Reina blushed as she noticed the confused look on Merlin's face, wondering if what she'd asked of him before was too much as he spoke "Wait…you want to sleep in my bed…?"
Reina nodded shyly as Merlin put a hand on the back of his head, trying to hide his own blush as he thought for a moment, he could understand why considering what she'd been through with Vine but her whole shift to being friendly to him was a little surprising to say the least.
"Alright…" Merlin spoke, Reina smiling as she closed the bedroom door behind her. Merlin's eyes widened and his blush darkening as she started to strip in front of him, turning as he spoke annoyed
"What the hell…? I thought you were already ready for bed?"
Reina giggled at his reaction, feeling more comfortable at her Bishop's discomfort as she spoke "I can't sleep unless I'm naked, Merlin-kun…I thought guys like that?"
"If you don't remember I'm not a typical guy" Merlin replied embarrassed as he tried to stop his blush, forcing himself not to look back.
"No…you're not…you're better" Reina spoke quietly to herself, smiling as she got under the covers.
…
Saeko walked to school with a clear plan in her head as she looked around for Merlin, soon spotting the second year walking with Saji and Reina, the latter giving him furtive embarrassed glances while the black haired teen seemed to be happily chatting to Saji.
Deciding to wait till he was alone she continued to walk, casting her own glances as she tried to work out the best way to meet with him, reaching the school grounds she saw that the trio joined up with he student council along with others as she entered the school grounds.
'How do I get to be alone with him…?' She thought calmly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks at how it sounded in her head which she quickly shook away as she headed inside for classes. Glancing back she found herself surprised at seeing Merlin glance away from her as if he'd been watching her without her noticing, her blush returning as she headed inside.
"I've decided on what club we'll be in the school" Reina spoke up, drawing Merlin's attention as Saji looked curiously as the blonde she-devil continued
"We'll be the movie club…"
"That's sounds fairly easy for the rest of us" Merlin spoke as Reina concealed her blush as she added
"Well we'll be making a couple of movies for when the festival comes around" Saji and Merlin looked surprised as the latter asked
"Erm…isn't that going to be difficult with just the six of us…unless we start getting some help"
"Don't worry about that right now…I'm getting some help with writing the script so I'm not going to spoil it now" Reina replied with a smile, walking a few steps ahead of the two boys as her blush darkened at the thoughts of what she could get away with.
"I guess you'll be the leading man then" Saji spoke amused as Merlin nodded as he added
"Along with any other male role written…unless you want to help?" Saji shook his hands in front of him as he looked at his friend
"Oh, no I'm not going to be signed up for anything that might make things for me more complicated"
"How do you think I feel…?" Merlin replied with a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair as they finally reached the school grounds.
…
"I can't believe what you had to do to save Phens-sempai" Saji spoke as he looked to Merlin, who nodded as he chewed his mouthful of his lunch, swallowing as he clocked Saeko watching him again before he spoke
"I'll see you later for training right? …I've got to do something while I've got a chance"
"Yeah…Training with you has helped me a lot although I wish you'd stop cancelling your attacks on me" Saji replied as Merlin put his lunch away as he shrugged
"Force of habit… don't worry you'd rather not have the damage I could cause in one battle" Merlin replied before pulling his bag over his shoulder as he headed over to where Saeko was watching him from. Saeko turning her gaze away as she focused on her lunch, part of her wondering whether she'd been seen by him which was answered when she heard
"Busujima-sempai, have I done something wrong?" She turned to see Merlin standing there with a confused look on her face. Saeko shook her head as she spoke
"No…just there's been a lot of talk about you in my club…" Merlin blushed slightly never expecting he'd be popular at this school.
"Oh…Could I ask something in private…?" Merlin asked, Saeko blushing despite herself as she noticed a fair few of the students looking at them with interest as she nodded
"Alright…follow me" Saeko quickly stood from the bench, leading Merlin to behind the old school building before looking around for others as she turned back to speak to him, curious
"So what did you want to ask, Tsunagi-kun?"
"…I think you're the one with the question, Busujima-sempai, I just figured now would be a good time to answer it" Merlin spoke, a small part of him realising he'd just started up the rumour mill. Saeko looked surprising at him as she took a defensive stance as she asked
"What did happen Friday?" Merlin smiled slightly as he kept warily looking around before deciding to explain a few things to her, her eyes wide as she spoke confused
"So you're a Mage… and you healed me after that girl attacked me…that's like I remember but why was Phens-san there?"
"I can answer that…" Reina spoke as she came round the corner to see the pair, nodding to Merlin to get him to keep an eye out for people as she explained what was left to her, Saeko's confusion fading to understanding before she asked Reina
"I wish to join…so I can pay my debt back to Tsunagi-kun"
"You don't have to do that Busu…" Merlin started only to be cut off by Reina as she smiled and spoke
"Alright…If you wait after school we'll do it then…and you can't tell anyone else about what we've spoken about here" Saeko nodded in understanding as Merlin silently sighed before noticing Saeko's gaze had turned to him as she bowed to him, feeling embarrassed at her formality as she spoke
"I'll do my best to protect you, Tsunagi-kun. I owe you for saving me"
"Please, Busujima-sempai you can just call me Merlin…we'll be allies after all…and you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time" Merlin replied, feeling embarrassed at her declaration as she smiled slyly at him. It felt weird to have someone actively declare that they would protect him after everything he'd been through before only those few family members had looked out for him when they could and it had been left to himself for the most part.
"Only if you call me Saeko, Tsunagi-kun" She replied
"Alright, Saeko-sempai" Merlin replied as the bell rang out to signal the end of lunch.
…
Merlin sighed in relief as his last lesson ended, starting to pack up his things as Yukihana, Katase and Murayama waited for him as the pinkette asked "Has Phens-sempai said anything about this script she's writing?"
"Nothing…except she's getting help with it" Merlin replied, seeing the trio sigh disappointed as Yukihana spoke up
"The idea of a movie club seems a good one"
"Yeah…I like the idea just not too keen on acting" Merlin spoke as he slung his bag onto his shoulder, noticing the disappointed looks on the three girls faces as he added
"I'll probably still do it though…otherwise there'll be no male characters in the whole thing" They seemed to brighten up at that moment as they joined up with Saji, Yura, Meguri, Kusaka and Momo. The girls breaking off to chat animatedly about something or another as Saji and Merlin chatted ahead of them.
"So what happened with Busujima-sempai?" Saji asked with a grin as Merlin rolled his eyes as he answered
"I just talked to her about you know…she didn't believe Katase so I figured honesty is the best policy…turns out she wants to join Phens-sempai's club" Saji's jaw dropped upon hearing that, his hands going to clutch at his hair as he spoke
"I-I can't believe you convinced her to join Phens-sempai's club and not Kaichou's"
"Hey…I never mentioned about the clubs, Phens-sempai just showed up after I finished talking to her and she spoke about how she owed me for… you know" Merlin replied as the blonde who sighed, he spoke
"She would be amazing as part of the council" Merlin nodded in agreement if what he'd seen during the interschool matches were anything to go by.
"What about Busujima-sempai?" Murayama asked, Merlin glancing back as he answered
"She's joined Phens-sempai's club" The two pawns looked surprised as Merlin continued
"She said she wanted to do it to repay me for saving her despite me telling her it was fine"
The group entered the student council room, surprised at seeing Reina and Saeko there as the latter picked herself back up to her feet from where she had lay on the sofa.
"There it's all done…Saeko, you're now my new Knight" Reina spoke proudly as she gave a hidden smug look to Sona as the purple haired Knight noticed Merlin standing there
"Merlin-kun…" She spoke with a smile, Saji giving him a jealous look as Merlin replied as he walked into the room
"Hey Saeko-sempai…I take it Phens-sama has explained everything to you" Saji seemed even more jealous at Merlin's semi informal response to her.
"How can you be on first name basis with Busujima-sempai?" Saji asked in disbelief as Merlin scratched the back of his head as he sighed, Saeko chuckling as she spoke
"I insisted…considering he saved me" Saeko replied as she cast a proper look at the group she was now apart of, surprise showing as she looked at Katase and Murayama
"I didn't think you were devils" Saeko spoke as the two Kendo club girls looked sheepishly back as Katase spoke
"Sorry I had to lie to you before but…"
"I understand…it's dangerous for us devils to be known" Saeko spoke as Merlin turned to Saji as he spoke
"I guess we should go practice then" Saeko looked curiously at the pair as the two headed outside.
…
Saeko watched in surprise and awe as Merlin stood there with his staff in hand, geysers of water shooting out of the ground as Saji ran to dodge them all, firing a line from his Absorption Line to try and catch Merlin off guard only for a blast of wind to blow it off course as Merlin stepped out of the way to avoid it.
Merlin was surprised to see a second line attached to his staff, Saji grinning victoriously as he tried to tug the white weapon from his hands, only for his eyes to widen as Merlin summoned his Chaos Cannon to his left hand. Pointing the gun at his opponent, Saji's grin faltered as Merlin smirked as he spoke "Dark Spear"
The chamber turned pink as Merlin fired a single round at Saji, as a tester for his new attack. The bullet turning into a long spear of pink energy which Saji dodged as he shouted
"Hey! I thought we were sparring?" Launching a small ball of magic back at him, Merlin countering with a fireball, the two magic attacks exploding in between them as he spoke
"We are…I just wanted to test that shot…considering I've not fully use to demonic energy"
"But you use it with your magic easy enough" Saji asked as he relaxed, his Sacred Gear disappearing
"That's 'cause it helps control my mana and spells…I haven't tried using it on its own though" Merlin replied, dismissing his weapons as he scratched his head for a few moments before turning as Saeko asked curiously to Reina
"What is that gun Merlin used?"
"That's his Sacred Gear, the Chaos Cannon" Reina spoke as Merlin noted her confusion as he explained
"Well…it can come up with any type of shot that I can understand or create"
"I'll leave Murayama to show the route you'll take when delivering leaflets along with whatever questions you might have" Reina spoke, Saeko nodding in understanding as the brunette asked
"We can go now if you'd like?" the new Knight nodded as she followed the brunette off the campus.
"Isn't it suppose to be my duty to help the newer members settle in?" Merlin asked confused as Reina nodded and explained
"Yeah…but Sona's decided to send you on your first contract job"
"Really…?" Merlin asked curiously, wondering who he would be sent to as Saji clicked his fingers upon remembering as he spoke
"Oh…Kaichou said to me that I would be supervising" The two boys heading back inside to the Council room to find out the details.
…
When the magic circle faded, the two boys found themselves inside the storage room of some café with a brown haired man who was dressed in a waiter's uniform which consisted of a white shirt, black slacks, a black bowtie and a black apron which was tied around his waist, while the top of it was probably hidden.
"What would you like us to do?" Saji asked respectfully before noticing who was before him as he blurted
"Shinji, you need help with the café again?"
"Yeah, Saji, who's your friend?"
"Oh this is Merlin, he's new to everything" Saji replied as Merlin gaze turned confused as Shinji pulled out two clothes hangers with waiter's uniforms on them
"That's great I need all the help we can get" The two devil accepted the uniforms as Shinji quickly left to prepare whatever he had to.
"I didn't think I'd have to work as a waiter on my first job" Merlin spoke as he magically changed into them, Saji looking at him impressed as he spoke
"You've got to teach me how to do that"
"I will do after this" Merlin replied as he moved to head into the café to find out what Shinji wanted them to do.
…
"May I take your order?" Merlin asked respectfully as he stood at the table, a small notepad and pencil ready in his hands as he took the table of blushing girls' order before heading over to the kitchen to hand it in, noticing Saji was having a less happy reaction from the mostly female customers he served.
"How can you be so popular, it's your first time working here as well" Saji spoke as he handed in his table's orders as Merlin shrugged as he replied
"No idea…I'm not even this popular at school so it's as confusing for you as it is for me"
"I suppose your right…its probably just luck" Saji sighed as he turned to find Merlin was taking another table's order, the girls embarrassed as they gave him the order, Saji's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
…
It was evening when the pair returned to the council room by magic circle, both were still dressed in there waiter outfits as Sona and Tsubaki gave them a confused look, there cheeks pink as the former spoke
"What are you two doing dressed like that?"
"Shinji-san said we deserved to keep them after how well things went…and he would like us to help out next time he needs some" Saji spoke embarrassed, scratching the back of his head as Sona replied
"That's good…well why don't you go home"
"I'll teach you as we go, Saji" Merlin added as they started out of the room, closing the door behind him as both third years tried to focus back on there paperwork and failing
"Merlin-kun looked… good" Tsubaki spoke slightly embarrassed, Sona blush deepening as she spoke
"Yes…he did, didn't he?"
…
"Its mostly to do with imagination you know like what you use… just imagine the clothes on you and have some sort of trigger" Merlin spoke as he clicked his fingers his clothes swapping back to his school uniform as Saji nodded in understanding as he closed his eyes to concentrate before clicking his own fingers with nothing happening.
He sighed disheartened as Merlin added "I was taught by using photographs…that way you make focusing easier...anyway practice makes perfect"
"Guess I've got something to work on" Saji spoke with a sigh as they headed off the school grounds.
…
Merlin yawned as he stood in the Occult Club Room, Sona and the other council members were there to see off the club as the quartet of third years were sat drinking tea. Kiba had gauntlets on and had a sheathed sword next to him while Koneko sat with fingerless gloves and a small book in front of her.
The mage had his new spell book open in his hands as he kept an eye on Saji, who was practicing his clothes changing magic, only focusing on his blazer for the moment.
"What are you trying to do Gen-chan" Momo asked curious as Saji replied
"Just trying to get something, Merlin explained to me, to work" Merlin looked up as he noticed the several gazes on him as he spoke
"It's just changing clothes…" Clicking his fingers towards Saji the blonde suddenly had Merlin's wide brimmed wizard hat on his head, giggles being stifled by some of the girls as Merlin clicked his fingers again to make it disappear.
The door to the clubroom opened, Issei and Asia entering as they looked slightly confused at the smiles around the room
"Could you do it with anyone?" Yura asked quietly to Merlin, who nodded slowly as the turquoise haired girl started to whisper something into his ear, Merlin's eyes widening in amusement as he smiled to her. He turned to look at Issei as he clicked his fingers, a white cone appearing on his head with a large D printed on the front. Issei not noticing the new addition to his appearance as Saji covered his mouth to conceal his amusement, Koneko smiling slightly while Akeno, Rias, Sona and Tsubaki giggled quietly.
"We're here Buchou" Issei spoke, Asia smiling next to him dressed in her nun's outfit as they both entered the room.
[Whahahaha] Tiamat laughed, Merlin sweatdropping as he found himself curious to why the Chaos Dragon was speaking up now as Issei jumped as his Boosted Gear appeared on his arm, drawing the others attention to him
"Ddraig, what's wrong?" Issei asked before a the red dragon spoke up from out of the gem of the Sacred Gear, surprised
[Tiamat…you're here?]
The Chaos Cannon appeared in Merlin's hand as Tiamat retorted back [Of course I am, Baka-Dragon…]
[Hey I'm not a Baka…] Ddraig replied annoyed
[I couldn't tell with your host being such a pervert] Tiamat snorted back, Merlin, Issei and the rest of the room's occupants moving there gazes between the two Sacred Gears as they continued arguing for a few minutes.
"Stop arguing both of you" Merlin spoke annoyed, both Sacred Gears disappearing, the others looking at him as he added
"Like a pair of kids…"
[Hey…He started it] Tiamat spoke up annoyed
"…and I'm finishing it" Merlin growled quietly as Issei sweatdropped as Merlin continued with a sigh
"I expect legendary creatures to act better then this…"
[Sorry…But he deserves it] Tiamat spoke up, trying to justify her actions.
[No I didn't] Ddraig replied, Merlin's eyebrow twitching as he noticed the pair of dragons go silent again, Merlin taking a deep breath to calm down before smirking at noticing Issei still hadn't noticed his hat.
"What?" The brunette asked confused.
"You've still not noticed something" Merlin spoke, signalling to the brunette's head, Issei looking confused at the hat as he wondered when that had appeared before it disappeared in his hands
"Figured a little joke would break some of the tension" Merlin spoke with a small smirk while Issei looked back at him annoyed. The magic circle glowed before Grayfia appeared from it as she spoke
"Is everyone ready? It's ten minutes before the match"
Rias and her servants stood up moving towards the silver haired maid as Sona signalled to her own club for them to leave with her as she spoke to Rias "Good Luck"
…
The air in the viewing room seemed tense as the student council appeared from the blue magic circle, Reina and her peerage already there as Merlin noticed a few other people around the room. Lady Phenex was sat next to her daughter with Lord Phenex sat on her other side, his blonde master looking keen to take in what she could from the game.
Noticing who he assumed was members of Rias' family Sirzechs seemed to be giving him an appraising look before his eyes locked with the glare of Serafall which caused him to gulp nervously before the magical Maou turned her sister, smiling brightly.
His eyes widened as he recognised one of the famous magicians, MacGregor Mathers, sitting there calmly before looking over to him. Merlin feeling sheepish all of a sudden as he moved to take a seat, Saeko smiling to him as she signalled to the seat on her left, Merlin nodding as he took the seat before finding Yura sitting down on his other side.
"What was that about?" the turquoise haired girl asked as Merlin answered quietly
"That's MacGregor Mathers…he's one of the famous modern Magicians…"
Sirzechs chuckled quietly, hearing Merlin quietly speaking as he leant over to his Bishop as he spoke "Seems you've got an admirer"
MacGregor glanced to his crimson haired master before turning his gaze to Merlin as he decided to feel out how much mana the young mage had, his eyes widening slightly at sensing Tiamat inside him, calling back what had told to happen with Vine as he thought.
'So he's the descendant of Ambrosius and has the Chaos Dragon inside him…but his rather reckless to be using Holy energy without any defence against it'
...
Author's Notes
Not sure at the moment how I'm going to go over the Rating Games, but it will go like in the Light Novels. Reina and her peerage will be at the wedding although there's a tempting to include Merlin in the Dragon vs Phoenix match although have Merlin just act as Issei's support, as with his Holy Bullets he'd most likely take himself and Riaser out in a straight fight. Although if I don't then Issei will be gaining a fire shield, maybe the first attempt at Holy enchantments, from Merlin to help him before he goes to the wedding.
Omake
(Why Dying Will bullets aren't being included)
Saji sprung up from where he lay, a flame sat on his forehead as he burst out of his clothes, being left in only his boxers as he shouted " Iwill confess my love for Kaichou like my life depends on it"
Merlin looked confused as Saji ran off at great speed towards the Council room, noticing the confused looks on the girls faces as he sweatdropped "It wasn't meant to do that"