Akira's only response to Akeno's bold offer was a wry little smile. He had no intention of "climbing up the ladder" that easily.
"Akeno-senpai, I'm a guy, you know. I'm just trying to survive. There's a saying—help in an emergency, not out of pity. Don't tell me you're planning to… sponsor my lifestyle?"
He raised a brow, voice half-serious, half-teasing.
"I wouldn't mind~ If it's you, Shin-kun, I wouldn't mind at all~" Akeno replied playfully, her voice laced with gentle mischief.
"Whoa… You're making my heart skip a beat, but… I'll pass."
Akira shook his head firmly. That kind of offer was clearly a dangerous trap, no matter how tempting.
Akeno just smiled at him—her usual charming, elegant smile. Her eyes quietly studied his expression with a glimmer of amusement, and for a second, Akira's cheeks tinted slightly.
After all, Akeno was the perfect onee-san type that countless men dreamed of. To say he wasn't interested would be a lie. But at this point in time, Akira knew he wasn't in a position to be thinking about things like that.
"In that case," he continued, clearing his throat and steering the conversation to safer waters, "Akeno-senpai… does Rias-senpai happen to have any connections in the light novel publishing world?"
"Hmm~ I'm not really sure about that," Akeno replied thoughtfully. "But I can ask her for you. I wouldn't be surprised if Rias does have a few contacts."
"Then I'll leave it to you. I'd really appreciate it."
Akeno placed a hand on her hip and tilted her head slightly, lips curling up again.
"If I get results, you'll treat me to a nice meal, right, Shin-kun~?"
This was a golden opportunity for Akeno to build a better rapport with Akira. Even if she didn't have any connections herself, she was more than willing to go out of her way to find some.
Frankly, if it meant forming a relationship with someone like Akira, Akeno was certain Rias would even go as far as buying an entire publishing company just to support him. Even if Akira couldn't write a single word, money alone could turn him into a famous author.
In Japan—referred to as Japan/Fuso in this world—absolute power was concentrated in the hands of elite clans and noble families.
A doctor's child became a doctor. A businessman's child inherited the business. A politician's child grew into another high-ranking official. That was just how things worked.
As for commoners, the only real way to ascend the social ladder was… through marriage.
Some prestigious families with no heirs would search for an exceptional man to marry into the family. After marriage, the man would take the wife's surname and become part of the family, completely absorbed into their identity.
Outside of that, chances of rising through merit alone were close to zero.
No matter how brilliant or talented someone was, the ceiling was set. And if they wanted to break through it—they'd have to sacrifice something.
The Gremory family, being one of the most prominent devil noble houses, held enormous influence in Japan.
A small-time publishing company meant nothing to them. Recruiting a genius Sacred Gear wielder like Shin Akira would be an incredibly worthwhile investment.
For them, money was just numbers. What they truly valued was talent.
Akira understood that perfectly.
But he didn't reject it. If he had something worth offering, why not let them come to him? Why struggle alone when he could leverage his value?
This way, he didn't even need to speak to Rias directly. He just had to let Akeno pass the message—everything else would take care of itself.
"Well then, I'll be off," Akeno said lightly. "I'll come back soon with some good news, Shin-kun~"
"I'll be waiting patiently, Akeno-senpai."
"Fufu~ Don't worry~" She gave a graceful wave before descending from the school rooftop, her long black hair fluttering in the breeze.
Lunch break was just about to end. Although there weren't many afternoon classes left, skipping wasn't an option. Akira picked himself up and returned to his classroom.
For him, afternoon classes were just a way to pass the time.
The textbook material? He'd already mastered all of it.
Usually, he would sit near the window and gaze out at the scenery. But that wasn't because he disliked being a student.
On the contrary—with a completely new identity and a cleansed mental state, just being able to sit in class again without any pressure… felt oddly comforting.
And that very afternoon, Akira finally decided which masterpiece he would "bring" into this world.
"Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru."
(My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)
A light novel he considered a true literary gem. And its protagonist—the Master of Loneliness, Hikigaya Hachiman—was one of the anime characters he respected the most.
In Oregairu, Hachiman went through countless bitter experiences, nearly all of them landmines unique to youth:
Confessing to someone and getting rejected—so badly they couldn't even stay friends afterward.
Thinking a girl was talking to him, only to find out she was talking to someone else.
Believing a girl liked him, only for it to be one big misunderstanding.
Hachiman's quotes could honestly fill an entire book of aphorisms.
What mattered most was that every single wound, every cringe-worthy failure, every disappointment Hachiman endured… felt real.
It was that sense of emotional resonance that made Akira love the series so much.
And now, living in a 2D world—why not?
He would become a story courier and deliver that masterpiece into this universe!
Old School Building, Kuoh Academy — Occult Research Club Room
"So… he's seriously that broke? He wants to write a light novel?"
Rias stared at Akeno, half surprised and half in disbelief.
It sounded way too absurd. Was Akira really that poor? Didn't he say he only had eighty thousand yen to his name?
Off to the side, Koneko munched on her snack quietly. She recalled the way Akira's eyes had sparkled when he saw those tens of thousands of yen in his wallet.
Back then, she didn't understand why he looked so happy. But now… maybe that amount really was a big deal to him.
"If he's that desperate for money… couldn't we just use cash to recruit him?"
Kiba finally spoke up, offering a suggestion that sounded logical at first.
Akeno and Rias shot him down in perfect unison, their voices firm and synchronized, causing Kiba to shrink back a little in embarrassment.
Yep… that was definitely a dumb thing to say.
"Yuuto, if we try to bribe him with money, it'll backfire," Rias said firmly. "He's not just talented—he's proud. If he wasn't, he would've already accepted offers from both Sona and me."
"Understood, Buchou."
Kiba bowed his head respectfully, and Rias simply nodded and waved him off.
Meanwhile, Akeno continued watching Rias closely.
She understood something important.
The fact that Akira had chosen to voice his request through her…
…meant he wanted Rias to know.
Akeno was just the messenger.
Now, it all depended on how Rias would respond.
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