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Chapter 325: Chapter 321 ~ Neverending Night

The [Gate] shimmered open like rippling glass before the two of them, and in the next heartbeat, Yuuji and Rias stepped through—emerging quietly into the heart of Tokyoʼs most renowned luxury cinema.

It wasnʼt the largest theatre in the city, but it was certainly the finest. The seats were plush and light beige, the air faintly scented with fragrant flowers, and the walls gleamed under the soft golden lights. 

The moment they entered, Riasʼs sapphire eyes widened in wonder.

Before them stood a towering banner of the very movie they had come to see—Demon Hunters: Palace of Eternity. 

Beneath it, a life-sized statue of the two protagonists, locked in an eternal pose of courage and determination. The filmʼs imagery filled the hallways; every screen, every poster, every bit of merchandise bore the mark of this cultural phenomenon.

”All the theatres are showing it?” 

Rias murmured in surprise, brushing a lock of her crimson hair behind her ear.

Yuuji nodded, smiling faintly. 

”Yes. Every theatre, from morning to midnight. And I heard itʼs still quite difficult to get tickets.”

When they approached the ticket counter, the display confirmed it—almost every showing was sold out, even the premium seats. But luck—or rather, Yuujiʼs foresight—favored them again. He secured two tickets for the next screening at three in the afternoon.

”That gives us about two hours,” he said, glancing at the time. ”How about we kill it somewhere fun?”

Riasʼs eyes sparkled. 

”Fun?”

”Youʼll see.”

He smiled. 

They found themselves in a nearby arcade—its dazzling neon lights flashing with energy, the rhythmic beeps and melodies of game machines filling the air.

Riasʼs excitement was immediate. Her gaze darted across the aisles of games—claw machines, rhythm booths, shooters, and racing pods. She looked like a child seeing a festival for the first time, and Yuuji found himself smiling at her unguarded joy.

They began with the shooting games.

Side by side, they held the plastic guns, the screen ahead flashing with zombies and chaos. Yuuji watched with quiet amusement as Rias took aim, her concentration fierce, her lips slightly parted in focus. 

Under his subtle guidance and years of his combat training, she was a natural. Her shots were sharp, clean, and precise—earning murmurs of surprise from nearby players.

”Youʼre really good at this,” Yuuji said, his tone teasing.

”Of course,” she replied proudly, reloading with a flick of her wrist. 

”Did you expect anything less from me?”

”Not at all.”

He leaned closer. 

”But you know…” 

His arm slipped around her waist, his breath brushing against her ear. 

”Youʼre even cuter when youʼre serious like this.”

Her body stiffened slightly. 

”Wha—Y-Yuuji! What are you doing?!”

”Focus,” he whispered, his voice playful. 

”Your zombies are getting closer.”

Her eyes darted back to the screen—indeed, a fresh wave of undead had spawned and was staggering toward her. But her mind wasnʼt on them anymore. Her focus wavered as she felt his warmth pressed against her back, his steady breathing against her ear.

She fired, missing twice in a row.

A soft chuckle escaped him.

She glared at him over her shoulder, her cheeks flushed. 

”Youʼre doing this on purpose, arenʼt you?”

”Doing what?” he asked innocently, even as his fingers brushed lightly against her hip. His screen was already cleared. All the zombies on his side of the screen, killed quicker than they could spawn.

”You…!”

Determined not to lose, Rias tightened her grip on the gun. 

”Fine. Watch carefully—Iʼll clear this wave myself.”

And she did. In a burst of defiant energy, she took down the entire horde on screen, finishing the level.

The screen flashed: ”Youʼve Survived… For Another Day.”

”Wow,” Yuuji said, smiling. 

”Impressive.”

”Hmph! Of course it is,” Rias replied, flipping her crimson hair back with a triumphant smirk. Her prideful pose—chest forward, chin lifted—made Yuuji chuckle softly.

”Then how about a race next?” he suggested.

Her eyes gleamed. ”Youʼre on. Just so you know, Iʼve never lost a Matthew Kart match to anyone in my peerage.”

”Oh? Then letʼs see how you fare against someone outside your peerage,” he teased, guiding her toward the racing machines with his arm still around her waist.

As they walked, she leaned closer, her hand resting on his chest. 

”Donʼt get too confident, Yuuji. Iʼve beaten Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, even Sona before.”

”Then this will be fun.”

He grinned. 

They started their race.

Rias drove with fierce determination, every turn precise, her crimson hair bouncing lightly with each motion. Yuuji, on the other hand, played calmly—his gaze occasionally sliding from the track to her profile, admiring the gleam in her eyes and the soft curve of her lips when she focused.

When the race ended, the result flashed across the screen.

1st Place – Yuuji

2nd Place – Rias Gremory

Rias blinked at the result in disbelief. 

”…N-No way.”

Yuuji chuckled quietly.

”Next round! Iʼll win next time!” she declared, pointing at him.

He laughed softly, pulling her close until she was against his chest. 

”Of course, my Rias. You can always try again.”

Her heart fluttered at the sound of his voice—deep, warm, affectionate. She wanted to stay annoyed, but the moment he said my Rias, her resolve melted.

”Hmph,” she muttered, pouting. 

”Then next, air hockey!”

”Alright,” he said, smiling. ”Letʼs go.”

They played until it was nearly time for the movie. Rias never managed to win, though Yuuji made sure every match was close enough to keep her hopeful. She pouted all the way back to the cinema, cheeks adorably puffed, though her sulking faded the moment she saw the movieʼs banner again.

They bought popcorn and drinks, walking side by side toward the darkened theatre.

Their hands brushed—once, twice—and then stayed together.

And as they entered the glowing darkness of the theatre hall, Rias couldnʼt help but think that even if she had lost every game that afternoon… somehow, she had still won something far more precious.

The theatre lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the audience as the grand orchestra swelled from the speakers. 

Riasʼs hand instinctively found Yuujiʼs, her fingers intertwining with his as the opening scene of Demon Hunters: Palace of Eternity painted the screen with color and motion.

From the very first moment, she was lost in the film.

Each time a favorite character appeared, her eyes lit up, and she squeezed Yuujiʼs hand, leaning closer with barely contained excitement. When the protagonist unleashed a spectacular attack, she gasped, half-rising from her seat before remembering where she was—and then grinning sheepishly at Yuuji.

He only chuckled softly, brushing a lock of her crimson hair from her cheek. 

”Youʼre adorable when you get into it.”

She gave him a playful glare, whispering, ”Donʼt tease me~” but her smile gave her away.

As the battle intensified on-screen, Rias couldnʼt hold still. She clutched Yuujiʼs arm, her voice rising in muffled cheers, eyes sparkling like a child seeing magic for the first time. Each time the heroes triumphed, she tugged on his sleeve, shaking him lightly. When they faltered, she whispered encouragement, fists clenched as though she could will them to victory.

It was infectious—her passion, her joy. Yuuji barely watched the movie; his eyes often drifted to her instead, memorizing the way her expressions shifted with every moment.

If not for the soft aura of silence and illusion magic heʼd woven around them, her laughter and little gasps would have filled the entire theatre. But within that invisible cocoon, they existed in their own small world—alone amid the crowd.

When the movie reached its most emotional scene, Riasʼs excitement melted into quiet awe. The screen glowed with soft golden light, and tears welled in her eyes. She leaned into Yuujiʼs shoulder, her hand tightening around his.

”They did it…” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. 

”They actually made it.”

Yuuji smiled faintly, feeling her heartbeat against his arm. 

”They did,” he murmured. 

For a moment, she said nothing—just stayed there, resting her head on him, the warmth of her body radiating through the shared silence.

When the credits began to roll and the soft theme song filled the room, Rias finally looked up. The lights from the screen reflected in her eyes like tiny stars.

”I loved it,” she said softly. 

”Thank you, Yuuji… I never thought Iʼd get to see it like this.”

Yuuji brushed his thumb gently along her fingers. 

”Iʼm glad you enjoyed it. Seeing you smile like this, and enjoy it so much… Itʼs worth everything.”

Her breath caught at his words. Her lips parted, but she couldnʼt quite speak; the emotions were too tangled—gratitude, affection, the warmth that made her heart feel impossibly full.

Instead, she leaned forward and rested her forehead against his shoulder, whispering.

”Iʼm so happy that I get to be with you… You always make me feel special. Thank you.”

”Thatʼs because you are.”

Yuuji tilted his head, his voice low and gentle. 

For a while, they stayed like that—close, quiet, the world fading around them as the music swelled one last time.

Outside, the late-afternoon sunlight spilled through the theatre lobby windows, painting the world gold. Rias walked beside Yuuji, her hand still holding his as though she never wanted to let go.

”Where to next?” she asked, smiling up at him.

He turned to her, his eyes soft, warm. 

”Dinner. Candlelight. Iʼve reserved an entire floor so itʼll just be the two of us.”

Her cheeks turned pink. 

”Private, huh…?”

And with a swirl of dark light, another [Gate] shimmered open before them—its edge glowing softly as if reflecting her anticipation.

Rias took his hand again, her heart fluttering as they stepped through.

When the glow of the [Gate] faded, Rias found herself standing in the softly lit dining hall of an elegant restaurant that felt almost otherworldly.

The room was bathed in the warm gold of candlelight. A path of rose petals stretched across polished marble toward a table set for two, beside tall windows that revealed a breathtaking view of the city lights below. Beyond the glass, the skyline shimmered like scattered jewels beneath the indigo sky.

It was quiet — only the gentle hum of string music playing somewhere in the background, and the rhythmic crackle of candles dancing in their glass holders.

Rias stood still, her lips parting slightly in awe. ”Yuuji… this place is…”

”Beautiful?” he completed, smiling softly as he took her hand and guided her to the table.

Her crimson hair caught the light like threads of fire, her eyes reflecting the delicate glow of the candles. 

”Itʼs more than beautiful,” she murmured. ”It feels like a dream.”

Yuuji pulled out her chair for her. 

”Then Iʼm glad,” he said. 

”I wanted tonight to feel like one.”

She sat down slowly, her heartbeat still unsteady from the atmosphere — from him. When he took his seat across from her, the world seemed to shrink to that single space between them, filled with unspoken feelings and flickering light.

”I canʼt believe you managed to reserve an entire floor… Fleur De Lyss has always been super popular and always filled by elites even though theyʼre super expensive.”

Yuuji shrugged lightly.

”It helps that Iʼm actually the owner of its parent group.”

Rias blinked, her figure frozen for a moment.

”Eh…? What…?”

She raised her trembling hand and pointed.

”You… own… Linked Horizons group…? Huh…?”

”Ah, foodʼs here. Letʼs eat.”

Dinner came in courses — delicate, fragrant dishes served one after another. Yuuji had chosen everything himself: seared salmon with citrus glaze, soft bread brushed with truffle butter, and a rich dessert that seemed too pretty to eat.

It took a while for Rias to restart her brain after the bomb Yuuji casually dropped. 

She wanted to question him, but the food before her was too appetizing and she was hungry!

Each time Rias tasted something, she would glance up at him, her eyes bright, and he would smile — the kind of smile that made her forget the rest of the world existed.

”Youʼve really thought about everything,” she said after a while, setting down her fork. 

”From Kyoto to Tokyo… and now this. I canʼt believe Iʼm eating in Fleur De Lyss…”

”I wanted today to be special for you,” Yuuji said, his tone gentle. 

”You deserve a day thatʼs just yours.”

Her expression softened — all traces of her usual confidence melting away. 

”You always say things like that,” she whispered, her fingers curling on the tablecloth. 

”Like you know exactly what my heart needs to hear.”

He chuckled quietly. 

”Maybe I do.”

For a moment, they said nothing. The silence between them wasnʼt empty; it was filled with the warmth of quiet understanding.

The candles burned lower. The city lights outside shimmered against the dark sky like falling stars.

When Yuuji reached across the table, Rias met him halfway. Their fingers intertwined, the faint heat of his touch grounding her, steadying the whirl of feelings that had been building all day.

”Rias,” he murmured, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. 

”Youʼve always been strong… For your peerage. For your family. For yourself. But you donʼt have to be all the time. At least when Iʼm with you, I hope you can just be you.”

Her heart trembled. 

”Yuuji…”

”I love you, Rias.”

The way he said her name — soft, certain, full of quiet affection — melted the last of her restraint.

She rose from her seat, walked around the table, and leaned down to him. Her hair slipped over her shoulder, brushing his face like silk. 

”I love you too.”

Their eyes met — deep blue and crimson — and the world seemed to pause.

”Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. 

”For today… and for seeing me.”

Yuuji smiled faintly, his hand rising to her cheek. 

”Always.”

And under the quiet shimmer of candlelight, their foreheads touched — a promise sealed in silence, the air between them charged with the warmth of something deeper than words.

”But… this night isnʼt over, you know?”

”Eh?”

Riasʼs eyes shimmered with a glint, surprising Yuuji.

Her eyes narrowed into a mischievous grin as a red teleportation circle appeared beneath their feet, the crimson glow filling the room. 

In the next moment, they vanished. 

And when they arrived, Yuuji saw that he was in his room… 

His eyes immediately went to the center where a figure sat on his futon. A familiar figure.

”Ufufufu~ Welcome back, dear~”

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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!! 

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Thank you~!