I could tell Sona was ecstatic to see me!
How? Well, most people don't lean forward in their seat, look down, and groan as they rub the bridge of their nose the moment someone floats in through their window.
Now, granted, most people don't float in through windows, but that's such a minor thing!
Sona's Pawn, Ruruko, good old twin tails girl, took up a position behind her King as soon as I sat down.
I plopped my plus one down in the chair next to me because, of course, Sona already has chairs set up in front of her desk, so there was no shock there.
For a good minute, I sat there, beaming smile on my face, while the Voyalkyrie and Sona slumped in their seats.
After all, only one of them wanted to be here, trust!
Finally, Sona spoke up, already sounding tired, "Kusanagi-san. Why are you here…and who is that?"
I set down the last thing I was carrying, a file folder, right down onto her desk.
"A new student!" I answered easily, basking in the tense look she sent my way.
Unfortunately, not all good things can last forever, as I had to add, "For the Junior Division."
And thus, all tension left her face, replaced by sweet relief.
A shame.
Sona let out a sigh, reaching out and sliding the folder closer to her, eyes flickering between the two of us, "Right. I won't pry, but I will ask…is she alright?"
I wave off the Sitri Devil, "Yeah, she's just magically exhausted, is all."
Sona raised an eyebrow, "I shouldn't be surprised, considering how you flew here," irritation bled into her voice slightly, though it quickly ebbed out, "but…supernatural?"
I nod, "Yup. The girl is a Walkure. Valkyrie-in-Training, from Asgard."
I could almost feel her headache intensifying from here, as a vein comically bulged from the side of her head.
"...I won't pry." She said, still, I could tell she was holding back a lot.
Which is appreciated, though, truly. After this, we are going school supplies shopping after all, and I want to be home before lunch!
I chuckled and reached over, patting the silver-haired girl on the head, prompting her to grumble and try and knock my hand away as she dug her back further into the seat, likely trying to get comfortable.
She won't, these seats aren't for that, but who am I to try and stop her journey for sleep?
"Don't worry," I continue with an easy grin, "everything you wanna know is in that file, and…" I shrug and decide to throw her a bone, "For the record, I would have gone to Rias for this, but she's not here, so…" I trail off, leaving the conclusion obvious.
To my slight surprise, Sona shakes her head and sighs, "While her Father does indeed own the school," she starts explaining, "the running of the lower divisions falls to me. At least the more supernatural side of things, anyhow. You bringing this to me now is actually for the best, truth be told. It's better than having to take care of it directly at the start of a new school week. Tomorrow."
Well shit.
Now I kind of wish I had waited.
Sona sent me a deadpan that told me she somehow knew what I was thinking.
Oh. My smile fell, and I'm pouting. That'd do it, huh?
"Will that be all, Kusanagi-san?" Sona asked plainly.
"For once?" I hum and nod, "Yeah…Yeah, I think so." I stood up again, clasping my hands together, "You got a school supply list for the junior division lying around? I want to get that done today, be ready for tomorrow, and all that."
At the reminder that she's going to school tomorrow, the silver-haired girl groaned.
Sona and I ignored her with practiced ease, with Sona herself humming as she pushed back her chair to access one of her lower desk drawers.
It was less a piece of paper and more a pamphlet, but it still had the supplies listed all the same.
She pulled it out, set it on the desk, and slid it over to me.
"Her uniform," Sona added, causing the poor girl to cringe, "and the schedule should be ready by tomorrow as well. Stop by and pick it up before school starts…how she changes into it before the bell is entirely up to you two."
I nodded and picked up the pamphlet.
"That's pretty fast," I note, marginally impressed.
Sona nearly looked offended, "Of course." She huffed, before adding, reluctantly, "Though I must admit the same. My notions made me think you wouldn't be so…proactive, with something like this."
I sent the devil a smirk, "Oh, Souna," she flinched and grimaced at the informality, but I wasn't done yet, "you should know just how proactive I can be when I dedicate myself toward it, shouldn't you?"
At that, the girl shivered, and I swear I could see the prank trauma flashbacks almost like a film reel as they played in her eyes.
After a moment, Sona simply acquiesced with, "...Right."
I gave her a thumbs up and happily added, "Now then, it was great seeing you again, but I think it's time we head out!"
Sona cringed, "Likewise." She lied as easily as she breathed, "My Peerage and I also have work to attend to. Good day."
I snatched up the Voyalkyrie, carrying her like one would a particularly lazy cat.
Not Kuroka. I mean a normal cat.
She grumbled and whined, but didn't give me anything eligible, so I just carried on.
"...Could you please not jump out of the"
I then proceeded to jump out of the window.
Before the sounds of rushing wind passing by overtook everything, I caught her pained and agitated sigh from inside the room, and smiled, as I flew back off into town.
That's one thing checked off the list; next is shopping! Beyond school supplies, Rose also wanted us to get new clothes for the girl.
Something about Rose not wanting Schwert to need to go home at all. Not entirely sure about the details, I can suspect bad home life, sure, but I was never told specifics.
Well, I figure one of the two will tell me eventually, and if it turns out I don't need to know, then I don't.
Ah, well, moving on!
~ A New Sun ~
The rest of the day flew by quickly, and in no time at all, the new week began.
Shopping went about as well as it could go, what with me dragging along the visibly half-dead Walkure everywhere I went.
I had been taking her everywhere I went so she'd get to see the sights of her new school and such, but to be perfectly frank, I don't think she'll remember any of it anyway.
Well, besides the clothes shopping part.
It started normally, then she spotted a gyaru shop out of the corner of her eye, and I swear it was like she took a Phenex Tear or something, because she was all of a sudden far more awake.
I had never been inside a gyaru-specific shop before.
I never plan on being inside a gyaru-specific shop again.
Even now, when I close my eyes, I can still see color.
Specifically, bright pink, yellow, and teal.
After we left, though, her second wind pretty much petered out, leaving her just as she was before she saw that accursed place.
Oh! Right, while I was out, I finally got myself another phone!
It took me long enough, I know.
Along with that, I also got a bunch of lewd pictures…because when I text the girls telling them of my new number, they can't reply normally, no, they have to be extra about it.
I think what makes it worse is I'm about to head to the Academy's Junior Division, basically, the middle school, and I'm getting sexted constantly beforehand.
Upstairs, I hear cat-like cackling.
My new phone promptly vibrates in my robe.
I groan and lean back into my couch.
"I-I think it's good now, alright? It's only a ribbon, sensei!"
"Mmm…is it a perfect ribbon, though?"
"S-Sensei!"
Ah, look, a distraction! Right next to me!
Granted, they've been at this for a while now, but still.
Rose fiddling with the Voyalkyrie's outfit in specifically I mean.
I'm not exactly shocked Rose is going out of her way to make sure Schwert's first day goes smoothly, but I didn't expect Rose to wake herself up early to go grab her uniform for her, then spend the next few hours making sure it looks good.
Shame the schedule wasn't done by then, probably just pick it up at school.
Also, I'm not sure when Rose started having Schwert call her 'sensei,' but, well, I guess it fits?
In any event, I should probably stop this before Rose unintentionally makes her late, huh?
I got off the couch, pointedly ignoring my phone vibrating incessantly in my robe, before heading over to the two, coming up behind Rose, and giving her a light tug away from the younger Walkure.
"Alright, Rose, that's enough…keep it up, you're going to make her late." I admonish the older Walkure.
Rose gasps, "O-Oh! Right! The time!"
Schwert, though, looks between us, then down at the ribbon on her chest, before deadpanning at both of us.
"On second thought, it could use another look." She states blankly.
I snorted right back, holding Rose back from heading back up to her almost by instinct at this point.
I wave her off entirely, "Yeah, no, you're fine for the first day."
"...A-Are you sure?" Rose asks nervously, causing both me and Schwert to look at her.
After a moment, she looks between the two of us, "W-What?" She questions, anxiously, "I honestly don't know, I haven't been to school here ever before!"
I pat Rose on the head, looking down at her with a sigh, "It's fine, alright? It's not that big a deal, as long as she's got the uniform on."
Schwert nodded with a roll of her eyes, giving an exaggerated twirl for the two of us.
Truly, she'd be perfectly fine.
Besides her brightly colored gyaru accessories like her hairband, bracelets, and badges, alongside her sweater, all she wore underneath it was the standard Kuoh Academy uniform.
Which means the skirt is way too small in my opinion, especially for the junior division girl, but otherwise, I don't think she's going to get bullied or ostracized or whatever Rose thinks.
Hell, even if she did, I don't doubt our Voyalkyrie would take care of it.
And if she won't? Then I suppose I will.
"W-Well, if you say so." Rose reluctantly conceded with a gulp, "In that case, you need to get going, don't you?"
Schwert let out a long sigh, "...Yup."
I chuckled, "Someone sounds enthused."
I get ignored as she walks over to me, picking up her school shoulder bag from a nearby tabletop on her way over.
"H-Have fun!" Rose waves a bit dumbly toward Schwert.
The Voyalkyrie here, as at least the sense to try and smile, "I'll try." She gives Rose back.
That's enough to make Rose's smile a little less dim.
That said.
"Away we go~!" I call, holding up my hand, a golden light blasting up around us as I do.
In a flash of sunlight, we are abruptly in sunlight, outside.
Not just outside, but outside Kyoto as well. A whole town over, just like yesterday.
Except, well, this time I'm not lugging my charge around like a suitcase for most of it.
"And here we are!" I hold up my arms, almost as if presenting our destination.
Even though the Junior Division School Building looks pretty much identical to the High School one. It's just labeled differently, is all.
Well, that, and there's a bunch of kids outside. They saw our arrival, and though they seemed stunned…all of them, and I do mean every single one, I can sense a bit of power beyond normal humans.
Weird.
Also, they look like they're guarding the entrance, for some reason? Wonder what that could be about.
Schwert looks at all of this and sighs, "I…honestly don't know what to say? Well, beyond the fact that this is all going a little fast..."
"Get used to it." I advised her with a smile, "And you don't need to say anything. Just give it a try first, alright? If you don't like the school, we can try elsewhere, or I could eventually convince Rose that homeschooling is the way…eventually."
Schwert sends me a small smile, "Fine, and thanks. Really. I…don't think I'll ever be able to repay you, or Rossweisse-sensei, for this."
I simply pat her on the head.
Well, try to. She flicks my hand away, sending me a look as she readjusts her headband.
I cackle as she heads off.
For the briefest of moments, I consider giving her one last call before parting ways, using her 'real' name, of course, but I decide against it in a second.
Too many people around. Not worth it. Poor girl hasn't earned that kind of first day.
Speaking of the people, the group of kids at the door, Schwert walks up to ask about her schedule, and they start talking about their president likely having it.
Huh. So all these kids are part of the Junior Division Student Council? Explains a couple of things, I suppose.
Doesn't explain why their president is out, according to them, 'chasing down a well-known problem child.'
Well, whatever, not my problem, I guess.
Schwerts seemed to be thinking the same thing, as she merely shrugged off their words and headed inside.
But not before looking back and giving me one last smile.
I made sure to wave her off, my hand only dropping when the doors closed, and she was gone.
Now then!
Those kids are staring at me, and I don't want to explain stuff to them, so I'm out!
Another golden ray of sunlight strikes my lonesome self.
For a moment, I considered heading back home.
Then my phone vibrates several times, and I feel my eyebrow twitch.
On the fly, I change course.
It has been a while since I last saw Rias and crew, hasn't it? I may as well hit them up while I'm in the area.
Besides, before I go to Takamagahara, I may catch up with her; it'll probably be a while before I can do so again anyhow.
That, and I'm curious about what's been going on in the Underworld lately. I haven't exactly received any news about down under lately, after all.
My new course set, my golden flash, radiates away, and I am elsewhere once more.
The Old School Building. Where Rias does all her devil stuff. Specifically, I appear directly outside it.
I'd be a bad friend, blowing a hole through her barriers and roof just to get in faster, wouldn't I?
Now then, I'm not sure if she's even here, but-
A shiver runs up my spine.
I stopped midway through my first step toward the building.
This…feeling. I haven't felt anything like this since the mountain, back when I invoked that name.
That holy power.
Yet, that's quite right, either. It's similar, almost feels related, but not quite. Distant. Muddled.
Contained?
Sealed.
Yet…close.
I turn on my heels, not entirely sure what to be ready for.
I especially don't expect to see a girl, around the same age as Schwert, standing there, looking absolutely flabbergasted.
She was clad in the junior division student uniform, mouth slightly agape, with long hair an unusual mix of black and dark pink that I'd never seen before, her dark pink eyes growing increasingly more and more anxious as they beheld me.
My first thought?
Why the hell is this girl's chest as big as Kurokas!?
My second thought was-
Oh yeah. DxD. Fucking duh!
~ A New Sun ~
She was just about to leave.
She, truly, was just about to leave.
She saw the barrier, the faint red circle surrounding the entire old building, and realized immediately that she probably shouldn't be here.
She could feel the unease, the alarm bells ringing in her chest. It's always these kinds of situations, something always goes wrong!
And it did.
A lance of golden light slammed into the ground behind her just as she was making her hasty escape.
Almost on instinct, she reached for her chest and whirled around, expecting an attack immediately.
Then the light died down. No attack came. It was just some guy, a young man, a few years her senior, most likely.
He also wasn't looking her way. His back was turned!
A chance!
So…why wasn't she trying to run away?
Those fighting instincts, that feeling deep in her bosom, those alarm bells, they weren't stopping.
In fact, they only got worse.
She didn't want to attack this guy; that's a horrible first impression!
Plus, he came from the sky! He's definitely not human! This was a terrible idea!
And yet…
Tensei, this feeling, is it…?
Her thoughts trailed off.
And a voice called back.
[Y-Yes, Zekka, I'm…]
Yet, his voice that was usually so smooth was marred by so much pain.
[I'm sorry, it's because of me. I can feel it…a call to battle against this man, like an edict from the one who put me in here.]
Zekka's eyes widened at that.
Is he a bad guy, then!?
[...I don't think so.] Tensei replied in short order, [No. Even if this guy is, I won't fight by his order anymore. He gave up that right when he put me in here, long ago, when I accepted my punishment.]
Tensei…
[Zekka. If he attacks, I'll be there. Don't worry. I'll deal with these lingering feelings and expel them. In the meanwhile…]
Huh?
[He's looking this way.]
Oh. Oh.
That he is.
Now that she can finally see him, she's more than certain he's not human.
Golden eyes that look like miniature suns, obsidian black hair as shiny as the glass it appears to be from, perfectly fair skin without a single blemish, yet his lean muscles and build were clear, pronounced, even hidden under his robe as it was.
His entire presence, even though he's wearing a bathrobe of all things, just screamed majesty and power.
It almost made her feel like she should bow before him, as though he were a prince or god.
Normal men don't exude such excellence naturally.
So, that feeling buried deep in her chest, she leaped back, a considerable distance away.
She held her position upon landing, her hand hovering about her chest, ready to release Tensei at any moment.
"You are, not human!" She called out her first words since this encounter began.
The man watched her leap, then continued staring at her, seeing where her hand was positioned, he merely raised an eyebrow.
Then he finally spoke, deadpanning, "Huh. I wonder what gave that away. Was it the giant pillar of light, my aura, or something else?"
"U-Um…" Almost immediately, Zekka felt her face heat up.
She wasn't expecting that to come out of his mouth.
"The light?" She gave her answer truthfully, albeit slowly, and in embarrassment.
The man blinked at her. Now he looked legitimately confused by her response.
Then, coming to a realization, he abruptly smiled, "Ahh, alright, I see what's going on here. You? You're adorable."
Huh!?
Zekka nearly, somehow, managed to stagger, standing still, yet her guard remained up all the same despite his words.
"I…Eh?" It was more of a sound than a word that Zekka let out, but it's not like she could think of much else to say to that.
Especially since this guy didn't seem hostile or threatened. Now, he just seemed more amused than anything else.
He crosses his arms and gives her a knowing look, "So…what's a junior division girl doing over here in the high school division?"
The…wait, what!?
"H-High school…?"
The guy then proceeded to reel his head back and chuckle, loud and boisterous, as her face fell further and further into loss and confusion.
"Ah. Well." He suddenly stops, wiping away a lone tear from his eye, his smile never leaving, "That's how these things always start, isn't it? My name is Noriaki Kusanagi. Call me whatever makes you comfortable; I don't truly care. If you're so lost, I can point you in the right way, if you want."
She still isn't done digesting what he just said before, how the hell is she supposed to come up with something to all that now!?
Yet he still isn't done!
"You know," he carries on, without a care in the world, in an almost reminiscing tone, "you kind of remind me of, well, me from a little under a year ago. How neat!"
No, she doesn't know. What does any of that mean!?
And it's not neat!