But while neither Saya nor Akuto minded, there was always someone who did.
From afar, Sona glared at Akuto and Saya, her eyes practically burning holes through them.
[That shameless woman—why is she pressing her chest against him like that?!]
Sona's mood could be summed up in one line—these outsiders are way too rude!
Who opens a battle by pushing their chest forward like that?!
But what Sona didn't realize was… it wasn't only the "outsider" faction that was rude.
Even the locals had very little restraint.
For the past four days straight, Rias had been giving Akuto constant "benefits." Chest pillows, lap pillows, constant physical closeness…
And now, the red-haired "benefit girl" herself sat in the old school building, watching the battle unfold.
She too wondered—when exactly did Akuto gather so many peerage members?
When preparations were complete, both sides were transported to their respective bases.
"Now begins the Rating Game between Sai Akuto Leviathan-dono and Sona Shitori-dono!
The victor will gain the right to decide the outcome of their engagement!"
"The battlefield is Kuoh Academy. Sona-dono's base is the Student Council building, Akuto-dono's base is the Old Schoolhouse. The defeat of either King will result in immediate loss!"
"Begin the match!"
After announcing the start, Grayfia's figure slowly faded into the pocket dimension.
Inside Akuto's base, Saya waved her hand confidently, her chest bouncing in rhythm.
"Everyone, follow the plan I've drawn up exactly!"
"First, Mother. Mother's ability, Phantom Beast Creation, allows her to transform inanimate objects into living constructs under her control."
"Mother will remain in the base, continuously creating phantom beasts of various attributes, then dispatching them to different fronts as scheduled."
"Yes."
Yuriko confirmed her task, immediately transforming a desk into a wooden phantom beast.
"Next is Miss Rika and the school doctor." Saya turned to the best-friend pair.
"Miss Rika's ability, Dream Bullet, lets her turn any object into a bullet to fire.
Doctor Shizuka's Healing Domain grants powerful recovery, though the wider the range, the greater the drain."
"You two will head to the rooftop of the Old Schoolhouse, to scout and gather intel."
"Once I issue the order, Miss Rika will use her ability to fire Mother's phantom beasts or Shizuka's healing domains across the battlefield for support."
"Shizuka, you'll work in tandem with her, producing endless healing bullets for the team."
"Understood."
Rika raised her sniper rifle with enthusiasm—she loved this role.
"Lastly—Saeko, Rei, and Auntie Kiriko."
"Saeko is our strongest in direct combat and mobility. Rei and Auntie are also suited for the front line."
"Saeko, you'll guard the base, protecting Mother and Miss Rika. Rei and Auntie, you'll each lead a squad forward to clash with the enemy."
"I'll determine which attributes of phantom beasts you need, and supply them accordingly.
If the situation turns dire, I'll have Miss Rika fire Saeko across the battlefield for rapid support."
"Understood?"
"Understood!" Kiriko responded first, her combat sense sharp as ever from her days as a policewoman.
"As for me, I'll remain with Akuto-kun to coordinate everything via the communication array.
If communication fails, I'll use Miss Rika's special bullets to transmit orders."
"All members… move out!"
The proud pink-haired girl displayed the poise of a true leader.
"Yes!"
Everyone had long since grown accustomed to Saya's command, moving swiftly into action.
As for Akuto—he'd already made his stance clear. Until victory was secured, he would not move.
Once the others departed, Saya immediately activated her Battlefield Simulation, digitizing Kuoh Academy in seconds.
A glowing battlefield map spread before her and Akuto, markers representing allies and enemies shifting rapidly into position exactly as she had ordered.
With the board set, Saya wasted no time climbing onto Akuto's lap, nipping at his ear.
"Akuto-kun, the reward you promised… isn't it time to cash it in?"
"Really, Saya? Aren't you worried being this intimate might affect the battle?" Akuto shook his head. He had to admit, once Saya opened up, she had become quite daring.
"No problem. My brain has already evolved to the point I can issue commands subconsciously while multitasking… so…"
Just as she claimed, even nestled like a child in his arms, Saya remained composed. Even as her eyes rolled upward with pleasure, she continued issuing perfect commands.
"The scout phantom beast has engaged the enemy's vanguard."
"From its intel, the enemy scout is Inmura Ruruko, rank: Pawn. Power level: Low-class Devil."
"Not even at Middle-class Devil? …Miss Rika, you may snipe her immediately."
Seconds later—
Bang! Bang!
With two shots from Rika, Inmura Ruruko was the first to fall.
Minutes later, after Rei's report, Saya steadied herself again.
"Rei has encountered the enemy frontliners: Rook Yura Tsubasa, who wields a powerful defensive Sacred Gear, with Kusaka Reya backing her."
"Just as I thought—Sona always favors intel-gathering before committing to battle.
But I won't give you that chance."
Even while passionately kissing Akuto, Saya issued her orders.
"Judging from the fight, Kusaka Reya is their intel role.
Miss Rika, fire a poison-mist phantom beast to Rei's location, and deliver a healing domain along with it."
"Got it."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several rounds fired, releasing black mist across the battlefield—collected from their battles with advanced zombies back in the apocalypse. Against anything below High-class Devils, its weakening effect was devastating.
Quickly, Kusaka Reya collapsed, finished off by a phantom beast's strike.
Soon after, Yura Tsubasa also fell, unable to withstand Rei's "Way of the Spear" combined with phantom beast and healing support.
Boom!
The clash ended with both of Sona's frontliners defeated.
At the cafeteria, Tsubaki arrived just in time to see their defeat. She prepared to intervene—but Sona's urgent order stopped her.
"Tsubaki, cancel the previous command. Priority is to eliminate their sniper!"
After two consecutive losses, Sona had realized Akuto's side had a tactical mastermind.
She deduced Rika to be the key—and thus her primary target.
"Tsubaki, we'll strike together. We must take out that sniper on the Old Schoolhouse rooftop at once!"
Sona adopted the risky tactic of pushing forward personally.
No choice—if Rika wasn't neutralized, Sona would eventually be left with nothing.
Above the Old Schoolhouse, Saeko had been waiting.
"So… you finally came."
Drawing her katana, her eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Though Sona and Tsubaki were both at the peak of High-class Devil, stronger than her, Saeko showed no fear. Only the thrill of battle filled her heart.
Slash!
Sona's water sphere was split apart, her shoulder nicked by Saeko's blade. But Tsubaki's counterattack followed immediately.
Yet the black Symbiotic Slime Armor expanded instantly, perfectly shielding Saeko.
"What?!"
Sona was stunned—Saeko had a Sacred Gear-level defense that could shrug off equal-rank attacks!
"…So be it. Tsubaki, hold her down!"
Sona now understood Akuto's team was far more complete than hers.
Tank, healer, support, frontline, tactical command—they had it all. Her team, by contrast, was still raw, lacking cohesion.
If this dragged on, she'd surely lose.
So she resolved to break the enemy's perfect teamwork—even at great cost.
But as she pressed through the phantom beasts, her strike was stopped once more—by Shizuka's healing barrier!
Though weaker than Saeko's slime defense, it still negated most of the damage, sparing Shizuka from serious injury.
Her Healing Domain shrank to focus on herself, mending her wounds in seconds.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
More shots rang out—healing bullets and magic bullets reinforcing Saeko and suppressing Tsubaki.
The once even battle quickly tipped in Saeko's favor…
(End of Chapter)
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