Rias stared intently at Caleb's handsome face. Although she had long known that Caleb had designs on her—or rather, that most men harbored such thoughts toward her—this kind of direct approach, in this situation, was completely unexpected. Rias had initially intended to gently push Koneko Toujou and Caleb together. She hadn't anticipated that the flames of war would suddenly turn on her.
After a long silence, she still couldn't give an answer. Rias knew about Caleb's past activities, had personally seen him and Akeno Himejima nearly merge, and was aware of Koneko Toujou, who had just been exposed. But none of this was a problem for her; monogamy did not exist in the Demon World. She genuinely harbored good feelings for Caleb and wouldn't object to giving her first kiss to him. However, thinking about the events that had occurred since her return, Rias was unsure whether she should involve Caleb.
Is it still too much...? Caleb wondered with disappointment, seeing Rias's constantly shifting expression and her prolonged silence.
"Buchou, I apologize. Just pretend I didn't say it." Caleb took the initiative to break the awkward atmosphere. "And Koneko, I'm sorry." Koneko Toujou knew she wasn't as alluring as Rias, but being 'rejected' to her face still made her disappointed and angry.
"Hmph!" The white-haired loli glared at him sullenly, turning away to sulk. Caleb had never hidden his ways, and Koneko Toujou naturally knew that Caleb was involved with many girls. But love was love. Fortunately, the Yōkai clan also didn't adhere to monogamy, so she didn't have to overthink it.
After Caleb offered the way out, Rias felt both relief and a sense of loss. "Akira..." she softly murmured, looking at Caleb's disappointed expression.
"Buchou, I'll be leaving now." Caleb composed himself. Rias's lack of immediate refusal was a partial success. He would strive to claim Rias's first kiss next time.
"Wait a moment..." Seeing Caleb turn to leave, Rias suddenly spoke up to stop him. When Caleb paused, she again didn't know what to say. Looking at Rias's conflicted, delicate face, Caleb thoughtfully rubbed his nose. He didn't understand love, but having been with so many girls, he had some confidence in judging a woman's feelings from subtle cues.
Caleb walked up to Rias's office desk, looking at the red-haired beauty sitting in the luxurious wooden chair. "Buchou."
"Mhm." Rias instinctively replied, looking up to meet Caleb's gaze. Staring into those beautiful emerald eyes, Caleb slowly and deliberately leaned down until their noses touched. Caleb's breath brushed against the girl's fair face. Rias's steady breathing suddenly became rapid, her long eyelashes fluttered, and her soft, magic-filled body tensed up nervously.
After waiting for three seconds and with Rias still making no move, Caleb decisively adjusted his angle. To the surprise of Akeno Himejima and the curious, yet jealous, eyes of Koneko Toujou, he sealed those plump, delicate lips.
"Ugh..." Rias's beautiful eyes widened from Caleb's 'sudden' assault, and her pale cheeks flushed, adding a touch of cuteness to her mature beauty. After tasting her soft lips for a while, Caleb gently ran his tongue over her pristine teeth. Due to the positioning, Rias, who was already at a disadvantage, was completely defenseless. She tilted her head back, exposing her long, fair neck. Under Caleb's patient licking, sucking, and stirring, her closed teeth parted, and she let out seductive little gasps.
"Eh... mm... mm... mm..." Caleb extended his tongue, hooking the bewildered, slick, fragrant tongue, and began a new round of 'invasion.' Rias, experiencing her first kiss, had no idea what to do. She could only slightly part her lips, allowing Caleb's tongue to stir around inside her mouth. The sensation of her saliva being sucked out repeatedly, along with the contact of their intimate membranes, began to diminish the first-timer Rias's ability to think.
"Squish, squish..."
"Slurp, slurp..."
He didn't know how long they kissed, but Rias's mouth held no more secrets from him. He left his mark in every corner. If his tongue were longer, Caleb would have advanced toward her throat. The fierce French kissing made Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou, who were watching, feel hot all over. Their legs pressed together, and their beautiful eyes were misty.
"Mmmph—" With a long, ambiguous moan, Caleb slowly separated from Rias. A soft, fragrant little tongue was briefly exposed to the air following his movement. He reached out to cup Rias's chin, fearing she might accidentally bite herself.
Breathing in the fresh air, Rias gradually recovered from the enjoyable mucous membrane contact. She retracted her numb little tongue into her mouth, glared at Caleb with a red face, and said in a mix of shyness and anger, "Alright, you can scram! I, your Buchou, keep my word. The reward has been given."
Looking at the residual drool on Rias's lips, Caleb's heart leaped with joy. A deep sense of satisfaction lingered. "Buchou, whatever you're worried about, give me some time, and I will resolve it." Having confirmed Rias's feelings, Caleb finally made up his mind. No matter how difficult, he wouldn't surrender Rias to anyone else.
"Akira... you truly are smart." Rias smiled radiantly, and her slender body, a little taller than Caleb's, stood up. "You have one year. Is that enough time?"
One year... is it the forced marriage from the Phenex family? Caleb didn't know if Rias's return coincided with the beginning of that event, but he would take it as his goal for now. Regardless of whether it was true or not, this was an issue that had to be resolved.
"Is Maou-level strength enough to alleviate Buchou's concerns?"
"That would be entirely sufficient." Rias wiped her lips. "Are you saying you can reach Maou-level strength within a year?"
"I should be able to. Who knows without trying?" Caleb shrugged, speaking casually. "A person must have dreams, or what's the difference between them and a dead fish?"
Rias looked at Caleb deeply. It seemed she had underestimated the secrets surrounding him. Under Caleb's meaningful smile, the topic was tacitly dropped. Rias sat back down, pouting slightly. "My tongue is numb from your kissing. You're not inexperienced with women, so why were you so rough?"
"I've kissed women, but never a woman as alluring as you, Buchou. I'll be gentler next time."
"Next time?!" Rias snapped irritably. "Get out now, or come with me to the training ground! I'll see if you've been slacking while I was away!"
Caleb's face stiffened. He'd rather skip sparring with Rias. He was confident he could reach Maou-level within a year, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be flattened by Rias now. "My apologies for the intrusion. I bid you farewell."
Just as Caleb left the Occult Research Club, he received a message from Tsubaki Shinra, asking him to come to the Student Council room.
"Shinra-senpai, good morning." Caleb closed the door and sat down next to Tsubaki Shinra. "Did Kaichou need something from me?"
Souna Shitori studied Caleb for a moment, then asked, "Akira, where did Rias put the crest?"
"The back of my left hand." Caleb answered truthfully. There was nothing to hide. He even channeled his magic power, making the crest visible to prove it.
"Then I will put the Sitri family's crest on the back of your right hand." Souna Shitori's tone was calm, but to Caleb, it was like a sudden clap of thunder, nearly making him jump up in shock.
Souna Shitori glanced at him. "Don't worry, Rias knows, and she agreed."
Caleb tentatively asked, "Does that mean I'm your Peerage member too, now?"
"Mhm. Rias used an Evil Piece on you, and I did too. Although both attempts failed, since she can take you as her Peerage member, naturally, so can I." Caleb blinked. So they did know about it. It seemed Rias and Souna Shitori had reached some kind of agreement without his knowledge.
Souna Shitori took Caleb's right hand. Her pale little hand covered the back of his hand, and a handsome pattern radiating a light blue color slowly formed. The method of imprinting the crest looked simple, but it was actually a secret technique that only the family head or successor head was qualified to master. Others could only use the Evil Pieces to bestow the crest on their Peerage members (it would naturally appear on the Peerage member's palm upon successful reincarnation) to prove their identity.