"Issei… Issei… ISSEI!!"

Mom's voice, frantic. Something wrong?

I tried sitting up, but something weighed me down.

What happened?

I traced my memory. Said goodbye to Maurice and the others, and Alice—

Gasp.

On my chest, Alice slept, breathing softly.

Looks like we made it back.

Beside me, Mom, Dad, and Sirzechs shook Rias and the others awake.

"Issei, are you okay!? You all collapsed after the light faded. What happened?" Mom asked.

Yeah, that tracks. Time barely passed here. We were in Ast Aade for over a month, but here it was a moment. To them, we just dropped.

"And who's this girl?" Mom pointed at Alice.

First things first. I smiled at Mom. "I'm home!"

An hour later.

"I'm Alice Audilia. Pleased to meet Issei's parents," Alice said, bowing.

Dad and Mom's first question was about her. Fair enough—one extra person from another world.

"Dad, Mom, can Alice live here?" I asked.

"No reason to refuse someone who helped you. We've got space," Dad said.

"But bringing home another beautiful girl after Rias and the others? When did you become such a playboy?" Mom added.

Ouch. Playboy? I'm just swept along by the girls!

Alice chuckled. "He's definitely a playboy. Saying that to me… You'll take responsibility, right?"

Mom's eyes widened. "Responsibility!? Explain, Issei!"

Oh no, this is spiraling!

"No, I just said I wanted to be with her—"

"A proposal!?" Mom gasped. "Honey, Issei's getting married!"

What!? I'm a second-year high schooler! Marriage is way off!

"But you're twenty, Partner," Ddraig teased.

Not now, Ddraig! That's my soul's age!

Everyone's glares sharpened. Rias radiated a red aura. I'm doomed!

Miu and Asia teared up. Azazel-sensei laughed his head off. Help me!

Alice pressed on. "I'll walk beside Issei as a woman, not a princess."

"You mean… as his wife?" Dad asked.

Alice blushed and nodded.

Hold on! Too fast! She wasn't this forward before!

"Issei's twenty, Alice too… It could work," Dad mused.

"Kids marry at that age nowadays," Mom agreed.

Stop saying twenty! I'm seventeen here!

Alice winked at me. "Looking forward to this, Issei♪"

She's doing this on purpose, enjoying my panic!

Mom and Dad got hyped. "Red rice! Book a venue!" Mom said.

"We need to act before Issei's perviness scares her off!" Dad added.

No, stop! No rice, no venue!

"Hahaha! A twenty-year-old high schooler with a wife!" Azazel-sensei roared.

Shut up, you single governor! Settle down yourself first!

And she's not my wife yet!

"Issei, care to explain?" Rias's voice was icy, a dragon of destruction behind her.

"Time to clarify," Akeno said, lightning dragon glaring.

Xenovia and Irina nodded. "Skipping the competition to declare marriage to your parents? Impressive…"

Asia and Reynare panicked. "What do we do, Koneko!?"

"We wait for an opening," Koneko replied.

Miu and Asia were on the verge of tears.

I looked to Kiba. Help, buddy!

"Tough spot, Issei-kun," he said, retreating with Gasper.

Where's the bro code!?

Why is coming home so exhausting?

"Alice, how do we fix this?" I groaned.

"Hehe, looks like fun times ahead," she grinned.

Exhausted, I dove onto my bed. The cool sheets felt amazing.

What a mess. Calming Mom and Dad, soothing Rias and the others—it drained me.

Azazel-sensei, Kiba, and Gasper went home, but Rias and the girls were huddled, discussing something terrifying.

"Things got lively fast," Ignis chimed in.

Oh, right. You can talk anytime now.

"Yup! Your life's always noisy."

No kidding. Didn't expect Alice to say that. What a mess.

"She's just being honest now. Free from her princess duties, she's letting loose."

Maybe. Hope she doesn't regret coming here.

"That's on you to ensure she doesn't."

True. I brought her here.

Knock knock.

"Issei, I'm coming in."

"Alice? Sure."

She entered, wearing a pink shirt and white skirt. "Borrowed from Asia. Rias and the others' sizes… didn't fit. My chest…"

She looked so dejected.

Sure, her chest is smaller than Rias's, but I love all sizes! Better not say that—she'd punch me.

"How's it look?" she asked, blushing.

"Super cute!" I gave a thumbs-up.

Her usual dresses or combat gear made this casual look refreshing. Asia's looser clothes fit her taller frame perfectly.

"Good…" she sighed, relieved.

No need to worry—Alice could rock anything.

"I changed because I want you to show me the town. Okay?"

"Of course. I planned to anyway. You showed me Ast Aade, so this is my turn."

"Here's Kuoh Academy, where we study," I said, guiding Alice along the route I took with Miu.

The school was empty today—quiet.

Alice scanned the grounds. "It's big."

"Yeah. Heads-up, humans here don't believe in magic, so be careful."

"Got it."

I explained the facilities as we toured. She marveled at everything, new to her.

"This is my classroom. My seat's by the window, middle row," I said, pointing.

"You actually study here? Or just sleep?" she teased.

"…Sometimes sleep."

"And sneak in dirty books?"

"How'd you know!?"

She sighed. "What do you do with those at school?"

"Read them!" With Matsuda and Motohama at our gentlemen's meetings.

"Idiot," she muttered.

Hey, ero's my fuel!

After the school, I showed her the town's main spots—mostly my usual haunts like the mall.

By evening, I said, "Let's head back. Mom's probably cooking."

"Yeah, it's getting dark," Alice agreed.

"So, thoughts on the town?"

"So fun! Everything's so different from Audilia."

"Glad you enjoyed it."

On the way home, I spotted our usual convenience store. "Need anything, Alice?"

"I'm thirsty."

"Cool, let's hit the store."

At the entrance, Alice froze, clinging to my arm. "Is… is this one of those automatic doors?"

Yup, just like Miu. She'd yelped at the mall's doors too. Do Ast Aade folks have an automatic door phobia?

"You'll get used to it, like Miu."

"When!?"

"Six months?"

"No way! Too scary!" She grabbed my collar.

"Stop, you're choking me!" I tapped out, coughing.

"I'll stick with you till you're used to it," I offered.

"Fine…" she mumbled, teary-eyed, clinging tighter.

Her chest…!

Not as intense as Miu's, but that softness—pure bliss!

We entered the store.

"You're bleeding again," Alice said.

"Yup." Another nosebleed.

Borrowing tissues from the clerk was becoming routine.

"I'm gonna get anemia," I groaned.

"While I'm stressing, you're thinking about what?" Alice snapped.

"Your boobs."

"Don't say that in public!"

WHAM!

Her punch nailed my jaw—Alice Punch #1 in this world. Painful, but memorable.

"Jeez!" she huffed.

I rubbed my jaw, chuckling. The sky was fully dark now. Winter's coming early.

An idea hit me. "Alice, hold on."

"What—Eek!"

I scooped her up. "I'm showing you something cool. Stay still."

Confirming no one was around, I spread my demon wings, hiding our energy, and flew up.

Minutes later, I stopped above the town. "Open your eyes."

"What are you—oh…"

She gasped. The town's nightscape sparkled below—red, white, blue lights like stars, distinct from the sky's glow.

I come here sometimes to unwind. I've brought Miu and Rias too. It's the best view, though not for normies.

"Nothing like this in Ast Aade, right?"

"No… it's amazing. But why bring me here?"

Why? "You helped me a lot. This is… thanks?"

"Question mark again?"

I blushed, embarrassed.

Clearing my throat, I seized the moment. "I won't let you regret coming here. I'll protect you, always."

My true feelings. Like Miu and Rias, Alice is someone I'll guard.

Her eyes watered. "You're such a playboy…"

Why's she crying!? Did I mess up?

"Alice…?"

No answer. Panic set in. I just promised no regrets!

She grabbed my face and kissed me.

A brief moment, but the sensation lingered.

She pulled back, our noses nearly touching, eyes locked.

"I won't regret it, Issei."

Bathed in moonlight, she looked radiant.

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