It took me way too long to realize that I had never actually attended a rich people's party before.
Sure, I've seen them before. From the rather stoic and plain celebrations that I watched in Takamagahara, to the very opulent dinner party that I ran through when I first arrived in the Underworld.
But actually attend one? Participate? All that jazz?
Never have.
And honestly?
I sit at a small rounded dinner table with a fancy red and white sheet covering the thing. Across it, the Gremory sigil was displayed, over and over again in a repetitive pattern.
Following said pattern, the entire dining hall was like that. From table cloths, banners, even on the fancy porcelain plates and clear glass cups, the Gremory symbol was engraved somewhere.
One hell of a way to announce to everyone who won and shove it all in the attendees' faces. Honestly, I'm not even surprised, kind of expected it to be fair.
See, what I didn't expect was for a supposed week-long celebration to be so…
"Boring." The white cat girl sitting at my table finished my thought without even knowing about it.
"Yeah," I sigh out to her, "I know, that's like, the twelfth time you've said that, kitty…"
Shirone proceeds to pout with a dull frown, whilst continuing to swirl the criminally small cup serving of soft-serve ice cream in her hands.
She's said that several times already, all at random points, which I don't even blame her for.
This shit is really boring.
However, Shirone, in a form-fitting long blue gown, is very nice!
But yeah, so far this celebration is going exactly like that one dinner party I ran through, the whole congregation of noble devils eating in a fancy ballroom, just with a Gremory theme going on.
It is exactly as it looks to participate in.
Everyone is sitting or standing around, occasionally eating, occasionally drinking, but mostly chatting about boring shit.
Like politics, family alliances, and so on.
Even if I were here to try and get my nonexistent political game on, I wouldn't want to associate with most of the demons here.
Not only because I don't know any of them, but because most of them are purely here to try and ride on the Gremory, and thus Rias' newfound success.
Seriously, I feel bad for Rias' parents. As the current leading force behind the clan and all, they've got their own special table, and it's been hogged practically the entire time I've been here.
In fact, Shirone used to be over there, along with Rias herself and the rest of her Peerage, but as soon as I showed up, she got up and just left, joining me over here.
The way everyone else keeps sending longing glances, I get the feeling they want to join in, but aren't given quite the same leeway for some reason.
In a similar vein, I haven't formally met Rias' parents yet, but they, too, keep sending looks my way, especially her mother.
No. Not in that way! I think. Less horny, more politically calculating looks.
I'm not sure which I prefer if I have to be perfectly honest.
On the bright side! None of the sycophants here has been trying to cozy up to me at all.
Hell, no one besides Shirone here has even gotten within twelve feet of the table!
It's almost making me wish a dumbass devil would try something, but unfortunately, whether through myself being known or out of fear of pissing off the Gremory themselves, I'm being left alone.
The food isn't even bad! I don't know the name of any of this stuff; all I can say is that it looked like overcomplicated steak, fish, and other such dishes.
All comically small portions, but they weren't bad!
Besides one that looked like it had gold sprinkled on it. Seriously, who the fuck eats gold!?
Now, the drinks? That's actually pretty funny, because I've been using it to tell younger devils apart from older ones.
I've been sipping juice the entire time, along with Rias and the rest of her Peerage, sans Shirone, who has been using ice cream as her drink, I think.
In fact, all the younger devils, children, and heirs of the bootlicking lords and lesser nobles are also drinking some kind of juice.
While everyone else clearly has wine or champagne, some sort of high-class, fancy social drink.
I just find it hilarious, is all, literal demons not allowing the younger demons to drink alcohol. For some reason, that just really tickles my funny bone.
Of course, that same limit didn't apply to me. I'm just drinking juice because it would be bad for everyone if I got alcohol.
Sadly, though, I can only derive so much pleasure from that thought before my mental state plummets straight back down into sheer and utter boredom.
"Is this, seriously, all they do?" I had to ask Shirone after a bit of dull background chatter consumed our silence, "Like, seriously? No TV, no games, nothing?"
Shirone looked at me like she had just gone through the Great War itself, and that by itself told me everything I needed to know.
Ugh, if that's the case, I might need to start making my own entertainment, or I'll go completely mad.
It's a shame Serafall didn't show up. I'd be molesting her the entire time if she were.
I spare a glance toward Shirone.
Eh, at first glance, you'd think Shirone wouldn't be for it, but you never know…
Damn cat is more like her sister than one would first expect. She could totally decide she wanted to help.
Bah, enough of that, this whole thing is to celebrate Rias and her Peerage's win…
Right?
Then again, could anyone really call this whole thing a celebration?
I know Shirone sure as hell isn't calling it that, and the way the others keep looking over here…
I let out another sigh, but this time, far more resolute, it even causes Shirone to raise an eyebrow at me.
I know what I must do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it…
And by strength, I mean the lack of shame.
Fortunately, I know exactly how to obtain that.
Without another word, I stand up.
Immediately, I catch a few glances being thrown my way. Considering my position, the fact that I'm fairly secluded from everyone else, it's no surprise people would start getting weary once I moved from the spot I had been in the whole time thus far.
Fortunately for their nerves, I wasn't going too far, it turns out.
I simply walked over to a nearby table where a set of champagne glasses was laid out.
For most, I could feel their glances slip off me at this. After all, there's nothing unusual about someone getting a drink, right?
But with a few glances, I could feel them intensify so much that I almost felt them physically.
I take a glass and hold it up, seeing the liquid bubble and fizz within it.
In both lives, I never had champagne before, so…
Ah, well, who cares if I like it or not? Either way, down the hatch it goes!
So it does, I bring the glass up to my lips, and knock it back, straight in and down, like a shot.
Huh. Not bad, tastes like apples, honey, and something else I can't quite place…
Oh, that's the alcohol.
I set down the glass, as a buzz seems to settle atop my mind like a soft, warm blanket.
"Heehee…" I chuckle, softly.
One drink. Are you kidding me? One drink!?
The buzz, however, quickly consumes my thoughts, before all that's left is pure chuckling.
~ A New Sun ~
Why did he do that!? Shirone very desperately wanted to cry out to him, but it wouldn't have mattered.
As it turns out, neither he nor her sister was lying about Nori's complete intolerance to alcohol.
"Ohhhh Shirrronnnneee~..." Her senpai and lover came waddling back, a grin as stupid as she thinks he is half the time plastered across his face, "What, do ya say we…liven things up, ye~?"
Shirone can only look up at him with the blankest look.
He hiccups once and places down several more glasses of champagne, all right on their table.
Her look doesn't diminish; it simply moves over to the glasses instead.
See, she and the rest of the Peerage, even the President, aren't actually allowed to drink at such an event. Younger bodies don't have the tolerance to be drinking without making a fool of themselves is the official explanation, and all that.
Personally, Shirone never really cared; she just found it ironic.
But. Right now? She was pretty bored.
That, and, well…
She slowly looked back at her senpai, whose face had morphed into the longest and saddest frown and puppy-doll eyes combo she's ever seen from him.
Immediately, Shirone clicked her tongue, finding her will to resist his games already starting to erode.
She wanted to reach over and give him several pats on the head. She really, really did.
Though when she's asked about this later, she'll most definitely say it was just because she was bored.
"...Fine." It took a second for her to answer, but she folded rather quickly, all things considered.
"Yaaaayyyyy~!" Nori threw his hands up into the air, his expression instantly shifting to what it was before.
"Hmph," Shirone pouted, closing her eyes, "but only-MMFFPH!?"
Completely caught off guard, Shirone almost fell off her chair as her lips were promptly snatched up and taken.
She was prevented from falling by the very familiar pair of large, warm arms wrapping around her, keeping her upright, all the while pulling her in.
As much as Shirone wanted to punch her senpai in the dick for the sudden and very public display of affection, she couldn't help but moan back against his lips, her hands finding his robes instead to grasp onto, her cheeks flushing to match the heat she felt wrapping around her.
When he finally pulls back, Shirone can't even finish forming the words she had intended to say, instead only letting out a long, hot breath.
"Heehee~!" Her senpai chuckles against her cheek, somehow sending shivers straight down her spine, "Thank you, kitten, I love you, kitten~!" Shirone perked up at, as the heat spread to her entire face, right when he finished with, "Ready when you are~?"
Shirone pulls away slightly, her yellow eyes meeting his golden, mirth-filled ones.
For now, she resists the urge to punch him in the dick.
That'll be for later. Much later, actually. He'll still need to use it later, after all.
You know what? Drinking actually sounds like a wonderful idea right now!
Instead, she jerked her gaze away, "L-Love you too, pervert," She immediately grabbed a glass, "idiot," and downed it, in one shot, "douche," her other hand is already reaching for another as she sets the previous one down, her mumbling continuing.
"Oi~!" Her sempai calls over mumble, "You didn't say reaadddyyy~!" He whines with a very familiar tone.
That only makes Shirone reach for the next glass even faster.
~ A New Sun ~
Rias should have known something was up the moment she saw Noriaki get up and grab that glass of champagne.
She, of course, had heard about his alcohol intolerance from Shirone. How it played a role in the absurd gaining of his powers, the story of how a normal dance student vanished, and came back as a demigod.
Granted, it's not as though she could have done or said anything, locked in her chair as she was.
Akeno was at her side, following her Queen is the empty seat where Shirone was, and directly beyond that sat Yuuto. All of them were supposed to stay at the head table, for one reason or another.
They weren't going to stay here forever, of course! That's just part of the tradition of these sorts of things!
Shirone, however, didn't care, and Rias couldn't blame her at all.
If anyone had tried to tell her Rook otherwise, even Rias' own parents, Noriaki would have said something, so she was allowed to get off scot-free.
She tried not to think about whether she would have done the same thing for her.
Then again.
"GOOD AFTERNOOOON- Er, wait, fack~, is it, it is the afternoon now, right~?"
"...Noon."
"Ah~. Good NOOOONNNN you lacking party demons you~!"
It's hard to even think at all right now, considering what she's being forced to bear witness to!
Noriaki, with Shirone sitting on his shoulder, just as red-faced as he, was standing on the slightly elevated platform where a musician was playing.
Was. She turned her head and saw that the devil was quickly scurrying out the door with a wad of bills, Japanese yen.
As for Noriaki himself? He seemed to be having trouble standing up straight, swaying side to side as he was, with an absolutely doped-up smile plastered across his face.
Yet still, he maintained enough balance to hold himself and Shirone up.
But who knows how long that'll last.
Everyone had craned their heads and were looking at the duo now, even an assortment of nobles that had gathered around their table nearly turned completely around, their faces completely overtaken by shock.
"So~!" Noriaki paused for a second, hiccing, "I, couldn't help but notice~, that ya'll kinda fucking SUCK at throwing like, actual parties~!" He continued, which only sowed more shock throughout the devils attending, "DON'T worry, though~!"
A massive burst of white smoke flooded the stage.
Immediately, several devils got up in alarm, as though anticipating an attack of some kind.
None came through.
Instead, as the smoke cleared, it revealed that there were now several Noriakis on the stage.
Enough to make a full band of them. Each with an instrument. All the new Noriakis were distinguished by wearing silly, multicolored headbands.
As one, they all announce, "FUR WE ARE HERE!"
Shirone, on the true Noriaki's shoulder, held up and shook a rock sign, and simply stated, "Yo."
Then, before anyone could so much as say anything, they all started to play.
It was a straight rock song, no doubt about it. Though Rias had no idea where it came from or what it was called, there weren't even any lyrics, just straight music.
Somehow, despite the band being clearly drunk out of their minds, they all somehow played-
Wait, no, the Nori playing guitar and the one playing drums aren't even lining up with the notes and beat right!
They totally are just broadcasting the music from some sort of speaker while pretending to play, aren't they!?
Rias felt like sinking into her chair as she spared a glance at her parents.
To her absolute shock, her father simply looked amused, while her mother was slightly rocking to the beat, her eyes closed with a small smile across her face.
At the same time, several of the other younger devils got up, with either amusement or mirth, and their eyes, and started dancing along.
With that, it was like a damn broke. While a few devils did try to raise their voices over the music to complain, they were simply drowned out by the sounds, and as more and more devils started rocking along, it quickly became pointless.
When Noriaki pulled Shirone off his shoulder and started dancing with her too, joining the crowd, that was pretty much the end of any formal celebration.
Not like Rias was particularly enjoying being a prop for her clan, but still, isn't this a little much!?
"Ufufuf~..." Akeno let out a giggle that promised nothing good at all, before looking past Rias entirely, toward her father, "Lord Gremory, may I borrow your camera?"
Her father could only grin in amusement further, "Put it to good use, alright?"
Rias sank slightly further into her chair as her father passed the camera over to her Queen.
"I'll be sure too~!" Akeno wasted no time pointing it straight at where Noriaki and Shirone were.
Ah, that bodes well for later.
"Say, President~..." Akeno hummed out, causing Rias to back away on instinct and reflexively hiss.
"I won't go down there!"
Akeno pouted in defeat at being turned down so quickly.
"Aww, c'mon Ria-tan! It looks like it'd be fun~!"
"NHEH!?"
A new voice, however, completely caught her off guard, nearly causing her to go flying off her chair.
She looked behind her, immediately finding the source, her older brother standing there with an amused grin much like her father's.
"Big brother…!" She cries out, holding back the urge to pout.
When her brother pulled out a violin and stated, "Well, if you won't, then I suppose I will!" she almost started crying out of sheer embarrassment.
As it turns out, her mother had sent her older brother a message as soon as Noriaki took over the stage, just in case.
For the rest of the afternoon, Rias had to watch as Noriaki, her Rook, and her big brother absolutely rocked out the entire hall.
Unfortunately, she would be dragged into it by them all.
Akeno, her betrayer of a Queen, would record every second of her getting a dance in with her brother, a very drunk cat, and a somehow even more drunk Noriaki.
At the very least, she can see the night wasn't boring anymore…
But she does kind of hope that the rest of the week doesn't go the same way!
She also hopes that nobody, especially Noriaki, finds those damn videos!
~ A New Sun ~
I have a pretty good idea as to why I'm here.
Last thing I remember, I downed a glass of champagne like a shot.
Next thing I know, I'm waking up under a purple sky, on top of a mountain, naked, with a naked white-haired cat girl on my chest.
Oh, and a note taped to my face.
"Check your phone, I promise it'll be worth your while~..." it reads out.
So, slight problem.
As I look around, I don't see anything else. None of our clothes, and definitely not my phone.
Unless it's in a tree somewhere.
Second thing, through the haze rapidly clearing in my head, I can feel that this mountain we are on now, while in the Gremory Territory that I know of, is also nowhere near where the party was…yesterday?
Yeah, the artificial sun is cresting the dawn horizon; it's morning now, so yesterday.
How the hell did we get all the way out here!?
Eh.
I flop my head back down.
That sounds like a job for five more minutes Nori to figure out, not current Nori.
Back to sleep, I go~!