UNKNOWN LOCATION
Azazel's improvised laboratory seemed organized only to him. Metal parts, research circles, notes about Sacred Gears, and fragments of artifacts occupied different tables, but the governor of the fallen angels walked among everything without hesitation, as if every object was exactly where it was supposed to be.
Vali was leaning near the window, his arms crossed and his gaze distant. The irritation he had carried since Kokabiel's capture had decreased, but it had not disappeared completely.
"I'm not as irritated anymore that you didn't let me fight Kokabiel." Vali glanced at Azazel from the corner of his eyes. "From what I heard, he was captured before he could give a decent fight."
Azazel did not stop adjusting a small metallic piece on the table.
"I told you." His tone was far too casual for someone dealing with a captured fallen angel. "This Gasper is an interesting opponent. And there is also Issei."
Vali let out a short laugh.
"Issei Hyoudou and Gasper Vladi." He repeated the names as if measuring the value of each one. "Maybe they are worth fighting."
"A friendly spar." Azazel raised one finger without taking his eyes off the experiment. "We're going to have a Peace Conference, remember? It wouldn't be elegant to turn Kuoh into a battlefield before everyone even signs any agreements."
"Friendly spar." Vali smiled mockingly. "You say that as if I have any interest in shaking hands, listening to speeches, and pretending peace means something."
Azazel finally placed the piece on the table and turned toward him.
"Peace means fewer idiots trying to destroy the world because of ancient grudges." The governor of the fallen angels kept his smile, but his eyes became more attentive. "For someone like you, that should be convenient. Less pointless wars, more time to search for strong opponents."
"I only want to fight those who are worth it." Vali uncrossed his arms and walked toward the center of the room. "If peace brings strong enemies, great. If it gets in the way, then it has no value to me."
Azazel observed his expression for a few seconds.
"Are you planning to interfere with the conference?"
Vali answered too quickly.
"No."
The word came out firm, clear, and useless.
Azazel knew Vali well enough to understand when an answer was just an answer, not a guarantee. The young white dragon did not need to hate peace to cause problems; all it took was finding someone strong enough to awaken his interest.
Vali noticed the silence and smiled.
"Don't look at me like that. I said I won't interfere."
"Of course." Azazel picked up another piece from the workbench. "And I'm a responsible researcher who has never ignored rules out of curiosity."
Vali laughed genuinely this time.
"Then we're understood."
He walked toward the exit, and the atmosphere seemed lighter as his presence began to move away. Before opening the door, he stopped for a moment.
"Gasper Vladi." Vali spoke the name with renewed interest. "If he really paralyzed Kokabiel that easily, I want to see how far that power goes."
Azazel did not answer immediately. He only watched Vali leave the laboratory, allowing the door to close behind him.
CLIC.
The governor of the fallen angels' smile faded slightly.
"He's going to try something."
Azazel returned to his experiments, but his attention was no longer completely focused on the pieces on the table. The Peace Conference had not even begun, and Gasper Vladi had already become a point of interest for people far too dangerous.
KUOH – OCCULT RESEARCH CLUB
Gasper was sitting on the sofa in the Occult Research Club room, silently listening while Rias and Akeno discussed near the table. The conversation seemed light at first glance, but he knew both of them well enough to notice that it had already become a competition.
"I'm his girlfriend." Rias crossed her arms, trying to maintain her authority. "So it's natural that I should have priority for the next date."
"Ara, ara, Rias." Akeno tilted her head with a calm smile. "But you've already spent a lot of time with Gasper-kun recently. Maybe it's only fair to let your best friend have an opportunity."
"You say that as if I have an obligation to share my boyfriend."
"But you do share." Akeno brought a hand to her lips, satisfied as she watched Rias's expression change. "Especially when he agrees."
Rias blushed but did not back down.
"That doesn't mean you can simply decide everything."
"Then let's decide together." Akeno approached the table and placed her fingers on the surface. "A date with me first, then one with you."
"Convenient for you."
Gasper listened to everything without interfering. The discussion might have required his attention at another time, but his mind was far away from there.
'In the anime, Gasper was kidnapped during this arc.'
The memory did not come as fear, but as calculation. The original Gasper was fragile, insecure, and easy to isolate. He was no longer that version.
Now he had bats spread throughout Kuoh, shadow control, Forbidden Balor View, Twilight Flames, regeneration, combat experience, and his own peerage.
'I doubt they can do that to me.'
The thought did not bring relaxation.
'But it's still the Old Satan Faction.'
Kokabiel's barrier had blocked his perception. If Selene had not been reincarnated and if Grayfia had not broken the structure, the tragedy could have been even greater. The organization behind that already knew how to prepare traps.
Gasper had no intention of underestimating enemies just because he knew part of the script.
Rias and Akeno continued arguing, but the tone had changed. The dispute had stopped being a fight for priority and was becoming a negotiation.
"So we'll both go." Rias spoke, trying to turn the decision into something rational. "After the Peace Conference."
Akeno smiled.
"A date with Gasper-kun, you, and me together." She rested her chin on her hand for a moment. "That sounds much better."
"Don't say it like you won." Rias tried to sound firm, but the idea clearly did not bother her.
"I would never say that." Akeno replied with fake sweetness. "Even if I did win."
Rias narrowed her eyes.
"Akeno."
The two turned toward Gasper at the same time, waiting for some reaction. Only then did they realize he was staring at an empty point, far too serious for someone surrounded by a romantic argument.
Rias walked toward him first.
"Gasper-kun?"
Akeno came right after, and her teasing smile was replaced by more careful attention.
"Were you thinking about the conference?"
Gasper blinked once, returning to the present. When he saw the two of them in front of him, he realized the conversation had reached some kind of conclusion without his participation.
"A little."
Rias sat beside him and held his hand.
"Then we have good news." She leaned closer and kissed his cheek before he could ask. "Akeno and I decided that after the conference, the three of us will have a date together."
Akeno sat on his other side and wrapped her arms around him.
"That way you don't have to choose." She brought her lips near his ear, keeping her tone soft. "And we'll make sure you relax after all this work."
Gasper felt the tension decrease as Rias rested her head on his shoulder and Akeno hugged him from the other side. The two of them had interrupted his thoughts at exactly the right moment, even without knowing how much he had been calculating possible attack scenarios.
"That really does sound like good news." Gasper replied, allowing his body to relax against the sofa.
Rias smiled.
"You look like you need this."
"He really does." Akeno kissed the other side of his face. "Our Gasper-kun thinks too much."
Gasper almost replied that thinking too much was the reason they were still alive, but he decided to keep the comment to himself. Everything he could prepare had already been done. Bats were spread out, shadows had been positioned, escape routes planned, and the peerage had been warned.
For now, there was no attack.
There was only Rias and Akeno, warm and close, fighting for space beside him as if the world outside was not about to gather the Three Factions in one place.
Gasper closed his eyes for a few seconds and accepted that moment.
'I've done everything I could.'
His hand lightly squeezed Rias's, while his other rested on Akeno's arm.
'Now all that's left is to wait.'
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