At the stroke of midnight, Issei's eyes snapped open. His Universal Perception had just pinged, sensing something out of the ordinary.
"Why does it feel so heavy?" Issei muttered. He was certain he had gone to sleep alone, yet now there was a distinct weight pressing down on his chest.
Groping blindly in the dark, his hand brushed against something soft. He accidentally caught hold of a tail and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Nya!" A high-pitched, adorable cry rang out.
Issei looked down and froze. There, fast asleep right on top of him, was a tiny, precious Nekomata.
"Hngh..." Koneko let out a soft, pampered moan. She slowly fluttered her eyes open—eyes of gold and black, as mesmerizing as rare jewels. "Senpai..."
"Koneko? Why are you here?"
"Hehehe, because I wanted to sleep with Senpai."
Thump-thump!
Issei's heart skipped a beat.
"I don't necessarily mind, but don't do this so suddenly. What if I lose control and... well, attack you?"
Koneko offered a sweet, unfazed smile. "I wouldn't mind if that is what Senpai desires." She leaned in close and playfully licked Issei's neck.
A shiver ran down his spine. Startled, Issei quickly pushed her up and lifted her petite body off him. Koneko simply licked her own arm like a real kitten, completely unbothered by his reaction.
'So damn cute.' Issei fought a desperate battle against his own urges at the sight.
Suddenly, Koneko's expression shifted. "This feeling..."
She hopped off the bed and hurried to the balcony, staring into the depths of the forest with a solemn gaze. Issei joined her a moment later, asking softly, "Do you want to go there?"
"..." Koneko didn't answer immediately. She brooded for a moment before nodding. "Senpai, you're coming with me, right?"
"If that's what you want, I'll go with you."
...
Issei and Koneko slipped past the Gremory estate guards, reaching the heart of the forest five minutes later.
"Ara~ ara~... so you guys actually showed up. I thought you were going to ignore me, nyaa." Kuroka's seductive voice drifted down from the branches of a tall tree.
"Kuroka. Long time no see. You've grown even more beautiful."
Kuroka blushed slightly at the compliment.
"Honestly, you've become quite the smooth talker, nyaa. Now I'm starting to worry about Shirone's purity, nyaa."
"Ehem. Don't worry, I'm a man who keeps his promises."
"Hmm..." Kuroka scrutinized him with her gold-and-black eyes.
"Why are you here, Onee-sama?" Koneko asked, her tone flat.
Kuroka winked playfully. "Something was bothering me."
"Just be honest and say you were worried about Koneko," Issei interjected.
"Nyaa!"
Kuroka hissed, reacting like a cat whose tail had been stepped on—fierce, yet still undeniably gorgeous. Koneko looked at her older sister with a flicker of doubt.
"Onee-sama?"
Kuroka went silent. She let out a long sigh and nodded softly. "As Issei said... I was worried about your condition."
"Why only now?" Koneko asked.
"That..."
"I asked, why only now?!" Koneko's voice rose, her eyes welling with tears.
Kuroka's heart ached at the sight of her little sister's tears.
"Kuroka, this is the perfect chance to settle things between you two," Issei said calmly. "I'll keep watch nearby so you can both speak from the heart."
Without waiting for an answer, Issei vanished from the clearing.
...
"Partner, are you sure this will be alright?"
"Kuroka would never hurt Koneko. I'm a hundred percent sure of that."
"That's not what I meant. I'm talking about the Vali Team."
"Ah, that? No need to worry. They might be a bunch of outcasts, but that's exactly why they won't betray one of their own."
"Haa..."
"Calling me an outcast... you've got a lot of nerve." Vali's voice echoed through the trees. He materialized out of the shadows, flanked by Bikou and Arthur Pendragon.
"I'm just stating facts. If you don't like it, try proving me wrong." Issei met Vali's gaze with a fearless smirk.
Vali let out a low chuckle. "I lost yesterday, but next time, the victory will be mine!"
Issei laughed lightly, responding in a teasing tone, "Don't hold your breath, okay? Even as we speak, I'm already stronger than you."
"..." Vali went silent, momentarily lost for words.
Arthur adjusted his glasses, his tone serious. "Vali, he's right. Unless we all work together, you won't be able to defeat him."
"I know," Vali snapped. "But if he can grow stronger, so can I!"
"Kakaka! Now that's the spirit our leader should have!" Bikou laughed heartily, his voice ringing with a sense of freedom.
"So, Vali, why are you really here? Don't tell me you want to resume our fight?"
"I do want to fight you, but not right now," Vali replied.
"Hoo? Then what? Don't tell me you're just here to escort Kuroka?"
Vali looked away, his cheeks tinting a faint red. Bikou and Arthur followed suit, turning their heads as if they hadn't heard the question.
Issei laughed, but his expression turned serious in an instant.
"You want to ask about that matter?"
Vali flinched slightly, then nodded with a grave expression. "Correct. What do you think?"
To be continued...
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