ES - Chapter 123 (Patreon)

Chapter 123: Talk To My Brother?

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“Thus we think, based on the sightings, the Fallen Angels are planning something big around Kuoh.” Sona finished with an ominous tone.

‘Is that it?’ The information shared in this meeting wasn't anything groundbreaking, it was something I was expecting anyway.

The club room was filled with people. I was sitting on a couch with Rias by my side, facing Sona who sat alone on a couch of her own. Around us, the members of the two devil princesses’ peerage were scattered across the room.

Most seemed surprised and worried about the topic discussed, fearful that a Biblical civil war may be brewing again, but I wasn’t impressed. What a waste of time.

For the last two months, as Goddess Hel and the Valkyrie Rossweisse were roaming around the town in my search, the Fallen were doing the same. But different from the Norse, they mustn't have known my identity—they should rather be searching for Freed’s mysterious killer who presumably killed Raynare’s group too.

I was expecting the Norse and Fallen to fight because they crossed each other while in search, but a part of me had expected them to team up too.

I still expected it to happen, though a bit less likely.

But what did it imply for the Fallen suddenly getting so worked up that even the two little Devil Princesses noticed?

What was Kokabiel planning?

‘I need to keep my eyes and ears sharp,’ I thought with a soft glint in my eyes. ‘I should start with keeping my Jade Perception fully bloomed all the time.’

If something dangerous was coming, as much as I'm confident and arrogant enough that I’d never be unable to handle it, I'd still rather know what it is.

A silence fell after Sona finished her explanation, and everyone was looking at me to break it. My show of power against them earned me a natural authoritative opinion over them, something they were curious to hear.

But while I appreciated this information they shared, even if mostly useless, I had no reason to disclose my relationship with the Fallen Angels. Who knows from where information will leak?

“Thanks for including me in this meeting. Since I live just nearby, it’ll benefit me to stay safe. I’ll keep an eye out for anything weird.” I said and ended it at that.

Instead of looking disappointed by my short words, the kids looked relieved that I didn’t have anything negative to comment about. Good. Although, I was curious about something else. I looked at Rias and asked, “By the way, Rias?”

“Yes?” She smiled, nudging a bit closer to me under the eyes of everyone. She really liked to show off in front of the public. “Ask me anything.”

“What’s up with all the new people? I've been out just for a week, yet I noticed both of your peerages have new members.” I asked, and she answered right away.

“Ah, you must be talking about Saji and Garou.” She said, pointedly looking at Saji who was in the room. There was no Garou to look at, however, since he and the fake Tsubasa girl were sent to the underworld to treat Issei. “Here, let me introduce you two. He is Genshirou Saji, a second year, and only recently had he awakened his Sacred Gear. It's a really interesting one, it's called Absorption Line. It kind of works the exact way it's named, it absorbs other people's power.”

Rias continued, this time introducing me, “Most of you guys already know him, but let me introduce anyway. He is Aqua, my childhood friend. We've known each other for more than ten years now. He did a show that was an instant hit after joining our school, LoveMy, I'm sure you know.” She gave me a smile and continued, “And if we talk about his supernatural side, he's a Touki Martial Artist, but also has vast control over the weather, lightning, as well many other mysterious powers. I even heard his knowledge on medicine can cure even death.”

‘She really likes to exaggerate our childhood relationship, damn.’ I was smiling as I thought that. She's clearly trying to praise me, how cute. Trying to break the anger that she thought I had over her since I haven't contacted her in a week, huh?

“Whoa…”

“I had no idea the President knew him for that long…”

“A Touki Artist… like the Sairaorg Bael? He might even be stronger than him.”

The students took the introduction in a burst of whispers, and Rias grinned at that. She looked back at me with a soft smile and her eyes asked if she did good.

“Yes, you were introducing the new members?” I smiled back and reminded her. She blushed softly at that, happy that I wasn't mad at her or ignoring her efforts.

“Mhm, so,” she continued, “That's Saji, and the large guy you fought earlier is Loup Garou. He's a foreigner. During your week’s leave, he transferred to our school. As he had quite a strong presence, we wanted to recruit him. But at the same time, Saji’s Sacred Gear unlocked. So we had to decide who would keep who. Since Sona already had Issei earlier, it was my turn due. So I chose Saji, as his Gear is a Dragon-Type. Sona had a Dragon-Type with her already, that Issei dude, so I wanted one to even the scales.”

“Ah, I see,” I nodded. “So Saji joined yours, and Garou joined Sona’s peerage. Not bad.” Such a twist of fate this universe was; Issei ended up in Sona's peerage, and Saji in Rias’. “Though I think you should have gone for Garou. A physical unit like him is needed in your ranks.”

“That's what I told her too,” Sona chimed in, pushing her glasses up a little as she looked at me. “But she said she, and I quote, ‘already have a big beastly man to keep her safe’ so she refused and chose the Dragon.”

“....”

A short silence filled the room as Rias’ face went bright red and everyone stared at her and how she was clinging to me.

Sona Sitri, very unlike herself, held back a laugh and excused herself along with her peerage to leave us be.

“My~ how embarrassing. I can't believe your friend just did that to you.” even her queen, Akeno didn't let go of this opportunity to make fun of her. The flirtatious girl let out a laugh and turned around, motioning the rest of her peerage to follow behind her.

Saji shot me a look, looking at Rias and then at me again, a complicated expression on his face, before he followed Akeno outside. Kiba didn’t show any reaction and walked out, but little Koneko stared at me for a bit longer before she too walked out of the clubroom.

Which left me alone with the Princess of Destruction.

“Are you embarrassed?” I smiled at her in amusement and asked, to which she met my eyes shyly.

“A little?” She said, “I mean, I wouldn't mind admitting that to you in person, but did she really have to say that in a room full of people?!”

“It's okay, she was just poking fun at you. I think she was a little mad that you emphasized the childhood friend part so much with me, she might have felt jealous of me.”

“Because she's my childhood friend too?” she asked. “I guess that's possible. She was jealous of you last time too. You also flirted with Serafall, who actually flirted back. Sona is used to having her sister shower her with attention, and though she likes to admit that she doesn't enjoy it, I think she was jealous of you when you flirted with Serafall and she responded.”

“Alright alright, I didn't need to know that. You don't need to spill your friend's secrets to me just because she pulled a small prank on you,” I told her with a laugh.

She pushed herself onto me, her face resting on my chest. “But who'd I complain to if not you?”

“Why, you don't have anyone else to talk to?” I put my arms around her and ruffled her hair, leaning back into the couch to lie down. She lay on my chest.

“They're not the same as you,” she said.

“I mean, they're still your peerage or your family,” I said, “While I'm not related to you in any way, you know?”

“....”

“Just a friend.”

“Will you stop?” She asked softly and raised her head to look into my eyes. “I don't like when you act like this.”

“Act like what?”

“Like this.”

“Hm?” I tilted my head at her, feigning ignorance, as she frowned softly. “Ah, did I make you mad? I didn't intend to. Sor-”

“Don't apologize,” she put a finger over my lips. “Makes us seem further than we are. You are not… just a friend to me.”

“That doesn't make sense,”

“You think I'd let just any friend of mine pull me down on his lap and kiss me, while he wanders his hand around my back?” She said with a frown, referencing that day when I did just that to her until Grayfia came and interrupted us.

I chuckled lightly and refused to reply, which made her frown deeper.

“You're so bad,” she said.

“So you really like me?”

“...Of course I do.” She put her face back into my chest, as she was red in embarrassment again. “Stop pretending to be slow, I've seen you enough to know how you are. What do you want from me, Aqua? If you don't like me that way, then just say it now…”

“I never said I don't like you that way,” I ran my hands down her back, her curves, and rested them on her ass. I squeezed her gently as she whimpered softly. “But still, I'm not ready to label someone new as my girlfriend just yet.”

“....” She stayed silent. “Are you finally at the final page now? Is this where you'll ask me to join your Sect thing again? So that we become ‘connected’ in some way?”

“...You're describing me like a manipulator right now, I’m feeling hurt.”

“....”

We both stayed silent for a bit. Until she sighed and raised her head again. Our pairs of blue eyes met. “Will you talk to my brother about it? I already asked him, and he said he would prefer to talk to you directly.”

“Oh.” I blinked. Sirzechs said that? Interesting that it's not a rejection from the get-go. What are the odds that I'd get to bring her and her peerage into my Sect in a more official manner?

I smiled at her. “Sure. Tell me when he has time to talk, and I'll convince him for his sister's hand.”

Her serious expression broke with a giggle, “My hand? I didn't know you were talking about wife-ing me up when you said you won't have me as your girlfriend.”

“....Haha.” I hope she's joking—because ain't no way am I getting married just yet, if ever.

Thankfully, she was joking. Our talk ended with her leaning into a kiss, and we made out for half an hour, easily missing a class, before I returned to my classroom.

* * *

The classes ended and I was walking to the school gate when I caught Rias’ vibrant red hair dancing in the air in the distance. She stood on the balcony of the old school building and waved at me, a soft smile hanging on her lips.

The wind blew, and she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She moved her lips slowly, and I read it as— look at your phone. I took out my phone and looked at it.

Rias had left me a message.

[Rias: Onii-sama has been really busy recently, Grayfia told me, so the meeting can't be done this week. I'm sorry. Grayfia put an appointment for you on the list, though. It's next Tuesday evening, after school. Will you be free?]

I should be free, yes. I replied to her and raised my head to look back at the balcony, but she wasn't there anymore. What did she wish to accomplish by acting like a running ghost? It's a bit cute though.

I put my phone back in my pocket and walked toward the gate with a soft hum. The weather was nice, the sky blue and bright, while the sakura leaves danced.

It felt good to bull- educate children. The fighting made my mood better, as did the making out with Rias; it made up for the one that was interrupted by Issei.

Speaking of, I also caught Tsubaki earlier in the hallways to give her the kiss she had missed. She hesitated a bit more than earlier, apparently, Sona told her to ‘be careful’ around me. As in, ignore me. Too bad, glasses.

I reached the gate and found many girls waiting for me. It felt good seeing so many waiting for me; though I noticed an irregularity among them.

Mai Sakurajima was waiting among the regular girls, her indigo-blue eyes glued on me.

“Hey, Senpai,” I waved at her and she narrowed her eyes and looked over my body.

“So you're not injured,” she said. “That’s good.”

“No need to be worried, I'm strong,” I told her. I already knew why she was here the moment I saw her, and she just confirmed my guess.

The last time Hel came to the school and we fought, Mai was waiting for me at the gate to make sure I was safe. She had sensed our fighting inside the Instant Dungeon that day, so naturally, she had noticed it today too since we didn't even bother to erect an Instant Dungeon since the area we fought on was stranded.

So here she was again, waiting for me to be sure that I was safe. She's so nice.

“I know you are, that's why I didn't rush in to save you,” she said, shrugging. “Not that I'd have been much of a help anyway. Anyway, I saw what I wanted to see. I'll be going now.”

She turned around and began to walk away, but how could I let such an opportunity pass?

“Hey, wait, you're taking this path? I actually have to pick up something from a shop in the same way. Shall we walk together?” I quickly ran after her, walking by her side as she shot me a side-eyed look and shook her head while muttering something under her breath.

She didn't reject me, however. I waved back at the girls who had been waiting for me this whole time, with each of them giving me a dry look, as I walked away with my girlfriend in the hope of seducing her.

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