"Koneko, what do you think about Kuroka?"
Koneko's body stiffened instantly at the mention of her sister's name.
"I don't know... because of what she did, I suffered so much in the Underworld," Koneko replied, her voice uncharacteristically weak and fragile.
Issei fell silent. He pulled Koneko's petite frame into a hug and whispered softly into her ear, "You know, don't you? Kuroka loves you very much."
Koneko couldn't find the words to deny it.
Deep down, she had reflected on Kuroka's actions many times. She was certain that no matter what happened, Kuroka would never truly betray her. But the fact remained: she had endured immense suffering in the Underworld, all triggered by her sister's choices.
"I know," Koneko murmured. "But I can't make peace with her right now."
Issei let out a soft sigh, nodding with a gentle expression.
"Issei-senpai..."
"Yeah?"
"Please... let me hold you a little longer."
"Alright. Since it's a request from my cute junior, I can't exactly say no."
At that moment, cat ears and a matching tail sprouted from Koneko's body. Issei's eyes were immediately drawn to them, tempted by the way those adorable ears twitched.
"Do you want to touch them, Issei-senpai?"
"Eh? Is it okay?"
Koneko nodded, her cheeks tinting a light shade of pink. "If it's Senpai... you can hold them as much as you want."
Gulp...
Issei swallowed hard. He reached out and tentatively touched Koneko's cat ears. The fur was incredibly soft and warm to the touch, twitching rhythmically under his fingers.
Koneko's tail began to sway, catching Issei's attention next. He reached out his other hand to stroke it, causing the young girl to gasp as her face turned as red as a tomato. She went completely limp in Issei's arms.
"Ah, should I not have touched the tail?"
"N-no... if it's Senpai, it's fine," Koneko struggled to answer, her voice breathless.
Issei froze as a trickle of blood began to leak from his nose.
'Too cute!'
"Hmm. I wondered where you two were since you weren't in class, but it turns out you were busy flirting here."
Rias's voice suddenly shattered the heavy atmosphere.
"Rias?!"
Issei shouted in surprise, while Koneko looked down, blushing furiously with a sense of guilt.
Rias approached Koneko and patted her head gently.
"I'm happy to see you coming to terms with yourself," Rias said warmly.
"Bucho, I—"
"I understand, no need to explain. Issei is charming, after all; it's only natural for you to fall for him."
Koneko felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
"By the way," Rias added, "about that man who tried to take advantage of you in class earlier... he won't be appearing at the academy anymore, so you can rest easy."
Koneko pouted slightly.
"Ara~ you don't seem happy about that?"
"It's not that I'm not happy," Koneko muttered, raising a small, adorable fist. "It's just that I wanted to beat him up with my own hands!"
Despite how cute she looked, it was best not to underestimate her—that tiny fist packed enough power to kill a grown man in one serious blow.
Issei felt a shiver run down his spine, suddenly reminded of an animation he had seen in his previous life.
'I'm glad I didn't follow the original Issei's style,' he thought to himself.
"Koneko, you should go get some rest," Rias advised.
"Yes, Bucho."
Obeying Rias, Koneko said her goodbyes and left the room.
"Ahem! I think it's time we head back to class too," Issei suggested.
Rias glanced at him, then suddenly grabbed him and pinned him against the wall.
"Rias?"
Her expression was stoic, but she suddenly leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
Issei felt her body trembling slightly; she was clearly forcing herself to be bold.
He smiled inwardly and returned the kiss, deepening it.
In an instant, Rias lost her strength and slumped against Issei's chest.
"Cheater... why are you so good at that?"
Issei flashed a mischievous grin. "Because I wanted to see you look as vulnerable as you do right now."
Rias immediately pouted.
"You jerk! You're a bully!" She scolded him, though her tone was far too soft to be considered angry.
Issei chuckled, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "But you like it, don't you?"
Blushing intensely, Rias hid her face in his chest. Issei laughed softly, picked her up, and sat on the sofa with her in his lap.
Rias looked so incredibly precious in her shyness that Issei briefly considered "devouring" her then and there, but he held back, fearing someone might walk in.
If Sirzechs Lucifer were the one to catch them, Issei would never hear the end of it.
"Ara~ ara~ look at you two being all lovey-dovey."
Akeno appeared, a playful yet envious smile gracing her beautiful face.
Rias startled and scrambled off Issei's lap, trying to act composed as if nothing had happened.
"Akeno! What are you doing here?"
To be continued...