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Chapter 328: Chapter 324 ~ Koneko

Occult Research Club. Afternoon

Sunlight filtered through the crimson curtains of the clubroom, scattering soft patterns across the wooden floor. Another little source of light to add to the dimly lit room, illuminated solely by the softly lit chandelier with a warm orange hue. 

The air was calm, filled with the faint hum of the tea kettle that Akeno had set earlier.

Yuuji sat on the long couch in front of the coffee table set at the center of the room. On his lap, a keyboard which he typed with uncanny speed as his eyes locked upon the floating holographic screens; some displayed economic reports from the various groups under LInked Horizons, while some displayed the stocks analysis of his partners and competitors. 

On his right, Akeno rested quietly against his shoulder, her breathing slow and rhythmic.

Her arms were loosely wrapped around him, as though she couldnʼt bear to let go even in her dreams. A faint smile curved her lips, her cheeks still tinted pink. She hadnʼt slept much the previous night… for obvious reasons.

In fact, not just the previous night. The moment she woke up and cleaned herself up along with Rias and Yuuji, they made love once again in the bath. 

It was only thanks to Aika, Albedo, Erika, and C.C, who came in after they were each filled anew with Yuujiʼs seed did they could rest and enjoyed the bath, while Yuuji was swarmed by his other lovers. 

Yuujiʼs essence, especially his seed, was capable of nourishing her body as well as replenishing her energy. She had heard of it from Aika and the girls, now her sisters, and felt it herself. When she woke up, she never felt so energized before, despite having slept only for the tailend of the night, just before dawn broke. 

But despite it, after such an intense night with Yuuji as well as Rias, not to mention her sleepless night the night before as well conversing with her newly reunited mother, Akeno yearned for a peaceful rest. 

She powered through the first day of school, but as soon as she arrived at the Occult Research Club and found Yuuji, she immediately embraced him and let herself melt into his warmth and comfort. 

Now, she finally allowed herself to sleep peacefully—her head nestled against his shoulder, her hair brushing softly against his neck.

On his other side, Aika leaned her head on his opposite shoulder, casually scrolling through her phone, a teasing smirk on her face as she watched Akeno sleep.

”Fufufu~ Seems like someoneʼs been making her lose a whole night of sleep~” Aika whispered, her tone playful.

”She had a long night… Competing with Rias…” Yuuji smiled helplessly, letting out a sigh, before glancing at the crimson haired princess. 

Rias blushed, averting her gaze for a moment, before her lips pouted into a cute expression of defiance and mock anger. 

”She started it! Itʼs only because of her that… Ughh! Anyway, she reaped what she sow.”

Her arms crossed under her breasts, accentuating both her mountainous chest and her defiance. 

”Fufu~ Sure~ Though, it looks like you also… got into it pretty quickly~”

Rias turned her gaze away, averting it from Aikaʼs knowing eyes and mischievous grin. 

With Riasʼs retreat, peace returned to the clubroom.

Most of Riasʼs peerage either didnʼt come or had gone elsewhere. Gasper stayed in his own room. Kiba, Issei, and Asia went on their own contracts, and would only return after sundown. While Xenovia was training with Erika in the courtyard. 

Ophis, Alice, and Aria, whoʼd usually watch tv in the club room or monopolize the best seat in the room—Yuujiʼs lap— were staying in his [Kingʼs Treasury]. While C.C went walking around town before returning home.

Only Koneko was still in the clubroom, having no schedule for her contracts, and stared at Akeno with envious stare while munching on a cookie Yuuji had prepared for them. 

She knew about the date Akeno and Rias had with Yuuji over the weekend. And she could tell, from their conversation, that theyʼd definitely… had sex! And an intense one, or perhaps two or three or a lot more, at that!

She couldnʼt help but feel envious… 

Theyʼve progressed their relationship with Yuuji a lot. While she was still unmoving… Still just staring from afar in silence.

No… She couldnʼt stay this way. Sheʼll have to start doing her best!

Koneko suddenly stood up from her seatEveryone turned toward her, surprised by her sudden movement.

Her golden eyes were focused on Yuuji.

He blinked, caught off guard by her gaze. Her small frame trembled slightly, but her eyes carried a quiet, unwavering determination — the kind that came after long, silent reflection.

Their gazes met, and for a moment, neither of them moved.

Then, to everyoneʼs surprise, Koneko walked over to him. Her steps were light but deliberate. When she reached the couch, she turned, sat down right on his lap, and leaned her back gently against his chest.

The motion was so sudden that Akeno stirred awake with a small murmur — her drowsiness vanishing instantly as her eyes widened in disbelief.

”Koneko…?”

Before anyone could say another word, two small, white cat ears appeared on top of her head, twitching faintly. A slender white tail flicked from just above her waist, swaying back and forth.

”Nya…”

Her soft voice, half mewl, half sigh, hung in the air like a gentle bell.

”Koneko?” Yuuji breathed, his surprise clear in his tone.

Koneko looked up, her pale cheeks flushed crimson, her golden eyes shimmering with a mixture of embarrassment and courage.

”Yuuji…” she whispered.

Akeno covered her mouth with a teasing smile. 

”Ara-ara~ ufufufu~”

Aika chuckled, leaning forward slightly. ”Oh my~ Koneko-chan, how daring~”

Rias could only stare, muttering under her breath, ”This… is this actually happening…?”

Konekoʼs blush deepened until her face turned as red as a tomato. Overwhelmed, she turned quickly and pressed her face against Yuujiʼs chest, hiding her expression completely.

Yuuji blinked, taken aback — not just by the sight, but by what it meant. She was showing her true form — the heritage she had guarded so closely — and she was doing it here, in front of everyone. In front of him.

And yet, in his heart, warmth spread like sunlight. She trusted him. Enough to show him her true self.

Akeno and Aika exchanged a glance, then gently pulled away, giving the two of them space.

”Koneko…” Yuuji said softly, resting his hand on her small shoulder.

She twitched slightly under his touch, her cat ears flicking once, before she tilted her head upward to look at him. Her golden eyes glowed faintly under the sunlight.

”Shirone…” she murmured quietly, her voice trembling. ”Tojo Shirone. My real name.”

Yuujiʼs expression softened, a small, heartfelt smile curving his lips. He leaned in, close enough that his breath brushed the base of her ear, and whispered, ”Shirone.”

”N-Nya—!”

Her body jolted, her cat ears twitching wildly as her tail stood straight like a startled cat. A shiver ran through her as the whisper sent a tingling warmth through her body.

Realizing the sound sheʼd made, she quickly hid her face again against his shoulder, clutching tightly at his shirt as if to bury her embarrassment.

But her tail betrayed her — gently swaying side to side in delight.

Yuuji chuckled softly, a hand brushing through her snowy hair. 

”Thank you for telling me your real name, Shirone. Iʼm really happy. And…” His voice softened, filled with sincerity. 

”Youʼre a very cute Nekoshou.”

Koneko hesitated, then nuzzled closer to his chest, her cheeks still warm. Slowly, she tilted her head up, her eyes shy but glimmering with happiness.

”Really…?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

”Of course,” Yuuji replied, smiling gently. ”Iʼm happy to know the real you.”

He drew her into a full embrace.

Koneko gasped softly at first — surprised — then relaxed completely in his arms, closing her eyes as she listened to his heartbeat.

Her hands gripped his shirt tightly, her tail curling contentedly around his waist. The warmth that enveloped her felt like home — safe, gentle, and real.

For a moment, the clubroom was silent again, save for the faint hum of the wind and the quiet rhythm of two hearts beating in sync.

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The night was quiet.

Kuroka sat alone on a high branch, her bare feet swaying lazily in the cool night air. The silver moon hung above her — bright, full, and serene — its soft light washing over her figure as she stared into the endless sky.

Her golden eyes reflected the moonlight, unfocused, distant.

She was thinking about that day — the day she and Bikou went to fetch Vali.

She hadnʼt expected to see him there.

That man — the one who had easily drawn both her curiosity and her instinctive wariness — Yuuji. Or rather, the man she learned was Mordred.

The moment she confirmed his identity, sheʼd felt something strange stirring inside her — not fear, not suspicion… but a quiet, uneasy intrigue.

But what lingered with her now werenʼt his powers or his name. It was his words.

”Sheʼs waiting for you.”

Kurokaʼs fingers clenched slightly against the bark beneath her.

That simple sentence had burrowed into her heart, replaying again and again like a whisper in the wind.

She lowered her gaze, her expression softening, and memories began to surface — of a time long past.

A small girl with snow-white hair and golden eyes, smiling up at her. Her beloved little sister.

”Shirone…” Kuroka whispered under her breath, her voice trembling faintly.

The night breeze brushed her hair aside as she closed her eyes, remembering.

Her ”sin”. The one that tore her away from everything.

The day she chose to stain her own hands so her sister wouldnʼt have to live in that accursed place. The day she turned herself into a criminal in the eyes of her kind — for the sake of the only precious person she had left.

Even after escaping, even after surviving the endless days of running and hiding, she had told herself it was worth it — that sheʼd done it to protect Shirone.

But deep down, the guilt never left.

And when she saw the hatred in her sisterʼs eyes — the fear — she realized she had failed in the cruelest way possible.

She had wanted to tell her the truth so many times. To tell her why she did it.

But she couldnʼt.

She didnʼt want to make Shirone relive that pain again. Didnʼt want her to know the things Kuroka had seen… the things she had done to protect her.

So she kept her distance. Watching, waiting, hurting in silence.

(→ Reason Kuroka didnʼt want Shirone to know: Because the truth of her actions—the depth of the horrors she endured and the people she had killed to free them—would destroy Shironeʼs image of her. She didnʼt want her sister to carry that darkness. She wanted Shirone to live free of guilt, not knowing the blood Kuroka had spilled for her.)

A rustle of leaves broke her thoughts.

”Kuroka,” a calm voice called from below.

Arthur Pendragon stepped into view, looking up at her with his usual stoic expression. ”Weʼre preparing to move. What are you doing up there, spacing out?”

Kurokaʼs tail twitched irritably.

”Hsshh~ Donʼt ruin a girlʼs quiet night with your knightly nagging, nya~” she hissed, her tone sharp despite her languid posture.

Arthur only sighed, adjusting his grip on the holy sword at his waist. ”I donʼt have time to deal with an angry woman. Le Fay, you handle her.”

With that, he turned and walked away without waiting for an answer.

Le Fay stood a few meters behind, watching him leave with an exasperated sigh. ”Honestly, brother…” she muttered before floating up gently with her magic and perching on the branch beside Kuroka.

”Mind if I join you?”

Kuroka didnʼt answer. She just shrugged slightly, her golden eyes still fixed on the moon.

For a moment, silence filled the space between them — the soft rustling of leaves, the distant call of an owl, the whisper of the wind.

Then Le Fay spoke softly. ”Itʼs about your sister, isnʼt it?”

”...It is.”

Le Fayʼs gaze softened. That answer wasnʼt unexpected — but hearing it aloud still made her chest tighten.

Sheʼd known Kuroka long enough to recognize when her cheerfulness was real, and when it was just a mask. Normally, her teasing and her flirtations hid her pain well. But tonight, the mask had slipped.

The melancholy in her voice was raw and unguarded.

”What happened?” Le Fay asked gently. ”Something must have triggered this. Was it… when you went to fetch Vali?”

Kuroka tilted her head back slightly, her long black hair shimmering in the moonlight.

”...You could say that, nya,” she murmured, her voice softer now, distant.

For the first time in a long while, Le Fay saw the real Kuroka — not the playful cat, not the mischievous woman who toyed with everyone — but a sister who still carried the scars of love and guilt she could never let go.

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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!! 

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Thank you~!