Today was a gloomy, rainy day. The weather was bleak, and it was often said that people's moods could be influenced by the weather—rainy days could make one feel lethargic.
Grey clouds blanketed the sky, a fine drizzle falling continuously.
Unless forced by necessity, few would willingly go outside on a miserable day like this.
People hurried along beneath their umbrellas, mostly dark-colored to match the gloomy sky, occasionally punctuated by flashes of brighter shades like mushrooms sprouting from damp soil.
Jeanne Alter disliked this kind of weather—not because she hated the rain itself; she actually liked the soothing sound of rain tapping on windows or umbrellas. But water seeping into her shoes was genuinely unpleasant.
Moreover, rainy weather meant physical education classes would be canceled.
She recalled that when she was in elementary school, she had even considered becoming a P.E. teacher. Back then, her classes consisted of two quick laps followed by free playtime, and on rainy days, the teacher would show movies to the entire class. At the time, she thought being a P.E. teacher was a very relaxed job.
...
The old school building.
Jeanne Alter felt that after revealing her true strength, her visits here had become more frequent.
"The inside is so beautifully decorated, yet the outside looks like that… No wonder nobody ever wants to come here. It's practically turning into a haunted house."
Walking along the polished wooden floor, Jeanne glanced absently at the window being rhythmically tapped by raindrops.
Trees surrounded the old building, obscuring most views from its windows. Only the windows in Rias's Occult Research Club had decent scenery—no wonder Rias chose that particular room as their club's headquarters.
Footsteps easily drowned out the pattering rain as Yuuto Kiba walked ahead, gently speaking.
"You and the president think alike, Jeanne-san. She recently mentioned wanting to convert this old building into a haunted house for the next school festival."
"School festival… Oh, that thing."
Jeanne looked slightly bewildered. She'd only ever heard of school festivals in anime; she hadn't experienced such interesting school events in her previous life.
Her junior high had organized Halloween costume parties, but only first- and second-year students could participate. She'd transferred there as a third-year, missing the event entirely and seeing her classmates' ghost, vampire, Kamen Rider, and Pikachu costumes only through photos.
Still, Rias's idea made Jeanne seriously want to complain.
"A haunted house run by real devils… Real devils dressing up as fake ghosts to scare people. That's ironic."
"Will this be your first school festival, Jeanne-san?" Yuuto asked curiously.
"It is. After all, school is primarily about studying, isn't it? I don't mind it; even without festivals, there's always the sports day—just as lively."
"I see. Well then, Jeanne-san, please look forward to enjoying your first school festival."
Although Jeanne spoke casually, as though indifferent, Yuuto always responded seriously and earnestly. His straightforward yet engaging personality easily explained his immense popularity.
Yuuto Kiba was Rias's Knight—and the only male in her peerage.
Jeanne strongly suspected that Kuoh Academy, originally an all-girls school, had begun accepting boys just so Yuuto could enroll, with Rias altering the rules for him.
The school's most popular boy, known as the "Prince" among female students, spent significant time daily politely declining their invitations and dealing with countless love letters in his locker and desk. Boys envied him but dared not antagonize him; becoming his enemy meant becoming enemies with ninety-nine percent of the girls.
Golden hair, impeccable manners, a sunny smile, and an earnest, knight-like personality—the more Jeanne observed him, the more he reminded her of someone else.
A certain potato-loving, gorilla-like Sun Knight…
Feeling a sudden tug on her sleeve, Jeanne looked downward.
Her gaze met Koneko's serious golden eyes.
"School festival… I can show you around, Jeanne-senpai."
Jeanne blinked in surprise, not expecting Koneko to offer such a thing. A soft smile slowly formed on her lips.
"Then, I'll leave everything up to you that day, Koneko."
Their hands gently joined. Although Koneko's expression remained blank, a faint sparkle shone in the depths of her eyes.
"Your first school festival, Jeanne-senpai… I'll make sure you have an unforgettable day."
Walking ahead, Yuuto glanced back slightly, observing their interaction. A charming smile, capable of enchanting countless girls, quietly spread across his face—as though pleased that Koneko had found a good friend.
Yet, deep within his eyes, shadows darker than even the sun's radiance quietly grew and spread.
---
Rain rhythmically tapped the window outside, yet it couldn't disturb the silence inside.
Untouched tea sat steaming gently on the table.
Rias sat elegantly and regally on the sofa, her Queen, Akeno Himejima, respectfully standing behind her.
Across from Rias, another girl sat confidently, matching Rias's composure despite being on Rias's home turf.
She also wore Kuoh Academy's uniform. Her figure, though not as exaggerated as Rias or Akeno's, was elegant, with black shoulder-length hair and red-framed glasses lending her a scholarly air.
Standing behind her was another girl with waist-length black hair and blue-framed glasses, rivaling Rias and Akeno in figure.
"I originally assumed you were here regarding Jeanne-san," Rias began.
"The two issues aren't mutually exclusive, Rias," Sona Sitri adjusted her glasses, staring intently into Rias's eyes.
"Jeanne-san hasn't arrived yet, and conveniently Koneko and Kiba-san aren't here either. I believe now is the perfect time to discuss this with you."
"There's nothing to discuss."
Rias's aristocratic elegance, her calm and confident façade that could face any situation with ease, vanished instantly.
Her expression darkened like the gloomy skies outside.
"This is my own affair, Sona. No one needs to instruct me on how to handle it."
Immature. Naive.
Like a child rebelling against parental arrangements and running away from home—Sona silently evaluated Rias this way.
"I see…"
Rias closed her eyes slowly, hiding the shadows in their depths, speaking quietly and grimly, "Did those people ask you to persuade me again?"
"Yes, they approached me recently, hoping I'd convince you to stop being stubborn. But I'm not here to persuade you."
Sona's gaze sharpened, her voice rising urgently as if trying to awaken Rias. "Rias, you don't have time to keep dithering. You need to make a decision now."
"Because we're friends, I must say this clearly—your indecision is the very thing that will hurt people the most."
Seeing Rias remain silent, Sona grew increasingly anxious.
"Next time… it might be your brother or Lady Grayfia who comes to talk to you. By then, whatever you decide might be too late."
"…"
When Rias remained unmoved, Sona sighed deeply after a long pause.
"That's all I have to say. I hope you're right—that you have your own thoughts clearly sorted out."
When Yuuto opened the Occult Research Club's door, Jeanne immediately sensed an odd atmosphere inside.
However, as they entered, that strange tension quickly vanished.
Jeanne discreetly glanced at Rias, then quickly averted her gaze as Sona rose and approached her.
Jeanne's reason for coming today was precisely because Sona wanted to meet her.
They shook hands briefly, with Sona speaking first.
"Hello, Jeanne-san. Though this isn't our first meeting, it's our first time speaking openly as devils, isn't it?"
"Actually, I realized from our first meeting that you, Student Council President, weren't human," Jeanne replied casually, eyes narrowed slightly. "However, I only understood after learning Koneko was a devil that the aura I sensed from you and Rias-san was demonic."
"Oh? Is that so? How careless of us… It seems we revealed ourselves immediately."
"You weren't trying to hide your presence, were you?"
Perhaps because Kuoh Town was their territory, Jeanne thought. Just like how people wouldn't bother wearing uncomfortable formal clothing at home, devils here relaxed naturally, expressing their true nature.
Sona Shitori, Kuoh Academy's third-year Student Council President, third most popular student according to school rumors—these were merely her surface identities.
Her true identity, however…
"My real name is Sona Sitri, next head of the pure-blooded Devil Clan Sitri. Jeanne-san, please call me Sona."
"Sitri?"
Jeanne raised an eyebrow slightly.
Rias had educated her on Devil society. Originally, there were seventy-two noble Devil families, mirroring the seventy-two demons of Solomon. However, heavy casualties from past wars had greatly diminished these numbers.
Having played FGO, Jeanne remembered the "Demon God Pillars," but devils here weren't monstrous pillars of flesh, and there was no Human Order Incineration here.
Rias was heir to the Gremory family, ranked fifty-sixth, whose demon could foresee the future and find hidden treasures.
Sona, heir to the Sitri family, ranked twelfth, whose demon symbolized passionate love and desire.
Rias excelled at discovering potential—her peerage included the future world-saving protagonist Issei Hyoudou, corresponding neatly with Gremory's ability to locate hidden treasures.
As for Sona… Jeanne couldn't say, since she knew little about her.
"Another noble…" Jeanne murmured thoughtfully, glancing between Sona and Rias, before shrugging casually. "I'm not as impressive as you nobles. Just a village girl without a hidden identity—my name's simply Jeanne."
"You're joking, Jeanne-san," Sona smiled gently. "Your strength, comparable to a Maou, is enough to render our noble titles meaningless."
Complex worlds always worshipped raw power, while peaceful ones restrained it. Devils were no different, as the emergence of powerful reincarnated devils challenged traditional pureblood hierarchies.
"Moreover," Sona's gaze deepened, playful yet probing, "we can't believe a mere 'village girl' could possess Maou-level power alone. Your name also makes it difficult not to speculate."
Eyes fixed intently, Sona delivered her meaningful conclusion:
"We're all waiting for the day you honestly tell us your true identity, Jeanne-san."