Rin paused his search for the supernatural, finding a moment's respite in a sun-dappled park. The Kuoh Town weather was surprisingly hot for the season, and he sought refuge under the dense canopy of a large tree. As he gazed up at the interplay of leaves and sunlight, a random, fleeting thought drifted through his mind: Why is Ai Hayasaka, from Kaguya-sama, in this High School DxD world anyway? It was an anomaly he hadn't truly questioned before, but the thought vanished as quickly as it came, overshadowed by his more immediate concerns.
After his brief rest, he decided to try a different approach. Abandoned areas hadn't yielded any results. Perhaps the supernatural lurked in plain sight, in the mundane chaos of everyday life. He headed towards a bustling wet market. It wasn't the traditional, open-air, slightly grimy market he'd envisioned from the name, but more of a modern, covered arcade of stalls. He wandered through, observing the vendors and shoppers, hoping for something – a flicker of magic, an unusually strong aura, even just a classic anime-style street fight.
But the afternoon passed uneventfully. No hidden cults, no stray devils haggling over fish, nothing out of the ordinary. With a sigh, Rin conceded defeat for the day. It was getting late; time to head home.
Upon arriving at the Takakura mansion, he was met by the head maid, a prim and proper older woman who ran the household with quiet efficiency. "Rin-sama," she announced, "a call came while you were out. Mrs. Yukinoshita has invited you to their annual family dinner this evening."
Rin vaguely recalled the name from the jumble of memories of this body's past. He felt a mild inclination to decline – he wasn't really in the mood for polite society. But the head maid continued, "Your parents were very insistent that this tradition be continued, Rin-sama. It was a personal request they made before… before their passing."
A pang of something akin to obligation, mixed with a surprising flicker of warmth towards the parents he'd never truly known, stirred within him. This body's parents had left him everything, and this was a simple request. "Alright," he conceded. "I'll go."
He called Ai, who was still at her friend's place, to let her know. She immediately offered to return and accompany him, but he relayed the message that Mrs. Yukinoshita had specifically requested he come alone. Ai, ever the loyal servant despite her burgeoning feelings, accepted without complaint, though Rin could hear the faint disappointment in her thoughts.
The head maid helped him select an appropriate formal suit. Soon, he was in one of the family cars, heading out of Kuoh Town towards a different, more metropolitan district, one dominated by gleaming high-rise buildings. They pulled up before an elegant establishment that seemed to be a combination of a luxury hotel and a high-end restaurant.
Stepping inside, he was guided to an elevator, which whisked him up to the restaurant floor. A hostess greeted him, and upon hearing his name, her polite smile widened slightly. "Ah, Takakura-sama. Mrs. Yukinoshita is expecting you. Please follow me."
She led him to a private dining room. As he stepped inside, his eyes fell upon the woman seated at the center of the table – an elegant, impeccably dressed lady with an air of quiet authority. She looked strikingly familiar. Then, his gaze shifted to her companions, seated on her left and right, and a jolt of recognition, far stronger this time, shot through him.
To her right, with an icy beauty and a composed, almost aloof demeanor, was Yukinoshita Yukino. To her left, exuding a playful, sophisticated charm, her smile a captivating enigma, was her older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno. Oregairu?! What is this, an anime character convention in my life?
Suddenly, a fresh wave of memories, sharp and vivid, flooded Rin's mind, seamlessly integrating with his existing consciousness. He saw himself as a child, playing with a younger Yukino, their interactions often a mix of quiet companionship and her characteristic bluntness. He remembered a slightly older, mischievous Haruno, always teasing him, a whirlwind of playful energy.
"Rin-kun, you've grown so much! Do come in, take a seat," Mrs. Yukinoshita said, her voice warm and cultured, pulling him from his reverie.
Still slightly dazed by the influx of forgotten childhood experiences, Rin managed a polite greeting and sat down.
"It's been too long," Mrs. Yukinoshita continued, her eyes holding a gentle reminiscence. "I remember when you and Yukino-chan were classmates in elementary school. Such quiet children, both of you, though you always managed to bring a smile to her face."
Another memory surfaced: young Rin, with the unthinking boldness of a child, proudly declaring to a laughing Haruno and a stoic Yukino, "When I grow up, I'm going to marry both of you!" The recollection made him inwardly cringe.
Mrs. Yukinoshita chuckled softly. "Children say the most amusing things. Though, speaking of such declarations…" She paused, her gaze shifting between Rin and Yukino, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Your parents and we always did think you two made a rather compatible pair. In fact, Rin-kun, Yukino-chan…"
She dropped the bombshell.
"You two are engaged. An arrangement our families made many years ago, hoping to see it come to fruition when you both came of age."
The clatter of a fork hitting a plate broke the sudden silence. Yukino had accidentally slammed her hand on the table, her usual icy composure cracking. Her eyes, narrowed and filled with a glacial fire, shot towards Rin, a silent but unmistakable declaration of opposition. She didn't say a word, but her glare spoke volumes.
Rin, though outwardly surprised, was already scanning their thoughts.
Mrs. Yukinoshita: Good, the topic is out. Now to see how they react. This is for the best, for both families.
Haruno: Oh, this is delicious! Yukino-chan is going to explode. Rin-kun looks so surprised. This dinner just got infinitely more interesting! I wonder if he remembers his little proposal? Fufufu.
Yukino: Engaged?! To him?! This is absurd! Mother, how could you? I will not stand for this. He… he's just… (a jumble of confused, resentful, and surprisingly flustered thoughts about Rin, some surprisingly not entirely negative, buried deep beneath layers of indignation).
The atmosphere in the room became instantly, incredibly awkward.
Mrs. Yukinoshita, a master of social graces, smoothly changed the subject. "But enough about such serious matters for now. Let us enjoy our dinner. It's been too long since our families gathered like this. Tell me, Rin-kun, how have you been faring at Kuoh Academy?"
The tradition of their annual family dinner continued, but the air was now thick with unspoken tensions and the shocking revelation of a future neither Rin nor Yukino had anticipated.