The day after Alice moved in, it was just before 5 a.m.—time for training.

Fresh from the otherworld, I couldn't skip this.

I tried sitting up, but something held me down.

"Suu… suu…" Miu slept beside me in cute pink pajamas, her peaceful breathing a balm.

So adorable. I petted her head.

"Big… brother… I love you…" she mumbled.

Gah!

Too cute! What a way to start the day!

"Issei…" Rias murmured from the other side.

"Issei-kun…" Asia joined in, both in sheer negligees.

Their breasts! Pink tips visible!

"Issei-san… made you tamagoyaki… ahh~" Asia dreamed of feeding me.

Hell yeah, a beauty's "ahh" is the best!

"Baby-making… tonight…" Xenovia muttered, belly exposed.

What kind of dream is that!?

"Mmm… delicious manju…" Irina drooled onto Xenovia's stomach.

Should I wipe that?

"Issei-senpai… I've grown bigger…" Koneko purred, curled on my chest.

Grown-up Koneko? Her petite charm is perfect, but a Kuroka-like figure? Yes, please!

"Ugh… Governor, do your work…" Reynare groaned.

Poor Reynare, stressed even in dreams. I'll take her somewhere fun later.

Sleeping with everyone like this… it's been a while. In Audilia, we had separate rooms, smaller beds. This feels like home.

When did they all sneak in? Last night, it was just Miu, Rias, and Asia. Oh well, this chaos is comforting now.

Time to change. Tiamat's joining training today. She usually stays at her place but sometimes crashes here.

Gotta move Koneko first. As I tried—

She gripped my shirt. "Issei-senpai… always together… nya…"

No way!

How can I move her now?

What do I do!?

Click.

The door creaked. Alice peeked through, clutching a pillow, blushing, avoiding my eyes.

"Alice? What's up?"

Thud.

She hid. Weird.

"Alice?"

The door opened slowly. She stepped in, embarrassed. "Y-You're awake…"

"Yeah, always up this early for training."

"Oh… I got up early for nothing…"

"Huh?"

"Nothing!" She finally looked at me, then froze. "What's this situation!?"

"What?"

"Why's Rias and everyone sleeping here? Almost all the girls in this house!"

"Well, except Mom and Rossweisse… yeah. It's normal."

Since summer, anyway. Started small, but the bed kept growing—literally, after renovations.

Tiamat might join too.

"You… you…!" Alice trembled, white lightning sparking, her blonde hair turning pure white.

"Alice? Why—"

"Cheater!!"

WHAM!

Her pillow slammed into my face.

"Ow…"

Post-training, eating breakfast, my face still stung from the pillow mark.

"Sorry… I overreacted…" Alice mumbled, guilty since morning.

I patted her head, smiling. "I'm over it. Don't sulk."

"Okay…"

Ding-dong!

"Eek!" Alice clung to me, startled by the intercom.

Not just auto-doors—intercoms too? Normal sounds are fine, but machines spook her. Still, her cute reactions are a bonus.

Who's here? That aura…

"Hey!" I opened the door.

"Issei-sama…" Ravel Phenex, of the high-class Phenex family, stood there.

In the living room, Ravel bowed. "Rias-sama, apologies for the sudden visit."

"No worries, you're welcome," Rias smiled.

I'd seen Ravel in the Underworld, but her showing up at my house? Unexpected. No prior notice, either—a total surprise.

Ravel wore a white dress. Nice chest for someone younger than me and Alice… probably.

"Issei-senpai, where are you looking?" Koneko's sharp voice snapped.

Busted. I laughed awkwardly, redirecting. "So, Ravel, what's up? Rare for you to visit."

"Yes… it's about my brother…"

Rias and I exchanged glances. This sounds complicated.

"Raiser?" Rias asked.

Ravel nodded. "You've likely heard he's been withdrawn since that incident…"

Right, I remember hearing that at a Demon Lord's party. Rias, engaged to Raiser, hated the arranged marriage and challenged him to a Rating Game for her freedom. I trained at Gremory's villa and ended it by blasting Raiser with Agni.

Per Ravel, that blow traumatized him. Six months later, he's still a shut-in.

Asia and the others listened from the corner.

"Raiser? I've heard of him…" Xenovia said.

"What's he like?" Irina asked.

Asia explained, "He's from the Phenex family…"

That was right after Asia joined Gremory. Nostalgic.

"An engagement… I'm jealous of noble life. Maybe I'll snag a rich husband," Rossweisse mused, eyes gleaming.

What's she plotting?

Ravel must be desperate to come here herself.

"Raiser hasn't recovered…" Rias noted.

Ravel nodded. "It may be improper to ask, but I was advised your household could help."

"My household?" Rias raised a brow.

"To fix his mental state, he should learn the 'guts' your retainers have. That's why I'm here."

Laughter rippled through the room.

Guts, huh? Fair. Gremory's all about grit. I'm a walking ball of it, if I say so myself.

Ravel's tension broke. "Honestly, he's pathetic! Sulking for six months over one loss! Scared of Issei-sama and other dragons! Men should grow from defeat, not cower! It's embarrassing!"

Wow, Raiser, your sister's tearing you apart. She's got a lot of pent-up frustration.

"But… he's still my brother," she added softly.

She's worried, or she wouldn't be here.

Rias looked conflicted. Ravel's plea was genuine.

Guess I've got no choice.

I stood. "I'll handle it, Ravel."

All eyes turned to me.

"I'm part of why Raiser's like this. I'll help him bounce back. Plus," I scratched my cheek, "I owe you for your help, especially with the Oppai Dragon event."

Ravel's face lit up, then she coughed, masking it. "V-Very well, I'll rely on you, Issei-sama. Do your best for a high-class demon."

So tsundere.

She blushed. "I'll… thank you, I suppose."

"Got it!"

Thus, Operation Phoenix Revival (Tentative) began.

Now… how to pull this off?

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