After class ended, Subaru said goodbye to Kiba at the corridor junction.
"Sorry, I have to go to the club right now," Kiba said with an apologetic smile. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, definitely. Thanks again for today," Subaru replied, still feeling a warm glow from their new friendship.
Kiba waved and disappeared around the corner. Subaru took a few steps toward the shoe lockers when he suddenly froze.
Two girls were standing in the hallway, and the sight of them literally took his breath away.
One had long, crimson hair that cascaded like liquid fire down her back, paired with piercing, confident blue-green eyes. The other had silky dark-purple (almost black) hair and an aura of dangerous elegance. Both were so stunning that Subaru felt his brain short-circuit for a second. His face instantly turned tomato-red.
The redhead stepped forward first, smiling warmly.
"Hi there! I heard you became friends with Yuuto. I have to say, I'm genuinely surprised someone actually managed it so quickly. Thank you, Subaru. Really."
Subaru scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
"Uh… it was nothing, really. He's… he's a great guy. We just… talked."
The redhead tilted her head, her smile growing softer.
"He's like a little brother to us. He's wanted a real friend for so long… someone who doesn't just see him as the perfect 'prince' everyone else does. So yes — thank you. From the bottom of my heart."
Subaru's blush deepened. He didn't know how to handle this level of sincere gratitude from someone who looked like she walked straight out of a fashion magazine.
"I-I'm glad I could help. He deserves it. He's… really kind."
The purple-haired girl — who had been quietly observing with an amused little smile — suddenly stepped closer. Way closer.
"Ara ara~" she purred, voice like velvet. "I have to agree with Rias… but I noticed something even more interesting." She leaned in until Subaru could smell the faint, sweet scent of her shampoo. "I already found you absolutely adorable the moment I saw you at the school gate. And now that I'm this close…" She smiled dangerously. "…I can barely hold myself back. You're even cuter up close."
Subaru's heart rate skyrocketed. She was so close that her generous chest was almost brushing against him.
"W-w-wai—!"
Before he could finish, Akeno wrapped her arms around him in a tight, deliberately intimate hug.
"My, my… so warm," she whispered right next to his ear. "Hey, Subaru-kun… would you like to go on a date with me?"
Subaru's brain completely stopped working.
His arms flailed uselessly as she squeezed even tighter, pressing his face directly into softness that should be illegal in a school environment.
"U-um—! I-I can't—! Breathing—!"
Rias's eyes widened.
"Akeno! Stop it! You're going to suffocate him! Look, his face is already turning blue!"
Only then did Akeno reluctantly loosen her grip. Subaru stumbled backward, gasping desperately for air. Akeno immediately looked guilty (though her eyes still sparkled with mischief).
"Oh no… I'm so sorry! I've never… I mean, I didn't mean to almost kill you on the first meeting! That was so rude of me…"
She gently steadied him with both hands on his shoulders, her touch surprisingly tender now.
Subaru wheezed, trying to regain composure.
"I-it's… it's okay… really… I'm fine… mostly…"
Akeno pouted cutely.
"You're too kind. Forgiving a bad girl like me so easily… Fufu, I like that. So… about that date?"
Subaru blinked rapidly, still dazed.
"Y-you're… serious? Like… actually serious?"
"Of course I'm serious~" Akeno leaned in again, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "I want to spend time with you. Get to know you better. Much better."
Rias cleared her throat loudly.
"Akeno. Maybe tone it down a little? The poor boy looks like he's about to pass out."
Akeno sent Rias a playful glare.
"Oh come on, Rias. Don't be jealous~ He's clearly interested."
"I'm not jealous!" Rias snapped — a little too quickly. She immediately softened her tone and turned to Subaru with big, sparkling eyes. "Subaru… I'm really sorry about my overly enthusiastic best friend. But… I do hope you'll give her a chance. She's actually a very sweet person… when she's not trying to murder people with hugs."
Subaru looked back and forth between the two ridiculously beautiful girls, completely overwhelmed.
"I… I don't even know what to say. I mean… how is this real? Two girls who look like supermodels are talking to me… one of them just asked me out… and the other one is looking at me like I stole her favorite toy…"
Akeno giggled.
"You're adorable when you're flustered. So… will you go out with me? Please?"
Subaru rubbed his face with both hands.
"I-I'm really bad at this… I don't even know how dates work. I've never… I mean… and I don't even know your names properly…"
Akeno's expression softened into something more genuine.
"Oh… right. I got too excited." She gave a small, surprisingly shy bow. "My name is Akeno. Himejima Akeno. And… it would be my first real date too. So we can figure it out together. How does that sound?"
Subaru's heart did a strange flip at her suddenly honest tone.
"That… actually sounds kind of nice…"
Rias stepped forward, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"And I'm Rias. Gremory Rias. Sorry we bombarded you like this. We were just… really happy about what you did for Yuuto."
Subaru looked at her carefully.
"You two… you care about him a lot, don't you?"
"Very much," Rias said softly. "He's family to us."
"Then… I'm glad I could help. Really."
Akeno gently took Subaru's hand — this time without the crushing force.
"So… when and where? We have the whole weekend. Saturday? Sunday? Both?" She smiled sweetly. "We could start at nine in the morning… maybe the park first? Then wherever the day takes us~"
Subaru's face was once again the color of Rias's hair.
"Uh… both days… would be okay? I mean… if that's not too much…"
Akeno's eyes lit up like Christmas lights.
"Not too much at all. In fact… I insist."
She suddenly leaned in and planted a soft, quick kiss on his cheek.
Subaru froze solid. Steam practically rose from his head.
Akeno giggled and stepped back.
Rias quickly grabbed Akeno's arm.
"Okay, that's enough for today! Let the boy breathe! We'll see you this weekend, Subaru."
Subaru touched his cheek in a daze, nodding slowly.
"Y-yeah… weekend… right…"
As the two girls started walking away, Rias glanced back over her shoulder with a complicated expression — a mixture of warmth, resignation, and just a tiny spark of envy.
Akeno, on the other hand, gave him one last playful wink.
"Don't be late, Subaru-kun~"
Subaru stood there like a statue for a solid minute after they disappeared.
From the far end of the corridor, Yuuto Kiba watched the entire scene unfold, expression conflicted.
He saw everything: Akeno's aggressive flirting, Rias's strange mix of support and barely-hidden jealousy, and Subaru's complete bewilderment.
Most of all… he didn't like how easily Akeno had agreed to this obviously staged "date".
With a quiet sigh, Kiba turned and followed after the girls.
He needed answers.
Now.