Dracula sat in the back row of History of Modern and Contemporary Japanese Literature, taking diligent notes with an antique fountain pen.
(Note: He wasn't a student, or supposed to be there at all.)
During breaks he hovered nearby, occasionally attempting conversation about classic literature or modern blood substitutes. Rin answered politely when it suited him, otherwise he let the vampire trail along in silence.
Midway through the final lecture of the day, a soft chime sounded in Rin's mind; the alert of the Grace of the Goddess (GoG);
«Warning: Lewd meter has dropped to 62%. Maintenance required within the next two hours to prevent power decline. Recent increases in supernatural confrontations appear to have accelerated depletion rate»
'Curse you, Jason!' Rin cursed Dracula in his mind.
He paused in his note-taking, brow furrowing slightly.
'Lately the damn meter has been dipping faster than usual,' he reasoned, 'Is it possible that the goddess's generous punishment (curse) has been adapting to my growing strength, demanding more frequent immoderation?'
«Warning: Lewd meter has dropped to 62%. Maintenance required within the next two hours to prevent power decline—»
'I heard you the first time!'
So yes, Rin still believes the Goddess "penalized" him with hindrances so he wouldn't get too strong so suddenly, that it breeds arrogance.
He exhaled quietly, a rare note of complaint escaping under his breath.
"My lewd meter has been going down a lot lately..."
Chris, seated beside him, flinched, then flushed faintly across his androgynous cheeks.
They leaned closer and spoke in a hushed, but professional tone. "If… If I may be p-permitted, Rin-sama, I could assist discreetly—"
"I refuse," Inferna, sitting vigil behind them, cut in with archaic formality that brooked no argument. "such duties fall to me alone. For I am Goshujin-sama's devoted cock case, bound to serve in ALL his needs."
Munganda's mouth twisted in disapproval, then she leaned down slightly, voice soft but resolved.
"Master, perhaps you should follow me to a quiet corner instead. I can resolve this efficiently."
Dracula, who had been listening intently from the adjacent seat, suddenly blushed across his pale skin; a deep crimson that stood out starkly.
He raised one elegant hand hesitantly. "Might... Uhm, might I also offer assistance? I observed that each of your followers grew evidently stronger after forming their contracts. Perhaps if I too..."
He trailed off, clearly misunderstanding the nature of those "contracts," imagining some intimate ritual of power transfer or the like.
Rin considered his options with slight frustration; Inferna's possessive claims, Munganda's calm insistence, Chris's rare offer, even Dracula's blushing misunderstanding.
But for all their enthusiasm, Rin was annoyed by it.
Public maintenance (basically, random sexual harassment) was risky—it had landed him in trouble in the past. But the meter's steady decline left little choice.
But that was when a familiar voice interrupted from the lane.
"Rin! You're spacing out again during lecture notes?"
Hachimoto Akane approached with her usual brisk stride, short auburn hair bouncing slightly, hazel eyes narrowed in mild annoyance.
She was a second-year classmate with a fire-based ability (though, only a few knew about it) and a sharp tongue.
However, attractive in a fierce, no-nonsense way that made her somewhat popular despite her prickly demeanor.
Rin looked up at her directly, and deciding bluntness was simplest.
"Hey, Akane. Wanna do lewd things with me real quick?"
SLAP!
The slap echoed through the lecture hall like a gunshot.
Students nearby froze, discussions dying instantly.
From the sudden attention, Akane's face exploded into crimson, her hand still raised from the impact.
She apologized profusely as the lecturer cleared his throat.
"Y-You idiot!" she hissed, voice trembling between fury and embarrassment. "We're in public! Have some discretion!"
She glanced around frantically at the still staring gathering, then back at Rin, cheeks burning brighter.
Her voice dropped to an urgent whisper. "Because... because you're asking so desperately, I suppose I could... you know, help you out. Just this once."
Rin stood calmly, expression deadpan. "Cool. I owe you."
He reached out and took her hand firmly, pulling her along as he headed for the exit. Akane stumbled slightly before falling into step, face still flaming but not resisting.
Behind them… the followers reacted in rare unison.
Inferna's stoic mask cracked just enough for her jaw to tighten visibly.
Munganda's plastered, terrifying smile became genuinely frightening for a split second.
Chris adjusted his glasses with unnecessary force, his lips puckered and his cheeks still tinged pink.
Even Dracula clutched his cape dramatically, red eyes wide with jealousy and defeat.
Akane was a friend to Rin... That was simply why she hadn't been caught in some "freak accident" or disappeared a long time ago.
***
The group sat and waited behind as Rin led Akane toward a secluded place, the air thick with unspoken tension.
Another day at university, another balance to maintain between godlike power and the goddess's petty price.
Rin pulled Akane through the side corridor of the humanities building, his grip firm but not rough on her wrist.
She stumbled once, heels rubbing against the worn linoleum, but managed to keep pace without protest, her face still flushed crimson from the slap scene and Rin's sudden proposition.
The hallway was empty this late in the afternoon block—most students are already in lectures or clubs—and Rin knew from experience that the old storage room at the far end stayed unlocked and unused. That was where his maids attended to him.
He pushed the door open with his shoulder, tugged her inside, and let it click shut behind them.
The room was small and dim, stacked with dusty boxes of outdated textbooks and forgotten projectors.
A single narrow window high on the wall let in thin gray light that barely reached the floor. The air smelled faintly of paper and chalk dust. It was quiet enough that their breathing sounded loud.
Akane leaned back against the door as soon as it closed, arms crossed over her chest, hazel eyes darting everywhere except his face.
"Th-This better be fast, okay?" she muttered, voice shaky despite the attempt at bravado. "If anyone finds us—"
"No one will," Rin said calmly, stepping closer. He reached for the hem of her uniform blouse without formality. "Sorry again for the inconvenience. You're a life saver."
She stiffened but didn't stop him.