Chapter 17: The King's Lap and the Pawn's Peace
The weekend air in Kuoh was crisp. I stood by the station clock, checking my new watch. I wasn't wearing my school uniform for once; just a simple jacket and the dark-tinted glasses Crom had demanded I buy.
Rias: "Waiting long?"
I turned. Rias was standing there in a casual white blouse and a high-waisted skirt. She looked less like a Duke of the Underworld and more like a beautiful college student.
Motohama: "About three minutes. Though for a view like this, I would have waited three hours. You look good, Rias."
Rias: [Blushing slightly, smoothing her skirt] "Flattery already? You've certainly become bolder since the Phoenix battle."
Motohama: "Life's too short to be subtle. Shall we go?"
Walking Through Kuoh
We wandered through the shopping district without a map or a plan. We stopped at a small takoyaki stand, sharing a tray while dodging the local students.
Rias: "It's strange. Normally, Issei would be shouting or Akeno would be... well, being Akeno. It's quiet with just the two of us."
Motohama: "That's the point of a date, isn't it? To hear your own thoughts for once. Besides, if Issei were here, he'd already be trying to find a way to make this perverted. I'm handling the perversion with much more 'refinement' today."
Rias: [Rolling her eyes] "Refined perversion is still perversion, Motohama. But... I don't hate the silence."
We moved to a bookstore, then a small shop filled with charms. There was no talk of the House of Gremory or the Great War. We talked about the annoying math teacher and how much Asia liked her new room. It was normal. It was exactly what we both needed.
The Lap Pillow
Eventually, we found a quiet park bench overlooking the pond. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the water. Rias sat down, letting out a long, weary sigh as the weight of her responsibilities briefly returned to her eyes.
Without a word, I turned and leaned back, resting my head directly onto her lap.
Rias: [Freezing in place, her hands hovering in the air] "M-Motohama?! What do you think you're doing? We are in public!"
Motohama: "I'm resting. My 'Refined Pervert' energy is running low. Your lap is the most high-quality pillow in Japan; it would be a waste not to use it."
Rias: "You... you truly are shameless. People are looking!"
Motohama: "Let them look. They're just jealous they don't have a beautiful King to take care of them."
Rias let out a huff of fake indignation, but she didn't push me away. Instead, her hands slowly lowered, her fingers gently brushing through my hair, adjusting my head so I was more comfortable.
Rias: "Five minutes. We stay like this for five minutes, and then we keep walking. Understood?"
Motohama: "Understood. Sorry, Rias. I'll be a good boy for those five minutes."
Rias: [Softly, her voice barely a whisper] "Liar. You've never been a 'good boy' for a single second since you woke up."
I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of her hand and the steady beat of her heart. For a moment, even Crom Cruach remained silent, as if even an Evil Dragon knew better than to ruin this.
The Ending Note
After the promised five minutes, I sat up, adjusting my glasses. Rias was looking at me, her expression a mix of affection and lingering annoyance.
Rias: "Honestly... it's all due to that damn face of yours. I can't stay mad at you when you look at me like that."
Motohama: [Grinning] "I'll have to thank the barber again. And maybe the dragon for the bone-structure upgrade."
Rias: "Don't get cocky. We still have to get dinner."
Motohama: "Lead the way, President. I'm at your service."
As we walked away, hand in hand, the peace felt solid. The drama was waiting for us tomorrow, but for tonight, the King and her Pawn were exactly where they wanted to be.
with a type of energy that made my neck hair stand up. It wasn't demonic power; it was the terrifying enthusiasm of a student body forced into "Public Image Improvement."
The Occult Research Club had been drafted into running booths. Rias stood at the head of the clubroom, her expression a mix of regal authority and "please don't let Issei ruin our reputation."
Rias: "I've received the final assignments from the Student Council. This is a chance to show we are productive members of the student body. No magic. No incidents. And above all, no perversion."
Issei: "President, you're looking at me! Why are you only looking at me?!"
Motohama: "Because you're the only one here who leaks 'pervert energy' like a broken faucet, Issei. Just try to stay away from anything with a skirt."
Rias: "Motohama, you're with Issei as 'Volunteer Helpers.' Keep him on a short leash. Akeno, you're on Fortune Telling. Asia, you're in the relaxation corner."
Crom Cruach: [Inside Motohama's head] "Putting the Priestess of Thunder in a fortune-telling booth is like putting a wolf in charge of a sheep counting contest. This will be a disaster. I can't wait."
The Booth of Misfortune
By midday, the campus was a circus. I was busy dragging Issei away from a group of girls who were "accidentally" standing in a drafty hallway, when we passed Akeno's booth.
Akeno: "Ara, ara~ Your fortune says you will experience a sharp, stinging pain in your near future, followed by a cold shower."
Male Student: [Trembling] "I-I just asked if I'd pass my math test!"
Motohama: "She's not wrong, kid. If you keep staring at her chest instead of the crystal ball, I'm the 'stinging pain' that's going to kick you out of here."
Akeno: [Winking at Motohama] "You're so protective today, Motohamaru-kun. Is it because Rias is watching, or are you just enjoying the authority?"
Motohama: "I'm just trying to keep the casualty count low. Come on, Issei. We have to check on Asia."
The Relaxation Crisis
We found Asia in the nurse's office annex, looking overwhelmed. A line of boys stretched out the door, all claiming to have "sore shoulders" or "broken hearts."
Asia: "Oh, Motohama-san! Issei-san! There are so many people today. I'm trying to help everyone relax, but they keep getting... red in the face."
Issei: "I'LL HELP! I'll show them how to properly relax a shoulder!"
Motohama: [Grabbing Issei's collar] "Sit down. You'll just end up 'accidentally' grazing a patient. I'll handle the crowd control."
I spent the next hour organizing the line with the efficiency of a drill sergeant. I was polite, calm, and utterly immovable.
Female Student: "Excuse me... Motohama-kun? You're a lot different than the rumors said. You're actually... really reliable."
Motohama: "I'm just a Pawn doing his job. Move along, the next appointment is ready."
Koneko: [Walking by, eating a chocolate bar] "Motohamaru-senpai: Level 5 Refined Pervert. Efficiency 100%. Issei-senpai: Level 0 Trash. Efficiency -10%."
Issei: "KONEKO-CHAN, THAT'S HARSH!"
The Tea Room Claim
Toward the end of the day, I stopped by Rias's "Elegant Etiquette" booth. She was dressed in a formal kimono, serving tea with a grace that silenced even the loudest students. But she looked exhausted.
Motohama: "You look like you're one cup away from a mental breakdown, President."
Rias: [Sighing as she set down a teapot] "I didn't realize how much 'etiquette' meant repeating the same three sentences for six hours. And my brother keeps sending familiar-ravens to check on the 'Cultural Harmony.'"
A student tripped nearby, nearly spilling a tray of tea over Rias's kimono. I moved before she could even react, catching the tray with one hand and stabilizing the student with the other.
Motohama: "Careful there. The President's outfit costs more than your tuition."
Rias: [Leaning closer than necessary as I handed her the tray] "Thank you, Motohama. I don't know what I'd do without my most 'reliable' assistant today."
The surrounding students began to whisper. "Are they dating?" "Look how close they are." Rias didn't pull away. In fact, she leaned into my space, making a silent claim that the entire academy could see.
The Grand Finale
The principal stood on the stage at the end of the day, declaring the event a resounding success.
Principal: "Thanks to the hard work of the Occult Research Club, we have shown that Kuoh Academy is a place of peace and—"
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the old school building, sending a plume of purple smoke into the air. Everyone froze.
Motohama: "We didn't cause that. I was standing right here."
Akeno: "That's what worries me, Motohama-kun. If it wasn't us... then the 'peace' just ended."
Crom Cruach: "Finally. The talking is over. I was starting to think I'd have to die of boredom."