The lunch bell rang, announcing the long-awaited break. Without needing a reminder, Hikari and Hibiki approached Alya with smiles that didn't exactly promise tranquility.
—"Ready for our chat?" Hibiki asked in her soft tone.
—"Yes, let's go," Alya replied, a bit nervous but curious.
The three of them moved to the back of the building, where the shade of the trees offered privacy. Daniel, who saw them leave, sighed and prepared to eat alone... but not for long.
—"Daniel-kun?" said a melodious and seductive voice.
Daniel turned, and there was Akeno Himejima, with her characteristic kind smile that carried something more. He swallowed discreetly.
—"Yes?"
—"Rias-senpai has been watching you with curiosity. Could you accompany me to the Occult Research Club? There's something we want to discuss with you."
Daniel tensed internally. Wow... it was a matter of time, he thought. He hesitated for an instant, but his expression remained serene.
—"Sure... I suppose I have nothing to lose."
As Daniel walked away with Akeno, in another corner of the campus, things were getting intense for the girls.
Alya, with her bento in hand, was the first to break the silence.
—"What was it you wanted to tell me?"
Hikari and Hibiki looked at each other. A tacit understanding passed between them. It was time.
—"Alya, we want to ask you something important," Hibiki began, with a more serious tone than usual. —"Do you have... feelings for Daniel?"
The question landed like a bomb. Alya's eyes widened in surprise, and for a few seconds she seemed to search for an escape... but finally sighed, lowering her gaze.
—"...Yes. I like him. Ever since I met him... he's kind, silly sometimes, but... always sincere. He makes me feel seen..."
Hikari smiled. Not mockingly, but with warmth.
—"We knew," she said. —"It shows on you."
Alya turned red, but didn't have time to retort.
—"That's why," Hibiki continued, —"we want to tell you something too. We are his girlfriends."
The silence that followed was thick. Alya's gaze snapped up.
—"What?"
—"We... are already with him," Hikari confirmed. —"For a few days now. We're not going to fight over him with anyone, because we chose him. And we will never leave him."
Alya was left speechless. Her heart beat like a drum, the emotional blow made her stagger internally.
—"So... have I already lost?"
The sadness in her tone was clear. Alya looked at her unopened bento as if it no longer made sense to eat.
But the twins weren't cruel.
—"Alya," said Hibiki. —"It doesn't have to be an ending."
—"You can join us," Hikari added bluntly.
Alya blinked, confused.
—"What?"
—"What you heard," Hikari repeated. —"If you truly love him, and if you're willing... you can become one of his girls. We don't have a problem with that."
—"Are you... crazy?" Alya murmured, not as an insult, but in shock.
—"Maybe," Hikari laughed. —"But we're not selfish. Daniel has a huge heart, and what matters is that it's filled by people who truly love him."
Alya fell silent, an emotional storm forming inside her. The offer... was tempting, yes, but also difficult. She wanted him only for herself, not to have to share him...
—"You don't have to answer now," Hibiki told her with a soft smile. —"But think about it. Because we can assure you one thing: we will never leave him."
With that said, the twins got up and left, leaving Alya alone, her soul trembling between what she wants and what she fears to accept.
The air inside the Occult Research Club was slightly heavy. The curtains were drawn, the room dim and elegant, with gothic details reflecting the style of its president. Daniel was sitting in one of the armchairs facing a small tea table.
In front of him, with a regal posture and inquisitive expression, was Rias Gremory, the heir to the Gremory Clan. Beside her, standing with a soft smile but an aura that couldn't be taken lightly, was Akeno Himejima, who served the tea with ritual elegance.
For a few minutes, no one said anything.
The porcelain clinked as Akeno placed a cup in front of Daniel.
—"Thank you," said Daniel, polite but attentive, perceiving the care with which everything was being carried out. They were evaluating him.
Finally, it was Rias who broke the silence.
—"Welcome, Daniel. I am Rias Gremory, president of the Occult Research Club. She is Akeno Himejima, my vice-president. Kiba Yuuto, Koneko Toujou, and Gasper Vladi are also members, though not all are present at the moment."
Daniel nodded and introduced himself formally.
—"Daniel Hernández, nice to meet you. Thank you for the invitation... and the tea."
Rias nodded with a slight smile, though her gaze remained fixed, analytical.
—"Let's move on to the matter that interests us. Daniel, do you know anything about the supernatural world?"
Daniel hesitated for a moment. There were many ways to answer that, and all had their consequences. In the end, he opted for a half-truth:
—"I know the basics... enough to know there are things the common eye doesn't see."
—"And how did you obtain that information?" Rias asked, interested.
Daniel held his cup for a moment, letting the silence stretch just enough.
—"A friend... someone very close told me about it. That's all I can say."
Rias's eyes narrowed slightly, a bit annoyed by the evasion.
—"And does that friend have a name?"
Daniel smiled calmly, but without yielding.
—"He has many... but prefers to remain anonymous."
The discomfort was palpable for a few seconds, but Rias, though bothered, decided to let it pass.
—"Very well," she responded, leaning back in her armchair. —"Then I'll explain the basics... at least, from our point of view."
For the next few minutes, Rias explained with serenity but clarity the pillars of the supernatural world: angels, devils, fallen angels, exorcists, Sacred Gears, clans, and peace treaties. Daniel nodded with interest, though he already knew everything she was telling him. He didn't interrupt once.
Then, Rias explained the Evil Piece System, the way high-ranking devils could form their own peerages by reviving promising humans as Pawns, Rooks, Knights, and other pieces of the infernal chess set.
—"And now, Daniel," she said in a more direct tone, —"I want to offer you something."
Rias's red eyes looked at him seriously.
—"I propose you become part of my peerage. You will be my piece. I would revive you in case of your death or, if you wish, I could perform the process voluntarily. We would protect you, train you... and you would become part of my devil family."
Daniel set the cup on the table with utmost care.
—"I greatly appreciate the offer, Rias. Truly. But... I cannot accept it."
Rias observed him, unsurprised, but with a hint of frustration.
—"May I ask why?"
—"I have my own path," he responded firmly. —"I've already started walking it... and I don't want to tie myself to anything that would divert it."
Rias fell silent for a few seconds. Then she nodded slowly.
—"I understand. Not everyone is destined to be a piece on a board. But the invitation will remain open, Daniel. If at any point you change your mind... I will be waiting for you."
Daniel stood up and gave her a slight bow.
—"Thank you for the tea... and the talk. It was very enlightening."
—"We're glad it was useful to you," said Akeno with a smile, though her eyes shone with hidden interest.
Daniel turned, opened the door, and left, feeling the gazes of both women fixed on his back.
And as he descended the stairs of the old club building, a voice resonated in his mind:
—"Well done, partner," said Ddraig. —"You stood firm... and that will only make them more interested."
Daniel sighed, knowing this was only the beginning.
The rest of the school day progressed normally for everyone... or almost everyone.
When Daniel returned to his classroom after his visit to the Occult Research Club, he noticed Alya was sitting in her spot, gaze lost out the window, her chin resting on her hand.
He approached her with a friendly smile.
—"Everything okay, Alya?"
The Russian girl glanced at him sideways, as if waking from a trance. She gave him a small, forced smile.
—"It's nothing, really. Don't worry about me, Daniel."
Daniel watched her with some concern, but decided not to press. He knew that if something was really wrong, she would eventually open up. He respected her space... though a twinge of discomfort weighed on his chest.
---
When the dismissal bell rang, Hikari and Hibiki appeared as usual at his side, one on his left and right, drawing the attention of all the students who saw them leave together, almost like a dream trio.
Alya stood up too, but with a slight smile, she excused herself:
—"I have things to do. See you tomorrow."
Daniel returned the smile, though his expression remained gentle, not forcing cheerfulness.
—"It's okay. Take care, Alya."
---
On the way home, Daniel walked relaxed between his Sekirei, who were arguing between themselves about whether the bookstore they'd seen that day was really useful or just full of teen magazines.
—"By the way," Daniel said, lowering his tone, —"today Rias Gremory invited me to become part of her devil peerage."
Both sisters stopped dead in their tracks.
—"What!?" they said in unison.
—"Calm down," Daniel quickly added, palms up. —"I told her no."
—"Are you sure that was the right thing?" asked Hibiki, crossing her arms.
—"I don't doubt they have power," Hikari added, —"but... isn't it dangerous to reject a noble devil?"
Daniel sighed.
—"I understand your concerns, but most of the devils here aren't like the ones from the Bible. Rias and Sona are more human than anything. I don't think they'll do something against me just for rejecting their offer. Although... I know they'll watch me more closely now."
Both Sekirei didn't seem entirely convinced, but at least they understood his decision. They looked at each other and nodded with determination.
—"Then we'll be on guard," they said at the same time.
Daniel smiled, grateful.
—"Thank you, girls."
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of Kuoh, Alya walked alone toward her home. Her heart felt heavier than her backpack.
The words of Hikari and Hibiki echoed in her mind over and over.
> "Do you want to join Daniel's circle of girlfriends?"
The proposal, as crazy as it sounded, was genuine. She knew it. The sisters were sincere... and that's exactly why she couldn't ignore them. That's why she was more confused than ever.
At home, she was greeted by her younger sister, Masha, a girl with shoulder-length silver hair and lavender eyes, wearing an apron as she came out of the kitchen.
—"Alya! You're just in time for dinner. Are you okay? You seem... down."
Alya sat at the table and sighed deeply, resting her forehead on her arms.
—"What would you do if you were in love... and before you could even confess, you find out that boy already has two girlfriends?"
Masha frowned.
—"Huh? Two? At the same time? And he's not famous or a millionaire or anything?"
—"No... he's a normal boy. Well... a bit special," she admitted. —"His name is Daniel."
Masha crossed her arms, leaning on the table.
—"And how do you know he has two girlfriends?"
—"They told me themselves. They approached me... and asked me if I was interested in him. Because if I was, they would give me the chance to join the relationship."
Masha opened her mouth to respond... but found no words.
—"So... it's a harem? But a consensual one?"
Alya nodded, her face still hidden in her arms.
—"And the problem is that... I want him. I like being with him. He makes me laugh. He's kind, polite, strong... but I also want him only for myself."
Masha fell silent, thoughtful. Then she leaned toward her older sister and stroked her head gently.
—"Alya... love doesn't always come as a perfect story. Sometimes it arrives in strange ways. But if you truly care, you don't have to decide right away. Just ask yourself one thing: would it hurt more to share him... or to not have him at all?"
Alya slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes a bit shiny, and nodded.
—"Thank you... Masha."
—"That's what sisters are for, right?"
Both smiled. Dinner was served, but neither was very hungry. Instead, they talked all night.
Meanwhile, at Daniel's house, things were calm... for now.