GREMORY EXPRESS STATION – UNDERWORLD
"Are we there already, Koneko-chan?" Asia looked around, trying to follow the movement while adjusting her own pace.
"Yes." Koneko replied without changing her tone. "From here, we teleport to the Gremory mansion."
Saji exhaled, relaxing his shoulders.
"Finally, we're going to Gremory territory."
Kiba didn't let it pass.
"We're already in Gremory territory." He kept his tone simple, without needing to reinforce it.
Saji turned his head immediately.
"What do you mean?"
Asia also reacted, clearly confused.
"What do you mean…?"
"Ara ara…" Akeno tilted her head slightly, her smile appearing effortlessly. "Everything here is Gremory territory."
The pause was minimal.
But enough.
"What?" Asia and Saji spoke at the same time, the shock coming out before any filter.
Akeno laughed softly, satisfied with the reaction, without needing to add anything else.
---
SHUUUUN
The train slowed down until it came to a complete stop.
Outside, Reynaldo was already positioned, his posture aligned as he waited for the doors to open without hesitation.
---
Inside the carriage, Asia looked around quickly, noticing the absence.
"Where are Rias-san and Gasper-kun?"
"They're coming." Akeno replied without looking away. "They were in the other carriage."
The sound of the door sliding drew attention before anything else.
Rias appeared first.
Her face slightly flushed.
Her posture controlled.
Gasper came right after, completely calm, as if nothing had happened.
The difference between them didn't go unnoticed.
Akeno tilted her head slightly, her smile appearing at the same moment.
"Did you have enough fun, Rias?"
Rias didn't hesitate.
"You have no idea how much." She held the gaze, a slight smile forming. "You missed a lot."
Akeno stepped half a step closer, keeping her tone light.
"What a shame…" She lightly crossed her arms. "Maybe next time I won't let you be alone."
Rias didn't back down.
"You can try." She replied in the same rhythm. "But don't expect to succeed."
The exchange stopped there.
But the atmosphere remained.
Gasper didn't comment.
"Let's go." He said without changing his tone. "I want to get to the mansion already."
"Of course, dear." Rias responded immediately.
"Of course, dear." Akeno added at the same instant.
Saji let out a heavy sigh, looking away.
Kiba didn't let it pass.
"This is going to be bad for you." He laughed softly. "Better get used to it."
---
Outside, Grayfia appeared without warning, her presence established the moment the space around stabilized.
Reynaldo slightly inclined his head.
"Grayfia-sama."
"Reynaldo." She replied without changing her tone.
The group began to step off the train.
Rias went first, maintaining her aligned posture.
"Thank you, Reynaldo."
"You're welcome, Rias-sama." He replied in the same rhythm, without looking away.
Grayfia observed the group for a second before speaking.
"Let's go." She kept her tone direct. "I came to take you to the mansion. Lady Vanelana is waiting."
Rias nodded immediately.
"Great." She stepped forward. "I want to see my mother soon."
Akeno laughed softly.
Rias turned her head immediately.
"What are you laughing at?"
Akeno didn't lose her smile.
"It's just…" She tilted her head slightly. "It's the first time Gasper-kun is going to meet her as a mother-in-law."
Her body froze for a moment before her gaze shifted slightly, and the reaction came too fast to be ignored, because what Akeno said wasn't empty provocation.
It was true.
'…Mother-in-law…'
The thought came directly, and with it the inevitable sequence.
'How am I going to tell this…?'
The image of her family came immediately, not as doubt, but as a real scenario she would have to face, and the weight of it showed in the way her breathing changed for a second before stabilizing.
'What if they don't accept it…?'
The thought didn't finish.
It was cut off.
Rias closed her eyes for a moment and opened them right after, adjusting her posture in the same movement, and this time the hesitation didn't return.
'Then I'll make them accept it.'
The change was clear.
Everyone noticed.
The silence held for a second as her gaze stopped being unstable and fixed more firmly, the decision completely replacing any previous doubt.
Gasper didn't wait.
"Don't overthink it, Rias." He kept his tone simple, without looking away.
"But…" Rias slightly turned her head, still in the middle of her own reasoning.
"Did you forget who you are?" Gasper didn't change his tone. "Who your brother is… and what your family is?"
Rias froze for a second.
"What do you mean…?"
Gasper didn't respond with a long explanation.
"If they were against it… do you really think anything could have stopped it?" He kept his gaze on her. "After everything that's already happened."
The pause was minimal.
But enough.
"This has already passed the point where someone can just deny it."
Rias didn't respond immediately.
But the effect came.
Her face turned red again, this time not from doubt, but from how directly he put it, because deep down she knew he was right.
"…I understand." She exhaled slowly, her gaze settling firmly. "Then there's no reason for me to hesitate."
Grayfia didn't wait any longer.
"Let's go." She spoke in the same steady tone. "You'll find out when you get there."
___
Gremory Mansion – Underworld
The space around distorted instantly, and the reaction came even before any adjustment, because the ground disappeared for a second before returning. The group vanished from the station and reappeared in front of the entrance to the Gremory Mansion, already aligned before the structure.
Asia froze immediately.
"It's… huge…" She lightly clenched her hands, her gaze going up the mansion, unable to hide her amazement.
Saji stepped forward, reacting in the same rhythm.
"This is a mansion…?" He exhaled slowly. "This looks like a castle."
The two rows of servants remained still on both sides, and the impact was immediate, because the organization and silence made the weight of the environment even stronger. Asia looked from one side to the other, clearly pressured, while Saji adjusted his posture without noticing.
Gasper didn't speak.
But his gaze moved across the structure before stopping at the end of the line.
'…Too big.'
The analysis came dry, and even with the original Gasper's memories, this surpassed any reference.
'Even I… didn't expect this.'
He stopped the thought there.
He had already understood enough.
Lady Vanelana stood at the end of the formation, and beside her, a boy maintained a firm posture, observing the group approaching without hesitation.
Gasper recognized him instantly.
'…Millicas.'
The thought came directly.
'Great… I'll have to call this kid sama…'
Rias moved forward first.
"Saji, Asia." She kept her tone firm as she stopped in front of them. "During the Rating Game, I didn't have time to introduce you."
She adjusted her position slightly.
"This is my mother, Venelana." She didn't use formality. "And this is my nephew… Millicas."
Asia reacted immediately.
"Nice to meet you, Venelana-sama!" She bowed too quickly, clearly nervous.
Saji followed at the same pace.
"It's a pleasure, Venelana-sama… Millicas-sama." He kept his head down before lifting it.
Venelana responded without delay.
"There's no need to be so tense." She kept her tone calm, her slight smile softening the atmosphere. "Welcome."
Millicas took a short step forward, without losing his posture.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He spoke naturally. "I hope you feel comfortable here."
Asia blinked a few times, surprised by the reception.
"Yes… thank you, Millicas-sama…" She lightly clenched her hands, already less stiff.
Saji nodded, following.
"Thank you for the welcome."
Venelana shifted her gaze from them to Rias and Gasper, and her smile changed instantly, lighter, more knowing, like someone who had already understood what wasn't said. The reaction came naturally, and she didn't hide it.
Gasper noticed.
He stepped forward without hesitation and bowed slightly, maintaining a controlled posture while holding her gaze.
"Venelana-sama, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Venelana didn't lose her smile.
"You're still calling me that?" She tilted her head slightly, observing him with interest. "I thought it was already time to stop that."
Gasper didn't respond immediately.
The pause was brief.
"Wouldn't it be more appropriate…" Venelana leaned her gaze a bit closer. "To start calling me mother?"
The silence froze for a second.
Gasper remained still, the reading happening too fast to ignore, as he organized his response without breaking his posture.
Rias reacted first.
"MOM!" Her face turned red instantly, the reaction coming too strong to be contained as she stepped forward half a step.
Venelana laughed softly, clearly satisfied with the effect, without backing down from her provocation as she observed her daughter.
Gasper exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting for a second before returning, maintaining control even with the sudden shift in the scenario.
'…This woman is dangerous.'
He didn't answer.
But he didn't back down either.
Venelana didn't push further, just slightly turned her body, shifting the focus of the scene without prolonging the moment.
"Let's go." She kept her tone light. "We're not continuing this conversation out here."
The decision came naturally.
And the movement began.
The group moved toward the mansion.
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