Although she didn't like Haruki as a man, they had been friends since being young children, and even Ryuji could understand her feelings. "Ryuji, can I go and meet Ako?" Erika looked at him with her blue eyes filled with concern.
'Sometimes I forget that I don't know them because I was just a transfer student. For Erika and Yumiko, when she remembers... These people were their friends for years.'
Ryuji felt his chest tighten, and he nodded his head. Maybe if he didn't have Alan as a friend along with Paul and Simon, the realisation that he was alone in this world might have crushed him. However, then he shook his head, changing his thinking because he realised there were many people who he met in this world.
'Erika, Liana, Alan, the king, Paul, Simon, Alicia, Velvet, Ruby and even Lapis...'
Ryuji closed his eyes. 'Even that brunette princess... '
However, even then, he still couldn't stop himself from feeling empty. It sometimes felt like since his mother died and his father became distant, Ryuji struggled to hold emotions and feelings towards people from those days. Nonetheless, he tried his best, with Yumiko and Erika's deep love and affection—after they showed him physically and mentally, it started to help him.
"Ryuji, are you alright? You suddenly went quiet," Erika asked.
Ryuji nodded his head and gave an apologetic smile. "I was just thinking how lucky I was to meet you and to have you as my girlfriend."
Erika's cheeks went red, and she puffed her chest while smiling happily. "Of course, I'm lucky too... oh my god, he called me his girlfriend out loud. I'm so happy!" Her voice became quiet, like a mosquito hum, towards the end.
Ryuji smiled but did not continue. He was trying to think about the others to distract himself, the feeling he endured during the battle and the moment he began to feel pleasure when his axe was about to tear their enemy apart.
'It felt orgasmic... euphoric, I couldn't pull myself back until the last moment, even then... In all honesty, I didn't want to!' Ryuji bit his lips as he remembered the feeling.
He stroked the soft blonde hair of Erika, who looked adorable, "Then are you going to visit her, If you do, take Yumiko. I don't like the idea of you leaving alone, okay?"
"Okay, Ryuji!" Erika leaned forward and kissed him.
Afterwards, she left the room and went towards Yumiko's room. Ryuji, who was alone in the room, let out a deep breath, and his mind wandered back to Haruki, the girl he fought and whether the two of them were any different.
"In reality, Haruki didn't know the effect of that poison most likely... Then me, who chose to relish in making the other people suffer."
After Erika and Yumiko left for Ako, who was being cared for in the royal infirmary, Ryuji had time to think.
He looked out the window with a feeling of depression while leaning against the wall. He felt the mansion without Alan and the others was quite depressing; when he noticed a carriage approaching in the distance, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Her red eyes turned and shone with power as her flaming arms began to caress his face and stroked his cheeks. "Ryuji, there was a time in my life, which was a very painful time, powerless, doomed to die because of a darkness that ate away at my body, and unable to fight to increase my power. Then you came, like a hammer crashing into my silver cage and shattering it into pieces."
Liana's hands slid down his chest, her smile enchanting, and Ryuji, who she captured, could only stare at her face and listen to her.
"You gave me the strength to fight, to survive, to live, and then you gave me more power, allowing me to finally leave behind the shadow of my sister, my uncle, who is a hero, and finally, I can become your witch. A witch only for you... this power, these hands... I will use them all for you."
Ryuji felt the passion in her words, the desire in her eyes and the emotion that poured out of her body, and he couldn't help but hug her tightly. Liana seemed to enjoy his hug and leaned her head on his chest while wheezing as he almost crushed the air from her lungs.
"If you make this promise, Liana, even if your father, Alan or Alice try to stop me... I won't let you go." Ryuji whispered into her ears.
Liana smiled and kissed his neck. "Then keep me forever~"
The loud echoing beat of their hearts beating in synchronisation, their breathing slow, eyes interlocked.
Yumiko helped him adjust to this world as a human, supported his heart, and missed his mother.
Erika gave him the desire to improve, grow stronger, and love himself.
While Liana enabled his darkness... Accepted his vile and dark feelings without judgment. Something he needed as much as the others, though he knew they might accept him. Liana came forward herself... making all the difference.
"Liana, I will cherish you and treat you like a treasure."
Liana smiled, her face red, and Ryuji cupped her face. He leaned down and kissed her lips, slowly and tenderly; he didn't use his tongue or open his mouth; the kiss was filled with feelings of appreciation and affection.
Liana responded in kind, and they stood in the doorway, holding each other for a while.
Soon, Alan came back and was surprised to see Ryuji and Liana. He couldn't help but sigh because although he heard of the relationship between them, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
"Alan~ I missed him so much, and I couldn't control myself," Liana revealed a smile, and Ryuji could tell her lie easily because it was obvious she had planned this.
"Hah... Well, get inside; if people see this, my brother will be so pissed."
Alan sighed and led them inside. Ryuji's arm wrapped around Liana's waist, and Alan could only smile helplessly because although he disapproved, it wasn't like Ryuji and Liana would break up. It was more that he felt complex than anything else.
'After all, it was bound to happen...'