In the Student Council's room...
"President, it appears that Rias is strangely interested in the new student." A girl with heterochromia eyes hidden under her glasses said before after moving the knight piece on the board, then leaned back into the couch. She was the Vice-President, Tsubaki Shinra. Right in front of her was the President of the Student Council, Sona Sitri, or Sona Shitori to the common people.
"New student? Ah, you must be talking about Kousuke Igarashi. Did you find the reason why?"
"No, but he is close to Issei—her pawn—and the latter has already invited him to join the Occult Research Club."
"The student who went missing for almost a year suddenly returns just as mysteriously as his disappearance..."
Sona remembered his peculiar case. Rias even asked for her help once to look into it, but she couldn't find anything—it was as if he had been erased without a trace. Even her sister, one of the Four Satans, had been helpless. She never expected to see two Satans working together and still failing to uncover a single clue about a missing human. It was amazing, in a way. The incident even made headlines in the supernatural news.
Just as everyone had almost forgotten about it, the said human returned. Sona had only found out when her Queen informed her that a student had been invited into Rias's hideout—aka, the Occult Research Club. She thought Rias might have finally found him and simply pushed the matter aside. But from what she gathered, they were just as surprised as she was. No one knew the truth—except, perhaps, the person himself.
"Why would Rias want him in her Peerage? Unless she knows something... hmm."
Sona thought for a moment, her hand reaching toward the Rook before picking it up and placing it one step forward. She was currently playing another chess game with her Queen, as usual, during the break. When she learned that Rias had taken Issei under her wings, she thought the latter had lost her mind. But it turned out he possessed one of the rarest Sacred Gears—Boosted Gear. If only his personality weren't so perverted... Sona shook her head at the thought.
"He's good-looking and, from what I heard, also good with his studies. If anything, he should join the Student Council."
"Then, do you want me to send him an invitation?"
Tsubaki asked as she moved her pawn forward, but it was immediately eaten by Sona's Rook. As her Queen, she knew the rivalry between the two. Kuoh Town was originally under the administration of the Sitri Clan until Rias's older brother—the Satan himself—decided to play Principal of Kuoh Academy for some inexplicable reason. That was before Rias even showed any interest in the mortal world.
But before they knew it, half the town had been taken under the Gremory. So by the time Sona and Rias finally arrived in Kuoh Town, the management was left to them. While Tsubaki's master took her role very seriously, Rias, on the other hand, only did what was necessary. This was why it hurt Sona even more when the latter discovered Issei's uniqueness.
So this time, she didn't want to lose to Rias again. Sona might not know the secret behind Kousuke's disappearance, but if she could unravel it by pulling him into her Peerage—even if he turned out to be a blank—it might be worth it just from the fact that she successfully stole him from her rival.
"Yes, but try to be discreet about it."
"I understand."
...
"Taking me into some empty classroom—could this be a confession?"
Kousuke said jokingly, hands in his pockets, as he followed right behind Tsubaki.
"Don't get me wrong, senpai, you're cute, but I don't think you're my type. You're so serious that it might be difficult for you to make my heart flutter."
Hearing that, her footsteps came to a halt. She turned around, and he could finally see her face. Unlike what he expected, there seemed to be a faint blush on her cheeks. 'No way, does she have a thing for boys younger than her? Well not that I'm young despite my appearance,' Kousuke thought to himself. Tsubaki closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself—she hadn't expected his words to affect her this much either.
"I brought you here because, as you know, I'm the vice-president of the Student Council."
"Yes ma'am."
"...So my President thought it would be great if you could join the Student Council."
"Getting club invitations twice in one day? Sheesh, I guess I'm pretty famous."
He stroked his chin, eyes meeting Tsubaki's—which, for some reason, quickly looked away. Kousuke pondered for a bit. Two clubs wanted him to join their sides—both were devils, if his heightened senses weren't lying. He wasn't particularly interested in any club to begin with, even more so when both clearly had motives for inviting him.
"Occult Research Club seems more open than the Student Council from what I see. The latter feels like I'd have to be more careful since it's, well... the Student Council."
"T-The Student Council isn't as big of a deal as you might think. We're still students, after all."
"But the President—Sona Shitori, was it? Doesn't she look like the type who'd lecture me if I made the slightest mistake?"
"...That does sound like her. I can't deny it. So... you'll join the Occult Research Club?"
"I didn't say I'll be joining their club just yet, so don't look so disappointed."
"I-I am not disappointed!"
Kousuke chuckled at her exaggerated reaction to his joke. He seemed to enjoy teasing the older girl, and she, for her part, was confused by her own response.
"Is there a rule that says I can only join one club?"
"...You want to join both? There isn't such a rule, but it is encouraged to pick one so students don't have conflicting schedules."
"Yeah, I don't want to be so busy... but then again, that sounds fun."
"Fun?"
He had originally only planned to join the Occult Research Club because of Issei. But as he spent more time talking with Tsubaki, he was starting to enjoy her company. Although she seemed serious, she also clearly had zero experience in relationships. Her heterochromic eyes were particularly mesmerizing, much less the way she looks like a hot secretary with glasses on her. She seemed to feel his gaze on her and began nervously twirling her long sideburn around her fingers. The corner of his lips curled up—he found this side of her especially cute.
"Are you single, Tsubaki-senpai?"
"W-What does that have to do with this?!"
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Ugh!"
Tsubaki was feeling conflicted. She didn't understand why her heart fluttered when he suddenly asked that. His teasing gaze was particularly intense—it made it difficult to meet his eyes.
"W-What are you doing?!"
When Kousuke suddenly stepped closer, Tsubaki involuntarily stepped back. But he didn't say anything. She could feel his serious gaze locked onto her like a lion stalking prey. She was flustered as he continued to approach her in silence until her back hit the wall.
"..."
He slammed his hand on the wall beside her and leaned in, stopping just inches away from her. Tsubaki could feel his breath on her cheeks as her face quickly reddened. Her heart beat fast, like she'd just run a marathon, as her mind was riddled with strange thoughts. 'W-What is going on?! Why is he doing this?!' she panicked.
"It's a confession after all," Kousuke muttered. Her ears perked up—but before she could react, he raised her chin and looked her in the eyes. Her eyes widened like saucers as he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. She felt like her breath had stopped, her mind going blank.
"!!!"
'This wasn't what I was expecting when inviting him to join the Student Council!' Amidst all the chaos, a single thought appeared in her head. Even so, her arms subconsciously wrapped securely around his neck as she pulled him closer.