Chapter 66 - Search Plan
The day at school was strangely normal, but I felt a strange tension in the air.
Even though it seemed like a normal day without any problems, passing my club-mates in the school corridors made me sure that all their hearts were clouded with uncertainty, just like mine.
Classes went by in a blur and I just went with the flow, barely paying attention to the content.
Kiba's absence was obvious, and I wasn't the only one who noticed it.
Rias, usually so controlled and calm, seemed distant, almost absent-minded. As she walked through the corridors of Kuoh Academy and sighs of emotion escaped the mouths of the boys who had her as their school muse, she didn't even react to those sighs, as if she couldn't hear them.
When the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, I automatically went to the club-room. The door was already ajar. When I pushed it open, I found the other members of the Occult Research Club already gathered.
Rias was sitting behind her usual desk, one hand resting on her chin while her eyes were fixed on an undefined point on the table in front of her.
Akeno was next to her, but he didn't have her usual closed smile.
Koneko leaned against the window, her arms crossed, her expressionless gaze sweeping the room as if she expected something to happen at any moment. And Asia, who was standing next to me, looked even more nervous than in the morning.
"Rias, where's Kiba?" The question came out of my mouth.
Rias slowly raised her eyes and met mine. She sighed, an almost imperceptible sound.
"He didn't come to school today."
It was rare for Kiba to miss school, and the fact that he hadn't shown any signs of life since the meeting with the exorcists only added to our worries.
"Do you think this has something to do with what happened yesterday?" Akeno asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm pretty sure," Rias replied. "Kiba has his own reasons for avoiding contact with the Church, but the presence of those exorcists... must have moved him in a way that even we cannot fully understand. He must be conducting his own search for the Excalibur mentioned by those exorcists."
"We must look for him. He could be in danger if he isn't already." Koneko suggested.
"I agree... Rias, I know you normally wouldn't interfere in church affairs and we don't necessarily have to. But if Kiba wants to act anyway, we'd better be with him."
Rias was silent for a moment. "The city is large and he could be anywhere. We have to split up and cover as much ground as possible."
Her answer brought relief to the anxious hearts of the girls in the room. Koneko smiled, while Asia clasped her hands and smiled happily.
"How about the Shrine Park?" suggested Akeno, still serious. Maybe she was the only one besides me and Rias who understood what it meant to interfere in church affairs. "He likes to train there when he needs some time to himself."
"That's a good possibility. Leo and Asia, you can go to the park. It's the one near the center. Koneko, you look around the school grounds in case he's around. Akeno and I will go to the area near the abandoned church."
"Church?" Asia asked worriedly.
Asia remembered that three days after she had become a demon, Rias had told her that the town's church had been completely abandoned and that all the nuns had disappeared. She also remembered that Rias had ordered Asia never to go near the church because it could be dangerous.
"Kiba knows that if the Fallen Angels are still in the city, they're hiding not far from that church. It's an area we demons avoid. So Kiba might have thought that if he went there, he would find clues about the whereabouts of the Fallen Angels or something like that."
Asia didn't seem to get any less worried by Rias' answer. Then the red-haired devil stood up, walked around their table and said to Asia:
"Don't worry, Asia. We won't hurt anyone from the Church when we find them. The only problem is the fallen angels. But when Akeno and I are together, not even they can threaten us."
A relieved smile appeared on Asia's face, and her emerald green eyes sparkled with happiness.
We all nodded, ready to act, but before any of us could move, an intense glow filled the room, followed by the sound of a portal opening. I instinctively turned to face the source of the light, but relaxed a bit when I saw who was emerging from the portal.
Sona Sitri, the president of the student council, appeared in front, her posture impeccable. Behind her were Tsubaki, her vice president, and Saji, her pawn.
"Sona, what are you doing here?" Rias asked.
"I heard your horse was missing. I thought you could use some help."
Rias seemed to hesitate for a moment, but accepted the offer. "I appreciate it, Sona. Any help is welcome when we're dealing with the Church and the fallen angels at the same time."
Tsubaki stepped forward and raised her glasses slightly with a finger. "The more people, the greater the chance of finding him quickly."
"We can check a large area of the city with the other members of the student council," Sona suggested. "If Kiba tries to deal with the fallen angels on his own, it won't be easy to find him. But if we use our wings and look from above, it will be easier."
"That's a good idea." Rias agreed. "If anything happens, contact us immediately. We can't risk losing him."
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NEXT CHAPTERS:
Chapter 80 - Hidden in the Rocks (R-18)
Chapter 79 - Bronzing Oil
Chapter 78 - Beach Volleyball
Chapter 77 - Juggernaut Drive
Chapter 76 - Against Kokabiel (Final Part)
Chapter 75 - Against Kokabiel (Part 2)
Chapter 74 - Against Kokabiel (Part 1)
Chapter 73 - Consequence of Evil Nature
Chapter 72 - My Battle against Raynare
Chapter 71 - Spear of Light
Chapter 69 - The Difference Between the Fallen Angels
Chapter 70 - The Return of Yumma
Chapter 68 - A Demon in a Church
Chapter 67 - Dragon Heart