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Chapter 36: Friendly and Flirty

Two days were left before the planned Theater Act, and my mind was filled with a couple of non-negligible issues that came to be quite recently.

Starting with my pseudo-responsibility of watching over both Mio and Maria during their studies here at Kuoh Academy that Baraqiel gave me to handle. It wasn't exactly a mission, but it was expected for me to keep a close look over their stand here at school since their family was now attached to Grigori. I didn't have any problem with that, but… I soon found out that while Mio was doing a fine job in keeping herself as 'average' as a young woman with unquestionable beauty could in a private school as this one, her sister was, as expected, the epicenter of some issues.

A pervert due to her nature, and with instinct heightened by her puberty, Maria didn't hesitate in quickly making trouble at school. She was caught once while peeking on the changing room of the guys by some of the patrolling members of the Student Council. Right a day after being enrolled. She was reprimanded quite tentatively due to her parentage, but nonetheless given enough sternness to make any normal student stop considering causing any trouble.

Of course, that wasn't something that worked with someone as stubborn as the Succubus. The second time she was caught actually saw her lament how it was 'futile' to stop her 'behaving as her nature wanted' because of her father. That got quite the unflattering exchange back at the room of the Student Council, mostly with Sona much to my surprise, and I was pulled away from classes to handle this matter on myself. I entered that room partly-clueless on the gravity of the situation, and fairly worried of what was waiting for me inside.

Sona didn't even give me a chance to say anything that she was already walking out of the room after just a nod. And knowing the girl, I knew that this wasn't a good situation. I turned back to regard the only occupant beyond me in that room and I found her already smiling. Maria was… someone that I really didn't want to be around too much for, well, good reasons. I had my share of romantic trouble, which was more tame compared to what I would have expected, but I doubted that anything coming out of her beyond friendship was going to be good for someone like me. Or anyone that was an adult in general.

I glanced at her, nodded. "Maria-san."

She giggled, tilting her head to the left. "Senpai, you can call me 'Maria-chan'. We're no strangers."

…

I didn't reply to her, merely walking around the table and sitting down by the chair in front of her. The silver-haired girl looked confused by the lack of words, perplexed even, but she still didn't let go of the amused mood she was in. Sadly for her, I wasn't in the mood for joking around and I knew what to say to ultimately get her to commit to a calmer approach for school. Just as I sat down, I looked down to the documents that Sona had left for me to read. It was something that she had decided to leave about the girl's behavior during classes and what happened with her during the two cases that saw her caught in the bad deeds. Maria watched as I carefully opened the dossier and even as I started to silently read the papers there. Within it, an idea came about as I could only smile at the only possible reason about some 'confusing' details about the situation itself.

"I've heard a couple of unpleasant things you have been responsible for in the last few days, Maria-san. Care to explain that?" I asked calmly, giving her a patient smirk while she prepared to answer.

The girl giggled. "I was just checking on heavenly sight," She replied cheekily. "But then some boring women came by and took me away from the greatest scene I could find in this school."

…

"I believe you are aware of what happens to perverts in this school. You have to have been told."

Maria nodded. "They get suspended at best, or expelled at worse. But it will not happen for me."

She sounded quite confident about it, so certain of it, but there was something she hadn't taken under consideration with what she was trying to accomplish with this entire situation. Something that I had realized after taking a look at the reports and studying the circumstance we were both in.

…

"Indeed, it will not happen."

My response finally got a different reaction from her. If before she had been confident of being in control of this situation, the 'submission' I just offered to her caught her off-guard. A frown appeared on her face, and her smile lessened.

"Yeah… what are you trying to do here, senpai?"

I blinked, faking some innocent surprise at that unexpected question. "Hm? What do you mean?"

"That bespectacled howler said that the rules aren't bent on anyone here. Even for special cases like me or Mio-nee. So… what's all about when you say that I'm right?"

"Are you not right? I mean, your father seems fairly rich and influential. I've yet to check the registry to verify if he has donated to the school or not, but I believe he seems the kind of person that would do that."

"So, it's all about money?"

"Sometimes. I mean, not when it comes to protecting students from expulsion-worthy situations, just when it comes to open new unusual clubs," I quietly replied, gaining an even more confused look out of here. "But no, this isn't about money. It's… about something I've already seen and that you would be surprised to learn isn't that uncommon among young students."

Her posture tensed, her eyes narrowed, but I could tell she was trying to appear annoyed to just hold back any panic regarding the fact I might have discovered the reason why she was behind all of this.

"I did something bad, and I should be expelled by the rules of this school. Of course, this doesn't matter because-"

"I believe your father is the kind of individual that would be embarrassed by something like that happening as he would understand and accept any punishment enacted by this school," I replied sternly. "And then feel fairly angry at you for trying to leave school by getting yourself expelled."

Her jaws dropped at that implicit accusation, her eyes shining in anger and panic at what I had just said and she was soon standing up and glaring at me the cutest way possible. A tiny pout on her face, her adorable frame just made the entire exchange fairly… entertaining despite the reason why it was currently happening.

"That's not the truth!" Maria exclaimed fiercely. "As if I would want to leave this lovely place this soon-"

"You didn't make any plans to make a lasting presence at school. At least, not one that would suit someone like you, Maria-san," I interrupted, my voice turning cool to return some seriousness to this circumstance. Her body tensed even more, and her anger seemed to mellow at the sudden interjection. "I have here a couple of reports from your teachers. It is part of the rules when it comes to justify the request of expelling a problematic student that all paperwork regarding them is entrusted to the council and the headmaster of this school. And in here, you made the mistakes needed to make your little cover explode."

"...I don't know what you're talking about," She weakly replied and I sighed.

"Maria-san, all of your teachers have highlighted how you are distracted during lessons. You're not even doing anything disruptive, just brooding about with no apparent reason. You don't write down notes, you don't pay attention to the lessons themselves and some have also noticed that you seem to blatantly ignore any offer of friendship from your classmates."

I took a brief pause, gauging her current reaction and I blinked as I saw her shake a little bit. She seemed stuck in a crossroad where she was tempted to just say that it wasn't true, yet she knew that these papers weren't exactly fabricated and were actually certified by all teachers. It would have held if she made a case if it had been just a couple of them, but in that moment there was no way she could get away with it if all teachers shared this opinion about the matter.

I allowed her some time to think and come up with either an excuse or a way to properly confess to what she had tried to do. Silently, she sat down and glanced at the table's texture. Her mind was elsewhere and this was the first time I saw the girl this serious about something so 'negligible'. At the same time, I was fairly impressed by the dedication she was putting into it. Maybe I was judging her a little too fast due to the fact that I knew most of her personality due to her version from the original Shinmai no Maou Testament, but… I was perplexed over the fact that she wasn't being socially open with anyone in class. Or why she would want to leave this abruptly and for no apparent reason.

It didn't take me long to realize that something important differentiated this Maria from the one I knew about. This girl wasn't completely forced to stay at school. If there was something that was clear about her character in general, is that she wasn't someone that liked to be restrained too much, especially when it came to school-related rules. Kuoh Academy was stricter than Hijirigasaka Academy when it came to perverts, and that put her in a situation where bailing sounded more alluring, especially since she knew that her sister was fine and safe even if she wasn't around.

The problem with that ambitious plan? I was there to dismantle it with a simple refusal to let her go away just like this.

"Well, why shouldn't I be expelled?" She finally demanded to know. "Your rules-"

"Are not toys for you to cheaply be let out from this commitment, Maria-san. An expulsion here means no education elsewhere, Maria-san," I pointed out. "It also means no to tutorships and other forms of learning for professional works."

"My family is rich-"

"But your father isn't one that would allow you to leech and do nothing for the rest of your existence," I interjected flatly. "I'm not joking, Maria-san-"

"As if I picked up you were joking with me, Senpai-san."

That was horribly incorrect, but I allowed her to get away with it due to the high tension in the air. It wasn't the first time it happened to me to hear someone take a shot to the Japanese language, and it wasn't going to be the last from the looks of it. Regardless of that I nodded at her.

"Then please, why do you find your stay here at school so unbearable?"

Her pout returned, stronger than ever. "I can't check out boys."

"At school. That's correct."

Her lips twitched, and she seemed to catch on the little concession offered about the matter. While at school she had to live up to the standards of the Academy's rules, outside of it she was free to do whatever she wanted without going for something illegal or fairly excessive.

"Still… I don't want to talk about it."

That's quite defensive from her.

But not outlandish. Why should she trust someone that she has also to lie and limit the info she can provide?

...You mean she is tight-lipped because it would be too troublesome to make up part of her issues?

Probably. Not unexpected, nor anything that I would fault at that point.

I guess I can… try to do something about it.

Sighing as I knew that this wasn't as easy as I would've wanted it to be, I decided to take an extra step to reach out for her. I turned to the school bag I had settled on the chair I was sitting on, and retrieved something that I had sealed away and kept around for the sake of avoiding awkward emergencies.

"What if you didn't tell this to a simple member of the Student Council, Maria-san?"

Maria's eyes glinted, surprised as she followed these actions, a curious look striking her as I finally pulled out a mask she was quite familiar with. Her eyes widened in shock as I settled the object on the table and then I looked back at her.

"How about you told this to one of the guards you and your sister have here at Kuoh Academy?"

…

"You're actually that guy? The one back at the castle," The young Succubus muttered, still surprised by this revelation.

"Hekishoku, agent to Grigori. I'm part of the active garrison here at Kuoh Academy," I replied to her words with this brief introduction. "Since you and your sister have joined this school, you also became part of our objectives. To protect you and make sure that you don't end up making a mess while studying here."

"So… you're the one with the nice butt."

I sighed. "I will ignore that. Still, how about we talk about what is compelling you to leave this school?"

She hummed. "I mean, I could also not tell you because you're not tied to dad. But… why do you want to know?"

"Does the 'I just want to know' fit as the correct answer?"

Her lips twitched once more, showing vibrant mirthfulness. "Would it allow me to look at that butt again?"

Do. Not. Facepalm…

"Maria-"

"I'm just joking, senpai-san," The Succubus quickly jumped to defend her 'little joke'. "Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers and… so you're aware of the rest of the stuff."

"If you're referring to your parentage and… well, the rest of the unknown world, yes."

She gave a calm nod, pondering about it. "I suppose I could be a little open about it. I doubt you would do much if I told Papa who you really are, so you would try any tricks on me."

I nodded in agreement, but she stopped me from speaking up.

"But!" Maria quipped eagerly. "I really want your honesty about it. I don't want to hear any 'I think this is not something I should be handling about' or 'it is a normal thing and it will pass'. I want true, brutal and naked honesty."

…

"I suppose I can do that, yes."

"Thanks!" She said while smiling cutely. "Now, the reason why I asked you to do this for me is… well, tied to the fact that I don't like it here. Things are just too… nice."

I frowned. "What?"

"I mean, nothing wrong with people wanting to be friends with me. I'm cute, sexy, and smart."

And incredibly modest.

She took some of that from Sapphire. Dear me, isn't she going to turn a pest like her really soon...

"But?" I pushed her to speak up some more.

"But I feel like this is all staged- I might be wrong but it just doesn't feel like the usual school environment I thought it was going to be. Mio is happy and I can tell none here is an actor or influenced by magic."

"Yet you think this is too nice to be true. And I can tell you that the truth is actually simpler than you think," I answered calmly, almost smiling as she glared at me.

"You said no 'it is not something too simple'-"

"But it actually is. In fact, I believe you just don't know about it since your only knowledge of how a school works comes from what you know of public school. This is a private one."

"And… the difference being?"

"Beyond the fact it's funded through private donations and thus hosts just a specific group of students that have passed a special test to determine their capacity to enter this school, there is also a unique set of rules that serves to fight off the major issues of schools here in Japan. For example, while some institutions would have been slower to handle your perverted streak, here we have a harsher line about it. And the same is for bullies."

"You don't tolerate those?" Maria asked. "I thought the school system in general was really limited about it."

"It's more tied to the fact that there shouldn't be any reason for a bully to even come to be. That kind of pettiness is not befitting of this institute and thus there are laws within the school that aim to stop this kind of issue at the earliest."

"Even if the kid is rich?"

"Even if the kid is Scrooge McDuck's grandchild," I replied flatly, noticing her confusion at that reference. "Disney comics, not something that has spread that well here in Japan."

She merely nodded, but soon she gave me a more curious look. "Still, does that mean that you weren't behind sending your little sister to befriend me?"

…What?

"Kunou approached you?"

"She wanted to be friends but… I thought it was kind of odd," Maria admitted. "She is a cutie, and I wouldn't mind spending some time with her as friends but… you really didn't know?"

...Actually, now that I think about it-

"I think I saw her a little sad a while ago, but I didn't know she was actually upset when you rejected her."

"Wait, really?"

"Kunou might not sound more than the average girl, but in a way similar to you and Mio she is living here at Kuoh Town away from her mother which is in Kyoto. So I believe she was trying to reach out considering that you share this in common. Plus I bet you would do well with friends."

"Are you saying this because… you want me to stop being a pervert, senpai-san~?" Maria guessed and I shrugged.

"I doubt that's curable, but it would be lessened due to the fact your mind would have something else to work on. Of course, my main reasoning is that you need friends. No questions."

"And I see no issues with that. More friends means more gossip and more gossip means more info for me to learn about boys~. By the way, are you up for-"

"I believe I have my hands full with two girls heatedly trying to win over my heart, the possibility of a nekomata trying to get in my pants, and perhaps more."

She hummed, her eyes widening in surprise. "You kidding? You don't look like the kind of guy that would flirt with multiple women at once."

"That's because I don't," I replied flatly.

…

"Senpai-san, this is a sign! It means you might be one of those legendary Harem Lords and that you need to conquer numerous girls, show the land how chad you are and-"

"Get out, Maria-san. I will not entertain this conversation and the next time you try to put yourself in an expulsion-worthy situation I will tell your sisters AND your father what you've been up to."

She stuck her tongue out, fazed immensely by that threat. "Jerk."

It didn't take long for the Succubus to leave the room and for me to take this chance to finally put away the mask. I heard a knock at the door and I spotted Sona peeking inside with a questioning look.

"All solved, she will not try anything of that kind."

Relief washed over her face and… I was quick to return back to classes. But as I went back for a peaceful transition towards a smooth conclusion to that school day, I was blissfully unaware that someone else had decided to stake a brilliant plan to create more issues than solving some. Someone that I didn't just expect to see going this far to 'catch up' in that silly race and… someone that I didn't expect to be this bold about it.

But seriously, how should I have thought Ingvild capable of going through these lengths to keep up with Akeno?

When I returned back home, I didn't expect to find anyone already inside, so both Kunou and I were caught off-guard when we found that the lights of the entrance and the living room were on.

"Hello?" The kitsune quickly called, her surprise and interest easily overcoming any worry. "Is there anyone here?"

I glanced down at the blonde, feeling the need of chiding her just to remind her that it could have been a thief. But, then again, what kind of thief could actually overwhelm Baraqiel? I was silly about it, but that didn't mean that I could just stop being paranoid about it. Crazy things happened in this world and I really needed to not get at ease in these circumstances until I was sure that it was friends behind this kind of stuff.

"We're here!" A loud familiar voice called, soon followed by another comment.

"In the kitchen!"

Kimiko didn't turn up late to appear and poke out of my shirt, with the top of her head softly poking on my chin as she growled annoyed at the familiar and upsetting development. This confirmed my suspicions that both Tiamat and Ingvild were visiting… without notice. It wasn't unusual for them to come by for dinners, but they would normally call before coming by for a dinner shared together. I quickly gave a head pat to the irked familiar and, as both Kunou and I walked into the living room, I proceeded to leave them by the dining table before checking on the visiting duo.

Of all things that I could have expected to find once I vaulted the door to the kitchen, the scene I was subjected to wasn't one of them. By a far shot. One step, that's all it took for me to pause, tense up, eyes widening at the sight and… my entire body tensing up as I was regaled with something… heavenly.

Ingvild was humming quietly, doing her best with her mediocre cooking skills to get through the hardship of preparing dinner for us all. She wasn't alone in that task, with Tiamat struggling and having some troubles keeping up with her share of things to do for the dinner-preparation. While that would have been enough to gain a surprised but amused sigh out of me, there was an element that made the entire thing… awkward.

Both girls were wearing nothing else but… aprons. Skimpy ones at that. I could literally see their curves form nicely under that thin piece of cloth and… yep, Tiamat had some big oppai to compensate for the sudden smaller frame she got compared to her original form. My face was already red and I had to look away for a moment to allow myself to recover from that shock and I was quickly noticed by Ingvild.

"Oh Hoitsu. Do you wish to join us with the preparation?"

"We really need help here," Tiamat quickly translated with a panicked tone, and I was making an effort to not look down and… "Is there something wrong?"

I almost yelped in surprise as my ogling was noticed, merely taking a step back at the calm in her voice about the entire predicament she was in.

"Why are you two… wearing that?"

The dragon in human form frowned. "What do you mean? Ingvild told me that this was one of your modern customs among humans. The things women have to do for their friends that are men-"

"When they are happily in a relationship that is either romantic or sexual in nature, intimate if I have to be precise," I interjected tensely, my voice trailing and rapidly offering the truth to the unsuspecting dragon. I could see her world collapse as the last word of my response reached her brain and Tiamat stopped working for a few moments, both in the kitchen and as a living being. A blink, her face burned a fiery red that contrasted nicely with her blue theme. But before she had the chance to panic and do something I was going to regret the most, I offered a proper plan of action.

"Both of you can go and get your clothes, I suppose those are in the living room. There is a bathroom at the deep end of the entrance hallway, so you can change her-"

"But what if I want to cook like this? Don't you… like how I look, Hoitsu-kun?" Ingvild interrupted and I felt a difficult dilemma form as I saw her take a route that was clearly going to end in tears if I didn't come up with something smart. I needed to be smooth, devilish so that I could convince her to drop this silly act at once. I should have expected for Ingvild's response to be fairly strong, but I terribly forgot that her personality was so close to Asia at the beginning that I was caught off guard by the lengths she would go to 'catch up with a love rival'. Maybe it was because I spent just enough time with her to forget that bit of her personality, or maybe I had too much on my plate already and just forgot altogether.

Nonetheless, I had to solve this problem at once without getting her to cry or to get pummeled in a vicious way by Tiamat herself. The first decent plan that came by proved to be the smoothest but perhaps the one that was going to leave me in another issue. One more manageable that is, but still a problem to face with how much I had to deal with on a daily basis. Manning up, I knew I had to make a choice.

Either I dared fate itself and tried to survive the approaching storm, or I had to do something that would make Ingvild happy and also put more weight to the romantic situation I was currently involved in. With so little time to spend in thinking, I made a decision and I just went for it.

One step, then two, Ingvild tensed up, her face reddening and her eyes widening cutely as I was soon pressing my forehead onto hers. She expected a kiss but… I sighed.

"Ingvild, you're going to catch a cold like this," I whispered softly. "I know you want to beat Akeno with this but I will be sad if you were hurt because you're doing this for me."

She frowned. "B-But I just- I want to show you that- that I care and-"

"And I understand, I'm not saying that I'm not happy about it, just concerned since it can end with you being sick. So I will tell you a secret about the date with Akeno. We just shared some kisses, nothing more, nothing too sexual," I pointed out quietly, cupping her left cheek and drawing her face up. "So I will offer you a deal. You get dressed back to warm clothes and, if you stay around, we can cuddle up for the night."

It wasn't kissing, but it was still pretty intimate and something that Akeno hadn't experienced with me. There wasn't exactly a fair exchange of affectionate things and, while it might seem that kissing was more intimate than cuddling, in the end cuddling was nicer since you were sleeping while hugging close to the person you loved a lot. It was something that couldn't just be refused, especially since it meant sharing the big bed alone and under some warm covers.

I could see her mind catching onto that and she unconsciously nodded at it. I smiled happily and leaned down to plant a tiny peck on her right cheek. Her blush spread even redder because of that interaction.

"Next time you want to try something like this, perhaps it would be better we discuss this, alright?"

Another nod, her capacity of using words impaired due to how much blood was rushing at her face and brain. Soon the two girls were leaving, giving me a lovely last sight as I got a full glimpse of their respective pair of buns, both round and fairly attractive, and I was left to work at the kitchen and take on the tasks they had left unfinished. I managed to save some eggs, but a bit of the bread meant to be accompanying the dish was lost in a horrible fire that almost consumed the entire paddle it was… cooking in. I could tell it was Tiamat's work and-

I know I shouldn't be doubting your social skills, brat, but I have to ask one thing. Did you always have that kind of smoothness or is something you just come up with?

I frowned at that comment, feeling a degree of praise in it and… a level of disappointment that just left the sentence completely neutral. The bastard did that on purpose, I knew that and I still replied.

Just because I'm not flirting left and right, it doesn't mean I don't know how to do that. I'm just… more reserved on that front.

Still doesn't that mean you will use that a lot with that girl, Akeno, when the time of your date will come up?

Possibly? I'm not even sure she will be flirting a lot.

I can assure you she will want to score a lengthy night with you if you go all in on that. I've done something similar many years ago, and I believe it's one of the few kinks I know about my wife.

...Does that mean I need to be wary of using that around her when she comes?

Yes, and I'm not even saying this for your sake. The moment Lilith mistakes you for a reincarnation of sorts, you can kiss goodbye to life as death by Snu Snu might be your ultimate demise.

Drat, that seemed like a pleasant nightmare and… also something new about Lilith. Regardless of that comment, I managed to prepare dinner without any distraction and have what the girls were trying to prepare ready in a decent quality. As I sat down at the table right beside Ingvild, the girl happily took the initiative to shift her seat closer to mine and nuzzle her elbow onto mine. I saw Kunou looking, but she seemed to not mind the entire situation, perhaps more amused by the cheeky glare Kimiko was throwing at a horrified Tiamat which, I would soon learn, had to go through a walk of shame as I had completely forgotten about the fact that the familiar was in the living room as both passed by. And the insults made the entire walk for the great Dragon fairly… shameful. And embarrassing. From the looks of it, Kimiko's rate of insults might have easily become from mere nuisance to the full-fledged nightmare fuel for the legendary being.

The only mercy for poor Tiamat was that the baby dragon went to sleep with Kunou in her room, while she was given the couch with some warm sheets and plenty of pillows to 'properly slumber'. I was left with Ingvild, the girl having trouble holding her bright smile as she looked like she had conquered the world with ease and… it was in that moment that I realize that, while I was so hellbent into avoiding complicating my life that is, I couldn't help but love the way these girls reacted to my opening to their romantic interests.

And that surprised me but also worried me for more trouble.

AN

AH! Maria strikes and… she accepts to try and fit with the school. That doesn't mean a sudden change, only that she will open up to give an effort in being 'normal with her sister' (of course, that kind of normality is questionable). Regardless of that… Ingvild escalated things and still got a win, but a modest win to be quite honest about it.

Sometimes it's best to sacrifice something to avoid horrible events unfolding and wreck you.

And… next time? "The Queen is back, bitches!"

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