A day in the city

Morning

Yuto woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside. 

The room was filled with the soft glow of morning light, the sunlight streaming through the window and casting a warm golden hue over everything. 

He groaned and stretched, wincing as his muscles protested the movement after the previous night's activities.

Catherine, Luna, and Lilith all started to stir as well. 

They, too, let out soft groans as they stretched and blinked their eyes sleepily against the bright sunlight. 

There was a moment of peaceful silence as they all awoke before Catherine spoke up with a sleepy grin.

She propped herself up on one elbow and looked over at Yuto with a teasing glint in her eye.

"Morning, sleepyhead"

Stareeee

"Nice!"

Catherine chuckled and lazily threw a pillow at him. 

It hit him in the face, causing him to blink in surprise before laughing.

Luna and Lilith, who had both woken up and were now blinking sleepily at the two of them, chuckled too. 

The air was filled with a carefree, relaxed atmosphere.

Luna spoke up, her voice still a bit groggy.

"Pervert"

Yuto pretended to look offended, putting a hand over his heart in mock pain.

"Me? A pervert?"

Catherine and Lilith both chuckled, clearly not buying his act. 

Catherine smirked, her eyes drifting downward, and Lilith gave him a knowing grin.

"Oh, don't act innocent. We all know you're the biggest perv here"

He shook his head.

"Don't know about that Lilith, I mean Cat's over here staring at my–"

Catherine quickly lunged forward and smacked him on the shoulder, her face flushed. 

She knew exactly what he was referring to and did not appreciate the reminder.

"Shut up! I am not!"

Luna, meanwhile, was trying - and failing - to hold in her laughter at the situation. 

Lilith was biting her lip to contain her amusement.

Yuto smirked, loving how embarrassed Catherine was. 

He gave her a cheeky grin, enjoying how her cheeks turned red.

"Oh, you've absolutely been staring, Cat"

Catherine swatted at him again, but he just dodged out of the way, laughing. 

Lilith and Luna were now both openly giggling at the two of them.

"I have not-"

Catherine started to protest, her face now beet red. 

But before she could finish her sentence, Yuto quickly rolled over and pinned her down onto the bed, his body hovering over hers.

Catherine squeaked in surprise, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. 

From behind, Luna and Lilith chuckled again, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

He smiled as he let go, sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Love mornings like this"

Catherine pouted as he got off of her, her cheeks still flushed. 

She smoothed her hair down and tried, and failed, to look annoyed. 

The effect was rather spoiled by the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.

Luna and Lilith were both still giggling. 

They had both started to sit up in bed, the sheets pooling around their waists as they watched the scene between Yuto and Catherine.

Luna spoke up, still smiling.

"So, what's on the agenda for today, fearless leader?"

Yuto laid back, getting the pillow and putting it under his head.

"Well I was thinking we should explore this kingdom"

"I mean that's why we came, right?"

Catherine, who was sitting up now, nodded in agreement. 

She had finally managed to control her blush, though her cheeks were still slightly pink.

Luna and Lilith both smirked.

"Oh, exploring the kingdom, eh?"

Lilith, who hadn't bothered to get dressed yet, stretched and gave Yuto a sultry grin.

"And what else?"

Yuto chuckled at Lilith's grin. 

He knew exactly what she was implying, and the look in her eyes only confirmed his suspicions. 

He ran a hand through his messy hair and gave her a sly grin in return.

"Oh, you know...whatever strikes our fancy"

Catherine and Luna, who had also not bothered to get dressed yet, chimed in with cheeky grins of their own.

Catherine spoke up with a sly smile.

"Sounds like someone has something in mind"

Yuto chuckled again, his smirk widening. 

He couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation at what the day might bring. 

Exploring the kingdom with his girls sounded like a good time, and if he managed to get up to some other... extracurricular activities along the way, all the better.

He looked over at the three of them, their hair still messy from sleep, their clothes (or lack thereof) rumpled and disheveled, their expressions a mixture of playful, seductive, and amused.

"Thank the goddess for the after-sex hair…"

The girls all laughed in response. 

Their hair was indeed all over the place, looking like a bird's nest from the previous night's...activity.

Catherine was the first to speak, running a hand through her hair.

"Well, some of us can't help it"

Meanwhile, Lilith smirked and ran a hand down her stomach, the thin covers barely concealing her curves.

"But you weren't complaining last night, were you?"

He chuckled, sitting up and raising his hands in defense.

"No complaints whatsoever but we should get ready, I wanna explore this kingdom"

Lilith rolled her eyes at his response, but there was a smile on her lips. 

She stretched and stood up, the covers falling away and revealing her lithe, naked form. 

Unsurprisingly, Yuto's gaze immediately dropped downwards, his eyes tracing the curves of her body.

Catherine spoke up, her voice filled with a mixture of fondness and annoyance.

"Yuto, stop ogling us and get dressed"

Yuto chuckled again, his gaze reluctantly moving away from Lilith and up to Catherine's face.

He couldn't help it if he enjoyed the sight of them in all their naked glory.

He grinned and threw back the covers, standing up and stretching.

His state of undress was on full display for the girls, who didn't hesitate to look him up and down, their eyes roving over his bare chest and lower.

Yuto caught the hungry gazes and smirked.

"What? You're looking too"

Catherine rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at him again, though the effect was ruined by her gaze still lingering on his body. 

The other two were making no effort to hide their appreciation, their eyes roaming over him unabashedly.

Luna spoke up, her voice a little huskier than usual.

"Well, can you blame us?"

Lilith chimed in with a smirk.

"We can't help it if you're...distracting"

They all chuckled before hearing a knock on the door.

They all groaned except for Yuto.

"It's probably Lola"

Catherine let out a melodramatic sigh and flopped back onto the bed. 

Lilith, still standing beside the bed and enjoying the view of Yuto's bare backside, let out a small huff of disappointment.

Luna, meanwhile, spoke up with a resigned grumble.

"Of course it's Lola"

Using basic magic, Yuto clothed himself in his usual black suit.

"Better?"

The girls all pouted when he clothed himself with magic, clearly disappointed. 

Yuto could practically hear their collective sigh at the sight of his clothes replacing his naked skin.

Luna crossed her arms and gave him a mock scowl, while Catherine grumbled something about being "robbed" and Lilith gave a slight pout.

Yuto chuckled at their reactions.

"I'll strip again later, don't worry"

The three girls all perked up at his words, their gazes going a little heated at the thought. 

They each took another moment to admire him in his suit, the way the fabric clung to his muscular frame.

Catherine spoke up, her gaze still lingering on him.

"Promise?"

He chuckled as he walked towards the door.

"Yeah yeah"

He turned before opening the door.

"But do get dressed, I wanna take you all out on a date"

The girls immediately perked up further at the mention of a date. 

They all leaped out of bed almost simultaneously, quickly starting to get dressed, their sleepy, lazy mood instantly replaced by excitement.

Catherine, who was already searching through her belongings for something to wear, spoke up with a grin. 

"A date, huh? How fancy"

Lilith, who had grabbed some clothes and was in the process of slipping them on, gave Yuto a smirk.

"You spoil us, you know that?"

He chuckled, "I sure do"

Stepping outside, he met Lola who was fidgeting her fingers.

"Was up?"

Lola jumped a little at the sound of Yuto's voice, having been so focused on her fingers that she hadn't noticed him. 

She looked up and gave him a shaky smile, her eyes flicking nervously between him and the open door where the sound of the girls getting ready could be heard.

She fidgeted with the hem of her dress and spoke up, her voice a little hesitant.

"I...I need to talk to you"

Yuto closed the door behind him, "Sure…"

Lola took a deep breath once the door was closed and the sound of the girls' chatter was muted. 

She grabbed his hand.

"My room... is that okay?"

Yuto was surprised at the contact, but he didn't pull back. 

He could sense the nervous energy coming off of Lola, and he had a feeling this talk was going to be more serious than he had initially thought.

He nodded in agreement.

"Lead the way"

Lola nodded and led him down the hall to her room. 

The walk was mostly silent, and Yuto could see the tension in Lola's shoulders.

She walked a little faster than normal, her fingers clenching at the fabric of her dress.

When they reached her room, she quickly opened the door and gestured for him to come in.

Yuto stepped into the room after her, his eyes taking in the surroundings. 

It was a relatively large room, and Lola's things were scattered everywhere. 

Clothes were hanging off of chairs, jewelry all over the dresser, and the bed looked like it hadn't been made in days. 

Everything had a distinctly "Lola" vibe.

Lola, meanwhile, had closed the door behind them and was now fidgeting with the hem of her dress again. 

Yuto could practically feel the nerves rolling off of her.

She was silent for a few more moments, just standing there and fidgeting nervously. 

The air was tense, and the only sound that could be heard was the steady tick-tick-tick of a small clock that sat on her dresser. 

It was clear that she was trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say.

Finally, she spoke up, her voice a little shaky.

"The army... are you sure you can handle it?"

Yuto crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his expression thoughtful. 

He had a feeling that this was where the conversation was going, although he hadn't expected it to come up this way.

He glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Worried about me?"

Lola chewed on her lip, her hands still fidgeting with the fabric of her dress.

She looked up at Yuto, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and concern.

She hesitated for a moment, seemingly torn between her worry and her pride. 

Finally, she spoke up, her voice quiet.

"I...yes, I am"

He sighed, walking forward and taking a seat on her couch.

"Lola, I'm gonna turn off a passive of mine, and just like that any feelings you have for me won't be the same"

Her eyes widened at his words, confusion written on her face. 

She watched as Yuto casually sat on her couch, her mind racing with the implication of his words.

She took a step closer, her brow furrowing. 

"Wait...what do you mean, a 'passive'?"

["Do beast folk not know the difference between skills and passives?"]

"..."

"Don't you find it weird how despite our fucked up first meeting, you felt some attraction for me?"

She froze, her eyes growing even wider as his words sunk in. 

It was true; despite their less-than-ideal first meeting, she had felt drawn to him. 

There had been a weird sense of attraction that had been tugging at her ever since the start, even as she tried to deny it.

She took another step forward, her gaze now slightly unfocused as her mind tried to process the revelation. 

Yuto, who noticed how quiet she became, leaned back.

<- System ->

[ Turning off Demonic Charm ]

The air shimmered for a moment before settling again, and Lola's entire demeanor changed. 

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Yuto could tell that the passive was no longer in effect. 

The feeling of attraction that had been pulling at her, the faint urge to be near him, all disappeared in an instant.

She blinked as the change settled over her. 

Her mind felt clearer than it had been in days, and as the last remnants of the attraction faded.

Yuto watched her closely, his gaze studying her as the change took effect. 

He could see the moment that the last vestiges of his passive disappearing.

The way she held herself, the look in her eyes, it was all subtly different. 

"So? Any feelings?"

Lola was silent for a few moments, her eyes narrowed and her expression thoughtful. 

The absence of the attraction was like a breath of fresh air. 

She felt...freer, almost. 

Like she was seeing Yuto for the first time without the haze of the charm clouding her perception.

Finally, she spoke up, her voice still a whisper.

"It's...gone. The pull, the urge...it's not there anymore"

He smiled, "So you see--"

"And yet, some part of me still wants to be near you"

Yuto was caught off-guard by her words. 

He hadn't expected such a response, and it took him a moment to recover his composure. 

He had expected her feelings to disappear completely, and yet, here she was, still drawn to him in some way.

He raised an eyebrow, his voice slightly tinged with surprise.

"And why is that?"

Lola looked away, her expression a mix of confusion and stubbornness. 

She seemed almost flustered at her own words like she didn't understand why she was still drawn to him despite the absence of the passive.

She fidgeted with the hem of her dress again, her fingers clenching the fabric tightly as she spoke.

"I...I don't know. It's just...there"

She looked back at him, her eyes narrowed, as if challenging him to contradict her.

Yuto merely shrugged his shoulders, not bothered by her feelings or confused at the situation.

"I see"

Lola's expression furrowed further at his nonchalant response. 

It was as if he wasn't at all surprised by her continued attraction, which only served to frustrate her further.

She crossed her arms, her eyes fixing him with a glare.

"You're taking this too calmly"

Yuto chuckled, his expression a mix of amusement and slight smugness. 

He leaned back on the couch, his arms spread out across the back, and looked up at her with a smirk.

"What can I say? I'm not surprised. I've always had that effect on women"

<- System ->

[ How immature of you master ]

["Shut up system!"]

Her eyes twitched at his response. 

The smug smirk, the nonchalant attitude, the casual spread of his arms across the back of the couch...it was all too much. 

She fought the urge to roll her eyes, her fingers clenching into fists as she tried to keep her frustration in check.

She took a step closer, her voice slightly sharp.

"You're insufferable, you know that?"

He smiled, not his usual one for greetings but a genuine smile.

"I get that a lot"

Lola's heart skipped at the sight of his smile. 

Despite her annoyance with his nonchalance, she couldn't help but feel a small flutter of something in her chest. 

The unguarded expression on his face was different from his usual smirk, and it made him look almost...soft.

Her expression softened slightly, her arms uncrossing as she took another small step towards him.

"Insufferable, cocky, arrogant…"

He chuckled again, his smile deepening. 

He could tell that her annoyance was starting to ebb away slightly, replaced by a mixture of feelings that he could see in her eyes. 

Frustration, irritation, even a hint of a softer, less certain emotion.

"Keep going, I'm sure you can think of more adjectives for me"

By the time his sentence finished, she was right in front of him.

Arms crossed, a small pout forming.

Before anything can be said or done, a knock on the door interrupted them.

It was the girls.

Yuto says up, patting his suit down, "Seems like time is up princess"

She took a step back, clearing her throat and trying to hide her disappointment.

"Right, your...group. Go on..."

...

Her tone, he knew what it was, how she felt, but he couldn't let it stop him.

He couldn't…

"Hey… uh, take the time to get everything sorted"

"Tomorrow is the day and we need everything prepared"

She gave a small nod.

"..."

["Damn it…"]

He walked over, patting her head, "Something wrong?"

Her breath hitched at the unexpected touch. 

The feel of his warm, rough palm against her hair sent a small shiver down her spine, and she found herself leaning into the touch for just a moment before catching herself. 

She looked up at him with a hint of surprise and confusion in her eyes, her heart beating slightly faster than normal.

She swallowed and forced herself to speak, her voice a little shaky.

"No...nothing's wrong"

He lightly pinched her cheeks, pulling them but not too hard.

"No lying"

Lola's eyes widened at the pinch, her cheeks stretching under his grip. 

She let out a small yelp that was somewhere between a protest and a giggle, her hands coming up to swat at his fingers.

She tried to pout, her lips already betraying her with a small tug at the corners. 

That single word, "no", was all it took to melt away the last of her resistance*

"I...I'm not lying!"

He cupped her cheek, no longer pinching but lightly holding her.

"I won't leave till you tell me"

The touch of his hand against her cheek sent another small shiver down her spine, and she unconsciously leaned into his palm. 

His words made her heart flutter, and she let out a small huff of breath. 

She knew he meant it, that he wouldn't budge until she told him what was bothering her, and he had just the right touch and tone to get her to be honest.

She looked up at him, her expression a mixture of stubbornness and vulnerability.

"I...I want to be close to you as well"

Yuto's gaze softened at her words, his expression shifting from a light-hearted smile to one of tender understanding. 

He could sense the vulnerability beneath her stubbornness, the desire to be close to him that had been buried under her attempts at being distant and unbothered.

He gently caressed her cheek with his thumb, his touch soft and soothing.

"You do, huh?"

She gave him a simple nod.

In response, he lowered his head, his eyes not daring to meet her gaze.

"I have six lovers, you would be the 7th I'm not sure that's fair to you"

Her heart skipped at the soft touch of his thumb against her cheek. 

The tender understanding in his expression was almost overwhelming, and it took all of her self-control not to break down and lean into him completely.

When he mentioned his six lovers, her heart sank a little, and a small pang of disappointment gnawed at her chest. 

She closed her eyes, wrestling with her feelings, before speaking up, her voice a whisper.

"I don't care"

He smiled, a bit of laughter escaping his lips.

"You...you really don't care?"

"No," she buried her face in his chest.

He patted her head and back, soothingly.

"Are you sure? Leaving your kingdom just to be with me?"

She nodded, her voice slightly muffled against his chest. 

The steady beat of his heart, the rise and fall of his chest with each breath, the warm, solid feel of him against her.

It was all strangely comforting, and it made her want to be even closer.

She pulled back slightly to look up at him, her eyes filled with vulnerability.

"Yes. I'm sure"

Yuto gave her a warm smile as he pulled back, kneeling but holding her hand as he planted a kiss on it.

"I, Yuto Akimitsu, swear to love and protect you"

Her breath caught in her throat at his words and the gesture, her heart skipping a beat as his lips touched her skin. 

The simple, yet powerful, statement, combined with the feel of his rough, calloused hand holding hers and the look in his eyes...it was almost enough to make her knees weak.

She returned his gaze, a small, dazed smile on her face. 

Her voice, when she spoke, was breathless and filled with unspoken emotions*

"I, Lola Le Everett Leo, accept your promise"

Yuto smiled at her response. 

The way her voice sounded, the look in her eyes, the way she held his hand in return...

He stood up, and gently pulled her forward, their bodies now just inches apart. 

She could probably feel the heat of his breath against her face as he spoke, his voice low and soft.

"Alright get ready, I'll be outside with the rest of my group"

"Are we going somewhere?"

He nodded, "I promised them a date and we'll since you've agreed to be mine, you're joining us"

She chuckled as she pulled away, "I'll meet up with the rest of you later, I still need to prepare the others for tomorrow"

Yuto nodded in understanding, his eyes fixed on her for a few moments before he spoke up.

"Yeah, I get it"

He let go of her hand, his fingers brushing lightly against hers as he backed away towards the door.

"I'll see you soon"

He gave her a nod, before exiting the room.

...

As soon as he stepped foot outside the room, he was wrapped in shadows.

Before he knew it, he was right in the middle of the city.

"Took you long enough," Catherine said with a sarcastic grin.

"Indeed he did," Luna walked over, locking his left arm with her.

Lilith said nothing, merely locking his right arm with hers and snuggling closer.

Yuto snickered at their comments, not bothering to pull away from the girls' grips on his arms. 

He knew this was how they were, and he was used to their affection by now.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was talking with Lola"

Catherine's grin widened further, her tone teasing.

"Oh, talking, right, is that what we're calling it now?"

Luna chuckled, her voice light and playful.

"Talking must be a new code word for something else. I wonder what, hm?"

Yuto chuckled as he escaped Lilith's and Luna's grasp, he walked towards a stand, buying a small candy.

"Well something did happen"

Catherine's eyes lit up with interest, "Something happened, huh? Spill the details, Yuto!"

"We want the juicy details!"

Luna nodded in agreement, her expression a mix of curiosity and excitement, while Lilith simply gave a small smile and remained quiet.

Yuto chuckled again, enjoying the curious and eager gazes of his girls. 

He popped the candy into his mouth, savoring the sweetness for a moment before he spoke.

"Let's just say, I'm adding another member to the group"

Catherine's eyes widened further at his words, her mouth falling open in surprise.

Luna's eyes widened as well, and even Lilith's quiet smile turned into a small surprised expression. 

They all knew that Yuto didn't add just anyone into their group, and the fact that he was bringing someone else in was a big deal.

Catherine was the first one to speak up.

"Let me guess... it's Lola, isn't it?"

Yuto didn't even have to respond. 

His sly smile and the way his eyes crinkled with suppressed laughter were enough of an answer. 

Seeing their reactions, he chuckled. 

He knew they would react this way, it was always amusing to him.

"Yeah, you guessed correctly. Lola's gonna join us"

Catherine walked over, a smug grin forming as she looked up, her eyes meeting his.

She leaned in, close enough to whisper, "Is she gonna join us tonight~?"

Yuto snickered at her comment, knowing exactly what she was implying. 

He could see the hint of a smirk on her lips and the slight hint of teasing in her eyes. 

She was always so blunt and forward, and he loved her all the more for it.

He leaned in, his response a whisper in her ear.

"Maybe"

He smirked as he saw how red her face got.

Yuto continued to walk forward, he stopped when he was a few feet ahead. 

"Come now, don't we have a date to get to?"

Catherine immediately turned away, trying to hide her reddening face and failing miserably. 

She took a deep breath, her voice slightly shaky as she spoke up.

"R-right, let's go"

Luna and Lilith followed, quickly catching up to Yuto's side. 

The kingdom's streets were alive (despite all the war going on) with vendors selling everything from glowing crystals to intricate tapestries. 

Luna's eyes sparkled as they passed a stall selling plush animal-shaped pillows, and she tugged at Yuto's sleeve. 

"Yuto, look! They have the cutest pillows!" she exclaimed, picking up a plush fox with a mischievous grin.

Yuto smiled and ruffled her hair. 

"I see it. You're definitely a sucker for cute things"

Catherine, who had been busy eyeing a stall of sparkling jewelry, chimed in with a playful grin. 

"I'm more interested in these necklaces. What do you think, Yuto? I could use a little bling"

Lilith, walking gracefully behind them, observed the scene with quiet amusement. 

"You both are easily distracted," she said with a soft laugh.

They wandered further into the bustling market, where the scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air. 

Luna's eyes lit up as they neared a sweet stall overflowing with treats. 

"Yuto, can we get some? They're shaped like animals!" she asked eagerly.

Yuto chuckled, nodding. 

"Sure, but only if you promise not to eat them all before we can taste them"

Luna handed him a small pastry shaped like a fox and took a sweet that resembled a deer. 

Catherine eagerly grabbed a handful of sugar-coated berries from a nearby cart. 

"These look so good," she mumbled through a mouthful, her eyes bright with excitement.

"I think I'm going to eat my weight in these," she added, laughing.

Lilith smiled, delicately taking a honeyed pastry and savoring its rich flavor. 

"The food here is exceptional. It's no wonder the kingdom thrives"

After indulging in the sweets, Yuto suggested they visit the local theater for an evening play. 

The group entered the grand outdoor amphitheater, where the sounds of a live orchestra and the voices of actors filled the air. 

The actors were dressed in vibrant costumes resembling creatures from the vast forests and mountains. 

"This is incredible," Luna whispered, her wide eyes fixed on the stage as acrobatic performers leaped between tree-like structures. 

"I feel like I'm seeing our world in a whole new way"

Yuto smiled, leaning back to enjoy the show. 

"Yeah, it's amazing how they can move so quickly"

Catherine, not one for sitting still, whispered to Yuto with a grin. 

"Maybe we should join them next time. I could totally rock that acrobat role"

Lilith, sitting beside them, raised an eyebrow. 

"As long as you don't try to climb any trees like a wolf, Cat"

As the final scene of the play ended and the actors took their bows, Yuto suggested they head to a nearby tavern for some dinner. 

The cozy space was filled with the soft murmur of conversation and the crackling of a fire. 

They ordered plates of roasted meats, vegetables, and creamy soups, savoring the warmth and flavors. 

"This is perfect," Catherine sighed contentedly as she dug into her plate. 

"I think I've found my new favorite place"

Luna nodded in agreement, nibbling on a piece of bread. 

"The food here is almost as good as the sweets"

Lilith took a delicate sip of her wine, her gaze flickering to Yuto. 

"You've shown us a wonderful time today, Yuto"

After dinner, they strolled back under the moonlit sky, the lights of the kingdom casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets. 

The air was cool, and the sounds of the night were peaceful like the kingdom was settling in for a tranquil evening.

Yuto turned to them with a smile. 

"What do you think? Is it time to head back to my room?"

Catherine, slightly tipsy from the wine, leaned in, her voice slightly more unfiltered than usual.

"You're right, it is about that time, isn't it? Don't you agree?"

Luna and Lilith nodded in agreement, their cheeks slightly flushed from the drink and from the earlier excitement of the night. 

They all knew what was coming next, and the thought made their hearts flutter in anticipation.

Lilith spoke up, her voice quiet and soft.

"Yes. It's time…"

…

After guiding the slightly tipsy party back to his room and making sure they were all tucked in comfortably on the bed.

Yuto gently pulled the blanket over them, their soft, quiet snores indicating that they were already fast asleep.

He smiled at the sight of them, their faces peaceful and calm. 

He quietly exited the room, making his way to the garden. 

The cool night air blew across his face, a light breeze rustling his hair and clothing.

The garden was lit by the soft light of the moon and the flickering of nearby torches.

It was almost like a different world. 

The sweet scent of flowers and the sound of crickets filled the air, creating an atmosphere of tranquility.

Yuto walked silently between the rows of flowers, his mind still somewhat on the fulfilling day.

Then out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar figure sitting on a nearby bench.

His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the figure. 

A slight smile formed on his lips, and he slowly made his way over to the bench, his footsteps quiet in the night-quiet surroundings. 

He took a seat next to her, the distance between them close but not quite touching.

She didn't turn immediately, her gaze fixed on the soft, pale petals of one of the nearby flowers. 

He remained quiet for a few moments, simply watching her, before she spoke up in a soft, gentle tone.

"So... tomorrow is it, huh?"

He remained quiet, merely looking down at the ground.

"Say something"

He chuckled, unsure of what to say.

"Jeez, you girls act like I'm gonna die, it's only a couple of demons"

She sighed, shaking her head.

"It's a bloody army!"

"And?"

Her expression darkened slightly at his casual response. 

She couldn't believe how nonchalant he was about facing a whole army.

She turned to him, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"And? You're seriously not taking this seriously, are you?"

"It's a damn army, Yuto, not a simple sparring match"

He shrugged.

"Okay, how about this, if I somehow come back with injuries, I'll do you a favor"

She raised an eyebrow.

"You'll seriously do me a favor? You're just willing to give that up so easily?"

She paused, considering the offer for a moment before a slight smile formed on her lips.

"And if you don't come back with injuries?"

He rubbed his hands together, like something you see in a movie when a character just got a stupid idea.

"Beer, lots of beer and meat prepared for me"

Lola couldn't help but laugh at his response. 

Typical Yuto.

"Beer and meat, huh? You know how to prioritize your rewards"

She couldn't decide if she should be amused or frustrated by his carefree attitude, but a part of her secretly found it endearing.

She got up, planting a small kiss on his lips.

"You better... come back, okay?"

He couldn't help the wide, silly grin that formed on his face as he looked up at her, his eyes filled with amusement.

"Get some sleep, because when you wake up it will all be over"

She chuckled as she walked back to the entrance.

"I trust you"

He smirked as he saw her slowly disappear from his line of view.

After she truly left, he sighed, looking up at the sky and mentally preparing himself for the battle to come.

He got up after an hour and walked back towards his room.

"Best get some sleep…"

Yuto quietly entered the room, the soft sounds of his 3 sleeping girls filling the quiet space. 

He shut the door behind him and walked over to the bed, sitting down on the edge of the mattress.

A small smile formed on his face as he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from Catherine's face.

He continued to watch them for a few moments, noticing how they all looked so peaceful and calm in their sleep.

Their soft breaths and occasional subtle movements were a soothing presence in the room.

He chuckled as he noticed Catherine, asleep in a slightly awkward position.

Her limbs sprawled across the bed. 

He gently rearranged her limbs so that she was more comfortable, careful not to wake her.

He then sat at the chair in the back, and finally, sleep caught up to him.

"This is… nice…"

He closed his eyes, and everything went dark.

...

...

...

- ??? -

"That's how it was… so where did it go wrong?"