SLAVE

"We, the occult club honor your presence." Rias said as she looked at Reiji, and the other members just nodded.

"Tell me Arayoshi-Kun, what do you think about our club?"

"'E-Eh? Ohm, well, I guess it's just a front to meet up with your fellow devils." Reiji replied calmly.

"Correct." Rias gave a small round of applause.

A smile formed on Reiji's face as he heard that his assumption was correct.

"You're going to have to excuse me, though, Arayoshi-Kun. There was something I didn't mention to you before."

'Is she hiding something?'

"The truth is that reincarnation as a devil comes at a price. The moment you are reincarnated as a devil, you are part of the noble house of Gremory."

'This sounds weird...' Reiji couldn't help but think.

Rias took a breath of air.

"In short, you are now my servant."

'S-Servant...'

Before Reiji could say anything, Rias continued speaking.

"Don't think of me as you Mistress, It's more like being an employee and I'm the contractor. I will give you my support and you will be at my beck and call when I need it."

'THAT SOUNDS LIKE EXPLOITATIVE LABOR AT A WAGE BELOW THE MINIMUM WAGE!'

"I know you're thinking it's a bad deal, but you can't take it back anymore. But I promised you something before, didn't I?"

"I know what you long for." Rias began to approach Reiji suspiciously.

When Rias' breast touched Reiji's chest her eyes glowed a deep blue and she spoke.

"You desire protection. I can provide that protection to you, your family, friends, or anyone else you wish, on the sole condition that you work and be useful to me."

*GLUP*

Drops of sweat began to trickle down Reiji's forehead, but a small chuckle was heard in the room.

"Ara, I didn't think the president could be so intimidating."

*BLINK* *BLINK*

"Was I being intimidating? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to." Rias sincerely apologized and threw a cute smile at Reiji.

Reiji blushed slightly and looked away.

"Well, it's time for me to announce what your first mission will be." Rias turned and walked to the window to make a more dramatic impression.

"Starting tomorrow, Koneko-chan and Arayoshi-Kun will have the task of guarding a certain student at Kuoh Academy." Rias placed a photograph on the table.

Everyone present, except Akeno, wondered at such an action.

Looking at the photo, Reiji recognized a certain boob-obsessed pervert.

'Him!?'

"R-Rias-Sempai, you want to recruit that boy into the club?"

*SIGH*

"While it would be nice, but unfortunately, I owe someone a favor."

'A favor?' Reiji had more questions than answers.

Diverting his attention, Rias gave a round of applause.

"Well, It's already getting late, and something dangerous might happen to them." Rias looked for a few moments at Reiji as she said that.

A drop of sweat trickled down the boy's forehead.

"I-I just have bad luck, that's all." Reiji whispered as he walked out of the occult room along with the other members.

...

Outside the Kuoh Academy, the members of the occult club said goodbye to each other.

"See you, Arayoshi-san." Kiba said, which spread bat wings and flew away in the blink of an eye.

Koneko did not say goodbye verbally, but she did bow her body and just like Yuuto Kiba, spread a pair of wings and left.

"E-EVEN TOUJO-SAN KNOWS HOW TO FLY!?" Reiji exclaimed as he watched his companions take flight.

*CHUCKLE*

A laugh was heard behind Reiji, causing him to turn around quickly.

"Ara, did I scare you?" asked Akeno with amusement.

"N-No!"

"I'm just kidding. It's been a while since I've seen a person so impressed by watching someone fly."

"Really?" Reijin asks in disbelief.

"That's right. Flight is a pretty basic skill for most supernatural beings like us."

"Huh, I guess that makes sense... Is it possible that I can fly too, Himejima-san?"

"Of course. Anyone could make it the first time, it's quite simple. Let me help you." Akeno with a smile walked a little to stand in front of Reiji's back.

"I'll inject some magic into your back. When you feel a tingle, tighten your stomach, got it?"

"Yup!"

*BZZZ*

A buzzing sound was heard as Akeno began to use magic.

'I-I feel a tingling!' Immediately, Reiji clenched his stomach muscles and...

*PUFF*

A pair of bat wings emerged from his back.

"A-AWESOME!"

"That's the first step. Now you have to levitate."

"All right, how do I do that?"

"Hmm... Close your eyes and imagine that you are incredibly light."

Reiji closed his eyes tightly and imagined with all his heart that he was as light as a feather.

*WOSH*

Reiji's feet left the ground and the boy opened his eyes at that instant.

'DAMN, R-REALLY I'M FLYING!'

"Very good Arayoshi-kun! Now feel the wing muscles."

"Okay, I got it." Reiji closed his eyes in a sign of concentration and felt that there was something on his back.

'It's like having an extra pair of arms, but they don't feel heavy. It's almost like it's pure cartilage.'

*FLAP*

"W-Well, I managed to move."

"You got it. I told you it was pretty simple."

Thinking to be as heavy as steel, Reiji descended from the sky and landed, but did not put away his bat wings.

"Thank you Himejima-san, I wouldn't have made it without you." Reiji sketched a sincere smile.

"You flatter me so much. Don't be so formal with me. Just call me Akeno." Said the beautiful girl flashing a cute smile.

"I-It's okay, A-Akeno-San." Reiji blushed slightly and stuttered a little as he named a girl by her first name, remembering that the first girl he did it with killed him several times.

As usual, Reiji shook his head to ignore that thought.

"So, see you tomorrow, bye!" The young devil began to levitate in the air.

'I wonder if...'

*BOOM*

[DODGE 3/4]

An explosion of air occurred when Reiji used his ability to propel himself into the air.

"WOOOOOJOOOOOO!" Akeno heard Reiji's excited shout.

'Fu Fu Fu... I-I would think it's not his first time flying if it weren't for the fact that I just taught him...' Ignoring that, Akeno turned around to go back to the club.

'That boy, he's pretty cute.' Was the last thought the girl had before entering the building.

...

Already in the club lounge, Akeno had just entered the room and found Rias staring at the moon.

"President, I wonder why you are hiding the information about the exchange you made with Miss Sitri." Akeno spoke quietly.

"Hmm... That information is irrelevant, and perhaps, he doesn't conceive well that we used him as a bargaining chip, did you see his face when I called him a slave? He didn't look happy."

'Anyone would be angry if they were called by that word...' Akeno thought foolishly.

"Although you reincarnated him as a devil, gave him power and a backup, he doesn't seem to be as devoted as others are to you..."

Rias just shook her head.

"When I told him everything I had done for him, he didn't look too happy, but he didn't look angry or sad either."

"That's a serious problem, but I think being friendly, and accepting it as part of us might make it start to appreciate us."

"You are right. I charge you with that task Akeno. Make sure you make friends with Arayoshi-kun and get the others to try to do the same as well."

"Yes, president!" Akeno exclaimed, and suddenly a thought came to her mind.

'W-Wait... D-Didn't I explain how to land while in motion? Well, it doesn't seem to be that tone. I hope he figures it out before he crashes.' With that thought, Akeno left the room.

And while Akeno had funny thoughts, Rias had some more serious ones in mind.

'I hope I didn't make the wrong decision.' Rias thought as she bowed her head, and thought about her possible future.

Like a certain boy, Rias shook her head in desperation, trying to throw her intrusive thoughts to the back of her mind.