For the past few days, Natsuki knew that she and the rest of the ORC were being watched.

  She could sense Diodora's aura on the edge of her perception, faint but deliberate, just enough to be noticeable and keep her on edge.

  And this certainly was not helped by the love letters and extravagant gifts that the Pure Blood Devil was leaving for Asia everywhere.

  "Can you believe that gentle-looking, handsome bastard?! Where does he get off sending a coupon for a couple massage to my house for Asia-chan!" Issei hissed in Natsuki's ear, unaware of the harsh gre a few people in front of them turned around to give him because his whispering was not as quiet as he thought.

  At that moment, they and the rest of the student body were sitting through the opening ceremony of Kuoh Academy's Sports Festival, a yearly event that kicked off the start of the school's second term.

  Asia, who had been sitting on the other side of Issei, squirmed in her seat, "I-It's not bothering me, Ise-san. It's just surprising."

  The blonde Devil could not figure out why Diodora was so adamant about pursuing her; to her, there was nothing about her that would warrant such fervor.

  "You don't have to lie to spare that bastard's feelings, Asia-chan!" Issei excimed, and Natsuki was forced to put her hand on Issei's shoulder to keep him from jumping out of his chair.

  "Ise-kun, please. We're in the middle of the auditorium, and you're drawing attention to us." Kiba said gently from next to Natsuki, his smile straining as more people turned to gre at Issei for his outburst.

  Natsuki sighed, rubbing her temple, gncing at Rias and Akeno as they sat on the other side of the auditorium amongst the other third-years. "It's not as if we can do anything. Rias already told us how Diodora has not done anything that can be seen as aggressive and hostile towards our Peerage."

  "Wait, when did Buchou say that?" Issei asked incredulously.

  Natsuki stared at Issei bnkly, "Were you not listening the other day when she expined the bullshit noble Devils are able to get away with? Unless that fucker actively does something to hurt or endanger the people in this town and our Peerage, then Rias can't really do anything outside of sending a compint to the head of House Astaroth because of the risk of insult and retaliation."

  It was the same thing that happened after they discovered that Riser was spying on them, except Riser was given even more leeway because he was Rias' fiancé.

  "There's also the fact that the lengths Devils go to in order to obtain a servant are rarely taken seriously." Kiba added.

  Issei looked away, embarrassed, "I guess I was a little distracted when Buchou told us this."

  Man, just thinking of that asshole pisses me off! Issei thought, knowing that the Astaroth heir was consuming his thoughts more than he should have.

  But he could not help it, Asia was Asia, sweet, selfless, far too trusting for her own good, and most importantly, one of his friends. The idea of Diodora, of anyone targeting her and trying to take her away from him and her theirs, made Issei's blood boil.

  "Rex, before you pop a vein." Natsuki muttered as she had noticed the way Issei's fists clenched against his knees, his knuckles pale, and her eyes flicking across the auditorium once more. "If that creep tries anything, he'll be dealing with me before you can even shout 'Boost!'"

  "That's not helping!" Issei hissed, but even he couldn't hide the small grin that tugged at his lips.

  "It's meant to make you stop hyperventiting." Natsuki shot back dryly, and Issei huffed.

  "He can't keep doing this forever, can he?" Asia asked herself, shaking slightly as she thought about Diodora.

  "I've always known Devils to be incredibly persistent when it came to the humans who captured their eye." Xenovia said, pcing her hand gently on Asia's arm, "I see no reason why Diodora Astaroth would be any different. But I don't think Rias-Buchou would allow him to take you."

  From the stage, Sona began her own opening remarks after the headmaster sat down, and the crowd quieted. Still, Natsuki's focus drifted again as once again, something in the far corner of the gym flickered at the edge of her senses.

  Her gaze moved towards the ceiling, and she knew that Diodora was floating outside of the auditorium, feeling his attention on herself and Asia.

  That idiot is really testing my patience; doesn't he understand that his behavior isn't doing anything to endear Asia to him? Or do Devils just not understand how disgusting this kind of shit is? It wouldn't surprise me if that's the case with all the myths about Devils and monsters. Natsuki thought.

  Despite the calm and quiet demeanor he tried to showcase, his behavior had already shown Natsuki that Diodora Astaroth was extremely simir to Riser, both being entitled, maniputive, and arrogant. And yet, there was something about the way he lingered in the shadows, the way his aura dimmed and twisted, that told Natsuki that his interest in Asia was not just romantic infatuation, but something darker.

  But why is he staring at me? Is this about what I said at the train station? No, if it were, then he would be giving Issei the same amount of attention, but I can tell that Diodora doesn't give a shit about Issei and can practically taste the malice and intent that he's throwing my way.

  "This is going to be a long few days." Natsuki murmured under her breath.

  "What was that?" Kiba asked.

  "Nothing." Natsuki replied, forcing a small grin as the crowd erupted into appuse when Sona finished her speech, but her eyes never left the ceiling.

  First Asia, then Xenovia, and now Irina? Just how many more members of the Church are going to become students at this school? Natsuki thought as she watched Shidou Irinia introduce herself to css 2-B, a bnk look on her face as she rested her chin in the palm of her hand.

  She was sure Azazel knew about this and had just decided it would be more amusing to not tell any of them.

  "No way! How the hell do you know another hottie, Issei?! You damn bastard!" Motohama excimed, tears running down his face as he gred at Issei angrily, after Irina had revealed to the css how she knew Issei.

  "And how could you not tell us about her?! The coveted childhood best friend? You fucking suck!" Matsuda added, reacting the same.

  Natsuki rolled her eyes as she turned to stare out the window next to her.

  We should just kill that pompous Devil already; allowing him to buzz around like a fly has long since grown irritating. Lux said through their mental link; she, too, felt Diodora's constantly reappearing presence.

  I don't imagine the Higher-Ups, the Maous, or Rias would be very happy if we did that. And would we even be strong enough to kill him? Natsuki asked.

  Lux huffed. It would at least be worth the effort even if we fail. Besides, he is competing in the Rating game tournament like the other noble heirs, is he not? We will have to face him and his Peerage at some point; we might as well skip the unnecessary waiting and face him now. It is shameful how Devils can act when they believe they have the right to another person, and it is even more scandalous when they go about trying a dragon's patience.

  We could get the answer we want about why his Demonic Power feels so fucking weird and twisted. Natsuki said.

  Exactly, let us stop wasting time and go to him. It would certainly be more enjoyable and informative than sitting here listening to these children.

  Natsuki let out a snort, ignoring the questioning looks she received from her cssmates who heard her. I can't say I disagree with that.

  By the time school ended, the four Gremory Devils immediately took Irina to the old school building. For the entirety of the walk, Asia and Xenovia eagerly conversed with the human while Issei tried to contribute but found himself lost as they spoke about topics that he was completely unfamiliar with, and Natsuki stayed silent.

  "Oh." Xenovia excimed, her eyes widening, having been distracted by the joy of seeing her oldest friend and former partner again. "Irina, I can't believe I did not ask but-"

  "But why am I now a student here?" Irina asked knowingly, her smile growing, "I transferred here by Michael-sama's order. With the truce and now partnership between the Three Great Factions, Michael-sama felt troubled by the ck of Heavenly representation here in Kuoh Town."

  "That makes sense, with everything that's happened here, this being a territory that is owned by Rias and Sona, and by extension their families, along with Azazel and a few other Fallen Angels taking up residence, Kuoh would be the best pce for everyone to convene easily enough." Natsuki said, thinking out loud.

  Irina blinked, having not expected Natsuki to speak to her after the taller had looked keen to ignore her presence for most of the day. "Y-Yes, that's exactly it."

  Xenovia noticed her friend's reaction and pced a hand on Irina's shoulder, "You should not take Natsuki-san's behavior too personally; being cold and dismissive is just her way of warming up to you."

  "Don't talk about me like I'm not here, idiot." Natsuki muttered.

  "She was just like this when I first joined the Gremory Peerage." Xenovia said, ignoring Natsuki, "I think Akeno-senpai called her a kuudere, or was it a tsundere?"

  Kuudere?! Tsundere?! What the fuck?! What kind of shit does Akeno talk about me when I'm not around? Natsuki could feel the vein in her forehead beginning to throb.

  When the group finally reached the clubroom, inside the rest of the Occult Research Club, Azazel and the Student Council were waiting for them.

  Rias smiled as she stood from her seat, "Shidou Irina-san, I welcome you to our school. I trust that your time here so far has been pleasant."

  Irina bowed as Natsuki, Asia, Xenovia, and Issei walked past her and moved further into the room, smiling brightly. "Yes! Everyone has been so kind, although I didn't expect so many Devils to be attending the same school. It feels like I've walked straight into a den of temptation!"

  "That's… one way to put it," Rias said with a patient smile, gncing briefly at Azazel, who looked far too amused by the entire situation.

  Irina then began to expin why she was now in Kuoh, beginning her speech by talking about the gratitude to the Lord and how great Michael was, and everyone listening, except for Asia and Xenovia, smiled bitterly as she kept mentioning God, giving them all minor headaches.

  "If it wasn't for how earnest she is, I would think that idiot number two is doing this on purpose." Natsuki muttered, wincing as Irina said God again.

  Akeno smiled, bumping her shoulder against Natsuki's arm as they stood against the wall, "Idiot number two? I thought you had grown past your dislike of-"

  "I haven't." Natsuki said, "And it's not about that, I'm just mourning the states of our heads if we're going to have to deal with Asia, Xenovia, and now Irina constantly breaking out into praise and worship."

  "I think she'll come to grow on you, on all of us."

  "Yeah, I'm sure you can't wait to tell Irina about how much of a kuudere I am." Natsuki said bndly.

  Akeno's smile grew, a pyful gleam dancing in her violet eyes, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. I'd much rather let Irina-chan find out for herself what you're really like."

  "That sounds worse." Natsuki deadpanned.

  Akeno chuckled softly, her ughter carrying a warmth that made Natsuki's annoyance flicker into something much harder to name.

  Azazel cpped his hands, stopping Irina when he realized that the girl would keep talking if he did not. "You love Michael, we get it, but I have to ask, if Michael has sent you as his messenger, have you gone through the angel transformation yet?"

  "Angel transformation? What's that?" Issei asked.

  "It's a new phenomenon, made real after discussions between the scientists of Heaven and the Underworld. I have received Michael-sama's blessing and have become a reincarnated Angel!" Irina expined as her body started to glow and a pair of white wings sprouted from her back.

  Rias and Sona, who had been told about this development from their older siblings, and Azazel were the only ones who were not shocked by Irina's dispy.

  "It has been decided so far that a total of ten Seraphs will each have twelve subordinates called Brave Saints, each with a position from an Ace to a Queen of the cards. The cards of the King will be the position of the Angel-sama, who would be the master." Irina continued.

  Azazel's eyes shone with interest, "I see, so this is how they used the technology of the Evil Pieces and the artificial Sacred Gears, huh? Man, Heaven sure did create an interesting thing right after we gave them our technology. If the Devils are chess, then the Angels are cards, huh. Well, cards also have the meaning of "trump card" in them. After God's death, it became impossible for new Pure-Blooded Angels to be created, so increasing the number of reincarnated Angels would connect to strengthen their forces."

  "So what card are you then, Irina?" Issei asked.

  "I'm an Ace! Fufufu, even if the Lord is gone, I can continue to live if I'm Michael-sama's Ace!" Irina said confidently, her eyes glittering as an ace symbol appeared on the back of her hand.

  Azazel started to ugh, "If you are using such a system, then it seems like there will be someone strong called a Joker hiding, and that the twelve servants of each deck will also represent the twelve apostles. Man, he sure does entertain me, that Elder Angel-sama."

  Issei scratched the back of his head, confused, "But how do cards rete to chess pieces?"

  "They don't." Natsuki said, "I'm sure these Brave Saints will have their own special abilities that are based on card games like poker or Bckjack, because there is no such thing as Promotion in card games. It will be Heaven's way of keeping things organized enough to be functional while pretending it's not just another way of boosting their forces and getting more indentured servants."

  "Oh, how cynical." Akeno teased softly, still smiling.

  "Realistic." Natsuki corrected, crossing her arms, "Every faction dresses up their system to look noble when it's really just another leash. Devils use chess, Angels are now using cards, and I'm sure the Fallen use whatever gets the job done or will be inspired by the Devils and Angels to make their own system that will work the same way."

  Azazel barked a ugh, "She's not wrong. Though I'll take the compliment, 'whatever gets the job done' is a great motto."

  Rias sighed, though she smiled faintly at her Pawn's bluntness, "Natsuki's perspective aside, I think it's a remarkable step forward. For the factions to share their technology so openly… it shows how far we've come."

  "Or how badly things have gotten to force cooperation." Natsuki muttered, earning a sharp look from Rias but a quiet chuckle from Azazel.

  "Still," Irina said brightly, cpping her hands, "Even if it started that way, I believe the Lord guided all of us to this moment!"

  Everyone winced simultaneously, the Devils in the room hissing as their temples throbbed from the repeated invocation.

  "Please." Koneko groaned softly, "No more Holy names."

  "Sorry, sorry!" Irina apologized, bowing several times, her wings fluttering nervously, "I forgot how sensitive you all are to, well, everything. I never-"

  "It's fine, just please be more mindful." Rias said quickly.

  "I swear that I will." Irina said, relieved that the group was not upset with her, "Also, Michael-sama said he can see a special Rating Game between Evil Pieces and Brave Saints happening in the future! He also said that right now only the Angels of Seraph have them, but soon High-level Angel-sama, besides the Seraph, would be given this system, and is hoping for them to battle each other just like the Rating Games of the Devils!

  Rating Games against Angels? Natsuki thought, her anticipation rising within her as she thought about what kind of matches would occur.

  Seeing the downright hungry expression on Natsuki's face, Akeno gently elbowed the Pawn in her side.

  Azazel was impressed, "There are those among Angels and Devils who are against the decision made by their leaders to align themselves with each other. We've had a retionship where we had wars against each other for an exceedingly long time, so there would be those who feel uneasy if we suddenly tell them to get along. But Michael sure has thought about it, just like that, he's already preparing a representative war where they can take any arguments they have and resolve them peacefully. It's just like the World Cup or Olympics of the human world."

  "Then would it be possible for us, and the Angels who are using this game system, to have a battle?" Xenovia asked.

  "Definitely not anytime soon, maybe in the future it will. At least ten years or twenty years. Well, around then would be a good time for all of you rookies to have a proper fight."

  "Twenty years." Natsuki muttered, Devils and Angels do have long lifespans, but this time frame still felt too long for her.

  "If it's to ensure that these future Rating Games are possible, then the wait will be worth it." Kiba said, also looking interested.

  "D-Do w-w-we hav-have to? C-Churches are scary…" Gasper whimpered from within his cardboard box.

  He could still remember being killed by the Vampire hunters that the Church sent after him, could still remember how scared he was that they would come back for him, even after Rias reincarnated him and added him to her Peerage.

  So, the idea of having to fight the group responsible for his death, even just in friendly competition, terrified the Dhampir.

  "Let's stop these types of discussions here and start today's welcoming party for Shidou Irina-san." Sona said with a smile.

  Azazel then took the opportunity to lean back, resting the back of his head against the couch he was sitting on, his eyes sliding towards Natsuki. "You've been tense tely, kid. Anything you want to share with the css?"

  Natsuki stiffened, "Not particurly."

  Azazel's smile grew as he whispered conspiratorially, "I'm sure it must be annoying having Ajuka's little cousin hovering around, watching you and Asia-chan."

  Natsuki scoffed, "If you know, why bother asking?"

  "You've been sensing Diodora-sama again?" Akeno asked, staring at Natsuki, "Why didn't you say anything?"

  "Because I didn't see the point. Rias has already sent a compint to the head of House Astaroth, and it hasn't done anything. That asshole is still harassing Asia, and Rias doesn't want to make this into a whole scandal for her family to deal with by trying to use force." Natsuki expined, her tone was sharper than she intended.

  Azazel sighed, "It really makes you wonder, Asia-chan must have really left an impression if he's going to these lengths. Although I guess it would be hard for me to understand, I've never been rejected by a woman who's caught my interest."

  "I somehow find that hard to believe." Natsuki muttered, her left eye twitching as she felt Diodora's presence nearby, gritting her teeth.

  "Diodora just really doesn't care about how strange he is coming across, but I guess having such a pretty face keeps women from calling him out on his behavior. Something I can very much rete to."

  "Wait! What do you mean Irina-chan will be living with me?!" Issei shouted from across the room.

  Natsuki groaned as she threw her head back, swearing that everything and everyone around her was giving her a headache and causing her to lose brain cells.

  A Few Days Later

  Irina raised her hand up high, smiling as she did so, "Yes, yes! I will do the Item borrowing race!"

  Css 2-B was using their homeroom period to decide which people would participate in which activities for the Sports Festival.

  "Uwa! You tricked me, Kiryuu!" Issei cried out, gring at the girl in front of him as he brought his hand back down.

  "Alright, we'll have Hyoudou and Asia do the three-legged race together." Kamo Tadami, Css 2-B student representative, reluctantly said as she wrote Issei and Asia's names on the board.

  "Me and Asia-chan?" Issei looked to his left and saw Asia smiling at him, a soft blush coating her cheeks, which made him blush in turn.

  Natsuki could only shake her head, looking away to stare out the window, the sun cast long, zy beams across the cssroom, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow.

  It had been days since she st felt Diodora's presence in Kuoh, and just as long since Asia had received any kind of gift from him. This made the others, especially Issei, breathe more easily and allowed them to finally rex, but Natsuki knew that it would only be a matter of time before Diodora turned up again, more annoying than ever.

  "S-Sukehiro." Natsuki turned to look at the front of the cssroom, her face expressionless as she stared at Kamo.

  "Yes?"

  Kamo's eyes widened slightly, having not expected Natsuki to acknowledge her in any way, and the entire css fell silent as they watched the two girls.

  Kamo cleared her throat and mustered all her courage, "I-I and everyone else wanted to know i-if you would like to participate this year?"

  Well, that's not what I expected her to ask. Natsuki thought, her face still expressionless.

  Natsuki had learned incredibly early in her life that when people were not talking about her behind her back, mocking her to her face, or trying to beat her up, they would actively ignore her, treating her as if she were riddled with the pgue and keeping their distance.

  Unlike in Nitoshō, where everyone was disgusted by her presence, her cssmates at Kuoh Academy were outright afraid of her, even unable to look her in the eye most of the time.

  And she had long since gotten used to being excluded as a result, which had been the case during st year's Sports Festival as well.

  "Sure, what events are left?" Natsuki asked.

  "Uh, w-we have t-the l-long jump, obstacle course, the hundred meter sprint, and the cavalry battle." Kamo stuttered again, not expecting Natsuki's response.

  "I'll do the obstacle course."

  "Great!" Kamo smiled, turning around to write Natsuki's name under 'obstacle course', and a ripple of relief passed through the cssroom after seeing that Natsuki did not react negatively.

  "What the fuck was that about?" Natsuki asked, looking at her friends.

  "A lot of the girls were talking about the different events that the festival would have, as Xenovia-san, Irina-san, and I had never experienced something like this the other day. And then we discussed who we would think would do the best in each event, and when I asked about you, they said you didn't participate in the st Sports Festival, which I thought was strange because you're really athletic, Natsuki-san. And I told them our css could win if they asked you." Asia answered, smiling innocently as she did so.

  Natsuki did not know what to say in response to that and could only stare at Asia bnkly.

  "Wow, so Asia-chan's cuteness was strong enough to overpower Natsuki's scariness!" Issei excimed, ughing nervously when Natsuki turned her head to look at him with the most unamused stare imaginable.

  Natsuki looked away with a sigh, "I just hope this doesn't lead to people thinking that I'm suddenly approachable now."

  "Isn't that a good thing?" Irina asked from next to Xenovia, "Why would anyone want to be feared and ignored by their peers?"

  "When my peers pay attention to me, it usually ends in a fight." Natsuki shrugged.

  Or having something dumped on my head, my belongings stolen, or a multitude of other shit. Natsuki thought, remembering her past experiences with bullies well.

  "We won't let that happen, Natsuki-san. If anyone talks badly about you or tries to harass you, I'll deal with them." Asia said as seriously as she could.

  Natsuki chuckled, "Damn, Asia, did training with MacGregor unlock your bloodthirst? I think I like it."

  Asia blushed, "I'm not... I just don't want anyone bothering my friends."

  Issei turned diagonally in his seat and lifted his foot to kick the leg of Natsuki's desk, "Hey, don't you already have Akeno-senpai? Stop flirting with Asia-chan before I tell her you're being unfaithful."

  "What kind of dumb shit is coming out of your mouth right now?!" Natsuki spat, kicking Issei's desk in retaliation.

  The two Pawns began arguing with each other while Asia, Xenovia, and Irina watched on in confusion.

  The Next Day

  Natsuki yawned as she stood with the rest of the student body in the school yard, everyone either practicing or watching others practice for tomorrow's festival. She, like everyone else, was wearing her gym tracksuit.

  She was not particurly invested in the festival itself; to her, it was just another distraction before the next real fight.

  "Damn it, Natsuki! How can you look bored already?" Issei asked, his eyes gncing between his friend and the scene in front of him.

  "That's because I am." Natsuki said ftly, "When you've seen one Sports Festival, you've seen them all. So, I don't get why it's so important that the school gives us time to practice for it in the middle of the day."

  "Well, you've definitely never seen a practice like this!" Matsuda excimed, a happy and perverted grin on his face as she watched the race that was going on.

  Irina and Xenovia were running on the track, a challenge that Xenovia had issued Irina the moment they stepped outside, and that Irina was happy to accept.

  "It's just as I thought, proper velocity is most needed for those beautiful oppai to bounce." Motohama muttered, his eyes never moving from Xenovia and Irina's bodies.

  "Your constant harassment of girls makes me sick." Natsuki deadpanned.

  "And yet here you are, still hanging out with us." Issei said.

  Natsuki let out a snort, "More like you three clowns refuse to leave me be and I've been forced to take up the charitable and thankless task of trying to reign you in."

  "Fuck you!" The Perverted Trio excimed.

  Eventually, Natsuki grew tired of pretending she did not know the trio and began to walk around the field.

  She caught occasional glimpses of her friends and had even been sure that she had seen Koneko chasing Gasper around with a rubber snake at one point.

  Am I crazy for thinking that things have been too normal tely? Man, becoming a Devil has made me insane, hasn't it? Why else would I be so thrown off by just having a normal, regur day? Or have I always been like this? Natsuki thought, stuffing her hands into her pockets.

  Natsuki's breath caught in her throat when she suddenly felt a terrible and maleficent energy washing over her body. She quickly looked around, trying to see who or what was aiming such energy at her, but saw nothing but her schoolmates around her, moving about without a care in the world.

  What the fuck was that? Natsuki closed her eyes and focused, her eyes snapping open when she instantly felt a strong aura coming from beyond the school grounds and somewhere in the city.

  "I guess I did ask for this." Natsuki muttered and, without hesitation, sprinted across the grounds and through the school's metal gates.

  Natsuki allowed her senses to guide her as she ran, weaving through crowds of people.

  "Lux, do you know what it is I'm running towards?" Natsuki asked aloud.

  The center of Natsuki's chest glowed as Lux responded, "The energy I am feeling reminds me of a few monsters I have come across from the Shinto pantheon, but I cannot tell you exactly which one."

  "From the Shinto pantheon?" Natsuki's brow furrowed, "But why would-"

  An ear-piercing scream from a nearby alley cut Natsuki off and forced the teenager to come skidding to a halt, realizing that the alley was where she was feeling the foul aura the strongest.

  The Pawn ran into the dark, trash littered alley and gritted her teeth as she saw a portly man with thinning bck hair, broken gsses that rested on his face, ying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, his expression stuck on one of fear and pain, and with a massive hole in his chest, one that she knew was craved from something razor sharp.

  Above the dead man was a tall, willowy creature that looked like a naked, muscur, red-skinned old man with long, spiky white hair that was tied back, a long nose, and its mouth was dripping with the dead man's blood, and with bits of flesh dangling from its sharp, knife-like teeth.

  "A Tengu?" Natsuki muttered, her eyes locked on the monster's face.

  "I knew you'd come, Sukehiro Natsuki, hehehe." The Tengu chittered, grinning maliciously at Natsuki.

  "[Ethereal Domination]!" Natsuki shouted, and a pulse of golden energy exploded outward, rippling through the narrow alley like a shockwave.

  The Tengu screeched as the air around it thickened, weighed down by the sudden gravity of Natsuki's magic. It then changed its shape, taking on the appearance of a rge, monstrous, anthropomorphic bird, its face still red, its long nose having changed into a beak, and with rge kite-like wings that quickly snapped open, keeping the Tengu from being blown backwards, its cws scraping against the asphalt.

  "He was right… You're stronger than you look." The Tengu spat, gring at the Devil.

  "Who's he?" Natsuki demanded, summoning her Bck Bolt in her right hand.

  The Tengu did not answer her, tilting its head unnaturally, its grin widening until it split the corners of its mouth.

  Natsuki unched her Bck Bolt, and the Tengu twisted, barely avoiding the attack, but she had used this opportunity to quickly move behind the monster, her movements fluid and predatory. A second fsh of golden light illuminated the alley, and the monster screamed as its right wing was suddenly severed from its back.

  "Are you going to tell me who sent you now? Or do I have to rip off more of your body parts, you fucking bastard?" Natsuki growled, smming her foot onto the Tengu's back, forcing it to the ground and holding it down.

  The Tengu ughed, coughing up blood when Natsuki stomped on it, the alley echoing with the sound of breaking bones. "…I do not fear you, child. I have seen true evil, true terror, and y-you do not c-compare."

  Natsuki grinned as she looked down at the Tengu, her eyes glowing like the rest of her body, "So you're more afraid of your boss than me, huh? Well, that's pretty fucking stupid, especially as I'm the one here, not him."

  Before Natsuki could strike it again, the Tengu disappeared from underneath her in a show of wispy smoke.

  Teleportation? Natsuki did not react, having known that the Tengu was going to jump, having felt the pull of its magic.

  Natsuki quickly leaned her head to the side just as a rge, cwed hand tried to swipe her from behind, jumping forward when the Tengu tried to attack her again.

  Natsuki leaned back when the Tengu jumped at her, and as the creature flew over her, Natsuki jumped up and kicked the creature across the face, sending it flying into the wall behind it.

  The second the Tengu's back arched off the wall, Natsuki closed the distance and began raining down punches upon the Tengu, ignoring its cries as she continued to beat it down.

  "Are you ready to speak now?" Natsuki asked, stopping her onsught to grab the Tengu by the neck, pressing down just hard enough to show the creature her intent.

  The Tengu gasped for breath, still gring at Natsuki.

  Natsuki squeezed the Tengu's throat, "Is he watching me? Is that why whoever he is sent you here? Is this some sort of test?"

  "I-I-I-I h-h-have n-nothing t-to say!" The Tengu said as Natsuki choked it.

  Natsuki leaned closer, her breath hitting the side of the Tengu's face, "Is Diodora Astaroth your master?"

  The Tengu started to ugh, or tried to as Natsuki was still choking them, "D-Dio-Diodora A-Astaroth?! Hehehe, such a fool is not worthy of being my master! I would never take orders from him; the idea of doing so is ludicrous!"

  Natsuki grinned, looking like an apex predator pying with her food, "So that means you do know him?"

  The Tengu's eyes widened, and Natsuki assumed this was due to her tricking it into revealing that a connection existed between itself and Diodora, but she realized this was not the case when she heard the voice of the world's most annoying Fallen Angel behind her.

  "So, Diodora knows some Tengus, huh? Now, why would he be involved with a creature such as yourself?" Azazel asked, leaning over Natsuki's shoulder to look at the monster.

  "T-T-T-T-The G-G-Governor of C-Crows!" For the first time, the Tengu looked afraid, and a part of Natsuki was irritated that this reaction was due simply to Azazel's presence and not anything she had done.

  Azazel chuckled, "Good to know my reputation precedes me, even amongst your ilk."

  "How long have you been here?" Natsuki asked, looking at the Fallen from the corner of her eye.

  Azazel smirked, "What? You thought you were the only one to sense this idiot's presence? I wanted to see what a Tengu was doing in this part of Japan, and I was not disappointed when I saw it calling out to you."

  "If you've been here this whole time, why didn't you save that human over there?" Natsuki asked, gring at Azazel.

  Azazel shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. "Because by the time I got here, he was already dead. And besides, you seemed like you needed the workout."

  Natsuki's jaw clenched. "Heartless bastard."

  "You say that like it's an insult." Azazel said, "Now what are we going to do with this… thing?"

  Natsuki turned her head back, "You think you'll have better luck with getting anything useful out of it?"

  "Oh, I know that I would."

  "Then it's yours."

  "You pick out the strangest presents, kid." Azazel said, staring at the Tengu.

  "No… No!" The Tengu shrieked, knowing that if Azazel took him, his fate would be far worse than death, than what his master could give him.

  Azazel sighed, "Now don't throw a tantrum. You brought this on your-"

  Faster than either Natsuki or Azazel could react to, the Tengu lifted its hand and plunged it into its chest, using its long talons to cut through all the flesh, muscle, and tissue of its chest, and ripping out its own heart, killing itself instantly.

  "Are you fucking kidding me?!" Natsuki yelled, immediately dropping the Tengu's corpse.

  "Well, that's unfortunate." Azazel said pinly, lifting his foot to nudge the Tengu's body, "Am I so scary that death is a preferable option to being in my presence?"

  Natsuki gred at the Fallen, in no mood for the man's jokes and bsé attitude, "Can you take this seriously?! A monster just appeared here, in Gremory and Sitri territory, killed a human, tried to kill me, is connected to Diodora, and killed itself to protect its secrets. What are we supposed to do now?"

  "We tell your Peerage about what happened, and Sirzechs and the other Maous will deal with it as they see fit." Azazel said in an obvious tone, "Did I miss you hitting your head or something? This is standard procedure, Natsuki-chan."

  "I can't wait until I'm strong enough to fucking kill you. I'm sure everyone who's ever met you will thank me for getting rid of this world's biggest blight." Natsuki spat as she shoved her way past the Fallen Angel, standing over the dead human.

  Azazel's smirk grew as he waved his hand over the Tengu, the body disappearing in a fsh of light.

  Natsuki reached into the man's pocket and pulled out a blood-soiled wallet. When she opened it, she immediately saw the man's ID.

  Inaba Motonobu. I'm sorry. Natsuki clenched the wallet tightly, bming herself.

  The only reason the man before her was dead was that someone had sent the Tengu after her, and because she did not get to the alley fast enough.

  "There wasn't anything you could do, so don't bme yourself for this." Azazel said gruffly.

  Natsuki did not say anything, still looking at Inaba Motonobu's ID photo, seeing his address underneath his name.

  "You know you can't take him back to his home, right?" Azazel asked, staring at Natsuki, "Our two factions have people who are tasked with cleaning up situations like this, and they'll make it look like a freak accident or a mugging gone wrong."

  "I know." Natsuki said once she was done memorizing the ID card and putting Inada's wallet back in his pocket.

  "Are you going to be okay?"

  "I will be." Natsuki said softly, walking past Azazel and out of the alley.

  I'll be okay after I kill each and every piece of shit responsible for this.

  "How is it even possible that a Tengu could have gotten through the protection wards around the city?" Rias asked aloud.

  When Natsuki and Azazel returned to Kuoh Academy, the Fallen Angel summoned the Occult Research Club, the Student Council, and Irina to the clubroom, expining Natsuki's encounter with the Tengu.

  "Fallen Angels and Stray Devils used to do so regurly; we should not be surprised that other beings would have their own ways of infiltrating Kuoh Town." Sona said, her tone calm but grave. "Still, the fact that a monster such as this could breach the city's barriers without triggering the warning sigils means someone tampered with them, or someone inside our own faction gave them access."

  "It wasn't just someone, it was that blond, Asia-chan stealing bastard, Diodora!" Issei yelled, angrily clenching his fists. "Sensei and Natsuki literally said it themselves that the monster knew him!"

  "And I will be contacting my brother and House Astaroth about this, but Ise, the Tengu, did not call Diodora its master; in fact, Natsuki and Azazel said that it vehemently denied such. This would be enough to give Diodora pusible deniability." Rias said, simirly angry over the situation.

  Issei scowled, "That's bullshit!"

  "That's how Devil politics works, Hyoudou." Saji huffed, crossing his arms, "Most of them are a bunch of-"

  "Saji, that is enough." Sona said strongly, and Saji clicked his teeth, but did as he was told.

  "But even if we accept that Diodora-sama is involved, why would a Tengu align itself with a Devil?" Akeno asked, looking at Natsuki worriedly, "The Shinto pantheon just barely tolerates our own pantheon's presence here in Japan; they see us as impure and beneath them. If the Tengu's master isn't Diodora-sama, that would mean that either the Tengu was working on its own or it does have a master, but that master is working with Diodora-sama for some reason."

  "Man, this whole thing makes my head hurt." Meguri muttered, and Kusaka elbowed her and told her to be quiet in response.

  "We'll know more when the Maous and your Higher-Ups are told about this, and do their own investigation into why. And I can see if I can find anything when I need to see that punk and his Peerage for their next training sessions." Azazel said, "Although, regardless of what's true, this is going to make things a bit awkward."

  "Why would things be awkward?" Xenovia asked.

  Azazel smirked, turning his gaze onto Natsuki, who was standing behind Rias, staring out of the window. "Because for you Gremory Devils, your next opponent in the Youth Devil Rating Game tournament has already been decided."

  Kiba grimaced, "Don't tell us it's-"

  "Diodora Astaroth? Why yes, it is." Azazel said, finishing Kiba's question with impish delight.

  "Good." Everyone turned to look at Natsuki when she spoke, her back still facing them, "Because now I can finally rip that smug bastard apart in front of everyone and find out the truth."

  Her reflection in the window stared back at her, golden eyes glowing faintly beneath her bangs, and the silence that followed her decration was heavy.

  "Natsuki…" Rias began carefully, taking a step toward her.

  "Don't." Natsuki growled, "Don't tell me to calm down or to think rationally, Rias-Buchou. I am thinking rationally, he can lie all he wants to the Higher-Ups, but I know Diodora's responsible for what happened today, maybe not directly, but he's involved. And when we fight him, I'm going to make sure he regrets ever setting foot in Kuoh again."

  Azazel raised a brow, amused but cautious, "That's quite the decration. You pnning on pying fair, or should I start prepping body bags?"

  Natsuki turned, meeting his gaze with a cold smirk. "If he forfeits early, maybe I'll let him keep his spine."

  Akeno's own expression faltered, repced by a flicker of concern, "Natsuki-chan-"

  Natsuki's jaw tightened, "We're done here, right? I've got training to do."

  Without waiting for dismissal, she walked past everyone and out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall until they faded completely.

  "She's taking this harder than she wants to admit." Akeno said softly.

  "Wouldn't you?" Kiba replied, his tone grim. "Someone died because a monster was sent after her. That kind of guilt doesn't go away easily."

  Rias looked toward the door where Natsuki had exited, her expression heavy with worry, "Then we'll make sure she's not alone in this. And that she won't fall too far into wrath."

  Outside, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the campus in blood-red light, and somewhere deep inside her, Natsuki could feel a storm raging within herself, wanting nothing more than to spill Diodora's blood.

  "Lux, I should have listened to you before when you told me to take the fight directly to that bastard instead of letting him hover around." Natsuki growled.

  "You could not have predicted that this would happen, Natsuki." Lux said softly, "The death of that human is not your fault."

  "Then why does it feel like it is?" Natsuki asked, her frustration rising. "Why couldn't that stupid fucking Tengu just come to me directly instead of taking its time to eat?"

  "I cannot tell you why, but I know that you cannot rush into this now that we know there is a bigger plot at work. Let us see what fruit the Devils' investigation into Diodora bears. Then we can act accordingly." Lux said.

  Natsuki sighed, scratching the back of her neck, "Do you think Akeno was right? That someone from the Shinto pantheon is involved?"

  Lux sighed too, "It would be the most pusible expnation, as it is very unlikely a Tengu would willingly follow a Devil of all creatures. And I am sure once the Maous already hear about this incident, they will rage."

  Natsuki did not have much faith that anything would be done to Diodora unless strong evidence could be used against him, and that his privilege would most likely protect him.

  Whatever, no matter what happens, I'm going to use our Rating Game match to make him pay. Natsuki thought as she walked, the weight of her guilt and fury driving her forward.