"Sona?"

"Yes, Rias?"

"Did you seriously recruit a Fallen Angel?"

"Look, there were . . . circumstances surrounding it. And Kyousuke is stronger than her. So he can keep her in line."

Her friend didn't look convinced but decided to let it go. "I recruited Issei."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, a Fallen Angel killed him. Or well, came close to killing him. He took all eight of my pawns."

"I see."

And then Sona looked up from the chess board, eyes widening in shock. "Rias?"

"Yeah?"

"The wielder of the Boosted Gear was cheaper than Kyousuke."

Rias dropped the chess piece in her hand. "Holy crap. You really did recruit a monster, Sona."

"I'm still wondering if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Yeah, imagine what'll happen when your sister finds out."

Sona's head hit the desk, hard. "Please don't wish that upon me. That's the last thing I want. She'll probably shower him with love for saving her 'damsel' of a sister."

Rias snorted. "I'd pay to see that."

"Swear to Sirzechs, Rias. I will tell Riser about your dakimakura collection."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me."

Rias pouted. "Meanie."

"That's my job, yes."

"Kyousuke! You remember Yuuma, don't you?"

His eyebrow rose as he turned to face the resident super pervert. "Yuuma? Ya mean the girl who came out of nowhere and wanted to ride your joystick?"

"Yeah, her! No one else remembers her but us!"

He wondered about that for a minute before turning to his right, looking at the blonde haired girl who was trying really hard - and failing - to turn invisible.

"Yo, Mitsuki. Do you remember Yuuma?"

She bristled. "Y-Yes."

"See, Issei? You aren't insane after all. But if I were you, I'd go see Rias. She probably has the answers you need."

He looked confused but chose not to question things before running off to find the school idol.

"I don't understand why I'm Mitsuki now," Mittelt muttered.

"It's because having a foreign name would make you stick out like a sore thumb. Still, I don't know why you protested the school outfit so much. I think it looks good on you."

She scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. So, Raynare skewered that brat, huh?"

"Unfortunately. You know your friend is probably gonna die, right? I doubt Rias-san is as merciful as the President."

She sighed. "I . . . don't want her to die. But, I know that if we met right now, she wouldn't hesitate to kill me. Even if I was still a Fallen Angel."

He looked at her with sympathy before merely ruffling her hair, eliciting a yelp out of her. "You really do cherish your loved ones, don't you?"

She glanced away, her cheeks flushed. "I only fell because I loved Azazel-sama. I wanted to be with him forever."

"I knew it! Because all I saw when I looked at you was a genuine angel."

"Flattering me isn't gonna help you seduce me!"

"Why would I want to seduce you?"

"Eh?"

"I just see you as a cute Imouto."

She squawked and he laughed.

He glanced at the mirror in front of him and groaned. The day he dreaded finally came. The day of shaving. He could usually put it off for a week or two, but eventually his beard became too itchy, forcing him to shave it off. Ever since he became a devil, he noticed that he'd gotten a little taller, a little more muscular and a little healthier looking. He stood at six foot even, had a lean body that matched that of a cross country sprinter and neck length blue hair that looked like it was hit by a static shock. He never could get it to lay down and it seemed to become even more unruly after his species change.

He grabbed his razor and steeled himself.

The razor met skin and broke.

His right eye twitched.

Damn Rook defense.

"What's with Issei?" he asked as he watched the boy speed down the road like a bat out of hell.

"Buchou forbade him from seeing a girl affiliated with the church, but Issei refused to let her die, so he went to help anyway." Kiba replied, his eyes transfixed on the retreating form of Issei.

"And I take it you and Koneko-chan are going along to make sure he doesn't get himself killed?"

"That's right. Though Buchou was gonna help regardless."

"Hm, I see."

"So what are you gonna do, Kyousuke? This matter doesn't involve you. You're a member of Sona-san's peerage."

He rubbed his chin. "That's right. I am. Which is why I'm going to help you."

"Huh?"

"Rias-san is the President's best friend. If you guys got hurt, Rias-san would be sad. Which would make the President sad as well. Ergo, the best course of action would be to help you."

"Smart" Koneko piped up.

Kiba shrugged. "Then let's be off."