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Chapter 371: Chapter 367 ~ Under the Cherry Blossoms

”Wow~ Itʼs so delicious!”

”Mm… It really is.”

Yunaʼs eyes sparkled as she took another bite of the golden, crispy chicken schnitzel, while Nina nodded quietly beside her, savoring the fish version with clear approval.

A small, satisfied smile formed on Vishaʼs lips as she watched their reactions.

”Oh? Is that… katsu?”

Yotsuba leaned in curiously, her eyes fixed on the neatly arranged pieces of fried goodness. Nino and Chitoge followed suit, drawn in by the twinsʼ enthusiastic reactions.

”Itʼs called schnitzel.” 

Visha explained, gesturing toward the containers. 

”Itʼs a German dish—similar to katsu. This one is chicken, thatʼs beef, and the one on the side is fish.”

She then placed a few small bowls beside them.

”Try it with sauce! Thereʼs sour cream, ketchup, and spicy mayo.”

”Thank you! Then Iʼll take the beef.” 

Chitoge said, already reaching in.

”Iʼll try the chicken—with sour cream!” 

Yotsuba added brightly.

”Iʼll have the fish.” 

Nino said, more composed but no less curious.

They each took a bite. And immediately…

”Itʼs so good!”

”Wow! The sauce makes it even better!”

”Itʼs so light and crispy…!”

Their reactions came one after another, genuine and unfiltered, drawing a soft laugh from those watching.

A little to the side, Yuuji observed the scene before glancing at Erya.

”You did well.”

Erya let out a long, tired sigh.

”…At the cost of my sanity. You have no idea what she tried to put into the batter when I wasnʼt looking.”

Yuuji raised a brow.

”…What?”

”Oranges. Whole oranges. She said it would give it a ʼtangy kick.ʼ”

”…Iʼm glad you came to Japan.”

Erya sighed again, as if reliving the trauma, before casually reaching into Yuujiʼs bento and picking up a piece of tamagoyaki.

She took a bite, and her expression softened instantly.

”…Hah. This is really good. As expected of you.”

”Iʼm glad you like it.”

Then, another hand slipped in.

Without a word. And with natural casualness, as if it was her own.

A piece of karaage disappeared from Yuujiʼs box.

Both of them turned.

”Oh? This is quite good.”

Utaha took a small bite before commenting, her lips curled into a small smile.

She had seated herself beside him at some point, completely natural, as if that spot had always been hers.

Yuuji exhaled softly, shaking his head with a faint, helpless smile.

”Ah, Iʼm glad you like it.”

”Mm, I wouldnʼt mind having this for lunch every day.”

She hummed, taking another bite. 

Yuuji paused at her words, and didnʼt respond.

But the meaning behind her words was… painfully clear.

”Ah, Kasumigaoka-san~ I didnʼt know you were this close to Yuuji.”

Eryaʼs voice came, light and cheerful. Like a ray of sunshine.

To anyone else, it might have sounded like simple curiosity.

But Yuuji knew better.

”Iʼm close with Yuna and Nina.” 

Utaha replied calmly, lifting her paper cup of green tea with practiced elegance. 

”So naturally, Iʼve run into him often.”

”Oh, I see~” 

Erya smiled. 

”Still, itʼs rare to see you this close to anyone. Iʼve heard you usually spend your breaks sleeping instead of socializing. You must be quite dedicated to your studies at home. That probably explains why you excel in literature and other subjects.”

Utahaʼs fingers tightened ever so slightly around her cup.

Her eyes widened for just a fraction of a second.

ʼ…Does she know?ʼ

No. She shouldnʼt. Those details, on their own, shouldnʼt lead to anything concrete.

But still…

ʼSheʼs sharp…ʼ

Utaha composed herself quickly.

”Heʼs a siscon who frequently visits his sistersʼ class.” 

She replied smoothly. 

”So I ended up seeing him more than other boys.”

”Hm~ I see.”

Eryaʼs smile didnʼt falter. But before they knew it, the air between them shifted.

A quiet battlefield.

Yuuji, as a man experienced in many and various battlefields, immediately recognized the situation instantly and made a wise decision.

Stay out of it.

He had no intention of stepping into that particular warzone.

Thankfully—

”Yuu-kun! Let me try your karaage!”

Like a beam of sunlight cutting through clouds, Haruka appeared beside him, bright and cheerful.

Behind her were Hibiki and Ai.

”In exchange, you can try this onigiri Hibiki made!”

”Haruka… why are you the one offering my food…” 

Hibiki sighed.

”Eh~ Itʼs fine, right?”

”…Honestly.”

Hibiki shook her head, but there was no real resistance in her tone.

”Of course, Haruka-senpai. Here you go.” 

Yuuji said, lifting his bento slightly toward them.

”Hibiki-senpai, Ai—you can take as much as you like. We made plenty, so donʼt hold back.”

”Then… Thank you. Iʼll gladly accept.”

”Mm, thank you.”

They each took a bite—

And their reactions mirrored the others.

Surprise. Delight. A quiet kind of admiration.

As Yuuji chatted with his two seniors and classmates, not far from them, Raku was having his own moment.

He offered the food he had brought to everyone. But whether intentional or not, he had placed his bento boxes near Onodera.

”Everyone, itʼs nothing much, but please try them if youʼd like.” 

He offered, a bit stiffly. Nervous. 

But to his delight, Onodera smiled warmly.

”A-Ah, thank you. Iʼll take one.”

She picked up a chicken teriyaki bite with a chopstick and took a bite, and her face lit up.

”Itʼs delicious!”

That single sentence… Was enough.

Rakuʼs entire expression brightened, his happiness almost embarrassingly obvious.

Nearby, Shuu snickered under his breath.

”Iʼll try one too!”

”Mm, Iʼd like to have a taste.”

”Of course! Grab one! Thereʼs plenty!”

Raku offered once again. This time, brighter and with more excitement.

And Yuuji, along with the others, tried the food Raku made. 

”Oh, itʼs really good!”

”Uhn! Thatʼs amazing, Ichijou-kun!” 

”T-Thank you.”

And just like that, the atmosphere settled into something warm. Lively. Comfortable.

They shared food. Exchanged bites. Laughed over small things.

A normalcy far removed from magic, war, and battles. A life Yuuji preferred. 

Above them, cherry blossom petals drifted gently through the air, carried by the spring breeze.

And beneath those blooming trees, he simply enjoyed the moment.

ʼI wish theyʼre here too…ʼ

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Aika lay sprawled across the tatami mats in the living room, one arm tucked beneath her head while the other held her phone just above her face. 

Sunlight filtered softly through the shoji screens, casting warm, dappled patterns across the polished wood and woven straw floor. 

Her fingers moved with effortless speed, tapping out messages as her attention remained completely absorbed in the glowing screen.

The casual clothes she wore—a thin tank top and a pair of short, loose-fitting pants—did little to conceal her figure. The soft fabric clung in all the wrong (or perhaps right) places, accentuating her curves as she shifted lazily, utterly unconcerned with how revealing she looked.

Around the low, elongated wooden table at the center of the room sat the others—Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Kuroka, and C.C. Steam curled gently from the spout of a ceramic teapot, the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea lingering in the air. Several cups had already been poured, their contents still warm from the quiet breakfast they had shared not long ago.

Beyond the open veranda, the rhythmic sound of steel slicing through the air echoed faintly. Xenovia was already outside, diligently going through her morning training, each swing precise and powerful. 

Normally, moments like this would be filled with conversation—light teasing, laughter, or simply enjoying each otherʼs company. Phones would be forgotten, left aside in favor of real interaction.

But today was different.

Every single one of them was focused on their screen.

More specifically, on a certain group chat.

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Ara~ So you were in your cat form when you first met him~?”]

[Toujou Kuroka: ”Yes, aunty! And she called me a cute little kitty~”]

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Fufu~ Iʼm sure thatʼs true. Iʼve seen pictures of you, and you are so beautiful, Kuroka-chan. Iʼd love to see your little kitty form as well.”]

[Toujou Kuroka: ”Of course~ Iʼll show it to you when we meet in person!”]

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Alright~ And Iʼd love to see Shirone-chan in her cat form too~”]

[Toujou Shirone: ”O-Okay… Iʼm a bit embarrassed, but I can show it to you, aunty Mira.”]

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Thank you, Shirone-chan.”]

A brief pause followed before the next message appeared.

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”I also want to see Akeno-chan in her shrine maiden outfit. Iʼm sure Yuu-kun enjoyed it when you wore it, right~?”]

Akenoʼs lips curled into a knowing smile as she typed her reply.

[Himejima Akeno: ”Ufufufu~ Yes, he did, aunty~ He loved it very much~”]

[Himejima Akeno: ”I have a spare shrine maiden outfit. I could bring one for you if youʼd like to try it.”]

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Ara~ That would be wonderful~ I wonder how heʼd react if he saw me in it~”]

Aika suddenly shifted, rolling onto her stomach as a mischievous grin spread across her face.

[Kiryuu Aika: ”Ah, count me in, Mira-san! Actually, why donʼt we all dress up as shrine maidens trying to purify the Demon King?”]

Rias nearly dropped her phone.

[Rias Gremory: ”A-All of us?!”]

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Ara, thatʼs a lovely idea, Aika-chan~”]

[Rias Gremory: ”Eh?! Aunt Mira?!”]

Not long after Yuuji and the others had finished their mission and departed from this world, Aika had wasted no time bringing everyone together—virtually, at least.

She had invited Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Kuroka, and Xenovia into the group chat—a place where all of Yuujiʼs future wives gathered.

There, she introduced them to the others: Mayumi, Kallen, Yuna, Nina… and of course, Mira.

What started as simple greetings quickly blossomed into something far deeper.

Stories were shared—how each of them met Yuuji, the circumstances that brought them together, the hardships they endured, and the quiet, undeniable moments when their feelings for him took root and grew into something real.

Each story was different, yet somehow connected by the same thread.

And as Mira read through them all, her heart swelled.

With pride. With joy. With a tender longing she couldnʼt quite put into words.

These were the women who stood beside her son… the ones who loved him, supported him, and walked alongside him through countless worlds and trials.

[Tsubakihara Mira: ”Hearing all your stories… makes me want to meet all of you even more.”]

Rias smiled softly at her screen before replying.

[Rias Gremory: ”Me too, Aunt Mira.”]

Akeno, Koneko, and Kuroka quickly echoed her sentiment.

It wasnʼt just out of respect for Yuujiʼs mother.

Somewhere along the way, Mira herself had become someone they genuinely wanted to know—to spend time with, to laugh with, to grow closer to beyond the boundaries of a screen.

Aikaʼs expression softened slightly as she typed her response.

[Kiryuu Aika: ”Donʼt worry, Mira-san. Yuuji, me, and everyone else… weʼll find a way for all of us to meet in person.”]

Whether through their own powers, some yet-undiscovered method, or even something hidden within the mysterious chat groupʼs store… they would make it happen.

No matter how many worlds stood between them.

Because bonds like these—formed through shared experiences, love, and unwavering trust—were not meant to remain confined to messages on a screen.

Sooner or later…

They would all meet.

And when they did, it would feel as though they had known each other all along.

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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~!!!! 

Also, if youʼd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at ~! 

Thank you~!