Well, before starting the chapter let's answer some reviews.

Hellspam: I'm glad that you liked the chapter, along with the flashbacks and you're right she shouldn't be allowed to pick the movies anymore. And, you're right the Classroom Visits are going to be definitely interesting that's for sure. I'll be working on Liu Bei's character, and yea for being the descendants of Heroes they're making choices that they wouldn't make. And well, she won't be happy.

Guest 66: You're right, neither one of them will have any peace as long their grandfathers are still alive and being…well, bastards. Hmmm, putting Lavinia back with Lance I think I'll do just that.

Ran: I'm glad that you liked the chapter, and you'll just have to see.

King0fP0wers: I'm glad that you liked the chapter and the scene, yes the mysterious person will be revealed in the later chapter along with the ability that Xander uses. And of course they'll be apart of the Knight of Chivalry Club.

Guest: Yea, she'll be a little more than surprised and yes Xander will be the antagonist that's in Lance's way. And yea, I'll make sure to make it hilarious.


The Swim Day Disaster

"Well, the meeting of the Three Factions are going to be starting soon. So, what was it like meeting a Maou like Sirzechs-San?"

"He was a lot different than what I was excepting, he was exactly like Rias. Actually all of the Devils I met so far weren't exactly what I thought they were."

"Yea, Jeanne-Chan felt the same way a couple of years ago."

"Who?"

"She's a Knight with the Chivalric Order, she was orphaned after her parents were killed by Stray Devils and she immediately hated every single Devil that she came across. She even avoided making friends with people, that was until Naomi-San adopted her and taught her that there are good Devils around. And now she's an incredibly cheerful, while coming up with nicknames for everyone."

"She sounds interesting, I can't wait to meet her."

As they were walking down the street, they immediately ran into Issei, Rias and Asia with Lance waving towards them with a smile on his face.

"Hey, guys."

"Hello, Onii-San."

"Asia, were you able to finish last night's homework?"

"Yes. What about you, Xenovia-San?"

"Well, I don't know some things that are in Japanese. Would you teach me?"

"Yes! Please leave it to me! …But, Kanji is still a bit…"

"Me too. It's really scary that the Japanese learn these complex characters. I am catching a glimpse of a part of a major economic power."

Both Asia and Xenovia began conversing with each other about their new lives in a new culture that they weren't too familiar with. Lance then smirked and looked towards Issei, while asking.

"So what was it like sharing a room with Maou?"

"It was great, I talked about with Sirzechs-Sama."

"Really? Did he find about your fetish with breast."

"I don't have a fetish for breasts!"

"Really, I usually I'd catch your staring at either Rias or Akeno without either of them noticing."

At what Lance had said, Issei started glaring towards him with an angered expression on his face, but they were stopped as they ran into everyone else.

"Arara, so is everyone ready to go swimming?"

"Yea, though I don't…."

As they were talking about going to the pool, they started hearing a faint noise coming towards them and they made a confused expression on their face.

"What's that?"

"You don't think it…."

"We swore we never repeat what…."


[Lance-Kun~!]

Lance turned around as he heard two familiar voices calling his name, he turned his head and then was immediately tackled into the ground with a dazed expression on his face. He then looked up and saw both Yumi who and Jeanne on top of him.

"Y-Yumi-Chan! J-Jeanne-Chan!"

"Yep, we're here for the meeting of the Three Factions and we're acting as guards of two special people, while representing the Chivalric Order."

"And, you all must be the Devils looking after our little Lance-Kun."

"What am I child?!"

Lance had asked Yumi with a slightly annoyed look on his face.

""Yes!""

As both Yumi and Jeanne said that in sync, Lance looked towards both of them with an angered expression on his face. Once both of them stood up off of Lance, Yumi then turned towards them with a slightly shocked expression on her face as she saw Kiba. Everyone else looked at both of them with a stunned expression on their face, as they immediately noticed both of their similarities between both of them.

"Oh, my Maou there's a female Kiba."

"W-Well, this is unexpected."

"S-So, this is why Lance-Kun asked if I had another relative. Though I was only told that my dad took me to the orphanage in the Chivalric Order."

"I was told something similar, my mom took me to the orphanage in the Church."

Both Yumi and Kiba then stood in front of each other and started looking at each other in their face, Kiba then smiled slightly and laughed slightly.

"Hahaha, who knew I had a sister out there."

"And I didn't know that I had a brother, I guess we should get to know each other."

Everyone then looked towards both Kiba and Yumi as both of them started laughing nervously, while being happy at the thought of having a sibling.


Once everything was finished, they went to the pool the boys there wearing swim trunks and stretching their arms, Van then looked towards Kiba and smirked.

"So what does it feel like to have a sister?"

"I-I really don't know, it was kind of just…sudden, though I'm looking forward to getting to know her. The closest thing to a sibling, I've ever had was you."

"Same here."

"What Van don't you have a family?"

At Issei's question, Van nodded his head in agreement and started answering Issei's question.

"Yea, I have a family a Devil father and a Human mother, I'm a Devil/Human Hybrid. My family wasn't born with any types of High-Class status or barely any money at that, but we were still happy. And I was bullied by both Mid and High-Class Devil children for not only being a Hybrid, but being born without any type of status. So, I started training in to become stronger so I could gain the attention of a High-Class Devil and possibly join a peerage. One day, I was training and caught the attention of Sirzechs-Sama's Knight and he introduced me to Rias. At first I thought that she was just another smug High-Class Devil, but she was actually the first person aside from my parents to show me any kind of kindness."

Van smiled slightly, which caused the other three boys to smile and he continued.

"After being reincarnated into her Knight, she gave my a piece of territory and that's where my parents lives, while working for the Gremory for money. Then after I finally, become a High-Class Devil, I'll make sure that they're taken care of. And I'll return the kindness that Rias had showed me."

"Wow, I didn't think that the 'Cold Prince' could be do deep."

At what Kiba had said, Van started glaring towards him with an angered expression on his face and he started chasing after him.

"Hahaha, you've got to be quicker than that."

"Get back here Kiba!"

Van then started using his Knight's trait to chase after Kiba, with Kiba using his to run away from Van with a smirk on his face. Both Lance and Issei then looked towards what happened with a slightly bewildered expression on their face.

"Is that seriously what we look like?"

"Hey, Ise. How does my swimsuit look?"

Issei then turned around towards Rias, while gaining a nosebleed as he saw what she was wearing. Rias was wearing a small red fabric swimsuit that showed off her breasts and her legs, Rias started laughing slightly as she noticed expression on Issei's face.

"Oh, I never thought you could be such a pervert."

"Ara ara. Buchou, you sure are fired up. Ufufu, you really wanted to show it to Ise-Kun. By the way Ise-Kun, how does mine look?"

He then turned towards Akeno who was wearing a pure white swimsuit with small cloth, which showed off her erotic body. Issei nose then started bleeding even more, he then heard a nervous voice coming from near him.

"Ise-San. I-I came after changing as well."

He wiped away the blood on his nose and turned towards Asia who was wearing the school's swimsuit with her name written on her breast and making a nervous expression. Along with Koneko who was wearing the same thing with her name printed on her breast. Issei then looked towards both of them and smiled, while Lance had completely stars in his eyes.

"Asia, you're looking cute! It really suits!"

"Both you and Koneko-Chan looks completely adorable!"

"Lance, you really need work on your odd attraction."

"Like that'll ever happen."

Rias then smiled slightly while going behind Koneko who was making a slightly embarrassed expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, but can either of your help Koneko learn how to swim?"

"I'll do it!"

Lance had immediately volunteered to teach Koneko how to swim within a split second, after a while he had held her inside of the pool and began her lesson along with Issei who was teaching Asia.


"That's it, 1, 2. 1,2."

Lance was holding Koneko's hand, while he started moving backwards and Koneko started pedaling her feet. As Lance was helping her learn how to swim, she started smiling slightly about how cute that she looked.

"Alright, that's it Koneko-Chan."

"Puwa…. Senpai, sorry for making you help me out…."

"Nah, it's alright and besides I like helping out my adorable Kouhai."

Once they reached the end of the pool with Lance's back colliding with the end of the pool, with Koneko colliding into him. As they were like that together almost like they were embracing each other, Koneko was immediately reminded of someone else.

"…this reminds me of…Onee…."

Koneko spoke in such a low tone that Lance couldn't hear the last part of what she had said. Once they were finally finished, both Koneko and Asia were lying on a vinyl sheet under the shade asleep. With Lance relaxing on the other side of the pool with a relaxed expression on his face. But, he was suddenly stopped as he heard something breaking and he looked up and saw both Rias and Akeno beginning to get into an argument.

"Well, this isn't going to…."

"Looks, like the Devil-Chans got into an argument with each other."

Lance was stopped as he felt Jeanne suddenly appearing behind him, wearing a one piece swimsuit that showed off her body. As she continued pressing up against him, Jeanne started smiling seductively.

"This is the first time that we've been along in a while without Yumi-Chan getting in the way, I wonder what we should do."

Lance then turned his head towards Jeanne who started leaning in towards him with her lips puckered, but before she could do anything else, she was stopped by hearing someone tapping their foot. Jeanne then looked towards the source and stuck her tongue out childishly, standing in front of them was Yumi wearing a blue swimsuit that showed off her body.

"Now, Jeanne-Chan what're you doing with my Lance-Kun?"

"Yours? I'm sorry Yumi-Chan, but he's my Lance-Kun. I saw him first."

"No, you didn't I did!"

"No, me!"

"Actually, they both met me at the same time."

Lance then started sweatdropped slightly as both of them started getting into an argument with each other over Lance. Jeanne then smiled bewitchingly and started hugging Lance tighter with her breast pressing more against his back, causing Yumi's eyes to twitch.

"Well, Yumi-Chan looks like you're a little too late, since I've already laid claim on Lance-Kun's virginity."

Lance then spit take at what Jeanne had said, with Yumi's face starting to turn bright red out of anger and frustration. She then smirked dangerously and a dimensional storage opened up, with a Japanese katana with a dark blue sheathe and a golden handgaurd came from it, which started releasing a holy aura.

"You must be joking Jeanne-Chan, because I've already laid claim on Lance-Kun."

"They do know that I'm not an object."

"Oh, so Yumi-Chan's already pulling out Masamune, then I won't hold back."

Jeanne then stepped away from Lance as Yumi unsheathed Masamune with a slight wind beginning to surround its blade, Jeanne then summoned two Holy Swords in her hand.

"I won't hold back!"

"Then, bring it Yumi-Chan!"

As both of the swordswoman started fighting against each other with their perspective sword techniques, Lance had immediately ran away from them. He ran into an equipment room and locked the door behind him, with a slight sigh of relief.


"Like my dad always said…."

Lance if you're ever in the situation where two women are fighting over you, don't even try and intervene…just run as fast as you can in the other direction.

"Well, he's right…wait there's someone else here, Xenovia are you in here?"

"Oh my it's Lance-Sama. What happened?"

"Just a small squabble between to friends, so it might not be a good idea to go outside right now. What're you even doing in here alone?"

"Oh this was my first swimsuit. And that women at the clothing store said this one was the right for me. Does it suit me?"

Lance looked and noticed that the two piece swimsuit that she was wearing, really complimented her body and curves. He then commented, while blushing slightly.

"It really does show off you…well, I guess you wouldn't have been interest in stuff like that in the past."

"Well that's right. Though before saying that, I, myself didn't have interest in stuff like this. Though the girls learning around me, the female soldiers let out their dissatisfaction at not being able to touch things like that."

"I can kind of see that things like that never really matched your past interests, most of the Exorcists I usually met in the past were normally round up."

"But, not only did my future change, even if it's just a bit, I want to experience the entertainment befitting girls, that's how I feel. That's what I have started feeling recently."

"Well if there's anything that you need you can always ask."

Xenovia then nodded in agreement to what Lance had said, she then looked towards towards him with her usual stoic expression and her cheeks slightly red.

"Then Lance-Sama…let's make a child."

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Lance then looked towards Xenovia with a slightly shocked expression on his face, after she had asked him that. He then started to scratch the back of his head, while laughing nervously.

"Ahaha, I'm sorry I think that I misheard you. It sounded like you asked if you could make a child with me."

"I did, since I was excommunicated from the Church I lost my purpose in life and I've now decided to bare the child of God's Grandson. Though it's not just because of that, since meeting you I felt an instant bond with you."

Lance then started looking towards Xenovia with a confused expression on his face, he then asked her.

"Well your thinking seems to be reasonable, but why me exactly?"

"Whenever we were on assignment Irina would talk about the child of the Head Paladin, and him always being there whenever she needing him. And from what I saw during your fight with Kokabiel and your interactions with everyone. Also, I thought it'd be good practice with my new fiance."

.

.

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Lance then looked towards her with a deadpanned expression on his face, before asking her.

"Your Fiance, what now?"

"After the battle with Kokabiel, Elaine-Sama said this…."

Xenovia, I've actually been looking for someone worthy enough to marry my adorable grandson after he takes over the Du Lac Family. So, since you obviously like him already, you're a strong female Exorcist and a Natural-Born Holy Sword user along with being the wielder of Durandal. So, would you like to become Lance's fiancee?

After explaining what Elaine had said, Lance started twitching his eyes lightly with an annoyed expression on his face.

"S-She actually said, that…she told me that she'd warn me before doing something like that!"

"If you have an issue with it, then I will raise them. However, if the children desire love from their father, then only at those times do I want you to play with them. After all…"

"Let's get one thing straight if I ever have kids, I'll never abandon my family and I'll definitely never abandon my kids nor my wife no matter what."

Xenovia look at him with a blushed expression, Lance the realized what he had said and made a shocked expression.

"I'm pretty sure I just dug myself deeper."

After thinking that, Lance later looked and saw Xenovia removing her top revealing her large bust, she then moved forwards and pressed up against Lance.

"I knew you were the perfect one, now let's create our family."

"You do remember, we're still in High School?!"


CUT! SLASH!

Both Lance and Xenovia later heard the door to the equipment room being sliced into pieces, he then turned around and saw both Yumi and Jeanne. Yumi then pointed Masamune towards Xenovia with an angered expression on her face.

"What're you doing to me Lance-Kun?!"

"She meant my Lance-Kun, Exorcist-Chan!"

"I'm just starting my family with my fiance."

Lance then looked towards her with a 'WTF' face, as he felt a large amount of killing intent coming from the door. He then turned his head and saw the both of them were close to blowing a gasket, with their faces turning bright red.

[FIANCE?!]


Sometimes later

Issei started walking towards the school with a slightly fearful expression on his face, as he was walking towards the school he immediately sensed something. He looked and saw Vali leaning against the gate of the school while looking towards it with a smirk on his face.

"Is it a good school?"

"Yea, I guess, but who're you?"

"Right, this is the first time we've actually met. My name is Vali, the White Dragon Emperor, the Vanishing Dragon."

Issei then made a completely shocked expression on his face, as he left arm started burning from being this close to Vali. As he was distracted he looked forward and noticed Vali appearing in front of him with his index finger in front of his face, Issei immediately reacted and stepped away from him.

"Good reflexes, though if I wanted to do something magical then…."

"Boosted…!"

At that moment, five swords were immediately pointed all around Vali; Kiba's Sword of Betrayal, Xenovia's Durandal, Van's Muramasa, Yumi's Masamune and Jeanne's Holy Sword. Kiba then looked towards Vali with his eyes slightly narrowed, and commented.

"We need you to take a few steps away from Issei."

"I don't know what you plan to do, but don't you think your joke went too far?"

"I can't let you start your rivalry with the Welsh Dragon, Vanishing Dragon."

Despite having five different swords directed towards him, Vali only smirked and looked towards them with an unmoved expression.

"It's better if you stop. Aren't your hands shaking?"

Like Vali had said five of their hands started shaking after being in Vali's presence, he then shrugged his shoulders and commented.

"It's fine to boast. Not knowing the difference between your opponent's strength is strong evidence. Between me and you there is a decisive difference in power."

"Vali, are you trying to start a fight?"

Walking towards them with his hands in his pocket was Lance with a slight smirk on his face, the five of them then stepped back away from him.

"So, the Hybrid shows himself."

"Ha, like I want to hear that from you of all people, Vali."

"I didn't some here to start any trouble, I just wanted to make my introduction to my rival. By the way, Issei Hyoudou what rank do you think your strength is in this world?"

"What?"

"Counting from the top in the condition of your Balance Breaker, it would be a 4 digit number between 1000 and 1500 or probably higher. There are a lot of strong people in this world. Even the Crimson Satan, Sirzechs Lucifer wouldn't fit in the top ten."

"Are you saying you're the first?"

"No, Ise-Kun. The one who holds that spot is someone who even the Gods fear and power that completely surpass both of the Heavenly Dragons combined."

"Issei Hyoudou you're a valuable existence. It's better if he's raised well, Rias Gremory."

Issei then turned his head and saw Rias, Akeno, Koneko along with Asia who had a slightly terrified expression on her face.

"What Dragon Emperor, what's the meaning of this? If you're have ties with the Fallen Angels then more contact that required is…."

"The Two Heavenly Dragons, the Dragons called that way. Welsh Dragon and Vanishing Dragon. In the past, those related didn't live a satisfactory life. How will you end up?"

After saying that Rias narrowed her eyes towards him, while Vali shrugged his shoulders with a smirk on his face.

"I didn't come here to fight today. I just wanted to see the school I visited last time. I came to Japan while escorting Azazel, but I was bored. I won't fight the Welsh dragon here, not to mention I have a lot of work to do."

After finally saying that, Vali started walking forward passed them with a calmed expression on his face, once he was gone Asia went over and grasp Issei's hand nervously. Despite Vali leaving the area, everyone except for Lance wore a slightly nervous expression on their face. Lance smirked slightly and muttered to himself.

"Geez, that guy."


After school had finally ended, Lance was walking towards his house along with Xenovia, Yumi and Jeanne with three walking close to Lance. Jeanne then started to humming happily to herself, with Lance looking towards her.

"So, who're you guys supposed to be escorting, Jeanne-Chan?"

"Nope~ I'm not telling you."

"Jeanne, just tell me."

"Fine, kiss me and I'll tell you."

Jeanne then stopped in front of Lance with her lips puckered, but she was stopped as both Xenovia and Yumi started dragging her forward towards the house. Jeanne then pouting with a childish expression on her face, once they walked in front of the house Lance sensed two powerful auras inside of his house.

"That's odd, I think there's someone in my house."

Once Lance unlocked the door, he walked inside and his eyes widened slightly at who he saw. Sitting down in the living room was a handsome man in his twenties with long blonde hair, green sincere eyes and wearing more royal Holy robes. And sitting down next to him with a bright smile on her face, was a beautiful women with long curly blonde hair, with a voluptuous figure and wearing the same type of Holy robes.

"K-Kaa-San, O-Oji-San."

"Michael-Sama and Gabriel-Sama."

Lance was slightly shocked to see both his mother and uncle inside of his house, while Xenovia being a former Exorcist was almost faint. Lance then stepped forward towards them, with a slight smile on his face and started.

"Hey, Kaa-San its…."

"Waaah!"

Lance was immediately stopped as Gabriel had glomped him, tackling him into the ground and started rubbing her cheek against his with her tears overflowing like a waterfall. He then started blushing slightly with an embarrassed expression on his face, with Michael smiling.

"K-Kaa-San, you're kind of embarrassing me."

"B-But, I haven't seem my adorable child in over ten years."

As Gabriel continued hugging Lance, he then wrapped his arms around her with a smile on his face. After they were finished, everyone had sat down on the couch after Yumi had made tea both both the two Seraph.

"Thank you, Yumi. And I'm glad to see that you're doing alright Lance."

"Same here, Oji-San."

"I would love to talk with you more, but there's something that I wanted to ask."

"What would that be?"

"I'd like for both you and Xenovia to represent the Angel Side during the meeting between the Three Factions. And also I would like to extend my deepest apologizes towards Xenovia and also Asia. Our reason…."

"It's not your fault, after Ojii-Sama's death during the Great War, the system that he controlled wasn't as strong as it was while he was alive. And so you guys had no other choice, but to get rid of those who could possibly affect Heaven as well as the other Angels."

"That's correct Lance-Kun, thanks to that we had to label loyal believers like Xenovia and Asia as Heretics, and after everything that they've done to help others."

"That's alright, Michael-Sama thought I was shocked by the death of God. I've found something else in my life that's…enjoyable. And it would be an honor to represent the Angels in the meeting."

"I thank you, also Lance-Kun there's something that we wanted to give you."

Lance looked towards them with a slightly confused expression on his face, a gold magic circle then started to appeared on the table in front of them and a box. Gabriel then reached her hand out and opened the box, inside was dark blue jewel.

"We found this among Otou-Sama's belonging, we even went through his the information he written about the Sacred Gears along with the Longinus. But, after all of this time we could never tell what it is."

Lance reached inside of the box and picked up the jewel from inside of the box, once it went into his hand he could feel a slight presence being released from it.

"Well, there's something sealed inside of here, though I can't tell what it is."

"Right, we thought that someone would be able to figure it out if they were to look at it from a different perspective."

"Alright, it sounds interesting."

"Then, we'll take our leave for now."

"We'll also be showing up at the Classroom Visits."

Lance then made a shocked expression on his face by what Gabriel had said, but before he could say anything else. Gabriel then immediately wrapped her arms Lance one more time with a slight smile on her face, before Lance could say anything.

"Uh, Kaa-San?"

"I'm just so happy to see you again."

Lance looked toward her with a slightly shocked expression on his face, she then kissed Lance on his forehead and caused him to blush slightly out of embarrassment. Before he could respond, Gabriel playfully flicked Lance in his forehead and smiled at him childishly.

"Don't do anything perverted now."

"Kaa-San!"

Lance blushed a deep shade of red at what she said, and she walked over towards Michael as a magical circle appeared under them. Both of them waved while smiling towards them, as they vanished away in a bright light.

"Wow your mother truly is beautiful, Lance-Kun."

"Yes, she is."

"She even promised to show us some photos of a baby you."

"What?!"

Lance then towards both of Jeanne and Yumi as they started looking towards him with a completely embarrassed expression on his face.

"Yep, she kept every single photo when you were a baby."

"Hehehe, seeing a baby Lance-Kun."

"What's this? Michael-Sama had left this here along with that jewel."

At Xenovia's question, Lance then turned towards her and she was looking towards a book that was left on the table. Lance then picked up the book and he started reading through it with a shocked expression, as he continued reading them.

"T-This is…."

"Lance-Kun, what're you reading?"

"Th-The very beginning of the Longinus, Sacred Gears and Holy Swords, Ojii-Sama complied everything in this book."

As Lance was looking into the book, he smirked slightly more differently than he usually goes, which caused both Yumi and Jeanne to look at him with an odd expression on their face.

"Yumi-Chan, Lance-Kun has that look in his eyes again."

"What're you talking about?"

"Whenever Lance-Kun finds something that interests him incredibly, then he can sometimes get like this."

At that moment, that started looking at Lance as he started looking into the book itently. Jeanne then started stretching her arms with a tired express on her face and she stated to them.

"Well, it's getting pretty late. So you two can go to the guest room, while I share a bed with Lance-Kun."

At what Jeanne had said, both Xenovia and Yumi looked towards her with a slightly irked expression on their face.

"What're you talking about Jeanne-Chan, I'm sharing a bed with Lance-Kun."

"Both of you are wrong, I'm sharing a bed with Lance-Sama, since he is my fiance."

"Fine, there's only one way to decide this."

As Lance was continuing to go through the journal, he stopped after sensing a mass of holy power. Lance then spit take as he saw all three of them holding their holy weapons, he then placed the journal on the table and shouted.

"What're you three doing?!"

[She started it!]

As Lance sweatdropped at the three of the girls as they pointed towards each other, the last page of the book read:

"I trust in and believe in the Humans, that why I created both the Sacred Gears and Holy Swords. Since they're the most resilient and the most hardworking they'll be able to master them, despite what anyone else say. And that's why, I believe that one day Humans…will one day surpass the Gods, that's what the Longinus means."


A/N: And there goes chapter fourteen of the Magic Knight, both Yumi and Jeanne arrived at Kuoh along with Vali who made his official appearance to Issei as his rival. Though there was no one more shocked than Kiba, who found out that he had a twin sister. They had went and had their swim day at the pool, with several incidents happening. And well, what Elaine told Xenovia had came to light and that was she made her Lance's fiancee. After returning home, Lance was finally reunited with his mother and was given a mysterious object. Well, until next time.

Lancelot's Harem: Yumi, Jeanne, Irina, Xenovia, Le Fay, Sona, Serafall, Rossweisse, Valarie, Seekvaira, Kuroka, Yuuma, Griselda, Yasaka, Lavinia.

Issei's Harem: Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Ravel, Tsubasa, Aika, Isabel, Katase, Murayama, Mira, Kunou, Kiyome, Karlamine.