Human World, Japan, Kuoh.
The rest of the week had passed since the operation to stop Loki took place. In those few days, not much of note took place. However, Sirzechs would show up at Rias house shortly after she and her peerage returned from school, until it was time for them to engage in their activities as devils.
At the same time, the second years students were getting excited for their trip to Kyoto. Like James' class, they would be in Kyoto for four days and three nights. Needless to say, the one among the devils who was most excited was Issei. Thinking that without James around, he would be able to do a little peeping like he used to in the old days. However, that dream would be shattered before it could bear fruit.
"So, your date with Master Scathach is tomorrow, huh?" Rias asked James while sitting in his lap behind her desk in the Occult Research Club.
"That's right." James replied. "We'll be shopping and some other things."
Rias simply nodded. Even though she was jealous, she knew there was nothing she could do if James decided to accept a relationship with Scathach.
"It's gonna be a little quiet around here in a couple weeks." Akeno said as she placed a cup of tea on the desk in front of James. "I won't know what to do with all my cute second year kouhai gone."
"Oh, it's that time already, huh?" James said with a thoughtful expression.
"Yeah, Kyoto!" Issei shouted, excited about the upcoming school trip. "I can't wait to see all the girls from a far."
Hearing Issei's cheer, Asia pinched his waist and twisted his soft flesh. Usually, this would cause issei to wince. However, issei's excitement had reached another level.
"On top of that I'll have a few days before I get beat up for letting my perversions go too far." Issei cheered happily.
With that, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Yuuto, Gasper, Asia, and Irina sighed heavily. Everyone knew that if Mio and Maria were here instead of eating with the members of the MMA club, Mio would have looked at Issei disdainfully while Maria would have laughed, enjoying the lust Issei diffused into the air. Xenovia was the only one who acted differently. In fact, she was not even paying attention to Issei, at all.
'The other girls almost literally fight over the opportunity to sit in James-Senpai's lap." Xenovia thought to herself while watching Rias intently. 'Is it really that comfortable?'
"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, Ise." James said while scratching his head and smiling sheepishly. "But if someone lets me know that you're perving out, I could be in Kyoto near instantaneously to punish you. And don't forget, Mizore is going on this trip, too, right? And she kinda hates you."
Issei deflated immediately upon hearing that. However, James was not done.
"On top of that, I'll actually be going to Kyoto at the same time as the school trip." James added nonchalantly.
"Huh?" Everyone other than James exclaimed simultaneously after processing what it was that James had said.
"Why would you be going to Kyoto?" Rias asked curiously. "Is it for your manga?"
Everyone waited for James' response with rapt attention.
"That's a reasonable guess, but it's wrong." James replied with a smile. "It will be for work, though. That's why Master was added to the list of supervising teachers. In fact, I think Sona should know about this already, huh?"
"Yes, that's really quite interesting." Rias said while rolling her eyes. "But I'd rather know why you're going to Kyoto."
In response to Rias' impatience, James smiled and ran is fingers through her beautiful crimson hair while allowing his fingertips to brush gently against her scalp. Naturally, Rias began to purr in enjoyment. However, a moment later, she snapped out of it and glared at James.
"Stop trying to distract me." Rias said with a pout. "Why are you going to Kyoto?"
"*Sigh* Like I said it's for work." James replied. "I was appointed as Sera-Tan's assistant during the negotiations with the Kyoto Youkai Faction."
"So, they plan to honey trap Yasaka into joining the alliance, huh?" Rias said with a serious expression.
James looked at her with bewilderment. Then he began to chuckle at Rias for her imagination.
"What's so funny?" Rias asked while pouting. "You're the trump card, right? I mean, all you need to do is swing the D at her and she'll agree lickity-split, right?"
"Why does hearing Buchou talking dirty sound so hot?" Issei said absent mindedly.
This time, however, no one looked at him with disgust. Instead, everyone, including Koneko, who has the most disgust toward perverted topics nodded in agreement. Even Asia, who had been studying more perverted topics to catch Issei's attention, nodded while blushing.
*Smack!*
"Kya~!"
"Don't say things like that in front of everyone." James said with a smile after slapping Rias on the ass. Then, using the hand he slapped Rias' ass with, he pointed at Asia and continued. "Look at poor Asia, she might pass out from too much blood rushing to her head any second."
Then, following the direction of James' pointing finger, everyone in the room caught sight of Asia, whose entire face and neck were as red as Rias' hair. Noticing that everyone was staring at her, Asia quickly stood from her seat, covered her face with her hands, and ran out of the room as fast as her feet would carry her.
"She really is adorable." Akeno murmured after Asia ran away.
Once again, everyone nodded in agreement. Then, they focused back on the conversation they were having before that little interlude. However, before they could continue, Sona appeared in the doorway of the club room.
Looking curiously into the room, Sona noticed nothing out of the ordinary, so she tilted her head confusedly. After a moment, she walked into the room followed by her [Queen], Tsubaki.
"Sona, Tsubaki, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Rias said as she found a more comfortable spot on James' lap.
Though she would never admit it out loud, Sona was feeling quite envious of Rias' current position. However, because she came to the Occult Research Club with a purpose, she would not let it affect her, right now. But before she got down to business, she asked the question that had been bothering her for the last few moments.
"Did something happen?" Sona asked curiously. "I just saw Asia running away with her face beet red. Is she okay?"
In response to Sona's question, James, Rias, and the members of the Occult Research club began to laugh. Then, Akeno explained what happened and why Asia ran away so quickly. Hearing Akeno's explanation, Sona and Tsubaki also chuckled.
"She really is quite cute, what do you think Kaichou?" Tsubaki asked with a smile.
"Yes, she really is." Sona replied with a similar smile. Then, her expression changed back to her usual serious expression. "Anyway, I have something to tell you, James and Rias."
Hearing the shift in tone, James and Rias listened seriously to Sona's next words.
"I've added another member to my peerage." Sona said while gesturing toward the open door. "Now, why don't you come in."
And just as Sona finished, a tall woman with long straight silver hair entered the room.
"Rossweisse?" James asked curiously. "But I thought you were supposed to be Lord Odin's bodyguard. How did you end up joining Sona's peerage?"
Everyone else was surprised as well. No one expected the proud and beautiful Valkyrie, they had seen with Odin, would become a reincarnated devil. They were even more surprised, however, when they saw Rossweisse's expression crumble into one of sadness with tears threatening to spill from her eyes, they were caught off gaurd.
"Rossweisse, are you alright?" James asked cautiously.
"... doned me..." Rossweisse muttered.
Not understanding everything that Rossweisse said, everyone, other than Sona and Tsubaki, sported a confused expression.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite get that." James said in a gentle tone.
After realizing that she was mumbling and allowing her emotions to affect her, Rossweisse took a deep breath. Then, she shouted, as if to drive away all the negative emotions.
"He abandoned me!" Rossweisse shouted at the top of her lungs. "That old geezer went back to Asgard an left me here!"
Once again, everyone was taken aback by Rossweisse outburst. Then, they all watched as Rossweisse crumbled to the floor, hung her head, and began to sob loudly.
"So... I went to Lady Sitri to find out if they had a way for me to get back to Asgard." Rossweisse said, beginning to explain how she became a reincarnated devil. "Then, she offered me a position in her peerage. She also told mee that I didn't have to accept, and she would still help me get back home if I refused."
Hearing that, everyone looked at Sona skeptically. Seeing their gazes, Sona could not help but twitch an eyebrow.
"Wow, making your move when she's at her lowest." James said with a smile. "You really are a devil. I approve."
Sona only rolled her eyes at James, then turned her attention back to the former Valkyrie who was still sitting on the floor.
"After hearing Lady Sitri's offer, it sounded like the devils' whispers."
"That's because it was." James replied.
Ignoring James, Rossweisse continued.
"And on impulse I accepted her offer." Rossweisse said as she raised her head. "But now that I stop to think about it, I don't know if I made the right decision. I mean, what will my grandma say when she finds out?"
No one knew how to console Rossweisse. Even though most of the reincarnated devils present could not relate, they could still imagine what would happen if a member of their family found out that they had become a devil, an objectively evil race of supernatural beings.
Noticing that Rossweisse was beginning to cry harder as time went by, James stood up then placed Rias in her chair. After that, he made his way over to the crying former Valkyrie and knelt in front of her. Then, after a bit of hesitation, James began to pat Rossweisse on her head. Surprised by the intimate action, Rossweisse froze, and her tears stopped falling. A moment later, she raised her head and met eyes with James.
"I know it must suck to be discarded like that." James said gently. "But honestly, it's Odin's loss. We all know how talented you are with magic. And we all know that you would be a powerful addition to any group or organization that's lucky enough to have you. So, please don't cry anymore."
To James' gentle words, Rossweisse simply stared at James fixedly for a while. Beginning to feel awkward, James continued to stroke her head and spoke once more.
"Besides, a beautiful girl like you is better suited to smiling than tears." James said with a smile.
Then, giving James no time to react, Rossweisse threw herself at James and wrapped her arms around his neck. Not ready for the sneak hug, James fell back with Rossweisse laying on top of him and crying once again. Though, this time the tears were happier in nature.
Meanwhile, everyone other than Issei smiled at the interaction James just had with Rossweisse. Issei, on the other hand looked at James with jealousy.
"Why do they all throw themselves at James-Senpai?" Issei asked in a forlorn tone.
"Because his lower head isn't the smarter of the two." Koneko said disdainfully without looking at Issei.
Issei did not even know how to reply. He already knew that he allowed his libido to dictate his actions more than they should. But he had no idea what he should do about it.
At the same time, James was able to sit up. In response, Rossweisse made herself comfortable in his embrace and nuzzled her head against his chest. Because of that, James looked at Sona helplessly. In response, Sona simply smiled.
"It looks like you've got another admirer." Sona said in a playful tone. "You should take some time to get to know each other. At the same time, could you train her in some hand-to-hand techniques? It wouldn't make sense for my new [Rook] to be useless in close combat, right?"
"Wait, you made a magical genius like her a [Rook]?" Rias asked as she approached the group.
"I couldn't help it." Sona said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I didn't have any [Bishop Pieces] left. Then, I had the idea to use her as a tank. With heightened defense and a magical barrage, she would be great for that role. And if we can make her a competent close combat fighter as well, she would fill the role perfectly."
"I see." James replied with a nod. "I don't mind training her. But this training will be pretty Spartan. I mean, we have to get her up to an acceptable level as fast as possible, right?"
"Right." Sona replied with a nod.
"Alright, then I'll take care of her during our training sessions after school." James said.
"Oh, and starting tomorrow, Rossweisse will be a teacher of Kuoh Academy." Sona said as if it were an afterthought. "As well as the advisor for the Student Council."