(Third)
The afternoon sun bathed Kuoh Academy in a warm golden glow, the kind that made everything feel just a little more magical. Students milled about, some heading home, others lingering in the courtyard, trading stories and laughter.
Ashe Gremory stood beneath the cherry blossom tree at the far edge of the schoolyard, his school jacket slung casually over his shoulder. His silver eyes sparkled with mischief as a breeze tousled his hair, and a faint, holy glow pulsed lightly beneath his skin. It was always like that—his power never fully at rest, not with the strange blend of holy magic and the Gremory family's crimson Power of Destruction simmering inside him.
He leaned against the tree and let out a sigh. "Feels like something's in the air today..."
And then he felt it.
The faint tremor in space. The playful ripple of magical energy that danced through dimensions like a child skipping through puddles.
Then, with a sudden pop of sparkling blue magic, a figure appeared before him—dressed in a frilly idol-like outfit, eyes gleaming with excitement, and a grin big enough to light up the Underworld.
"Asheeeee~!!" Serafall Leviathan squealed, throwing her arms out as she practically tackled him.
"Woah—!" Ashe staggered back a step before laughing and catching her in a hug. "Serafall! You still teleport like a magical girl anime entrance."
She pulled back, beaming. "You love it and you know it!"
Ashe chuckled. "Maybe a little."
It had been years since they'd seen each other face-to-face. Letters, magic calls, the occasional emergency meeting—sure. But nothing beat this.
"You've gotten stronger," she said, eyes flicking to the soft glow of holy light dancing around his fingers. "Holy magic, huh? I didn't think a Gremory could pull that off without turning into toast."
"I'm full of surprises." He winked.
Serafall giggled, her voice light but her eyes serious for a moment. "I'm really proud of you, Ashe. You've come a long way. The Underworld's been buzzing about you lately."
Ashe rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, well, I've had good friends. Like you."
She smirked. "Aww, stop it. I might cry."
The two stood there for a moment in comfortable silence, cherry blossoms drifting down like snow. A pair of students passed by, whispering excitedly about "that cosplaying girl with the magic entrance," but neither of them cared.
"Wanna grab something sweet?" Serafall asked suddenly. "There's a café near here with parfaits that are literally magical."
"You had me at parfaits," Ashe grinned.
Together, they walked off toward the city, the sun setting behind them in streaks of gold and pink. Two old friends, reunited—not just as devils or magic users, but as people who remembered what it meant to smile.
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(Third)
Ashe had returned to the Gremory household where he and Rias lived in the human world when he noticed he was alone. 'Guess Rias is with Akeno.'
He went to take a shower and relax.
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Ashe was walking to school when he heard students talking about the Kyoto trip when he saw Vali waiting at the gate.
"Oh my god who's that hottie?" "I don't know but he is cute right?" "He doesn't compare to Ashe though." "Why is it always the hot guys?!"
"Yo Vali why you here?" Ashe said as he walked up to the silver haired guy when he looked up.
"I came to talk."
