Chapter 11: Club Invitation

"Hah—!"

I jolted upright, heart hammering, breath ragged. Sweat clung to my forehead. My sheets were twisted around my legs.

My eyes darted around the room.

My room.

Everything was normal. The violin still hung on the wall. The suitcase still sat unopened.

"A… dream?" I whispered.

But it had felt too real.

My chest still ached from the scream. My hands were still shaking. And worst of all…

Ding!

A cascade of system notifications lit up before my eyes the moment I stirred from bed.

(B) Violinist - Mastery (96% → 99%)

(B) Martial Artist - Mastery (50% → 61%)

(B) Singer - Mastery (56% → 64%

(C) Pianist - Mastery (61% → 77%)

(C) Chess Mastery - Mastery (20% → 53%)

(A) Dark Slayer - Mastery (1% → 5%)(LOCKED)

My eyes widened.

"What the hell?"

That wasn't just the classes I had equipped. Even the unequipped ones had shot up in mastery. And Dark Slayer—a class I hadn't even unlocked—leveled up?

Was it… the dream?

I sat there, stunned.

"System," I whispered, mind racing. "What happened?"

Silence.

No answer. Not even the usual flicker of acknowledgement.

"Of course," I muttered bitterly.

A sharp beep echoed from my phone.

I glanced at the screen.

7:26 AM.

—Wait. 7:26?!

My eyes widened.

"CRAP!"

I launched off the bed like I'd been shot out of a cannon.

No point worrying now.

I'll figure it out after the festival.

I pushed the covers off and got up, tossing on a shirt as I stumbled into the hallway.

Two weeks left.

I couldn't afford distractions now.

As I locked my front door and slung my bag over my shoulder, I noticed someone darting out of the house next door—toast sticking out of his mouth like some classic anime cliché.

"Oi, Issei!" I called out.

He blinked, recognizing me, and gave a muffled, cheerful response. "Owh! Eishi! What's up?"

"You're seriously doing the bread-in-mouth thing?"

"I overslept!" he said with a grin, still chewing. "Wanna head to school together?"

"Sure. We better hurry, or the student council's gonna chew us out."

We took off down the street, the morning sun just beginning to heat the pavement. The neighborhood buzzed faintly with excitement—the festival was two weeks away, and everyone was preparing.

"So," Issei asked between bites, "what's your class doing for the festival?"

"Haunted house," I said simply. "We had a vote. Everyone was pretty hyped for something spooky."

"Oooh, nice. Classic." He grinned wider. "As for us? Hehehe… we hit the jackpot."

"Oh?"

He puffed his chest a little. "Maid café!"

Yup! We managed to slip the suggestion into the lottery and somehow it won. All the boys secretly voted for it." He raised his fist triumphantly. "Looks like Lady Luck is on our side!"

I snorted, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not sure you can call that lucky," I muttered under my breath.

"Huh?" Issei looked over, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, waving it off.

He didn't press further. Instead, his mind was already wandering elsewhere—his eyes sparkling with perverted glee. "Man, I can't wait to see all of them in maid uniforms. Hoooo, which style should we go with? The classic frilly type? Maybe neko-maid? Or the classy European kind with the tight corsets—"

A thin trail of blood ran down from his nose.

I gave him a flat look. "You're bleeding, dude."

As we made my way to school, the first thing I noticed were the white tents lining the courtyard and front lawn.

Festival preparations had already begun.

Colorful banners fluttered in the wind. Some upperclassmen were hauling props and decorations across the quad. Paint fumes filled the air, along with the chatter of excited students.

This… this was the calm before the storm.

I pulled my bag tighter around my shoulder and walked through the gates.

Class 1-C

When I stepped inside, Kiba Yuuto waved from his desk.

"Hi, Eishi-Kun. Happy birthday."

"Huh?" I blinked.

"Oh—thanks, man." I gave him a smile.

He nodded, then returned to helping some classmates sketch out the stall layout for our class. As I sat down, I noticed more eyes than usual glancing my way.

Whispers. Some pointed.

Was it because of the fight last week in kendo?

Or…

My heart skipped as I noticed a few girls talking—then one waved at me with a shy smile

As I packed my things after class, Kiba Yuuto strolled over, casual as ever, leaning against the edge of my desk.

"Hey, Eishi-kun," he called out, voice easy and friendly. "You're not in any club yet, right?"

I looked up from my bento, still halfway focused on the mess of thoughts in my head. "Not really," I replied. "Been kind of swamped with practice and… life."

More like drowning in it. I was technically registered under the Traditional Music Club, but I hadn't attended a single meeting. Between violin practice, martial arts, and everything else lately… clubs were the last thing on my mind.

"I get that," Kiba nodded understandingly. "Still, thought I'd ask. Our club's pretty relaxed. Doesn't take up much time, and honestly, we mostly just hang out."

I raised an eyebrow. "The Occult Research Club?"

"That's the one." He smiled faintly.

"…Why suddenly?"

He tilted his head, almost like he was trying to make it sound casual—but there was something in his eyes.

Kiba offered a vague shrug, but his voice dipped just a bit. "You'll find out if you come by. No pressure or anything—just meet the members, see what we're about. It's not like we're dragging you into any weird rituals."

"…That makes it sound more suspicious."

He laughed. "Fair enough."

And then—Kiba dropped one more piece.

"Oh, and one more thing," he said, almost like an afterthought. "About your scholarship…"

That made me blink. "What about it?"

Kiba chuckled lightly, but there was a hint of meaning in his voice. "Let's just say… if you're part of our club, you'd have a little less to worry about."

My eyes narrowed, lips parting just slightly. That got my attention.

"…What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged again—calm, casual, frustratingly unreadable. "You'll understand when you come. I'm just the messenger."

I stared at him for a beat longer, trying to figure out if he was joking. He wasn't.

"Right," I muttered. "Sure… I'll think about it."

He smiled, as if he already knew my answer.

"Good. Looking forward to it, Eishi-kun."

"No pressure," he replied, stepping away with that same easy smile. "We're always there after school. Whenever you're ready."

Sona Sitri's POV

"Any progress, Tsubaki?"

"Yes, Kaichou." Tsubaki stood straight and poised, like a mirror of my own discipline. "I've completed a thorough investigation into Eishi Seishiro's background. Nothing overtly abnormal has surfaced. He moved to Kuoh roughly ten years ago. His mother is an ordinary human. His father… passed away a few years prior. From all public records and spiritual scans, he appears to be just another high school student."

I folded my arms, eyes narrowed in thought. "And the Sacred Gear?"

Tsubaki nodded slightly. "That part is harder to confirm. He hasn't displayed any overt supernatural powers in daily life, but clearly i can feel that he getting stronger not in magical term. The signs are faint, but consistent."

I narrowed my eyes. "So he's growing stronger, but without triggering any supernatural markers."

"Yes. And there's more." Tsubaki's voice dropped slightly. "Two days ago, I intercepted a Fallen Angel watching him."

That caught my full attention. The air around me chilled slightly.

"A Fallen Angel… in our territory?" My voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried weight. "That's bold."

"Indeed. She tried to blend in, but I caught her aura—faint, but distinct. I confronted her. She claimed it was a personal matter and didn't resist, but… I don't believe she was alone."

I frowned. That meant Eishi was already under someone else's radar. And not just anyone—the Grigori were rarely careless with their scouts.

"You warned her off?"

"Firmly," Tsubaki replied. "She retreated. I've set up a few low-grade detection barriers near his common routes. Nothing invasive—just enough to catch another spike in Fallen Angel energy."

I nodded. Good initiative, as always.

Still…

A beat of silence passed before Tsubaki added, "Still… I can't determine what his Sacred Gear is. If he truly has one, it's dormant. His strength seems to come from his intense martial training—he's remarkably skilled for a human. Genius-level, even. And he plays the violin and sings impressively. His talent across disciplines is… uncommon."

Sona sat down slowly, tapping her fingers against the desk in a steady rhythm. "A multi-talented human with potential access to a Sacred Gear… if we could reincarnate him, he might make a very valuable pawn."

Tsubaki hesitated. "…That's what I thought too."

Sona's lips curved into a thoughtful smile. "Of course, provided he able to wield it"

Tsubaki adjusted her glasses, her voice calm but laced with subtle weight. "There's more, Kaichou. It appears… the Gremory household has taken an interest in him as well."

The smile that had briefly touched my lips vanished.

Instantly, my magical pressure surged. Not violently—but enough to remind the room who I was. The air turned heavier, colder. Papers rustled on my desk, and the enchanted window behind me began to frost at the edges.

"…Rias."

I didn't shout. I didn't need to.

That name alone carried enough history, enough rivalry, to summon irritation with a whisper. Not anger—yet—but the kind of annoyance only years of quiet one-upmanship could instill.

Tsubaki stood firm in the chill, unfazed by the shift in atmosphere. "Her Knight approached him. Not officially as a devil, just… extended an invitation to her club."

My fingers began tapping against the desk—precise, rhythmic, deliberate. "And his response?"

"He declined. Politely. Said he wanted to focus on the school festival preparations first. But…"

"But he hesitated," I finished for her. My thoughts aligned too easily with hers.

"Yes," Tsubaki confirmed. "He's unsure. Maybe suspicious."

I let out a quiet sigh, controlling the exhale. "She always did enjoy meddling with the ones that caught my attention first."

It wasn't the first time, and likely wouldn't be the last.

"Should we approach him first?" Tsubaki asked. "Before she has a chance to properly stake her claim?"

I shook my head slowly. "No. Not yet. Let him perform. Let the school festival become his stage. "

I turned toward the frosted window, watching the courtyard in the distance. Students bustling. Decorations going up. Laughter drifting faintly through the glass.

"Sometimes, a stage reveals more than shadows ever could."

I paused.

"But the moment the curtain falls," I murmured, eyes narrowing behind my glasses, "we move."

Tsubaki bowed slightly. "Understood, Kaichou."

I didn't respond right away.

Instead, I let my magic settle, though the cold never truly left the room.

You've earned my attention.

A knock tapped at the door. A student council member peeked in. "Um… Kaichou, Lord Sitri is on the line."

"…Father?" I sighed.

"Yes, he said it's about your next marriage meeting."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Let me guess… Riser Phenex?"

"…Correct."

My eyes narrowed again, my voice low and sharp. "That son of a noble chicken."

Tsubaki coughed lightly to cover her laugh.

I stood up and straightened my uniform with a regal motion. "Fine. I'll meet him."

Then i smirked, my eyes glinting with cool challenge.

"But my condition stands. I'll marry him if—and only if—he can defeat me in chess."