The suite hadn't changed since they'd walked in a few hours ago.
Sam had.
Fatigue crept up his spine the longer he sat, watching the others circle around each other.
Asia was still fussing with her clothes, carefully folding a blouse and sliding it back into her oversized suitcase. The thing looked big enough to swallow her whole, yet it held so little — a few humble outfits, neat and pressed like treasures. She handled each piece like porcelain, as though the wrong crease might break it.
Akeno lounged on the couch with her usual smile, but every so often she shifted — inching closer to Sam's side of the cushions with subtle persistence.
Koneko sat cross-legged, quietly munching from a box of snacks she'd fished out of her bag. Her eyes flicked toward Akeno each time she moved, flat and measuring.
Rias stood near the table, arms folded, looking every bit the composed queen. A faint smile played on her lips, but her gaze gleamed sharp as she watched her peerage, like a monarch observing rival nobles jockey for territory.
Sam scrubbed at his face. "You know what? No. I'm out. I'm going to sleep."
He pushed himself off the couch, shuffled past Asia — who froze mid-motion with another blouse in her hands — and dropped onto the bed near the window without ceremony.
Rias's voice followed him, smooth as glass. "Since you're going to sleep, we should probably return to the academy. Appearances must be maintained."
That broke the stillness.
Akeno stretched languidly, her smile sharpening. "I can miss a few days."
Koneko didn't bother with a smile. "School's not really my thing. I only go because you tell me to."
Rias's shoulders stiffened. For a moment her poise slipped. Then she recovered, tone cool and level. "…Very well. Then I will stay as well. Someone has to keep you two in line."
Akeno and Koneko exchanged a glance — sharp, suspicious. Sam didn't need context to know this wasn't normal.
He rolled onto his side, face sinking into the pillow. "Crowded nest," he muttered.
And then he let the dark take him.
---
Evening
Sam woke to warmth.
Not the good kind — the trapped, suffocating kind. His arm wouldn't move. His side was pinned. His legs felt weighted down.
Blinking against the city glow filtering through the curtains, he tilted his head just enough to see.
Koneko was curled against his shoulder, deceptively heavy for her size, her breath even and steady. On his other side, Akeno had sprawled across the bed like it belonged to her, one arm draped over his stomach, her cheek resting lightly against his chest.
Sam froze.
…The hell. I fell asleep alone.
He tested a shift of his shoulder. No luck. Akeno's arm tightened fractionally, even in sleep. Koneko only pressed closer, stubborn as gravity.
Fantastic. Pinned by two girls half my size. Top-tier combat instincts right there.
Across the suite, things looked calmer.
Rias sat elegantly at the table, posture perfect as she turned a page in the folder before her. Beside her, Asia leaned forward, hands folded primly in her lap, haltingly repeating words in English as Rias corrected her pronunciation. The sound of it should've been comforting. But Asia's eyes betrayed her focus — they kept flicking toward the bed, toward him, concern etched into her face.
Sam's eyes met hers for the briefest moment before he squeezed them shut. Nope. Not dealing with this. If he moved, they'd know he was awake. If he spoke, he'd have to explain why two members of Rias's peerage had decided his torso was public property.
Better option: fake sleep.
He slowed his breathing. Counted the beats in his chest. Tried to convince himself that if he just shut everything down, the world would move on without him.
Akeno hummed softly in her sleep, shifting closer, her hair brushing his jaw.
Koneko didn't make a sound, but her grip tightened — the quiet, immovable kind of possession.
From the table, Rias's eyes flicked up from her folder. She'd seen it — that tiny window of awareness in Sam's expression before he slammed it shut.
For half a heartbeat, her smile faltered. Then the mask returned, lips curving faintly as she looked back down at the page, saying nothing.
Sam clenched his jaw, stared into the darkness behind his eyelids, and prayed unconsciousness would come quickly.
---
3 a.m.
Sam woke again to silence.
The kind that wasn't empty — layered with the small sounds you only noticed when everything else was still.
Asia's breathing came first, soft and steady. She was curled up on the other bed now, her oversized suitcase open beside it. She hadn't climbed onto his mattress when Akeno and Koneko left. She'd stayed shyly apart, hands clasped under her cheek like she was worried about intruding even in her sleep.
A rustle of paper broke the rhythm. At the table, Rias sat with a neat stack of documents spread before her. Pen tapping, eyes narrowed, she looked less like a high schooler and more like a CEO in the middle of a hostile takeover. One page was a renovation draft — the outline of a building Sam recognized instantly. His building. Bought out and already being reshaped into something else.
On the couch, Koneko sat cross-legged, a manga balanced in her lap. She flipped a page with deliberate quiet, pausing to pop another snack into her mouth. Her gaze flicked toward him once, flat as always, before returning to the panels.
Sam pushed himself upright slowly, rubbing the sleep grit from his eyes. His body didn't ache — Asia's healing had fixed that — but the memory of two wasted weeks in bed made his jaw tighten.
If I'd met her three weeks ago, I wouldn't have spent two weeks cooped up healing. Could've been training. Could've been doing anything else. Waste of damn time.
The suite felt different now. Not a entirely a layover anymore, but a nest that was in the making of being claimed. Rias buried in strategy. Koneko marking her corner with quiet routine. Asia asleep, folded into the rhythm of the room. Even Tiche's absence was a weight of its own, the door too empty without her shadow.
Sam lay back down, muttering, "This is getting weird."
And he slept.
---
Morning
By dawn, the suite was already stirring.
Koneko perched on the arm of the couch, quietly crunching crackers. Akeno returned from patrol, stretching like a cat before settling in. Rias worked at the table, pen tapping against her paperwork. Asia hovered nearby, fingers twisted together.
The door clicked, and Tiche stepped inside. Silent. Steady. The room realigned with her presence.
Asia tugged at her skirt. "Am I… supposed to go to the academy too?"
That froze the air. Rias looked up. Akeno tilted her head. Koneko paused mid-crunch.
Sam frowned. She wasn't a student. She didn't even know Japanese. How was she supposed to blend in?
Tiche's voice slid across his mind, cold and clear: "Your Familiar Contract."
Sam blinked. "…My what?" he muttered under his breath.
A flick of his hand brought the System up. There it was in his inventory: Familiar Contract (Unused).
The description made his gut tighten. To sign was to bind. To the System. To him. Chains. Not protection. A leash.
Then his eyes went to Asia. To the way she clutched her rosary, nervous but hopeful. And for a split second, he felt it again — that strange resonance he'd felt when her Sacred Gear had healed him. Warmth answering warmth, power brushing against his Hero Energy instead of rejecting it.
"…Maybe," Sam thought. "Maybe it's worth a try."
He pressed his hand against the glowing icon and shoved Holy Hero Energy into it.
The screen flickered. Light burst across the suite in white-gold ripples. Heat roared through his chest, muscles trembling as Energy Regeneration clawed at his reserves to keep the Contract alive. Every breath came harder, heavier, but he held steady.
Every head turned. Rias froze mid-pen stroke. Akeno leaned forward. Koneko set her crackers aside. Asia gasped, clutching her rosary. Even Tiche tilted her head, faint approval flickering in her eyes.
Sam didn't look at any of them.
Because the window hadn't appeared for him.
It bloomed in front of Asia.
---
Asia's Window
[Oathbound Contract Offer]
System Notice: Hero Candidate Subsystem engaged.
The Hero Candidate has extended an Oath.
Do you accept?
Effects upon Acceptance:
- Resonant Bond: Vitality, stamina, and training efficiency increased while Oath integrity is maintained.
- Energy Share: Gains a personal Innate Holy Energy pool equal to one-fifth of the Hero's maximum pool. Scales automatically with Sam's growth; unaffected by his current reserves.
Warning:
- Oathbound ties are voluntary but absolute. Breaking an Oath results in backlash to both parties.
- The Oath subsystem is incomplete. Some effects remain unknown.
[Yes] [No]
Asia's hands trembled. Her wide eyes flicked to him, searching, pleading.
Sam said nothing. His chest burned, every heartbeat heavier as his reserves drained. Doesn't matter what this does to the System. Doesn't matter how they're staring. Right now it's just me, her, and her choice.
Asia pressed [Yes].
---
The Contract sealed with a surge of light. White-gold radiance erupted across the suite, washing everything in brilliance.
Asia gasped as her Sacred Gear fully manifested for the first time. Green-white luminescence bloomed over her hands, steady and undeniable. Stabilized by the Oathbond, it was unmistakable.
Rias's chair scraped back. "…That's Twilight Healing."
Akeno's voice was hushed, serious. "One of the rare Sacred Gears that can heal devils, angels, even the fallen."
Koneko stiffened, frozen mid-breath.
Tiche's lips curved faintly, the barest hint of a smile.
Sam sagged back against the headboard, lungs burning, sweat damp at his hairline — but he held steady. A crooked grin tugged at his mouth. Doesn't matter what this does to the world. Doesn't matter what kind of ripple it makes. Right now it's just her. And she chose.
Asia stared at her glowing hands, tears pricking at her eyes. "I… I can understand you. I can speak it…"
The words came in perfect Japanese. She clapped her hands over her mouth, shocked. The Contract hadn't promised it — but the Oathbond had given it to her anyway.
For the first time, Rias's composure cracked, crimson eyes narrowing. Akeno's sharp smile returned. Koneko simply stared.
And then, just for Sam, another window slid into view:
[Trait Upgraded: Hero Candidate → Hero]
Hero
You are a hero, a child blessed by Light and Holy.
- All Light and Holy-based abilities are strengthened alongside your physical abilities.
- Beings aligned with the Divine or Clergy are more favorable toward you, more likely to view you with reverence and affection, and to reward you for your merits and service.
- All blessings are stronger and last longer when placed upon you.
- Your ability to generate Holy Energy is increased.
Sam squinted at the glowing text through the sting of sweat, pinching the bridge of his nose. "…Great. I just leveled up in the middle of a migraine."
No one else saw it. To the devils, Asia glowed with divine light, her Sacred Gear steady and undeniable. To Sam, the System had just shoved him one step further down a path he hadn't agreed to walk.
---
By the time they reached Kuoh Academy, the bell for first period was minutes away. The courtyard wasn't empty, but it wasn't bustling either — clusters of students hurried toward the building, voices low, footsteps quick.
Sam walked with Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Asia, trying not to look like the new exhibit at a zoo. Judging by the sideways glances he caught, that's exactly what he was.
Asia clutched the strap of a brand-new school bag — one Rias had bought for her that morning. She held it like it might vanish if she let go, eyes wide as she took in the academy. Every step was careful, uncertain. This hadn't been her plan. She'd expected to live in a church, not walk into a classroom.
The group made it as far as the main walkway before Rias stopped, turning with perfect composure. "We'll handle getting Asia situated. Enrollment, paperwork, accommodations—it will take some time."
"Don't wait up," Akeno added with a teasing smile.
Koneko gave a small nod, already peeling away with them.
And just like that, they ditched him.
Sam stared after their retreating backs. "…They left me the first chance they got. What the fuck."
He rubbed at his neck, feeling suddenly exposed in the thinning crowd.
"Sam Barnes?"
The voice was sweet, practiced. He turned.
She stood a few feet away, long dark hair framing her face, smile too perfect. Yuma Amano. Her eyes lingered on him like she'd been waiting.
Two more girls flanked her:
- Karuwana Aoi, sharp-eyed, dark-blue hair, posture confident.
- Minami Teru, blonde, smaller, clutching her bag like armor.
Sam's gut tightened. Too neat. Too polished. Too interested.
The System chimed.
[System Notification]
Three new characters have been added to the Relationship Tracker.
- Yuma Amano — Status: Unquantifiable
- Karuwana Aoi — Affection: 4 → 9 (+5)
- Minami Teru — Affection: 6 → 11 (+5)
Sam's eyes fixed on the word Unquantifiable. His pulse spiked.
…Unquantifiable? What the hell does that even mean?
The three girls smiled at him, waiting.
Sam forced his face blank, even as his mind spun.