Chapter 36 - Rias Enters
"Kiba-kun! What brings you to the third-year building? Something big?"
Kiba's fame at Kuoh Academy spanned all grades.
Hardly anyone didn't know him.
As he stepped into the third-year building, a gaggle of girls spotted him, swarming with eager questions about whether he needed help.
"It's club business—something urgent. I need to see Rias-senpai," Kiba explained, his warm smile masking a hint of exasperation.
"Is Rias-senpai in her classroom?" he asked.
"Rias…" A girl from Rias's class piped up.
"She and Akeno are there. Want me to grab them?"
"That'd be great, thanks," Kiba nodded.
The girl darted back to the classroom, beaming. Moments later, Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima emerged.
"Yuuto, what's with the third-year visit?" Rias asked, surprised.
Kiba rarely came to her like this.
Kuoh's peaceful routine—free of emergencies—made it unusual.
"Something urgent. Better discussed in person," Kiba said, his wry smile glancing at the curious students around them, signaling the need for privacy.
"Follow me," Rias said, leading Kiba and Akeno to an empty office.
"So, what's this urgent matter that's got you racing here during lunch?" Rias asked, settling onto a sofa with an elegant smile, more curious than anxious.
Major incidents would've reached her already, and Kuoh was calm. This was no school crisis.
"Is it about that issue?" Akeno asked, intrigued.
A stray devil had recently appeared in Kuoh Town, their intended target.
But an unknown figure—suspected to be a Phenex descendant—had slain it first, right under their noses.
Despite their efforts, the culprit remained a ghost, gnawing at Rias's peace of mind. A Phenex loose in her territory was no small worry.
"Not that," Kiba shook his head. "It's about my friend, the transfer student from the UK."
"Him?" Rias frowned, puzzled why Kiba brought up his friend.
She saw it as Kiba's personal circle, unrelated to their devil affairs.
"I think he'd make an excellent Knight for you," Kiba said, dead serious.
"Oh?" Rias's expression sharpened. "Tell me more."
Akeno leaned in, her curiosity piqued, waiting for Kiba's explanation.
"Here's what happened…" Kiba detailed the Kendo Club spar.
"You're saying this transfer student, Roy Flott, beat Captain Meguri Tomoe in one move?" Rias's eyes widened, stunned.
"I recall she's Sona's knight, right? She's no pushover. One move… that's wild," Akeno said, nodding.
"I was floored too," Kiba admitted, chuckling bitterly. "My jaw nearly hit the floor."
He'd expected Meguri to school Roy, not the reverse.
"Meguri lost so easily," Kiba continued. "She stayed within human limits, which curbed her, but Roy's kendo insight is unreal."
"Unless Roy specifically studied Meguri's moves to exploit her flaw…" Rias mused.
"Then his talent is jaw-dropping," she concluded.
Roy's ability to spot and correct Meguri's centimeter-off swing in one glance demanded respect.
Such vision typically came with serious skill.
"That's unlikely," Kiba said, shaking his head. "Roy's a transfer student. Why would he prep for a Kendo Club captain?"
Plus, Roy had claimed he transferred for Rias—a detail Kiba kept quiet.
"Even I couldn't last ten moves against him without devil strength," Kiba said, not exaggerating.
"Yuto-kun, that's high praise," Akeno said, surprised.
They knew Kiba's skill, honed under Okita Souji, a legendary swordsman. His prowess was undeniable.
"Absolutely," Kiba nodded. "I couldn't one-shot Meguri like that."
"Yuto, you're making me curious," Rias said, smiling. "After school, bring him to the Occult Research Club. I want to meet this prodigy myself."
"Uh…" Kiba hesitated.
"Problem?" Rias asked, catching his pause.
"You forgot, President—Sona-sama's also short a Knight," Kiba said cautiously.
"Sona would dare poach from me?" Rias blinked, indignant.
"With Sona's setup, she won't pass up a talent like Roy," Kiba guessed.
"You're right," Rias nodded.
Roy's talent would tempt even her—Sona, too.
Meguri, Sona's knight, had felt Roy's skill firsthand, likely giving Sona a clearer picture than Kiba's report.
Kuoh rarely produced talents worthy of becoming devils.
A potential genius was too rare for Sona to ignore, especially with
her Knight Evil Piece.
"Yuuto, tell Roy to meet me after school," Rias said, checking the time.
Lunch was too short to judge Roy solely on Kiba's word.
She needed to meet him, assess him, and observe him over time before offering her last Knight Evil Piece.
"Honestly, President, you should go yourself," Kiba said, wry. "The Student Council's probably already moving."
"Rias, don't let Sona beat you to him," Akeno teased, smiling. "The most stunning beauty at Kuoh personally inviting him? No boy could say no."
"Exactly," Kiba nodded. "Roy won't turn you down."
He didn't mention Roy's supposed crush on Sona, the reason for his transfer.
"Fine, I'll go," Rias sighed, amused.
Her visit to the second-year building would likely spark a frenzy.
***
Student Council Office
"President, tea," Tsubaki said, serving a fragrant cup to Sona.
"Thank you, Tsubaki," Sona said, sipping gracefully.
"You seem cheerful, President. Thinking about that second-year, Saji Genshirou?" Tsubaki asked, curious.
On their recent campus walk, Sona's gaze had lingered on Saji.
"He's promising," Sona nodded.
She'd sensed a faint Sacred Gear aura in Saji, though it could be a false read.
She planned to observe him, potentially using one of her Pawn Evil Pieces if confirmed.
Bang!
The office door flew open, more like it was kicked in.
"What's with the rush? Ever heard of knocking?" Tsubaki snapped.
"Cut me some slack, Vice President," Meguri grinned sheepishly.
"Got urgent news for the President."
"Urgent doesn't mean barging in like that," Tsubaki huffed, stern.
"Sorry, but if I'm slow, Rias-sama might steal the prize," Meguri said, her words stunning Tsubaki into silence.
Sona raised a hand, calming Tsubaki. "What's this about Rias poaching?"
"Here's the deal…" Meguri recounted the Kendo Club spar with Roy.
"He beat you in one move? This Roy Flott sounds like a genius," Sona said, her interest piqued.
"Totally, President," Meguri nodded eagerly.
"If Kiba hadn't stepped in, Roy'd be in the Kendo Club already. Oh, and he said he wants to join the Student Council!"
"Even Kiba-kun's playing dirty for Roy?" Sona said, surprised.
Kiba's gentlemanly image made his poaching attempt unexpected, showing how much he valued Roy.
"He's probably pushing Roy toward the Occult Research Club," Meguri said. "Bet he's already told Rias."
"I'm intrigued by someone Kiba would poach for," Sona said, smiling.
Today was her lucky day—first Saji, now a person both Meguri and Kiba deemed exceptional.
"Tsubaki, could you invite Roy to the Student Council?" Sona asked, setting down her cup.
"No problem, President," Tsubaki nodded, heading for the second-year building.
"Now, about your manners," Sona said, fixing Meguri with a stern look.
"I've told you to stay composed, always."
"President, have mercy for my big win today," Meguri pleaded, puppy-eyed, but Sona ignored her.
***
Second-Year Classroom
"You're back! The girls were freaking out, thinking Kiba-kun whisked you away," Aika Kiryuu teased as Roy Flott returned to his seat.
"Was gone for one lunch break, and my rep's already taking a hit?" Roy said, exasperated. "What'd you spread while I was out?"
"No way!" Aika's eyes darted away, dodging his gaze.
"You expect me to buy that, old driver?" Roy said, flipping her the bird.
With Aika's bold vibe, he didn't hold back, matching her energy.
"Katase, did Kiryuu trash-talk me while I was gone?" Roy asked, turning to the girls behind him.
Katase blushed, catching Aika's frantic winks. "Uh… we were just wondering where you and Kiba went at lunch."
Roy shot Aika a look. "I checked out the Kendo Club."
"Kendo Club?" Katase and Murayama gasped, thrilled.
"Roy, you joining?"
As Kendo Club members, they'd love that.
"Kendo Club? You serious?" other girls chimed in, crowding around.
"Just scoped it out. Not decided," Roy said, smiling.
"You should think twice," one girl said. "They train like crazy, all sweaty. I heard some collapse from exhaustion."
"Yeah, the captain's a drill sergeant. You'd lose all your free time," another added.
"The Kendo Club's an injury magnet. They're always in the infirmary," a third chimed.
Katase and Murayama seethed.
These girls were trashing the Kendo Club to steer Roy toward their own clubs.
Suddenly, the classroom fell silent, as if time froze.
All eyes locked on the door, drawn by an irresistible presence.
Roy glanced over.
There stood a figure with striking crimson hair—Rias Gremory.
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