Akeno Himejima extended a slender index finger and tapped her chin. "He should be on a subjugation mission, probably continuing his training for that ability."
"Is it still because of that incident?"
"Mhm. Although Kiba-kun doesn't talk about it, that incident has always been firmly in his mind."
Caleb nudged the white-haired loli, who had settled on the sofa and was currently munching on a sweet bean paste bun, with his elbow. "Koneko, what incident are Buchou and the others talking about?"
Koneko Toujou shot Caleb a displeased glance. How dare he interrupt her while she was eating? Her cat-like possessiveness over food made her glare fiercely yet cutely at Caleb. Forget it. On account of the ice cream he promised, she'd forgive him this time.
"Duh-no-wuh..." The white-haired loli's cheeks were stuffed, and she mumbled three indistinct words. Caleb vaguely remembered an arc involving Yuuto Kiba, but he hadn't paid much attention while watching the anime, and after all this time, he couldn't recall the details at all. Moreover, this world wasn't exactly the same as the anime, and he highly doubted the actual gender of Yuuto Kiba in this reality.
"Koneko, stop eating. No one's going to steal it from you." Caleb leaned closer to the white-haired loli and whispered. "I'm a club member now. Shouldn't I get to know Kiba-kun better?"
Koneko Toujou: "Mhm mhm~ The bean paste is so sweet~"
Caleb's breathing hitched. He was annoyed. He regulated his emotions and spoke in his gentlest tone, "Koneko-sama, just tell me a little, please~"
The white-haired loli flinched and scooted backward, staring at Caleb strangely, even pausing her chewing on the remaining half of the sweet bean paste bun.
"Akira..." Koneko Toujou looked at Caleb seriously, then reluctantly at the bean paste bun in her hand, seemingly making a huge decision. "I only have half left. If you really want to eat it, I can only give you a quarter."
Caleb: (∇H∇#)
After a deep breath, he said expressionlessly, "Ah, in that case, I truly thank you..."
"You're welcome. Just remember to share with me next time you buy something." Koneko Toujou pursed her lips, carefully tearing off half of the remaining bun and slowly offering it to Caleb. The already small bean paste bun had been half-eaten by the white-haired loli. Dividing it again left a piece smaller than half of Caleb's palm. Looking at the tiny piece of bread, marked with the white-haired loli's small tooth prints and glistening saliva, and seeing the white-haired loli's reluctant eyes, Caleb snatched it up with lightning speed and shoved it into his mouth.
"Gulp—" Without even chewing, the tiny bun was in Caleb's stomach the moment it entered his mouth.
"Ah..." Koneko Toujou let out a tiny sound. By the time she reacted, her beloved bean paste bun had not only vanished, but its 'corpse' was also in Caleb's stomach. Seeing Caleb still staring at her, the white-haired loli quickly hid the remaining bun in her embrace. She pouted. "No! We agreed the rest is mine! It's your fault for eating it so fast..."
A vein twitched on Caleb's forehead. Looking at the pitiful white-haired loli, his energy drained away. Why was he arguing with a food-possessive kitten...?
"It's fine. I don't want the rest of your bread." Caleb sighed softly. "Eat it yourself. If it's not enough, I'll buy you more later."
"Really?" Koneko Toujou looked at the bread in her hand, testing. "How about I give you this one too, and you buy me two?"
"If Buchou and the others agree..." Caleb reverted to his expressionless state. He shouldn't have discussed food with this little glutton.
Koneko Toujou turned to look at Rias and Akeno Himejima, meeting their eyes. They had stopped talking when the white-haired loli tore off the bread and offered it to Caleb, watching the scene with interest.
"Not allowed~" Rias shook her index finger, saying softly. "Eating too many sweets can cause cavities for little children~"
"Okay..." The white-haired loli disappointedly lowered her head to deal with the remaining small piece of bean paste bun. She looked at the tooth marks and saliva on it, then looked up at Caleb's mouth. Her cute little face suddenly flushed. Koneko Toujou lowered her head again like a thief, quickly gnawing on the bean paste bun in her hand. For some reason, the once sweet and fragrant bean paste bun tasted utterly flavorless now. Even though she was eating, her mind was completely preoccupied with the sight of Caleb eating that piece of bread.
Koneko Toujou's abnormality was noticed by Akeno Himejima and Rias. The Black-Bellied Akeno-senpai smiled, covering her mouth. "Ara ara~ I didn't realize Koneko was reaching that age~"
"Indeed. Besides you and me, Akira is the third person Koneko has ever shared food with, right?" Rias looked at Caleb and the white-haired loli with satisfaction. It was heartwarming to see her Peerage members getting along, and it would lead to better synergy in the Rating Games.
Caleb was somewhat speechless with the white-haired loli but hadn't noticed her abnormality. However, hearing the strange words from Rias and Akeno, he couldn't help but look closely at Koneko Toujou. The white-haired loli felt shy under his gaze, wishing she could grind the bean paste bun in her hand into powder and eat it piece by piece. That way, she wouldn't have to face the eyes of Caleb, Rias, and Akeno Himejima. Unfortunately, the bun was too small. Even though she had slowed down her pace, she finished it quickly.
Seeing Caleb still staring at her, the white-haired loli stood up in embarrassment and irritation, forcefully head-butting Caleb in the stomach with her adorable little head. Caleb was trying to get a look at Koneko Toujou's face and was completely unprepared for the headbutt attack.
"Pfft... Koneko... I didn't say it..."
"Doesn't matter. It's still your fault." Having successfully landed a hit, Koneko Toujou quickly rushed behind Rias with her head lowered. No matter how much Caleb called out, she didn't respond.
Caleb blinked. Although he received a headbutt, realizing Koneko Toujou's attitude toward him was unusual, the trade-off was well worth it. Caleb was initially surprised that Koneko Toujou would be the first to fall among the Occult Research Club members. However, upon reflection, it made sense. The white-haired loli had spent the most time with him. During their practical combat training, they had numerous close-contact moments. In the heat of the battle, they often grappled with each other, frequently employing various ground techniques. The white-haired loli was also innocent in matters of the heart, unlike Akeno Himejima and Rias, who had to consider other factors. Thus, she was more easily drawn to Caleb.
Koneko Toujou was thin-skinned and remained hidden behind Rias, refusing to come out. Caleb could only wait until their next moment of solitude to try and advance their relationship.
"Buchou, I'll be heading back now." Caleb planned to leave and check on Sakura Miyajima and the Takamine sisters at home. He had told Sakura Miyajima and the Takamine sisters to go home early, thus preventing them from getting caught up in the incident. He needed to update them so they wouldn't accidentally reveal anything.
"Akira, wait a moment." Rias crossed her long, beautiful legs and smiled. "We owe you a debt of gratitude for discovering this in advance and gathering the intelligence, thus preventing a widespread malicious incident."
"We could have also gained a Sacred Gear. Even if you couldn't use it, it could have been traded for other resources. But I disliked those glasses, so I destroyed them." Caleb shook his head, giving a wry smile. "But ultimately, we owe the success to Buchou and Akeno-senpai. If it weren't for you, more than one girl would have been victimized, and I wouldn't have been able to stop those glasses."
"No, that's beside the point. Your contribution is undeniable." Rias blinked her beautiful eyes. "Is there anything you want as a reward? Like a powerful skill, a weapon... or perhaps Koneko's first kiss~"
Caleb's eyes widened. Initially, upon hearing about a weapon or skill, he planned to sternly refuse. But upon hearing the last option, he quickly swallowed all the words he was about to say. He swallowed, first looking at the white-haired loli peeking out from behind Rias, then at Akeno Himejima, whose eyes were crescent-shaped with amusement. Finally, Caleb's gaze settled on Rias's sexy, moist, cherry-colored lips.
"Buchou..." He stabilized his mind, trying to keep his composure. "Since it's a reward... I want your first kiss."
When the words fell, a strange silence descended upon the clubroom. Akeno Himejima covered her mouth, looking at Caleb in surprise. The white-haired loli drooped her head, looking somewhat disappointed.