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"You... spanked them."
Rias nodded primly.
"Yes," and then, as though punctuating the point, a look of concern spread over her face, "You don’t think I was too harsh on them, do you?"
He thought long and hard for a response, and for once could come up with nothing. Rias took his silence the entirely wrong way.
"Ah, I knew you would disapprove. I am sorry, Arisato-san. As an honorary high-level devil that was dragged into this mess, you should also have a say in their punishment," the girl gazed at him seriously, "Would you like to spank them too?"
The image of him standing over their prone forms with a paddle in hand was so outrageous that he could not help but make a noise. He managed to curb the worst of it, but some of the sound still leaked out. Across the table, both devils blinked at him in surprise.
"Did you just..." Rias began.
"...laugh?" Akeno finished for her.
"No," he finally reined it all in, "I did not."
A delighted grin spread over Akeno’s face. She looked entirely unconvinced.
"It sounded like a laugh to me."
"You are mistaken," he said neutrally, "There was... something in my throat."
"Of course," the tone in her voice suggested she remained unconvinced. Turning, the black-haired beauty levelled a haughty glare in Raynare’s direction, "That is something else we have made him do that you have not."
The Fallen Angel crossed her arms over her chest.
"If only making people laugh was the key to their hearts."
"No," Akeno said confidently, "but it is a start," she smiled at him, "Among other things."
As if taking that for a cue, Rias cleared her throat. She looked distinctively nervous.
"I have heard from the members of my peerage. About your family. Is it true?"
He frowned but nevertheless nodded in response.
"And you have no other relatives in this city? You live here? Alone?"
He nodded again. Her gaze softened.
"Why did you not tell us about this beforehand, Arisato-san? We could have helped you. It is the least we could do after what you have done for us."
His eyes roamed around the room. He could admit that his apartment was rather spartan when it came to comfort, but he did not think it was that bad. Raynare made a scoffing sound when he told them that.
"Yes," Rias said, "but you deserve so much more. Sacred Gear users with a fraction of your ability are well rewarded by their masters," she looked at him meaningfully, "At the very least you should be living in far better conditions."
He smiled.
"I did not help you for a reward."
"You didn’t," she conceded, "but it bothers me that you are living here by yourself. Which is why I want to extend the offer of you living with me at one of our family manors," she held up a hand before he could immediately reply, "I know you are not the type of person to accept this type of thing, but please listen to all of the details before you decide. There will be servants for your every need. You won’t have to worry about rent, or bills, or anything like that. You will be comfortable there," her face had grown steadily more flushed throughout the whole description, and now it reached its reddest, "And if you are worried about either my brother’s or my father’s approval, you don’t need to be. I think they will be more than agreeable to the idea."
It was a magnanimous offer, and he could see just how much courage was needed to make it. It made it all the more harder to refuse.
He shook his head. By his side, Raynare looked incredibly relieved.
"I see," to her credit, Rias did not appear to be as crestfallen as her voice suggested. If anything, the look on her face told him that it would be an issue she would not easily give up. Her next words merely reinforced the thought, "If that is the case, may I speak with you in private?"
He hesitated. There was something about her tone that made it sound more like a request. In the end, that was what made him slide out of his chair and get up. Rias walked with him to a corner of the living room. Raynare’s gaze trailed after them. A mixture of anger and jealousy warred on her features. The only thing stopping her from following them was Akeno, whose smile had become dangerous as soon as they left. He suspected that was intentional, and it was all planned.
Rias surprised him when they reached their destination by speaking not of her earlier offer, but something else entirely.
"The Church knows of your ability. Those two sent word. Which means the angels will know as well."
He could detect the disapproval hidden within her tone.
"They are doing their duty. Do not blame them."
"You are right," she sighed, "But I still do not like them. They are exorcists and even though they mainly hunt stray devils, their kind has hurt innocent ones as well. And there are those who do not distinguish the difference."
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