Deus.Ex.Machina Chapter 29

I hurt in places I didn't know could hurt.

After two hours of getting my ass handed to by Azazel in our "training session," my body felt like one giant bruise. Sure, I healed fast thanks to the Dragon's Elixir, but that didn't stop the pain while it was happening.

"Not bad for a first session," Azazel said, not even breaking a sweat as I lay sprawled on the training room floor. The bastard looked like he'd just finished a light stretching routine instead of throwing around like a ragdoll for hours.

"Says the guy who wasn't used as a human punching bag," I groaned, forcing myself to sit up. "Is it always going to be like this?"

"Worse, probably," he replied cheerfully. "But you'll improve quickly. You already have good instincts and your physical abilities are impressive for a human. With proper training, you would beco quite formidable."

Coming from the leader of the Fallen Angels, that was... actually kind of a complint. Though my ego wasn't feeling particularly soothed as I limped to the shower.

"Sa ti tomorrow?" Azazel called after .

"You're a sadist," I muttered.

"I'll take that as a yes!"

—

By the ti I arrived at school, my body had mostly recovered, though the mory of getting tossed around like a toy remained painfully fresh. I slumped into my seat, already exhausted despite it being only 8 AM.

"Dude, you look like crap," Issei observed helpfully, leaning over from his desk.

"Thanks for the update," I replied dryly. "Rough morning."

"Stayed up all night doing rich person stuff?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

If he only knew. 'Yeah, I was getting brutalized by a fallen angel who's decided to be my supernatural ntor. Just normal Tuesday things.'

"Sothing like that," I said instead.

Before Issei could probe further, the classroom door slid open, and conversation instantly died. Even without looking, I knew who had entered—Rias Gremory, the school's number one idol and secret devil princess.

The collective intake of breath from the male population (and so of the female population) was audible. Issei practically vibrated with excitent beside .

"Dude, it's her!" he whispered loudly. "The crimson-haired goddess!"

I glanced up, trying to look appropriately surprised rather than wary. Rias was making her way directly toward our desks, her long red hair swaying with each step, uniform perfectly pressed, smile dazzling. Every eye in the classroom followed her movent.

"Mishima-kun," she said, stopping at my desk. "I was hoping to speak with you."

I could practically feel Issei's jealousy radiating beside .

"?" I asked, playing it cool. "What can I help you with, Gremory-senpai?"

Her smile widened slightly. "The student council president ntioned you're handling the Mishima Corporation's side of your joint venture. I was hoping to discuss a potential partnership with my family's business as well."

Ah. So that's what this was about. Business. Or at least, that was the pretense.

"Of course," I replied smoothly. "Did you have a particular ti in mind?"

"Are you free during lunch? We could et in the Occult Research Club room."

The Occult Research Club. Her territory. Her peerage's base of operations. Where she could easily corner with her entire devil squad present.

"I actually have a prior commitnt during lunch," I lied, not wanting to enter her domain just yet. "But I'm free after school, if that works for you."

Sothing flickered in her eyes—surprise, maybe, at being declined—but her smile never faltered.

"After school would be perfect," she agreed. "Shall I et you at the school gates?"

"I'll be there."

With a nod and another dazzling smile that sent half the class into cardiac arrest, Rias turned and walked out, leaving chaos in her wake.

The mont she was gone, Issei grabbed my shoulder.

"DUDE!" he exclaid, shaking . "You just—she just—you're eting HER? After school? Alone?"

"It's just business, Issei," I said, trying to extricate myself from his grip. "Both our families run companies. It's not that unusual."

"Not unusual?!" he spluttered. "Do you know how many guys would kill to be in your position right now?"

They might want to reconsider that desire if they knew that she is an actual devil who could probably obliterate them with a thought if she wanted to.

"I'll be sure to appreciate the opportunity," I said, patting his hand in mock reassurance.

"You better!" he warned, finally releasing . "And I want details. Not weird perverted details," he added quickly. "Just... like... is her hair as shiny up close? Does she sll like strawberries? Is her skin as perfect as it looks?"

"I'll be sure to take detailed notes on her follicle health," I deadpanned.

Before Issei could respond, the teacher walked in, ending our conversation but not the curious stares from our classmates.

—

Lunch ca, and I escaped to the roof before Issei could drag into another Rias-focused interrogation.

One notable aspect of Kuoh Academy is its impressive size. Given how large it is, it's surprising that it is still referred to as an academy, since it offers both middle school and college education as well.

As expected, Koneko was already there, sitting on the bench in the corner, partially shaded by the water tank. Her golden eyes tracked as I approached, carrying the ornate bento box Hayama had prepared.

It had started innocently enough. A few weeks ago, I found her on the roof one day. She'd comnted on my scent, I'd offered her so of my sandwich, and sohow it had turned into... whatever this was.

By the third day, she was sitting in my lap. By the end of the week, I was bringing extra food. By week two, Hayama had noticed and taken over, preparing what he called "proper nutrition for a growing young man and his friend."

The old butler suspected sothing; he'd start giving knowing looks whenever he handed over the increasingly elaborate lunch boxes. I wasn't sure what he thought was happening, but the truth was stranger than any high school romance he might be imagining.

"Hey," I said, taking my usual spot beside her. "Hayama outdid himself today."

I opened the lacquered box to reveal an artfully arranged traditional Japanese al—rice shaped into a small mountain, grilled salmon, perfectly cut vegetables, and what looked like handmade dumplings arranged in the corner. Hayama had even included a small container of what I knew was Koneko's favorite sweet red bean paste.

Her eyes widened slightly—the Koneko equivalent of jumping up and down with excitent.

Without a word, she promptly abandoned her position and climbed onto my lap, arranging herself comfortably. It had been startling the first few tis, but by now it was just part of our daily routine.

I'd long since figured out it was the nekomata in her, drawn to the draconic energy the Dragon's Elixir had infused into my body. Cats and dragons had strange affinities in mythology. Apparently, that held true here as well.

I an, think about it. Dragons and cats have much in common. They are both carnivores, both love to curl up in the sun for a quick nap, and both twitch their tails in annoyance. Suffice it to say, Dragons are cats.

Of course, I pretended not to know any of this. As far as she knew, I was just a normal human who didn't mind being used as furniture and slled good.

"Slls good," she said, referring to either the food or , possibly both.

I handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Help yourself."

Another part of our routine is sharing the al Hayama prepared. At first, I'd brought separate portions, but Koneko seed to prefer eating from the sa container. There was sothing almost feline in the way she'd wait for to take a bite first, then select her own piece from the sa area.

I'd researched cat behavior after the first week, and it turned out it was a trust thing. I never ntioned it. Better to let her think I was oblivious.

I still didn't understand how we'd fallen into this strange relationship. Maybe she just liked warmth and food, and I provided both.

Whatever the reason, these quiet lunch periods had beco the most peaceful part of my day, just sitting, eating, and idly stroking her hair while she purred so quietly only my enhanced hearing could detect it.

Without prompting, I raised my hand to her head, scratching gently behind her ear. The tension visibly left her shoulders as she leaned into the touch.

"Heard you're eting Gremory-senpai after school," she said, reaching for a dumpling.

"You know Gremory-senpai?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.

Koneko nodded, taking her ti to chew before answering. "Part of the Occult Research Club."

"Occult Research Club?" I raised an eyebrow, playing ignorant. "What's that about? Ghost stories and Ouija boards?"

She gave that flat stare again, the one that sohow made feel like she was seeing right through .

"Study supernatural things," she said simply, then, after a paus,e added, "Mostly just talking about myths and legends. Nothing real."

The lie was so obvious I almost smiled. Instead, I nodded thoughtfully.

"Sounds... interesting, I guess. Didn't take Gremory-senpai for the superstitious type."

Koneko shrugged, reaching for another piece of salmon. "She likes strange things."

"Is that why you're in it?" I asked casually.

Her chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. "I'm not strange."

"Never said you were," I replied, resuming the gentle scratching behind her ear. "Just wondering why you joined."

She seed to consider this for a mont. "Buchou asked to."

"You're close with her, then?"

Koneko's expression remained neutral, but sothing flickered in her eyes. "She helped . Before."

"That's nice of her."

Koneko nodded once, then changed the subject. "Why is she interested in you?"

Direct as always. I shrugged, affecting confusion.

"Business stuff. Boring corporate partnership talk."

The warning bell rang, saving her from further questioning. She slid off my lap with that sa small sigh I'd co to expect.

"Thanks for lunch," she said, watching as I packed up the empty bento box.

"Sa ti tomorrow?" I asked.

She nodded, then reached up to pat my head just once, quick and a little awkward.

"Why do you do that?" I couldn't help asking.

The faintest trace of pink touched her cheeks. "You do it to ."

"Yeah, but you seem to like it."

She looked away. "Maybe you need it too."

----

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