That night, I dreamed of it. Me, King of Romania, leading a host of 40.000 soldiers across the golden plains of Dobrudja.
A girl rode beside me. My queen.
Silver hair like some Targaryen princess from Game of Thrones, pale skin glowing in the sun, fangs glinting sharply. And, for some absurd reason, she carried an umbrella—even on horseback.
A vampire.
"Last time we were here, this place was bigger," I said, glancing at her as we passed through what should have been Constanța.
But it wasn't Constanța I knew. The city shrunk into a quiet fishing village on the Black Sea coast.
She arched an elegant brow, lips curling into that smug, unshakable smile.
"Mihai… in your timeline it was bigger. Here it's barely a village. Try to remember which century you dragged me into."
I woke up, heart racing.
Suzuka and Haruka barely returned to Nagano, and already my mind was pulling me into visions of what could be, what might happen.
The dream lingered, prophetic, tempting—a version of power I could almost touch.
I shook my head, forcing myself out of bed and shaking off the dream. Time to focus on what actually mattered.
Like being immune to Vali's Divine Dividing. Like Azazel warning that I might be immune to the Holy Nail.
If that was true… I would kill LaVey. Stop this whole Oblivion nonsense at its roots.
It's been a couple of days since the Battle of Kuoh. I asked Sona for a short leave from school… and she agreed—on the condition that I owe her a favor in return.
I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mom was already at the stove, making omrice.
"Good morning, Takkun~," she greeted, voice warm and casual.
"Morning, Mom," I replied, sliding into a seat.
Might as well make some small talk.
"So… going back to work today?" I asked.
She shrugged casually, like a month off work was just another quirky anecdote in her day.
"Oh, that? I've been on leave for a while now. Bills don't pay themselves, you know~"
Then she turned to me, giving a faint, knowing smile.
"Takashi… don't be in such a hurry to grow up. Being an adult looks cool from far away, but it's… exhausting."
Oh, I know.
More than I could ever explain. A job, friends, a girlfriend… A life. All gone because of bad decisions and worse circumstances.
"You're right," I murmured, more to myself than to her.
Might as well enjoy this borrowed youth while I can.
Because the moment I hit adulthood again, I won't be society's slave anymore.
The door opened.
Koneko stepped in like it was the most normal thing in the world, her face unreadable.
"Good morning, Senpai… Chisato-san," she said politely.
"Morning," I replied.
"Good morning, Koneko‑chan," she said with that soft, welcoming smile of hers.
"Come in, sweetheart. Grab a seat and eat before it gets cold."
She slipped into the chair beside me without making a fuss.
Mom set a plate of toast and a cup of coffee in front of her, nudging it a little closer like she didn't trust gravity to do the job properly.
We ate in that comfortable, early-morning quiet — just the clink of cups and the low hum of the fridge.
"Aight, we're off," I said, pushing my chair back.
She wiped her hands on her apron and gave us that soft, motherly smile that somehow made the kitchen feel warmer.
"Already heading out?" she said, tilting her head. "Alright then… take care of each other, okay? And don't skip lunch just because you think you're grown."
There was a playful lilt at the end — the kind she always used when she wanted to fuss without actually fussing.
"Have a good day, you two~"
Koneko and I stepped out into the bright morning sun, the air still carrying that crispy spring edge before the day fully warmed.
We walked side by side toward Kuoh Academy, our shadows stretching long across the pavement. The world felt quiet — just distant traffic and the faintest rustle of leaves.
After a few steps, I felt a tug at my sleeve.
I glanced down.
She wasn't looking at me. Just lightly holding onto the fabric, like she needed the reassurance more than the contact itself.
"…I missed you, Senpai," she murmured.
Her words were soft, almost swallowed by the morning breeze.
I didn't hesitate.
"I missed you too," I said — and I meant it.
Her fingers tightened for half a second before relaxing again.
I ruffled her hair.
She didn't protest.
Her ears twitched once, and instead of pulling away, she leaned into my hand — barely, like she didn't want me to notice. A quiet, instinctive gesture.
We kept walking.
Then, on the way, I told her everything. About Budapest. About Paris.
"...You've been busy," she said, flatly.
"No kidding," I replied.
Then, I switched the topic.
"So… Rias came back for real?"
"Buchou returned," she said. "Riser Phenex-sama has recovered."
A pause.
"He asked for distance. He doesn't want to see her right now."
Her eyes flicked toward me.
"…He seemed… shaken."
I let out a low whistle. "Wow. Guess I traumatized the guy."
Koneko stopped walking.
I almost kept going.
"…Senpai," she said quietly.
No irritation. Just that calm, steady tone she used when she wanted me to stop being stupid.
"Don't say things like that."
She started walking again.
"Conflicts between high-class devils are not a joke."
Then, softer — so soft I almost missed it:
"…But Buchou is relieved."
We kept walking.
Her fingers brushed my sleeve again — just once.
Neither of us said anything else.
I parted ways with Koneko after passing the school gates, each of us heading toward our respective classrooms.
Golden Week sent me running to Paris. After that… I just didn't show up.
Yeah. Stellar attendance record.
I slid open the classroom door with my usual indifference, hands tucked into my pockets.
The reaction was immediate.
Hyoudou froze mid-sentence, staring at me like I'd just risen from the dead. Asia blinked twice, then clasped her hands together.
"Kokonoe-san…! You're back!" she said, relief clear in her voice.
Murayama leaned toward Katase almost instantly.
"Wasn't he gone the entire Golden Week?"
"I heard he went abroad."
"Abroad? That's suspiciously cool."
The whispering spread like a low current through the room.
And then—
Aika Kiryuu appeared at my desk.
She didn't walk. She popped up.
Like an ad on a porn site. "Brazzers is free for the holidaysssss!!" or something like that.
Fuck the internet…
Anyways.
That lazy, knowing smile curved her lips as she adjusted her glasses.
"Oya, oya~ Kokonoe-kun," she sang lightly. "You've been absent for quite some time."
She leaned forward just enough to invade my personal space, eyes narrowing with playful scrutiny.
"Something feels… different."
Hyoudou leaned in from two desks away, already sweating.
Kiryuu tilted her head.
"Your aura's changed. You're calmer. Less awkward." A faint smirk. "Almost like…"
She tapped her chin theatrically.
"…you've crossed a certain boundary."
The class went silent.
Her glasses flashed.
"You're not a virgin anymore, are you?"
The silence shattered.
"EH?!" Hyoudou practically launched out of his seat.
Asia turned bright red.
Murayama gasped. Katase grabbed her arm.
Hyoudou's pervert friends froze.
"...He actually crossed the line," Matsuda hissed, voice cracking. "While we're still stuck in tutorial mode."
Motohama adjusted his lenses, trembling.
"The data doesn't lie. He ascended. We're still grinding side quests."
No, you're fucking not. You're grinding chuunibyou delusions.
I ignored their protests and stared at Kiryuu.
She smiled wider — not malicious, not shocked — just deeply entertained.
Like she'd tossed a lit match into a fireworks factory and was waiting to see which one exploded first.
"Yeah, next thing you know, I'm actually born in Colombia and my name is Pablo Escobar," I said, drily.
Come to think of it… did my Spanish get rusty? Time to test it.
"Miguel se despierto con Alma en su cama y haciendo amor toda la noche," I hissed the words.
Hyoudou snickered loudly. Asia pressed her hands to her mouth.
The rest of the class? Half confused that they even knew Spanish, half completely fixated on me.
"He said Miguel woke up with Alma… in his bed… because they… you know… did it all night! Hahaha!" Hyoudou translated between fits of laughter.
The boys laughed with him; a few girls snickered too.
"You're something else, Kokonoe…" Kiryuu murmured, eyes narrowing playfully.
She giggled softly, licking her lips. "I like that."
Then the teacher walked in, and everyone returned to their seats.
First period began.
I folded my arms on the desk. Time for a nap.
The rest of the classes passed by uneventfully.
I was about to head home when Kiba stepped neatly into my path, smile perfectly composed as ever.
"Kokonoe-kun," he said gently, though there was no room to slip past him, "Buchou would like a word."
Koneko appeared at my side like a silent executioner.
"You're coming," she said flatly. "Buchou is waiting."
I glanced between them.
"…That wasn't a request, was it?"
Kiba's smile widened just a fraction.
"Not particularly."
And just like that, my escape route was gone—escorted straight toward the ORC clubroom.
Koneko grabbed my right hand, her cheeks faintly flushed.
She kept her gaze anywhere but on me.
And before long, the clubroom door clicked shut behind us.
Rias was already there — seated at the head of the table, this time in Kuoh Academy's girls' uniform.
Akeno stood beside her, giggling softly as she greeted me with the most innocently cruel smile and a small wave.
Hyoudou was sandwiched between Asia and… Xenovia, surprisingly enough.
"Yo, Hero of Nagano," she greeted, tone as blunt as ever.
"Sup, Church girl? What brings you here?" I shot back.
She didn't bother answering right away. Black wings unfurled from her back without warning.
I blinked.
"After learning that God is dead," she said flatly — making the sign of the cross out of habit before catching herself, "I chose to become a Devil."
"Wow. Congrats, I guess?," I replied, genuinely out of words.
Rias cleared her throat.
Her eyes lingered on Koneko's hand in mine for half a second before moving to my face.
"Thank you, Kiba. Koneko," she said softly. "You can let go now."
Koneko let go of my hand, a bit reluctantly.
Rias exhaled, then stood.
"Kokonoe… Takashi," she said, using my first name — deliberate, careful. "I've been gone too long. I heard what happened. Paris. The siege. Vali. Everything."
I shrugged lightly.
"Yeah. I can tell Akeno briefed you in by now."
She took one step closer.
"I wanted to say thank you. For holding Kuoh together when I couldn't."
I shrugged.
"Well, someone had to do it," I replied, tone a bit flat.
A small, tired smile touched her lips.
"I know. That's why I'm asking this next part as an equal, not as your King."
She paused — long enough for the room to feel the weight.
"On paper, you're still a member of the Occult Research Club…," she began.
"I want to… renew my invitation. Officially. You can stay in the club.
Not as a servant. Not as a Rook.
Just… as a member. A friend. Someone who belongs here because he chooses to."
She stopped for a bit.
"I would be glad… if you accepted my proposal."
I weighed in the options. Keeping a foot in wouldn't be a bad idea, I guess…
I looked at my clubmates. Asia smiled at me, soft, a bit fond. Hyoudou flashed me a dumb grin and a thumbs up.
Akeno licked her lips and toyed with her thumb, gaze inviting.
Kiba tapped me on the shoulder.
And Koneko… her thumb wrapped around mine. Eyes looking at me, hopeful.
I sighed, then stared Rias dead in the eye.
"You're asking me to stay close… without the Piece."
"Yes," she said. "Because you don't need it anymore. And I don't want you to feel like you do."
"I got one condition," I said, evenly. "If the girls call me to Nagano, I'm going. If I don't like a mission, I walk. No explainations."
Rias's smile grew — small, genuine.
"Deal."
The room exhaled.
Then, before I could process what was happening, a box on the floor began to move.
Not slide.
Shiver.
A faint tremor ran through it, subtle at first — then more pronounced, like whatever was inside was either nervous… or trying very hard not to be.
Oh.
So that's what that was.
"Oh, right, Kokonoe," Rias said casually, as if we weren't all staring at a possessed cardboard container. "I wanted to introduce you to someone."
The box shook harder.
Yeah.
I had a pretty good idea what was in there.
"Gasper," she said gently. "You can come out."
The box gave one last violent shiver, then tipped sideways with a soft thump.
The flaps fell open.
A small head poked out—white hair, red eyes huge with terror, tiny fangs visible as he bit his lip to stop the whimpering.
Gasper Vladi. The half-vampire.
He looked… delicate. Almost like a doll. And for a second, I thought Rias adopted another quiet cute girl.
Then he climbed out.
He was wearing Kuoh Academy's female uniform. A skirt. His knees were knocking together like they were filing a complaint.
So… my only other co-national is a crossdresser.
If people back in Brașov lost their minds when 15 year-old me bleached my hair and painted my nails black during my emo phase… then this kid?
Yeah.
He survived worse.
"Salut. Ce zici, coaie?," I asked in Romanian.
Gasper froze. He recognized the language without his devil abilities.
"S-salut… sunt eu— I mean, I-I'm Gasper. I mean, wait, you're—," he struggled.
"Romanian? Yeah, you could say that. My name is Kokonoe Takashi, but you can call me Mihai," I shrugged.
I stretched out a hand.
"I-incantat de cunostiinta, Mihai…," he said shily, hesitating only a second before taking it.
Nice to meet you.
"Asemenea," I replied.
Likewise.
His grip was light. Careful. Like he expected the world to flinch away at any second.
Two Romanian kids in a Japanese occult clubroom.
Neither of us belonging in Romania. Or anywhere.
Our clubmates were confused. Hyoudou stared at the scene like a live drama, while Asia smiled warmly.
A small smile also curved on Koneko's lips.
Then, Rias broke the silence.
"Now… we have a peace conference tomorrow."
She looked at me.
"So please, take a seat. We have planning to do."
I sighed, but sat anyway.
Koneko slid into the spot next to me without a word, while Gasper sat next to her.
Her hand brushed mine — just once.
And for once, the clubroom felt… different.
Like it was finally welcoming me.
___________
I excused myself after a while and climbed onto Nelu's back, grateful I had a faster way to travel now.
If the commute to Nagano took 40 to 45 minutes by train, then on the Archaeopteryx's back?
10 minutes.
Nagano stretched out beneath me, cradled by deep green mountains and clear early-summer skies. Low houses, quiet roads, distant peaks—you couldn't tell the city was a ruin until not long ago.
I landed on the rooftop of MIDORI Mall, where Suzuka and Haruka were waiting.
The two girls waved—Haruka bouncing with energy, Suzuka more reserved, her movements measured.
"Took you long enough!" Haruka called out, grinning as I touched down on the rooftop.
Suzuka just smiled softly, stepping forward to meet me.
"Well, I made a deal with the devil," I said, drily.
Haruka hummed, intrigued.
I told them everything. Kiba and Koneko flanking me, Rias' offer, the way I'm still technically in the ORC.
"Hmm. Why don't you just move to Nagano with us?," Haruka asked instead.
I paused, thinking it over.
That would be… complicated. Mom and I would have to leave Kuoh. Sure, I could technically just fly there, but…
Something stopped me. I couldn't say what. Something invisible, holding me back.
Still… the thought lingered.
"I would if I could," I said, shrugging.
Better to leave it off at that.
"Then we'll make it work! We'll figure something out!," Haruka said, a little too energetic.
Suzuka nudged her a little.
"Haruka-chan… let's not get ahead of ourselves. Kokonoe-kun still lives with Chisato-san," she said softly.
I laughed a little.
Yeah. Turns out real life doesn't run on shortcuts.
The moment diffused on its own after that, and we headed inside.
"Where to now?" Haruka asked, swinging the bag in her hand like a kid.
I checked the time.
"Mom's on shift today," I said. "She works two floors down."
Haruka's eyes lit up.
"Oh! We're visiting Chisato‑san?"
Suzuka smiled softly.
"It's been a while. I'd like to see her."
We headed down two floors, weaving past clothing shops and food stalls until the blue sign of TechnoLeaf Electronics came into view.
Mom was behind the counter, scanning a box of routers with the dead-eyed precision of someone who's been doing this for 8 hours straight.
She looked up.
Her face lit up instantly the moment she spotted us.
"Oh! Takkun~! And the girls!" she said, waving us over.
Haruka waved back enthusiastically.
"Hi, Chisato‑san!"
Suzuka bowed politely.
"Good afternoon."
Mom's eyes sparkled with that look she always had when she was about to embarrass me in public.
Oh shit.
"So? Are you three on a date?"
I choked on air.
"MOM—"
Haruka burst out laughing.
Suzuka turned pink but she kept her composure.
"N‑no, Chisato‑san," she said gently. "We were just spending time together."
Mom laughed like she heard the funniest thing in the world. Then, she leaned on the counter, letting out a dramatic sigh.
"You two look so refreshed. I'm jealous. Meanwhile, I've been reorganizing shelves since eight in the morning. Half the inventory got mixed up during reconstruction."
Haruka blinked.
"Really? That sounds rough…"
"You have no idea," Mom groaned. "Someone asked me if we sell 'earthquake‑proof TVs.' I told him if I had one, I'd take it home myself."
Suzuka covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Mom softened immediately, her tone shifting into something warmer.
"How's school? Are things settling down?"
Haruka puffed her cheeks.
"Ehh… they're trying. Half the classrooms still smell like fresh paint."
Suzuka nodded.
"And the new building layout is confusing. We keep getting lost."
Mom laughed — a tired, genuine laugh.
"Well, that's reconstruction for you. I'm just glad you're both safe and back on your feet."
She glanced at me, then at the girls again.
"And thank you for keeping an eye on Takkun. He pretends he's grown, but he still forgets to eat when he's stressed."
I groaned.
"Mom—"
Haruka grinned.
"We'll make sure he eats!"
Suzuka nodded, smiling softly.
"We'll take care of him."
Had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. I've gone days without eating before—I'll survive. But if they want to pamper me… who am I to oppose it? Maybe I deserve it, after struggling through two lifetimes—
I almost believed myself.
Mom clasped her hands dramatically.
"See? Angels. Actual angels. Meanwhile, my son thinks instant ramen counts as a balanced diet."
Better than canned pate on toast, but sure.
"I can cook," I muttered.
She gave me a look that translated flawlessly: No, you can't.
Fine. Believe what you want. I used to live alone—I can handle pasta, fries, fish, the basics. And if I really focus, I could probably pull off sarmale without committing culinary war crimes.
Haruka leaned toward Suzuka and whispered—loudly enough for the entire room to qualify as an audience.
"He really can't."
Suzuka covered her mouth, failing miserably at suppressing a laugh.
Right.
You three really don't know that much about me.
Mom straightened up, about to head back to the store room.
"Alright, you three. I'm on break in ten minutes. If you're still around, I'll treat you to drinks from the vending machine. The good ones, not the cheap ones."
Haruka gasped like she'd been offered treasure.
Suzuka smiled warmly.
And I… tried not to look too pleased.
For a moment, standing there with the two girls and Mom complaining about routers and cloud‑microwaves, it felt like the world was finally settling into something normal.
And honestly?
It was about time.
Of course, peace never arrives without the whole paperwork, politics, and paranoia behind it.
The conference was next.
And for reasons I couldn't quite articulate, the thought of meeting those faction leaders filled me with equal parts curiosity and dread.
________
And, of course, the peace conference is happening… at Kuoh Academy. How convenient. Too fucking convenient.
If this were an anime, I'd say this tiny town in parallel Japan is suddenly the world's epicenter—just like New York is Earth's capital in every American show.
And yet… everything from my past life—my family, my house, my school, even the version of me who never grew up—exists here.
Yeah. I haven't raged at the Watcher or Author-san lately.
After everything that's happened… what's the point?
One's dead.
The other was never more than a narrator with delusions of relevance.
Guess God's death just reshuffled the board.
After all, it's the only reason we're standing here in the first place.
Suzuka to my right, Haruka to my left.
I glanced at the reincarnated French girl.
"Crazy… a lifetime ago, I was getting high at work to survive TikTok hell, and you were dying in a hospital bed."
I looked around me, as if I expected everything to be a dream.
"And now? Here we are. Standing in front of the celestial assholes who decide the fate of the world," I said, flat as ever.
She glanced at me, calm as ever.
"It's… surreal, isn't it? All of it. But we've made it this far. We just have to see it through."
Then, we stepped into the conference room.