"I've disposed of the bodies, Master," Archer announced as she entered the backroom of the Church, where Caren waited, reading what appeared to be some of the notes that the Fallen Angels had left behind. "Though I must ask. Was it necessary to eliminate them?"
"Yes," her Master answered without hesitation. "According to the Clock Tower, there was evidence that their orders did not come from the Governor himself. We also received a request from someone claiming to be Azazel to remove them as soon as possible."
Archer tilted her head. "Eh? Why would Azazel want to eliminate his own subordinates?"
"Zealots, I'm afraid. They were far too loyal and bigoted to believe that what they were hoping to accomplish was truly by the Governor's orders." She turned to the next page of the notes, briefly looking up at her Servant. "Has there been any word on Assassin and his Master's movements?"
"Nothing concrete, Master. But there have been reports of civilians being found murdered within their own homes. Their bodies were cut to ribbons and pinned to the wall upside down." Archer replied. "Given the personalities of the pair...I'm willing to bet that they are responsible."
"I see..."
Caren sighed, shaking her head. "Have we determined the identity of Assassin?"
"Given that his psychotic tendency matches that of his master, there is only one candidate. The homonculus, created by the renowned Magus… Mephistopheles."
"... how troubling..." Caren sighed once more.
Mephistopheles, according to legend, was a demon who came to tempt Faust. The two had made a deal: Mephistopheles would grant Faust immortality, though it was one-sided as the demon knew that Faust would beg for the release of death. In truth, the feared demon was no more than a homonculus who betrayed its master. Normally summoned as a Caster due to his roots in magic, the fact that he was called upon as an Assassin was indeed troubling. She wasn't sure what to expect, but at this rate, this would no doubt be the same as what transpired in the Fourth Grail War when Caster and his master kidnapped children and murdered them in cold blood.
This could not be allowed. She would soon have to make a call to all Masters in the area.
She refused to let another massacre happen, one that will take the lives out of countless civilians and expose the supernatural world to the normal world.
After all… the consequences of such actions were not favorable.
As the final bell of the day rang, Haru sighed. I thought it would never end, he thought as he gathered his things while he waited for whoever Rias sent to go pick him up. Altera was still close by, keeping an eye out for anyone that she deemed a threat to her Master. I swear, this is gonna suck. What does senpai want with me? Is she gonna try and kill me? I mean, sure, Granny said that anyone with a Command Seal was going to be my enemy, but I'm still worried. A-and what kind of Servant does she have? Some kind of badass? Like Oda Nobunaga?! He shuddered, realizing that he was panicking for no reason. Who knows? Maybe all she wanted was to just talk to him, or confess that she loved him and wanted to be his wife!
… oh who was he kidding?! His life has been screwed up since the day he found his grandfather's trunk of historical crap! That's it, he was cursed! He just knew it! In the midst of his internal ramblings, he heard the door slide open. Turning, he found one of the few targets of his ire here at Kuoh Academy: Yuuto Kiba, the Prince. With blonde hair and striking blue eyes with a handsome face to match, plus a gentle and chivalrous attitude, he was a bishonen in the truest sense of the word. To a pervert such as him, he was an enemy! Actually… why was he here? This wasn't his class. Maybe he was here for-
Master, Altera called, her voice tense. That boy is a Master. I sense his Servant nearby.
… oh god dammit, what the fuck?!
"Hyoudou-kun?" Kiba called, walking in front of his desk with a smile. "I'm here to pick you up. Buchou's orders."
Haru felt his hands clench tightly, his senses on full alert. This pretty boy was a Master too? And he's in cahoots with Rias Gremory?! This was not good… now he had two enemies to worry about! Were they going to lead him into a trap to kill him quickly, preventing him from escaping?! Dammit! Why was he cursed like this?! Was this punishment for being a pervert?! He couldn't help it! The oppai… the oppai were beautiful!
Grumbling, he reluctantly followed Kiba, sensing the presence of what was probably the bishonen's Servant. Unlike Saber's, which was cold and sharp like the edge of a blade, or oppressive and bloodthirsty as Rias', this one felt… subdued, yet at the same time wild, uncontrollable even. He looked at where the Command Seals laid. True to form, there were branded on his left hand, resembling two swords crossed over what appeared to be a staff. Along the way, much to Haru's chagrin, many of the girls were commenting on the fact that he was with the prince of the school… which led to some things better left unsaid.
He was straight, dammit. He got stiff around hot babes! He grew horny for oppai! He was as straight as a goddamn pipe!
He reeeeeeeeally hated when these fan girls made the craziest of rumors and accusations behind his back. Hell, he was still in the room for god's sake! Then again… it was probably their form of payback for peeping on them...
At any rate, they eventually the clubhouse. If Haru were being honest, the place looked more like a haunted house than a clubhouse, given how creepy it looked. Now that he thought about it, how long has it been here? Just as he was about to enter, Kiba stopped and turned to him. "Sorry, but Buchou asked that your Servant be present for this talk," he said, making Haru even more suspicious. Seeing the glare, the prince held up his hands in defense. "Hey now, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just here to bring you to talk with Buchou is all."
"Says the guy who apparently wants to kill me at some point in time," Haru grumbled. "From what I know, anyone with a Command Seal will be at each other's throats."
"Well, we are in the middle of a war," Kiba shrugged. "But I can assure you, myself, Akeno-san, nor Buchou are here to fight. If it makes you feel better, I'll allow my Servant to be in physical form as well, as will Buchou and Akeno-san's Servants. How does that sound?"
Akeno… if he remembered that was Akeno Himejima. So she was a Master too? That's it he decided. Every sexy woman I meet from now on is out to kill me. Haru would admit, though, that the blonde didn't seem to be lying. He would take his words with a grain of salt… but if Rias did just want to talk, then...
He gave a sigh. "... Altera?"
In seconds, the Saber-class Servant manifested next to him. The clothes he bought for her were gone, revealing her in the white skimpy outfit from earlier, exposing a great deal of skin. Her face was set into the face of a warrior, ready to kill at the drop of the hat. Kiba noticed this, and chuckled. "No need to look so tense," he told the Servant. "I can assure you, neither myself or my friends are here to kill Hyoudou-kun."
"I shall believe such claims when you bring me evidence," Saber retorted. "Now reveal your Servant, lest you earn my ire."
"Alright, alright," Kiba said calmly before turning to the side. "Berserker, if you'd be so kind?"
"Of course, sir." Next to the blonde teen, manifested another blonde pretty boy, this one being a few years older than them. In Haru's opinion, his appearance seemed to be the definition of an intellectual pretty boy, with short blonde hair combed neatly, a pair of spectacles, and dressed in a formal suit and tie. The main difference was the jacket of his suit wrapped around his shoulders. Hell… Haru could've sworn that this servant was Kiba's older brother or something. Berserker then turned to Haru and Saber and gave a cordial bow. "A pleasure to meet the both of you."
The redhead blinked, and nodded back. "Uh, sure," he said before blinking. Berserker? That was a weird name for a Servant. Was it that class thing again?
"You are Berserker?" Saber questioned with scrutiny. "You seem perfectly sane."
"Indeed, I get that a lot..." Berserker rubbed the back of his head. "Quite contrary to my appearance, though, I am a Berserker through and through."
Saber still looked unconvinced while Haru was confused. Was she implying that Berserkers were meant to be insane or something? The guy looked like he was the definition of composure. Still, he followed Kiba and his Servant inside the clubroom. As he passed the threshold, he felt something wash over him. It was indescribable, but if he had to put it into words, he felt as if he had just stepped close to a hot stove while it was still in the process of being used. What was that? he questioned, looking back at where he entered as they walked. He could have sworn he saw the air around the door shimmer before settling down and vanishing, as if it was never there in the first place. If this is a trap, I swear...
They soon reached their destination after climbing up the stairs to the second floor. "Buchou," Kiba announced as he pushed open the door. "I've brought him as requested."
...! Wait, that sound! Was that… the sound of a shower?!
He looked to his left on the far end of the room, and sure enough, there was a shower… with someone using it! Hooooooly shit! Chibi-Haru steamed, face red. This is so fucking awesome! No, wait, this is bad! It must be a trick! A devious, sexy trick!
Trick or no trick, he could clearly see the silhouette of someone inside. Someone with a very impressive rack. With the door open, it was clear that they pretty much wanted to be seen. An exhibitionist… absolutely. Divine. Was his day turning around or something?!
"... pervert."
"I quite agree, Lady Toujou."
"E-eh?"
He then turned to his right, eyes widening upon noticing two other figures seated on the couch. One was a tall, lithe male dressed in a black suit that was designed for royalty, sharply contrasting with his pale complexion and long, silk-like white hair. The coat of his suit was long enough to reach his knees, and had fur-lined cuffs, with the white cuffs of his dress shirt peeking out from within. His ears had piercings, one earring each. A neatly trimmed beard adorned his face. His eyes were narrowed and sharp, colored a cold gold. If Haru were honest, the man looked to be an aristocrat. The other was a familiar face: Koneko Toujou, the unofficial mascot of Kuoh Academy. Unlike other female students, she didn't wear the cape, instead wearing her shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hair was snow white, and her eyes a golden color with cat-like pupils. Currently, she was munching on some cake.
As soon as Saber saw the man, her eyes narrowed. The man noticed her gaze, and smiled thinly. "Saber, I presume?" he asked in a gaunt, even tone with respect as he stood, placing a hand over his heart and bowing. "I am Lancer, Servant of Rias Gremory."
"... likewise." Alteria turned to face him. "I am Saber, Servant of Haru Hyoudou."
"A pleasure."
Haru, a tad bit uncomfortable, sat down on the sofa. As he did, he noticed another person enter his field of sight, also familiar to him. It was Akeno Himejima, evident by her wonderful purple eyes and long black hair, tied back into a ponytail with a green bow in place. Much like Rias, she sported an impressive bust, if not larger than the redhead . "Here you go," the second of the three great onee-samas said, handing him a hot cup of tea, which he accepted graciously. "Its a pleasure to meet you. I'm Akeno Himejima, Master of Rider."
"H-Haru Hyoudou," he greeted back, nodding his head. "Likewise."
As he took a sip, he felt a presence emerge from behind him. Turning, he saw a woman standing behind him, leaning on the rim of the sofa with a curious look on her face. "So, you're Saber's Master?" she inquired. Haru yelped a bit, blushing from being so close to a girl's face.
She was very cute, with clear creamy white skin and wonderful brown eyes, her hair a light shade of pink. Atop her head was a silvery crown of sorts, though it looked more like a hairband. She wore what appeared to be some kind of dress, evident by the pink skirt that came down to her thighs, though the upper half of her body was more armored, sleeveless with a frilled portion emerging from underneath the shoulder pads. She also wore black and white gloves over her arms, reaching up to the biceps. All in all, she looked very much like a Princess. Like with Altera, Lancer and Berserker, her presence was unusual, though unlike them, hers was more vibrant… yet he felt something unusual from her.
"Uh, yeah..." he said slowly, calming down. What were the surprises lately? "I'm guessing your Rider?"
"That's right.." she chirped. "Servant, Rider, at your service." She gave the redhead a wide grin. "A pleasure to meet you." Haru was about to respond, but Rider suddenly, and gently might he add, cupped his chin and stared at his face with a Cheshire-like grin. "I must say… from what I've heard, you are a lecher beyond anything I've heard, but you have quite the cute face… say, why not be my slave?"
E-eh?
"Don't worry," Rider licked her lips. "I'll treat you… gently."
W-whoa whoa whooooaaaaa! Is-is this for real?! Chibi-Haru cried. I don't wanna be a slave! But hot damn is she a woman! Look at that face! And that waist! Ooooooh! I may not be into BDSM, but hot damn is she a babe!
Sadly, the moment did not last, as Rider suddenly whirled around, raising her arm. A straight kick slammed against her arm, yet she didn't budge, instead smirking at Altera's glaring expression. "Oh my," she said mockingly. "Have I angered you somehow, Saber?"
"Remove your hands from my Master this instant, wench," Altera warned. "Or I'll sever that pretty little head from your shoulders."
"Ooh, scary!" Rider grinned. "I'd like to see you try."
"ENOUGH."
Suddenly, killing intent flooded the room. Haru suddenly grabbed his chest, feeling as if something was pressing down upon him. It was becoming hard to breathe. There was something grasping at his throat, crushing his windpipes. This overwhelming sensation… what was it? Glancing around the room, he saw that Koneko, Kiba and Akeno were unaffected, but were tense from the feeling, looking on wearily. He then looked at Altera and Rider, who ceased their actions and turned to Lancer, revealing him to be the source. His face was locked into a menacing stare, eyes red with a dark aura surrounding him.
W-what is this? Haru struggled to think, finding himself close to being unconscious. This overwhelming pressure… is-is this what a Servant can do...?
"Rider," Lancer hissed. "We asked for their presence here so that we may speak with them, not antagonize. Do not test my patience."
"Hai, hai," Rider hummed as she relented in her approach. "So scary, Lancer."
As the pressure that Lancer exerted relented, Haru found himself gasping for air. What the hell was that?! his mind screamed in fright. I felt like I was being strangled by sheer presence alone! This feeling… it's completely different from Altera! So much bloodlust… what the fuck is this guy?!'
As he regained his senses, he heard the shower's rushing water cease, followed by Rias' voice. "Akeno, can you grab my clothes?" she called from the bathroom. Akeno smiled as she went inside, carrying a fresh pair of clothes for her friend to wear.
Meanwhile, Rider sat on a chair nearby, crossing her legs while giving Haru a mysterious smile that sent shivers down his spine. Were this any other time, he would have accepted her offer of being a slave, but right now… he wasn't sure what the hell was going on. Ever since last night, his whole world's been thrown upside down, and he didn't know which way was up. He snuck a small glance at Lancer, remembering the overwhelming pressure he exerted before looking away. Noticing this, the aristocrat sighed. "My apologies, Hyoudou," he said calmly. "I tend to… lose myself at times."
"So I have noticed," Altera said. "This bloodlust… I would have mistaken it for a vampire, deprived of food for months on end." For a brief moment, something flashed in Lancer's eyes as he met Saber's gaze, her own stare done in scrutiny. "You are..."
Before she could finish, the bathroom door opened, revealing Rias clad in her school uniform. Haru immediately felt his heart race, seeing that the shirt was somewhat damp, clinging to her skin. He could also faintly see the outline of her bra, and her hair was still a bit wet. "Sorry," she said apologetically as she sat down on the couch opposing him. "I had forgotten to take a shower in the morning. I hope I didn't make you wait for very long."
"No-no, it's fine," Haru assured. "Uh, thanks for having me, I guess..."
Rias gave a disarming smile, waving her hand. "No need to feel so nervous, though I understand why you would feel that way. After all, you're in a room with three Servants and Masters." She crossed her legs, leaning forward a bit. "First of all, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Rias Gremory, Master of Lancer… and a proud Devil from the House of Gremory."
In the next moment, a pair of leathery, black wings, reminiscent of those of a bat, emerged from behind her. As if on cue, the same phenomenon occurred with the other students within the room. Haru gaped, shocked by what he was seeing. Devils? Seriously? All of them were… Devils? H-how? Sure, Raynare was a Fallen Angel, and apparently God existed, but… Devils too? This… this was insane!
If he wasn't on guard before, he definitely was now. Just what did they want with him? "Y-you're not here to take my soul, are you?"
Next to him, Altera was prepared to fight if a battle did break out. Even if it was four servants against one, she would protect her Master. "Heavens, no," Rias shook her head. "I didn't ask you to come here simply to take your soul, as amusing as the idea sounds. Rather, I'd like to make you an offer."
Haru frowned. "Offer?"
"Tell me something, Hyoudou-kun… how much do you know about the Holy Grail War?"
"O-only the gist… seven people get Command Seals and can summon Servants to fight for them, and the last one standing is the winner, right?"
"That's the simplified version, yes," the red-haired woman nodded. "However, I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that." This grabbed the attention of not only Haru, but Altera as well. Complicated? What did she mean by that? Was there another factor in this Grail War she wasn't aware of? "As you might know, when a Master has been chosen, they're qualified to summon a Heroic Spirit—a Servant," Rias explained. "Normally, it's more or less a battle royal, just as you described. However, often at times, Masters form alliances with one another for various reasons. Naturally, however, those alliances end when they've served their purpose. After all, most Masters have a wish for the Grail to grant."
"About that..." Haru frowned. "The prize for this war is the Holy Grail… but is it really the same one that Christ guy drank from?"
"That has often been the subject of scrutiny," Lancer answered in his Master's stead. "However, the reason why it is known as the 'Holy Grail' is not because of its holy value, but rather because it can grant any sort of wish. For example, say you wished for immortality, or a new world order in which the strong can rule as they see fit. Both wishes are within the Grail's capability to answer and make reality. Therefore, such a powerful relic can only be called by the same name as the holy item so highly sought after in the Crusades."
Rias nodded, continuing the explanation. "Every sixty years, a Holy Grail War takes place, though the previous one was odd, given that it occurred ten years after the Fourth rather than sixty. This is the Sixth Grail War."
"The Sixth..." Haru hummed. So, there had been five conflicts before this one. "And… has anyone ever managed to win the Grail?"
"Only two," the proclaimed Devil replied. "In the Fourth, a man rejected the Grail and ordered his Servant to destroy it. In the Fifth, a similar incident took place, though in this case, it was by the hands of the remaining three Masters. Why they destroyed the Grail is anyone's guess."
"Wait, what?" Haru couldn't help but ask. Someone tried to destroy the grail in the fourth war? "Why would he destroy the Grail? Didn't you say any wish could be granted?"
"There could have been many reasons," Kiba offered. "No one knows why they destroyed the Grail."
"Back to the matter at hand," Rias said, returning attention back to her. "After the Fifth Grail War, which was held in Fuyuki, much like the other Grail Wars before it, the Mage's Association and the Clock Tower, the ruling bodies governing any and all affairs relating to sorcery and magecraft, decided that it was too dangerous, and it was dismantled. Since then, the possibility of there being another Holy Grail War has been low."
The boy frowned. "But… you just said we're in the middle of the Sixth War, right?" he asked. Rias nodded in confirmation. "But the Grail was broken apart after the Fifth?"
"The Grail here in Kuoh is different compared to the one in Fuyuki," she answered truthfully. "Currently, people are still trying to investigate as to how a new Holy Grail could have appeared, yet no answers have been found. Regardless of how it happened, or why, the Holy Grail War has resumed… and with it are seven Masters, and seven Servants. Each Servant is summoned in a class: Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and lastly Berserker."
"So, we already have a Saber, Rider, Lancer, and Berserker… so we're waiting for the other three?" He asked.
Akeno giggled. "Close," she said, wagging a finger. "Caster has already been called, as has Assassin. As for Archer, they were summoned recently as well."
"In other words," Lancer smirked. "The last to be summoned was Saber… therefore, as of last night, the Sixth Holy Grail War has begun."
"Which brings us to right now," Rias continued, smiling. "I've read up a bit about you, Hyoudou-kun. To be perfectly honest, the possibility of you being a Master never occurred to me, especially since your parents were average."
He could sense a "but" coming on here. "But...?"
"But you surprised me, both as someone who held a Sacred Gear, and as someone who became a Master." Haru's eyes widened while Altera was growing more and more hostile. Rias was aware that he housed a Sacred Gear, meaning she also knew about Raynare. Her suspicions were confirmed with the woman's next choice of words. "You recall the Fallen Angel who attacked you, yes? The one called Raynare? She was tasked with murdering you, and she would have succeeded if you hadn't summoned Saber."
"Y-you knew?" Haru asked, shocked. How in the hell did she even know that? Was she watching him from afar? The thought made him boil, and his eyes hardened. "If you knew I was being targeted, then why didn't you try and stop her?! I nearly got killed for fuck's sake!"
"Because of the circumstances relating to Devils and Fallen Angels," Lancer interrupted, making Haru turn to him. "Years ago, the forces of Heaven, Hell and the Fallen Angels engaged in a mighty battle, followed by many other supernatural creatures. This was the Great War, and it left all three sides with heavy casualties. When a ceasefire was announced, hostilities between the three factions were to cease. Breaking this non-aggression is enough to warrant a political issue. Master was well aware of the fact that the crow was targeting you… but she was unable to do anything about it because of the treaty, even though such aggressions took place in Gremory territory."
Altera scoffed. "Excuses." She didn't want to hear the spiel spouting out of their mouths. It doesn't matter if it was politics or whatever. Basically, she would've let her Master be killed. The very notion gave her more than enough of an excuse to cut them all down at this very moment. "You have more or less confessed that you were sentencing my Master to die." Instantly, her weapon manifested in her hand, and light poured out from it, forming into a multi-colored blade of light, tip aimed directly at Rias, who stared back unflinchingly. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't cut you where you stand, Devil of Gremory."
The Servant was giving her this one chance to explain herself. If she gave her an answer she disliked, her head would be rolling at her feet.
Instantly, the three Servants in the room manifested their weapons. In Rider's hand, a whip of some sort, aimed directly at Saber. In Berserker's hand, a knife, aimed directly over her throat. And aimed at her head was a crimson lance in the hands of Lancer, eyes narrowed.
"Lancer," Rias commanded. "Stand down."
"... Very well..." Lancer obeyed the command, albeit reluctantly. He wouldn't allow Saber to lay harm to his Master… but if his Master says so...
Rider still kept her eyes trained on Altera, hoping she would screw up while Berserker, seeing the disapproval on his own Master's face, pulled back, dismissing the blade. Altera, however, remained hostile. Rias expected as much. Given to what she has seen so far… she was incredibly loyal to her Master, and took every slight against him personally. "You are correct," she said without fear. "I was aware that Raynare had every intention to kill him… but rest assured, I would not have allowed that to happen."
"How do I know you are sincere?" Altera questioned. "You even confessed that you knew what that crow intended to do with my Master, and still you did not take action."
"I can offer no proof," Rias said, closing her eyes. "Instead, I can only offer you words."
Altera's eyes narrowed. She truly didn't believe that she was going to fall for such a spiel, did she? She would have acted, if not for her Master grabbing her hand, causing her to freeze and turn to him in surprise. "M-Master?"
"Just calm down Altera." Haru ordered, with great reluctance. "... I… as much as I resent her for the fact that she knew what was going on and did nothing… I'll withhold my judgment until the end..."
Altera looked as if she wanted to protest… but reluctantly obeyed, lowering her arm. Her weapon vanished in particles of light, and stepped back. Seeing this, Rider dismissed her own weapon, a bit disappointed that the Saber gave up. She was quite looking forward to seeing what the fuss was about. Rias smiled, noting how calm and level headed the boy in front of her was being. Haru, as much as he wanted to punch her in spite of his policy to never hit a woman, knew that simply lashing out would solve nothing.
"... let's cut to the chase, Senpai," he said, staring at her in the eye. "What is it you want from me?"
He didn't want her to beat around the bush and sweet talk him. He wanted answers. Now. Rias smiled widely. The boy was learning. "Very well, I shall be frank," she said, uncrossing her legs. "Hyoudou-kun… why don't we form an alliance?" The boy quirked an eyebrow. "You don't know much about the Grail War, and while your Servant is indeed powerful, you and I both know you can't rely on her forever. I'm more or less offering you protection… as well as tutalege. I can teach you magecraft, and in exchange, when the time comes, I'll rely on you for help. We'll be allies until the time comes for us to fight. So… what do you say?"
Haru closed his eyes. The deal sounded tempting… and as much as he hated to say it, she was right. He didn't know much about the Grail War other than what his aunt told him, and what his senpai had explained. The winners destroyed the Grail for some reason, so perhaps there was something missing. Something that they didn't understand, or hiding from him intentionally. Or perhaps they were ignorant. There was also the fact that there were three Servants inside this room, and the feeling he received from each was certainly terrifying… especially Lancer.
The deal was acceptable. If he denied, he was virtually making an enemy of three people, all of which were Devils. There was also the possibility that he would end up being targeted again by others who wanted his Sacred Gear, even though he knew nothing about whatever it was he had. There was so much he didn't know, and Rias was practically offering to teach him everything there was. He could even learn about this magecraft she was talking about. On the other hand, this was also the same woman who had been aware of his situation. She knew that Raynare was trying to kill him, yet for some asinine reason as this treaty they mentioned she couldn't intervene. Even if circumstances prevented her from acting, it was still the same as leaving his ass to die.
Then there was the fact that Rias was not human. Just like Raynare. In fact, she was a Devil, apparently darkness incarnate. Perhaps he was judging too harshly, but so far his experience with women lately has not been pleasant. How could he take her words as truth? How could he even trust someone who was willing to let him die? There was such a conflict between her motives and the deal she was offering that it was hard to actually make a decision. He looked at Altera, who also seemed to be considering the pros and cons of such a deal before she turned to him.
"Regardless of what you choose, Master," she told him in earnest. "I will follow you."
Haru smiled. Really, just what did he do to deserve someone like her? He took a deep breath, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. Then he exhaled, calming himself. He straightened out his back, opened his eyes, meeting Rias' expectant gaze, and clenched his fists. In the next moment, he finally gave his answer.
"...I refuse."