ACT 9 - The Moonlight Hero

Prologue: Reminiscence
A flashback from Haruto's POV, when Haruto arrives to the high school for assisting to the entrance ceremony, he's looking at the class distribution on a board for knowing which is his class, when he finds Miharu's name he begins to drift away while wondering if by chance he's in the same high school that Mii-chan, he stays lost in thought in front of the board until someone calls out to him, Satsuki the one who called him asks him if he doesn't know where the entrance ceremony is or something like that, when she realizes Haruto was just looking for a friend's name she finds it funny and introduces herself as Sumeragi Satsuki, a student's council member, Haruto introduces himself too and then he goes to the gym for listening to the principal's speech the flashback ends.

Chapter 1: Days Before The Night Party
Miharu wakes up while wondering if the dream she has just seem about Haruto's life was real or not, she goes to the rock house’s balcony for thinking there alone for a while, a little after her Rio goes there too, Miharu is surprised of seeing Rio and a little flustered because due to the dream she doesn't know well what to say to him now, Rio talks to Miharu a little from the stairs bottom until the wind blows rising Miharu's skirt, Miharu is embarrassed because Rio saw her panties, while fidgeting due to the shame she begins to fall downstairs but Rio caught her before she hits herself against something, while embracing her Rio asks if she is fine, after Rio confirms she isn't hurt they separate while embarrassed because of how close they were now, Miharu asks Rio why did he come to the balcony, he answers that for doing his morning training, she asks if she can see it, Rio agrees and let her use his towel as a blanket while he trains, when Rio is over he sits next to Miharu, Miharu says to him that when talking to Celia the topic of his past came out and that if possible she wanted to know about the him before meeting Celia too, Rio talks about his mother and his life together, how he had to do everything for surviving after she died and that she was murdered, Miharu is shocked due to the better understanding she has now about the differences between the earth and the other world, Rio says to her that she doesn't need to be sad for that, that it's already fine, Miharu in her head thinks that there isn't a way for it to be fine already, while she thinks that the rest of the girls arrive there for making their morning training too, Rio then spars with them a little, while Rio does that Miharu asks Aisia if the dream was real and she confirms it.

After everyone had breakfast Rio, Miharu, Celia and Aisia go together to Amande for buying formal clothes for Rio and Miharu, when preparing to leave Miharu goes herself towards Rio for being carried by him, the rest of the girls looks at this with suspicion while thinking that Miharu has been very proactive lately in getting close to Rio. When they arrive to Amande they buy Miharu's dress first, then Rio's tuxedo, when they go back to the rock house Masato is alone in the living room with a face as if he doesn't know what he's doing there, he warns Rio that he's  going to be surprised, then the girls come to the living room wearing the replicas from Miharu's uniform they made in the village while Rio was away, they asks them to show them their clothes for the party too, Miharu and Rio wear their clothes and Celia asks them if they know how to dance, then they begin to teach Miharu how to dance.

Chapter 2: Now, To Capital City Galturk
Three weeks later Rio and Miharu go to Amande for meeting Lizelotte and going together to Galarc's capital in her magic ship. Rio, Miharu, Lizelotte and Aria are alone in a room, there Miharu takes out from a magic tool similar to a portable fridge four cakes from earth, she says to Lizelotte thats she prepared them for her and her maids as thanks for helping her to meet with Satsuki, Lizelotte orders Aria to join them too, Lizelotte loved the cakes and asked Miharu to sell the recipes to the Rikka firm, in the end just the girls ate the cakes almost whole and Rio got out of there scared at how the girls transform when it's about sweets, He and Miharu go together to the magic ship's observation deck, there Miharu makes Rio promise that she will respect hers, Aki's and Masato's decision about with who they will stay after the evening party, a little later the magic ship lands on a lake. Rio, Miharu and Lizelotte get down of the magic ship and there, Ricardo, the leader of Lizelotte's father servants is waiting for them, after introducing himself Ricardo guides the group towards the carriage that will take them to Lizelotte's house.

Already in Lizelotte's house Rio and Miharu leave their luggage in a room and go to the dining to room for having dinner with Lizelotte and her parents, they meet Lizelotte's parents, Cedric ( I already forgot his description, I remember he was forty more or less but just that) and Julianne (In her mid thirties, very similar to Lizelotte and blue haired too), Rio says to Lizelotte's mother that she looks almost like her older sister, Julianne says that it isn't necessary to flatter her, Cedric says to her that it's true that she's beautiful and they begin to flirt, Lizelotte is embarrassed when seeing her parents acting like a stupid couple as they usually do in front of Miharu and Rio, after a little more of conversation the dinner begins after serving to everyone a liquor made by Rio, all of them praises the liquor's taste, Cedric says that by Lizelotte's face she's already thinking about selling it at the Rikka firm, Lizelotte sulks a little red faced.

Cedric then talks about Lizelotte's childhood since she recovered her memories from the previous life, how she already had marriage interviews despite being just seven years old, how one day she asked her to grant her petitions and to let her choose her husband if she manages to graduate from school skipping grades, how she doesn't have many friends due to not spending time with people her age, then he lowers his head to Rio and Miharu and asks them to keep being Lizelotte's friends, after that Julianne asks Miharu how was she when she was seven, she talks about her memories with Haruto and how they're very precious for her despite not being able of seeing him again since them while checking Rio's reaction from time to time but his poker face was a tough one, Julianne completely loved Haru-kun's and Mii-chan's story and Lizelotte listened to it with a lot of curiosity too.

Chapter 3: Sumeragi Satsuki
The next morning Rio, Miharu and Lizelotte go to the castle for meeting with Satsuki, they're waiting in a drawing room then François enters the room with Charlotte and Michael behind him, after introducing themselves and listening from Rio how he met Miharu, how he was just able of understanding her thanks to a fictional magic tool that broke for the overuse, they hear someone running towards the room and Satsuki opens the door while gasping to catch her breath, when she sees Miharu she runs towards her, Miharu too stands up and they hug each other while crying for the happiness off the reunion, Satsuki thanks Rio and Lizelotte for bringing Miharu to her and by everyone's suggestion she takes Miharu to her room for talking with just the two for a while, after Satsuki leaves the room with Miharu François asks Rio for his reasons for what he did, he asks if he wanted some reward but he refuses, he tries to scout him but he refuses again, he asks if he wants to make Miharu his woman and he denies it too.

Satsuki's room, Satsuki asks Miharu what happened after she was summoned, she says her that Aki and Masato were summoned with her too, how they found the slave trader after wandering through a grassland, how Rio rescued them and how he sheltered them, Satsuki is thinking that Rio did a little too much for just being someone kind, Miharu doubts a little but she tells to Satsuki that Rio is a reincarnator and that the reason for helping them may be related to being he himself japanese too in his previous life, when hearing this Satsuki feels that she understands better now Rio's actions, after a little more of conversation they go back to the drawing room where Rio is, after they enter there Satsuki asks Rio and Miharu to stay with her in her room, Michelle protests saying that it's something improper and that bad rumors may begin but Satsuki doesn't care about that, Rio thinks that it's a little troublesome too but he agrees thinking that that way it would be easier to take Satsuki out of the castle, François and Michelle leave the room, before leaving François orders Charlotte with his gaze to gather all the information possible, they talk until it's time for dinner and after that Rio and Miharu move to Satsuki's room.

Satsuki's room, Satsuki thaks Rio again for saving Miharu, Aki and Masato, Rio first thing confirms how much Miharu told to Satsuki in their previous conversation,Satsuki asks  to him if he knows of some way of returning to japan and if the royal magicians lied to her, Rio explains to her what he knows about teleportation magic and that the magicians didn’t lie to her, Satsuki says to him that she knows that he's a reincarnator, Rio doesn't mind it, Satsuki tells to Rio that there will be four heroes assisting to the evening party, She from Galarc, Rui and Hiroaki from Bertram and Centostella's hero, she tells to Rio that she already met Rui before at some party due to their father's jobs and that Centostella's hero maybe is Takatrash, she heard from others that Centostela usually doesn't assist to international events due to being an isolationist country, but that this time Centostella assisting to the party may be due to Takahisa being Centostella's hero and he reading the letter she sent to that country asking if the hero there was one of her friends, a little more of talk and they go to the rock house.

Chapter 4: Secret Reunion
Aisia appears in Satsuki's room for helping Rio to carry Satsuki and Miharu to the rock house, Satsuki says to Rio to carry her because Miharu was bad with the boys, Miharu didn't dare to say that it was fine if it was Rio and reluctantly went with Aisia, when they were high enough in the sky Satsuki began to make a fuss about how they were flying now, how the stars were beautiful and how close they looked now, when she saw Rio and Miharu looking at her with warm eyes she got embarrassed, they began to fly towards the house, in the way Rio asked Satsuki if she was cold, she answered that a little and began to rub her body against Rio's for heating herself a little, Miharu is jealous seeing her and says her with sarcasm  how wonderful is that they got close to each other this quickly, when they cross the rock house's barrier Satsuki says that she felt a little itchy for an instant and that she saw a strange light now, Rio asks her if she's able of seeing magic power, she says she can do and that the people in the castle told her that anyone else could, Rio says to her whoever can do it with enough training, Satsuki then says, maybe she the hero isn't one to talk but he was quite outside of the common sense too, Rio laughs.

Rio lands in front of Aki and Masato while Satsuki thinks that somehow here is full of cute girls, Satsuki says to them how she's happy of seeing them, that flying in the sky was incredible, how the stars were close and they were beautiful, she realizes that everyone is looking at her while smiling wryly and wonders why, she realizes that she’s still in Rio’s arms, she asks Rio with suspicion on her voice why he didn’t put her on the ground yet, Rio says to her she’s the one holding onto him, Satsuki sees her arms still around Rio’s neck and gets red faced, she lets go of Rio and he puts her on the ground, she clears her throat for changing the topic while Latifa murmurs that she feels that a strong rival appeared, the rest of the girls nod, after introducing Satsuki to the people in the rock house, Rio goes to his room with Celia for telling her about the people from Bertram assisting the evening party too, Arbor faction included and Satsuki goes with Miharu, Aki and Masato to a different room.

Satsuki begins talking about Takahisa possibly being Centostella’s hero and what would they do if he really is, Aki says that she of course will go to meet him, Masato isn’t sure, he’s worried about the risk of being used in anyway as hostage against him but Aki admonishes him for not saying as immediately as her that he would go to meet him, Satsuki laughs at seeing them arguing again and reminds them to think properly and slowly about with who they will want to live from now on and to be prepared for even being away from each other, Satsuki tries to change the serious mood by asking about the rock house, after she hears that there’s a bathroom she asks for Rio’s permission to use it and she enters there with all the girls, after being impressed by the bath and a little of girls talk Rio and Aisia take Miharu and Satsuki back to the castle.

Chapter 5: Night Party, Day One
First day of the evening party, Rio wore his formal suit and went to the waiting room assigned to Lizelotte and her family for waiting there with them until Miharu and Satsuki are done changing clothes, Lizelotte’s family receives Rio with smiles, Rio praises Lizelotte and she smiles, her older brother that is there with his fiancee teases her saying that she’s strangely happy for Rio’s praise, Lizelotte protest a little red faced, after a little more of talk Hiroaki comes in with Flora and Roana, Hiroaki says that he came because it’s been a lot of time since he last saw Lizelotte as if just that was enough excuse for intrussing the family time, Roana properly apologizes for intruding with a troubled face because she understands how imposing Hiroaki is being, Flora is nervous when seeing Rio again, she doesn’t know well what to do or say, when Hiroaki sees Lizelotte’s father he begins to try to act politer than usually as if saying damn the father-in-law is here I have to act correctly, Cedric just smiles and tells everyone to sit on the sofas there, Hiroaki sits between Flora and Roana while sulking because Lizelotte chose a sit away from him but close to Rio, Satsuki and Miharu enter the room too and ask Rio how do they look, they smile when Rio says that both are beautiful and Flora is envious seeing Rio praising the other girls and being friendly to them, Miharu and Satsuki sit with Lizelotte.

When Satsuki and Miharu sit down they and Hiroaki introduces themselves and talk a little about them, how they were friends in the middle school, how they were summoned after the high school entrance ceremony, how Rio saved Miharu from the slave trader, Hiroaki looks at Miharu as if saying that she could really be sold for a high price, Miharu is uncomfortable, Lizelotte sighs in her head, Satsuki is annoyed and sulking, she thinks in her head that Hiroaki is a really rude man, that it’s boring because he’s here, that she wants Rio to be where he is, she came here because she wanted to sit and talk to Rio, Satsuki then asks about the Hiroaki before the summoning, Hiroaki says he’s 19, Satsuki asks if he was a universitary student, Hiroaki denies it with a complicated face, he says he failed the exams, Satsuki thinking by Hiroaki’s face that he has some complex about that says to him that he doesn’t need to be ashamed of that, Hiroaki agrees on the surface but in his head he’s convinced that Satsuki said that for making him looking bad on purpose, now for him Satsuki is that conceited woman, a knights knocks the door and says that it’s almost time for the Kreitia household to enter the venue, Satsuki goes to where the royal family is and Hiroaki, Flora and Roana go back to their waiting room too.

Lizelotte’s parents enter the venue, next Lizelotte’s older brother George and his fiançee Collete and Lastly Rio with Lizelotte in his left hand and Miharu in his right hand, everyone looks at then surprised, wondering if Lizelotte finally found herself a boyfriend, wondering who is Miharu that was just announced as Satsuki’s friend and about all wondering who is Rio who was announced as Amande’s hero (eiyuu), Lizelotte has a calm and smiling face, for her is just the same as usual, Rio is making just the same neutral face he learnt how to make at his academy time and Miharu is nervous, she’s a little taken aback for all the attention suddenly going towards her, after then Hiroaki enters the venue with Flora and Roana, at the beginning they look at Hiroaki due to curiosity but they change quickly to commenting Roana’s and Flora’s appearances, they think that Roana looks good and that Flora’s beauty was just as the rumors about her and Cristina say.

Now it’s the turn for Galarc’s royal family, they enter through a different door to a place in the venue that is higher than the rest of the room and with stairs connecting it to the dancing area, a door that is higher than the royalty’s special place and connected to it with some stair opens and Charlotte enters, then Michelle, François and the queen and Satsuki behind them, everyone is impressed by Satsuki’s beauty and dignified appearance and begin to praise her, Hiroaki is annoyed because everyone pays more attention to her than him, they’re just noisy until a chamberlain makes them shut up.

François welcomes everyone and thanks them for coming to the party that will serve as Satsuki’s debut in the noble society, he says Rio to come to the higher place where the royalty is while talking of how he found and protected Satsuki’s friend Miharu, how he protected Lizelotte and Flora from a monster attack, how defended Amande alone from hundreds of monsters during the monster attack to the city, how he rescued Flora from his kidnapper and even was able of using magic as powerful as a dragon breath, he thanks him again in front of everyone for everything he did until now, after introducing Rio and Miharu to everyone he gives the word to Hugenot who announces the creation of Restoration and gives its foundation speech, François declares that the Galarc kingdom will ally itself with Restoration and says the heroes to say their opinions, Satsuki says that as long as they don’t astray from the right path she will be Galarc’s hero and will recognize Restoration, Hiroaki is sulking in his head because he thinks François isn’t acting humble enough to him and makes an oath similar to Satsuki’s without any feeling on it.

The rest of the nobles in the party form a row with the ones with higher rank on the front and begin to climb the stairs towards the special place for the royalties, where they introduce themselves to Satsuki, Hiroaki and Rio’s group,during a little break from talking to all the nobles Rio, Miharu, Lizelotte and Satsuki begin to talk among themselves, they ask each other if they’re tired from talking to so many people and how are they doing, Miharu is the most tired, Satsuki asks to Lizelotte if she’s a reincarnator just like Rio, she confirms it, Satsuki then asks her if her firm sells miso, soy sauce and white rice, Lizelotte says she hasn’t found white rice anywhere and that she doesn’t know how to do miso and soy sauce, they talk about how they miss those things, Rio felt a little guilty hearing them like that and said to them he has those things and at another time he will share with them, they promise between themselves to gather some day and eating japanese food together, Lizelotte says to Satsuki about how the products of the Rikka firm were a clue for people in the same situation like her, that she always wanted to find people with whom to talk about Japan and her previous life, how right now she can’t do it because Rio asked her to not do it temporarily for some reason, Rio apologizes to her for that and says her that the prohibition will be lifted soon, they make a little their own world in front of Satsuki and Miharu and they sulk a little it because of it, after talking to the rest of the nobles in the venue the first day ends and because they were tired from talking to all that people they decided to not go to the rock house that night.

Chapter 6: Night Party, Before Day Two. And, Behind That
Second day, in the morning, a maid enters Satsuki’s room and says to her Centostella’s hero is waiting for her, Miharu and Rio at the king’s office, they go to François’ office and Takatrash and Liliana are there, Takahisa is happy of seeing Satsuki, Satsuki says too that it’s good too to see him healthy, when he sees Miharu he hugs her, Miharu petrifies when hugged due to the surprise and she begins to look at Rio, when Haruto’s face in her dream overlaps with Rio’s she begins to panic and pushes Takahisa away screaming it’s a misunderstanding, everyone is surprised and worried due to Miharu’s reaction, she excuses herself saying that it was just because of the surprise and that she’s fine already, Satsuki begins to glare at Takatrash and admonishes him for not treating girls with enough delicacy.

Liliana introduces herself to everyone and the conversation moves to Rio and how he saved Miharu, Takahisa thanks Rio but in his heart he’s vexed because he isn’t the one who saved Miharu, Satsuki begins to say to Takahisa that she’s sure he and Rio will get along soon, that she knows him from short ago but she already thinks of him as a long time friend, Charlotte doesn’t let slip away Satsuki’s careless remark and somehow makes it so that she and Satsuki will be Rio’s partners tonight and Miharu and Liliana Takatrash’s, Rio doesn’t say anything about it, Miharu didn’t really want to be with Takatrash but she decides to be her partner thinking that a chance of telling him secretly about Aki and Masato will come if she’s with him, when the conversation ends everyone leave the room for preparing to assist the party, before leaving Takatrash asks Rio if it’s fine that way for him, Rio with Satsuki and HE with MIHARU as if it’s a matter of course for things to be like that, Rio leaves the room while saying yes without any feeling on it.

Reis is with Silvie in a room in the castle, Charles enters the room and greets Reis, Reis says to him that tonight he’s in the evening party as Jean Bernard, a Baron from the Rubia kingdom, in order of gathering information about foreign powers and asks him to act as if he doesn’t know him in front of everyone in the venue, Charles understands and agrees.

Chapter 7: Night Party, Day Two Disturbance
The waiting room for the royalties and the special guest for waiting there until the party begins, Rui approaches Hiroaki for saying to him how he laments that they belong to conflicting groups despite being fellow japanese, Hiroaki doesn’t want to talk to him at all he just say him things like get away ikemen yaro or get lost hafu yaro, Rui tries to introduce himself to Roana, but Hiroaki just says to him to not talk to her, when Rui sees Flora he asks her if she’s Cristina’s little sister, Flora is surprised when hearing about Cristina and Hiroaki says to Rui that he doesn’t want to spent any time with him, Cristina enters the room at that moment and asks Hiroaki if he’s fine with her that is princess, Hiroaki shamelessly tries to pick her up despite how he treated Rui just before when he talked to Flora and Roana and Cristina being Flora’s, her current partner, older sister, Cristina narrows her eyes after being able of learning what kind of thing Hiroaki is just from his change of attitude right now, because due to the nobles from Arbor faction keeping an eye on her she is forced to talk coldly to Roana and Flora and just tell to them things like it’s been a while or I don’t have words for those who abandoned the kingdom..

Takatrash enters the room with Miharu and Liliana and Rio enters with Satsuki and Charlotte, Satsuki says to Rui with a cordial smile that it’s been a while, Rui returns the smile and says as expected the daughter of the Sumeragi’s group, he introduces himself to Takatrash and greets him shaking his hand, he tries to do the same with Miharu but Takatrash gets in the way saying that Miharu is bad with men, but it was just him acting possessive, Miharu shakes Rui’s hand anyway and says to Takatrash that he was rude, Liliana introduces herself and says to Rui she can’t take his hand because in this world a woman holding a man’s hand in public means to favor that man, Charlotte says the same and mocks a little Takatrash’s jealously, she asks Rui about his relationship with Cristina, Rui says that Cristina is a splendid lady but he already likes another girl, Cristina just says too that she was just told to assist the party with him, Charlotte is let down because of how dry their relationship is.

Rui introduces himself to Rio and he just shakes Rui’s hand normally while introducing himself as Haruto, Rui is curious about the japanese name and about Rio that seems to be half japanese just like him, Cristina is curious too about him, she wonders about his good manners and etiquette and being the one accompanying Satsuki and Charlotte despite being a commoner, and about who he is because the same as Flora she feels Rio’s face looks familiar, Charlotte asks sarcastically to Cristina if she didn’t hear about Rio yet, she talks about how he saved Miharu and about Amande’s battle, she says that he saved Flora from her kidnapper too, Cristina remembers about Rio saving Flora nine years ago when hearing that, he compares Rio’s face with the man in front of her and find them similar but she discards the idea saying herself that it’s impossible due to the different hair color and that Charlotte must mean something different.

Rui then asks to the other heroes if they were able to find to any clue about a way to return to Japan and if they had a dream with a voice just one sidedly saying to them how they were heroes and the way of using the divine weapons, they say that they don’t know of a way of returning and that their dreams were the same, Hiroaki and Rui are called to inside the venue, Hiroaki leaves the venue while Rui and Satsuki comment between them how his attitude isn’t adequate for the high society and how he doesn’t know the right way of wearing his formal clothes, basically how he lacks elegance, and Rui leaves with Cristina, next Takatrash with Liliana and Miharu and lastly Rio with Satsuki and Charlotte.

Now in the venue they have to greet all of the foreign nobles that weren’t present yesterday, when they’re near the end of the greetings, Reis goes to the toilet and sets there a magic tool marking the destination for the teleportation magic and another for hiding the movement of the magic power in the air so nobody discovers when the assassins group teleports to the toilet, Reis didn’t really wanted to kill anyone, he just wants the assassins to test the heroes strength and if they actually kill anyone and cause a lot of chaos that’s a bonus. The dancing time is just about to begin and Rio was prepared for dancing the first song with Satsuki when the assassins enter the venue.

There’re twenty assassins, sixt fight with the guards mixed between the guests, and fourteen goes towards the royalties’ reserved place, Rio realizes the knights guarding the stairs leading to the special zone aren’t enough for stopping the assassins and decides to fight too while saying to everyone to just stay inside a barrier, Satsuki tries to stop him worried about him, Charlotte grabs her and says she can’t allow her to go because it would be the worst for the kingdom if something happens to her, she doesn’t give up yet but Miharu grabs her arm saying to her to not worry because Rio is very strong, Satsuki was going to protest again but when seeing Miharu’s trembling body with a face as worried as hers she swallows the words and falls back to the barrier range with her, Rio pretends to activate a magic tool while actually using spirit arts and says to the six knights at the end of the stairs that he will take the ones that they can’t stop, a little from behind him Rui says to Rio that he will cover him.

The knights stop six assassins, Rui shoots down another two while they’re still away from Rio and apologizes for not defeating more, Rio says it’s enough and charges at the remaining six, he counters the first four’s attacks with punches, kicks and throwing techniques before letting them unconcious, the fifth shouts the keyword “bow” to the sixth, Rio uses a throwing technique on him before letting him unconscious with an elbow strike on the stomach while wondering about the meaning of the word, he sees the last assassin prepared for shooting photom bullets at him and takes a dagger from the assassin he just defeated, he destroys the photom bullets hitting them with the dagger and lets the last assassin unconscious too, all of this in less than twenty seconds, everyone is completely impressed seeing Rio’s strength, after the knights takes the unconscious assassins out of the venue Reis kills them all secretly activating a magic on their bodies by crushing a bag full of small stones, after putting the guest in order the second day ends when sending everyone to their houses or rooms.

Epilogue: Knight Without Lord
Third day, in the morning, audience room, Rio is keeling in front of François, Michelle and Charlotte are a little lower than François, at the sides of audience room are Satsuki, Miharu, Restoration members and Galarc’s nobles like Lizelotte, on the other side the foreign heroes, royalties and nobles like Cristina, Rui, Takatrash and Liliana, all of them looking at Rio, François thanks Rio again for his help last night and praises his other achievements, he offers him again to become a noble and Rio refuses again, François asks for the reason, Rio just says that he wouldn’t be able of fulfilling a noble’s duties properly and that he really doesn’t need a reward, François says that that it’s impossible because it would be a great shame for the country, he says that in Rui’s case it was settled with a medal, but that in his case that’s impossible due to whole of his achievements being too big for just a medal and that it won’t do it unless he gives him ten thousand gold coins too, Rio says that that it’s excessive too, then François decides to make him an honorary knight.

​​​​The nobles begin to get noisy hearing that, Rio tries to refuse again after François silences the nobles but François explains to him that that title doesn’t require him to live in the country or obeying his orders but he would still have all the advantages of being a noble, while thinking that refusing again in his current situation may be more troublesome than accepting Rio finally decides to reluctantly accept the title and dealing with whatever at the moment it comes, then François says too that it’s tradition too to give a special name along the title so he names Rio as the black knight, Rio doesn’t want to have anything to do with such a chuunish name, he doesn’t want to have it, calling himself like that, being called that neither he wants others to know he has such a name, he sees on the side how Satsuki is holding back the laughter with all of her strength and Miharu looking at him as if he was someone troublesome and he gets even more depressed for having that name. Now François says that he needs to choose a house name, hearing this Rio gets pensative, he begins to think that there’s already a family name that goes with the name Haruto but if he uses it in that place he won’t be able of running away anymore, but does he need to keep running away, Miharu already met with her friends, this may be the perfect time for saying the truth, so he decides to use the Amakwa surname for not letting himself another option than telling the truth already, in the middle of saying that he didn’t need to hurry about the family name François realizes Rio is thinking about something and asks him if there’s already a candidate, Rio answers yes and says the name Amakawa, Haruto Amakawa, Miharu loses her breath when hearing that name and the volume 9 ends.

Trivia

 * In WN, from Beltram, only Restoration side joining the party without the Coup side, mean there's no Rui and Christina
 * Reiss are monitoring from outside the palace than mingling with the guest, and the one than smuggled the raider to the party are Silvia instead
 * Rather than meeting with Satsuki in a private room before the party, Rio make a contact with Satsuki through magic in the middle of the party instead
 * And Stewart once again make fuss toward Rio