Starting with No Game No Life: Infinite Chests

Kuoh Academy was lively once again. Of course, this was thanks to the addition of two new transfer students, Xenovia and Irina, both stunning beauties.

But as for the girls themselves, they didn't seem all that concerned about the fuss.

"Riku, we meet again." As Riku strolled casually toward the school gate, Vali, who had clearly been waiting, waved slightly and called out.

"Oh, White Dragon. It's you." Riku glanced at Vali with a nonchalant air. "What's this? Are you finally here to challenge me?"

"No. The Leaders' Summit is about to start, and challenging you now would be tactless. Today, I just wanted to officially meet you. Last time was a bit too rushed." Vali's expression tightened, then he explained.

"Mm." Riku nodded calmly. The summit, huh? He'd already had Michael act as his proxy for all those troublesome matters a while ago.

Still, he did have some ideas about the summit. It was about time the three major factions got integrated let the world get a little more exciting.

It wasn't as if he couldn't go after all the other pantheons himself, but if he had to do everything alone, then what was the point of having so many subordinates?

"And there's one more thing I've been wondering about," Vali said after a moment's thought. "I can sense a hint of the Boosted Gear's aura, but it feels… different. Did something happen to the Boosted Gear?"

"Your senses are correct. What I have isn't the Boosted Gear, but rather my own version." Riku looked straight at Vali, answering calmly.

As he spoke, Riku's right hand manifested the Crimson Gauntlet, radiating a pure and powerful draconic aura.

"This is…" Vali's eyes widened as he stared at Riku's Boosted Gear. He couldn't sense any hint of the curse.

"If you want the original, I suppose it would be this one." Riku continued, and from his storage space, produced the true Boosted Gear.

"…"

Vali studied the two gauntlets, then his eyes blazed with fighting spirit. "I see. So it's your own, a gauntlet that's never existed before evolved to this point already."

"Forgive my bluntness, but… how did the last host of the Boosted Gear die? Was it a god or a maou who killed him?" Vali asked.

"He was instantly killed by a low-level fallen angel," Riku answered offhandedly.

"…Haa—?!" At that, Vali's mouth twitched, and his whole demeanour changed. The legendary Red Dragon Emperor… killed by a random fallen angel? That was just pathetic.

"He hadn't awakened yet, just an ordinary high schooler," Riku said with a shrug.

"Ah, I see." Vali nodded, immediately losing interest in the old user of boosted gear, and once again focused his intense gaze on Riku.

"As I thought… To be both a god and the wielder of a unique Emperor Dragon Gauntlet, you really are my destined rival."

"Rival, huh…" Riku dismissed the two gauntlets, walking past Vali without so much as a glance, his final words echoing in the air: "If you want to see me as your rival, you might end up in despair."

"…So you don't even see me as an equal yet? Then my first goal should be earning your acknowledgement, only then will you take our battle seriously."

Vali watched Riku's retreating back, muttering to himself. "I'm really looking forward to this summit."

With that, Vali turned and left.

———

Elsewhere, in Kuoh Academy's halls, a group of men with cameras were snapping photos of a beautiful girl dressed up as a magical girl.

Seeing this, Riku's lips curled into a smile as his eyes flashed with mischief. He strolled over and quietly activated a dispersal spell, sending the crowd of bystanders away.

Noticing the abrupt change, Serafall first frowned, annoyed. Who was messing up her event?

But as she caught sight of the figure approaching, she froze, planning to slip away.

"Oh? Isn't this my precious maid Serafall-chan? Did you come to school just to see your master?" Before she could even move, Riku was beside her, hand on her shoulder, keeping her from escaping.

"Master, let me go! That hurts!" Serafall whimpered, instantly giving in. Past experience had taught her never to try to resist, or things would only get worse.

"Big sis? Riku-sensei?" Just then, two other girls approached: Sona and Tsubaki. Both stared in disbelief at Riku and the very aggrieved Serafall.

"Sona-chan, your big sis came to see you!" Like she'd been saved, Serafall's eyes glistened with tears as she rushed to Sona. Sona, of course, assumed her sister was worried about the recent attack on Kuoh and tried to reassure her.

"Sorry for worrying you, Sis. But with Riku-sensei here, everything's fine." Sona had misunderstood; she thought Serafall was referring to the recent incident with Kokabiel. Little did she know, Serafall's real concern was much more personal…

Serafall thought to herself, 'The only reason I came to the human world, even knowing Riku was here, was because of Sona… though maybe, just maybe, a tiny part of me wanted to see him too…'

Sona could only sweatdrop. 'Sis, you're a maou. Can't you have a little dignity?'

Riku, meanwhile, had just resigned. Serafall really was the ultimate little siscon.

Deciding not to tease her any further, Riku released his hold.

"Mmm, Sona-chan, I'm so glad you're okay!" Serafall immediately hugged Sona, beaming with relief.

"Sorry, Sis, for making you worry. But with Riku-sensei here, there's nothing to fear." Sona's reply was gentle, still oblivious to Serafall's real reasons.

Serafall, meanwhile, silently screamed in her heart: 'With him here, that's what I'm afraid of!'

But of course, she didn't dare say it out loud. The consequences of that… would be a day or more of "training."

Riku, naturally, saw right through Serafall's thoughts but couldn't be bothered to comment. If he wanted to "train" Serafall, there was no way she could escape; he could always find an excuse.

"Quite the crowd today. Lord Riku, it's been a while." At that moment, another group approached, led by a handsome young man with the same crimson hair as Rias. Following them was the strongest Queen of the Underworld, Grayfia.

There was also Rias herself, blushing with embarrassment her family had shown up during her public lecture, and she was mortified.

Akeno, meanwhile, wore her usual cheerful, teasing smile.

"Sirzechs and Zeoticus, you're both here too?" Riku glanced at Rias's brother and father, greeting them leisurely.

"Well, I wanted to record my precious daughter seriously studying," Zeoticus Gremory replied with a warm smile.

"Father!" Hearing this, Rias was mortified, angry and flustered. Her family was being way too over-the-top, even recording her on video.

"Lord Riku, please, go ahead and continue your conversation. We'll keep touring the school," Sirzechs added, his tone unusually respectful.

This reaction left Rias and Sona both momentarily stunned. Even Serafall and Sirzechs were acting overly humble around Riku. Even if he was a god, this seemed excessive.

But Rias didn't have time to dwell on it and continued showing her family around the school. Only Akeno stayed behind.

"Haha, Sona-chan, take me to see the rest of the school too!" And with that, Serafall grabbed the bewildered Sona by the hand and rushed off, clearly scared Riku would keep her back for that sort of thing.

"Ara ara, Serafall-sama sure is afraid of you, Riku-sensei," Akeno said with a teasing smile.

"Well, I did give her some special 'lessons' in the Underworld," Riku responded calmly.

"Riku-sensei, will you come with me to the clubroom for a bit?" Suddenly, Akeno took hold of Riku's hand, asking quietly.

"Uh, of course." Riku met her gaze and nodded slightly.

The two of them made their way back to the clubroom together.

The Occult Research Club was quiet everyone else was still in class.

"Akeno, did you want to talk to me about something?" Riku asked, watching her prepare tea.

"Riku-sensei, you 'devoured' Asia, Xenovia, and Irina, didn't you?" Akeno sat elegantly beside Riku, her voice lilting, but she emphasised the word 'devour' with a clear hint of deeper meaning.

"Turning your own divine attendants and students into conquests, Riku-sensei, you're surprisingly carnivorous."

Pfft—!

Caught completely off guard, Riku nearly spat out his tea and stared at Akeno, as if asking how she could possibly know.

After all, the three had become angels. With Riku's healing techniques and Asia's Twilight Healing, their recovery was near-instant, so they all went to class the next day as if nothing had happened.

"Don't underestimate a girl's intuition, Riku-sensei. Even if it doesn't show on the surface, the little details give it away like the change in their eyes and aura." Akeno leaned in, her breath warm against his cheek, smiling slyly. "They've all been thoroughly 'developed,' haven't they?"

Riku was speechless. No wonder Akeno had been looking at him oddly lately, and even Koneko had seemed a bit moody.

"So, I got a little jealous. I've fallen for you too, Riku-sensei… So, would you 'devour' me as well?" Akeno's cheeks flushed as she exhaled softly.

"Akeno, are you serious?" Riku asked, as their faces nearly touched.

"Of course I'm serious," Akeno answered quietly. "Do you not like me, Riku-sensei?"

"I doubt there's a sane man who could say no to you. I'm no exception." Riku nodded, not bothering to hide his thoughts.

Akeno gave him a gentle smile.

"But the sadness in your heart worries me. If I took you just like this, it might leave a regret you could never heal." Riku sighed softly.

"…"

Akeno froze for a moment, then quietly shifted away, regaining her composure and sitting beside Riku with dignity.

"Riku-sensei, you really are so gentle." Akeno gave a self-deprecating smile. "Compared to you, I really am shameless."

"Riku-sensei, let me tell you a story. After you hear it, then you can decide whether you want to accept someone as 'tainted' as me." Akeno's eyes clouded with disgust, not toward Riku, but herself.

Akeno's father was the fallen angel Baraqiel, her mother a shrine maiden, Himejima Shuri. One day, Baraqiel was gravely wounded and saved by Shuri, leading to their romance and eventually, Akeno's birth.

They lived happily for a while, but tragedy struck. The Himejima Clan, one of Japan's five great families, refused to accept a union with a fallen angel. When Baraqiel was away on a mission, they attempted to kill Akeno. Shuri sacrificed herself to protect her daughter.

Though Baraqiel returned and slaughtered all responsible, he still couldn't save Shuri.

As a result, Akeno hated her father and her fallen angel blood. If she hadn't been born, her mother would never have died.

After years of fleeing, she eventually met Rias and was reborn as a devil.

This was the story of Akeno Himejima.

As Akeno finished, her beautiful face was clouded by fear, hatred, disgust, and guilt. Then, she suddenly unfurled her wings, one a devil's, the other the black wing of a fallen angel!

"…This is me now, a devil and a fallen angel. Isn't it disgusting? My very existence is filth."

Akeno's eyes brimmed with tears, mired in self-loathing. "I'm sure Riku-sensei despises me now, too."

Smack!

Riku's hand landed without hesitation on top of Akeno's head.

"Idiot."

Akeno was stunned out of her spiral by that simple, unkind word.

"Did you really think I was the type to hate you because of your race? That's pretty insulting. So all this time, you thought I was that kind of person?" Riku's tone was stern, and his brows were furrowed.

"…"

Akeno stared at Riku, all those negative emotions melting away, replaced by her usual self.

As expected, Riku-sensei was still Riku-sensei… He'd never cared about race.

"If you don't hate me, then shouldn't you prove it?" Akeno grabbed Riku's hand and, cheeks flushed, pressed it against her ample chest.

That provocative expression made Riku raise an eyebrow and snort. "Akeno, you know there are consequences for teasing your teacher. Let me show you just what happens."

With that, Riku pulled Akeno into his arms, and with a bit of violence, shredded her uniform…