I took a long sip of cold water in the kitchen, trying to wash away the lingering heat of last night's "sleep arrangement."
Yes… I somehow calmed the situation by suggesting we "all sleep together." No touching beyond Rias's nightgown and Asia's usual innocence — but I could already see the shift. Asia was picking up little traits from Rias. Erotic ones. It was only a matter of time before the church's purest maiden became just as teasing. That thought alone stirred a quiet satisfaction in me.
But peace never lasted long.
"ISE, IT'S TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL!" Issei's mom's voice rang from downstairs.
•••
Classes went by in their usual blur. Club activities were short, too — shorter than expected.
Asia and I walked home together under the pale orange of the evening sky. Usually Rias would join us, but today she had stayed behind.
"Buchou, aren't you going home?" I had asked earlier in the clubroom.
"I will be going home afterwards. Go home without me."
Her tone was… different. No eye contact. No teasing smile. She didn't even face me.
Embarrassed from last night? Or… something else?
I didn't press.
We kept talking casually until we reached my house. I reached for the front door — and froze.
SHIVER.
It hit me like a ripple through my skin, a cold prickle down my spine. My body's instincts—instincts I had learned to trust—screamed danger.
I'd felt this before. The night I met Asia. The Issei's moment we approached the church. That choking sense of hostile divinity.
GRIP.
Asia's hand clutched mine tightly. She felt it too. Devils can't mistake this aura. Whoever was inside wasn't human.
Fallen angel? Angel? Someone from the Church? Any of those meant trouble. And if they had so much as touched Issei's mom…
…I'd kill them.
I tore my shoes off and moved quickly toward the kitchen.
Empty.
Laughter floated in from the living room—light, cheerful, and completely out of place.
I stepped inside and stopped.
Two unfamiliar girls sat with Issei's mom, who was happily flipping through a photo album.
"And this," Issei's mom was saying, "is a picture of Ise when he was in primary school. Look — this is the one where his swim trunks ripped at the pool. Caused such a fuss. He still tried the slide even with them torn!"
"...Mu…?" My voice came out low.
"Oh, Ise! Welcome back," she beamed, glancing up. "What's wrong? You look pale."
Beside me, Asia exhaled like she'd been holding her breath for minutes and sat on the floor in relief.
I took a breath myself. Issei's mom was safe. That was the important part. For now.
Now that my head was clearer, I looked at the guests.
Two young women, both foreigners. Both with rosaries hanging from their necks like badges of allegiance. Both about my age.
One had chestnut-brown hair, warm in color but paired with eyes that held a familiar sharpness. The other had striking blue hair streaked with green mesh—and eyes that gave away nothing but the fact she'd seen violence before. A long object wrapped in cloth lay beside her on the couch. A weapon, no doubt.
Their clothes confirmed my suspicion: white robes, not unlike those worn by exorcists.
My fingers twitched at my side.
Oh. I knew exactly what they were.
I let out a sight realizeing that.
"Hello, Hyoudou Issei-kun."
The chestnut-haired one smiled, casual, confident.
The blue-haired one stayed silent, gaze flicking between me and Asia.
My mind clicked into focus. If they were here openly, in my home, and Issei's mom was unharmed… this wasn't an assassination. Not yet.
"Nice to meet you," I said, watching her expression carefully. "Irina."
The smile widened. "Long time no see, Ise-kun. Did you mistake me for a boy back then? Can't blame you — I acted like one. But time changes people, doesn't it?"
Her tone was light, but her eyes carried weight. Recognition.
So she knew.
I leaned on the doorway frame. "It really has been a long time. What are you doing here? Don't tell me you came all the way to my house for small talk."
Irina chuckled. "Sightseeing. It's been ages since I came back to Japan. I wanted to see the old places again. And…" She looked around my living room with a nostalgic air, "…it seemed only right to visit an old friend."
An "old friend." That was one way to frame it.
Sightseeing didn't explain the aura that made my devil blood churn. But If I remember Right then then she won't attack me.
"Sightseeing, huh? That good. But Who is that?" I asked, glancing at the blue-haired girl.
The silent one's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't answer.
Irina waved a hand playfully. "This is Xenovia. She's… not the type for tourist spots. But she insisted on coming along."
Issei's mom, oblivious, stood up and began moving toward the kitchen. "I'll get tea. You three must have so much to catch up on."
Four, I corrected in my head, glancing at Asia. She was watching Irina intently—probably realizing exactly who and what these two were.
~~~
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