Replies to my reviewers
patiphat1998: Thanks for your support but I couldn't understand your first sentence.
Chapter 05: A Foregone Alliance!
"H-How did this happen?"
It was a normal evening before Issei Hyoudou and Motohama Nakakuni were due to leave for other businesses. Tomoki and Sohara were present as well while Matsuda was currently at an impromptu Track Club meeting. However, there was currently a problem which needed to be addressed immediately.
"How? How did you turn this pie purple?!"
Everyone had warily gathered around the sole female member of the Cooking Club. They had just finished making some pies for the day's objective when Tomoki gave out a scream of shock.
"This... was a pineapple pie, right?" Issei asked, looking at the despondent Sohara, who had created the abnormality which was allegedly a Pineapple Pie.
"Maybe it's one of those foods that look horrible but taste good?" Tomoki questioned.
"You mean Sohara might be Cordon Bleurgh rather than Lethal?" Motohama speculated.
"I'm not touching this." Issei declared.
[Damn right. Pineapples are yellow. The fact that it turned into a color on it's color wheel opposite is already a huge warning on his own!]
It was one thing for Sohara's crush and her perverted friends to reject her cooking but for a several century old dragon to do so as well, with no doubt way more life experience than every single person in the school combined, resulted in her confidence being shredded to bits.
Tomoki looked at Sohara's depressed form before clenching his teeth and grabbing the pie.
"I'll eat it!" Tomoki yelled while holding it up to his mouth in haste. "Down the hatch!"
The Cooking Club watched in morbid fascination as Tomoki took a large bite, chewed quickly and then swallowed, only for {Last Longinus} to activate on his own and transform into {Poison Shield}, while Tomoki upchucked a large amount of purple steam and his skin briefly turning a sickly purple. And then he collapsed into Sohara's arms.
"ⱼᵢᵢ₋cₕₐₙ? Wₕₒ'ₛ ₜₕₐₜ ₒₗd ₗₐdy ₙₑₓₜ ₜₒ yₒᵤ ₒₙ ₜₕₑ ₒₜₕₑᵣ ₛᵢdₑ ₒf ₜₕᵢₛ ₕᵤgₑ ᵣᵢᵥₑᵣ?" Tomoki muttered deliriously while his {Poison Shield} levelled up.
"Jii-chan and old lady?!" Sohara yelled in shock while tears of frustration started to pour out. "Tomoki! Your Grandpa's dead and you never even met your Grandma! Don't cross the river!"
Issei and Motohama just stood by in silence. It was painful to admit but Issei had created the Cooking Club due to the likely future of none of the perverts getting girlfriends or wives to cook for their adult selves. While they had all needed the skills, it was to their great horror to discover that Sohara Mitsuki, the sole female member, had actually needed the class the most.
"Those poor sunny eggs..." Motohama muttered in reminiscence.
"Ddraig, Tomoki's Sacred Gear activated on its own..." Issei said.
[Sacred Gears normally activate against a host's will if a genuine threat against the host's life occurs.]
"If that's true, does that mean that Tomoki would have died if he didn't have {Last Longinus}?" Motohama speculated.
After a beat, the boys and the dragon silently made an unanimous pact to bring up Sohara's lethal cooking to edible levels.
"Stop fidgeting, Motohama." Issei said as they walked towards the old school building, which housed the Occult Research Club.
A while ago, Ddraig had pointed out that the whole of Kuoh had devils occupying it, with both the Student Council and the Occult Research Club being composed entirely of them. Due to Issei's desire to help out Sohara, he had mentioned the possibility of meeting with them to secure some spell books, which Ddraig assured him that they would possess.
When Motohama asked why not to ask Zelretch for some, Issei revealed that he had already asked but the vampire, originating from a different World from theirs, didn't possess any of the 'DxD' world, just 'Fate' spell books only.
Issei suspected from the amused look on the man's face that he was lying at the time but couldn't prove anything. Thus, Issei Hyoudou and Motohama Nakakuni, two of the three strongest of the Cooking Club, went on the Occult Research Club.
"Why did we choose these guys again?" Motohama complained. "I know that the Student Council's got Saji in it, but the Occult Research Club's got Kiba!"
Yuuto Kiba. While the Pervert Quartet had no true hatred towards him, they still instinctively hated a guy who had girls throw themselves at him, especially since he didn't do anything to attract them.
"I just flipped a coin." Issei grumbled when they reached the building. "I should have known better than to leave it to luck."
"Here we go." Motohama said.
Issei breathed deeply then knocked, totally unready for the door to open immediately. Issei gulped as Akeno Himejima stood there at the ready, Issei managing to catch some almost hidden surprise in her eyes before it was replaced with a welcoming expression.
"G-Good afternoon, Himejima-senpai!" Issei stuttered nervously. "Is Gremory-senpai present? I'd like to speak to her, please!"
Issei finished his request with a bow... then dragged Motohama down as well as he'd frozen up.
"Oh my, ufufufu." Akeno giggled. "Please come in."
The boys entered the club building, Motohama nervously trailing after Issei as Akeno led them deep inside. As they passed a hallway, Motohama noticed something strange.
"Excuse me, but what's with that door?"
Issei turned and noticed the door that Motohama pointed out. It had a padlock chained around the handles, a few 'Keep Out' tapes spanning the door and a hidden Sealing Spell that Issei noticed smelt similar to the ones Zelretch used with some of the rooms back at the Strong World Fortress.
"Ah, that?" Akeno responded. "That used to be a room a member of us used. Now it's been sealed off until he uses it properly."
They soon arrived at the main room, which looked like an old Victorian Sitting Room which actual lit candles and thick, detailed curtains. While Issei admired the room's design, Motohama focused on the people already there.
"Kiba's no surprise but who's that girl?" Motohama asked, pointing out Koneko Toujou as she eat a chocolate bar while sitting next to Yuuto Kiba.
"She is Koneko Toujou, your kouhai." Akeno replied while walking towards a room. "Be polite and wait while I fetch Rias-buchou."
"Oh! Now I remember!" Motohama exclaimed causing a surprised look from Issei and Yuuto. "A frail body type, a matchless loli face, Kuoh's mascot character herself! It's Koneko 'Little Kitten' Toujou!"
Yuuto's smile remained constant as he held down Koneko's free hand in which she still had the toothpicks from her earlier dumpling snacks. While he was aware that he couldn't beat her in sheer physical strength, if he didn't hold her, she'd be stabbing those toothpicks into Nakakuni's glasses.
"Dude, First off, don't say that when we're here to request something." Issei chastised Motohama. "Secondly, admiring the loli is Matsuda's thing, not yours. It's weird to see you gush over something that's not cosplay."
"Fair enough." Motohama acquiesced.
"Good evening, my adorable kouhai."
Issei and Motohama looked to see Rias Gremory walk out of the room with Akeno while rubbing a towel on her wet hair.
"I apologize if I kept you waiting." Rias said as she handed over the towel to Akeno. "I was in the shower."
""The shower?!""
"Ise, the Occult Research Club is a truly amazing place, isn't it?!" Motohama rejoiced.
"Damn right, it is!" Issei heartily agreed.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries in which Rias acknowledged Issei as a new and fellow Club President, they finally dove into the heart of the matter.
"You see, the thing is that we're currently looking into getting some spell books." Motohama began. "As the Occult Research Club, you guys have gotten some, right?"
"Yes, we have." Rias replied. "But why the sudden interest? Don't tell me you and your friends are planning to summon supernatural girls from other dimensions for your satisfactions?"
"We can do that?" Motohama (and Issei) replied in shock before shaking his head. "No no no. While that's definitely something to look into later, we really-"
Motohama was cut off when Issei suddenly placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Let's not beat around. We really know that you're all devils." Issei noted the slight stiffness from Akeno, Koneko and Yuuto while Rias herself didn't seem bothered at all. "What we'd really like those spell books for is for self defense."
"I see." Rias soon replied after a brief silence. "While I hold no ill intention against any of you, I am curious to how you found out about us in the first place."
Issei stared back before sitting back responding. "Last year, Tomoki Sakurai and Sohara Mitsuki were both attacked by Rengoku, whom I've now realized to be a stray devil. During the encounter, I happened to pass by and saved them with my Sacred Gear."
Motohama took over while Issei paused to take a breath. "Ise-buchou activated his Sacred Gear for the first time to save Tomoki-kun and Mitsuki-san, although by killing Rengoku in the process."
"I see..." Rias muttered with her brows furrowed. "To think a stray devil entered our territory unnoticed... I will have to speak with Sona on this."
"Afterwards, Ise-buchou encountered a vampire who knew his previous reincarnation and trained us a bit due to an owed favor, during which Tomoki awakened a Sacred Gear as well."
"If I assume correctly," Yuuto interrupted. "You are asking for the spell books so that your friends aren't left behind, right?"
After Issei's nod, Yuuto turned to his King. "This corresponds with the sudden change in the Perverted Trio's behavior. Issei Hyoudou started a club which doesn't help with his perverted habits but puts the affected humans in one place with him. Matsuda Takumi restarted his athletic hobbies in order to make himself more fit and Motohama Nakakuni currently scours convenience stores and buys random tools and electronics for possible ways to defend and support themselves... but..."
Yuuto hesitated but Koneko finished for him. "They can only go so far. Considering that they are here, that means that they've acknowledged it themselves."
"...Akeno, get them some suitable spell books for beginners." Akeno left immediately, leaving Rias to face the perverts. "First off, I would like to apologize. It was our territory that Rengoku stumbled into and your friends nearly lost their lives due to my negligence."
"As a token of us accepting your apology, we'd like those books for free." Motohama instantly said, adjusting his glasses as he did so. "Of course, as Tomoki-kun and Mitsuki-san were the ones directly threatened, please apologize to them as well."
"Of course." Rias smoothly responded as Akeno returned and handed them the books. As they got up to leave, Issei suddenly stopped and then walked up to Rias.
"Gremory-senpai, can I have your number?" Issei said matter of factly, ignoring the dropped jaws in the room, including Rias'. "I need a way to contact you in case of emergencies."
"A-Ah, right." Rias brought up her phone and handed it to Issei who exchanged his numbers with hers, all with him oblivious to her small blush.
"Thank you." Issei bowed good bye, picked up the books and dragged a still jaw dropped Motohama towards the door.
"W-Wait!"
Issei stopped and turned to see that Rias had jumped out of her chair in haste. She caught herself and coughed slightly, her blush more obvious. "If I may ask, what is your Sacred Gear?"
Issei turned back then raised his arms to display {Boosted Gear}, causing a round of gasps to resound around the room.
"D-d-dragon..." Koneko hitched. She had flinched away from him, as Issei was no longer suppressing his draconic aura.
"The {Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlets}!" Akeno said. "Why are there two of them instead of one?"
"It's actually the original version." Issei replied. "As time passed, Ddraig began to manifest using only his host's non dominant arm, due to the constant use of weapons for combat."
[Indeed. It was even the same for Issei as well.]
The devils recoiled from the deep voice that came out of Issei's gauntlets.
[However, due to his ambidexterity, it was easy for him to convince me to return to my original form, especially as rather than using weapons, Issei fights with his fists instead.]
"I-I see." This conversation hadn't been going in the way Rias had planned. After the boys had left, she sunk back into her seat and then sighed heavily, no longer putting up the persona of a refined lady.
"Be honest with me." Rias asked her Peerage. "What are my chances of recruiting Issei Hyoudou when his dragon-type Sacred Gear is 'awake'?"
"None at all~"
"Zero, I'm afraid."
"Hmm. Dragons are proud and stubborn."
Rias sunk her head into her arms with a small whine.
"But still," Rias raised her head at Akeno's teasing tone. "I don't think anyone has ever asked for buchou's phone number in such a dominating tone before. Hyoudou-kun might be more interesting than I thought. Ufufufufu."
Rias just sighed higher as Yuuto chuckled nervously.
"I can't believe you got Gremory-senpai's number!"
Issei sighed as he saved the contact and went on ahead to their Club room. On arrival, he was glad to see Tomoki up and running. However, something was strange.
Tomoki and surprisingly Sohara were sitting next to each other against the wall, constantly blushing, then glancing at each other, only to look away with fresh blushes.
"Captain." Helmsman Nakakuni reported with seriousness that normal people wouldn't give to the matter at hand. "It seems that the TomoSoha Ship has experienced some progress in our absence."
"Indeed, Helmsman." Captain Hyoudou replied in a similar tone. "Where is First Mate Takumi? He should be here for some prime teasing."
Curiously enough, that sparked a new round of blushing, meaning that whatever happened was either one they didn't need Matsuda knowing of, or, Matsuda had done something to cause this.
After school, Issei bid the others goodbye as they had no training today, with Tomoki and Sohara curiously leaving together in a hurry, with Matsuda texting them that he would head straight home and Motohama leaving for their Den to work on some spells already. The Den was an abandoned factory in Kuoh Town, having been taken over by Issei and his friends for some years now. Nowadays, it was just used as a hanging spot for relaxation amongst them.
"What a troublesome life I've gotten." Issei monologued as he rested on abridge in the city. "From a simple harem seeking teenager, I've become a guy who's training like hell so that a rival I don't know off can't kill me, dragging Matsuda and Motohama along for the ride, juggling a budding romance between my adorable kouhai and now brokering deals with devils of all people."
[You make it sound like you've given up on the harem, Ise.]
"Never! Listen to me, Ddraig. If your rivalry with Albion outweighs your life enough to transcend several lifetimes, Boobs are the same for me! I will become a Harem King!"
[I-I see. What about Ever? Is she up for it?]
"Surprisingly, yes. Right now, we're in a Friends with Benefits kind of thing."
After a while of standing there, he was about to make his way to the Den as well when suddenly a black haired girl with violet eyes and a pretty buxom figure approached him. She was dressed in a different uniform that Kuoh Academy's, being a red jacket with a golden P on her left breast pocket and a green skirt.
"Um... Are you Issei Hyoudou from Kuoh Academy?" She asked nervously.
"Yes?" Issei answered in confusion. 'I don't recognize that uniform or that face. Where does she attend? Pretty cute though with nice boobs!' "Are you looking for me or something?"
"U-um..." The girl spoke out suddenly. "Hyoudou-kun, are you seeing anyone right now?"
"Not really..."
"That's great!" The girl said. "U-Um... would you... go out with me?"
"Eh! What... did you just say...?"
"I've always seen you walking across this bridge. And that's when I... um... fell for..."
Issei stared at her in complete shock. 'Hey, could this be...'
"So... So would you..." The girl continued with a blushing face. "Would you please date me!"
'Is this for real?!'
"A-A date?!"
"Yes. This Sunday..." The girl confirmed. "You don't want to?"
"How about Saturday, please? I'm busy that day."
"Oh, that's great then, if you're accept me." The girl sighed with relief before jogging away. "I'm looking forward to our date!"
Issei silently waved back with a smile. As soon as she was out of earshot, "Ddraig, did I unlock some yandere event or something? She was reeking of Killing Intent!"
[That was a Fallen Angel. She's most likely investigating you because of me.]
Issei sighed in despair. "From brokering deals with gorgeous devils to going on a date with a hot fallen angel. I sure am moving up in the world, aren't I?"
KingVessel: Sorry if this feels a bit dull, but hey, we've reached canon.