It was supposed to be just another day, yes. Just another day until Tyler decided that something had to happen.
Things were just too boring nowadays. He was strong but being strong alone didn't make anything fun.
That's right. It wasn't fun until he decided to put those powers and authority to use.
Because after all, this was the son of the great devil Basara Tojo and goddess Chisato Hasegawa! Of course he had the right to make things fun!
. . . . . . . . . . .
"Could you repeat that, Rias?" a soft and gentle voice asked while she stood nervously in the Occult Research Clubroom, lightly shifting her weight from one foot to the other as her fingers fidgeted together. The young girl was small and petite, with long blonde hair that flowed all the way down to her waist and large, bright green eyes that naturally drew attention from almost anyone lucky enough to meet her. Even now, there was an innocent curiosity shining within them.
She was speaking to the King of their peerage, who stood confidently beside her Queen. Rias wore a calm smile as she listened, then gave a small nod in understanding. "Of course," she replied smoothly, pausing for a moment before adding, "Actually… Akeno, would you mind explaining it instead?"
The dark-haired woman at her side let out a soft, amused laugh, covering her mouth briefly with her hand. "Of course, Rias," Akeno answered without hesitation. She then turned her attention fully toward Asia, her violet eyes meeting the younger girl's green ones. "I currently have a contract with a young man," she explained gently, "and we thought it might be a good opportunity for you to take over for a little while. I have other duties to attend to for Rias, and it felt like such a shame to leave him without anyone looking after him."
Asia's expression shifted into one of uncertainty as she reached up to scratch her cheek, clearly unsure of herself. "Oh, um… are you really sure?" she asked hesitantly. "Wouldn't it be better to send someone more experienced? Like Koneko, or maybe Kiba?"
Rias let out a quiet chuckle as she moved to take a seat in her chair. Crossing her long, smooth legs, she rested her hands neatly in her lap before responding. "The client we're talking about tends to get involved in certain physical sports," she explained. "Activities like that often lead to injuries. With your Twilight Healing, you would actually be the most suitable choice."
"It would also be a great way for you to gain more experience handling contracts," Akeno added quickly, her tone encouraging.
Asia shifted in place once more, clearly thinking it over. After a brief pause, she finally nodded. "If you're really sure… then I'll do it," she said softly, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
The crimson-haired devil smiled warmly at her. "Don't worry," Rias reassured her. "From what Akeno has told me, he's very kind and gentle. You truly don't have anything to fear. Honestly, he'll probably be the one feeling nervous with a pretty girl like you watching over him."
To say Asia's face heated up would have been an understatement. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly turned her head toward Akeno for reassurance. The dark-haired woman simply nodded in response.
"He's a good guy," Akeno said casually. "Not much else to say about him. He'll make you feel welcome and comfortable, so just give it a try today. If it doesn't work out…" she paused, a mischievous smile forming, "…then I suppose I'll just have to force Issei to carry bandages around for him next time." She let out a low, amused chuckle as she finished.
After taking a few moments to steady herself, Asia finally gathered enough courage to nod in agreement. She forced what she hoped looked like a confident smile onto her face, even though her nerves were still very much present beneath the surface. Letting out a slightly shaky breath, she spoke up, "Alright… I trust the two of you. So, um… when exactly is this supposed to happen? And how long will it last?"
Akeno straightened up and paused, clearly thinking it over for a few seconds before answering. "Tomorrow evening," she said calmly. "I'll accompany you the first time so you know what he looks like and don't feel lost or overwhelmed. As for the duration, it'll be for a little while. If everything follows the usual schedule, it should be about ten appointments before I'm able to step back in and take over again."
Asia blinked a few times before nodding. "That… actually sounds manageable," she said with a soft laugh. "It doesn't sound too difficult. But could you tell me a bit more about him? I'd really hate to accidentally offend him or mess something up on my very first day." Her chuckle carried a nervous edge, betraying her anxiety.
Rias leaned back slightly and shrugged her shoulders with an amused smile. "That sounds more like Akeno's territory than mine."
The raven-haired woman responded with a playful grin before moving over to one of the couches and sitting down comfortably. She patted the space beside her, silently inviting Asia to sit as well. Once the younger girl had settled in and looked a bit more at ease, Akeno leaned back and began speaking, carefully recalling what she felt Asia needed to know.
"His name is Tyler," she began. "And like we mentioned earlier, he's very sweet. Honestly, I have no doubt you'll end up enjoying working with him just as much as I have. He isn't originally from around here either. If I remember correctly, he said he's from Kyoto. So you might have to guide him around a bit at first, or else he might end up getting lost." She let out a light laugh at the thought.
Asia tilted her head slightly, her concern becoming more apparent. "What kind of sports is he into?" she asked. "It sounds a little dangerous if he needs my Twilight Healing just to recover…" There was a clear hint of worry in her voice.
Akeno simply clicked her tongue and shrugged in response. "Kendo, martial arts, things along those lines," she explained casually. "It's not that he absolutely needs your healing to function, but it definitely makes things easier for him. And since that's what he wanted out of the contract, I don't see any reason for us to question it."
"I guess that does make sense…" Asia replied quietly, nodding as she tried to reassure herself.
After that, Akeno stood up from the couch and waved her hand dismissively, as if brushing away the tension in the room. "Now, now, relax, Asia," she said lightly. "It'll be perfectly fine. You should head home and get some proper rest. After all…" she added with a teasing smile, "…tomorrow is a big day. You wouldn't want to be late on your first assignment."
Asia's cheeks warmed at the older woman's playful tone, but she didn't argue. She simply nodded and accepted the advice.
It was safe to say that the entire walk home was spent lost in thought. Her mind replayed possible scenarios over and over, imagining how the meeting might go and what she would need to do. She was undeniably nervous, as she often was in unfamiliar situations, but beneath that anxiety was a strong sense of determination. No matter what, Asia resolved to do her very best.
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