"Hey, start running. If you're a Daywalker, then you should be able to run in the day."
After hours of persuasion—and Akeno's gentle threats involving voltage—our resident shut-in vampire, Gasper Vladi, finally took his first trembling step out of the sealed room. He was wearing Kuoh Academy's girl's uniform as usual, sleeves fluttering in the breeze, golden hair glowing faintly under the sun.
"Eeeeeeeeeek! Don't chase me while swinging the Durandaaaaaaaal!"
And just like that, he was sprinting across the field, shrieking at the top of his lungs as Xenovia charged behind him with Durandal gleaming in her hands. The holy blade was letting out a buzzing sound, radiating divine light so intense even I could feel my devil instincts protesting.
If someone unfamiliar saw this scene from afar, they'd think it was a vampire hunt. And, well... they wouldn't be wrong.
"Run, Gya-kun! The power of faith compels you!" Xenovia shouted, smiling like she was enjoying this way too much.
"Xenovia-san! Stop that! You're scaring him!" Asia cried from the sidelines, hands clutched nervously.
"Training!" Xenovia called back. "A healthy body means a healthy spirit! He's a Daywalker, so sunlight shouldn't kill him—probably!"
Probably?
Poor Gasper was running like his life depended on it—which, given the holy aura surrounding that sword, it kind of did. The vampire stumbled, tripped, and squealed with every step, his skirt fluttering wildly as he bolted.
"Waaaaah! Don't come near meeeeee!"
Honestly, he looked like a blonde princess being chased by a knight possessed by caffeine.
Watching from the shade, I sighed. "I feel like this counts as bullying."
Rias stood beside me, her arms crossed, observing with an approving smile. "It's called motivation. Xenovia is helping Gasper face his fear of the outside world."
"By traumatizing him with Durandal?"
She ignored me. Typical.
Not far away, Koneko-chan was jogging lazily after them, holding—wait. Was that garlic?
"...Gya-kun, if you eat garlic, you'll become healthy," she said deadpan.
"Nooooooooo! Koneko-chan's bullying meeeeeee!" Gasper screamed, darting in the opposite direction.
The little loli's expression didn't even twitch. "...Training."
Yeah. Sure. "Training."
Asia sniffled beside me, looking like she might cry. "Even though it was an honor to have met the other Bishop-san, we still haven't properly talked... sob."
I glanced at her. "You were really looking forward to it, huh?"
She nodded sadly. "I wanted to be friends... But he's too scared of people..."
I sighed. "Yeah, well, the guy freezes time when he panics. Literally. It's not just a figure of speech."
Her eyes widened. "Eeeeh?!"
"Yup. Imagine him panicking in class. Everyone frozen mid-lunch."
Asia looked horrified. "T-That's terrible!"
Exactly. That's why we're out here trying to "rehabilitate" him.
"Still," I muttered, watching Gasper zigzag between trees, "he's got potential. If he ever learns to control that Sacred Gear properly... he'd be unstoppable."
Meanwhile, Xenovia laughed joyfully as she swung Durandal like she was at a sports festival. "Feel the holy aura! Let your spirit burn, vampire!"
"Stop iiiiiit! It burns, it burns!" Gasper wailed.
At this point, it was less a training session and more a comedy sketch.
"...Oh oh, they're at it again," came a familiar voice.
I turned to see Saji walking toward us, dressed in a jersey and cotton gloves, holding a small shovel.
"Oh, it's you, Saji."
"Yo, Hyoudou," he greeted, looking amused. "Heard there was a legendary hikikomori vampire finally seeing sunlight. Came to witness the miracle."
"Ah, there he is." I pointed toward the field, where Gasper was currently dodging a holy sword swing that nearly took off his wig. "That's him."
Saji squinted. "Wait. That's a girl, right? Blonde hair, skirt, frilly socks... definitely a girl."
"Sorry to ruin the fantasy," I said with a grin. "That's a guy. Cross-dresser."
The color drained from his face. "Wh-what—seriously!? That's... that's false advertising! My heart..."
He looked like he'd just watched his favorite idol confess to being a man named Steve.
"Well," I said, patting his shoulder, "welcome to Kuoh Academy. Where gender is just a background detail."
Saji groaned. "This is swindling. If he's dressing like that, it's gotta be for someone's attention, right? But if he's too scared to meet people... then what's even the point!?"
I shrugged. "Beats me. I stopped trying to make sense of this club a long time ago."
Saji puffed out his chest. "Anyway! Don't underestimate me, Hyoudou. I'm not just watching. I'm on official duty."
I blinked. "...You're gardening?"
"Maintenance of the flower beds!" he declared proudly, waving the shovel. "Kaichou's orders! We've got the Maou-sama and other big shots visiting soon. The student council has to make the school grounds perfect. I'm doing my part as a pawn!"
So basically, glorified janitor work. But the guy's confidence was admirable, so I kept my mouth shut.
Before I could tease him, though—
[Za... za...]
The soft sound of footsteps echoed from behind us.
Saji and I both turned. A shadow approached, tall and exuding an unmistakable aura of arrogance and power.
"Heh," came the mocking voice. "So these are the servants of the Maou family, wasting their time playing tag with a vampire?"
~~~
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