A/N: Believe it or not, this was supposed to go on longer. Basically the whole day, but screw it, enjoy the set up I guess.
"You think Asterios is coming to school today?" Motohama asked as the Trio waited near the entrance of the school gate.
"He better be!" Matsuda exhaled sharply through his nose "Punk has been gone for over a week, and what's worse is that he took Toujou-chan with him." The bald punch his fist into his palm "After doing all that, I'd give him a beating if he wasn't-"
"Over thrice your size, both vertically and horizontally?" Issei cut in with a smirk, eliciting a laugh from Motohama and a grunt from Matsuda.
"I was gonna say friend and honorary member of our group." Matsuda sighed out.
Immediately they could almost feel every girl in vicinity glare at them, something that would've downed any normal human. But all of them paid them no heed, besides it was their fault for not even approaching him, so the glares meant nothing.
"Is he a member of our group though?" Motohama questioned, pushing his glasses up his face "He doesn't join us for anything other than hanging out near the field. Not to mention, he's already dating Toujou-chan."
"Hey he's been holding onto Issue 5 of Big Bazongas for like over a month," Matsuda shrugged "Anyone that has that and is holding onto that for that long, without even trying to give it back is a member in my eyes." There was a pause as the bald student frowned "When am I getting that back anyway?"
Off the side, Issei glance away from the two, pulled on his collar, and made an effort not to say anything.
"I guess until Asterios finishes reading it," Motohama shrugged.
"I'll ask him later then."
"Why are you so focused on Asterios today?" Issei asked, confused about the bald student's sudden fascination.
Matsuda smirked "I actually have something I wanna ask him."
"You know considering how he's dating Toujou-Chan, he's probably straight." Motohama placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But hey, if you need a shoulder to cry on we can always offer ours." Issei placed his hand on his other shoulder.
"I hate both of you." Matsuda's eye twitched.
The Trio, in addition to the rest of the students around them, suddenly went silent as they saw the sight in front of them. It was Asterios, his massive figure walking towards the gate.
As usual, the rest of the students near him parted as he walked through. As usual his white hair was still a wild mane that flowed until his back. AS usual his eyes were a deep red on a stoic face. As usual, he was the still the massive seven foot tall giant that most of Kuoh was almost used to already.
But unlike usual, there wasn't Koneko on his shoulder, seemingly asserting dominance on every girl in school.
However, what replaced her wasn't much better.
"Himejima-senpai!?"
"Did something happen between them so suddenly?"
"It's been just a week!"
"God-"
Issei winced.
"-Damn it!" Both of his friends cursed out loud seeing the two walking through the gates.
It was Akeno Himejima, the Third Year walking side by side with the taller First Year. Her arms were even locked around the huge arms of Asterios, who didn't seem at bothered by the presence of the senior student with him.
"What the hell happened, I thought that huge bastard was with Toujou-chan?!" Matsuda threw his head back with his hands in his head "Now suddenly he's with Himejima-senpai?!"
"There must've been more things happening in that stupid 'training camp' you all went to!" Motohama pointed an accusing finger at Issei.
The Pawn merely raised his hands in surrender "Hey hey, I am just as confused about this as you guys, I don't know anything about this!" It was a partial truth, Issei had saw some of the looks that the other Big Sister of Kuoh had given to Asterios, as such Issei nodded in his head 'Nice one Asterios!' and congratulated the Minotaur in his mind.
"Damn it, now I'm actually pissed." Matsuda grounded his teeth.
"I guess targeting our rumors towards Ise was the wrong choice," Motohama pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, seemingly turning opaque.
"Yeah, cuz now we know who the real target is!"
Both of them glared at the direction of the tall white haired student, with malicious intent in their-
"Hey hey! No!"
Only for them to gag as Issei suddenly yanked them by their collars to give his glare towards the two.
"That shit ain't cool guys, especially towards Asterios!" Issei was quick to call out towards the two.
"What's wrong, we do that shit to each other all the time!" Matsuda responded first.
"Yeah cuz we're asshole to each other," He shoved the two of them to face the tall white haired Minotaur in disguise "But it'd be too big of dick move to do it to Asterios!"
There was a moment of silence as the two fot hem looked at the person in question, before the two of them sighed.
"Shit, Ise's right. It would be a dick move if we did that." Motohama mumbled out.
"Yeah, unlike Ise, I don't think Asterios deserves that." Matsuda nodded.
Issei sighed in relief "Thanks guys, that's n-" He paused, before he frowned "Hey what the hell do you mean 'Unlike Ise', I didn't deserve that either!"
"Nah you did."/"Hard disagree."
"You pricks!"
[Scene]
Watching the Perverted Trio seemingly fight amongst each other, Akeno couldn't keep the smile off her face "I see Ise and his friends are as energetic as ever." She turned her eyes to Asterios "I do hope they're treating you kindly Asterios."
"motohama and matsuda are… nice," He responded with a small nod "so is issei."
"Wonderful!" Akeno let out a small sigh and pulled her arm away from the Minotaur, pausing a moment to hold onto the hand for a moment, paying little to no attention to the flabbergasted looks and mutterings of the other students around her "Thanks so much for walking with me to school Asterios, it was nice of you."
"thank for walking with me too, vice-president" Asterios mumbled out as he gave small bow of his head.
"Ah ah" Akeno wagged a finger, smiling brightly "What did I say, unless we're in the clubhouse, you can call me…?" She waited with anticipation.
"thank you… big sis akeno…"
Her smile turned into a grin, as her face flushed just a bit too much before she managed to calm herself down. She once more ignored the reactions around her, and gave a playful tap on his shoulder "There you go!" The black haired student then gave a short wave "Well I'm off to see Rias, have a nice day and take care of yourself Asterios!"
She walked away as the large student waved at her retreating figure. Once she was out of sight he lowered his arm and paused, staring forward for a few seconds, before looking around to see all eyes seemed to be on him.
Immediately everyone looked away, all of them curious but neither of them willing to just walk up an as-
"HEY MINOS!"
It was Matsuda, following him both Motohama and Issei. The former two looked some form of pissed, while Asterios saw that Issei had a proud look on his.
[Scene]
When Akeno walked into the school building, she saw that her red head friend was already waiting for her at the top of the stairs. She was leaning against the railing, and gave a wave as she approached. One that she returned as she ascended up the stairs.
"I see that you came to school with Asterios today Akeno," Rias started "Didja have fun?".
"Oh he was an absolute gentleman!" Akeno clasped her hands together, holding them by her cheeks "I can understand now why Koneko likes to walk around with him so much, having a big muscular wall could be something I might get used to!"
"Well up until Koneko gets better, then you'll have to return Asterios back to her." Rias smiled.
"Oh phooey, even if he's her Familiar I am still her senior," Akeno raised an eyebrow "Doesn't that count for something?"
"Only if you think it does." Rias shook her head with a slight laugh. Then her light died down and a serious look appeared on her face "Jokes aside, why is Koneko still not in school today? Is her stomach still messed up from the candy?"
"Nope," Akeno shook her head "She's gotten over it entirely, but apparently the method she did so had some unintended consequences." Akeno looked into her friend's green eyes "She has a fever right now, and it was a pretty bad one at that."
"A fever?" Rias eyebrows raised.
"Yup, it hit her pretty hard and if it wasn't for me trying to get her up or Asterios shaking her, she'd still be in bed." Akeno explained "When I touched her forehead it was burning up, and it wasn't just her forehead either."
"Her whole body was heating up, and you said that she was using some other method to heal herself…" Rias placed finger under her chin "So she was using her Senjutsu then?"
"Exactly." Akeno sighed "She said she's been using it to heal both her and Asterios, she even asked me last night if I wanted to feel what it was like. But I declined."
"Last night?" Rias didn't miss the words and for a moment she allowed herself to smile "Is that where you went after we finished with our contracts yesterday?"
"Of course!" Akeno threw her head back and returned the smile "They did invite me, back during the training camp."
"I hope you didn't just barge in their house in the middle of the night." Rias raised an eyebrow.
Akeno stood in front of the door. She had been standing in front of said door for the past ten minutes. She was nervous, by Lucifer why was she no nervous? All she had to do was knock and go in, even if Koneko hadn't already invited her-
"Akeno-senpai I can sense you from outside!" Koneko's voice called out from indoors.
Akeno felt her heart jump, some part of her wanted to fly away.
"Just come in, you're giving me a headache."
"Oh Rias, what type of girl do you take me for?" Akeno responded with a smile.
The red head let out a non-committal hum and gave a dismissive wave "No comment." Crossing her arms Rias face turned serious once more "Still I'm glad Koneko is getting comfortable with her Nekoshou side, if she's willing to try and heal you to."
"Honestly?" Akeno laughed a bit.
"You can heal?" Akeno asked, bewildered, towards the small girl sitting on the Minotaur's chest.
"Totally!" Koneko smugly replied "Cleared up my tummy and healed some extra burns on Asterios' hand, show her Asterios."
The massive hand was removed from the Devil's head to reveal a clear palm.
Akeno, who was never really aware of any lingering burns, merely smiled "I see."
Koneko pouted "You don't believe me huh?" Her ears twitched as her tails swished back and forth behind her "Then I'll show you."
"I think she was just trying to show off." Akeno sighed "I'm pretty sure if she was well today she'd try to show it off to everyone."
"I'm sure she would, she's adorable that way." Rias placed a hand on her cheek "On that note, I'm surprised that you managed to convince Asterios to leave Koneko behind, I'd assume that he'd be completely adamant to keep Koneko company."
"Oh it was for his own safety that I convinced him not to stay," Akeno let out a snort that devolved into a giggle "If he hadn't, I'm pretty sure Koneko would've attacked him."
The mirth in Rias' eyes fell as the words reached her.
"Attack…?" Green eyes widened as Rias almost took a step forward and nearly shouted in concern "What do you mean by attack?!"
Despite the severity her words, especially with regards to Koneko and her rather recent usage of her Senjutsu, Akeno returned the concern from Rias with a smirk and silence.
And it was a smirk that Rias was all too familiar with, with how often her friend liked to make certain 'jokes'.
"Oh… Oh!" Rias eyes widened even further as her mouth fell open in shock "You mean the fever was caused due to…"
"Yup!" Akeno's smirk turned into a grin "Turns out she's leaning more into her Nekoshou side than we thought. Poor Asterios got his hand bitten when he tried to leave!"
"Oh my," Rias held back a bit of blush "I guess we might need to look for a Senjutsu and a Nekoshou specialist faster than I thought."
"And in the meantime, I'll be the one to help take care of Asterios." Akeno was quick to state to her friend, a playful grin on her face.
Rias returned the grin with a smile "I'll allow it, at least until Koneko gets better."
[Scene]
Koneko lied on her bed, body still a warm temperature and just a slight bit sore.
Despite that, she found herself in a state of unrest, and with nothing else to do the Devil reached down and pull up the blankets until they were halfway up her knees.
She did not know why, but she figured some coverage would let her rest a bit better.