That morning, Jun left before the sun had fully risen.
He moved silently, putting on his simple clothes once more. Akeno was still asleep on the futon, her breathing steady, her face peaceful—a sight that made Jun pause for a moment at the doorway.
He looked at her a little longer than he should have.
Not because he hesitated.
But because he knew that after that night, he could no longer live only for himself.
Jun closed the door carefully and left the shrine. The cold morning air brushed against his skin, yet his thoughts were far hotter than usual. Something had changed—not his strength, not his plans, but the direction of his life.
Now, there was someone who loved him.
And he returned those feelings.
That meant one thing: he had to stay alive, no matter what happened. And if necessary—stand against the world itself.
…
In the forest, far from Kuoh City, Jun returned to his camp before the sun climbed high. Without resting, he immediately began training.
Maw leapt onto his shoulder, trembling lightly as if greeting him.
"Start again," Jun said briefly.
That day's training was harsher than usual. His movements were sharper, his breathing more controlled, his aura more tightly sealed. Not because of ambition, but because of responsibility. Every slash, every step, every flow of qi—everything was directed toward one simple goal.
Not dying.
And not letting those he protected be harmed.
…
Meanwhile, in Kuoh City.
Akeno woke up later than usual. Her body felt light, her mind clear—yet her heart was filled with feelings she had never experienced so completely before.
She kept her promise.
That secret—about Jun, about Cheon Ma, about what happened that night—she kept it tightly sealed. Even from Rias.
Not because she didn't trust her best friend.
But because she understood Jun's position.
His existence was independent. Unaffiliated with any faction. Without protection. And in the supernatural world, power like his was not a blessing—it was bait.
If Jun's identity were to leak, someone would come after him.
Akeno would not let that happen.
…
However, small changes could not be completely hidden.
Rias noticed it from the morning onward. Not just once or twice, but repeatedly—every time Akeno let out a small laugh, every time she brewed tea, every time she stood by the clubroom window with an absent yet peaceful gaze.
Akeno's skin looked brighter than usual. Her expression softer, no longer fully wrapped in the mischievous smile she often used to tease others. Even her aura—which normally carried a mix of danger and playfulness—now felt more stable, warmer, and somehow… more mature.
When the clubroom was relatively quiet, Rias finally couldn't hold back.
"Akeno-san…" She tilted her head, looking at her friend with clear curiosity. "What happened to you?"
Akeno turned and smiled. Not a teasing smile, nor one deliberately made—but a calm, natural smile.
"Hmm~?" she replied lightly. "What do you mean, Rias?"
"I don't know," Rias murmured, crossing her arms. "You look… different."
Akeno fell silent for a moment. She closed her eyes, took a small breath, then opened them again, her gaze slightly shimmering.
"I see…" she said softly. "For some reason, I've been feeling very happy lately. Even I don't really know why."
Rias blinked.
"Eh?" She stepped closer. "That's a strange answer."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Rias's expression changed.
"Ah—wait!" she said quickly. "I heard it from Issei. He said Jun came to see you yesterday. What actually happened?!"
Akeno averted her gaze slightly, covering her mouth with her hand, a small smile clearly forming.
"Ah… that's a secret~"
Rias froze.
Her face flushed to the same color as her hair, her eyes widening.
"S-SECRET?!"
She pointed at Akeno with a trembling finger.
"Akeno!! You usually never keep secrets from me!"
Akeno merely let out a small chuckle, clearly enjoying the reaction. Her shoulders lifted slightly, her expression relaxed—far too relaxed for someone who had just frustrated her leader.
"Sorry, sorry~" she said lightly. "But there are things that are more beautiful when kept to oneself."
Rias snorted softly, restraining the urge to interrogate further. She had known Akeno long enough to understand that once that smile appeared, not a single thing would come out of her mouth.
On the central sofa, Koneko watched the scene without much expression. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly—not because of their conversation, but because her thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
'…Will he come again?'
The question surfaced without her realizing it.
Lately, there was someone who had caught her attention. Usually, around midday or afternoon, that figure would always be in the meditation garden—beneath a plum tree rarely visited by others. He sat cross-legged, silent, with a strange calmness. After that, he would share food with the stray cats wandering around the shrine and garden.
Including herself.
At that time, Koneko had been transformed into a white cat. As a nekomata yokai, she was extremely sensitive to life energy. And the energy that man possessed—strong qi that did not oppress, a warm and gentle atmosphere—made her feel… comfortable. Safe.
He never forced them. Never called out. Never tried to touch them if the cats moved away. He simply sat there, smiling faintly, letting them approach on their own.
But for the past few days, that figure had no longer been there.
The plum tree still stood. The garden remained quiet. But that presence—which somehow always made her stay longer than she should have—had disappeared.
Koneko lowered her head slightly, her hand unconsciously clenching.
'He's not coming anymore…'
She didn't know the reason. And what was more ironic—
Jun also didn't know that the white cat he often spoiled, the one that always came closest and stayed by his side the longest, was Koneko Toujou.
In the clubroom, Akeno was still laughing softly, Rias was still sulking, and the world continued as usual.
But that calm would not last long.
The clubroom door opened, and three figures entered almost simultaneously.
Issei, Kiba, and Asia.
"Eh?" Issei looked around with a puzzled expression, sensing the strange atmosphere. "What happened!?"
Kiba glanced at Rias, then Akeno, catching the subtle yet real shift in mood. Asia only blinked softly, sensing a delicate tension she couldn't put into words.
"Nothing happened," Rias replied quickly, clearing her throat lightly. "We were just… chatting."
"Ara~ yes, yes," Akeno added with a sweet smile, as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Issei frowned. His instincts told him something was off, but as usual, he didn't know where to start asking. In the end, he simply shrugged.
"S-sure then…"
Life in the clubroom resumed its flow, even as the fine threads of change had already begun weaving themselves—without anyone realizing it.