When Sona Sitri left the Occult Research Club, her steps were steady and her expression calm. But Tsubaki Shinra, walking behind her, keenly sensed that the president was actually in a good mood.
Not the kind of good mood that came from winning a match, but the kind that came from discovering something interesting.
"President."
Tsubaki spoke softly.
Sona turned to look at her, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"Tsubaki, what do you think of Genichi?"
Tsubaki fell silent for a moment, as though seriously considering the question.
"He's very strong. And he still didn't use his full power."
Sona nodded.
That was exactly what she valued about Genichi.
Not how strong he was right now, but how much stronger he could become.
She was not disappointed that Genichi had rejected her.
If he had agreed to change masters so easily, she would have thought she had misjudged him instead.
Someone who could easily betray Rias could just as easily betray her in the future.
Genichi's refusal proved precisely that he was someone worthy of trust.
But that did not mean she was going to give up.
As long as the shovel was sharp enough, there was no corner that could not be dug out.
Sona thought this silently, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.
She glanced toward Tsubaki beside her.
The movement was very subtle, nothing more than a light shift of her eyes, but Tsubaki still noticed and turned her head slightly to meet her gaze.
Sona said nothing. She merely smiled.
She knew her Queen far too well.
On the surface, Tsubaki seemed indifferent to everything, always calm as still water. But once something caught her interest, she would never let go of it easily.
And during that battle just now, Genichi's performance had clearly drawn her attention.
Tsubaki had definitely become interested in Genichi.
Sona was certain of that.
Tsubaki had fought that match seriously, and she had enjoyed it.
It had been a long time since she had been able to fight so freely.
And Genichi was the one who had made her go all out.
If she and Tsubaki worked together, Sona refused to believe Genichi would still be able to reject them.
She calculated silently and felt that the matter had become more feasible.
If that still was not enough, she would put the entire student council on the line.
Every member of the Sitri peerage was an elite chosen with care. In both strength and looks, they were no worse than the Gremory peerage.
How could Rias alone compete with her?
At that moment, Sona was full of confidence, as if she had already seen Genichi standing behind her.
Meanwhile, inside the Occult Research Club, someone else was thinking about an entirely different matter.
Genichi stood by the window, looking in the direction Sona had left, still replaying their earlier conversation in his mind.
He shook his head, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
That student council president really was direct.
Just as he was about to turn away from the window, a hand suddenly reached over from behind and rested on his shoulder.
The touch was light, but Genichi's body tensed instantly.
Not out of fear, but because of the owner of that hand—
Akeno Himejima.
Genichi slowly turned his head and saw Akeno standing behind him, her signature smile on her face.
The smile was so gentle it could melt a person's heart, but Genichi knew very well that something was often hidden behind it.
"Akeno-senpai."
His voice was calm.
Akeno looked at him with a smiling expression, her eyes curved into crescents, making her seem perfectly harmless.
But her hand was still resting on Genichi's shoulder, with no intention of moving away.
"Junior."
Her voice was soft as cotton candy.
"What did President Sona say to you just now? It looked like the two of you were having quite a pleasant conversation."
Genichi's expression did not change at all.
"Nothing much. We just talked about the battle."
"Is that so?"
Akeno's smile deepened.
"Then why was President Sona smiling so happily when she left?"
Genichi fell silent for a moment.
This woman's observation skills were far too sharp.
Seeing him say nothing, Akeno's smile became even more meaningful.
She leaned close to Genichi's ear, her voice light enough that only the two of them could hear it.
"Junior, you wouldn't want Rias to find out about you and President Sona, would you?"
The corner of Genichi's eye twitched slightly.
That line. That wording. That tone.
Why did it sound so familiar?
He took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm.
"Akeno-senpai, there's nothing between me and President Sona."
"Is that so?"
Akeno tilted her head, clearly unconvinced.
"Then why was she so happy? And when Tsubaki left, she looked back at you several times."
Genichi fell silent.
He really had not noticed Tsubaki looking back.
Akeno could not help laughing at his reaction.
Her laugh was soft, but it carried a faintly dangerous edge.
"Junior, do you know? Rias may look very generous most of the time, but there are some things she will not share with others."
Her hand moved away from Genichi's shoulder. She took a step back and returned to the appearance of a gentle senior.
"So be good, Junior. Don't make Rias angry."
Genichi looked at her, remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
Akeno smiled in satisfaction.
She turned and walked toward Rias, as if nothing had happened.
Genichi stood where he was, watching her back, and silently sighed.
This Akeno-senpai was becoming harder and harder to deal with.
In the distance, Rias was sitting on the sofa and talking to Yuuto Kiba.
When she saw Akeno walk over, she raised her head and asked with a smile, "Akeno, what were you saying to Genichi?"
Akeno sat down beside Rias with a smile.
"Nothing much. I was just checking on our junior. The battle earlier was intense, so I was worried he might be hurt."
Rias nodded without thinking too much of it.
"Genichi really is strong. Even Tsubaki wasn't his match."
"Yes."
Akeno nodded, though her gaze drifted toward Genichi by the window.
"That's why we need to keep a close eye on him, so certain people don't start getting ideas."
Rias paused, then laughed.
"Who would get ideas about him?"
Akeno did not answer. She only smiled.
By the window, Genichi sensed that gaze and turned his head, meeting Akeno's eyes.
Akeno smiled at him. The smile was gentle enough to enchant anyone.
But Genichi understood the meaning behind it.
I'm watching you.
Genichi withdrew his gaze and looked out the window.
This senior really did hold a grudge.
He could not help sighing inwardly. Being targeted by a senior like that was truly troublesome.
Morning light spilled through the gaps in the curtains, casting several bands of gold across the room.
Genichi opened his eyes and immediately noticed a familiar weight beside him.
He turned his head slightly.
Rias was asleep next to him, curled close, her red hair scattered across the pillow like embers after a fire.
Her breathing was even and gentle, and one arm rested across him as if afraid he might disappear if she let go.
Genichi took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
By now, he should have been able to remain completely calm about this situation.
As if.
He was not made of stone.
And after what had happened with Desid, it was impossible for him to have no thoughts at all.
Once a person crossed certain lines, the body remembered.
Looking at the woman beside him, sleeping with such complete trust, he had to clench his teeth to restrain himself.
But he did not dare move carelessly.
Not because he did not want to.
Because he did not dare.
Rias Gremory, heir to the House of Gremory and younger sister of Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the Four Great Satans.
Her identity weighed on his mind like a mountain.
She also had a fiancé: the youngest son of the Phenex family, one of the oldest noble houses in the Underworld.
Although Rias herself was extremely opposed to that engagement, an engagement was still an engagement. It was a contract between two great families, and something Satan Lucifer had personally approved.
Something like this—sleeping beside each other, clinging to each other, even a little closeness—was not necessarily dangerous as long as the final line was not crossed.
After all, Rias was free. No one could control who she chose to be close to.
But if he truly did something to Rias, who knew whether it would bring fatal trouble?
The Phenex family would not let it go, and Lucifer would not stand by if the Gremory family's dignity was at stake.
A sword of Damocles hung over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
So he could only endure.
Genichi sighed softly and carefully moved Rias's arm away.
Then he quietly got up from the bed.
He lowered his head and looked at himself.
His pajamas had somehow become disheveled during the night, and everything looked as though it had been pulled out of place.
Before going to sleep, he had clearly been alone, and his clothes had been perfectly proper.
Yet every morning, things somehow ended up like this.
And there would always be one more person beside him.
Genichi sighed again and began straightening his clothes.
He had already lost count of how many times this had happened.
Ever since the day he had reincarnated as Rias's peerage member, this situation had started.
At first, he had tried to resist. He had tried locking the door before sleeping. He had tried all sorts of ways to stop her.
None of them worked.
A mere door could not stop her.
Later, he gave up. In any case, they were only sleeping beside each other. Nothing was really happening.
As Genichi buttoned his pajamas, he smiled bitterly to himself.
He was still a normal young man.
If he had never crossed certain lines before, perhaps he could have endured it more easily.
That kind of innocence made it easier for a person to be satisfied with simple closeness.
But now, his body remembered too much.
Every morning, waking up beside Rias while she slept so trustingly beside him required nearly all his willpower.
If not for the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, he really did not know how long he could continue restraining himself.
Genichi thought this silently and sighed again.
On the bed, Rias turned over and let out a lazy murmur.
Her arm moved across the bedding as though searching for something. When she found nothing, her brows drew together slightly, and her eyes slowly opened in a daze.
Genichi looked at her.
This half-awake, confused version of her was completely different from the sharp and capable heir of the House of Gremory he usually saw.
Her hair was messy, and her expression still carried the softness of sleep.
"Genichi."
Her voice was hoarse with the laziness of just waking up.
"Help me get dressed."
Genichi looked at her, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
What could he do?
He could only agree.
Rias had already sat up and stretched lazily, then opened her arms toward him like a child waiting for an adult to help her dress.
Genichi took a deep breath, walked to the wardrobe, and opened it.
Rias had a great many clothes, all neatly arranged in a row.
He glanced over them and took out her school uniform.
When he turned back, Rias was watching him with a smiling expression, her eyes filled with expectation.
Genichi walked over, keeping his gaze steady and his movements carefully proper.
Rias cooperated without the slightest concern, while Genichi helped her put on each piece of clothing with the solemnity of a knight completing a trial.
The shirt came first.
The white blouse had delicate lace trim at the collar and cuffs. Genichi helped her put it on and fastened the buttons one by one, his fingers moving with deliberate care.
Then came the skirt.
The deep-red pleated skirt was part of the Kuoh Academy uniform. He helped her adjust it and made sure everything sat properly.
By the time he finished, Genichi felt more exhausted than he had after an actual battle.
Rias stood up and turned in place, the hem of her skirt swaying lightly.
"How do I look?"
Genichi looked at her.
The uniform suited her perfectly, setting off her elegant and noble air.
"Good."
His reply was dry.
Rias smiled, stepped closer, rose onto her toes, and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you."
Genichi touched the spot where she had kissed him and felt as though he had just survived another war.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]