LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 16: Serenity
Following the most intense and invigorating shower of his life, Vahn learned Rias's morning routine by observing Akeno before joining her in the club room to discuss the specifics of his abilities and come up with a schedule for utilizing the Corridor of Intertwined Fates. They had learned the previous afternoon that he could acquire OP from other people killing monsters, albeit at a rate divided by the number of people within, further multiplied by 10% per person, so Rias was hoping to use it to strengthen the members of her Peerage and to ensure he had sufficient resources to produce equipment for himself and them.
"We're typically on standby to respond to summons between the hours of six and ten post meridiem, so the best times to use it is immediately after school lets out or throughout the night," reasoned Rias, sitting snugly next to Vahn with the fingers of her left hand linked through his right, caressing his thumb with her own as she expressed, "My only concern is that using it too often could adversely affect our day to day lives and our perception of the importance of dates and deadlines. Even if we only used it between the hours of ten post-meridiem and six pre, that would equate to an extra 546 days by the end of this year alone."
(Her math is accurate.) stated Sis, sparing Vahn the need to calculate it himself.
Raising her gaze from their linked hands to meet Vahn's gaze, Rias's smile softened as she stated, "While high-ranking Devils can live for upwards of ten thousand years if they are not killed, you at least appear to be human. Since we are seemingly unable to enter the Corridor of Intertwined Fates without you, overutilizing it would make it appear as though you are aging very rapidly from the perspective of normal humans."
Shaking his head, Vahn contended, "That shouldn't be an issue. I may be human, but based on what I've been told, I should be able to live forever unless I'm killed..."
"Oh? Then I look forward to our long and happy relationship~" hummed Rias, gleefully narrowing her eyes. Her inability to subordinate and thus reincarnate Vahn had been a slight concern for her, but if his lifespan was as vast as he claimed, that raised different concerns.
"Could you tell me about where you came from...?" asked Rias, squeezing Vahn's hand as she sincerely and unfetteredly expressed, "I want to know everything about you..."
"I can't," responded Vahn, shaking his head as he calmly revealed, "Most of my memories from that time are gone, and those that remain are locked away. I know I was in a lab, and I remember experiencing a lot of terrible things, but the details are blurry..."
"I see..." muttered Rias, using her free hand to draw Vahn's face to her bosom as she nestled her face into his crown and expressed, "I am truly sorry you had to experience something like that..."
"I'm not..." responded Vahn, causing Rias to feel equal parts curious and confused before he raised his face from her breasts, smiling as he stated, "Because I wouldn't be here otherwise..."
"You're as smooth as a baby's bottom..." hummed Rias, rewarding Vahn's sincerity with a kiss to the top of his head. She would have kissed him on the lips, but after he was finished speaking, he promptly returned his face to her bosom, enjoying the experience of being held...
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Though it was difficult for him to remain focused after the previous day's and that morning's events, Vahn unknowingly impressed many of the girls in his class with the intensity he exuded throughout each lesson, his gaze firmly fixed on the front of the classroom except when they were asked to follow along in their textbooks.
doo-dew-deww~
Hearing the bell signaling the end of the period, the voluptuous math teacher, Ms. Fujibiyashi, closed her textbook with a crisp pap before stating, "Alright, everyone, it's time for gym class. Girls will move to the changing room near the gymnasium. Since we are still in the process of transitioning to a co-ed campus, boys will have a free period until lunch. Do not wander someplace you shouldn't."
'That explains why I wasn't provided any gym clothes when I received my uniforms...' noted Vahn, grabbing his bookbag with the intention of making his way to the Old School Building. He received invitations from members of the Track, Tennis, and Rhythmic Gymnastics Teams to come and watch their practice, but after politely declining each of them, they left him alone but told him he could drop by whenever he pleased...
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Realizing after he arrived that Rias was most likely in gym class, Vahn sat at the top of the five stone steps leading up to the Old School Building's entrance and spent several minutes staring up at the breathtakingly blue sky and sparse clouds passing overhead. He couldn't even imagine such a pretty color a few months prior, so while most people wouldn't bat an eye at such things, he couldn't help appreciating the sky's sheer blueness, the warmth of the sun, and the feeling of serenity that washed over him as his hair was gently blown by the cool Spring breeze...
"What are you doing here, pervert...?"
Hearing a faint, cold, and pleasantly raspy voice, Vahn wasn't surprised to find Koneko standing a short distance away when he half-turned his head and body to look behind him. She was notably wearing her gym uniform, consisting of a white t-shirt with navy blue accents, the symbol of Kuoh Academy on the left side of the breast, a pair of navy blue bloomers, and white tennis shoes with short white socks, but his focus was on her face as he flatly and calmly retorted, "I'm not a pervert..."
"All boys are perverts..." stated Koneko, yet, despite this claim, she made her way over and sat next to him, crossing her arms atop her knees as she appended, "You're just less perverted than most..."
"Mmm...you may be right..." conceded Vahn, staring off into space as he recollected the memory of his morning shower with Rias. It was almost frightening how good her hands felt, but instead of feeling trepidatious, he eagerly anticipated the next time.
Catching Vahn a little off guard, causing him to tilt his head and stare at her, Koneko brought her face closer and sniffed the air around him. Then, just as he was about to ask, she pointed out, "You smell really good...like nature..."
"Thank you...?" responded Vahn, feeling more confused than gratified by what he assumed was a compliment.
Leaving Vahn feeling even more confused, Koneko abruptly got up and started to leave, prompting him to follow her departure with a perplexed expression until she stopped, gazed back at him, and said, "You're a part of the Occult Research Club and Lady Rias's boyfriend...you don't need to sit out here and wait for her like a dog awaiting its owner's return. You can come inside..."
"Oh...okay..." responded Vahn, rising to his feet and brushing himself off before following after Koneko, who he presumed was waiting for him, as she observed him silently before turning and walking ahead of him when he started moving. What followed was an impromptu tour of the building's interior, Koneko leading him around and showing him the interior of each room except one that had been sealed off with multiple locks and caution tape...
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"It's good to see the two of you getting along. But now that I've arrived, I'm afraid you'll need to move, Koneko," said Rias, sporting a broad smile as she entered the club room with Akeno to find Vahn looking flustered and Koneko sitting on his lap with an impassive expression, snacking on matcha-flavored Pocky sticks.
"Nn..." responded Koneko, getting up from Vahn's lap and turning to stare at him for a moment before wordlessly leaving the room. Throughout their entire interaction, all he felt was confusion, so once she had left and Rias had sat next to him, he couldn't help asking, "Do you know what all of that was about? She showed me around, and then when I sat down, she sat in my lap. I tried asking why, but she didn't answer me and instead asked if I had any snacks..."
"That's just the kind of person Koneko is. I won't get into why, but she is very similar to a cat," responded Rias, crossing her arms and shaking her head as she appended, "Though, I'm honestly quite surprised. I thought it would take at least a few months, maybe even years, for her to open up to a boy other than Kiba. And I've never seen her sit on anyone's lap but my own."
"Perhaps it's because Vahn-sama is your boyfriend?" proposed Akeno. "She should comprehend how important both he and his abilities are to you and your Peerage as a whole, so this could be her attempt to make Vahn-sama feel more welcome. I feel a similar inclination but shall wait until the two of you are a bit closer before acting upon it..."
"Hmmm...I suppose that makes sense," responded Rias, holding her chin with the side of her right index finger and the tip of her thumb, ostensibly in deep thought before nodding, looking to Akeno, and adding, "As for you taking action, please wait at least a month or two real-time. Vahn is my first boyfriend and he chose me to be his girlfriend. I have an implied right to all his firsts. I would forgive you, of course, but I would be very upset if you stole any away from me."
"Then you should be especially thorough these next one to two months~" hummed Akeno, departing the room to retrieve the dishes their Familiars had prepared for lunch.
"That girl..." exhaled Rias, shaking her head in mock exasperation before meeting Vahn's gaze, adopting a narrow-eyed smile that caused his heart to skip a beat before racing as she stated, "We have a few minutes before our meals arrive. Shall we make out? Or is there something else you would like to try?"
Once again recalling the incident from that morning, Vahn's face gained a ruddy hue, his throat tightening, compelling him to swallow before asking, "Could I try touching your butt...?"
"Of course," responded Rias, beaming as she asked, "How would you like to go about it? Clothed? Unclothed? Sitting on your lap? Lying down? If it is the request of my handsome and dependable boyfriend, I would try just about anything."
With his face becoming increasingly hot, Vahn swallowed a second time before answering, "I would like you to sit on my lap...". He had felt weird when Koneko did it facing away from him, but the thought of Rias sitting on his lap, their faces positioned perfectly for kissing, caused his heart to beat with such intensity he could hear it within his ears.
"Excellent..." purred Rias, adjusting her position so that she was straddling Vahn with her arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders. The rosy hue of his face and the unfettered passion in his gaze caused her own cheeks to feel a little warm, but as the Senpai in the situation, she maintained her composure, adopted a narrow-eyed smile, and asked, "Did you forget why I'm sitting on you? Touch my butt..."
"Right..." responded Vahn, placing his hands on Rias's butt, its weight, warmth, and softness creating a tactile sensation against his palms that intensified the heat building in his body, causing him to feel feverish. At the same time, a certain part of his body came to life of its own accord, causing him to feel slightly panicked until Rias tightened her hold on him, squeezed her thighs together, and practically adhered to his body as she sensually appended, "Now kiss me..." before taking matters into her own hands by bringing her lips to his and slipping her tongue into his mouth...
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