With Rias gone, Shuo strolled over to the cardboard box, grinning like a fox.
"Come on, Gasper! Time for some proper training from your senpai."
"Tr-training?!"
Gasper recoiled, voice trembling.
"No way! Just let me stay in here! I don't want to go outside—I don't want to see anyone!"
Koneko and Yuuto exchanged a look, shivering as memories of Shuo's "training" resurfaced. Goosebumps prickled their arms.
Xenovia stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with battle-hardened resolve.
"Shuo-kun, leave this cowardly vampire to us. A boy can't be this weak—let me handle it first."
She hefted Durandal with a casual flourish.
"I am, after all, an expert in dealing with vampires."
Before Gasper could protest, Xenovia dragged him out of the box.
…
A little while later, chaos reigned on a patch of grass behind the club building.
Gasper was running for his life, sobbing, while Xenovia chased after him, Durandal gleaming in the sunset.
"Don't dawdle, cowardly vampire! Run faster—or do you want to be Durandal's next snack?"
The others watched, mouths agape.
Pfft.
No one had expected Xenovia's "expert training" to involve chasing a vampire with a holy sword.
Was this really reformation? Or just attempted murder?
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sight of a holy sword wielder chasing a tearful vampire around the old school made for a strangely beautiful scene.
Eventually, Gasper collapsed beneath a tree, eyes brimming with tears—utterly pitiful.
"Wuuu… why do you have to do such scary things to me?"
Xenovia planted Durandal in the dirt, her voice firm.
"A sound mind starts with a sound body. You need to be healthy, Gasper."
She smiled, looking more satisfied than ever.
Kiyome couldn't help but mutter, "Xenovia looks way too happy right now…"
Irina giggled awkwardly.
"Yeah… I think Xenovia-san really enjoys playing the sadist."
Shuo's expression turned odd.
Thinking back to his own battles with Xenovia, he'd never pegged her for this side—though, back then, the roles had been reversed.
Koneko approached Gasper, deadpan as ever, and handed him a bulb of garlic.
"Eat this. You'll feel better."
Gasper recoiled as if she'd offered him poison, nearly bursting into tears.
"No! I hate garlic the most!"
Irina and the others watched, laughing as Koneko chased Gasper around with garlic.
Shuo stepped in, waving off the chaos.
He looked at Gasper—utterly broken—and felt a pang of sympathy.
Then a memory surfaced: Azazel had once mentioned a way for Gasper to control his Sacred Gear.
All he needed was dragon blood.
Of course, Shuo's blood was leagues above the Red Dragon Emperor's.
Without hesitation, Shuo sliced his palm, collecting a few drops of his own blood, and knelt beside Gasper.
"Gasper, if you want to master your Sacred Gear, drink my dragon blood. With it, you'll never lose control again. You'll be able to help Rias—and truly become one of us."
Gasper stared, stunned.
He thought back to when Rias first took him in. Tears welled up—this time, from gratitude.
"Nangong-senpai… I don't want to be weak anymore. I want to help President Rias!"
He accepted the blood, drinking it down.
As Gasper swallowed, Shuo activated his Rinnegan, suppressing the shadowy personality lurking within Gasper.
He knew the truth: Gasper wasn't just a vampire or a human. He was the reincarnation of a fragment of Balor—the Celtic god of darkness.
Inside Gasper, a second consciousness slept: pure, chaotic darkness, twisted by Balor's influence at birth.
When awakened, it would turn Gasper into an expanding void, spawning shadow monsters to devour anything in their path.
That personality was vicious—merciless to enemies.
Just to be safe, Shuo locked it down tight.
…
That evening, back in the clubroom, Rias looked Gasper up and down—now dressed in the boys' uniform—and smiled with relief.
"As expected of Shuo-chan. You managed to reform Gasper in half a day."
Shuo just shrugged. For him, it was barely a challenge.
But then he noticed Akeno, standing off to the side, her expression clouded.
"Akeno, you look… down."
Akeno's face tightened, silent.
Rias explained quietly, "We were discussing the three-way summit. Azazel came up, and Akeno remembered some painful things from her past."
So that's it.
Shuo understood—Akeno was thinking about her parents.
He slipped an arm around Akeno, leaning close to whisper in her ear.
"Let me save you, Akeno. But first—tomorrow, let's go on a date. Just us."
Akeno's eyes flickered—conflicted, then resolute.
"You're right… Thank you, Shuo-chan."
She looked up, her gaze smoky and alluring.
Shuo was stunned, caught in her spell.
Akeno looped her arms around his, pressing herself close, her smile radiant.
"Ara ara, Shuo-chan—your face is adorable right now."
Rias watched, jealousy flashing in her eyes.
"Hmph! Akeno, don't try to seduce Shuo-chan. He's still my fiancé! Just this once, though."
Akeno chuckled, unfazed.
"Ara, thank you, President. Well then, Shuo-chan—our date starts tomorrow!"
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