"Shhh!"
Koneko Toujou, seated on the floor in a traditional Japanese pose, hissed quietly through clenched teeth.
She rolled up her sleeve, dabbing medicine onto a nasty cut, wincing slightly at the sting.
Nearby, Kai watched the scene with a raised brow.
"That looks awkward. You sure you don't need a hand?"
"What kind of perverted thoughts are running through your head?" Koneko's gaze sharpened instantly. Combined with her usual porcelain-doll expression, it gave off an unsettling pressure.
Kai sighed helplessly. "You're injured. What do you take me for?"
"Don't think I haven't heard about you and President Rias 'recharging your magic' in the library," Koneko shot back, visibly more guarded now.
Translation: You really don't know how people see you, do you?
Kai clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch. That really wounds me. So little faith in your savior."
To be fair, this time he genuinely had no ulterior motive.
Koneko's blank stare intensifies…
After a pause, she hesitated—then, a bit stiffly, handed him the ointment.
"…Fine. But don't try anything."
Kai took it without fuss, gently held her pale arm, and began applying the medicine. His hands moved with surprising tenderness, the cool salve soothing the angry red wound.
Koneko blinked. Was this guy… actually being considerate?
Her suspicion wavered for a moment. But just as quickly, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Hey. Why are you unbuttoning my blouse?" she growled, teeth clenched. "You really are a pervert-demon!"
"The wound's under the collar," Kai replied evenly, without looking up.
"…"
Koneko stared at him, cheeks burning with a mix of fury and mortification.
"If you keep looking at me like that, I might cry," Kai deadpanned. "Besides, I'm only into girls like Rias."
He glanced at her meaningfully, then finished bandaging the last wound and stood.
"You shouldn't go home tonight. There's a room here you can use. I'll be next door. If you need anything, just call."
With that, he turned and left the room.
"…Jerk," Koneko muttered under her breath, watching him go.
Then she paused, gaze dropping subconsciously to her chest.
"…I'm nothing like President Rias anyway."
---
The next morning, Kai yawned as he splashed cold water onto his face.
For the first time in days, he'd slept like a rock.
Knock knock knock.
He opened the door to find Utaha Kasumigaoka standing there with a suitcase in one hand and a knowing smile on her lips.
"Morning, Master-kun. Which room's mine?"
"Take your pick. The whole place is yours now. Hell, you can have my room if you want," Kai said with a wink.
Utaha rolled her eyes. "Perverted master finally drops the act, huh? Keep dreaming."
As they joked, she picked the room right next to Kai's.
Just like that, Utaha Kasumigaoka officially moved in.
The noise caught Koneko's attention, and she stepped out of her room.
Kai introduced them casually. "This is Utaha Kasumigaoka, my newest servant. Starting today, she's transferring to Kuoh Academy. I guess that makes her your senpai."
"…Koneko Toujou," Koneko said flatly, expression unreadable—but her eyes didn't leave Kai.
They practically screamed: Womanizer.
At the same time, Utaha eyed Koneko curiously.
So this adorable girl lives next door to the pervert?
She glanced at Koneko's petite figure… then subtly puffed out her chest.
At least in that department, I've got her beat.
Then she blinked, confused by her own thoughts.
Wait. Why do I care?
Her eyes flicked to Kai's face.
Oh no. No no no. Am I falling for him?!
He's a total degenerate! A demon! A walking red flag!
Her heart pounded.
"Alright, let's get going. School awaits," Kai said.
—
After a quick breakfast, the three of them set off together toward Kuoh Academy.
Kai's place was just a ten-minute walk from the school, making it ridiculously convenient.
Soon, they arrived at the gates.
"So this is Kuoh Academy…" Utaha murmured, scanning the pristine campus. "The 'demonic stronghold' you mentioned?"
She glanced at him sideways. "Is it true your childhood friend owns this place?"
They'd talked on the phone a lot over the last few days, and she'd picked up some info along the way.
Now, walking onto her new school grounds, she couldn't shake the awkward feeling.
It's like I'm the mistress about to meet the wife…
Kai chuckled. "Relax. Rias is great. And she's not the jealous type. My harem is safe."
"You're incorrigible."
"Shameless," Koneko added coolly.
The two girls exchanged a glance. Then, unexpectedly, they both smiled.
A mutual understanding seemed to pass between them.
Kai ignored their muttering and led the way into the old school building.
They entered the Occult Research Club room—his usual haunt.
"You're here!" Rias rose from her seat, crimson hair flowing like a banner behind her as she approached them.
She looked at Utaha and smiled.
"You must be Utaha Kasumigaoka. Kai's told me about you."
"I'm Rias Gremory, Kai's childhood friend—and the next head of the Gremory clan, one of the pure-blooded demon houses of the Underworld."
She straightened up proudly, her figure damn near divine.
"And this," she added, gesturing beside her, "is my servant."
"Pleased to meet you, Utaha-kohai," said Akeno Himejima, giving a graceful bow.
She had an aura of elegance about her—and, of course, those proportions.
"…."
Utaha's jaw tightened ever so slightly.
That sense of smug superiority she'd felt around Koneko? Gone.
Just… evaporated.
Her one true pride—her flawless body—had been utterly eclipsed.
Standing in front of Rias and Akeno, she suddenly felt like a background character.
"…Hey, where's Yuuto?" Kai asked, glancing around the room.
Rias's expression turned serious.
"Last night, a human named Issei Hyoudou died. I sent Yuuto to investigate."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
Oh?
Was it that fallen angel who did him in? Or someone else?
Originally, Kai had planned to wait—until his skills had improved, until the time was right—then kill Issei himself and take the Red Dragon Emperor's Boosted Gear for research.
But the guy had gone and died on his own.
Convenient… and also a little annoying.
Then again, in a world like this—a patchwork of anime logic, demonic politics, and unstable timelines—the butterfly effect was bound to rear its head.
Nothing stayed on script forever.
He shouldn't be surprised.