"Phew, milk after a bath hits different!" I said.

"Totally get that," Matsuda replied.

After dinner and a bath, Matsuda and Motohama lounged in their room, satisfied. Matsuda, towel over his shoulder, chugged vending machine milk. I went for fruit milk.

Gremory-run hotel, top-notch as expected. Rumor has it the prez insisted on milk vending machines. Sounds like her—she's obsessed with post-bath milk.

After the Togetsukyo Bridge fight, we toured Nijo Castle and returned to the hotel. We're in Matsuda and Motohama's room now. Damn, their fluffy beds make me jealous!

Tomorrow's the last day of the school trip. We'll hit Kyoto Station, buy souvenirs, and wrap up. For now, we're watching a slideshow of our Kyoto trip on the room's flat-screen TV.

As Motohama connected his camera to the TV, the door opened.

"Yo, the post-bath beauty squad's here, perverts," Kiryuu said, leading Miu and the others in.

Kiryuu, Asia, and Ravel wore pajamas; Miu, Xenovia, and Irina were in yukata. Pajama and yukata teams, huh?

My eyes met Miu's in her yukata. My heart raced, flashing back to last night. Her cheeks flushed—she's probably feeling the same.

"Issei, you okay?" Matsuda asked.

"N-Nothing! I'm fine!" I stammered.

"Your voice is cracking," he noted.

"I'm good! Everyone's here, let's start the slideshow!" I deflected.

Please, Matsuda, drop it! Xenovia and the others grilled us all day, but we dodged with talk of tourist spots and souvenirs. Miu and I haven't spilled the beans.

(Too late, huh?) Ddraig muttered.

Anyway, I can't let Matsuda and Motohama figure it out!

Matsuda, suspicious, hit play. The TV showed our trip: the Shinkansen, hotel, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera.

"That's when Motohama nearly fell on the stairs," Matsuda laughed.

"And you choked on dango at the tea shop," Motohama shot back.

"You two were ogling girls from other schools the whole time, embarrassing our academy," Kiryuu said. "Oh, and the Hyoudou siblings were peak lovey-dovey, feeding each other like a couple."

"Traitor!" Matsuda and Motohama lunged at her.

Kiryuu's stirring the pot for fun! I dodged their punches, and they ended up hitting each other.

"Hissatsu!" they groaned, collapsing.

Haven't seen that in a while.

We kept reminiscing, laughing at our dumb moments. The trip's been fun, and with one day left, we'll make it unforgettable.

After the slideshow, bedtime rolled around. The Occult Research Club, Sitri's crew, Azazel-sensei, and Serafall gathered in my room for a strategy meeting. It's cramped—over ten people in an eight-mat room. The church trio's even squeezed into the closet!

Rossweisse, pale from her daytime drunken rampage, joined us after taking sobering meds. She looks queasy. Please, don't puke in here—I'm sleeping in this room!

Azazel addressed us. "Here's the plan. We've put Nijo Castle and Kyoto Station on high alert. All three factions' personnel and local youkai are hunting for suspicious activity. No major reports yet, but we've detected unsettling energy flows converging on Nijo Castle."

"Unsettling energy?" Kiba asked.

"Kyoto's a giant ritual city built on yin-yang and feng shui principles, packed with power spots like Fushimi Inari. You've visited some. Countless energy fields exist here, and they're now disrupted, channeling power to Nijo Castle. Issei, you've sensed it, right?"

"Sort of," I said. I felt something off but couldn't pinpoint a city-wide disturbance. My range isn't that wide.

"What'll happen?" Saji asked, swallowing hard.

"No idea, but it's bad. They plan to use the Nine-Tails' leader for an experiment. Here's the plan." Azazel pointed at a Kyoto map. "Sitri's crew and Raynare, guard the hotel and Kyoto Station. Terrorists might target it. Raynare, direct the fallen angels in the area."

"Understood," they replied.

"Gremory crew, Irina, Miu, and Saji, you're offense. Issei's the commander. Take down Hero Faction leaders and rescue Yasaka-hime."

"Me too?" Saji pointed at himself.

Azazel nodded. "Your Vritra powers—especially Dragon King mode—are useful. Those black flames can immobilize and drain enemies. Support the team."

"Got it…" Saji looked uneasy.

I slapped his back. "Don't worry. You've trained. We'll manage."

"Manage, huh? Fine, I'm in!" Saji's eyes lit up.

He's mastered maintaining Dragon King mode through training. He's solid.

One more push. "Do well, and President Sona might notice you."

"Seriously!? Hell yeah, I'm fired up!" Saji roared, a black dragon aura behind him.

Sona already respects him, but he doesn't need to know that.

Azazel continued. "Bad news: we only got three Phoenix Tears."

"Only three? For terrorists?" I asked.

He sighed. "Sorry. Chaos Brigade's global attacks spiked demand. Even key faction bases are short. The Phoenix clan's swamped. Tears might get scarce for Rating Games too."

Makes sense. Phoenix Tears are rare, and with rampant terrorism, shortages are no surprise.

"But we've got backup," Azazel said. "Professionals who've crushed Chaos Brigade attacks multiple times."

That's reassuring. Who are these pros?

Irina raised her hand. "Is this plan shared with the factions?"

"Of course. They're forming a perimeter to catch Hero Faction and other Chaos Brigade members trying to exploit this."

Serafall chimed in. "Leave the outside to me☆ I'll punish any naughty kids♪"

Her punishments sound terrifying. She's a Demon King, after all.

Azazel turned to me. "Tiamat's in the perimeter too. I wanted her at Nijo Castle, but we're short on manpower. She's already on-site."

"That's why she's not here," I said. Makes sense—let her handle that.

"I've also contacted Sona at Kuoh Academy. She'll provide backup from there."

"What about our prez and the others?" I asked.

Azazel grimaced. "Tried, but bad timing. They're in Gremory territory dealing with a riot by Old Demon King remnants. Not directly tied to the Chaos Brigade, but they're handling it."

A riot? Those Old Demon King guys are a pain.

"Grayfia and the Gremory matriarch joined them," Azazel said, shivering. "Pity the fools who pissed off Gremory women."

Serafall grinned. "The 'Flaxen-Haired Extinction Lady,' 'Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess,' and 'Silver-Haired Annihilation Queen' are all there☆ Those rioters are in for it♪"

What's with those ominous nicknames!? Extinction, Ruin, Annihilation—terrifying! I knew the prez's, but Venelana and Grayfia too!?

"You'll have it rough someday," Azazel said, patting my shoulder.

I don't get it, but I'm never angering the prez.

Azazel cleared his throat. "That's the plan. I'll scout from the skies. Be in position in one hour. Don't die—school trip's not over till you're home. Got it?"

"Yes!" we replied.

Meeting adjourned.

As Sitri's crew and Serafall left, Azazel stopped me and the Occult Research Club girls. "Strategy meeting's done, but we need to clear something up. Issei, Miu, sit."

"?" We sat, confused, facing Asia, Xenovia, Irina, and Ravel.

This feels bad. Really bad.

Azazel pointed at the girls. "They're too curious. It might distract them in battle."

He grinned mischievously. "Straight up, Issei, Miu—did you cross the line?"

"Kwasdrftgyfujikolp!!!" Miu and I let out incoherent screams.

What kind of question is that, Sensei!?

We choked, coughing violently. Water! We rushed to the fridge, chugging bottles.

Throat clear, I yelled, "You're a teacher! What kind of question is that!?"

Azazel sighed. "I wouldn't ask normally, but look at them. They're dying to know."

The girls stared, chanting, "Jiii—"

So intense!

"If they fight like this, they'll be too distracted to perform. Plan's screwed then, right?"

You're just enjoying this, Sensei! Your face is serious, but your eyes are laughing! You're loving this drama!

"Azazel-sensei's right," Xenovia said. "We can't fight properly like this."

"Please, tell the truth, Issei-san," Asia pleaded.

"I'm super curious too," Irina added.

"Even as siblings, I feel love between you!" Ravel said.

She's on a different wavelength, but still blunt!

Do we have to answer? Before a big fight?

But if they're too distracted… ugh.

"Onii-chan, we can't hide it anymore," Miu said, resigned.

Yeah, it's basically out after the daytime fight.

Alright, I'm owning this.

I sat formally, facing them. "Last night… we… did it."

My voice was barely a whisper. So embarrassing!

Why'd I have to confess!? My face—and Miu's—are burning! I want to crawl into a hole for a week!

"Well, I'm off," Azazel said.

You're leaving us in this mess!? Help!

"Congrats on losing your virginity, Issei."

SLAM

He left with that bombshell.

Later, Xenovia grilled Miu for details, who spilled everything, face red. I tried to stop her, but their intensity overwhelmed me.

The four listened eagerly.

After this humiliating ordeal, I headed to the decisive battle.

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