"…Onee-chan…"
After rubbing her face against her sister for a while, Shirone finally pushed Kuroka away with visible embarrassment.
"Onee-chan, until I've completely forgiven you, we need to agree on three conditions."
"Okay, okay!"
Kuroka was so happy she would've agreed to anything.
"First, you're not allowed to attack devils anymore. Of course… if you're attacked first, that's different."
"Second, you're not allowed to leave without telling me. I need to know where you're going at all times."
"Third… welcome back."
After saying that, a long-lost smile appeared on Shirone's face. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kuroka, pressing her cheek against her chest and closing her eyes gently.
"Onee-chan… I missed you."
The heartfelt reunion moved Asia deeply. Tears welled up in her eyes once more.
Akeno felt happy for Koneko, yet at the same time, a complicated emotion stirred within her. No matter how harshly she had spoken about Baraqiel, a part of her still longed for familial warmth.
In this world, the only blood relative she had left was the man who had once abandoned her and her mother.
Perhaps… perhaps he had his own reasons?
If that were true… then maybe…
Rod glanced at Akeno's suddenly softened gaze. He could guess exactly what she was thinking.
Unfortunately, based on what he knew,
Baraqiel did have his reasons. Just… not many.
As a high-ranking member of the Grigori, he had once been injured and ended up near a shrine in Kyoto, where Akeno's mother, Himejima Shuri, saved him. Shuri cared for him devotedly, and the two eventually fell in love, giving birth to Akeno.
When the truth was exposed, the Himejima family saw it as disgraceful. They dared not act openly because of Baraqiel's presence. But when he was recalled to headquarters years later, the Himejima clan seized the opportunity. They pressured Shuri to separate from her daughter, who carried fallen angel blood.
Shuri refused.
To beg the clan to spare Akeno, she took her own life in front of them.
Even then, the Himejima family continued hunting Akeno until she reached Kuoh Town.
During her escape, Baraqiel secretly protected her from the shadows, but never revealed himself.
In Rod's view, a father protecting his daughter was normal. But remaining silent about Shuri's death and never confronting the Himejima clan? That was harder to understand.
Shuri had cared for him despite knowing the clan's rules. Yet when she died, he didn't even publicly condemn them.
Even later, he chose to protect Akeno only from the shadows, claiming guilt and fear of burdening her further because of his fallen angel identity.
That part was even harder to swallow.
Rod decided not to tell Akeno the full truth, for now. If her mentality collapsed at this stage, Rias might really end up becoming Riser's wife.
"By the way," Rod said, shifting the topic, "why are only the two of you here?"
"Where's Rias?"
"She doesn't know yet," Akeno replied. "After I went back, I didn't tell her about your suggestion. And as for Kiba… you said he's different from us."
"He is different. He actually trains. His potential just isn't high."
By mid-story, Kiba developed the Balance Breaker known as the Twin-Headed Demonic Holy Sword, and then gradually faded into the background.
"If he heard you say that, he'd be devastated," Akeno said wryly.
"Can't be helped. In this world, power is largely determined by bloodline. If your bloodline's weak, you compensate with Sacred Gears."
Rod shrugged.
"Anyway, go back and repeat my words to Rias exactly. You and Koneko hesitating to use your bloodline power is understandable. But Rias? She's just wallowing in self-pity."
"Rias works hard! She studies Rating Game tactics every day-"
"A complete waste of time. Instead of reading useless strategy books, she should improve her control over her Power of Destruction. After all these years, she's barely progressed. Forget Riser, she probably couldn't beat Sona Sitri right now."
Akeno pressed her lips together.
"I… I'll try."
She definitely couldn't repeat that word for word. Rias might actually explode from anger.
"…And one more thing."
"There's more?!"
Akeno's face turned bitter.
I'm begging you.
Everyone's been evaluated already, who's left?
"I mean, when do you want to start training? Today, or later?"
Akeno visibly relaxed.
"Oh… that's what you meant. We came precisely to find a method. It's the weekend, anyway. I'll talk to Rias later."
"Good. Then let's eat first."
Rod and Lavinia had only just returned from training in the outskirts that morning before running into them. If Akeno and Koneko hadn't explained themselves, he might have suspected they came just to freeload lunch.
....
Meanwhile
Ever since the three fallen angels learned that Akeno's father was Baraqiel, their attitude toward her had softened. Though now technically Rod's subordinates, they still instinctively feared upper management in the fallen angel hierarchy.
"I'm sitting next to Shirone, nya!"
"Wash your hands first. And don't squat on the chair."
"…Okay."
Once Lavinia woke up, everyone gathered for lunch.
Raynare's cooking left Akeno and Koneko impressed.
"With skills like this, why choose to do bad things?" Akeno sighed.
"Did you hear that? A fallen angel who can't cook properly can't be a proper maid," Rod said with a chuckle.
The room instantly filled with lively laughter.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Read 40 Advanced Chapters
p(a)treon.com/Shalltearr
Drop some POWERSTONES to push the story forward!