04/06/2012, Kuoh Academy, After School
Makoto was packing his schoolbag when Tsubaki approached him. "Yuki, I heard you made quite the impression at the Music Club yesterday. Everyone is talking about your performance," she said.
"I guess so," the boy replied, reluctant to elaborate.
"The club members even thanked me for letting you join. I told them the credit was all yours," Tsubaki added with a nod.
"Sorry if they disturbed you," Makoto apologized.
"No, no—quite the opposite. I'm glad you helped the students. The President wanted to thank you personally. Could you come to the Student Council?" the black-haired girl asked.
Before Makoto could answer, a blonde-haired boy entered the classroom.
"Senpai Yuki? I'm Yuuto Kiba. President Gremory asked me to escort you to the Occult Research Club," Kiba said.
Tsubaki frowned at the interruption.
"I'm sorry, Shinra. I already have plans today," Makoto said.
Tsubaki watched as the two boys left the classroom, her expression tightening. 'What is Gremory up to? I need to inform Sona immediately.' Without hesitation, she headed straight for the Student Council.
———
Occult Research Club.
"Where is this club located?" Makoto asked as they walked.
"In the old school building," Kiba answered.
The two remained silent the rest of the way. When they arrived, Kiba knocked on the door.
"President, it's me. I've brought Senpai Yuki," he announced.
From inside, Rias' voice warmly invited them in.
The clubroom was spacious, with Rias seated behind her desk, Akeno standing at her side like a dutiful queen. Koneko lounged on one of the sofas, her sharp eyes flickering between Makoto and Elizabeth, who sat beside her with an air of detached amusement.
"Welcome to my clubroom, Yuki. Make yourself at home," Rias said, her crimson eyes gleaming with quiet anticipation.
"Liz, didn't you tell Ryoji to come?" Makoto asked, glancing around.
"I didn't think it necessary," Elizabeth replied smoothly.
Makoto rolled his eyes and took a seat. Elizabeth rose gracefully and positioned herself behind him, mirroring Akeno's stance beside Rias.
"Now that we're all here," Rias began, straightening in her chair, "I'd like to formally introduce myself. I am Rias Gremory, heiress of the Gremory Clan and a pure-blooded devil." She gestured to her companions.
"These are my peerage members: my queen, Akeno Himejima; my knight, Yuuto Kiba; and my rook, Koneko Toujou. We are all devils."
As if on cue, bat-like wings unfurled from each of them—dark, leathery, and unmistakably supernatural.
Makoto observed them impassively.
"Queen, rook, knight… like chess pieces?" he asked.
"Exactly," Rias confirmed, producing a small box lined with crimson chess pieces. "These are Evil Pieces—tools used to reincarnate mortals into devils."
"Okay," Makoto said, his tone neutral.
"Peerages are the pieces a high-class devil uses to reincarnate others, binding them as servants," Rias explained.
"Is that enslavement?" Makoto cut in.
"No, no!" Rias waved her hands dismissively. "While some devils treat their servants poorly, we Gremories consider them family."
Makoto's gaze shifted to Kiba, Akeno, and Koneko, silently gauging their reactions.
"She's telling the truth, senpai," Kiba assured him. Akeno and Koneko nodded in agreement.
———
Meanwhile, in the Student Council Room
Tsubaki barged in without knocking, startling Sona, who was reviewing documents.
"Tsubaki?" Sona adjusted her glasses, surprised by the abrupt entrance.
"President, I think Gremory is trying to recruit Yuki into her peerage," Tsubaki reported urgently.
Sona's hands slammed onto the desk.
"What? No, she won't." She stood abruptly. "Let's go, Tsubaki."
As they stormed out, Momo nearly collided with them, her arms full of paperwork.
"President? What's happening?" the pink-haired girl asked.
"No time to explain. I'm confronting Rias. Resume your duties," Sona ordered, already striding away.
Momo blinked, watching them disappear down the hall before sighing and stepping back inside.
———
Back in the Occult Research Club
"You needn't worry, Yuki. I would never harm my family," Rias said with a practiced smile.
'Now or never,' she thought, steeling herself.
"Yuki, may I ask you something?" Her voice was steady, but her fingers tightened imperceptibly on the edge of her desk.
Makoto nodded.
Just as Rias opened her mouth to speak—
BANG!
The door flew open, revealing a furious Sona.
"What do you think you're doing, Rias? We had an agreement!" the Sitri heiress snapped.
"Sona!?" Rias shot to her feet. "What are you—"
"I'm stopping you from poaching Makoto!" Sona's glare could have melted steel.
The two devils launched into a heated argument, their voices rising rapidly. Koneko clamped her hands over her ears. Kiba edged toward the door, as if contemplating escape. Akeno and Tsubaki stood by, waiting for their respective kings to exhaust themselves.
Makoto massaged his temples.
'These children dare call themselves devils?' Lucifer sneered in his mind.
'Calm down, Morning Star,' Kohryu chided.
'This is the energy of youth, my companion!' Robin Hood cheered, oddly delighted.
Elizabeth, noticing Makoto's discomfort and clear embarrassment, cleared her throat pointedly. When that failed, she slammed her palm onto Rias' desk—CRACK!—splintering it in half.
Silence.
The two heiresses froze mid-shout.
"Apologies," Elizabeth said, not sounding sorry at all. "You were being rather loud."
"Ah… right. That was inappropriate," Rias mumbled, flushing.
"My apologies as well," Sona conceded stiffly.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Makoto asked flatly.
"Um…" Rias hesitated, but Sona's glare silenced her.
'Damn it, Sona, you know my situation! Fine—I'll ask outright!'
"How much has Rias told you, Yuki?" Sona interjected.
"Only about... Evil Pieces and this town being devil territory," he answered.
"Then allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Sona Sitri, heiress of the Sit—"
"Yuki, would you like to join my peerage!?" Rias blurted.
Sona gasped, whirling on her.
"No," Makoto said.
"Perfect! Wait—you said no?" Rias' face fell.
"Yes. I refuse."
"Sona, did you honestly think Yuki would accept on the spot?" Sona sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"But there are so many benefits!" Rias protested. "Longer lifespan, nobility, power, wealth—you could even build your own peerage once you become high-class! And I swear I wouldn't treat you like a slave!"
Makoto shook his head. "Not interested."
With that, he stood and walked out, Elizabeth gliding after him.
Rias slumped into her chair, muttering, "I won't give up. I need him to escape this marriage with Riser."
"This approach won't work, Rias," Sona said.
"You want him too!" Rias shot back.
"Yes, but I would've introduced him to the supernatural gradually."
"You won't get him, Sona. He has a powerful Sacred Gear—I can't let this chance slip!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Rias clapped a hand over it.
"Sacred Gear?" Sona's eyes narrowed.
"It—it slipped out!"
"I see. Then we have nothing further to discuss. Goodbye, Rias."
"Sona," Rias pleaded, grabbing her wrist. "I'm asking as a friend. I need his help."
Sona's expression softened, but she pulled away. "I'm sorry, Rias. Makoto is one in a million—exactly what I've been searching for. This isn't about making your life harder. I'm still your friend… but I have dreams too."
With that, she left.
Rias turned to Akeno, who had stayed behind. Without a word, she buried her face in her queen's shoulder, her body trembling.
"It'll be alright, Rias," Akeno murmured, stroking her hair.
"Kiba and I confirmed Mochizuki has power too. Perhaps we could ask him?"
"No. Sona's right—our approach was all wrong. But how can I fix it? My family is rushing this marriage. We're out of time." A tear slipped down her cheek.
"Have you asked Lord Lucifer for help?"
"He won't interfere. Our only hope is defeating Riser in a Rating Game, but as we are now…" She wiped her eyes. "Maybe we should just ask Yuki directly. He doesn't seem cruel."
"Perhaps. But for now, it's best to give him space. Pushing him further will only make things worse."
04/06/2012, Velvet Room, Evening
When Makoto returned to the Velvet Room, Ryoji was waiting.
"Makoto. Attendant. We need to talk. I've found something," he said urgently.
"What is it?" Makoto took a seat beside him.
"I sensed a faint Shadow presence on the town's outskirts. It was… different. Not like Nyx's remnants. They didn't react to me at all."
Makoto's eyes darkened. "Nyarlathotep's doing?"
"I fear so," Ryoji admitted grimly.
"Then we deal with it tonight." Makoto turned to Elizabeth. "Igor's letter said we can still perform fusions, right?"
Elizabeth smiled, as if she'd been waiting for this. "I was hoping you'd ask."
She retrieved an antique record player from beneath the counter. "This will facilitate the fusion ritual."
Almost instinctively, Makoto summoned a disk and placed it on the turntable. The haunting melody of Aria of the Soul filled the room as he closed his eyes, reaching into the depths of the Universe within him.
'Thoth. Helel. I need your help.'
'We are here, Makoto,' Helel responded warmly.
'Do you wish to fuse us?' Thoth inquired.
Makoto affirmed silently, and the ritual began. The two Personas dissolved into light, swirling together in a luminous dance. As the final notes played, their energies merged—and a new voice echoed in his mind.
'I am Thou. Thou art I. From the Universe in thy soul, I am born. Call me Leviathan. I am that mortal god to whom gods bow. I am juggernaut. I am the mouth of Hell: abandon all hope, ye who enter.'
A colossal white whale materialized in his consciousness, its obsidian-veined hide pulsing with divine—chtonian—wrath.
"Leviathan, of the Judgement Arcana," Elizabeth announced. "Is there anything else you require, Makoto?"
"Yes. I need to fill my stock."
'Fusing Thoth and Helel freed up four slots,' he mused, scanning the Compendium's pages.
"Your choices?" Elizabeth prompted.
"Jack Frost, Fafnir, Odin, and Yoshitsune."
Elizabeth's fingers flew across the tome, summoning the chosen Personas into Makoto's soul.
"Now we're ready," he said.
Ryoji transformed into Thanatos, merging with Makoto's shadow. Elizabeth's form shimmered, dissolving into a cerulean butterfly reminiscent of Philemon.
Without another word, they departed into the night.