Ruto.
Just walk right up to her, say hello, and invite her to breakfast. That's all you had to do…
"So you thought you could get the drop on me, huh?! Well, I'm far wiser than I was when I fought Namikaze Haru-kun, so I won't fall for such a cheap tactic!"
And that's how I ended up flat on the ground, a merciless foot stomped on my throat, slowly pushing down and choking me.
"Shhhlckrosshhh!" I tried saying something, but due to the fact that Isabela was crushing my throat, all that came out was a throaty gargle. I clawed at her leg, but short of actually hurting her, I had no way out of this. I could easily flip her off of me, but I felt that smashing her into the dirty was a piss-poor way to kick off our new relationship as comrades. To be honest… her trying to crush my throat didn't hurt as bad as I thought it did. I may have over-exaggerated it.
"You are the lowest of the lowest scum!" Isabela proclaimed… I'd probably be taking her more seriously if she WASN'T dressed in nothing but denim shorts and a white tank top. "Your friend, Namikaze Haru, may have been a pervert and he MAY have stripped me with magic, but he was a great fighter! You insult his name and all those who call themselves fighters!"
"Hhhhhhrrrrrk!" I groaned again.
"Any last words?!"
"SSHHHHHYYUUUUU! RRRKKKFST! IWND TER INVT SHYUUUUA RRRRKKKFEST!" That was all I could get out due to the fact my airway was being crushed.
"Wait! I see the issue here." Isabela noticed. "Hold on a sec." Then she pulled her foot away, raising her fists to fight again.
I sat up, clutching my aching throat and gasping for air. "First off: WHAT THE HELL!? Second: I just wanted to invite you to come eat breakfast with the rest of us, ya friggin psycho!"
Isabela winked… or blinked… I dunno. I assume she blinked even though I can't see the right side of her face for confirmation.
"Oh… what?"
I sighed. "You don't remember the bet either, do you?"
"Oh." Isabela said. "You mean the bet between Leviathan-sama and Ravel-sama?"
"NO! The bet between—!" Then I paused, realizing what she just said. "Oh. I mean yes. You're the first person to remember that."
"I'll be honest. I thought that was a joke." The mask-wearing woman admitted. "Although, perhaps I should've expected differently considering all of the questions Ravel had been asking me concerning men and how to fully capture their attention."
"Yeah, Ravel-sama sure is something."
Then there was a bit of an awkward pause that Isabela ended a few seconds in.
"So you're really her servant now?" Isabela asked.
"Yep. Riser won the wager against Serafall, so I'm no longer her servant. I am now Ravel's servant."
"Oh… well… Sorry for… well, trying to kill you earlier, ya know?" She spoke awkwardly. Couldn't blame her. I mean, really try to picture trying to apologize for trying to choke someone out over a misunderstanding.
"It's no biggie. People have tried to kill me for a lot less." Sad part is that it's true. I got killed by Raynare for LITERALLY nothing. I did NOTHING. "Anyway, like I said, I made breakfast for everyone. Sort-of just a way to greet all of the family and comrades of my master. I admit, it's going to take me a long while to get used to this place, so I might as well try to get along with everyone."
"Hm. You are more mature than most. I would have expected you to be reluctant and vengeful towards all of the house of Phenex for being made to leave your previous master."
And that struck a nerve. I tried to hide the bad taste in my mouth and the sad feeling that began to swallow me. It still showed for a moment, but I got it under control.
"Well… I'll admit I deeply miss Serafall, but Ravel's my master now."
"Which reminds me: What do you think of Ravel?" Now that she wasn't trying to kill me, Isabela was actually a pretty casual person. Far more pleasant than any of Riser's other servants. I sat cross-legged on the ground while Isabela sat against a nearby tree.
I shrugged. "She's okay. I could have ended up with a worse master."
"Isn't that a bit harsh?" Isabela raised an eyebrow. I stared in response.
"What do you mean? I said I could have ended up with a worse master. That's a compliment."
"True," She admitted, "but I had hoped you would have a much warmer opinion of her. She certainly has a great care for you. I dare say she even has a crush on you."
"Gee, never noticed." I said, deadpan. "Look. I'm not some cliche, clueless harem protagonist. I actually recognize when a girl has feelings for me. That doesn't necessarily mean I'll return them."
"... Ouch." Isabela winced, as if feeling something painful. "That's harsh, don't you think?"
"I'm not saying I hate Ravel. It's just that I have no real interest in her. I cook her breakfast and I'll be kind with her, but that doesn't mean I'm attached to her at the hip." I defended. I sighed, curling up into a ball and hugging my legs to my chest. "I won't say that being here at the moment is bad, but the only reason I'm going along with this honestly is so I can someday return to the side of my TRUE master and lover, Serafall. Ravel's a cute girl, but I don't care for her THAT much and have no intention of remaining with her."
"... I see."
That was all Isabela said. And that surprised me. I fully expected more in response to what even I considered slightly harsh.
"What? No scolding or telling me I'm a cold person?" It was hard to believe she had NO objection about my words.
Isabela shrugged. "You like your previous master better. I understand." Wow. Didn't expect that response. "I sensed it back when I fought Namikaze-kun. You amongst the Gremory group have very strong bonds. Even if you are not Rias's servant, you still have the same type of feelings. With bonds like that, it's no wonder I lost. If you desire to return with your master so you can be by Namikaze as well, then I can't really blame you."
"Oh…"
"Just promise that, should the time come where you are able to return to your master's side, that you'll be gentle with Ravel." Isabela's request came to me as a surprise. "Because, to be honest, she is one of the few people here that I actually like. Her, Lord and Lady Phenex, Mihae, and Riser-sama. I would hate to see Ravel be hurt due to you being careless." Hm. I figured Riser and Ravel, but Mihae? Who would've guessed?
I nodded, understanding her reasoning. "Of course. I would never intentionally harm a woman. Unless of course it's an actual fight or whatever, I would never hurt a woman. It just ain't my style. I would fight to my last breath to defend a woman's honor as well."
"Hm." Isabela chuckled. "You remind me of Namikaze-kun. Both of you are admirable people."
OK, I think something is up.
"So… you mentioned Haru again." I noted. "I can't help but notice that you've said his name more often than any other all throughout this conversation" In fact, most of the time, she had been comparing someone or something with Ise.
"O-Oh! H-Have I?!" Isabela blushed, causing me to become more suspicious.
"OK, now I KNOW something is up!"
Isabela suddenly seemed flustered. "S-So you said that everyone was gathered for breakfast?! I-I'll go meet with the others now! Bye!"
I watched as Isabela ran off, leaving me alone.
Um… Isabela, I kinda already told you. I'm not an idiot. You all but gave away that you're now crushing on Haru.
Speaking of crushing…
If I had only paid that smallest amount more of attention, I would have noticed that my words did not go unnoticed by another. And my guilt for my words against Ravel would've become so much greater…