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Back in the clubroom, Rias greeted Jack with a bright, teasing smile.
"So? Learned anything new?"
Jack thought for a moment, then said seriously,"Whether it's Akeno-senpai or Koneko, their magic power and combat skills are way above mine."
After that sparring session, he had a clear sense of just how big the gap between them really was.Their strength wasn't something he could catch up to overnight—it came from countless contracts and the prices they'd paid for those powers.
If he wanted to reach their level, he'd have to walk that same path: make contracts, pay the cost, grow stronger.
Rias chuckled softly. "That's exactly what you should work on from now on. And the one who summoned you before—no matter what, try to win her over. If you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to come to us."
Rias's eyes shone with expectation.
After all, Jack had broken a rule that no other devil had ever broken before: a single devil couldn't play two different chess pieces at once.
He was the exception.And that made him special—special enough that even the entire devil race might take an interest in him someday.
But Rias knew that kind of attention could be dangerous. Before anything else, she had to keep his situation secret, at least until their power was strong enough to protect themselves. Otherwise, who knew what the high-ranking devils might do in the name of "prosperity"?
Her smile faltered. For a moment, her eyes clouded with some quiet, painful memory.
"Jack," she murmured under her breath, "you have to get stronger... That way, you can help me."
Jack caught the change in her expression.He could tell she was thinking about something heavy—but he didn't ask.If she wanted him to know, she'd tell him when the time was right.
So he simply nodded. "Alright."
It was just one word, but his calm, steady tone carried a quiet confidence.
Rias stared at him for a moment, then smiled again. The complicated emotion in her eyes softened. She reached out and gently brushed her fingers along his cheek.
"Mhm. I believe you will," she said warmly. "You're my most adorable servant, after all. If it's you, I know you can do it."
Then, without warning, she leaned in close, cupped his face in both hands, and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
Her lips lingered there for a moment—warm, feather-light.
Jack felt his heart stir.
His feelings toward Rias were... complicated.
She'd saved his life, became his master, and treated him with an affection that felt almost too real. But deep down, he knew devils didn't see relationships the same way humans did.
Even though he'd become a devil himself, his heart still thought like a human's. He knew Rias's affection for him was more like how a collector cherished a precious treasure—something she owned and cared for.
Even if they'd shared a bed, even if she kissed him just now, it didn't mean she was in love with him.
That realization sat uncomfortably in his chest.
But pretending he didn't care about her at all?Yeah, that wasn't possible either.
Possessiveness wasn't something anyone could just switch off.
Even if he forced himself to suppress it, he still owed Rias everything—for saving his life, for giving him purpose. There was no way he could ever turn his back on her.
Whatever happens... let it happen naturally.
Rias drew back, her usual playful grin returning. "That was my magic to help you grow stronger," she said with a wink. "My affection ends here for today."
"I won't let you down."
Jack smiled faintly.
He already had a plan—first, help Mai Sakurajima resolve her problem, then complete his first real contract with her.
"Oh, that reminds me!" Rias suddenly said, as if something just clicked. "Next weekend, the Familiar Forest opens up. That means you'll finally get your own familiar!"
"Seriously?" Jack's eyes lit up. He'd been wanting one badly—a familiar could handle so many little tasks for him.
"Of course! Once you have one, you won't need to hand out flyers yourself anymore. You can even make it do simple errands."
Jack chuckled. "Perfect. I won't have to do my homework myself anymore."
Rias: "...Huh?"Everyone else: "..."
So that's why you wanted a familiar? To skip homework?
The three girls were completely speechless.
Sometimes, they just couldn't follow Jack's logic at all.
By the time Jack biked home, night had already fallen.
After a quick workout and a shower, he went to bed early—he'd promised Mai he'd meet her again the next day.
The next morning, he woke up early, tidied up the house a bit, and stepped out into the sunrise.
It was the weekend, so the streets were busier than usual. Jack made his way to the subway station, where he and Mai had arranged to meet.
He arrived a bit early. After about ten minutes, he spotted her approaching from a distance.
Today, Mai wore casual clothes—a white blouse tucked into a short skirt that stopped halfway down her thighs, much shorter than yesterday's.
No one else on the street could see her, of course. Only Jack's eyes followed her closely, taking in every detail.
"Hmm, looks like you took my fashion advice seriously," he said in mock seriousness, eyeing her up and down.
It was still chilly in the morning, so she wore black stockings—but that was fine. Black stockings were always a plus.
Mai didn't even blink. "I don't remember saying I took your advice. I just wore what I like."
"Sure, sure, whatever you say. You look adorable. Honestly, I kind of want to take you home, frame you, and hang you on my wall," Jack said, eyes gleaming.
"I told you to stop showing off that terrible acting of yours," Mai replied dryly.
"I was being sincere this time."
"Then I'll graciously accept the compliment," she said smoothly, a faint smile on her lips.
"..."
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