Twilight Sisters Initiation and Fairy Footprints Feast
Freshman: Johan29
The next day dawned. As soon as classes ended, Bane and I headed straight to the Twilight Sisters clubroom where Rias-senpai was waiting. We were there to join.
"Welcome aboard!"
Rias-senpai showered us with glitter as she congratulated me and Bane. No other freshmen had signed up for Twilight Sisters besides us. Club intro week wasn't over yet, but I doubted anyone else would show.
There were plenty of other alchemy clubs, but no student in their right mind would hole up in this sunless basement for research. Plus, Twilight Sisters wasn't the kind of place to build connections. From a student's perspective, it was the one club to avoid.
No other members came to celebrate with Rias-senpai. Excluding her, Twilight Sisters was full of ghost members. It was a somewhat pitiful welcome.
"Now we've finally hit five members. Once we reach that number, we can claim a bigger clubroom. We'll get more club funds too. Still a long way off from real security, though."
Alchemy was an expensive hobby. Right now, Rias-senpai was scraping by selling potions to students. Her obsession with contraceptives was all about covering those dues.
"By the way, like I noticed last time, you've got some primo ingredients here. Isn't that rainbow flower dew?"
Bane pointed at the display case holding the materials. In the direction she indicated sat a small glass vial filled with iridescent liquid.
It looked like someone had dissolved multiple inks in water, but the colors stayed distinct, refusing to blend. Rias-senpai nodded proudly.
"Sharp eyes! Yep, rainbow flower dew. That's worth 10,000 kant per gram. Ten grams total—100,000 kant easy. I haggled my ass off for 90,000."
"Red mint flowers, moonlight lizard tails... These materials must cost a fortune."
Bane, the alchemy expert, scanned the case with keen insight. Rias-senpai puffed up her shoulders.
"Club funds can't cover it. We get a measly 50,000 kant a month—like snack money. I don't get why the student council overlooks gems like us!"
Anyone good enough to attend the academy came from money. Bane was from one of the seven great vampire clans, and while the novel didn't detail Rias-senpai's background, she was clearly noble-born.
Dorms gave away origins too—nobles were rare in Oracle, but the others were packed with aristocrats or the ultra-wealthy.
Still, seeing affluent Rias-senpai pinched for cash was odd. The original novel never mentioned it.
Bad blood with the family? Plenty of characters here have that backstory, so odds are high.
"Can't you just ask your family for money?"
"Hahaha... Truth is, I ran away from home. Makes it awkward."
"Ran away?"
"Yeah. Mom and Dad didn't want me at the academy. Said I should focus on my succubus duties instead."
Rias-senpai didn't seem succubus-like at all. Compared to Momo-senpai, the difference was night and day.
One was a textbook sex-loving succubus; the other, an alchemy nerd. Human parents would adore Rias-senpai's type, but succubus world flipped the script. Figures.
"Family drama drags on forever. I'll spill later. Ahem! Anyway, enough of that! No club funds today, but let's squeeze what we can and party! I know a great spot—let's go!"
Silnakwon sprawled vast beyond the student cafeteria, packed with eateries. Rias-senpai led us with confident gusto.
Bane matched my stride perfectly, her warm smile a sight to behold.
Silnakwon's shopping district sat a bit apart from the academy campus. Walking would take over an hour, but luckily, regular carriages ran like campus shuttles. Plenty of them too, so commuting between campus and shops was a breeze.
Rias-senpai, Bane, and I rode one to the district.
After hours meant crowds of students milling about. Silnakwon housed not just academy folk but merchants, officials, scholars, explorers from the Three Realms. They lived off-campus, and the shopping district hugged their outskirts.
The moment we arrived, savory aromas wafted from street stalls. Bane's eyes sparkled as she spun around. A month since enrollment, but this was my first time here. Probably hers too.
"I know an amazing spot!"
Rias-senpai, playing senpai to the hilt, strode ahead chest puffed.
She led us off the main drag to a quieter alley. Shabby signs dotted rundown shops—like a locals-only old-timer haunt.
"Cheap prices, killer food. Broke life hones those skills. Right here!"
Rias-senpai grinned wide, stopping at a weathered sign: Fairy Footprints.
Fairy-run joint?
I racked my brain for novel details. Drew a blank.
Never showed up, or cameo at best.
"What do they specialize in?"
The smell was promising—greasy meat dish vibes.
"No one in the demon realm grills lusan better."
"Owner from down under?"
"Yep. Imp."
Imp
Tiny, cute demon realm devil.
Think fairy of the demon world.
We filed inside. The creaky wooden door groaned satisfyingly.
"Welcome in!"
The proprietor bellowed from the counter in a bright, booming voice.
Counter seats only—like a late-night diner from a Japanese drama where salarymen knock back drinks. The vibe leaned that way: wooden stump menu on the wall, blue headscarf on the owner. Felt like stepping into a craftsman's shop honed over decades.
"Rias, huh? Come on in."
As promised, she was a regular.
The owner was a black-skinned imp half my height, looking like a 10-year-old boy. But judging ain-kind by looks was folly.
"The usual for three. These are my club juniors."
"Oho! New blood? Nice! Special energy boost today?"
He rolled up sleeves, diving into mysterious prep with fiery passion. We settled at the counter, chatting idly while waiting. Rias-senpai dominated; Bane and I listened.
Seventy percent class talk—boring for martial arts me. But Bane hung on every word.
"So! Watch that prof in year two. Got it, Bane?"
"Yes! I'll be careful."
"Food's up!"
He slammed down three heaping bowls of donburi topped with thick meat slabs.
Donburi in fantasy?
Ayu-in mashed fantasy, wuxia, modern anyway, so it fit... ish. Still weird.
True to brag, it slapped. Picky eater approved; most would love it.
Bane's face was iffy, though. Vampire exception, fair.
"Thanks for the feast!"
Bellies full, we hit the streets craving a tour. Bane's eyes gleamed purest.
"So many shops!"
"It's a full city. Silnakwon's country-sized—you knew?"
"Yeah. Non-academy folks live here too."
"Hence the bustle. Lush woods, pretty lakes—I'll show you later."
"Whoa~ Sounds fun!"
We wandered long, sightseeing. Then, familiar face.
"Ah! Scarlett-senpai!"
Scarlett-senpai, glossy blue hair cascading to her waist, stood curbside with a small paper bag.
She checked her pocket watch—pure noble gentleman vibe. Calling her name, she looked up slowly, clocking me.
"Johan."
"Huh? Johan, you know the student council secretary?"
Rias-senpai whispered.
"Yeah. She helped me out before."
"Ooh~ Impressive. Connections up top smooth things. Secretary could sway club placements our way! Fancy a little lobby?"
"Nah. Just earn her grudge."
I brushed off Rias-senpai, approaching Scarlett-senpai.
She eyed me top to bottom, flicking glances at Bane and Rias-senpai.
"Who's with you?"
"Club friend and senpai. Joined one."
"Freshmen must join at least one. Word's spread about your Tempest and Hill rampage. Where'd you land after that mess?"
"Twilight Sisters."
"Twilight Sisters? Hmm... That ring a bell?"
Rias-senpai's face tightened at Scarlett-senpai's words. Ego dinged.
Even the secretary handling academy affairs overlooked tiny clubs.
Made sense—Twilight Sisters wasn't memorable.
"Whatever. Not my business."
Scarlett-senpai went coolly aloof. Obvious jealousy bait.
I "accidentally" bumped shoulders with Bane on my right, facing Scarlett-senpai while apologizing.
"Sorry. Shoulder bumped."
"Hmph... That's your friend?"
Her brow furrowed faintly. Better reaction than hoped.
Sure enough, she was into me. Bane too.
Feels like I stepped into the harem protag role.
I pretty much had.