By the time I entered the classroom, parents were lined up at the back, some with fancy cameras and video equipment. My own parents were here, too; apparently Dad took the day off specially for this. It's a bit embarrassing, but I won't shun them, so better to just go with it.
Today's observation was for English class. I already had a hunch what we'd be doing, this scene is one of the infamously awkward moments from the original.
Once class began, the teacher handed out lumps of modeling clay and explained:
"Everyone, please make something you like with this clay. It can be an animal, an object, or anything natural. You can also describe it in English."
…Yeah, okay. That's… absurd. Even the examples were weird! The whole situation felt like the school's supernatural "power" had glitched, given all the psychic energy in the air, thanks to a bunch of unusual beings: our demon familiars, Sitri's crew, and then today's VIP parents like the Gremory head, Greyfia, Serafall, and Sirzechs, their combined presence probably overloaded the system.
Despite the bizarre prompt, everyone launched into the task. Asia and Xenovia, unaffected by the weird energy, responded politely with appropriate classroom English, "Interesting depth in Japanese English skills," or "Yes!", but this wasn't a conversation lesson, so I'm pretty sure those sentences were all wrong. I'll quietly correct them later.
But the opportunity was there, so I decided to fully indulge this clay-English scenario. I thought about sculpting a cat or fox, but went a step further, I shaped something representing my lingering desire from before: Cerberus. I concentrated hard, focusing on every muscle and tendon to mold the clay with precise detail.
After a while, I finished and paused. Gasps echoed around the room:
"Is that... Cerberus?!"
"Look at the fine sculpting, even each strand of fur! It's captured in mid-attack with fire coming from its mouth!"
Yeah, I went all out. Farewell, pet Cerberus. Here lies my unfinished attachment in clay form.
Before I could bask in that satisfied glow, another voice piped up:
"Issei, is that Rias-senpai's naked figure?!"
"No way! Rias Onee-sama?! That's an uncanny likeness!"
Apparently he'd unconsciously sculpted Rias. I'd had to concentrate hard to craft Cerberus, but he just… did it while half-distracted. Ugh.
Soon, the atmosphere turned competitive, but the class bell rang, ending the lesson. Our little "auction" was called off.
====================
At lunch, everyone in the Occult Club shared their creations.
Rias (smiling shyly): "Well, it's a bit embarrassing to be the model, but you really captured me."
Akeno (nodding): "The details are exquisite. Perhaps I might commission one myself."
Koneko (skeptically): "Issei, you haven't given up on that dog sculpture, have you?"
Me: "Not exactly… think of it more like… a symbolic farewell?"
Koneko: "...Then it's fine."
She accepted that answer, thank goodness.
Asia crafted Lassee, her familiar. Xenovia made a clay Durandal. Yuuto actually had math class instead of English. His teacher handed out Rubik's Cubes and taught how to solve them. That seemed at least a bit more related to the subject… maybe? It's confusing.
Yuuto: "The teacher even solved a 9×9 cube lightning-fast. Impressive."
Meanwhile, a lively, rhythmic bass track began pulsing in the distance.
Asia: "What's that sound, ?"
Xenovia: "Looks like it's coming from the gym."
We sent out a detection spell and discovered a crowd of over a hundred students. Curious, we headed to the gym.
The curtains were closed, the space dimly lit. Male students were shouting, flashing cameras, all fixated on a single girl, idol-like, under spotlights and colored smoke.
Girl on stage: "Thank you, everyone for your support~ I'll give you one more song as a treat! Hope you enjoy~♬"
Crowd: "WOOOOOOO!!"
I blinked. That idol was Serafall herself, Demon Queen Serafall? This was supposed to be a classroom visit… Was this in the original series? My memory's fuzzy after 17 years! But this felt way too guerilla-concert-y.
Before she sang, Saji from the student council burst in:
"What is going on here? The show's over! Break it up, now!"
He was drowned out by booing students. Even so, he tried to restore order:
"It's Parent Observation Day! Some of you have parents here! This reflects poorly on our academy! Disperse, right now!"
The crowd only booed louder, until a new figure appeared.
"Saji."
"President!"
"Sona-chan"
Student Council President Sona arrived, and everything froze for a moment.
"Onee-sama! What are you—?!"
Whispers rippled:
Onee-sama? So the magical girl is the President's sister?!
Hey do look alike, though…
Big-breasted witch big sister vs flat-chested petite sister… amazing!
This is the first time I've ever seen the President flustered.
Okay, that last part was… all kinds of wrong.
Sona–"Onee-sama..." persisted, but President Sona was livid:
"You know I've wanted to be a magical girl. Recently, we've had sightings of magical girl groups all across Japan, even overseas! They swoop in with their Milky Power to help people in need~☆"
For real? Milky Power heroes are… getting global?
Sona: "And I, I want to deepen that connection. Maybe someday I can join them! So I've been promoting it here!"
Rias (firmly): "Sona-chan, I'm the Student Council President. Even if you're family, cosplaying like that is unacceptable!"
Sona: "But but! If it succeeds, I'd have been a special guest performer as Magical Girl Magical Revia-tan!"
President: "Silence! Not in front of students! Onee-sama, you are so foolish!"
Sona panicked and fled, the crowd like dominoes dispersed. Meanwhile, Rias said sympathetically:
"She's the unfortunate one here, Sona President."
Yuuto: "I thought your sister would handle spoiling her better…"
Asia: "His sister is Serafall of the Four Great Maous…"
Real talk: the cost of Rias's dad's bouncy video, and the kitted-out camcorder Sirzechs was using, must have run into the millions.
"What did Greyfia do?"
"She held up reflectors by Sirzechs's side, I think she's used to being around the Gremory royals and just… let loose today."
We found the group outside the old building. Sona was yelling furiously:
"Onee-sama! If you're going to bring in the cheering squad flag during Class Observation, don't! Your outfit wasn't the worst… but then you changed into cosplay, while I looked away for a moment!"
Rias arrived to offer support:
Rias: "Nice to see you again, Serafall-sama."
Serafall (cheerfully): "Rias-chan! I've missed you~ Hope you've been well! And you too, Issei!"
I bowed.
Serafall: "And you must be the Red Dragon Emperor… it's impressive you sided with the demons. Nice to meet you both. I also want to thank you, Red Dragon Emperor. If you didn't help, Sona might've gotten hurt or worse."
She seemed heartfelt, but her grip on that perfect smile and the sharp gaze in her eyes? Something about that was chilling.
Serafall: "Besides, Kokabiel would be gone, body and soul, if you hadn't stepped in."
Ah, sis-con activated. Please don't read my thoughts, or glare like that!
Serafall: "Oh! I have to run, Sirzechs and I have to do a pre-summit walkthrough in town!"
Sona (okay again): "No! I mean, fine. It's part of your duties..."
Serafall: "Don't worry~ We'll also have an at-home screening of your performance video later!
Sona froze again, the "Rias highlight reel" trauma was coming.
"Bye~ Sona-chan!"
"President?! Don't… please stay!"
Rias comforted Sona:
Rias: "It's okay. You're not alone."
And Sona embraced her in silent reassurance. These two have definitely deepened their bond now.
====================
The next day…
Rias addressed the club:
"Everyone, last night Lucifer spoke. We are to release the seal on my final familiar, and the other 'priest', and that means meeting Gaspar Vladi."
I quietly wondered: So, how was Serafall's "class observation"? Was it magical? Milky?
=============
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