NGJ Chapter 67: Immenence

---[3rd Person PoV]---

Akira stepped out of his basement, the time of the Rating Game was coming near. In just a few hours he would face Riser with Rias' peerage. He was headed to the ORC building to recoup with Rias' group after he headed off to his own training, leaving them to be trained by Wiz and Alpha instead.

As he was walking up to the front door Ddraig dressed in nothing but an oversized black shirt went to his side. Noting the strange air of confidence and self-assurance around Akira.

"So, it's finally your time to go up against the Phenex brat? Are you sure you can beat him? It's not that I doubt your strength but Phenex are always troublesome opponents." Ddraig noted by his side, he was wearing the relaxed wear he usually wore around the house. Hearing her voice he chuckled.

"It's not that I am sure that I can defeat Riser. I will, the only variable here is how badly I will defeat him." Hearing his words Ddraig couldn't help but smirk. She did not regret choosing him. He had a dragon-like aura around him. 

The spirit to dominate, decisive, confident, and bold. He had traits she liked very much. Indeed she was very fond of her new contractor who had freed her from her prison. She couldn't help but want to see him grow.

[+5 Affection with Ddraig Goch]

[50 Affection reached, New Trait: Draconic Power]

[Draconic Power]

+50 to All Physical Stats.

His smile got even wider. In response, she wore a smile of her own.

"I would say good luck but you clearly do not need do you partner? Just don't forget to bring me a recording of the fight."

"I will."

...

Akira stepped into the Occult Research Club room, garnering the attention of everyone inside Rias' eyes widened, Koneko's tense shoulders sagged a bit in relief, and Akeno's smile got wider. Kiba had a reaction too.

And there were two more familiar additions to this room in the form of Sona and her Queen Tsubasa. Sona's eyes narrowed in a calculative manner as she eyed Akira down, ignoring the blush creeping up her cheeks as she saw him in his relaxed wear.

She hated to admit it, but Akira was currently her best suitor, at least the only one she was even interested in, not to mention his ability at chess and roguish charm. But she did not have a crush!

She did not have a crush on the handsome and elusive transfer student with hidden abilities and a roguish charm no matter how much Tsubasa teased her about it! She was the heiress to the Sitri family she does not have crushes!

But soon after seeing she saw the ORC members greeting him and the spark from seeing him had tapered to a more rational line of thought. The situation was too important for her to dwell on a crush she did not have.

"Good afternoon Akira-kun, long time no see." She said with poise befitting her status while Akira nonchalantly replied.

"Good afternoon to you too Sona, it's been a hot minute since we saw each other. We should catch up sometime." She agreed, she had a lot to ask of him after all but now was not the time.

It all depended on him whether if Rias was going to be able to escape her arrangement. Truth be told she did not have much confidence in Akira knowing the timeframe that had passed between the fallen fight and now but currently she wasn't so sure.

He was so... confident.

She was sure that he knew who he was up against. Riser Phenex, a prodigy among high-class devils. An opponent she herself would not be able to beat in a rating game. His confidence had to stem from something.

Maybe he truly could considering how much stronger he made Rias' peerage in such a short timespan. Also, she had to somehow get the secret of how he trained her peerage, maybe he could do the same for her.

As she was contemplating Akira pulled something from his shadow. 6 Colorful vials were in his hand. He gave one to everyone in the room. And when asked what they were he replied like they were no big deal.

"They are rainbow potions. If you drink them they should Restore your health, stamina and energy by a decent amount. If they get their broken tears then we can use this. Also here is some for you too Sona, consider it a favour from a friend." He winked toward her like he didn't just pull something groundbreaking out of his ass.

Her mouth gaped as she looked at the "potion" in her hands. He can create something like Phenex tears? By himself? And enough that he can give them away? She had heard something like it from Rias but she dismissed it as overblown.

"A-akira-kun? Did you make these? And what are they?" 

"Yeah, I did, it's a hobby of mine, I can create those using my own energy. I can make ones that restore health, stamina, and even energy respectively. Who knows I may even sell them later." Her brain found it hard to comprehend what exactly was happening right. 

This was huge, bigger than he realized, the production of such things is almost always difficult and near impossible to do mass scale. Why was he so open about this!?

"Why are you even sharing this with us!? Do you understand how important this could be?"

"Yep, which is why I am sharing them with you obviously." At that statement and that goddam wink turned her into a stuttering mess. He obviously considered her good enough friends or someone he fancied enough to share something so big with her.

Such hits were strong enough to shake her. And the others were similarly touched by his statement it seemed.

[+10 Affection with Sona Sitri]

[+10 Affection with Tsubasa Shinra]

[+5 Affection with ORC members]

Giving up giving a response due to fear of humiliating herself further from how flustered she was she tucked the potion into her skirt pocket. Before glaring at Rias who was giving her a mocking look as if saying "Me and Akira are already past that stage".

"Rias! You better not show me a fight that would insult our rivalry!"

"Don't worry Sona. I am already aware you are tasked with maintaining the broadcast to our audience. I don't intend on going down that easily against Riser." Cutting off their conversation a wild silver-haired maid teleported into the clubroom.

Hearing her come in everyone stopped talking as Grayfia was in the room. She spoke in a professional and strict tone, solidifying that this was an official matter.

"Everyone, are you ready?" On cue, a red giant magic circle appeared on the floor. Grayfia stood by awaiting their response. Hearing her Rias paused for a moment before getting up, taking the signal the rest of her peerage got up too, except for Akira who never sat in the first place.

"Yes, let us depart. Thank you Grayfia." All rules and conditions were discussed beforehand so there was no need for idle chatter. Although Rias was nervous she tried not to show it. All of her peerage + Akira followed her into the magic. Before Grayfia activated the circle she heard her rival mutter.

"Good luck." 

...

Akira felt the teleportation circle overtake him and give him brief nausea. This was his first time teleporting via Magic Circle. Looking around, nothing had changed, this was the same clubroom as ever. But Akira knew better. Using View Air he immediately noticed the difference.

The world around them only extended 10 kilometres(or 6.2 Freedom Miles). He already knew this was a pocket dimension. But being in one was new to him. Regardless he tuned down his curiosity and listened to the announcement.

{"Everyone, I am Grayfia, Servant of the Gremory family. Appointed judge between the Phenex and Gremory families for this Rating game."}

{"As per the requests of both participants of the rating game, we have prepared a replica of the Human High School that Rias-sama attends as the battlefield."}

{"Rias-sama's chosen base is the Occult Research Room in the Old Schoolhouse."}

{"Riser-sama's chosen base is the Principal's Office in the new Schoolhouse."}

{"The rating game starts now."}

Once the game itself had started Akira sat down on one of the couches while Rias and her peerage discussed their tactics. Rias had specifically asked Akira to not intervene unless needed. In her own words, she wanted to show the result of her training.

Humouring her words Akira accepted.

After a few minutes, Kiba and Koneko went out to set up traps while Akeno went to assist and set up illusions. Leaving Akira and Rias alone. Discreetly Rias sat next to the seemingly calm as water Akira, seeking some form of comfort from him.

After a dozen seconds of uncomfortable silence, Rias spoke. Her nervousness getting the best of her.

"Akira, are you sure we can win this? I mean Riser is-"

Akira cut her off. Giving her a reassuring cocky smile.

"What? Are you getting cold feet Rias? I am almost insulted. Just trust me, we will win." Akira said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it protectively. Rias gave a light smile and squeezed back. But she was still worried for a big reason.

"I know, I know. But I still can't help but be worried. The rating game magic connected to the evil pieces doesn't work on you(purposely done by Akira by cutting the connection) so if the worst happens you won't simply be eliminated." Yet even at these words, Akira seemed unshakable as always. Yet just imagining that outcome she couldn't help but hang her head.

In response, Akira simply sighed muttering something along the lines of "this girl..." but Rias could hardly hear it. But what she heard was Akira pat his thighs. She recognized the gesture as the lap pillows from the manga she read, her cheeks heated up a bit at the implication even though it was usually done the other way around she could not find it in herself to refuse a rare gesture of affection from him and a chance to rest on Akira's lap. 

Embarresed she lowered her head on his lap. It was unusually comfortable, and warm. Immediately she felt less stressed, she could feel him under her head, he was here. She felt safer, enough to ignore her burning cheeks as one of Akira's hands rested on her hair, her heart squeezed as she looked up at the warm smile he had. 

[Rias Gremory reached 90 Affection(locked)]

[+20 Obedience with Rias Gremory]

[Notification temporarily muted]

A tiny brief moment of surprised passed through his face but she did not know or care enough to learn why before it resumed into his warm smile again.

"Have some faith will you? You are worrying way too much. Just trust in your Peerage members. And trust in me. A little trust goes a long way. For now, you just need to relax" Hearing his reassuring words she let herself relax a bit, until she needed to act she could let herself relax for a bit. He was right, she trusted Akira and she trusted her peerage, and that was all she needed.

"Don't worry, I will win."

!If you liked the chapter then some stones would be appriciated!

A/N: A rare show of actual affection from Akira that wasn't done for anything like Affection or Obedience? Even though he is a bit awkward at genuine acts. What did you guys think about this chapter? I tried to display how others saw Akira when he isn't in his own head. I would love to hear your thoughts about this chapter.

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