Winds of Change (DxD)

Volume 7 - Chapter 15 - To Those Who Create Miracles

Word count: 100k

— ○ ● ○ —

Aaron Toole's Soliloquy

— ○ ● ○ —

A few days had gone by since my journey through the supernatural world, and the time for Vali and Sun Wukong's match was fast approaching. At the moment, we were getting ready to head to the event. I was all set, but many of the girls were busy helping Vivi get dressed for the occasion. She had started speaking not too long ago, and I was the first to hear her words, which filled my heart with warmth.

With that said, even though Vivi was still a bit hesitant about going anywhere other than my home, she had agreed to come with us and watch the match. There was one condition: she wanted to stay close to me, and I had no objection to that. However, this decision left some of the other girls a bit disappointed because they had hoped to spoil Vivi and shower her with attention.

It was quite evident that there would be a bit of a competition to see who would get to sit beside Vivi and me, which will be quite intriguing to see.

As I patiently waited in the entrance hallway of my home, the first person to descend the stairs was Áine. Cradled in her arms was Vivi, dressed in a charming frilly blue gown, her hair fashioned into twin tails, and a delicate necklace adorning her neck—a gift I had given her just the day before, which had brought her immense joy.

To be honest, I had expected Suzaku or Lavinia to be the first to attend to Vivi, so seeing Áine take up this role felt a little unusual, albeit in a heartwarming way. Perhaps, it was because Áine had experienced the loss of her own child in the past, and now she was channeling all that love and care toward Vivi. It was also possible that the other girls allowed Áine to do this as a way of supporting her.

As they made their way to the bottom of the staircase, both Áine and Vivi approached me briskly. No one else followed them, as it seemed they wanted to give Vivi some space. Perhaps, some of the others needed time to get dressed as well.

"You both look fantastic," I complimented them with a warm smile. Áine blushed in response to my compliment, playfully glaring at me, while Vivi beamed with happiness. I gently patted Vivi's head, eliciting a delightful giggle from her, and then I planted a tender kiss on Áine's cheek. "Where is everyone else?" I inquired.

Áine explained, "They're all getting ready at the moment. We've been with Vivi, selecting an array of outfits for her. Over the past few days, we went on a shopping spree, and now her closet and wardrobe are overflowing with clothes. To be honest, we were a bit overwhelmed with choices," she added with a tired sigh, reflecting the efforts put into Vivi's new wardrobe.

"Is that so? Well done then," I replied, my uncertainty evident in my response. When it came to fashion, I had to admit I wasn't the best judge. Sometimes, I relied on Rias, Akeno, and Grayfia for advice on what to wear. I couldn't forget the time when Lavinia, Akeno, and Suzaku helped me choose my attire for that hot springs trip with everyone...

Gradually, everyone began to gather in the entrance hallway, still fawning over Vivi's presence. However, Lavinia and I had put in some extra effort in our outfits that day. I had sought her and a few others for help in selecting the right clothes the previous night.

Vali was our younger brother, and if he emerged victorious today, we planned to celebrate by dining out together. His biological family would also join us, and we'd all have the privilege of watching the match directly from the VIP room in the Underworld.

We decided to indulge him, even if we were going to a restaurant, by allowing him to order a ramen dish. We also made a call in advance to check if the restaurant could accommodate this request, and fortunately, they agreed to it. Whether it was due to their flexibility or perhaps allowing it to happen because of my presence, I wasn't sure, but we were grateful nonetheless.