Date In Italy (2)

(Aoi's POV)

'Is it just me or is it really hot in here?' Looking around the café and seeing the other customers not complaining, I assumed it was just me.

In fact, I knew from the start that it was only me, I was just in denial. I keep thinking back on what had transpired just a few minutes ago.

He, Master…held my hand, and without any protection! I can't believe it, my first time holding another man's hand – besides Father's – was done completely unprotected!

And, it felt so nice. His big hand felt so warm and comfortable, I think I can even still feel some residual warmth.

Actually, now that I think about it, Master has always felt very warm every time I'm near him. Granted, half of those times he was either training or had just finished training, but that doesn't explain… where was I at? This parfait is pretty good.

Wait, wait, focus Aoi. Back on topic, that doesn't explain why he has always been so warm to touch. From his hugs, head pats, and those dreaded cheek pulls, every one of them felt so, well, warm and it makes me feel fussy inside.

I don't think I can live without those anymore; okay, that was exaggerated, but even though I could live on without head pats, in my opinion, it would probably be a dull life.

A life without Master.....is something unpleasant every time I think about it-

"Wwah!?" I was snapped out of my thought by a sudden pull on my cheeks, it didn't hurt and it felt familiarly warm but it still surprised me.

"Hey, it's very rude spacing out right in front of your date like that. If I didn't know better, I would think you were bored and were intentionally ignoring me" A voice full of mischief tickled my ears, sending a shiver throughout my body, but that's not important now, what is important is that Master was now sitting close to me and was one pulling my cheeks.

I normally would complain about him treating me like a kid to hide the fact that it actually felt nice having him touch m- my cheeks, but I realized I was the one at fault for being lost in my own thought while on a date.

"S-sorry, Master" I had no excuse for myself, I mean, how could I tell him I was being a perve by thinking about his warmth and how I can't live without them.

I would die of embarrassment if he were to know about my thoughts, I'm taking my weird thoughts to my grave, no one shall know about them.

"Well, as long as you understand. By the way, are you sure you can finish that parfait?" Hearing this I was confused for a moment until I turned my eyes to the giant parfait bowl with strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate-flavored ice cream stacked up with sprinkles on top.

Is this what I've been eating all this time!? How did I order this without even knowing about it!? Was I that hang up with Master's warmth to not notice what I was doing?

"H-how did I-?" I stopped mid-question to ask something else.

"Why didn't you stop me, Master?" That's right, even though I was out of it, he was still fine and dandy. So, why?

"I thought it would be amusing once you realized it, and I was right, see~?" Master, with a mischievous grin on his face, showed me pictures on his phone. They were pictures of me taken with different expressions; most important of all was the last one of me with a pale expression while staring at the giant parfait, taken 9 seconds ago.

"I think I'll frame this one"

"Don't!"

"Heh? But this one is good though, would be a shame to forget about it, so framing it would be the best course of action, for us to remember this moment forever" Master said all that with a sage-like tone, I was almost convinced by his passionate speech but the embarrassment from the thought of having that picture physically frame overpowered it.

"Delete. It." I tried to sound as cold and serious as possible, and it seemed to work....or so I thought.

"Hmmm... Alright, I won't frame it. I'll just use it as my phone's wallpaper" I just stared on in disbelief as he went through his phone settings and set it as his home screen wallpaper, it was already too late when I finally snapped out of it.

"That's even worse! Delete it!" I tried to snatch his phone from his hand, but I forgot he was a monster so he easily evaded my hands.

I attempted it a few more times but failed to even brush against his hand. In my single-minded mission, I forgot to account for any counterattacks so his next move completely caught me off guard.

*Thuff*

'So warm' Was all I could think of as I lay in Master's embrace. It felt strangely warmer and more comfortable than this morning's hug. Did something change?

That's right, as a way to restrain me, Master embraced me in his arms. Also, *sniff* *sniff* he smells so nic- wait wait, no no no, I'm not a pervert. Snap out of it Aoi, that is not what I need to focus on now.

"M-master, p-please let me go, the other customers are staring at us" Although I would love to stay like this in his arms forever, we're currently in public; these types of things should be reserved for when we're alone.

"Hmm? So? They're strangers, I don't care about them" He has a carefree expression on while saying that, and knowing him, he truly doesn't care. But I do!

"I-it's embarrassing for me, so can you please let go of me…*we can do this later when we're alone*" I can feel my entire face heating up in embarrassment as I muttered the last part in a small voice, hoping for him NOT to hear it.

"Alright then, let's get back on topic. Can you finish it or do you need me to help?" Did he hear my last line? He didn't show any reaction, but then again, he could be pretending to not hear so he could tease me later. Oh, why did I have to say that last parttttt!???

"N-no, I don't think I can" Keeping my thoughts from influencing my expression, I replied with slight embarrassment.

"Well then, don't mind if I do. Excuse me, can I get another spoon?" After receiving another spoon from a waitress, Master proceeded to dig into the vanilla side of the parfait.

That is when I realized he was not going to move to the other side; I wasn't bothered by him being near me, I've already gotten used to that, what bothered me was the missed opportunity to feed each other while face to face

However, I got over that quickly as I realized that my parfait would be cleaned out if I don't also join in. So, putting that small regret behind me, I dug into the area between the strawberry and the chocolate.

It took only about 10 minutes for us to finish it all with Master contributing the most between us, we stayed in that café talking for a while more before moving on to another place.

Though, I feel like I'm forgetting something….

.

.

.

Well, whatever. As they say, if you forgot something that means it wasn't important.

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(MC's POV)

Heh, all according to keikaku. She forgot all about the pictures I have on my phone. I, of course, switched back my phone's wallpaper to what it was before since I thought it would be weird to have someone else's picture as my home screen.

Of course, not throwing shades at those who think it's okay to have a picture of someone else as their wallpaper, if you think it's cute all the more power to you; but, I'm personally not a fan.

Anyway, since we kinda ate a lot and I mean a lot of ice cream, I figured that it would do both of us some good to walk around for a while first before having lunch. I just have to make some adjustments to the schedule.

We continued walking past the restaurant I intended to be our second destination after the café after walking for close to 20 minutes, then took some twist and turn on the city street before making our way to a popular tourist spot.

It wasn't anything special so after taking a few pictures, we were on the move once again. Aoi said she wanted to go somewhere so we looked for a taxi, and got on the first one we could find.

Aoi told the driver where to go and we soon arrived there within minutes.

You know where she wanted to go?

Come on, guess. It's a place I was at just recently. It's big, it has a barrier around it, and it now has way more exorcists patrolling around the area.

.

That's right, we're back at the Cathedral. This time, we're gonna enter it the legal way. Although, I think I prefer to sneak in instead, there was definitely no line when I snuck in last night, just saying.

"Master, you look unhappy, is waiting in line bothering you?" Seeming to have caught signs of my less than happy mood, Aoi asked worriedly.

"I don't think there is anyone who would be happy waiting in line, but to answer your question, no. I just thought of something mildly annoying, is all" I just gave a vague answer, not like I could tell her that the increase in exorcists patrolling around will mildly disrupt my plan to wipe out the rest of the devils in this city; just mildly, not something I can't find a workaround.

"Is that so? You can tell me about it, you know? Maybe I can help" Aoi has that determined look in her eyes, which is cute in my opinion.

"No, it's something I have to deal with myself, don't worry about it" I patted her head to divert her attention and it works wonders. This power is kinda intoxicating, with one hand I can subdue all the cute girls.

Speaking of cute girls, here comes one now. Fate is really working its magic after I cursed it this morning, huh?

*Bump*

""Ah!"" A young girl who was not paying attention to her surrounding bumped into Aoi who was immersed in my head pats.

"Ah, I'm so s-sorry! I wasn't paying attention!" The girl bowed repeatedly to Aoi with an extremely apologetic look.

"It's okay, I'm not hurt anywhere. You can stop bowing, your veil might fall off" Aoi was of course not bothered by it at all, she tries to stop the girl from bowing anymore since we were kinda drawing attention.

"Now, now, Asia, I think they got the message, no need to trouble them any more than what is needed" An aged woman's voice reached us, I know she was coming though.

Last time it kinda slighted my mind so I didn't manage to check her 『Soul Board』 so I decided that if Fate wants to play it like that, I might as well take advantage of it.

I turn Mana Detection up to full drive and focused it solely on her. My eyes widened slightly but I manage to quickly revert them back to normal.

Heh, so the origin of this ominous tingling was you all along, lady. I quickly pulled up her 『Soul Board』 and yup, my eyes did not deceive me.

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『Soul Board』

Lucia Cari Fortesia - Human

Age: 74 Rank: 179

Soul Points: 0

....

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A/N: Ahem! I am so sorry for disappearing again. I just haven't felt like wri- alright, that's a lie. I've been playing too much Genshin, Minecraft, and Stardew Valley. Hopefully I don't get back into Don't Starve or Terraria.