The eyelids twitched as a pair of beautiful green eyes opened. The chirping of birds and the gentle morning breeze woke the blonde girl.
She sat up slowly, yawning. As usual, she knelt beside the bed to begin her morning prayer, but stopped when she felt a sharp pain in her head.
"Ouch… I always forget I'm a devil now," Asia whispered, standing up to look for her clothes.
She had to get ready quickly and head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Smiling, she went downstairs; she was always the first to wake up.
With practiced familiarity, she opened the refrigerator and began searching for the ingredients she needed. She hummed a tune while thinking how effective her little strategy had been after noticing Daniel's change in attitude.
When she told Aika about it in class, her friend looked at her in disbelief. She asked if she had really not left the bathroom door open while showering, or if the "midnight assault on Daniel's room" hadn't happened.
Asia just smiled cheerfully, insisting that cooking for him was all it took. Aika, meanwhile, began to question her own life and her supposed knowledge of how to attract boys.
Asia giggled at the memory while taking out the bread to toast. Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed toward the kitchen.
She blushed slightly when she recognized them, but quickly composed herself, fixed her hair to look better, and waited silently for the boy she liked.
Daniel looked at the beautiful blonde in front of him; her lovely green eyes seemed to shine at the sight of him. He froze for a few seconds, wondering if his own eyes changed when he looked at Asia or Koneko.
"Do my eyes shine too?" he thought, considering checking in a mirror to see.
He wasn't sure about many things when it came to relationships. Although he had once had a crush before arriving in this world, it couldn't compare to what he felt for Asia and Koneko.
"Good morning, Asia. You look as beautiful as ever today," he whispered, gently caressing her cheek.
That was another trick learned from his family — "positive reinforcement." Expressing affection through words, accompanied, of course, by physical touch.
Seeing the girl practically melt under his touch, he could only thank his father mentally. Even though witnessing that kind of affection between his parents had been awkward back then, he now understood the value of those lessons.
Daniel stopped caressing her and began helping with breakfast. Touch was necessary, but overusing it could backfire.
While chopping vegetables for the salad, he wondered when he might reach that same level of closeness with Koneko.
His expression grew serious, even a bit guilty, as he remembered what had happened the night before: Rias's "midnight incursion" and the misunderstanding with the maid.
Daniel sighed before frowning, annoyed. If Asia or Koneko ever heard that he had been with the redhead, they might get upset.
If he truly had feelings for Rias, it wouldn't be a problem — he would be honest and direct with them. But he wasn't particularly interested in her. He liked her, yes, but not romantically.
The young man shook his head, trying to clear his wandering thoughts. He hoped Rias would be able to put their ideas into practice and solve her problem.
Without further delay, he carried the plates with Asia to the living room, where Koneko sat on the sofa waiting. It had become their usual routine to have breakfast together there.
---
The sun, high above, shone warmly as two young people walked toward the old school building.
The silence between them wasn't awkward; they were used to it.
Soon, Daniel and Koneko spotted three others heading in the same direction — Kiba, Issei, and Asia.
Upon seeing them, Asia cheerfully trotted over to Daniel's side.
Issei, walking next to Kiba, asked,
"Why did Buchou call us? Is something going on?"
Kiba hesitated before replying,
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem good."
After a few minutes of silence, they reached the clubroom doors. Akeno greeted them, standing beside a silver-haired maid.
Rias, sitting on the sofa, looked up.
"It seems everyone is here. Before we begin today's activities, there's something I must tell you all."
"Would you like me to say it, Ojou-sama?" asked Grayfia, raising her hand calmly.
"Well, actually…" Rias began, but at that very moment, a magic circle lit up on the floor.
The Gremory symbol changed, adopting another pattern.
"Phenex…" Kiba muttered.
An intense light filled the room as the circle flared with flames that spread throughout the area. The silhouette of a man appeared within the fire; when he extended his arms to the sides, the flames vanished.
"Heh. It's been a long time since I last came to the human world," said the man who appeared, dressed in a flawless red suit.
He wore it casually — no tie, shirt unbuttoned down to his chest. He looked to be in his twenties. Handsome, though with the air of a cocky, rebellious young man. His hands remained in his pockets.
The man looked around and smiled when his eyes found the redhead.
"My dear Rias, I've come to see you," he said with a confident grin.
She looked at him with calm eyes and merely nodded as a formal greeting. Grayfia was slightly surprised to see her so composed; she knew very well Rias couldn't stand Riser.
He, on the other hand, didn't seem to care and approached her with complete confidence.
"So, Rias, let's take a look at the place for the ceremony. The wedding date has already been decided, so we should make the arrangements soon," he said as he tried to take her hand.
Rias subtly pulled her hand back, signaling for him to sit on the sofa across from her.
The man, Riser, smiled smugly, unfazed by her rejection.
Issei, watching from the side, felt a stab of irritation at the arrogant and self-satisfied attitude of the newcomer.
Riser sat down casually, crossing one leg over the other.
"Well, Rias, have you picked a date yet?" he asked arrogantly as Akeno poured the tea.
Rias lifted her cup gracefully before replying,
"I have no intention of marrying you."
Riser let out a short laugh as he set his cup down on the table.
Issei, still not fully understanding the situation, muttered under his breath,
"Who's that guy?"
Though he spoke quietly, everyone in the room — all devils with sharp senses — heard him clearly.
"Oh? Rias, haven't you told your servants about me? Is there someone who doesn't know who I am? A reincarnated human, perhaps? Even though I'm your fiancé?" Riser said mockingly.
"I didn't tell them because it wasn't necessary," Rias replied calmly. "After all, there will be no wedding."
There was a faint tone of arrogance in her voice — unusual for her.
Grayfia looked at her with mild confusion. This wasn't the Rias she knew. Normally, upon seeing Riser, she would have reacted furiously, arguing or even attacking him. She hadn't expected to see her so composed.
Her gaze drifted instinctively toward the silver-haired young man standing silently in the corner.
---
Rias tried to keep her expression steady while going over the plan Daniel had suggested.
"Serene, elegant, and slightly arrogant," the redhead thought, looking down at Riser with condescension.
The devil continued, unfazed by her rejection.
"Yes, I've heard that," he replied. "But, Rias, you know your family is racing against time to prevent a crisis. Your parents and Sirzechs-sama are worried. They fear the family line will die out. We lost a great number of pureblood devils in the last war.
The union between first-class pureblood devils is the key to preserving the lineage of the elite. These children will be vital to the future, won't they?" Riser took a sip of tea before continuing his monologue. "We can't allow pureblood devils to go extinct. We were chosen to prevent that. My house already has my elder brothers, so our line is secure. Only you remain, Rias, to carry on the honor of the Gremory clan. If you don't marry, the Gremory family will die out in this generation. Would you really crush such a historic lineage? This marriage decides the future of all devils."
Rias listened without changing her expression. Before replying, she added calmly,
"I won't let my clan die out. I will marry."
Riser's smile widened at her words — but quickly vanished with what followed.
"But I won't marry you, Riser. I'll marry someone I consider worthy. Even devils who follow old traditions still have the right to choose."
Riser's expression turned sour; his eyes narrowed, and he clicked his tongue in disdain.
"Rias… I'm also a noble devil who bears the Phenex name. I won't let that name be tarnished. I didn't even want to come to some old human building like this. In truth, I can't stand the human world — its fire and wind are vile! For a devil like me, who embodies flame and wind, it's unbearable!"
Soon, massive flames erupted around Riser; small embers floated through the air.
"I'll take you back to Hell — even if I have to burn all your servants to ashes!" he shouted furiously.
The air grew heavy, thick with killing intent.