Ch 4 : Devil's Offer

[ Kazuya's Pov ]

"Just..one more"

I push myself up for the final rep while on the cool and solid floor. My arms were sore, my body burning, but it's the kind of pain I've grown used to over the past week. A week. I think back to where I started. I couldn't even do ten push-ups without feeling like my muscles were on fire.

"55 Push ups!"

I pause for a second, resting my hands on the floor and wiping my forehead with the back of my arm. I glance around my room, noting the subtle changes in my surroundings—the clothes more organized, the faint smell of the air freshener I've been using. The total opposite of what I was given.

My mind drifts from the physical realm of progress to something more dangerous, something more... strategic.

Joining the Fallen Angels.

I stop, mid-push-up, lost in thought for a moment. A few days ago, I wouldn't have dared think I could make a mark among the supernatural, but now? Now, I'm focused. I know what I want, and the Fallen Angels? They're going to be my ticket to get a footing in this world. I am not stupid enough to recruit some random fellas while there are literal gods wiping my existence with a flick of their finger.

Courage is favourable when you got the power to back it otherwise, you're just a fool acting smart. Getting up from the floor, I wiped off the sweat and headed to kitchen to cook some nice breakfast. I know I deserve this.

While I savour the taste of omelette, I think about progress that I made so far. For now I can shoot almost 20 icicles with a precision of 15/20 which is not bad but the problem is speed that I still struggling with. In a battle, I have an advantage on dodging with the heightened senses but it's not enough, not because it's incompatible but I lack stamina and recovery from injuries. One shot at my arm and I lose it forever! And there is a limit to how long I can fight, there is no infinite stamina so it's something I have to back up with.

Knowing my weakness before my enemies will give me a slight advantage in the battle, it's easier said than done but what can I do other than training and waiting for gacha to appear. Sigh! I have to think it through before jumping into the supernatural side of this world. One mistake and I end up with a spear on my chest.

. . .

The day feels heavier as I walk through the familiar halls of Kuoh Academy, the usual buzz of students around me mixing with the weight of what's on my mind. My muscles are sore, still recovering from the morning's workout, but it's a different kind of soreness. It's the type that means I'm pushing forward, even if no one else sees it.

The air around me feels charged, like I'm being watched. I don't need to look around to know who it is. I can feel their eyes on me.

Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima.

I've gotten used to their presence ever since I attended the school. Every time I glance over, I can sense their gaze lingering on me, but they're too subtle to outright stare. I'm no fool—there's something different about the way they watch me. Rias's eyes, sharp and calculating, while Akeno's hold a playful curiosity, almost like she's enjoying the mystery of who I am. It's as if they both know there's more to me than meets the eye.

I can't help but wonder if they've already figured out that I'm more than a regular student. They probably have, considering their backgrounds and influence over the town, it's almost impossible for them to not know I was training in the woods with Demon Extract.

By the end of the school day, the final bell rang, signalling the end of the routine. As I grab my bag, I feel a presence approach me. It's Rias. She's standing there, a calm smile on her face, but her eyes are intense, like she's sizing me up, assessing something I can't quite grasp yet.

"Kazuya," she calls out, her voice carrying a certain weight. "I've been meaning to talk to you. Would you mind coming with me to the Occult Research Club? There's something I'd like to discuss. Something important."

I blink, caught off guard. The Occult Research Club? I didn't expect she would be so direct but I didn't let it show on my face as it will only raise unnecessary suspicions. Keeping my expression neutral, hiding the curiosity bubbling inside me, I went along with her request.

"I suppose I can spare some time," I say, my voice steady, though my heart beats a little faster. This isn't just a casual invitation; it's a calculative manipulation to join her side and I refuse to come to dark side.

Her smile widens slightly, but there's a hint of something deeper in her gaze, like she's expecting a lot more from me than just a simple yes. "Good. I'll walk you there after class. It won't take long."

I nod, and as she turns to leave, I can feel Akeno's gaze still lingering on me from the corner of my eye. She's watching everything—her usual calm, almost serene demeanour, hiding the wheels turning in her mind.

"What is she thinking?"

As I follow Rias through the school's hallways toward the Occult Research Club, the weight of the situation sinks in. This is it. This is where things start to get real. And whatever they want to discuss, I can already tell that it's going to be a lot more than just an important talk.

A deal with the devil.

As Rias leads the way through the hallways, my mind races. The Occult Research Club. What exactly do they want from me? Why now, of all times? My heart beats steadily, a mix of anticipation and a slight edge of unease. I glance around, half-expecting someone to jump out at me, but the halls are mostly empty now, the rest of the students heading home or hanging out in their own groups.

Rias doesn't say much as we walk, her pace casual but purposeful, like she's already familiar with the route. I can't help but notice how calm and composed she is. She walks with an air of confidence, as if nothing and no one could ever faze her.

Then there's Akeno—her presence from earlier still lingers in my mind. Her eyes never leave me, even now.

Finally, we reach the door to the Occult Research Club, and Rias pauses in front of it, turning to face me.

"Well, here we are," she says, her smile softening just slightly.

She opens the door, and I follow her inside. The room is cozy, lit with soft lighting, and it has a comfortable yet mysterious atmosphere. A long table situated in the centre, covered with books, papers, and strange artifacts I can't even begin to understand. And then I see them.

Koneko is sitting near the table, her expression unreadable, but her gaze flicks toward me with an almost unamused look. Beside her was another figure—Kiba Yuuto, his sharp eyes noting my entrance with the same keen awareness I've come to expect from these people.

"Take a seat," Rias says, gesturing toward a chair. I do as she asks, feeling the weight of their stares on me.

"We've been watching you for a while, Kazuya," Rias begins, her tone even but serious, "We are aware that you are more than the average human. But we're curious—how much do you really know about the world we live in?"

The question hangs in the air, and I feel like every word she says is another thread drawing me deeper into their web. Akeno's lips curl into a small, enigmatic smile, and I can feel the tension in the room rise slightly. So I decided to answer with as much detail that they ask me.

"I know enough," I answer carefully. "Enough to understand that the world isn't what it seems, and that there are bigger forces at play here."

Rias nods slowly, as if she was expecting that answer. "That's good. Because we're offering you a choice. You've caught our attention, and we think you might have potential. The Fallen Angels are active in Kuoh right now, and we'd like to offer you an opportunity to work with us... to join us."