After the unexpected incident with the spaceship, the authorities decided to suspend the remainder of classes. A practical decision, considering the need to preserve the scene and ensure the students' safety. The school was then placed in a state of lockdown, while the police conducted investigations into the incident.
Amidst the chaos that had ensued, Light, accompanied by Himari and Lala, made his way to his residence.
As he walked, his cellphone buzzed, announcing a message from Rias. She asked: [Can we come over to your place?]. Light pondered for a moment. Knowing that the school was under lockdown, he promptly replied: [Okay, come over.]
For him, having guests over wasn't an issue. The property, vast and well-structured, resembled a traditional Japanese guesthouse, with numerous guest rooms. To top it off, the place also had a Dojo, perfect for those looking for a training space.
As they neared the square on their way to Light's house, the calm atmosphere was abruptly interrupted. Without warning, as if guided by a sixth sense, Light's hand executed a fluid motion in the air, and, in the next instant, a simple water ring gun adorned his index finger.
"Light?" Lala inquired with a look of perplexity, not understanding the sudden action.
"They're trying to kidnap a child," whispered Himari, her eyes swiftly narrowing onto the situation.
Without hesitation, Light manipulated the water gun with his magic, filling it with water. He quickly applied the Stellar Multiplier to the small weapon, amplifying its power eightfold without altering its appearance. Then, with a determined move, he unleashed a high-speed jet of water.
The power and precision of that gesture left both Lala and Himari agape. The action, though unexpected, revealed the hidden power in that simple toy.
However, they had witnessed Light purchasing that toy before. Thus, the only plausible explanation was that this manifestation was, indeed, an as-yet unknown ability of Light's.
While the action evoked memories in Himari, recalling the "Light Ferry", there was something subtly different about it, something she couldn't immediately identify.
A shrill scream sliced the air: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
The assailant, trying to drag an innocent child away, was hit by the potent water jet on his shoulder. The force of the impact threw him several meters back.
With a nod from Light, Himari acted, moving with supernatural speed. She grabbed the child, who narrowly avoided falling to the ground.
The sequence of events unfolded in mere seconds, leaving the bystanders in shock. The child's mother, running in panic toward her daughter, almost lost her balance, stumbling over her own steps.
As the car prepared to speed away with the kidnapper, Light quickly aimed and fired four times, hitting each of the vehicle's tires.
"Call the police now!" Light instructed, his voice firmly cutting through the momentary tension.
Only after this rallying cry did the bystanders snap out of their state of shock, and immediately one of them took out a phone to alert the authorities. The confusing scene initially made many believe the man was the girl's father. The truth only became apparent when the child's mother, now closer, shouted out in desperation, warning about the kidnapping.
It's worth noting the physical disadvantage in this desperate chase. Few women could outpace an adult, muscular man. Even carrying the girl, who wasn't very heavy due to her slender build, he moved with ease.
After being carefully placed on the ground by Himari, the girl, still shaken by the ordeal, began to cry. "Mommy!" she shouted, running into the comforting arms of her mother.
Already in the car, a Fiat Doblò, the driver, disoriented after colliding with a pole due to the burst tires, tried to flee on foot. However, Light was on the lookout and shot again with his water gun.
"Ughh-ahhhhh!"
An anguished scream filled the air. The man fell to the ground, clutching his left leg, from where blood began to gush, showing the precision and force of Light's shot.
At the end of the tense situation, Himari returned to her place beside Light. Lala was effervescent with excitement. "Light, that was amazing!" she exclaimed, her face lit up with an almost childlike glow, as if about to burst into applause.
Himari, always more reserved in her expressions, didn't utter a word, but the depth of her gaze towards Light conveyed a mix of admiration and respect. It was as if her irises told stories that words couldn't express.
Light, trying to avoid further complications, advised, "We should leave before we get wrapped up in more complex questions."
It was uncertain what investigations might reveal about the incident. However, as a precaution, Light decided to inform Rias, since she had the ability to manipulate the memories of ordinary humans. Whether she would intervene or not remained a mystery, and for Light, it was of lesser importance.
In contrast to the universe of High School DxD, where supernatural events were rare, in stories like Omamori Himari, it was not uncommon for humans to witness battles of exorcists against mysterious entities, the Ayakashis. Even in the plot of To LOVE-Ru, the supernatural had its place.
However, human skepticism was a predominant factor. Even when faced with clear evidence, many chose to refute the supernatural, attributing events to tricks or film stunts. Given this widespread skepticism, Light chose silence, realizing that some truths, no matter how evident, were beyond the understanding of many.
In the cozy living room of his house, Light sat down, the twinkle of twilight streaming through the windows, and began to elucidate some aspects of the power he held, known as 'Light Ferry'. However, he refrained from mentioning the most recent evolution of this ability: the Light of Stellar Crossing.
As Light spoke, Himari watched him with growing admiration. The depth of her respect for him was remarkable, something that went beyond simple appreciation. The intensity of that admiration was only comparable to Lala's fascination with Light, although in her case, it was more carefree.
While Lala's eyes sparkled with charm for the young man, it was not for his power per se, but rather for the uniqueness of his character. Coming from a royal lineage, daughter of the Emperor of the Milky Way, Lala had witnessed feats incomprehensible to most mortals.
Himari, yielding to her feelings, drew close to Light. "Young master, you truly are extraordinary," she murmured, gently wrapping her arm around his and pressing against him in a mix of affection and mischief. The slight hint in her voice added a nuance of flirtation, lending the moment a more relaxed air.
A laugh escaped Light's lips. Not that he minded Himari's displays of affection. In fact, he appreciated the loving and at times teasing manner in which she treated him. And at that moment, everything seemed harmonious between them.
"Me too!" She exclaimed, her laughter sounding like the tinkling of bells. Without delay, she jumped towards Light, landing softly and wrapping him in a hug from the other side, complementing Himari's embrace.
With a mischievous smile, she drew a circular gesture with her finger on his chest, imitating a move she had seen Himari do earlier. This little gesture had so captivated Lala that she adopted it for herself, incorporating it into her interactions with Light.
While the trio shared this intimate moment, far away, the atmosphere was entirely different. Rias, with her imposing presence and unmistakable aura, arrived at the location Light had mentioned.
The scene of the near-kidnapping still bore traces of the tension that had occurred. Without hesitation, Rias cast a subtle spell, erasing the recent memories of the bystanders present. The memory of Light's heroic intervention and the abrupt way he neutralized the criminals vanished as if it had never happened.
Having accomplished her task, Rias, accompanied by Akeno and other companions and... an unusual 'individual', headed with firm and swift steps towards Light's house.
Under the soft morning sun, the group walked slowly, and among them, the seductive voice of Akeno broke the silence: "Ara, ara, how I wish I had witnessed Light-kun's combat..." Her eyes portrayed a subtle regret, yet at the same time, bore a spark of curiosity. "Such a pity~".
Megumi, who typically didn't show her emotions, raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "What did you really want to see, Akeno-sempai? Light in combat or just Light?"
Akeno laughed softly, hand to her mouth, her eyes narrowing in amusement. "Fufufu~ Megumi-chan, you have quite the imagination."
Megumi merely replied with a dry "I see…", not betraying any more emotion, but retaining an ironic tone in her words.
Among them, Rias observed the exchange of words between the two. Whenever Light's name was mentioned, Megumi seemed to come out of her shell, becoming mysteriously more expressive. However, Rias chose not to intervene in the conversation.
As they walked, the imposing house of Light loomed before them. It was not just a house but a grand mansion that seemed to harken back to ancient times.
At the entrance to Light's mansion, an ethereal figure emerged, serving as a perfect receptionist for the residence.
It was Himari, wearing a kimono that, despite not having excessive details, highlighted her grace and beauty. The soft colors of the fabric gave her a timeless elegance, perfectly harmonizing with her pale skin. The kimono accentuated her upright and dignified posture, making her look like a Yamato Nadeshiko lady.
Upon seeing her, Rias couldn't help but smile: "Himari-san, that kimono suits you so well! Seeing you like this, I feel the urge to try one on myself."
Akeno, in turn, with half-closed eyes and a suggestive smile, used that unmistakable tone, typical of her, when she added: "Ara, ara. Rias is right. You look stunning, Himari-san." There was a hint of mischief in her voice, and the way she drew out her words was almost like a song, mesmerizing those who heard it.
Kiba, with his courteous posture and attentive eyes, stepped forward. He had never spoken to Himari before and felt the need to make a friendly first impression. "I'm Kiba Yuuto, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said with a mild smile.
Himari, captured by Kiba's sincerity, nodded in acknowledgment. Her eyes showed respect as she replied, "I am Himari Noihara. It's a pleasure."
However, it was the young and alluring girl standing next to Koneko who truly caught Himari's attention.
Her eyes, full of curiosity, assessed Himari from head to toe, and an intrigued expression appeared on her face. "Interesting," she began, her voice filled with surprise: "A bakeneko, yet so powerful and lucid."
Himari's eyes narrowed, trying to identify the newcomer. "Who might you be?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Kuroka, with an almost mischievous smile, replied: "I'm Kuroka, the elder sister of Shirone... Although most call her Koneko now." There was a touch of nostalgia and hesitation in the latter part. She added as a pair of black ears and a double tail appeared: "And, a Nekoshou."
With a gentle nod and a serene expression, Himari replied to Kuroka: "Understood."
Following this brief exchange of introductions, Himari made a sweeping gesture towards the entrance of the mansion, saying: "Please, feel free to enter."
Upon entering the mansion and changing shoes, they were led to a spacious and well-lit living room. There, amid the cozy setting, Light and Lala were engaged in a lively dialogue. Both immersed in laughter and opinions, they seemed to be commenting on something playing on the TV, perhaps a variety show or some intriguing series.
Noticing the arrival of the guests, Light, always composed, interrupted the conversation and addressed them in a welcoming tone: "You've finally arrived. Make yourselves at home."
Rias, in response, allowed a hint of intimacy to show in her voice. "Thank you, Light."
Light looked at her, but then cast a questioning glance towards Kuroka, adding: "And who might this lovely girl be?"
Kuroka, for her part, couldn't contain a playful smile upon realizing Light's game of pretending he didn't recognize her: 'So that's how it is?'
Kuroka's lips curved into an amused smile. She had heard the voice of his heart several times, but this was the first time she saw him in person, not to mention he clearly knew who she was, yet he pretended not to.
Amused by the situation, she responded similarly to how she had earlier with Himari: "I'm Kuroka..."
In this way, amidst introductions and friendly chats, the mood in the room evolved into growing harmony. Lala, with her intrinsically jovial spirit, brought a positive energy to the ambiance, ensuring everyone felt more relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
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