"...?"
When morning came and Haru was on his way to school, he couldn't help but notice how everyone was staring at him. Compared to before, when everyone was staring at him and wondering what his connection was to the girl he had been showing around Kuoh, everyone was giving him the most bizarre look.
And he knew why.
"... Why are you walking with me, Aika?" Haru asked with a sigh.
"Why not? We both have to get to school, and walking with you was more convenient." She answered.
"Yeah, but people are staring and I think they're getting wrong ideas..."
"HARU!"
"Like now." the male redhead shook his head when he saw his friends approaching, panicked looks plastered across their faces. "I better go and do damage control."
Aika shrugged. "Whatevs. Talk to you later, Namikaze."
"See ya Kiryuu..." He waved goodbye and sucked in a breath, preparing to face the music. No sooner had he departed with Aika and joined with his fellow perverts-in-arms had he been immediately swarmed, Motohama suddenly frisking him. "W-Whoa, the hell?!"
"He's clean!" the three-size scouter reported.
Matsuda nodded before he held Haru by the shoulders. "Is your dignity intact, bro?! The she-devil didn't do anything wrong to you, did she?!"
"W-What?" Haru shook his head. So far, all she had done was tease him all to hell during dinner and gave him a few compliments here and there. Which was weird, all things considered. "No, I'm fine. Really."
"Are you sure?" Motohama asked, unconvinced. "Dude, we saw you walk here together! Is she blackmailing you?"
"No, we just came from my house..."
It took him two seconds to realize he had just said. If there had been music playing, it would most assuredly have abruptly stopped at this moment. Motohama and Matsuda stared at him, faces blank before it crumbled into pure horror.
"ARE YOU NUTS?!"
"DO YOU HAVE A SOCIAL DEATHWISH?! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!"
"Uh..." Seriously. What was he thinking for saying it like that? His mind must not be working today. Especially given what's been happening these last few days. Still, did they have to be so loud? He could've sworn he felt his ear drums burst. They could wake up the dead with how loud they could be! "Look, we didn't have sex if that's what your thinking." he told them. "I'm still a virgin." 'Sadly.' he mentally added, weeping. Oh, what he wouldn't give for a chance to finally get together with Tamamo! Especially since she was practically offering! Curse his virgin status!
"Seriously? You didn't sleep with the she-devil?"
"Yes, I'm perfectly pure. Or, as pure as you can get when it comes to being a pervert." the teen deadpanned. They didn't look convinced. Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, it's a long story. I got Kiryu and another girl into trouble and I let them stay at my place for the day."
Matsuda blinked. "... And that foxy babe you had hanging on your arm was okay with it?"
"We had a spare guest room."
"... Wait. You just said you were still a virgin." Motohama observed, adjusting his glasses. "That means… you still haven't done it with that hot chick you had with you the other day?! Dude, the hell is wrong with you?! Do you know what her three sizes are?!"
Haru's face turned serious. "Hit me."
"Dude, once I tell you, you will regret not doing it."
"I'll take the chance, just hit me."
Motohama adjusted his glasses, a glint passing through. He opened his mouth and—
"... Hentai-senpai."
Haru turned from his friend and saw Koneko approach him. Was there something she needed? Matsuda, being the lolicon he was, became very alert with eyes locked on to the unofficial mascot of Kuoh Academy. Motohama merely observed closely, no doubt curious as to why she was approaching Haru. As for the teen himself, he couldn't help but internally weep. He knew he was a pervert, and even prided himself in that fact, but seriously? Why did it hurt whenever she called him that?
"W-What's up, Toujou-chan?" he asked, trying to hide his internal wounds. "Something wrong?"
"Buchou and Kaichou want to talk to you." Koneko told him simply, making him somewhat nervous. What did they want with him? Could it be about the incident from yesterday? "They'll be waiting for you in the Student Council Room." Before he even had a chance to open his mouth and ask what it was about, Koneko was already walking away, making him tilt his head.
What a weird girl.
… Wait. Why were Motohama and Matsuda staring at him like that?
"... Why do Gremory-senpai and Shitori-kaichou want to see you?" Motohama asked, getting too close for Haru's liking as he adjusted his glasses. "The other day, someone said they saw you hanging out with that damned bishounen Kiba and Toujou-chan. And I also heard that you and that fine chicka were invited to hang out with Kaichou and Gremory-senpai a few days ago!"
"What's the deal bro?! You tryin' to snag the some of the sexiest babes in school without us?!"
Haru groaned. What the hell was up with his life lately?
In hindsight, lunch couldn't have arrived sooner for Haru, especially since his fellow perverts wouldn't leave him alone since they discovered that he was going to be around one of the great ladies of Kuoh and the Student Council President herself. Somehow, the news also spread around the school and everyone wanted to know as well, letting out hushed whispers that left him greatly confused. He knew the rumor will was something to be feared, but how does info spread so quickly?
As Koneko had told him, Haru had arrived in the Student Council Room to find Sona and Rias already present, the latter with her peerage present. Haru also saw members of the Student Council also present as well, all of whom had pensive expressions. What really surprised him, however, was Aika also being there, sitting on the opposite side of the table.
"Good, you're here." Sona noted, nodding. "And three minutes early. Excellent. Please, Namikaze-kun, take a seat." Without questioning her, lest he suffer the consequences, Haru sat down next to Aika. The girl grinned at him, though she seemed to be as confused as he was. "Before we begin, I'd like to ask Kiryu-san something. You are aware of the existence of Devils and Fallen Angels now, yes?"
Aika blinked, surprised before she slowly nodded. "Y-Yeah...along with gods, apparently, since Namikaze over here's in a relationship with Tamamo-no-Mae of all people."
In the back, the blonde-haired member of the Student Council choked. "W-What?!" Unfortunately for him, his cry went largely ignored before Sona continued. "That simplifies things, then. Then as I'm sure you are aware, there would be panic of people were to learn about the supernatural world being real. Therefore, I need to ask: are you capable of keeping a secret?"
"That all depends, what happens if I can't?"
"Then we erase your memories of your encounter with the Fallen Angels." Rias told her, surprising the two humans. "Please understand, it's not just about secrecy. It's also for your own good."
"You mean I would be a target if I went and blabbed everything?"
"That's more or less the case. Knowledge of the Supernatural puts a normal individual, such as yourself, at risk."
Aika pursed her lips, leaning back into her seat. "... I'd like to think I can keep a secret." she said. "But I would prefer it if you didn't wipe my memories."
"Any particular reason why? We can will do so if you'd like. You would no longer have to worry about the supernatural and live out a normal lifestyle."
"That all depends, am I going to remember that cute little nun?" Aika shot back. "Cause if not, then I'd rather remember that I almost got killed, thank you." That had surprised Haru. She was turning down the offer to forget what happened yesterday...bbecause she didn't want to forget Asia?
"I see. So you would rather remember a person who dragged you into the mess in the first place?"
"It wasn't her fault!" Aika argued hotly. Her outburst even caused Rias to reel back in shock. "She didn't know those crows were there. Look, I get it. Everybody in the room except for me and senior horndog over here are Devils, and that means you guys hate anyone even remotely related to God with a passion, but come on!" Aika stomped her foot in frustration. "You're just making it sound like you're blaming her for even EXISTING! Are all Devils quick to point the figure at anyone associated with their mortal enemies, or do you just not give a damn about a thing called circumstances?!"
"... Jesus, Aika." Haru broke the silence first, equally as stunned as everyone else. Just where did this girl find her fire? It was seriously out of character for her. Where was the perverted girl he knew for years?
Then again, he couldn't blame her. Even he felt a bit peeved by their apparent belief. He knew it was wrong to judge them so quickly, but while he didn't know the full story behind Asia's reason for being here in Kuoh, he didn't appreciate the hostility.
"Senpai. Kaichou." he said as loud as he could without yelling. "Could you just tell us why you asked us here? I doubt you had us come all this way just to ask Aika if she wanted to forget about what happened yesterday."
Sona nodded sternly, shooting Rias a small glare. The red-haired girl pouted slightly and turned her head. "My apologies for Rias. I can assure you, we don't have anything against Asia Argento. Recent events, among which including your own attempted assassination, have left us all on edge as of lately. To the point, then. I'll be frank. I believe it will be best if you allowed members of our peerage to go with you when you return home."
Haru and Aika blinked in confusion. The former was the first to speak. "First off, what do you mean your peerage? And secondly, why the security detail?"
"I figured you would have noticed, given your acute awareness, Namikaze-kun." Sona smiled thinly, gesturing to the Student Council. "Everyone in the Student Council is a member of my Peerage." The two humans' jaw dropped. Seriously?! Even the Student Council?! Was every popular student in Kuoh a Devil or something?! More importantly, was every cute girl some kind of supernatural being?! "And to answer your second question, Azazel-san had come by the other day to inform us of something rather… troubling."
"How do you mean?"
"Raynare and her cohorts were not working alone. They had enlisted the aid of Stray Exorcists. That is to say, excommunicated members of the Catholic Church."
Haru's eyes widened in realization. Now that he thought about it, Azazel DID mention that piece of information to him. "So… you're saying that they are still on some watch list? That we could be assassinated at any moment?
"Yes. Especially since he was kind enough to inform us about… one of their members." Rias said, her voice tense. "Freed Sellzen. He was apparently regarded as a prodigy at the Vatican, but was excommunicated. The reason was because he killed not only Devils and Fallen, but also fellow humans: regardless if they were unarmed civilians, innocent people who entered a contract with Devils, and even his own teammates."
Haru paled, finding a growing pit in his stomach. Somehow, he could imagine the events the red-haired woman described. Aika paled, looking ready to faint. "S-Seriously...?" she asked shakily. "So, t-those angels hired a serial killer that used to be a priest?"
"Yes. While we don't know much about the other, it is a safe bet that he will continue to target you." Sona nodded, adjusting her glasses. "And I have no doubt that they will also go after Kiryu-san as well, regardless if she is directly involved or not."
"... Yeah, so when would the escort be ready again?" Aika answered slightly fearful now. Not that he couldn't blame her. The idea of a psychopath out for their blood was highly disconcerting. At least now, however, Haru had a fairly good idea why Rias and Sona offered to erase her memories. Obviously, this knowledge and forewarning would be hard to swallow, with no small amount of paranoia. As they say, "ignorance is bliss." It was a way of being kind, he supposed.
"Relax, Kiryu-san." Kiba smiled widely. "No harm will come to you or Namikaze-san while you are in our care." In the background, Haru could swear he saw quite a few girls in the Student Council, particularly one of the more "developed" ones, swooning over his declaration. Hell, he could practically see hearts dancing in their eyes, making him cringe.
Why did all the good looking bastards get all the luck?!