Dozens of minutes later, having traversed the spatial tunnel, the train reached its final station. The first thing Rias did upon finally returning home was stare wide-eyed at the envelope her maid presented.
"Eh? We have to attend a gathering tonight??"
Undoubtedly, what that certain Phoenix girl mentioned on the train was absolutely true. Tonight indeed featured a gathering of the 72 Pillars' younger generation.
This wasn't particularly surprising. Until the tripartite talks, both the demon realm and heaven had essentially maintained passive hostility—meaning while they wouldn't openly wage war with blades drawn, if they happened to encounter each other, peaceful coexistence was absolutely impossible.
After all, even the most passive hostility remained hostility.
Precisely because of this, though the demon realm's 72 Pillars privately harbored various ulterior motives, at least on the surface they still appeared united as iron.
Similar to one super-massive extended family. The 72 Pillars were like 72 branch families. Between branch families, they frequently used Rating Games for younger generation sparring matches and competitions.
So naturally, gatherings were commonplace.
Except wasn't this gathering arriving way too suddenly??
"Why is everything so last-minute??"
"Not sure. It's not Mom's fault, okay..."
Inside the castle dining room, watching her daughter nearly bristle like an angry cat, Venelana beside her lightly tapped index fingers together while pretending to admire the scenery.
"After all, Mom hasn't returned home these past days—staying entirely with you all at Rias's place. So I don't really know the demon realm's current situation either~"
"..."
That's the biggest problem!
You don't even know what's happening at home—whose fault could it be if not yours??
Rias desperately wanted to say this. But considering she remained her mother regardless, she held back.
"So what's the actual problem here?"
Bokue didn't quite understand.
Attend a party, so attend a party. If normal methods wouldn't make it in time, he'd just teleport everyone there directly. What's the big deal?
"Of course there's a problem..."
Rias pressed her temples in distress.
She'd just returned from Itogami Island. Though currently only morning with a full half-day remaining until evening, attending gatherings required advance preparation!
For example—ironing formal wear, preparing hairstyles, applying makeup, spraying perfume, et cetera...
Even skipping all those various tedious makeup and hairstyling processes, just throwing on formal wear to attend the gathering—time still seemed insufficient.
After all, her last demon realm gathering attendance was nearly half a year ago. Back during that Phoenix household visit to dissolve the engagement.
Leaving gowns in closets for half a year before pulling them out to wear—without washing and airing them out first, they'd definitely carry musty odors.
If someone discovered it at the gathering? The Gremory family's face would be completely lost!
"If it's just a clothing issue..."
Though Bokue didn't consider this much of a problem, seeing Rias already so anxious, he decided to find a solution.
"Anyway, Rias, go fetch your formal wear first. Afterward, leave handling it to me."
"Eh? You have a method?"
As if infected by the young man's calm tone, Rias—who'd been practically on fire the previous second—froze slightly, reflexively calming down somewhat.
Bokue shrugged.
"Obviously. Just bring it over."
"Mm, alright then. I'll go get it now..."
Just as Rias turned to head upstairs for her formal wear—
Venelana suddenly spoke again.
"Right, I just remembered. Since that's the case, everyone should go upstairs together to get formal wear."
Eh?
Completely baffled by what the beautiful woman meant, momentarily every girl's gaze in the dining room landed on Venelana.
What did "everyone go upstairs together to get formal wear" mean? Was this some online game activity reward pickup location where just showing up earned infinite refreshing sets?
"Mm, that's why I said I just remembered~"
Venelana smiled while tilting her head.
"Actually, during everyone's summer stay here, it suddenly occurred to me that you'll all most likely become family eventually. When attending future gatherings, you might need them. So I had formal wear custom-made for each of you—all placed in rooms you previously stayed in."
"Everyone can head upstairs now to check your room closets. Everyone else should each have a set. Try them on in your rooms first. As for Nagisa-san, Kanon-san, and Saeko-san who weren't here during summer—you can use others' styles and have Bokue alter... help you figure something out."
The beautiful woman nearly let something slip.
Venelana had originally wanted to say "have Bokue help alter them," but that would expose the fact she'd previously had the young man help modify her clothing. So she quickly changed her phrasing to "figure something out."
But for the assembled girls, that wasn't remotely the point.
None of them expected to suddenly attend a gathering on their very first demon realm day—yet coincidentally, Venelana had happened to prepare formal wear for every single one of them.
What incredible timing, right?
Though Lady Venelana's expression didn't seem like joking.
"Mm, in that case..."
"We'll head up first..."
"Th-thank you, Lady Venelana."
"Hehe, no need to be so formal. Just call me Auntie."
As the girls' voices gradually faded into the distance, Venelana followed them upstairs.
Thus, the previously lively dining room suddenly contained only Bokue—and a certain Phoenix girl.
"...Aren't you going up to pick something you like too?"
Bokue turned toward Ravel, still pretending to admire scenery nearby, actively initiating conversation.
"Though Lady Venelana probably didn't anticipate preparing anything for you, you could pick a style you like. I'll help make it suit your measurements."
"Mm... I don't need that."
Probably not expecting the young man to actively address her, Ravel froze momentarily while shaking her head somewhat stiffly.
"Though I also only received notice last night, I mentioned my brother will come pick me up. So when we meet tonight, he'll bring my formal wear from home. I can just hide in the carriage alone to change."
"I see."
Bokue raised an eyebrow.
He wasn't desperate to play tailor. Since the girl said no thanks, no need to insist.
"Speaking of which..."
Confirming no one else remained present, Ravel stammered while speaking again.
"These past days, I don't think I've seen you at cla—at school."
"Mm, naturally."
Bokue glanced at her strangely.
"Because these past two weeks, I've barely attended school at all."
"Eh?"
Ravel's mind blanked.
"Th-then you're not going to school?"
"...What reason is there to attend school?"
After brief consideration, Bokue provided that answer.
The golden twin-drill Phoenix girl fell silent immediately.
Seems... that's absolutely right. Completely irrefutable...
But if he wasn't attending school at all, what was the point of her using family connections to transfer into his class??
We can't even meet!
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