"Um, hello! I'm Shiemi Moriyama!"
Rin blinked dully at the cute blonde girl that his brother had brought into cram school today, wondering what her deal was with him. "I know, you introduced yourself at the start of class. I'm Rin Okumura."
"I-I know." Shiemi replied, albeit timidly. "Yuki-chan said that I could sit with you in case I got nervous."
Rin turned his gaze to meet his brother's. "Really?"
"Okumura, don't be so flatfooted at a girl wanting to sit next to you." Kirigakure huffed from her spot at the back of the class. "All cram school members are required to be aware of your parentage, so that makes her the bravest kid in here."
There was a wave of angry and scared flinches from the other students while Shiemi blushed from the compliment.
"You make it sound like she's got something to fear from me." Rin groaned before letting a predatory smile cross his lips as he turned back to Yukio. "Let's talk more about this afterwards, Yuki-chan."
"That's Sensei to you." Yukio flung his chalk hard, Rin's head rocking back from how hard it hit his forehead.
Book of Genesis, Chapter 04: Calm before...
Later after class, Rin grumbled in annoyance as he rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe that we could've met earlier if I didn't feel like sleeping through yesterday's afternoon."
"I think I might have been scared of you if that happened." Shiemi replied as she walked alongside him. It was really nice, finally having a friend who reasonably concurred that he wasn't Satan Incarnate just for being born. "But Yuki-chan explained everything to me, pointing out that he's your twin and it was only by pure luck that's he himself turned out human. What I don't get is why everybody else was being mean to you. Did you hurt any of their friends?"
"I've never met a single one of them before three days ago!" Rin gesticulated in an extremely vindicated manner before he remembered that he was with a girl, hastily coughing to smother his embarrassment. "Anyways, at least Kamiki and Paku just ignore me. But that Suguro bastard always wants to start shit!"
"Ryūji Suguro?" Yukio spoke up, causing both Rin and Shiemi to yelp a little at his sudden appearance behind them. Thankfully, it seemed that Kirigakure was absent this time. "He's a genius and he's here on the same scholarship as me. Plus, he's the heir of a famous temple at Kyoto."
"Heh!" Rin scoffed. "So that judgmental bastard's got a spoilt background."
"He has great grades, he's athletic and he's always serious about his classes." Yukio continued with a knowing smirk. "To say the least, he's working harder than you."
"You say that like I'm not!" Rin rebutted.
"You certainly don't show it." Yukio shook his head. "I don't know how you somehow perfectly remember everything a teacher says to you even when you clearly doze off during classes."
'That's cause I always have Tomo listening for me. They're the perfect PA!' Rin fought the urge to smirk. "Maybe I'm just too awesome for you to comprehend."
"...no, you're not." Yukio turned to address Shiemi. "By the way, Shiemi-san, are you used to cram school yet?"
"Well, not yet..." Shiemi replied in a despondent tone.
"You seem so active now that you're like a different person." Yukio commented. "I knew you and Nii-san would be good influences on each other."
"Thanks, Yuki-chan." Shiemi blushed.
"Really?" Rin grinned before realizing something. "Wait, how's she influencing me?"
"Well, I have to get to my next class, so..." Yukio blatantly ignored Rin's perfectly reasonable question as he separated from them. "You two, be careful not to be late for your P.E. class."
"See you later." Shiemi waved him off.
"Answer my question!" Rin called after his unresponsive back. "Damnit! ...so how's the school here doing for you?"
"Eh? Ah..." Shiemi smiled sadly at his question. "I only entered the cram school."
"Eh? Then what about high school?"
"...I'm very shy with strangers, so I never even went to middle school either." Shiemi admitted, which Rin unbelievably found to be likely given how the only thing he'd ever seen Shiemi ever get excited about so far was gardening. She was kinda wimpy at everything else.
"Well, even before all... this, I always had problems with others." Rin revealed. "Except replace your shyness with anger issues. Yukio's basically the only one my age that I have any positive relations with. And you, too, of course."
Shiemi blushed. "Y-You think w-we're friends?"
"O-Oh? You don't like that?" Rin's heart sank. "Sorry, I guess that was too-"
"No!" Shiemi grabbed his hand, causing Rin to choke and blush. "I want to be friends, too!"
"R-Really?! Awesome!" Rin grabbed her hand back, pleased at how she didn't try to pull away. "W-We should exchange phone numbers, right?"
Shiemi's pleasant mood dropped. "I don't have a phone..."
["Two steps forward, one step back..."]
'Shut up, Kōttatenshi!'
["Do not take that tone with me, my liege. If Shiemi-dono lacks a personal means of communication, simply endeavor to get her one."]
Rin perked up. That was a much better idea than he'd expected. 'How much are phones again?'
"Hey, be careful, Moriyama! An Exorcist shouldn't fall for a devil's temptations."
Rin's brow twitched as the most unwelcome of voices, barely managing to clamp down on his flames before they spooked Shiemi. Turning slightly so that his hair shadowed his eyes as he glared at the approaching trio, Rin tried to convey his next words carefully. "Suguro, fuck off."
Emphasis on 'tried'.
"You should heed your own words, devil." Suguro shot back. "What charms did you pull to bewitch Moriyama like this?"
"Charm? You mean the same nonexistent charm that I'd probably be using on everyone instead of just one girl?" Rin scoffed. "I guess I must be both a devil and a moron to you, you damn rooster."
"Well, he's not wrong." Shima muttered.
"Shima?!" Suguro roared in betrayal, Miwa looking just as scandalized.
"Woah, woah." Shima raised his hands placatingly. "I'm just saying, any person or demon with charm abilities would either use it a lot or use it smartly. Since Okumura's doing neither, I don't think he's got stuff like that since he hasn't made Bon repeatedly punch himself in the face by now."
'On the off chance I eventually snap and go on a berserk rage, I'll make sure to go easy on Shima.' Rin mentally promised as he made sure to memorize Shima's lovely idea. "So since Shima's the guy with common sense within this boyband-"
"Huh?!" Suguro made a nicely offended sound.
"-I'll ask him what you guys approached for." Rin finished. "So pinkhead, what do you and the boyband what?"
Shima sputtered into a choking laugh despite Suguro's fervent shaking of him. "B-Bon was just worried for Shiemi-chan over there. He was worried that she was in danger from you."
"I'm not in any danger." Shiemi spoke up. When all of their gazes turned to her, she shook a little but soldiered on. "R-R-Rin is my friend!"
Rin choked back a touched sob. 'She's the most precious thing ever!'
"Wh-Wh-What?!" Suguro roared in disbelief before glaring at Rin. "What the fuck did you do to her?!"
"Huh?! Screw you!" Rin shot back. "Don't act like a pretty girl making friends with me's a sign of the apocalypse!"
Rin was quite sure that he might hate Suguro, but that felt too much a strong word. Besides, if he admitted that, Kōttatenshi might start giving suggestions on how best to cut him down. She'd still yet to lighten up on Kirigakure, despite letting herself lose on purpose to the bikini-clad Exorcist.
Ryuji gasped heavily as he trailed behind the Son of Satan, utterly pissed at how the bastard didn't even look like he was struggling to keep ahead while the massive frog demon behind kept hopping after them.
"This isn't just a foot race!" Kaoru Tsubaki, an Earl-rank Exorcist like the Son of Satan's brother, called out to them. "The point is to adjust your body to the movements of your pursuer! Always be aware of how long your stamina can last!"
"Oi, you're looking pretty slow there, Suguro." The Son of Satan called out cockily. "You know you're giving a bad name to roosters allover the world with your speed, right? Even chickens are fast little shits."
"What?! Well, it doesn't matter who's faster! Just always make sure to be ahead of the last guy!" Ryūji finished off his words with a spurt of energy he used to leap at the Son of Satan's back, only for the bastard do something that had him getting repelled hard enough to fly all the way into Renzō.
"Suguro-kun! What are you doing?!" Tsubaki yelled from his perch above the Leaper cages, Kirigakure whistling at the sight. "Kirigakure-san, do something please!"
"...nah." Kirigakure shrugged as she opened up a fresh can of beer. "That rooster kid clearly started it. It's his own fault if he's going to attack somebody stronger than him so recklessly."
"I'm not..." Ryūji grunted as he got off Renzō and helped him up, turning to glare down at the Son of Satan. "I won't ever lose to a monster like you, even if it costs me my life."
"Let's see how far you get with those legs of yours broken!" The Son of Satan roared, leaping right at him.
"Stop, Okumura-kun!" Tsubaki roared as he thrust his arm, glowing chains shooting from the inside of his sleeve to entangle the Son of Satan's body in midair and slam him against the wall. "Calm down, Okumura-kun. Don't make me use greater force than this!"
"Ha!" Ryūji crowed. "That's what you get!"
"Suguro-kun, detention!" Tsubaki roared, his angered tone causing all of the students to regard him in shock. "Despite Okumura-kun's behavior, you're the clear instigator! Don't think you'll be getting off scot-free!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Ryūji protested. "That's Satan's kid you're protecting!"
"Wrong! That's my student!" Tsubaki shot back sharply. "I'm not such a petty man that I'll blame a child for their parent's sins!"
An uncomfortable silence followed as Tsubaki lowered the Son of Satan and released him upon confirming that he'd calmed down, the demon spawn looking like he couldn't comprehend Tsubaki's existence.
To be fair, neither could Ryūji. It was because of Satan that the Myōō Dharani had suffered so much! That Konekomaru had lost his parents and Renzō his brother! "Don't you know how many people were lost because of Satan?! How many people his father killed during the Scarlet Night?!"
"Scarlet Night?" The Son of Satan muttered in confusion.
"Oh? So nobody's told you yet?" Ryūji sarcastically asked, ignoring Konekomaru's uncomfortable grimace and Renzō's warning gestures. Off to the side, Kirigakure-sensei had still done nothing to interfere, so that was still a sign of clearance as far as Ryūji was concerned. "The Scarlet Night took place 16 years ago when Satan slaughtered many of the world's prominent clergymen, along with many more people, in one fell swoop! Can you imagine how horrible that night was to the Exorcists? Comrades, families, neighbours, all set ablaze with those wretched flames while bleeding horribly. And worst of all, not only could we not put the flames out and save even a single person, we still haven't discovered what Satan had unleashed that travesty for! Your very fucking existence is an insult to all of it's survivors!"
"...no, it is not." Tsubaki replied firmly, placing a reassuring hand on the Son of Satan's shoulder. "16 years ago, I lost my brother to the Scarlet Night, but you don't see me flinging blame at somebody who would've either been a baby or not even born yet at that time."
Ryūji clenched his fists tightly, but held his tongue. As pissed off at how stupid Tsubaki was being, he knew when to hold it in. Still... "There's no way somebody like him can be allowed to just move around here of all places. Whatever you came here for, I'm gonna make you wish that you'd stayed away...!"
"...alright, so that'll be heavy duty detention for Suguro." Tsubaki sighed before clearing his throat. "Kamiki-san, Moriyama-san, it's your turn now!"
Grumbling to himself, Ryūji let Konekomaru drag him back while Kamiki and Moriyama slid down for their own runs. However, as much as Ryūji wished otherwise, it quickly became apparent that Moriyama didn't seem to have an affinity for the physical exercise.
When Moriyama tripped for the sixth time, even Tsubaki seemed to have reached his limit as he held back the Leaper from eating her. "Just how many times do you plan to fall?"
"I-I'm sorry..." Moriyama apologized.
"And why aren't you wearing exercise clothing like the others?"
"These are the only clothes fit for sports that I have." Moriyama sheepishly tugged at the hakama she'd put on. It was certainly loose enough for free movements, but too cumbersome.
Even the Son of Satan had quietly placed his face into his palms.
"What era do you think you live in?!" Tsubaki replied incredulously. "Next, Shima-kun and Miwa-kun!"
"Coming." Renzō called out as he and Miwa slid into the racetrack. A little while later, the loud sound of a phone ringing resounded through the area.
"Who the hell's that? We're in the middle of class!" Ryūji complained.
"Yes, Tsubaki here." Tsubaki picked up his phone, causing Ryūji to face fault. "Oh, it's you, my honey... What?! ...right now? You're... such a needy kitty."
'Oi... He better not really doing what I think he's doing-' Ryūji thought, just to have his hopes dashed.
"Listen up, now! Practice by yourselves for now!" Tsubaki called out to them before turning to Kirigakure. "Kirigakure-san, please cover for me!"
"That's at least three favors!" Kirigakure called back, much to Ryūji's disbelief.
"Right, two favors!" Tsubaki insisted before turning about and running off. "I'm coming, my kitty~!"
"I get that your wife's pregnant, but is running off to answer a bootycall really right to do?" Kirigakure seemed to muse about that for a total of two seconds before chuckling and tossing her empty can at the bin behind her, somehow making it land accurately. "Right, then. Shima and Miwa, get to it."
Mephisto hummed as he enjoyed the night breeze atop the construction site, waiting for the annoyance who seemed to be taking their time-
Ah, nevermind.
"Sorry, I'm late." The one who spoke was a tall slender young woman with short brown hair in a ponytail and intimidating eyes that were the purest mix of golden yellow and earthy brown, wearing a simple black suit with her cleavage exposed.
"Long time no see, Mammon the Insatiable." Mephisto greeted the Archon of Greed.
"It's been a while, Samael the Destroyer." Mammon greeted back stoically.
"Don't casually call me by that name." Mephisto replied before asking his true intentions. "So, I assume most of the Archons are aware of Rin's existence now?"
"If it was a rumor, then Satan's practically confirmed it." Mammon answered. "If my subordinate's report holds true, Beelzebub's castle is still volcanic slag at the moment."
"As if they didn't learn from how Lucifer's protective over dear Princess Charlotte." Mephisto rolled his eyes. "They may treat each other like estranged brothers instead of materialized split personalities, but they both originated as the same archangel. It's only natural that Satan would be just as protective as his Prideful counterpart over their scions. Anyways, feel free to spread the word that Rin Okumura is under my protection."
"That will only work in keeping away the riffraff." Mammon raised a curious brow. "My fellow Archons will come just as I have to judge him, as soon as they can find hosts of their own. Naturally, I'll be testing him myself."
"As long as you don't kill him, harm my students or destroy my school, do as you like." Mephisto replied. "His powers are blossoming nicely, but a potential transcendent can never have too little experience."
Smiling for the first time since she'd arrived, Mammon casually stepped off the girder and plummeted towards the ground, cracking it feetfirst upon impact.
"Grow up nice and well, Rin." Mephisto muttered into the wind, his shadow briefly flickering to display something vast with multiple sets of unfurled feathered wings. "Humans have such a horrid habit of thinking they can control it all and reacting badly when they fail to do so. The fun and games start here."
"You didn't tell him?"
Having just stepped outside Samael's barriers, Mammon turned to regard the figure that had just bloomed out of a tree beside her. "I may owe him favors, but not a single one's worth the look that's gonna be on his face when Rin Okumura gets his hands on a summoning glyph."
"Well, that's true enough." Asmodeus giggled, her long peach hair framing her mesmerizing face and voluptuous cleavage perfectly. "However, things might get a little more... chaotic than you imagine."
Mammon raised a brow. "Satan was running around checking for demonic dragons that his son could potentially summon before he remembered that violent spirit he accidentally plucked from an alternate universe and had to seal away. And you're telling me that something worse is on the way?"
"Heaven's found out about Rin Okumura as well." Asmodeus revealed. "And they'll be sending their own piece into the board. "
"...oh. That is worse." Mammon agreed in surprise. "Assuming that Satan will want his demonic dragon to protect Rin against the angel, that encounter will still end with Samael's school in rubble from their clash."
"And if the angel got sent as a guardian instead of an assailant, there's a chance of them teaming up." Asmodeus added. "And if they decide that all of those who mistreat their new Master count as 'enemies'..."
Mammon smiled wryly. "Samael's school won't even have rubble left..."
KingVessel: Mephisto? More like Fallen Angel Samael. Also, yeah, that was a clear reference to Hazbin Hotel. Finally, Heaven knows and they're coming!