— — — — — —
The next day, Ryo received intelligence from Azazel.
"The angels agreed to come to the meeting? With no conditions at all?"
Ryo looked at the letter in his hand, his expression turning rather strange.
Should he call the angels generous… or just dense?
This was clearly a case of fallen angels teaming up with demons to pressure the angels into compliance, yet they didn't even ask for compensation and simply agreed?
If Ryo were the one in charge of the angel side, he would at least act reluctant on the surface and use the opportunity to bargain, squeezing some benefits out of the demons and fallen angels to offset their losses.
But Michael?
He just agreed?
Heaven really was doomed.
Ryo shook his head, then weighed the envelope in his hand. It felt like something else was inside, so he pulled it out.
"Hiss!"
His eyes widened slightly as he stared at the photo, clearly a top-tier beauty.
"So this is what Gabriel looks like? That face? That body? That's seriously awesome…"
'Azazel really understands me,' Ryo thought, while quickly stuffing the photo into his Gift Card.
Rias and Akeno were about to arrive. This kind of thing had to be hidden carefully. It absolutely couldn't be discovered.
On that front, Ryo had plenty of experience. He'd often sneaked around behind Kurousagi's back before.
But at that moment, he sensed a disdainful gaze.
He looked up slightly and saw the black cat sleeping beside his floor bedding.
It was Kuroka, who had been staying near him in pet form.
Right now, Kuroka was staring at him with obvious disgust.
"You got a problem?" Ryo raised an eyebrow.
"Meow~~ (pervert.)" Kuroka played dumb and let out a soft meow.
Anyway, Ryo couldn't understand cat language. What was she afraid of?
Just then, a quiet voice spoke.
"I can understand all languages."
Kuroka froze.
He actually had that kind of cheating ability?
Seeing this, Ryo's lips curled slightly. "So, do you want me to pet you like this, or do you want to turn into human form and let me pet you? Choose one. Five seconds. Four, three…"
Kuroka licked her paw seductively, then her body gradually stretched and enlarged. Before long, a golden-eyed cat girl with messy black hair and a slender, curvy figure lay beside Ryo, slipping directly under the covers.
"Meow~~"
She deliberately called out, just like in cat form, lying across his lap without caring about her appearance at all.
"You…"
Ryo sucked in a breath, completely helpless against this shameless black cat.
Last night she had crawled into his blanket, letting him see her human form for the first time, and even invited him to "discuss" the reproductive issues of the nekomata race.
Now she was pulling the same move again. He really couldn't handle it.
"I've got things to do today, so I'll just pet you like this."
He rubbed the cat ears on top of her head, then lightly patted her smooth cheek.
"I seriously don't get you. You want to have my kids the moment we meet."
Ryo knew he had zero resistance to Kuroka's blunt confessions. If she meowed a few more times, he'd forget about getting anything done today.
"This is a necessary act to continue the race."
Kuroka deliberately said it that way, so Ryo wouldn't think she had any special feelings for him.
After what almost happened, she was already embarrassed enough about practically throwing herself at someone she'd only known for a few days. She was worried Ryo might think she was some shameless stray cat.
So tying it to the grand cause of racial survival should keep her from being seen as a pervert, right?
Kuroka was still not very confident about that.
"Right, right. It's for the race."
Ryo rubbed her ears again, then stood up, changed clothes, and said before leaving. "Stay in the inner courtyard for the next few days. Don't go out."
"Got it, meow~~"
Kuroka licked her finger, then narrowed her eyes, smiling as she watched Ryo leave.
"Worried something might happen to me during the three-way talks? Hehe. Knows so many positions, yet surprisingly innocent~"
Already in the hallway, Ryo's ear twitched. His mouth twitched too, but he pretended not to hear and quickly left.
...
..
Yasaka Shrine, main hall.
"Rias, you've got split ends," Akeno said with a smiling expression, leaning against the railing.
"Really? Where?"
Rias panicked, pulling out a small mirror and frantically checking her hair.
"I don't see anything… where exactly?"
"Here…"
Akeno walked over smiling, grabbed two strands from behind Rias's head, and deliberately tied them into a crude bow.
"Akeno… are you picking a fight?"
"Ara ara… weren't you the one picking a fight first?" Akeno narrowed her eyes, still smiling.
"When did I do that?" Rias said in confusion.
She didn't remember provoking Akeno at all.
Akeno replied helplessly, "Getting up at three in the morning and fiddling around at the vanity, muttering to yourself."
"Sigh~ you should consider your Queen's feelings. I've been suffering from serious insomnia lately."
Rias's expression turned extremely awkward.
The past two days, she and Akeno had been assigned the same guest room. Even though they slept on separate floor bedding, any noise would inevitably disturb the other.
And today… Rias knew she'd gotten up a bit too early.
"Sorry. I'll be more careful next time."
"There's a next time?"
Akeno rolled her eyes, then smiled again and suddenly pointed behind Rias. " Ryo-sama?"
"What?"
Rias slowly hid the mirror, smoothed her hair, and turned around with forced elegance.
No one.
She froze, then her face darkened. Turning back, she saw Akeno's meaningful expression.
"I see… Rias, when exactly did you…"
Rias's face reddened immediately, but she forced herself to sound firm.
"It's just a mission. A family mission."
"If it's just a family mission, why are you so nervous?" Akeno clearly didn't believe her.
Getting up at three, bathing and putting on makeup, spending more than four hours… all for a "family mission"?
Last time your father arranged a blind date, you kicked him away. You weren't this "enthusiastic" then.
"I'm not nervous."
Rias took a deep breath, then said coldly, "In the end, marrying Ryo Yagami is only for family honor. A reluctant decision. I personally have no interest in this at all. I've never believed I'd fall for a man."
Akeno blinked, then repeatedly gestured behind Rias.
"Ryo-sama, you're here."
"Akeno, do you think I'm an idiot?" Rias snapped irritably. "He's just a blind date arranged by the family. Even if Ryo appeared in front of me right now, I wouldn't be surprised at all."
"Blind date?"
Hearing the familiar voice from behind, Rias blinked.
.
.
.