In the Occult Research Club...
"As mbers of the Occult Research Club, what do you think our club actually does?" Rias asked, arms folded as she leaned back against the desk.
"Reading Harry Potter?" Kousuke replied innocently, tilting his head to the side. Akeno couldn't help but giggle behind her hand, while Rias stared at him with a deadpan expression. She sighed heavily.
"...Please be serious for a mont."
"Oh, I know!" he said, snapping his fingers. For a mont, Rias's eyes lit up, thinking he finally understood her leading question. But her hopes were short-lived. Her expression crumbled the second he continued. "Investigating flat Earth theory!"
"...Issei-kun, is your friend always like this?" Rias asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
"I'm sorry, President. He's always been like this," Issei said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"You're such a jokester, Kousuke-kun~ No wonder the ever-serious Tsubaki fell for you," Akeno added, laughing lodiously. She found it hilarious how easily he could toy with Rias—sothing very few people managed to do.
"Cough All right, I'll ask again. This ti, no more jokes."
"Ehh~ That's no fun."
"Kousuke-kun, I'll report this to Tsubaki if you keep it up."
At the ntion of his girlfriend's na, Kousuke imdiately sat up straighter, his deanor shifting completely. "Yes ma'am. Please ask the question again." Akeno covered her mouth to stifle another laugh. She was really starting to enjoy his presence in the club.
"What would a mber of the Occult Research Club actually do?"
"Research anything supernatural," Kousuke replied without missing a beat. But what he said next caused the air in the clubroom to grow noticeably tense. "Like solving the mystery of why a devil would co to the human world just to play student."
"...What?"
"Isn't it an interesting topic?" he continued. "I an, you wouldn't think the reason is as simple as just liking Japanese culture so much that a certain soone begged her family and brother to let her enroll in a school here, would you?"
"...Did Tsubaki tell you that?"
"Bingo."
"Guys, what are you talking about?" Issei asked, eyes darting between them. He understood every word but couldn't follow the context.
"Oh, you didn't know?" Kousuke said, flashing a mischievous grin. He pointed straight at Rias, whose face was already turning red with panic. "Your girlfriend here is actually a huge otaku."
"Nooooo! I kept that hidden from him so well too! Don't believe him, Issei! H-He's lying!"
"Huh? Rias is?"
"Yes, he's telling the truth, Issei-kun~" Akeno chid in with an amused smile. She really was enjoying this. 'A sha he's already taken.'
"You're supposed to be on my side, Akeno! Not joining in with him!"
While the club erupted into laughter and teasing, Koneko—who had been silently sipping tea from the corner—decided now was a good ti to slip away unnoticed.
A few minutes later, Kousuke also quietly excused himself. He had seen the way Koneko left and followed the faint traces of her presence until he reached an empty classroom. He gave a soft knock before entering.
Inside the empty classroom...
"What are you doing here all on your own?" he asked gently.
Koneko turned her head to glance at him for a mont before turning back to the window. She didn't appear tense or wary, which gave him permission to slowly walk over and sit beside her.
"I used to have a cat," he began softly, his eyes following hers out the window. "She was pretty rowdy—never let anyone know what she was thinking."
That wasn't entirely true. He didn't really own a cat, but he had known soone like that—but that was only a minor details that can be left out. She reminded him of her, which is why he couldn't help but feel a little concerned.
"But when she was in a really bad mood," he added, "it beca noticeable."
He glanced at the quiet girl beside him. Koneko was always reserved, but today there was sothing different. Even during the club's earlier chaos, she hadn't listened—hadn't even tuned in passively, the way shy people often did. Her mind was clearly elsewhere.
"Why don't you tell what's on your mind?" he asked, giving her a kind, reassuring smile. "I might not be able to help, but at the very least, I can be a good listener."
There was no reason for him to insert himself into her problems, but sothing about her reminded him of the orphan he'd left behind in the Other World. That child should be living a good life now—he'd made sure of that. But still, seeing Koneko like this stirred sothing in him.
For a long mont, Koneko remained silent. Then, slowly, she turned toward him. Her face was as unreadable as ever, but he caught a flicker—just a flicker—of emotion in her eyes.
"I won't tell the others. I promise," Kousuke said firmly. "If I break that promise, may the Demon God revive from oblivion just to ss up."
"...?"
"What I'm saying is, your secret's safe with ."
"...I had a sister," Koneko began quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "She and I... were separated for... complicated reasons. I kind of hate her... for things I can't explain. But... I really miss her."
Kousuke didn't interrupt. He simply nodded as she spoke.
"You hate your sister?" he repeated, just to confirm. She nodded slowly.
"But you also miss her?" Another long pause, then a hesitant nod.
"Family matters are complicated," he said gently. "Not really my place to say much, but... let ask you this: Do you miss her because you're worried about her?"
She shook her head. Koneko knew her sister was powerful. Rias had always kept her inford of any major incidents involving her, and as far as she knew, her sister was still a wanted criminal.
"Then let ask you this: What would you do if your sister was in danger... and needed your help?"
"I..."
She couldn't answer. Sothing caught in her throat. If she truly hated her sister, the answer would've co imdiately. But the hesitation—the flickering emotion in her eyes—said otherwise.
Her expression slowly softened.
"Thank you senpai," she whispered. "I... understand now."
If she ever t her sister again, Koneko knew what she had to do. She would finally ask the question that had haunted her for so long.
If Kuroka truly lost control of her power that day…
Why didn't she attack her too?
Why was their Master the only one who got hurt—who died?
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