Blake POV
The silence in the Student Council office stretched, thick and heavy, like a velvet curtain dropped across the world.
The only sound that caught my ear was the frantic drumming of Sona's and Tsubaki's hearts.
Looks like I had broken their reality by simply removing a piece of cheap fabric because they don't look surprised but shattered.
Sona was a warrior of composure and she forced her body to move first, her spine straightening with a visible effort.
Her eyes, still wide, held a mixture of professional suspicion and pure, undeniable adoration.
"You're… Azel?" she asked again, her voice still shaky. It didn't feel like a question.
It was more like a request for the universe to confirm the truth: the current world's most popular celebrity, the face of the teen global, was sitting across from her.
I simply gave a small, lazy nod as an amusing question popped into my mind
'Are they actually my fans?'
I knew my celebrity status, Azel, was huge among mortals.
But this reaction—this genuine, flustered awe from the Devil Princess, was unexpected.
It seemed my talent in music has captured people even in the supernatural world.
Personally, I was a bit disappointed as It felt like I was playing a game in Easy Mode!
Sona finally sank back into her chair. She was trying to regain her King's authority, but the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her. Her pulse, even after the moment of shock, still raced too fast to be anything but excitement.
Sona took a deep breath, her eyes flicking to the discarded mask. "It looks like you will definitely be needing that mask after all, Azel… Mr.Blake," she corrected herself while her voice was still stammering slightly.
"Thanks for understanding, Miss President" I replied, smooth and grateful. I didn't want to seem too eager, just appreciative.
She simply nodded, recovering her professional shell somewhat. "Tsubaki, Mr. Blake's schedule, please," she directed.
But there was no reply.
Sona, annoyed, turned to find her Queen, Tsubaki, still standing behind her, spaced out and completely lost.
It looked like Tsubaki's cool and intelligent composer was overwhelmed by the sight of me. She was staring—just staring.
"Tsubaki!" Sona snapped but also understanding, because she hadn't fared much better herself.
Tsubaki jumped, her composure snapping back instantly, though her eyes were still wide. "Yes, President?"
"The schedule," Sona repeated, her tone warning.
Tsubaki nodded quickly and rushed to the filing desk. Even as she moved, her eyes kept darting back to me.
She was a professional devil and the Queen of Sona, but she was also a teenage girl.
Sona shook her head at Tsubaki's unprofessional behavior, but when she looked back at me, her expression changed to a genuine, curious focus.
"Azel… Blake," she corrected herself yet again, refusing to meet my eyes directly.
She picked up my transfer application. "I have to ask, why Kuoh Academy? Your application shows you are top of your class. You could have gone to any elite school in the world. Why choose this small, provincial town?"
I leaned forward again, giving her my full attention and a warm, charming smile and it brought more red to her cheeks.
"I wanted a break, Miss President," I confessed, letting a note of exhaustion enter my voice.
"Three consecutive world tours, the constant work… it drains you. I am tired." I paused, letting it convey a deep, personal sincerity. "Luckily, my father moved here for work, and I decided to take the chance to rest, stay close to him, and try to live a normal high school life for a while."
Tsubaki, who had just returned, schedule in hand, reacted instantly.
"Please don't retire!" she blurted out, her voice loud and desperate. She looked genuinely terrified, pleading with me.
I was taken aback again. I looked to Sona, expecting her to scold Tsubaki, but Sona was just staring at me, hoping for the same answer.
'How big of a fan are they?'
A cold wave of disappointment washed over me. If they were this easy, this star-struck, where was the challenge? Sona Sitri was a Devil King, a brilliant mind, and a pillar of discipline. Her Queen, Tsubaki, was loyal and powerful. They should be obstacles, not gushing admirers.
I was slightly annoyed. I needed Hell Mode difficulty to feel truly engaged, not this quick conquest based off my celebrity fame.
I needed a battle of wills, a test of my demonic charm against their ingrained identity, morals, loyalty and power.
But I quickly suppressed the annoyance, keeping the reassuring smile in place. "Just a break," I stated clearly. "Not retiring. I promise. I'll be back on stage once I've rested."
Both Sona and Tsubaki let out a collective sigh of relief, which was actually kind of cute.
Sona, now slightly bolder and clearly eager to connect, started to speak. "That's wonderful news. I have to say, your 'Unyielding' album was so brilliant. I specifically liked the lyrics on the song where you used—"
Riiing!
The abrupt sound of the school bell cut her off mid-sentence. Sona actually frowned, a look of genuine annoyance crossing her face at the mundane interruption, before she instantly regained her presidential mask.
"Well, that's time," she said, standing up quickly. "I will take you to your class now."
Tsubaki immediately jumped in, her figure—which was much more blessed in the chest area than Sona's—leaning forward eagerly. "President, you have duties! I'll take Blake to his class."
Sona, however, did not yield. "It's fine Tsubaki. As President, it's my duty to personally take a transfer student to introduce them to their homeroom teacher."
I heard Tsubaki muttering under her breath in protest: "As if, this is the first time I've ever seen you personally take a new student to class."
Sona gave Tsubaki a sharp, silent glance that felt like a promise of punishment later. "Let's go, Mr. Blake," she said.
I wore my mask again, covering the lower half of my face, and followed Sona out.
Just as Sona was about to turn the corner, Tsubaki called out, her voice suddenly smooth and businesslike again.
"President! Blake! Wait."
Sona gave Tsubaki a deep, frustrated side-eye. Tsubaki, however, just smiled. "We're all third-years, President. Our classrooms are all on the same floor."
Sona couldn't argue. Tsubaki had won a minor victory and now had a legitimate excuse to stick next to them.
The walk down the hall and Sona was walking beside me, who, despite her efforts to remain professional, kept casting quick, side glances at me.
Tsubaki walked a respectful distance behind, her powerful figure trailing us like a dutiful shadow and I felt her eyes fixed on my back, watching.
We reached my classroom. Tsubaki, giving me another small smile, walked past and entered the classroom next door.
Sona knocked and entered, and I followed, immediately scanning the room.
The class attention split exactly as I predicted: the boys focused on Sona, and the girls focused on me.
But my focus was already locked onto my targets seated in the class.
In the right-middle corner, seated comfortably by the window, were the two Devils of the Occult Research Club.
The first was Rias Gremory, the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess.
She was every bit the stunning Devil Princess. Her long, flowing crimson hair was a visual declaration of her noble status. Her face was classically beautiful, radiating a dangerous pride. But it was her body that was the true masterpiece.
Her school uniform was a losing battle against her curves. The white blouse was strained tautly across her magnificent, full chest, emphasizing the sheer scale of her bust. Her slender waist and full hips completed a figure that was the physical embodiment of lust.
She was a living, breathing desire, and the mere sight of her was stimulating.
Next to her was Akeno Himejima, my childhood friend.
She was deceptively more lethal. Her long, black hair, tied in a graceful, high ponytail, drew attention to her elegant neck and her more femme fatale aesthetic.
Her face held that characteristic, playful smile, but her figure was what made her bombshell-grade.
Her chest was arguably larger and fuller than Rias's, a breathtaking curve that stretched the fabric of her uniform even more severely.
Her body was the ideal combination of seductive grace and raw, dangerous power, thanks to her heritage of Half Fallen Angel and Half Devil.
The thought of taming her, of watching her playful smile turn to complete, devoted submission, was something I was looking forward to.
Both Rias and Akeno were watching me. Rias looked with pure curiosity.
Akeno's expression, however, was different. It was not out of curiosity. It was some kind of recognition.
Sona finished her talk with the teacher and turned to me and gently said, "My class is next. Don't hesitate to find me if you need help, Blake." Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of warmth.
She then gave a sharp glance toward Rias and Akeno before exiting.
I just nodded and the teacher turned to me. "Introduce yourself to your classmates."
I faced the class and let my voice carry. "Hey, guys. Name's Blake. Nice to meet you all."
I did not bow. I did not act shy.
The teacher, looking even more tired, just gestured. "Take the empty seat."
The only empty desk was in the absolute last row, furthest from the window.
The worst seat in the house, the seat for the forgotten student.
I walked to the back, ignoring the remaining stares, and took my seat. Most students quickly lost interest, focusing on the class.
All except one.
Akeno was still watching me. Her smile was gone.
Her eyes, usually teasing, were now focused, intense. I smiled under my mask, my eyes locking with hers across the room.
The Hell Mode difficulty I wanted was here. Her loyalty to her King was absolute, but I was her childhood friend and also held a secret—the knowledge of her living mother, a life I had saved.
'Let's see whose side you take, Akeno.'
The End