[27] : Plastic Sisters, Huh?

After four days of the usual school grind, it was finally Friday—the day everyone had been looking forward to.

Just endure today's classes, and two glorious days of weekend would follow.

At Kuoh Academy, Fridays typically didn't have many classes. Apart from a few morning lessons, the only thing left in the afternoon was a pair of "Self-study" periods.

Of course, calling them "self-study" was basically a formality—there were no teachers supervising, so "Go-Home Club" students just fiddled with their phones, waiting out the two periods before heading home. Students who did have club activities could get started early—wrapping up sooner and returning home sooner.

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Early afternoon—Occult Research Club, Old Schoolhouse—

As usual, by the time Bokue Keikain arrived, everyone else was already in the first-floor reception room. After all, Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, and Koneko typically lived here overnight. Rather than a mere "club space," this old building was practically their personal dorm, with just enough area partitioned off as a "clubroom." They rarely had any outside members around.

And now, with Asia living here as well, there was yet another occupant.

"Good afternoon, Asia. Sleep okay last night in the club building?"

Walking in from outside, Bokue greeted the blonde girl, who sat on the couch beside Koneko.

"Good afternoon, Bokue-san—and thanks for asking. I slept very well last night."

When she heard him speak, Asia tilted her head slightly, her gentle face lighting up with a warm smile.

"Rias-senpai, Akeno-senpai, and Koneko were all so kind. They got me a bed and sheets, and Koneko even helped clean the room for me."

"That so? Great... hmm?"

Bokue trailed off, a slight frown crossing his face.

Something felt off about the seating arrangement today.

Usually, in the reception area, there were two couches facing each other. Bokue and Rias would occupy the right couch, while Akeno and Koneko took the left.

But now, it was switched around: Koneko and Asia were sharing the right-hand couch, whereas Akeno and Rias were on the left.

What's more, the way Akeno and Rias sat looked downright awkward. Even though they were on the same couch, they kept a sizable gap between them, as if an invisible barrier separated them. They looked like they might've had some sort of disagreement.

Plastic sisters, maybe? Bokue wondered, scanning the scene with suspicion.

Noticing his hesitation, Akeno—who was sitting on the left couch—smiled sweetly, patting the empty seat beside her.

"What's wrong, Bokue? Didn't we say last time that you'd sit over here today? Come on."

"...Right."

He tried meeting Rias's eyes—she glanced at him for half a second and then looked away, feigning indifference.

???

Something was definitely off. But with no better option, Bokue headed for that couch and sat down.

And so it ended up with a lovely girl on each side—Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima, the top two campus beauties at Kuoh. If that got out, their fan clubs might start a riot and come after him with "Samurai bus hijacking tactics."

Though that, in turn, wouldn't really accomplish anything...

While Bokue mused on these thoughts, the black-haired ponytail girl next to him began moving in closer.

"Listen, Bokue..."

Akeno's voice was low as she twisted toward him on the couch.

Leaning forward, she rested her hands on the cushion. Her otherwise conservative uniform tightened in that pose, creating a deep, eye-popping valley that was 'Very' hard to ignore.

"President here is being so unfair. She said it didn't matter who you sat with, but the moment it was time to follow through—she chose to sit here first, hogging the middle seat so you couldn't sit down. Only after you arrived did she move over."

"J-Jeez, Akeno..."

Rias, looking flustered, widened her eyes at the mention of her little scheme.

"Th-that's not it! I just happened to feel like sitting here today. When Bokue arrived, I remembered I'd said you could sit by him, so I moved—that's how it went!"

"Ara ara~ Is that really so?"

Ponytailed Akeno gave an elegant little laugh, eyes half-lidded with amusement.

"If that's all, why not just sit across from us with Asia and Koneko? As club president, shouldn't you be paying extra attention to our brand-new member?"

"AKENO!!"

Rias snapped, rising from the couch, eyebrows drawn in annoyance as she stared down her friend from a short distance away.

"What's with you today? If there's something bothering you, say it outright—why all these roundabout digs?"

"Say it outright, hmm? There isn't anything big to fuss over. Just one thing."

Akeno kept her sweet, "Housewife" smile and raised her forefinger decisively.

"You said it was fine last time, so this time doesn't count. Next time, I want Bokue all to myself on this couch."

"Huh? That's it...?"

Rias blurted out reflexively but cut herself off partway, as if realizing something.

She stared at Akeno in shock:

"Wait... you also—"

No need to finish. Everyone present except Asia understood perfectly.

Akeno's expression turned even more triumphant—openly provocative:

"And if I am? Then what?"

"..."

"..."

The room descended into tense silence. After roughly ten seconds, Rias mumbled:

"...I have nothing to say. That's your choice—I'm not about to comment."

Rias flopped back onto the couch, crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand, gaze averted. Akeno seemed to glow with quiet triumph.

Suddenly, Rias clapped her hands softly.

"Anyway, back on topic. We did want to ask you something, Asia-san."

She smiled, sweet but firm.

"Will you consider becoming a member of the Gremory household?"

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