The day after that tense meeting in the student council room, Yukari Takeba hadn't slept very well. The revelation about the existence of demons, supernatural beings, and secret organizations that secretly coexisted with humans had shattered her worldview.
And to make matters worse... she was now involved in the team that had to face the consequences of the Kirijo Group's mistake.
Her father had died because of it.
And she now carried that legacy.
As she walked down the high school hallway, her backpack slung over her shoulder and a tired look on her face, a thought stuck in her head like a thorn: Daniel.
The guy who seemed to know more than he let on. The same one who was surrounded by attractive girls all the damn time.
—"Ugh! Womanizer!" — she grumbled mentally, even though she knew their relationship was consensual. That didn't make it any less irritating.
During recess, she saw Daniel laughing with Alya, Sakura, Reynare, Hikari, Hibiki, and Tamamo, who was elegantly eating a bento on her beloved's lap.
Yukari clenched her teeth. She took a deep breath. And walked straight towards him.
—Can we talk? In private — she said bluntly.
The girls tensed up.
Hikari and Hibiki looked at her with narrowed eyes.
Tamamo just smiled with that scary calmness.
Reynare, arms crossed, glared daggers at her.
—Relax, I'm not interested in him. I just want information.
They all watched her for another moment. Then they relaxed... more or less.
Daniel stood up with a raised eyebrow.
—Sure. Let's go.
They went to an empty classroom and Yukari closed the door behind them. She crossed her arms.
—I want to know. Everything you can tell me about the supernatural world... straight up.
Daniel stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed.
—Alright. But only what I can say without compromising secrets that aren't mine to tell.
And so, Daniel recounted how he was attacked by fallen angels, specifically by Reynare, who was his enemy at the time. He told her how she had been deceived by Grigori's high command and that, upon discovering the truth, she abandoned her path and chose to be with him. How that event dragged him into the hidden world and ended up opening the doors to a completely new life.
Yukari listened to it all in silence.
—So... Reynare was your enemy and now is your girlfriend — she finally murmured, incredulous.
—I know, it sounds weird. But it's more common than it seems in this world — Daniel replied with a faint smile.
—What about demons? Anything I should know?
—Most of them are good people. Sona and Rias might seem cold or intense, but they're responsible. If they ever offer you to join their peerage, they won't force you. They'll respect your decision.
Yukari lowered her head a bit, thoughtful.
—Thanks, Daniel. Seriously. I think I needed to understand at least part of this to not go crazy.
—Whenever you want to talk, I'll be here.
They both briefly smiled. The atmosphere was... calm. Serious. Mature.
Until they opened the door to leave.
—I wasn't spying, I swear!! This isn't what it looks like!! It was a coincidence!! — shouted Tohsaka Rin, who fell backwards from having been pressed against the door listening to everything.
Yukari blinked.
—Huh?
Rin sprang to her feet, her face red as a tomato, her long hair swaying as she turned quickly.
—This has nothing to do with Daniel!! I just... was looking for chalk!! Yeah, that!! Bye!! — and she ran down the hallway as if boiling water had been thrown on her.
Daniel just scratched the back of his neck with an awkward smile.
Yukari, with a bead of sweat running down her temple, sighed.
—...This world definitely got weirder than I imagined.
While all the student and supernatural drama unfolded in various corners of Kuoh Academy, in a private classroom of the main building, a much more serious and painful conversation was taking place.
Rias Gremory, the heiress of one of the most influential houses in the underworld, had her arms crossed, a frown on her face, and her gaze fixed on the stoic figure before her.
Grayfia Lucifuge, the Queen of the Demon King Sirzechs, and Rias's sister-in-law, had arrived with a message that could wait no longer.
—So... it's already decided. — Rias's voice was barely a whisper, but a tremor of contained frustration could be felt in her words.
Grayfia nodded calmly, though her eyes showed a hint of empathy.
—Your engagement to Riser Phenex has been officially reactivated. It will be effective upon the completion of your final year at the Academy. Your family expects you to use the remaining time to prepare.
Rias turned away, her long crimson hair swaying forcefully. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, clenching her fists.
—That's only a year and a half! I don't even have a full group...! — she whispered with rage, more to herself than to her interlocutor.
—I understand your frustration, Rias-sama. But this agreement was sealed years ago between your father and the Phenex family. The only way out is still the same: a Rating Game... and a crushing victory over Riser.
The Gremory heiress slumped onto the sofa in the room as if the weight of her lineage had suddenly crashed down on her. Her gaze drifted toward the window, seeing in the distance the silhouette of Daniel, laughing with his girlfriends, unaware of the emotional hurricane she was facing.
—Four pieces... — she murmured bitterly—. I only have Akeno, Kiba, Koneko... and Gasper. While he has fifteen. How am I supposed to win like that?
Grayfia remained silent. She knew any word she said could sound empty. She herself was trapped in a rigid structure that dictated how she should behave, whom to serve, what to represent. Being Sirzechs's Queen came with a price. And now, that same price was falling upon Rias.
—Don't get me wrong, Grayfia. I know it's not your fault. You just... deliver the messages. But... — Rias gritted her teeth— I'm sick of it. Sick of being a puppet. Sick of my destiny already being written!
Grayfia took a step back. Her voice was soft, almost maternal.
—Then rewrite your story, Rias-sama. Do what your brother could never do: fight for your freedom. Turn those around you into true allies. Perhaps your victory lies there.
Rias looked at her. For a second, Grayfia's impassive nobility seemed to fade, revealing a woman who had once also dreamed of choosing her own path.
—Thank you... Grayfia.
Grayfia gave an elegant bow before leaving.
When the door closed, Rias lowered her gaze.
—Daniel... — she whispered with a hint of hope—. If you join my peerage, maybe... just maybe... I can change my fate.
Her expression hardened. What was once a wish was becoming a necessity.
Not just for her cause.
But for her freedom.
In one of the private offices of the Kirijo building, Mitsuru stood before an elegant desk, piled with documents and screens showing data collected from Tartarus. On the other side, seated with a serious expression and intertwined fingers, her father, Takeharu Kirijo, watched her silently.
—Are you telling me that demons... fallen angels... and even gods walk among us in human form?
Takeharu's voice carried disbelief, but also a growing unease. Mitsuru nodded, firm and unwavering.
—That's correct. I can no longer doubt it. I've seen it with my own eyes, Father. I met Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri... or rather, Rias Gremory of the Gremory Clan and Serafall Leviathan, Sona's sister, one of the Maou. They govern Kuoh from the shadows, maintaining the balance between the races.
Takeharu slowly stood up, walking toward the window. From the upper floor, he could see the city, calm, with no signs of the chaos that seemed to loom at the edges of reality.
—So... all these years... — he whispered—. The Kirijo Group has been acting blindly, believing Tartarus was an isolated phenomenon... when in reality, it's just a part of something much larger.
Mitsuru nodded again, lowering her gaze for a moment.
—And there's more. Daniel, the newly transferred young man, seems to have advanced knowledge about all of this. He hasn't revealed how he knows, but his actions and warnings have saved us on more than one occasion.
—Do you think we can trust him?
—I don't know yet. But I do know he is not our enemy.
There was a moment of tense silence. Takeharu finally returned to his seat, taking mental note of everything his daughter had just told him. Although doubtful, the tone in Mitsuru's voice was as unyielding as ever. If anyone else had brought these words, he would have dismissed them without a second thought.
—Then... I have only one option. — said the Kirijo patriarch, with a dark and determined look—. I'm going to investigate. If supernatural races are involved, if these... creatures have been among us all this time, then it's possible they are already inside our own organization.
Mitsuru looked at him, surprised.
—Inside... the Kirijo Group?
Takeharu nodded with a bitter expression.
—It wouldn't be the first time our name has been tainted by ambition. — He closed his eyes with regret—. Your grandfather... was a brilliant man, but obsessed. His desire for absolute power led him to open the gates of hell. Perhaps that obsession didn't come from him alone... but from those who incited him.
A shiver ran down Mitsuru's spine. The possibility that her grandfather had been manipulated by supernatural beings from within the organization was an idea that hadn't occurred to her.
—You think... they were guiding him? — she asked quietly.
—It's possible. And if so... Mitsuru, what we're facing now is not just a spiritual or dimensional phenomenon. It's a conspiracy, one that has been weaving for years from within our own ranks.
Takeharu stood up decisively.
—I'm going to dig into the classified archives. I'll look at the projects your grandfather worked on, who his collaborators were. If there are infiltrated supernatural beings, I will find them.
Mitsuru nodded, but worry remained on her face.
—Father... please, be careful. If you're right, we're not talking about simple traitors... but entities with centuries of experience in manipulation and power.
Takeharu stopped before leaving the office and looked at her with pride.
—Daughter, you've already carried the weight of our sins. It's time for me to carry mine.
And with that, he disappeared through the door. Mitsuru was left there alone, watching the screens with data from Tartarus flickering faintly. She knew a new truth was about to come to light... and she feared what that truth would imply.
In the library of Kuoh Academy, the atmosphere was warm and quiet. Daniel and his girlfriends worked in silence, writing the last assignments of the semester before the winter break. Alya read a French essay aloud quietly, Hikari and Hibiki discussed the conclusion of their report, and Sakura took the opportunity to copy some notes with her impeccable handwriting.
Daniel smiled. There was something comforting about these simple moments.
But then, the silence was interrupted by a tall, elegant figure approaching with a determined step.
—Daniel — said Mitsuru, serious as ever—. I need to talk to you... in private.
The girls immediately looked up, some with worried expressions, others slightly jealous. Alya even frowned with suspicion.
—What do you want with him? — asked Hibiki bluntly.
Mitsuru raised her hands calmly.
—I don't have romantic intentions. I've had a fiancé for years... and no, I'm not interested in your boyfriend — she clarified in a neutral tone.
The group relaxed a little, and Daniel sighed amusedly before standing up.
—Let's go — he said to Mitsuru.
Once outside the library, they walked through the quiet hallways, still lit by the last rays of sunlight. Mitsuru explained to him what her father had discovered: names without identity, stories impossible to verify, Kirijo Group employees who might not be what they seemed.
—He wants to talk to you... and he wants you to bring someone from the supernatural world. He wants to confirm what he's begun to suspect.
Daniel nodded, taking it calmly. He was no longer surprised by these things.
—I understand. I'll bring Reynare. She's been in that world longer than anyone else. She'll know how to identify if there's something off about those people... even if they hide behind a human appearance.
—Perfect. I'll wait for you at the entrance this very evening — Mitsuru said before leaving.
Daniel returned to the library, explained the situation to his girlfriends, and received goodbye hugs — and a silent warning from Alya not to be too long — before leaving.
Back home, he found Reynare in the living room, flipping through a magazine. Seeing him, she smiled.
—Time to work? — she said, putting the magazine aside.
—That's right. Put on something formal, we're meeting with Mitsuru's father.
Reynare raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She just nodded with a calm smile.
—Let's go then.
Together, they set off at nightfall, knowing that this meeting could uncover secrets hidden under generations of deception within the Kirijo Group.
Night had fallen when Mitsuru opened the doors of the enormous Kirijo residence. Imposing, elegant, and silent, the house seemed more like a mansion than a family home. The hallways were long and adorned with portraits of past generations, and with each step, the echo of their shoes resonated with solemnity.
Behind her, Daniel and Reynare walked hand in hand, she clinging to his right arm with a serene smile and confidence in every step. Mitsuru, true to her reserved nature, said nothing during the journey. It wasn't necessary.
Finally, they reached a large double door of carved wood. Mitsuru stopped for a second before opening it and made a sign to them.
—My father is waiting inside.
The room that greeted them was a spacious study, with a lit fireplace and shelves full of ancient books. In the center, Takeharu Kirijo, elegant and with a tired yet firm expression, greeted them with a nod.
—Thank you for coming so quickly — he said in a grave voice—. Please, have a seat.
Reynare and Daniel did so without letting go of each other's hands. Takeharu sat across from them and, without preamble, spread a set of folders on the table. Each one had photographs, names, and data on certain Kirijo Group employees.
—I've detected anomalies in their records — he explained—. Some have no past, others appear suddenly in the system without any prior trace. I suspect they are more than they appear... and I need to know if they have a connection to the supernatural world.
Daniel nodded without hesitation, and Reynare delicately took half of the profiles. Her red eyes scanned each face with precision and experience. Daniel silently reviewed the other half.
Little by little, Reynare began placing the identified documents to one side.
—This one worked under Kokabiel's orders... this one too, and this one. Defector fallen angels — she commented matter-of-factly—. Some of these others... — she pointed to other documents— ...belong to the peerages of ambitious devils. And these last ones... are yokai, probably spies from Tokyo. They're known for their ability to gather information. But the majority...
She looked up, serious.
—Are connected to Kokabiel.
Takeharu frowned.
—Who is this Kokabiel? I haven't heard that name before.
Reynare leaned back in the chair, crossed one leg elegantly, and spoke calmly:
—One of the original Four Great Fallen Angels. He's addicted to war, to chaos. He's obsessed with reviving the conflict between Heaven, Hell, and Earth. It's said he's currently in rebellion, separated from the control of Azazel, the leader of Grigori.
—And does he still have power? — asked Takeharu, tension in his voice.
—He has followers. Some loyal. Others manipulated, as I was — she admitted without hesitation—. I was sent to kill Daniel. But when I discovered the truth, I rebelled. As punishment and redemption... I now serve in his home and am part of his life.
Takeharu was scandalized, coughing slightly.
—You are his... partner?
—That's right — Reynare responded with a small smile—. It's common in the supernatural world for people of high power or influence to have multiple consensual relationships. Daniel has a harem. I have no problem with that... and the others don't either.
Takeharu brought a hand to his forehead.
—...I must get used to too many things, it seems.
But his expression grew more serious. He remained silent for a few seconds before opening a new file. From this, he took out a single photograph: that of a young man with dark hair, a sharp gaze, and a barely perceptible smile.
—This is Mitsuru's fiancé. He never convinced me. I always felt he was hiding something. Do you recognize him?
Reynare barely needed to look. Her face hardened instantly.
—Yes. That's Kokabiel's second-in-command. Not much is known about him... he's stealthy, manipulative, and cruel. He's attributed with multiple murders, not just of humans, but also of devils, angels, and yokai. He's a social chameleon. A monster in human skin.
Takeharu closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and spoke gravely.
—Then I need your help, Daniel. Not just to break off that engagement, but to capture that bastard before he does something we all regret. Mitsuru can't know this yet. If she finds out who she was engaged to...
Daniel gently clenched his fist, but his gaze was firm.
—We'll do it. But we'll need to plan it well. He can't suspect we're after him... and we'll need support from the supernatural world to capture him without him fleeing or causing chaos.
—I leave that to you. I trust you more than I ever trusted that man.
Reynare smiled with mischief.
—Time to hunt a traitor.
Takeharu nodded and leaned back in his seat. Finally, he had real allies... and a light at the end of a tunnel that had been darkening for years.
The night crept on slowly as Mitsuru Kirijo remained standing in the hallway outside the study door, arms crossed, face serious, gaze fixed on the floor. She wasn't an impatient woman, but the meeting was taking longer than expected, and although her expression was serene, her mind was full of questions.
What are they talking about for so long? Was Daniel hiding something important... or maybe Reynare?
The idea of getting closer to listen crossed her mind more than once, but her upbringing and respect for her father were stronger. So she sighed, leaned lightly against the wall, and continued waiting, in complete silence.
On the other side of the door, the atmosphere was dense and strategic.
Daniel, Takeharu, and Reynare were seated around the desk; the documents had already been set aside, replaced by a map of connections and possible courses of action.
—We have to do it without Mitsuru suspecting, at least until we have that bastard in custody — Daniel said in a firm tone.
—That will be tricky — Takeharu commented, massaging his temple—. If there's one thing I can say for sure, it's that my daughter is perceptive. But you're right, she must see it with her own eyes so she doesn't deny it.
Reynare rested her elbows on the table and intertwined her fingers; her gaze turned cold.
—The problem is that the guy is no idiot. If he really is who I think he is... then he's been infiltrated for years. He's survived by Kokabiel's side, and not just anyone does that.
Daniel nodded.
—Then we can't just set a trap and expect him to fall for it like a rookie.
—Exactly — Reynare replied—. We must make him expose himself, but not as an attempt to expose him. Rather... make him believe he can advance his plans unhindered. We need to push him subtly.
Takeharu watched them silently for a few seconds before speaking.
—What if we use something to tempt him into moving? Something that makes him show his true colors...
—That could work — Reynare responded—. It's likely he's kept his identity hidden to maintain access to Kirijo resources or even Mitsuru as an influence piece. If we make him believe one of those resources is at risk... he might react.
Daniel thought for a few seconds.
—Maybe if we pretend Mitsuru finds out about the documents and starts asking questions, he'll get nervous. Then... I approach him, gain a bit of his trust, show "interest" in helping him protect his position... and push him into making a mistake.
Reynare nodded slowly.
—But you must be careful, Daniel. If he suspects you know who he really is, he won't hesitate to kill you. This guy... has even killed members of his own faction to maintain his cover.
Takeharu, serious, watched them.
—Then we must proceed with the utmost caution. For now, the operation is confidential. Mitsuru must not know yet. When we have solid evidence... I'll show her everything personally.
Daniel pressed his lips into a thin line, then nodded.
—Then... let's start building the scenario.
In the hallway, Mitsuru continued to wait. A maid passed by and offered her some tea, which she declined with a slight shake of her head. Finally, she sighed discreetly and murmured:
—I hope they're not getting him into something dangerous...
Just a few meters behind the door, the real battle had just begun... not with swords, but with lies, strategy, and masks about to fall.