The morning light seeped through the cracks in my curtains, casting a faint golden glow across my room. I sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my messy hair as I tried to shake off the grogginess. My mind drifted back to st night—the Rating Game, the victory, and the conversation with Rias. I had been clear with her, hadn't I? I didn't join her peerage out of some noble desire to save her. It was a transaction, pin and simple. Her brother's offer of protection in exchange for my participation. Yet, the way she had looked at me afterward—those eyes filled with something I couldn't quite pce—left me feeling uneasy.

  "Why does she have to make everything so complicated?" I thought, sighing as I stood up and stretched. My body ached slightly from the battle, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I grabbed a hoodie from the back of my chair and slipped it on, the fabric soft against my skin. The house was quiet, or so I thought. As I made my way downstairs, the sound of muffled voices reached my ears. I froze, my hand gripping the banister.

  "What the…? Is someone in my house?" I muttered under my breath, my brow furrowing. I wasn't expecting visitors—not that I ever did. Cautiously, I stepped into the living room, only to stop dead in my tracks.

  The room was filled with people. Rias Gremory sat elegantly on the couch, her crimson hair cascading over her shoulders as she chatted with Sona Sitri, who adjusted her gsses with her usual composed demeanor. Around them, members of both peerages were scattered about—Koneko curled up in a chair, Akeno sipping tea. Asia, however, was the most animated, sitting on the floor with Espeon, her ughter ringing out as she pyed with the girl members of Sona's peerage.

  "What the hell is going on?" I thought, my mind struggling to process the scene. My voice came out sharper than I intended. "What… are you all doing in my house?"

  Koneko was the first to notice me, her cat-like ears twitching as she turned her gaze toward me. "He's here," she said simply, her tone as calm as ever.

  All eyes turned to me, and for a moment, the room fell silent. Then, Rias stood, a bright smile spreading across her face. "Good morning, Kazuya!" she greeted, her voice cheerful. "We decided to come over and celebrate st night's victory. You were a big part of it, after all."

  I crossed my arms, my expression guarded. "I told you st night, I didn't join the Rating Game to save you. I had my reasons."

  Rias's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew warmer. "I know," she said softly. "But that doesn't mean I can't be grateful. And besides…" She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I want to get to know you better, Kazuya"

  I opened my mouth to retort but stopped myself. There was no malice in her words, no hidden agenda. Just… sincerity. It was disarming, to say the least. I gnced around the room again, taking in the lively atmosphere. It was strange, having so many people in my house. I wasn't used to it—wasn't used to people wanting to spend time with me. Yet, despite my initial reluctance, I couldn't deny that there was something… comforting about it.

  "Why does she have to be so persistent?" I thought, my gaze lingering on Rias for a moment longer before I looked away to see other invade my privacy like it was their right.

  Before I could dwell on the thought, I felt a small tug on my sleeve. I looked down to see Ophis staring up at me, her expression as bnk as ever. "Cake," she said simply. "Bake cake for me."

  I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Of course. Why not?"

  Sona, overhearing the exchange, perked up. "Cake, you say? I'd be happy to join you. I've been meaning to test my skills against yours, Kazuya."

  I raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my lips. "You're on."

  The kitchen soon became a flurry of activity as Sona and I set to work, each determined to outdo the other. The rest of the group watched with amusement, occasionally chiming in with comments or offers to help. I found myself smiling slightly as I worked, the camaraderie of the group slowly chipping away at my usual reserve.

  "This is… different," I thought, gncing at Asia, who was giggling as she helped Akeno measure ingredients.

  As I whisked the batter, I caught Rias watching me from the corner of the room. Her gaze was soft, almost… fond. I quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand. "Why does she keep looking at me like that?"

  By the time the cakes were finished, the table was set, and two rge, beautifully decorated cakes sat side by side. Rias cpped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Let's try Kazuya's cake first!" she decred, reaching for a slice.

  I narrowed my eyes, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Hold on," I said, stopping her mid-reach. "Sona, why don't you give Rias a slice of your cake first? After all, you're rivals. I'm sure she'd love to give you her honest opinion."

  Rias's smile faltered, a flicker of panic crossing her face. Sona, however, nodded in agreement, a competitive gleam in her eyes. "An excellent idea," she said, cutting a generous slice of her cake and handing it to Rias. "Here you go."

  Rias stared at the slice, her expression a mix of dread and resignation. I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. "I knew it," I thought, crossing my arms. "She was trying to avoid Sona's cake."

  As Rias reluctantly took a bite, Sona watched her intently, waiting for a reaction. "Well?" she asked, her tone calm but expectant.

  Rias chewed slowly, her face carefully neutral. "It's… good," she said finally, though the slight hesitation in her voice didn't go unnoticed.

  Sona raised an eyebrow. "Just 'good'?"

  Rias forced a smile. "Very good."

  She's terrible at lying.

  Meanwhile, I served slices of my cake to the others. The room was soon filled with praise, the members of both peerages showering me with compliments. Even Ophis, who had cimed a rge portion for herself, seemed content as she quietly enjoyed her slice.

  Gimme a break!

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