"Ohohoho… Tenra-kun, just you wait! When you're my servant, I'll make sure to treat you with extra special care!"
Hand on her hip, Kiyome Abe pointed her racket straight at Tenra, her confidence radiating across the court.
"Oh? Kiyome-san, are you that sure you've already beaten me?"
Tenra couldn't help but laugh at the sight of this proud heiress, so certain of her victory.
"When it comes to tennis, I'm unbeatable! Even if you're the legendary Red Dragon Emperor, I have zero chance of losing!"
Kiyome puffed up, every inch the preening peacock, not a shred of modesty in sight.
"We'll see about that. Just don't cry when you lose…"
Tenra's smile only widened. Off to the side, Rias pressed a palm to her forehead—she could already see how this would end.
Their eyes met, sparks flying in the air. The final match was on.
"Hah!"
Kiyome served first, the tennis ball arcing high before her racket sent it flying. Her form, her power—everything was textbook perfect. No wonder she was so confident; even a single serve showed her skill far surpassed most amateurs.
Tenra, impressed but unfazed, returned the shot with a smooth swing.
Truth be told, he wasn't much of a tennis player—he could play, sure, but technique-wise, he was no match for Kiyome. But when it came to raw power, speed, and reflexes—the result of countless battles—he left her in the dust. Those natural advantages more than made up for his lack of finesse.
They volleyed back and forth for over a dozen rallies. Finally, Kiyome spotted an opening and smashed the ball into Tenra's blind spot.
A triumphant smile curled her lips—victory was within reach. Even if it was just tennis, beating the Red Dragon Emperor felt deliciously satisfying.
But before she could savor her win, the impossible happened.
Tenra dropped to one hand, spun with inhuman agility, and—using a move no normal person could hope to pull off—sent the ball screaming back from the dead corner.
Whoosh—
The ball zipped past Kiyome's ear, landing deep behind her. She blinked, caught off guard.
"That was close! You okay, Kiyome-san?"
Tenra flashed a sunny, utterly unbothered smile.
"I'm fine! Keep going!"
Gritting her teeth, Kiyome glared at him. That had to be luck. It had to be.
Damn you, Kamiyo Tenra. Damn Red Dragon Emperor. The real match starts now—just wait!
But what followed wasn't a match. It was a nightmare.
Every time she thought she'd cornered Tenra, every time she set up the perfect shot, he'd pull off some ridiculous, last-second save, flipping the rally on its head.
Point after point after point… By the end, she hadn't won a single one.
If she still didn't realize he was toying with her, then Kiyome Abe really was a fool.
"Waaah… you're bullying me!"
She collapsed to the ground, all her confidence and pride gone, reduced to tears by a certain someone's relentless teasing.
"Lady Kiyome!"
Her familiar girls rushed to her side, fussing over her. Rias, meanwhile, shot Tenra a look that said, You made this mess. Fix it.
"Tenra, bullying girls isn't gentlemanly at all," Rias chided.
"Ahem… It was just too much fun. I got carried away."
Tenra coughed, suddenly a little sheepish. Making a noble heiress cry might've been a step too far.
"Kiyome-san, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Tenra walked over, offering a sincere apology.
"No! I'll remember you bullied me for the rest of my life!"
Tears still glimmering in her eyes, Kiyome glared at him, refusing to accept.
If he'd just beaten her, that would be one thing. But to be toyed with like this—she felt like a complete idiot. For someone as proud as Kiyome, this was a humiliation she'd never forget.
Rias just shrugged, as if to say, You dug your own grave. Tenra could only rub his forehead, thinking, Women really do hold grudges, don't they…
Still, handling a sulking, vengeful heiress wasn't impossible for him.
"Kiyome-san, are you really not going to forgive me?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Tenra double-checked, but Kiyome's answer came without hesitation.
Damn Red Dragon Emperor. Damn Kamiyo Tenra. How dare you make a fool of me—I'll hate you forever!
He sighed, as if reaching a decision. Then, under the stunned gazes of Rias and the familiar girls, Tenra bent down, gently lifting Kiyome's chin.
"Kiyome-san, I think you're forgetting something. I am the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. No one refuses my requests."
"So now, I command you—
Forgive me."
His voice was low, cold, absolute. The room seemed to shrink around her, Tenra's presence radiating a chilling, kingly pressure—like a dragon wreathed in flames, looking down from the heavens. For a moment, Kiyome felt like an ant before a god.
All her anger and pride vanished, replaced by awe and something dangerously close to fear.
"I… I understand…"
It slipped out before she could stop herself. Heiress or not, she was just a stubborn young lady—no match for the Red Dragon Emperor's overwhelming aura.
And the moment she gave in—
"Kiyome-san, you said it yourself. Even girls can't go back on their word."
Tenra's intimidating presence vanished, replaced by his usual dazzling smile.
Kiyome stared at him, realization dawning. She'd been tricked. Again.
"You… you…"
Tears welled up once more. He really was the worst. Kamiyo Tenra, you villain!
"Alright, alright, Kiyome-san. That was just a joke. I really am sorry."
Tenra softened his tone. "How about this—while I can't be your servant, if you ever need anything, as long as it's within reason, you can come to me. Deal?"
Kiyome, ready to explode, hesitated at his words. She wiped her eyes, suspicion flickering in her gaze.
"R-really? You're not lying?"
"It's a promise from the Red Dragon Emperor. Of course it's real."
Tenra nodded solemnly.
"Then… then I forgive you."
After a moment's thought, Kiyome relented.
Honestly, it was her own overconfidence that set her up, and all he'd really done was tease her a little. Compared to a grudge, a promise from the Red Dragon Emperor was worth far more.
"Hehehe, thank you, Kiyome-san."
"But you did lose, so please help Rias with her report."
"Hmph. A loss is a loss. I'll keep my word!"
"Glad to hear it…"
With their goal accomplished and the hour growing late, Tenra and Rias said their goodbyes. As for the research report, the two girls set a time to meet—though that was their business alone.
After they left, Harpy sidled up to Kiyome, still shaken. "Lady Kiyome, that Red Dragon Emperor was so scary…"
"He… he wasn't that bad," Kiyome muttered, cheeks turning faintly pink.
He might be arrogant and a little mean, but somehow, she couldn't bring herself to hate him.
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