The dining table of the Hyodo family was always lively.
As the saying goes, “three women make a market,” most of the residents of this house were high school girls in the bloom of youth.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Hyodo were also talkative, so a silent meal was impossible.
However, of course, not everyone was fond of talking, and Kenji was one of them.
Sitting at the edge of the long table, he took his meals silently.
If he was asked a question once in a while, he would answer, but he almost never initiated a conversation.
Since that day he punched Issei, conversation with his brother had completely ceased; the other occasionally glanced this way, but seemed to be thinking about how to step in.
And the relationship between Kenji and Akeno had deteriorated just as much.
It was because Akeno had indirectly made a grievance that Kenji should apologize for punching Issei, but he had brushed it off, saying, “It has nothing to do with you, Akeno-san.”
Additionally, Akeno felt stressed from facing the father she didn’t get along with every day, and she was irritated to a degree that others wouldn’t notice.
“Thanks for the meal.”
He finished putting his hands together and started tidying up the dishes.
Lately, for some reason, he had also been keeping his distance from Irina and the others.
According to him, it was because he wanted to practice the bass.
After finishing the meal, the Occult Research Club members were gathered.
In a little while, they would likely be called out to accompany Azazel and Odin’s sightseeing.
“Lately, Kenji-kun hasn’t been talking to us much, has he?”
Asia murmured softly.
Asia was worried about Kenji, who had been in a state of withdrawal even after coming home recently.
Kenji currently wanted to devote time to practicing the bass for the cultural festival, but he also felt like keeping his distance from Asia and the others.
Everyone, not knowing the reason for that, was troubled.
“Issei.
Have you noticed anything about Kenji?”
“Hmm.
I’ve been busy lately too, and I haven’t been able to talk to Kenji much.”
He crossed his arms and tilted his head in distress.
However, an “Ah!” escaped him.
“Come to think of it, that guy, Yuuma-chan’s suggestion has been broken!
At first, I thought it was because time had passed since we defeated her, but Motohama and Matsuda don’t remember at all!”
“Yuuma?
The Fallen Angel Raynare’s?”
Issei nodded.
Before he was reincarnated as a devil, on the night he was confessed to by Yuuma Amano, he had also consulted Kenji about a date plan.
However, after his reincarnation as a devil, memories of her had been erased from everyone, including Kenji.
But recently, it seemed those memories had returned. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Hearing Issei’s story, Rias placed a bent finger to her lips.
“That’s strange.
Such suggestions usually can’t be broken.
Is Kenji’s constitution one where they’re easily broken?
But…”
Rias pondered, mumbling.
Right after that, they were called by Azazel and led away.
And with the attack by the evil god Loki and the joint struggle with the White Dragon Emperor, this talk was put on hold.
(…I’m concentrating too much on practice.)
Taking advantage of the perfect soundproofing, he had been practicing until 1 AM.
Naturally feeling thirsty, he left his room and moved, encountering Akeno, who had an exceptionally irritated expression.
“Ah.”
They both froze, facing each other, as it was awkward to meet.
“Hello…”
“Yes…”
When it was just the two of them, there was nothing in particular to talk about.
Even so, he tried to come up with a topic.
“Um…
how is Brother doing at high school lately?”
Because he couldn’t find any other common topic, he asked something he didn’t really want to know.
Even so, Akeno’s expression brightened slightly at that question, and she showed a small smile.
“Issei-kun is working hard in his own way.”
Akeno explained Issei’s activities in the club by changing his devil work into a front.
“So, Issei-kun is liked by many people.”
Akeno spoke happily.
Conversely, Kenji’s face grew stern.
“I wonder why that consideration isn’t applied to me.”
A monologue he muttered while letting out a sigh.
Akeno, who had heard it, denied it.
“That is not true.
Just the other day, he was worried that Kenji-kun hadn’t been coming out of his room lately.”
“Is that so, Brother.”
He couldn’t really imagine it, but he decided to think that if Akeno, who interacted with him every day, said so, then it must be so.
Whichever way she took Kenji’s state, Akeno recommended a conversation with Issei.
“How about having a firm talk with Issei-kun once?
If he did something, he will surely apologize and fix it, you know?”
Apparently, Akeno’s head was more of a flower garden than Kenji had expected.
“…With Brother, even if words get through, our hearts don’t, or rather, the important parts don’t reach him.
For years.
So already, I’m tired.”
He spoke so as not to cause offense as much as possible, but Akeno was not convinced.
“That’s not…
Issei-kun is someone who can be considerate of others.”
Surely in Akeno’s mind, that was the case.
A kind person who would reach out if a comrade was in trouble.
It probably wasn’t wrong enough to be flatly denied.
However, Kenji shook his head.
“If you can think that way, then Akeno-san’s family must be a very harmonious and wonderful family.”
Kenji, not knowing Akeno’s family circumstances, said so enviously.
Hearing that, Akeno’s expression changed completely.
“Ha?”
At that expression and the low, menacing voice, Kenji tried to recoil in fright.
She was already stressed from having to face the father she had a conflict with.
Kenji’s line, which struck at that point, greatly shook Akeno’s heart.
Unable to control her emotions, Akeno slapped his cheek again.
“Don’t say such selfish things without knowing anything about that person…!”
However, she snapped out of it in the middle and had an unbearable expression.
“I’m sorry, Kenji-kun…”
Lowering her head like that, she left as if running away.
Kenji, holding his cheek, muttered dissatisfiedly.
“What is it already…”
Akeno came to Issei’s room for a nighttime visit.
She approached Issei naked and pleaded for him to hold her.
However, Issei refused.
Because he didn’t want to hold Akeno out of such reckless, temporary sympathy.
If he was going to hold her anyway, he wanted it to be fun and feel good.
He thought if he held her with these feelings, he would definitely regret it.
So, he just hugged Akeno to reassure her.
Until Akeno felt better.
“…Issei, thank you.
I love you…”
Akeno smiled as if relieved.
That night, Akeno and Issei fell asleep in the same bed.
Believing that if they did so, they would surely see happy dreams.