I leaned back in my chair, savoring the warmth of the tea Akeno had prepared. It was perfect, as always—smooth, fragrant, and just the right amount of sweetness. Akeno had this uncanny ability to make even the simplest things feel like a luxury. Across from me, Koneko was quietly devouring the cake I'd brought for her. Her tiny hands moved with precision, each bite calcuted to maximize enjoyment. I couldn't help but smirk. She'd once told me my cakes were "acceptable," but the way she demolished them told a different story.

  Kiba, on the other hand, was acting weird. He stood in the corner, arms crossed, his usual calm demeanor repced with something tense and distant. His eyes kept darting to the door, like he was expecting trouble. Rias sat at the head of the table, sipping her tea with the grace of a queen, but even she seemed a little… off. Something was up, and I wasn't sure if I liked it.

  "So," I said, breaking the silence, "mind telling me why I was called here? Not that I don't enjoy the tea and the company, but you've got that look on your face, Rias. The 'I'm about to drop a bombshell' look."

  Rias set her cup down, her crimson eyes meeting mine. "You'll find out in a moment," she said, her tone calm but with an edge of seriousness. "Just be patient."

  Patient? Yeah, right. I wasn't exactly known for my patience. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "You know I hate surprises, right? Especially when Kiba's over there looking like he's about to fight a dragon."

  Kiba shot me a gre but didn't say anything. Rias just smiled, that infuriatingly knowing smile of hers. Before I could press further, there was a knock at the door.

  "Come in," Rias called, her voice smooth and commanding.

  The door opened, and two girls stepped inside. The first one had short, silver hair and a pair of piercing blue eyes. She wore a modified church uniform, complete with a cross neckce that glinted in the light. The second girl had long, dark hair tied into a braid, and her green eyes scanned the room with a mix of curiosity and caution. She carried a massive sword on her back, which looked like it could cleave a building in half. Both of them had an air of confidence, but there was something… off about them. Like they were trying too hard to look tough.

  "Irina Shidou," the silver-haired girl said, introducing herself with a small bow. "And this is Xenovia Quarta. We're exorcists from the Church."

  "Koneko Toujou," Koneko mumbled through a mouthful of cake, not even looking up.

  "Yuuto Kiba," Kiba said curtly, his tone colder than usual.

  "Akeno Himejima," Akeno added with her usual serene smile, though I could see the subtle tension in her shoulders.

  "And I'm Kazuya," I said, leaning back in my chair again. "The guy who brought the cake. You're welcome, by the way."

  Rias gestured to the empty seats. "Please, sit down."

  The two girls nodded and took their seats, though Xenovia kept her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Irina gave us a polite smile, but her eyes kept darting to Rias, like she was trying to figure her out.

  "So," Rias began, her tone calm but firm, "why are you here in Kuoh?"

  Xenovia didn't hesitate. "The Church sent us. There's a high-ranking devil in this town—Kokabiel. He's been causing trouble, and we've been ordered to eliminate him."

  I raised an eyebrow. Kokabiel? That name rang a bell. I'd heard about him during my training with Grayfia. He wasn't exactly the kind of guy you'd want to mess with unless you had a death wish.

  "Kokabiel has already killed several exorcists sent by the Church," Xenovia continued, her voice steady. "But we're different. We have the holy swords. We can handle him."

  Rias nodded, though I could see the faintest flicker of annoyance in her eyes. "I see. Well, we won't interfere in your mission. You have our word."

  Xenovia stood, Irina following suit. "Good. We'll take our leave now."

  As they turned to go, I couldn't help myself. I ughed. It wasn't a mean ugh, more of a "you've got to be kidding me" kind of ugh. Both girls froze, and Xenovia turned to gre at me.

  "Something funny?" she asked, her voice sharp.

  "Yeah, actually," I said, standing up. "You're walking to your deaths, and you don't even realize it."

  The room went silent. Even Koneko paused mid-bite to look at me. Xenovia's hand tightened on her sword. "What did you say?"

  "You heard me," I said, walking over to her. "The Church sent you here knowing full well you don't stand a chance. Kokabiel's not some low-level devil you can just slice and dice. Even with those fancy holy swords of yours, you're outmatched."

  Xenovia's eyes narrowed, and she drew her sword in one swift motion. The bde gleamed with holy energy, but I didn't flinch. "Apologize," she demanded. "Now."

  I smirked and reached out, touching the bde with my finger. In an instant, the sword compressed into a tiny blue marble, which I caught between my fingers. Xenovia's eyes went wide, and Irina gasped. Even Rias looked surprised.

  "See?" I said, holding up the marble. "You're weak. And if you go after Kokabiel like this, you're just going to get yourselves killed."

  The room was dead silent. Xenovia stared at me, her face a mix of anger and disbelief. I tossed the marble back to her, and she caught it on reflex.

  "Think about it," I said, turning to walk back to my seat. "Or don't. It's your funeral."

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