The Occult Research Club.
Rias sat in a chair, a game of chess laid out before her. Though no one was opposite her, the board showed an endgame after a fierce battle.
"President, Caleb still hasn't made his decision," Akeno Himejima stood by her side, asking curiously. "Do you plan to keep investing in him?"
"Akeno, it's not 'Caleb,' it's Little Caleb." Rias's smile didn't fade as she picked up the white Rook piece. "I've done everything I can. The rest is up to him."
"Are you that optimistic about him, President?"
Rias simply smiled at Akeno Himejima's question, offering no verbal reply. Akeno Himejima liked Caleb, but it was purely the thrill of the chase. She was simply attracted to his appearance and temperament; he hit all her fetishes.
Rias was different. The more time she spent with him, the deeper her affection grew. Part of it was her inherently passionate nature, but the main reason was that she recognized Caleb as someone who deeply valued emotion. Regardless of his potential, if he became her Familiar, Caleb would never betray her trust.
"Checkmate."
Rias placed the piece, ending the endgame before her. She stood up, slowly taking off her uniform, and then her bra.
"Akeno, regardless of Little Caleb's potential or whether his special physique is real," Rias walked toward the shower room, her naked body exposed. "Just from Koneko's reports over the past few days, his combat awareness and endurance are at the peak."
Akeno Himejima tilted her head, ignoring Rias's pale, stunning naked body. There wasn't much to see; she was no less endowed than Rias.
"But what if Little Caleb ultimately chooses Sona?"
Rias turned on the shower. Warm water streamed down her smooth red hair, winding its way down. It passed her long, fair neck, reached her firm, upright peaks. Then, it continued down the bottomless cleavage, past her flat, smooth abdomen, and arrived at the crimson, triangular sanctuary. The tightly closed door remained shut, forcing the clear water to flow along her long, straight legs. It lingered briefly on her porcelain feet before reluctantly departing.
"He won't. Little Caleb... his ambition might be even greater than we imagine." In the hazy, white steam, Rias closed her eyes and let out a soft laugh. "Sona can't satisfy him. The reason he hasn't agreed is because he's afraid the Familiar status will limit his development."
It must be said that Rias was very accurate in judging people, and her intuition was even sharper.
"Akeno-senpai, good afternoon." Caleb looked around and asked, curiously, "Hmm? Is the President not here today?"
The Occult Research Club was practically Rias's home. Aside from class time, Caleb could usually find her here at any hour.
"The President is in the shower." Akeno Himejima bent over to pick up clothes from the floor. "As for you, why are you back so early today?"
"Oh my, did you know the President takes a shower at this time every day and want to manufacture an 'accident'?" Akeno Himejima deliberately emphasized the word accident, covering her mouth in exaggerated surprise.
This level of teasing had no effect on Caleb whatsoever. His gaze was fixed on the black fabric in Akeno Himejima's hands. "Hmm... does the President need custom sizing for this?"
Akeno Himejima cupped her breasts, causing the two large globes to sway slightly. "No need. This size is quite normal."
Koneko Toujou: "..."
Touching her own chest, which she couldn't say was non-existent, only that you could see her feet over it, she silently retreated to a corner to sulk.
Akeno Himejima's face froze. She had accidentally attacked a friendly target.
"Koneko, it's okay. You're only sixteen, younger than me and the President. You still have plenty of room to grow."
Caleb nodded in agreement. "That's right, and being petite is cute too." A Busty Loli is great, but a light, soft little darling in your arms is also very stimulating.
Koneko Toujou: "Petite... petite..." The white-haired Loli repeated the word continuously, her resentment growing deeper.
Akeno Himejima glared at Caleb. You caused this mess, you fix it.
Caleb threw his hands up. Is it my fault? He wanted to personally give her a massage to promote her development, but his lack of force made it impossible; one wrong move and he'd be sent flying.
"Why are you and Koneko back so early today?" Akeno Himejima changed the subject and asked again.
"Let me tell you, Koneko is a sore loser. She cheated..." When Caleb started talking about this, he became energized, pouring out his grievances with a look of injustice. After being beaten for so many days, he finally saw a glimmer of hope to seize the opportunity... ahem, to let off some steam, only for Koneko to flip the table and quit the game. Isn't that infuriating?
Akeno Himejima was surprised after hearing Caleb's complaint. Tsubaki Shinra only said Caleb had good magic talent, but not that he was such a genius at close combat. She looked curiously at the white-haired Loli. "Koneko, you can't beat Little Caleb anymore?"
Caleb scratched his cheek. Having been called it so often, the nickname "Little Caleb" no longer felt so strange. And if he looked at it differently, both he and Koneko Toujou were first-years, both sixteen, so they were both "little"... Yep, makes sense.
Koneko Toujou reluctantly turned around, glaring angrily at Akeno Himejima's chest. "Yes. Little Caleb has excellent talent. With the same physical ability, he can already fight me to a draw."
Caleb pouted. If you hadn't cheated, I would have won today. Although it was "practical training," Koneko Toujou certainly wasn't going to kill him. Given her overwhelming strength advantage, she could beat him to death without actually killing him. The training effectiveness was definitely not compromised.
Akeno Himejima looked genuinely surprised this time. "It's only been one week."
Caleb put his hands on his hips, looking proud. The Beginner Physique Mastery talent was the greatest contributor to his rapid improvement in practical combat skills. Essentially, any move Koneko Toujou used once, Caleb could replicate. For more complex moves, he just needed a few more beatings, and he'd mostly master it.
Of course, Caleb's own extremely strong Combat Instinct was also critical. He could effortlessly seize every fleeting opportunity. How to respond to an attack was something he barely needed to think about. Tetsuya Hoda, as a hybrid Youkai, had far more practical experience than Caleb, yet he was constantly at a disadvantage during their 1V1 battle. Besides the Mirror Reflection talent, Caleb also had the trait of growing stronger with every fight.
Looking at Caleb's smug expression, Akeno Himejima couldn't help but smile; he was indeed a little cute.
"Akeno-senpai, Koneko has nothing left to teach me. Shouldn't it be time to find a new teacher?" Having been beaten down by Koneko Toujou's sheer brute force, Caleb was considering asking Rias about learning magic. If possible, the kind where Rias would teach him hands-on.