Chapter 38 - Invitation
"Roy, class is starting, so I'll head out," Rias said, pausing at the classroom door.
Her gaze lingered briefly, landing on Issei Hyoudou with a flicker of curiosity.
"A reincarnated devil? Sona's?" Rias wondered, puzzled.
Kuoh Academy was her territory.
She tracked every devil in its halls, as protocol demanded they report to her.
Yet Issei's aura, faint but undeniable, had slipped under her radar until now.
"Didn't Sona mention scouting lower-grade students for her peerage over summer break?" Rias recalled.
As they neared adulthood, both she and Sona Sitri were eager to fill their peerages.
Kuoh's students were prime candidates, but Rias was pickier, aiming for an elite roster.
Most students were too ordinary for her standards.
"If Sona's already claimed him, I can't let her snag Roy too," Rias thought, her confident smile returning.
Roy was a must-have for her Knight Evil Piece.
With elegant steps, Rias left the second-year building, basking in the students' adoring stares.
Back in the classroom, Roy became the center of attention again.
Once just the girls' focus, now boys cast envious and curious glances, sparked by Rias's visit.
"Roy, what's the deal? Rias-senpai came for you?" Aika Kiryuu demanded, blunt as ever.
"Yeah, what'd she want?" Katase and Murayama chimed in from behind, equally curious.
Nearby students leaned in, ears perked for gossip.
"She invited me to check out the Occult Research Club," Roy said, grinning truthfully.
"What?!"
"Occult Research Club?"
"That tiny club with, like, three people?"
"Four, actually. I heard Toujou Koneko, the first-year, was scouted back in junior high."
The classroom buzzed anew.
"Why the huge reaction?" Roy asked, shrugging.
"You don't get it," Aika said, pushing up her glasses.
"The Occult Research Club is Kuoh's toughest club to join—bar none. But it's also the one everyone, especially guys, dreams of getting into."
She nodded toward the fuming boys nearby.
"It's got Kuoh's biggest idols," Aika continued.
"Rias-senpai, with her crimson hair and killer figure, tops the popularity charts. Rumors say she's tied to European nobility."
"Then there's Akeno Himejima, second-ranked, a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko. Toujou Koneko's the adorable mascot—already a legend since junior high. And, well, you know Yuuto Kiba."
"Sounds like a stacked lineup," Roy said, nodding with a smile.
"Joining means rubbing elbows with those stars," Aika sighed.
"But the club's super secretive. No one knows what they do or how to get in."
"Maybe I'm just that good-looking?" Roy teased, scratching his cheek.
"Ugh, this guy's milking it!" a boy groaned.
"Visiting doesn't mean he's in!"
"No way Rias-senpai's that shallow!"
The boys' complaints echoed through the room.
"You're basically the boys' public enemy now," Aika said, smirking gleefully.
"Roy's got a point, though," a girl countered.
"The Occult Research Club's full of gorgeous people, right?"
"Quit whining, guys. You're just jealous!"
"Roy's new and already got Rias-senpai's invite. Shows she's got taste."
"If you were half as hot as Roy, you'd have girlfriends by now!"
The girls' sharp retorts shut the boys down, leaving them grumbling.
Roy chuckled. The classroom's lively vibe was anything but dull.
***
Student Council Office
Shinra Tsubaki returned and briefed Sona.
"I was too late. Rias-sama already spoke to Roy and invited him to the Occult Research Club," Tsubaki reported.
"Rias went to the second-year building herself?" Sona said, mildly surprised.
"She's dead-set on Roy," Tsubaki confirmed.
"She said he's already their club's pick."
"And Roy? What's his stance?" Sona asked.
"I passed on your invitation. He said he'd think it over," Tsubaki replied.
"Interesting," Sona said, a faint smile forming.
She hadn't expected to vie with her best friend over the same Knight candidate.
"Since Roy hasn't committed to Rias, we've still got a shot," Sona said, musing.
"President, but Rias-sama…" Tsubaki hesitated.
"No worries," Sona said, smiling.
"If Roy's undecided, it's a fair game of who can win him over."
She and Rias, childhood friends and rivals, thrived on competition.
If Roy had picked Rias outright, Sona would've stepped back.
But with the door still open, she wouldn't let such talent slip away.
After School
The bell rang, and the teacher dismissed the class.
Kiba promptly arrived at Roy's classroom, ready to escort him to the Occult Research Club.
Behind Kuoh Academy's main building lay a dense woodland, hiding the old schoolhouse—a wooden, aged structure now used solely by the Occult Research Club.
"Kiba, you never mentioned your president was Rias Gremory," Roy said, feigning a grumble as they walked.
"Haha, wanted to surprise you," Kiba said, chuckling awkwardly.
"Surprise? Sure. Now I'm torn between clubs," Roy said, faking distress.
"The Student Council's after me too. Rias or Sona Sitri—how do I pick?"
Kiba froze.
This guy…
If Rias or Sona heard that, they'd be floored.
Sure, every guy at Kuoh fantasized about them, but Roy's brazenness was next-level.
"Uh, maybe focus on one?" Kiba suggested, sighing.
"Good call. I'll stick to crushing on just those two, no one else," Roy said, barely hiding a grin.
Kiba's face twisted in a mix of awe and exasperation.
He pivoted. "Anyway, that's the Occult Research Club up ahead."
"Talk about a creepy spot," Roy said, eyeing the old schoolhouse.
"Spooky, right?" Kiba grinned. "Fits the 'supernatural' vibe."
Though the new school building had replaced it, the old schoolhouse wasn't abandoned.
Its wooden exterior, weathered but intact, radiated mystery. Without its pristine upkeep, it might've fueled ghost stories.
The corridors gleamed, spotless, with no cobwebs or dust despite its age. Someone clearly maintained it.
"Pretty clean for an old building. Anyone else use it?" Roy asked casually.
"Just us," Kiba said, smiling cryptically.
"Why it's so tidy? You'll see when you meet the president."
'Magic, obviously,' Roy thought, rolling his eyes inwardly.
"Keeping me in suspense, huh?" he said aloud, playing along.
"President, Roy and I are here," Kiba said, knocking on the clubroom door.
"Come in," Rias's voice called.
They entered a dim room, its corners scrawled with arcane symbols.
Sparse furniture—a few sofas and a plush desk—completed the setup.
Besides Rias, two others were present.
Akeno Himejima stood gracefully beside Rias, her smile curious as she eyed Roy.
Toujou Koneko sat on a sofa, nibbling snacks, her expression blank.
"Welcome to the Occult Research Club, Roy," Rias said, rising from her chair with a warm smile. "Have a seat."
"Thanks," Roy said, settling opposite Koneko.
"These are our other members," Rias said, sitting beside Koneko.
"Toujou Koneko and Akeno Himejima."
"Hi, Roy," Akeno said, her smile radiant, exuding Yamato Nadeshiko charm.
"Hey," Koneko said, pausing her snacking, her emotionless demeanor almost daring Roy to tease her.
"Hey, good to meet you both," Roy said, nodding.
"Let's cut to the chase," Rias said.
"What do you think about my noon invite?"
"Joining the Occult Research Club?" Roy clarified.
"Exactly," Rias said, smiling.
"Any special perks?" Roy asked, playing dumb.
"Perks?" Rias blinked, caught off-guard, half-amused, half-bewildered.
"The Kendo Club's got sweet deals, and the Student Council's waiting on my answer," Roy said.
He didn't care about joining any club—his earlier talk was just a front to string along Rias and Sona for points.
Rias stared, baffled.
'This isn't how it's supposed to go.'
Shouldn't he jump at her offer? Was her charm slipping? Outdone by kendo perks?
"Ara ara, Rias, looks like Roy's quite the catch," Akeno teased, giggling.
"What perks should we offer?"
"Perks depend on your skills," Rias said, recovering.
"Skills?" Roy echoed, suppressing a smirk.
Was she serious?
"Take Yuuto," Rias said. "His strength earns him top treatment."
"I'm strong," Koneko said, flexing a tiny fist.
"I… handle odd jobs," Akeno said, feigning distress.
"Tea, cooking, cleaning. If Roy's tired, I could offer a massage."
'Massage? For real?' Roy nearly blurted.
"What kind of perks are we talking?" Roy pressed, leaning in like he was dead-set on details.
Rias faltered, at a loss.
She hadn't prepped for this.
Revealing her identity could solve it, but she hesitated.
Roy's stance on devils was unknown—hostility would complicate making him her Knight.
Plus, she wanted to save the reveal for a dramatic moment, hoping to awe him into joining her peerage.
"We'll keep perks under wraps for now," Akeno said, bailing Rias out.
"You're not a member yet, Roy, so it's hush-hush. But trust me, they're good."
"The President treats us well," Kiba added.
"Really well," Koneko mumbled, resuming her snacking.
"If Kiba says so, I'll drop it," Roy said, nodding.
"You want me for my kendo, right?"
"Exactly," Rias confirmed.
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