章 24: Interlude 4

I stand within a cramped, lightless, broom closet.

Now, it wouldn't be so cramped, if only the voluptuous redhead who dragged me in here wasn't so damn voluptuous in the first place.

Rias Gremory stands right in front of me, hands firmly holding the sides of my shoulders where she grabbed me mere moments ago to drag me in here.

As her body is practically glued against mine to accommodate the space, I can feel her as she heaves slow, deep, breaths, as if she just ran a marathon to get here.

Her blue stare, pleadingly, up into my golden ones as I stare back dryly.

On one hand? I didn't exactly sign up for this when I was made.

On the other hand? This does seem like the start of a hentai.

Heh. Prime Noriaki is going to get a big kick out of this~!

Ah, but first.

"Rias," I start, incredulously, throwing all of Japan's social norms into hell, "the fuck."

"E-Eh! Shushshushshush!" Rias scrambles out and quickly removes her hands from my shoulders, slapping them over my mouth with enough force to nearly make me poof.

"She's coming." She whispers in pure unadulterated terror.

Huh? The fuck?

Outside, I hear footsteps walking by. Short, curt, footsteps.

They pass by without any fanfare, but it's only when the footsteps vanish completely that Rias relaxes against me slightly and removes her hands from my mouth.

With a sigh, she slumps slightly, lowering her gaze to my chest, "S-Sorry, about that, and…all this." She waves belatedly to the closet around us.

I continue my dry stare, "Okay," I respond curtly, then reiterate, "the fuck is all this about then!?" I hiss out with a bit more force.

Rias flinches slightly, "R-Right, right! I've been meaning to talk to you, you know? Call you down to the old school building, but well, ever since school started back up again, things have been…different?" She tries with a grimace.

"Different, how?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"I…uh…" she slumps down even more, likely trying to hide her flush of embarrassment that I can rather clearly see regardless, "I…have a minder now?" She sighs and bites her lip.

I blink at that.

"Huh." I muse aloud, "Neat?"

"Huh!?" She perks up, and suddenly looks at me again, "N-No! Not neat! It's infuriating! For the past week, that demon has been scheduling and clocking everything me and my Peerage do, and I'm sick of it!" She starts full-on ranting, indignant.

Damn, Rias. Chill.

"Like, with the weekend coming up, I thought we'd have a break, but nope!" She continues, growing louder, "She's started scheduling my anime watch times! Can you believe it!? Two hours of anime on the weekend, max! What else am I supposed to do!?"

"Touch grass?" I chime in.

Rias looks at me, before slowly looking away, her face flushing rapidly, "I'm not that bad…" She defends herself, weakly.

"Mhmm." I hum, looking around, "Yeah, you didn't kidnap me just to rant about your anime watch time being limited then?"

"N-No?" She tries with a wince, then just sighs, "Okay, yes, that did feel good to get off my chest. But, beyond that, I need your help."

I merely stare at her.

"I…feel like I'm going to need actual details. Like, how this happened, who's doing this, how could I possibly help?" I state plainly.

Her eyes light up slightly with hope, "Right! So, about a week ago, my parents sent over my fiance and his Peerage."

I raise an eyebrow at that, she sighs, "Yeah, marriage contract, I didn't choose to marry him, everyone knows I don't want to marry him, yet they sent him over anyway." She looked down with an annoyed frown, gritted her teeth, and clenched her fists slightly.

"Ah," I hum in faux understanding, "Devil politics?"

Rias seems to snap out of her little funk there, looking back at me and nodding with a displeased sigh, "Correct, unfortunately. So, when he got here, I told him I didn't want anything to do with him, and, well…" she trails off, her voice getting smaller and smaller once she continues, "he…uh, left? And put his little sister in charge?"

I stare at her, for a good long moment.

Then I snort, which quickly evolves into a chuckle as she pouts, her cheeks puffing out as she looks away as much as she can.

"And, ah, who's his sister?" I ask, amused, though I already knew of course.

"Ravel Phenex." She answers curtly.

"Year?" I follow up.

Rias winced, then answered slowly, "...First."

I couldn't help it anymore, I full-on laughed.

"H-Hey…" Rias starts, weakly, giving me the side eye, "It's not that funny."

"Oh! Oh, Gremory-san—"

"Rias." She interrupted with a pout.

My train of thought stops, "Huh?"

"Rias. Call me, Rias." She says again, "You already practically saved our lives, including mine, you should be allowed as much. Besides," she points at me, "you already called me my name, no takebacks!"

I deadpanned at her, "I did that for a different reason."

"Hmm? Oh really now? What for?" She asks, curious.

I shrug, "Thought I was in a hentai there for a moment, so saying your first name would just be hotter."

She blinks.

Then looks at her chest all squished against me, at just how close she is in general.

At the very tight broom closet, which, coincidentally does provide just enough room for me to thrust properly if we did go at it.

She looks up at me, right in the eye, and for a second I see the gears turning in her head before she suddenly blushes as red as her hair.

"Oh." She replies dumbly.

I shake my head disappointed, "And I heard from my adorable little kouhai that you're supposed to be a weeb," I click my tongue, "for shame, Rias, for shame. Not recognizing the tropes as you do them."

"Shut up…" She whines lowly as I merely chuckle.

Then I stop, clear my throat, and go back to when I was rudely interrupted.

"Anyhow, Rias, it is very funny!" I start explaining, to an increasingly distraught Riss, "See, you're getting bossed around by a little girl two years your junior, when you could have dealt with your fiance, who while he might be a jerk, probably isn't a hyper manager. See the funny?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Please, just, stop…" she whines further, "I get it, alright? I've been dealing with her for a week. I get it…" she trails off, rather pathetically.

I bite my tongue, and sigh, before reaching over and patting her on the head a bit.

She stops and blinks, befuddled.

"Yeah, alright. I hear you. Sorry, being pulled around like this just makes me irritable." I add, my tone softening, "I was already in a sour mood before you ran into me, Sitri called me to the Student Council Office right before lunch started." I finish with a sigh.

Rias blinks at that, "Oh, uh, my bad, then?"

I snort, "Nah, I'd prefer this," I pointedly look down at her chest, "than…whatever is waiting for me up there."

Rias gives a small smile at that.

I followed up shortly after with, "Also, you gave me the perfect excuse to show up there late, so thanks!" I give her a thumbs up, and she chuckles.

But that eventually slowly trails off nervously, as she starts talking again, "So. Like I said, I'd like your help?"

I nod, "That you did, although, I don't see how I could here?" I ask, quizzically.

Seriously. I don't think I have anything that could—

"Could you use your eyes to hypnotize her into stopping?" She says all at once.

I simply give my smallest smile towards her.

Then, I turn for the door.

"Nooopppee~!" I call out as I reach for the handle, only for my hand to be grabbed, and yanked back.

"Please!" She pleads, practically begging at this point, "I'll let you take me, right here, right now, as payment!"

I stop.

And slowly tilt my head toward her, mouth slightly agape like a dumb fish.

Before she can say another word, I flick her on the nose, prompting her to yelp.

"Yeah. Right. Don't say shit like that." I chastise her, "Especially when you don't mean it."

Of course, I say that out loud.

But inward, a tiny part of me suspected otherwise.

After all, this girl did jump on Issei's dick to try and get out of her marriage with Riser.

Say. Now that I think about it, if I were to pound her right here, wouldn't that help take care of two of her problems right now?

Rias, slowly, begins unbuttoning the top of her shirt, and with the most determined look I've seen yet today, she says, "I'm dead serious."

Fucking. Murphy.

By the time she's finished talking, half of her cleavage is exposed.

I flick her on the nose again, prompting her to yelp once more and cease.

"H-Hey!" She whines, grabbing her nose, "Stop that!"

"I will once you stop trying to get some guy that you barely know to fuck you to convince him to hypnotize some first-year girl!" I say, exacerbated, grabbing her shoulders, "Do you not see how fucked that is?!"

Rias blinks, and raises a finger, "But the girl is that demon, so it's fine?"

I sigh. Deeply.

Fuck this shit, I'd rather deal with Sitri than a crazed, anime withdrawal-laden Rias.

I huff, then start an idea I just thought about, "How about this? I summon you, via Devil summoning slip, either separately or with Koneko next time contract time comes, I presume she has a time slot for that?"

Rias nods along with a raised eyebrow, "Yes, most of the night is time for Devil jobs, why?"

I nod, "Good. So, I summon you, and you can watch anime all you want with me. That'll be your contract with me. How's that sound?"

Rias blinks, once more, I see the gears turning once more, and then her eyes start sparkling.

Like. Sparkling with Demonic Power, red and black as she smiles widely.

"Noriaki-kun. I could kiss you right now." She says almost like in a daze.

You know. I don't think I permitted her to call me by my first name, but at this point, I don't care.

I just really want out of this damn closet.

"So, sounds like a plan, tonight?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Mhmm~!" She hums, nodding dreamily.

"Great!" I let go of her, then turn, grab the door handle, and fling it open, "See you later then, Rias!" I call behind me as I power walk out of there.

Honestly. I'm shocked it took this long for some bullshit like that to happen.

~ A New Sun ~

I stand now in an airy, well-lit, office room.

Behind the desk across from me, thankfully not pressed up against me, are Sona and Tsubaki.

Sona, who has bags for bags under her eyes, and seems so tired she can't even muster a professional expression.

Instead, she levels a rather deadpan glare my way.

To my surprise, Tsubaki, standing off to Sona's right, isn't glaring at me with hatred or some such.

Instead, she looks terrified, the poor girl looks like she's barely keeping herself from shaking.

Well. The last time we officially met, I did hit her with a fire dragon.

And she has been avoiding me ever since.

"Kusanagi-san," Sona begins curtly, "what took you so long?"

I mirror her deadpan stare with my own, and simply reply, "Rias."

She blinks at that, before sighing and asking, "I see. I presume she asked you for help regarding her…problem?"

"Yup." I confirm easily, "And I gave her a solution that didn't involve me hypnotizing little girls or using her body as payment, so all is well. I think."

Don't quote me on that, Murphy you little bitch.

Sona leans back in her chair and groans with exacerbation.

"Damnit, Rias…" she murmured, then leaned back forward, slumping slightly, "Well, regardless, it's been settled. I hope. Now as for why I called you here…" she slowly looked to her right, at Tsubaki.

Who instantly bows so quickly and so deeply that she almost slams her head into the side of the desk.

Wait. The fuck?

"I'm very sorry for how I acted in our first meeting!" She calls out, loudly.

I merely blink at her, and give a curt, "Okay? Uh. Thanks, I guess?"

I watch her strain herself to bow deeper, her body shaking, "I compared your conduct to some unsavory people from my past, and let my emotions get the better of me, I am well and truly sorry!" She continued, sounding increasingly distressed.

Hmm. So I was right back then, huh?

I should probably stop her before she flies off the handle, though.

I hold my hands, placatingly, though she won't yet see them, "Shinra-san, please, raise your head before all your blood runs to it." I command softly.

Tentatively, she raises her head back up.

"You're forgiven, alright? Calm it down a peg, your King looks like she could use you, properly, right about now." I idly note, pointing at Sona.

Tsubaki turns her head, her eyes widening slightly as she sees Sona resting her head in her hand, her eyelids half closed.

"Ah, it would appear so, Kusanagi-san," Tsubaki notes, shuffling around the desk to another nearby door, opening it to reveal a closet, "she has been getting increasingly drained dealing with her 'minder' as of late, I suppose."

"Sitri too, huh?" I murmur to the room, prompting a nod as Tsubaki comes out with a blanket, "Is she gonna be alright?"

After all, continuing our game while she's like this wouldn't be very fun.

Tsubaki gives a small smile as she throws it over Sona, "She will be, she just needs rest is all."

She reaches into a drawer and pulls out a sheet of paper, setting it on the table, she beckons me over.

"The reason you were called her, officially, is because of this," she taps the paper, "your, ah, club is getting a new teacher sponsor." She grimaces as she finishes.

I hum, looking over it with a raised eyebrow.

Hmm. Teacher's name?

Sera Shitori.

Gee. I wonder who that could be!?

I slowly look back up at her, and Tsubaki gives me a helpless shrug.

"You did bring this upon yourself." She oh so helpfully points out.

I sigh, picking up the paper, "Fair." I concede, "When will I see her?"

"Next week, no doubt." Tsubaki sighs in turn, "It's lucky, due to her existing responsibilities, she won't be here all the, but when she does…" she trails off, slowly looking over at Sona.

I wince at that.

Damn, what is this? Feeling bad for Sona?

Shit, I'm going soft.

I hum, "Well. Damn. If you don't mind, I'd like to enjoy what little chaos-free time I have left, then. Got barely any time for lunch left now…" I trail off, looking pointedly at Tsubaki.

She perks up, nodding, "Right, right. You're excused, Kusanagi-san."

I bow slightly, more like a nod, before turning myself and stepping out.

Making my way to the school roof where all the cool anime characters go, I can't help but crave the time Prime Noriaki calls me back.

Let him deal with this shit, I don't wanna!

Surely, he won't miss the recall this one time.

Right?

Right!?

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