When it came to Kuroka, Rian couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The story that she went mad because of her own power… felt incomplete.
There was something missing—something deeper, hidden beneath the surface. And if Kuroka was truly an SS-class criminal in the Underworld, then sooner or later… Rian knew he'd get involved.
Because to him, if he wanted to help Koneko make peace with herself, then healing the wound at its source was part of that path.
Kuroka, huh… Rian thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. Heh. This world really is fascinating.
In his mind, he imagined what Koneko's sister might look like—perhaps the same face, only more mature and wild. Cat ears, a tail swaying lazily, and a deadly, mysterious smile.
If she looks anything like her sister, Rian mused inwardly, a relaxed expression on his face, then she must be quite the sight.
Rias finished her explanation in a calm yet firm tone. After hearing everything, Rian simply offered a faint smile.
In less than a second, his mind was already racing—analyzing, structuring, and determining the most efficient way to help Koneko.
Without any excessive gesture, Rian deactivated Infinity, the barrier that had isolated sound and movement around Koneko.
Instantly, her world returned to normal—she could move again, hear again… and the first thing she heard was Rian's voice.
Rian approached with a teasing smile. His index finger rose slowly, gently brushing under Koneko's chin.
From the sofa, Akeno and Rias both raised an eyebrow almost in sync. Their expressions were clear—curious, amused, and just a little worried, like they were watching their favorite afternoon drama unfold.
"Hehe~ now this handsome man already knows why you reject your Nekomata side, Shirone-chan," Rian said, his tone playful yet deliberately soft.
But instead of embarrassment or shyness, what he got was pure shock. Koneko's eyes widened, and without thinking, she slapped his hand away—fast and hard.
A faint crack echoed in the quiet room, barely audible. Rian's right wrist was slightly out of place.
It seemed that, driven by the surge of emotion moments earlier, Koneko's strength had spiked dramatically. Understandable—after all, in the world of DxD, the source of one's power often came from emotions at their peak.
Koneko's current attribute status (without Nekomata Mode), according to Rian's personal observation: STR: 35 | VIT: 15 | AGI: 10 | INT: 25.
Rian's face tensed instantly, though his smile didn't completely vanish. Only the crease in his brow now clearly betrayed the pain he was holding back.
He inhaled, swallowing the pain, then with a hand beginning to tremble tried once more to lift Koneko's face so she would look at him—though the movement only increased the ache in his wrist.
Koneko brushed him off again, this time harder. This time it was unmistakable. Rian lost his balance for a moment, and finally could only hold himself together by gritting his teeth.
His right wrist was now truly cracked. The joint had partially slipped out of its normal position. Rian's features hardened; his jaw clenched.
Yet... there was no scream. No curse escaped Rian's lips.
Koneko stared at him with a cold, piercing gaze—not merely angry, but like a final warning.
"Next time, I will actually kill you," Koneko said coldly, her voice low and razor-sharp.
Yet Rian didn't look the slightest bit intimidated. Instead, he smiled calmly and placed his left hand against the wall behind Koneko.
A single simple motion — but enough to create a very obvious kabedon position.
With Rian standing at 170 cm and Koneko at only 138 cm, the scene looked like something straight out of a romcom anime.
Rias and Akeno instinctively covered their mouths with their hands. No words came out, but their eyes said everything: excitement and fascination. It was as if the drama before them had just reached its climax.
"After seeing your Nekomata mode, Shirone-chan…" Rian whispered softly, his tone gentle and friendly. "I think I could die in peace."
"…You're insane," Koneko muttered flatly, her voice cold.
Rian chuckled lightly, still looking at her with that teasing expression.
"Being called insane is fine," he said casually. "At least… grant this handsome man's final wish before he dies in your tiny hands."
Koneko stared at him without blinking, then let out a quiet sigh.
"…Truly insane," she repeated — but this time, her tone was noticeably softer, almost… shy.
Koneko's fiery attitude slowly began to fade, her once-blazing anger cooling into a thoughtful silence.
Her face was still pouting, but the sharp glint in her eyes had softened.
Koneko knew… Rian wouldn't fight back. Even with his hand injured — bones cracked and all — he hadn't said a single harsh word. He didn't yell, didn't blame her, didn't retaliate.
And this wasn't the first time. Since their very first meeting, Rian had always been the same — mischievous, unpredictable, and annoyingly carefree.
He teased her in strange ways, poked at her patience, and seemed to enjoy every reaction she gave.
Every time Koneko responded with force, Rian would only laugh — or reply with even more teasing, sometimes worse than before.
That was what frustrated her the most. Because she knew… it would keep happening.
And the most irritating part of all — she didn't actually hate it.
Meanwhile, on the sofa not far away, Akeno and Rias glanced at each other when they heard Koneko's suddenly softer tone.
Without saying a word, both let out a quiet sigh at the same time.
Without losing his composure, Rian gently placed his left hand on Koneko's head, softly patting it before running his fingers through her hair in a calm, soothing motion. His gaze was kind, and his smile warm.
"If you're afraid of losing control…" Rian spoke softly, his tone like that of an older brother comforting a sulking little sister.
"Don't worry. This handsome man can stop you without hurting you. A little girl's rampage? Hahaha, that's nothing to worry about."
Koneko's cheeks flushed slightly. Her eyes lowered, trying to hide the unusual expression on her face.
Slowly, she reached for Rian's left hand and carefully lowered it — this time without hurting him, making sure it wouldn't suffer the same fate as his right.
"…Alright," she murmured quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll show you."
Her small body trembled faintly. Her heart pounded wildly. Even though the words had left her lips, the fear of her Nekomata side still clung tightly — an old trauma refusing to fade.
She glanced at Rian from the corner of her eye.
The handsome man smiled — that familiar, mischievous grin that was equal parts annoying and triumphant, as if saying: See? I knew you'd give in.
An annoyed crease instantly formed on Koneko's forehead again—but only for a moment. She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
"…Annoying," Koneko finally muttered in her usual flat tone. Yet this time, there was a faint trace of warmth beneath it—subtle, but unmistakable.
She closed her eyes. Her breathing grew deep and steady, as if she were preparing herself to open a door to the past she had long kept locked away.
In an instant, the change began.
Two white cat ears slowly emerged atop her head. At the same time, a matching tail extended from behind her, swaying gently in rhythm with her unsteady heartbeat.
When Koneko opened her eyes again, their hue had changed. The golden-yellow irises now shone even brighter, and her black pupils had narrowed into vertical slits—like those of a wild cat in the dead of night.
Silence filled the room. No one dared to speak.
The aura radiating from the small girl had transformed—no longer merely powerful, but graceful, calm, and tinged with a quiet sorrow.
Koneko had revealed her true form: a Nekomata.
Seeing Koneko's transformation, Rian fell silent. His pupils widened slightly—a reflex so natural he couldn't suppress it.
His Six Eyes, always passively active, caused everything around him to slow down. Every detail became vivid. Real.
In his mind, Rian nearly cheered. "The instinct of this handsome man… was right all along."
He felt like an archaeologist who had just unearthed a long-lost treasure buried deep within forgotten ruins.
Cat ears? A swaying tail? White hair? Golden eyes? A petite frame?
Each detail was perfection—too perfect to ignore.
Amusingly enough, Rian felt as though he'd just found a lost cat… Even though, in truth, he'd never owned one in his entire life.