The final bell rang, and Kuoh Academy spilled into the afternoon sun. Students laughed, stretched, and rushed toward the gates in groups. Chris walked alone, hands in his pockets, trying to ignore the strange heaviness in his chest.
He wasn't sad.
Not exactly.
Just… uneasy.
Like something was watching him.
He shook the thought off and headed down the quiet street leading away from the school. Cherry blossoms drifted across the pavement. The air was warm. Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
A faint ripple passed through the air—like heat distortion, but colder.
Chris stopped.
His breath hitched.
Something was wrong.
---
A circle of black feathers drifted down in front of him.
Not leaves.
Not petals.
Feathers.
A woman stepped out from behind a tree, her wings unfurling with a soft rustle. Black. Sharp. Fallen.
Her eyes glowed a sickly yellow.
"You're alone," she said, voice smooth but cold. "Good."
Chris's heart pounded. "What do you want?"
"You," she said simply. "Your aura is… interesting. Dangerous. I can't let you live."
She raised her hand, a spear of light forming in her palm.
Chris stumbled back. "Wait—!"
She threw it.
Instinct took over.
He dove to the side, the spear slicing past his cheek and exploding against the pavement. Heat washed over him. His ears rang.
He scrambled to his feet, heart racing.
"I don't want to fight you!"
"That's unfortunate," she said, forming another spear. "Because I do."
She threw again.
Chris braced for impact—
—but something inside him snapped awake.
A pulse of energy burst from his chest, forming a faint barrier that shattered the spear mid-air.
The Fallen Angel froze.
Chris stared at his hands, trembling. "What… was that?"
She hissed. "So you are a threat."
She raised her hand for a third spear—
—and a red magic circle flared to life between them.
---
Rias stepped out of the circle, hair whipping in the wind, eyes blazing with fury.
"That's enough."
Akeno appeared beside her, lightning crackling at her fingertips. Koneko landed lightly on the pavement, fists clenched. Kiba drew his sword in one smooth motion.
The Fallen Angel snarled. "Gremory…!"
"You attacked a student of my school," Rias said, voice cold. "That is unacceptable."
"He's dangerous!"
"He's under my protection."
The Fallen Angel hesitated, wings twitching. She looked at Chris—really looked—and something like fear flickered in her eyes.
"This isn't over," she spat.
She vanished in a burst of black feathers.
Silence fell.
Chris's knees buckled.
Rias caught him before he hit the ground.
"Chris! Are you hurt?"
He shook his head, breath shaky. "I… I'm okay. I think."
Akeno knelt beside him, brushing a hand over his cheek. "You're bleeding."
He touched the cut from the first spear. "It's nothing."
Koneko tugged on his sleeve. "Don't lie."
Kiba sheathed his sword. "You handled yourself well."
Chris laughed weakly. "I almost died."
Rias's grip tightened. "But you didn't. And that's what matters."
Her voice trembled slightly.
She was scared.