I want to be noblesse in dxd

As Raizel and Akeno walked hand in hand, the voices of the students surrounding them began to swell, their whispers growing louder with each step. Raizel could hear the murmurs of jealousy and admiration echoing in the hallways, and while he remained outwardly calm, the voice in his head had begun to grow increasingly mischievous.

[Oh, look at that,] the voice chuckled, its tone full of amusement.

[Raizel and Akeno, hand in hand. Such a perfect couple, don't you think? Hahaha. I'm sure everyone is staring. How nice it must feel to be the center of attention, hmm?]

Raizel's grip on Akeno's hand tightened slightly, but he didn't let it show. He continued walking, his expression unchanged as he ignored the voice's teasing.

His calm demeanor, however, was starting to crack just a little. The voice was relentless, poking at him with every word.

[Just imagine,] the voice continued, [how many people are jealous of you right now. I bet they all wish they were in your shoes. You've practically got the entire school at your feet.]

Raizel sighed inwardly. This was not the time. He wasn't here to listen to the voice taunting him. He was here with Akeno, and he wanted to focus on her. Yet, despite his best efforts, the voice wouldn't let up.

[You know~] the voice cooed, [it's not just the girls who are jealous. I bet there are a few boys who wish they had your luck. But no—it's all yours, isn't it? The second most popular girl in school… and she's yours.]

Raizel felt the weight of the voice's words, though he refused to let it get under his skin. He could feel Akeno's hand gently wrapped against his, and the warmth of her presence helped to center him.

But the voice wasn't done yet.

[You're doing soo~ well, Raizel,] it mocked. [Everyone's watching you, and they're all just waiting to see when you'll slip. Oh, it's inevitable. When you spend so much time with someone like Akeno, you're bound to give in, aren't you? You can't hide the truth forever.]

Raizel's jaw clenched, his gaze unwavering as he turned his attention back to Akeno. He could feel her slight nervousness in the way her hand held his, but he remained steady, determined not to let the voice control him.

"Stop it," he muttered to himself under his breath.

The voice only laughed louder in his mind. [You can't stooppp~ me, Raizel. I'm here to stay. Just like you'll never get rid of the attention. What's it like being so adored~? So tell me. Hmm~ hmm~]

Raizel gritted his teeth, but then he felt Akeno's hand tighten in his. Her subtle gesture was enough to remind him of his own strength. He took a deep breath, shutting out the voice, and turned his focus entirely to her.

"Akeno," he said, his voice steady and calm. "Let's ignore all the noise, alright? They can talk all they want, but it doesn't matter. Not as long as we're together."

Akeno looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. She gave him a soft smile, grateful for his reassurance. She could tell that despite his calm exterior, Raizel was dealing with his own thoughts.

The voice, still echoing in his head, tried one last time to provoke him. [She doesn't know, does she? How long do you think you can hide it from her?]

But Raizel's resolve remained firm.

"I said, stop it," he muttered, this time with more conviction. He had dealt with far worse than the voice in his head, and he wouldn't let it ruin the moment he was sharing with Akeno.

As the two of them continued walking, their hands still intertwined, the voice finally fell silent, its teasing fading away. Raizel, with Akeno beside him, felt a small sense of victory. He would protect their peace, no matter what.

The students around them continued to gossip, but Raizel didn't care. His focus was on Akeno.

---

As Raizel and Akeno continued walking through the bustling campus, the whispers of the students slowly faded into the background. The tension from earlier had started to ease, but there was still an undeniable charge in the air.

Akeno, her heart still racing, moved just a little closer to Raizel. She brushed her shoulder against his, her presence comforting yet electrifying at the same time.

It was a subtle gesture, but one that held a deeper meaning—an unspoken connection. She could feel the warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his movements, and the gentle strength in his hand holding hers.

"Do they really think we look good together?" Akeno's voice was barely a whisper, but her question lingered in the air.

Raizel glanced at her from the corner of his eye, sensing the quiet turbulence beneath her composed exterior. The way her hand tightened slightly around his was enough to tell him how much the attention from the students affected her. A small, comforting smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"They're entitled to their opinions," he said with a shrug, his voice steady and calm. "But I don't think we need their validation, do we?"

Akeno's heart fluttered at his words. The simplicity of his response, paired with the calmness in his tone, grounded her. He didn't care about the gossip, the whispers. All that mattered was the moment they shared, and for some reason, that made her feel sweet. His reassurance was exactly what she needed to calm her racing heart.

Despite the teasing comments from the students around them, Akeno couldn't help but feel a little lighter in Raizel's presence.

His demeanor had a way of drawing out her strength, and it made her feel more secure in herself. The last thing she wanted was to be affected by the opinions of others, especially when she knew that what she shared with Raizel was real.

As they walked, Akeno let her shoulder rest more fully against Raizel's, the subtle touch of their bodies enough to convey the emotions that words couldn't capture.

She could feel the heat of his body next to hers, and it caused a strange flutter in her chest. The simple gesture felt intimate, as if they were creating a world of their own, where only their connection mattered.

The whispers from the students around them didn't escape Raizel's notice, though he remained unfazed. Akeno, on the other hand, could hear the words clearly. It was hard to ignore the admiration and jealousy that lingered in the air, but she tried her best.

She didn't want to let the opinions of others affect what she had with Raizel, especially when the bond between them felt so pure.

"I guess we do," Akeno murmured, her voice soft and filled with a warmth that only Raizel could inspire. "But I'd rather not have anyone else's opinions cloud what we have."

Raizel's gaze softened as he glanced at her, a gentle understanding in his eyes. He gave her hand a small squeeze, an unspoken promise that everything would be alright.

"You're right," he said quietly. "We don't need anyone else's approval. Not when we know what's real between us."

Akeno smiled up at him, her heart finally settling into a peaceful rhythm. For the first time that day, the whispers no longer felt like a burden.

She had Raizel by her side, and that was all that mattered.

As they walked together, the campus faded away, and it was just the two of them—connected, unbothered by the noise, and quietly enjoying each other's presence. The day was still young.

.....