The air was tense but professional inside the student council office.
Sona Shitori, with her characteristic composure, observed the two young women before her.
Hikari and Hibiki stood firm, though their gazes were curious towards the figure of the president.
—"So..." Sona began, placing her hands together on the desk. —"I would like you to be honest with me. What exactly are you?"
The twins exchanged a look. It was time to lay their cards on the table.
—"We are Sekirei," Hikari said confidently.
—"Sekirei?" Sona repeated, adjusting her glasses. —"I haven't heard that term in any magical, demonic, or celestial documents."
—"Probably because we're not from this world," Hibiki added. —"We come from outside the planet. We're an alien race, so to speak."
Sona raised her eyebrows, but her face showed no surprise... though inside, she was processing a thousand things at once.
—"Continue," she requested in a calm voice.
—"Our race was brought here by humans years ago. We were designed with unique abilities and an innate instinct: to seek our Ashikabi, a partner compatible with our genetic code and life energy," Hikari explained.
—"Once we 'wing' ourselves to someone," Hibiki interjected, —"we bond with them forever. It's more than a partnership; it's a spiritual, physical, and emotional bond."
Sona closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
—"So you are... aliens with special energetic abilities seeking an 'Ashikabi'... meaning, a husband?"
Both nodded in unison.
—"Excellent," Sona said sarcastically, massaging her temple. —"I can't wait to report this to my sister, Serafall Leviathan. She'll surely find it adorable."
The twins chuckled softly, knowing the Maou's reaction would likely be a squeal of excitement.
—"President," Hikari said. —"Don't worry. We don't come with ill intentions, nor to cause conflicts in your school. We are only here for our Ashikabi."
—"And may I know who that is?"
—"Daniel," they both responded at once, pride in their voices.
Sona narrowed her eyes.
—"Of course it's Daniel..." she murmured to herself, already recognizing the pattern of chaos around him.
—"With respect," Hibiki said gently, —"we couldn't join any peerage. We already belong to him."
Sona nodded with understanding, though internally she was running calculations, as if this connection was as deep as they described, it explained the anomalous readings she had detected.
Just then, her phone began to ring.
—"Excuse me?" she said, taking it out and answering. —"Yes?"
Her expression turned serious.
—"An urgent meeting? Requested by Daniel...? I understand. I'll send a response immediately."
Sona hung up and sighed before looking at the twins again.
—"It seems your 'Ashikabi' has requested an urgent meeting with me and Rias. Something about a captured fallen angel."
Hikari and Hibiki's eyes widened.
—"Daniel... is he okay?" Hibiki asked, alarmed.
—"Yes, apparently he is. The meeting is soon. We'll go to the Occult Research Club. And since this might involve you as well, you are invited to join."
The two sisters looked at each other, serious for the first time in a while. Then they nodded in unison.
—"Thank you, President," they said respectfully.
—"Prepare yourselves. Tonight could change many things."
The hallway leading to the Occult Research Club was silent, save for the sound of firm, decisive footsteps.
Daniel walked ahead, the unconscious body of Reynare slung over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing. Beside him walked Akeno Himejima, who observed him from the corner of her eye with a mixture of curiosity and growing interest. Her eyes followed his every gesture, as if trying to decipher an enigma hidden beneath his relaxed appearance.
Daniel noticed her looks but decided not to comment. At this point, it was better not to give any signals.
Upon reaching the club door, Akeno opened it politely, allowing Daniel to enter first.
—"Pardon me..." he murmured, entering calmly but with a firm step.
Inside, Rias Gremory and Sona Shitori were already waiting. Both were standing by the meeting table. The atmosphere grew momentarily tense due to Reynare's presence.
But before a word could be said...
—"Daniel!!" two voices shouted in unison.
Hikari and Hibiki pounced on him like projectiles of affection. Even though Daniel tried to stay firm, he had to juggle to avoid dropping Reynare on the spot.
—"Easy, easy! I'm okay," he said with a soft laugh, wrapping an arm around both while keeping Reynare safely secured with the other.
Both Sekirei were visibly relieved to see him well, their expressions a mix of love and concern.
Rias, seeing the scene and recalling Sona's brief explanation about the Sekirei, couldn't help a slight pang in her chest.
*"They have someone who loves them unconditionally, who would fight for them... How enviable..."* she thought, with a spark of longing in her heart.
Akeno, on the other hand, bit her lower lip softly; the thought of a secret, forbidden, even scandalous relationship with someone as unconventional as Daniel... excited her more than she would admit aloud.
Once his Sekirei had calmed down, Daniel walked to the center of the room and carefully placed Reynare on a nearby sofa. Then he turned to speak seriously.
—"Thank you for coming. This is Reynare, a fallen angel who tried to kill me a few hours ago."
The gazes hardened. Sona adjusted her glasses; Rias frowned.
—"She tried to kill you?" Rias asked with a furrowed brow.
—"Yes, but it wasn't an official order," Daniel replied. —"According to what she said during the fight, she was sent by Grigori just to observe me, but her obsession with gaining Azazel's attention led her to do something stupid."
—"A stupidity that could have cost you your life," Rias muttered, taking a step forward with demonic energy vibrating in the air. —"Then I'll eliminate her and be done with it."
—"Wait," Sona interjected, raising her hand calmly.
Rias looked at her with displeasure but stopped.
—"We can handle this diplomatically. My sister, Serafall Leviathan, handles relations with other factions. We can deliver Reynare directly to Grigori and let them handle the appropriate punishment. If we solve it this way, we avoid tensions."
Rias crossed her arms, thoughtful. After a few seconds, she sighed.
—"Fine. But if Azazel does nothing... next time, I won't hesitate."
—"Understood," Sona said with a slight smile of approval.
Daniel nodded, relieved that unnecessary bloodshed had been avoided.
—"Thank you for listening. I wanted to avoid a larger conflict."
Both girls gave him a serious but grateful look.
—"Thank *you* for bringing her in alive," Sona said. —"Your maturity is... uncommon in this world."
As Daniel was about to leave, both leaders stopped him with the same question.
—"Daniel... do you truly not plan to join anyone's peerage?"
The boy smiled gently, but his gaze was firm.
—"No. I have no intention of belonging to anyone. I already have the people I chose and who chose me. That's enough for me."
The two girls looked at each other for a moment. A silent connection was shared between them. This boy... was not normal.
And they knew it.
The moment the door to the Occult Research Club closed behind Daniel's departure along with Hikari and Hibiki, the atmosphere fell silent for a few seconds.
Rias Gremory crossed her arms, her expression one of contained frustration.
—"He left... and he still won't change his mind."
Sona Shitori, more serene, adjusted her glasses.
—"I told you, he's not someone you can pressure. His will is too firm."
—"I know," Rias responded with a heavy sigh. —"But it's still frustrating. If only he would accept... it could make a difference in the Rating Game against Riser. He has his fifteen pawns ready. I barely have four."
Sona looked down for a moment, understanding the weight of those words. Rias did not want to marry Riser Phenex, and her only way out was to defeat him in a game where she was clearly at a disadvantage.
—"Forcing him would be worse. He's not that type of person."
—"And that's what makes him more valuable," Rias murmured sadly.
Sona, seeing her companion lost in thought, took out her phone and dialed a number.
—"It's best I call my sister to handle Reynare."
The line didn't ring for more than two seconds before an overly sweet, squeaky voice answered:
—"So-tan~!!! Did you miss me!? Tell me you're okay! Are you in danger!? Do you want me to freeze everything!?"
Sona gritted her teeth with a patient expression.
—"I'm fine, Serafall. I need you to come to the Occult Research Club. We have a fallen angel in custody."
—"WHAAT?! I'M ON MY WAY RIGHT NOW!!"
—"Serafa—!"
*FLASH*
A bluish light erupted in the middle of the club, followed by flashes of magical snow. In an instant, Serafall Leviathan, the eccentric Maou of Foreign Affairs, appeared dressed in her magical idol uniform, floating slightly above the ground.
—"So-tan! Are you hurt!? Who hurt you!? Where's that traitorous feather-brain!?"
—"I'm fine, thank you," Sona replied in a tired voice, pointing to where Reynare lay unconscious. —"And she's right there."
Serafall floated closer, observing the body with interest.
—"A low-level fallen angel? Hmm... who defeated her?"
—"A human," Rias and Sona responded in unison.
Serafall blinked, surprised.
—"Pardon? A human?"
—"Yes," Sona confirmed. —"His name is Daniel Hernández. He defeated Reynare and brought her in alive. He possesses an energy we haven't been able to classify yet. He doesn't belong to any known race."
Serafall floated lower, now much more interested.
—"What kind of human does something like that? A Sacred Gear user?"
—"Possibly," Rias commented. —"But there's more."
Serafall raised an eyebrow, amused.
—"More?"
Sona took a deep breath.
—"He is linked to two girls who call themselves Sekirei."
—"Se... what?"
—"Sekirei," Sona repeated calmly. —"From what they told me, they are neither human nor devils. They are some kind of humanoid alien species who came to this world with the goal of seeking their ideal partner, whom they call an Ashikabi. Apparently, the bond between them is not just emotional, but also spiritual and energetic."
Serafall blinked again, this time completely confused.
—"Romantic aliens...? And they're already bonded with this human!?"
—"Exactly," Sona nodded. —"Both claim he is their Ashikabi. And they are strongly tied to him, both physically and energetically. They refused my offer to join my peerage for that same reason."
Serafall fell silent for a few seconds.
—"...Kyaaa! What a shoujo-like story~! So-tan, this is like a galactic romance manga!!"
—"Please take this seriously," Sona grumbled, suppressing a nervous twitch.
—"I am, I am," Serafall responded, pouting. —"It's just the first time I've heard of a race like that. Do you have more information?"
—"They are enrolled at Kuoh and will continue to be monitored. They don't seem to pose a threat," Sona stated. —"At least not as long as Daniel has them under control."
Serafall crossed her arms.
—"So, can I take the little angel?"
—"Yes," Rias interjected. —"She's incapacitated. Daniel didn't want to kill her... just hand her over."
Serafall walked over to Reynare and, with a magical gesture, teleported her away in a frozen seal.
—"Perfect. I'll send her directly to Grigori. I'll handle the paperwork and... oh, right!"
She turned towards both girls with sparkling eyes.
—"Can I have a meeting with this Daniel tomorrow?"
Sona sighed, anticipating disaster.
—"We'll try to schedule it."
—"Yay~! So-tan, you're the best little sister! See you tomorrow~!"
And with a swirl of snow, Serafall disappeared.
Rias and Sona were left in silence once more.
—"Do you think he'll agree to see her?" Rias asked.
—"I don't know," Sona said as she sat in her chair. —"But one thing is clear... Daniel Hernández is much more than a simple human."
Night had already settled over the city, and the moon softly illuminated the streets as Daniel, Hikari, and Hibiki arrived home. The atmosphere was warm and familial. The lights of home were on, the aroma of dinner in the air, and the feeling of refuge after a long and, in this case, tension-filled day.
—"Welcome home~!" they both said in unison, even though they had been with him almost the entire way. Still, their voices were full of affection.
Daniel couldn't help but smile at them tenderly, entering the kitchen to help serve dinner. A couple of minutes later, the three were at the table, quietly eating rice with stir-fried meat and vegetables. The twins watched him attentively, as if waiting for the right moment to speak.
And they didn't wait long.
—"Daniel," Hibiki began, setting her chopsticks aside, —"we want to know... what exactly happened with that fallen angel?"
—"Yes," Hikari added, leaning slightly towards him. —"We know you captured her, but... why did she attack you? What was her motivation?"
Daniel slowly set his chopsticks down, swallowing his last bite before speaking.
—"Well... it's a bit of a long story," he said, scratching the back of his neck. —"But I'll try to explain it as best I can."
Just then, the deep, powerful voice resonated within his mind.
「Allow me to assist you, partner.」
Daniel nodded mentally.
—"First of all," he began, looking at both calmly, —"that fallen angel named Reynare had been sent to spy on me... by Azazel, the leader of Grigori."
Both tensed upon hearing that name.
—"Grigori?" Hibiki repeated. —"That's the group of fallen angels?"
—"Exactly," Daniel affirmed. —"But Reynare didn't follow orders. She decided to kill me on her own, probably seeking to get Azazel's attention."
Hikari frowned.
—"And what does Azazel have to do with you?"
That's when Ddraig intervened, his voice rumbling in Daniel's mind, and simultaneously, Daniel conveyed it through his own words.
—"We can't be completely sure," Daniel began thoughtfully, —"but Ddraig believes Azazel is interested in me because of the energy I emanate. Most likely, he doesn't know for certain that I have the Boosted Gear, but he must suspect I have a powerful Sacred Gear."
Hibiki raised an eyebrow.
—"Why would he suspect that?"
Daniel looked at them seriously.
—"Because, according to Ddraig, users of the Boosted Gear have a distinct aura... imposing, even. And even though I'm still training, that energy is already perceptible to those with supernatural sensitivity."
「After all, I am the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. My power always attracts attention. Always.」
Hikari swallowed, trying to process everything.
—"So... he doesn't know you're the bearer, but he senses it?"
—"Exactly," Daniel responded, pouring himself some water. —"And that makes everything more delicate. If he finds out, I don't know if he'll try to approach with diplomatic intentions... or if he'll try to take advantage in some way."
Both Sekirei looked at each other with concern, but also with determination.
—"If they try to hurt you," Hibiki said in a firm voice, —"we won't stand idly by."
—"Never," Hikari added with a serious smile. —"We are your Sekirei. And no one is going to touch our Ashikabi without going through us first."
Daniel couldn't help but smile, touched by their words. He leaned over to take their hands gently.
—"Thank you... really. Knowing you're with me gives me the strength to keep going."
After that, the conversation lowered in intensity. They finished dinner amidst softer laughter, recalling silly things from school days, while the aroma of tea filled the kitchen.
And even though they knew the supernatural world was watching, in that house, at least for that night, everything was calm.