DEVILS WILL CRY

The Rating Game

As our final day of training ended, I found myself unable to sleep. I tossed and turned in my bed, and eventually, I decided to get up and get something to eat.

I made my way into the kitchen, but just as I got the bread out, I saw Rias from the window. She was outside, looking at the stars in a marble building, looking worried as usual

I put the bread away, before making my way outside to see her.

"It's pretty cold out here, you should have a coat at least"
"I'm fine" she said as she looked to the stars
"With everything thats going on, I seriously doubt that"
"Can I ask you a favour, Y/n?"
"That depends on what it is" I joked, but I could tell she was being serious
"If something goes wrong, if I have to marry that... Bastard. Then chances are he would never let me back up here. I'd never get to see the Occult Research Club again"
"Nothing's going to go wrong"
"If something does go wrong, then I want you to be the new president"
"You want me? Isn't Akeno more experienced? And the vice? She should be in charge"
"She is experienced, yes, but you're strong, independent, They trust you and care for you. If anyone is a perfect replacement, it's you"
"But-"
"Please, Y/n. Just in case..."
"Fine, I'll be in charge. But even if something does go wrong, I'm not gonna let you get off easily"
"I didn't think you would" she said with a smile on her face.

We sat down on a bench and watched the stars in the cold air. After a while, she fell asleep on my shoulder, and my job for the night was complete.

Almost

I slowly got up, making sure not to let her fall, before picking her up bridal style and carrying her to her room.

I placed her on her bed, before walking to the doorway and turning off the lights

"Rest easy, Rias. You deserve it"

The next day, we headed home. Rias thought it would be good to get some rest before the rating game.

Asia, Koneko and I spent the day relaxing at Home Base, mostly in the swimming pool, and calmed ourselves before the upcoming fight.

But when night fell, we prepared ourselves for the conflict. I refueled my HellRazor, put on my best jacket and made sure my Devil Bringer's scales were nice and shiny, before walking to the ORC with Asia and Koneko.

By the time we arrived, the rest of the club had made tea, and were waiting for Grayfia to arrive and start the Game. Unfortunately for us, we didn't have time to finish ours, as the devil arrived shortly after.

I downed my cup of tea, before walking over to the red teleportation circle and gripping my blade before waiting for the others.

Once we were all in the circle and ready, it glowed brighter, but when the others disappeared, I stayed exactly where I was

"Huh? What happened? Why didn't I go with them?"
"I'm not sure, you should have been sent to the battle ground"
"So send me there now"
"I'm afraid I can't" Grayfia said with a bow "Unfortunately, if a member of a peerage isn't present when the game begins, they are unable to join for the remainder of the game. You are still permitted to watch, however"
"You gotta be fucking kidding me! How are they gonna win now?"
"Do you doubt them that much?" Sona asked me
"Personally, yes, I do doubt them. Asia has no combat training, Issei's only skill is stripping people of their clothes, those two would be almost useless in a fight"
"How about we make a bet then? I guarantee Issei and Asia will make it to the final fight with Riser"
"And what are we betting?"
"Well, since it wouldn't be fair to bet something big, how about we play a game of chess if you lose?"
"You want to play chess if I lose? What sort of bet is that?"
"Oh you'll see" she said with a smile
"That's mildly concerning"

We went to a room with many screens of pure light, showing off different areas of the school, but I could tell it wasn't the real school. In one of the rooms were Riser and his forced harem, in the other, Rias and the rest of the peerage, looking confused that I wasn't there

Of course, I was just as confused, but I knew slightly more than they did, so I decided to try sending Kiba a text.

Hey, circle didn't work, you guys think you can handle this on your own?

I saw him pull out his phone before talking to the others and sending one back

We got this, just sit back and watch the show!

I could tell that Rias was worried but was trying to hide it

Got it. Give em hell!

After sending that final text, I put my phone away and watched the battle unfold. To be honest, I was shocked. Issei's stripping power was surprisingly useful, when he wasn't fantasising about tits. He managed to beat two loli twins with chainsaws with barely a scratch. And Asia was able to use her Healing to keep up Rias and Akeno's energy so they could keep using magic.

I was impressed to say the least. But in the end, they lost. Issei fought to the end, until he was unable to move, and Rias gave up to save his life.

I was pissed that we lost, but I knew that they did their best. And to be fair, they held up extremely well seeing as though they were outnumbered, outpowered and outplanned.

But it didn't change the fact that we lost. And I couldn't do anything to help them in the fight.

After Issei was recovered from the dimension, he was teleported Home Base, because it wouldn't be good for his parents to find him beaten and bloody in his bed.

I called a meeting with the remaining members, and we gathered at the clubhouse

"Last night, Rias told me that if something went wrong, she wanted me to lead the Research Club. So does anyone have invites to the party?"
"We each have one, apart from you, Asia and Issei" Akeno explained
"Akeno, you can go see Rias right?"
"I can"
"Perfect. I want you to go to her and keep her hopes up. Kiba, Koneko, you two will go to the party as usual, and Asia, you'll heal Issei, he may be a pervert, but that's no reason for him to die"
"What are you gonna do?" The swordsman asked
"That's for me to know, and you guys to watch in shock and awe. I'll keep in touch, you guys just do as I've said..." I created a teleportation circle and stood inside "And it'll all work out"

I teleported to The Rook, before smiling.

"This is gonna be fun"