During lunch, Arthur rushed to the cafeteria, his stomach growling like an impatient beast. His appetite had grown dramatically ever since his body transformation and training began. He didn't mind eating a lot—what he did mind was cooking.
Arthur never enjoyed the process of preparing food. With his bank account comfortably full thanks to the funds left behind by his wealthy parents, he had no reason to struggle in the kitchen. Buying meals was simply easier.
After finishing his lunch, he made his way back to the classroom, adjusting his uniform collar lazily as he walked through the halls. When he entered, however, he noticed something odd.
A girl was standing near his desk, clutching her bag nervously, her expression uncertain.
"Arthur-san," she called softly, almost stuttering, "Himejima-senpai came looking for you a while ago."
Arthur froze mid-step. The revelation caught him completely off guard.
Himejima-senpai - Akeno Himejima.
His mind raced. Why would she be looking for him? The only possible reason he could think of was yesterday's incident. Maybe she had sensed something, or perhaps she had decided to confirm what her intuition had told her.
'I didn't think her perception would be so terrifying,' he thought bitterly.
He had assumed that neither she nor Rias would notice his slip of Keen Insight yesterday, but clearly, he had underestimated Akeno's awareness.
"Are you sure she was looking for me?" he asked, keeping his tone calm and pretending confusion.
"Yes," the girl replied quickly. "She specifically asked for you… She even left this."
She held out a neatly folded note, the kind people used when they wanted privacy or when they were trying to be discreet.
Arthur accepted it with a polite smile. "I see. Thank you for the message."
He turned and walked to his seat, slipping the note into his hand. Behind him, he could hear faint giggles and whispers from the girl and her friends.
"He actually talked to me!" she whispered excitedly.
"He even smiled!"
Arthur pretended not to notice, taking his seat quietly and unfolding the note beneath his desk.
The handwriting was neat and graceful—just what he expected from Akeno. The message itself was short and to the point:
'Let's talk after class. I'll be waiting for you.'
That was all.
Still, something about the way it was written made it sound... almost romantic. If he didn't know Akeno's personality so well from the novels, he might have mistaken it for a confession letter.
Akeno was the kind of woman who could unsettle anyone with her presence. She was gentle and teasing on the surface, but sharp, intelligent, and unpredictable beneath that warm exterior.
She was dangerous—and exactly his type.
Before he could dwell on it longer, the familiar sound of the system interrupted his thoughts.
Ding!
[Due to the host's feelings, a new mission has been generated]
=====
Conquer Akeno Himejima
Difficulty: Hard
Type: Special Side Mission
This system knows the host is shy, so it will act as Cupid!!!
Objective: Declare your love to Akeno Himejima (0/1)
Reward: Special Roulette Draw
=====
Arthur blinked, staring at the glowing text in disbelief.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or curse the system. It was definitely mocking him.
The reward was tempting Special Roulette Draws always were but the objective made his stomach twist. Declaring his love to Akeno Himejima wasn't just difficult; it was suicidal.
He sighed and rubbed his temples. "I swear this system enjoys watching me suffer."
Even so, he knew there was no avoiding it. The mission wouldn't disappear unless he completed it, and delaying it might make things worse later.
He took a slow breath, glancing once more at the elegant handwriting on the note.
"Well," he muttered, half resigned and half amused, "guess it's time to face one of my favorite heroines... and probably get rejected on the spot."
The thought alone made his pulse quicken and his hands tremble slightly. For someone who had fought devils and stared death in the face, this confessing to Akeno felt infinitely more terrifying.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of classes. The room instantly filled with cheerful chatter as students gathered in groups, laughing and making plans for the rest of the day.
But Arthur barely heard any of it.
He sat frozen for a moment, staring blankly at the floor before sighing deeply. The weight in his chest felt heavier than any battle he had fought so far. He gathered his things slowly, each movement deliberate, like a man walking toward his own execution.
No matter how strong someone becomes, rejection from a girl they like still hurts - and if there was one thing Arthur knew about Akeno Himejima, it was that she never went easy on anyone.
Still, he couldn't avoid it. Whatever she wanted to talk about, it was probably related to yesterday's incident. Her sharp senses might have caught something he didn't intend to reveal.
He had already formed a desperate plan. If she brought up the incident, he would distract her by confessing to her first. It wasn't elegant, but it was all he had.
When he reached the rooftop door, his heartbeat was so loud he could almost hear it echoing in his ears. He took one steadying breath before pushing the door open.
The soft sound of the wind was the first thing he noticed. The second was the girl standing near the edge, her back turned to him as she gazed at the city below.
Her long black hair danced in the breeze, strands glinting with the faint gold of the setting sun. The uniform hugged her graceful figure perfectly, and the faint movement of the wind made the fabric sway just enough to draw attention to every curve.
There was a certain effortless poise to her posture, like she was fully aware of how captivating she looked - and how much control she held in that moment.
Arthur froze for a brief second. She looked unreal, like a scene painted in light and motion.
He quickly pulled himself together. This was his chance, and he couldn't afford to lose it.
"Himejima-senpai," he called, his voice firm despite the nerves tightening in his chest. "I received your message. To be honest, I also have something to tell you."
Akeno turned slowly, her eyes locking onto his. That small, knowing smile appeared instantly soft, mysterious, and faintly teasing. She lifted a hand to her mouth in that familiar gesture that seemed innocent yet somehow provocative.
"Ufufu, since you seem so eager, I'll let you speak first," she said, her voice like velvet sweet and melodic, but with a tone that hinted she already knew he would say something interesting.
Arthur swallowed and forced himself to look her in the eyes.
"Akeno-senpai," he began carefully, "I've been watching you from afar for a long time. Your kindness and your confidence have always stood out to me. You've… captivated me. That's why I'd like to ask you out."
He managed to say it in one breath, keeping his tone as genuine as he could. He even added a slight tremor to his voice, as if he were a shy student confessing his first love.
For a moment, Akeno didn't say anything. Her smile remained in place, but her expression flickered just slightly. Her lashes lowered, and something unreadable passed through her eyes before her usual teasing look returned.
Arthur felt a chill run down his back. The silence stretched longer and longer.
In truth, Akeno hadn't expected this. Her plan had been simple: lure him out, use her charm to make him lower his guard, and confirm what she suspected that this boy wasn't normal. The strange pressure she'd felt from him the other day, that flicker of energy, it had reminded her of something dangerous.
But now, hearing his words, her heart had reacted before her mind could catch up.
It wasn't the confession itself that shocked her - it was how sincere it sounded. His voice lacked hesitation, and his gaze, though nervous, was steady. For the briefest of moments, Akeno Himejima's heart skipped a beat.
She hid it well, of course. Her composure returned instantly, the gentle smile curling once again on her lips. But deep down, she was curious now more curious than she wanted to admit.
Neither of them realized that two forces were quietly influencing the moment: the faint dragon aura of the Boosted Gear within Arthur, and a subtle push from the system that wanted this outcome.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Akeno spoke.
"Since my lovely kouhai is being so sincere," she said softly, "I'll accept your confession."
Arthur blinked, stunned. "As I expected, I'm not worthy of… Wait, what did you say, senpai?"
Her lips curved into a wider smile, her voice lilting with amusement. "Fufu… After all, I was the one who called you here to ask you out. I didn't expect my cute kouhai to be bold enough to beat me to it."
He stood frozen, his mind blank.
She took a slow step forward, her presence radiating warmth and authority. "But since we're a couple now," she continued, her tone playful yet commanding, "calling me senpai is forbidden. Call me Akeno. And I'll call you Arthur."
Her smile made it impossible for him to resist.
"I-I understand… Akeno."
"Ara~ ara~ I like obedient children," she said with a soft laugh. She moved past him, her perfume faintly sweet, her voice low as she leaned close to his ear. "I'll say goodbye for today, but rest assured… I'll come looking for you tomorrow."
Her words brushed against his skin, leaving a shiver down his spine. Then, before he could react, she whispered one last thing - gentle, teasing, and dangerously intimate.
"Have a good night, boyfriend~"
He stood frozen long after she walked away, the echo of her voice still lingering in his mind.
Only when her footsteps faded completely did he exhale, his heartbeat still racing.
"She… really accepted?" he muttered, almost dazed.
Ding!
[Mission Completed]
[Additional rewards will be distributed based on host performance]
Arthur stared blankly at the glowing notification for a moment before laughing weakly to himself.
This world was far more dangerous than he'd imagined and not just because of devils.