The morning sunlight streamed into the classroom as Eishi settled into his usual seat near the window. The chatter of students filled the air, but it was one voice in particular that drew his attention.
"Morning, Eishi-kun."
Kiba Yuuto stood by his desk, his smile as polite as always.
"Morning, Kiba," Eishi replied, returning the smile.
Kiba leaned slightly closer. "Do you remember my invitation? About visiting the Occult Research Club?"
Eishi nodded. "Yeah. After school, right?"
"That's right. I'll come get you."
The day passed quickly, the lessons fading into routine as the hours slipped by. When the final bell rang, Eishi packed up his things, and true to his word, Kiba was waiting.
They walked side by side toward the old school building. On the way, Eishi's attention was caught by a loud commotion near the shoe lockers.
"Unforgivable!"
"Betrayal of the highest order!"
The dramatic voices echoed down the hall like a pair of tragic actors performing a death scene.
Eishi blinked, his brows furrowing as he recognized the familiar faces of Matsuda and Motohama—Issei's ever-loyal friends and fellow degenerates. Both of them looked as though their entire world had crumbled overnight.
"What happened to you two?" Eishi asked cautiously, half-expecting some absurd answer.
Motohama's glasses flashed as he shoved them up his nose, his voice trembling with indignation. "Eishi-kun, brace yourself… Issei… has betrayed us!"
Eishi froze. His heart skipped. "Betrayed? What do you mean?"
Matsuda clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His face twisted with righteous fury. "He—he went and got himself a girlfriend!"
Eishi's eyes went wide. "What!?" The word slipped out before he could stop it. A pang of jealousy stabbed through him like a well-aimed arrow. Seriously? Issei?
"Damn…" He muttered under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair. "Never thought he'd be the first out of us…"
"Exactly!" Motohama wailed, his voice cracking. "We had a pact, Eishi-kun! A brotherhood of the single! And he abandoned us without even looking back!"
Matsuda stomped his foot, drawing curious glances from nearby students. "The traitor didn't even give us a warning!, at least he should have set us up with his girlfriend's friend!"
Eishi pressed a hand to his temple, trying not to burst into laughter at how utterly serious they looked. "Hold on, hold on. Are you sure you're not just imagining things? Knowing Issei, this sounds… impossible."
"It's real!" Matsuda barked back immediately. "We saw him! Walking with her! Smiling! Some girl from another school!, he even introduce her as his girlfriend!"
Motohama sniffed dramatically. "The look in his eyes… it was the look of a man who has already crossed the boundary we swore we'd protect."
Eishi let out a long exhale, shaking his head in disbelief. "Issei… you really did it, huh?"
The two friends continued their lament, their words like daggers of overblown melodrama. As he and Kiba moved past them, their voices trailed behind like the soundtrack of a tragic play.
Trust Issei to stumble into something like that before me… I've been fighting for every inch of progress, training, gain knowledge and powers. And yet, this idiot just… finds a girlfriend out of nowhere?
He clicked his tongue quietly, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. Damn it, Issei. Lucky bastard.
The old school building carried an eerie quiet as Eishi and Kiba stepped inside. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and wax, and faint candlelight spilled from the room at the end of the hall.
Kiba opened the door. "President, I've brought him."
Eishi stepped in, eyes sweeping across the room. At once, his attention was drawn to the girl sitting elegantly on the sofa, long crimson hair cascading like fire, her posture regal yet inviting. At her side stood a tall, refined beauty with raven-black hair and a teasing smile, while a petite white-haired girl sat quietly nearby, nibbling on cookies without the slightest concern.
"You must be Eishi Lucivar," the crimson-haired girl said, her voice warm yet commanding. "I am Rias Gremory. Welcome to the Occult Research Club."
Her presence pressed on him, heavy yet strangely gentle. Almost before he realized it, Eishi blurted out:"...You feel the same as the Student Council President."
The room stilled for a heartbeat. Akeno's lips curved into a knowing smile, while Koneko only blinked slowly, a crumb of cookie still clinging to her lips.
Rias tilted her head, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulder. Her eyes gleamed with intrigue. "My, and what do you mean by that?"
Eishi stiffened. "N-Nothing," he said quickly, waving his hand dismissively.
But inside, his thoughts churned. No way… she couldn't be, right? There's no chance she's the same as Sona… a devil. Must just be my imagination.
Rias's smile lingered, a subtle curve that made it unclear whether she believed him or not.
Eishi coughed lightly, embarrassed. "It just… slipped out."
But Rias shifted gracefully, rising from the sofa. She walked closer, every movement unhurried, every step radiating control. When she stopped before him, her smile softened.
"Before anything else," she said, lowering her gaze briefly in a gesture of apology, "allow me to say this: I'm sorry for Kazuma Tenjou's behavior. His actions toward you were unacceptable. I've already dealt with him."
Eishi's eyes widened slightly. "You… handled it? What do you mean?"
Rias's expression cooled, her tone calm but edged with steel. "After I was notified of Kazuma Tenjou's actions, I ordered a thorough investigation. It turns out this wasn't the first time—he had a history of misconduct, corruption, even bribery.
Enough to warrant proper punishment. As of now, he has been fired… and it's likely he will face charges under law as well."
Her words were delivered with the poise of a queen passing judgment, yet they carried a finality that made Eishi's chest tighten. She didn't just discipline him… she erased his place entirely.
Then, just as quickly, the atmosphere shifted. Rias's lips curved into a softer smile as she took a graceful step closer. Her crimson hair brushed her shoulder, the faint fragrance of roses and something sweeter lingering in the air.
"You didn't deserve to be dragged into such ugliness," she said, her voice lowering slightly, almost conspiratorial. "So, let me offer an apology."
She gestured toward the coffee table, where a porcelain set was already waiting. Steam curled upward like a beckoning hand. With deliberate grace, she leaned forward to pour, her presence closing the space between them. The soft clink of porcelain echoed in the quiet.
When she slid a cup toward him, her hand lingered a moment longer than necessary, her smile warm and disarming. Rias leaned in just slightly, enough for Eishi to catch her scent.
She smells… nice.
Eishi felt heat rise to his face before he could stop it.
"Why don't we talk?" Rias murmured, her blue eyes holding his without flinching. "Just you and me. A deep conversation over coffee. I'd like to know more about you, Lucivar-kun."
Her eyes held his, unwavering, a subtle pressure coaxing him closer.
Kiba glanced at Eishi curiously, while Akeno hid a chuckle behind her hand. Even Koneko stopped chewing for a moment, her golden eyes flicking between them.
Rias's smile deepened, her voice smooth as silk. "And perhaps, if you find yourself enjoying our company… you might consider joining the Occult Research Club. We'd be glad to have someone like you among us."
Eishi, caught off guard, felt a heat rising in his chest—not just from her beauty, but from the way she made the air bend to her will. He exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
"President Gremory… thank you." His voice was calm, firm. "But if I ever decide to join a club…" He straightened, meeting her gaze without flinching. "…it will be the Student Council. They were the first to offer me their hand when I needed it."
For a moment, the room was silent. Then Rias laughed softly, her eyes glimmering with something between amusement and respect.
Silence lingered for a moment. Then Rias laughed softly, retreating just a step, her eyes shining with something between amusement and respect.
"I see. Well, if nothing else, why not have coffee first?" she offered smoothly. As she poured him a cup, her tone shifted, gentler but tinged with sincerity. "By the way, I truly enjoyed your performance the other day. I'm not sure why you weren't already under our scholarship radar. Perhaps it was my own failing—I should have taken better care in guiding my subordinates."
The words caught Eishi off guard, the warmth in them striking a chord he hadn't expected.
What followed was less formal, more relaxed than he'd imagined. He found himself talking—not just with Rias, but with Akeno, whose teasing smile made every answer feel like a test, and the white-haired girl who introduced herself as Koneko Toujou. Quiet and reserved, she admitted she was only a first-year, though her calm presence gave the impression of someone far older.
From their words, the club seemed harmless enough. A place for students to unwind, share tea, and talk about mysteries—like a circle of those who enjoyed detective novels.
But given what I now know about devils, Eishi thought as he listened, there might not be much mystery left for me anymore.
Eventually, the conversation wound down. Eishi rose, offering a polite bow.
"Thank you for the invitation… and the coffee."
With that, he excused himself, stepping out of the candlelit room and into the quiet hall beyond.
As Eishi bowed politely and excused himself, closing the door behind him while accompany by Kiba, the room's atmosphere shifted.
"Buchou," Akeno purred, her tone playful. "Were you planning to make him your Pawn?"
Rias shook her head, her smile calm but thoughtful. "No. Sona is my rival, yes, but also my friend. I won't steal someone she clearly has her eyes on." She leaned back into the sofa, crimson hair spilling around her shoulders like a curtain of fire. "I only wanted to see his personality. And I did. He's someone Sona can rely on."
A pause, then a sly smirk tugged at her lips. "And it seems he even managed to beat her in chess. Hehe…"
Koneko muttered around her cookie, "…He's different."
Akeno giggled softly, eyes glimmering. "Fufufu. Looks like the game just got more interesting."
Rias closed her eyes, a quiet laugh slipping past her lips. "Yes… much more."