"Here is your Wagyu steak, sir. And for the young lady, Kobe beef bites. Enjoy your meal, and have a wonderful evening," the waiter says, his tone flawlessly polished as he serves Aoshi and Eliss.

They sit at their table at Cordesol Meat, a high-end restaurant in the heart of Nagano. It’s part of a world-renowned luxury chain run by the famous chef Santiago Cordesol — the kind of place Aoshi never imagined he’d even set foot in, let alone dine at.

"A-Are you sure we can afford something like this...?" Aoshi mutters.

"I wouldn’t have brought you here to celebrate our first month together if I couldn’t afford it! When our boss found out today was our anniversary, he not only paid me in advance, he even gave me a bonus and let me take the night off to celebrate! He might be a bit of a pervert, but he’s actually a really nice guy."

Yeah... I can already see it. Eliss batting those sweet, irresistible eyes at him, and him going: "Of course, my goddess — anything for you! Here’s your paycheck, and a little bonus so you can take that idiot boyfriend of yours somewhere decent for dinner — with what he makes, the best he can do is fast food. Anything for you!"

"My dear Aoshi, your steak looks delicious — may I try a piece?"

"Of course, help yourself," Aoshi replies, gently sliding the plate toward her.

A gesture Eliss clearly does not appreciate — her cheeks puffing out in irritation.

"Have you learned nothing about proper manners? I can’t just stab my fork into your plate — you’re supposed to feed me!"

"Ah, right... I keep forgetting that where you come from, you’re basically royalty,"

He picks up his fork, about to spear a piece of meat and offer it to her — but Eliss’s cheeks puff out even more, her expression turning indignant.

"W-What do you think you’re doing with that fork?!"

Aoshi freezes, confused.

"B-But you just told me to feed you... what did I do wrong this time?"

Her face turns bright red — but not from anger this time.

"W-Well... it’s just..." she mumbles, lowering her gaze to the plate. "I-I’d rather you didn’t use a fork..."

"Oh, you want me to use my hands? Sure, no problem. I mean, plenty of people here are eating with their hands — maybe it even tastes better that way."

"Not with your hands either! I want you to feed me... with your mouth."

In an instant, Aoshi’s face turns even redder than hers.

"W-With my mouth?! That’s disgusting! It’d be like a mother bird feeding her chicks!"

"Idiot! You’re not supposed to chew it!" she snaps. "Just hold the piece of meat between your teeth, lean closer, and I’ll take it from you. It’s a very romantic gesture in Ravessia, you know? A deep symbol of love between an incubus and his succubus — far more meaningful than a simple kiss. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of... and you’d be my first time."

"W-Well, if it means that much to you... then I’ll do it."

He casts a quick glance around, making sure no one is watching.

I-It might be romantic in Ravessia, but here it’s probably just gross to watch — especially in a place like this. Let’s just hope the staff doesn’t throw us out after a few complaints from those stuck-up snobs...

●A few moments earlier●

"I still can’t believe a broke loser like Aoshi Toya is actually eating in a place like this... and Wagyu, no less! Where the hell did he get the money for something that costs more than his monthly salary? Something’s off..." Miori Yukinaga mutters, seated at a table a few rows behind him.

Far enough that neither Aoshi nor Eliss can notice her — she only spotted them because she was already there when they walked in.

"Y-Yeah, you’re right, Miori — nom nom — it’s crazy a poor bastard like him is eating in a place like this — nom nom," Renji Kurotani replies, shoveling steak into his mouth.

"How many times have I told you to— ugh, never mind. You’re hopeless. At least it doesn’t look like there’s anyone I know here tonight..." Miori sighs, giving him a look of pure annoyance. Then her eyes drop to her phone, a search page open on the screen.

Narkhalis... nothing shows up online. So she’s not from any rich or influential family. And yet, if she’s here, she clearly has money. I’d bet she’s the one paying for Aoshi too.

Eliss Narkhalis... who the hell are you? Why would someone like you be with a loser like him? And more importantly... where the hell did you come from? You showed up out of nowhere right after I dumped that idiot, and I know for a fact he wasn’t seeing anyone while he was pretending to be with me.

There’s no way he met someone like her and got her to move in with him that fast.

Eliss... you’re definitely hiding something.

Her thoughts are cut off in an instant as her eyes — fixed more on Aoshi’s table than her own plate — snap wide open in shock.

Right in front of her, Aoshi leans forward, a small piece of steak held gently between his teeth, while Eliss leans in and takes it between her lips before swallowing it.

"R-Renji... did you see what Aoshi just did?!"

"N-No — nom nom — what happened?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Of course not... even if an earthquake hit right now, you wouldn’t notice! Aoshi fed that girl with his mouth!"

"Ugh, that’s disgusting! Don’t tell me that while I’m eating — I’m gonna throw up!"

"You really don’t get it! That was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen in my life — something so unique, so intimate, so special... I never would’ve imagined that useless idiot could do something like that. When he was with me, he wouldn’t even carry my bag unless I asked! Did Eliss change him...? Or is it his popularity that made him bolder? Ever since that tramp started walking him to university, his popularity has skyrocketed — it’s even surpassed what he had when he was with me. I can’t let that nobody and that slut outshine me. If I have to, I’ll deal with the problem at the root. Renji — I want you to do something for me tomorrow, and I’m not taking no for an answer. Otherwise... I’ll expose that little secret of yours."

Renji goes rigid at her words, a chill running down his spine. He knows that when Miori resorts to blackmail like this, it’s always something he would’ve refused without a second thought.

"Just tell me what you want, Miori... I’ll do whatever you ask."