Since Mai had already decided to come clean with her mother tomorrow, there was no need for them to keep investigating aimlessly.
"I'll walk you home," Ryuya said.
"I can go back by myself just fine," Mai replied.
"I just want to make sure you get home safely, that's all. Come on."
Ryuya took the lead, then added casually,
"Once you've signed a contract with me, you'll be able to summon me anytime through a magic circle."
"Then how did you get here before?"
"Oh, I had a senior devil give me a lift," he said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I see…"
Mai tilted her head slightly, then asked curiously,
"Do other devils also form contracts with humans like you do?"
"Of course. Why, is that strange?"
"No, not really."
Mai smiled faintly.
In truth, she felt a bit lucky.
If she'd summoned some other demon, it probably wouldn't have gone nearly this smoothly.
Her expression softened, her steps lighter than before—clearly, her mood had improved.
"Feeling better now that you've made up your mind?" Ryuya asked with a small grin, glancing at her. Her emotions were usually well hidden, but this time, they showed openly on her face.
"My mood's been fine all along."
As expected, Mai refused to admit it outright.
"In that case," Ryuya said with a teasing smile, "since you're in a good mood, can I ask you something?"
"As long as it's not too sensitive."
"Ah, then that's a problem. You'll probably get mad after hearing it."
"Then why ask at all?" she shot back, her eyes narrowing in warning.
Ryuya sighed dramatically. "But I'm really curious. Guess I'll just have to look into it secretly later."
Mai hesitated slightly. "It's about me, isn't it?"
"Of course."
"Then go ahead and ask. You'd dig it up on your own anyway, wouldn't you?"
"Are you sure you won't get angry?"
"I won't."
Ryuya nodded, cleared his throat lightly, and smiled.
"Mai, that swimsuit photo book you shot—what magazine was it for? And, uh… can you still buy it anywhere?"
Sakurajima Mai: "...??"
She froze for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and pinched a handful of soft flesh at Ryuya's waist—twisting it hard.
Ryuya's expression didn't change, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Mai, you said you wouldn't get mad."
"I'm not mad," she said sweetly, smiling with perfect composure as her hand twisted even harder.
"You said you wouldn't get angry."
"I said I'm not angry."
"You clearly said you wouldn't—"
"And I clearly said I'm not angry."
And so, the two of them went back and forth like that—bickering the whole way as they walked toward Mai's apartment building.
...
After escorting Mai back home, Ryuya also decided to head back.
But halfway along the way, his phone suddenly buzzed—it was a call from Rias Gremory.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and answered.
"President?"
"Mm. Ryuya, I need you to come to the clubroom. Can you make it?"
"Sure. I'll be right there."
Without asking for details, Ryuya agreed immediately.
His feelings toward Rias were… complicated.
On one hand, she was his master.
On the other, there was the way she spoiled him.
Seriously—did other High-class Devils also sleep side by side with their servants like that?
At least from what he'd subtly gathered, Rias didn't seem to do that with Akeno Himejima or Koneko Toujou…
So maybe it really was just him.
Ryuya shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.
Whatever the case, Rias was his master—and she'd never harm him. She was someone he could trust.
When he arrived at the Occult Research Club's room, Rias, Akeno, and Koneko were already there.
"President. Akeno. Koneko," he greeted them one by one.
Seeing Ryuya enter, Rias gave him a gentle nod.
"Sorry for calling you all in on a Saturday. I know it's your day off."
All three of them replied that it was no problem.
"How's the contract candidate you've been working on, Ryuya?" Rias asked with a warm smile.
…Why did that sound suspiciously like a parent asking about their child's dating life during the holidays?
"I ran into a bit of trouble," Ryuya said with a faint sigh. "But I should be able to wrap it up tomorrow."
"My, my~ Don't lose heart, okay?" Akeno said softly, her kind smile brimming with gentle encouragement.
"Forming a contract isn't easy. Building communication and trust with your partner is what matters most."
"As long as you put in effort, it'll work out," Koneko added in her usual calm tone. Her short silver hair framed her golden eyes, which were fixed unblinkingly on Ryuya.
Ryuya smiled slightly. "Got it."
He turned to Rias. "President, what's the reason you called us here?"
At that, Rias's expression turned more serious, though her smile remained.
"That's right—this is a direct request from one of the Dukes."
She sat gracefully on the sofa, crossing her long legs as her fiery red hair swayed behind her.
Her commanding aura filled the room as she declared:
"Tonight, we'll be subjugating a Stray Devil."
"Stray Devil?"
Ryuya frowned. That was a term he hadn't heard before.
"It refers to a devil who's betrayed or killed their master," Akeno explained kindly.
"When that happens, they lose their master's control and become a rogue—what we call a Stray Devil."
Ryuya tilted his head. "There are devils who betray their masters?"
"Of course there are," Rias said with a light chuckle. "Why, did you think all devils were loyal?"
Ryuya couldn't help but smile wryly. "Maybe it's just because you're such a good master."
"Oh my, hearing you say that makes spoiling you all the more worthwhile," Rias replied, beaming proudly at his compliment.
Akeno and Koneko both giggled quietly from the side.
Then Rias straightened her posture again, her tone firm.
"In any case, Stray Devils are extremely dangerous. They defy the laws of the Underworld, recklessly abusing their power without restraint. Such creatures have no right to exist."
From that, Ryuya learned that Strays weren't unique to devils—there were also Stray Angels, Stray Fallen Angels, even Stray Priests.
No matter the faction, beings who went rogue were considered unstable threats that had to be eliminated.
And this time, Rias planned to take Ryuya along—to give him some real combat experience.
Ryuya pressed his lips together, thinking wryly to himself.
Ever since he'd crossed into this world, each passing day had been way too eventful…
---