3rd Person POV
The old building still had a dim light glowing from its windows even after midnight.
Rias had already ordered Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko to get some rest. They had spent hours investigating the recent attacks, and she didn't want her peerage exhausting themselves before they could begin their next move.
But Rias herself... was still in the Occult Research Club room.
Lying on the sofa beneath a blanket, she stared at the ceiling while her mind continued racing.
There had to be something she had overlooked.
Some clue.
Some connection.
Something that could tell her where Freed Sellzen and whoever was working with him were hiding.
Ironically, she had been the one who ordered her peerage to rest.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to do the same.
But that wasn't what concerned her the most.
What truly troubled her was something else.
"President?"
Akeno's voice suddenly reached her as the door opened.
Rias turned her head.
Akeno hadn't left yet. She stood by the doorway, apparently about to leave herself.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Akeno asked.
Rias narrowed her eyes slightly.
"And why haven't you left yet, Akeno?" she replied. "Tomorrow, we'll begin our move."
She sat upright on the sofa.
"I need you to be in the best condition possible."
Akeno walked closer.
"And we need you to do the same."
"I know, but..."
"Is it about the case?"
Rias fell silent.
Akeno stopped behind the sofa, looking down at her.
"I guess not, is it?" She let out a quiet sigh. “You're confident about the case. You've already connected the clues and narrowed down their possible location.”
Akeno tilted her head slightly, a small smile appearing on her face.
"But now..."
Her expression softened.
"...it's not about them."
Rias remained silent while Akeno continued.
"It's about Issei-kun, isn't it?"
Rias's body twitched slightly.
That tiny reaction was enough for Akeno to confirm her suspicion.
"You blamed yourself because he was attacked."
Akeno's voice became gentler.
"And his... customer was killed as well."
Rias lowered her gaze.
"You're afraid that what happened might make him distrust us." Akeno sighed. "That he might blame himself for what happened."
Another pause.
"And you're worried that the burden will stay with him... emotionally and mentally."
Rias's hands slowly tightened around the blanket.
Her body trembled slightly as she fought to hold back the tears threatening to escape.
Akeno's expression softened.
Seeing Rias in such a vulnerable state, she couldn't help but lean forward and wrap her arms around her from behind.
"It's going to be alright, Rias,"
Rias remained silent.
"If you falter, who will we follow?" Akeno rested her chin lightly against Rias's shoulder. "I'm sure Issei-kun would agree with me. Kiba and Koneko would too."
Rias simply nodded.
Her lips remained tightly shut, unable to find the words to express what she was feeling.
"We followed you at first because we were grateful to you," she paused for a moment. "But after spending all this time together..."
Her voice became gentler.
"...we follow you because of who you are."
Akeno tightened her embrace slightly.
"No matter what happens, we'll always be by your side."
Rias's eyes trembled and for several seconds, she still said nothing.
Then, finally...
"...Thank you, Akeno."
Akeno released the hug and nodded with satisfaction, a smile returning to her face.
"So, is this the perfect time to ask for a raise again?"
"Hahaha..." Rias laughed softly. "Still no."
"Mou~ You're no fun, Rias."
Akeno pouted playfully.
Rias smiled.
For the first time that night, the weight pressing against her chest felt a little lighter.
Timeskip.
The final bell rang loudly across Kuoh Academy, signaling the end of the school day.
Students began pouring out of their classrooms and making their way toward the school gates.
Kazuki was among them.
As he walked through the crowded hallway, he glanced toward the entrance.
He expected Akeno to be waiting for him at the usual spot near the gate.
She normally greeted him there after school, often helping him review lessons or explaining topics he hadn't fully understood.
But today...
She wasn't there.
"Weird..." Kazuki muttered to himself. "Akeno-senpai isn't at her usual spot. What happened?"
He looked around for a moment before shrugging.
"She might be busy with something else." Kazuki sighed. "That's a shame. There's still an equation I don't quite understand."
He adjusted his bag and continued toward the school gate.
"Sakuragi-kun!"
Kazuki stopped for a moment before turning around.
He saw Murayama quickly walking toward him.
"Murayama-san?"
Murayama stopped in front of him.
"What about Kendo? Usually, you go home later, don't you?"
"Ah, yes," she replied before falling into step beside him. "Actually, I asked Katase to take over for today."
"Take over?" Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "But you're the captain, right?"
"Hmm." Murayama nodded. "It's training for them. They need to learn how to stay disciplined even when I'm not around. I think it's a good routine for them."
"But your presence there might motivate them more, wouldn't it?"
"You're not wrong," Murayama admitted. "But motivation just because of me isn't a good thing."
She paused.
"I need them to stay motivated even when I'm not there."
Kazuki caught the subtle change in Murayama's expression.
The way she emphasized those words...
The slight heaviness in her voice...
It was enough for him to realize that something else was on her mind.
"I think you still have time."
Murayama blinked when she heard that, while Kazuki simply continued walking as though he hadn't said anything unusual.
"We're still first-years, aren't we?"
Murayama stared at him for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Yeah..." She looked ahead. "We are."
"Now that's..." Kazuki smiled a little after seeing her smile. "That's the Murayama-san I know."
Murayama's eyes widened as she looked at Kazuki's smile.
She couldn't help but smile as well.
Then—
"Yosh!"
Murayama suddenly slapped her own cheeks, causing Kazuki to flinch.
"I'm not going to think about stepping down as Kendo Captain anytime soon!" she said, nodding firmly. "There's still a lot of things I want to teach them."
She quickly took a few steps forward, but Kazuki noticed that the tips of her ears had turned red.
Murayama suddenly stopped without turning around.
"Thank you, Sakuragi-kun."
Before Kazuki could respond, Murayama suddenly ran off.
Kazuki tilted his head in confusion.
"...What was that about?"
He stared after her for a moment before shrugging, decided not to think too deeply about it and continued walking toward home.
As he walked, Kazuki pulled out a small notebook containing his compiled Spanish notes and began reviewing some of the material.
There were still a few things he hadn't fully understood in class.
But then...
A familiar lavender fragrance suddenly reached his nose.
Kazuki stopped before slowly turning around.
"Are you, perhaps, Kazuki Sakuragi?"
It wasn't Akeno.
It wasn't Sister Kalla, either.
A woman stood several steps away, dressed in an unfamiliar outfit. Her presence was strangely calm, yet something about her immediately put Kazuki on edge.
"¿Qué?" Kazuki blinked in confusion.