Both of them remained silent.
Their gazes shifted—not just confusion, but curiosity. There was something strange about him, unlike any supernatural being they had ever encountered.
Rias and Akeno exchanged a brief glance, and in that short silence, a question formed in their minds:
"What kind of creature is he, really?"
There was a reason Rian wanted to join the Occult Research Club—not merely out of curiosity, nor simply because of the beautiful women leading it.
His decision was part of a much larger strategy: connected to his mission and the long-term plans he had begun formulating the moment he set foot in Kuoh Academy in this world.
Rian knew that behind the seemingly light and mysterious name "Occult Research," far deeper activities were taking place.
The strong spiritual aura he sensed from the club building, along with the non-human identities of its members, was enough to conclude that this place was one of the central hubs of supernatural activity at Kuoh Academy.
Joining didn't mean submitting. On the contrary, it was a step for Rian to get closer: to observe, analyze, and, if necessary, exploit.
Meanwhile, the students watching from afar began to stir into utter chaos.
Whispers and small exclamations bounced back and forth:
"He… he just gave flowers to Rias-senpai! And Akeno-senpai too?!"
"What the…?! He's hitting on both of them at the same time?!"
To them, the scene wasn't just shocking—it completely scrambled the imaginary social hierarchy of Kuoh Academy.
The black roses, unusual for ordinary symbols of affection, were instead seen as a bold statement: mysterious and enticing.
And what made everything even more chaotic, Rian had given them to both of the school's primadonnas, in public, without the slightest hesitation.
Rian, of course, only smiled faintly, as if he were listening to the chaos as the background music of a stage drama he himself was directing.
"Shall we talk outside?" he said calmly, glancing at Rias and Akeno in turn. "Somewhere more comfortable… to have a proper conversation."
They exchanged a brief glance, enough to communicate silently.
Rias nodded gracefully, taking the black rose from Rian's hand.
"Alright," she said, composed.
Akeno followed with a soft smile and her characteristic playful tone.
"Ufufu~ I agree as well… I think this will be quite interesting."
The hallway seemed to freeze for a moment. The three of them then walked away, leaving a sea of students behind, now confused, envious, shocked, and unsure whom to envy first.
And the handsome young man, as always, walked at a leisurely pace with a friendly expression: savoring the small chaos he had created with utmost elegance.
***
In the old corridor leading to the Kuoh Academy's old club building, the atmosphere was slightly dimmer compared to the main academic halls.
The light from the aged lamps glowed faintly, casting soft shadows that danced along the walls.
Even so, for Rias and Akeno—and for Rian with his Six Eyes—the dim lighting posed no real obstacle.
At this moment, Rian walked behind the two Kuoh Academy icons. The three of them moved calmly, leaving the bustling main corridor behind.
After the commotion Rian had caused, Rias and Akeno decided to bring him to a more private location: the Occult Research Club.
As they neared their destination, in front of a classic carved wooden door, Rian suddenly stopped. His right hand rested lightly on the wall, and his shoulders quivered slightly.
Rias and Akeno halted and turned to look at him.
"Rian?" Rias asked softly.
A quiet laugh followed, like someone barely able to contain their amusement at their own antics.
"Ahahaha… For the sake of that famous daytime cream," he said, half in regret and half as a private joke, "that earlier… was a total mess."
Akeno covered her lips, chuckling lightly. "Ufufu~ you're quite amusing, Rian-kun."
Rias merely shook her head slightly with a faint smile—whether out of surprise, admiration, or simply confusion at the man before her, it was hard to tell.
Rian then straightened his posture, brushing away the remnants of laughter from his expression, and politely extended his right hand toward the door.
"You may go in first," Rian said casually, like an actor on a stage, "the handsome man will follow shortly."
"Fufufu~ so you have a plan?" Akeno teased, her voice soft, a blend of curiosity and playful seduction.
Rian shrugged effortlessly. "Of course."
Rias let out a soft sigh, as if realizing that this world still had its share of strange species like Rian. "Alright… but don't expect it to be as dramatic as before."
"Ehehe… the handsome man isn't expecting anything that far," Rian replied succinctly, a faint smile still lingering on his face.
The two of them walked ahead, opening the clubroom door and stepping inside, leaving Rian alone in the dim hallway.
Once they were out of sight, Rian leaned lightly against the wall again.
'So… does this mean I've successfully infiltrated their circle?' Rian mused inwardly. 'The first step toward understanding the power structure in this world?'
But soon, he shook his head slightly, realizing something. 'No… it's far too early to conclude that. For now, it's merely an introduction. The next step is to build a foundation of trust.'
Rian closed his eyes for a moment, his fingers adjusting the position of his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.
In his mind, he muttered once more, 'It seems… the handsome man must start demonstrating a little ability. Who knows, it might guarantee success.'
Rian smiled faintly, then pushed off from the wall and stepped toward the door that Rias and Akeno had entered, moving with light yet calculated steps.
Reaching the elegant, carved door, which had just been passed through by Rias and Akeno, Rian pushed it open slowly.
A soft creak echoed as he stepped into the room.
The interior was dimly lit, bathed in the gentle glow of antique-style lamps. Shelves lined with old books, decorative candles, and large windows framed with heavy, dark red drapes adorned the walls.
A large wooden table and several plush sofas occupied the center, giving the space the impression of an old noble's study—mysterious and elegant.
But for Rian, the darkness posed no obstacle. With his Six Eyes, every corner was as clear as daylight.
In the middle of the room, Rias and Akeno stood side by side, turning toward him with relaxed expressions.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, a young man with golden-blond hair stood calmly. Handsome, composed, dressed neatly in his Kuoh uniform. Rian didn't know him yet, but it was clearly Yuuto Kiba—Rias Gremory's loyal knight.
On the long sofa, Rian noticed two familiar figures. Issei Hyoudou, now visibly startled, glanced at Rian's sudden appearance.
And beside him, a small silver-haired girl sat quietly, casually munching on some Poky. Yes… Kouhai-chan, as Rian called her.
Issei immediately sprang to his feet, pointing at Rian with a slightly raised voice. "Eh?! Isn't this… the new guy from my class?! How are you even here?! Don't tell me… you joined this club too?!"
Rian's right hand slowly extended, drawing a small mirror from the pocket of his white shirt—hidden just beneath the neatly worn Kuoh blazer.
He gazed at his own reflection in the mirror, as if the world around him no longer mattered.
In a low voice, Rian murmured to his own reflection, "I know what you're thinking, Rian… About Hyoudou's words just now, right?"
His tone then softened, as if speaking to an old friend. "Good, you understand," Rian said with a slight nod. "So… what do you think?"
The mirror didn't answer. But Rian, in a slightly deeper tone, replied to himself, "I don't know… Your case is a bit complicated. But… considering you're very handsome, the possibilities remain open."
Rian smiled faintly, brimming with confidence. "Oh, I'm glad you understand."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Everyone in the room, even Koneko, fell silent for a moment, their expressions a mix of confusion and astonishment.
They didn't know… Should they call Rian narcissistic, delusional, or just pretending to be sane?
The atmosphere remained frozen until finally, Issei couldn't take it any longer and shouted, "WHAT DOES HANDSOME HAVE TO DO WITH ANY OF THIS?!"
The voice echoed through the room, cutting through the prolonged silence left by Rian's dramatic soliloquy.
"Ara~" Akeno covered her mouth with her fingertips, stifling a laugh. "Interesting… I've never seen anyone speak so seriously to their own reflection."
Her voice was soft and teasing, as usual, but this time she was genuinely amused.
Meanwhile, Kiba, standing in the corner, forced a small, awkward smile. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple.
"He… is unique, isn't he," Kiba murmured quietly, barely able to believe it.
Rias could only let out a long sigh, her right hand touching her temple as if trying to comprehend this new logic that seemed to come from nowhere.
"This… is beyond what I imagined," Rias said flatly, though not angrily. More confused than anything.
Meanwhile, Koneko, still quietly nibbling on her Pocky with her usual deadpan expression, cast a brief glance at Rian and muttered softly but sharply, "Maybe his brain… got swapped with a mirror."
Rian's gaze immediately shifted to Koneko.
With a relaxed motion, he slid the small mirror back into the pocket beneath his blazer, then took slow, deliberate steps toward the tiny girl.
Once in front of Koneko, Rian knelt before her, his smile warm and inviting—like an overconfident morning sun.
Koneko shot a brief glance at him but quickly returned her focus to her snack, gripping the box of Pocky as if it were a national treasure.