The pressure didn't just rise—
It settled.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Like something ancient had just opened its eyes.
The girl in front of Nate slowly straightened.
Silver hair flowing down her back.
Her presence alone changed the room.
No panic.
No confusion.
Just… awareness.
Her eyes moved first.
Sharp.
Taking in everything.
Then they landed on Nate.
And the hand still holding the Rosario.
Silence.
Nate didn't move.
'…Don't be stupid.'
'Don't say anything dumb.'
'Just… wait.'
She tilted her head slightly.
"…So."
Her voice was calm.
But it carried weight.
"You're the one who removed it."
Not a question.
A statement.
Nate swallowed.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
Then—
She stepped closer.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
Just… deliberate.
Everyone tensed slightly.
Yasaka's aura flickered for a split second.
Issa watched like a hawk.
Akasha stayed calm—but alert.
Kunou grabbed Nate's sleeve.
"Big brother…"
The silver-haired vampire stopped right in front of him.
Close.
Too close.
Her eyes locked onto his.
Studying.
Measuring.
Then—
She reached out.
Grabbed his collar.
Pulled him down slightly—
And stared directly into his eyes.
"…You're not afraid."
Nate blinked once.
'Should I be?'
Out loud—
"No."
Another pause.
Then—
A small smile appeared on her lips.
Not soft.
Not shy.
Sharp.
"Good."
She let go of his collar.
Turned slightly.
And rolled her shoulder like she had just woken up from a long sleep.
"…It's been a while since someone removed that without permission."
She glanced at Issa.
"…You allowed this?"
Issa nodded once.
"I wanted to see."
Akasha added gently,
"And he succeeded."
The silver-haired Moka looked back at Nate.
"…Interesting."
She walked past him.
Calm.
Confident.
Every step precise.
Then she stopped.
"…So."
She crossed her arms.
"You're the one my outer self has been getting attached to."
Moka's inner personality finally faced him properly.
"…Nate, was it?"
Nate nodded.
"Yeah."
She hummed softly.
"…You're weaker than me."
Blunt.
Direct.
No hesitation.
Kunou puffed up instantly.
"Hey—!"
Nate raised a hand slightly.
"It's fine."
Then he looked at her.
Straight.
Calm.
"…For now."
A pause.
Then—
She smiled again.
This time wider.
"…Oh?"
Something in the air shifted.
Interest.
Real interest.
Issa's eyes narrowed slightly.
Akasha watched closely.
Because this—
This was the real test.
The silver-haired Moka stepped forward again.
"…Then prove it."
Her aura flared just slightly.
Not an attack.
A challenge.
"…Show me why my other self likes you."
Nate exhaled slowly.
'…Of course.'
'Of course it turns into this.'
Behind him—
Whisper whispered:
"…Master Nate."
"…She's not on the Maybe list anymore, is she?"
Nate didn't look back.
"…Update it to Complicated."
Then he stepped forward—
Meeting her presence head-on.
And for the first time since she appeared—
The air between them pushed back.
Nate didn't step back.
He let it out.
Not all of it—
Just enough.
His aura spread quietly across the room.
No explosion.
No flashy burst.
Just a pressure that settled in the space—
Dense.
Refined.
Controlled.
The moment it touched her—
Moka Akashiya felt it.
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
Because this wasn't bluff.
It met her.
Evenly.
For a second—
It even pressed back.
The floor creaked slightly.
The air grew heavier.
The temperature dipped.
Then stabilized.
Moka stared at him.
"…You're as strong as me?"
Nate shrugged like they were talking about test scores.
"Maybe a bit stronger."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Across the room—
Every adult who actually understood power… reacted.
Issa's eyes narrowed further.
Akasha's smile faded into something more serious.
Yasaka watched carefully.
Lily's gaze sharpened.
Aaron stopped smiling.
Because that wasn't "a bit stronger."
That was compressed power.
The kind that only shows when someone is holding back a lot.
Kunou looked at Nate.
Then at Moka.
Then back at Nate.
Her ears twitched.
Inside her head—
'Liar.'
'You're way stronger.'
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
'Especially in your Yokai King form.'
Moka took a step closer.
Not aggressive.
Curious.
Very curious.
"…You're hiding something."
Nate didn't deny it.
"Yeah."
Blunt.
Honest.
That made her smile again.
This time—
Genuine interest.
"…Good."
She crossed her arms.
"…I hate boring people."
A pause.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"…So you're strong."
"…You're calm."
"…And you didn't hesitate to remove the seal."
Her eyes locked onto his again.
"…You're either confident…"
A step closer.
"…or reckless."
Nate smirked slightly.
"Bit of both."
That answer—
She liked that.
"You're dangerous."
Kunou immediately cut in.
"He's mine."
Moka didn't even look at her.
"…We'll see."
That—
That made the room tense again.
Yasaka sighed softly.
"…Here we go."
Issa watched the two girls carefully.
Akasha smiled faintly again.
Because now—
This wasn't just a proposal anymore.
This was turning into something much more natural in their world—
A claim.
And right in the middle of it—
Nate just stood there thinking:
'…I really just wanted a normal day after school.'
Before the tension could climb any higher—
Akasha moved.
Smooth.
Effortless.
Akasha Bloodriver stepped forward and gently took the Rosario from Nate's hand.
"Alright," she said softly.
"No need to escalate this further."
The silver-haired Moka clicked her tongue.
"…Already?"
Akasha smiled at her.
"You've had your moment."
Then—
She placed the Rosario back around her daughter's neck.
Click.
The energy snapped shut.
Like a door closing.
The pressure vanished almost instantly.
The heavy air lifted.
The room felt… normal again.
Moka's silver hair faded.
Returning to soft pink.
Her sharp eyes softened.
Her posture relaxed.
And just like that—
Moka Akashiya was back.
Outer Moka blinked.
"…Huh?"
She wobbled slightly.
Nate instinctively reached out and caught her before she could fall.
She looked up at him.
Still a bit dazed.
"…Did something happen?"
Nate paused.
Then gave a small, tired smile.
"…Yeah."
"Just a little."
Moka tilted her head.
"…Why is everyone staring at me?"
Across the room—
Kunou crossed her arms.
Still pouting.
Yasaka sipped her tea like nothing happened.
Lily relaxed slightly.
Aaron let out a breath.
Issa leaned back.
Observing.
Calculating.
Akasha simply smiled.
"Nothing to worry about."
Moka blinked again.
"…Okay…?"
Nate helped her stand properly.
But inside his head—
'That was not small.'
He glanced briefly at the Rosario.
'That's a full power seal.'
Then at Moka.
'And her other self…'
He exhaled slowly.
'Yeah… this is definitely going to be a problem later.'
Across the room, Whisper updated his tablet.
"…Status change."
He looked at Nate.
"She has been upgraded from Complicated to Very Complicated."
Nate didn't even argue.
"…Fair."
Yasaka calmly set her tea down.
"So, Nate."
Her golden eyes settled on him.
"Are you going to accept the arrangement?"
The room quieted again.
Not tense this time.
Focused.
Everyone waited for his answer.
Nate leaned back slightly, thinking seriously now.
Not emotionally.
Politically.
Strategically.
'…This isn't just dating anymore.'
He exhaled slowly.
"There are pros and cons."
That immediately got Issa's attention.
Nate continued.
"If I accept Moka as a future wife…"
He glanced at the vampire family.
"…then the vampire faction becomes formally tied to the Yokai faction."
Akasha nodded once.
"Correct."
Nate rubbed his chin.
"That's a massive alliance."
He started counting on his fingers.
"Pros?"
"Vampires gain direct ties to Yokai territory."
"Yokai gain access to vampire influence and information networks."
"Hostile factions would think twice before making moves."
He paused.
"And politically, it stabilizes Kyoto even more."
Issa gave a small approving nod.
The boy understood politics.
Good.
But Nate continued.
"Cons?"
He looked directly at them.
"It paints an even bigger target on all of us."
Silence.
Because everyone knew he was right.
Nate leaned forward slightly now.
"I'm already the Prophecy Child."
He pointed at himself.
"I'm already unifying Yokai clans."
Another finger.
"I already trained Rias Gremory's peerage."
Another.
"I already have connections to Devils, Spirits, Hero Clans, and the Underworld."
Another.
"And now vampires?"
He shook his head.
"That stops being 'important teenager.'"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"That becomes a supernatural power bloc."
The room went quiet.
Because that wording mattered.
Akasha's smile faded into respect.
Issa's expression turned more serious.
Even Yasaka looked thoughtful.
Nate continued calmly.
"And once that happens…"
"…people stop seeing Moka as just Moka."
He looked at her directly.
"They'll start seeing her as a political piece."
Moka froze slightly.
Nate leaned back again.
"And I hate that."
That answer surprised them.
Not because of the strategy.
But because of why he disliked it.
Akasha studied him carefully.
"…You dislike political marriages?"
Nate immediately answered.
"I dislike people being reduced to politics."
That—
That made Akasha genuinely pause.
Issa too.
Because that was not the answer most supernatural heirs gave.
Nate glanced at Moka again.
"She deserves to decide things because she wants them."
Then he pointed at himself.
"Same for me."
Kunou immediately grabbed his arm proudly.
"That's why big brother is good."
Yasaka sighed softly.
"…My daughter's bias aside, he does have a point."
Issa folded his arms.
"…Then what is your answer?"
Nate thought for a moment longer.
Then answered honestly.
"I'm open to it."
Moka's face turned red again.
"But."
He raised a finger.
"No forced engagement."
Another finger.
"No political pressure on Moka."
Third finger.
"And if this happens…"
His tone softened slightly.
"…it happens because we actually love each other."
Silence again.
Then—
Akasha smiled.
Warmly this time.
"…Accepted."
Issa closed his eyes for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"…Reasonable."
Moka looked completely overwhelmed.
Kunou looked mildly offended but accepting.
Whisper updated the tablet again.
"Status changed from Very Complicated to Officially Negotiating."
Nate pointed at him.
"Stop updating the list in real time."
Aaron, who had been quiet for the last few minutes, finally spoke up.
"There's another con."
Everyone looked at him.
Aaron leaned back slightly.
"Elmenhilde."
The room shifted again.
Akasha's expression sharpened.
Issa's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Moka just looked confused again.
"…I feel like everyone knows things except me."
Nate looked surprisingly unconcerned.
"I don't think she'll make a move."
That immediately caught attention.
Issa looked at him.
"You sound certain."
Nate shrugged slightly.
"Not certain."
He tapped the table lightly.
"But from what I know about her… she's angry at systems."
"Not random people."
Akasha nodded slowly at that.
"She does target institutions more than individuals."
Nate continued.
"If she hears the Yokai King and Vampire Princess are getting close, she'll investigate first."
He leaned back.
"She's not stupid enough to immediately attack a combined Yokai–Vampire alliance."
Then Nate paused.
"…Probably."
Whisper quietly added,
"That 'probably' did not inspire confidence."
Nate ignored him.
Aaron crossed his arms.
"The problem isn't direct attack."
He looked at Nate seriously now.
"It's symbolism."
That made Nate focus.
Aaron continued.
"You are already becoming a symbol whether you like it or not."
"The Prophecy Child."
"The Yokai King."
"The boy unifying factions."
He pointed toward Moka.
"And now potentially connected to vampire nobility."
Aaron sighed.
"That attracts attention."
Yasaka nodded.
"Especially from unstable factions."
Issa added calmly,
"And radicals."
Akasha looked thoughtful.
"Elmenhilde Karnstein despises the old systems."
Her eyes moved toward Nate.
"If she sees you as someone trying to create a new one…"
"…she may decide you are dangerous."
Nate was quiet for a second.
Then—
"…That's fair."
Moka blinked.
"You're taking this really calmly."
Nate looked at her.
"I've had world-ending threats since I was eleven."
A beat.
"…At some point your standards change."
Nobody in the room could even argue with that.
Kunou nodded proudly.
"Big brother fought ancient calamities before middle school ended."
Moka stared at him.
"…What."
Nate immediately pointed at Kunou.
"Do not start listing things."
Too late.
Kunou started counting happily.
"He fought Ghoulfather, sealed dimensional Yokai, survived training with Lady Yasaka, punched Shuten-Douji—"
"STOP."
Whisper added helpfully,
"And survived Hailey's tutoring sessions."
Nate pointed at him too.
"You're also not helping."
Akasha laughed softly into her tea.
Even Issa looked mildly impressed now.
Moka stared at Nate like she was reevaluating reality itself.
"…You're really weird."
Nate sighed.
"Yeah."
Then he muttered quietly—
"And somehow my biggest problem right now is relationship politics."
After the vampire family finally left—
The house became quiet.
For about thirty seconds.
Then—
The front door opened.
And Nate felt it immediately.
'…Ah.'
'Right.'
His girlfriends.
Hailey Anne Thomas walked in first.
Arms crossed.
Smiling.
Which somehow made it scarier.
Behind her came Fumika Kodama, Mizore Shirayuki, Kurumu Kurono, and Kuroka in human form now.
All staring at him.
Nate looked at them.
"…Oh boy."
Kunou quietly stepped away from him.
"Good luck, Nate."
Traitor.
After several minutes of explanations—
About the portal panic.
The vampire discussion.
The engagement chaos.
The Rosario incident.
And accidentally forgetting them at school—
The girls simply stared at him.
Silently.
Deadly.
Nate raised both hands defensively.
"Look, I already made date plans."
Still silence.
"I didn't mean to forget you girls."
More silence.
Then Kurumu smiled sweetly.
Too sweetly.
"Really?"
Nate immediately sensed danger.
"…Yes?"
Kurumu suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Good."
Then she started dragging him upstairs.
Nate blinked.
"Kurumu?"
She kept smiling.
"We're discussing this privately."
Nate looked back toward the others like a man begging for backup.
Nobody helped him.
Not one.
Mizore even gave Kurumu a small approving nod.
Kuroka was openly laughing.
Hailey waved.
"Have fun."
Fumika looked away pretending not to hear anything.
Then—
SLAM.
A bedroom door closed upstairs.
Click.
The lock turned.
Downstairs—
Silence.
Lily calmly drank her tea.
"…He is getting so fucked."
Aaron immediately started coughing from laughter.
Yasaka hid her smile behind her sleeve.
Kunou puffed her cheeks slightly.
"…I wanted to be first."
Upstairs—
Nate's voice could barely be heard.
"Kurumu, wait, let's talk about this rationally—"
Kurumu's voice answered immediately.
"No ❤️"
To be continue
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