After school, Saji Genshirou didn't head straight home like usual. Instead, he made his way toward the teachers' offices.
Earlier that day, Yubelluna-sensei had asked him to stop by her office after class. He didn't know why, but his heart was pounding with anticipation.
He hadn't been at Kuoh Academy long, but Yubelluna-sensei was already a legend—beautiful, kind, admired by students and teachers alike. Saji was just one among countless admirers.
He paused outside her private office, took a steadying breath, and knocked politely.
"Excuse me, Yubelluna-sensei."
"C-come in…"
Her voice sounded…odd. Saji frowned, puzzled, and stepped inside.
What he saw made him freeze. The office was crowded—Xuelan, Mira, Mihae, Isabella, Kalamaina… Nearly a dozen senior girls, all recently transferred and famous across the school.
They turned in unison, cool smiles on their faces, and silently parted to let him through.
Saji swallowed, lips parted to speak—but then he saw what lay beyond, and his world tilted.
Yubelluna-sensei—his idol, his crush—was sitting on a boy's lap, locked in a passionate kiss.
The boy was Tenra-senpai, the one every girl in school seemed to talk about.
Saji stood, stunned, unable to process what he was seeing.
Perfect Yubelluna-sensei. Legendary Tenra-senpai.
They were… together?!
"Saji-kun, you're here."
Tenra released Yubelluna, looking up with a relaxed smile.
"Yubelluna-sensei, Tenra-senpai, you… you…"
Saji's voice shook with disbelief and heartbreak. The person he'd admired most was doing something so shameless—and with the school's most notorious heartbreaker!
Tenra's smile faded. He didn't care for Saji's wounded glare, nor did he bother to explain.
"Xuelan."
Tenra's tone was businesslike.
"Yes, Tenra-sama."
Xuelan cracked her knuckles, cold amusement flickering in her eyes as she strode toward Saji.
"What—what are you doing?"
Saji's heartbreak vanished, replaced by panic as Xuelan advanced. He stumbled backward, but she moved with inhuman speed, closing the distance in an instant and driving her fist into his stomach.
"Ugh—"
Saji doubled over, eyes bulging, bile rising in his throat as he collapsed to the floor.
Xuelan snorted, shut the door, and dragged his unconscious body to Tenra's feet.
Tenra patted Yubelluna's shoulder, then stood. No words wasted—he activated [Sacred Gear Plunder], plunging his hand into Saji's chest to seize the power hidden within.
He worked quickly, efficiently, drawing the Sacred Gear forth—until something went wrong.
"Ahhh—!"
Saji, supposedly unconscious, screamed as a surge of dark energy erupted from his body. Black flames burst out, engulfing Tenra's arm.
Triggered by the extraction, Saji had awakened his Sacred Gear at the final moment.
"Tenra-sama!"
The girls started forward, but Tenra raised a hand to stop them.
"Ddraig."
"Understood, partner."
Crimson armor materialized, wrapping Tenra in [Boosted Gear]'s protection. The black flames licked at the armor, but couldn't harm him.
A moment later, the Sacred Gear was extracted. The dark fire vanished, and Saji went limp, eyes rolling back as he fainted again.
Yubelluna and the others breathed a sigh of relief, their faces bright with satisfaction. Another Sacred Gear for their master. Tenra, however, frowned at the black gem in his hand.
[Saji's Absorption Line] only hosted a fragment of Vritra's soul. Its power was leagues below [Boosted Gear]. If he could gather the other Sacred Gears containing Vritra's fragments and fuse them, he'd have something worthwhile.
If memory served, Azazel still held the remaining pieces. Maybe it was time to pay the fallen angel governor a visit—for Raynare's situation, and for the Sacred Gears.
Tenra absorbed the gem's energy, refining it. The power boost was minor, but still better than nothing.
"Tenra-sama, what should we do with him?"
Yubelluna's voice was cold. With a word, she could erase Saji from existence.
Tenra was about to reply when the office door swung open. Sona Sitri and her servants entered, drawn by the surge of power.
Sona took one look at Saji on the floor and understood immediately.
"You took his Sacred Gear?"
"That's right. You knew he was a host?"
Tenra didn't deny it, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"In the original timeline, Sona had discovered Saji's Sacred Gear and made him her servant. Now, with the Sacred Gear gone, she'd lost a potential recruit.
"I only suspected. Now I'm sure."
Sona adjusted her glasses, her tone calm.
"You're not angry?"
"Why should I be?"
Sona's expression was serene.
"I took Saji's Sacred Gear. Weren't you planning to make him your servant?"
Tenra pressed, expecting some pushback.
"Tenra Kamiyo, you underestimate me. A Sacred Gear user is valuable, but not essential. I merely suspected Saji had one—I hadn't decided to recruit him."
Tenra couldn't help but admire her poise. Sona's composure and grace matched Rias's, befitting the next head of the Sitri family.
Of course, he didn't believe her completely. She'd wanted to see what kind of Sacred Gear Saji would awaken—whether he was worthy of her team.
Now, with his power gone, Saji would never have that chance.
"Then we'll be going."
"Handle him as you wish, but I won't tolerate bloodshed in my school."
Sona's words were firm.
"Don't worry, I'm not planning to kill him. Yubelluna will erase his memories—he'll forget everything that happened."
"Good."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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