It was approaching dawn when I woke up. I was feeling like a new person, having been rejuvenated from my fatigued state from last night.

I then looked on either side of me. I saw Asia, in her pajamas, sleeping peacefully on my left. However, on my right, I saw no sign of Akeno.

It was only when I was trying to move out of the bed when I found out where she was…

She giggled as she revealed herself, wearing her night yukata, from under the bedsheet right nestling herself right on top of me, giving little mind to how her ample chest was now pressed right up against mine.

"…W-What?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes as I was still trying to gain my consciousness.

She giggled. "Good morning, darling. Did you sleep well?"

"Uh… Sure…"

It was then that Asia was waking up as well, rubbing her own eyes before she started staring blankly at us. "A-Akeno?"

Then another entered the room wearing a nightgown. She was looking quite vexed with one hand on her hip.

"What's going on in here?"

I shook my head in astonishment, "Rias? What are you doing here?"

Akeno giggled mischievously. "Asia and I just gave Makoto the night of his life~."

"Akeno! No!" Asia got immensely flustered at that statement and started shaking her hands frantically.

I scoffed and proceeded to summon my still-intact halo and pointed towards it.

"My, my. Just kidding," Akeno replied. "He was worried about you and about the Game. So we… relieved him~."

"Akeno, enough with the innuendos," I scolded her.

"Ah, but you're the one who's perceiving them as dirty!"

Rias gave an amused sigh. "I'm glad to see you all are in good spirits. I'll be out on the porch if you want to join me." She then walked out of the room.

"Good grief," I said. "Could you please get off of me, Akeno?"

Akeno giggled, and the proceeded to oblige.

I walked towards the back porch of the house, where Rias was sitting with a cup of tea. Grayfia was nearby.

"Would you like some tea as well, Makoto?" Grayfia asked me.

"I would. Thanks."

She poured out a cup on the opposite side of Rias and I sat down.

"You feeling better?" I asked her.

"Much better," she replied. "But the real question is are you feeling better?"

I nodded.

"Thank goodness," Rias replied.

We continued drinking as the sun was rising in the distance, "You recovered quicker than I thought," I said. "Are you still not going to be able to participate in the Game?"

"I am mostly recovered, but I am not 100 percent quite yet," she replied. "For instance, my appetite is still quite weak. I doubt I will return to peak condition in time for the game."

"I see."

"And besides, I have been hearing quite a stir about your debut," she added. "No sense in interrupting the hype, is there?"

"No, there is not," I nodded as I took another drink.

As the sun continued to rise, I asked her another question:

"Rias… I know this is an abrupt question, but… when you still had that arranged engagement, why did you ask me, of all people, to marry you instead?"

She chuckled. "It's simple, really. Men wanted me because I was a Gremory. They wanted the influence of my place in society. But you were different… When I said I liked it when you called me 'Rias,' I didn't just say that for nothing. You liked me for the girl that is Rias and not just Gremory. And I guess that's why if I had to marry someone suddenly, my first choice would be you."

…

"In that case," I replied. I groaned and buried my head in my left hand, "I can't believe I betrayed you like that..."

"How?" She looked concerned.

"If that's how you feel about me, then I should've confessed to you instead of Akeno. I could see it in your eyes when you found out."

But before I could finish that sentence, she wrapped her arms around me.

"You need to stop beating yourself up about that," she told me. "You and Akeno deserve each other."

"But what about you?"

"Your friendship with me is more than I could ever ask for," she said.

"Also, I can feel something… deep in my gut…" she continued as she let go of me, putting her fist on her chest. "My true love is out there somewhere… waiting for me."

…

I chuckled. "Well, whoever that is… I am envious of him. He is lucky to have someone like you."

She nodded. "And Akeno is lucky to have someone like you."

"Wait, why do I have to wear makeup?" I said.

"You have to look your best for the cameras," the stylist said as she was applying something on my face . "Especially with those dark circles. Have you not been sleeping well, perchance?"

"… I did last night…"

"Well, you had better be making a habit of it," she said to me. "I am rooting for you, so you know."

I nodded. "Thank you."

Me and Rias' peerage had returned to the Underworld for another interview. This time, I would be interviewing on a local news' broadcast in Lucifard.

Akeno, who was sitting near me, giggled. "You look pretty, darling."

I chuckled. "Thanks, Akeno…"

Serafall walked up to me, "You're gonna crush it, Makkun!" she said, clenching her fist in determination.

The stylist nodded. "Go and make us fans of the White Dragon Emperor proud."

I got up out of the chair and followed Serafall into the hallway.

"You have more fans than you know," she told me. "Ticket sales actually went up since word came out you would be subbing for Rias-chan in the Game!"

"They have?"

"Yep! You're popular!"

"Though, why do you seem to take a particular liking to me?" I asked. "After all, I'm an unassuming high schooler and you're a demon lord."

"Hmm…" Serafall pondered.

…

She pointed up, "It's a secret!"

"You're real helpful…"

"You're already with Akeno. There's no point, I guess…" she said, looking down, but then suddenly lit up. "Ooh! But we could engage in a forbidden love~. Would you like to try that?"

"Negative."

"Peh. You're boring."

I was escorted into the interview room, where Sairaorg was already seated. He waved at me as was sitting opposite an interviewer in a business suit.

"It's so great to see you!" the reporter said as she shook hands with me.

A cameraman signalled to the reporter with a thumbs up and she responded in turn.

"We are with Sairaorg Bael and Makoto Fujiwara, the latter of which is competing in the upcoming Rating Game in Rias Gremory's place after a sudden illness. First of all, Makoto, how are you feeling as your first Rating Game approaches?"

I shook my head. "Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Afraid even. But I am looking forward to this upcoming challenge."

She nodded. "Your counterpart said she expects to win this upcoming Rating Game in spite of the odds. Would you say the same of your leadership?"

"Well, I'm working with the same outstanding peerage. If she thinks we can pull it off, I don't suppose I'll drag them down that much."

"I've seen what Makoto's capable of," Sairaorg said, "If anything, he may be an even tougher opponent than Rias Gremory."

I shrugged.

"Are you nervous that you will be facing off against an angel?" she asked him, "Especially as you think he may be even tougher than the opponent you previously anticipated?"

"Not at all!" he replied. "If anything, it is the anticipation that has escalated."

She nodded. "I know I'm highly anticipating this upcoming matchup as well. We are witnessing Underworld history in the making right here. How this turns out could shape Rating Games to come."

After we concluded the interview, I was escorted back out into our group's waiting room.

"Seeya around!" Serafall waved her arm at me and skipped away. I waved back.

"How'd it go?" Irina asked me.

"Went quite well," I replied.

I noticed Sona and her peerage was in the waiting room with us.

"I'm sorry I won't get to see the big game," she said. "I have one of my own to attend…"

"I would argue yours is more important," I commented. "Your dream of opening that Rating Game school is at stake."

"Hmm… I suppose you are right."

However, I then noticed a strange sound.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"Where do I recognize that sound from...?" Xenovia asked.

Ravel cupped her right hand over her ear and then found the source under a pile of complimentary periodicals in the waiting room.

"You recognize that sound from Counter-Strike, Xenovia! It's a bomb!" I said.

A receptionist nearby heard that and was about to exclaim "Everyone! Please eva-"

Sona dismissed her with a hand gesture.

"How much time do we have left, Ravel?" she asked.

"Uh… Less than a minute." she said skittishly.

"That's more than enough time…" Sona replied calmly.

"We don't even know whether to cut the red or blue wire!" Xenovia exclaimed.

"Those wires aren't even color-coded, Xenovia." Irina responded.

"I think the Class President has a cooler strategy in mind…" Aika commented.

Sona held her arm out, "Ravel, toss the bomb towards me and attack it with a basic fire attack."

"Uh…" Ravel hesitated.

"Trust me," Sona insisted.

"Let's hope it works, nya," Kuroka said.

"Or else she's about to blow us up," Koneko added.

"My, my," Akeno chimed in. "If Sona has a plan. It will certainly work."

Xenovia traced a cross on her chest and frantically began praying; "OurFatherwhichartinheavenHallowedbethyname. ThykingdomcomeThywillbedoneinearthasitisinheaven." Irina and Asia furiously clasped their hands and bowed their heads in prayer with her. I clasped my hands as well as I gazed at Ravel and Sona.

Ravel tossed the bomb towards Sona and fired a bolt of flame from her fingertip towards it. Just as the bolt collided with the bomb, there was a loud bang! However, right before that, Sona had stretched her hand towards it and encased it in a thick water bubble!

The resulting bang was then muffled. The bubble burst and released a thick steam in the waiting room.

Xenovia clenched her fist in victory. "Amen!" Irina exclaimed. "Thank you, Lord!" said Asia.

I exhaled and unclasped my hands. "Well, that went well."

Serafall came back into the room. "Looking for this?" she said cheerfully as she casually tossed what appeared to be a cameraman.

"Wait. Where am I?" he said.

Later that night, after being questioned myself, I waited outside the studio as the police questioned the suspect as well as Sona and the rest of the servants of each peerage in attendance. Apparently Sairaorg had left the building right as the timer began to tick. Somebody is still trying to take us out of the game.

"You look deep in thought, young sir…" a girl said to me.

The girl in question had platinum blonde hair not unlike me or my mom's and pointed ears. However, her eyes were, in contrast, a bright red color, almost glowing in the dark of night.

Next to her was a taller pretty boy wearing a black bowtie suit with similar red eyes and medium-length golden hair.

I sighed. "You could say that…"

"I was asked to warn you," she said. "You must remain on your guard. More people like that young man will be coming after you."

"Tell me something I don't know…"

"We heard something. Someone is coming to the game itself who may be the mastermind you have been looking for. You must continue to be vigilant."

I nodded. "Thanks for the tip."

"My name is Elmenhilde Karnstein," she said, walking away with her servant. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Makoto Fujiwara."

I gave a brisk wave as they walked away.

"I think… we may need to cancel the game," Sirzechs said.

He had called an emergency meeting with Diehauser, Sairaorg, and I at the Gremory meeting room that we met in last time.

"This is one of our biggest games yet. We can't let that go to waste." Diehauser replied.

"We also can't risk the lives of my dear sister and her servants," Sirzechs replied.

There was an awkward silence as Sairaorg was scratching his chin.

Sirzechs turned to me. "Makoto. What is your opinion?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. We have been training our butts off for this. It would be a shame if that went to waste."

"I assure you. It will not go to waste," he replied. "Halja won't know what hit her."

"We want to know who this enemy is, right?" Sairaorg chimed in.

"What are you getting at?" Diehauser asked.

"Makoto did say that Elmen thinks the mastermind may be making an appearance at this game," Sairaorg replied. "This may be my best chance to beat the crap out of them."

"Even if they're trying to hand you a victory on a silver platter?" Diehauser asked.

Sairaorg clasped his fists together. "Absolutely. The only one who is allowed to defeat Makoto is me!" He turned to me. "Right?"

"Sure… Who knows? Maybe Halja is behind this, and I finally get to show her who much I've improved since I last fought her."

"I like your optimism, Makoto," Sirzechs said. "The game is continuing as planned. But there is also a new objective besides winning. Find whoever is targeting your side."

"Oh, wow!" Aika exclaimed.

We were taking a gondola lift to a floating island – the site of our imminent game. Rias had told us this was part of the Agares territory.

"Eat your heart out, James Cameron!" Rahab exclaimed.

Akeno began rubbing my shoulders.

"You are getting tense again," Akeno said to me. "Are you ready?"

I exhaled. "Ready as I'll ever be…"

"My. You're not as nervous as the last time I did this," she said. "Getting bolder?"

"No. You're wearing more clothes than last time."

Yuuto rubbed his eyes. "I'm not sure if I want to know what the context of 'last time' was…"

"She was wearing something," I replied. "I insisted."

Akeno giggled. "Quite exuberantly, I might add."

I noticed Aika was furiously jotting down notes as I was talking to Akeno.

Kuroka glanced at the notes. "Wow. What a twisted mind, you have, nya!" I could see Koneko rolling her eyes at that.

I sighed. "Good grief…"

Ravel pouted. "You need to focus, Aika! Our opponent is fierce and not to be messed with!"

"Makoto is the Acting President, not you, Ravel…" Aika retorted smugly.

"If you try to usurp Makoto-senpai, I will have to end you, Fried Chicken…" Koneko joined her.

"It is Ravel. Phenex. Thank you very much!"

"Hey, Ravel. I believe your brother said he fought Sairaorg before." I said to her. "You got any pointers?"

"Plenty!" she said, putting her hand to her chest. "I also happen to be an expert at battle strategy. My big brother relied on me a lot and you can too!"

Koneko then began storming up to her as she said that until I got between them.

"Hey! This is gonna be our biggest challenge yet and if we want a chance of winning, we are going to have to get. along… at least for the duration of the game."

Koneko nodded. "Sorry, Makoto-senpai, Ravel."

Ravel nodded. "I apologize. I got ahead of myself."

Akeno giggled. "You are already filling the role nicely, dear."

"Yeah! Let's win this game!" Aika said.

Irina became ecstatic as she tasted a finger food plate. "Even the food is delicious! I can't believe you got us onto this airship, President!" she said to me.

I nodded. "This is reserved for VIP attendees. Of which me and Makoto's peerage would definitely apply."

"I heard this game is important," Xenovia commented. "Is it because it's the first time an angel will participate in the Rating Games?"

"That's true… That and the White Dragon Emperor vs. the 'Strongest Youth' have been strong in terms of marketing to the common folk," I explained. "My big brother also says it's a matchup between the family of the current demon lord and the old demon lords."

"So, the politicians will be paying attention to the power dynamic between the two," Ms. Rossweisse commented.

I nodded. "That's why the Gremory family and the Bael family couldn't decide which territory to have it in, so they ultimately decided to have it in the Agares territory."

I thought I saw someone I knew so I got up and began to walk towards them. However, I then suddenly got light-headed and grasped my forehead.

"President! Are you okay?" Asia came up to me.

"Yeah. I think I'm fine. Just felt a bit weird, that's all."

She escorted me back to the couch.

"Don't overexert yourself, Rias," Ms. Rossweisse said to me. "You're not at 100 percent quite yet."

"I understand," I said. "I'm just worried about Makoto."

"Don't worry. I know he is ready to take on Sairaorg," Asia said to me.

"It's not just that. I'm worried for his safety." I replied. "Others have tried to attack him twice already."

Asia rubbed my shoulders and Xenovia told me, "If anyone can stop whoever's trying to rig this, it's Makoto!"

Somebody then ran up to us. "Guess who is joining y'all in the VIP box, today~!"

I chuckled. "Thanks, Lady Serafall. I appreciate your company." I told her.

"Don't forget!" she said, saying with upbeat seriousness. "We have an important mission – find whoever is trying to steal the W from Makkun and stop them dead in their tracks!"