Receiving a call from Riser, Akeno was startled as it was the first time since he would usually come to her house secretly without anyone noticing. However, she didn't want to make him wait, so she answered quickly, even if there were many others around her.
As she walked away, the rest also took notice of Akeno's strangeness.
"Akeno-san?" Issei felt confused since, even if it was only for a moment, he felt a strangeness in Akeno's expression. It was as if he knew her for the first time, as he had never known that she could show such an expression.
The rest wasn't much better except for Koneko, who knew the source of everything.
"Haha, probably, it is her boyfriend."
Azazel said with a laugh, ignoring everyone's expression after he said those words. After the promise he had made previously, he took the job of becoming Rias' advisor, training her along with her peerage members, unlike when he made a promise to give his everything to save Vali during the attack on the Kuoh Academy, where he lied and didn't even uphold his promise.
This time, Azazel really did it, and to do that, he became the advisor of the Occult Research Club.
Azazel knew that what he did was ridiculous, especially when he wished to make Issei stronger. This act, without a doubt, would cause him to be hated by Riser, but even so, he had to do it since they lacked power.
'If Riser is really the one...'
Then, there was no doubt that Issei's power was needed.
Moreover, Issei's growth also astonished him.
After all, Issei was nothing but an ordinary, perverted boy, yet now, he had become quite a strong young man.
But even if it wasn't Riser and it was someone else, there was no doubt that Issei's strength was needed; the more, the better, right?
However, he hoped that the one who caused everything wasn't Riser.
Still, Azazel took everything with an easy-going attitude since being serious wasn't his style, and it would bring them into an unnecessary thought. Moreover, he didn't want the suspect to notice him, who had secretly started his investigation along with his subordinates.
Nevertheless, it surprised him when Rias accepted his help with ease.
As for Akeno?
Well, Azazel owed a lot of things to Akeno, especially when he was the one who called Baraqiel, her father, to do a mission, leaving the daughter and mother in a helpless situation. His guilt at that time couldn't be erased, and it was also due to this that if Akeno was happy, he was glad no matter who her partner was.
Nevertheless, Azazel could imagine that Baraqiel would cry when he heard all of this.
However, Rias was different and frowned as she felt unsettled when she thought Akeno was stolen by someone she didn't know. Yet, could she say anything? No way.
Unlike before, Rias knew that her status was far worse than Akeno's. It was also due to this that she didn't hesitate to accept Azazel's help, even though Azazel was also partly blamed for the death of Sirzech.
Rias was no longer Lucifer's little sister when Sirzech passed away. At that moment, she was just a normal heiress of the Gremory House. Meanwhile, Akeno was the daughter of the leader of the Grigori, Baraqiel.
Even if there was the strongest "Queen," Grayfia, after the funeral of Sirzech, Grayfia disappeared, which made Rias and her family restless.
Yet, there was nothing that Rias could do, especially when Grayfia couldn't be found anymore. To be honest, she wished to ask Riser's help, especially when she found out that he seemed to have a good channel to find various other things.
However, the sudden words that came out of Azazel's mouth stunned her.
"...boyfriend?"
"No way! There is no way that Akeno-san has a boyfriend! I won't believe it!"
The one who reacted the most was Issei!
Even though the relationship between Issei and Akeno wasn't as close as in the original, or rather, they were somewhat distant, Issei felt that they were quite close, especially when she didn't ignore him and she also prepared him a paper sutra to help him with his arm, which was sacrificed for Ddraig to become stronger during his match with Riser. Moreover, when he accepted the Ascalon from Michael, Akeno was also there to help.
With all of that, there was no way Issei would accept the fact that Akeno had a boyfriend!
Hearing Issei's outburst, Rias somehow calmed down and knew that there was no need for her to confront Akeno directly as she didn't want their relationship to turn stiff due to the suspicion.
However, if Akeno had a boyfriend, who would be her partner?
Somehow, a picture of a certain someone emerged in her heart and made her heart almost stop.
Nevertheless, due to the words from Azazel, the atmosphere in the clubroom turned weird. The second became longer, and it was hard to breathe. It wasn't until Akeno returned that all the eyes were focused on her.
"Akeno-san, you don't have a boyfriend, right?!"
Issei almost jumped and leaped into Akeno, but Akeno dodged him skillfully and looked at him in disgust for a moment before she showed her usual graceful expression.
"I have just received a job. It might take a while to return, though."
"Is-Is that so? That's great..." Issei sighed in relief.
"How long will you go?" Rias asked calmly, yet her heart was far from calm.
"Hmm... probably three days? I can't make a promise, though, but I will need to go back early as I need to prepare."
Akeno showed an apologetic expression since she had to leave early.
Issei was happy to know that Akeno didn't have a boyfriend, and he cheered her to do her best!
The rest wasn't much better as they didn't have any suspicion.
Akeno had no history of lying, so why should they doubt their partner?
"Okay, do your best, Akeno."
"Thank you, Rias."
Akeno smiled softly and then left by using a teleportation circle as she didn't want to make him wait too long.
Rias only nodded, then waited for a few minutes before she said, "Oh, right, I also remember that I have something to do."
"Wh-What?"
"Then, see you. By the way." Rias looked at Koneko. "Koneko, come with me."
"...." Koneko.
As her heart was beating so fast, Koneko couldn't do anything and just followed Rias.
With three left, there were only others left, and Issei could only cry as there weren't enough boobs in the clubroom.
"..." Everyone.
Still, what no one knew, Rias came to follow Akeno with Koneko. When a suspicion was born, it was impossible to stop it.
Koneko knew a storm was about to come, but there was nothing she could do. Nevertheless, as she was ordered by Rias, she could only follow her order, trying to follow Akeno.
It was just a few minutes, and it had just been a while since Akeno left, yet it surprised them that they found her at the train station.
Rias was confused, but the closer she came, the more unsettled her heart was.
Then, there, Rias found Akeno.
Akeno entered the train, but she wasn't alone.
A familiar figure stood by her side, and Akeno showed a happy smile as she held his arm intimately as they entered the train at the same time.
Only Rias felt her world turned gray as she had never expected this betrayal.
"...why?"
At the same time, on the ruined island, a figure rose from death as his heart was filled with revenge.