Unable to bear the stifling tension in the classroom any longer, Arthur stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. Without thinking, he reached out, gently but firmly taking Akeno's wrist.
The students gasped, but he didn't look back. He led her toward the door, the weight of dozens of envious and shocked stares following them as he practically dragged her out into the hallway.
Only when they were far enough away from the classroom did Akeno finally speak, her tone soft yet dripping with amusement.
"My, my, my cute boyfriend is being so rude," she said in a mock-offended voice.
Arthur stopped in his tracks, half-turning to look at her. She had tilted her head slightly, eyes half-lidded, and her tone had shifted now delicate, almost sultry, as she placed a hand dramatically over her chest like a fragile damsel.
It was such an absurd act, yet her voice and expression were so flawlessly convincing that for a brief moment, he actually felt his composure falter.
This girl's charm, he thought with quiet dread, was something close to a natural weapon.
Finally, they reached the rooftop, a place that had quickly become his refuge. The view stretched far across Kuoh Town, the afternoon sun painting the clouds in soft hues of gold and pink. The breeze was gentle, carrying the faint scent of spring.
They sat down together, and Akeno opened the bento box she had brought.
The aroma hit him instantly. Whatever was inside smelled incredible rich, warm, and somehow comforting. When he took the first bite, he couldn't hide the look of surprise that crossed his face.
It was delicious. Unbelievably so.
Even in his previous world, he had occasionally treated himself to fine dining, but nothing came close to this. Each bite melted perfectly on his tongue, the balance of flavor precise yet full of warmth.
Seeing his astonishment, Akeno's smile widened, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
"Fufu~ I put all my effort into cooking delicious food for my cute boyfriend," she said sweetly, her voice teasing but with an undertone that made it hard to tell if she was joking.
Arthur swallowed the bite and glanced at her. For a brief moment, her expression was soft—so genuine that, if he hadn't known her better, he might have believed it.
If he didn't know who she really was, if he didn't know her history or her dual nature, he could've easily thought this girl had truly fallen for him.
"Akeno-sen…" he stopped himself quickly, noticing the small warning glint in her eyes. "Akeno," he corrected, smiling faintly. "Why did you decide to accept my confession? I heard that many people have confessed to you before, but you always turned them down. What made you say yes to me?"
Akeno tapped her lip thoughtfully, her gaze drifting toward the sky as if she were carefully picking her words.
"Call it instinct," she said finally. "I think you have something… special."
Then she turned to him, her smile radiant, but her eyes glinting with quiet curiosity.
"I see," he replied, keeping his tone light and easy. "That makes me happy."
He smiled back, pretending not to notice the deeper meaning behind her words. Best to feign ignorance - for now.
Akeno rested her chin on her hand, her expression softening again. "By the way, do you have any plans for this afternoon?"
Her voice was smooth as silk, and she leaned slightly closer, the distance between them shrinking just enough to make him tense.
Arthur cleared his throat and forced himself to stay composed. "Unfortunately, I have something important to do today," he said. "But I'll be free tomorrow."
Her lips curved downward in mock disappointment. "Ara~ my cute boyfriend doesn't have time for me," she sighed dramatically, pretending to wipe away a tear with her finger.
But the act didn't last long. Her eyes sparkled with amusement again, and she gave him that familiar, mischievous smile.
"I'll forgive you just this once," she said playfully. "See you tomorrow then."
He nodded, standing up and giving her a small, genuine smile. "Thanks for the food," he said quietly before heading back toward the door.
After he left, the rooftop was silent except for the soft hum of the wind. Akeno remained seated, her expression thoughtful as she gazed at the spot where he had been sitting.
"That strange feeling grew stronger again," she murmured to herself. "There's definitely something special about his eyes… but he doesn't seem to have realized it."
She thought briefly about telling Rias - but hesitated.
"I should be certain before giving her hope," she whispered.
The recent loss of their Sacred Gear candidate had hit Rias harder than she let on. If Akeno wanted to help her avoid the engagement looming over her, she needed to prove her worth - and to do that, she needed strong, unique individuals to support their peerage.
Arthur might be exactly that.
For now, she decided to keep watching him, quietly observing from the shadows.
"Anyway…" she said softly, a small, sincere smile touching her lips as she looked out over the town below.
"He's a very nice boy."
Later that afternoon, the sun dipped low over Kuoh Town, its light staining the sky in hues of gold and crimson. The streets were beginning to quiet, but Arthur's figure blurred through the city, darting from rooftop to rooftop with precision and speed.
Using Shunpo, he crossed the urban district and soon arrived at the outskirts - a desolate industrial zone that had long been forgotten. Rusted warehouses stood in silence, windows broken, the scent of oil and dust heavy in the air.
His target was close. The final demon he needed to eliminate was inside one of the larger warehouses.
He approached the metal door without hesitation, planting his foot against it and delivering a powerful kick. The door flew open, slamming against the wall with a thunderous clang.
A voice, deep and coarse, echoed from within.
"A human is coming toward me?"
From the shadows, a massive figure emerged. The demon's bronze skin gleamed under the faint light, his frame towering at nearly three meters. Every muscle in his body rippled as he stepped forward, the ground trembling beneath his weight.
In one hand, he held a stone club as thick as a tree trunk.
Arthur met his gaze calmly and smiled. "I came to kill you."
The demon's lips curled into a grotesque grin. "HAHAHAHAHA! My food knows how to talk!"
With that, he swung his club with monstrous strength. The weapon sliced through the air like thunder, but Arthur merely flicked his wrist and deflected it aside. The sound of the impact echoed sharply, dust scattering through the air.
"You… you seem to have some skill," the demon growled. "No matter. This noble devil shall give you a swift death."
He raised his weapon again, this time putting real strength into it. The air distorted around the blow. Arthur knew this strike would be far harder to redirect, so he used Shunpo, vanishing just before the weapon landed.
In an instant, he reappeared beside the demon's knee and drove his heel straight into it.
The impact sent a jarring vibration up his leg, but instead of breaking, the demon's knee merely buckled slightly, a deep bruise forming where he struck.
"Tch… tougher than the others."
"Damn human! I'll crush you!" the demon bellowed.
Arthur Shunpo'd again, dodging the next swing that shattered the floor where he'd stood. Lightning crackled faintly across his gauntlets as he summoned his Device—Lightning God Armor.
"Let's see how you handle this."
He surged forward, closing the distance in an instant. His fist connected with the demon's abdomen in a devastating Fist Punch, the force driving the massive creature back a step. Before it could recover, Arthur followed up with Arang, slamming his elbow into the demon's solar plexus.
The blow rippled through its body, shockwaves visibly distorting the air.
The giant staggered, choking back a guttural roar.
But instead of falling, the devil retaliated faster than expected. Its stone club came crashing down, hitting Arthur's left side squarely.
The impact was brutal. The world spun for an instant as pain surged through his ribs. He coughed violently, spitting out a small trail of blood.
So this was a mid-class devil. Far stronger than the others tougher, faster, and far more resilient.
"Are you… a mid-class devil?" he asked between breaths, forcing himself to stand upright.
The demon sneered. "Is fear already consuming you, human?"
Arthur wiped the blood from his lips and smiled faintly. "No… just curiosity."
He steadied his breathing. His ribs throbbed, but his will didn't waver. Every hit he had landed was precise - each one chipped away at the creature's strength. The devil's movements were growing slower, heavier.
Then, a sudden crimson glow flared in the distance.
A teleportation circle.
Arthur's eyes flicked toward it, narrowing slightly as four figures materialized within the warehouse.
Rias Gremory's peerage.
They had arrived sooner than he expected.
"Finally," Rias said, her gaze sweeping the room. "We'll see this mysterious hunter."
Her tone carried a mix of annoyance and curiosity, but when her eyes landed on the scene before her the towering demon, the lone boy standing fearlessly against it - something like intrigue flickered in her expression.
"That's…"
Akeno's voice trailed off, her usual composure faltering. She recognized him instantly. The boy standing before the demon, his black and orange tracksuit faintly scorched, was none other than him.
Her eyes widened slightly. "That's the boy I told you about… the one who confessed to me."
"What?" Rias turned sharply toward her, disbelief flashing in her crimson eyes. "You mean that boy?!"
Akeno nodded once. "Yes. The same one."
Even Kiba, usually unshakable, looked surprised. "He's wearing our academy uniform…"
"I think I've seen him before," Koneko said quietly, her voice steady but curious.
The group fell silent as their attention returned to the fight.
Arthur dodged another swing of the club using Shunpo, reappearing behind the demon and driving his fist upward into its jaw. The force lifted the creature off its feet, but still, it refused to fall.
Each movement Arthur made was precise, efficient a calculated dance between speed and raw power.
Yet, as Akeno's eyes glimmered with fascination, she noticed something else.
He wasn't using any magic she recognized. No devil energy, no sacred light. Only pure, condensed aura.
Rias crossed her arms, her tone cool but thoughtful. "He's powerful, but he's holding back. Why?"
Akeno's lips curved faintly. "Maybe he doesn't want us to see what he's truly capable of."
Rias glanced at her sideways. "You sound like you're enjoying this."
Akeno chuckled softly, her eyes never leaving Arthur. "Maybe I am. My cute boyfriend seems to have quite a few secrets."
Meanwhile, Arthur exhaled slowly, cracking his neck as his gauntlets shimmered faintly. He knew exactly who was watching and that meant he couldn't afford to reveal too much.
Boosted Gear remained dormant on his arm, hidden beneath the faint aura of his Device.
He clenched his fists, eyes sharp and calm.
"Let's finish this," he muttered.
The next exchange would decide everything.