Chapter 7
Saturday, September 17, 2022.
Strange, that morning, here I am waking up by my alarm clock, however, I haven't touched it for a while. Even stranger, I didn't have any nightmare that night.
I shake my head. I sit down slowly, still in the same state. Then I realised the unusual state I was in. I'm naked. I have nothing on me.
(What the hell is this? I don't even have my underwear on.)
I also don't have a habit of sleeping naked either.
I don't remember why. I don't even remember coming home. Oh, yes, the fallen angel, that's right. Rias Gremory saved me again but after that I passed out.
"...Unnn"
I hear a soft voice. I look carefully beside me.
"...Suu~suu."
There's a crimson haired girl sleeping next to me. And she's naked... Her snow-like white skin looks very smooth.
No matter how you look at her, it's Senpai. The academy's Idol. Her crimson hair scattered over the pillow looks extremely beautiful. Rias Gremory-senpai.
(Huh? Wait, Huh? Why am I sleeping with Rias-senpai!? What happened!? What happened!? No, what did I do!? Did I do something!? I don't remember! I don't remember one bit! Why!? I have to remember what I did! No! Why am I in this situation!? Did I have sex with Senpai!? It seems unlikely to me... I can't fucking calm down !)
My head is about to explode due to the confusion, but I get cornered in the next moment.
"Himegami-san, can you go see if Senji is wake up please? He must be hungry after what happened last night." I hear Haruno's voice asking Kodama to come to me.
"And Rias Gremory too please!" asks Fuji-nee.
"Ahhhh? Seriously? well, since it's Fujimura-sensei who asks, I'll do it, but frankly, I'm not the babysitter..." Kodama approaches, while ralling.
Wait! Hold on a sec! If she sees me like this, then that would be really bad!
"Wait Himegami-senpai ! I'm already awake! I'm getting up now!"
"Oh, that's good news! I'm just coming to see what state you're in then." She's coming! Kodama is coming to my room!
There's no way I can let her see what's going on!
"Unn... Is it morning?"
Senpai is wiping her eyes beside me! She woke up! She woke up!
The door bursts open. At the same time, Senpai also lifts her upper body up.
My eyes and Kodama's eyes meet each other. She looks annoyed. She looks very annoyed !
"Good morning Himegami-san." Senpai greets Kodama with a smile.
Kodama's eyes move from me to Senpai.
Then, a wide smile appears on Kodama's face. She moves her eyes to me again. I avoid eye contact.
"Oh. well, take your time both." she said, stopping herself from bursting out laughing.
She closes the door slowly. After a while, I hear her running into the dining room.
"Well girls I have some bad news for you! It seems that even in his pathetic state he still manages to have fun!" Laughs Kodama.
"What the hell are you talking about Himegami-san?" Haruko asks.
"Is Senpai okay?" asks Sakura.
"It couldn't be better! He's completely naked with Rias in the futon!"
"WHAT!?" I've never heard Fuji-nee raise her voice so much...
"So, Senji-sama has... with... uhhh" Inaho was fooled by Kodama's misleading words... even if she's not totally wrong.
"I can't let this go, not at their age!" Fuji-nee seems determined to come.
(Oh no! not now! even if I try to get dressed now, I won't be done before she arrives, my body is still way too numb!)
"If I were you, I'd wait a bit sensei, after all, they're probably still in the futon as we speak." Kodama is having way too much fun...
No more sound from the dining room... I can only cover my face with both hands. It is easy to imagine what is going on there.
How could this happen? There will certainly be a discussion after this! What excuse can I use to explain what is happening?
"Your house is very lively in the morning." Senpai got up from my bed and went to pick up her uniform from my desk. A naked Senpai. The naked body of a beautiful girl.
(...Ummm, you know I can see pretty much everything...)
Her small hips, long white legs, thighs, nicely shaped butt, and her breasts which are quite enormous... I can even see her nipples clearly! Why aren't you hiding them!? Why aren't you showing any attempt of hiding them!?
But staring at her is making me feel bad. I can feel the influence of these perverts taking over, shit I shouldn't have gone with them last night. I can't become a complete pervert.
"Um... Senpai?" I call to her, starting to get dressed as well.
"What is it?"
"Why don't you even try to hide?" I say this while looking away. I want to take a look, but that's it. I have to endure it.
"If you want to look, then go ahead." Senpai says that daringly while putting on her uniform, putting on a smirk.
As I desperately try to put on my pants, I lose my balance when I hear her say that.
"Is your stomach okay?" Senpai asks me, taking the rest of my stuff and setting it down next to me.
I touch my stomach while watching Senpai get dressed.
"You were stabbed yesterday," she tells me.
"Yes, I remember that..." With that statement, I was sufficiently alert.
...It's true, I was stabbed by a fallen angel in the park yesterday. I was stabbed by a light spear.
But there aren't any marks left on my stomach. I was sure there was a hole... That's wasn't the type of wound that heals within a day. There was so much blood coming out of it.
"If you're wondering, yes I did treat you."
"A hole like this... and besides I feel my body is getting better?"
"I healed you. It was critical, but thanks to your strong body, it was curable with my power overnight. I shared some of my demonic powers with you by hugging you while we were naked. And I did my best with your magic circuits, but they are way too complex even for me, sorry but normally you should be back to normal by tomorrow."
"Oh... thank you, this is already much better than yesterday... wait... Hugged each other while naked?"
"It's all right, I'm still a virgin."
"Hmmm, I guess so, that explains the situation pretty well."
I finally manage to put on my pants. I try to bend over to grab my shirt, but I have no balance. I'm about to get down on one knee and Senpai approaches me in her underwear. She grabs it and helps me put it on. My face turns red. I can't help but blush since a beauty like her is helping me.
"So, are you ready to be part of my peerage?" She asks me with her devilish smile.
Here we are in the dining room. At the table with four pairs of eyes glaring at me. Already that it is complicated to eat in my state, it is even more with the weight of their glance.
Right now, in my house, Rias Gremory is drinking miso soup next to me.
"These are very delicious, Sakura-san."
"Y-Yes. T-Thank you very much."
It's my first time eating breakfast in this weird atmosphere, and I'm not sure what to do in this situation.
"Senji, it's the meal that Sakura-san made. Come on now, eat it." Senpai says with elegance. She's acting like an older sister.
(Why I feel like I hear Fuji-nee when I was still a child).
"Y-Yeah..."
I take with difficulty the chopsticks and start to eat. I try to eat quickly to change my mind but impossible, my body does not follow correctly the orders I ask it.
"Eat more slowly, your body is still tired." Senpai wipes my mouth with her handkerchief.
(What is this? What kind of situation am I in?)
"AHHH that's enough ! Rias-san, I'm Senji's big sister here, so don't steal my part !" Fuji-nee slams her fist on the table, pointing at Rias.
"Y-yes, you are a little too comfortable with Senpai, Gremory-senpai..." speaks Sakura shyly.
"...Oh dear, I apologize for not introducing myself... I've embarrassed the Gremory household. Let me introduce myself. We already know each other Fujimura-sensei, Kodama-san and Haruko-san. So, Sakura-san and Inaho-san, my name is Rias Gremory. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Okay, fine, but damn... What were you two doing in the same futon, n-naked?!" asks Haruko with red cheeks.
"Don't worry, Senji and I are still virgins, if that's what worries you the most, I hope you are reassured Fujimura-sensei, your little brother is still pure." said smiling Rias.
"Can you stop beating around the bush and give us a clear answer, Gremory?" asks Fuji-nee with her teacher tone.
"It's a technique to treat him more effectively," Rias simply replies.
"For a hole in the stomach, it seems excessive to me, if he had come home covered in wounds like the day before yesterday, there I would have understood but like this!" Haruko is really furious.
"I also tried to heal his magic circuits, but I couldn't do much. He'll have to wait until tomorrow to get everything in his body back in order."
All eyes are on me. I continue to eat quietly, ignoring the girls, but Fuji-nee takes the sweet soy sauce from my hands.
"Well that's enough now! I have no memory of that night, okay! All I remember is that I got attacked by another fallen angel on my way home, then saved by Rias and that's it!"
"Senji, when you two came home, Rias just asked us to show her your room. She completely ignored us, until we got to the door, and as she closed it behind her, she just told us that she was going to take care of you, and that you'll be good as new in the morning!" Explains Fuji-nee.
"She even applied a seal to the doors to prevent them from being opened!" Said Inaho, her eyes watering.
I can only look back at Rias, who smiles as if nothing had happened.
"Look, if I had explained to you all what I was planning to do that night, you probably would have stopped me and Senji was in critical condition, I remind you that he had his stomach pierced."
"Ahhh... Ok, fine, thanks for saving Senji that night and the other night too, but I would still like to know what's going on, we were all worried you know! And then as soon as you're done, sleep in another bed damn it!" Fuji-nee gets angry again.
"I don't understand, what's the problem?" asks Rias, innocently.
"Senji is way too young for this !"
Morning walk to school. I walk to school with the girls, but I have trouble because of the way the other students look at me. This has been the case for some time. Haruko is very popular because of her title as vice president of the student council's safety division. Kodama has a fan club and for Inaho since her intervention at the start of the school year, has started to make a name for herself.
But now, Next to me is our school's idol, Gremory-senpai.
"oh wow, here he comes with another girl."
"Rias-senpai with Senji!?'
"I can understand about the others because they are in the same clubs but Rias-senpai, what does that mean?"
"I hadn't seen them interact together before."
I can hear the murmurs of boys and girls coming from all directions. Seriously, is it that surprising for me to walk next to Senpai ?
We pass the gate of the school and separate ourselves with Inaho from the others at the entrance.
But Rias-senpai puts a hand on my shoulder and approaches my ear.
"I'll send someone to get you. Let's meet again later." She says with a smile.
After nodding, I hurry to our classroom, under the insistent gaze of the other girls.
When I opened the door, everyone stared at me.
Suddenly, someone hit me on the back of the head. When I turn around, Usui is there, with Motohama and Matsuda at his side.
"Give us an explanation!" Usui shouted while crying. From his expression, I can guess what he wants to say.
"We were okay with the idea that you got along well with the Maken-ki club members but this is going too far!"
"Senji, first explain what happened after we split?"
Unlike Matsuda who is furious, Motohama acts calmly while staring at his glasses, even though his eyes are really sharp and Usui looks really frustrated. You three are scaring me.
Instead, I sigh and invite Inaho to come in, leaving her the passage and accompanying her, hands on her shoulder, to protect her from the three perverts.
"Guys, there's nothing going on between Rias and me...at least for now." With this sentence, the three tremble with fear.
At the end of class.
"Hi, how are you doing?"
I look at the male student, who came to see me, with half closed eyes. Kiba Yuuto. He won the hearts of the girls in our school just with his smile. He is in the same grade as me, but in a different class. You can hear the girls screaming with joy in the classroom and in the hallway. My head is seriously starting to hurt.
"Ah yes, good evening, what can I do for you?" I reply.
"I've come here under Rias Gremory-senpai's orders."
With this statement alone, I immediately understand why he is here. I see, so he's the one Senpai told me she'd send.
"...Oh OK, so what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to follow me."
"oh..." The girls start whispering improbable things.
"olala, the meeting between two beautiful guys, what will it give?"
"I can feel sparks from here!"
"Maybe we're all wrong and they're together?!"
"*Gasp* No! I wanted my chance with one of them !"
They're saying some weird things. But I prefer to ignore, wanting at all costs to get out of this hubbub.
"Ah, all right." I agree to follow him.
I follow Kiba, who is already walking in front of me.
"Senji-sama?" Inaho shouts my name.
"Don't worry, I'll see you later tonight, okay?" I reassure her, gently patting her head.
I follow Kiba and we end up at the back of the school. Here, surrounded by trees, is the building known as the old school. Apparently it was used a long time ago, and there is no trace of people here. It is so creepy that it has been listed as one of the "seven wonders" of the school. The building looks very old and is made of wood, but there are no broken windows and it's hard to tell if anything is broken from its appearance. It's old, but it's not that bad.
(Here I am again, well it's time to take a new direction).
"Buchou is here." Kiba says.
(Buchou? Is he talking about Rias? Huh? Buchou? Did Senpai belong to a particular club? Does this mean he's part of that club as well? Oh well, as long as I follow him, I'll be able to meet with her.)
We enter the two-story building and climb the stairs to get deeper into the building.
The first time I came, I didn't really have time to pay attention to the details, but even the hallway looks clean. It looks like even the rooms that aren't being used don't have a speck of dust. When you think of old buildings, you expect them to be full of bugs, cobwebs, and dust, but I haven't seen any yet. They must clean this place quite often.
While I was thinking about this, we arrived at our destination. Kiba stops in front of the same room where I talked with Rias. I am surprised by the inscription on the door which says
[Occult Research Club].
(Occult research club huh? It wasn't on the club list... Anyway Just reading the name made me wonder. I'm not saying that the club sounds weird, but thinking that Rias-senpai is a member of the Occult Research Club is...)
"Buchou, I've brought him." Kiba waits for the approval through the wooden door. Then Senpai replied.
"Yes, come in." Looks like Senpai's inside.
Kiba opens the door and I follow him into the room.
It is the same room, without a doubt, with these strange signs and words in every part of the classroom. The floor, the walls and even the ceiling are covered with them. And the one that stands out the most is the circle drawn in the center of the room, the same one she used to come and rescue me.
Hmm? There's someone sitting on one of the sofas. It's a girl with a small frame...
Sakura told me about her, she still in the middle school section of Kuoh, just like Sakura. She looks like an elementary student because of her childish face and small body. She's quite popular amongst a certain groups of guys, the girls as well, and she's treated like a mascot for being so cute. She's eating youkan quietly. She always has a sleepy expression. If I remember correctly, she's said to be 'very' emotionless. She realised we entered, and our eyes meet.
"This is Emiya Senji-kun." Kiba introduces her to me.
"Ah, nice to meet you." Toujou Koneko-chan bows her head.
I also bow my head. After the greetings, she continues to eat her youkan.
(Hmm, it's just like the rumours say. Maybe she's just a very quiet girl.)
The sound of water flowing comes from the back of the room. Is that from a shower? Then I realised there's a shower curtain at the back of the room as well as a shadow on the curtain. It's the shadow of a girl taking a shower.
(This classroom comes with a shower?)
Then there's the sound of the shower stopping.
"Buchou, take this." There's someone else besides her. I hear a girl's voice that doesn't belong to Senpai.
"Thank you, Akeno." Looks like Senpai is changing behind the curtain.
I start to blush after remembering what happened this morning. I can feel Koneko's insistent and suspicious look. When I turn my head towards her, the little middle school student is just eating youkan.
(She must have noticed I was blushing, sorry).
Then the curtain opens. Senpai stands there in her uniform. She looks seductive with her wet hair. She looks at me, then smiles.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't take a shower last night because I spent the night at your place, so I just took a shower now."
"Ah, no problem, it's me who should be sorry instead."
Then I look behind Senpai. There is someone behind, a beautiful young woman with a voluptuous figure, very long black hair and violet eyes. Her hair is usually tied in a long ponytail, reaching all the way down to her legs with two strands sticking out from the top and sloping backward, with an orange ribbon keeping it in place and a pretty face that always seems to be smiling.
"Ara ara. Hello, my name is Himejima Akeno. Pleased to make your acquaintance." She introduces herself politely with a smile. Her voice sounds fascinating.
"O-Oh. My name is Emiya Senji. N-Nice to meet you too." Even though I am nervous, I greet her.
After Rias-senpai confirmed that we finished our introductions, she started talking.
"Looks like everyone is here. Emiya Senji, No, let me call you Senji."
"Y-Yes."
"We, the Occult Research Club, welcome you."
"Um."
"So, have you made your choice?"
This is it, the decisive moment is here.
"Here's your tea." Himejima-senpai has made tea for me.
"Ah, thank you." I take it with more ease than the last few times, and I drink it quickly. "It tastes good."
"Ara ara. Thank you very much." Himejima-senpai laughs happily with a "Ufufu".
Kiba, Koneko-chan, Rias-senpai and I are sitting on the sofas surrounding the table.
"Akeno, you sit over here as well."
"Yes, Buchou."
Himejima-senpai sits next to Rias-senpai then everyone looks at me. W-What is it...I'm getting nervous since everyone's looking at me in a cramped place like this... Then Rias-senpai spoke.
"I'll get straight to the point. We're all Devils."
(Y-You definitely did get straight to the point.)
"Your expression indicates that you expected it. Well, that makes it easier."
"First of all, I would like to have some information before I choose whether or not to join you."
"Oh sure, go ahead and ask what you want, I'll answer it as best I can."
"What is your situation with the fallen angels who attacked me ?"
She seems surprised by my question, then takes a serious tone.
"Well, that can't be helped. I'll give you the whole story, even if you already know something. the man with the black wings last night, that's a Fallen Angel. They're former Angels who used to serve God, but have fallen to hell because they had evil intentions. They're also the enemy of us Devils."
(Well, so far so good, it's pretty easy to guess).
"We Devils have been at war with the Fallen Angels since ancient times, fighting for possession of the Underworld which is also known as one of the floors of Hell in the human world. The Underworld is divided into two zones, one for the Devils and one for the Fallen Angels. The Devils form pacts with the humans and receive their sacrifices to increase their strength, while the Fallen Angels control the humans to eliminate the Devils. The Angels intervene to destroy both races at the behest of God, who created the three forces. This has been going on since the earliest times."
"Okay, I get the picture. That's pretty much what it says in the history books. and so this club, since it didn't show up in the list of clubs, I guess it's your stash or something."
"Right, the occult research club is just a cover. It's my hobby. In reality, it's a gathering place for us Devils."
(That explains it huh...)
"—Amano Yuuma"
Hearing that name, I open my eyes in shock.
(Where did she hear that name?)
"That day, you were on a date with Amano Yuuma, right?"
"Y-yes, but how do you know that name?"
There is confusion in my voice. It's because this subject has become taboo for me. When I talked about it before, nobody believed me, and nobody remembered her. Everyone told me it was a dream. That it was just my illusions. No one believed me and no one remembered that she existed. She also now haunts my nights, as if I didn't have enough nightmares already.
"She existed. For certain." Rias-senpai stated clearly. "Well, it looks like she tried to erase all evidence of herself from around you."
Rias-senpai snapped her finger, and Himejima-senpai took out a photo. I'm speechless after seeing who's in that photo.
"This is her, right? Amano Yuuma-chan."
Yes, the person in the picture is the girl who tried to seduce me who seems to have disappeared. I had taken a picture of her with my cell phone, but she disappeared. The picture is a clear image of her, and there are black wings growing on her back.
"This girl is...no, this Fallen Angel. The same kind as the one that attacked me last night."
"Right, this fallen angel came into contact with you to achieve a certain goal. After trying to accomplish it, she got rid of all traces and evidence about her."
"Trying to kill me..."
"Yes. To kill you."
I look at my left hand, knowing full well why. But...
"W-Why did she have to kill me?"
"Ah, sorry but I don't know. Did she, like me, ask you to join their side and you refused?"
"Oh no, not even, she seduced me then tried to kill me."
"Yes... I see, I guess it was easier for them to fix the problem rather than work around it."
"Just like you are doing now, right?" The intonation in my voice changes, my angera and impatience takes over.
"Look Senji, I don't want to hurt you, all I want is an ally, whether you are in my peerage or not. Anyway, from your reaction, I guess you know why you were targeted?"
"Yes, a power I have that bothers them, I think she called it a... Sacred Gear?"
"Right, The reason she approached you is because she wanted to check if there was a dangerous object inside you. She must have received a weak response from it, that is why she took her time to examine you. Then she confirmed that you were a human who possessed a Sacred Gear"
(So your power is called a Sacred Gear? How come you never told me about it?)
"I never liked the term Sacred Gear, I'm a dragon, not an object."
"Sacred Gear are an irregular power that's bestowed to certain humans. For example, most of the people whose names are recorded in history are said to be possessors of a Sacred Gear. They used the power of their Sacred Gears to record their name in history." Kiba then spoke.
"Presently, there are people who possess Sacred Gears within their bodies. You know those people who play an important role worldwide? Most of them possess a Sacred Gear." Himejima-senpai continued after Kiba.
"Most Sacred Gear have functions that are only usable in human society, but there are exceptional sacred devices that pose a threat to us demons and fallen angels. Like yours, Senji." Rias-senpai then continued to explain.
"Hmmm, I see, that's what she told me too..." I look at my left hand, sensing Ddraig's presence.
"So Senji, are you able to use it?" Rias looks me straight in the eyes, a defiant look. She wants to see if I can use my Sacred Gear.
I raise my hand, and make the red gauntlet appear.
"So that's what it is, the fallen angel, Amano Yuuma, saw in your Sacred Gear a threat and tried to kill you."
"Ah, by the way, thanks again, without you I would have really ended up in the dock."
"You should thank this instead." Rias-senpai pulls out a single leaflet.
I remember this flyer.
"This is one of the flyers we hand out. This magic circle is for summoning us devils. Nowadays, not many people would draw this circle to summon us, so we give these flyers to people who look like they want to summon devils. This magic circle is safe and easy to use. That day, one of our familiars was disguised as a human and was handing out flyers in the business district. That's when you got it, Senji. After being attacked by the Fallen Angel, you called me when you were on the verge of death. You made a wish so strong that it summoned me when usually it's my servants like Akeno and the others who are summoned."
"Now that you put it that way, it's a little embarrassing..."
"When I was summoned and saw you, I knew right away that you had a Sacred Gear and that you had been attacked by a Fallen Angel, and therefore, I wanted you in my peerage, Senji. So, I tried to be as transparent as possible, now, do you want to be in my peerage?"
At that moment, wings sprout from the backs of everyone around me. They're different from the black wings of Fallen Angels, their wings are like bat wings.
"Um, but if I join your peerage, does that also mean I have to join your club?"
"Oh, ah yes that's right, you are part of the Maken-ki. Don't worry, I'll negotiate your schedule so you can participate in two clubs. If that's all you're worried about, I guess you'll accept?"
"Well, I remember the offer you made me last time, does it still stand?"
"Obviously, I was counting on going with that, five years then you're free." She takes out her blood red chess pieces and puts them on the table.
"Okay, fine I accept. I really hope that joining you will allow me to become stronger."
"On behalf of Gremory, I promise you that I will do anything to make my peerage stronger, after all, I too have ambitions." She said with a big smile.
"All right, what should I do?"
"Let me do it. Since you have such a strong power, I'll have to use my 8 pawns."
"Um, is it really worth it?"
"Obviously, you may not notice it Senji, but you have extraordinary magic circuits, a Sacred Gear and surely something else. You're a rare gem, and I'm counting on having you, even if it's only for five years." She approaches, with her 8 pawns in her hands.
"I really don't know how it works, but I imagine you know what you're doing yes."
"I'll explain in due course. So are you ready? Don't worry, the absorption is painless."
"Do what you have to do, I'm ready."
Without hesitation, she approaches my chest and recites an incantation.
"I order, in my name Rias Gremory. You, Senji Emiya. I, resurrect you back to this soil as my servant, and have you reborn as a Devil. You, my [Pawn], be delighted with your new life!"
The pieces sink into my body in a burst of red light. I suddenly feel a new force running through me, then disappearing. And with that I also feel some kind of sensation on my back. Looking over my shoulder, I see the same black wings protruding from my back.
(Is that it? Just like that?)
"Let's introduce everyone anew. Yuuto." Kiba smiles at me after Rias-senpai calls his name.
"My name is Kiba Yuuto. As you already know, I'm a first year like you, Emiya Senji-kun. Umm, I'm a Devil too. Nice to meet you."
"...Middle School...Toujou Koneko. Pleased to make your acquaintance...I'm a Devil too." Toujou Koneko-chan bows her head.
"My name is Himejima Akeno, and I'm a third year. I'm also the vice-president of this Occult Research Club. Nice to meet you. Even though I'm like this, I'm a Devil as well. Ufufu." Himejima-senpai bows her head very politely.
Lastly, it's Rias-senpai. She waves her crimson hair and says very directly.
"And I'm their master as well as being a Devil from the House of Gremory, Rias Gremory. My house holds the rank of a Duke. Let's get along from now on, Senji."
