Reincarnated in the World of High School DxD

"My, my. What are we all doing out here?"

A sweet, feminine voice purred as something large, soft, and unmistakably familiar pressed against the back of Kazuki's head.

"Welcome back, Akeno."

"Ufufu~ I'm home, Kazuki~!!"

Sure enough, there stood Akeno Himejima, her usual gentle smile gracing her lips.

"Mmm~! I missed you so much, Kazuki!"

She pulled him into a tight embrace, his face sinking into her voluptuous chest. The familiar softness, the intoxicating sweetness of her perfume—it flooded him with bliss, drawing an involuntary smirk.

"Akeno-san, that's cheating!"

"Yeah! No hogging Senpai for yourself!"

"My, my. Can't you let me have this? It's been so long~!"

"We haven't seen him either, you know?!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Oh my, oh my? Wait, are you Xenovia-chan?"

As Yumi and Xenovia protested, the heavenly pressure around Kazuki's head vanished. Just as he sighed in resignation, another pair of soft, warm weights settled onto him.

"Ka~zu~ki~ I'm hooome~ Nya!!"

Kuroka. Of course. And then, a smaller hand—Koneko's—clasped his own, fingers intertwining tightly.

"Welcome back, Kuroka. Koneko-chan."

"I'm home."

The current situation: Kuroka clinging to his back, her generous assets pressing into him, while Koneko latched onto his arm, their bodies flush together.

The girls' reactions?

"Wha—Huh?! Koneko-chan?! What's going on?!"

"Who the hell are you?! Get away from Kazuki-senpai!!"

"Oh my~? Could you be...?"

'Yeah. Saw that coming!' Just as Kazuki braced himself to explain, a sharp clap cut through the chaos.

"Alright, alright, that's enough, everyone."

"""Buchou...?!"""

Standing there—when had she even arrived?—was their master, Rias Gremory, wearing an exasperated smirk.

"Boss? Is she really—"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you all have questions," Rias smoothly interrupted Akeno's inquiry.

"But first, go wash off the sweat from your training. We'll talk afterward."

"...Understood."

"To put it simply," Rias added with a playful sigh, "Kazuki went and... did his thing again."

A collective groan—somewhere between resignation and disbelief—escaped Akeno, Yumi, and Xenovia. Three pairs of eyes pinned Kazuki with identical deadpan glares.

Trapped under their scrutiny, he defaulted to the one safe move left: gently stroking Koneko's head. The way her eyes fluttered shut in contentment, a soft purr rumbling in her throat—she alone was his sanctuary in this storm of feminine wrath…

After Yumi and the others who had been away returned and washed off the grime of their training, the entire peerage gathered in the lounge.

The lounge at the Gremory manor was relatively... cozy, furnished with expensive-looking sofas and table sets—the perfect spot for casual conversation.

Everyone settled into their preferred spots, sipping tea prepared by the maids.

It had been nearly two weeks since they were all last together. Everyone's magical energy had grown denser, their strength noticeably heightened.

The most striking transformations belonged to Issei and Koneko. Issei had packed on muscle, his frame now rugged and powerful. With his wilder aura and decent looks, he might actually attract girls—if he could keep his eyes off their chests and stop grinning like an idiot.

As for Koneko, the girl who once struggled with self-doubt now radiated quiet confidence, her presence backed by tangible power. ...Or at least, it would have been quiet if she weren't currently sitting on Kazuki's lap.

"Why are you sitting on Kazuki-senpai's lap?"

Indeed, the moment Koneko entered the lounge, she had claimed her spot—right on Kazuki's thighs—as if it were her birthright. The returning members stared in stunned silence, jaws practically on the floor.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone."

Rias entered soon after, accompanied by the same bewitching beauty who had been clinging to Kazuki earlier.

With long black hair, cat ears, and a voluptuous figure rivaling Rias and Akeno's, the woman—dressed in a loosely worn kimono—exuded an intoxicating allure. Issei's nose practically bled until Asia pinched him back to reality.

"First, let me introduce you. This is Koneko's older sister, Kuroka."

"Pleasure to meet ya~ Nya~"

The moment Kuroka was introduced, Issei shot to his feet.

"You're Kuroka!? After all the hell you put Koneko through, how dare you—"

"Sit. Down. Issei."

Rias's icy tone cut through his rage like a blade.

"But President! Do you even know what this woman did to—!?"

"I know. And I'll explain everything. So shut up and listen."

Despite Issei's fury, Rias remained unshaken, her azure eyes unwavering.

"Issei-san, please sit. Let's hear what Rias has to say, okay?"

Asia, who must have already been briefed, tugged at Issei's sleeve until he reluctantly dropped back onto the sofa.

"Asia... I understand. Sorry, Buchou…"

With a small nod, Rias exhaled and began.

"I understand why some of you are upset. But for now... just listen."

And so, she told them the story—a tragic tale of two sisters, torn apart by the schemes of the nobility…

By the time she finished, the room was filled with a mix of barely contained rage and tearful sorrow.

For a peerage raised on the principle that "Devils value contracts above all," the revelation that a noble house's betrayal had caused Koneko's suffering was nothing short of devastating.

"…But my sister was conditionally pardoned," Koneko spoke up softly, her lips curling into a smile so bright it seemed to disperse the gloom in the room.

"The misunderstandings have been cleared, and we've made peace. Just being together like this now… it makes me happier than anything."

Even Rias had never seen her smile like that before. The sheer joy in her expression was contagious, melting away the anger and tears of the others, who soon mirrored her grin.

Then, Koneko's expression turned serious as she continued...

"President… I have a request. Out of fear of my own power, I couldn't bear to use my real name, 'Shirone.' You gave me a new one—'Toujou Koneko.' But now that I've reconciled with my sister… I want to move forward. From now on, I wish to go by my true name—'Toujou Shirone.' …Will you allow it?"

Rias' response was immediate, her smile warm.

"Of course. I've been waiting for this moment, Koneko—no, Shirone."

Shirone's eyes shimmered as she placed a fist over her heart.

"Thank you. I, Toujou Shirone, swear anew—as the 'Rook' of Rias Gremory's peerage, I will crush all who stand in our way and serve as the shield that protects you and our family."

With that oath, she rose from Kazuki's lap and knelt before Rias, her voice unwavering.

"Your vow is accepted. …Welcome back, Shirone."

"Yes!"

Her radiant smile returned, brighter than ever.

Now, only one remained.

"Well then? What about you, Kuroka?"

Rias turned her gaze to the SS-Class Stray Devil, who had been watching with an amused smirk.

"Mmm~… Well, after seeing my little Shirone make such a cool declaration, I can't just laze around anymore, can I?" Kuroka sauntered forward, her tail flicking playfully before she, too, knelt.

"Rias Gremory… I accept your offer."

Rias extended her hand, a single 'Bishop' Evil Piece' glowing in her palm.

"Kuroka, I bestow upon you this piece. From this day forth, stand with us as my newest servant!"

The piece flared with light, sinking into Kuroka's chest. Once, it was said that taming her would require two Bishop pieces—but now, as her body shone with radiant energy, there was no doubt.

It worked.

"I, Kuroka—no, 'Toujou Kuroka'—pledge my loyalty as your 'Bishop.' Alongside my sister, I shall be the shadow that supports you and your peerage." Her lips curled into a challenging smirk, as if daring Rias to prove herself worthy.

"Let us hope… this oath remains unbroken for eternity~."

Rias met that gaze head-on, her eyes burning with resolve.

'You're testing me? Fine. I'll show you exactly why I deserve to be your master!'

Clapping her hands together, Rias turned to the others with a triumphant grin.

"Everyone! Let's give a warm welcome to our newest member—Kuroka, the 'Bishop'!"

The room erupted in cheers and applause, the sound echoing through the Gremory manor as the peerage celebrated their reunited—and now strengthened—family.

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