Blake let out a quiet sigh as he scanned Kiba Yuuto's unconscious body. He didn't feel much satisfaction—it had been a one-sided fight, after all. But at least it sent a clear message.
He turned his attention toward a particular spot to his right. His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable sharpness.
"You can come out now, Rias-senpai. Senjutsu makes it impossible to hide, no matter how well you mask your presence with barriers or controlled breathing."
A brief silence followed before three figures emerged from the shadows.
At the forefront stood Rias Gremory, her long crimson hair swaying gracefully as she stepped forward. Beside her, Akeno Himejima, the raven-haired beauty with a teasing smile, watched him with clear amusement. Their presence was imposing, yet neither carried hostility.
"So you noticed us, after all," Rias admitted, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Senjutsu truly is troublesome."
"Ara, ara~ Blake-kun, you really are sharp," Akeno chimed in, her voice dripping with playful intrigue.
Blake's gaze didn't soften. "Rias-senpai, Akeno-senpai, care to explain why you've been stalking me? And why Kiba Yuuto just attacked me?" His tone was cold, cutting straight to the point.
Rias sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're misunderstanding. The stray devils you encountered before were our targets. You just happened to be there."
Blake's expression didn't change. "And this time?"
She hesitated, her confidence faltering slightly.
"...That was our mistake," Akeno admitted, stepping in with a disarming smile. "We were curious about your strength, so we let Kiba-kun test you. But I suppose that was unnecessary."
Blake remained silent, waiting.
Seeing that he wasn't going to let it go so easily, Rias exhaled softly and lowered her head. "I apologize. It was unfair of us."
An apology. From Rias Gremory herself.
For a moment, Blake considered dragging it out, but he wasn't the petty type. He'd already made his point.
"Fine. I'll let it slide. I've already vented my frustration, anyway."
His gaze flickered toward Kiba's unmoving form, and Rias and Akeno followed his line of sight.
The two girls exchanged glances—half sympathy, half amusement. The usually composed Kiba had been utterly humiliated, taken out not by strength or skill, but by a stench bomb.
"I didn't expect you to fight like that," Rias murmured, shaking her head.
"It wasn't a real fight," Blake replied simply. "If I'd gone all out, he wouldn't be standing at all."
Akeno chuckled. "I think Kiba-kun would've preferred an actual injury to... this."
"Anyway, I'm heading home." Blake adjusted the strap of his sword bag. "See you tomorrow, Rias-senpai. Himejima-senpai."
He turned to leave, but Rias called out, "Blake-kun, are you interested in joining the Occult Research Club?"
He paused for a second. "I'll think about it." And with that, he walked off, disappearing beyond the school gates.
Rias let out a thoughtful sigh, watching him go.
"He really is an enigma," she mused.
"And that's what makes him so interesting," Akeno added, her eyes glinting.
Rias crossed her arms, a small smile tugging at her lips. "The more I see him, the more I want him."
Akeno raised an eyebrow. "Ara~ Is that so?"
But before Rias could reply, Kiba stirred on the ground, his face twitching in discomfort.
"Time to wake him up," Akeno said, conjuring a small magic circle. A moment later—
A wave of cold water hit Kiba's face.
"Ahhh! It reeks!" Kiba shot up like a bolt of lightning, his expression twisting in horror. Without another word, he vanished in a blur, his knightly composure thrown out the window as he bolted to find a way to get rid of the stench.
Both girls burst into laughter. Whatever image they'd had of Blake as an emotionless fighter had been completely shattered. He had a mischievous side. And they liked it.
Far from Kuoh Academy, atop a towering mountain bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, a young girl stood at the edge of a rocky cliff. Her silver dress, adorned with delicate floral embroidery, fluttered in the crisp evening breeze.
She was breathtakingly beautiful—porcelain skin, soft black hair cascading down her back, and luminous moonlit eyes that carried both wisdom and quiet melancholy.
As the sea of clouds below shifted, reflecting the crimson and amber glow of the sun, a deep, confident voice broke the silence.
"Lia, admiring the sunset again?"
A man in a dark green robe strode forward, his presence commanding.
Lia Sliva didn't turn to face him. Her serene expression hardened. "Cao Cao, I told you not to approach me. And don't use my name. We're not friends."
A smirk tugged at the man's lips, but there was no warmth behind it. "So cold, as always. But you can't deny it—your family's decisions aren't something you can resist alone."
His words lingered in the air like an unspoken threat.
Lia remained silent, but the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her true feelings.
Cao Cao chuckled softly. "One day, you'll see things differently."
With one last glance at her delicate, untouchable figure, he turned and walked away.
Lia exhaled slowly, as if trying to rid herself of his presence. Her hands clenched at the fabric of her dress.
Her thoughts drifted elsewhere. To someone far away.
"Brother..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
A single name echoed in her mind.
Her delicate cheeks flushed the faintest shade of pink, her normally icy gaze softening.
She had a vow to keep. No matter what it took—
She would make sure he lived a peaceful and happy life.
And under the fading golden sky, she stood unmoving, a lone figure against the vast horizon—determined, unwavering.