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That evening, inside the bustling Hostess of Fertility tavern, Yuto was enjoying a lighthearted chat with Chloe, the black-haired catgirl. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a fleeting glimpse of emerald-green hair disappearing behind the doorway curtain.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asked, her voice soft and curious. She'd been gazing at his striking features with dreamy, half-lidded eyes, but his sudden frown snapped her out of her reverie.
"Nothing much," Yuto replied with a casual shrug. "Actually, I just remembered something I need to take care of. So I'll step out for a bit."
"Eh, right now? It's already so late," Chloe whined, her long cat tail swishing reluctantly as she pouted at him. "You promised to tell me the story of the big bad wolf and the little white rabbit!"
"Be good," he said with a warm chuckle, reaching out to ruffle her perky cat ears. "When I get back, I'll tell you an extra one."
Chloe let out a shy squeak, her face flushing as she buried it into the generous curves of her chest. "Mmm, I'll wait for you~~," she mumbled, her voice muffled but sweet.
'This catgirl's just about ready to take things up a notch,' Yuto thought, admiring the rosy glow on her fair skin before slipping out through the curtain.
As he stepped outside, he couldn't help but grin at the memory of those sneaky glances he'd caught earlier, so reminiscent of Ais's own shy looks. 'Like mother, like daughter,' he mused.
The night air carried a faint chill, the quiet streets illuminated by the soft, warm glow of magic stone lamps. Beneath one such lamp stood Riveria, her tall, elegant figure exuding a mature grace. Her green hair shimmered faintly in the light as she waited, her posture calm and dignified.
But Yuto's sharp eyes didn't miss the subtle way she kept stealing glances at him from the corner of her eye, despite her composed facade.
"Miss Riveria, looking for me?" he asked, his voice tinged with playful amusement as he approached.
"Indeed, I have something to discuss with you, Yuto," she replied, her tone steady as she studied him. She couldn't deny it, his appearance was exceptional, even by elven standards. There was an aura about him, a unique harmony that tugged at her natural elven affinity for beauty and balance, drawing her in almost against her will.
"E-excuse me…" She caught herself, discreetly pinching her arm to refocus. Straightening up, she summoned her authority as an elder and fixed him with a stern gaze. "Yuto, while Ais isn't my biological daughter, I've raised her since she was a child. To me, she's as precious as any daughter could be. So, as her foster mother, I need to ask, what exactly are your intentions toward her?"
"You're no stranger to matters of the heart," she continued, her voice firm. "You know full well what you're doing. If you hurt her, I won't stand by quietly."
Her words carried a fierce maternal edge, her eyes narrowing as she tried to take control of the conversation. But Yuto didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming.
Click, click…
Rather than retreating, he closed the distance between them, his tall frame looming larger in her vision with every step. Riveria's breath caught in her throat.
"I've heard elves have a special way of judging humans, don't they?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing, carrying a subtle challenge.
In the world of Danmachi, elves were renowned for their pride and their almost instinctual aversion to physical contact with other races. Their stunning beauty fostered a sense of superiority, a cultural trait so deeply ingrained that most elves recoiled from human touch as if it were a sting.
But Riveria, a royal among her kind, was different. Though her fellow elves treated her with reverence, she privately despised the stifling formality of their traditions. Yuto knew this and he wasn't above using it to his advantage as he edged closer to the flustered elf.
"Why not test it for yourself, Riveria" he taunted.
"Y-You! Wait, you're too close!" she stammered, her composure cracking.
They were near enough now that a single step could bring them into an embrace. Riveria instinctively pulled back, but Yuto was quicker. He caught her slender wrist and pressed her gently but firmly against the wall behind her.
Her pale green eyes met his dark ones, wide with shock. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, their breaths intertwining in the narrow space between them. A flush spread across her cheeks, turning them a vivid crimson.
"Do you even realize what you're doing?!" she demanded, her voice sharp as she fought to maintain her dignity.
"Of course I do, Miss Riveria," Yuto replied smoothly, his confidence unshaken. He was well aware of her background; her royal heritage and her quiet rebellion against elven customs. "As an elf of royal blood, tell me, do you find a mere human like me repulsive?"
"I-I… Could you let go first?" she faltered, her thoughts spiraling into chaos. This bold, almost brash treatment was entirely new to her, and yet, to her confusion, it stirred something within her, a thrill she couldn't quite name. His grip held her effortlessly, and instead of disgust, her heart pounded with an unfamiliar excitement.
"Your reaction's already given me the answer," Yuto whispered, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Riveria's legs felt weak, her strength draining away. She could only watch, helpless, as he leaned in closer, their shadows blending into one beneath the lamplight.
…..
Fifteen long minutes slipped by, their lips locked in a kiss that left her breathless and dazed. At last, she managed to push him back, collapsing against his chest like a ragdoll.
"Please… this is a public place," she murmured, her voice faint and pleading.
"Now you see, don't you?" Yuto said softly, his breath warm against her ear. "It's not Ais I'm after, it's you, Miss Riveria."
Her mind reeled at his words. 'He doesn't want my daughter… he wants me?'
…..
The night passed, and dawn broke over the city, the rising sun chasing away the shadows. In the Loki Familia's mess hall, members gathered for breakfast, their chatter filling the air with lively energy.
"Riveria, you met with Yuto last night, didn't you?" Finn asked, sliding up beside her with his tray. "What's your take on him? Should we do something about him and Ais?"
Riveria, lost in her thoughts, barely heard him, her fingers brushing her lips as if to recall something.
"Riveria? Riveria!" Finn pressed, raising his voice.
"Huh? Who, Finn? What's up?" She jolted back to the present, her hand dropping as a flush crept up her cheeks.
The diminutive captain quirked an eyebrow. "You okay? You seem… distracted."
"N-no, I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice unsteady. "I was just… thinking about something."
Finn eyed her suspiciously but didn't push. "So, about Yuto—"
"I'll handle it," she interrupted, a little too eagerly. "He's… not what I expected."
'Not at all,' she thought, her heart still racing from the memory of his touch.
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