"Ready, Baka?" Sho asked as he opened the Anywhere Door.
A rush of warm, fresh air hit their faces. Beyond the doorway stretched an endless green field under a bright blue sky.
Baka stepped forward, eyes wide. "Boss… is this really another world? It looks so much like ours."
Sho nodded. "Yeah. Don't forget what I taught you — you still remember how to use the inventory and chat system, right?"
"Of course, Boss! It's just like a game system," Baka said proudly.
"Good. Then enjoy yourself." Sho smiled, closing the door halfway. He wasn't too worried about Baka since he could use magic well enough to handle most dangers.
"Wait, Boss! I have a question!" Baka called out.
"What is it?" Sho asked, pausing.
"Can't you just… keep the door open? So I can go back and forth anytime?"
Sho thought for a moment. "System, is that possible?"
> System: The door can remain open as long as it's held open for some time. However, as time passes, the spatial connection between the two worlds will begin to distort. Within an hour, it will automatically close.
Sho sighed. "Sorry, Baka. Looks like it won't work."
"Ah, that's too bad…" Baka muttered, scratching his head.
Sho gave a small wave. "Take care of yourself. Enjoy your journey."
And with that, he closed the door.
On the other side, Baka took a deep breath, smiling as he stepped into the grassy world — ready to begin his Pokémon adventure.
"Sho-san, I'm ready," a gentle voice called out from behind. It was Asia.
Sho turned, offering her a brief nod before the two began walking toward the school together. Since Asia was new here, he thought it'd be good for her to memorize the route on her first day.
As they reached the school gates, whispers immediately began to ripple through the crowd.
"Who's that cute girl?"
"Could she be his girlfriend?"
"Nah, maybe his sister."
"What if she's his stepsister?"
Asia's golden-blonde hair shimmered under the morning sun, drawing attention not only from the boys but also from the girls, who found her almost too adorable to look away from.
After slipping past all the stares, Sho led her straight toward the Occult Research Club building. Rias was already waiting outside.
"Sho…" she called out, but her eyes quickly shifted from him to the girl beside him — a blonde-haired beauty standing quietly at his side.
"She's the one you mentioned, the girl you wanted to make admission ?" Rias asked.
"Yes," Sho replied, stopping in front of her.
Rias's crimson eyes studied Asia with curiosity. There was something about her aura faint but distinct the kind of gentle energy that could only belong to someone carrying a Sacred Gear.
"Hello there. I'm Rias Gremory," she said, her tone warm and composed.
Asia bowed slightly, her voice soft and polite. "Nice to meet you, Rias-san. I'm Asia Argento."
"Just wait a little while, Koneko should be here soon," Rias said, glancing toward the corridor.
Moments later, Koneko appeared as if from thin air, a chocolate bar in hand. She took a quiet bite, her expression calm and unreadable as her golden eyes flicked between Sho and Asia, not showing much interest.
"Good morning, Buchou," she greeted, her tone even. Then she gave a small nod to Sho and Asia in acknowledgment.
"Koneko, this is Asia," Rias said. "Take care of her while she's in school."
Koneko nodded without hesitation, her usual stoic demeanor unchanged.
"Thank you for helping me, Koneko-san," Asia said softly, her tone sincere and polite it was so gentle that for a split second, Koneko's chocolate tasted just a little bitter.
Koneko turned, motioning for Asia to follow.
Before stepping after her, Asia looked back at Sho. Her eyes asked a silent question — seeking permission. Sho gave a reassuring nod, and only then did she hurry after Koneko.
Sho and Rias stood in silence, watching as Koneko and Asia disappeared down the hall. Then, Rias suddenly spoke.
"Does Asia also have a Sacred Gear?" she asked.
"She does," Sho replied calmly. "It's a healing-type Sacred Gear."
There was no point in hiding it — anyone could figure it out eventually. And knowing how gullible Asia was, she'd never be able to keep it secret from Rias's group for long. Since they all went to the same school, it was better to be upfront.
"If you don't mind," Rias said after a pause, "may I ask her to join my peerage?"
Her tone was polite but clear — since Asia had come with Sho, Rias wanted to make her intentions known.
Sho gave a faint shrug. "If she agrees, go ahead."
After all, Asia wasn't his property. He'd only helped her out of pity. And honestly, if she joined Rias's peerage, it might not be such a bad thing. At least that way, Asia could have people around her ...maybe even friends ..in this new world she barely understood.
"By the way, Sho… can we talk during the lunch break? There's something I want to discuss," Rias said.
"Sure," Sho replied, though he couldn't help feeling a little curious about what she meant.
Classes passed quickly — like sand slipping through an hourglass.
Asia's first day drew a lot of attention. In her classroom, a crowd of male students surrounded her, asking where she was from and even trying to get her contact information. Whenever someone got too clingy or tried to push their luck, Koneko appeared beside her like a silent bodyguard and tossed them away as if they were trash.
When the lunch bell finally rang, Sho headed toward the first-year classroom to give Asia his lunch box. Since it was his own fault for not telling her in advance about her school admission and also that today was her first day at school. He felt it was only fair to give her his lunch box. Besides, he wasn't hungry at all.
"Sho-san," Asia called out from the doorway as soon as she saw him.
"Here. This is your lunch," Sho said, handing her the box.
"Thank you, Sho-san. Would you… like to eat together?" Asia asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.
"No. I have something to do, so I have to leave," Sho replied.
Her expression dipped for a moment, disappointment flickering across her face. But she brightened almost immediately, an idea sparking — she could make a lunch box for Sho tomorrow.
Sho noticed her staring off dreamily, her smile growing all on its own. She looked both down and cheerful at the same time.
"Asia," he called gently.
She snapped back to reality with an even brighter smile.
Sho waved her goodbye and walked away, wondering why girls were so strange — their emotions seemed to change every other second.
....
At the Occult Research Club.
Sho sat on the couch across from Rias while Akeno gracefully poured tea into porcelain cups.
"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" Sho asked.
"Sho-san," Akeno chimed in before Rias could answer, "don't be in such a hurry. At least taste the tea I specifically prepared for you. You can talk after that."
Her voice was soft, almost musical, but her eyes… they were fixed on Sho with a slow, deliberate hunger. She stared at him as if peeling away his clothes with a glance, even giving a light lick of her lips.
Sho instantly looked away.
He wasn't used to situations like this at all. Girls flirting with him felt foreign — the world he came from was one where most girls acted as if he didn't even exist. The only woman he had ever been close to was Aunt Cass, and that relationship was nothing like this. Having Akeno look at him like he was a piece of candy made him feel like he was actually being harassed.
But none of that discomfort showed on the outside. His expression stayed calm, stoic… confident even.
Inside, however, he felt like a man cornered by a shameless predator.
"Akeno, can you give us a moment?" Rias said firmly, her tone gentle but carrying authority. She had clearly noticed Akeno's behavior as well.
Akeno smiled, unfazed. "Alright, I won't disturb you two. But Sho-san, please taste the tea and tell me if it's to your liking."
With a teasing wave, she left the room.
As Akeno stepped out and closed the door behind her, the room grew quieter. Rias folded her hands on her lap and looked at Sho with a serious expression.
"The reason I wanted to talk to you is because of the recent incidents," she began. "I've received several reports that Fallen Angels have been lurking around… and some members of the Church as well. So I wanted to ask—on the day you saved one of our contractors from that exorcist, what exactly did you do to that priest?"
"Killed him," Sho replied without hesitation.
In truth, the priest was still alive — locked away safely — but there was no need for Rias to know that.
"I see…" Rias said softly, taking a moment to process it. "Then you should be on guard. I've confirmed that a few Church agents are roaming the area. Maybe they have a specific purpose, or maybe it's just their routine patrols… but still, be careful. Since you killed one of them, they might come after you. And considering you work for devils through your business, they definitely won't view you kindly."
Sho understood her warning perfectly. Church members weren't exactly the saints they pretended to be. In his mind, they probably behaved like, 'Look, there's a human who deals with devils — burn him.'
And from what he remembered of the anime, Church priests were no holy angels either. Many acted more like psycho killer's.
Still, Rias's concern didn't worry him much. Even Without his trump card — his Superman Mode — he could crush these wannabe "Church justice league" types without breaking a sweat.
"So if by any chance you encounter such situations, contact me immediately. I can lend a helping hand," Rias said proudly, expecting a reaction like Really? You'd do that?
But all she got was his usual stoic, confident expression.
Maybe he's just shy, she thought.
"There won't be any need for that, but still… thanks for the offer," Sho said as he took a sip of the tea.
And yes—the tea was actually really good. Refreshing, even.
After a bit more conversation about simple things—like how Sho's business was running, and whether he would consider signing an exclusive contract with the Gremory family (which he politely declined)—Rias also asked if he would become a temporary member of her peerage just to see how it felt. Her real intention was to get closer to him and maybe change his mind.
But Sho rejected that immediately.
After all, he was rich and powerful—there was no reason for him to become someone's servant.
Soon, the class bell rang. It was time for Sho to leave, and he walked out of the Occult Research Club.
Rias moved to the window, her eyes following his figure as he walked.
"Is he really that interesting to the President?" Akeno asked from behind her.
"I don't know… I just feel like he's hiding something." Rias's voice softened. "He gives off this feeling… like he could solve every problem if he stayed by my side."
"Araa… araa. That sounds more like a crush," Akeno teased.
"AKENO! It's not like that!" Rias snapped, completely denying it. "I'm just curious about him, that's all. He just… makes me curious."
"Doesn't he feel a little mysterious to you too?" Rias asked Akeno.
"Mysterious? Hmm… I do think so," Akeno said, placing a hand under her chin as if she were seriously thinking.
"See? You feel it too." Rias felt relieved she wasn't the only one.
"If he took off his glasses, he'd look even more handsome. He hides his beautiful eyes," Akeno added casually.
Rias deadpanned.
Sigh…
"How about this, President?" Akeno said suddenly. "You take Issei and I'll take Sho."
She said it so casually—as if she were talking about pastries: you take the strawberry, I'll take the chocolate.
"What are you even talking about?" Rias groaned. "Issei is like a little brother. And about Sho—we've just met him. He seems strong, and that's what made me curious. Nothing else. So drop this topic. I don't want to hear anything more about it."
She turned her head away, slightly irritated.
Maybe we've only met him two or three times… but I can tell he's hard on the outside and creamy on the inside, Akeno thought, licking her lips.
Meanwhile, in class, Sho suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine—an eerie sensation, almost as if someone had just licked him.
...
Sho sat through the history class, only half-listening as the teacher droned on. His eyes were on the board, but his mind was elsewhere—until the system screen blinked into view with a small notification icon.
He tapped it lazily.
It was the chat function.
And the messages were from Baka.
Baka: Boss, I've caught a blue giant worm-like fish.
Sho: Worm-like? How does it look?
Baka sent the description: a long, serpent blue-and-yellow body with scales like skin, a wide mouth, and sharp dorsal fins. A large blue crest sat on its forehead.
Sho: That's Gyarados.
Baka: There was another Pokémon I saw in the forest, but I couldn't catch it.
Sho: Oh? What did it look like?
Baka: Like a deer.
Sho: Probably Stantler. It's just a normal Pokémon.
Baka: I see. But it looked beautiful… its antlers were shining. I tried to catch it, but it vanished into the fog.
Sho straightened in his seat.
Stantler didn't have shining antlers.
Sho: Baka, tell me exactly how it looked.
Baka: Like a deer with black and blue body with shining antlers.
Sho: How many antlers?
Baka: I didn't count… maybe six or eight. And they were glowing yellow.
Sho froze.
He wanted to bang his head on the desk.
Even after wandering the forest himself, he'd never encountered it—and from Baka's description, the "deer" was probably Xerneas.
He realized something painful.
Maybe he wasn't the chosen one of the Pokémon world at all.
Maybe… it was Baka the chosen one ...the fated one.
Sho returned to messaging.
Sho: Listen carefully. If you see it again, catch it. Don't let it escape.
Baka: Don't worry, boss. Your word is my command. I'll hunt it down. My gun is itching for a good hunt.
Sho: NO! You can't use a gun on Pokémon! Wait—why do you even have a gun? Baka, no matter what, don't use it. And… did you already fire it at some pokemon?!
Baka: No, boss, I didn't use it. I only kept it for emergencies. But since you said not to use it, I threw the gun into the water.
Sho exhaled in relief.
At least he had saved Xerneas from being hunted.