Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Festival
Toshio POV
The warm touch of Akeno’s hand in mine felt like an anchor as we walked down the moonlit street. Her fingers intertwined with mine perfectly, as if they were always meant to be there. The night air carried the faint scent of her perfume—something floral with hints of vanilla that I’d come to associate exclusively with her.
"That was amazing," I said, glancing at her profile. The streetlights caught the violet in her eyes, making them shimmer. "I still can’t believe that octopus recognized you when we came back around."
Akeno laughed, the sound like music in the quiet night. "I think he just wanted more of those treats I snuck him. Animals can be quite calculating that way." She squeezed my hand. "Though I’m not complaining about our little friend at the aquarium. The look on your face when he changed colors for me was priceless."
Our date at Ga-Kyo Aquarium in Odaiba had been perfect—watching exotic fish glide through azure waters, Akeno pressing her hands against the glass like an excited child, her face lit with wonder at each new discovery. Then we’d teleported back to Kuoh for dinner at our favorite traditional Japanese restaurant, where the owner knew us by name now and always saved "our table" in the back corner.
These past weeks with her had been... transformative. Each date better than the last, each moment together building something I hadn’t realized I was missing. Seeing her truly smile, hearing her genuine laugh—not the calculated one she used at school, but the real one that came from somewhere deep inside her—it filled me with a warmth I couldn’t explain.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked, nudging my shoulder with hers.
"Just thinking about how much I enjoy being with you," I admitted, the words coming easier now than they would have a month ago. "Seeing you happy makes me happy."
Her eyes widened slightly, that rare, unguarded expression crossing her face before she hid it behind a playful smile. "My, my, Toshi-kun. So sentimental~."
"Maybe a little," I conceded with a small smile of my own.
We walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, our footsteps synchronizing naturally. The Gremory peerage house was just ahead, its windows glowing warmly in the darkness.
"Toshio," Akeno said suddenly, her voice taking on an uncharacteristic hint of hesitation. "I wanted to ask you something."
I looked at her, curious. "What is it?"
"Would you..." She paused, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Would you go to the summer festival with me? At the local shrine, next weekend?"
The request was simple, ordinary even, but something in her tone made it feel significant. Like this wasn’t just another date, but something more meaningful.
"I’d love to," I replied without hesitation. How could she even think I’d say no?
Her face lit up with genuine pleasure. "Really? You’re not just saying that?"
"Of course not," I assured her, squeezing her hand. "Why would I pass up a chance to spend more time with you?"
She leaned her head against my shoulder as we continued walking. "I just wasn’t sure if festivals were your thing. They can be crowded and noisy."
"I don’t mind crowds if you’re with me," I said honestly. "Besides, I’ve never been to a proper summer festival. It’ll be a new experience."
"Never?" she asked, lifting her head to look at me. "Not even before you came to Kuoh?"
I shook my head. "No. I was always... too busy." Or too focused on isolation, I didn’t add. My previous life had been defined by solitude, and my early months in this world had been about survival. The concept of enjoying something as simple as a festival had never factored into my existence.
"Then we absolutely must go," she declared, her tone brooking no argument. "Everyone should experience a summer festival at least once. The food stalls, the games, the lanterns..." Her eyes took on a dreamy quality. "And the fireworks at the end of the night are magical."
"It sounds perfect," I said, already looking forward to it.
"We should wear traditional clothes," she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Kimonos would be appropriate for a shrine festival."
I nodded, considering it. "I could probably find one somewhere. I’ve never worn one before, though."
"I’ll help you find the perfect one," she offered, then paused. "Actually, no. Let’s surprise each other. You find yours, I’ll find mine, and we’ll see each other for the first time at the festival."
The idea appealed to me. "Alright. A surprise it is."
We reached the front door of the Gremory house, and I turned to face her, reluctant for the evening to end. "I had a wonderful time tonight."
"So did I," she murmured, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. Her violet eyes held mine, a mischievous gleam dancing in them. "But the night doesn’t have to end just yet."
Before I could respond, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine. The kiss was soft at first, gentle and questioning, but quickly deepened as I responded. My hands found her waist, pulling her closer as her arms wound around my neck. The taste of her was intoxicating—sweet from the dessert we’d shared, with an underlying spice that was uniquely Akeno.
I lost track of time as we stood there, the world narrowing down to just the two of us. Her body pressed against mine, the soft sigh that escaped her when I traced my tongue along her lower lip, the way her fingers tangled in my hair—every sensation amplified in the quiet night.
We were so engrossed in each other that neither of us heard the door opening. It wasn’t until a throat cleared loudly that we broke apart, startled.
Rias stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, crimson hair framing a face set in exasperated disapproval. The light from inside the house silhouetted her figure, casting dramatic shadows across the porch.
"Really, you two?" she said, her tone somewhere between annoyed and amused. "On the front step, for anyone to see?"
Akeno giggled, not moving away from me. "Hello to you too, Rias. Lovely evening, isn’t it?"
Rias sighed, shaking her head. "It’s getting late, and we have school tomorrow. Time to come inside, Akeno."
I expected Akeno to protest, but she just smiled, turning back to me. "She’s right. We should get some rest." She leaned in for one more quick kiss, her lips barely brushing mine. "Goodnight, Toshi-kun. Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight," I replied, reluctantly letting her go.
As Akeno moved past Rias into the house, the redhead’s eyes met mine. There was something in her gaze I couldn’t quite decipher—a flicker of emotion quickly masked by polite distance.
"Goodnight, Toshio," she said curtly, her tone formal.
"Goodnight, Rias," I responded, equally formal.
She gave a slight nod before closing the door, leaving me standing alone in the night, the ghost of Akeno’s kiss still warm on my lips.
I turned and headed next door to my own house, my mind already filled with thoughts of the upcoming festival. As I walked, I couldn’t help but wonder about the look in Rias’s eyes. There had been something there, something beyond the annoyance or distance she’d displayed
Something that looked almost like longing.
If I had to guess, she wished to be in Akeno’s place, but couldn’t penetrate the invisible barrier between us established by her own family. I’d change that soon enough. For now, I had a kimono to find and a festival to look forward to. A normal, human experience with the girl who made me feel more alive than I’d ever thought possible, in this life or the previous
XXX
Akeno POV
The day of the festival arrived with a clear sky and a gentle breeze—perfect weather for the celebration. I smoothed down the front of my lavender kimono as Rias and I made our way up the stone steps leading to the shrine. The fabric was light yet luxurious, patterned with delicate white chrysanthemums that seemed to float across the surface. I’d spent hours selecting it, wanting something that would catch Toshio’s eye without being too ostentatious.
"You look absolutely stunning," Rias said, her voice carrying that natural elegance that always made her sound like royalty, even when we were alone. "Toshio won’t be able to take his eyes off you."
I smiled, giving her a sidelong glance. "Thank you. And that crimson kimono suits you perfectly, Rias. The white accents and floral patterns complement your hair beautifully."
She blushed slightly, adjusting the gold obi that cinched her waist. "Do you really think so? I wasn’t sure if it was too bold."
"Bold suits you," I replied honestly. "You’ve never been one to fade into the background."
We continued our climb, the sounds of the festival growing louder with each step. Behind us, Kiba and Koneko followed at a respectful distance, giving us space to talk privately. I could hear Kiba pointing out various festival features to Koneko, who responded with her typical monosyllabic answers.
"So," Rias said, her tone shifting slightly, "are you excited to spend the festival with Toshio?"
I couldn’t suppress the smile that spread across my face. "Very. He’s never been to a summer festival before, can you believe it? I want to show him everything—the food stalls, the games, the lanterns..." I trailed off, realizing I was gushing like a schoolgirl with her first crush.
Which, in some ways, wasn’t far from the truth. I’d had admirers before, of course—plenty of them—but this was different. Toshio saw beyond the mask I presented to the world. He made me feel both vulnerable and powerful in ways I’d never experienced.
"You really care for him, don’t you?" Rias asked softly.
I nodded, not bothering to hide it. "I do. More than I expected to." I glanced at her, noticing the wistful expression that crossed her face. "Rias..."
She shook her head, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I’m happy for you, Akeno. Truly."
I wanted to say more—to acknowledge the complicated feelings I knew she harbored for Toshio, to reassure her that her time would come—but we’d reached the top of the steps, and the festival spread before us in all its glory.
Paper lanterns hung in crisscrossing patterns overhead, casting a warm glow across the shrine. Toshio was waiting for us at the base of the steps. I couldn’t help the arousing blush when I saw him. Hair styled, wearing a dark charcoal kimono with colorful geometric patterns, which suited him perfectly. I noticed the purple matched my eyes, the red Rias’ hair. The gesture made me smile.
Due to his reaction, I had never felt more beautiful than I did in that moment. His breath caught and his eyes widened, mouth slightly agape.
"You look..." he had started, then paused, seemingly at a loss for words. "Breathtaking."
That single word, spoken with such genuine awe, had sent warmth blooming through me that lingered
"Thank you Toshi-kun. You look quite stunning yourself," I said as I drug my hand down his chest, the fabric hiding the pillar of muscle. He turned to Rias who was standing close by
"You look incredible too, Rias. Red really is your color." I caught the hint of a blush on her face and couldn’t help but smirk a little. She coughed into her hand
"Thank you Toshio. You look good in your kimono as well." I couldn’t help but snicker at her forced formal tone. I knew it killed her inside to be formal in general, let alone with Toshio. She didn’t play the role of a devil aristocrat very well
Toshio offered me his arm. "Shall we?" I looped my arm with his.
XXX
Akeno POV
Paper lanterns hung overhead, casting everything in a soft golden glow that made the world feel dreamlike and intimate.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked, watching him take in the sights and sounds of the festival—the laughter of children running between stalls, the calls of vendors hawking their wares, the tantalizing aroma of street food mingling in the summer air.
"More than I expected," he admitted, his fingers tightening around mine. "Though I think that has more to do with the company than the festival itself."
I giggled, nudging his shoulder playfully with mine. "Flatterer. But I’m glad. Everyone deserves to experience a proper summer festival at least once."
We wandered from stall to stall, sampling takoyaki and yakisoba, playing games that were obviously rigged but fun nonetheless. I couldn’t help but laugh when Toshio, determined to win me a prize at the shooting gallery, applied his usual analytical approach—studying the air rifle’s sights, testing its weight, calculating trajectories—before hitting every target with perfect precision. The vendor’s jaw had practically hit the floor.
"Show-off," I teased as Toshio handed me the plush fox he’d won. Its soft white fur reminded me of Koneko, though I doubted she would appreciate the comparison.
"I prefer to think of it as efficient," he replied with that small, rare smile that always made my heart skip.
As we continued our exploration, a crowd began to gather near the main shrine building. Curious, we made our way closer, finding a spot with a clear view just as a hush fell over the assembled spectators.
From within the shrine emerged a young woman dressed in the traditional white haori and red hakama of a miko—a shrine maiden. Her movements were measured and precise as she took her position before the crowd, her expression serene yet focused.
The music began—a haunting melody played on a bamboo flute, accompanied by the gentle rhythm of a hand drum. The miko raised her ceremonial fan, and the dance began.
I found myself transfixed, watching as she moved with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly. Each gesture, each turn of her wrist, each subtle shift of her body told a story—a prayer to the gods, a blessing for the harvest, a plea for protection. It was beautiful and achingly familiar.
Memories washed over me, unbidden and powerful. My mother in similar attire, performing these same steps in our family shrine. Her gentle hands guiding my much smaller ones, teaching me the movements, explaining their significance. "One day, Akeno," she had said, "you will dance for the gods as I do now."
But that day had never come.
"Akeno?"
Toshio’s voice pulled me back to the present. The dance had ended, and the crowd was dispersing, moving on to other attractions. But I remained rooted to the spot, caught between past and present.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his steel-blue eyes searching my face with concern. "You looked... lost for a moment there."
I forced a smile, pushing the memories back into their box. "Just admiring her skill," I lied smoothly. "It takes years of practice to master those movements."
He studied me for a moment longer, clearly not entirely convinced, but nodded anyway. "It was impressive," he agreed. "Would you like to get some shaved ice? I saw a stall back that way."
"That sounds perfect," I said, grateful for the change of subject.
As we made our way through the festival, I tried to recapture the carefree joy I’d felt earlier, but the dance had stirred something within me that refused to settle. Like ripples in a pond, the memories continued to spread, touching parts of myself I’d kept carefully walled away.
We found a bench near the edge of the festival grounds to enjoy our shaved ice—blue raspberry for me, plain lemon for Toshio. The sweet coldness was a welcome distraction from my thoughts, and I focused on the simple pleasure of it melting on my tongue.
"The fireworks should be starting soon," Toshio commented, glancing at the darkening sky. "Do you want to find a good spot to watch?"
I nodded, gathering myself. "I know just the place."
I led him away from the main festival area, up a winding path through the trees that surrounded the shrine. The sounds of the celebration grew fainter as we climbed, replaced by the gentle symphony of evening insects and rustling leaves.
"I discovered this spot during a contract last year," I explained as we emerged into a small clearing that offered a perfect view of the night sky and the festival grounds below. "Not many people know about it."
"It’s perfect," Toshio said, looking around appreciatively.
I spread out the small blanket I’d brought in my bag, and we settled down to wait for the fireworks. The night air had cooled slightly, providing welcome relief from the day’s heat. Overhead, stars were beginning to appear, pinpricks of silver against the deepening blue.
"Akeno," Toshio’s voice was soft but direct. "What was really on your mind during that dance?"
I tensed, though I should have expected this. Toshio rarely missed anything, and he wasn’t one to let things go easily. For a moment, I considered deflecting again—changing the subject, teasing him until he was too flustered to pursue it, using any of the tricks I’d perfected over years of keeping people at a distance.
But something stopped me. Maybe it was the genuine concern in his eyes, or the intimacy of the moment, or perhaps just the weight of carrying these memories alone for so long.
"I was thinking about my mother," I admitted, the words feeling strange on my tongue. I rarely spoke of her, even to Rias.
"The shrine maiden’s dance reminded you of her?" he asked gently.
I nodded, my throat suddenly tight. "My mother was a miko—a shrine maiden like her. She served at our family’s shrine for her entire life."
I paused, gathering my thoughts. Below us, the festival lights twinkled like earthbound stars, beautiful but distant, as if we were in a world of our own up here.
"She taught me the dances when I was very young. I was... I was supposed to follow in her footsteps one day." My voice caught slightly on the words. "Before everything changed."
A distant boom signaled the start of the fireworks, and the sky bloomed with color—brilliant reds and golds that illuminated Toshio’s face as he watched me, giving me his complete attention despite the spectacle above.
"You don’t have to tell me if it’s too painful," he said softly.
But now that I’d started, I found I wanted to continue. It was like lancing a wound—painful but necessary for healing.
"No, I... I want to." I took a deep breath. "I was thinking about how different my life might have been. If she had lived, if I had become a shrine maiden as planned, serving the gods, living a simple, pure life..."
The irony of it all struck me suddenly—me, half fallen angel, the daughter of one of heaven’s most notorious traitors, serving as a vessel of divine purity. The thought was almost enough to make me laugh, if it hadn’t been so painfully bittersweet.
"Instead, here I am," I gestured vaguely at myself, "a devil’s servant, dealing in contracts and supernatural politics."
Another firework exploded overhead, bathing us in emerald light that faded to silver. I could feel Toshio’s eyes on me, patient and attentive, waiting for me to continue at my own pace.
Trust was such a fragile thing. I’d given mine completely to so few people—Rias, certainly, who had saved me when I had nothing left. But even with her, there were parts of myself I kept hidden, shadows I didn’t want to cast on our friendship.
Could I trust Toshio with those shadows? With the broken, jagged pieces of my past that didn’t fit the image I presented to the world?
As I looked at him—really looked at him—I realized I already knew the answer. There was something in those steel-blue eyes that made me feel safe, something in the quiet strength he carried that made me believe he could handle my darkness without flinching.
"She died protecting me when I was ten," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "My father..." I swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "My father wasn’t there to protect us."
I didn’t elaborate further, couldn’t bring myself to speak of those final, terrible moments. But Toshio seemed to understand what I wasn’t saying. Without a word, he moved closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me gently against his side, his chin resting on top of my head.
The simple gesture broke something in me. I turned my face into his chest, inhaling his familiar scent as tears I hadn’t allowed myself to shed in years threatened to fall. I didn’t cry—I hadn’t truly cried since the day Rias found me—but I trembled with the effort of containing the emotion.
"I’m sorry," he murmured into my hair, his voice a low rumble I could feel against my cheek. "I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for you."
We sat like that for a long time, watching the fireworks paint the sky with ephemeral beauty, his arm a steady anchor keeping me grounded as memories washed over me. It was strange how safe I felt in that moment, how the weight I’d carried for so long seemed lighter somehow, shared between us.
"I never knew my mother," Toshio said suddenly, his voice soft but clear against the backdrop of distant explosions. "Not my real mother, anyway."
I lifted my head, surprised by the unexpected confession. In all our time together, Toshio had never spoken about his family or his past before coming to Kuoh. It was as if his life had begun the day he transferred to our school.
"What do you mean?" I asked gently.
He was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the fireworks, though I sensed he wasn’t really seeing them. When he spoke again, there was a vulnerability in his voice I’d never heard before.
"The woman listed in my official records—she wasn’t my mother. Those records are fabricated." His jaw tightened slightly. "My real mother died of cancer. And I wasn’t even with her. I couldn’t even make it to the funeral.
I frowned slightly, trying to reconcile this with what I knew—or thought I knew—about him. "But your records..."
"Are fake.
I stared at him, trying to process what he’d just revealed. The fireworks continued their brilliant display above us, but all my attention was focused on the man beside me, whose carefully constructed walls were finally showing cracks.
"Fake?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the distant celebrations.
He nodded, his steel-blue eyes still fixed on the sky. "Everything about my official existence in this world is manufactured. My birth certificate, school records, family history—all of it created to give me a plausible background."
My mind raced, trying to make sense of this revelation. "Then who are you really?"
A bitter smile crossed his lips. "That’s... complicated. Let’s just say I’m not originally from this... from Japan." He sighed. I caught his hesitation. Was he holding something back
"My life before this, what I can recognize now, was complete detached despair. A kind of despair that was just outside of my perception, but yet all encompassing all the same." His beautiful eyes seemed distant.
"The death of my mother I think killed whatever was left within me." He seemed to struggle to say that last part, like he was just realizing it himself.
"Coming here, was my second chance." He looked into my eyes. "And it renewed me. Helped me feel more than I ever had." His eyes held an intense conviction that left me in awe.
"You, Akeno, have been the best thing that’s ever happened to me." My breath caught and my eyes widened. Before I could react further, he placed a soft but heartfelt kiss on my lips. My eyes fluttered closed. If I had been paying attention, the firework finale was lighting up the sky. I wasn’t sure how long it lasted, but the fireworks had ended when we both pulled back.
"Outside of Rias saving me, I feel the same about you, Toshio." He snorted.
"Yeah kind of difficult to compete with that." I giggled and pushed him slightly with my body.
I laughed softly, shaking my head at his self-deprecating comment. "You’re not competing with Rias, Toshio. What she did for me and what you do for me—they’re completely different things."
I shifted in his arms, turning to face him more directly, my hands coming to rest on his chest. "Rias saved me from despair, gave me a purpose, a family. But you..." I paused, searching for the right words. "You make me feel like myself again. Like the person I was before everything went wrong."
His eyes softened, and I could see the impact of my words reflected in them. It was strange how vulnerable we’d both become tonight, sharing pieces of ourselves we’d kept hidden from the world. The festival continued below us, but it felt like we existed in our own private universe up here among the stars.
"I never thought I’d be able to tell anyone about my mother," I admitted, my fingers tracing small patterns on the fabric of his kimono. "About what I lost, what I was supposed to be. But with you, it feels... safe."
"I understand that feeling," he said quietly. "There are parts of my past I’ve never shared with anyone either. Things that shaped who I am but felt too dangerous to speak aloud."
I studied his face in the moonlight, noting the way shadows played across his features. There was still so much mystery surrounding him—the fake records, his vague references to his previous life, the way he sometimes seemed to know things he shouldn’t. But tonight had shown me that he was willing to let me in, piece by piece.
"We don’t have to share everything all at once," I said softly. "Some secrets need time to be ready for the light."
He nodded, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. "Thank you for understanding that."
I leaned into his touch, marveling at how natural this felt. The barriers I’d spent years building around my heart had crumbled so completely where he was concerned that it should have terrified me. Instead, I felt... free.
"The fireworks were beautiful," I said, glancing up at the now-dark sky where only smoke trails remained.
"I was too distracted to notice most of them," he admitted with a small smile that made my heart flutter.
"Oh? And what could have been so distracting?" I asked teasingly, though I knew the answer.
Instead of responding with words, he leaned down and kissed me again, slower this time, deeper. I melted against him, my hands fisting in the fabric of his kimono as I poured all the emotions I couldn’t quite voice into the kiss.
He pushed me down on the soft ground, on top of me, kissing me with a passion I hadn’t seen from him yet. Our tongues intertwined, dancing together.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily.
"We should probably head back," I said reluctantly, though I made no move to actually leave his arms.
"Probably," he agreed, but like me, he didn’t seem inclined to move.
We sat there for a few more minutes, wrapped up in each others eyes. He gave me a quick kiss, then slowly stood up, helping up shortly after. My hands remained in his.
"I’m going to miss you this summer." The statement seemed to strike my heart harder than I was expecting. That’s right, we weren’t going to see each other for around 6 weeks.
"I’m going to miss you too, my sweet Toshi-kun." I wrapped him in a tight hug which he returned.
"Akeno, I..." He paused. I looked up at him expectantly. Was he really going to say it?
"I’m... so glad you’re here with me tonight." I couldn’t help the pang of disappointment in my heart. If things kept going like this, I might be the first one to say it.
"Come on muscle boy, let’s go find the others and head back." Seeing the disappointment on his face at the notion of the night ending made me feel better. He didn’t want tonight to end just as much as I did.
XXX
Toshio POV
"Goodnight, Koneko, Kiba. Goodnight Rias." They responded to me in kind before entering their house. Akeno lingered.
I pulled her close to me, kissing her again.
"Goodnight, my sweet Akeno." Copying her from earlier made her giggle.
Tonight felt more meaningful than any of our previous times together. I surprised myself with how much I told her, but it felt right to do.
"Goodnight, Toshi-kun." We reluctantly separated.
"I’ll stop by the clubroom tomorrow before you all head to the underworld." She nodded with a small smile.
"That should be around 10. See you then?" I noticed the longing in her eyes. Mine probably looked similar.
"Yeah. See you then."
On my walk back, I couldn’t help but think back to when I almost said that 3 word phrase. Is that how I felt? Is that what this was? I wanted to be careful, being new to this whole feeling and relationship thing. Last thing I wanted to do was mess it up.
Wanting to distract myself, after I changed, I began working on my magic formulas. I wasn’t quite ready to sleep or cultivate yet.
While sitting in my basement at the large desk I used for writing out notes, I formed a series of magic circles, all extremely complex. I was on the verge of a breakthrough earlier today, but ran out of time before I had to get ready for the festival.
The formulas clicked into place.
A contained singularity formed in front of the numerous circles, then I saw a notification pop up. I’m sure the excitement could be clearly seen on my face.
{New Skill Unlocked! Wave Motion Creation (Rank 1): By initiating a localized singularity through hyper-condensed Reiryoku and Formulaic Compression, the user creates a self-collapsing dimensional point—a microscopic rupture that destabilizes space-time within a tightly controlled boundary. This singularity acts as a bridge between normal space and folded higher-dimensional membranes (Calabi-Yau manifolds), triggering a controlled fluctuation known as Wave Motion, a metaphysical resonance—a harmonic vibration across dimensional boundaries that warps the superstring vacuum itself. This skill yields no destructive potential, but instead allows to initiate, stabilize, and observe the primal forces that precede space altering skills and attacks.}
"Holy shit, I did it," I whispered in wonder at what I held in my hands.
The skill dissipated, leaving a little winded. I glanced at my reiryoku, seeing that it actually almost hit zero, which was absurd.
I sighed.
"This one might take awhile to explore."