Sona Sitri stood where she was, watching Genichi in the center of the battlefield, but her mind had already begun calculating something else.
How could she "poach" Genichi away from Rias?
Once the thought appeared, it grew like wild grass, impossible to suppress.
Don't blame a sister for being heartless. Blame Genichi for being too irresistible.
Sona found herself a perfectly righteous excuse.
Her gaze settled on the boy. Genichi stood in the middle of the battlefield, his school uniform slightly disheveled from the fight, yet his breathing was steady and his expression calm, as if that intense battle just now had only been a warm-up.
How long had it been since he advanced to Middle-Class Devil?
Yet he could already defeat Tsubaki Shinra, who was only one step away from High-Class Devil.
And Sona had seen it clearly. Genichi had not used his full power at all.
The Boosted Gear had not activated from beginning to end. He had not used Boost even once.
Those strange black shadows had only been used in their most basic defensive form, and that figure that appeared in the mind had only been used twice.
What if he went all out? Sona did not dare imagine it, but she knew Tsubaki might not last three minutes.
That was what truly moved her.
Genichi's potential was greater than anyone imagined.
He was only a Middle-Class Devil now, yet he could defeat an opponent at High-Class Devil level.
What about when he became a High-Class Devil?
An Ultimate-Class Devil?
A Satan-Class being?
He was almost guaranteed to become a Satan-Class powerhouse.
Who would not want a peerage member like that?
Sona thought quietly to herself.
She was the heir to the House of Sitri. She needed powerful peerage members to secure her position, and she needed good results in the Rating Games in the future.
If Genichi were her peerage member, all of that would cease to be a problem.
She began seriously considering the possibility of poaching him.
Whatever Rias could give Genichi, she could give him too.
Whatever Rias could not give him, she could also give him. The House of Sitri's resources were not inferior to the House of Gremory's, and Sona herself was not inferior to Rias either.
And—
After glancing at the way her own Queen kept sneaking looks at Genichi, Sona felt even more confident.
Sona's gaze lingered on Genichi for a moment longer.
That boy really was special.
Not because of how strong he was, but because of his eyes.
That calm, steady, neither-servile-nor-overbearing gaze was rare among the new generation of devils.
She felt it was perfectly normal for her to be tempted.
Even if Rias found out, surely she would understand her dear friend.
After all, who would not want something good?
For the moment, Rias had no idea that her close friend had already set her sights on her peerage member.
At this point, she was still immersed in excitement, completely unaware of Sona's little scheme.
If she knew, she would absolutely end their friendship on the spot.
"Genichi!"
Rias walked forward excitedly and pulled Genichi into a hug, pressing his head straight into her chest.
The motion was so natural that no one around them reacted in time.
Genichi's body clearly stiffened. He tried to push her away, but Rias was holding him too tightly. After two failed attempts, he gave up.
"I knew you could do it!"
Rias's voice was filled with pride and delight. Her face practically shouted, See that? This is my peerage member.
Genichi's voice came muffled from her embrace.
Only then did Rias let go. She took a step back and looked him up and down, her gaze like that of someone admiring a flawless work of art.
"Genichi, you're not hurt, are you?"
Genichi shook his head.
Rias nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Sona.
There was still an excited flush on her face, and the corners of her mouth were raised high. Her eyes were full of pride.
She looked like a child who had obtained the greatest toy in the world and could not wait to show it off to her friend.
"Sona, do you want to continue?"
Her voice carried a hint of provocation, a hint of showing off, and a touch of pride that said, You saw it, didn't you? My peerage member is this strong.
Sona looked at her smug expression, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
She took a deep breath and tried to keep her expression calm.
"No. Today's friendly match ends here."
Her voice was calm, but her mind was on something else entirely.
Go ahead. Show him off all you want.
Once I poach Genichi, let's see how you keep showing off.
Rias clearly did not notice her friend's little plans.
She walked up to Sona, reached out, and patted her shoulder with the tone of someone speaking from experience.
"Sona, don't be discouraged. Tsubaki was already quite good. It's just that my Genichi is too strong."
The corner of Sona's mouth twitched even harder.
Your Genichi?
He is yours for now. In the future, that might not be true.
"Oh, right, Sona."
Rias suddenly remembered something and looked at her with sparkling eyes.
"About the familiar summoning…"
Sona took a deep breath and worked hard to make her voice sound normal.
"I'll arrange it. Just bring Genichi when the time comes."
A brilliant smile immediately bloomed across Rias's face.
"Great! Sona, thank you!"
Sona looked at her happy expression, and a complicated emotion rose in her heart.
There was relief, envy, and a trace of something difficult to name.
Guilt.
But soon, that faint guilt was pushed down by another feeling.
She looked at Genichi standing behind Rias. The boy was lowering his head and straightening the clothes Rias had messed up, completely unaware of her gaze.
Sona quietly made up her mind.
Genichi, just wait.
One day, you will be my peerage member.
She pushed up her glasses, and a glint flashed behind the lenses.
Rias was still excitedly talking about something, completely unaware of anything strange about her friend.
She held Sona's hand and chattered on about how strong Genichi was, how incredible he was, and how proud he made her.
That boastful tone only made Sona's resolve even firmer.
"Rias."
Sona suddenly spoke, cutting her off.
Rias blinked and looked at her.
Sona looked back at her, fell silent for a moment, then gave a meaningful smile.
"It's nothing. I was just going to say that your luck really is quite good."
Rias froze for a second, then smiled even brighter.
"Of course!"
Sona looked at that foolishly happy expression and silently added one more sentence in her heart.
However, luck will not always be on your side.
In the dimensional space, the red magic circle lit up once again and teleported everyone back.
When the light faded, they had returned to the Occult Research Club.
Rias was still excitedly discussing the battle with Akeno, while Yuuto Kiba and Koneko listened nearby, occasionally adding a comment or two.
Genichi stood by the window, gazing at the setting sun outside with a calm expression.
Sona walked over to him and stopped at his side.
"Your performance today was very good."
Genichi turned to look at her and nodded.
"Thank you."
Sona looked at him and remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Genichi-kun, have you ever considered… changing masters?"
Genichi paused slightly.
Sona's voice was very soft, low enough that only the two of them could hear it.
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes shone with seriousness and anticipation.
Genichi looked at her, fell silent for a moment, then smiled.
It was a faint smile, but it carried an unmistakable firmness.
"No."
Sona's expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.
"I see."
She said softly, "That is a pity."
After that, she turned and left without another word.
Genichi watched her back, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
In the distance, Rias was still excitedly saying something to Akeno, completely unaware of the small episode that had just taken place.
(End of Chapter)
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