On an afternoon after classes at Kuoh Academy—
The health office, which had been closed to visitors since noon, had its tightly shut door opened by a trio of female students.
"Radix, hello. How is Koneko doing right now?"
Just as Rias used her key to unlock the door, Radix had already come to greet them, waiting at the entrance.
"Miss Toujou is currently in very good condition. Her symptoms of being in heat have not shown any signs of relapse."
Radix replied to Rias' question with a serious and formal tone.
Knowing Radix's personality well, Rias didn't mind at all. She simply shrugged and turned to Asia beside her.
"Asia, now you can be at ease, right?"
"Then… can I go see Koneko now?"
Though Rias had said that to reassure her, Asia still wore a worried expression. With hands clasped over her chest, she pleaded toward Radix.
Radix's expression briefly tensed, but then she remembered that Vitan hadn't specifically instructed her to keep anything hidden, so she lightly nodded.
"President, are you interested in Asia?"
Standing beside Rias, Akeno nudged Rias in the ribs with her elbow and asked with a knowing tone.
"Can't help it. After seeing that healing power at noon, how could I not be moved?"
Rias folded her arms, not hiding her desire to recruit Asia at all.
"But Asia is supposed to be your man's future peerage, isn't she?"
Following Rias, Akeno spoke as if confirming something.
"That's something we can work out. Besides, my peerage are basically his peerage too. There's no real difference. I don't think he's that petty."
Becoming number one in the Rating Game was Rias's first goal on her way to becoming the strongest female Satan of the Underworld.
To achieve this, Rias had been searching for teammates with great potential.
And in any team, a healer is absolutely vital. In Asia, Rias saw a crucial puzzle piece completing her ideal team.
"Ara ara~ Is the President automatically adding her own servants to Vitan-kun's harem now? Then what should I do? I still haven't decided whether to offer myself to Vitan-kun."
Akeno said with a smile.
"Cut it out. You think I don't know you after all these years? You may act open on the outside, but if you didn't have some real interest in him, you'd never joke lewdly with a guy you weren't into."
Rias said coldly without even turning her head.
Her first servant was Akeno. After so many years, the two were like sisters and understood each other's personalities very well.
Faced with Rias's mockery, Akeno showed no signs of backing down.
Her crescent-moon-like eyes curved slightly, and the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile.
"After all, if he can pound Rias so hard she nearly falls apart, I really want to try it myself~"
…
The two beautiful girls bickered playfully as they arrived at the infirmary room door and pushed it open.
The patient they had come to see, Koneko Toujou, was already awake. She was holding an apple Asia brought and nibbling at it with small bites.
Asia sat on a small chair beside the bed, chatting with her cheerfully.
"Koneko, how are you feeling now?"
"Thank you for your concern, President. I'm feeling much better now."
Koneko nodded slowly and even raised her small arm, clenching her fist to demonstrate her recovery.
"That's good."
Rias walked slowly to Koneko's bedside, then sat down and gently held the same small hand Koneko had just made a fist with.
"No need to worry. I've already asked my brother to look for ancient texts about nekomata habits. Vitan also said he has a way to solve your current physical condition."
Koneko's cheeks flushed slightly, but what welled up in her heart was a deep warmth.
This was the reason why Koneko had so quickly opened her heart to her new master Rias after being abandoned by her heartless sister.
Because it was with Rias that she truly felt the warmth of a family.
Thus, she was fully willing to dedicate her strength to Rias.
"By the way, Miss Radix, where is Vitan-kun? Has he already gone out?"
Sitting on the bed as well, Akeno looked around the room and asked Radix, who was brewing tea, with some confusion.
"That's right! Didn't he say Koneko would be safest by his side? Could it be that he had something urgent to take care of?"
Having just gotten intimate with Vitan, Rias didn't suspect him of shirking his duty. Instead, she kindly came up with a good excuse for him.
Sniff sniff—!
Koneko's nose twitched slightly, and then her brows furrowed.
"Miss Radix, is there a strange smell coming from that room?"
Before Radix could respond, Akeno had already followed Koneko's pointing finger with her eyes, and her gaze immediately curved like a crescent moon.
"Rias, it seems the room you specially prepared for Vitan-kun has finally been put to use."
Rias's face remained calm, her lips curling into a smile whose meaning—joy or anger—was hard to read.
"Indeed. But we should soon find out who the female lead is. And we can also get a detailed review of how Vitan-kun enjoyed the room."
Only Asia looked around in confusion at the atmosphere surrounding Rias and Akeno, completely lost.
Click—!
"Of course, I'd give you a five-star review for that room, Rias!"
"W-Wait! I wasn't ready yet, nya!"
Nya?
That peculiar sentence-ending particle immediately stirred up many unwanted memories in the little cat lying on the hospital bed, drawing curious glances from everyone toward the now-opened door.
"Cat ears?"
"Cat tail?"
"They look real!"
Rias, Akeno, and Asia, as if they had coordinated beforehand, each took turns calmly and systematically describing the voluptuous woman currently held in Vitan's arms.
Only Koneko's expression darkened the moment she laid eyes on the woman in Vitan's embrace.
"Sister…"