was the first person to push open the door, allowing everyone a glimpse of what laid inside… or rather… who laid inside.
We all gasped collectively.
"Wow, I guess you were right. That DID work." A voice stated in surprise. "This really was the best way to let them all know at once."
"Heehee. Of course. I'm your adorable Bishop now!" Another voice said, a loving tone in her voice. "As your servant, I give nothing but my best ideas."
"I admit, this IS kind of awkward though."
"... Yeah."
"But I think it's really nice."
"... I disagree. I'm not even twenty yet, but I feel so… not-right in this student uniform… it's a bit tight."
I… I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Oh hello," Ruto said, waving cheerfully from his relaxed seat on the couch. "What's up?"
"... Ruto-sama, I think they're broken." The girl sitting on his lap, Ravel Phenex, noted.
"Well…They didn't exactly expect us to be here, so…" The Rook of Riser, Isabela, sat on the arm of the couch in which Ruto sat.
We all continued staring, our mouths agape.
"... Ruto-sama, should… should we be worried?" Ravel Phenex asked. "I… I don't think they're breathing."
"Oh that's just how they are." Mittelt said, standing between her two taller female Fallen Angel associates.
"But still, that's so sweet of you to be worried like that, Ravel-chan." Then that arrogant sonnuvabitch leaned in and kissed the younger sister of Riser. OI! THIS ISN'T THE TIME AND THE PLACE FOR THAT!
THAT was when the explosion of rage occurred.
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM, YOU HUSSY!" "GET AWAY FROM ONII-CHAN!" The washboard and Jack lunged forward, but Hanakai and Yuri grabbed them by the arms and held back the struggling girls. Jack was one possessive little sister.
"Ruruko! Language!" Ruto scolded the washboard girl so casually. "I would prefer that you get along with my adorable Bishop from now on."
"I—What?"
"""What?"""
The washboard voiced our thoughts before we all could.
Ruto chuckled before grinning at all of us. "It's lucky for all of us that my adorable Bishop knows how to exploit a loophole." Then he looked at me. "Haru… Even though you beat him, I made Riser feel so much pain that he cried… It was hilarious. I took pictures with my phone if you want to see them later."
Kaichou was the first to take a few uncertain footsteps forwards, seeming nervous about something. "U-Uzumaki-kun, what is this? What are you talking about?"
But my mind started to put it together.
Ruto stretched his arms before gently placing the Bishop who was sitting on his lap on the seat next to him. He stood up and brushed himself off. "Well, long story short," He grinned again. "I'm back." We all stared, too stunned to react. Ruto turned to Kaichou. "Serafall is back in the Underworld, overseeing the transfer of the servants I won from Riser. She told me to wish you well and that…" He blushed, shaking his head. "... That the offer of 'loving both of us at the same time' was still available when she was done. Her words not mine. She was crying from joy so much, often inserting gestures of how much she loved me, so I may have misunderstood her…"
"That… That's exactly something Onee-sama would say." Kaichou's eyes went wide. It was as if that somehow verified Ruto's words to her. "S-So… You really are back?"
Ruto gave a thumbs up. "And with several servants, unofficial until I have obtained my own Evil Pieces. For now, it's more like they're in reserve." Then he gestured to the two women to his sides. "These two desired to come with me immediately to the human world to serve me. Meet my new Rook, Isabela, and my new Bishop, the adorable Ravel Phenex-chan!"
Isabela-san bowed. "Even though we once fought as enemies, I respect your power and hope we can all get along." Well… that's good I guess. To be honest, she was the only person who was pretty levelheaded on Riser's Peerage. "A-And, I hope we can fight again sometime, Namikaze Haru." She suddenly requested such a strange thing from me! She seemed awkward and nervous and Ruto was grinning for some reason.
"And I am Ravel Phenex, the new Bishop of the White Dragon Emperor, Uzumaki Ruto-sama." Ravel-san curtsied. "I am also designated to be one of his wifes!"
"""EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!?""'
We all screamed in shock and confusion.
Ruto shook his head, waving off our words. He was still smiling. "Indeed! It appears that the wondrous Ravel Phenex has also managed to enchant my heart!"
Yura, Hanakai, the washboard, Yuuki, and even Akeno-san eyed Ravel-san with renewed animosity.
"""A new love rival."""
They all decided that with once voice.
"... I don't like her." Even Koneko-chan stepped forward. It was strange, but Ravel seemed to completely ignore the others and focus on Koneko-chan. She walked up to Koneko-chan and glared right at her. The sudden explosion of killing intent shocked me. They really don't like each other!
"And what do you want?" Wow… I've never seen a fight between lolis before…
Kaichou rubbed her temples while Shinra-fukukaichou shuffled uncomfortably.
Amidst all of this, only one person dared to step forward towards Ruto.
"R…Ruto-san…" Asia said weakly. "... You…"
Ruto smiled softly. "Yeah… I'm really back. We're all together again. Like I promised."
"Ruto-saaaaaan!" Asia broke out into tears before launching herself at Ruto who caught her, wrapping his arms around her. "You're back?! You're back for good?!"
Ruto tightened his embrace around the nun, nodding. "I promise. I won't be leaving any time soon. I'm truly back for good."
Asia buried her face into Ruto's chest, crying even further from happiness and relief.
!
I almost jumped when I felt a hand wrap around my own. I looked to my right to see… Buchou. She was smiling, holding my hand.
I smiled back.
We were all back. We were all smiling together again.
"Ruto."
"Hm?" Without hesitating, my best friend caught the object I threw at him. His eyes widened.
"... He… Devi-kun kind of took a beating…but I returned him like I promised I would…"
Ruto smiled softly. "Right. Thank you, Haru." Even though I took such poor care of it… He looked so happy.
Akeno-san and Ruto were wrong.
THIS is a "perfect happy ending".