“Rias, you guys go to school. Tenraku and I are going on a date,” Akeno said with a beaming smile as she linked her arm with Tenraku’s.
Wearing a casual long dress and light makeup, Akeno looked stunningly beautiful after putting so much effort into her appearance. Even Rias couldn’t deny that Akeno was truly attractive. But…
“So, you’re going on a date with Tenraku. What’s there to be so proud of? I, Rias Gremory, am not interested!” Rias pretended to laugh while suppressing the strong sense of jealousy in her heart.
No, she wasn’t jealous at all. Not at all!
Tenraku naturally caught a whiff of the sour jealousy emanating from Rias. He found it amusing, but he wasn’t worried. He knew that once he satisfied Rias later in the evening, everything would be okay.
After bidding farewell to Ravel and the others, who were heading to school, Tenraku and Akeno embarked on their date.
Except for the final step, they had done everything they should or shouldn’t have done. If regular couples go on dates to increase their fondness for each other, then Tenraku and Akeno had already reached the maximum level of fondness. There was no need for further increase.
For them, this date was more about enjoying their time alone together than anything else…
“Ara Ara, Tenraku, did you bring me here after the date to do some naughty things?” Akeno couldn’t help but smile mischievously as Tenraku brought her to the shrine.
This place had already become their secret meeting spot, where they would occasionally spend time together under the pretext of cleaning the shrine. In this once solemn and sacred shrine, the two of them had engaged in numerous “Dirty” activities!
“Akeno, do you think I only think about those things?” Tenraku, with a black line on his forehead, sighed in exasperation.
“Hmm, aren’t you?” Akeno blinked innocently, curiously questioning him.
“I made an appointment with an important guest, and I wanted you to meet him. He should be here by now. Let’s go inside,” Tenraku replied, knowing well that Akeno was intentionally teasing him.
“Important guest?” Although curious, Akeno didn’t ask any further questions.
The two of them entered the living room of the shrine, where a middle-aged man was waiting with his back turned to them. Even though it was just his silhouette, Akeno instantly recognized him and turned pale, trembling uncontrollably.
“It’s… it’s you!”
Turning around, as expected, the middle-aged man waiting inside was none other than Akeno’s father, Baraqiel.
“It’s been a long time, Akeno…”
“Akeno, talk to him properly.” Tenraku, watching the girl’s resentful and pained expression, felt a pang of sympathy for this girl. But there were things that needed to be confronted and he gently patted Akeno’s shoulder and left the room.
Before their date, Tenraku had contacted Baraqiel, who seemed to be involved in an important mission. But as soon as Baraqiel received Tenraku’s message, he rushed over without delay.
Due to her mother’s situation, Akeno had always despised her own bloodline and harbored hatred towards her father. Even now, she couldn’t fully accept the power of Thunder within her.
Although it wasn’t apparent in the past, over time, this hatred had severely impacted the girl’s growth. While Gasper was growing as part of Rias’s peerage, Asia awakened the power of Forbidden Move, and Xenovia and Irina became powerful Holy Sword wielders, surpassing Akeno in terms of combat ability.
Even Koneko, after unlocking her Heart Knot and accepting the power of her Nekoshou lineage, had made significant progress. Under Kuroka’s guidance, she rapidly improved her monster technique and immortal technique, surpassing Akeno.
Everyone was progressing, but Akeno, as the Queen, remained stagnant, causing concern from everyone.
Leaning against the pillar outside the door, Tenraku pondered to himself. “I hope this time we can unlock Akeno’s Heart Knot. If she can’t accept the power of her own, she won’t be able to continue growing!”
However, it was unlikely that Akeno’s father alone could resolve this issue. As expected, soon the sound of a quarrel between the father and daughter came from inside.
“This is none of your business!”
“Akeno, I am speaking as your father…”
“What father? Where were you when Okaa-Sama was murdered? Why didn’t you come back in time?”
“Get out, just leave!”
After a while, Baraqiel walked out with a dejected expression on her face. It was evident that the father and daughter, who had finally reunited, had ended up in a fight. Even this experienced and battle-hardened man was greatly affected and felt miserable.
Tenraku couldn’t help but shake his head, thinking, “My father-in-law, you really aren’t helpful at all.” But seeing the pitiful state of the other man, Tenraku walked over to offer some comfort. “Father-in-law, you should go back for now. I will try to persuade Akeno.”
Nodding reluctantly, Baraqiel had no choice but to entrust his hopes to Tenraku. After seeing Baraqiel off, Tenraku entered the living room, where he found Akeno sitting on the side, crying in pain.
“I’m sorry, Akeno, for not telling you and bringing him here,” Tenraku said softly as he embraced the girl.
“Why? Why did you bring him to see me? Why does Tenraku make me remember those painful things again?” Akeno sobbed in agony.
“Because I want you to forgive him,” Tenraku replied.
“But I can’t forgive him, I hate him!”
“Akeno, how long do you want to be stubborn?!”
“Everyone was saddened by what happened back then, but it wasn’t your fault, nor was it your father’s fault. You know that better than anyone!”
Realizing that the conventional methods couldn’t unlock Akeno’s Heart Knot, Tenraku raised his voice and his chilling gaze pierced through the girl as if it could see through everything.
Covering her mouth, tears continued to stream down Akeno’s eyes. Tenraku was right, she knew it wasn’t her fault or her father’s fault. She had always known that!
But she was too weak and fragile. Her inner self was not as strong as she pretended to be on the surface. She couldn’t accept the fact that her Mother was gone. If she didn’t release her pent-up emotions, she wouldn’t be able to bear it. She would collapse!
Just like Tenraku had said, she was a weak and stubborn person!
“Wū wū wūwū wū…”
Holding Tenraku tightly, Akeno cried out in pain, her sobs tearing at her heart.
But as Tenraku watched her like this, a smile appeared on his face. He continued to comfort the girl, allowing her to release the pain in her heart.
After a long time, when Akeno gradually calmed down, Tenraku leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “If you need strength, I am your strength. If you need courage, I am your courage!”
“So don’t restrict yourself anymore, Akeno!”
A shock ran through Akeno’s body as she stared at Tenraku with tear-streaked cheeks and a beautiful smile bloomed on her face like never before.
“Tenraku, love me…”
To be continued…
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