DXD - The Presence Chapter 44 42 - When the Disguise Falls Apart

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[POV - Rito] [Sainan School - Late afternoon]

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

The school bell echoed through the corridors like a song of freedom, announcing the end of another day of feigned normalcy. Damn, how good it was to pretend to be just a regular student. Even knowing this peace had a shorter expiration date than milk left out of the fridge.

Step-step-step.

I walked through the corridors with Lala hanging on my right arm and Asia on my left, when sothing caught my attention. Two girls standing at the school gate, clearly not students here. Different hair — one with vibrant brown hair, another with blue-green hair — and that military posture that scread "we're trained to kill things."

Interesting.

— Rito-kun — Lala tugged my arm — who are those girls? They seem to be looking for you.

I took a closer look and almost sighed. Angelic energy. Subtle, well disguised, but unmistakable for soone who knew what to look for. It seed my secret identity had gone to space.

— I'll find out — I murmured, heading toward them.

Tap-tap-tap.

When I approached, both straightened up like soldiers at attention. The brown-haired one stepped forward, clearly the leader of the pair.

— Yuuki Rito-san? — she asked respectfully, her voice carrying an accent I couldn't identify.

— Yes — I replied calmly. — And you are...?

— My na is Irina Shidou — said the brown-haired one, making a formal bow. — And this is Xenovia Quarta. We are... how to say... representatives of an international religious organization.

Ah.

Brave Saints. I could feel it in their energy. Michael had sent the rookies to make first contact. Interesting choice.

— Religious representatives — I repeated, a smile playing on my lips. — What a coincidence. I'm feeling particularly... spiritual today.

Xenovia studied with those serious eyes, as if trying to decipher a cosmic enigma.

— Yuuki-san — she said directly — we need to talk to you. In private.

I looked back, where Lala and Asia were watching the scene with growing curiosity. Haruna had also appeared, along with so other girls who always seed to gravitate in my direction.

— Girls — I called casually — go ahead. I have to resolve sothing here.

— Are you sure? — Lala asked, clearly suspicious of the two strangers.

— I am — I confird with a reassuring smile. — It's just... administrative matters.

Step-step-step.

They moved away reluctantly, but I knew Lala would probably keep an eye out from a distance. Smart princess.

— So — I said, turning back to the two celestial agents — let's talk.

[Park near the school - Minutes later]

Whoosh.

A gentle breeze swayed the tree leaves, creating a natural symphony that almost managed to disguise the tension in the air. We sat on an isolated bench, away from curious ears.

— Yuuki-san — Irina began, the previous formality giving way to sothing more personal — we know who you really are.

— Oh, really? — I replied, feigning surprise. — And who am I?

Xenovia shot a look that clearly said "we're not going to pretend we don't know."

— You are our Father — she said directly, her voice loaded with absolute reverence. — Seraphiel, Auriel, Chamuel... they all speak of you as the one who gave them life. The one who gave us life.

Sigh.

I sighed, the facade of an ordinary student finally crumbling like a house of cards.

— So that's it — I murmured, more to myself. — I can't even create so children without it becoming international news.

— So children? — Irina repeated, her eyes widening. — Father, you created a dozen new siblings! And completely reford our celestial family!

Father.

The word ca naturally from her lips, loaded with filial love and absolute respect. It was strange how these Brave Saints already saw that way, even having just t personally.

— Hm — I agreed, as if comnting on the weather. — Michael must be having an existential crisis.

The two looked at each other, clearly not expecting to be so... casual... about the subject.

— Actually — Xenovia said, taking two sealed envelopes from her bag — he sent this to you. Along with Aunt Gabriel.

Aunt Gabriel.

I smiled hearing that. Of course they had already established the family hierarchy.

I took the letters, feeling the celestial energy emanating from the paper. One was clearly from Michael — formal, official, loaded with nervous authority. The other...

Gabriel.

Her energy was familiar, warm. It wasn't the first ti we had exchanged correspondence.

— May I? — I asked, gesturing with the letters.

— Please, Father — Irina replied automatically.

I opened Michael's first:

To Yuuki Rito,

After recent events and the revelations brought by the new mbers of our celestial ranks, it has beco clear that a formal eting is necessary.

I cordially invite Your... Holiness... to an audience of the Three Factions, where we may discuss current developnts and establish a foundation for future diplomatic relations.

The eting will be held in neutral territory in the city of Kuou, with representatives from Heaven, the Underworld, and Fallen Angels present.

As a gesture of good faith, we offer escort and accommodation at the Vatican before the formal eting.

Respectfully (and nervously), Michael Archangel and Leader of the Celestial Faction

Hmm.

Interesting. Very formal, very political. Michael was clearly scared shitless and trying to be as diplomatic as possible. The "nervously" in parentheses was an amusing personal touch.

I opened the second letter:

Dear Rito,

I hope you are well and that your classes are going as planned. I know how much you value this "normal life" experience.

Our new brothers and sisters arrived ho with wonderful stories about you. They spoke of how you created them with such care, how you patiently explained each one's purpose, how you made sure they felt loved and cherished from the first mont.

Michael is in total panic, as you can imagine. Poor thing thinks we sohow offended you and that you're reorganizing Heaven as punishnt.

I tried to explain that you've always been like this — creating, caring, making sure everyone has what they need. But you know how he is with changes.

Co visit us when you can. I miss our conversations, and I'm sure our new children would love to get to know you better in person.

PS: Raphael is very curious about your "terrestrial educational experiences." Prepare for a complete dical interrogation.

With love as always, Gabriel

Ah, Gabriel.

I felt a genuine smile form on my face. Gabriel always understood. Since our first conversations, when I was still adapting to this human form, she never treated like a stranger returning from exile. Always like family.

— So — I said, folding the letters — Michael wants a Three Factions eting.

— Yes, Father — Irina confird. — And... well... we hope you'll accept.

— Why would you expect that? — I asked, curious.

— Because — Xenovia replied with brutal honesty — we want our family to be complete again. And because... well... you seem to like pretending to be normal. I imagine you want to resolve this before it becos a bigger problem.

Smart girl.

— You two are Brave Saints — I observed. — Recently created, judging by your eyes. Why did Michael send his youngest daughters on such an important mission?

Irina blushed slightly.

— He said we... needed soone who wouldn't be intimidating. Soone you could relate to as... well... as daughters.

— And — Xenovia added — if you decided to severely reprimand us, it would be better if it was with the rookies. The older angels probably couldn't handle your... disappointnt.

Damn.

I laughed out loud, the sound echoing through the empty park.

— Reprimand? Seriously? — I shook my head, amused. — Gabriel's right. You really don't understand, do you?

— Don't understand what, Father? — Irina asked, confused.

— If I were angry with any of you — I explained patiently — you would know. Trust . And if I wanted to punish soone... well, Astaroth found out how that works.

The two processed this in silence.

— So — Xenovia said finally — will you accept?

I looked toward the school in the distance, where Lala was probably still waiting. I thought about Asia, about Haruna, about Mikan. About all the normal life I had built here.

Sigh.

— Yes — I said finally. — I'll accept this... indulgence.

Interesting choice of words.

It was funny how, even trying to be normal, sotis words ca out loaded with cosmic weight.

— When do we leave? — I asked.

— Tomorrow, Father — Irina replied, clearly relieved. — Flight to Ro, then Vatican, then Kuou for the eting.

— Understood — I nodded. — I need to let so people know first.

— Of course — Xenovia said. — But... Father?

— Yes?

— Thank you — she said sincerely. — For accepting. And for... well... for creating us. For giving us a family.

— And for being so kind to us — Irina added. — The other angels talk so much about how caring you are...

I smiled, standing up from the bench.

— Girls — I said gently — you are my daughters. Of course I'm caring with you. That's kind of the whole point of this.

I got up from the bench, the letters safe in my pocket.

— I'll see you tomorrow — I said. — And... officially welco to Earth. I hope you enjoy the experience.

Step-step-step.

I walked back toward the school, where my "normal" life was waiting for . At least for one more night.

Tomorrow, well... tomorrow was going to be interesting.

After all, it's not every day you have to explain to three supernatural factions why you decided to enroll in high school.

Especially when your own daughters think you're having a cosmic midlife crisis.