When Sona knocked on his door, Genichi was genuinely surprised.
Rias and Akeno hadn't appeared for three days. Genichi knew why—they needed time to assimilate the enormous amount of power they had received.
So when Sona stood outside his room in her familiar school uniform, her gaze calm behind her glasses despite the nearly imperceptible trace of nervousness within it, Genichi quickly realized who had arranged this.
"Did Rias send you?"
Genichi stepped aside, his tone even.
Sona entered the room and gently closed the door behind her.
She moved a little more slowly than usual, her fingers lingering on the doorknob for a moment.
"Not entirely."
She turned around and leaned against the door, an unusually vulnerable posture for her.
"Rias did mention it, but I made this decision myself."
The lighting in the room was soft.
Genichi hadn't turned on the main light. Only the desk lamp and the moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the room.
He walked over to the window and motioned for Sona to join him.
"Do you understand what this means?"
Genichi kept his gaze fixed on the distance rather than looking at her.
"I do."
Sona walked to his side and gently rested both hands on the windowsill.
Her fingers pressed against it with enough force to make her knuckles turn pale.
"Rias and Akeno-senpai have already reached their limits. You need more people who can help you."
Genichi finally turned to look at her.
Moonlight illuminated the side of Sona's face, reflecting off her lenses and concealing her eyes.
But Genichi could still tell that she was nervous.
Extremely nervous.
"This goes beyond simply helping me, Sona."
Genichi's voice was so quiet that it almost disappeared into the night breeze.
"Once that kind of bond is formed, our destinies will become intertwined. Not just for now. Perhaps forever."
Sona took a deep breath.
She removed her glasses and gently cleaned the lenses. The gesture made her appear much softer than usual.
"I'm the future head of the Sitri family."
Sona put her glasses back on, her gaze clear and direct.
"Ever since I was young, I've been taught to remain rational, carefully weigh every decision, and always prioritize the interests of my family. And that's exactly what I've done."
"I formed the Student Council, built my own peerage, and followed every step of the path laid out before me."
She stepped forward, reducing the distance between them to less than half a meter.
"But after meeting you, I found myself wanting to be selfish for only the second time in my life."
Genichi silently studied her.
He could see something shining in Sona's eyes.
It wasn't an impulsive decision. It was determination reached only after careful consideration.
That made her words even more moving.
"Sona," he finally said, "are you certain this is selfishness and not simply another form of calculation? Forming a bond with me might also be a beneficial investment for the Sitri family."
Sona smiled.
It was a rare expression, tinged with self-mockery.
"If this were merely an investment, I could think of at least ten safer and more respectable ways to make it."
"I wouldn't need to go this far."
She extended a hand and gently touched Genichi's arm.
Even through the fabric of his shirt, he could feel the warmth of her fingertips and their faint trembling.
"What I want…"
Sona lowered her voice, yet every word remained perfectly clear.
"…is a place beside you. Not as your ally, not as your classmate, and not even as your friend. I want to stand beside you as someone who shares your destiny."
The moment she spoke those words, the air inside the room seemed to freeze.
Genichi stared into her eyes.
Sona didn't look away. Her ears had already turned bright red, and her breathing had grown unsteady, but she held his gaze.
She laid her feelings bare before him without concealment or evasion, approaching this as seriously and directly as she did everything else.
"Even if I might not be able to return your feelings equally?"
It was a cruel question, but one he needed to ask.
"Feelings aren't a transaction. They don't require an equal return."
Sona's answer was unexpectedly mature.
"I've simply chosen the direction I want to take. Wherever this road leads, I'm willing to walk it with you and find out."
Genichi suddenly remembered something from long ago.
In another world, someone had once said something similar to him.
He hadn't understood those words back then.
By the time he did, it had already been too late.
He raised his hand and placed it over the one Sona had rested on his arm.
Her hand was smaller than his, warm and soft.
"You'll regret this," he said, though his voice had already softened.
"I won't."
Sona turned her hand over and tightly clasped his.
"I've conducted the most thorough possible analysis of the advantages and disadvantages. I considered every potential consequence, and I reached one conclusion."
"If I let this opportunity pass, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Genichi finally smiled.
It was the first genuine smile he had shown that night.
"As expected of the Student Council President. You even performed a data analysis before confessing."
Sona's face instantly turned scarlet.
"Th-This isn't a confession! It's a rational statement!"
"All right, all right. A rational statement."
Genichi readily accepted her correction, though the amusement in his eyes only deepened.
Still holding Sona's hand, he led her away from the window and toward the center of the room.
They stood facing each other beneath the warm light.
Genichi could clearly see her eyelashes trembling. He noticed the subtle way she bit her lower lip and the quick rise and fall of her chest as nervousness accelerated her breathing.
"Then…"
Genichi raised his free hand and gently brushed his fingertips across Sona's cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Shall we take the next step together?"
Sona closed her eyes.
Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath them.
She nodded. The movement was slight but resolute.
Genichi lowered his head and kissed her.
At first, it was merely a soft touch, both tentative and reassuring.
Sona's body stiffened for an instant, but she quickly relaxed.
She released his hand and wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss with an awkward but genuine tenderness.
After a long moment, they parted.
Sona opened her eyes, her gaze slightly unfocused.
At some point, her glasses had slipped halfway down her nose. Genichi gently pushed them back into place.
"Your first kiss?" he asked softly.
Sona nodded, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Mm-hmm."
"It's normal to be nervous."
Genichi kissed her forehead.
"Tell me if you want to stop. We can stop at any moment."
"Don't stop."
Sona shook her head, leaned forward of her own accord, and kissed him again.
This time, she showed more courage—and a little more urgency.
"Sona," Genichi whispered beside her ear, "you're beautiful."
Those words seemed to open a floodgate.
The emotions Sona had kept restrained finally found an outlet.
She hugged Genichi tightly and buried her face against his shoulder.
"Don't let me lose to Rias. Even if I can't equal her, please don't let me fall too far behind."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]