As the days blended into a monotonous routine, Rin found himself growing increasingly bored with this world. The only thing that truly held his interest here were the new anime series, manga, light novels, and games that simply didn't exist in the DXD world. He often mused, if only he possessed some kind of inter-dimensional storage, a personal pocket dimension that could cross between worlds, he wouldn't have to endure the mundane stretches of Haruhi's domain. He could simply collect the entertainment and retreat to his mansion in the DXD world, leaving the chaos behind.
As always, Ryoko Asakura was doing what she always did: subtly weaving herself into his proximity, her smile unwavering, her thoughts a chilling blueprint for his demise. The culmination of her subtle machinations arrived after classes ended. He found a secret letter tucked into his locker, placed with the practiced ease of a girl about to confess her feelings. Given his own quiet popularity, and Ryoko's undeniable charm, no one would bat an eye if they were to form a relationship.
Rin read the letter, his expression unreadable to any casual observer. It was a perfectly crafted confession, filled with shy admissions and a request to meet alone in the classroom after school. At the end, a faint chuckle escaped him. He knew this scenario. He'd seen it play out in the series. It was almost comically obvious what she intended to do.
The school emptied out, the last echoes of student chatter fading into silence. Rin remained in his seat, patiently waiting. Ryoko, ever the popular student, had lingered for a moment, exchanging pleasantries with her friends before excusing herself, ensuring no one else was left in the school.
The classroom door slid open, and Ryoko stepped inside. She walked towards him, her smile still in place. "Thank you for waiting, Rin-kun," she said, her voice soft, a hint of shyness in her tone. "I felt a little shy about… what I'm about to do, so I wanted to make sure we were completely alone."
At first, her actions were exactly what one would expect from a confession scene in an anime. Her hands clasped together, her gaze lowered, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. But then, in an instant, the act dropped. The shy smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. Her hand, which had been hidden behind her back, emerged, gripping a gleaming knife.
"You need to die," she stated, her voice now devoid of any warmth, flat and chilling.
She lunged, the knife flashing towards him. Rin didn't move. He simply sat there, allowing her to stab him. The blade connected, not with his flesh, but with an invisible, impenetrable force. Ryoko's eyes widened in shock as the knife, instead of piercing him, snapped cleanly in half, the broken blade clattering to the floor.
Her mind, which Rin could still read with ease, raced. Did Yuki know about this? Is that why he was able to block my attack with his body? She instinctively glanced around the empty classroom, searching for any sign of Yuki Nagato. If Yuki were protecting someone, she would surely reveal herself. But the room remained empty. No Yuki. This could only mean one thing: Rin was not an ordinary human. Her assessment of him had been gravely mistaken.
"Are you finished?" Rin asked, his voice calm, almost bored. He slowly rose from his seat, his eyes fixed on her. His casual demeanor, the utter lack of concern despite her attempt on his life, heightened Ryoko's awareness of him. This was not a normal human.
He began to walk, slowly, deliberately, towards her. "Why did you do this?" he asked, his voice still even, but with an underlying current that made her instinctively tense.
In an instant, the distance between them vanished. Rin was suddenly, impossibly, directly in front of Ryoko. Before she could react, he delivered a swift, precise kick. She flew across the room, slamming into a row of desks, which splintered and overturned with a loud crash. Ryoko landed hard, skidding across the floor, her body aching from the impact.
She scrambled to her feet, realizing with a jolt that he was far stronger, far faster than she had anticipated. This was no ordinary human. Her mission, her faction's directive, demanded a different approach. She decided to reveal her true identity, to fight him with everything she had.
Her right hand transformed, elongating and hardening into a sharp, metallic blade, glinting menacingly in the dim classroom light. She lunged again, her movements superhumanly fast, a blur of motion designed to overwhelm. Her blade arced, precise and deadly, aiming for his vitals. But Rin, still moving with an almost casual grace, blocked and parried every single attack. He deflected her strikes with minimal effort, his hands moving with impossible speed, his body swaying just enough to avoid her razor-sharp edge. He didn't even seem to be trying.
This made Ryoko's artificial composure crack. A flicker of irritation, then frustration, crossed her face. She continued her relentless assault, a flurry of metallic slashes, hoping to find a weak point, a single opening. But there was none. She was far, far weaker than him in terms of both speed and strength. Ryoko, while also a humanoid interface like Yuki, relied more on direct, physical attacks, her artificial nature enhancing her combat capabilities. She was relentless, efficient, a machine designed for assassination. But against Rin, she was utterly outmatched.
Finally, panting, her movements slowing, Ryoko stopped attacking. Rin, with a gesture, allowed her to rest, watching her with an almost detached curiosity. Ryoko was furious, her mission a complete failure. She couldn't even leave a scratch on him. In a fit of pure frustration, she slammed her metallic hand into the blackboard, leaving a deep indentation.
"It hurts!"
Ryoko heard a girl behind her cry out in pain as the girl fell to the ground.
"What are you doing here?"
Ryoko froze as she saw her, her head snapping around. There, on the floor, having evidently fallen from behind her, was Haruhi Suzumiya. Ryoko's eyes wide with shock.