This chapter is going to make or break the story to some of you. Why? Because I will apply characters from other franchises, some will be important, others not, but it will facilitate you entering on the internet and getting the picture in your head of who they are. Their previous story is not really relevant, technically, it will be adapted to how it would be in this world.
I will post their franchises on the bottom of the chapter and give my opinions about the originals, even saying if I recommend them or not. Why not use OC? I will do that too but I also want to write some of the concepts and stories with these characters too, some on the world of fate and others on dxd or each other so instead of going for lots of different stories and end up never doing them justice they will be adapted here. And the fate cast? Good news, some will show up on this very chapter but not all can cover every space even because there are differences in this world and Fate's, same for the rest of the nasuverse because a lot of stuff there is complex(It will show up much later).
About some of the differences in this world... Long story short… The world of fate or nasuverse is dark, really dark when you think about it. You guys have no idea what I had to cut, modify and add to make everything coherent. For instance; vampires, Kreyn on the comments literally wrote enough that I felt the need to explain some stuff… then I promptly killed that to avoid spoilers but to agree with a point he asked, yes the vampires are different, they are a combination of the best of both worlds, true predators of humanity because of a small little detail most people overlook… if vampires can have children with humans, can they do it with other races?
They also sell the leftovers of their victims for money sometimes because Fate is dark when it wants to be. Or maybe it is DxD that is too nice. Questions for later. If it will help in some doubts remember that the supernatural holds the majority of power even if they are the minority.
And the Harem? SPOILERS but it won't be a huge thing. Saying all that without giving spoilers was rough.
Notice that I am avoiding answering many of your questions, letting the story tell itself. I am taking my time here, when a chapter is ready it will be ready but I already have plans for a lot.
Do I need to say I own nothing? I own nothing.
3- Looking for a Club
…..
During the speech for the newcomers there was a meeting between the real powers behind Kuoh Academy, they were the heirs of the devils and representatives of many of the factions that inhabited Japan.
Since there was no great definite power commanding the japanese supernatural side, at least not since the Shinto faction and others chose to isolate themselves, the land was technically up for grabs.
Only for the goddess Amaterasu to step her foot down and proclaim. "All can live here! But no more war shall come to our people!" That was right after World War Two and the tragedies that befell Japan, it was enough that the deity had to clean the house.
Respecting her edict and her power many factions asked for permissions and were granted with the conditions that they would obey the order and not bring out a war. It was enough that bitter enemies accepted the mandate by the simple fact that Japan had quite a number of gods, yokais and other magical inclined societies. Most of the time they are split but if an attack happens on their home there is a good chance that the attacker would face a united front.
The japanese side of the supernatural is not the strongest but in a world where a constant supernatural 'cold war' is happening, if Amateratsu carries out her threat she could cripple any big faction around. A desperate attempt that may not see victory but the other side would only have a pyrrhic one.
But there was another consequence to the declaration of neutrality, the country became open to anyone, a perfect neutral zone where violence was frowned upon. With that came opportunity and the devils took it like a shark smelling blood. Fuyuki, a place with access to a ley line was brought by a king's ransom and it would be used as a power base for the devil race in the Far East.
There was a thing that the devils value besides power and it was the deals they make, once the city was secured they initiated a recruitment drive to try and amplify the pools of candidates for their Evil Piece system. The efforts culminated on the buying and expansion of the Kuoh Academy, making a great school better to find unique candidates with skills or sacred gears to replenish their numbers. It was also a place the devils could use to educate the future generations of their allies. A devil lived a long life and if they could help groom their future business partners all the better.
Once that was done others decided to use the premises, a good school was a good school after all, yokais, spiritualists, nobles and others made deals to be able to use the installations. In total there were 30 people in the meeting room, some worked in the school, others had business in the town. When it came to the students everyone still needed to pass the tests or receive a recommendation from a devil to enter but it was worth it for the installations alone while the council was formed by representatives of the supernatural in Fuyuki.
The leaders of all this were the devils that were in charge of Kuoh, they were the official Second Owners of the city and took care of most of the supernatural activity. There was a shift last year where the owners were members of noble houses from the underworld and were replaced by the heirs of said houses with one exception that was elevated for political reasons.
Besides these devils there were representatives of the youkais, three human magicians designated from the Clocktower and others. All of those were at the meeting to prepare for the year and also receive the report about the 'random' branch of the ley line recently discovered.
Among those there is one extra person, a noble from Kyoto, the center of power for the most powerful factions of Japan. She is a yokai even though she looked human with sharp yellow eyes, purple long hair in a ponytail dressed in an orange shirt and black pants with a white scarf and arm warmers, she fitted more the part of an assassin than of an investigator.
Her clothes aside, she still looked exotic and beautiful, a mature woman that could compete with any actress or model and be found superior, both in appearance and in her acting skills.
Everyone in the room knew she was there to investigate and help with the 'new' branch of the ley line, they just didn't spam out of nowhere and someone made a mistake. Every branch or potential branch was properly registered and localized, they knew every house, every building that had one of the mana veins and yet a huge one was missed, for years.
Suffice to say that besides a team to repair the thing Kyoto also sent her to discover how that mess started. Her name was Shihouin Yoruichi, a noble woman and one of the last nekomatas, a race of cat yokai, around.
"Are we boring you Shihouin-san?" Asked a girl behind a desk with another seven people around her, she was a devil like the other three sitting with her in an elevated desk and the four behind them were their Queens and second in command standing ready for anything. She had black short hair, purple eyes behind a pair of glasses, a short haircut with a serious expression that didn't diminish her beauty, she was petite and was dressed in the uniform of the academy, all of them were.
At her left side is Rias, also in the uniform and keeping her composure to avoid showing her frustration, there is also someone on the right side of the speaker another girl with a long clear blond hair that ran all the way on her back even if she was standing, her figure is already of a mature woman and her eyes are pink. She is taking notes of the meeting and trying to puzzle parts of the report that was delivered to them and took a second to fix her classes and keep working.
The last one was a male with blond hair and orange eyes making no effort to hide that he is bored even playing with the ribbon tie of his uniform. He was like a model straight out of a magazine with orange eyes and his hair pulled back, his posture was really relaxed, he also gave the impression of being a bad boy.
"Of course not Sitri-dono, it is just that we need more time to investigate our side and the ley line." Yoruichi's tone was professional and the spokesperson of the devils, Sona Sitri or Shitore Souna as the alias she took in Japan, just let out a sigh.
"You had a month and so far we heard no news, there is also the fact that one of us almost died on that site." Rias' face almost moved at her friend's comment; she didn't allow it, keeping a hold of her emotions.
"Well, then I better get back to work, don't you agree?" Yoruichi gave a cheeky smile and a small bow before leaving.
"They could have sended anyone else." Commented the professor of the Clocktower, a man with long black hair glasses and dressed in a fine black suit with a red tie. He really wished for a cigarette.
"I agree but also disagree." Said the small bald man, one of those who represented the yokais in Fuyuki, he was also the guardian of one of the new students and even if now he looked like a normal human. That was not his real face and the staff he was holding also had its own disguise. "But Yoruichi-sama is the best at what she does. If there was foul play she is going to find it."
"Be as it may." The blonde haired devil fixes her glasses with a sigh. "We need to finish this meeting and go deal with the new students. Is there anything else or is it just Jaken's new ward and the fact that no one can touch her?" She was 'officially' done with the whole thing.
"Yes, I have made a pact with a magician and would appreciate it if none of you bothered him." That caught the attention of everyone in the room, not that Rias minded.
"You found a good one already?" The male blonde almost shouted. "How? You found no one good enough last year… as far as you said!" It was an accusation.
"And since when do I have to report to you everything Rutal?" Rias pretended to check her nails ignoring the other devil which could only scowl.
"While he said in a rather rude manner Rias… Does this spellcaster have anything to do with the incident of the last term?" Sona fixed her glasses and looked at her friend with the corner of ehr eye.
"Maybe~" Rias was not going to explain anything if she could help.
"The heir of the Gremory found a spellcaster and made a pact… the Gremorys haven't done that since the 'Deals of Solomon'." Jaken whispered in wonder. He was scratching his bald head and trying to imagine who would be such a magician.
"That is irritating," another person at the meeting said, an old woman with sharp eyes, her best years gone and her face annoyed by this recent piece of news, "plenty of our new prospects joined this academy to get a pact with one of the heirs of 72 pillars."
The 72 pillars, or those that were left, were the real power on the Underworld, the richest, the strongest and most powerful. Most of them already had deals and alliances with prominent families of magus with the exception of the ones present to a certain extent.
The truth about Rutal was that he was there just to keep an eye on Rias Gremory. She and the other two were the heiresses of three Pillars with two of them being siblings of two of the new Maous. A pact with him didn't mean the support of his whole clan but it was still valuable.
Because of certain events that happened in the last few years the Sitri Clan was going to lose one of the families they have a contract with and they wanted new allies, Sona herself has not made a pact with the new generation of that family and that was something any magus praises and wishes.
Seekvaira Agares or Hakari Seika also was looking for a pact since the family that her Clan had a pact previously had broken their deal and had to be cut off. Both figuratively and literally.
On the Gremory side, they never had a proper after their first one pact. Not for the lack of trying from the other parts but simply because they never saw the worth. Sure some had deals with individual magicians but as far as a complete pact with all it's privileges this was the first one since Solomon.
"What can I say? I have found someone whose skills I found suitable and made a pact with him." Rias' smile was lovely and Rutal didn't like that.
"Hey, listen here! I hope you haven't found a human lover of all things here! You are still my cousin's fiance!" The reminder just made the redhead annoyed and she refused to look at her fellow devil for the rest of the meeting.
"Either way!" Sona tried to stop things from escalating. "The Gremory House will now have an official pact, I congratulate you on finding a gem Rias." Sona was sincere in her praise.
"Why, thank you Sona." Seekvaira decides to ask the question that everyone else forgot.
"So… what is the name of this prodige." Rias' smile grew if such a thing was possible.
"Emiya Shirou." She said barely louder than a whisper yet the name was carried to the whole room.
If the announcement that the Gremory were going to have a pact didn't bring the silence to the room then the name Emiya did. It was absolute. That was until the room fell into chaos.
"THAT MAN HAD A SON?" Someone couldn't hold back their fear, it spread and soon others also started to shout.
"IMPOSSIBLE! THAT MONSTER NEVER SHOULD HAVE AN OFFSPRING!" Claimed another.
"MY GOD! WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!" The devils didn't like that one. Many others rose to their feet, the panic was spreading and soon it would turn to violence if someone didn't do something..
"SETTLE DOWN!" Sona rarely raised her voice to take charge of a situation, her authority as heiress and spokesperson were usually enough but she needed to stop the chaos. "This may be another Emiya family as far as we know! Besides, do any of you really believe that such a man would have a magician for a son?"
That calmed the room, many already didn't want to believe that the Magus Killer had a son in the first place.
"If there is nothing else…" Sona gave a few minutes to see if anyone would raise any point. "Meeting adjourned."
Soon the room was almost empty beside the devils, no one was going to complain about that since it made sense if they were fishing for information, information that may be negotiated later.
"Emiya?" Sona was looking to her childhood friend, the three ladies still on the table were friends since little with Rutal being the odd man out, he was older than then and was going to leave the human world at the end of school, not interested in college and his peerage also complete.
Besides, everyone knows that he was there to keep an eye on Rias and stop her if she does anything that would insult his family, the Phenex Clan.
"What can I say? It's Japan and coincidences happen."
"Spare us the double talk!" Rutal demands.
"She doesn't need to say anything." The heir of Agares sighs. "They have a pact and if it's standard then 'his secrets are hers, hers secrets are his'." She was nursing a headache because of the turn of events.
"This kid may be the son of one of the most dangerous men alive! The information itself is worth a fortune!" Not only monetary but on influence and prestige alone…
"My brother approves of it." Those words from Rias should take the wind out of anyone's sails. Lucifer himself approved and while he was a fair leader no one wanted to incur his wrath.
"Did he approve of it as Lucifer or as your brother?" But some people don't quit. Rutal is one of them.
"As the Maou." Rias glared at the blonde who ignored her, she has been glaring at him a lot since last year.
"Congratulations Rias." Seekvaira gives her friend a smile and gets up to leave. Her Queen, the only male of the rank in the room, gives a small polite bow and follows his King. He had black slick hair, eyes, and was dressed in the uniform of the school. His steps had a well practiced elegance.
Not wasting any time Rutal also leaves, his queen a lady with long green hair, cyan eyes and well endowed. She was dressed with a short skirt, leggings and looked ready for a business meeting.
Once there were just four of them, Sona sighs. "You are sure he is not the Magus Killer son?"
"Maybe." Rias says with a shrug and Sona knew she was not getting anything more than that.
"Please tell me that you at least protected his public records." The short haired girl was massaging her temples.
"Sona you don't need to worry about his records, they are squeaky clean." With that the Sitri heir takes a deep breath and decides to leave, with her is a woman with straight black hair that extends all the way down to her knees, with split bangs and heterochromic eyes, with a violet left eye and a light brown right eye until she fixed her glasses and both looked a normal brown color.
What Rias 'forgot' to say was that the public records of Emiya Shirou were already altered by someone else and she double checked twice.
With just Rias and Akeno alone they also started to leave, no word was traded among them for the moment. The walls have ears, something expected when the population of the school included a good bit of beings with enhanced senses or magic skills.
In a way, Kuoh was like an embassy and every 'foreign' power was working to elevate themselves and pass new integence for their camps. It would not be weird if there was some seal or bug on the walls or lamps.
"All ended well didn't it, Buchou?" Akeno says with a smile, she probably wanted to tease her more but Rias just took the comment for what it was.
"Indeed. Who would have thought that the Emiya name was so scary?" She spoke out loud for the spies and for herself. When she told her brother the name of the magus and he gave her permission it was with an express order.
'Don't press for it, if he says 'no' let it go.' Was the command but not one born out of fear. Even if the communication between realms is… shoddy at best Rias could still hear the respect in her brother's voice.
People fear the Magus Killer, that is a fact, and Lucifer respects him, also a fact, she couldn't help but ask why once they were in the same place. All her brother did was smile and nod, saying nothing else.
Either way the deal was made and the pact signed, Rias didn't care about the Magus Killer and Shirou's abilities were enough. Once they meet up she can go and work out the details for some rare materials she already negotiated during vacation.
"Akeno, we are going to the clubhouse."
"Ara? Aren't we going to look for Emiya-kun?" The Queen was curious about the decision.
"I will ask Kiba to look for him later, they still need to spar!" And Rias really wants to see this fight. "But for now let him go and find a club of his own." Of course if he wanted he could join hers but he didn't need to as the pact was their bond.
But she wanted him to join hers, for the sake of his research she was going to make the offer and try to convince him but she was also not going to press him, she had time.
Rias was the president of the Occult Research Club, a great cover for her operations, and she could already guess that there would be plenty of magicians going there to try for a pact with her. She will have some fun watching them make fools of themselves until Shirou shows up.
Finding a club in Kuoh can be surprisingly hard, not because of the lack of variety but for the variety itself. So to help the students the first day of school is not for presentations or anything like that, it is about mingling with each other, having some fun and joining a place to do something one can enjoy.
It was a benefit of having a university bound together with the school, it allowed the chance for everyone to have some fun.
…..
"Shirou... I am feeling a bit overwhelmed." Issei couldn't help but say it and Shirou would agree wholeheartedly. This place was supposed to be a school and yet.
"COME HERE! JOIN THE MARINE LIFE APPRECIATION CLUB!" "HAVE PASSION! JOIN THE DANCE CLUB!" "SHOW YOUR MOVES! COME TO THE VOLLEYBALL!"
There were many 'tents' with demonstrations, shows and exhibitions. Most were managed by the girls of the school with some college students joining in to help. "Does this happen every year?" Shirou couldn't help but ask.
"I have no clue." The two of them were walking around and looking at the many exhibitions. "Are you going to join the kendo club again? It may be different here since there are also going to be some college students."
For a second that made Shirou deliberate. 'That would be different'. He would have more experienced people to spar with and that would help him grow more. On the other hand the problem was the limitations of kendo, unlike a real fight where one does everything to win in kendo there is always the same point system… "No, I don't think I will." Shirou reaffirmed his previous decision. "I have nothing to gain from it anymore." He then looks at Issei. "What about you?"
"I still wish to join the student council." Issei says with hard eyes, his mind focused on his single goal.
"Then go, I will be fine." Shirou didn't know if there was a tent for the council or he needed to ask someone or something. The redhead still needs to talk with Liz and ask what she was going here and as a teacher no less, but knowing his mother she must have something to do with it.
"Don't worry about me Shirou, focus on finding something that clicks with you."
'Something that clicks huh?' Kendo did click with him, both with his skills and soul. The problem with it was that he reached the peak in kendo, it had too many limitations to help him grow more.
And he wanted to grow, Shirou didn't enjoy it enough to do it for fun. There is no fun in just winning and he also had to hold back a lot to make it fair, that above all else was what bothered him. For months he couldn't go all out in a fight anymore, his growth surpassing everyone else's.
It was not strange since unlike his peers his soul was of a sword, his affinity was not just to making them but if he practiced and trained with one he would adapt and overcome any hassle thanks to one simple principle. He could understand his weapon better than anyone else.
The size, the shape, the weight, on a sport like kendo where points define a match precision was key, bread and butter. Sure one needs strength and speed but that also came with precision since the system was there to avoid injuries.
In those kinds of matches Shirou was king, or should be if he bothered. Victory didn't have any value for him since he knew he would win if he goes all out even without magic. He learned dodging by sparring with a fighter homunculus and thanks to exercising with reinforcements his muscles were better than normal people's.
The duo walked around checking some of the exhibitions, there were works of art, sports of many kinds and even a play happening. The yard, gyms, everything was being used for clubs today with any intention that the classes would only start tomorrow.
"Even our festivals didn't have that much stuff." Said an impressed Issei. "The organization alone is astounding. Whoever planned this must be really skilled..." They entered the main building and started making the rounds, seeing how many of the classrooms were turned into studios with small statues and paintings. "You always liked cooking but it appears that the cooking club, if there is any, is not inside."
Shirou just nods while going outside again, he was debating on looking for a cooking club or something similar-
"WHY ISN'T THERE A MAID CAFE?" Demanded to know another boy with square glasses, longer than normal hair, he was in the company of a bald guy, his head shaved, both with black eyes and another guy with brown hair and eyes, this one hair is spiky, short and had a lock running behind his looked average and like everyone else they also had the uniform of the academy but the brown haired had it fully open with a red shirt.
When Shirou looked at the brown haired student he was hit with a smell- NO - It was already there and he just noticed it now. How could he haven't felt it before?
Describing the smell was complicated, it has earth and fire, definitively fire but… the impressions he had were unlike anything he ever felt before. There was rage, untamed but tempered by time, there was pride, so much of it that the redhead felt almost as if he was being crushed while at the same time having it just around without influencing the world itself.
He also saw an image, a huge… thing. It was red and had green… eyes. The vision was not vivid enough, the presence was there but blurred or just made of energy but Shirou knew it was there and it was dangerous but also not. If he focused more he could see golden chains around the image, they were…
Shirou snapped out of his vision and couldn't feel the presence anymore. Something was keeping it clouded, it was powerful and potentially the most powerful thing he ever felt.
Yet, all that was muted. It was not this boy before him that was releasing all this power, he wasn't emanating any power AT ALL. The paradox was so bizarre that Shirou could just look at him confused.
"What the three of you are doing." Issei, being the responsible student he was, had gone to confront the three.
"We are rightfully complaining about the lack of variety here." Said the bald one.
"That is right! What kind of festival doesn't have a maid cafe." Glasses lamented.
"This is not a festival day, this is a day for club recruitment. It was made to help the students to familiarize with each other and to find their own club." Issei tried to use logic to calm his fellow students. It failed.
"So what? If they want to attract new prospects they should go all in on it!" The bald one said.
"Why are you so obsessed with a maid cafe?" Issei decided to try another route, he would see the reason why those people want something and offer an alternative solution.
"So we can look at girls in maid clothes." The student said, fixing his glasses.
"Maybe even get some panty shots." His friend sounds excited.
"Are you two insane?" Issei complained.
"Hey!" The brown haired contradiction steps forward to stand with his friends. "What is wrong in admiring the female form?"
Shirou decided this was a good point to say something. "Issei calm down."
"How the heck do you know my name?" The brown haired said.
"Wait, what?" Issei, the one with the glasses now looked indignated. "You are also called Issei?" Once the one with the red shirt gave a nod the black haired Issei felt rage. "What is your surname then? I refuse to call you anything close to my name!"
"Fuck you! You tell ME your surname!" Shirou was shocked by the turn of events, it was the first time he ever saw his friend so frustrated.
"MY name is Ryuudou Issei from the Ryuudou Temple!" Issei introduced himself with pride on his name.
"Well, MY name is Hyuudou Issei, future harem king!" Issei also spoke with pride of his dream.
"Don't be ridiculous! A harem? Who do you think you are?" The black haired Issei sounded appalled.
"Ridiculous? How dare you insult a man's dream?" The brown haired Issei sounded indignation. "How can someone have the same name as me and not understand the greatest things in life?"
"Greatest- Life is not just about women!" To Shirou seeing his friend, who basically lived and grew as a monk, getting this frustrated… was a new experience.
"Tell him what Issei!" The one with the glasses hyped up his friend.
"Yes! Our Issei best Issei!" The other one quickly entered the fray.
With that the black haired Issei turned to the redhead. "Shirou! Back me up!"
'HOW?' In his mind Shirou was getting frustrated. 'This is ridiculous! They are fighting because they have the same name! Why does it matter?'
Then Shirou tried to place himself in their situation, that there was someone like him running around and doing stuff he wouldn't approve of…He can't see that much of a problem, he is him and that person was that person. On the other hand if it was someone exactly like him as well Shirou would have questions… lots of them.
The two Isseis were worlds apart, both in appearance and personality wise. He needs to defuse the situation. "Lunch!" He said suddenly.
"What?" All the other teens asked in chorus.
"Lunch! My treat and no fights. We can settle who is called what later but there is no reason to fight."
"He doesn't understand-" Shirou raised a hand interrupting the red shirt Issei.
"No reason. You are you, he is him. No fighting for your names… we still need a distinction anyway." He looked to the two teens and then shifted his focus to the friends of the 'new' Issei. "I bet you two are as confused as I am."
"Now that you mentioned it…" The bald one said. Shirou nods at that and tries to capitalize on the temporary reprieve.
"Come on, there must be someplace to eat around here. Ah! My name is Emiya Shirou, nice to meet you." He offered his hand to shake and the bald, now he paid attention it was shaved, head accepted.
"I'm Yasuaki Matsuda. Nice to meet you." He repeated the greetings, getting caught in Shirou's rhythm.
"My name is Takuro Motohama, my special skill is the three size scouter." The one with the glasses decided to introduce himself.
"HA! You still can't do that right." Matsuda laughed at his friend.
"I keep telling you that I'm getting all the girls' sizes right! You just don't believe me!" And, just like that, another discussion started. On one side two guys with names too close for comfort come close to blows over it while the other was about a 'scouter' that Shirou didn't want to understand.
The redhead sighed and looked at the brown haired Issei again. If he made some effort that strange smell was there but it was still muted... Shirou didn't have enough knowledge to know what it was.
He looked like a normal teenager if anything else and Shirou didn't feel any great sign of mana on him. There were options to investigate right but that was an invasion of privacy and it was not like it was anything urgent.
It may be that he has some kind of bloodline or talent. Checking the uniform Shirou couldn't find the pin that would mark Issei as someone who knew about the moonlit world. In light of that Shirou would refrain from talking with him about it, instead he was going to ask Rias first.
Looking around, Shirou placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Issei, please control yourself. People are watching." The last part he whispered, it was enough.
"You are right Shirou, thank you." His friend showed his discipline by turning back to the other Issei and… turning around, deciding to not bother. "Let's go Shirou, we still need to find you a club."
"Oi! Is he- Is he ignoring me?" The other Issei was getting frustrated. "You can't ignore me like that!"
"I can and I will!" The black haired continued his march but that hurt the brown haired pride who decided to follow.
"Now listen here!"
What followed next is Shirou looking at the tents trying to find a club while the Isseis and the others discussed. One Issei preaching restraint, control and a model life example while the other arguing the need for one to follow their desires and dreams, to be free and enjoy their lives, while his friends gave more and more ammunition.
Shirou didn't have anything to say, he agreed with both sides to an extent. One has to have restraint on certain things but he also could see the need to follow one's own wishes once in a while.
It is the main reason why he wasn't going to join the kendo club. He was good but it was not necessary anymore and he wanted to do other stuff, he just didn't know what yet; at the moment he was trying the sewing club but it was not for him.
All the while the others kept debating and most of the people just went around them, many girls looking disgusted about some of the themes. Issei, his friend not the new one, may have troubles joining the council of this school if he doesn't let it go.
"Woah." Someone collides with him but Shirou didn't lose his balance, the person, another student with black hair and a forgettable face just says. "Sorry!" And starts to run again. Now that he notices there were a lot of people running, all in the same direction.
"What the hell is happening?" Motohama asked. Their debate was forgotten as they also noticed many of the tents getting empty, people looking at their cellphones and then rushing to somewhere.
"Don't know." Something Shirou knew is that whatever was happening was going to stop his quest of finding a club for himself.
"Let's check it out guys!" Issei, the brown haired one, ran ahead and his friends followed.
"I apologize for my loss of composure Shirou… it was uncalled for." His friend said, bowing his head.
"It's fine, I get it, you were frustrated. Don't beat yourself over it." Shirou gave him a smile and a pat on the back to show his support.
"Should we go check that out? There is no one else around for you to ask about a club."
"Yes, let's." He really hoped Liz wasn't lifting a motorcycle over her head or something.
They walked at a steady pace and heard a crowd cheering. There were many people there, students and teachers alike, watching something in a huge circle. The more they approached the more he recognized the sounds among the cheers, it was the noise of wood swords trading blows… until one met the face of an opponent throwing the helmet he was using in the air for all to see.
"I doubt we can pass all these people." Issei commented and Shirou agreed, looking to his left he saw the company they had before crawling to the floor to get closer.
"Whatever this is, it can't last forever. Maybe we should check-"
"SHIROU!" He heard a voice he was hoping to not hear at least until after today, he really didn't want to have this conversation.
"Tiger." And there was the woman herself, dressed in her usual striped shirt and pants.
"DON'T CALL ME TIGER!" He said softly but the woman must have developed her instincts to hear it. "I'm so happy you are in Kuoh too! Most of the club is also here!
'Oh boy! Not looking forward to that conversation at all!' He thinks resigned. There would be no running and he will have to face the consequences of his decision like a man.
"Issei-san I'm also glad to see you!" Fujimura Taiga, the Tiger of Fuyuki said with a smile.
"I am happy to see you as well Fujimura-sensei." The reply also came with a bow of respect. "Could you please inform us of what is happening here?"
"AH! That is right! Shirou!" She grabs him and starts pulling him with her to the front of the crowd.
"Whoa, whoa,whoa! Wait a minute! Taiga-sensei!" But she ignored his pleas.
"We have no time! The pride of the kendo club is at stake and you are our only hope!" That statement made no sense to him.
Making her way through the crowd Shirou is brought to the front where a fight was happening. With minimal equipment but still enough to avoid much damage there were three members of the kendo club charging at a single woman all armed with proper kendo swords, the shinai. She had her hair in a long ponytail, shorter than Akeno's but still considerable, her hair had two stripes of red, she had sharp features, purple eyes and she was dressed in the male uniform of the academy that did little to hide her form and beauty.
Her eyes were purple and she looked… disappointed and a little bit annoyed. There wasn't a single protection on her body with the exception of the uniform that was neatly in place.
The kendo club members charged but even if they advanced together two hung back and let the more forward one attack first. The girl rolled her eyes and easily blocked the strike, redirecting the shinai aside easily and hitting the first opponent in the head. In an official competition that was enough but the force she used threw her opponent to the ground. Shirou could hear a girl's voice moaning in pain.
Another one charged, they were making a terrible mistake. It was nice they were trying to keep it fair but that was not going to cut against such an opponent. The fact that the girl looked frustrated just meant they were wasting their time. She didn't want fair play, that was defeating all the points of the exercise.
Even if she looked frustrated it didn't take away that her moves had an elegance that he rarely saw in most practitioners of kendo. The moment a foot left the ground he could already see her next pace in the sense it was flawless, Shirou wasn't predicting the future or anything like that, her maneuver was just perfect and had no waste of moves. It was almost as if the fight was already written and he could catch a glimpse of the events. The attacker was going to charge, aiming for the weapon or the shoulder but it would find the sword anyway since the woman was already ready to block, spin and hit the head on a single move. A repetition of her last takedown but her opponents had similar stances and she capitalized on that.
Shirou didn't bother to keep looking, wanting to know. "What is going on?" He asked his sensei who had a serious look on her voice.
"That girl asked for a fight against the members of the karate club. One of the guys accepted with the condition that if he won she would go on a date with him." Shirou nods, he was paying attention but turned back to watch the fight. There was one last club member standing hesitating to attack while the girl just waited, apparently after seeing the other two being easily defeated someone learned something.
Soon one will lose their nerve or patience, Shirou was betting on the one circling the girl while the woman looked disinterested. It was obvious she wanted a challenge but was not getting it.
"She won that fight, then another member of the karate club asked for a match and the next one and the one after that. Soon even the girls tried as well." A hurt pride is a dangerous thing and seeing their senpais being defeated must have felt awful. "She beat the college students then the school ones. It could have ended there but someone from the jiu jitsu club said that if she tried him he would get that date."
And Shirou could already see what happened, every competitive club asked for a shot and she gave it to them. Looking around Shirou could see practices of many martial arts, fighters and even racers. "And the kendo club…"
"Same thing, but the date thing was kinda forgotten, I think. She just called out to anyone to face her." The last one falls to the floor, the woman wins again much to the crowd's applause. "And now we officially lost everyone except you."
"I am not part of the club." Shirou said fast, his excuses ready.
"Shirou, she decimated everyone else."
"Call Katase! She was the best member of our club and won the nationals-"
"And that is her there on the floor." The sensei pointed to the last combatant that had just fallen.
"Is that all?" The woman asked, there were plenty hurt and nursing their wounds. "Is there no one else?"
"Wait! Wait!" Taiga calls attention before anyone makes another attempt.
"Tiger!" The woman must truly be serious since her nickname didn't have any effect..
"We have one last member! The ace of Homurahara's kendo club! Emiya Shirou!" That got some people interested but Shirou really wanted to call bullshit on that. Ace? He refused to fight competitions! Since when he was called an ace?
'I can just turn around and leave. I wanted to drop from kendo anyway.' He really wasn't interested in a fight but the young woman looked upset and he didn't know what she might do to her next victim. The redhead released a sigh, 'One fight, I don't need to win just to fight well enough to calm her down.' He gives someone behind him his bag and steps forward.
He wasn't properly dressed like many others but someone offered him a shinai and a helmet. Shirou accepted the first but refused the latter, making his future opponent raise an eyebrow. "Are you sure that is wise?" Be either confident or arrogant, her tone was well earned.
"You aren't using protection either, it is only fair." Since his opponent wasn't going to fight like a practitioner of kendo, Shirou is going to do the same thing. Sticking to habits was bad when not in a competition. But there was one that Shirou refused to let go in a spar. "Nice to meet you, my name is Emiya Shirou." He says while giving a complementary bow.
There was no hesitation from the woman, she answered in kind. "Higurashi Setsuna." Both bows were respectful and well practiced, both could observe that and if Shirou had any doubt now they were gone for now he knew she had some kind of training.
Paying attention to the woman's uniform he could see a small pin above her left breast, a sunflower pattern that indicated that the person before him was not normal, which explained much. Looking at her eyes he noticed them on his right side as well and they both nodded.
Neither of them was normal and they would have to 'fight' while holding back any big demonstrations of power. Neither knew what the other was. 'Is she a devil?', 'Is he a yokai?' Questions flew in their minds but for the moment neither had means to figure out the answers other than fighting.
Both start to enter their initial positions, Shirou holded his sword in the front, standard of kendo but the woman kept using just one arm while keeping the weapon itself behind her. This posture was more aggressive, Shirou would have the better start but if his opponent was fast enough he wouldn't be able to capitalise on it until it was too late.
Then Shirou changes his position, raising his weapon to his eyes and vertically and getting ready for a stab motion. If it was all about one hit to win then Shirou would also go for speed.
Setsuna reacted by also changing her own position, placing the sword in front of her but still just using one hand. Shirou found it weird but made no comments; instead he just lowered his sword and positioned it to his side.
The whole interaction lasted a few seconds at best and at someone yelling "BEGIN!" The fight began and two charged at each other, the two fighters had the same plan: a swift strike and a fast win. In such a situation the victory goes to the faster one and that was Setsuna.
However Shirou changed his position to a more relaxed and defensive one because the one with purple eyes showed her preference on her stance while the redhead prefered a more defensive approach and once he saw that his opponent was faster then him he managed to reroute his sword to block.
The parry made a loud noise and it was too close for comfort in Shirou's case. On Setsuna's side she wasn't disappointed anymore, his opponent managed to parry, the first one of the whole day. 'He really isn't normal.' Still on the human limits and she didn't feel any magic on his defense but he was fast enough to block her strike.
The thing is that neither of them could go all out, more than they already did anyway. Most of her stunts can be explained by just technique and precision. If they go beyond that they would expose magic and that could be horrible for everyone, especially with the photos and videos being recorded.
Shirou pushed Setsuna back, making a point to show he was exerting force. This fight, this spar was also a 'play', both having to pretend going all out and she also knew he wasn't going all out either, there was not enough sweat and there was no sign of magic of any kind.
But that made her smile, finally she had someone in front of her who could fight back.
What followed next was something that some would call choreographed and in a way it was in the sense that both sides were doing their best to not reveal all they had. But the audience couldn't believe it anyway, for normal people and even the weaker of many species there was a word for what happened next: insanity
Once Shirou managed to push the woman away, both started to trade blows, it was not slow at first and building up, the two swords just clashed again and again at speeds that most people had trouble keeping up. In a sword fight pushing the sword aside and hitting after was the path to victory, the struggle comes when both sides try and fail to push away their opponents weapons.
What followed after a while was a parry and a push. Setsuna tried to get some distance while Shirou pursued, she raised her sword to block another blow, the wood of the swords trembling but not breaking.
Both hold their swords in a vice while pushing each other, they separate again, just for Setsuna to get back faster since Shirou jumped to the side, she realized the dodge fast enough to turn and use her sword to stop his side attack by using both hands for the first time.
But her position was still precarious and Shirou capitalized, the crowd's cheers being ignored by both combatants while Setsuna managed to parry his sword away and a stab to the side of his face.
Shirou moves his head to avoid the attack and tries to retreat in a panic but Setsuna had no intent of allowing that, with him being forced to stop a rain of attacks until he manages to lock her sword again forcing a standstill where both tried and failed to move their opponent.
Suddenly Setsuna moves her left leg forward but it stops in mid motion, Shirou realizes this and takes a chance to push her now that her balance was compromised. While he succeeded she did a backflip, recovering faster than he could pursue and placing both hands on her sword again with a small smile.
Shirou couldn't help himself but smiled a bit as he attacked, it has been so long since he had a challenge. It was not perfect, he could tell by the woman's habits that a sword was not her main weapon and that she wanted to use her legs in the fight, something completely forbidden in a kendo match.
He wouldn't mind, this was not a kendo match after all. On the other hand if she escalates he will too and that could turn ugly, it was better if they had some rules if only for the audience's sake.
The attack was once again blocked and the girl started a haste retreat in a circle to try to destabilize Shirou's offense but his balance was born of constant practice. Liz was a cruel sparring partner, not out of animosity but in their early days she didn't know her own strength in relation to him but that taught him how to run during a fight.
The audience was shocked from what they were witnessing. "Is that really Shirou-san?" Asked Kaori Murayama, a pretty girl with brown hair tied in two braids. To the question her best friend Yui Katase, who had pink hair and was once considered the best of Homurahara's kendo club just nods.
"GET HER SHIROU!" Their teacher, Fujimura Taiga keeps wiping the crowd into a frenzy.
"YOU CAN DO IT! SETSUNA-SAMA!" The new girl on campus already had the makings of a fan club with many cheering for her.
The two fighters didn't care, they were focused entirely on each other. Setsuna moves her leg again and Shirou tries to capitalize on it, only for the young woman to keep her balance and turn his sword to the side. It was a feint and the redhead fell for it.
Reacting quickly Shirou bends his back and attacks from below. Setsuna jumps back again, the crowd making way as she approaches but gets back in position when she charges back to a crouching Shirou who had to block the overhead attack on his knees, one hand on the handle while the other on the 'blade'.
Shirou almost fell into his instincts of using his magic to reinforce his arms to counter the pressure but he holded back and the tip of her shinai almost got to his forehead. For her part Setsuna was making an active effort to not use too much strength, if she used too much she would lose.
This was a matter of pride for her, a competition of skill instead of just power. It didn't matter if the man before her also was holding back something if both were fighting on the same level while still being able to keep up.
There was a silent agreement between each other; the winner will be the most skilled.
The crowd was astounded, more than once they thought the fight was coming to an end only for the opposite to happen. Setsuna already built a reputation during the day by defeating any challenger with minimum effort in many different forms of competition. She could run faster than a sprinter, knew martial arts and was stronger than any other girl of the same build and most men to the point she had won most matches without beating a sweat.
However she was not the only one being watched in admiration. The unknown redhead for many was supposed to be the 'ace' of the kendo club and he was proving it being true as the only one that lasted more than a minute or two against the woman who was one shotting everyone before.
There were some who knew partially what was happening, they had pins that most of the population of Kuoh couldn't see.
But even the citizens of the moonlit world could see that the 'fight', even as an act, was using lots of energy and concentration to not break the basic rules, both from kendo and the preservation of the secrets of the world alike.
Once Shirou pushes himself back up Setsuna had to retreat or risk the reveal, their movements were fast but not superhuman and were few among the spectators that didn't feel some admiration for the two shows of restraint.
The woman knew when she was supposed to lose a competition of strength, the man knew when he shouldn't be able to keep his assault going. The stalemate was not artificial, both were fighting by the rules and following it in both letter and spirit.
Those that liked to compete wanted to join, those that knew exactly what Setsuna was were admired by her control but none knew what Shirou was. They were paying close attention to any moves he made, ready to call foul in case he threw away honor for victory.
He didn't, neither fighter wanted the fight to end with anything other than a fair victory, either by pride or a sense of fair play. Both swords kept hitting each other for a few more minutes, the excitement didn't die down because of the maneuvers that both did to avoid a blow.
Shirou rolled to the side, redirecting an attack with the handle, getting on his feet he faints an overhead strike to only change course and go for a disarm that the woman parries. Setsuna doesn't miss a beat and stabs at Shirou repeatedly, doing her best to get the face or chest of her opponent. Both did every trick they could think of while keeping the swords on their hands and not using anything else on the offensive.
Sooner or later, one of them was going to make a mistake. In a fast and high tense match like that it was just a matter of time, it was inevitable especially when both sides couldn't go all out and always had a metaphorical foot back and avoided anything 'flashy'.
Shirou tried to go for a low strike to the side, it was choreographed, open, obvious and Setsuna jumped on it to hit him on the arm, victory in her sights. Then the redhead relaxes his legs while spinning with his body, sword aiming for her face.
Both weapons collided with their targets and no one knew for certain who managed to hit their opponent first, the sounds of the shinais loud enough to silence the crowd.
Loud cheers followed. "NICE GOING SHIROU!" "GREAT FIGHT!" "SETSUNA-SAMA!"
Shirou didn't get up feeling tired after all the exercise and almost yelped when a hand showed up to help him. "Good fight." Setsuna said with a small smile and wounded chin.
"Right back to you." Shirou takes the hand to get up and it becomes a shake, he notices that she was not looking as ragged as he was. Even if most of the effort was in holding back they still fought constantly for a good couple of minutes. "Looks like you have a fan club now." He tried to joke but she just sighed.
"I hope to God that I don't. That would be a hassle." The way she spoke confirmed she wasn't a devil at least.
"Shirou!" Someone jumped on his back and he recognized the voice.
"Tiger, I'm tired, please get out of my back." He felt her arms starting to hold him by the neck.
"Not until you explain since when you are so good!" The woman demanded.
"Yes! You have some explaining to do! Shirou-san!" There were at least eight people from his old kendo club… he really didn't want this conversation. Katase continued. "Why can you move like that? And so fast? Why have you never done anything like that before?"
"You could have competed for the male nationals, we would have won two trophies." Once everyone present nodded at the affirmation Shirou fought off the hold from their teacher and stepped back to Setsuna's side.
"To be fair we weren't fighting formal kendo for the most part of the whole thing." Or the whole thing in general.
"Still…" Katase looked pissed. "You moved so fast, I barely kept up." There were people still around but most were leaving since the show was already over, of the ones that stayed there was his friend Issei, some members of other clubs who were overhearing the conversation and others who looked to be just admiring the whole thing.
"It's because just fighting kendo is restrictive, there are a lot of rules that would stop me from doing most of what I did here." Not surprisingly it was his teacher who was nodding at his argument.
"If that is the case then join our club!" He didn't know who the girl who screamed was but she was dressed in a kimono that could be either karate, judo or something similar.
"No way! They should join ours!" A guy dressed similarly also joined the conversation.
"Yours? He just complained about how restrictive a sport can be!" Came another girl dressed in shorts and a tank top. "In the MMA club you can fight much more freely!"
Didn't take long for a brawl to essuie, the sports clubs fighting each other for the two best athletes of the school as far as they could see.
Issei fixed his glasses and offered Shirou his bag back. "I suggest that we leave." Shirou nods and turns to Setsuna.
"Yeah, I don't think I'm joining any of those clubs." The fist fights were growing in intensity and to Fujimura's credit she was trying to stop it… only to join in on the brawl.
"You aren't?" At Setsuna's question Shirou nods prompting her to place a hand on her chin. "Then I suppose I won't either. None of these people presented me with a challenge and it would be pointless."
'Ah, the same problem I have.' After thinking that Shirou asked her. "Don't you have anything you enjoy doing?"
"Never had the chance to find that much in my life. I spend most of the time training with my twin sister… Usually we did what she wanted but now I am in another town and we are separated for the first time in my life." Her eyes looked to the horizon, reminiscing old times.
"Why is that?" Issei wondered. "Even I, living in a temple, am allowed to find my own path."
With that Setsuna looked at Issei's uniform, seeing no pin, she answered. "My sister will inherit our family business… as a spare I also was taught a lot."
"That is…" issei had no comment but Setsuna looked at Shirou with a raised eyebrow and then pointed at the pin. He figured she wanted to talk more openly.
"Issei, why don't you go and look for the student council?" Shirou didn't want to be rude.
"Yes, maybe we should find them or another teacher to help deal with that mess." None wanted anyone to get hurt but in the way that was escalating it was bound to happen.
"Good idea." Setsuna interject. "Go to the school and try to find someone there. I am almost sure I know where one of the teachers is." While both Shirou and Issei wanted to say there was already one on the premises, Taiga was already too deep to be trusted on being the voice of reason.
"Then we all should go there." Issei affirmed.
"While that may be for the best they may not be there anymore and we can't waste time. I will have Shirou-san with me for help while you go for the guaranteed route." A small lie all things considered.
Shirou could see that Issei didn't want to leave a friend but it would be for the best in this instance, especially if it would help deal with the brawl. "Go Issei. You want to join the council then you need to show initiative. Staying here and controlling a mob won't do that."
"Alright. But find a club to join! You hear me?" With that he went back to the school and Shirou looked at the mess that was getting even bigger. For what he could see one of the tents around was knocked down and the students there joined.
"Anything we can do about that?" The woman shakes her head.
"I have no skill for hypnosis. You?" His silence was telling. "Then let us go and find someone responsible for this place."
"To be honest I doubt a teacher is going to be able to control this." Setsuna looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
"We are going to look for one of the devils who rule this place. They will be able to help or at least send someone to deal with it." Then she starts to walk, expecting Shirou to follow.
At the mention of 'devil' some possibilities jumped in Shirou's head and he checked his cellphone, no calls so far, not even a message. He was supposed to meet with Rias but no news so far… is she expecting him to find her.
"How do you know where we can find a," Shirou looks around to check if no one would hear him, "devil?"
"I can smell mana." Now Shirou was interested.
"I can do that too but there is too much around." Setsuna stopped and looked at him, giving him a real analytic look. After a few seconds Shirou couldn't help but ask. "What?"
Turning her head she sighs. "You are human right?" After the nod she says. "I can't smell mana on you, only steel… how does a human end up using smell as their detection sense?"
"It was just a thing I picked up." Shioru didn't remember why he started using his nose to detect mana fluctuations but here he was.
"There are a lot of devil presences in the school," Setsuna is walking again and Shirou follows, "we are going to the one that is most distant and is easier to locate. Either they will be able to resolve the problem or take us to someone who really can."
"Why the most distant one?"
"Because there are too many smells to properly find one in the school." He couldn't disagree with that logic, she may be able to find those 'smells' better than him but a packed place is going to be harder and can be potentially overwhelming.
"Didn't you bring a backpack?" Part of Shirou wanted to be told that too, but at least he had his lunch.
"I was told that for the first day there would be no classes. Didn't see the point." Part of Shirou wanted to be told that too, but at least he had his lunch.
Both of them started to move to the woods, there was a small forest inside the school and Shirou felt nostalgic for a moment.
'Didn't know other schools had those. But this one is bigger.' He decides to say. "I have the number of a devil on my phone. If we don't find anyone willing to help I can call her."
"That would probably be for the best… Why aren't you calling now?" That was a good question.
"She said she would contact me today for a meeting but so far nothing." Shirou checks his new phone again. "She may be busy."
"Is this devil part of Kuoh?" After a nod Setsuna proceeded. "Then it is normal Shirou-san. Today is a busy day for the devils around here."
"Could you elaborate, Higurashi-san?" That made the woman stop.
"Higurashi is actually the surname of my aunt. I am using it for my own reasons, please use my name when possible."
Shirou didn't have any problems with that. "Why is today a busy day Setsuna-san?"
While they made their path to the closest devil Setsuna explained that every year, on the day of 'club hunting' for the students, the mages had their own tradition.
…
Rutal watched with his peerage as mages tried to pass his test, a simple one since he can't afford to be picky.
The four mages, three magus and a spellcaster had to hold a 'small' flame on their hands for a couple of minutes. 60 to be exact.
He is a Phenex, if he can't get a magician of at least that level he would be the laughing stock of the Underworld.
…
"I will repeat it; Your magic is not useful for me." The heir of Agares said with a sigh, she really wanted to pick someone and get this over with. "Next."
Her Queen directs the failure out while the next one comes in. Her method was simple, an interview and demonstration of capabilities. There were steps that she knows that the candidates have been informed about.
As an heir she refuses to find a worthless magician.
"Hello, my name is Ehido Oshim…" Introduction, accomplishments, type of magic and projects for the future.
All of the three are essential to her as far as she knows but during the interview she checks other things, reports from investigators about the family and the methods of the person in front of her. With that information she asks a couple of questions, simple and small ones at first until she 'deducts' some things from the report.
Her goal? Establish trust to have the person to admit some of the most… cruel aspects of their story. But she didn't want them to crack, she wanted them to resist.
Seekvaira was trying to find someone that she could trust, if she is going to be tying herself up with one family she wants their values to be different than the last one. Of course the betrayal could have happened not because of the initial deal but because time and changes of generation.
She still wants a mage that won't need her to hold his hand the whole time. Unfortunately she is the heiress of one of the pillars, a pact with her was enough that almost every candidate was 'spilling the beans' on stuff they shouldn't.
"It is a pity but your magic is not useful for me." Then comes the denial, the begging and then she finally says again. "I will repeat it; Your magic is not useful for me."
The young man is escorted out and a woman enters and the process repeats anew.
…
In an office in the heart of school with many tables for students to use, Sona Sitri was checking the resume of her candidates. Unlike her peers, she was not meeting the candidates just yet. She plans to, eventually, first she is going to weed out the ones that are incompatible, either with her or her philosophy.
The resumes were detailed, she demanded to know every single thing that wasn't a secret for the family of the candidates on it. From previous education, the elements they had access to, no need to put origins but it was optional, any research they are doing or wanted to do and their goals in life. On the last one she wished to skip most of the time considering that all the answers were almost always 'reach the Root', but she was dedicated to her work and there was always the possibility that one person wanted something different.
Her method was more tyresome and there was no way she was going to make contact with anyone today but that was fine, unlike the others she was not going to hurry up. Some of the last year's candidates were still being evaluated but she hasn't found anyone she could trust or that she wanted to focus on building up. Not for a pact at least.
Still, her method may be slow but it allowed a greater pool of candidates, including those that may have preferences for another heir.
Sona is not a fool, she knows that many of the more ambitious candidates would go after her best friend. The Gremory Family hadn't made a pact for so long that there were even rumors that the one who makes a complete pact with them would surely become a sorcerer. That was hilarious to her friend.
Rias said once she raised that tidbit: "My family got lucky, we didn't need to make pacts to get what we wanted. Deals were sufficient."
Just remembering that made Sona wonder what Emiya Shirou had offered that incentivated her to break a millennia old streak. She was sure that his name wouldn't be around these resumes but it will be on the school's reports at a later date.
Her curiosity was irrelevant at the moment, the pile of rejects was growing bigger and bigger but she found some good candidates. Even if they are not worthy of a pact she can make deals and even offer her a place in her peerage.
A knock on the door calls her attention. "Sona!" Entered as one of her bishops, she was still new as a devil but the Sitri Clan knew her through her father who they had business with. With a pretty face, blue-green eyes and silver hair with black roots showing that she will have to dye it again soon, Hanakai Momo entered her office. "There is a new student asking for assistance! A brawl is happening in the middle of the club hunting!"
"A… brawl?" The Queen of Sona's peerage was there helping them. They may not be in charge of the student council yet but the actual president was busy running around giving them space to work. She follows the question with. "How did this happen and the other council members?"