The Time of Isolation Hath Come

VI

It fizzled and popped.

Romani let out a slight noise of surprise and jerked his hand back as if he had been stung by it.

He stared at the spot where the spell had been, then down to his feet where the tennis ball rolled down past his legs and away from him. His eyes lingered upon it for a few moments before he felt his brows raise ever so slightly, leaning down and grasping the ball before it could get away from him.

Bringing it up to his eyes and looking over it for a few moments.

He focused on the small blackened part of the tennis ball, where it had made contact with the shield spell.

Slowly, he turned it around to show it off to the person who had thrown the ball at him, it hadn't been all that fast and was really a light toss from an underarm position.

Issei looked just as surprised, striding forwards and then looking down at the damaged projectile for a few seconds, then brought his eyes up to look at Romani for a few seconds, the pair of them blinking at one another before directing their focus back to the tennis ball once again.

"...I mean…" Issei began, then trailed off and gave him a rather clunky shrug of the shoulders. "...It did something?"

Romani could only nod his head up and down at the words of the teenager.

"So…it's a bit like an electric fly swat?"

He lowered the arm holding the ball, directing a flat stare towards the boy who countered with an abashed smile. Giving a light chuckle, the boy stepped back and brought up a hand, ruffling his brown hair for a few seconds before shrugging once more, indicating that it was about the only thing he could really come up with and say.

Admittedly, it was hardly as though Romani had very many words either.

Bringing up his right hand, he stared at the tips of his fingers where the spell had formed from. It hadn't looked very healthy in the first place and he'd been expecting it to just break when the tennis ball collided with it. The very last thing that he had expected - and really wanted - was for the small diamond shaped shield to explode and electrocute him.

Or he thought it was electrocution.

It did also feel as though his fingers had briefly graced the running water of a hot tap, the tips of them were still a little red as well.

"That…really wasn't what I envisaged when I wanted to make a shield spell…"

Issei shrugged. "It technically shields you from flies and mosquitos."

Romani sent him the dry look once more, then shook his head from side to side and flicked his hands a couple more times. Fighting back the urge to hiss at the mild discomfort in his fingers. He was sure that it would have worked, though maybe trying to throw something at it immediately wasn't the best idea.

"By the way…how are we going to explain the burn mark to the tennis club?"

He froze.

Then he stopped shaking his hand and stared at Issei for a couple of seconds, the boy looked equally uneasy about the remark. Neither of them said anything for a few moments as they both came up with their own ideas. Or he assumed Issei was coming up with an idea for something.

Because he had nothing.

Unless…

He stared down at the tennis ball in his left hand, rolling his jaw from side to side.

"...Do you think we could cut off the burnt bits with some scissors?"

Issei stared at him for several seconds with a scrunched up face, opening his mouth to say something before he blinked and then closed it again. Bringing up his hand and cupping his chin in thought. Then his eyebrows rose up, clear evidence of internal debate waged within the mind of the teenager before they settled on an answer.

And just shrugged their shoulders.

Romani exhaled.

He had sort of hoped for a little more than that.

"Actually…don't you know some sort of spell or something?"

Issei jerked back and then pointed at himself. "Me? Why would I know that sort of thing? I don't know all that much magic and the stuff I do know is for breaking stuff apart, not fixing it and…err…it doesn't really work on that sort of thing…"

Romani pinched his brows as he looked at the teenager, not just because of his words but also because of the fact he was now averting his eyes from the nurse. Squinting at him, Romani felt as though there was a little bit more to this than Issei was actually letting on in the first place.

"Uh-huh." Though he elected to merely ignore it, nodding his head up and down and accepting the words of the boy. Then placing his fists on his hips and turning his head away, sniffing a couple of times before he spoke. "Do you suppose that anyone else would be able to fix it? Actually, the tennis club will probably want this back pretty quickly so I don't think we have all that much in the way of options, do we?"

Issei gave a grim shake of the head. "Don't think so, Roman-sensei…I could ask Buchou about it, but then if she accidentally tells Kaichou about it then…"

Beads of sweat formed on both of their brows.

Neither of them wanted that option.

"...We should find a pair of scissors."

Issei rapidly nodded his head up and down, then quickly jogged towards him as the pair ventured back out from around the back of the old school house. It was really the only place that either of them had thought of when it came to practising magic.

Admittedly it would have been smarter to do this at home, but a lot of Leona's points in her guide book had specified that magic could sometimes have unintended consequences.

She had warned of explosions.

So doing it here where it could be helped seemed smarter to him…also he didn't want to risk damaging the house again.

Romani rounded the corner and then stopped.

Issei very nearly walked into the back of him, he heard the teen let out a sudden noise of surprise and step around, though it was clear that he swiftly saw the same thing that Romani had spied.

Which was Koneko stood directly before the pair of them, leaning against the side of the building with her arms folded and giving the both of them the side eye. Romani felt a sudden flash of tension shoot through his body, recalling the previous problem with Akeno and sensing magical energy whenever he used it as well.

Shakily, he hid the tennis ball behind his hand and then brought about a smile that he really hoped showed himself as a calmer man than he actually felt right now.

"Hey, Toujou-san…how are you doing?"

The girl said nothing, her amber eyes remained locked onto his own without even blinking.

It was a little unnerving how such a small girl could cast such a large shadow upon him.

"...You doing good then? That's great to hear. Make sure you're not eating too much candy, you know? That stuff is really bad for your teeth."

He wanted the ground to open him up and swallow him whole.

Issei stood directly to his right, leaned towards him with his own expression frozen in a nervous smile. The boy started to hiss out words, never once losing the grin that was on his face as he did so. "What the heck are you doing?"

"I'm panicking, help me."

"Why do you think I know what to do?"

"You're both Devils, you should know these things!"

"Being a Devil has nothing to do with it!" Issei hastily blurted out, losing the smile for a fraction of a second before it came back in force. Bringing up his hand and waving to Koneko a couple of times as he brought out a rather forced chuckle. "She spends most of her time just eating or looking at me as though I was plucked off the bottom of a shoe."

"That is very specific and a little concerning." The responsible part of him briefly flashed up at the words of the treatment, then he set it aside for the time being as they dealt with the elephant in the room.

Or the teenage girl camped by the side the building.

"But aren't you in the same group?"

"Yes, but that doesn't-"

"I can hear you."

The pair flinched at the curt words of the white haired girl, her eyes slid between the two of them with absolute boredom. She stepped away from the wall and then glanced first to Issei and then finally turned her eyes towards him, narrowing them slightly as she took a sniff of the air. Speaking once more after a pause.

"Careless."

Romani fought back another flinch from the words, only able to lower his head in shame.

Yikes.

Another sniff of the air and suddenly Koneko was marching right towards him with a narrowed gaze. Romani widened his eyes and managed half a step backwards before the girl was right in front of him, unable to react before her hand snaked forwards and she gripped his right arm with fingers that were more like a vice.

His arm was dragged up and she was suddenly gripping his right hand, staring at his fingers. He posture stiffened in the next second as she stared at them, then she was looking back towards him.

Any words he had died on the tip of his tongue at the look she was sending him.

"Reckless."

Was the next word she said in such a tone that it felt as though she was trying to burn the word into his skin.

"Issei-senpai as well." She was quick to bring her attention back to his companion, losing none of the edge in her voice as she did. "Practising magic like this is dangerous. Neither of you are very good at it. Could get hurt, get others hurt as well."

He winced at her words, then made to offer a retort before realising he didn't have one.

It felt as though he was back in front of his old teachers once again, his eyes turned down and he found himself staring at his feet in silence. At least until he had the energy to ask for her to let go of his hand so that he could have it back. The weight of her stare fell against him once more and lingered for long enough that he felt as though she was really going to lay into him.

Then she let out a gentle huff and released his hand, he quickly drew it back to himself and glanced at the tips of his fingers that still felt a little tingly. He was beginning to imagine that he must have done something a little bad for her to instantly pick up on the idea that something was amiss.

He glanced at the girl. "I…don't suppose that you-"

"Ask Akeno-senpai." Koneko replied rather simply, folding her arms and closing her eyes. "She knows better."

Romani managed to avoid flinching at that little reminder.

Akeno would probably know better.

It would also be better than having to worry Leona, at least on paper.

But that was…he'd felt as though he'd made a serious blunder in their last conversation when it related to her parents. Something that he really did want to apologise for, but the thought of approaching her again to apologise made him feel as though he would make it worse all over again.

And he really didn't want to go and do something like that.

"Right…right…" He muttered out loud, nodding his head up and down and turning his eyes away to the side.

"One box."

He blinked, then shot a look at the girl and furrowed his brows. "Pardon?"

"One box." Koneko repeated as she stared at him. "Cakes in the usual spot."

Was she…was she blackmailing him?

His brows pinched closer and closer together as he stared down at the white haired girl for a few moments longer, trying to make sure he wasn't actually going crazy or assuming the worst of her. Slowly, his eyes turned onto Issei and stared at the young man. He shrugged his shoulders and gave Koneko an odd look.

"You want a box of cakes…what for?"

"Kaichou would be angry."

Romani felt an incredulous noise escape the back of his throat as he stared at the girl in naked shock now. Matched only by the sputtering of Issei as he stared at her with wide eyes, then brought up a hand and pointed at her. "What the heck? Are you blackmailing us? What happened to solidarity between friends?"

The girl stared at her him silence, then tilted her head and raised a brow.

Even across her apathetic face, the notion of 'did you really ask that?' was transmitted clear as day between herself and Issei.

Then she rolled her lips inwards. "Kaichou would be stricter. So would Buchou."

Issei gave a phantom wince as though he remembered something unpleasant, then made a strangled expression and shot him a look, then whispered towards him. "You know, a single box of small cakes isn't really that much to ask for silence at the end of the day, is it?"

Romani shot the boy a look, then turned to Koneko and folded his arms and raised an unimpressed brow. "Right, whatever else I've done. You can't really expect me to capitulate to the demands that you're levying against me. This is very unacceptable behaviour, Koneko-"

"You could have blown your fingers off-"

"-but in light of the ci-circumstances." Romani gulped as he tried and failed to stop the blood from leaving his face at the mental image she provided him with. One that would almost certainly lead to Sona giving him the most baleful lectures he could ever receive and he was left with the picture of the girl talking about how she would call his wife and let Leona know what he was doing.

Yeah, Issei was right.

Giving Koneko a box of cakes was a small price to pay at the end of the day.

Well, smaller for Issei.

Given that he probably wasn't going to be the one paying for it.

"We can probably come to an arrangement." He gave a shaky smile, still trying to retain some semblance of responsibility. "J-just so long as this sort of behaviour doesn't become a habit."

Koneko grunted and shrugged.

"Devil."

It was all she said in response.

Then again, it was hardly as though she really needed to say much else beyond that.

"...Fair enough." Was all he said, because nothing else could come to mind.

Turning, he jerked his head to Issei and then the two started to walk, he had a good enough idea where Akeno might have been anyway, and it would be good to ask Issei a couple of things as well.

"...Parents day coming up soon."

Issei grunted and nodded his head up and down, looking a little uneasy but not all that much. "Yeah…pretty much the talk of the school at the moment. Kendo club is a lot more active right about now as well."

Romani glanced at the boy from the corner of his eye and raised a brow. "...Uh-huh."

"...I'm not saying anything else."

"At this point, you don't really need to." Sighing to himself, Romani placed a hand flat against his face and sighed into it. The fact that it was clearly still ongoing was really starting to drag on his nerves. He did have some sympathy for Issei, but really it would only end up going so far and he liked to think they would draw some lines. "Issei-kun…For your own good now - and tell your friends as well - that this is really not doing you any favours for the future."

The teenager turned his head, refusing to meet Romani's stare. "I know that but…I mean…I can't just leave them all to it, can I? Besides…if they ended up spying on Asia or something then I need to be there to also stop that from going down, don't I?"

"Yeah, but you also look as well, don't you?"

"...Yeah."

"Tone it down." Romani pleaded with him, grimacing as he did so. "And I'm trying to be as serious as I can here. Tone it down because some of those girls are going to have told their parents about it and I can guarantee that there are few things more terrifying than an upset parent from another family looming over you."

Issei blinked, then raised a brow. "Wait…is that spoken from experience? W-was that about Mrs Archman's parents?"

"I…" Romani trailed off and lowered his hand down. "I mean, I never actually met them but that isn't the point. I've been told it was very intimidating by other people who were friends. Also I have met the parents of my friends so there was that as well…"

He was waffling.

"Look, the point is that-"

"I have heard it all before, Roman-sensei." Issei replied with a straight face, then smacked his lips with a hint of irritation and folded his arms. "I get what everyone is saying but at the same time…it is also really hard to say no when they ask me. They're my friends and I can't leave them alone with all of this stuff, can I? That would be rather scummy of me to do."

Romani raised a brow. "And the alternative is somehow better? I have no interest in seeing you get hurt or having your life ruined because of a few in the moment actions. This has been going on for a long time and you have to know it's not done you any favours."

Stepping towards the boy, he pointed at them. "You've got three proper friends and a majority of the school actively shuns you, to say nothing of the fact that the staff…If there wasn't a bias, I would be surprised. Lev isn't like that but I know some of the others aren't nearly as lenient."

Issei flinched but said nothing.

"...Sorry, I'm probably overstepping here." Romani relented a little, lowering his hand. "Never felt this strongly about it before…well, I did but that isn't…guess…nevermind. Forget I said anything except for the important bits. These are supposed to be the carefree years of your life, not the ones where you run around and alienate yourself from people."

Issei grunted and shot him a reassuring look. "I do have friends, you know. Buchou and the others don't really mind that side of me…well…except Koneko-chan but I am sort of used to that sort of thing by now."

"I've probably said it before, but I wouldn't call that a comforting sentence." Romani grumbled back with a shake of the head, walking once again and waving his hand. "But anyway, I take it your parents are going to be coming as well?"

The teenager nodded his head up and down. "Yeah…though I'm sure they're measuring their expectations for me."

"I'm measuring my expectations for myself as well." Romani replied with a strained tone of voice, pointing to himself as he did. "I've never done something like this before and I had assumed that I would have been able to hide away in the nurse's office during all of it. Leave others like Lev to deal with parents…but now I technically have a kid."

Issei rolled his lips and made a noise. "Huh…yeah, you do, don't you? I won't lie…that has only just occurred to me now…Asia doesn't call you dad, does she?"

Romani shuddered at the thought and nearly felt his lungs stop working. "T-thankfully she does not. It's still Roman for when she speaks with me but…goodness, I think I would actually die if someone called me dad…What if I actually ended up with a proper kid with Leona as well? I barely have any experience with babies. What would I even do?!"

"U-uhhh…why are you worrying about this now? Your wife isn't pregnant, is she?"

"Well, no, but what if one day she is? I'm getting older and older, Issei-kun! What if she wants kids?"

"Do you?"

"I mean-I don't know! What am I supposed to say? Just stare at her and then pass out?"

"...Well…" Issei rubbed the back of his head and made a small noise. "If I had someone who was as pretty as your wife tell me that she wanted my kids, I'd probably say yes as well."

"..."

"...That sounded weird-"

"A little, yeah."

A small silence fell between the two of them for a couple of seconds, Romani felt his breathing slow down from the earlier panic. His eyes settled on the side of the boy as the entered the school once again. He rolled his lips and then folded his arms. "Listen, Issei-kun. I'm sure that the parents day will go fine. You're…"

Issei turned his head and stared at him expectantly with a raised brow.

Romani felt himself shrivel up on the inside.

The hesitation in getting words out felt really bad now.

But nothing had sprung to mind.

"...You're a…brave kid?"

"...Fair enough." Issei looked a little pleased, accepting the compliment and smiling. "If you'd called me smart I would have called you a liar. No offence but we both know that isn't exactly true. I'm not really all that athletic either…unless Kiba has his way. You know he gave me a list of all the exercise that his teacher had him do?"

"The Russian guy?"

"Yeah, the-he's Russian?"

Romani doubled taked. "His name was Vlov. What did you think he was?"

Issei shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really know all that much about Foreign names, Roman-sensei. I'd never be able to tell you where you were born from your name alone…Well, I might have guessed from Spain or something but…well…"

Spain?

Romani chortled and shook his head. "Spain? No, I was born in-"

"Ah, hello Issei-kun. Romani-Sensei."

The voice broke his concentration, the pair turned towards it as they entered the main building of the school, their eyes fell upon the staircase and towards the blonde boy currently descending down them. Kiba raised his hand in greeting, smiling all the while as he hurried his steps.

"Hey, Kiba-san." Romani raised his own hand, smiling to the boy as he approached. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing quite well, thank you for asking." Kiba replied rather smoothly, flashing them a disarming smile. "And for yourself?"

Romani briefly debated whether he should lie or not.

"...Been better, but I've definitely been a lot worse."

The blonde chuckled lightly. "That is a feeling I am rather accustomed to. Though I'd assume that the upcoming day for the school has some hold on it. I would not worry, Asia is in good hands with a guardian such as yourself and Mrs Archaman."

That wasn't what he was worried about but the thought was appreciated.

"And Issei-kun." Kiba turned his eyes to the fellow teen and put on a thoughtful face, the gaze of the boy went up and down for a couple of seconds before he spoke. "I had been hoping to find you before lunch started, but I heard that you visited Romani-sensei and I did not wish to steal you away."

Issei fidgeted on the spot. "Man, it feels weird when you phrase it like that…whatever, what did you need me for?"

"I wanted to ask if you wished to go on a run."

Hushed whispers brought Romani's attention away from the pair and towards the staircase.

He very nearly blanched as he found nearly a dozen teenage girls staring towards the trio by the door, all of them focused on the interaction between Kiba and Issei, though one or two were also staring at him and whispering between one another.

Romani was very much reminded of why he didn't like being in front of crowds.

As silently as he could manage, he crept away from the duo-

"T-that's great but-er-me and Roman-sensei have some things to do. Right?"

He stopped when Issei almost walked into him, the boy jerked and shot a look over towards him before going back to Kiba. Romani himself stared down with wide eyes before they climbed back up to the blonde boy.

Kiba himself did not look offended or troubled in the least, rather he wore the patient smile he always did and nodded his head up and down. "I did not mean this instant, I can tell you're doing something. Though perhaps we can set aside some time at a later date? I want to make sure that the training isn't too hard for you."

Stepping forwards, the blonde placed a hand on the shoulder of Issei, expression shifting into concern. "Your health means a lot to me and I want to make sure that you're not pushing yourself too hard, Issei-kun."

The hushed whispers from the girls got an awful lot louder after that declaration.

Romani shot them a look and met the eyes of a couple of them, then winced as he saw one in specific who was looking at him with a gaze that made him want to roll into a ball and escape to some dark corner. It made his spine shudder.

Aika Kiryuu.

The braided girl smirked down towards him and adjusted her glasses, reflecting the light off them to make it so it looked like she had headlights for eyes. Then folded her arms behind her back and started to walk off. Ensuring that she launched one final leer towards him before she escaped without a single word.

Somehow, for some inexplicable reason, he felt as though he had lost something there.

But for the life of him, he could not figure out what.

But it was Aika.

For every action there was an equal and opposite reaction.

If there was Issei, Matsuda and Motohama…then there was also Aika and probably a couple of others as well.

Loud mumbling brought his gaze back to Issei and Kiba as their conversation continued, ignorant to the fact they were now subject to an audience.

"-hat's great and all, but I'm really fine man." Issei replied with a strained tone of voice, sounding a little uncomfortable as he removed the hand from his shoulder. "I get that you want to help and everything but…uhh-"

"What's the matter?" Kiba frowned rather innocently. "I just want to spend some time with you."

"Will you not say stuff like that!?" Issei sputtered out and took a step backwards. "I don't need that sort of attention from the girls-"

"The girls?" Kiba blinked and furrowed his brows. "What girls? You're the only one I've asked to do this with. I'd hardly invite the entire track and field team out…Unless…has Asia spoken about wanting to get into some light exercise? Ah, no, I think you mean from Xenovia instead then."

The face of Kiba shifted a little, an air of apprehension. "I…You do not need to measure yourself against her. She, like myself, has been very active for many years. You'll eventually reach our level of physical fitness, Issei-kun. You just need to believe in your abilities. I do and I know that Buchou believes in you as well."

"He has got a point, you know." Romani contributed to the conversation, bringing the eyes of Issei towards him with a rather odd look about them. Bulged eyes and lip drawn thin, it looked more as though Issei was annoyed with him than anything else. Though he couldn't quite understand why. "It's a very long thing to actually get your physical health in places and trying to force yourself will do more harm than good."

He brought his hand up and cupped his chin. "Like that time me and Asia caught you doing pull ups on the monkey bars at the park."

"Pull ups?" Kiba made a strange face before shaking his head. "No, nevermind that. That was a touch careless, Issei-kun. You first need to start with press ups before you get into pull ups. Your arms become accustomed to supporting the weight of your body and then you can-"

Issei threw up his hands and marched away from them. "Forget it! I'm gonna go see Asia!"

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

Both Romani and Kiba sported equal looks of bewilderment at the sudden departure, turning their heads and tracking the boy as he marched away.

""Issei-kun? Wait!""

They mimicked one another, stretching a hand out towards the boy who then decided to take off running down the hallway immediately afterwards.

Their hands remained raised before lowering slightly.

Then the hushed whispers of the girls turned frantic, enough to drag both of their gazes towards the group as they all but screamed in…shock? Alarm? Awe?

Romani couldn't tell and he didn't get the chance to ask, the dozen odd girls went charging back up the staircase and vanishing around the corner faster than anyone could say anything. Leaving both himself and Kiba more or less alone to stare at the aftermath. The pair looked to the other, probably hoping for an answer.

Kiba didn't have one and neither did he.

"...That was weird, right?"

The blonde shrugged. "I suppose? Though I'm having trouble saying what was so different about it when compared to how things normally are."

"You mean having dozens of girls flock around you like that?"

Kiba said nothing, instead he raised a hand and awkwardly scratched his cheek while averting his eyes from the nurse.

Romani stared at the boy with a blank expression for a few moments. "Wow. No wonder Issei-kun is so jealous around you."

Kiba winced, as did Romani when he realised he had said that out loud. "I meant-"

"Ah, no." The blonde cut him short with a wave of the hand. "You're quite right on that account. My interactions with Issei-kun are a little…strained because of it…We only really get to talk in private in the club room but I feel as though our talks are a bit stilted. I know we are friends with one another but…well…I'd like to spend some time with him outside of the club room as well."

He sighed, then gestured to the spot where the girls had been. "It's just that…I'm a bit worried Issei-kun gets intimidated by that."

"It is a little intimidating, yeah…also Issei-kun's reputation doesn't help."

Kiba rolled his jaw. "Yes. That…I'm a bit saddened that few get the chance to see all the good that Issei-kun has underneath that but…I don't imagine Issei-kun would be all that pleased if I started boasting about his good points."

Romani blinked, then shrugged. "You don't need to boast about them, but you can still point out that there is more to Issei-kun than his lack of a filter…or appropriate comments."

The blonde paused, then hummed. "I suppose I could stand to do that some more. If nothing else, it would hopefully relieve some of the pressure of his back from the students."

Was this meddling? It felt a bit like meddling.

…But it was good meddling, so he would allow it.

"...Would it be awkward if I asked something regarding your…uhm…club?"

Kiba sent him a small glance, then raised a brow. "That would depend on the nature of the question."

"...How is Xenovia doing?"

"...I've heard no complaints."

Romani flinched a little before he took in a breath, turning to face the boy and then looking down at him. "I meant…how do you feel about her being there?"

"...It was Buchou's decision-"

"Kiba-san…"

The blonde closed his eyes and exhaled. "I'm a bit surprised with how little I care, all things considered. I know what she is, what she has benefited from and yet when I think about it…all I can see is another person that has been cast away and abandoned. I understand the facts aren't the same but…they are close enough that I can empathise a little with her."

Kiba's eyes opened back up. "...She's trying, I believe. For now, that is more than enough for me to be…tolerant. Asia has all but adopted her, actually."

Romani felt his lips pull upwards. "Yes, that sounds like something she would do."

"She's a very pushy girl when she gets down to what she wants to do." Kiba went on with a thoughtful gaze. "And I suppose Xenovia has no defences against someone like her, or she is trying to make amends. Buchou supports it, obviously, and her apology was…I could tell that she was being genuine."

It felt like a massive load has been taken off his shoulders. "That's…that's a relief to hear."

"I suppose it makes sense where Asia gets her pushy nature from."

"Heh, not at all." Romani snorted and rubbed at his forehead. "It's probably more like she's been rubbing off on me when it comes to that…among other things as well, but mostly that. It was sort of my actions that got her into the peerage in the first place, so I guess I feel a little responsible for her as well…if that makes sense?"

Kiba raised a brow but said nothing on the matter, instead nodding his head up and down. "You can be at ease that she is part of the club now. Buchou has made it clear that even if we tease one another at times, we are always there for each other…and Issei-kun has made it abundantly clear he intends to enforce that decision wholeheartedly."

Romani hummed. "He's stubborn, like that."

"I know…and I'm rather grateful for it as well." The soft note in the tone of the teenager did not go unnoticed, nor did the way his eyes linger on the escape of Issei avoid Romani's attention. Kiba's face slowly etched itself into a thoughtful frown, his eyes returned to the nurse. "I do not suppose you would know of a way for him to agree to spend more time with me, would you?"

That was not what he had been expecting.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I mean…you two don't have all that much in common aside from the club, do you?"

Kiba opened his mouth, then paused and closed it once more, brows slowly raising themselves up and a face coming upon him as though he had come to some sort of epiphany. "We…do not, do we? So are you suggesting that I should take a greater interest in the sorts of activities that Issei-kun would normally do? Because I'm not sure how well I would be at them…but…No, if it is for the sake of friendship, then it should only be expected."

Romani felt as though Kiba was having a conversation with himself at this point.

"Yes, that is right." The blonde declared, putting one fist in his waiting palm and nodding to himself. "My thanks for your advice, Romani-sensei. I do believe that I have come up with a solution that will allow myself and Issei-kun to grow closer to one another."

He turned and then marched away in the opposite direction, not quite running but not quite walking either.

Standing there in silence, Romani could only feel a strange sense of foreboding.

As if he had just made a terrible mistake.

"And here we are, once again."

Romani grumbled at the words of the girl as he sat himself down on his chair and extended his right hand towards her. "Yeah, but something feels a bit wrong with this picture."

Akeno sagely nodded her head. "Quite so, I agree with you."

He had barely a split second to realise that she was probably going to make some sort of joke.

"I'm not dressed for a nurse."

And there it was.

"Just slap on a white coat and you'll suit the part." Romani remarked with a shrug of the shoulders, drawing the eyes of the girl and a raised brow. She looked disappointed that she hadn't gotten a bigger reaction from him. "Though you'd need to work on your bedside manner."

Akeno was the picture of innocence. "Ara? Are you implying that some could find my bedside manner to be lacking? How hurtful, Roman-sensei. I'll have you know that I am the picture of compassion."

"Ha!"

She gave him a flat look. "Are you mocking a young girl's confidence? That could be quite disastrous for my self-esteem, you know. And you talk about my bedside manner being terrible? For shame. Shame, I say."

Romani sighed and dropped his shoulders. "Alright, fine. You're the picture of kindness and generosity. Truly, there is not a sweeter soul than you anywhere in the world. I'm certain that you shall grow up and accomplish great things."

"How lovely of you to say." She beamed at him, completely ignoring the utterly flat tone he delivered his words in as she looked over his hand. The smile on his face faded the longer she glanced over his fingers and the length of time it was stretching on for was really starting to make him feel a little uncomfortable.

Akeno furrowed her brows, then brought her left hand to her chin while her right continued to hold onto his hand, violet eyes glanced over each one of the digits before she reached forwards and then placed her left hand on top of his own.

"Eep!"

He snatched his right hand back and held it with his other, staring at the girl with wide eyes before the sensation caught up with him. "Did you just pinch me?!

"I performed a standard test to make sure you still had feeling in your hand, Roman-sensei." Akeno replied with a serious expression, "That you could still feel the pain is a good sign and it means that your reckless actions haven't caused any real harm."

He rolled his jaw, then lowered his hands down and stared at them.

Was it really that bad?

"Also I wondered what sort of sound you would make."

His face turned blank, his eyes rose up to meet the now grinning face of the girl. "But that was purely coincidental."

"...Uh-huh."

"You don't look like you believe me, that's hurtful." A pout crossed her lips. "I have only your best intentions at heart, Roman-sensei. I would never go out of my way to do something like that purely because of my own inner desire to see your pained expression. That would be a very unladylike thing for me to do."

He continued to regard her with a flat expression.

She closed her eyes and let out a faint huff of amusement. "But on a more serious note, that was rather reckless of you to be doing. Especially as you've been practising magic for less than a week now? If that? Immediately trying to form a spell…I'd say you were blinded by your arrogance if it weren't for the fact I know who you are."

He flinched at her tone that was definitely more scolding now. "S-so…what was the problem?"

Sighing, Akeno stepped away from him and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Simply put? You weren't quite suited for casting that spell at the moment."

Romani blinked, then scrunched up his brows. "I…wha-?"

"Yes, it is quite bewildering for me as well." Turning to him, she gestured to his hand. "But the signs were there. An overflow of magical energy through your limbs. They have not yet gotten accustomed to the sensation and when you tried to cast a spell, you put in far more than they were capable of handling."

He looked down at his hands for a moment, staring at the tips of his fingers and then back towards the dark haired girl. "That…I mean…it makes sense but…but didn't I-?"

"Yes." Another nod of the head, the girl exhaled. "But on account of your…other time, we can likely assume that whatever awoke inside you bore the front of the magical strain. Even then, you still fell unconscious from the result and remained that way for quite a while…really, you should have…"

The silence that came was far from comforting.

He avoided asking about it, instead rolling his jaw inwards and looking down to his feet.

"...Am I to assume you will not be telling your wife about this little stunt?"

"You don't need future sight for that." He muttered with a wince, rubbing his hands together. "Just a little case of me getting ahead of myself. I'll just focus on making sparkles for the time being. I like the sparkles. The sparkles are my friends. They don't burn my fingers."

Akeno chortled. "They do not burn tennis balls either. Speaking of which, how do you intend to explain that to the tennis club?"

Romani pursed his lips, then tapped the tips of his fingers together as they rested on his lap, rather shyly, he raised his eyes to meet with Akeno's.

Seconds passed, then a wry smile came upon her face. "Are you asking me for something, Roman-sensei?"

"...I don't suppose you could…fix the tennis ball…could you?"

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, then they closed and she cupped her chin. "Oh, I'm not so sure…but if you're begging me so earnestly, then I suppose I have no choice."

She opened her eyes with a clear gleam in them. "You should consider yourself luck that I am such a…what did you call me? 'The picture of kindness and generosity'. For you to know a person such as that, you must be truly blessed."

"Thank you." His response was genuine, looking into her eyes and sagging in relief. "I'd rather not have to deal with Sona-san getting upset at me."

"Are you telling me you're more afraid of her than myself?" If Romani didn't know better, he would she looked almost indignant.

He raised a brow at her. "Yes, because you'll just tease and make me uncomfortable." A shudder ran through his body. "Sona-san makes me feel ashamed and guilty. That's much worse."

The girl looked at though she was going to say something, then paused and let out a small hum, bobbing her shoulders up and down before folding her arms. "Well, I suppose I could understand that much. Then again, it's hardly been much of a secret the way that the president acts around you…Almost as though you're some type of pet project. One she is eager to whip into shape."

He furrowed his brows. "...Really? She doesn't come around here that often though. Well, she's been here a few times but not really as much as the rest of you. Certainly not as much as Issei-kun and…"

The earlier feeling came back, he winced. "Ah, and…er…could you keep an eye on Kiba-san for me?"

It was perhaps the first time he had seen Akeno look caught off guard before, but it was only for a split second. "Kiba-kun? Whatever for?"

"Well…I…He's trying to be better friends with Issei-kun and I said they didn't have much in common." He began with, the girl nodded her head along with his words, clearly in agreement with them. "And then Kiba-san was all for getting to know Issei-kun's interests…but there's really only one thing Issei-kun is interested in…"

Akeno stared.

Then she stared harder.

After a full ten seconds, she dropped her shoulders and let out a long wheeze, bringing her arm up and covering her mouth. Staggering backwards and looking at him with clear mirth in her eyes.

Quickly folding his arms, Romani put on a sullen face at the humour displayed by the girl.

The fact she was still laughing nearly half minute later was starting to concern him, as well as make him feel more than a little embarrassed at everything that was going on. Shuffling in his seat, he started to fidget as the laughter continued, he wasn't quite sure what she was finding to be so very funny, but he got the feeling it wasn't going to be good.

"Alright, you've had your fun-"

"N-no, no!" Akeno quickly heaved once more, drawing in breath and wiping a tear from her eye as she stared at them, glimmers of amusement still shining through her gaze. "I'm just trying to-to-pffft!"

Snorting, she turned her head away and covered her mouth once more.

Grimacing, he felt heat rise up his face at the renewed laughter. "H-hey, I'm trying to be serious here-"

"I-I know, I know!" Akeno quickly placated with a wave of her hands, the laughter faded away once more, but he didn't know if it would remain gone for long. Especially as the teen looked ready to start cackling again. "B-but you've just told me that the 'Prince of Kuoh' is going to start vesting an interest in the same sort of entertainment as Issei…Y-you've led him down the path of corruption."

She levelled an accusing finger towards him.

Romani double taked. "The path of what? I haven't done anything! I'm just worried that Kiba-kun might do-"

"And I'm supposed to be the Devil here…" Akeno's smug voice cut him short, folding her arms and leaning forwards with a smirk on her lips. "Dear me, Roman-sensei. Just think about how all the girls will react when they learn that it was you who opened the door for Kiba-kun to tread down such a scandalous path…Tut-tut."

Romani sputtered. "That-I didn't tell him to do anything though! I just said he and Issei-kun didn't have much in common! I'm just worried that Kiba-kun will think that it is the only way. I don't want him joining Issei-kun on his little escapades!"

Akeno paused, then leaned back. "Well, if he did, the girls might actually thank you instead."

"Akeno-san!"

She closed her eyes and waved her hand. "I joke. Really, you're worrying about all the wrong things here, Roman-sensei. I'm sure that Kiba-kun will have more than enough sense about him for that sort of thing. It's more than likely he'll just buy some magazines or something…it might do him some good as well. He's always been a little…stiff."

Bringing his hands up, Romani sighed. "I don't need to hear about all of that…just make sure that no one does anything silly. That would be more than enough for me, thank you very much…"

With a light sigh, the girl lowered her hands to her hips and rolled her eyes. "Has anyone ever told you that you worry far too much, Roman-sensei?"

"...Yes."

"Hmmm." She hummed. "Well, so long as you know then. As for the matter of Kiba-kun. I will be sure to keep an eye on he and Issei to make sure that neither of them are doing anything utterly scandalous…or if they do, I will be sure to watch them and report back to you."

He grumbled under his breath.

Yes, she would probably do the latter for the sole purpose of seeing what sort of face he would make.

What did that say about him that he was literally getting bullied by people a little over half his age?

"Now then, if there is nothing else." Akeno clapped her hands together. "I trust that you will not be making the same mistake as last time and that you will be far more careful…otherwise I might just let slip some little details to Mrs Archaman and then she can sit you down for a nice long talk about what you should and should not be doing, hmmm?~"

He shivered at the thought, but spied the girl for a moment as she turned for the door.

"Akeno-san…" She stopped, then looked at him curiously. "...About the last time we spoke…sorry for saying something that got you upset."

Akeno stiffened for a fraction of a second, it was so short but he saw it all the same. Her posture loosened a moment later, her features softened. "You meant well enough, Roman-sensei. I know that you aren't malicious like that…and it has been quite a while, hardly as though I advertise it."

It confirmed something at least.

"...Is there someone coming for you on the parents day?"

Her eyes closed and a faint hum escaped her. "Your concern is rather touching, Roman-sensei, but this is not the first time that I have sat through one of these days and I very much doubt it will be the last…besides, Lord and Lady Gremory still inquire about my progress just as they do with everyone else."

Bringing up her hand, she gestured to herself. "I have said before that the peerage of the Gremory's is more akin to a family. They treat me well enough and make inquiries of their own. Myself, Kiba-kun and Koneko-chan have all-"

"Toujou-san is the same?"

He winced at his words a moment later, realising he had all but blurted those out and then winced.

Akeno blinked "Ah…" an uneasy look crossed her face. "You did not know then…forgive me, a slip of the tongue. Rias found all of us when we were in rather…precarious situations and took us in. I suppose she's always had an attraction to birds with broken wings. Though like I said, we shall be fine, before you get any more worried about it."

She waved a hand, then paused before her lip curled upwards. "Though you might end up meeting with Rias father, but he'll accept you as Asia's guardian…so I suppose it might be a chance you would be speaking with him when he drops by the girls' class. He's kind enough."

Romani remained silent, then slowly nodded his head up and down and exhaled. "As long as there is someone…But…"

He paused, then stopped himself short and turned his head.

No, he would not say something like that.

Akeno must have figured he was about to say something, then raised a brow at him inquisitively before she hummed and leaned backwards. "You truly are quite the worry wart, aren't you?"

"...Yeah."

Bringing up her hand, she waved it from side to side. "Well, I hope that I have reassured you that there is nothing to fear. Though I am a touch sorry to hear my reaction caused you such distress, that had not been my intention-"

"Don't-" He smacked his lips and turned his head. "Don't apologise for something like that. It was my bad…"

Silence fell between them, a huff escaped him.

"We should really find some less dour topics to talk about whenever we meet one another. I can't help but feel as though we're in a race to see who can make the conversation turn depressing faster than the other."

Akeno blinked, then chuckled. "I'll be sure to find some light hearted topics for us to talk about next time…are we meeting here or in the club room? I'm certain that everyone else would be thrilled to host you. Issei especially."

"Don't." He warned with a twitch of the lips. "The last time I went round there I immediately went out shopping and splurged on expensive coffee. I think my wallet lives in terror now for what else you could serve me there…not to mention I'm already going to be strapped for cash because of Toujou-san-"

He caught himself much too late.

"Koneko-chan?" Akeno furrowed her brows. "Why would you be…Ah, I see. She's managed to convince you into restocking your little supply depot again, hasn't she?"

"Yes." He was quick to jump onto her answer. "They've been running low anyway…"

He paused for a moment, then reached for the drawer and slowly pulled it open, it slid forth to reveal a small back of chocolate eggs. "...Want one?"

Akeno raised a brow and looked close to laughing again, but she instead inclined her head. "Well, if you are to be so gracious a host, it would be rude not to partake."

Stepping forwards, she took out a single egg and then retreated with it, popping it into her mouth and then eating it swiftly. "Thank you for the kind gift."

"Just don't tell Sona-san." He slid the drawer closed. "I don't think she would approve."

"I'm certain that Rias wouldn't either." Akeno replied with a sage look, then her eyes twinkled. "She would likely be rather jealous that I've managed to get so much attention from you."

"Am I like some pet dog that people keep around?"

"Oh, goodness me, no, Roman-sensei." Akeno placed a hand on her chest, looking thoroughly horrified. "Is that how you see yourself? I'm terribly sorry that you've come to believe we see you as a dog…You're more like a little squirrel. Especially with how often you stuff your cheeks."

Romani threw up his hands and slumped back into his chair. "Behold, a Great Lady of Kuoh."

Akeno smiled. "Aren't I just? Some would kill you for time with me like this."

"...I'd say you got the saying wrong…but I don't think you did."

"Well. I believe this marks the true end of our conversation." She ignored his words then and stepped towards the door once more, pausing for only a moment to cast one final glance towards him. "Unless, of course, you have anything else that you wish to say? Perhaps some great hidden secret? Hmmmm?~"

Romani blinked. "Nothing springs to mind, no. Sorry to disappoint you."

"That's fine. In truth, I wasn't expecting all that much anyway."

"...Somehow that hurts."

Akeno merely inclined her head with a short chuckle and stepped out of the room.

Romani leaned back into his chair, then jerked as the bell for the end of lunch went.

Time really did fly-

He stopped.

His eyes slid towards the green tennis ball, still with the burn marks on it.

Sitting on his desk, all but mocking him.

A strangled noise rippled in his throat.

She forgot to fix the tennis ball before she left!?

Surging to his feet, he grabbed it and made for the door-

It opened up and he felt the blood drain from his face.

"Ah, there you are, Archaman-sensei." The captain of the tennis club stepped through the now opened door. "I heard you borrowed a ball from us, could we have it back please?"

His tongue felt like lead.

This really wasn't his day.

He opened his mouth to speak-

"Ah, Shoji-san."

Akeno's voice rang out a moment later, the pair of them blinked and turned to the direction of the speaker. The girl approached with a light skip in her step, coming to a stop in front of the young girl and then stepping close, looking them deep in the eyes.

"Romani-sensei said he would return it by the end of the day, he still needs it for something."

Shoji remained still for a moment, then hummed and nodded her head. "Yeah, he did. My bad. I'll be back for it later, Archaman-sensei."

He watched the girl turn and walk off without a single thing indicating something was amiss.

"And with a sweeter soul than anyone else in the world, I believe?" Romani dragged his eyes back to Akeno as she held out her hand towards him, smirking all the while. "I'll deal with that little problem of yours, Roman-sensei. We can't have you being dragged off to Sona-san now, can we?"

His shoulder slumped, her smile grew a little wider.

A stray thought entered his mind. "...Did you know that Shoji-san was coming?"

Akeno said nothing, but the smile told a thousand words.

"Devil indeed…" He grumbled, dropping the tennis ball into her grasp.

"And you would do well not to forget it so soon~"