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CxC Chapter 30: Burnin' Love
🕑 Added 2025-02-27 21:09:19 +0000 UTC~Yuta Yukimura~
After receiving a quick crash course on what Rating Games were by Akeno, I understood our current situation much better. We were going to have a chess-themed battle against Riser's peerage to decide on Rias' marriage.
And Akeno did inform me that, not only did Riser have a full peerage, but that his individual peerage members were not any worse than Rias', and on top of also being more experienced in rating games, they also hadn't lost a game where they didn't throw.
Then there was the fucker Riser Phenex himself, who was essentially an immortal pyrokinetic, and none of us had any way to get past his immortality, even if Rias blew his head off with the power of destruction he would just regenerate it back in seconds.
To be perfectly honest? This did not look good at all, in the slightest.
We were up against an enemy that had more experience than us, that was stronger than us and not only that, but Riser was also an opponent that we physically couldn't defeat.
And... he was strong. I couldn't even move his arm, like a toddler pushing up against a brick wall. This was a different level from Freed, at least against Freed I knew we were in the same weight class but Riser...
He was in another league, I didn't even know if I was on the same level as someone like Koneko yet Akeno blankly told me that even if everyone ganged up on Riser at the same time he would still defeat them.
Was I really in over my head?
"Are you okay Yuta-san?" Asia snapped me out of my musings, we were currently walking up the mountains to one of Rias' family's manors where we would hold our training camp. Rias had us immediately pack our bags after that fight with, I was concerned for a moment about leaving Bobby alone but then remembered she looked well-fed even as a stray so I wouldn't need to worry. She could fend for herself.
"Yeah, I am, just lost in some thought." I waved off Asia's worries as I stretched my arms a little while groaning.
"It surprises me even though I know your circumstances Yuta-kun, are you really fine carrying that much?" Akeno asked as she looked at 5 floating double door-sized floating shadow hands carrying tons of supplies.
"Yeah, don't worry about that. It's surprisingly light." With my regular training and the boosts I got from my contracts, my shadow hands were pretty damn strong. I volunteered to carry everyone's bags to test my weight limits and still didn't hit it. My training was paying off but I still didn't doubt that Koneko could easily carry this much weight.
It didn't take much more of trekking up a mountain to reach where Rias said her family manor was and-
By Tiamat's tits, referring to this place as a simple manor felt like insulting it. The manor was large, clean, luxurious and it had a large crystal-clear lake in front of it with a beautiful gazebo next to it. The manor looked like it cost tens of millions of dollars.
Rias tilted her head at my dumbfounded expression while Akeno giggled.
"What is it Yuta-kun? Is the manor not to your liking?" She didn't even think about why I would be surprised about such a sight as it was the norm for her.
"...Nothing."
She truly was a princess indeed.
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~Yuta Yukimura~
We wasted no time after getting to the training grounds, picking out our rooms which looked like hotel rooms to me without a single crumb of dust in sight somehow. After we picked out our rooms we all settled in our rooms and changed before going headfirst into training.
Asia was starting off training her magic while I was going to get my basic skills tested by Koneko and Kiba. Using only a sword against Kibe and doing hand-to-hand against Koneko.
If my skills tab wasn't a good enough hint, I did... meh against them. Kiba easily suppressed me in skill, and according to what I asked him after the spar he was trained by... Souji Motherfucking Okita!?!?!?
No wonder I got my ass handed to me by his sword. He was trained by a swordsmanship legend turned devil that had lived for hundreds of years.
I did much better against Koneko, landing a few solid hits mostly thanks to my Wind God's Ring but she managed to pin me down after a few minutes and just like Riser, I couldn't budge her grip. If I had to compare, her hand-to-hand combat skill would be at Intermediate level compared to my Basic.
After that, I did some solo training, training my Iron Manipulation, Natural Weapons and Shadow Hands by tearing apart trees in the very dense forest near the manor until my reserves were exhausted, once that was done I hauled my ass back to the manor to cook for the peerage.
Cooking was certainly easier when you had 10 pairs of hands that worked together smoothly. Since we were training, I focused on giving the food I made the properties of restoring stamina and getting rid of exhaustion.
Safe to say, everyone appreciated my food plenty, and so did I considering I was tired down to the bones and needed that stamina restoration.
"Mmh~ I think I won't be able to live without your cooking anymore Yuta-kun." Akeno moaned as she took a bite of my egg rice and Asia mimicked her expression.
"Yes! It is very delicious Yuta-san!" "...Delicious as always." "You make a good meal Yuta-kun." I thanked them for the praise but I was honestly just... exhausted, both mentally and physically, but I still tried to carry conversation the best I could. In the corner of my vision, I saw Rias also compliment my food but she looked rather distracted, I didn't comment on it though, last time I was nosey I got choked out by a chicken.
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After dinner, I retired to my room, laying in my bed and just stared out of the window. Something just nagged at me, I couldn't put my finger on it, I felt kind of directionless.
So I went out to clear my mind, just walking around the lake, taking in the fresh air when I noticed a lone figure sitting on the gazebos when I approached out of curiosity the figure revealed themselves to be Rias, leaning against a pillar and reading a book on tactics while wearing reading glasses and her nightgown. Seems like I wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep.
I not so subtly approached Rias as she turned to me with a smile that hid her emotions, I could tell she was masking her feelings, I do it a lot myself after all and she was rather bad at it.
"Hello Yuta-kun, you couldn't sleep?" She patted the spot next to herself as she slung her legs over and I sat next to her.
"Seems like I wasn't the only one. Trying to come up with strategies against Riser?" Rias looked at me before facing away and nodding with hesitation.
"Yeah... I am, but it doesn't seem likely. Riser was not lying, we are less experienced, he is stronger, his bloodline ability is on par with the Bael Power of Destruction, and he has larger numbers. And now I have dragged you all into it."
Ah.
I could see it in her, the small beads of tears, but what was behind them was an emotion I was familiar with. Helplessness.
That emotion, I hated seeing it in Rias' face.
I wouldn't consider myself someone good at consoling people in the least considering how antisocial I used to be. But right now, Rias really looked like she needed a talk.
I remembered my mother, she was always great at giving such talks. Hopefully, it rubbed off on me.
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~Rias Gremory~
Rias felt Yuta's warm hand land on her cold shoulder as he gave her an uneasy smile. It made her just feel even more guilty.
"Don't worry about Rias. Even if seems unbeatable right now. There is always a way to find-" She could see how uneasy he was too, she could tell he didn't exactly believe his own words either, as if repeating rehearsed lines, he just didn't want her to worry.
"You don't have to do this you know. Yuta-kun." Rias couldn't find the strength in her to project confidence into her voice. She couldn't bear to see him so worried over her problems.
"What do you mean?" Yuta asked innocently as she hung her head.
"It's been well over two weeks. You could leave anytime you wanted. You don't have to face Riser, you don't have to be dragged down because of my mistakes, Asia-chan too."
He didn't choose to be in her peerage and he said as much to her when they first met. He had no reason to fight her fight and get brutalized by Riser.
The image of Riser holding him by the throat flashed in her eyes as she bit her lip. Her heart wouldn't be able to bear seeing Yuta getting hurt like that again.
He barely looked surprised as she couldn't look him in the face but the next words out of his mouth shook her.
"Nah."
Rias turned to Yuta with wide eyes. Not understanding what he was trying to say.
"What? Why?" The questions left her mouth before she could think but in response, Yuta crossed his arms and looked genuinely offended.
"What do you mean why? I feel insulted that you would think that I would leave for even a second. I'm here, whether you like it or not."
"But-" She didn't want him to suffer needlessly but he shushed her up, making her go quiet as he ruffled his hair, his unease from before gone as he seemed to have gained his confidence before speaking.
"No buts. It may not have been much for you but you have helped more than you realized, you helped me meet wonderful people and always helped me without asking for anything in return. So it's my turn to help you and I won't accept it if you say no." He turned to her and smiled, and that smile made her insides melt and twist.
He glanced up, and Rias felt her breath get caught in her throat as she looked into Yuta's eyes gazing at the moon. His usually dull and lifeless brown eyes had a fire in them that she had never seen before. They looked closer to crimson now, with a gleam in them she couldn't perceive. She couldn't help but admire them.
He turned to her, coming closer as Rias felt her heart pound faster than ever before, he took one of her hands into his, clasping it tightly, making Rias' throat feel dry.
"Rias, do you trust me?"
Rias couldn't help but shiver hearing his voice, it projected a sense of confidence that she couldn't help but latch onto. She couldn't point out a specific reason as to why but...
"I-I do."
She tried to avert her eyes in embarrassment as her vision spun but Yuta reached out with a gentle yet firm hand and grasped her chin, turning her gaze back to him, unlike Risers which made her feel disgusted, his touch just made her heart clench and her cheeks burn up.
Yuta's eyes met hers and she couldn't look away from them as he spoke with utmost confidence.
"Then, if you trust me, trust that even if you can't think of any way you can possibly defeat Riser, I can. And I will, I will defeat Riser. I know I can, so, even if you don't trust yourself, trust me Rias." He looked into her eyes with sincerity.
His words held such unshakable conviction that she found herself unable to refuse, but she didn't trust herself enough to say words so she nodded, making Yuta smile slightly.
"Good, and all I want in exchange..."
He looked away, blushing a tad and scratched his cheek, as if he was the one feeling embarrassed right now.
"I just want you to be you, I can't stand seeing your sad expression so just please don't give up for me all right? That's the only thing I want from you, to be the Rias I know." Rias' heart pounded so hard that she felt like it was going to break through her ribcage at this rate.
"A-alright, I'll do as you say Yuta-kun. I'll trust you." All he wanted Rias to be was Rias, not just Gremory, he didn't care about that, he just saw her. She felt like she was going to melt from all of the heat. The way Yuta seemed relieved and gave her a smile made her heart flutter before he hopped off the gazebo.
"Alright, that's what I wanted to hear. Don't stay up too late, we have a long day of training ahead of us after all. Or at least I do." With that, Yuta left, making Rias feel disappointed at the lack of him pushing further(But also relief, she knew she would have caved in instantly) before she stamped the feeling down, feeling reinvigorated.
While she trusted Yuta she couldn't let herself get left behind by him. He was right, she needed to get herself together.
She needed to train, normally she would train by herself but that wasn't enough now. She would ask her brother for help but that was off-limits right now for obvious reasons. So, the only person she could ask for help with her training and the person who would know ways to help her with her power was...
Rias bit her lip as her finger hovered over the contacts showing the picture of her mother.
Although her mother hadn't said no to the wedding and obviously wouldn't call it off, but her mother would surely help her at least train, right?
She had nothing to lose by calling her.
She schooled her anxiety and pressed the call button.
She was Rias Gremory, she wouldn't get daunted by calling her parents. And besides, if she refused to do at least that little, how could she face Yuta?
After a few seconds of ringing the call opened and Rias brought the phone to her ear.
"Hey mom..."
A/N: Did you guys like the Rias pov? I wanted to write the talk without it being overshadowed by Yuta's nihilistic and detached monologue. And to portray how Rias felt towards Yuta and also hide what Yuta was actually thinking in the conversation because his inner monologue was way different than what he was saying, I hope I did a good job at portraying Rias' feelings and making the conversation actually emotional. What did you guys think?
Heartwarming fluff aside. Thats right! We are getting Milfs early! It is a goddamn crime that I didn't get around to writing Venelana before and I thoroughly need to repent and rectify that. I hope you guys like the little twist I am adding to this training camp.
Comments
Colin Peden
So, amy chance the Gacha will give him the real Phoenix power? Cuz if he pulled that out, Venelana would likely call to stop the fight and cancel the wedding to Riser. Could you imagine a kid with both the power of Phoenix and Bael? Riser's family would be fucked, in the long run.
Lucas Sullivan
Yeah, imagine he is about die or something, and gamble for a good ticket and gets like the world stand or something
Rauko the varment
...damn, you did this scene so right that I'm having withdrawal symptoms here! TFTC and I really need Moto, Marami, More, and Moar!
Rez
Love the Rias pov , was well done and made me see from her perspective, would it be possible , assuming of course that the gacha system is alive, to do something along the lines of what Issei does?, sacrificing life span to get a really strong ticket or two in life treatening situations?
Better World Project
Also don't forget to reward Yuta for standing up to Riser. That is a canon bronze level of achievement. Wonder what the mission text is gonna be?
Better World Project
So the training begins. We'll he is at ab enter start then issei was in canon. Also great chapter. Love the rias development. Let's see what the gremory milf can do.
dragongod0117
Kakyoin approves
Loghead101
Damn, we’re finally getting the Milf, and so soon at that as well. Yuta is already enlightened, but something is going to awaken in him and her. Can’t wait!
Vinicius Vieira
ty 4 the chap, and not gonna lie, the only way i can see yuta winning this is if he can unlock touki
