"This was given to me by Sensei. She said it's something from the Underworld."
Asuna clearly wasn't explaining this for the first time—she must have already told Yukino and Utaha earlier. Her tone was smooth and practiced.
The "Sensei" she spoke of was naturally Musashi. Musashi had officially begun teaching Asuna Niten Ichi-ryū, practically handing over her ultimate technique. Calling Musashi her teacher wasn't an exaggeration, so Asuna naturally addressed her that way.
"Sensei said she used this back when she trained. Whenever she practiced so hard she forgot to eat or sleep, she'd drink a cup to stay sharp. It's a very strong stimulant, but it's only suitable for devils. Humans might suffer brain damage from it."
Asuna poured a cup for Leo as well, her smile soft and lovely.
"President, you should try some too."
Leo took the cup and drank in one go.
And… it was actually pretty good. More than that, it felt strange in a unique way.
Other teas warmed the stomach and left a pleasant aftertaste. But this one didn't feel like it flowed into his stomach at all—it felt like it shot straight up into his brain. The moment it hit, his head cooled and cleared, like someone had wiped his mind clean, leaving him bright and alert.
His drowsiness vanished. The heaviness behind his eyes dissolved. His gaze sharpened instantly, dark circles fading without a trace.
"Good tea." Leo couldn't help praising it. "How did I not know the Underworld had something like this?"
If he had known, he would've stocked up for daily use—especially for training.
"This tea must be extremely rare. Even in the Underworld, not just anyone can get their hands on it." Yukino saw through it immediately, speaking calmly. "I've never seen it mentioned in any book. That means it's far from common. Musashi-san probably had access only because she's the servant of a Maou."
"Do you have more?" Utaha wasn't interested in the background—her attention was entirely on the tea. "I think I'd really need this."
If she could drink a cup every day, she'd never have to worry about being half-dead in the mornings.
Having just reincarnated into a devil, daytime was especially brutal for her. And it would stay that way for a while. It was miserable.
"No more. Sensei only gave me a little, and we used it all here."
Asuna lifted the small pot. There weren't many leaves left—maybe enough for one or two ineffective brews.
"So it really is rare. Otherwise Musashi-san wouldn't be stingy about it."
Leo accepted that explanation. He stared at the few remaining sips in his cup with newfound reverence.
Yukino and Utaha had the same look—reluctant to drink any further. If they could bottle the remaining tea, they absolutely would have.
The four of them sipped tea and chatted in the clubroom, the mood warm and cozy.
Just as Leo was about to tell them about Sona's invitation, someone knocked on the door.
Everyone fell silent and looked over.
"Come in."
The words slipped out of Yukino instinctively—then she froze. This wasn't the Service Club. She wasn't the one in charge here. She shouldn't have been the one to say that.
Leo didn't mind at all.
What did surprise him was who stepped through the door.
"Um… excuse me, is this the Occult Affairs Club?"
A hesitant voice accompanied a timid entrance. The girl who walked in was no less beautiful than any of the ones already present. Her long, light-amber hair was even brighter than Asuna's, and her caramel-colored eyes shimmered softly.
Shiina Mahiru.
"You're…"
"A first-year? Shiina-san?"
"That angel-sama?"
Yukino, Asuna, and Utaha each blurted something out.
Especially Utaha's "angel-sama," which made Mahiru visibly flustered.
"Just call me Shiina, senpai."
Mahiru bowed politely, her manners impeccable—enough to charm anyone.
"What brings you here?"
Leo genuinely hadn't expected Mahiru to come looking for him.
"I…"
Mahiru's eyes wavered. She seemed unsure how to speak, caught between hesitation and nerves.
Then another voice called from outside.
"Excuse me—may I come in too?"
Before anyone else reacted, Utaha froze first.
"Why are you here?"
Utaha stood up abruptly, staring in disbelief at the second visitor.
A slender figure, refined features, golden twin-tails, clear blue eyes, pale porcelain-like skin…
Another beauty—one matching any girl in the room.
Sawamura Spencer Eriri.
"Shiina-san? You're here too?"
Eriri also looked shocked.
Everyone exchanged glances. The room fell into a bizarre, heavy silence.
"Well, well…"
Leo looked at the five gathered girls, a grin tugging at his lips.
Who could blame him?
Mahiru.
Eriri.
Utaha.
Yukino.
Sobu High's Four Flowers—the school's seasonal beauties—had all gathered in one room.
Add in Asuna, the transfer student who rose to fame the moment she arrived…
That made five.
Five ice queens, normally never seen together, now united in the tiny Occult Affairs Club.
How could this not be entertaining?
Leo was one second away from sitting down, grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds, and enjoying the show.
Unfortunately, Yukino punished him before he could.
"As the club president, say something."
She reached over and pinched the flesh at his waist with surprising force, her whisper sharp enough to make him wince. Leo nearly jumped from the pain.
The other four ice queens also looked at him, their gazes less than friendly.
"Welcome to the Occult Affairs Club, Sawamura-san, Shiina-san."
Leo gently moved Yukino's hand away and forced a smile.
"Have a seat. Asuna, pour them some tea."
Truly, Leo was a brave man for daring to speak in this atmosphere.
But he managed to ease the tension, enough for the two newcomers to sit down.
Asuna poured for Mahiru and Eriri—regular black tea this time, not the stimulant tea.
"Thank you, Asuna-senpai."
"Thanks, Yuuki-san."
Both girls thanked her politely.
"No need."
Asuna returned a soft smile—elegant, almost wife-like. Even Mahiru and Eriri warmed to her immediately.
"So? Why are you here?"
Utaha narrowed her eyes at Eriri, tone prickly.
"I came to visit the new club. Is that not allowed?"
Eriri didn't act as rudely as she did in private; she carried herself with the poise of a refined young lady.
"Visit a new club?" Utaha squinted harder. "Why would the art club's ace visit the Occult Affairs Club?"
Anyone would find it suspicious.
"Because I'm curious," Eriri muttered, shooting Utaha a quick glare, then raised her chin. "A club that managed to attract Yukinoshita-san, Yuuki-san, and Ka— ahem, Kasumigaoka-senpai? Of course people are curious. I'm just one of them."
"So I wanted to see for myself what this club does every day, and whether it's really that interesting."
That was her stated purpose.
She wanted to find out what this "Occult Affairs Club" actually did to cause such rumors.
"And what about you, Shiina-san?" Yukino turned to Mahiru. "Are you also here to observe?"
"Me?" Mahiru glanced around the room, noting that Leo looked entirely unfazed, as if nothing unusual had happened at all. After a brief silence, she said softly, "May I observe as well?"
She wasn't here for the club.
She was here for Leo.
She wanted to know if what happened last night… was real.
She also noticed something else—the three girls in the club behaved oddly close to Leo. Their relationships weren't normal.
So… did they know the truth about him?
Or were they… devils as well?
A club named the Occult Affairs Club naturally made her suspicious about that.
But she couldn't confront Leo about it in front of everyone.
So she followed Eriri's lead and requested to observe the club first—to see what kind of activities they actually did.
"Observe the club, huh…"
Leo finally spoke.
He seemed to see right through the two girls' intentions. A slow smile spread across his face.
"Alright. Then let me show you."