I was somewhat confused when Ravel suddenly desired to leave just as the fight was getting good, but I understood that some people needed their private space.
I looked back to see my bro's fight with Riser.
I felt such elation. To see everybody together again, fighting together. That's why I was so happy when I fought the guards to protect Haru. I admit I felt bad for forcing my own selfish agenda on Ravel by acting without her permission, but I wouldn't just let Haru get clobbered.
So, I watched the fight between Haru and Riser.
Haru unleashed a large demonic power shot. Riser, probably knowing he can't take that blast head on, dodged it. Haru charged at Riser who countered with a powerful fist coated in flames, smashing Haru into a wall, but no damage was done to the armor. So strong. Haru gets out of the wall, causing Riser to scream in outrage.
"Shitty Sekiryuutei brat! Sorry but I won't hold back! I don't want to admit it, but right now you are a monster! In front of your master, Rias, peeeeeerish!"
Riser began to unleash even bigger, brighter, and hotter flames.
"There's no way that I will perish from a crappy fire like yours!" Haru charged forward to attack Riser, being propelled along by the boosters on his back. Even from afar, I could tell they were powered using demonic energy. When their respective attacks met, the entire room shook from the burst of power. Truly amazing. Haru couldn't have had this much before…
Then Haru sent Riser flying backwards with a powerful punch to the face. Riser recovered, but ended up coughing up blood. When I looked to see what method Haru used to deal such a blow, I noticed he was holding something… a cross…
Hmph. Just like I said before. Haru never loses to the same trick twice. If he can't overcome Riser's regeneration by defeating him in a test of strength and endurance, then he could use holy items such as water and crosses to damage him to the point that he'll surrender to escape pain.
It would work on any Devil, even if he is a Phenex. The immortal bird Phoenix might have great regeneration powers, but they are still Devils… But how is he able to hold it…?
"I punched you while increasing the effect of the cross with my Sacred Gear. A holy attack that has increased drastically can even be used against High-class Devils. Even if you are the immortal bird Phenex, you won't be able to heal this attack that easily, right?" That's exactly right, Haru…but that's also the problem. Even with your increased power, you shouldn't be able to touch it as long as you carry the blood of a Devil…
That was when it clicked. Haru…you didn't…
"Absurd! Crosses bring intense suffering to Devils! Even if you wear a Dragon's armour, touching it is absolutely foolish…" Riser paused, having realized something shocking. "…Did you give your… left arm to the Dragon residing in the gauntlet…? So that's the reason for your insane powers…!"
"Yeah, that's right. I gave my left arm in order to use this power for a temporary period. My left arm is the arm of an actual Dragon. That's why a cross doesn't work on me."
IDIOT! How could you just give up your arm like that!? Geez! Just as I was beginning to respect you, I find you made such a stupid move!
"If you do that, then your left arm won't return to normal! Do you know that!?"
"What about it?"
Try to act more concerned, idiot… I understand your reasons, but… Well… I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I did tell Rias that Haru would do anything for her… That's the crazy stupid feeling known as love. If I could sacrifice my own body to protect the ones I loved, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Riser, charged at Haru just as the armor disappeared.
W-Whats going on? His armor is gone. He is defenseless now.
Riser, grabbed him by the throat!
"I praise you for doing this well for a 'Pawn'. You really did well. To tell you the truth I didn't expect you to do this well. I experienced the power of the dragon user with my own body. If you had a year, no six months for you to get used to your dragon's power I would have lost." Riser had a point. If Haru managed to get this strong in such a short time, then, in a few months time, he would probably have been able to become strong enough to surpass even Riser by a lot. However… that didn't mean it was impossible now. "There's nothing you should feel ashamed about. I will train you after I become Rias' groom. You will become a strong devil."
"Come on, Haru! I know you won't be taken out this easily!" I screamed at my bro who was in a bad position. "Do it for love! Do it for Rias! Do it… Do it for the oppaaaaaaaaiiiiii!"
I could swear Haru's eyes bulged wide open. "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Haru pulled out a bottle of what I figured to be holy water. "BOOSTED GEAR GIFT! STRIKE HIM IN THE NAME OF OPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIII!" … To be honest, I was just shouting the first thing that came to mind… I actually feel pretty embarrassed for even saying it…
[Transfer!]
The holy water blessed with Haru's power dealt serious damage, burning Riser's face.
"Ugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Riser let out a loud scream of pain, smoke beginning to come from the serious wound that appeared on his face. That wouldn't kill him, but I believe it would take a large amount of stamina to recover from that.
Haru, holding his cross and holy water he sprinkled over it, walked over to Riser, intending to beat him with one final punch as he gathered a mass of demonic power in his hands.
[Transfer!]
You know… I just feel so satisfied right now. Just watching Riser get his just desserts, being forced into the corner like this. I remembered the defeated faces of all of my friends… all of their faces following the defeat.
Yuuki… Koneko… Akeno… Rias… Serafall…
For all of our feelings that are with you, smash that bastard's face in, Haru!
"H-Hold on! Do you even know what you are doing!? This engagement is important and necessary for the future of Devils! It's not something a Devil brat like you can butt into!"
"I don't know anything complicated, but you damaged Devi-kun! The most important treasure of my brother! You forced him to leave his most beloved master against his wishes! Also, there's something else I remember vaguely when I lost against you and fell unconscious. Buchou was crying. She was crying! And she was also crying before! That reason is enough for me to beat the shit out of you!"
Haru's fist flew straight into Riser's stomach, piercing straight through, causing Riser to spit out blood before falling to the ground, unconscious.
It was over.
It was really over.
Haru won.
Without hesitation, I leaped into the arena to meet Haru and Rias who had once again united.
"Haru!"
My bro turned in my direction, grinning like an idiot despite being clearly exhausted from his fight. "Hey… Good to see you again, buddy…"
Akeno-san, Yuuki, and Koneko also gathered…
I felt like crying…
I felt so happy. We were all able to be together again… Haru had won and Rias was free.
"So, it looks like we're all going to be heading home together, huh?" Haru said… that was when my expression became sad.
I shook my head. "No…"
Everyone stared at me in shock. "W-What do you mean?! I beat Riser! Buchou is free, so that means you should be too! I undid the results of the Rating Game."
"Haru… think about what you asked." I pointed out while crossing my arms. "You already have your girl. You don't need me anyway. All I'd do is just embarrass you and find ways to tease you two. You don't want me around. We'd just get into more fights… I just came down here to say goodbye to you guys…"
"Idiot…" Oh geez. Don't cry, Haru. Show some pride! You won! "You're a total ass, but the way you act like an ass is special! Nobody can be a gigantic ass quite like you! Even if all you'll be doing is screwing with me like always, it will be great because you'll still be around! O-Otou-san! Oka-san! They'll be wondering where you are! Y-You can't just say, after all I just did, that you can't come back with us!"
"Oh come on, Haru-kun, don't be so gullible! Ruto's not serious!" Yuuki said, waving off Haru's worries with her own denial. Then she realized I didn't respond. "Y-You're NOT serious, are you? I-I mean… this is supposed to be a happy ending! We're all supposed to be heading home together!"
"... Senpai…" Koneko-chan tried to hide it, but she actually had sadness in her voice.
"... What a tragic parting… I suppose, in the end, there's no such thing as 'the perfect happy ending:..." Even Akeno-san was not spared the sad atmosphere around us.
"Come on! You're coming back with us whether you like it or not!" Haru demanded, grabbing me by the arm with even larger tears in his eyes. He was trying to look angry, but his sadness was very apparent. "I… I won! Dammit! You're coming home with us even if we have to break every bone in your body and drag you back!"
*DON!*
I punched Haru across the face, causing him to stumble backwards. "Idiot! Such an act will earn you the ire of the Phenex clan and all of their allies! You think that's what I want!? For your victory to mean nothing because you decided to overdo your whole 'heroics' bullshit to try and take me back home!? For everything to fall apart because of me!?" I screamed at him… but hot tears ran down my cheeks. "...There's nothing I want more… than to return home with you guys… but I can't. I have a duty to my master. It would not only cause you trouble… but it would also shame the honor of my master… my TRUE master… Please… just go."
Haru just stared at me, both of us still crying.
"Ruto…"
"... Senpai…"
"Ruto-kun…"
We all sat in this silence… This horrible horrible silence.
"Very well." Rias was the one who spoke, nodding sadly. "I… I don't know what to say other than 'Goodbye'... but only for now."
Everyone stared at Rias-senpai.
"You are skilled as a fighter and a Devil, Ruto. Once you become High-Class, you'll be able to become independent and come and go as you please." Rias explained. "No matter how long it takes… You had better do whatever you can to return to us or else I will never forgive you for making my adorable Pawn cry like that. Anyone who makes my servants cry in such a way without reparation will face the full wrath of the Gremory."
Despite saying such harsh words, Rias-senpai smiled.
I bit my lower lip, fighting back my sobs. "Alright… No more tears… We'll save those for when we all meet again… okay?" I wiped my tears on my arm. "N-Next time… we'll all cry together… because we're happy. I promise!" Then I slammed my hand against the ground, creating a magic circle. "Sora! Come give my bro and his girl a ride home!"
*FLASH!*
What appeared from the magic circle was a four legged beast. It was a mix between a lion and an eagle with wings.
"Griffon…"
I heard someone in the hall saying that. Yep. This is the Griffon I caught a while back in the Familiar Forest. He had learned who was boss after I caught him. He obeyed my orders without question. I named him Sora because he flies majesticly in the sky.
Without hesitation, Rias grabbed Haru's hand and jumped onto the Griffon.
*ROAR*
Sora made a roar and then started to move towards a huge hole in the ceiling
"I'll be waiting at the club room!" Was Haru's final words to everybody.
I couldn't help but smile as the two departed… feeling somewhat envious.
I bowed to the others. "For now… I must depart." Before I could fall to tears again, I turned away…
Then someone grabbed my arm.
"Ruto… no matter what… you'll come back to us, okay?" It sounded more like a command than a question from Yuuki. Unable to say anything, I nodded.
Then I left.