Volume 10 Chapter 585 - No
Kisuke watched for a moment and was able to confirm that Akeno and Irina are indeed progressing much faster than the Student Council members, 'Although their bodies gave them the definite advantage, what's pushing them this far? Looking at them, it seems that they're fully accepting this kind of training, which would traumatize most people… What's pushing them so hard?'
After a few more minutes, Kisuke deactivated the dummies, and both of them immediately dropped down to the ground with numerous cuts and bruises on their entire bodies. From the looks of it, they didn't use much of the recovery hot spring just to put in more progress.
"Good work, you two. You did a lot better than I expected. Rest up within the hot spring and an hour later, I'll return you to your previous bodies."
Kisuke then turned around to prepare what he needed, but before he could get away, he heard Irina spoke in a tired voice, "Not even an aftercare service? You're too tough on us… Nevertheless, I've already decided, I'll keep this body… Please let me keep it."
In a similarly tired voice, Akeno also added, "…Same here. Please let me keep this." She then did her best to stand up and staggered towards the hot spring. Not wanting to lose, Irina also did the same.
Kisuke turned towards them and smiled wryly before approaching them and grabbing their waists, "Use my shoulders."
Akeno and Irina were taken aback, but gladly accepted his offer and quietly wrapped one of their arms around his neck for support.
After setting them in the hot spring, Kisuke used magic to properly cover their bodies and asked, "So, what made you change your minds? And I told you, if there's a bit of hesitation or doubt within your minds, you can't take that choice. It's for your own good."
While splashing water on her, Irina answered, "We know… I don't know about Akeno-senpai, but I've realized something important."
Doing the same thing, Akeno added, "I've also realized something too which made me not think about my current situation too much."
"Mind sharing it?" asked Kisuke curiously.
Akeno and Irina first looked at each other's eyes and figured out that they both came up with similar answers and smiled at each other. At this point, instead of rivals, they considered themselves comrades.
"Well, it's nothing really amazing or enlightening," Irina continued, "We just thought that we are what we are, as long as we don't lose ourselves. Despite what we have right now, it's still up to us to decide what future we want to take… At least, something like that."
Akeno just smiled and nodded while cleaning herself.
Kisuke first looked at both of them before smiling, "I know it's deeper than that, but I can see that you've already made your decision with a proper resolution, so I won't say anything else to dissuade you two. I also wanted to see where these new powers of yours would take you, so I look forward to whatever you've decided to do."
However, Akeno suddenly chuckled, "Ufufufu. You can be sure that we'll do our best to achieve the future that we want, though I do hope that you don't come to regret your words just now."
Kisuke furrowed his brows and asked, "Hmm? What do you mean?"
However, Irina just casually waved her hand and said, "It's nothing. You'll figure it out later."
"Hmmm… Well, whatever," Kisuke then stood up and started leaving, "I'll be going first to finish up some things and dispose of those vessels. I'll be back in an hour and bring you to the surface."
"Got it~"
Although curious about what they're planning, Kisuke needed some things to be done first, so he left. He had some inkling that they would want to come with him, but that could easily be solved by telling them that they'd just die if they came along as he or the incomplete Ophis couldn't protect them.
Exactly an hour later, Kisuke was able to finish everything he needed and only needed to create a portal that will open up the Dimensional Gap to return to the other side.
Once he got out, Kisuke saw Akeno and Irina happily talking with each other about some random things, "Let's go. I promised to meet your leaders before I leave."
The two of them nodded and approached him as he created the magic circle. Within the duration of his stay in this 'abandoned' hideout of his, Kisuke never felt Nyx's presence, 'So she's treating this place as a last resort… Or maybe she's just afraid to meet me and waiting for me to go.'
Arriving at Issei's place once again, while some were absent from the previous meeting, some new faces are also present. From Heaven's side, Michael is still present, but instead of Gabriel and Dulio, two familiar faces for Kisuke replaced them, Touji Shidou, Irina's father, and Hina Shidou, Irina's mother.
Kisuke was a bit surprised by their presence, "Uncle Touji… Aunt Hina… It's been a while~!"
"Dad! Mom! What are you doing here!?" Irina ran towards them and gave them a hug.
"You already know why!" Touji answered with a slightly reprimanding voice while his wife only chuckled a little.
Touji then looked towards Kisuke and greeted him, "It's really been a while, Kisuke-kun… You've done so many… uhmm… great things that I really doubt that you're still that perverted kid from back then. Thank you for taking care of our little Irina here."
Kisuke shook his head and smiled wryly, "You must have already heard from others what they went through. It's very far from taking care of her."
But Irina ignored his answer and said, "He took care of us! Because of him, I feel a lot more confident now! As if something has opened up inside! And he's still the perverted kid from before! It's just that he's a lot better at hiding it now!"
Hina patted the head of her daughter with a gentle smile and replied, "Is that so? If it's like this, we won't say anything anymore," Hina then turned to Kisuke and continued, "It's been a while Kisuke-kun. You're all grown up."
"You're still as beautiful and gentle as ever, Aunt Hina~."
"My~ Thank you~. Though I really want to talk to Sakura again. How is she, by the way? I hope she's doing fine."
"It's a shame that she can't go around right now because of me, but she's fine. She's currently with her sister and having a good time."
While the others in the room reacted slightly, Hina's eyes widened, "Oh my, so she has a sister. I hope I can meet her in the future."
Kisuke nodded at her, "You sure will."
Akeno, on the other hand, hugged her father tightly and as if saying their goodbyes. At this point, his growing suspicion of them wanting to come with him was almost confirmed, but he didn't say anything as he didn't really want to deal with the short-stacked girl on his side, all smug and ready to go on a vacation with a large suitcase behind her, 'Dang it… I understand why she wanted to come… But how could I reject her?'
"So, when will we go?" Serafall suddenly called out to him, forcing Kisuke to acknowledge her presence.
"What 'we'? It's only me who's going."
"Of course I'm coming too! You should've already guessed this!"
Kisuke sighed, "Why do you want to come with me?"
"Vaca-… Ehem… I want to see Sona-chan!"
'T-this woman… She's taking advantage of the fact that she's temporarily suspended from her position and wanted to get away for real,' Kisuke instantly saw through her intentions that she is not only wanting to see her precious little sister.
Kisuke looked towards Sirzechs and Azazel but both of them only shook their heads with wry smiles, signifying that they already gave up.
Kisuke sighed yet again, and was about to reject her idea but Sirzechs suddenly spoke out, "Before you finish your conversation, mind listening to our request first?"
Seeing what's happening around, he can already tell what they wanted, but he still asked, "What is it, Sirzechs-sama?"
"We'd like you to take Akeno and Irina along your journey… Well, maybe Serafall too."
Without any hesitation, Kisuke replied, "No."
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