A moment later, the miko outfit Akeno had been wearing shifted into Kuoh Academy's familiar school uniform—a seamless transformation that showcased the devil race's ability to change clothes instantly.
Seeing that, Rian let out a light sigh.
"Haah… I can't help but feel a little jealous," he muttered half-jokingly. "Changing clothes without needing a dressing room—now that's an ability a handsome man like me truly needs."
Hearing his words, Akeno covered her mouth with the back of her hand, a mysterious smile spreading across her face.
"I wouldn't mind being the one to help you change clothes every day, Rian."
"No, Akeno-chan," Rian replied calmly, not even turning to face her. "I have a feeling you're just looking for an excuse… to see me naked."
"Ara~ you really are as sharp as ever," Akeno answered playfully, her teasing smile confirming the accusation all too easily.
Without hesitation, she stepped closer and wrapped her arm around his. Her affectionate gesture felt completely natural—as if it had always been that way, as if Rian's arm had belonged to her from the very beginning.
"How is it?" Akeno whispered, glancing at Rian from the side with a meaningful look.
"Is it okay, Rian?"
Rian turned slightly and smiled warmly, though his eyes held a hint of curiosity.
"You've gotten quite clingy, haven't you?" he asked softly. "Akeno-chan… did something happen while I was guiding you earlier?"
"Maybe yes… maybe no," Akeno replied with a teasing smile. "All I know is… I don't mind being like this."
"Playing riddles now, huh?" Rian murmured, leaning his head lightly against her shoulder. "That's fine. But as for any… other requests, save them for later. Just wait."
"Ara~ you're making me curious," Akeno answered in a tender, coquettish tone. "Whatever you want… you're free to ask it of me."
She leaned closer, her lips nearing Rian's ear. In a soft, sultry whisper, she said, "Even… if what you want is all of me."
Rian chuckled quietly, his expression calm but clearly amused. He gently patted Akeno's head.
"Just wait," Rian said in his usual relaxed yet meaningful tone. "There's no need to rush, Akeno-chan."
With Akeno still clinging to his arm, the two of them stepped out of the shrine room.
Their footsteps were calm and unhurried, yet the air around them seemed to tremble ever so slightly—as if a new story had just begun.
***
In a forest far from Kuoh Town stood a grand mansion belonging to the Gremory family.
It was the same mansion they had visited last time—back when Rian had held a sparring session against Rias's entire peerage a few days earlier.
For the record, the mansion grounds had been utterly devastated then, resembling a battlefield.
Garden statues, antique vases inside the house, even the large stones and trees surrounding the courtyard—everything had been shattered and scattered.
And the main cause? Koneko's rampage, triggered by Rian's outrageous teasing at the time.
Now, however, the courtyard had been completely restored to its original state: clean, neat, and elegant as ever.
To prevent another disaster, Rias had firmly requested—sweet smile and all—that Rian refrain from bothering Koneko like before.
But for now, that matter was set aside. Their current focus was on the special training session—a skill-enhancement program designed by Rian himself and Aura.
On the western side of the mansion's courtyard, right beneath an elegant gazebo, Akeno was guiding Asia through the basics of magic control.
As a newly reincarnated Devil, Asia still struggled to properly handle her demonic energy, making Akeno's hands-on instruction invaluable to her progress.
Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the courtyard, Kiba and Gasper were engaged in a rather unusual training exercise.
Kiba held a remote control, skillfully maneuvering a miniature car at high speed with sharp turns and unpredictable drifts.
Gasper's task was to stop the car precisely at the right moment. The purpose of the exercise was to sharpen Kiba's reflexes and visual focus while training Gasper's reaction timing in dynamic situations.
To the north, near the treeline of the forest, Rias was personally supervising Issei's training.
This time, it wasn't about magic or strategy—it was pure physical conditioning. Issei was being forced to carry a heavy weight on his back while performing basic movement drills.
The purpose of Issei's training was to strengthen his physical body so that he could better withstand and harness the immense power of his Boosted Gear.
Lastly, on the southern side—quite far from the mansion grounds—the atmosphere was calmer and more serene.
Near a small waterfall and a clear flowing stream surrounded by lush trees, Rian had chosen this spot as the training site specifically for Koneko.
The reason was simple: Senjutsu was a power deeply connected to the natural flow of chi.
A place rich in natural energy like this would greatly help Koneko stabilize and deepen her understanding of Senjutsu.
By the riverbank, where the clear water flowed gently and the wind carried the scent of damp leaves, Rian stood quietly.
He wore a neatly fitted black long-sleeved shirt, a black tie, and a matching vest, complete with arm garters and well-tailored black pants.
His appearance was a stark contrast to the tranquil natural scenery—modern and elegant, yet somehow perfectly in harmony with the calm of his surroundings.
Before coming here, Rian had taken nearly half an hour just to prepare himself—taking a bath, fixing his hair, applying cologne, and doing the skincare routine he had skipped the night before.
This habit had become one of his defining traits.
No matter what the schedule or situation, his appearance had to be flawless.
This attitude, without fail, always left Rias and the rest of her Peerage shaking their heads in quiet disbelief.
Rian might be a man, but when it came to attention to detail and personal grooming, he could easily surpass most women.
On another note, what stood out just as much was the fact that Rian hadn't worn his sunglasses since the previous night, nor at any point on the way to the training site.
He was allowing his Six Eyes to function at full capacity—no filters, no barriers, and no restraints.
Normally, such an act would be quite risky without the support of Reverse Cursed Energy.
However, thanks to Rian's exceptional vitality and high regenerative capacity, maintaining it for an extended period posed no real problem for him.
If the mental strain ever became overwhelming, Rian could always rely on Asia's Twilight Healing to recover.
His true purpose, however, was simple yet crucial — to oversee every member of Rias's peerage training in various locations at once, with flawless precision and awareness.
But that could wait.
For now, his focus was on Koneko, who stood right before him.
The Nekomata girl wore the familiar Kuoh Academy uniform, her golden eyes fixed on him — curious, yet slightly suspicious.
Her gaze narrowed subtly, her expression as blank as ever, though a faint hint of uncertainty lingered behind her eyes.
Curiosity mixed with disbelief was clearly written on her face.
"So tell me," Koneko said in her usual flat but sharp tone, "just how exactly is Rian-senpai planning to teach me… Senjutsu?"
"Also… what's with that outfit, Rian-senpai?" Koneko remarked flatly, raising one eyebrow. "You look like you're heading to a party. Typical narcissist."
Rian let out a quiet sigh, slipping one hand into his pocket while gesturing casually toward himself with the other.
"Shironeko… why is it so hard for you to trust me?" he said dramatically. "As for my clothes—this is to maintain a man's maximum level of handsomeness… in any situation."
Koneko frowned, her voice as monotone as ever but sharp. "Not Shironeko. It's Koneko. You narcissist."
Rian tilted his head slightly, wearing a relaxed expression. "Eh? Isn't it the same thing? Both mean white cat, right? Miauw~" he teased playfully.
Then his tone shifted, becoming a little more serious. "Anyway, go ahead—switch into your Nekomata form."
He added with a faint smile, "You've been talking a lot today. Don't tell me… you're stalling just to avoid Senjutsu training, huh?"
The words were light, but they struck something deeper.
Koneko fell silent.
Slowly, she lowered her head. Her small body trembled ever so slightly… like a kitten caught in the rain.
A single tear slid silently down her cheek, slipping quietly from the corner of her eye.
Rian let out a quiet sigh. 'Yesterday afternoon, Koneko had already shown her Nekomata mode… so why not now? Beneath her cold, indifferent demeanor… this girl is surprisingly sensitive.'
Gently, Rian raised both hands, touching Koneko's face and lifting her chin slowly, forcing her to look at him.
Tears continued to stream down the little girl's cheeks. Her gaze was empty, as if lost in wounds that hadn't yet healed.
But Rian, with his calm and piercing blue eyes, stared into her deeply. One by one, he gently wiped away Koneko's tears.