Returner in DxD

Akeno thought she loved Issei, but when he appeared—everything changed. It wasn't that her feelings for Issei had grown weaker; rather, they grew even stronger. Just like Rias, she too desired to progress their relationship to the next stage—the former had gone ahead, leaving her behind.

But that wasn't the reason for her change in attitude. No, it was because she—for some unknown reason—found herself attracted to Kousuke. Whenever he was around, she always found herself discreetly glancing at him.

The way he carried himself was unlike anyone she had ever known. It was like seeing her ideal man brought to life.

Beneath her usual 'Onee-san' demeanor, Akeno was still, after all, a young girl. A vulnerable side she had never shown anyone—the desire to find a dependable man who could lead her. She thought Issei might be that person. But what she felt from Kousuke far surpassed that.

Unlike with Issei—whom she sometimes still treated like a cute kouhai—Akeno didn't feel the same around Kousuke. In fact, he made her feel less like the flirtatious 'Onee-san' and more like her true self—her real personality that she thought had disappeared along with the passing of her mother... only to resurface once again.

That's why she thought of distancing herself from Kousuke. Maybe by doing so, her feelings for Issei would grow stronger, and in turn, her feelings for Kousuke would fade until they eventually disappeared for good.

But she was wrong. Deadly wrong.

As the days passed, she found herself unable to look away every time he appeared, especially when he flirted with Tsubaki and Yasaka. Sometimes she wished it were her at his side, snuggling against his chest like a maiden in love. To keep those thoughts at bay, she teased Issei and Rias more often.

She looked for ways to distract herself, though to no avail. Eventually, Rias couldn't help but ask her. Her abnormal behavior had become increasingly obvious with each passing day.

"Are you okay?" Rias asked. As much as she enjoyed the trip, she couldn't ignore her Queen's strange demeanor. Today was their last day in Kyoto, and they had used it as a day off—resting or doing whatever they pleased. Tomorrow, they would return to Kuoh.

Currently, the two were in Rias's room. Issei seemed to be on a date with Asia, while Kiba was practicing in the open field behind the mansion.

Koneko appeared to enjoy spending time with Kousuke even more lately. Today, the two of them—along with Tsubaki and Yasaka—had decided to visit an amusement park together. It was something like a double date, with Koneko acting as the third wheel. The little girl didn't seem to mind, as long as she got to spend more time with Kousuke.

Kunou had returned to school after taking a few days off. She seemed to be improving significantly, slowly recovering from her trauma. She even started getting along with Kousuke after learning her mother had been pursuing him.

So right now, only Rias and Akeno remained in the mansion. It was the perfect opportunity for a girls' talk with no chance of anyone eavesdropping. Although hesitant, Akeno finally voiced her thoughts.

"I... you know that I like Issei, right?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Rias replied matter-of-factly. She knew how much her Queen liked Issei—maybe not as much as her own feelings, but the love was definitely there.

"Then..." Akeno bit her lip nervously, looking far more vulnerable than usual. For a moment, both girls were silent. Then, after a few deep breaths, she continued. "Do you think I'm crazy for also falling for Kousuke-kun?"

"...Say what?"

"I don't understand it myself, but I can't get him out of my mind, and it's driving me insane," Akeno admitted with a frustrated expression. Even when she teased Issei, part of her wondered how Kousuke would have reacted if he were the one in front of her.

"Oh... oh no, that's critical," Rias muttered after hearing her Queen's confession. She never thought Akeno, of all people, would fall for the same man who had turned Sona's Queen into a hopeless maiden. Was it his natural charm that drew the hearts of every Devil Queen? One was a coincidence—but two? That was suspicious.

"You... still love Issei, right?"

"At this point, I'm not so sure anymore," Akeno replied with a defeated tone. She still felt fondly toward Issei, but when it came to her true feelings—she was lost and confused.

Rias gently reached over and took Akeno's hand.

"Then you need to talk to him."

Akeno blinked. "What?"

"You're suffering in silence, and it's eating you up," Rias said. "If you can't sort out your feelings with just your thoughts, then talk to him. See how you feel when you're face to face."

"But… wouldn't that be betraying Issei?" Akeno asked, her voice tight with guilt.

"No," Rias replied, her tone steady. "It would be a betrayal to yourself if you kept lying. I know you, Akeno. You don't throw your heart around lightly."

Akeno bit her lip. Deep down, she knew Rias was right. It wasn't fair to keep pretending, not when her heart was already straying—and especially not when the person occupying it was someone she couldn't ignore.

Rias squeezed her hand. "I'll arrange it. Just the two of you. Tonight."

That evening, as the golden sun dipped behind the horizon and painted the sky with amber hues, Akeno found herself walking through the flower garden near the edge of the estate.

Waiting there, under the shade of a sakura tree, was Kousuke.

He looked relaxed as always, but when he saw her approaching, his expression softened.

"You came," he said simply.

She nodded, heart pounding. "Rias told you?"

"She said you wanted to talk."

Silence stretched between them as Akeno stopped a few steps away. The air smelled sweet with blossoms, but Akeno's thoughts were a mess of nerves and emotion.

"I've been avoiding you," she said quietly, looking at the ground.

"I noticed," he replied. "But I didn't want to push."

Her lips trembled. "I thought… if I distanced myself, the feelings would fade. But they didn't. They only got worse."

He tilted his head. "Feelings?"

She finally met his eyes.

"I think I'm in love with you."

It felt like a confession ripped from her chest, raw and terrifying.

"I know it's wrong," she added quickly. "I still have feelings for Issei. I know we're friends. I know I'm being selfish. But no matter how much I try to deny it, whenever I see you, my heart just… won't listen."

Kousuke was silent, his eyes calm and unreadable.

"I don't expect anything," she said, forcing a smile even as her eyes shimmered. "I just needed you to know. Even if it's one-sided, even if nothing comes of it, I had to say it before it drives me crazy."

He stepped forward then, just a little, and reached out—gently brushing her hair behind her ear.

"I don't think you're being selfish," he said softly. "I think you're being honest. And that takes more courage than most people ever find."

Her breath caught in her throat.

"Honestly, I don't know how to feel about this," he sighed, then continued. "So, do you mind if I hold back my answer for now?"

To be honest, Kousuke was just as confused as she was. He thought he was already lucky to have Tsubaki and Yasaka in both arms—but now, Akeno had confessed that she also had feelings for him. At first, he considered rejecting her, believing that Akeno was supposed to be with his friend.

However, seeing the once-strong girl now so vulnerable made him hesitate. It made him question himself. Perhaps he needed to talk with Tsubaki and Yasaka before making a decision. Maybe they would have an answer to his dilemma.

So for now, he had no choice but to stall. Akeno likely understood that her feelings were troubling him, which was why she wasn't in a hurry to hear his answer.

"Yes, that's fine with me."

Akeno's composure cracked, and a single tear slid down her cheek—but she was smiling now, for real this time. She didn't know what would happen next. But for the first time in days, her heart felt light.

She was no longer running from it.