Chapter 48: Rias's 'Little Vinegar Jar' Has Lift-Off (Patreon)

Perspective shifts back inside the old school building. Rias, who had gone upstairs to her bedroom to "rest" earlier, had changed her dress and returned to the lounge.

She had just sat down when she heard the sound of the main door at the entrance hall being pushed open, accompanied by the chitchat of the two who had gone out shopping.

"Heeheehee~ Fubuki, that was a bit much, wasn't it? It was Rias's first time doing that kind of thing, after all, and you left her in such a state. No wonder her walking looked a bit unnatural when she came back yesterday. She even insisted on being the very last one to take a bath."

"Hmm, speaking of which, I suddenly remembered seeing some leftover milky residue at the bottom of the bathtub Rias used last when I was washing up this morning. Could that have been… Ah, so that's how it is."

"So, after this business with the Phenex family is settled, perhaps we should also find some time to get a room at a nearby hotel and have a nice, long chat—"

Ahem, ahem, ahem!

As if hearing her best friend's voice triggered a coughing fit, Rias, whose backside had barely touched the sofa, couldn't sit still any longer and instantly shot upright. She cleared her throat and raised her voice, ensuring it carried throughout the entire first floor of the old school building.

"Akeno, Fubuki, you're back."

"Of course, President~! We bought quite a lot!" In stark contrast to her downcast mood before leaving, Akeno's voice now sounded exceptionally lighthearted upon returning.

When Rias turned her head towards the sound, she saw Hanakain Fubuki already at the lounge entrance, holding a large plastic bag. Standing beside him, clinging tightly to his arm and leaning almost her entire body weight onto him, was her certain best friend.

Rias: "..."

"What's wrong, President?" Seeing the red-haired girl suddenly fall silent for some reason, Himejima Akeno tilted her head quizzically, simultaneously tightening her grip on the young man's arm, almost burying it entirely in the deep ravine of her chest.

"..." Still silence.

Honestly speaking, while she had intentionally sent Hanakain Fubuki and Himejima Akeno out together mainly so they could resolve things between themselves, she hadn't exactly intended for them to resolve it to this degree! And what was with this blatant feeling of watching a flaunting mistress showing off her favor in front of the main wife?!

"Akeno…" Rias's expression immediately darkened slightly. "Fubuki and I have confirmed our relationship now. While I won't force you two to keep your distance, Akeno, behaving like this isn't quite appropriate, is it?"

"Not appropriate? But Rias, didn't you say…" Himejima Akeno started, but the red-haired girl cut her off.

"I said? What did I say?"

Ooh~ Hearing her friend's words, Himejima Akeno closed her mouth and said no more. It seemed Rias wasn't quite that magnanimous after all, at least not willing to tolerate it right in front of her. In that case…

"Okay, okay~ I get it." No longer arguing, Himejima Akeno obediently released his arm and even took a step sideways to maintain some distance, smiling sweetly. "Any further and the President's vinegar jar will surely overturn~"

"Akeno!" Rias glared at her friend, her face slightly flushed. "This isn't about whether I'm jealous or not, okay…"

Honestly! She had specifically stayed behind to give them space to reconcile, only to end up feeling upset and agitated all by herself in the club room. And now, after they return, they pull this clingy display right in front of her, provoking her! How could they!

"Here, Rias. Take a look, everything should be there, right?" While the two girls were squaring off, Hanakain Fubuki had already brought the plastic bag over to the sofa and handed it to her.

Rias snatched it, shooting him a glare as well, her tone slightly resentful. "Fubuki, you too…"

"Hm?" A question mark seemed to appear above the young man's head, wondering how the focus had suddenly shifted to him.

"Forget it. It's nothing," Rias muttered, pursing her lips. She turned her attention downwards, opened the plastic bag, and after a quick glance inside, commented, "Did Akeno pick all of this?"

"Yeah. After all, I've never been to the Underworld, so I don't know how different things are there compared to the Human World."

"Well, that's certainly not the way to think about it…" Hearing this, the red-haired girl felt the urge to facepalm once more. Gifts were ultimately about showing sincerity, weren't they? Besides, this was the first time visiting her home after confirming their relationship; it was basically meeting the parents. He should have put at least a little more thought into it.

But then again, hmm…

"What is it?" Seeing Rias trail off suddenly, Hanakain Fubuki asked curiously.

"N-nothing." The girl shook her head and rustled the plastic bag closed. "Anyway, my brother is so busy these days his feet barely touch the ground; he hardly has time to come home. So basically, it's just Mother at home almost every day now."

Knock, knock, knock.

Just as she finished speaking, a rhythmic knocking sound came from the entrance hall. Himejima Akeno, standing nearest the lounge entrance and thus closest to the front door, turned and opened it.

Appearing outside were a quiet girl with short black hair and glasses, and beside her, another girl with a similar style, featuring long black hair and glasses.

"Ara ara~ What rare guests," Himejima Akeno said, slightly surprised at first, then flashing her usual gentle smile. "Please, come in, Student Council President Sitri, and Vice President Shinra."

Hearing the voices from the lounge, Rias stood up and turned towards the entrance, just as the two black-haired girls with glasses entered alongside Akeno. "Sona? Why did you suddenly come over?"

"Isn't it obvious…" Sona Sitri, the short-haired girl with glasses, sighed lightly and pushed her glasses up her nose with her index finger. "It's because of the commotion stirred up by the engagement between your Gremory family and the Phenex family. Notification just arrived from the Underworld saying the time for your duel has been set for this weekend. If even I know, then likely all the other families of the 72 Pillars know by now too."

"So they're planning to come observe the proceedings, I gather," Rias understood.

"No, I feel 'watching the show' is a more fitting description," Sona corrected, pushing her glasses up again, her gaze subtly landing on the young man lounging on the sofa. "After all, for those folks, whether the Gremory family falls or the Phenex family falls, either outcome is quite an interesting event."

"They just love watching trouble, never mind making it bigger…" Rias sighed, also feeling a bit helpless. It was supposed to be her family's private affair, yet it was being turned into a spectacle for so many outsiders to gawk at. It felt quite strange.

"Well, isn't that good too?" Hanakain Fubuki interjected, rising from the sofa, stretching lazily, and strolling over to Rias's side to put an arm around her waist. "With so many people coming to witness it, consider it an announcement to the world."

"Very confident," the short-haired girl with glasses stated, crossing her arms in front of her, her expression calm as she tilted her face up slightly.

Hanakain Fubuki shrugged in response. "Seventeen years of life, never tasted defeat. Slightly looking forward to it."