I hurt in places I didn't know could hurt.
After two hours of getting my ass handed to me by Azazel in our "training session," my body felt like one giant bruise. Sure, I healed fast thanks to the Dragon's Elixir, but that didn't stop the pain while it was happening.
"Not bad for a first session," Azazel said, not even breaking a sweat as I lay sprawled on the training room floor. The bastard looked like he'd just finished a light stretching routine instead of throwing me around like a ragdoll for hours.
"Says the guy who wasn't used as a human punching bag," I groaned, forcing myself to sit up. "Is it always going to be like this?"
"Worse, probably," he replied cheerfully. "But you'll improve quickly. You already have good instincts and your physical abilities are impressive for a human. With proper training, you would become quite formidable."
Coming from the leader of the Fallen Angels, that was... actually kind of a compliment. Though my ego wasn't feeling particularly soothed as I limped to the shower.
"Same time tomorrow?" Azazel called after me.
"You're a sadist," I muttered.
"I'll take that as a yes!"
—
By the time I arrived at school, my body had mostly recovered, though the memory of getting tossed around like a toy remained painfully fresh. I slumped into my seat, already exhausted despite it being only 8 AM.
"Dude, you look like crap," Issei observed helpfully, leaning over from his desk.
"Thanks for the update," I replied dryly. "Rough morning."
"Stayed up all night doing rich person stuff?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.
If he only knew. 'Yeah, I was getting brutalized by a fallen angel who's decided to be my supernatural mentor. Just normal Tuesday things.'
"Something like that," I said instead.
Before Issei could probe further, the classroom door slid open, and conversation instantly died. Even without looking, I knew who had entered—Rias Gremory, the school's number one idol and secret devil princess.
The collective intake of breath from the male population (and some of the female population) was audible. Issei practically vibrated with excitement beside me.
"Dude, it's her!" he whispered loudly. "The crimson-haired goddess!"
I glanced up, trying to look appropriately surprised rather than wary. Rias was making her way directly toward our desks, her long red hair swaying with each step, uniform perfectly pressed, smile dazzling. Every eye in the classroom followed her movement.
"Mishima-kun," she said, stopping at my desk. "I was hoping to speak with you."
I could practically feel Issei's jealousy radiating beside me.
"Me?" I asked, playing it cool. "What can I help you with, Gremory-senpai?"
Her smile widened slightly. "The student council president mentioned you're handling the Mishima Corporation's side of your joint venture. I was hoping to discuss a potential partnership with my family's business as well."
Ah. So that's what this was about. Business. Or at least, that was the pretense.
"Of course," I replied smoothly. "Did you have a particular time in mind?"
"Are you free during lunch? We could meet in the Occult Research Club room."
The Occult Research Club. Her territory. Her peerage's base of operations. Where she could easily corner me with her entire devil squad present.
"I actually have a prior commitment during lunch," I lied, not wanting to enter her domain just yet. "But I'm free after school, if that works for you."
Something flickered in her eyes—surprise, maybe, at being declined—but her smile never faltered.
"After school would be perfect," she agreed. "Shall I meet you at the school gates?"
"I'll be there."
With a nod and another dazzling smile that sent half the class into cardiac arrest, Rias turned and walked out, leaving chaos in her wake.
The moment she was gone, Issei grabbed my shoulder.
"DUDE!" he exclaimed, shaking me. "You just—she just—you're meeting HER? After school? Alone?"
"It's just business, Issei," I said, trying to extricate myself from his grip. "Both our families run companies. It's not that unusual."
"Not unusual?!" he spluttered. "Do you know how many guys would kill to be in your position right now?"
They might want to reconsider that desire if they knew that she is an actual devil who could probably obliterate them with a thought if she wanted to.
"I'll be sure to appreciate the opportunity," I said, patting his hand in mock reassurance.
"You better!" he warned, finally releasing me. "And I want details. Not weird perverted details," he added quickly. "Just... like... is her hair as shiny up close? Does she smell like strawberries? Is her skin as perfect as it looks?"
"I'll be sure to take detailed notes on her follicle health," I deadpanned.
Before Issei could respond, the teacher walked in, ending our conversation but not the curious stares from our classmates.
—
Lunch came, and I escaped to the roof before Issei could drag me into another Rias-focused interrogation.
One notable aspect of Kuoh Academy is its impressive size. Given how large it is, it's surprising that it is still referred to as an academy, since it offers both middle school and college education as well.
As expected, Koneko was already there, sitting on the bench in the corner, partially shaded by the water tank. Her golden eyes tracked me as I approached, carrying the ornate bento box Hayama had prepared.
It had started innocently enough. A few weeks ago, I found her on the roof one day. She'd commented on my scent, I'd offered her some of my sandwich, and somehow it had turned into... whatever this was.
By the third day, she was sitting in my lap. By the end of the week, I was bringing extra food. By week two, Hayama had noticed and taken over, preparing what he called "proper nutrition for a growing young man and his friend."
The old butler suspected something; he'd start giving me knowing looks whenever he handed over the increasingly elaborate lunch boxes. I wasn't sure what he thought was happening, but the truth was stranger than any high school romance he might be imagining.
"Hey," I said, taking my usual spot beside her. "Hayama outdid himself today."
I opened the lacquered box to reveal an artfully arranged traditional Japanese meal—rice shaped into a small mountain, grilled salmon, perfectly cut vegetables, and what looked like handmade dumplings arranged in the corner. Hayama had even included a small container of what I knew was Koneko's favorite sweet red bean paste.
Her eyes widened slightly—the Koneko equivalent of jumping up and down with excitement.
Without a word, she promptly abandoned her position and climbed onto my lap, arranging herself comfortably. It had been startling the first few times, but by now it was just part of our daily routine.
I'd long since figured out it was the nekomata in her, drawn to the draconic energy the Dragon's Elixir had infused into my body. Cats and dragons had strange affinities in mythology. Apparently, that held true here as well.
I mean, think about it. Dragons and cats have much in common. They are both carnivores, both love to curl up in the sun for a quick nap, and both twitch their tails in annoyance. Suffice it to say, Dragons are cats.
Of course, I pretended not to know any of this. As far as she knew, I was just a normal human who didn't mind being used as furniture and smelled good.
"Smells good," she said, referring to either the food or me, possibly both.
I handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Help yourself."
Another part of our routine is sharing the meal Hayama prepared. At first, I'd brought separate portions, but Koneko seemed to prefer eating from the same container. There was something almost feline in the way she'd wait for me to take a bite first, then select her own piece from the same area.
I'd researched cat behavior after the first week, and it turned out it was a trust thing. I never mentioned it. Better to let her think I was oblivious.
I still didn't understand how we'd fallen into this strange relationship. Maybe she just liked warmth and food, and I provided both.
Whatever the reason, these quiet lunch periods had become the most peaceful part of my day, just sitting, eating, and idly stroking her hair while she purred so quietly only my enhanced hearing could detect it.
Without prompting, I raised my hand to her head, scratching gently behind her ear. The tension visibly left her shoulders as she leaned into the touch.
"Heard you're meeting Gremory-senpai after school," she said, reaching for a dumpling.
"You know Gremory-senpai?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.
Koneko nodded, taking her time to chew before answering. "Part of the Occult Research Club."
"Occult Research Club?" I raised an eyebrow, playing ignorant. "What's that about? Ghost stories and Ouija boards?"
She gave me that flat stare again, the one that somehow made me feel like she was seeing right through me.
"Study supernatural things," she said simply, then, after a paus,e added, "Mostly just talking about myths and legends. Nothing real."
The lie was so obvious I almost smiled. Instead, I nodded thoughtfully.
"Sounds... interesting, I guess. Didn't take Gremory-senpai for the superstitious type."
Koneko shrugged, reaching for another piece of salmon. "She likes strange things."
"Is that why you're in it?" I asked casually.
Her chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. "I'm not strange."
"Never said you were," I replied, resuming the gentle scratching behind her ear. "Just wondering why you joined."
She seemed to consider this for a moment. "Buchou asked me to."
"You're close with her, then?"
Koneko's expression remained neutral, but something flickered in her eyes. "She helped me. Before."
"That's nice of her."
Koneko nodded once, then changed the subject. "Why is she interested in you?"
Direct as always. I shrugged, affecting confusion.
"Business stuff. Boring corporate partnership talk."
The warning bell rang, saving her from further questioning. She slid off my lap with that same small sigh I'd come to expect.
"Thanks for lunch," she said, watching as I packed up the empty bento box.
"Same time tomorrow?" I asked.
She nodded, then reached up to pat my head just once, quick and a little awkward.
"Why do you do that?" I couldn't help asking.
The faintest trace of pink touched her cheeks. "You do it to me."
"Yeah, but you seem to like it."
She looked away. "Maybe you need it too."
----
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