Unexpected Bloom [OCs X Highschool DXD]

Chapter 21

The Occult Research Club was abuzz with a sense of purpose. Asia, Aebelle, and Marinoah stood ready, their youthful energy palpable.

"I'm ready!" Asia declared, her voice filled with quiet determination.

"Ready!" chirped Aebelle, her innocent features alight with enthusiasm.

"Let's go!" Marinoah exclaimed, already brimming with her usual boisterous energy.

"Then we're off to distribute flyers," Issei Hyoudou announced, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Let's go, girls!"

His eagerness was quickly halted by Rias Gremory's composed voice. "Wait."

Issei and the others paused, their momentum momentarily broken. "Sorry?" Issei questioned, tilting his head in confusion.

"This'll be the last week you have to distribute flyers," Rias explained, her crimson eyes meeting each of their gazes. "As I've said before, you were doing it as part of your training. Distributing flyers is actually a familiar's job."

Issei's face fell slightly. "Then we're done distributing flyers?"

"First," Rias continued, "you need to get a familiar."

A moment later, Rias summoned a girk, her mischievous eyes twinkling. "This is my familiar," she declared. "You've met her previously, Issei."

Issei blinked, utterly bewildered. "Huh? What?!"

Rias elaborated, "Yes. She was the one who gave you and Aebelle those fliers. Unfortunately, Raynare destroyed Aebelle's flier when you two first encountered her."

Aebelle, lost in a whirlwind of newly awakened memories, shook her head, trying to grasp the fragments of a forgotten past. The encounter with Raynare, the destroyed flyer... a shiver ran down her spine.

"Then that girl was..." Issei trailed off, his mind struggling to piece together the clues.

Akeno Himejima, her smile as alluring as ever, interjected, "This is mine." She gestured towards a small, dark imp. "This is Shiro."

Yuuto Kiba began to introduce his own familiar, but Issei cut him off. "I don't want to see yours."

"Oh, come on," Kiba playfully retorted.

Rias stepped in, "It's a basic thing for devils. They can assist you, deliver messages, and even find things."

Asia, ever the curious and gentle soul, piped up, "Um, how do you get a familiar?"

Rias was about to explain when a sharp knock echoed through the room.

"Come in!" Akeno called out.

The door swung open, revealing Sona Sitri, the student council president, and her vice-president, Shinra Tsubaki, along with a retinue of other council members.