A/N:
🌟 September Wrap-Up & What's Next! 🌟
Hey everyone 💖
So… we didn't quite make it through the September challenge 😅 Which means the original work won't be happening this time. But that's okay—because we're moving forward with something exciting! 🎉✨
👉 October will be our voting month! 🗳️
This time, you'll get to decide which new fanfic I'll be creating in November 📚💫
⚡ Voting will close on October 20th ⚡
That way, I'll have enough time to prepare chapters for November!
✨ And here's a bonus: the early chapters of the winning fanfic will be available first, exclusively on Patreon! 🎁📖
So make sure to cast your vote and be part of shaping what comes next 🌈🔥
Thank you so much for your amazing support 💕 I can't wait to see which story wins and bring it to life for you all!
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Well, at least for now, Irina was glaring at Akeno instead of me.
That was a small mercy in this storm.
If she saw me as the bad guy, I'd already be in a holy water bath, strapped to a cross, and force-fed prayers until I begged for forgiveness.
So… maybe I should spin this to my advantage.
If Irina believed Akeno was the "bad girl" here, then all I needed to do was play the innocent, helpless boy who got caught up in her schemes.
Yep, that was the angle—me, the poor victim.
Manipulated, tricked, and corrupted by the evil bitch in a bathrobe.
Sounded perfect.
Foolproof, even.
Or so I thought.
Suddenly, Irina's next words completely blew my carefully laid plan into flaming chaos.
"Xenovia! Let's exorcise this devil! Get ready!"
She barked with the authority of a soldier.
Before I could even blink, Xenovia stepped forward.
Her calm, steady movements made the floorboards creak under her weight as she pulled the wrapped object from her back.
The cloth fell away in a dramatic sweep, and my eyes went wide.
…It was not a sniper rifle.
No, not even a gun, but a sword.
A massive, intimidating, cool-looking sword that glinted dangerously under the lights.
NOT THAT! my mind screamed.
It finally clicked.
She wasn't here for fun, or to hang out, or to eat my snacks.
No, she was here to slay devils.
She is also a part of the supernatural worldview!
Which… was suddenly a very real problem, considering Akeno sitting pretty on my sofa was about as devilish as you could get.
I swallowed hard.
"So you meant… when you said exorcise, you really meant…?"
Of course, Irina's fierce glare at Akeno told me everything I needed to know.
It made sense, though.
Of course, church members would be able to sniff out devils.
Their whole life was literally about hunting them down.
But that didn't change the fact that my idiot housemate—still lounging on the sofa, robe slightly slipping down her shoulder, smirking like she was watching a stage play—was doing absolutely nothing to help me out of this.
She just crossed her legs, tilted her head, and gave me that look.
The 'I want to see how you'll squirm your way out of this one' look.
…This was going to be a long, painful day.
Suddenly, before Xenovia could swing that oversized holy can-opener, the entire room flashed crimson.
A glowing red magic circle lit up the floor, humming with devil energy, and in a blink, Rias, Koneko, and Asia stepped out of it.
The timing couldn't have been worse.
"Zevion!"
Rias greeted me with a cheerful smile, completely unaware of the chaos brewing.
"I brought some cake for us! Which anime are you planning for tonight?"
Her happy voice filled the room, but then she froze mid-step, her crimson hair swaying as her eyes narrowed at the two robed intruders.
Recognition flickered instantly across her face.
She didn't need introductions—just one look at the uniforms and the faint aura clinging to them was enough.
"Church…" she muttered softly.
The air got heavy.
Koneko's ears twitched, and Asia fidgeted nervously behind her.
Everyone understood the tension.
Everyone except Irina and Xenovia, who shielded me and exploded in righteous fury.
"You!"
She pointed an accusing finger straight at Rias, her violet eyes blazing.
"You spawn of tainted evil! How dare you try to play with my childhood friend's heart! Rias Gremory, the so-called ruler of Kuoh Academy! How dare you trick him!"
The room fell silent.
Rias blinked, looking utterly baffled. Koneko tilted her head with her usual deadpan.
Asia looked like she wanted to sink through the floor.
And me?
I was standing there, wondering if I'd stepped into some kind of bad comedy skit.
Seriously, what was this girl even thinking?
Rias 'tricking me'?
Into what, exactly?
Watching anime and eating cake?
That was hardly the devil's grand scheme for world domination.
Still, Irina's expression was dead serious, her whole body trembling with protective outrage.
The way she clung to the memory of our childhood made it sound like I'd been brainwashed into the devil's harem or something.
…Wait.
Actually, looking around the room at Rias, Akeno, Asia, and Koneko… wasn't that exactly what it looked like?
No wonder she was mad.
Irina took another step forward, fire in her eyes as she raised her hand dramatically.
"We won't let you take his purity!"
She declared with the conviction of a knight delivering holy judgment.
My jaw dropped.
…Purity?
Seriously?!
This girl—her mind was way too deep in the gutter!
The worst part?
Her words hit me like a bullet.
Suddenly, my cheeks were burning hot, and when I glanced at Rias, I saw she was blushing just as hard.
Because both of us remembered.
That night.
Our first time together.
Ugh…!
Why did she have to say it like that?
It's one thing to keep it our little secret, but having it spelled out by someone else in front of everyone was way too much.
I scratched my cheek, avoiding everyone's eyes, while Rias coughed into her hand, clearly trying to keep her composure but failing miserably.
Koneko just tilted her head, muttering, "How shameless…" while Akeno's smile grew wider, her eyes sparkling with mischief as if this was the best free entertainment she'd seen all week.
Irina and Xenovia froze as they saw our reactions, their faces slowly draining of color until they both looked pale as ghosts.
Xenovia was the first to find her voice.
She pointed at Rias with trembling outrage, her words sharp as a blade.
"You disgusting devils… You already did such dirty things, brainwashing him into impurity! Do you have no shame!?"
Her voice rang with holy conviction, but all it did was make my ears burn hotter.
And then came Irina.
She clenched her fists so tight they shook, her whole body trembling as she glared at Rias like a betrayed lover.
"How… how… how dare you…!"
She stammered, her voice cracking.
"I was so much hoping to take it for myself… How dare you…!"
…Umm. Hello? Miss Irina?
Your thoughts are leaking all over the floor here.
I didn't even have time to comment before she clasped her hands together, her violet eyes shimmering with pious fire.
"Oh Lord, please forgive this lost lamb of Yours," she prayed passionately, "and cleanse him of impurity! I will make sure to help him heal through this… and gain true happiness!"
The room went completely silent.
Rias's face turned crimson, her mouth twitching like she couldn't decide whether to yell or crawl into a hole and hide.
Akeno was biting her lip, barely holding back laughter.
Asia gasped, scandalized, while Koneko just muttered, "…How shameless," again in her usual deadpan tone.
Me?
I just stared at Irina, blinking slowly, until one thought popped into my head.
…You know what?
I think I'll join their side.
Sounds more fun, after all.
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