Sona coughed lightly, straightening herself up as she regained her composure. Her cheeks had barely faded from the blush Damon's comment had caused.
"OK, well, firstly, I would like to welcome you to Kuoh Academy," she said, her voice regaining its usual calm and authoritative tone. "For today, Tsubaki will be your guide. If you have any questions, you can come here anytime."
Damon nodded, his expression thoughtful. He glanced at Tsubaki, who was standing nearby with a neutral expression. Tsubaki, huh?
But his thoughts weren't entirely on her. The moment he'd entered the student council office, his senses had already picked up the faint but distinct aura of a devil. Not just Sona, but Tsubaki as well. It was subtle, masked well, but there was no mistaking it.
Interesting. The student council president and vice president are devils.
His red eyes gleamed with a knowing, mischievous spark. The game was already interesting.
"Thank you, Sona," he said, his voice smooth and light. "I'll take Tsubaki's guidance then."
Sona smiled slightly, the flush from earlier now completely gone. She nodded. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask."
As Damon turned to leave with Tsubaki, his mind buzzed with the possibilities. Devils at the top of the student body. Could this be a perfect chance to stay under the radar or a danger waiting to happen? Either way...
His grin returned.
It's just another game to play.
The soft tap of footsteps echoed down the corridor as Damon walked beside Tsubaki. The silence between them was calm—but Damon never liked too much calm.
"So," he began, casually slipping his hands into his pockets, "does every student here get such a beautiful guide, or am I just special?"
Tsubaki glanced sideways at him, her expression unreadable behind her glasses. "You're new. It's protocol for the vice-president to handle certain transfer cases."
"But does the protocol also require the guide to have eyes that shine like midnight and a voice that could calm storms?" he said with a smirk.
Tsubaki blinked. It wasn't often someone flirted with her so directly. "You're quite confident, Damon Allister."
He gave her a grin. "Confidence is the reward of knowing your worth."
They turned down another hallway, the morning light cutting through the windows and casting long shadows across the polished floor.
"Class 3-A is just ahead," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're in the same class as me ."
Damon raised a brow, amused. In the same class as both of them? He chuckled inwardly. "Well, fate seems to love me," he said. "Not only do I get the best school in town, but I also get a beauties as classmates. Life's finally treating me right."
"You should focus on your studies instead of charming every girl you meet," Tsubaki replied, though her tone had softened, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Can't I do both?" Damon shot back with a wink.
Before she could answer, they reached the door to Class 3-A. She slid it open and gave him a nod. "After you."
Damon stepped inside, eyes scanning the class, already sensing the shifting gazes as students noticed the unfamiliar face.
As Damon stepped into Class 3-A, it was as if the air shifted.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the class stirred.
A girl near the front gasped softly, nudging her friend.
"Whoa… who is that?"
"He's gorgeous," whispered another, practically swooning.
"That hair… and those eyes… are he even real?"
Compliments flowed like a wave, whispered behind hands or outright murmured with awe. Damon barely glanced around, letting their reactions wash over him like a natural tide. His red eyes gleamed beneath the white hoodie as if soaking in the attention.
He let out a small, arrogant chuckle.
Of course.
But on the other side of the room, the mood was… less welcoming.
"Tch. Look at this guy. Thinks he's some prince or something."
"Another pretty boy transfer. Just what we needed."
"Bet he's full of himself."
The sharp glares of several boys tried—and failed—to pierce Damon's calm. He didn't even bother to acknowledge them. What were ants to a lion?
Tsubaki cleared her throat. "This is Damon Allister. He's a transfer student from abroad. He'll be joining Class 3-A starting today."
The teacher, who had just walked in, gestured toward the empty seat near the back—coincidentally next to Tsubaki's own. "Damon, you can take that seat for now. We'll sort out your materials later."
Damon nodded, casually walking to his seat with the ease of someone used to all eyes on him. He sat, leaned back, and offered Tsubaki a smirk as she took her seat beside him.
"So," he said under his breath, "is it always this lively here? Or is this the Allister effect?"
Tsubaki gave him a sideways glance. "More like the arrogance effect."
Damon grinned. "Same thing."
Class had barely started, and Damon was already a distraction.
While the teacher droned on about something involving historical literature, Damon leaned slightly toward Tsubaki, resting his chin lazily in his palm.
"You know," he whispered, voice smooth and low enough not to be caught by the teacher, "I always thought angels were just myths… but then I met you."
Tsubaki blinked, then gave him a tired look. "You're impossible."
"And yet," he smirked, "you're still talking to me."
From across the room, a group of boys clenched their pens just a little too tightly.
"Tch. Seriously? He just got here and he's already going for Tsubaki?"
"Look at him—he's not even trying to hide it."
"Who the hell does he think he is?"
One even muttered, "I'll wipe that smirk off his face during PE."
Damon caught the glares, of course. He always did.
But he didn't so much as glance at them. He just smiled a little wider and whispered to Tsubaki again, "I think I'm making friends already."
"You're making something, but I wouldn't call them friends," she said with a sigh, flipping a page in her textbook.
The girls nearby, on the other hand, were doing everything they could to sneak glances, scribble notes to each other, and suppress squeals. Damon didn't miss that either. He winked at one, causing a small chain reaction of whispered excitement.
Later
The bell rang, signaling the start of lunch break. Students began pouring out of the classroom, some heading to the cafeteria, others staying behind to socialize or rest. Damon stood up with a casual stretch, his movements smooth and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.
Tsubaki glanced at him. "Do you have lunch?"
Damon smirked. "Of course I do. I made it myself. Would be a crime not to taste heaven when it's my own hands that crafted it."
She raised a brow. "Still as arrogant as ever, I see."
He winked. "Confidence and quality often go hand in hand."
As they stepped out into the hallway, a group of boys blocked their way.
"Oi, new guy," one of them growled, clearly one of the louder ones from earlier. "You think just 'cause you're pretty and smooth-talking you can flirt with anyone you want?"
Damon tilted his head, his red eyes gleaming ever so slightly under the fluorescent lights. "Oh? Jealousy's an ugly color, you know. Doesn't really suit you."
The boy grit his teeth, fists clenched.
Tsubaki stepped forward. "Is there a problem here?"
The group hesitated under her sharp gaze. No one wanted to get on the bad side of the Vice President of the Student Council. Eventually, they grumbled and moved aside, though not without a few death glares at Damon.
He sighed. "How unfortunate. I was almost hoping they'd try something. I need the exercise."
Tsubaki shot him a look. "Don't cause trouble."
Damon smiled as they continued walking. "I don't cause trouble, Tsubaki. Trouble simply finds me irresistible."
They eventually reached the rooftop—Tsubaki's suggestion, since it was quieter there.
Damon sat down, pulling out a bento box and opening it with a dramatic flourish. The aroma wafted into the air.
Tsubaki blinked. "That smells… amazing."
"I told you," he said, taking a bite with a pleased expression. "It's divine. But then again, what else would you expect from me?"
He looked out over the school courtyard below, the wind brushing through his blonde hair.
"Peace and quiet," he murmured. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Tsubaki sat beside Damon, watching him enjoy his food like it was prepared by the gods themselves. She pulled out her own lunch as he glanced at her.
"So," she started, "as I was saying earlier... there's something you should be aware of."
Damon raised an eyebrow between bites. "Go on, I'm all ears. Well—half ears, half ego."
Tsubaki gave a soft chuckle before continuing. "Kuoh Academy has a… social hierarchy, let's call it. Especially when it comes to looks and popularity."
"Ah, the old beauty power balance. I assume you're at the top?"
She gave a faint smile. "Technically, I'm one of the four. Sona, Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, and myself—we're considered the four most beautiful girls in the school."
Damon whistled softly. "So that explains the death glares I've been collecting all morning."
"Exactly. Most of the boys either admire us from afar or have little fantasies. The fact that you've been talking casually with both Sona and me? That's enough to put you on their blacklist."
Damon leaned back, a lazy grin on his lips. "Oh no, the wrath of hormonal teenagers… how shall I ever survive?"
Tsubaki narrowed her eyes, amused. "Mock it all you want, but you should be careful. Some of them can be… persistent."
He leaned in slightly, smirking. "Persistent, huh? Should I be worried? Or are you warning me because you care?"
She looked away, just slightly. "I'm warning you because Sona asked me to keep an eye on you."
"Ouch," he chuckled. "Here I thought I had at least one ally."
Tsubaki gave a small sigh. "I'm neutral. For now."
Damon leaned back again, staring up at the sky, his red eyes gleaming just a little. So this is what peace feels like, he thought. Petty school drama and jealous stares. I think I could get used to this.
As they continued talking, Damon caught the subtle flick of Tsubaki's gaze shifting toward his bento. His food, as expected, looked like something out of a gourmet magazine—perfectly grilled steak, vegetables arranged with absurd precision, and a warm fragrance that teased the air like temptation itself.
He noticed the tiniest glint of curiosity in her eyes, and he smirked.
"You know," he said smoothly, tilting his head slightly, "your eyes… they're striking."
Tsubaki blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"
He leaned in just a bit, enough to make it feel intentional but not uncomfortable. "That heterochromia of yours… it's not just rare—it's enchanting. Like a moon and sun sharing the same sky."
Her lips parted slightly, clearly not expecting such direct words.
"And tell me," he continued with a lopsided grin, "is a girl like you single? Or should I start a duel with fate itself?"
Before she could answer—whether to scold him or stammer something—he took the opportunity to spear a mouthful of his perfectly cooked steak with his chopsticks and gently offered it toward her lips.
"You were staring," he murmured with a teasing tone, eyes glowing just slightly. "Taste it. I saw your gaze."
Tsubaki froze, her face slightly red, clearly not used to being the one caught off guard. For a moment, she hesitated… then, quietly, she accepted the bite.
He watched her chew with satisfaction in his eyes, the corner of his mouth curled.
"Well?" he asked, voice low and smug.
"…Delicious," she finally muttered, looking away with just a hint of fluster.
He leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Naturally. I made it."
Damon leaned back, a smug glint in his crimson eyes as he watched Tsubaki glance away, cheeks faintly pink. Her usual calm demeanor wavered for just a heartbeat—and to him, that was victory enough.
"Don't tell me that was your first time being fed by a guy," he teased, resting his chin on his palm.
Tsubaki cleared her throat, regaining some composure. "You're quite bold for a transfer student."
He smirked. "I've been called worse. Bold, charming, devilishly handsome—take your pick."
She gave him a side glance, lips twitching, almost amused. "I see why the boys already hate you."
"I see it too," Damon said casually, looking around at the various glares being shot his way. "But I'm used to envy. Comes with the territory."
Tsubaki rolled her eyes slightly, but there was a trace of a smile. "You'll definitely make waves here."
"Waves?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Darling, I make tsunamis."
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break.
"Come on, Mister Tsunami," Tsubaki said as she stood. "We don't want to be late for next period."
"Lead the way," Damon replied, grabbing his bento box with one hand and slipping the other in his pocket. As they walked side by side, he thought with a low chuckle, " If all school days are going to be like this, maybe this 'normal life' thing isn't so bad after all."
But even as he smiled, the gleam in his eyes hinted at something deeper—he could feel it. This place wasn't as simple as it looked. And peace, true peace, was never meant to last long for someone like him.
Later
Damon leisurely strolled through the quiet streets of Kuoh, a massive 3kg pack of Skittles in hand. He was enjoying the sugary sweetness of his favorite treat—after all, even someone with the powers of a king needed to indulge in some simple pleasures from time to time. His steps were light, but his senses were sharp, as they always were. His crimson eyes flicked from side to side, constantly aware of his surroundings.
That was when he felt it.
A foul, disgusting aura wafted through the air, making his skin crawl. The source was nearby—hidden in a dilapidated, abandoned house a few blocks away. Without a second thought, Damon made his way toward the source, curious yet instinctively cautious.
As he neared the house, he could almost taste the malevolence in the air. Something unnatural lingered there, gnawing at his senses. The faint sound of scuttling and skittering reached his ears, followed by a low, guttural voice.
"Finally, another meal," it hissed.
Damon's crimson gaze narrowed, his sweet-tooth cravings now forgotten as the sight before him twisted into something foul. Inside, a stray devil—a grotesque being, half-woman, half-spider—waited in the dim shadows. Its multiple, bulbous eyes glinted with hunger, its spider-like legs scraping against the cracked wooden floor.
Damon paused in the doorway, his lips curling into a look of utter disdain. He crossed his arms, his grip tightening on the pack of Skittles that had been his only companion moments ago.
"Who gave you permission to look at me?" Damon's voice rang out, cold and commanding, filled with a venomous arrogance that seemed to choke the very air. "Such filth shouldn't even be allowed to exist."
The devil's many eyes widened, but before it could react, Damon stepped forward with a chilling confidence. His red eyes gleamed, his posture unyielding as he raised his left hand toward the creature.
"By the decree of the King, whose will is law," Damon intoned, his voice growing deeper, the air around him thickening with power.
"By the wisdom of Solomon, who discerns all truths.
By the fire of heaven, which purges the wicked.
Let the unworthy be judged, let the impure be cleansed.
O sacred inferno, burn those who stand against righteousness—and let none escape the wrath of the Golden Sovereign!"
With a flick of his wrist, Damon unleashed the full force of his divine might.
Flame of the Divine Judgment.
In an instant, the air turned to fire. Blue flames erupted from his hand, roaring to life with a divine wrath that could not be contained. The stray devil shrieked as the inferno wrapped around it, the blue fire dancing with relentless precision, burning the creature's very soul. Its legs twitched in agony, but no matter how it tried to escape, the flames followed its every movement, unyielding, unforgiving.
The creature's twisted body began to dissolve under the weight of the fire, its form shriveling and burning until nothing but ash remained, scattered across the ground in the wake of Damon's wrath.
As the flames died down, Damon stood still, his hand still raised and his eyes glowing with the remnants of the inferno. He slowly let his hand fall to his side, glancing at the destruction he had wrought with little more than a gesture.
He then looked down at his Skittles pack, unaffected by the chaos he'd just caused. "That was a bit too much," he mused, almost casually. "But then again, who told it to challenge me?"
Without another word, Damon turned and walked away, the faint scent of burnt ashes still lingering in the air behind him. The streets of Kuoh were quiet once more, as if nothing had happened at all. He reached into the pack and grabbed another handful of sweets, tossing them into his mouth.
"Just another day in paradise," he muttered to himself, completely at ease.
As he walked off, a faint glint of golden light flickered in his eyes—a silent reminder that no matter where he went, his power and his destiny were inescapable.