Rias' Tea

Other than going to a movie with Aika, Kento had to visit Kyoto once again. But that was set for the weekend. 

For now, he had to attend classes.

Or so would have been the case if he was not a member of the student council and also a good friend of the Occult Research Club's president.

The school being under their management gave some 'benefits' to the people that were with the heiresses. 

Like skipping classes.

"This is some really nice tea." Kento was impressed by the tea brewing skills of Rias.

"Akeno is better at it." Rias said. "But since she is out on a mission with the others, I decided to try making it."

Kento was a big fan of beverages, especially tea and coffee. And to find someone who could make such delicious tea –he was quite happy about it.

Seeing that Kento enjoyed her tea, Rias was pleased.

"Kento." She looked at him, a little sad. "I am sorry."

Kento raised an eyebrow. "For?"

"For the incident with Riser." She sounded disappointed. "I am sorry that you had to listen to him insulting your parents and I am sorry that I didn't take your side immediately."

This made Kento's expression soften. "It is alright." He said. "I know that you did not want me to get into a bigger trouble by fighting Riser. But I also couldn't let him insult my mother."

Rias nodded as she took a seat next to him. "The last few days have been quite stressful for me."

Kento looked at her, somewhat worried.

Kento's first impression of Rias was horrible.

She was a girl that was too proud of her position. 

And the incident with Issei seemed like a set up to him. 

However…

After getting rid of the fallens, Kento understood that she was a girl capable of owning up to her mistakes.

She was capable of apologizing.

And the whole Riser fiasco made him realize that she had reasons to justify her actions.

"How is the situation at home?"

While from a neutral stand, her actions were quite manipulative and selfish.

However, Kento knew that he wasn't a saint either. If he was forced to give up on all his goals and dreams for someone else, he would have also used every possible trick and plan he could make to get out of that situation.

Even if it was by sacrificing someone.

Rias in this regard was much better off than him.

She still cared about her peerage and from what Akeno told him, he knew that Riser wanted all the girls in Rias' peerage. But Rias was adamant of sacrificing herself to protect the other girls.

'She is not a bad girl.' He thought. 'She is just lost.'

Rias closed her palm into a fist.

"They want me to marry Riser at any cost." She said. "As it would be beneficial for both the familias."

Kento sighed. 

Political marriages were not uncommon in the noble families or the people of the upper echelon.

Kento didn't have words to comfort her. He knew that her situation was one where nothing he said would help her.

"Is there no way to prevent it?" He asked. 

Rias shook her head. "The only possibility is if I win in a rating game against Riser. Which was decided after a lot of arguments at home."

"What is a rating game?"

This was a new term for Kento.

"Oh." Rias looked and Kento and smiled a little. "It is a game or competition between devil peerages to see whose peerage is stronger." She explained. "We devils consider it to be a big thing as strength directly relates to power in the devil world –be it economic power or political. So, winning any rating game is a big thing."

Kento raised an eyebrow. "And isn't that a good thing? If you win you can gain your freedom."

Rias shook her head. "Problem is that we are not strong enough for that."

This confused Kento. He knew that Riser's immortality could be a little tricky to deal with, but his peerage was not something that one had to worry about.

'Their stats were not that good.'

"I don't think they were that strong?" Kento asked. "What's the real issue?"

"Riser is from the devil pillar of Phenex." Rias explained. "Phenex pillar devils are said to be immortal as they have a bloodline ability that gives them an unexplainable amount of regeneration. Simply put, they are near unkillable."

Kento did not realize previously that Rias did not know of the Phenex weakness. But it also made sense.

'No one would be going around shouting about their bloodline weakness.'

"But… Even if that was not an issue." Rias showed a sad smile. "Rating games are played against peerages. So, to put it simply… We lack the numbers."

"Oh…"

"Riser has a full peerage. And while I am confident that we can win against his members in an one on one battle, in a teamfight they easily have the upper hand because of their numbers." She explained. "And you must have seen the blonde girl in noble clothes that was with Riser."

Kento nodded. "I did. She was the most notable out of them all."

Rias nodded. "She is his younger sister, Ravel Phenex."

"He has his sister in his peerage?" Kento was quite surprised. 

He saw the girl with him, but he honestly thought that she just came with him to give Rias a visit. Considering all the girls were in Riser's harem –which he figured by his antics around them– he did not think of Ravel to be in his peerage.

"Riser… Is an unexplainable person." She frowned. "Other than the fact that he is a pervert."

Kento could see that.

"But that is besides the point for now." She sighed. "Ravel Phenex is a genius strategist. She is known for her intellect and for her strategies that allowed Riser to win quite a few rating games."

'She did have skills that helped her with it.' Kento recalled. "How many have you guys won?"

At Kento's question, Rias' expression fell.

"None." She answered.

"Pardon?" 

"We have never won a rating game, because we have never played any." Rias answered, shocking Kento.

"This might indeed be a problem." Kento shook his head. 

"I will resist till I can." Rias smiled. "So, thank you for everything, Kento."

This made Kento frown. "Why are you saying it as if it's a goodbye?"

She closed her eyes. "Just preparing for the worst."

It didn't sit right with Kento that she was made to marry Riser. He didn't care that much about her life, but Riser was someone that he despised from the moment they met.

"Can't you get some substitutes for the match?"

Rias shook her head at his question. "That is against the rules. At least unless Riser agrees to it… Which he had made clear that he had no intention to allow."

Kento knew that no one would want to give up on their advantage. 'Is there anything I can do about this?'

He did not want to. 

And he was not going to if it would affect him negatively.

'But I just can't stand that chicken haired guy.' He frowned. 'I don't want to see him win in any way.'

'And if it helps Rias on the way, why not?'

…

…

[Kyoto]

[Yasaka Shrine]

Yasaka was a person that most people feared and respected. And as the leader of the West Youkai Faction –she always kept her head held high.

But there were instances when even she had to bow her head. Instances when her authority and power meant nothing.

And this was one of such times.

"What is your impression of him, Yasaka?"

The sheer pressure that the man emitted was something that made even the most elite of Yasaka's guards sweat.

"He… is not with any of the Christian factions." Yasaka answered. "Lady Inari also said the same and I did not sense any evil energy from him."

"Is he strong?" He asked, making Yasaka shake her head.

"Compared to the beings that are around us… He is merely a fly." She answered honestly. "However… He said that he only awakened his powers recently. And from what lady Inari said, we know that he is quite versatile with his skills."

"She said that he possesses the ability to manipulate light and a weapon that repels unholy beings." The man recalled. "He might be a worthy choice."

Yasaka knew that Inari wanted her to make the god accept Kento. She knew how difficult it was to find someone with no direct connection to the major factions and one who had a neutral stance.

'Especially when it was a person with high potential.'

"Very well. Call him as soon as possible." The man smiled. "I will give him a chance. After all… We do need someone with potential."

Yasaka bowed. "As you wish, Lord Susanoo."

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