Shopping turned out to be a new challenge for Shade. He didn't know how or why, but they had visited the same clothing section six times in a row, with Asia undecided about what to choose.
In the end, they had to go to another store only to return to the same one — something he didn't fully understand, but Asia was happy, and that was what mattered.
It took them nearly a full day, but Asia now had a complete wardrobe.
That night, Shade was preparing dinner when he received a call from Azazel.
"What do you want?"
"Wow, that's how you greet your boss? What an ungrateful brat."
"What do you want?" Shade repeated.
"It's simple. Your long-term mission. You'll be at Kuoh Academy temporarily until I sort some things out."
"What kind of things?" Shade asked.
"Lately, Kokabiel has been acting strangely. I suspect he's planning something involving Kuoh. Or more specifically, the heiresses."
"So I..."
"Try to find out what he's planning. I've already informed the Crimson Manual about this, so she's surely told her sister already."
"And when will I go?"
"Well, you'll go. Asia will go too. And as for when — tomorrow. I've sent your school uniforms."
"Azazel, you're a —" Shade didn't finish because Azazel ended the call.
"I found this in the living room!" said Asia, holding two different packaged outfits with the Kuoh Academy emblem.
Shade looked at Asia.
"Hey, Asia, would you like to come to school with me? That bird sorted some things out, and now we have to go," he explained.
"Bird?" Asia asked, confused.
"Azazel."
"Oh... that sounds good," said Asia.
"Good, now let's have dinner. I've finished the curry."
Asia and Shade had dinner, and after cleaning up, they talked a little before going to sleep.
---
The next morning, Shade looked at the students who were staring at him intently. For some reason, he was in his second year instead of the third year where he should be.
What caught his attention the most was a trio of boys who didn't hide their looks with not-so-holy intentions toward Asia — who, by the way, looked incredible in her uniform.
"Well, please introduce yourselves," indicated the teacher.
Shade stepped forward.
"Hello, I'm Shade Smith. Nice to meet you," said Shade. Then it was Asia's turn.
"I'm Asia Argento. I hope we get along," she said with a small bow.
The class of teenagers got a little excited.
"Good, please take your seats."
Shade and Asia sat in chairs in different rows.
Shade paid little attention to the class, really just counting the minutes until he could go home.
A few hours passed until lunchtime, when a blonde boy arrived in the classroom. From the girls' reactions and what he overheard, it was Kiba Yuuto.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Shade Smith and Asia Argento, President Sona asked me to come get you," said Kiba, making Shade nod.
I thought they'd take longer, Shade thought, standing up.
Following Kiba, they left the main building and headed toward an old wooden building.
"Aren't we supposed to go to the student council room?" he asked.
"This place is more suitable for meeting and talking."
"You're quite polite for a demon," said Shade bluntly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You don't even react. You're a bit boring."
The conversation stopped when they arrived in front of the double wooden doors, which opened.
Shade raised an eyebrow at the expensive furniture, a chandelier illuminating everything with a warm yellowish light.
In the center were two girls. The first was a red-haired woman with blue eyes, of dazzling beauty, wearing the Kuoh female uniform.
Beside her was another woman. Though not as voluptuous, she possessed an analytical and cold presence, as if standing before someone critical. Her hair was short, with purple eyes and glasses.
Beside them, respectively, were two beautiful girls with exuberant bodies for teenagers.
Behind them were several girls on the bespectacled girl's side, and on the redhead's side stood the dazzling girl and a short albino girl with an apathetic gaze.
"President Rias, I've brought them as you requested," said Kiba respectfully, positioning himself next to the albino girl.
Rias, the redhead, nodded. Her eyes were calm as she analyzed Shade, who looked a bit bored.
"Shade and Asia, correct?"
"Yes, you must be Rias Gremory," he said, then looked at the other girl. "And you're Sona Sitri."
"Sit down. It's better to talk comfortably," Rias offered.
Shade sat on the sofa facing both demon girls. Asia sat beside him, a little nervous about being surrounded by so many people.
"I'll get straight to the point," said Sona, adjusting her glasses.
"What are your intentions in being sent here by the leader of the fallen angels?" asked Sona.
"Wow, that is getting straight to the point," he commented, slightly amused. "But to answer your question... well, it's a mission."
"What kind of mission?" asked Rias.
"A surveillance one. To be more specific, it's simply to keep watch. My boss informed me that something troublesome is starting to move to achieve something — he didn't tell me what, so don't ask. To avoid problems, he decided it would be best to be here to stop anything that involves it," he explained.
"And do you expect us to believe you so easily?" asked Sona. "After all, fallen angels are known for their deceit."
"It's ironic coming from a demon, but hey, everyone uses what works," he said, throwing the comment back at Sona, who reacted a bit but kept her face impassive.
"Anyway, my boss doesn't want this to escalate and create a conflict between the fallen and the demons, so that's why he asked me to be here."
"And what about your companion?" asked Rias.
"Asia?" said Shade. "Well, she's my friend, and I take care of her, so she'll just observe along with me. Her affairs are hers, and ours are ours. That's all. It'll simply be as if we weren't here."
"You speak as if you take for granted that you can do whatever you want in my territory," said Rias.
"Well, technically, yes. No offense, but you're weak. If I wanted to do something, I could, and you wouldn't be able to do anything to stop me."
"Is that a threat?"
"No. That's an irrefutable fact. Anyway, if that was all to talk about, we'll take our leave," said Shade with cold calm.
Asia looked at Shade and stood up, following him without saying a word.
"See you around, demons." With that, Shade left the room.
After leaving, Shade looked at Asia.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Yes... it's just that being surrounded by so many people makes me a little nervous," said Asia.
"Don't worry. I know — why don't we go to a karaoke? I've heard they're great places to relieve stress."
"That sounds good, though... what's a karaoke?"