The silence in the room felt heavier than any magic. Rias still stood at the door, her eyes shifting between Gasper completely naked and the unconscious nun lying on the bed.
"So… would you like to explain exactly what I'm looking at?"
Gasper raised his hands in despair. "It's not what it looks like!"
"Oh, really?" Rias crossed her arms. "Because it looks like my bishop kidnapped a nun and decided to celebrate in the worst way imaginable."
"I didn't—!" He took a breath, trying to stay calm. "I saved her."
Rias lifted an eyebrow. "Saved her. Of course. And you needed to be naked for that?"
"I was taking a shower!"
"How convenient." She sighed and walked closer to the bed, looking down at Asia. "You know, if you were that desperate for a girl, you could've done it in a way that looked less… criminal."
"Rias-senpai!" His indignation rang clear. "I'm not a pervert."
"Everyone says that before they get caught."
Gasper dragged a hand down his face, frustrated. "If I wanted a girl, I… I could get one at school."
Rias pretended to think. "Or you could have asked me or Akeno for help. We're far more experienced, after all."
"I don't need help for that!" He clenched his fists, trying not to shout. "Listen, it was one of my bats. I saw what was happening in that abandoned church. There was a priest… he was hurting her."
Rias's expression shifted; sarcasm faded into curiosity. "A priest?"
"Yes. He was human, but his energy was corrupted. When I got there, she was already on the ground, crying. He tried to kill her. So I eliminated him."
Rias watched him carefully, reading the seriousness in his tone. "And this girl?"
"Asia Argento. She was a nun. She was excommunicated."
"Excommunicated?"
"For healing a Devil."
Rias leaned forward, surprised. "Healing a Devil?"
"She has a Sacred Gear."
Rias turned her gaze to the bed and raised her hand, closing her eyes for a moment. A faint red glow emanated from her palm. Asia's energy reacted immediately, a golden light shifting beneath her skin.
Rias opened her eyes, impressed. "Twilight Healing."
"Exactly." Gasper crossed his arms, now calmer. "She was expelled because of it. The Church called it blasphemy."
Rias stared at the girl, deep in thought. "So she was punished for saving someone."
"Yes. And… Rias-senpai, it would be good to have her with us. A healer like that can save lives. And… she doesn't have anywhere else to go."
Rias studied the sleeping girl for several seconds before nodding slowly. "You're suggesting I make her part of my peerage."
"Yes."
She sighed, though a slight smile pulled at her lips. "You're getting good at making decisions, Gasper."
"So… you agree?"
"I agree."
He let out a breath of relief. "Finally."
"But…"
"But what?"
Rias pointed downward.
"When exactly do you plan to put clothes on?"
Gasper froze, looked down, and felt his face burn. "Ah—"
Darkness rose around him, covering his body automatically.
Rias raised an eyebrow, amused. "It's not every day that my bishop tries discussing strategy completely naked."
"I'm going to… get dressed!"
In a blur, Gasper vanished, shadows sliding back into the bathroom.
Zuuuum.
The door slammed.
Rias remained alone with the unconscious Asia. A soft laugh escaped before she could stop it.
"Well, girl, looks like you're perfect to be my new bishop."
She tilted her head, her smile widening. "And maybe some good company for my dhampir. From what I saw… you hit the jackpot."
Her laughter filled the room, light and warm enough to erase the earlier tension.
---
Water dripped into the sink as Gasper stared into the mirror. The reflection showed an exhausted, confused, embarrassed boy trying desperately to look normal.
'How did I end up in this?'
He buttoned his shirt slowly, fingers trembling. The fabric brushed against his skin as if mocking him.
'First I save a nun, then I show up naked in front of my master… this is exactly the type of scene that happened to protagonists in the anime I watched before dying.'
He sighed, tossing the towel aside.
'The difference is that they always had luck. I don't. I'm the guy stuck in the worst version of the joke.'
He shut his eyes, remembering Rias's expression — a mix of shock, anger and disbelief.
'She probably thinks I'm some kind of pervert… great, now I'm a meme even in the Underworld.'
His own muffled laugh echoed against the tiles.
'And to think all I wanted was a hot bath.'
He adjusted his collar and inhaled deeply. His mind, still burning, began to settle.
'Alright. She'll understand. Or she'll kill me. But at least I'm dressed now.'
Gasper ran a hand through his hair and stared at himself one last time.
'You're an immortal vampire with temporal powers and still can't handle an angry woman… pathetic.'
He touched the doorknob and stepped out.
---
Rias still sat by the bed, watching Asia sleep. Her expression was peaceful now, though the corner of her lips hinted at a restrained laugh.
"Finally dressed."
Gasper froze. "You're not going to forget that, are you?"
"Oh, no. It's the kind of memory that brightens difficult days."
He groaned. "Great."
Rias stood and gestured toward the bed. "Pick her up. We're taking her to my room."
"Your room?"
"Yes. She needs rest, and mine is more comfortable. Besides, I want to keep an eye on her until tomorrow."
Gasper hesitated, then stepped forward. "Alright."
He bent down and slid his arms under Asia's light body, lifting her carefully. She breathed softly, her face peaceful, oblivious to the chaos she had caused.
Rias watched him for a moment before smiling. "Try not to drop her, hero."
"I'm not a hero."
"No? Then maybe you're an accidental prince. It fits the way you showed up today."
He looked away without answering.
Rias moved toward the door, her tone playful. "Come on. Unless you want Akeno to see you carrying a nun in your arms. She'd love that."
"Don't even joke."
Rias laughed, the sound soft. "Relax, Gasper. You're dressed and useful at the same time. That's already progress."
He inhaled deeply, trying to ignore the teasing.
'Better this than her yelling again.'
Rias stepped into the hallway and Gasper followed, Asia still in his arms. The corridor was quiet, and for a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
Rias looked at him sideways, the smile returning. "If she really joins us, I'll have to thank you. And maybe give you some advice: next time you want to save someone, try keeping your pants."
"I already regret everything."
She laughed again, her voice echoing softly as the door closed behind them.
Their footsteps faded down the hall.
---
The clock was hitting late afternoon when Issei hurried into the Student Council room. His heart raced, sweat dripping down his temples.
"President, I need help."
Sona lifted her gaze from the papers before her, expression calm. "Slow down, Hyoudou. What happened?"
"A girl might be in danger."
Tsubaki raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
Issei inhaled deeply, trying to organize the frantic thoughts. "I met her earlier. She was lost, looking for the church. I took her there… but there was a man inside. A priest. He was… strange."
Sona's gaze sharpened. "Strange how?"
"Violent. He hit her. I tried to intervene, but she told me to run. Said it was dangerous."
Silence fell, heavy and tense.
Sona folded her hands over the table. "And why are you telling me this?"
"Because we have to do something! She could be in danger right now."
"You said you took her to the church?"
"Yes."
"Then it's a Church matter."
Issei blinked. "But… President, she's just a girl!"
"Hyoudou." Sona's tone was calm, firm. "The church is outside our jurisdiction. If we interfere, we may trigger a conflict we're not prepared to face."
"So we leave her there? Alone with that lunatic?"
Tsubaki watched him silently, but her stare was a quiet warning.
Sona exhaled slowly. "You did what you could. Now the best thing is to stay away."
Issei shook his head, stunned. "I can't ignore this."
"You will have to."
Her words were final.
Tsubaki stepped closer. "Hyoudou, you must respect the president's orders."
"She might die!"
"And you might cause something far worse if you act alone."
Her tone cut sharply through the air.
Issei's chest rose and fell, breaths quick and angry. "You don't understand."
Sona's gaze didn't waver. "I understand perfectly. I know the impulse, the anger, the sense of justice. But we are not here to act on emotion."
He clenched his fists. "Then what are we here for? To sit and watch someone suffer?"
Tsubaki intervened before the tension snapped. "Enough."
Silence returned, thick and strained.
Issei lowered his gaze, breathing deeply. "Sorry… I shouldn't have spoken like that."
"You're forgiven." Sona's voice softened back to neutral. "But if you act on your own, there will be consequences."
He nodded slowly. "Understood."
"Anything else you wish to say?"
"No."
"Then you're dismissed."
Issei bowed his head and forced himself to leave. His footsteps echoed down the hall.
When the door finally shut, Sona rested her chin on her hand, thoughtful.
Tsubaki broke the quiet. "He's going to disobey."
"I know."
"And he'll regret it."
Sona kept her eyes on the window. "Perhaps. Or perhaps he'll show us what truly moves in this city."
Outside, Issei walked quickly down the corridor, thoughts beating in time with his pulse.
'I won't let her die.'
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