April 21st, 2012, Gremory's Training Ground, Lunch Time.
"Finally! I really needed something to eat!" Irumi shouted at the top of her lungs as she launched herself toward the first available seat around the large, ornate table in the mansion's dining room.
For lunch, Grayfia had ensured the table was set with an impressive spread of delicious and nutritional dishes that Japanese cuisine could provide, from steaming bowls of miso soup and rice to platters of grilled fish, tempura, and vibrant salads.
"You seem satisfied, Ito," Yuuto Kiba commented, sitting down with a natural, refined grace that stood in stark contrast to Irumi's enthusiastic crash landing.
The girl nodded her head vigorously, her mouth already full as she began to eat with unbridled gusto. Rias Gremory smiled softly at the scene before her gaze settled on her queen, Akeno Himejima, who seemed more subdued than usual.
"And you, Akeno?" Rias inquired, her question drawing the attention of every member of her peerage at the table.
"You didn't see it, President?" Irumi asked around a mouthful of food, her eyes wide.
"See what?" Rias asked back, a look of confusion on her face. She had just spent the last four hours sequestered in a private chamber, entirely focused on her own training.
"There was a blinding light coming from where Senpai Himejima was training," Kiba explained calmly, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "It was quite… intense."
Akeno rolled her eyes, waving a hand dismissively. "It was nothing of consequence. Just Cendrillon being an exhibitionist."
"Oh, Cendrillon?" Rias's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "Like the tale of Cinderella? The Little Glass Slipper?"
"Yes, the very same," Akeno confirmed, taking a delicate sip of tea. "Admittedly, I never would have imagined her to be quite so… eclectic."
"What about you, prince charming?" Irumi asked, giving Kiba a friendly, if slightly rough, nudge in the side with her elbow.
"Sensei is truly a paragon of sword and combat," Kiba replied, his voice filled with a deep and sincere reverence. "An ideal warrior. I'm honoured Senpai Yuki assigned him to me."
The sheer amount of respect he held for the Yoshitsune was palpable.
"Sensei?" Rias asked, surprised. "Didn't you only call Souji like that?"
Souji Okita, her brother Sirzechs's knight, had been the first person Kiba had truly opened up to after being reincarnated. Okita himself often referred to Kiba as a surrogate son.
"That doesn't change my gratitude and respect for Sensei Okita," Kiba corrected gently, not wanting to be misunderstood or seem as though he were replacing his mentor.
"Souji Okita? You mean the famous samurai of the Shinsengumi?" Irumi asked, her historical knowledge piqued, though she was unaware of his current status as a devil.
"Oh yes," Rias explained. "He became my brother's knight shortly before he died in the human world."
As the conversation about their respective mornings continued, Rias's keen eyes noticed that Koneko was being silent, even more so than her usual quiet demeanor. The small girl's attention was fixed intently on her plate.
"Koneko? How did your training go?" Rias asked, her voice tender and laced with concern.
"Fine," came the short, simple reply from the rook, who did not lift her gaze.
"Ooh, who was with you!?" Irumi asked, leaning forward with excited, unnerving energy that made Koneko shrink back almost imperceptibly.
"Irumi!" Rias chastised gently, effectively silencing her overeager pawn with a look.
"Lord Apollo…" Koneko eventually answered, her voice barely above a whisper, a subtle uneasiness hidden behind her stoic facade.
Meanwhile, Makoto Yuki had just returned to the manor after a short, private discussion with Kohryu regarding Irumi's progress. As he entered the grand hallway, Grayfia approached him, her posture as impeccably composed as ever.
"Lord Yuki, lunch is ready. May I ask where our other guests are?" she inquired, her eyes scanning the area behind him for any sign of his powerful personas.
"They are here," Makoto said simply, tapping a finger against his temple.
"Thank you for making lunch," he added.
"It is my pleasure," Grayfia replied with a slight, formal bow. "As I have said, we are profoundly grateful for your assistance in helping the Young Lady."
As Grayfia led him toward the dining room, Makoto ventured a question that had been on his mind. "Grayfia, why is this marriage being carried on even though Rias doesn't want it?"
Grayfia stopped walking and turned to face the boy fully. The question was a difficult one, touching on the complex core of devil politics.
"I do not wish to bore you with politics, Lord Yuki, but the reason is that both the Gremory and Phenex houses have many vested interests in this marriage. The Young Lady's personal will… is not a primary factor in the decision." A rare hint of bitterness tinged her otherwise neutral tone.
"Isn't her brother one of your leaders? Can't he do something about it?" Makoto asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"It is not so simple, Lord Yuki," Grayfia explained patiently. "If Lord Lucifer were to step in and annul the marriage, the other noble houses would likely consider it an abuse of his power as a Satan."
She paused, choosing her words carefully to be as succinct as possible.
"We fought a long and brutal Civil War against the descendants of the Old Satans, the predecessors of the current ones, precisely to prevent such autocratic rule. When Lord Lucifer, and indeed the other Satans, assumed their new titles, they severed all formal political bonds with their former houses and swore a solemn oath to avoid any semblance of favoritism. This was to appease the rest of the nobility and ensure a balanced rule."
Makoto, while understanding the reasoning intellectually, found it emotionally difficult to accept.
"Is helping a family member, especially a younger sibling, really an abuse of power?" he asked rhetorically, his tone flat.
'He calls himself Lucifer and is scared of using his authority? Ridiculous,' the voice of Lucifer grumbled internally.
'I will be sure that little brat can erase the insufferable chicken from existence as the real Lucifer would do,' the Morning Star added with dark promise.
'Oh, this is something unexpected. The evil and cold Morning Star has a soft spot for the Priestess,' Apollo joked, his tone light and teasing.
'That is adorable, Lucifer!' Cendrillon chimed in.
'I suggest you both shut your mouths, or else the Universe will need to visit the Attendant sooner than expected to change his Personas,' Lucifer threatened, his mental voice dropping to a dangerous growl that silenced the others.
Grayfia did not answer for a moment. Privately, she agreed with Makoto's sentiment. She saw Rias as a younger sister as well, but the rules Sirzechs was bound to uphold were sacred. If he had ended the marriage as he so deeply desired, the political consequences would have been catastrophic and far-reaching.
"This is precisely why we are here, Lord Yuki," she eventually replied, her tone diplomatically neutral. Makoto merely hummed in response as they finally arrived at the dining room.
'I know it is hard for you to accept it, Universe, but we must tolerate it,' Kohryu said, his wise voice a calming presence.
'I know, Kohryu,' Makoto replied simply.
"Hey, Senpai!" Irumi called out the moment Makoto was seen entering the room. He nodded in acknowledgment and took a seat, his focus shifting to the food.
"Yuki, I want to ask you a question," Rias said, drawing his attention.
"Yes?"
"Mr. Cyphre… who is he? All your other Personas are figures from history or myth, but I have never heard of anyone named Louis Cyphre. When he ignited that star, I thought he might be related to the cosmos—a god of celestial bodies, perhaps—but my research turned up nothing. His identity is a mystery," Rias explained, her curiosity about her mysterious and intimidating 'teacher' evident.
'I have already told the Priestess to give up on figuring that out,' Lucifer grumbled internally.
'Are you shy, Morning Star?' Apollo mocked, eliciting mental laughter from even typically reserved Personas like Kohryu and Odin.
"It's not important," Makoto replied flatly, wanting nothing more than to eat in peace. The immense effort of keeping so many powerful Personas summoned simultaneously had left him ravenous.
He spent the remainder of the lunch offering brief answers to the various questions from Rias and her peerage as they continued to recount the events of their morning.
'They are a good group,' Kohryu commented warmly as Makoto listened to their chatter.
'They are indeed, hee-hoo!' Jack Frost agreed with his characteristic giggle.
'This is the most important step. A harmonious team can overcome anything,' Yoshitsune stated sagely.
"Yeah," Makoto said quietly to himself, a faint, nostalgic smile touching his lips as he watched the bonds of the Gremory household strengthen over the shared meal. "You are right."