Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Occult Research Club the next day, casting warm patches of light across the floor.
The scent of black tea and pastries hung in the air. Every trace of last night's celebration had already been cleaned away, restoring the clubroom to its usual immaculate state.
Rias sat on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand. A faint smile graced her face, but there was something behind it that Genichi couldn't quite understand.
The door opened.
Sona stood in the doorway, dressed in her dark school uniform with her glasses perched neatly on her nose. Her expression was calm, but complicated emotions flickered in her eyes.
None of her peerage accompanied her. She had come alone.
"Sona?"
Rias set down her teacup and raised an eyebrow.
"You're here early."
Sona didn't answer her. Instead, her gaze went straight to Genichi, who was standing beside the window.
"Have you decided what you're going to do about your situation?"
She went straight to the point without bothering with pleasantries.
Genichi looked at her and nodded.
"Satan Lucifer already told Rias, and Rias told me," Sona continued after a brief silence. "If you need it, the Sitri family can offer you protection as well."
The clubroom fell silent for a moment.
Rias set down her teacup and shot her best friend an irritated look.
"You still haven't given up? You're still trying to poach him from me?"
Sona regarded her calmly.
"Rias, do you honestly believe you can protect Genichi all by yourself?"
Rias's smile stiffened.
She opened her mouth, wanting to argue. She wanted to say, "Of course I can." She wanted to declare that the Gremory family was every bit as powerful as the Sitri family.
But the words refused to come.
Because Sona was right.
She couldn't protect Genichi on her own.
The Gremory family might be powerful, but there were too many potential enemies—the Angels, the Fallen Angels, and even the families within the Devil faction who didn't want Genichi to grow any stronger.
As the heiress of the Gremory family who had yet to formally inherit her house, there was only so much Rias could do.
She sighed.
"No, I can't."
The corners of Sona's lips lifted slightly.
"It seems even you understand that. In that case, don't stand in my way."
Rias glared at her, practically grinding her teeth.
Her best friend had always been like this. Ever since they were children, whenever Rias conceded defeat, Sona would make that exact expression. That smug I won look never failed to infuriate her.
Seeing Rias rendered speechless, Sona couldn't suppress a smile.
It was subtle, but it carried the unmistakable satisfaction of a victor.
She walked over to Genichi and looked up at him.
"Then what is your decision?"
Genichi met her gaze and remained silent for a moment.
"Thank you, Kaichou. If I ever need help, I'll be sure to ask."
Sona's smile froze for an instant.
He had neither rejected nor accepted her offer.
Somehow, that answer bothered her even more than a direct refusal would have.
If he had rejected her, she could have gotten angry. She could have felt indignant. She could have told herself that Genichi simply didn't appreciate what she was offering.
But he hadn't refused her. He had only said he would ask if he needed help.
It meant he had accepted her goodwill, but not her.
He was willing to seek the Sitri family's assistance if the need arose, yet he had no intention of becoming one of them.
An indescribable emotion welled up inside Sona. It felt as though something were lodged in her chest—something she could neither swallow nor spit out.
Her fingers curled slightly, her nails digging into her palms.
Even so, a perfectly composed smile remained on her face, betraying none of her inner turmoil.
"All right," she replied calmly. "Then it's settled."
Rias watched her, the corners of her lips curling upward.
She knew her best friend far too well.
They had grown up together, competed against each other, and become the respective heiresses of their families together.
No matter how calm Sona's expression appeared, she could never fool Rias.
Rias rose and walked over to her.
Sona turned toward her, confusion entering her eyes.
Rias leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words that only the two of them could hear.
Sona's expression shifted from confusion to surprise, then disbelief.
Finally, her face turned bright red.
The blush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, then all the way down her neck.
Her normally calm and composed face now resembled a ripe apple.
She opened her mouth to speak, only to discover that no words would come out.
Then she glared fiercely at Rias.
Her gaze was filled with embarrassment, indignation, and a silent accusation: How could you do something like that?
Rias smiled sweetly back at her. Her expression contained smugness, mischievous delight, and the satisfaction of having claimed a genuine victory.
Sona abruptly turned and walked away.
Her steps were uncharacteristically hurried, making her seem like an entirely different person from the perpetually poised Student Council President.
When she reached the doorway, she stumbled and nearly fell. She managed to catch herself against the doorframe, then quickened her pace and disappeared down the hallway.
Silence returned to the clubroom.
Genichi looked at Rias, his eyes filled with confusion.
"What did you say to Sona?"
Rias smiled mischievously.
"I'm not telling you."
The corner of Genichi's eye twitched.
When had this young heiress learned to act like Akeno?
"Still…"
Rias stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his.
"I was very pleased with your answer."
Genichi looked at her.
"You didn't immediately accept Sona's protection," Rias continued softly. "You gave her hope without making her any promises. That way, she still has something to cling to and won't give up completely, but she also won't be hurt because you rejected her too bluntly."
Genichi fell silent.
"Did you plan this?"
Rias blinked innocently.
"Plan what?"
Genichi stared at her.
Rias finally laughed, mischief gleaming in her eyes.
"All right, I admit it. I did it on purpose. Sona is the kind of person who only becomes more determined the more you reject her. But if you leave her with even the slightest hope, she'll start second-guessing herself. She won't know whether to move forward or back away."
Genichi sighed, conceding her point.
Meanwhile, Sona hurried down the corridor toward the Student Council room.
Her steps were still slightly unsteady. Her heart was still racing, and her face remained flushed.
Rias's words continued to echo in her ears.
"Genichi spent the night at my place yesterday, you know. If you want, I can help you too."
Sona gritted her teeth.
Rias—the girl who had competed with her since childhood, the rival with whom she had always remained evenly matched—had actually beaten her to it.
She was frustrated, but even more than that, she was mortified.
She remembered how she had acted in front of Genichi moments earlier. She remembered the confidence with which she had declared that the Sitri family could protect him.
In Rias's eyes, she must have looked like a complete joke.
Sona stopped and took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm herself.
She was Sona, heiress to the Sitri family.
She couldn't allow something like this to throw her into disarray.
Yet her face remained hot, and her heart continued pounding.
Biting her lip, she resumed walking.
After entering the Student Council room, she closed the door and leaned against it, shutting her eyes.
"Just you wait, Rias," she muttered.
(End of Chapter)
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