The ordinary peace, disrupted by the ordinary chaos.

DISCLAIMER: DxD doesn't belong to me.

Another boring day in my everyday life in Kuoh academy...

You look at me right now, and what do you see? A brown-haired, green-eyed young man and a first-year student in Kuoh academy, a frown on his eyes and a tired expression. Even from the rest of other students in my class, I don't stand out at all and is only known as the guy who sits next to Kamiyama Shiori, one of the prettiest girls in school. To think not long ago I was fighting for my life against a horde of zombies, a crazy angel and vampire royalty, not to mention what transpired this entire trimester from April to here like rebellious dragon kings, feuding busty redheads and family affairs involving ninjas, and now I'm back at school living the spring of my youth like nothing happened at all. It's so absurd it's funny, somehow...

After my ascension as a devil under the servitude of a devil heiress, I thought my life would never be the same, and while some absurd stuff happened, no joke, life went as it should. Cramming for finals, hanging out with friends I just made, training physical and magical capabilities and being hit once or twice by my sisters because I did something wrong; I'm glad that I can still grasp some moment of normality in this chaotic world I live in right now. I see and know more than my classmates, but among them, I do not stand out much, and I don't feel threatened in any way here...

I guess that's the sorrow and blessing of teenage years.

"Ichijou-kun...?"

"Hm...?" I snap back from my reverie when my normal human friend, Kamiyama Shiori, one of the prettiest girls among the first years, called for me, taking a bite out of her meal. That's right, we're having lunch now; the sun must've distracted me with this soliloquy in her presence. Such a rude behaviour. "Sorry, Shiori-san, I was just... Thinking about summer."

"I see. So, do you have any plans for summer vacation?" I munch on one of my own pork cutlets while she asks me this, and for that I hum. If I have any plans? Not really. I would respond that I would probably go with my family to the beach and spend the rest of it indoors playing video-games and reading manga while doing homework, but ever since I became a devil, I don't know what I should or can do with it. Of course, that last part I can't say. I gulp, and pick now a ommelette slice.

"Not really. I usually go to the beach with my family and spend a week there, but nowadays, I'm not even sure what I can do tomorrow." I murmur, and she blinks in confusion and curiosity. I hope it didn't sound too cynical for her; like I said, sometimes those things just come out wrong. "How about you? I know you have to take care of your grandmother, but there's a lot to do in Kuoh as well. I heard this summer's festival will be the biggest so far."

"I think I will stick around and eat some special Hawaiian pancakes. They're the freshest during summer time, plus they tend to be vacant a lot since everybody goes to the beach or the mountains. You don't have to worry about me." She flashes me a V-sign, and I mimic such out of habit. She is the prettiest and one of the most popular girls in my year, and only I know that side of hers, because I'm her friend. Again, it makes me think: do I love her too? Well, I used to have a crush on her, and getting this close to her, no wonder she's so popular. She's also my last beacon of normalcy besides my family, and I cherish that no matter what. She's the sign that... I could have friends while still being a human. "We can go on a date again with those. Last time was fun, I can even bring grandmother for you to meet."

"I... I would love to." I feel my ears burning with the invitation. Another date with Kamiyama, during summer vacation of all moments. It does feel nice to relax and maybe eat a blueberry pancake once or twice, and with my now free time, I could go for one nice date. Come to think of it, maybe I can invite Rina or Yoko for a date, too. As friends and maybe figure those feelings I have. Huh, I guess even love has its fair shares of shortcuts. "Pancakes during summer, eh? Ice cream sounds more plausible, but last time they were delicious."

"Hawaiian Pancakes also have ice-cream pancakes. And coffee if you're not into sweet stuff." She says, and I laugh a bit for her comment. Maybe I am really easy to read, that might become a problem later. "We can also pick somewhere else to go, watch a film or something. I just want to spend time with you anyway, no need to be picky."

"..." She's also an awesome girl, holy shit. So open with her heart, again I'm mega jealous of people like this. I turn my face to a side and purse my lips a little. I need to find another topic to talk about or else I'll explode. "S-So, that aside, how were you in your exams? Can you believe I ranked #42 among all the students in our grade? Although I've been cramming a lot lately. I guess you can say I didn't want to flop in my high-school debut."

Indeed, having Tasha and Ryuubi-sensei help me study did wonders to my grades. Mom was so happy about it. Although my sisters used to be the single-digit elite when they were high-schoolers.

"Oh, that's very nice, Ichijou-kun. To be ranked so high among our classmates." She gasps and then claps with stoic amazement, but I feel a little embarrassed by the sudden attention. I mean, I'm glad that I'm among the top 100 students, but there are a lot of people above me, I just wanted to face it like a personal achievement.

"T-Thanks, Shiori-san. How about you? Where you were ranked in the exams?"

"Me? I was... Number #4. I guess I did my best." She weakly smiles and dismisses it like it was nothing while my eyes were big as saucers and for a nail my jaw didn't hit the floor. I've met so many awesome people since I became a devil, but this girl is still one of the top people in my list despite not being a devil or having a Sacred Gear. She's the type of person that will become very successful in life, no matter whatever it throws at her. I feel a a hand come from my chin and close my mouth. "Surprised? Don't be, Ichijou-kun. It might sound impressive, but in the long run, grades are not very important."

"H-Hah... Uh. It is still very impressive, Shiori-san. You're really smart, to have such a high position." I compliment her, and despite her blush, she shrugs nonchalantly, taking a sip from her juice.

"As I said, don't be, Ichijou-kun. Things like grade and being a teacher's pet won't help any of us in the long run, and by a decade or so, they won't even matter." She sighs, followed by a light chuckle and a wink at me. "I might have good grades for now, but ten years from now, it won't even matter. Who knows, maybe you'll be more successful than I in a few years, you already shown to be really smart. What I'm trying to say is: don't bother much."

"Ah... Okay." I nod. It was a bit harsh, but she's right in her way; in a few years, all the things that transpired as students won't matter much. Hell, half the reason I'm alive right now has nothing to do with me being a good student at all(more like being good with my bullshit), so she's not all that wrong. I scratch my cheek sheepishly, still looking away. "But I should still try; I don't want my mother to think I'm a delinquent who skips school or something. Also, Shiori-san overestimates me; you'll be even successful than me in the future..."

"Who knows, I can't see the future." She shrugs and giggles, and I soon accompany her in her laughter. She's right again, we can't see past the now, and in a blink of an eye anything can change, for either the best or for the worst. It's annoying, but not necessarily a bad thing, and even with all the ruckus it happened to me this semester, at least I can still enjoy her company. I saw her extending a hand and a pinkie finger at me. "But even with that uncertainness, please continue to be my friend, Ichijou-kun. From here on, regardless what the future holds."

"Yeah, of course." I said, also poking my pinkie up to lock ours together in a friendship promise.

Soon, the bell rings announcing the end of lunchtime, and the rest of the period was very typical for the last day of the trimester: Nanami-sensei explaining and passing her homework, giving one final lesson to study; warning us to stay away from dangerous places and people and wishing us a nice summer but that we don't neglect our education. With one final goodbye, I bid farewell to Kamiyama who returns home, while I walk towards the Suggestion Box club in the faculty floor to finish some special requests and close the room until the end of summer vacation; but not before exchanging numbers yet again to keep in touch...

As I said, is this love platonic or romantic? She calls me a friend, but the feeling is a bit deeper than that... But on second thought, who cares? Either be a girlfriend or just a friend, she's someone special to me, and regardless of feelings, she, Rina, Yoko, Annie, Tasha, Ryuubi-sensei, Whiswain, Kan'u; they're all my precious ones, and I will never let go of them like happened before.

What she said holds truth as well: we don't know what the future holds, and what we do now might not even matter at all in a few years or so... But still, no matter what, we shall continue to be friends. That holds true the other as well, Kaichou's group, Nemesis-san and her peerage, and my friends and masters in the Underworld and many more, even those who... Are long, long gone. Like Rina said, in the end, the pain stops and what is left are memories and scars, a reminder of good times or a relief from the bad ones. And I am, after all, content. I just need to keep moving forward, into the unknown future, but keeping my head in the present, and hold dear of those who drive me to go on...

Life like that isn't so bad at all.

"Now, a toast for the end of the exams, the temporary suspension of our club's activities and the start of summer vacation! But more importantly, the return and inclusion of our dear dhampyr Annabelle Hellsing! Cheers!"

"Cheers~!" And we all lifted our soda glasses and cheered for our King's declaration.

The location is now an ice-cream parlour near Kuoh academy, and gathered around were all the members of the suggestion box club and peerage, including the newest addition to it in the form of Annabelle Hellsing, the dumb dhampyr who finally returned home and back to school with a few bones less but none worse to wear. Rina wanted to suggest pancakes for the celebration, but then we remembered that thanks to someone's dumb decision to play dentist, nothing solid can be eaten without making the otherwise warm party become a slugfest. So ice-cream it is. Besides, since its summer, frozen goods match way better than pancakes...

"Awawawah~, everything here looks so yummy, but it's expensive too~! Makes me a bit hesitant to even order anything." Whiswain laments with the menu up, her uncovered eye scanning the piece of cardboard and growing redder as it went on. It's true, everything here is pretty salty, and even with Rina paying, it's a bit uncomfortable to do so. Our king on the other hand just laughs.

"C'mon, don't be like that~! We're throwing a party after all that happened. This is the least we can hope to do that doesn't involve something illegal." Rina smiles, and despite she saying the darndest of things, I gotta agree, a moment or two of normalcy is not bad even with a group as abnormal as ours. "Besides, we saved a lot of money for all the requests we accumulated over the trimester after we paid all the damages in the school! Let's splurge and kickstart this summer the best way possible!"

"O-Okay, if you say so..." She whimpers, she's probably still a bit hesitant to ask. To break the ice a little, I decided to order a mega-sized strawberry sundae to share, and after a while, everyone ordered their own, except Yoko and Kan'u, who decided to share the massive ice-cream with me. I can't complain, this amount of sugar would probably be bad for my health even as a dragon.

"Hmmmm~! Nothing but frozen goods to showcase that summer is here! The cookie crumbs mixed with fruit syrup and the bitterness of the yogurt just makes this summernight dream even sweeter~!" Rina exclaims ever so-dreamly, spoon hanging from her lips while she cups her cheeks with sparkly eyes. Exaggerated, but I couldn't help but chuckle. Taking a spoonful out of my own sundae, it does feel like a summer day.

"Hmmm~. Indeed, indeed. Summer is more beach and sun for me, but I guess ice cream with my friends is nice too." I say with another spoon full of ice cream. I am more of a beach guy to play on the waves and see some cute onee-sans in bikinis, but for now, that'll do, eating cold confectionaries with everyone around. I feel Kan'u's stare, but I decide to ignore it, she'll probably say something rude.

"Lady Berolina, do not forget your duties as a student despite the delights we experience right now. If I recall correctly, summer work was requested in order to keep your mind sharp even in times of leisure." Ryuubi-sensei took a bite out of her chocolate soft cream and for that, Rina suddenly paled and stopped on her tracks, her bright disposition turning sour and opaque as she remembers that, yes, we have summer homework to do, and we can't ignore those. As expected from our educator and advisor, nothing escapes her clutches. I hear a small laugh within her. "I do not wish to spoil our fun, but please, do not neglect your academics. A strong king builds a strong peerage. And at least... you don't have to worry about catching up with the rest of the trimester instead."

"Gh. Ryuubi-chan turned sharp when I was away." gasped in surprise the dhampyr in question, almost dropping her spoon of green tea ice cream. She's right, y'know: just like Rina during her time as Ludger, Annie's little idle vacations during school periods made her accumulate a lot of homework and chores in her absence, and if she wants to return to normalcy, she'll have to catch up or else she'll hold back an year. "This sucks... I f I were the vampire king, I wouldn't have to worry about homework and the likes anymore..."

"D-Don't worry, Annie-san. If you like... I would love to help you!" Whiswain exclaims with her ears on fire, surprising the greenette and leaving most of us speechless. Huh, she really is trying to make friends with one of the oldest members of our peerage, like a kouhai would. In response, Annie just nodded and tapped the grim reaper girl on the forehead in a cute gesture.

"Nah, don't worry about it. If that's what I need to do after all the shit I did, then that's enough." She smiles, turning her gaze towards the rest of us and nodding. Still hanging on about that? Didn't ripping her own teeth out like a madlass wasn't enough? But then again, I can't say shit, I guess stubbornness is a thing among our pieces. Tasha ruffled her hair and offered another spoonful in order to cut the melodrama, and once again we resumed our little party. "Summertime, eh? A nice season to see cute lasses in bikinis and maybe cup a feel or two. Romance is in the air, after all."

"Cheers for that." The purple witch lifted a spoon and took another bite of her frozen yogurt. I wish I could do the same, but I was too embarrassed to admit such. Plus, the sage time is still in the air, so much I thought for a second, I would reach Buddhahood or something.

No more heaviness or drama after that one, we just decided to share this moment with one another, enjoying the first summer in our lives as high-schoolers and having our entire crew reunited at last... Plus ice cream, those are nice too. This is the only the first day of summer, after all, but I feel that things will only get better from here. I wonder if we could go to the beach later, and maybe... A date with one of those girls. I still have some... Pending doubts about my own feelings.

"Ichijou? Darling, are you okay?" I snap back to my reality when Yoko's voice, pulling me by the shirt to drag my attention to her. I flinch a little but then nod back at her to reassure her, only to receive a small hug from my dear fox wife. "Ichijou, my dear Ichijou, you really came back for me. I couldn't be happier."

"Yeah. I did promise to come back alive, right? Thank Nemesis-san for that, too. She was a good leader in the most dangerous moments." I nod, remembering her initial doubts and her last message to me before the conference. Not just me, everybody contribuite for the reunion to be a success, and in the end, we're all alive. She giggles, rubbing her cheek on my own.

"Hm~, and such a manly scent and strong aura too. That's really nice." Ahe whispers, and I blush. She's on perv mode again, I guess the distance did make her a bit too lonely. Fortunately, she snapped back shaking her head and instead offered me a spoonful of ice cream. To be totally honest, I think this is more romantic than any erotic play she can try on me. "Anyway, say 'aaah~'."

"Aaaah~." I open my mouth for the upcoming spoon. This is another romantic moment, right? Being fed by my cute fox wife... whose feelings I have for are still a bit blurry. Again, are my feelings for her normal at all? Platonic or romantic? I can definitely say that I love her... But how deep those are? I guess I can only wait to find out. Being spoiled like that... I think it can wait. Besides, no matter what happens, my feelings for her, for them, won't change at all.

*BRRR~! BRRRR~!*

"Hm...?"

"Ah...!" But then I feel my phone ringing, making me turn my attention downwards and slapping the spoon away from my face, the metal cutlery hitting the ground and ringing away from us. Yoko stood up to walk and try to pick it again.

"Sorry, Yoko! I got a mail of a sorts." I apologized to her, reaching for my pocket to reach what that was about. I did say to mom and my sisters that I would go for ice cream with my club to celebrate the end of the trimester, right? Pretty sure I did, plus maybe it was a prank from one of kaichou's pieces. Sliding my finger across the screen, I saw that it was from Gou-nee, a text message. I gave it a look, and it said that he was back... Wait, don't tell me... I hear another metallic ring reading my phone, and then...

"Oh, forgive me about that. I didn't mean to." That was Yoko's voice.

"Not to worry, my dear. After all... I can't afford to hate anyone. I don't have that kind of time."

That is... A Kurosawa quote. My blood froze and I felt a vice around my chest. My gaze averts elsewhere hearing that voice, and slowly away from the screen, I turn my sight to a place not very far, where Yoko stood with her head low apologetically in the direction of a pair of shoes smeared with ice cream. I lift my eyes little by little, but they couldn't be deceived no matter how much I wanted to.

There he was, an adult man standing tall yet laxed, one hand in the pocket while the other holds a black jacket over one shoulder, the also black social shirt carrying a pack of cigarettes in its breats pocket, brown pants and greasy black shoes, his unkept black hair spiky as always in the same manner as mine, while his brown eyes behind the glasses flashes a confident aura combined with his daring smile and lazy goatee. I feel one of my eyes twitch. There he is, there's no mistake: the patriarch of the Tsukino family, the reason for my three half-sisters, the man who ruined my only friendship as a kid and turned my life upside down... Tsukino Hajime.

"Dad..."

"Oh! Hey, Ichijou! Long time no see, eh? How are you doing?" My father smiles, lifting a hand to call for my attention while everyone stops on their tracks to look at him and then me. Oh right, this is the first time they see my father in person, and honestly, I wish they didn't. He looks around and flashes me a small with a chuckle. "Oh hoh, quite fine, I see. Who are your lady friends? I guess your mother wasn't hallucinating when she mentioned a lot of cute girls.

"It's not like that, dad. They're my clubmates from school. We're celebrating the end of school period, nothing more." I said, standing up to properly greet him. I came closer and he gave me a half-hug with one of his arms around my neck, touching foreheads with me. Too close. "C'mon dad, not in front of them. It's embarrassing."

"They will understand, Ichijou. I'm just making up for being away for so long from my dear son." He says, and I sigh. This is always like that, and I just don't get it. "So, how's school? And you joined a club? That's great. I see you have quite a few friends too, and all of them are such pretty ladies. Hohoh, I guess someone is enjoying the spring of their youth, eh? That takes me back..."

"..." And now the conversation shifts for him, and I'm here trapped in a half-hug while everyone eyes me so curiously, I could die of shame. Looking outside, I see a silver Ferrari that sticks out like a sore thumb on the sidewalk compared to other cars, and I mentally slap myself for not noticing it before; only him to have that to show off.

"Oh, speaking of youth, I brought souvenirs as well! I hope you like it!" He snaps back, dismissing the hug and reaching his hands into his small briefcase. I didn't have the time to react as he gives me a small Athena Parthenos statue made out of steel. It's heavy and a bit clunky, but goddamn if it isn't nice. "Here, from Greece to yours truly. I couldn't decide what to give you, but a statue is nice, right?"

"Y-Yeah, I guess." I said, putting said statue onto the table and waiting for him to put everything back into his case. "Father, what are you doing here? Why didn't you go home when you came back to Japan? I bet you're exhausted..."

"Sure I am, but I couldn't find home no matter how much I tried, so I decided to eat some yogurt to cool my head down and maybe try again. Why do you know, I bumped right into you." He smiles.

"Ah." That was my only response, and I turned to Rina who simply sheepishly chuckled, scratching the back of her head. That's right, it makes sense: after all the renovations at home, she used some spell to make mom and my sisters think they have been living there since forever, which in a way isn't that untrue, but the only member who wasn't into this was him. Well, what is one more?

"By the way, which one of you is Rina, if any?" He asks with a smile, and I froze again. Oh no, he caught a name from last time, and as expected, he didn't forget. My eyes darts at my dear King, and so timidly she lifted her hand, only to now be the target of the man known as Hajime, another hand reaching for inside his case to pick a small Arcadia model and hand it to her. "Thank you for taking care of my son. Here, I brought a souvenir for you too in case we ever met. Do you like old series like Captain Harlock? This Arcadia I got from an auction in France, can you believe how popular it is there?"

"W-Wha? I can't... I can't accept it. Thank you very much, but I think..." Rina tried to dismiss the present, after all this is almost a relic, but for a moment I saw a glimpse on my father's eyes, and he frowns a little with the arcadia in his arms.

"Hmmm... Then... How about this?" He then reaches for his wrist to unclick his watch and offer it to Rina with the Arcadia. "You can have the Arcadia and the Watch! How about it? It's a stainless Seiko watch which is also waterproof! And if that's not enough, well, I have an Optimus Prime figurine as well if you want!"

"Awawawah~! So many presents! I... I...!"

"Just take the gifts, Rina. My father won't stop unless you accept them." I warned her, and with a gulp, she took the wristwatch and the toy ship, plus the Optimus Prime figurine. She was so overwhelmed and almost fell, hard to not feel a little pity. I balance the statue that is my present a little. "Dad, there you go again buying too much stuff. It's nice and all, but please don't go scaring my friends like that."

"But presents are nice, no? I spend so much time away from you all, I don't want you or your sisters or mom to think I do that because I want to. So... Gifts are always nice, I'm always itching to give those to you!" He smiles, and I arch an eyebrow. He knows I like those things, but rapid firing presents at Rina being this is the first time they met... That's my dad for you I guess. "After all... I do not always know what I want, but I do know what I don't want."

"That's Kubrick, right?" I tilt my head for that quote. His response was a quick snuggle on my head and a kiss on my scalp with a half-hug.

"That was an easy one, but that's correct. That's my dear son!" He exclaims, letting me go and then walking to the washing room. "Well, I'm going to wash my hands now before eating some good confectionaries. You said you guys are celebrating, right? Well, let me pay for it, so enjoy yourselves!"

"A-Ah... Okay." Rina murmured, and once he was out of sight, she sighed tiredly, followed by me. As always, talking to him is exhausting, and I'm barely able to keep up even after living with him for so long. Mom sure is an amazing person to be able to stand against him. We all take a deep breath and my king turns to me. "S-So... That's your father... He seems... Nice."

"Yeah." That's all I could muster to say. I wish we could just dash away and hide from him again, but Rina has to make him think that 5-star hotel is now our house, so I can't leave just yet. I pick the menu back and flipped the pages. If he's here and he's paying, not to mention we have to wait for him anyway, we better order something. "So... I think I'll order the super small portion this time..."

And so, he's back, the person I hate the most, the man who ruined the only friends I had for the longest time... My father, Tsukino Hajime.

Ichijou's achnemesis finally appears, the homewrecker and failed harem protag, Hajime.

Hello DxD fandom. This chapter was faster but also a bit on the shorter side, but mainly because it will serve as prologue for the Fear and Loathing in Kyoto arc, and so to prepare the ground, we have our protags now dissing school to have some uality summer time until someone's father appeared to ruin the fun. Indeed, no matter what, ordinary peace can be shaken by an equally ordinary chaos. So there you have it, short and sweet, but next chapters will build things up more.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did and don't forget to R&R, stay safe and have a nice day. Greetings from Houki Minami~.

THE TSUMA: Kurama

- Ichijou's cute wife fox, who's a lot older than she looks(woman's secret). Her anniversary is October 15th.

- She's the daughter of the leader of the Kanto Youkai faction and became leader after her mother stepped down. She knows Kunou and Yasaka, and that will be important, please don't forget.

- Yours truly is not very fond of foxes. Hence they tend to appear a lot, maybe to get used to them. Everybody loves a cute fox wife.

- With that said, she can be quite bitchy. Foxes are very nuanced, and so is Kurama.

- She might lose her eyepatch in the future. There are a lot of one-eyed characters already.

- She's the shortest among the main group, standing 155cm. Of course, she can change her appearance to that of a bountiful and beautiful fox lady at will, but flat chests can be nice too.

- I hope people can still like her despite her character becoming a little too dependant on the wife gimmick. Then again, she's one of the people closest to the protagonist.

- Kon, kon~.