"How can you... Does it have something to do with that guy?"
"Yes... Kisuke-senpai helped me face reality." Koneko smiles brightly as she admits it.
Rias and her group are now amazed because Koneko always had this deadpan expression as her default and it's very difficult to get some other expression from her due to her trauma... Especially that smile that looks like it came from the bottom of her heart.
"Is that really Koneko-chan?" Issei muttered but no one answered him as they also have the same question in their heads. They didn't know that she would change this much by just spending some weeks with an unknown guy that suddenly became a mysterious person. Rias especially, she's more willing to believe that Kisuke used some kind of magic to manipulate Koneko's mind as even she can't make Koneko open up with her with the years they were together.
"What did he say exactly?" Akeno was also affected by her smile and calmed down.
"Many... But I guess there is one that made me lose all hesitation of using Senjutsu." Koneko looked up in contemplation and suddenly remembered that one thing Kisuke said, "He said that 'If you're afraid of your power or just plainly hate to use it, that's fine. You can just do what's most comfortable you're with. But remember this, with the reluctance to use the power that's within you, you might regret that you'll lose something more important in the future. After all, being comfortable doesn't equate to being safe. That's just how is it in the world we live in.' "
Akeno understood what she said, but still can't accept it as she's been denying her other half since her childhood and it isn't easy for her just suddenly change minds.
"Alright, let's stop there for now. We'll discuss this later. For now, I want to know how we should act around him. Sona, you're very friendly with him. What do you think we should do." Rias knew that they won't go anywhere if they talk about their traumas now, so she immediately changes the topic when she got the chance.
Sona stayed silent for a minute before answering Rias, "Do not provoke him for now. I don't know much about him, but I knew from his personality that he isn't joking this time. From all the time I spent with him, I at least can tell that he has a ton of secrets that may or may not threaten us."
"Isn't it too dangerous to leave him alone?" Rias couldn't help but shudder every time she remembers the pressure he released earlier, 'Even, my brother can't release that kind of pressure. It's probably only a coercion technique.'
"I'll be keeping an eye on him, so you don't have to worry. You only need to think about your own problem for now. You still don't know how to get out of it, right?"
"... I'll be fine... I can surely think of something." Rias made an ugly face. Akeno knew what they're talking about and didn't have any change in expression. But the rest of her peerage members were confused.
"Is that so... Good luck then... I'll be coming to Kisuke's place to apologize for what just happened. Any message you want to send?" Sona sighed and moved on.
"Please send my apologies for what happened earlier. But tell him I don't regret doing it." Rias turned around to leave with nothing more to say. Akeno and the rest followed her towards the old school building.
"I will," Sona answered her and turned towards the new school building with Tsubaki in tow.
.
.
.
Going back in time a bit earlier, Kisuke is walking along an animal trail to exit the forest, but after reaching 100 meters away from the clearing, he suddenly stopped and spoked out loud, "Devil-san, if you're looking for directions, I'm happy to assist."
Waiting for a minute and two in silence, someone went out from the tree's shadow, a woman.
The newcomer is a beautiful young woman appearing to be in her early twenties with back-length silver hair that features a long braid on each side with small blue bows at the ends, while the rest is let down which ends in twin braids and red eyes. she is wearing a blue and white French maid outfit with long sleeves and a white maid headband over her head with red lipstick as a cosmetic accessory.
"I'm not exactly looking for direction, I'm just a bit curious about you." The maid answered.
"Iyaa~~ I'm flattered. It's my honor to catch the interest of a beautiful woman such as you. May I know how can I serve you?" Kisuke is still speaking nonchalantly.
The maid narrowed her eyes and released her own pressure to Kisuke and the cat on top of his head using her Demonic Power. Although it's a pressure, it doesn't affect anything physical and just stresses the psyche of the target.
'She's looking down on us. Should we strike back?' Yoruichi sent a telepathic message to Kisuke.
'No. Although she's really looking down on us, she isn't hostile and she's just testing us. Just ignore it, she'll let up after a few seconds if there is no change in my countenance. We successfully caught their attention, but we can't reveal all our cards yet as we still know almost next to nothing about them. We can't start a proper conversation in that manner. For, I'll become a mysterious but with limited threat kind of youth in their eyes.' Kisuke replied back and explained the situation to Yoruichi.
Just as Kisuke expected, the maid stopped pressuring him after failing to draw any changes from his expression or demeanor, 'It's either he already saw a real battlefield or he's just really good at hiding what's he's thinking. I confirmed that he's just a 17-18 years old kid, so the former is very unlikely. Rias also didn't take note of any abilities until this late so more evidence points to the latter, but I still can't make my conclusion here until I observe more.'
"Now that you're done testing me. Mind telling me what you really want?" Kisuke asks her while she's still contemplating on possibilities of his identity.
The maid looked at him and said, "I just have a few questions that I hope you can answer."
"I don't have any obligation to answer you, but I'll think about it after hearing it. Shoot away."