"Big brother, your fiancée's breathing really hard while she's running… and it sounds like someone's right next to her, cheering and clapping."
Ravel, following close behind Riser, blurted that out in surprise.
Simple-minded as she was, she honestly just thought Rias must be training really seriously.
Riser's face went dark as a cast-iron pan. He opened his mouth to curse—then clamped it shut again, remembering his pride.
Maybe—maybe—she really was running.
Nerves twisting tighter by the second, Riser didn't even spare Ravel a glance. He immediately began forming a teleportation circle.
He couldn't wait even one more second. He had to get to Rias and find out what the hell was going on.
"Teleportation circle!"
The instant the magic circle tried to unfold inside the clubhouse attic, it was repelled by an overwhelming surge of demonic power.
The next moment, instead of appearing inside the attic, Riser face-planted straight into the lush green grass outside.
A few leaves and blades of grass stuck to his head, making him look downright ridiculous.
"…???"
Staring at the antique-looking attic in front of him, Riser frowned.
But before he could figure out why he'd been teleported out here, a long, soft, lilting moan drifted out from inside.
"Mmm~ mmm~~"
That sweet little hum hit him like hat after hat being smashed down on his head—over and over.
"DAMN IT!!!" Riser roared and charged for the attic.
But the next second, he slammed headfirst into an invisible barrier.
BAM!!!
A muffled grunt burst out as Riser dropped flat on the spot.
Dizzy and seeing stars, he forced his demonic power up and rammed it again.
BAM! BAM!!
Two more dull impacts.
Riser's head popped like a watermelon right there.
Thanks to the Phenex Clan's "immortal bird" trait, his injuries regenerated and healed in seconds.
Which also meant he got to hear it again—this time with Rias's pleading mixed in.
"Don't make me think~~"
"AAAHHHH—!!~~~~"
Riser swung both fists and hammered the barrier. Sounds like that made him erupt at three hundred percent power.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
No one knew how long it went on. Eventually, Riser collapsed to his knees, powerless.
Half-conscious, he mumbled with trembling lips, "At least… at least… go… g-gentler with the her…"
"Big brother, what are you even doing?"
Ravel finally caught up. Seeing Riser kneeling there, she was completely dumbfounded.
He'd ditched her out of nowhere and teleported away. She thought about it, then followed anyway to see what was happening, and the moment she arrived, she found her brother kneeling on the ground.
That bleak, shattered look—he honestly looked like a stray dog.
"Sh-she… h-he… th-they…"
Riser pointed at the attic, throat so dry he couldn't get a full sentence out. He'd screamed himself hoarse.
"What 'she' and 'he' and 'they'? You're not making any sense, big brother." Ravel walked toward the attic.
The barrier that had blocked Riser might as well not have existed for her.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Seeing Ravel climb the stairs, Riser's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
You— it's targeting me specifically?!
His brain froze for a few full minutes. Then Riser sprang up off the ground, scrambling on all fours for half a second like a rabid dog before charging upstairs.
…
Fully dressed now, Takumi was stepping out of Rias's bedroom.
On the sofa, Akeno and Koneko were sitting side by side—one with predator eyes, the other looking down in silence.
"Ara ara~ looks like the president's having a wonderful time in there."
Akeno lightly cupped her cheek, smiling with a sultry little curve to her lips. Just the sounds alone had been enough to get her blood humming.
Takumi flopped onto the sofa and took a long drink of black tea. He'd… lost a lot of fluids, after all. He needed to replenish.
Rias, on the other hand, had been doing plenty of in and out, so there was no way she was thirsty—if anything, she was full.
"Takumi— no… should I call you Takumi-sama now?" Akeno teased, voice dripping honey. "You're basically… half my master now, right?~"
Takumi's whole body went a little numb. He immediately shook his head.
"Don't. Pick something in the middle." Hearing that, Akeno smiled like a senior teasing a younger boy.
"Mmm~ in that case, I'll call you Takumi-kun… and you can call me Akeno, okay?~"
She leaned in close—the curves beneath her uniform surged forward like a mountain range pressing down. The swaying weight of that sinful figure almost sparked trouble all over again.
But Takumi sensed someone arriving. He set the tea down and flicked his eyes toward the door. Akeno heard it too. A flash of annoyance crossed her face before she sat up properly.
The next moment, a girl with delicate, doll-like features and golden drill curls stepped into view.
She wore a pink dress that cinched her slender waist perfectly. Her petite frame made her look like a middle-schooler—but the shapely rise and fall beneath that dress looked downright adult.
The hem hit right at her knees, showing off two long, straight legs.
Standing there, Ravel looked like a gorgeous porcelain doll come to life. She swept her bright eyes around the room and spotted the three on the sofa. A flicker of pure arrogance flashed on her face—then she met Takumi's eyes.
It was like being shocked by electricity. A faint, seductive blush bloomed on her pretty cheeks.
Ravel instinctively lowered her head. After taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, she forced the words out.
"Y-you're Rias's servants, right? I'm Ravel Phenex—the fourth daughter of Lord Phenex, the current Clan head—and also one of your future masters. So hurry up and greet me!"
She planted her hands on her hips, putting on a bratty young-lady act. Akeno answered with a couple of cold little snorts.
"Fufufu~ our future master?" Akeno's smile stayed sweet, but her tone didn't. "Ara ara~ don't overestimate yourself, little girl."
Akeno was usually warm and polite—when the other person deserved it.
Ravel's cheeks flushed red with anger. "You're just Rias's servants! How dare you talk to me like that?!"
Takumi stood and walked up to Ravel, looking down at her from above.
He pinched her cheeks between his fingers and said in a low voice, "That's what I should be asking you. How dare you talk to me like that?"
"Uu… u-uuuh…!"
Ravel—who'd been acting so high and mighty—instantly welled up with tears.
Honestly, Takumi hadn't expected that. He'd only let out the tiniest bit of pressure, and she was already crying.
That mental fortitude did not match the arrogance she'd been performing.
"Bastard!!!"
And the moment Ravel's sob escaped, a beastlike roar thundered from behind her— Riser's voice.