The sleeping beauty stirred.
When her eyes fluttered open, a soft emerald glow shimmered within them—radiant, pure, and almost otherworldly, like polished jewels that could draw in anyone who met her gaze.
Rias Gremory blinked once, then slowly sat up, her crimson hair spilling across the sheets like silk. "Morning already…?" she murmured with a lazy grace that made the simple words sound strangely captivating.
She stretched lightly, utterly calm, as if being in Ryuichi's room were the most natural thing in the world. Her movements had an effortless elegance, the kind that could make anyone forget what they were supposed to say.
"Good morning," she greeted, turning her head with a faint smile.
"Ah—good morning…"Ryuichi's voice was hesitant as his memories caught up with him. The last thing he remembered before blacking out was a flash of red hair in the moonlight… her.
Gathering his thoughts, he finally managed to ask, "You're the one who saved me… right?"
Rias's smile deepened, her expression soft yet brimming with confidence. Resting her chin on her knee, she watched him with eyes full of quiet fondness—like someone admiring a rare treasure they'd just found.
"Of course. You gave me quite a bit of trouble, you know," she said lightly, though the warmth in her voice made it sound more like a playful scolding than a complaint.
Then she added, almost casually, "I'm Rias Gremory. I'm a Devil… and, starting today, your master. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ryuichi."
"…A Devil? My master?"Ryuichi blinked, trying to make sense of words that felt far too surreal for an ordinary morning.
"What's going on here? Who was that woman with wings yesterday—and why the hell was she trying to kill me?"
Rias sighed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's a long story," she said. "But to put it simply, the one who attacked you was a Fallen Angel. She approached you to confirm whether you possessed a Sacred Gear. Once she confirmed it, her orders were to eliminate you."
"Sacred Gear…"Ryuichi's thoughts flashed back to that final moment—the sudden burst of light, the silver sword and shield that had appeared from nowhere, and the overwhelming power that had destroyed his attacker.
"So that thing… was inside me all along?"
"Seems that way," Rias replied with a knowing smile. "No one really understands how or why a Sacred Gear chooses its host. History's full of great heroes who carried them—perhaps the gods just have a strange sense of humor."
Ryuichi fell silent.Now that he understood the truth, his earlier assumptions felt downright laughable.He had thought he'd stumbled into some kind of scam or setup, but no—he'd literally been fighting a Fallen Angel.
Tch… who in the world could've guessed that? My entire worldview just got demolished…
"Anyway," he said at last, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks for saving me. But… what exactly do you mean by 'master'?"
His gaze drifted back to Rias before he could stop himself, and his heartbeat spiked. The morning light brushed across her hair, her skin, her confident smile—and his brain short-circuited for a moment.
She's too damn pretty.And she was sitting there so naturally, completely at ease, like temptation itself had decided to take human form.
He coughed, forcing his eyes away. Even in this ridiculous situation, he couldn't forget that this was their first actual conversation.And what a way to start it…
Rias, noticing the fluster in his expression, chuckled softly. "It means exactly what it sounds like," she said, leaning forward just enough to make his pulse quicken. "I revived you as my servant Devil. From now on, you belong to me. Oh—and in case you were wondering, that also makes you a Devil now."
She stood, her long crimson hair swaying as she stepped closer. "Why the nervous look? You keep glancing away," she teased. "Is it that hard to meet my eyes?"
Ryuichi sighed inwardly. Do Devils even know what shame is?He quickly realized human logic wasn't going to help him understand Rias Gremory. Still… he couldn't deny that her confidence had a strange kind of charm.
As for the fact that he was now technically a Devil himself?Honestly, that didn't bother him nearly as much as it should have.After being attacked by a Fallen Angel, the whole "angelic side" of the supernatural world had already lost its shine for him.
"So," he asked cautiously, "last night was just… healing, right?"
Rias laughed, the sound light and teasing. "You humans really do have interesting imaginations," she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "But don't worry—I can assure you, I'm still pure."
She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper near his ear, the playful edge unmistakable. "Though, I don't mind if that disappoints you."
Then, as if nothing had happened, she turned away and began dressing with calm efficiency.
Ryuichi sat quietly for a moment, caught between disbelief and exasperation. Every gesture she made seemed deliberate—graceful, confident, and maddeningly distracting.
"Could you help me with this?" Rias asked suddenly, gathering her hair to one side and revealing the back of her neck as she motioned toward the clasp of her uniform.
Ryuichi raised an eyebrow, then smiled faintly. "It'd be my pleasure."
He stepped forward, fastening the clasp with steady hands, then reached for his own clothes to get dressed.By the time he finished, Rias was already sitting on the bed, slipping white socks onto her long legs as if this entire exchange were part of a perfectly normal morning routine.
"Once you're ready," she said lightly, "you're coming to Kuoh Academy with me. I'll introduce you to the others in my peerage—and we'll get your club registration sorted out."
"Got it."After everything he'd seen, Ryuichi wasn't about to argue. His old life was over; pretending to be normal after this would be pointless.
When Rias was finally dressed, the aura of temptation gave way to something more regal.Ryuichi opened the curtains, and sunlight flooded the room. He flexed his hand experimentally—the strength coursing through his body felt different now, deep and potent, like energy waiting to be unleashed.
So this is what she meant by a Devil's body…
He let out a quiet breath.A few days ago, he'd been an ordinary guy. Then he'd died, reincarnated, been killed again, and resurrected as a Devil.The sheer absurdity of it all was almost comical.
Behind him, Rias gathered her hair over one shoulder. "Come on," she said with a smile. "If we don't hurry, we'll be late."
Together, they stepped outside and started toward Kuoh Academy.
The walk wasn't far, and soon the school's familiar gates came into view. Other students were trickling in, chatting and laughing—until they noticed her.
Rias Gremory, the academy's untouchable beauty, walking side by side with a guy no one had ever seen her talk to before.
The stares were immediate. Some shocked, some jealous, most just bewildered.Ryuichi sighed inwardly. So much for keeping a low profile.Walking next to Rias was like walking next to a spotlight—one that burned through every attempt at normalcy.
Rias glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her lips curling slightly. "You don't seem to enjoy attention very much," she observed. "You always keep that polite smile of yours, like you're trying to keep everyone at arm's length."
Her accuracy caught him off guard. After a pause, he replied quietly, "In this world, being too outstanding—or too ordinary—is never a good thing."
"Oh?" Rias tilted her head. "So you hide who you really are to stay somewhere in between… not too visible, but not completely detached either."
A small, knowing laugh escaped her. "You really are a curious one. Do you dislike people that much?"
Ryuichi shook his head. "It's not that I dislike them," he said evenly. "I just don't need them."
Rias looked at him for a moment, then smiled—a genuine one, soft and amused."I see. Well, I hope we can become the kind of people you do need someday."
The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, painting their path in gold.Ryuichi didn't answer, but for the first time since waking up, he found himself smiling—just a little.