During lunch, when Meguna walked into the cafeteria, the usual noise of students talking and laughing filled the air, creating a lively yet somewhat chaotic atmosphere that most students had already grown used to.
That changed the moment a clear and composed voice called out to him. "Fushi-san, over here."
It was Rias, her voice firm yet elegant, and it immediately drew attention.
Almost instantly, the gazes of nearby students shifted toward her before naturally following the direction of her call, landing directly on Meguna.
The reaction spread quickly across the cafeteria as more students began to notice what was happening, causing conversations to slow and whispers to rise among different groups.
It was the first time many of them had even seen Rias sitting in the cafeteria among the general student body, which already made the situation unusual.
But what truly caught their attention was the fact that she had called out to Meguna so directly.
"What's going on between them?"
"Since when does Rias-senpai call someone like that?"
"Are they already close or something?"
The girls voices lowered into hushed whispers that carried a mix of curiosity and quiet disappointment.
"Wait, did Rias-senpai just call him over like that?"
"No way, don't tell me she got to him already"
"So he's taken now… seriously?"
On the other side, the boys had a completely different reaction, and their frustration was far less subtle in comparison.
"You've gotta be kidding me right now…"
"This guy just transferred and already"
"Man, that's actually unfair."
At the table where Rias sat, Akeno and Koneko were already present, seated across from each other.
Akeno maintained her gentle and graceful smile, her posture relaxed yet elegant as always, while Koneko remained quietly focused on her sweets, eating without paying much attention to the surrounding noise.
Ignoring the stares, the whispers, and the shift in atmosphere entirely, he simply walked toward the table. When he reached them, Rias leaned slightly forward and extended her hands, holding something out toward him.
"Here." Her tone was calm, and the gesture itself was simple.
Meguna glanced at what she was holding before taking it from her hands, revealing it to be a bun. "I didn't think you'd actually follow through with it," he said casually.
Rias smiled lightly at his response "Well, you did say it was the least I could do for saving Hyoudou-san," she replied calmly. "And besides, I would like to get to know you better." Her words were polite, but there was a clear intention behind them that went beyond simple gratitude.
Akeno, who had been observing the interaction closely, let out a soft and amused laugh as she leaned slightly forward. "Ara, ara, Fushi-san, it seems like Rias is the only one who has managed to get your attention," she said playfully, her tone clearly teasing.
Koneko did not join in on the conversation and continued eating quietly, though her eyes briefly shifted toward Meguna, watching him with a subtle, observant gaze.
"Not really." Meguna dismissed the comment with a small wave of his hand, showing no interest in entertaining the teasing or continuing the conversation any further.
He turned slightly as if preparing to leave but before he could Rias called him out again "Fushi-san."
Meguna stopped, though only slightly, and turned his head just enough to acknowledge her "What?" he asked plainly.
Rias met his gaze, her expression calm and composed as she spoke again. "If you're free after class, could you come to the Occult Research Club?" she asked. "There's something I would like to discuss with you."
Meguna did not respond immediately and instead took a moment to think about it. He mentally went over his schedule, though there was hardly anything worth noting.
There were no plans waiting for him after school, and the only alternatives were either resting or studying out of sheer boredom, neither of which interested him much.
After a brief pause, he gave his answer.
"If you can at least provide some decent desserts or good snacks," he said lazily, "then I might consider it."
Rias seemed slightly surprised by the condition for a brief moment, though her expression quickly returned to normal.
"I don't think you have to worry about that," she replied calmly. With that, Meguna turned away without saying another word and left the cafeteria.
The moment he walked off, a few nearby students continued to watch him, their eyes lingering as he disappeared through the exit, while the whispers that had started earlier slowly picked up again.
At the table, however, the atmosphere shifted into something quieter and more focused.
Akeno tilted her head slightly, her curiosity evident as she turned her attention toward Rias, her gentle smile still resting on her lips.
"Kaichou, what do you have in mind?" she asked, her tone light but inquisitive. "Are you also thinking of recruiting him like Sitri? Wouldn't he just reject our offer the same way?"
Her question carried a hint of amusement, but there was genuine interest beneath it, especially after learning of Meguna's clear disinterest in authority or structure.
Rias remained silent for a brief moment before responding, her eyes closing slowly as if organizing her thoughts. "I'm aware of that," she said calmly, her voice steady and composed. "That's precisely why I'm not planning to approach him in the same way."
She leaned back slightly in her seat, her posture relaxed but deliberate, showing that she had already thought this through carefully. "I'm not inviting him to recruit him," she continued. "I'm inviting him so that we can establish a deal of some sort."
Her eyes slowly opened again, now half lidded as her gaze drifted slightly forward, her expression thoughtful yet confident. "We already know for a fact that Fushi-san possesses a Sacred Gear, just like Issei," she said. "However, the two of them are nothing alike. Hyoudou is easy to understand, easy to guide, and easy to influence," she added. "Fushi-san, on the other hand, is the complete opposite."
Akeno listened attentively, her expression soft but focused as Rias continued. "He seems detached" Rias went on. "You can tell from the way he speaks and carries himself that he doesn't particularly care about anyone else."
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "If anything, the only person he truly prioritizes is himself."
Akeno's smile deepened just a little at that observation, clearly entertained by the accuracy of it. "And because of that," Rias continued, "offering him a position in a peerage would be meaningless to him."
She rested her chin lightly against her hand, her tone growing more deliberate. "He doesn't want a status that would place him beneath someone else, no matter what benefits come with it."
"So instead of trying to bind him through hierarchy," she said, "I'll approach him through mutual benefit." Her lips curved into a faint, confident smile. "I'll propose a deal that benefits both sides in the long run."
Akeno let out a soft laugh, her smirk lingering as she looked at Rias with clear approval. "Kaichou, your plan does sound quite promising," she said, her tone warm yet playful. "I just hope he turns out to be reasonable enough to work with."
Rias found her thoughts drifting, her expression growing slightly distant as she considered the possibilities. 'I hope so,' she thought quietly. 'His strength is undeniable, and someone like him could easily shift the balance of power if he chose to involve himself.'
Her fingers rested lightly against the table as her gaze lowered in contemplation. 'If I could at least get him to help me in the future to secure my freedom, It would most likely be my best chance at breaking free from that arrangement.'