…Why did I panic just now? It's not like I'm some shady alchemist using illegal stuff.

Everyone knows my abilities already…

Akira felt a bit ridiculous and sighed inwardly, annoyed at his own overreaction.

But before he could dwell on it any longer—

"Akira! You haven't forgotten what you promised us, have you?!"

A blur of brown charged toward him like a cannonball.

Akira's reflexes kicked in. He stepped forward smoothly and caught the oncoming figure with both arms, his body spinning slightly to absorb the impact.

"Whoa there… Don't worry, I never break a promise, Iska." He offered a wry smile as he tried to gently release her.

But the Amazoness had no intention of letting go. Like a spoiled cat, she instantly coiled her legs around his waist and clung tighter.

Honestly, had she not been raised in the Astraea Familia under Astraea's strict guidance, Akira might have been "devoured" long ago by her insatiable Amazonian instincts.

Iska simply grinned, her bright eyes shining with joy as she declared, "Then let's go!"

"Enough! Can't you get off of him already?!"

Noin's voice cut in as she strode over, grabbing Iska by the shoulders and forcefully prying her off Akira like a peeling a stubborn sticker.

"Aww, Noin! I haven't hugged him enough." Iska whined in protest.

The two of them immediately locked eyes and hands, entering a tug-of-war that escalated into a friendly skirmish. The air around them crackled with a fiery but humorous tension.

Finally free, Akira exhaled and brushed off his clothes with a tired expression, then turned to the tall, calm girl who had just entered.

"Good afternoon, Neze."

Neze's lips curved into a soft, kind smile. She raised one hand and gently patted his head, her voice like a breeze in early spring.

"Good afternoon to you too, Akira."

As the two exchanged pleasantries, the sound of scuffling continued behind them.

Neze turned her head slightly, her expression exasperated as she looked at the pair still locked in a grappling match.

"Hey, you two. If you keep playing around, we're going to leave without you."

"Fine, fine. Ceasefire." Iska huffed, pulling back.

"I'll let it go… for now." Noin added, nodding.

But the moment the words left their mouths, they each took one side of Akira and grabbed hold of his arms. With mischievous grins, they each clung tightly, pressing against him as they dragged him toward the exit.

Akira looked helplessly at Neze, who chuckled softly. Their eyes met for a brief moment, sharing a smile.

With Iska and Noin pulling him along like overexcited puppies, and Neze trailing behind with quiet amusement, Akira resigned himself to the chaos, heart warmed by the light and laughter surrounding him.

The four of them soon arrived at a bustling commercial street, where lively voices echoed all around, and the dazzling storefronts on both sides competed for attention. Colorful displays lined the windows, and every kind of item imaginable filled the air with temptation.

Iska's eyes lit up the moment they stepped in.

"Wah! These are all so beautiful." She exclaimed, her voice full of girlish excitement as she tugged on both Noin and Akira's hands, dragging them into a cosmetics shop.

The moment she entered, she was like a kid in a candy store. Her footsteps turned into skips as she darted from shelf to shelf, picking up bottles and palettes with sparkling eyes.

"Look at this, and this. Astraea-sama recently taught me some new makeup tricks, so it's the perfect time to try them out."

Noin chuckled and followed close behind. "Every time we walk into a place like this, you always act like you're about to move the whole store home."

"I can't help it. These things are too pretty." Iska replied, puffing her cheeks as she held up a pastel eyeshadow palette and hugged it to her chest.

Neze, standing behind them with arms folded and a soft smile, teased, "What, are you planning to become the goddess of beauty's successor?"

Meanwhile, Akira stood to the side, watching Iska pick up a light-orange lipstick and wave it in front of him.

"Akira, what do you think of this color? Does it look good on me?" She asked, her tone filled with anticipation.

Akira scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uhh... I don't really get makeup, but... I think it'll look really pretty on you."

Satisfied with the response, Iska grinned and tossed the lipstick into her shopping basket without hesitation.

After they left the cosmetics store, Noin pointed to a dessert shop nearby, her eyes practically sparkling. "That's the place I was telling you about. Their signature strawberry cake is heavenly."

The exterior of the shop looked like something out of a fairytale, with pastel colors, flower garlands, and whimsical designs.

The group entered and sat at a table by the window. As the afternoon sun slanted in, the cozy ambiance enveloped them.

Noin couldn't even wait for the server. She immediately grabbed a fork and dug into a slice of strawberry cake, letting out a blissful sigh after one bite. "Mmm... it's still just as good as I remember."

Akira took a bite of his own slice and nodded in agreement. "Wow... It's sweet, but not too sweet. You really do have great taste, Noin."

Hearing the compliment, Noin smiled shyly and focused on her cake, ears tinged with pink.

After finishing the dessert, the next stop was a clothing boutique filled with racks of stylish outfits and sparkling accessories. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings—pretty much everything.

Neze wasn't particularly interested in buying anything, she simply wanted to enjoy the relaxed vibe with everyone else. Still, she couldn't resist picking up a pair of clip-on earrings and holding them up toward Akira.

"Akira, try these." She said with a grin.

Akira blinked. "Me? Are you sure?"

Neze nodded seriously.

Seeing her hopeful eyes, Akira gave in. "Alright, alright... just for a bit."

Neze gently clipped the earrings onto his ears and stepped back to admire her handiwork.

"Hm... a little weird." Iska commented bluntly as she circled around him like a fashion critic.

"Yeah." Noin agreed. "They're kind of... too delicate for you."

Akira looked in the mirror, touched his earlobe, and nodded. "It's definitely not my style."

Neze gave a small sigh and took the earrings off, clearly disappointed, before heading off to browse other items.

Akira, meanwhile, surrendered himself to the fate of being their "dress-up doll," standing there as the girls tested accessories on him one after another.

As the sky turned amber and the sun dipped below the horizon, the group eventually returned to their home.

That night, moonlight spilled softly through the half-open curtains, bathing the room in a gentle glow. Akira sat by the window, heart thumping.

He had originally planned to approach Lyra, but the two realized it would be far too risky to meet in her room. After all, the girls' dormitory was filled with people coming and going—there was no privacy to be found.

So, with some hushed discussion and a few mischievous smiles exchanged, they settled on a better idea—Lyra would sneak over to Akira's room later.

Akira glanced at the clock again.

Time seemed to crawl.

His eyes drifted to the door. And then, finally, a soft knock.

The door opened slightly, and Lyra stepped inside. She wore a casual short-sleeved shirt and snug-fitting shorts. But what caught Akira's attention most was the black stockings she held in her hands.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed, but her expression was calm—determined.

"L-Lyra… w-what are those for?" Akira asked, his voice cracking slightly, brain short-circuiting from the implications.

Lyra smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Hehe... I heard men have a thing for this sort of thing, don't they?"

She spoke in a teasing tone, slowly stretching the word "thing" like a mischievous cat toying with her prey.

Akira gulped.

'These gods… really corrupted their followers.' He thought, unable to look away.

Lyra placed the stockings on the bed and sat down beside him.