Only Jeanne Alter and Rias knew what had happened that night. Jeanne kept silent, not mentioning it to Asia or Koneko, and Rias likewise didn't confide even in her trusted Queen, Akeno Himejima.
Jeanne wasn't the type to indulge in gossip, especially when it involved someone else's troubles.
From Koneko's perspective, Jeanne simply went out briefly that night and quickly found Rias, returning soon after.
Afterward, Rias had regained her usual confident demeanor. Though she occasionally became serious, seemingly lost in thought, she no longer displayed the troubled state she had before.
Three days passed like this, and Rias seemed to have finally made a major decision, frequently slipping away to communicate secretly with someone unknown.
According to Akeno, Rias hadn't mentioned anything to her—highly unusual, given their close bond as King and Queen.
Clearly, it was no small matter if even Akeno was left in the dark.
Yet Jeanne, for her part, had a good guess of what Rias was planning.
She supported it wholeheartedly. Seeing Rias finally break free from her confusion and courageously confront her own feelings made Jeanne genuinely happy.
And just like that, three days passed quietly.
On this particular morning, Jeanne walked down the bustling academy path towards their classroom, with Koneko and Asia by her side as usual.
"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~♪"
Next to Jeanne, Asia, dressed in the Kuoh Academy uniform, hummed a pleasant melody, clearly in high spirits.
After enduring for so long, Jeanne finally couldn't help but pout slightly.
"It's just a hairpin. It's been days already. Do you really need to be this happy?"
If one looked closely, Asia appeared slightly different from before—a silver-white hairpin now adorned her golden hair.
"Of course I'm happy!" Asia reached up and gently touched the hairpin, smiling brightly with sheer joy. "After all, it's a gift from Jeanne-san… This was my first time shopping with friends, my first gift from a friend…"
Her smile was dazzling enough that Jeanne felt compelled to look away awkwardly.
"Tch! You're smiling like that over something so trivial? How stupid… If you like it that much, we can go out again this weekend. You can even invite classmates from school; didn't they repeatedly ask you to join them for karaoke?"
As Jeanne turned away, she suddenly caught sight of Koneko staring intensely at her, golden eyes filled with unreadable emotions.
"Why…did only Asia get a gift?"
Jeanne tilted her head, puzzled by Koneko's sudden question.
"Asia came to Kuoh Town alone, and she was missing many daily necessities, so I bought things she needed. You didn't lack anything, right? Besides, don't you already have your own hairclip?"
Koneko always wore her black cat-shaped clip, visible on her silver hair.
Hearing Jeanne's explanation, Koneko remained silent for a long moment.
"Jeanne-senpai is an idiot."
"Huh???"
Jeanne felt complicated, but Koneko didn't say anything more. She resumed walking silently, returning to her usual quiet, independent demeanor from when they first met.
As the three girls walked side by side, they naturally drew attention, accompanied by whispers and curious stares from nearby students.
In the past, Jeanne had simply ignored these gazes. Now, she was slowly becoming accustomed to them.
Koneko had long since gotten used to such scenes and walked on, completely unaffected.
Surprisingly, Asia had adapted swiftly to the attention, leaving Jeanne somewhat astonished.
But upon further thought, Jeanne realized this was perfectly normal. Asia had been regarded as a saint by countless believers in the Church, constantly surrounded by reverence. Being watched was likely nothing new to her.
Just as they were about to enter the school building, Jeanne's body suddenly tensed. A brilliant gleam flickered in her golden eyes, and even her aura shifted dramatically.
Both Asia and Koneko immediately noticed Jeanne's reaction and stopped.
"Um…" Asia asked uncertainly, "Did you forget something?"
Koneko didn't speak but fixed a questioning gaze upon Jeanne.
Under the girls' watchful eyes, Jeanne smiled faintly, as though she'd discovered something interesting. She turned slightly, looking in the direction of the old school building.
"Terrible timing…" Her golden eyes gleamed brighter, almost burning. "Looks like I'll have to skip this class."
---
Kuoh Academy's.
Old School Building.
Occult Research Club.
Inside the modest-sized room, a heavy, tense atmosphere prevailed, oppressive enough to leave one breathless.
Rias sat rigidly on the sofa, glaring fiercely at the man sitting opposite her with undisguised disgust.
He was a handsome young man wearing a flashy red suit, shirt unbuttoned down to his chest. With an air of arrogance, he looked exactly like a spoiled heir who relied on family wealth to indulge in debauchery and bullying.
Rias's servants stood behind her, also fixing hostile stares on the arrogant visitor. Yet he ignored their contemptuous gazes entirely, casually surveying the room's decor as though he owned the place.
"You've been living in a place like this while staying in the human world? Oh, my dear Rias, you truly enjoy these meaningless childish games…"
"Why are you here, Riser?" Rias's tone was icy, clearly irritated by his attitude.
"I don't particularly enjoy visiting the human world, nor do I like cramped, shabby human buildings," Riser said lazily, reclining on the sofa. "You understand, right? The fire and wind here are filthy. As a Devil who commands both, it disgusts me."
He straightened slightly, his eyes intensely focused on Rias.
"My fiancée's innocence is adorable. But you've been far too stubborn this time, Rias. Trying to break off our engagement?"
"So you came directly here to confront me, Riser?" Rias met his eyes fearlessly. "Doing this only makes me more certain of my decision."
"My dear Rias—"
"Stop using such intimate words! I don't belong to you!"
Rias's commanding presence surged. "I will never marry you! As the heir of the Gremory family, I have the right to decide my own happiness!"
"Happiness? Only a naive child would obsess over something like that. Precisely because you are the Gremory heir, you must marry me," Riser sneered dismissively. "You understand your family's situation better than I do. Your father and Lord Sirzechs worry the Gremory bloodline might end with you. Many pureblood Devils died in past wars, and small conflicts still claim heirs' lives today. Combining two pureblood Devil houses is natural and necessary."
He paused, narrowing his eyes coldly at her.
"Even if you want to be willful, I won't allow it. Today, I'm here not just to see you but to force you to reconsider. Otherwise, I can't guarantee I won't do something regrettable."
Flames ignited around Riser, suffusing the room with oppressive heat. Tension filled the clubroom instantly.
Seeing Riser openly release his magical power on her territory, Rias's expression darkened. Akeno and Kiba reflexively tightened, ready to respond.
Yet Riser ignored them, eyes locked solely on Rias.
"Even if I have to burn all your servants to ashes, I'll drag you back to the Underworld."
The room grew unbearably hot. Suddenly, a figure dashed forward from behind Rias, shouting furiously.
"Buchou already said no! Are you deaf?!"
Surprised, Riser quickly unleashed fierce flames, engulfing the attacker without even bothering to look.
Yet in the next instant, something unexpected happened.
"[Boost]!"
The flames burst apart as a red gauntlet-clad fist cut through, punching Riser squarely in the face, forcing him several steps back.
Riser froze. Rias froze. Akeno, Kiba, and even the quiet maid watching nearby froze. Issei Hyoudou, still holding his punch stance, froze as well.
"Huh? I…actually landed the hit?"
Issei, having only been reincarnated as a Devil for a single day, had no confidence facing someone as powerful as Riser. Yet at that moment, a strange, overwhelming power surged within him.
Recovering, Riser touched his rapidly healing face, eyes locked on Issei's gauntlet.
"The power doubles… [Longinus, Boosted Gear]?" Riser snarled viciously. "No wonder you're confident enough to cancel our engagement, Rias. So this generation's Red Dragon Emperor became your servant?"
Misinterpreting Rias's stunned expression as confirmation, Riser's eyes filled with murderous intent.
"If I kill you now, Rias might reconsider, right?"
"Stop it, Riser! This has nothing to do with Issei!" Rias protested.
"Then who put this idea in your head?" Riser mocked.
"Of course it was me!"
Suddenly, the door burst open, sending Riser sprawling. Jeanne strode in with a wicked smirk, ignoring him entirely.
Riser, face twisted in fury, stood and glared.
"A human?"
"Yeah." Jeanne grinned mockingly. "Got a problem, mutt? Was that fiancé supposed to be you? Well, looks like I did a good deed then. Rias is a good girl; she deserves better than a barking dog."
As Riser's face darkened dangerously, Jeanne chuckled coldly.
"That's right. I gave her the idea. Come bite me if you dare."
The next instant, an inferno of fury engulfed the room, lunging violently toward Jeanne.
---
T/N: issei got that passive boost from jeanne heh