[123] Talk To My Brother?
<span style="font-weight:400">Chapter 123: Talk To My Brother?
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thus we think, based on the sightings, the Fallen Angels are nning something big around Kuoh.” Sona finished with an ominous tone.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Is that it?’ The information shared in this meeting wasn''t anything groundbreaking, it was something I had already expected.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">For thest 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">I still expected it to happen, though a bit less likely.
<span style="font-weight:400">But what did it imply for the Fallen suddenly getting so worked up that even the two little Devil Princesses noticed?
<span style="font-weight:400">What was Kokabiel nning?
<span style="font-weight:400">‘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.’
<span style="font-weight:400">If something dangerous wasing, 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">A silence fell after Sona finished her exnation, 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">But while I appreciated this information they shared, even if mostly useless, I had no reason to disclose my rtionship with the Fallen Angels. Who knows from where information will leak?
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Instead of looking disappointed by my short words, the kids looked relieved that I didn’t have anything negative toment about. Good. Although, I was curious about something else. I looked at Rias and asked, “By the way, Rias?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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 <i><span style="font-weight:400">ten years</i><span style="font-weight:400"> 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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">‘She really likes to exaggerate our childhood rtionship, 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?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Whoa…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I had no idea the President knew him for that long…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A Touki Artist… like <i><span style="font-weight:400">the </i><span style="font-weight:400">Sairaorg Bael? He might even be stronger than him.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mhm, so,” she continued, “That''s Saji, and therge 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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That''s what I told her too,” Sona chimed in, pushing her sses 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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">A short silence filled the room as Rias’ face went bright red and everyone stared at her and how she was clinging to me.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sona Sitri, very unlike herself, held back augh and excused herself along with her peerage to leave us be.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 augh and turned around, motioning the rest of her peerage to follow behind her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Saji shot me a look, looking at Rias and then at me again, aplicated 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Which left me alone with the Princess of Destruction.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you embarrassed?” I smiled at her in amusement and asked, to which she met my eyes shyly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Because she''s my childhood friend too?” she asked. “I guess that''s possible. She was jealous of youst 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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 augh.
<span style="font-weight:400">She pushed herself onto me, her face resting on my chest. “But who''d Iin to if not you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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. Shey on my chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They''re not the same as you,” she said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I mean, they''re still your peerage or your family,” I said, “While I''m not rted to you in any way, you know?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just a friend.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Will you stop?” She asked softly and raised her head to look into my eyes. “I don''t like when you act like this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Act like what?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Like this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don''t apologize,” she put a finger over my lips. “Makes us seem further than we are. You are not… <i><span style="font-weight:400">just </i><span style="font-weight:400">a friend to me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That doesn''t make sense,”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You think I''d let just any friend of mine pull me down on hisp and kiss me, while his hand wanders around my back?” She said with a frown, referencing that day when I did just that to her until Grayfia came and interrupted us.
<span style="font-weight:400">I chuckled lightly and refused to reply, which made her frown deeper.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You''re so bad,” she said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you really like me?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...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…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 tobel someone new as my girlfriend just yet.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....” 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 be ‘connected’ in some way?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...You''re describing me like a maniptor right now, I’m feeling hurt.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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?
<span style="font-weight:400">I smiled at her. “Sure. Tell me when he has time to talk, and I''ll convince him for his sister''s hand.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....Haha.” I hope she''s joking—because ain''t no way am I getting married just yet, if ever.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thankfully, she <i><span style="font-weight:400">was</i><span style="font-weight:400"> joking. Our talk ended with her leaning into a kiss, and we made out for half an hour, easily missing a ss, before I returned to my ssroom.
<span style="font-weight:400">* * *
<span style="font-weight:400">The sses 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rias had left me a message.
<b>[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?]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">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 aplish by acting like a running ghost? It''s a bit cute though.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">It felt good to bull- <i><span style="font-weight:400">educate</i><span style="font-weight:400"> 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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, sses.
<span style="font-weight:400">I reached the gate and found many girls waiting for me. It felt good seeing so many waiting for me; though I noticed an irregrity among them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mai Sakurajima was waiting among the regr girls, her indigo-blue eyes glued on me.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, Senpai,” I waved at her and she narrowed her eyes and looked over my body.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you''re not injured,” she said. “That’s good.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thest 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">So here she was again, waiting for me to be sure that I was safe. She''s so nice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She turned around and began to walk away, but how could I let such an opportunity pass?
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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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<b>.</b>
<b>Link: /Master4thWall</b>