◉◉◉◉◉
Kuoh Academy, Kuoh Town.
Inside of the student council room of Kuoh Academy.
Anos Kanzaki was handling official paperwork.
He was the student council president of Kuoh Academy.
In the most recent election, he had defeated Sona Sitri in a decisive landslide, relying purely on his exceptional competence and flawless public speaking.
Even though his opponent was a high-class devil, even though the academy had only recently transitioned from being an all-girls school.
None of it had stopped Anos from rising to the position of student council president.
"President, it's about time you headed home."
Sona's expression remained perfectly calm as she looked at Anos sitting in what had once been her seat.
Because she truly acknowledged him.
Without using supernatural power, she had never stood a chance of winning.
And using supernatural abilities in an election like that would have been an insult. Not only to herself, but to the noble Sitri family.
Yet after the election, when the new student council was formed, he had unexpectedly chosen her, his former rival, as vice president.
That was why she stood beside him now.
She reminded him of the time because Kuoh Town had become increasingly dangerous lately.
"Ah, it's already that late... Thanks for the reminder, Sona."
Anos glanced at the large clock on the wall. He hadn't realized how much time had passed.
"Before I go, would you like to play a game of chess, Sona?"
He smiled faintly as he gathered his things.
Today was the day he had predicted. He needed to reach a specific location at a specific time.
But judging from the clock, he still had plenty of time.
So he offered her a match.
"No, I will never play chess with you again."
A sharp gleam flashed across Sona's glasses.
She wasn't joking, The president had a habit of dismantling her confidence piece by piece whenever they played, After suffering several crushing defeats, she had made up her mind never to challenge him again.
"That's unfortunate."
Anos chuckled softly.
He had clearly left a lasting impression.
That had been his goal when he ran for student council president a year ago.
At the time, his objective had been simple. With his limited natural talent, the most reliable path forward was to become part of Sona's peerage, and gaining influence was the best way to make that happen.
He understood his own limits better than anyone.
No matter how hard he trained, after all these years, he had only reached the level of a low-class devil.
Human limitations were absolute.
Even Cao Cao, wielder of the strongest Longinus capable of killing Demon Lords, could still be instantly killed by an ultimate-class devil if caught unprepared.
That was why, in the beginning, Anos had intended to abandon his humanity entirely.
Yes.
In the beginning.
Recently, however, he had learned something that made him postpone that decision.
Since Sona refused, he didn't press the matter. He gathered his books and prepared to leave.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, the door to the student council room echoed with sharp knocks.
Before either of them could respond, the door opened.
A flash of crimson stepped inside.
"Anos-kun, want to walk home with me today?"
The red-haired girl leaned forward over his desk, her presence sharp and commanding.
That pressure wasn't directed at him.
It was aimed squarely at Sona.
Still, Anos couldn't help but notice her.
Rias Gremory's presence was overwhelming. The moment she entered, Sona's gaze locked onto her without hesitation.
It was almost territorial.
Anos was the student council president, not a member of the Occult Research Club. Sona wanted to make that distinction clear.
"Rias, you want to walk with me?"
Anos raised an eyebrow slightly. Her initiative was unexpected.
He made a judgment.
Was she doing this for his sake?
Or for Sona's.
Judgment initiated.
The answer surfaced instantly.
~ For Anos himself.
This was the power known as Absolute Dichotomy.
Whenever a situation had only two possible outcomes, this ability allowed him to determine the correct answer with absolute certainty.
He had used it countless times to secure his overwhelming victory over Sona.
He had used it again and again to find the exact moves that dismantled her defenses in chess.
"Sona, I'm borrowing him for a while."
Before Sona could respond, Rias wrapped her arms around Anos's arm and pulled him close against her chest.
"Rias…"
Sona adjusted her glasses and watched silently as Rias dragged him toward the exit.
If Rias were with him, there was nothing to worry about.
The threat of stray devils had grown significantly worse lately.
That was why she didn't stop them.
Her earlier reminder had been for the same reason. She didn't want Anos walking home alone after dark.
…
"Oh my~"
After leaving the student council room, Rias glanced back down the hallway and smiled.
"Rias, even if school's over, try not to put me in difficult situations."
Anos looked down at his arm, currently buried in warmth, and shook his head.
Though he made no attempt to pull away.
Autumn had arrived, The warmth wasn't unwelcome.
"You really do love teasing, Anos-kun. If anything, shouldn't the student council president be setting an example and encouraging romance?"
"A year ago, Kuoh Academy was still an all-girls school. If no one starts dating, everyone's youth will feel incomplete."
She smiled mischievously as she held his arm tighter.
They had always gotten along well.
But only as friends.
"Youth… is it?"
Anos repeated the word quietly.
Unlike ordinary humans, devils like Rias didn't always have the freedom to choose their own future.
Hearing him repeat it, Rias fell silent.
Without another word, they walked together until they reached his home.
"…Anos-kun."
Just before leaving, Rias lifted her head.
Her blue eyes shone brighter than ever before.
"Can I ask you something?"
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 300 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!