On one side of the bridge, three figures were secretly observing the scene at the overpass.
"Ara ara, Rias, I told you that Koneko-chan was acting a little weird. Look!" The speaker was Akeno Himejima, who had long black hair and was dressed in her student uniform.
On either side of her stood two others in Kuoh Academy uniforms. The one called Rias had a cool complexion, long crimson hair, an enchanting figure, and skin as delicate as jade. The other, Yuuto Kiba, had short blond hair and silver-gray pupils, along with a kind expression on his face.
"Akeno, do you think it's right to stand under the overpass and spy on Koneko-chan?" Rias turned her back, leaned against the wall, and protested with her arms crossed.
"He's here! He's here! The man!" Akeno exclaimed. At this, the eyes of all three below turned upward.
A man with short dark hair, dressed in a simple T-shirt and looking quite ordinary, was gazing at Koneko.
"Mr. Xi Ye..." Even from their distance, which was enough to avoid being spotted by Koneko but still close enough for devils with enhanced hearing and vision, they could observe clearly.
"Koneko-chan gave snacks to Xi Ye~" Akeno clenched her fist in frustration, her usual protective nature towards food kicking in.
The three present were in disbelief. Even Rias, typically calm, opened her eyes wide and stared at Xi Ye.
"An ordinary human!?"
Above them, Koneko held a box of fish-shaped biscuits in both hands and looked up. She handed it to Xi Ye with a smile.
"Xi Ye-kun, thank you for coming to see me!"
"What's this?" Xi Ye asked, a bit surprised by the snack being offered.
If he didn't know the true identity of this little girl, he might have seen it as a wonderful gesture. But he was aware that she was a low-class reincarnated devil and a nekomata.
Xi Ye scratched his head, uncertain whether to accept the treat or not, while glancing at the gradually darkening sky.
Should this be his last supper!?
"Xi Ye-kun~"
Koneko called out again, her expression mixed with complexity and a hint of dejection. Seeing this, Xi Ye felt a wave of discomfort. He reassured himself that it probably wasn't a trap. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.
After a few moments, Xi Ye took the fish-shaped biscuits from Koneko. "Since you've chosen to meet Koneko, you need to stay calm," he murmured. Almost immediately, he mentally opened the novice gift package system that had just been given to him.
"Open the novice gift package!" he commanded in his mind.
"Ding! Opening a novice gift package. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the magic book 'Astir's Manuscript,' themed around 'Domination.' You've gained the skill 'Magic Elimination!'"
"Aster's Manuscript?" he thought, wondering if it was the grimoire from "Trinity Seven." As a loyal anime fan, he understood the potential benefits of this grimoire.
"Xi Ye-kun, you can't be so cold when meeting girls." Koneko's cute face showed a hint of disappointment. Was it possible she felt unworthy of Xi Ye's attention? He remained in a daze, unsure of what to say next.
"Ah! Is that so? Koneko-chan, I'm so sorry," Xi Ye finally responded softly.
"It's okay. You mentioned in the game that you're an uncle, and I said I don't believe it!" Koneko said as she moved closer to him, closing the distance between them.
She remembered reading in a romance book the night before that reducing physical distance could increase emotional closeness. Giving gifts was also a way to express her feelings. As for why she chose fish-shaped biscuits as a treat, it was simply because she liked them, assuming others would too.
"That's just to cover up. I'm afraid some girls will fall in love too early!" Xi Ye joked as he looked at Koneko walking beside him.
A hint of shyness crept onto her face. "Are you talking about me, Mr. Xi Ye?" she asked playfully.
.....
Under the bridge.
"Uncle!?"
Rias was taken aback. That was what he had exclaimed when he first met Koneko in the game. At that time, he hadn't fully adapted to the youthful appearance he had adopted, making him appear over ten years younger. It wasn't unusual for someone in their twenties to call themselves "uncle" in front of a young girl. However, Koneko shouldn't have been pleased about this!
"Ara ara~ Uncle, Koneko-chan is really…"
Akeno Himejima watched the situation unfold from below, unable to suppress the sadistic tendencies in her personality that began to surface. Next to her, Rias held her head in her hands, her face a mix of emotions.
The change in Koneko was strange enough, but that wasn't the main issue. It was Xi Ye, who was being called "uncle," that made her uneasy. With her superior devil senses, which surpassed those of everyone present, she noticed something unsettling about Xi Ye. However, it was only for a brief moment, just as Xi Ye opened the novice gift package. As their leader, Rias felt obliged to help them steer clear of any potential threats.
"Ara ara, what's wrong with Koneko-chan? You approached a man on your initiative~" Himejima Akeno narrated the situation as she watched Koneko and Xi Ye leave, her body trembling with laughter. It was no less enticing than Rias' figure.
Kiba Yuuto maintained a kind expression, having been drawn here by Akeno out of curiosity.