What's Most Important?

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

"Why would you do that?" Serafall asked in a tearful tone.

Seeing how distraught Serafall was after Mami's death in the manga, James felt a little guilty. However, he had no intention of showing it.

"It was a punishment." James replied in a solemn tone.

"A punishment, for what?" Serafall asked, looking up at James with her teary eyes.

"Because you told my secret during Parents' Day, remember?" James asked. "You told everyone in my class that I wrote Sailor Moon. Because of that, they all realized that I was Mangetsu no Shita de. And it didn't take long for that news to get around the school."

Judging by Serafall's expression, it was clear that she did not understand what was so wrong with that. She had always wanted people to praise her for her role as a magical girl. So, the fact that James didn't want the attention did not register with her.

"*Sigh* After that day, no matter where I went in the school, and sometimes the town, I would have people approaching me for autographs or spoilers." James explained. "Even when I was on dates with my girlfriends. Can you imagine how annoying that was?"

After that comment, Serafall began to understand. So, she lowered her head and spoke in a soft voice.

"Sorry." Serafall said apologetically.

While James and Serafall were talking, Leona, Venelana, Scathach, Evangeline, Grayfia, Rias, Sona, Akeno, Tsubaki, Reya, and Flora watched them while drinking tea. Although they all seemed rather peaceful while sipping from their teacups, Rias and Sona were both unsettled.

"Does she have to sit in his lap for this conversation?" Sona asked with her eyebrow twitching.

That's right, after Serafall's rampage ended, James pulled her to a sofa in the living room so they could talk. And as soon as James sat down, Serafall plopped herself down on James' lap. Then she went on to complain about how wrong it was for Mami to die to the witch. James then explained that there was a message behind the story, and she would have to read the whole thing to understand.

The whole time James was coaxing Serafall to calm down, she sat in his lap and he patted her head. Naturally, having watched the whole thing, Sona felt uncomfortable. At the same time, just like what Rhea said in the past, Sona wanted Serafall to be happy. And if being with James would make her happy, then she would accept it, eventually.

Rias, on the other hand, was still uncomfortable with Venelana's pursuit of James. Although she knew what Venelana said about mother-daughter pairs sharing a man was true in the Underworld. However, as far as she had known, her parents had been happily married. So, when she heard that Venelana was divorcing her father to chase James, she could not help but feel uncomfortable.

Feeling Rias' occasional glances, Venelana could only sigh. She knew that this was hard on Rias. But she too wanted to find her own happiness, even if it seemed unfair or wrong to Rias. Besides, she had no intention of stealing James away, all for herself.

"*Sigh* My daughter is so stingy." Venelana said in a tone of feigned grief. "I should have taught her better about the importance of sharing."

Hearing that, Rias' eyebrows twitched like Sona's had, not long ago. However, before she could retort, an unlikely voice of reason stopped her.

"You know, Lana, I don't think it's because she has to share my baby with you." Leona said with an exasperated smile on her face.

"Really? Then what is it?" Venelana asked in genuine confusion. "I mean, I remember how she acted when James brought Mizore home. And even though she wasn't as bad, she wasn't exactly friendly with Moka either."

Immediately, Rias blushed when she remembered how she acted in the past.

"Although it's true she was very selfish in the past, it's clear that she's improved since then." Leona said with a smile. "Those were fun times, weren't they?"

"Can we stop talking about that, please? Thank you." Rias asked with her face red.

"Right, back to what I was saying." Leona said, her smile turning into a serious expression. "It's more than likely because of how sudden it was."

Venelana lowered her head in thought after hearing Leona's hypothesis.

"I mean, what is a week's worth of hints compared to the eighteen years she had experienced prior." Leona said, punctuating her point.

"I see. I guess that makes sense." venelana muttered with a nod. However, she then raised her head and looked at Leona skeptically. "But if you knew that was the issue, why did you suggest I do it like that?"

In response, Leona smiled brightly.

"Because it was funnier that way, obviously." Leona said with an even brighter smile.

At that point, no one knew what to say. They could only look at Leona with blank expressions.

"I can't believe you hadn't expected something like that." James said incredulously.

After James' comment, everyone looked at the brightly smiling Leona. Then, they looked at Venelana and shook their heads.

"*Sigh* I guess I wasn't thinking." Venelana said in a tired tone. "In hindsight, I should have expected things to turn out this way. Rias just doesn't have as much life experience as I do."

"How do you not remember something like that?" Rias asked in an agitated tone.

"Anyway..." James interrupted before Rias could blow up at her mother. "Master, Eva, did you finish stabilizing the space in the Dimensional Gap?"

"Not yet." Scathach replied.

"Yeah, there's a lot more to it than I expected." Evangeline said in a tired tone. "If it wasn't for Ajuka's [Kankara Formula], it might take as long as a year to complete."

"Well, the [Kankara Formula] is a cheat." James said with a shrug. "So, what is the timeframe looking like?"

"If everything goes well, one more week." Scathach said in reply.

"Two weeks to make a fully function base in the Dimensional Gap? You three are something else." Leona said, butting into the conversation.

"Something tells me you have no idea what that takes." Evangeline said, narrowing her eyes at Leona.

"Nope, not at all." Leona said with a smile. "But it sounds really impressive. Grayfia, can I have another cup of tea? Oh, and can you add some whiskey to it?"

"Grayfia, please don't listen to the second half of that request." James asked, trying to make puppy dog eyes. "I don't think anyone wants to deal with a tipsy Mom right now."

Grayfia simply nodded in James direction. Then, she prepared another cup of tea for Leona. Without adding any whiskey, she placed it on the table in front of her.

"Seriously?" Leona asked incredulously. "Whose side are you on, Grayfia?"

"The side that creates the least chaos." Grayfia replied without changing her expression.

Like that, they continued chatting and drinking tea. Meanwhile, Serafall fell asleep in James' lap. Naturally, James and Sona felt helpless about it. But Serafall's grip on James shirt was so strong that there was no way to separate her from him without destroying his shirt.

"*Sigh* It looks like that last chapter seriously traumatize her." Leona said, sitting next to James and Serafall after she felt she had had enough tea. "Well, I guess I can see how it would send her over the edge."

"Most people would thank me for helping them breakthrough." James said with a wry smile. "But I get the feeling Sera-Tan is gonna hold this against me for the rest of my life."

"Well, you did bastardize the thing she loves the most in this world." Sona said, sitting on the other side of James and Serafall.

"The thing she loves second most in the world." James corrected with a smile. "Everyone knows she loves you more than anything else in this world."

"Are you sure about that?" Sona asked, glancing suspiciously at Serafall who was sleeping in James' lap.

In response, James rolled his eyes.

*Thump!*

Then he flicked Sona on the forehead.

"Ouch!" Sona exclaimed while covering her forehead with her hands. "What was that for."

"For saying something stupid." James said nonchalantly. "Don't pretend that there is anything that Serafall could ever love more than you."

Sona lowered her head. Then, she glanced at James with a pair of up turned eyes.

"She may end up loving you more than she loves me, though." Sona muttered.

In response, James raised an eyebrow. Then, he smiled mischievously.

"Wanna put that theory to the test?" James asked.

"How?" Sona asked curiously.

"Repeat these words in an aggrieved tone." James said before he leaned over and whispered in Sona's ear.

After a few moments, Sona looked at James skeptically.

"Seriously?" Sona asked in disbelief.

"Seriously." James replied with a nod.

"Right now?" Sona asked in the same tone.

"Right now." James replied with a nod, also in the same tone.

Sona then took a deep breath and looked at James skeptically once more. Then, she spoke.

"Onee-Chan, James is bullying me." Sona said in a tone so sad that everyone thought she would start crying at any moment.

Immediately after Sona's voice fell, Serafall opened her eyes. Then, she began taking on her Super Devil form. And in the next instant, she was shaking James by his collar.

"James, you bastard!" Serafall shouted. "What did you do to my So-Tan? Your answer will determine how many limbs I freeze!"

"See... Sona... I... Told... You... So." James struggled to say through all the shaking.

"Huh? So-Tan, what is he talking about?" Serafall asked while continuing to shake James.

"it's nothing." Sona said with a blush. "Just let him go."

"But he was bullying you, wasn't he?" Serafall asked in a confused tone.

"No, he wasn't." Sona said. "Just let him go."

As Sona ordered, Serafall let go of James' collar. Then, she glanced between James and Sona. A moment later, Serafall's eyes teared up. Then, she hugged Sona and began to wail loudly.

"So-Tan, James killed Mami-Chan!" Serafall shouted with tears flowing from her eyes. "You should cancel the engagement. You shouldn't marry such a cruel man!"

"See, Sona?" James asked with a smile. "It's obvious that you are the most important thing In Sera-Tan's life."

Hearing that, Sona lowered her head in an attempt to hide the blush that was creeping up on her cheeks. However, while Sona was embarrassed, Serafall was shocked.

"So-Tan, why would you ever doubt that you're the most important to me?" Serafall asked while holding Sona by her face and looking her in the eyes.

Sona hesitated for a few moments, she was even more embarrassed to answer her sister's question. Especially since they were not alone. But she eventually gritted her teeth and opened her mouth.

"I was afraid..." Sona said quietly.

"Afraid? Afraid of what?" Serafall asked in confusion.

"I was afraid that you were starting to like James more than you like me." Sona said, lowering her head again with her entire face and neck red from an intense blush.

Serafall was stunned into silence when she heard what Sona had to say. Then, she glanced at James and had to admit to herself that her feelings about James had been changing from those a girl would feel for a naughty little brother into something a woman would feel for a man they fancied. And she knew exactly when that change started as well. It was when she barged in on James and Sona during their first time sleeping together. However, even if that were true, her answer to Sona's doubts had already been decided.

"I'll admit, I do like James." Serafall said in a much more mature tone than she usually spoke in. "In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to say I love him."

Hearing that, Sona gritted her teeth and tears began to well up in her eyes. But Serafall was not done yet.

"But if being with James meant placing him above you in my heart, then I would leave him alone without hesitation. So-Tan, you mean everything to me. You've made me so proud. You've grown up to be so strong and smart. And I'm sure that in a few years, you'll surpass me. And I'm so happy about that."

Although she was surprised to hear Serafall speak those words aloud, Sona expected things to be this way deep inside. But since she had always felt inferior to her sister, especially since Serafall was so strong, beautiful, and all around amazing in her opinion. And when she found out that she would be the next head of the Sitri House, the pressure she placed on herself to live up to her sister's reputation weighed more on her than she realized.

After hearing Serafall's opinion about her and James, Sona's tears fell in torrents, and she cried into Serafall's chest while hugging her tightly. Serafall, surprised to see her sister's tears could only hug her back while smiling gently and rubbing her head and back.

At the same time, James stood up quickly when Sona started crying. Then, he picked up his mother, who was sitting next to him, and threw her over his shoulder. An instant later, he [Flash Stepped] out of the living room.

"James, what are you doing?" Leona asked in confusion.

"I'm taking you away, Mom." James said in a hurry. "No matter what, I'm not letting you ruin their moment."

"But Jmaes, I could see a field of forbidden lilies blooming behind them!" Leona shouted as James distanced them from the living room.