It was a new day in Kuoh, the sun was rising, cicadas were singing, and it was time for the Byrne siblings to prepare for their first day at Kuoh academy.

A ray of sunlight shined through my window, my alarm clock was beeping, and I could hear water running, probably Brandon taking a shower.

"Morning already?" Guess I need to leave my warm, cozy cocoon… maybe just five more minutes.

There was a loud knock on my door, dashing my hopes of sleeping in. "Azalea it's time to get up." came my mom's voice from the other side.

"Coming Mom." I started to roll onto my back without realizing I was already on the edge of my bed, and fell with a thud. If I wasn't already awake enough, I certainly am now.

My door swung open, which was odd, I could've sworn I locked it last night.

"Are you okay, Azalea?" Mom asked in concern, seeing me on the ground, still wrapped in my wings.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I groaned, before I unwrapped myself, and got up.

"You know it's time to get ready for school." Mom gently scolded.

"Yeah, I'm on it" I said as my wings retreated into my back.

"You'll need your uniform." Mom handed me one of the boxes she brought back yesterday. "You forgot this when you went to bed."

"Thanks" I said before grabbing, and opening the box.

"If you need me I'll be downstairs making breakfast." Mom said, turning around to head out. "can't have you going to school on an empty stomach"

"Thanks Mom, you're the best."

Mom flashed a thumbs up as she left my room, shutting the door behind her.

I opened the box, and inspected the school uniform, a white long sleeve shirt with thin vertical lines that accentuated the chest, a western bow tie, an odd corset-like dark grey vest with white accents, and a burgundy miniskirt with a white trim.

"This has to be a mistake, the skirt is way too small. Oh well, I can find a fix for that." Rifling through my drawers I found a pair of pink shorts to go with the outfit.

I quickly threw on the uniform, with the addition of the shorts, and headed over to my bathroom to brush my teeth, comb my hair, and check myself out.

After having finished touching up I inspected the mirror. "Not bad, feels a bit loose in the chest area, but you can't tell just by looking." After doing a twirl I felt satisfied with the outfit.


Smelling baked beans, and sausages, I headed down to the kitchen, where the table was already set up, and my brother had taken a seat. He was wearing his uniform, which was more akin to a two piece suit, made out of the same fabric as the female uniform's vest, but kept the bow tie, and white undershirt.

"Oh, right on time." Mom cheerfully said, turning off the stove. "Breakfast is ready."

Mom carried a pot over to the table my brother was seated at. I took a seat myself, and grabbed my utensils in anticipation. Mom ladled a helping of baked beans mixed with sausage onto our plates. It was a simple Irish breakfast, but a satisfying one.

"Thanks Mom." I spoke with a full mouth as I shoveled food into my face.

"Thanks." Brandon tersely said, before he began eating at a normal pace.

"I thought you'd be hungry after such a long journey." Mom said, with a smile. "I'm glad you like it."

"You're the best, Mom." I said, after having inhaled the entirety of my meal.

"Agreed." Brandon stated, simply, before continuing to eat.

"So, are you excited for your first day?" Mom enquired.

"Of course I am!" I enthusiastically replied.

"I'll need to see things for myself before I express any opinion." Brandon said, indifferently.

"We're lucky Kuoh recently became co-ed" Mom remarked.

With a shocked expression, Brandon dropped his silverware. His spoon clattered on his plate.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" He questioned in disbelief.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It used to be an all female school." Mom clarified. "They only started allowing male students to join last year."

"So you mean there will be mostly girls, barely any guys?" I asked ecstatically, My face positively lighting up.

"Pardon me I need to step out for a moment." Brandon emotionlessly stated as he got up and walked through the living room. I could hear the front door opening, and closing.

"Do you thi-"

"MOTHERFUCKER!" A booming shout from outside cut me off.

"Honestly, he's taking this better than I expected." Mom said, casually.

"Yeah." I said in agreement. "So, do you think I have a shot at finding a girlfriend?"

"I don't see why not, you got your looks from me after all." Mom chuckled.

"Any girl would be lucky to have a smart, caring sweetheart, like you." She added with a pat to the head.

The sound of the front door opening and closing, followed by footsteps approaching the kitchen could be heard, a composed Brandon walked to the table, and sat back down.

"Sorry about that." Brandon said neutrally, picking his fork back up, and continuing to eat his remaining food. "How long did you know about this?" He asked after finishing his meal.

"I just found out when I was picking up your uniforms." Mom began to explain. "I would've told you when I got back, but I didn't want that knowledge keeping you up late."

Brandon took a long inhale, followed by a long exhale.

"Even if my options are slim, at least Azalea's going to have a good time." Brandon said, in mild contempt.

"Funny we were just talking about that." Mom said. "Besides, it's quite a big school, there should be a couple dozen boys there, at the very least."

"But how many do you think are just hopeless skirt chasers, who enrolled looking for an easy hookup?" Brandon rhetorically asked. "Much like you, Azalea." He snarked.

Mom tried to hide the fact that she was giggling. Thanks Mom, way to stick up for me.

"Hey!" I protested. "I just found out minutes ago, and I didn't make the choice."

"Yeah, but you sure were excited when you found out." Brandon replied.

"Oh like you'd be complaining if it were the reverse." I countered.

"Ah, touche." Brandon conceded, raising his hands in defeat.

"As much as I enjoy hearing you two banter, it's about time I drive you to the academy." Mom interjected, grabbing her car keys from the counter, and twirling them around her finger.


The car ride to Kuoh academy was relatively uneventful. My brother, and I continued to banter along the trip. I could tell he was still ruffled, but he wouldn't let that get in the way of a friendly chat with his sister. Mom dropped us off as close to the entrance as she could park.

"Have a good first day you two." Mom cheerfully waved us off. "And make sure you don't get into any trouble Brandon."

"Will do." I said.

"I'll try." Brandon said.

We crossed a brick bridge that led to the outer entrance, a brick wall topped with spikes, and a cast iron gate, only to be floored with the sheer scale of the inside.

"Wow, Mom wasn't kidding." I said, in awe. "this place is huge."

The school buildings themselves had a somewhat gothic feel to them, as if it had been kept up for centuries.

"Fancy." Brandon stated, with a clear lack of excitement in his voice. "They even have a fountain." Sarcasm dripped from his comment.

"Don't over excite yourself now." I dryly quipped.

"Gawking at this tacky hellhole aside, we need to find out where to get our schedules." Brandon exclaimed.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance." An unexpected voice coming from behind us made me reflexively jump a bit.

Turning around, we were greeted by a strict looking girl with long black hair that went just past her knees, and light brown eyes, wearing a blue rimmed pair of bottom frame glasses.

"Oh, you startled me there." I whimpered. "But you'll help us?"

She eyed me with suspicion, but I pretended not to notice. That could just be how she looks at people.

"Yes, that is what I said, is it not?" She said, in a no nonsense tone.

"Smartass." Brandon bluntly remarked, before receiving a jab to the side, courtesy of my elbow.

"You'll have to excuse my brother, he's a dick." I apologized. "Do you happen to know where we can get a schedule?"

"Oh, I'm Azalea, by the way, and this delinquent," I said, gesturing to my side. "is my brother, Brandon."

I extended my hand, and the girl looked down at it, before reluctantly reaching out her own.

"Tsubaki Shinra," she said, as she cautiously shook my hand, letting go shortly after. "If you need a schedule, you can pick one up from the student council. As the vice president, I can lead you there."

"Thank you so much." I said graciously, waiting for my brother to do the same, before jabbing him again.

"Yeah. Thanks." Brandon snorted unenthusiastically in response.

"Just follow me." She directed, before heading onward.

Tsubaki stopped, and turned around. "Oh, and for the record, Brandon was it? I'd rather be a smartass, than a dumbass." She said before continuing.

Suppressing a chuckle, I followed along.

"Well." Brandon responded towards no one in particular, sounding very mildly amused.


Tsubaki had led us to the student council's entrance, and held the door for us to enter. Inside there was a tomboyish, blue haired girl, a girl with a headband and long brown hair that split into two braids, and a girl with long white hair, taking up various seats in the room. A black haired girl with a bob haircut, magenta glasses, and a no-nonsense aura to her, was sitting at the front desk.

"Hello, are you the council president?" I walked up, and asked the girl with the bob haircut.

"Yes." The girl tersely replied. "My name is Sona Shitori. Is there something you two needed assistance with?"

"Me, and my brother are new here, could we bother you for some schedules?" I asked, politely.

"I'll need your full names first." Sona requested. Her voice sounded completely uninterested, she must go through this a lot.

"My full name is Azalea Margaret Byrne." I cheerfully exclaimed.

"Brandon Byrne, no middle name." Brandon answered curtly.

"Byrne? That's an unusual last name, where are you from?" Sona asked with a hint of curiosity, and suspicion.

"Is that important?" Brandon dryly replied.

"I'd like to know." Sona sternly insisted.

Brandon had been irritable ever since he got here, but for some reason Sona seemed to particularly get under his skin. I better move this along quickly.

"We're from Ireland, it's actually a pretty common name there." I cut in, awkwardly.

"Odd you sound more English than Irish." Sona said, inquisitively.

"Our Mom is English, we don't know what nationality Azalea's dad is." Brandon said, frustration leaking from his voice.

"Azalea's dad? You mean you have separate fathers?" Sona asked, oddly not sounding surprised.

"Yes. we're half siblings." Brandon explained with a growl, stopping himself just before he added 'dumbass' to the sentence. Thankfully he still had some restraint.

"What would be the story behind that?" Sona asked, it almost looked like she had the slightest hint of a smirk. Was she riling him up on purpose?

At this point Brandon's frustration was visibly obvious to more than just me.

"With all do respect, Miss Sona, are all these questions really important?" I asked, trying to avoid a blowout on our first day.

"I suppose not." Sona said, before reaching into her desk, and pulling out two sheets of paper. "Here are your schedules, be sure that you aren't late to class."

"You had them ready this entire time?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Yes." Sona said, simply. "What kind of student council would I be running if I wasn't aware of what students are transferring in, and out?"

"Then what was the point of all that?!" Brandon raised his voice, looking very much like he wanted to punch Sona out.

"It never hurts to get to know your new students." Sona answered, with a slight smile.

Brandon abruptly stood up, malice in his eyes, both hands slammed flat onto Sona's desk. Sona looked only a little surprised.

"You-" Brandon snapped before I cut him off.

"Well, thank you very much for the help." I said, quickly grabbing my brother's arm, and pulling him with me out of the room, before anything could escalate.

After I pulled my brother a good bit of distance, I stopped, and turned to him to ask what his problem was.

"Okay, what was that back there?! you looked like you wanted to rip her head off!" I demanded an explanation, trying not to raise my voice.

"She was wasting our time so she could play detective, and I don't like being jerked around." Brandon barked.

"You're still mad that this used to be an all girls school aren't you?" I attested.

"Yes, but that's besides the point." Brandon reluctantly admitted.


The student council watched as the new girl pulled her brother out into the hallway, and listened as their footsteps got quieter, making sure no one said a word until they were long gone.

"So tsubaki, what is your analysis?" Sona queried, breaking the silence, and putting the council's focus on her, and her second in command.

"The girl is definitely a fallen one, but I couldn't sense anything strange about the boy." Tsubaki answered.

"He may just be a foot soldier assigned to assist her." The blue haired girl suggested.

"Either way, it's pretty clear that the girl is the brains of the two." The brown haired girl posited, receiving nods from her peers.


"Do you think Sona was hitting on me?" I asked my brother. His only response was a facepalm.


"Regardless, we need to keep watch on both of them. We can't let any harm come to the students, especially not on campus ground." Sona sternly declared.

The council unanimously agreed.

"Tsubaki, you'll watch Azalea. Reya, you're assigned to Brandon." Sona ordered. "Your schedules will be changed accordingly."

"Yes, Sona." Tsubaki obeyed.

"Why am I assigned to him?" The brunette protested, not liking the idea of being anywhere near the hostile transfer student.

"Because you're the least conspicuous out of all of us." Sona explained. "He's already wary of tsubaki, and I, but you'll blend right in."

"Wouldn't Momo, or Tsubasa also work?" Reya suggested, earning unpleasant looks from the two girls.

"How many girls in this school besides them have white, or blue hair?" Sona asked, rhetorically.

"... Alright then." Reya relented, with a sigh.

"I'll have your new schedules completed, and your classes notified before the first period begins." Sona stated.


As my brother, and I looked for our classrooms, the halls started to fill up. I heard hushed chattering.

"Who are those two?" A girl whispered to a friend beside her.

"They must be new." Her friend answered, in an equally hushed tone.

"The new girl's kind of cute." Said a boy …of course.

"Why, hello handsome." Another girl muttered, probably not referring to me.

"Finally, another decent looking guy." Said a fourth girl, definitely not referring to me.

"Great, another pretty boy." Grumbled a boy with glasses, out loud.

Really hope my brother didn't hear that one.

Brandon nonchalantly raised a middle finger to the general direction of the last voice, shocking the crowd.

Of course he did.

"Did he just flip someone off?"

"And so casually."

"Is he a delinquent?"

"Still hot."

Great, he's already getting a reputation, and some of these girls have terrible taste.

At this point I decided to tune out the chatter, we were reaching my first period class anyway.

"Guess this is where we split up." Brandon said. "Good luck out there, Sis."

"I'll see you at lunch, make sure not to kill anyone before then." I half-joked, before pulling him into a hug.

"No promises." Brandon replied as he reciprocated the hug.

We separated. "Never change, bro." I said with a light punch to the shoulder. "Okay, maybe change a little."

"I don't plan on it." He said as he started walking away, and waved me off.

Here it is, my first class. Opening the door, I stepped in, and looked around. Most of the seats were filled, and the teacher was sitting patiently at the front desk.

"Ah, just in time." The teacher greeted me cordially. "Class, today we have a new transfer student. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

This caught me off guard. Being so excited for my first day, I didn't even consider an introduction. Everyone is looking at me, girls are watching.

"Um, hello." I said nervously, scratching the back of my head. "My name is Azalea Margaret Byrne, it's nice to meet you all, this is my first day in a Japanese school, so I'm kind of nervous."

"Any questions class?" The teacher asked, turning to face the rest of their students.

"Where are you from?" Came a male voice.

"What's with your accent?" A female student asked.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Asked another male student.

The class fired off question after question, but those three were all I could focus on without overloading.

"I'm from Ireland, my mom is English, and let me get one thing straight." I said, with a pause for dramatic effect. "I'm not."

I pointed finger guns in the direction of the rest of the class, with a dumb grin on my face. A couple students chuckled, most of the students looked confused, and a select few looked mildly angry.

"...that means I'm a lesbian." I awkwardly explained.

"Oooh." Was most of the class's response. The ones that were giggling have since settled down, and those who looked irritated looked even more so.

"Alright, that's enough Q/A." The teacher clapped his hands once, to reclaim the classroom's attention, before turning back to me.

"Azalea, you can sit in the empty seat next to Tsubaki Shinra." He pointed towards the back of the class. "Tsubaki, please raise your hand."

A familiar long haired girl raised her arm into the air, she was seated near the back center of the classroom. I walked over to take the empty seat next to her.

"Well, hello again." I happily greeted Tsubaki. "Looks like we have the same first period, that's lucky."

"Seems so." Tsubaki curtly responded, putting her attention back to some work in front of her.

"I hope we can get along." I happily exclaimed, reaching my arm out for a handshake.

"That would be preferable." She uninterestedly replied, keeping her head pointed to the paper in front of her, not even glancing in my direction. I slowly lowered my arm in disappointment.

"Yes, preferable is good." I let out with a nervous chuckle, before facing forward. Cold, but I shall make a friend of you yet, mark my thoughts Tsubaki Shinra.

Brandon couldn't possibly be having a worse introduction than mine.


"Why don't you introduce yourself to the class." Said Brandon's first period teacher.

"My name is Brandon Byrne, don't fuck with me, and there won't be any problems." Brandon then wordlessly marched over to an empty front desk, and sat down.


First period dragged on uneventfully. I had already finished the work I was given halfway through, so all I had left was to just sit there with my chin resting in my hands until the bell dismissed me.

Tsubaki had also finished early. she didn't interact with me, but I noticed that she'd glance my way anytime I had to stretch. She's suspicious of me because of my brother, I guess I'll just have to work hard to prove myself.

After what felt like hours the bell rang, I turned in my assignment, and began the search for my next class.

There was a bit of trouble finding my way, but with some asking around I made it just barely in time, and to my surprise I shared this class with Tsubaki too. Unfortunately we weren't seated together, so I didn't even get to say hello.

I spent the entire period intently listening to the teacher's lecture, before class came to a close. The bell rang, and I was given a packet of homework to complete on my way out. The first break began, and I had my eyes on a vending machine down the hall.


Two teenage boys were shoving each other over who got to peer into a peep hole in the side of the female gym building, while a third watched from the sidelines. One had distinctly messy brown hair, one was shaved bald, and one had neatly styled dark brown hair and wore clouded glasses.

"We found this yesterday, I call it the tit hole." The bald one crudely exclaimed.

"Not bad Matsuda, I have to admit-" the bespectacled one continued on, drowned out by his brown haired friend complaining.

"Guys, my turn, come on, no fair." The brown haired Degenerate childishly whined.

The three were completely unaware of the figure approaching them with a calm malice.

"Well well well, if it isn't Larry, curly, and Moe." Came an arrogant voice, the three teens turned to see a tall, brown haired foreigner with a threatening smile. It seemed like he towered over the three of them.

"You know, I've been having quite a bad day, but now it seems like I'm about to get some stress relief." He calmly exclaimed, hands in his pockets.

"Get lost, this is our spot!" The one in glasses snapped.

"If you want to look, wait till we're done." The bald one added.

"Umm, who are you?" The brown haired pervert asked nervously, seemingly the only one to notice the newcomer's thinly veiled hostility.

"Oh, just a new student, the name's Brandon." He answered casually, ignoring the first two demands. "But more importantly, what are you three doing, exactly?"

"What does it look like?" The bald one, and the one in glasses simultaneously blurted. The brown haired one slowly started backing away, hoping no one would notice.

"So, you were just hanging out, outside of the female changing room, with a hole in the wall, nothing nefarious on your minds?" Brandon put sarcastically, stepping closer. He started cracking his knuckles, and the remaining two perverts finally picked up on his animosity.

The duo suddenly got very nervous. "So is there something you wanted from us?" The bespectacled one anxiously asked.

"Oh, I doubt there's anything, anyone wants from any of you." Brandon snidely remarked.

"Th-Then why are y-you here?" The bald one stuttered, getting increasingly nervous.

"I was just mapping out my surroundings, being new here, and all." Brandon explained. "And what do I find? A bunch of lowlifes who think they're above privacy." His voice got darker.

"It was Issei's idea!" The one in glasses yelled, but the third pervert was long gone.

Seeing there was no scapegoat, the two tried to dash, but Brandon was already too close. He quickly gripped the arm of the one in glasses, and swung him into the bald one, they both hit the wall hard. Dazed by the impact the one in glasses stumbled onto the ground, landing on his back, and the bald one was leaned against the wall, slowly sliding downward.

Brandon stomped his foot down on the bespectacled lowlife's stomach, before grabbing the bald one by the back of the neck, and smashed his face into the peephole, notifying those in the changing room that something was going on outside, before unceremoniously dropping him. Neither even tried to get up.

"Well that was disappointing, I thought at least one of you would try to put up a fight." Brandon taunted, the duo just groaned in response.

"To make matters worse, one of you got away, but an example should be a decent deterrent." Brandon reached behind his back, and pulled out a knife made from a mosaic of stained glass shards.

"Now, who gets snipped first?" He said, way too casually.

"Wait! We'll stop!" The bald one desperately objected.

"That doesn't sound very sincere to me." Brandon countered, twirling the knife on his index finger.

"We swear!" The bespectacled one begged.

"And you'll spread the word to the coward that was smart enough to escape?" Brandon phrased it like a question, but his tone made it clear that it was a demand.

"Yeah, Yeah, you won't catch us doing this again!" The bald one pleaded.

"Okay, but you do know what happens when I catch you next time." Brandon derided, certain that he'll have to follow through.

Both perverts nodded, too focused on the ruffian in front of them to hear the footsteps approaching from behind.

Brandon twirled the knife into his pocket. "Oh look, the cavalry has arrived."

The duo slowly turned their heads. A look of terror was painted on their faces. A large group of women in kendo wear, carrying shinai, were standing right behind them.

"Well, well. what a surprise." A girl who looked to be the leader of the group sarcastically sneered. She had long brown hair, messily tied into a ponytail with a red ribbon.

"Wait! we can explain! Don't hurt us!" The two begged.

"You perverts!" A girl with short black hair, and glasses yelled before starting to savagely swing at the downed duo. Several others joined her.

"You have fun with that." Brandon encouraged, as he turned to walk away, waving off the group.

"Where do you think you're going?" A girl with short pink hair asked, in an accusatory tone.

"Third period." Brandon answered, unimpeded by the question.

"Oh, no you don't!" The leader asserted. Brandon rolled his eyes, and turned back around. "How do we know you weren't here to get a peek, yourself?"

"Don't flatter yourselves." Brandon scoffed, mild irritation in his voice. "I don't swing that way."

"Then tell us, what exactly were you doing here?" The pink haired girl demanded.

"You mean aside from teaching these idiots a lesson?" Brandon asked, rhetorically, pointing to the two spies, still being swung at. "I was mapping out my surroundings, this is my first day at this garbage school."

"So you were just 'exploring' huh? I'm not buying it." A club member with long curly brown hair said, before a couple of them started approaching, weapons ready.

Brandon raised his fists, he doubted he could win against this many, but he wasn't going to go down before using every dirty trick in the book. He knew he couldn't make another knife with so many witnesses, but Shattered Glass wasn't his only defense.

"Wait!" A girl with brown hair tied into twin ponytails called, popping up from a far off bush. "He's telling the truth!"

"I saw the whole thing." The girl panted out as she ran over.

"Reya Kusaka?" The leader asked, dumfounded. "What are you doing here?"

Reya stopped to catch her breath. "Sona asked me to keep an eye on a certain transfer student." She said, gesturing to Brandon. "He really was just mapping the school out when he ran into Issei, Matsuda, and Motohama."

The kendo club lowered their weapons, aside from the girl in glasses, that was preoccupied beating the two barely conscious perverts writhing on the ground. She seemed to be in her own little world at that point.

"...I guess we owe you an apology then." The curly haired girl guiltily admitted.

"And a thank-you as well." Another added.

"No harm done, I guess." Brandon dismissed their concerns. "But there's still the matter of pig-tails here stalking me." He growled, turning to Reya with a judgemental glare.

"Ummm, Sona wanted to make sure you weren't dangerous." Reya explained, waving her arms in front of her, feeling incredibly unnerved by the look she was receiving.

"So, are you going to scurry on back to your master, and squeal like a pig? Pigtails." Brandon accused, staring her dead in the eyes, contempt radiating from his voice.

"About what you did to those two, no. But don't think you're off the hook, we'll figure out why you're here." Reya huffed, trying to maintain composure, before marching off.

"Why I'm here?" Brandon repeated to himself, pondering Reya's statement. Didn't they already have his school records?

"Heeello, still there?" One of the kendo girls had walked up to him, and waved her hand in front of his face. "Someone is trying to talk to you."

"Oh, sorry. I was just wondering what pigtails meant." Brandon apologized.

"I can't answer that, but we wanted to say that none of us are going to rat you out." The leader said, with the rest of the group voicing their agreements. They all seemed genuine.

"Oh, thanks." Brandon said, pleasantly surprised. He extended an arm for a handshake. "My name's Brandon by the way."

"No, thank you." The girl replied, reciprocating the handshake. "I'm Murayama."

A bell rang, signifying that the first break was over.

"I guess I'll head off now, don't want to be late." Brandon said, rubbing the back of his head, before starting to walk off.

"Wait!" Murayama called.

"What is it now?" Brandon's mood spoiling in an instant, he stopped and turned around. "Yes?"

"Would you like to join the kendo club?"

"I'll think about it." Brandon lied, walking off.


After retrieving my snacks from a faulty machine, and scarfing most of them down, I noticed that the time quickly slipped by, and I started frantically rushing to figure out where my next class was.

I made it to my third period class a few minutes before the bell rang. My hands were covered in grease, my uniform littered with crumbs, and my mouth was stuffed with food. Tsubaki shared this class with me too, and was giving me quite an odd look. I was far too embarrassed to try and chat with her this period.

Thankfully my fourth period class was right next to my third. Even I couldn't get lost on the way there. Tsubaki had the same class as me yet again, if I were my brother I'd be getting really suspicious about now. Thankfully I'm not.

"Hey Tsubaki." I cheerfully greeted, snagging a seat next to her. "We sure do share a lot of classes."

"Indeed we do." She said with a clinical disinterest, or maybe she just had a hard time expressing emotions.

"Since we have a couple minutes before class starts, do you think we could chat?"

She looked slightly taken aback for a brief moment, before going back to her default. "I don't see any harm in that."

"So what's it like working in the student council?"

Tsubaki took a second to consider her words. "It's not easy, especially as the vice president. we make sure the school staff is aware of student interests, organize community projects, and deal with complaints about some of the... less savory students."

I gave an unconvincing laugh while scratching the back of my head, dreading what might've already been reported about my brother.

"But it's not all bad, we foster a real sense of community in the school, and my… friends are always there for immediate support." Tsubaki explained fondly, her lips started to curve upwards.

"Are you smiling? I didn't think you were capable." I teased.

"What? I can smile!" She said, incredulously.

"Well that's news to me." I said while teasingly poking her in the side.

"Not all of us can be as incessantly cheerful as you." She rebutted, swatting my hand away.

"I guess that's true." I relented. "I should know, growing up with Brandon."

"You two are such contrasts, it's hard to believe you had the same upbringing." Tsubaki said, her voice almost sounded accusing.

"Yeah, I'm not sure why he's such a pessimist." I shrugged. "But to be fair he's still really upset about the school Mom chose, you should have seen the bitchfit he threw after he found out that it just recently turned co-ed."

"Why is that an issue for him?" Tsubaki probed.

"He's gay." I put, bluntly. "An overabundance of girls, and barely any guys does not gel well with him. Personally, I couldn't be any happier."

"I suppose that makes sense." Tsubaki muttered, to herself.

"On that note, was Sona hitting on me?" I inquired, moving the conversation along.

"What?!" Tsubaki almost choked.

"Well I just thought since she kept asking personal questions, when she already had our schedules ready, that maybe she was just looking for an excuse to get to know me."

"Azalea, I can assure you that Sona has no romantic interest in you, whatsoever." Tsubaki explained, with the blankest of looks on her face.

"Few, that's a relief." I exclaimed. "No offense to Sona, she seems like a nice girl, but she is Not my type."

Tsubaki started to giggle, which turned into genuine laughter, a couple of the other classmates who've already taken their seats turned to face her in shock. I just looked unamused.

"What's so funny?!" I demanded. Doesn't she know it's rude to laugh at someone like that?

Tsubaki's laughter calmed down, and she wiped a tear from her eye. "Sorry, It's just Sona is the third most popular girl in school, most of the boys would jump at the chance to even talk to her."

"I'm not sure what to say, taste is subjective."

"Fair enough, so what is your type then?" Tsubaki asked. Isn't that a bit too personal?

"Well-" The bell rang, cutting me off, and saving me from having to share my preferences. "Oh, class is in session. It was nice talking to you."

"Likewise." Tsubaki said, genuinely.

The class period went by at a medium pace, I was thrilled that I got through to Tsubaki so soon, but the wait to meet up with my brother kept time from moving along too quickly.

The bell alarmed, but before I left I had to ask Tsubaki something.

"Hey Tsubaki, are there any vacancies in the student council?"

"We're not to maximum capacity, why do you ask?"

"Good, I'm thinking of joining!"

"What? But you've only been here a day."

"And I've already made a friend, I think I have what it takes to serve the school community."

"Umm."

"Thanks for the encouragement I need to go find my brother now, but I'll talk to you later." With that I was gone.


"Sona's going to kill me." Tsubaki thought.


It took me half of the lunch period to find the cafeteria, but when I did it was child's play finding my brother, him probably being the tallest student in the school. He was waiting patiently at a table, unsurprisingly alone. I stacked up a tray of food, and headed towards him.

"Hey bro!" I called out in English. He turned towards the sound of my voice.

"Hey sis, what took you so long?" Brandon responded, also in English.

"Oh, you know. New school, terrible sense of direction." I summed up, taking my seat next to him.

"Fair enough, so how's your first day going for you?

"Good, I already made a friend, how about you, get into any fights yet?" I asked, semi-jokingly.

"I wouldn't really call it a fight, I just beat a couple pervs, threatened to neuter them." Brandon recalled, casually.

"why am I not surprised?" I deadpanned. Can't he go one day without pulling something like this?

"I wasn't actually gonna do it." Brandon defended.

I took a deep sigh. "That's not the point Brandon."

"They drilled a hole into the women's changing room, Azalea." Brandon stressed. "What if they ended up spying on you?"

"I'd be mortified." I admitted. "But threatening mutilation is still too extreme, you should've just reported it to the office."

"Like that ever gets anything done." Brandon scorned.

"..." I had no response, he's not entirely wrong.

"Anyway, who's this new friend of yours?" Brandon asked, trying to change the subject.

"Tsubaki Shinra, remember she took us to the student council?" I answered. "We've shared all of our classes so far, isn't that lucky?"

Brandon looked pissed. "She has one of her underlings stalking you too?!"

"What do you mean?"

"Sona's been having one of the council members follow me around everywhere." Brandon ranted. "And now she has someone tailing you too? That's going too far!"

"I'm sure this is just a big misunderstanding." I said, hand-waving my brother's concern. "I'll ask her about it when I join the council."

"We've been here for half of a day, and you've already decided to join the school government?" Brandon questioned, exasperated.

"I already have a friend there, and the way she described it was super appealing."

"They've suckered you in." Brandon said, in an accusatory manner. Jumping to the worst assumption, as usual.

"No, I'm the one who asked about it, and I'm the one offering to join."

"But they've been spying on us from the moment we got here." Brandon argued.

"Well, to be fair, wouldn't you want to keep an eye on you?"

"... I hate to admit it, but that's a good point." Brandon grumpily conceded.

"They're just nervous because you come off as dangerous." I said. "Which isn't too far from the truth."

"Regardless, if I hear that they did anything to hurt you, I'm busting some heads." Brandon proclaimed, proving my point.

"I don't need you protecting me, you know I'm the strongest in the family." I bragged.

"Physically maybe." Brandon remarked.

"Changing the subject." I said, letting his insinuation slide. "How about you, have you made any friends?"

"No, but the kendo club offered me a spot, I told them I'd think about it." Brandon answered.

"Wait, THEY asked YOU?" I gasped, in complete shock.

"It was after I beat the guys peeping on them." Brandon stated, simply.

"Brandon, this is great!" I excitedly shouted. This is perfect. "You have to accept!"

"Why?"

"You can make some friends, and deal with your excess aggression." I happily explained. "It's a win win."

"I do not have excess aggression, I just don't give people the chance to walk all over me." Brandon defended.

"Bro, you threatened to castrate people."

"Well they deserved it." Brandon said, without a hint of irony. Wait, did he mean they deserved the threat, or to be castrated? I've got to get him into that club.

"Can you just try, for me?" I asked with a pleading look, trying to sound innocent.

Brandon half-heartedly glared at me, but I wasn't giving up. I just increased the intensity of the look I was giving him, and he was bound to crack.

"Oh fine!" Brandon begrudgingly relented. "Just stop making that face at me."

"Thanks bro." I said, giving him a brief side hug.

"Your welcome, you damn Pollyanna." Brandon said, good-naturedly, with a light punch to the shoulder.

"I am not a Pollyanna! You gadfly." I countered, before a thought came to mind.

"Hey, you think that the other students are wondering what we're saying?" I asked, changing the subject yet again. "They could think we're up to something."

"Well, I have been known to plot." Brandon remarked. "Maybe I'll take over the school."

"Sure, maybe you'll achieve Requiem while you're at it" I jabbed.

We both broke out laughing. Just then a bell rang, signalling lunch was already over, and spoiling my mood.

"I guess it's time to head to class." I said, slightly downtrodden.

"Don't worry sis, we can talk some more when we go home." Brandon said, raising my spirits.

"Okay, see you then." I said, before we shared a brief hug, and went our separate ways.


Off to the sidelines, two student council members had been intently listening in on the siblings' entire conversation.

"We've made a terrible miscalculation." Tsubaki stated, in a professional tone. "There is no way that Azalea is the brains of the operation."

"If there's even an operation at all." Reya suggested.

"We can't make that judgement too hastily." Tsubaki said, opting to remain cautious. "they are just too potentially dangerous to take our eyes off."

"Luckily it'll be easier to keep track of the fallen, after she joins the student council." The vice president added.

"You're just trying to play your blunder off as a strategic move, aren't you?" The brunette accused.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tsubaki denied, maintaining her stern tone, before deflecting back to Reya. "And besides, was it not you that let Brandon know of our association with Sona?"

"I was put on the spot, okay." Reya defended. "I tried to tell Sona I wasn't cut out for this kind of thing."

"It was a simple stakeout, all you had to do was remain hidden." Tsubaki critiqued, her serious tone didn't hide her annoyance.

"And let him get beaten over a misunderstanding? or worse let him attack the kendo club in self defense." Reya countered. "What if someone got killed? We're devils, but we're not monsters!"

"I understand your situation was difficult, but that still doesn't excuse revealing that you were following Sona's orders." Tsubaki held. "You could have simply said you were passing by."

"You didn't see the look in his eyes, it's like he knows exactly what you're thinking." Reya said, anxiously. "He isn't someone you can just lie to."

"It seems as though he's a competent manipulator. no matter his intentions, he's definitely trouble." Tsubaki declared.

"Agreed."


After lunch I found my way to gym class. Having changed into the PE uniforms me, and my classmates started the period running track. My brother would underperform enough to avoid drawing attention to himself, but me?

"How is she moving that fast?" A girl questioned, seeing me speed past for the second time in her first lap. No harm in showing off a bit.

I finished the mandatory set before most students finished their second, afterwards I was asked to take a seat to let the rest of the class finish up. I took to watching the rest of the girls, but looked away in embarrassment when my mind wandered to the very apparent lack of sports bras being used, a blush dusted my cheeks.

"Do they seriously not realize?" I muttered under my breath.

I noticed one boy behind the bleachers, leering at my classmates. Skipping class to watch the girls run? Couldn't be one of the boys who had a run in with my brother, there's not a scratch on him.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I yelled, making sure everyone was able to hear me, loud and clear. He ducked out of sight when the other students looked over.

"What's your problem? You'll give me away." The messy, brown haired teen whisper-yelled.

"Um, yeah. That's kind of the point." I said, matter of factly. "Besides, didn't you hear about what my brother did to the last couple of peeping Toms?" I added with a smug grin.

"You're that psycho's sister?!" He blurted. My eye twitched at that insult.

"Psycho, huh?" I spoke calmly, but the irritation was clear in my voice. I waited a bit for the rest of the class to get near the bleachers.

"HEY EVERYONE, THERE'S A LOWLIFE SPYING ON YOU OVER HERE." I screamed at the top of my lungs.

This time the gym students did more than turn their heads, they rushed straight over. I pointed towards the perpetrator's exact location. A couple gave a quick thanks as they ran past me to chase after the fleeing miscreant. I had a feeling that this wasn't going to be my last interaction with him.

Unfortunately he had escaped scott free, for now. The rest of the class walked back winded, and demoralized.

"Got away?" I asked rhetorically.

"Yes, why weren't you chasing him with us?" One girl asked.

"I'm sorry, I thought you guys had it covered." I apologised.

"But he was spying on you too, aren't you mad?" Another girl questioned.

"It clearly wasn't me he was leering at." I gestured to my comparatively lacking chest. A couple classmates blushed in embarrassment, one giggled.

"Regardless, next time this happens I'll help." I promised.

"Who are you anyway, I've never seen you around?" One girl asked.

"Oh, my name is Azalea Byrne. Me, and my brother just enrolled today."

"Wait." One girl spoke up, moving to the front of the group. "Are you the tyrant's sister?" She enquired, dramatically pointing a finger at me.

"What? the tyrant?" I asked, incredulously. He couldn't already be infamous here, could he? Dammit Brandon.

"He just showed up today, but I heard he threatened a teacher, pulled a knife, and hospitalized two guys." One girl clarified. She was probably at least half right.

"Brown hair, slight English accent, about 1.77 meters, and a look that says 'I really don't want to be here'?"

"Yes, that's exactly how I'd describe him." One girl said, enthusiastically.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out a sigh. "Yep... That's my brother."

"Really? What's it like living with him?" One girl questioned.

"Aren't you scared?" Another asked.

"Is he always like this?" A third queried.

"In order: it's like living with any other sibling. No, I'm not scared, I grew up with him, and I may be the younger one, but I can still kick his ass. And no, he's only acting like that because he's stuck in a predominantly female school." I answered each question.

"So he's just trying to show off?" One girl inquisited.

"No, he's grumpy because it's mostly girls here, that and he had a bad run in with the student council president this morning." I explained. "He should get over it in a day or two."

"Why is that first part a problem, that's why most guys join." One girl questioned.

"Most guys like girls." I deadpanned, getting some weird looks. Do I really need to spell it out?

"Okay, enough horsing around, back to the tracks." The coach called, getting everyone back in line.

The rest of the class completed their laps as I waited on the bleachers, keeping an eye out for any pervert trying to sneak back. Afterwards gym class resumed as normal with me going a little extra in hopes of impressing someone, it was worth a shot.

Following a change back into the regular school uniform, I began the search for the final class of the day. This time I was five minutes late, but since I was new, the teacher let me off with a warning, and I graciously took a seat.

The period passed, and the school day was done. I made my way to the front gate to find my brother waiting for me. After a quick catch-up, I had a question for him.

"So, you want to check out the clubs before Mom picks us up?" I asked, with no intent to take 'no' for an answer.

"Do we have to?" Brandon groaned.

"Yes." I said, matter-of-factly.

"Alright, let's get this over with." Brandon conceded.


At the student council room, Tsubaki, and Reya were seated in front of a very upset Sona. The rest of the club stayed out of the way, thankful that they weren't the subjects of the interrogation.

"Explain to me, how did it come to be that not only do both infiltrators know that we've been watching them, but on top of that one is now planning to join the student council?" Sona sternly demanded.

"Brandon found out about me after the kendo club accused him of peeping, I vouched for him to prevent any bloodshed, but I revealed too much in the process." Reya said, looking ashamed. "During lunch he shared the information with the fallen."

"Azalea noticed me in every class that we shared, and she was very insistent on striking up a conversation." Tsubaki said her piece.

"So there was almost a conflict between Brandon, and the kendo club, and the fallen is naturally inquisitive?" Sona summarized.

"No, I wouldn't say that, she just seems dim and sociable. It seemed like she was just clinging to me because I was the most familiar face in a new environment, and she wanted companionship. Either that or she's a highly skilled actor, but I couldn't sense a drop of deceit in her words." Tsubaki explained. "Also she seems to think you have a crush on her."

"What?" Sona blurted with a blush. She was caught completely off guard.

"She assumed your extended questioning this morning was an attempt to get to know her." Tsubaki imparted, with an unintentional grin. "She was also relieved, when I told her that wasn't the case. Apparently you're not her type."

"Well then." Sona sounded flustered, and mildly offended. "What about Brandon?"

"I don't think he's interested in you either." Reya said, with a smirk.

"You know very well that that's not what I meant!" Sona reprimanded, looking slightly red.

"Sorry, couldn't resist." The twin-tailed girl shrugged. "Brandon seems to be prone to violence, he mercilessly beat two of the perverted trio, and when the kendo club accused him of peeping he squared up as if he'd take them all on."

"He also seems to quietly scrutinize everything, between periods he was mapping out the entirety of the school, and I didn't sense anything from him, but I saw him pull an odd knife out of nowhere, he may have a weak sacred gear." Reya finished.

"This is troubling, it's impossible to gauge how much of a threat he may be." Sona stated.

"What do you suggest we do?" Tsubaki asked.

"We have one of us discreetly transferred to each one of his classes, I'll ask Rias to help keep him under constant supervision." Sona planned. "As for Azalea we let her join the student council."

"What?!" The room said in unison.

"It's our best chance to get any information out of her, and that way we'll be able to neutralize her quickly if she tries anything." Sona explained. "We'll have to hold our actual meetings at a separate location."

"Sounds like a plan." Tsubaki assured, while the rest of the council nodded in agreement.


Brandon and I headed to the student council room to see if I could sign up, when a blond, male student passed us by.

"Why hello, eye candy." Brandon commented shamelessly. The boy didn't show any reaction despite being the only other person in the hall. He must be used to getting cat-called here. Dog-called?

"Brandon!" I hissed, pushing him into a locker door.

"What?" He asked in fake confusion, casually wiping dust off his sleeve.

"You can't just make remarks about people like that." I chided. "It's rude."

"Brandon Byrne acting rude?" He said in an over dramatic tone. "Unheard of."

"Jackass." I remarked. He really needs to work on his attitude.

we shortly arrived at the door to the student council office. I knocked, and was answered by Tsubaki. Seeing her again, I went for a hug, but she froze in my arms, so I quickly let go, and backed off.

"Sorry." I said, guilty about the surprise contact. Tsubaki looked shocked, and a little distraught.

"Just, just don't. Don't do that again." Tsubaki stammered out. I felt terrible.

The black haired girl wordlessly led us to the president's desk, and walked around to stand by Sona's side.

"If it isn't the new transfer students, to what do I owe the honors?" Sona dryly asked.

"Um yes, I was wondering if I could join the student council." I answered, nervously.

"And why have you decided to join?" Sona queried.

"Well, the way Tsubaki described it made it sound really appealing, I feel like helping the school community is the best way to adapt, and start making new friends." I explained, twiddling my thumbs.

"I see." Sona said, looking a bit surprised. "I wasn't expecting such a straightforward answer."

"Does that mean you'll consider it?" I asked, hopefully.

"You'll have a spot by tomorrow." Sona stated. My face absolutely lit up.

"That easily?" But of course, Brandon had to chime in.

"Did you also want to join?" Sona rhetorically asked.

"Choke on a dick, and die. Specs." Was Brandon's eloquent answer. Sona's face betrayed no emotion, but there's no way she wasn't upset after what my brother said.

"BRANDON!" I said in dismay, elbowing his side. "That was completely uncalled for!"

"I'm so sorry, Sona." I fervently apologised. We've done nothing but give a terrible impression since we've got here, there's no way Sona isn't going to change her mind.

"You don't need to apologise." Huh? She isn't mad? "Your brother's discourteous attitude aside, I look forward to working with you, Azalea."

"Oh, thank you. I'm looking forward to it so much." I said gratefully, before reaching out to shake her hand, which Sona complied to. "Now if you excuse me I'll need to drag Brandon out, before he starts a fight with one of you."

"That is a very valid fear." Brandon responded.

"And that's why you're joining kendo." I replied, dead serious.

"Damn, I was hoping you'd forget by now." Brandon groaned.

"Nope, they offered you a spot, and you're going to take it." I said as I started pulling him out by the arm.

"Bye everyone, I'll see you tomorrow." I said at the exit. A couple council members waved.


"Well that was certainly interesting." Sona said, bringing a hand to her chin.

"She, she just hugged me out of nowhere." Tsubaki stammered, with a faint blush.

"What's gotten you so shaken up?" The blue haired council member asked.

"It's odd, usually fallen angels are far too proud for a display like that, even if they are undercover." Sona explained.

"That's not the reason." Tsubaki refuted, shivering slightly. "I could tell she could kill me so, so easily, and yet I felt absolutely no malice from her, just affection."

"What are you talking about?" The Reya asked.

"I could feel her power when she hugged me, she wasn't hiding it, but she wasn't attempting to display it either." Tsubaki shuttered. "My instincts were simultaneously saying that she's a massive threat, and that she means no harm."

"Quite interesting." Sona stated.


I had Brandon lead us to the building that the kendo club operated from. How he's able to figure out his surroundings so quickly, I'll never know, but I'm not complaining.

"Here we are." Brandon said, as we approached the entrance. "Well that was fun." He tried to walk away. Does he really think that old trick would work on me a second time?

"Oh no you don't." I said, grabbing his arm, and pulling it partially in through the door.

Members of the kendo club were chatting, several were beating some training dummies with pictures of a couple different boys stapled to the side, one of which I recognized as the guy spying on my gym class, and two girls were sparring against each other in the middle of a ring.

We were approached by a short pink haired girl wearing a white headband, and a taller brunette, with her hair tied into a large ponytail.

"Hello, welcome to the kendo club." The brunette said. "Is there something you needed?"

"Did you want to sign up?" The pink haired girl followed up.

"Actually I'm here to make sure my brother takes you up on your offer." With one final yank my protesting brother was dragged completely inside. He had a very sour look on his face.

"Hey, you're the guy that curb stomped two of the perverted trio." The pink haired one exclaimed. "So you're joining after all?" She asked hopefully.

"Against my will, yes." Brandon curtly replied.

"I thought it would be a good way to help him simmer down." I said.

"And you are?" The brunette inquired.

"Oh, I'm his sister, Azalea. Nice to meet you." I introduced myself, reaching out to shake her hand.

"Likewise." She said, as she accepted the handshake. "I'm Murayama, and this is katase." Murayama gestured towards her pink haired friend.

"Hello." The now named Katase said, with a wave of her fingers.

"Okay, now that everyone is acquainted can we go?" Brandon groaned, yet another bid at escape.

"Brandon, if you try to weasel out of this one more time I'm going to kick your ass." I threatened, fed up with my brother's attempts. Murayama, and Katase looked a little shocked, but made no comment.

"Fine." Brandon finally complied.

"Oh don't be like that, I'm sure you'll love it here." Katase assured.

"Yeah, with how quickly you beat those two who shall not be named, you'll be a natural!" Murayama appealed, hitting her fist against her open palm.

"Because, as we all know, hand to hand combat immediately translates well into armed combat." Brandon quipped, sarcastically.

"I mean no, but it's good that you know at least one type of self defense already." Murayama affirmed. "You should be able to learn the basics pretty quickly."

"Alright, let's give it a shot." Brandon relented, with a sigh.

"Right now?" Katase asked.

"Might as well get my first attempt out of the way." Brandon suggested, before beginning to stretch in preparation.

"Alright then. come on, I'll show you the ropes." Murayama said, gesturing for Brandon to follow her into the ring.

"Pardon me, but how long do these things usually last?" I asked. Don't want to make Mom worry.

"Usually about ten minutes." Katase answered.

"Okay then."

"Brandon, I'm calling Mom to tell her we're going to be a little late." I yelled over to my brother, pulling out my flip phone.

"Good idea." He shouted back.

I typed Mom the message as quickly as I could. Why do you need to press seven so many times for S? "And sent!" I said triumphantly, placing my phone back into my shorts pocket.

"Katase, could you referee? Also bring us the kendogu." Murayama requested.

"On it." Katase replied, tossing protective equipment their way before grabbing a set of red, and white flags.

Both parties started to put on their respective gear, a breastplate, gauntlets, leg protectors, a groin protector, and lastly a helmet/shoulder pad combo, that had vertical metal bars covering the face. Murayama finished quickly, but Brandon was taking some time to examine each piece. Both were then handed a bamboo sword by another club member.

"Okay, the object of the sport is to hit the challenger with the last half of the shinai, on the head, torso, wrist, or successfully stab at the throat, two out of three times within a ten minute time limit." Murayama explained, pointing to each spot on Brandon with her sword. "I'll teach you the proper terminology some other time."

"Sounds a little too simple, what's the catch?" Brandon asked, with a mild sardonic edge. He had finished equipping himself, and was almost ready to begin.

"You have to call a hit when it happens, you can't showboat, and you'll notice there's a string attached to one side of the shinai, you can't hit with that side." Murayama delineated. "If you break one of these rules, the hit won't count. That's all you need to know for now."

"Got it." Brandon replied.

"Follow my lead." Murayama crouched, and extended her sword, Brandon did the same, both had their swords touching at the tips.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you." Murayama teased, with a smile.

"That glint in your eye says otherwise." Brandon countered, almost grinning.

"And… GO." Katase shouted.

Brandon tried to swing at Murayama's side, but before he could reach her, "Hah." Murayama struck his head with a vertical swing, scoring the first hit in an instant. I don't even think Brandon realized it until a second later.

Katase raised a red flag. "First point goes to Murayama." She cheered.

"Making the first move means death Brandon, and your reaction time is pretty sloppy." Murayama chided.

"Guess that's something we'll need to work on." Brandon replied, with a competitive edge.

The sparring partners went back to their starting stances, but this time Brandon looked fixated on Murayama's eyes, even through the masks.

"And… GO." Katase called out once more.

The combatants remained in their positions, studying the other, waiting for the first move. Minutes passed, but neither was budging, aside from slight adjustments in posture.

This time Murayama made the first move, going for another over-the-head slash, but Brandon was able to block it. Next Brandon attempted to land a hit on her wrist, but she quickly moved back, and thrust at Brandon's throat, he leaned backwards, and parried her sword to the side.

Both sides started breathing heavier, keeping their distance, while Brandon maintained eye contact, trying to figure out Murayama's next move. Murayama went for a strike towards the torso, but just before she could make contact, "Hah." Brandon landed a reflexive strike to her wrist.

"And… Time." Katase cheered. "The winner is Murayama."

"Wait, shouldn't it be a tie?" I asked, just outside the ring.

"Nope, Brandon made a mistake at the last moment." Murayama revealed. "Do you realize where you messed up?"

"I hit you with the wrong side." Brandon answered. "The string was supposed to be facing away."

"That's right." Katase said, from the sidelines. "But, for a beginner, that wasn't too bad."

"Yeah, you have some potential." Murayama said, holding her arm out for a fist bump.

"Thanks." Brandon reciprocated. "That was… enjoyable."

"I look forward to sparring with you again." Murayama smiled. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I look forward to it." Brandon admitted.

"Awww, did somebody have fun?" I teased, walking up to them. Brandon simply turned his head, and gave a half hearted glare in response.

"You aren't answering me because you know I was right." I further taunted.

"Let's just get the hell home." Brandon grumbled, walking to the door.

"Bye ladies." I waved as I followed along, eliciting a few giggles.

After we exited the building Brandon made a sharp turn.

"Where are you going, Mom is in the opposite direction?" I asked. Didn't he want to head home immediately?

"There's one more thing I need to take care of." Brandon stated, with conviction. "It'll only take a minute."

"Okay then." I complied. Might as well follow along.

I followed him around the building, until we reached a small hole in the wall. Brandon manifested a thin shard of shattered glass, and plugged into the hole, the jagged spike stuck halfway out, making it impossible to try and look through.

"There, dealt with." Brandon exclaimed, with finality. "Okay, we've kept Mom waiting long enough, let's go." He walked in the direction of the school gate.

"What was that?" I asked, keeping pace.

"That was the spot where those three idiots were spying on the changing room." Brandon answered. "Good luck trying that now." He sneered.

"Guess that's one less thing I have to worry about." I said, relieved.


Unbeknownst to the siblings, a small, white haired girl was watching from the bushes. when they were out of sight she made a dash towards the school's side building.

The building's interior was dimly lit, but the girl had no trouble navigating to a door that led to a candle lit room, styled with gothic decor. At the room's front desk sat a girl with striking red hair, and on a couch facing a table in the center of the room sat a busty girl with long black hair tied in a ponytail, and a handsome blond boy, with a small mole under his left eye.

"Rias, I have something to report." The white haired girl announced, her tone betrayed no emotion.

"What is it, Koneko?" The red haired girl inquired, in a mildly affectionate tone.

"The new student has a sacred gear." Koneko answered. "He made a glass shard to block a peephole at the changing room."

"Oh, another gentleman? Kiba might have some competition." The black haired girl teased, gesturing to the boy to the right of her.

"Not quite, Akeno." Rias corrected. "According to Sona he is quite aggressive, and confrontational."

"He called me 'eye candy' when he walked past me earlier." Kiba added, not sure what to make of it. "I'm used to being catcalled, but not by guys."

"Oh my, how… interesting." Akeno said, with a smirk. Kiba did not appreciate the implication.

"And what about the fallen one?" Rias asked. Akeno's smile vanished, and her eyes narrowed in distaste.

"She made the boy join the kendo club, that's all." Koneko stated.

"Just what could they be up to?" Rias muttered to herself.


Brandon, and I approached Mom's car a little ways away from the school entrance, where she was waiting patiently for us.

"Hey mom, sorry we took so long." I apologised, scratching the back of my head.

"Azalea made me join a club." Brandon explained, pinning the blame on me. Fair.

"Oh, that's wonderful! what kind of club did you join?" Mom excitedly asked. Seems she isn't upset about the wait.

"Kendo." I answered for my brother.

"Oh, you're interested in swordplay?" Mom inquired, sounding surprised, and delighted. "I was quite the fencer in my day, maybe I could give you some tips."

"It's not like I had a choice in the matter, Azalea forced me." Brandon complained.

"He's happy about it, he just doesn't want to admit it." I countered.

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Mom concurred. "Now hop on in, you can tell me all about it on the way home."

"Yes Mom." I complied, stepping into the front seat.

"Alright." Brandon said, as he climbed into the back.

Mom started the engine, and began driving us home. "So how were your first days?" She asked.

"Mine was great, I made a new friend, and joined the student council." I bragged.

"I threatened to castrate two guys." Brandon added, nonchalantly.

Mom did a double take, and almost stopped the car. "The student council? On your first day?" She sounded very concerned, I wasn't sure why.

"That's what you're focusing on?" I asked, incredulously.

"You've got to admit, it's more than a little sketchy." Brandon chimed in.

"Did they come to you?" Mom suddenly asked. The worry was clear in her voice.

"No, I made an effort to make friends with the vice president, I asked her what it was like, and I asked to join." I explained.

"And they let you in, just like that?" Mom asked in doubt.

"Yes." I firmly assured her.

"And you're sure there aren't any ulterior motives?" Mom questioned with a hint of anger, not directed at me, in her accusation.

"Well I think the president might have a crush on me." I answered, straightforward. I could feel that Brandon was rolling his eyes.

"Just make sure they don't try to coerce you into anything you don't want to do, alright." Mom compromised.

"You know peer pressure doesn't work on me, if they try that I'll quit, then and there." I said, confidently. "I'm a tough girl, I can handle myself." I continued. "And if I get into too much trouble, I know Brandon will be there to help me out."

"Begrudgingly." Brandon joked.

"Alright, I'll trust you." Mom relented. "but if I hear that anyone hurt you, I'll start chopping heads." She said in jest. I hoped.

"Please don't." I responded flatly.

"Not like she's gonna have a chance before I get to them." Brandon said.

"Can we not jump to murder?" I quipped, dryly, as I looked out the window to see our house getting closer.

"I can't make any promises if someone tries to mess with my baby girl." Mom stressed, turning to pull up to our house.

"That's not going to happen, Mom." I assured. "Not to brag, but I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character."

Mom parked the car, and both her, and Brandon gave me a bemused look of doubt.

"Oh, screw you guys." I half jokingly huffed, stepping out of the car. Mom, and Brandon soon followed.

"Azalea, sis, you are by far the most naive, trusting person I have ever known." Brandon baselessly alleged, as he caught up beside me. "If I wasn't around, you'd at the very least be missing a couple organs by now."

"I wouldn't take it that far, but your brother has gotten you out of quite a few situations that your naivety has gotten you into." Mom chimed in.

"I was a kid then!" I defended, stepping aside for Mom to unlock the door.

"You still are a kid, you just grew in physical size." Brandon jabbed.

"That's it, I'm going to my room." I blustered, storming off with ruffled feathers.

"Dinner's at seven, Honey." Mom yelled when I was almost to my door.

"Thanks Mom, I'll be there." I yelled back, before shutting my door with just enough force to make sure it's heard.

"Love You." Mom yelled out louder.

I opened my door back up, grumpily shouted "Love You Too." and shut it once more.


The mother, and son were left on their own in the main room. Brandon was about to head into his own, but his mother still had quite a bit to discuss.

"Hey Brandon." The mother said, taking a seat on a chair facing the couch, and gesturing him over.

"Yes Mom?" Brandon replied, sitting down on the couch opposite his mother.

"We got so caught up about Azalea that you barely got to talk about your day." The mother stated.

"And don't think I forgot about you threatening those boys just because we had more pressing matters." She chided, placing her hands firmly on the ends of the armrests. "You're going to need to explain that one."

"Well, to sum it up, I caught them spying on the women's locker room, and taught them a lesson." Brandon abridged his explanation.

"Can you use a bit more detail?" The mother adjured, getting impatient.

"I beat them up, and threatened to neuter them. After I was done making them grovel the kendo team showed up, accused me of peeping too, We cleared that misconception up, and they offered me a spot in their club." Brandon summarized, raising a finger for each major event.

"You didn't get into any trouble for that, whatsoever?" the mother questioned.

"Turns out the school is surprisingly lax about these incidents, which explains why the three stooges haven't been expelled yet." Brandon shrugged.

"That is somehow both incredibly relieving, and deeply troubling."

"I have to agree, but on the bright side, it gives me a lot more wiggle room." the late teen said.

"Along with literally anyone else who attends." The brown haired woman attested.

"There's also the issue with the student council spying on me, and Azalea." Brandon added. He noticed his mom going wide eyed.

The mother rushed over, from her seat. "Did they catch you using your stand?!" She panicked, grabbing Brandon's shoulders.

"No, I used it twice, but I was discreet the first time, and no one, but Azalea, was around the second time." Brandon said. The mother let out a sigh of relief, and removed her hands, but she quickly put on a no-nonsense expression.

"Make absolutely sure that you don't let anyone catch you using it. Do I make myself clear?!" She said, gravely serious.

"I know, Mom." Brandon reassured.

"There's no telling what could happen if they found out about Shattered Glass." The mother warned.

"Think there might be some enemy stand users?" Brandon joked.

"Something like that." The mother cryptically answered, earning a curious look from her son.


Inside a large estate the occult research club president, and the student council president gathered to discuss their current situation. Two cups of tea steamed on the table between them.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet up, Rias." The student council president said, professionally.

"It's no problem." Rias replied. "It's been so long since I last visited. Telling secrets, complaining about getting into trouble with my mom, those were fond memories." She reminisced.

"Quite, but there are urgent matters to attend to." Sona made sure they stayed on track.

"Agreed. first a fallen angel infiltrates our school, with the user of an unknown sacred gear, and then on the same day the fallen angels hiding out at the abandoned church, become much more active." Rias illustrated. "There is no way that it's coincidental."

"I wouldn't be so sure, they might be two separate teams. But it is still quite suspicious." Sona said, calmly stirring a sugar cube into her tea.

"You don't think they're allies?" Rias asked, curiously.

"You've been observing that group of fallen angels for a while, have you seen them interact with the new students at all?" Sona quizzed.

"No I haven't." Rias answered.

"And were you able to find out how powerful they are?" Sona probed.

"The one that seems to be the group's leader only has two wings. They're just small fry." Rias answered. "What about the one that got into the school?"

"When Azalea hugged her, the feelings Tsubaki described were both an overwhelming fear, and a sense of safety." Sona revealed. "She couldn't tell exactly how powerful she was, but this fallen is definitely not a low ranking individual, and powerful fallen don't often work alongside weaker ones."

"A fallen willingly hugged a devil? And Tsubaki felt safe?" Rias asked disbelief.

"It happened out of nowhere, the moment Azalea saw Tsubaki she just latched on to her, but when she noticed Tsubaki's discomfort she let go, and promptly apologized." Sona further explained.

"Do you think she's just trying to lull us into a false sense of security?"

"Normally I would, but the way Tsubaki described her encounters make her genuinely seem like she's just a naive, friendly schoolgirl, and the fact that she's making no effort to hide her presence suggests that she's inexperienced." Sona refuted.

"So what are you proposing?" Rias asked, placing a hand under her chin.

"I can't say for certain, but I believe she's a nephilim, and that her father is most likely a highly powerful, likely high ranking, fallen angel." Sona hypothesized.

"And what about her supposed brother?"

"Confrontational, easily angered, and quick to the offensive, but also surprisingly studious, according to Reya." Sona listed. "He seems to know more than he lets on."

"There's also that sacred gear of his, probably something extremely minor. Not even Koneko could sense it." Rias added.

"Azalea is definitely the bigger concern of the two, but we can't disregard Brandon. We need to keep both of them under constant supervision, which is why I've opted to allow Azalea to join the student council." Sona revealed.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Rias questioned.

"It's a risk, I'll admit, but it's a calculated risk." Sona maintained. "We can quickly dispatch her with minimal damage if she attacks while the council is gathered."

"As long as we remain on guard." She added.

"As for the other fallen?" Sona inquired.

"We're keeping an eye on them, but we aren't interacting directly."

"Even if they are weak, is leaving them to their own devices a good idea?" Sona scrutinized. "Who knows what they have planned."

Rias sat up, and placed her hands flat on the table, looking Sona dead in the eye. "What am I supposed to do? Tensions are high between our races, we don't know the exact number of them, and as much as I'd love to go in and exterminate them all, if one escapes to spread the word it could reignite the war." She was starting to get heated

"And if they decide their target isn't worth keeping alive?" Sona countered, keeping her neutral tone.

Sona's question had pierced her defenses, Rias calmed down, and exhaled. "Worst case scenario, I get a new peerage member with a dormant sacred gear." She let spill in a somber tone.

"That's unusually pragmatic of you." Sona said, almost sounding surprised.

"It's not like I have a lot of options." Rias sighed. "If you had some way to keep the pervert safe without revealing the supernatural to him, or causing a conflict with the fallen, I'd love to know about it."

"I see your point." Sona said.

The two club leaders would continue their conversation for quite some time before parting ways. It was painfully clear to them that things were going to get a lot less quiet from this point forward. Whether for better, or worse, the Byrne family was going to throw a wrench into how the events in the town of Kuoh would play out.


So there's the second chapter, things have been pretty crazy for me in between now, and the first chapter, I rode on a plane for the first time (never again), was the ring bearer at my roommate's wedding, OBTAINED VENGEANCE (completely unrelated to the wedding), and I had to nurse one of my poison dart frogs back to health after I got home because he developed short tongue syndrome, and lost a lot of weight while I was away.

I think I'm satisfied with how this chapter turned out, it's definitely longer than the first one, and less melodramatic, but I don't think I ended it too well. I feel like for Azalea's big point of view chapter I cut away from her far more often than I probably should have, but I also wanted to get some setup out of the way. I hope I was able to get her character, as a friendly, outgoing, naive teenager, who's full of herself, across well enough.

Like last time, leave a review, I'd appreciate any spelling/grammar mistakes being pointed out, and wear your masks.

EDIT: fixed line breaks.