Hiss.
Xi Ye sensed danger.
On one side stood a cute loli who claimed she'd sleep better beside him.
On the other hand, a powerful, thorny, and glamorous Kuroka, whose true intentions remained unclear.
"Okay! I was just teasing," Kuroka said, seeing the serious look on Koneko's face. With a languid shrug, she slowly walked outside.
Shirone is stubborn.
But he's just an ordinary human... can he protect you?
Once Kuroka disappeared, Koneko slowly exhaled.
"Let's go..."
"Yes. Your sister Kuroka is quite strange..."
After confirming Kuroka's presence had truly vanished, Xi Ye finally spoke, suspicion in his voice.
He had sensed it, that faint glimmer of murderous intent in her eyes when she first said she wanted to stay. But when Koneko insisted, Kuroka left.
It seemed she truly cared about her sister.
Today's visit might've been a veiled attempt to kill him. Let Koneko's devil instincts consume her, turning her into a stray. Take her away.
But ultimately, Kuroka gave up, perhaps because of Koneko's stubborn loyalty.
That explanation felt more plausible to Xi Ye.
"Speaking of which..." He turned to her with a smile. "Now that your sister's gone, do you still want to stay?"
"She... she's gone... I'll go back."
Koneko was still caught in the haze of earlier emotions. Her cheeks, however, had begun to flush. A soft red tinge bloomed across her face.
"Oh, that's a shame," Xi Ye teased. "Someone said they wanted to sleep with me..."
As those words left his mouth, Koneko's face turned bright pink. Her heart pounded.
"Yah... idiot~"
Eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment, the flustered nekomata bolted out of Xi Ye's house.
The things I said were to protect you... And you're still thinking about... that.
"Huh. That was unexpected," Xi Ye said with an innocent shrug.
Ding!
Check-in Task: 'Sister Asia appears and reveals that God is dead.'
Reward: Any library in the Royal Library +5% completion rate of 'Astiel's Manuscript.'
A long-dormant mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"A check-in mission involving Asia?"
So Asia was arriving soon.
Xi Ye remembered her—
A young nun in a traditional habit, wearing a beige veil.
A crucifix of faith hung around her neck.
A gentle, kind girl, nearly destroyed by fate.
She had almost lost her Sacred Gear and her life.
With a heart too pure for this world, she was utterly unequipped to survive it. Especially among wolves in sheep's clothing. Redemption? Just another illusion sold to the ignorant.
"But first," Xi Ye muttered, glancing at the damaged door, "I should fix the door!"
He pulled out his phone to call a repair service, time to fix the lock and the mess Kuroka had left behind.
The next day, during a school break...
Koneko, a lower-grade student, showed up in Xi Ye's classroom again.
"Xi Ye-kun, what do you think of the Kendo Club?"
"Kendo? Not bad!"
As an anime fan, how could he not appreciate swordplay? Especially as the proud wielder of the Black Imperial Sword.
"Then would you like to join?" Koneko looked at him with her usual blank expression and added, "I already secretly signed you up..."
"...?"
Xi Ye was speechless. Did she even consider asking him first?
He reached out and lightly tapped her nose.
"That's your punishment."
"Hmph."
Koneko pouted and stepped back. "Xi Ye-kun doesn't know... oh no... don't you know you shouldn't touch a girl's nose?"
"Koneko..."
Xi Ye chuckled, thinking of her true nature.
Kittens don't like having their noses touched...
Just then, the bell rang for class.
Koneko watched the students rush into the room.
Raising her hands in a cat-like pawing gesture, she said, "Stupid Xi Ye-kun~ Don't forget to go."
Then she trotted back to her class.
Meanwhile, in the Occult Research Club...
As a special existence, Rias Gremory could attend, or skip, classes as she pleased.
The Gremory family was one of the academy's top investors, and as their daughter, Rias had authority over her schedule. The same applied to Akeno and the others.
"President," Akeno reported, "Koneko mentioned yesterday that Kuroka came to Kuoh Town."
"Kuroka? Her sister..."
A flicker of panic crossed Rias's eyes. "How is Koneko?"
"She's fine. Still clinging to that Xi Ye as usual," Akeno said, unable to hide the edge in her tone.
"Good... Then the fallen angel incident yesterday might've been Kuroka's doing."
"You think so?"
"Yes. Only someone like her could handle the fallen angels at the church," Akeno said, analyzing the situation.
"I agree. A large-scale magic attack… and her sudden appearance..."
Rias narrowed her eyes. "That stray devil from the Nekoshou clan..."
"Then," Akeno asked, a sly glint in her eye, "can my mission to find that mysterious man be considered complete?"
"Yes."
Akeno smiled softly, her hand covering her mouth.
"Hmph. Someone's luck is about to run out..."
After school...
Remembering Koneko's suggestion, Xi Ye headed to the Kendo Club.
"Might as well check it out," he said. "Let's see what kind of people are here..."
He stepped through the gates of Kuoh Academy's famous Kendo Club.