Consciousness returned with the familiar, soft weight of Akeno's body pressed against his. Rin opened his eyes to the traditional wooden ceiling of her room at the shrine. He was naked, tangled in the sheets with an equally nude Akeno sleeping soundly beside him, her breathing even, a small, contented smile on her lips.
He was back.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind: Why do I always seem to have clothes on when I wake up in the Tensura world, even if I was naked here when I "left"? It was a minor, perplexing detail. He could probably boost his Intelligence and Wisdom to figure it out, but honestly, it felt like an unnecessary expenditure of mental effort. He shrugged it off. Some mysteries were best left unsolved, especially when more pressing, or rather, more pleasurable, matters were at hand.
A mischievous grin spread across Rin's face. Akeno looked so peaceful, so alluring in her sleep. He decided on a unique wake-up call. Gently, carefully, he shifted, positioning himself before slowly, deliberately, entering her. Her body, already familiar with his, accepted him readily even in her slumber. He began to move, a gentle rhythm at first, then gradually increasing in pace and intensity.
A soft moan escaped Akeno's lips as she began to stir, her body instinctively arching to meet his thrusts. Her eyes fluttered open just as a wave of pleasure washed over her, a sleepy climax that brought a surprised gasp to her lips. She looked at Rin, a pout forming.
"Rin-kun…" she murmured, her voice husky with sleep and arousal. "That's… not a fair way to wake someone up."
"Oh? But you seemed to enjoy it," he teased, leaning down to kiss her.
"Well, yes," she admitted, her pout melting away as his lips met hers. "But that's not the point…" Her protest faded as the kiss deepened, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer. The point, whatever it was, was quickly forgotten as they launched into their usual, vigorous morning "sexual exercise."
Later that day, at Kuoh Academy, Rin found himself struggling to stay awake during his history class. The teacher, a stern-faced man with a monotonous voice, droned on about feudal Japan. Rin let out a discreet yawn. The teacher's sharp glare shot towards him, a silent warning. Rin quickly feigned interest, burying his nose in his textbook, though his mind was miles away, replaying the morning's activities.
Lunch break arrived, and for the first time in a while, Rin found himself at a loose end. Akeno, Rias, and Sona had apparently decided on a "girls only" lunch today, a development he found both amusing and slightly intriguing. What were they plotting? Or were they simply comparing notes on him?
He wandered the hallways, eventually spotting Issei Hyoudou and Asia Argento sitting on a bench in a quiet courtyard, sharing a bento box. Their awkward, budding romance was almost painful to watch, yet Rin found himself strangely drawn to observing them. He found a discreet spot nearby, hidden from their direct line of sight, and tuned into their thoughts.
Issei: Should I offer her that piece of tamagoyaki? No, what if she thinks I'm being too forward? But she looks like she wants it… Argh, this is so complicated! She's so cute, but if I make a wrong move, I'll ruin everything!
Asia: Issei-san is so kind. This bento is delicious. I wish… I wish I knew what he was thinking. Does he like me? Or am I just a friend? I want to hold his hand, just for a little while, but what if he thinks I'm being improper?
Their internal monologues were a chaotic mess of desire, fear, and overthinking. They both clearly wanted more from their relationship but were terrified of making the first move, of jeopardizing the comfortable friendship they currently shared. Rin found it a bit boring after a while, their thoughts circling the same anxieties. He briefly considered just maxing out their affection for each other and getting it over with, but a part of him, the part that enjoyed observing human (and demonic/angelic) drama, wanted to see how their story would naturally unfold. It was like watching a live-action romance anime, but with the added bonus of unfiltered inner thoughts.
Their awkward lunch was soon interrupted by the arrival of Issei's perverted friends: Matsuda and Motohama, accompanied by Kiryuu Aika.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here!" Matsuda crowed, Motohama leering beside him. "Issei, you dog! Flirting with the cute little nun again, are we?"
Issei and Asia both flushed bright red.
Kiryuu, a girl with intelligent gold-colored eyes behind her spectacles and brunette hair in twin braids, smirked. "Now, now, boys, don't tease them too much. Can't you see they're in the delicate stages of blossoming young love? Though, Issei, you really should make a move before someone else snatches her up. Asia-chan is quite the catch."
While Matsuda and Motohama continued to rib Issei, who was stammering denials, Rin's attention became laser-focused on Kiryuu. She wasn't a stunning beauty on the level of Rias or Akeno, nor did she possess their overtly voluptuous figures. But there was a sharp intelligence in her eyes, a playful confidence in her demeanor, and a cuteness that he found undeniably appealing.
More than her looks, however, it was her personality that truly captivated him. From his memories of the High School DxD anime, Kiryuu Aika was a tease, unabashedly perverted in her own right, and possessed a sharp wit. She was, in his opinion, one of the most entertaining side characters, and secretly, his favorite. There was something about her straightforward, slightly degenerate nature that he felt resonated with his own.
A new, exciting idea began to form in Rin's mind as he watched Kiryuu expertly tease Issei and Asia. He wasn't going to act on it immediately, not yet. For now, he would simply observe this lively group, enjoying the unfolding drama of Kuoh Academy's lunchtime social scene. But Kiryuu Aika had definitely just been added to his list of… potential future projects.