chapter [45]

School Hallway

Kaito walked through the school hallway, his steps echoing lightly against the walls. When he reached the door of his classroom, he saw it was closed, indicating that the class had already started. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Classroom

The students inside the classroom were murmuring among themselves, and Kaito could hear fragments of their conversations.

"Did you see Kaito and Akeno holding hands?" Yuki whispered to Mina.

"He's so full of himself," Mina replied disdainfully.

Ren and Ayumi exchanged glances, both curious but not openly commenting.

Nanami, on the other hand, seemed completely indifferent to the subject, focused on her studies.

The teacher opened the door, looking at Kaito with a gentle expression. "Kaito, come in," she said with a protective smile.

Kaito entered the room, feeling the stares of his classmates on him. He nodded briefly to the teacher before sitting next to Hiro, who was excessively excited.

As the class continued, Hiro leaned towards Kaito, speaking in an excited whisper. "Dude, you won't believe it! Ami sent me a romantic message last night. It was incredible!"

Kaito smiled, happy for his friend. "That's great, Hiro. I'm happy for you."

Hiro kept talking, unable to contain his excitement. "She said she wants to go out again this weekend. I can't wait!"

Kaito listened patiently, but after a while, he started to grow tired of Hiro's incessant stories about Ami. He wanted to pay attention to the class, but Hiro's excitement was contagious and hard to ignore.

When the break finally came, Hiro got up hastily. "I'm going to talk to Ami now. See you later!" He quickly left the room, leaving Kaito to breathe a sigh of relief.

School Courtyard

Kaito was in the school courtyard, enjoying the break, when he saw Akeno approaching. She walked with grace and a welcoming smile on her face.

"Kaito," Akeno called, opening her arms. "Come here."

She wrapped Kaito in a tight hug, right in front of all the students in the courtyard. The murmurs started again, with the students commenting on the scene.

"Did you see that?" Ren whispered to Ayumi.

"Yes, it looks like they're really together," Ayumi replied.

Kaito, a bit embarrassed, returned Akeno's hug, feeling the warmth and security she conveyed. "Akeno, what's going on?"

Akeno stepped back a little, still smiling. "Come with me to the Occult Research Club. Rias wants to discuss some details about the Rating Game with you."

Kaito nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Sure, let's go."

As they walked through the courtyard together, Kaito felt the students' eyes on them but ignored them, focusing on the conversation with Akeno.

Occult Research Club

Entering the Occult Research Club again, Kaito noticed the room was quiet and organized. Rias was sitting at the table, focused on some documents spread out in front of her. The soft sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the room with a warm glow.

Akeno, still smiling, closed the door behind them and went to a bookshelf, picking up an old book. Kaito looked around, absorbing the calmness of the environment, and approached the sofa.

He sat on the soft sofa, feeling the immediate comfort of the upholstery. Rias looked up from the documents and smiled at him, although her smile had a touch of concern.

"Kaito, thank you for coming. We need to talk about the opponent in our next Rating Game," Rias began, folding her hands over the table.

Kaito leaned forward a bit, paying attention. "Who is our opponent?"

Rias took a deep breath before answering. "Our opponent is Riser Phenex. He is a Devil from one of the most powerful families and has the ability to regenerate, which makes him practically immortal."

Kaito frowned, absorbing the information. "Immortal? How are we supposed to defeat someone like that?"

Rias kept her gaze on Kaito, her expression serious. "We need to find a way, Kaito. I believe you can help us develop a strategy for this."

Kaito was silent for a moment, feeling the weight of the responsibility Rias was placing on his shoulders. He took a deep breath, trying not to let the anxiety show. "I'll think of a way," he finally replied, trying to sound confident.

Rias smiled slightly, but Kaito could still see the worry in her eyes. "I believe in you, Kaito. I know you can find a solution."

As Rias returned to focusing on the documents in front of her, Kaito couldn't help but feel a slight discomfort with the situation. He stood up from the sofa and walked to the window, looking at the garden outside while his thoughts swirled.

'Why is Rias placing such an important responsibility on me? This involves her life, and if I fail? Why does she trust me so much for something so crucial?'

Kaito closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm his mind. He knew he needed to find a solution, but the pressure of being responsible for it was weighing on him. He took a deep breath and returned to sit on the sofa, looking at Rias and Akeno, who were now engaged in a discussion about strategies.

"I'll think of something, Rias. I promise," he said, trying to push away negative thoughts.

Time Skip

The classes finally ended, and Kaito and Hiro were leaving school together. The afternoon sun was still shining brightly, casting long shadows on the ground. Kaito noticed that Hiro was completely absorbed in his phone, sending messages with a goofy smile on his face.

As they walked down the street, Kaito respected Hiro's moment of silence, allowing him to enjoy his interaction with Ami. There was no need to interrupt his friend's happiness with trivial conversations.

When they reached the street where Hiro lived, he quickly said goodbye to Kaito, still focused on his phone. "See you later, Kaito. See you tomorrow," Hiro said, entering his house.

Kaito waved to Hiro and continued on his way, reflecting on the responsibility he had with the upcoming Rating Game. He knew he needed a solid strategy to face Riser Phenex, and that occupied his thoughts.

Hyoudou Residence

When he arrived home, Kaito was immediately greeted by a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. He opened the door and was surprised to see Asia cooking alongside his mother, Miki. The two were busy preparing dinner, and the scene brought a smile to Kaito's face.

"Are you cooking, Asia?" Kaito asked, surprised and impressed.

Miki, noticing the surprise on her son's face, smiled broadly. "Yes, Kaito. Asia did almost everything by herself. She will make a good wife in the future," Miki said, jokingly.

Asia blushed intensely, looking away as she continued to stir a pot. "Welcome home, Kaito," she said shyly but with a welcoming smile.

Kaito felt a comforting warmth seeing the scene. "I'm impressed, Asia. Thank you for preparing dinner."

Asia smiled, still blushing but clearly happy with the compliment. "It's the least I can do. I hope you like it."

Kaito smiled at Asia. "I'm sure it will be delicious, Asia. If it tastes as good as it smells, I'm going to love it."

Asia blushed a little more, but her shy smile showed she was happy with the compliment. "Thank you, Kaito. I made it with a lot of care."

After making sure Asia and his mother were well, Kaito headed upstairs to the bathroom. He needed a moment to freshen up and organize his thoughts. The warm water from the shower provided immediate relief, helping to relax his tense muscles.

As the water flowed over him, Kaito murmured to himself, reflecting on what lay ahead. "Tomorrow is my 16th birthday... I'll finally have all my powers. Maybe then I'll find a way to defeat Riser."

The anticipation of what was to come mixed with the anxiety about the responsibility it entailed. He knew he needed to be prepared for anything.

After his shower, Kaito went downstairs feeling renewed. When he entered the kitchen, he was greeted by the delicious aroma of freshly prepared dinner. The table was set with care, each detail reflecting the affection of Asia and his mother.

Miki smiled when she saw Kaito enter the kitchen. "Kaito, sit down. Dinner is ready."

Kaito sat at the table, observing the satisfied expressions of his mother and Asia. The food looked as delicious as it smelled, and he was eager to taste it.

"This looks amazing," he said, taking some rice and placing it on his plate. "Thank you for preparing everything, Asia."

Asia smiled shyly, taking some food for herself. "It was a pleasure, Kaito. I hope you like it."

Dinner was a pleasant experience, full of laughter and light conversations. The food was delicious, just as Kaito had expected.

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