Kevin, Rias, and Akeno sprinted across the academy grounds, shadows trailing behind them under the pale moonlight. The sudden attack was unexpected, but they had prepared for this. Every training session, every plan they had made over the past few days would now be put to the test.
The sound of movement echoed from the east courtyard. Kevin motioned to Rias and Akeno to split up. "We'll cover more ground. Rias, take the left side with Kiba. Akeno, come with me."
Rias nodded, her crimson hair flowing behind her as she led her team toward the courtyard's far end. Kevin and Akeno veered right, heading toward the shadows creeping along the walls.
Kevin's heart pounded with adrenaline. The template of Uchiha Sasuke heightened his senses, every rustle of leaves and flicker of movement in his periphery felt sharper. They had to find out what the Kiryuu Clan was planning—and fast.
As Kevin and Akeno rounded a corner, they came upon a group of three cloaked figures. They moved silently through the academy's grounds, their hands weaving spells into the air.
"Found you," Kevin muttered under his breath, activating the Sharingan. His crimson eyes swirled to life, tracing every movement of the enemy's spellwork with clarity.
Akeno grinned beside him, her aura crackling with energy. "Care to introduce yourself to them, Kevin?"
Without hesitation, Kevin dashed forward, his body moving with lightning speed. One of the cloaked figures turned in time to meet his eyes—but it was already too late.
"Sharingan: Genjutsu."
The enemy froze, their mind entrapped in an illusion of Kevin's design. The others stumbled back in shock, but Akeno was quicker. With a flick of her wrist, bolts of electricity arced through the air, stunning the remaining enemies.
"You're not going anywhere," Akeno whispered, her voice filled with playful menace.
Kevin crouched over the enemy trapped in his genjutsu. "Why are you here? What's your plan?"
The figure struggled, his mind fighting against the illusion, but the Sharingan's grip was unyielding. "We're... here to prepare... the ritual..." he stammered, eyes wide with fear.
Kevin leaned closer, the Sharingan burning brightly in the darkness. "What ritual?"
Before the enemy could answer, a pulse of dark energy exploded from his body. Kevin and Akeno leapt back as the enemy disintegrated into black mist, leaving only traces of malevolent magic behind.
Akeno frowned, her cheerful expression replaced by seriousness. "They're trying to cover their tracks. We need to find the others."
Kevin nodded, frustration boiling inside him. Whoever was leading the Kiryuu Clan was clever—and dangerous.
They regrouped with Rias and Kiba in the central courtyard, where the battle was still unfolding. The enemies fought fiercely, but Kevin and the others outmatched them with teamwork and precision.
As they subdued the remaining members, Rias grabbed one of the attackers by the collar and demanded answers. "What are you after? Why attack the academy?"
The enemy sneered. "You think you've won? This is just the beginning. Our leader has already set the stage. Soon, all of you will fall."
Kevin's eyes narrowed, the Sharingan swirling with intent. "Where is your leader?"
The enemy smirked. "Closer than you think."
Before they could react, the figure burst into the same black mist as the others, vanishing without a trace. Kevin clenched his fists in frustration.
"They're stalling," Rias muttered. "They're keeping us distracted while something bigger is happening elsewhere."
Kevin's heart raced. The enemy's words echoed in his mind—our leader has already set the stage. What were they planning?
After securing the academy grounds, they returned to the clubroom to regroup and analyze the situation. The tension in the room was thick, but they had held their ground.
Akeno broke the silence first, giving Kevin a playful nudge. "Not bad, Sasuke-kun."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "That name again?"
Rias smiled warmly, her previous tension easing just a bit. "We wouldn't have made it without you, Kevin. You handled things perfectly."
The praise caught Kevin off-guard, but he tried not to show it. His heart beat a little faster, though—an emotion he wasn't quite sure how to deal with. He glanced at Rias and Akeno, feeling a strange mixture of pride and awkwardness.
Unbeknownst to Kevin, both girls could hear the subtle shifts in his thoughts—his fleeting self-doubts, his quiet joy at their praise, and the way his heart raced whenever he looked at them.
Rias's cheeks warmed slightly, and Akeno gave him a knowing smile. "You're easy to read, Kevin," Akeno teased gently, though he didn't realize how literal her words were.
The moment passed, but the warmth between them lingered.
As the night deepened, they gathered around a map of Kuoh, marking potential locations where the Kiryuu Clan could strike next.
"We need to act fast," Rias said, her tone serious. "If their leader is close, we need to figure out their target before it's too late."
Kevin's gaze was sharp, the template of Sasuke driving his resolve. "We'll stop them. Whatever they're planning, we won't let them succeed."
Rias nodded, her hand brushing against Kevin's. "Together."
Akeno grinned from the side, her teasing nature returning. "Looks like someone's getting all the attention tonight."
Kevin groaned, but a small smile tugged at his lips. Despite the danger looming over them, moments like these made everything worthwhile.
As they finalized their next moves, a sense of purpose settled over the group. The storm was coming, but they were ready to face it—together.
And in the quiet of Kevin's heart, he knew one thing for sure: no matter what the future held, he would protect the people he loved.