Xenovia, who had recently become the Student Council President, watched the rowdy father-daughter interaction with a smile.
"Fufufu, Irina's family is as lively as ever."
Since taking office, Xenovia's visits to the clubroom had decreased, but she still dropped by whenever she had a break in her schedule. Today, she was waiting here for her conference.
"Xenovia, Griselda-san is coming for you, right?"
"Yeah. But the Sister is a busy woman. Today, I'll likely be alone—"
Right as she said that, the door opened. Sister Griselda stepped inside! Talk about perfect timing.
"Alone? What was that? Good day, Xenovia."
"S-S-S-Sister Griselda?! ...You actually came."
"Of course. I'm the only one who qualifies as your guardian. Now, let's go over the details for the conference."
Without waiting for an answer, Griselda grabbed Xenovia's arm and led her toward the sofa. ...She was basically being arrested.
"I-I don't really have anything to confirm! My future is mostly decided!"
"It's that 'mostly' that worries me. Your plans are always far too vague and disorganized. Now, come along."
The sheer pressure of that smile...! It was terrifying. Even the mighty Xenovia broke into a cold sweat.
"Ugh... I really can't win against the Sister..." She gave in instantly. I guess you really can't beat your big sister.
Suddenly, I realized something. I turned to Kiba and Gasper.
"Who's coming for you guys? Kiba, is it Okita-san?"
"Master is busy. Every year, the Gremory family sends a servant who looks the part. It's the same for Gasper-kun, right?"
"Yes," Gasper nodded.
I see. The Gremory family has so many staff that they can easily find someone who looks like they could be related to Kiba or Gasper.
Knock, knock.
"Um... is this the right place?"
It was my mom.
▽
After a while, it was finally my turn. Asia and Miwa had finished theirs, and I swapped places with Miwa to enter the room.
Inside was my mom and our homeroom teacher, Sakata-sensei.
As usual, Sakata-sensei looked like a mess—glasses crooked, lab coat rumpled, and that silver, naturally permed hair going in every direction. He still had those "dead fish" eyes.
"...This is a parent-teacher conference, right?"
"Sure is. Does it look like a blind date, you punk?"
"It doesn't look like a blind date either, you punk! Are you always like this?!"
"Like I have the energy to put on an act. It's a pain. Everything is a pain... thinking about how much of a pain it is is also a pain."
"Just how much of a 'pain' is your life!?"
This is hopeless! This isn't a normal conference at all!
Mom, say something!
I looked at her pleadingly, but she just shrugged. "Isn't it easier to talk when things are this casual?"
"This isn't casual, it's chaotic!"
Has my mom been corrupted by hanging out with Devils and Gods too much?! Even if that's the case, haven't the other parents complained?! The PTA is going to have a field day!
"They won't. This world runs on convenience," Sakata-sensei muttered.
"Don't say things like that! And stop reading my mind! Is that a trend now or something?!"
"Who knows."
I slumped, putting my hands on the floor in despair. What a teacher. I knew he was the type to read Jump during class and sleep while proctoring exams, but still...! No wonder he and Azazel-sensei get along so well.
"Hurry up and sit down, Hyoudou. I want to get this over with. If I don't get home soon, I'll miss the start of Castle in the Sky."
"...Sigh."
With a massive sigh, I took my seat. My career counseling was beginning with a teacher who had zero motivation. We started with my school attitude and grades, but...
"No heckling during class. We have enough with Shinpachi. Now, as for your grades—"
"There are other things you should be mentioning!"
"Ah, right. You've had complaints. Mostly from the boys."
"Huh? The boys? Not the girls?"
Since I'm always talking about pervy stuff, I assumed the girls would be the ones complaining. But I've completely stopped the peeping...!
I have Miwa and the others now! I've decided to cherish my wives! So, I don't peep anymore! I don't bring adult goods to school! I stick to just talking!
But the complaints from the boys...
The teacher started reading from a printout.
"'He flirts too much with his sister.' 'Give us back Asia-chan.' 'Reina-san was giving him a lap pillow. I'm seriously pissed.' 'He was walking arm-in-arm with Rias-oneesama. I'm going to curse him'..."
"THOSE are the complaints?!"
"Yeah. There are more. It was never-ending, so I set up a complaint box..."
"You had one of those?!"
"Almost every boy in the school sent one in."
"Wha—!?"
My god...! Almost every boy in school?! The guys I chat with normally are actually venting their frustrations to the school behind my back?! Just how far has the 'Anti-Issei' committee spread?!
The teacher continued. "There were some from the girls too... 'I want to hear stories of forbidden love between the brother and sister.' 'I want to know the truth about his relationship with Kiba-kyun.'"
"Are those even complaints?! Those are requests!"
And besides, Miwa and I aren't related by blood, so it's not forbidden! There's no problem with us flirting!
I shouldn't be the one saying this, but the students at this school are weird! What do they want from me and Kiba?!
As the "complaints" continued to be revealed, Mom just nodded. "Issei, you really are inseparable even at school. Well, I expected as much. ...The grandkids are close."
I want to go home. I want this conference to end. I want to go back and hug Miwa.
Eventually, the conversation shifted to my actual future.
"Hyoudou's desired path is... our university division?"
"Yes."
I want to graduate from university. Since I'm already at Kuoh Academy, which has a university branch, I figured I'd take the internal track. The university is high-level, so I don't feel the need to go elsewhere. Plus, considering my Devil business, staying here is much more convenient.
In fact, all the second-year members of the Occult Research Club—Miwa, Asia, Xenovia, Irina, Reina, Kiba, and Alice—have the same plan. Even Kiryuu, Matsuda, and Motohama are aiming for the Kuoh University division. The whole gang is going to be together for four more years.
"Your grades are fine, so you should be okay. Honestly, studying is just about a person's own motivation."
He's right... but is he really a teacher, saying that in front of a parent?
"So, after university... you'll probably work for the Gremory family... but do you have anything specific in mind?"
"Yes, roughly. I'm scheduled to be entrusted with Gremory territory in the future, so I want to start studying for that now. Management, logistics, that kind of thing."
"Management? What, are you going into the Faculty of Economics?"
"That's the plan. The current Underworld is modeled after the Human World, so there's a lot of overlap. I could leave it to specialists, but if I'm going to be in charge, I want to understand how it works myself."
Sakata-sensei nodded, scribbling with his pen. Beside me, Mom looked genuinely impressed.
"You've thought it through that far?"
"Yeah. University always felt like 'something to do,' but if I'm going, I want to have a goal. I want to make the most of my time."
When I first became a Devil, I was just chasing the dream of becoming a "Harem King" and reaching High-class status. But now that I'm here, there's so much to learn. Like Sirzechs-san said, with great privilege comes great duty and responsibility. It'll be a while before I'm actually managing territory, but I want to be ready.
Actually... I've kind of already achieved my goal, haven't I? Harem King... I've got all these beautiful wives-to-be... even if Miwa is the one doing a lot of the legwork.
Sakata-sensei spoke up. "If you know what you want to do, that's fine. Going to university just to mess around is a waste of time, but if you have a goal, you'll be fine. I don't know much about the Devil stuff, but I can help you with the rest. For now, I'll put you down as seeking employment under the 'Gremory Internal Quota' after graduation."
"Thank you."
The Gremory Internal Quota. I guess most of the club members will be under that. I wonder if the Sitri family has something similar?
As the meeting seemed to be winding down, Sakata-sensei let out a long sigh.
"Hey, Hyoudou."
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to ask... can you fix a natural perm with magic?"
"Huh?"
A natural perm? What does that have to do with my career counseling?!
I looked up at his head. His silver hair was a mess of tight, chaotic curls.
"No matter how many times I try to fix it, it just bounces back. It's such a pain. So, I'm asking... you got anything? A way to fix this perm instantly?"
"THAT'S YOUR QUESTION?!"
My career counseling session began with a joke and ended with a punchline.
Class 3... Z-Gumi!
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