89 Koneko's Conviction

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

"Yo, Ddraig." James said while lying in bed with his head resting on his hands.

"[What's up, Partner?]" Ddraig asked in reply.

"Why does it feel like time skips whenever nothing important happens?" James asked, sounding bored.

"[…]" Ddraig had no idea what to say in response. "[I think you need to find a new hobby. If a month and a half of down time bothers you this much, several millennia of lifespan is going to drive you crazy.]"

"You're probably right." James said nonchalantly. "Good thing I'll have you to fuck with for the rest of my life."

As Ddraig said, a month and a half have passed since the third term started. So far, not much has happened. Rias and her peerage have been training as if they were on a mission. In Rias' case, that rings absolutely true.

"Even though nothing big has happened, at least Rias and her peerage are getting stronger." James said with a wry smile.

"[*Sigh* Just thinking about the Gremory Princess' peerage makes me feel sorry for Skiadrum.]" Ddraig said with a sigh. "[To think his first wielder would use the ability to manipulate shadows like that.]"

"On the bright side, I get to blow off some steam whenever Ize goes too far." James said with a smile. "In fact, I'll probably be getting a call about that idiot in a day or two, if the pattern holds."

Ever Since Issei awakened his [Sacred Gear], [Shadow Claws], and found out that he could make tentacles out of the shadows he manipulates, Training for the Gremory peerage has become much more interesting. Although Rias, Akeno, and Koneko would not call it that. Issei's tentacles are hard to defend against if your ability to sense demonic power is not at an adequate level. So, it has been quite a double-edged sword. On the one hand, their abilities to detect energy have increased dramatically. On the other hand, however, Issei's sexual harassment has gotten a bit out of control. Issei even forgets the rule about not touching Akeno from time to time, due to his lust going out of control.

"[At least the nekoshou has decided to take your advice.]" Ddraig said, wanting to not think of the troubles his kin were going through.

"And her timing was impeccable." James said as he nodded in agreement. "How did she manage to decide the day before we came back from Kyoto?"

"[Instinct can be a powerful weapon.]" Ddraig said in reply.

James could only nod in agreement. Marveling at Koneko's good luck, James could not help thinking back to the day Koneko came to tell him of her decision.

===Flashback===

The day after James, his mother, and his peerage came back from Kyoto, the doorbell rang shortly after lunch. Thinking it weird that No one from Rias or Sona's peerage showed up the day before, James walked to the front door. When he opened the door, standing in front of him were the entirety of both Rias and Sona's peerages.

"Hey, how's everybody doing?" James asked after he recognized the visitors. "How were your winter breaks?"

"Training was fruitful." Rias said proudly.

At the same time, most of her peerage looked at Rias with tired expressions. Koneko was the only exception. Instead, she looked at James with conviction in her eyes.

'I guess she made her decision.' James thought after making eye contact with the young nekoshou.

"Everything has gone well." Sona said calmly. Then, her tone turned sarcastic. "Not as good as yours, though."

"Well, my winter break did go pretty amazingly." James said while smiling brightly. "Anyway, why don't you all come in. Oh, and Ize, I think you should keep your eyes to yourself while you're here."

Issei shivered a little when he saw the warning in James' gaze. He already knew that the older boy was unhappy with his behavior. He was not looking forward to spending the rest of today and tomorrow unconscious for letting his eyes wander.

After the short conversation at the front door, James led the group to the living room. Already inside were Leona, Mizore, Moka, and Shion chatting and drinking tea. As everyone entered, Leona was the first to greet the new arrivals.

"Hey, long time no see everyone." Leona said with a smile. "Oh, and Issei is here without any bruises on his face."

"That's only because James-Senpai has been gone for the last few days." Yuuto said with his usual smile.

"Hey, Kiba, whose side are you on?" Issei asked in irritation. "We're supposed to be on the same team, right?"

Before Kiba could respond, James [Flash Stepped] away from the group he led into the living room. When he reappeared, he was standing on the other side of the group of four residents drinking tea. Then, he wrapped his arms around himself defensively before speaking.

"You two play for the same team now?" James asked with mock fear in his tone. "I'll congratulate you on your new relationship, but I'll have to distance myself from you two a bit. I have nothing against homosexuality, but Issei's aggressive sexual nature makes me uncomfortable."

With James statement, the atmosphere in the room froze. At the same time, both Yuuto and Issei's eyebrows were twitching furiously. Almost everyone else was trying their best not to laugh out loud at James' joke. The only exception was one of Sona's new recruits. Sona's new [Knight], Meguri Tomoe, a beautiful girl with brown eyes and shoulder-length reddish-brown hair with bangs that cover her forehead and a strand of hair that sticks up on the top of her head, was thinking deeply about a certain prospect.

'I wonder who's the giver and who's the receiver.' Tomoe thought to herself.

At the same time, Yuuto and Issei felt a chill down their spines. Looking around to find its source, they noticed that Tomoe had a nosebleed. Eventually everyone else noticed Yuuto and Issei's peculiarities. When they did, they also saw Tomoe's state. Seeing her state, the girls of the Student Council could only sigh.

"I'm really sorry she's acting like this." Sona's new [Bishop], Hanakai Momo, apologized for her friend.

"She's kind of a fujoshi with a fetish for younger boys." Sona's [Rook], Yura Tsubasa] said, explaining for those who are unaware of her friend's nature.

Then, Momo, a beautiful girl with long back-length white hair and blue-green eyes, and Tsubasa, a tall androgynous, tomboy with shoulder-length blue hair and eyes. bowed simultaneously and spoke. "Please find it in your hearts to forgive her."

Eventually, everyone decided whatever Tomoe was into was her business. Then, Yuuto decided replying to what James said was a bad idea. Acting as if James had said nothing at all, Yuuto turned to Issei and replied to the last thing he said.

"Of course, we're on the same team." Yuuto said with a smile. "We're both members of Rias' peerage. And since Rias was the one who asked James-Senpai to kick your ass, I'm not going against you, right?"

"Ugh..." Issei grunted, having nothing to argue back with.

"Anyway, as much fun as this is, I'm sure you all aren't here just to hear me start making fun of people." James said with a smile. "I can keep going if that's what you're here for, though."

"Actually, we all just came back from the Underworld." Sona said while she adjusted her glasses. "We just wanted to say hi before going home."

"You must have really missed James after a week, huh, Sona?" Leona said, bringing a blush to the Student Council VP.

That led to a round of laughter. After the laughter died down, Rias was the next to speak.

"We came to support Koneko." rias said with a smile. "It seems she's made a big decision, but she wouldn't tell us what it was until she was able to tell you about it, James."

It was easy to see that Rias was a little jealous that Koneko had connected more with James than herself. However, more than anything she was happy that Koneko was taking a step forward. Even though Koneko had not told her what she wanted to tell James, James keeps Rias updated about any progress he makes in regard to the traumas the members of her peerage face.

Hearing Rias' comment, James raised an eyebrow and looked at the little cat girl.

"So, you've made your decision, huh?" James asked with a smile.

In response, Koneko nodded with determination in her eyes. Then, she spoke.

"I want to be strong enough to get answers from my Onee-Sama the next time I see her." Koneko said firmly.

"That's good to hear." James said with his smile widening. "And it just so happens that I know someone who could help. I'm not sure if she will, though."

Koneko's eyes widened when she heard what James had to say. Before she could ask what he meant, James turned to Shion and asked.

"Shion, could you ask Shuna to come down here?"

Shion nodded before making her way upstairs to call for Shuna. Then, James turned back to Koneko and spoke once again.

"I'll introduce the two of you." James said with a stern expression. "It will be up to you to convince her to teach you, though."

===Flashback End===

"Hahaha~!" James laughed out loud as he remembered the looks on Yuuto and Issei's faces when he made his joke. Especially Issei's.

"[Either way, that girl really is lucky.]" Ddraig said while shaking his head. "[The Oni Princess was eager to help, even if it was just to show off.]"

"True. It was obvious she cared more about appealing to me than helping Koneko at first." James agreed with a nod. "However, little by little, she's been getting more comfortable and dropping her guard. In turn, her mask has been slipping off more and more."

"[Agreed.]" Ddraig said with a nod. "[She's not what I expected without her mask, though.]"

"Yeah, I know what you mean." James said with a wry smile. "I thought she would be more manipulative or have control issues. But she's... kinda childish."

As it turned out, Shuna's façade was not to hide anything like princess syndrome, a manipulative personality, a personality that needs absolute control of everything and everyone around her. Instead, her mask hid the cute, naïve, childish side that Shuna felt was a weakness. When James first saw that side of her, she got upset when Moka took the last strawberry on a cake. Then, Shuna pouted and puffed her cheeks out like a chipmunk, James was unsure if he had been placed under an illusion or not when he saw it.

"[Well, it's better than anything we were expecting to see.]" Ddraig said with a shrug. "[So, don't complain.]"

"I'm not complaining." James said, also with a shrug. Then he smiled wryly again. "But it's hard to keep myself from patting her on the head when she acts like that."

As a matter of fact, James has found himself patting Shuna on the head involuntarily more than once. When it happens, Shuna smiles blissfully first, and her mask begins to slip further. However, when she comes to her senses, she swipes James' hand off her head, then she fixes her mask. However, it is clear that her hold on it loosens each time.

"Well, whatever." James shrugged once again. "At this point I've seen all I need to make my decision."

"I agree.]" Ddraig replied. "[Anyway, since you have some free time, I think you should use it to dive into the [Boosted Gear] and confront my former hosts again.]"

"Ugh, really?" James said, clearly unwilling to comply. "You know I hate dealing with all those angry mother fuckers, right?"

"[I know.]" Ddraig replied. "[But I'm certain you'll need that power if you want to complete your plans for the next summer break.]"

"I know, I know." James said as his shoulders slumped. "I really hate dealing with them, though."