So, I'm back and I hear your outcries if you are from my other stories.
'God90zilla why are you making another story!? Don't you have two others you're going to finish!?'
Well, yes, but actually maybe not now.
'WhAt!?'
Well, you see, Jimmy, doing one thing all the time, repeating it and rewriting the script every time would get to you and burn your soul right in front of your very eyes. It'll be a boring piece to write over time, that you feel sick doing it all the time, like grinding in Arknights, Azur Lane or any basic Gacha Games. So why make this one?
Nostalgia. So, new readers. Welcome, hopefully, this would suffice. Forced Plot Points here and there are going to be present, however I'll make it as not so forced as it is...hopefully it is enough to make this adventure...well, interesting. I'll try to not spoil anything just so that it remains entertaining and hopefully acceptable.
Also I'll split the Chapter in two, due to the fact that it would be too fast...
Arc 1: Prophecy of Three
Chapter 1: The Revival of Tiga Part 1
Hyoudou Issei was a simple highschool kid. A son of a former GUTS member, and a simple mother who worked as a businesswoman, and provided him everything that he needed in his life.
Issei was like any other kid. Perverted and aimless in his future. Oh, he did have a dream of being a Harem King, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized it wasn't really because it was his own wish, but mostly that of his teenage hormones acting up.
The thought of sex came through his mind like a sort of drug, porn was one of those drugs that people use. Unknowingly corrupting their mind and essentially making them aimless and only dream of having sex, since their maturing minds made it somewhat depressing for them. Issei had a weak mind and yet a strong will, thus he was passionate about reaching the impossible dream, additionally, he was quite honestly somewhat stupid in his nature. Maybe not stupid, but naive.
He realized this a bit lately as he was starting to bore from his usual and daily perverted tendencies. Was it worth it? Hell no, this thing started from when he was around 6 years old, when he and his friend, Rin played hero with each other until he had to move away.
It was a sad day for Issei as he'd get a bit depressed as he was lonely as a kid. He only met his two other companions in seventh Grade, who were also addicted to porn that time. Looking back it was pretty sad and cringe that he had to wince every time his mind told him about it.
He was never gonna get laid at this point…
His first dream was to be a hero, then the second to be an astronaut, then a fighter pilot, then a fighter ace after seeing how renowned some pilots from world war two can shoot down so many others that they were remembered as war heroes, then now?
A Harem King?
Are you fucking serious? The high-end dreams turned into a simple weak-minded dream of having girls? Are you fucking with yourself? Technically he is when he is jerking off-but that's off-topic.
"Achoo!" He sniffled his nose as he sneezed. "God damn cold…"
"Ise dear, eat your food now." His mother, Hyoudou Miki pestered her child, it was still a school day, actually, it was the start of the new semester in his 2nd year. Issei was bound to have his two last years before graduation and now he still had to decide where he wants to go.
"Hai, kaa-chan…"
"So, Issei, any dreams?" Matsuda, his buddy asked as Issei hung out with them by the school grounds. The three of them laying down on the grass as they looked at the beautiful morning sky.
"Eh? Why do you ask?" Issei shot back with a confused look.
"No, it's just...it's kinda weird for once when you look at it...like having a Harem? Is it...actually possible and stuff? We're just getting ourselves beaten up by the kendo girls when we peeked at them…" Matsuda rubbed the back of his head.
"What is surprising is that no one bothered closing it up…" Motohama, the glasses wearing of the three spoke up.
"Yeah, there's that…"
"...I dunno...I've been thinking back about...the harems...it'd be expensive as hell to maintain when you realize how much girls can buy things, y'know?" Issei asked, the logic of having a harem was literally like anime logic, nonsensical at points.
"When you actually multiply the costs of maintenance of just one girl? Your piggy bank will break before you know it and you'd just get pussies for a while and then broke for the rest of your life." Motohama nodded at the logic.
"I've been thinking...about going back to maybe being a Fighter Ace."
"Fighter Ace, huh? Yeah, I guess I still want to explore the galaxy as my dad did…" Matsuda nodded at the dream, while looking at the sky above.
"But still, only drones can do that, well, if you want to then I would just build you a damn space shuttle, just so I can at least mess with you when you're at flight." Motohama snickered at the bald head.
"Wait what, Motohama, you bastard!"
"Haha, joking, Matsuda. Oi! Wait! I was joking!" Motohama tried to defend himself. Issei chuckled lightly in his mind, how did it come to this, huh?
Was it because of that one dream? A tokusatsu dream where he turns into a giant and then beats up monsters left and right with two others? Hell if he knew...
"Well, I guess, we're not going to peek again?"
"Bah, girls are not worth the time if you think about it, you work and then they waste them like they were just some paper mache, y'know?" Matsuda reasoned as he crossed his arms.
"...Well, not entirely useless…you just need to find one that's not a gold digger." Motohama shrugged off his shoulders.
"Ah...that's true I guess…" Matsuda nodded dejectedly. "...So, you're going to join GUTS, Ise?'
"Maybe...I don't know, I was considering the JASDF…" Issei had been researching about the JASDF and what planes and helis they operated in then came GUTS with their mechas.
"Well, you still got two years to make up your mind."
"Yeah, that's kinda true…" Issei nodded. "...But still, it's hard to decide, dad was in GUTS though…"
"No worries, he'll probably be watching over you." Matsuda elbowed the guy.
"Ah yeah, I guess he will be."
School hour was boring with nothing to do, porn was losing its touch on the three perverted idiots as the smartest of them all for once read his book that was not about porn, Matsuda was sleeping and Issei was still deciding on whether the JASDF or GUTS was his choice. Of course, the latter would mean the ZERO Training Squad needed a visit and one simply cannot enter it without meeting expectations. That would mean a brutal training regimen. Ah, this would be an everlasting pain in the ass.
He'll need to get into shape, two years...given enough will and conviction, he could make it through.
"Alright, class! We'll be having a transfer student who will be attending this class, please, come in." The girl who came in was a foreigner, silver white hair that reached her shoulders, a beautiful hue of sapphire blue eyes and beautiful fair skin.
She's a real beauty, alright, but for once, Issei silently sighed as he tried to write up a regimen for himself. Motohama continued to read, not really paying any attention with Matsuda still dozing off. Their spirit really died out, there was really no need to heed any attention to girls now.
High School was essentially a period of hormones, not helped by the girls' school uniforms that consisted of a corset and a real short skirt. Obviously it wasn't worth the trouble like last year.
Why was it though? Why did they change?
'That dream…' The three thought at the same time, Matsuda was in actuality trying to get to sleep to get the same dream, but always failed when intentionally doing so. The questioning session was more or less generic, where are you from, who are you, are you single, blah blah blah, he couldn't care enough when he read his notebook on the mechas and aircrafts.
The JASDF was going to add the F-3 ShinShin Stealth Jet Fighter with its uncanny similarity to the F-35, but claimed that it had advantages against the American jet. How much? Confidential.
But not very much as it had been a one trick pony when the F-35 basically created 3 different jets of varying sizes with similar bodies and that it's cheap as crap in the long run.
But then comes GUTS with their GUTS Wing 1 that surpassed any fighter jets, why? For the simple fact that the GUTS Wing could travel Mach 5.5. Let that sink in.
MACH 5.5.
What kind of Sorcery is this?!
Good news, it also goes Mach 4.9.
IN SPACE!
That's not all, their medium-sized variant can go to Mach 4.
AND IT'S ALSO VTOL AND ARMED WITH A RAILGUN! WHAT IS THIS!?
For Issei, this entire comparison was stupid. He didn't even match them up with the Blue Tornado Variant that goes to MACH 6, this was not taking into account that they were obsolete for the time being and currently being turned to reserve and training machines for the more advanced, GUTS Eagle and GUTS EX-Js that were being planned for mass production.
He blanked out.
He really had been slacking off when checking the Mechas, hadn't he?
Issei started to mentally berate himself about the stupid comparison he was doing. GUTS it is.
Well, time to prepare for his inevitable death.
"Alright, that's it...hmmm, Hyoudou-kun."
"..." He mentally continued his berate upon his very soul, that he blanked out. "Hyoudou-kun!"
"Gah! Hai, sensei!?" He quickly jumped after he was snapped out of his blanking moment.
"I bet he was imagining the transfer student in lewd clothes." A few began to badmouth him.
Well, nothing he can do about that. "Well, now that I have your attention, you have been here from middle school, so I trust that you can show Lucinfeld-san around." The teacher smiled boy.
"H-Hai, sensei." He answered without bothering to see the transfer. He had been so fucking absorbed in berating himseld in trying to compare the two Forces that was clearly clear to him in which to pick.
Well...time to continue berating himself. That was until he noticed her. Big boobs. Well, who could fault him from imagining her body? That's right.
Everyone.
In all seriousness, she was a beauty. No argument about that. "Hello, Hyoudou-san. Thanks for being kind enough to show me around."
"Err, it's fine...honest." He sheepishly smiled. Her warm tone got to him as her smile really reeled him in for her. "J-Just call me Ise...or Issei...I...you do you."
His words were jumbling. This is awkward. "I'll take you up to that, Ise-kun. Just call me Vali then."
He survived a conversation? This is a miracle! A gift from the God above! Or in other words! Haxx! No fucking way! This is a dream!
What the fuck is this!? How could a girl be polite to him!? How!?
"Err, Ise-kun?"
"...Hold on a minute…" He rebooted himself with a bit of a pinch to his cheek. "Yep, definitely not a dream…err, so I guide her now or whenever?"
"Yes, that would be helpful, Hyoudou-kun."
"...Ah...I see…"
…
Hopefully he doesn't do something stupid or anything...
"So, Ise-kun...are you in any club?"
"No, I kinda just...go to school, go home, rinse and repeat...Y'know? I don't know really since there's not much drama or anything…" Issei shrugged as he looked through the notepad he carried with him.
"What do you have there?"
"A notepad...I...err, you'll probably laugh at me when I tell you this...I...kinda want to join GUTS…" He spoke it a bit bitterly with a dry smile, half expecting her to mock him.
"Oh? That's cool."
…
Alright, for real, this can't be happening. "You're...not gonna laugh?"
"Why would I?"
"I…" Issei had no solid answer. "...No, nevermind...sorry about that…"
"You don't need to apologize or anything…"
"Oh...I...I see…" Issei slowly spoke, an awkward atmosphere coming up. "...Err, this is awkward…"
"Ah no worries, tomorrow's going to be better than today."
"How can you tell?" Vali looked to the ceiling with a smile.
"It just is…"
"...Always look forward, huh?" He muttered to himself. As the day drew near, Issei waited for his two buddies as he and Vali parted ways.
"So you got to give a tour to the new transfer." Matsuda gave Issei a look. "...That's not fair, Ise! I thought we were buddies!"
"Oi, cut it out…" Motohama shook his head with a sigh. "So, Ise, what was she like?"
"...She's...a good friend I guess?"
"Anything else?"
"...A perfect 10…"
"That's rare, coming from you after your recent fallout with the numbers." Motohama tilted his head.
"...I think I...just fell in love...first sight…"
"...Well…" Matsuda broke down. "...I'm gonna be single for life, a side character, who's buddy just got a chick…"
"Oi, she doesn't feel the same way, fuck off, Matsuda…"
"But still!" Matsuda went on with his rant of the day.
"That aside. Have you gotten your pick on which organization you're gonna be-"
"GUTS, not JASDF. Fixed!" The brunette quickly shouted, throwing his fist into the air.
"...Can't be surprised, but it'd be hard."
"Then I'm gonna train harder!" Issei yelled to the Lord above. "You hear that!? I'm gonna train harder for my dream!"
"...Well, that's one way to hype yourself up…what changed?" Motohama asked, curious on the new development.
"...It's kinda hard to say, and unbelievable too." Issei rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish and nervous chuckle and smile. "I dreamt one day about me being a giant and beat up monsters with two other giants. So, I just realized the closest of me being to that is by being a hero..."
"...That's it?"
"No, the thing is that, I was called...what was it...Superman? Captain Three? No wait...wait a minute…" Issei thought hard. "Ultraman Tiga."
"...That sounds like a tokusatsu character…" Matsuda blankly pointed out.
"It's my dream! Fuck off!"
"Well, no argument there...well, guys. Any plans for us to go and hang out?"
"Not really, no…"
"Ah, so we're just gonna go home?"
"I guess…"
"Well, be safe you two."
"Same to you."
"See ya tomorrow." The three parted ways, having their own thoughts and conclusions.
Ultraman.
They all knew that name all too well...
SHU-WATCH!
"Ise dear, why are you watching an old show from when I was young?"
"I got bored from anime...I wanna watch what there was before anime."
"Ah...I see…" His mother nodded in understanding. "...You're a changed man huh?"
"...Um...I guess? I dunno, kaa-chan…"
"...Is there something wrong?"
"No...I'm just...lost...y'know? Why am I here? What is my purpose, I just...feel...wrong…"
"Oh, honey...you know you can just ask me and I can help you with that."
"I...feel like I need to find it on my own, y'know, kaa-chan?" Ise didn't bother looking at her. He felt a bit empty...like something was missing...everything felt...wrong...it felt...foreign…
"...Okay, just tell me when you need me."
"I will."
Have you ever felt like...something was wrong in life? Suddenly in a moment, everything felt...wrong? Somehow everything didn't feel right? That the world felt foreign to you?
The faces? Of parents and friends, family and acquaintances, being total strangers? How things in the universe work and look?
Issei felt something like that. Something was missing.
He felt...incomplete...like he needed something to feel…
Whole.
"Ise, dinner's ready!"
"Okay, kaa-chan!" He got up as he saw the show's protagonist stunning a monster midair and then threw a saucer to basically cut it into three pieces.
Brutal. Yet bloodless…
…
The time before anime seemed like a good time to be alive and that special effects didn't mean anything when the acting and everything felt just in place.
And it's been quite sometime...41 years...time sure flies fast…
Sadly time came for the series as it died in the 1980s…
…
He felt depressed that a great chain of shows died and were replaced with anime that can be considered subpar in plot, drama, character development and action. Well, nothing he could do. Going to the kitchen, he ate dinner, after that, he went to his room and then fell over to his bed.
'What was going to await him?' He asked himself.
Issei walked down the street, he looked around, all the lights had died out. It was...weird…
He felt like he...wasn't in control.
"Issei." A voice sent chills down his spine.
It couldn't be. His body felt an urge.
No.
"Hey, boyo."
Please. No.
"Why aren't you talking to me?"
No, it's not real. It's a dream.
"ISSEI! I'M GOING DOWN! I'M GOING DOWN!"
It's just a nightmare.
Then he turned his face to see the tombstone of his father, he held his breath as the words of 'Here lies, Hyoudou Gorou' were carved into place, the grave that held the body was dug up, but it wasn't like someone digging the dirt out, it looked like as if someone had gotten out and dug him or herself out of the grave.
"Why didn't you help me...son?" He turned back to find a skeletal figure wearing his father's GUTS uniform, it's face was rotting, decaying flesh all over, the eye sockets were empty, the teeth were browning with yellow patches, algae grew around its jawline, mushroom was caked into the forehead with a bunch of them growing by the open and hollow cheek.
And in his entire life, he had never thought he'd scream. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The figure didn't laugh, it just approached him before its face, its...head began to fall apart.
"Why? Why? Why, Issei?" His voice was desperate, begging on an answer.
"Why, old boyo?" That being known as his father had his voice turned monotonous and dead.
"Why didn't you help me?"
"Isse-"
Enough!
Then his head knew nothing, but light.
"AAAAAAAHHH!" Issei got up with a pounding heart, heavy breathing and cold sweat drenching him.
"Ise!?" His mother came into his room, pounding the floor with her steps. "Is everything alright!?"
"I…" He was shaking, he held his hands on his head before calming himself down. "It's...nothing, just...nightmares...nightmares...that's all to it…"
"...Ise…"
"I...I need some time alone…"
"Should I just call off school-"
"No, it's fine...I can go to school...just...can I...can I...get some time alone? Please?"
"...Of course...of course, sweety…"
"...Thanks, mum…" His mother just slowly closed the door to his room, he could hear her slow steps walking back to her room and then the subtle sound of her door closing. This was not a good start for a day especially when you wake up 3 AM in the morning...
"...Ise, you look awful, something happened?" Matsuda asked as Issei shook his head, his eyes were bloodshot, black circles formed around his eyes, he looked a bit tired.
"...Nightmare…"
"Again?" It wasn't the first time, but he had been a bit depressed that he turned to porn for some good times to stir him away from depression.
It worked until recently...
"Ise-kun, good mor-wait, are you alright?" Vali asked, worried as she looked at his not okay face.
"Yes...no...maybe...frankly speaking...I…" he trailed off. "Nevermind…" his face was placed in a near endless frown.
"Well...one tip, Lucinfeld-san, just don't ask him about his family…" Matsuda spoke to the girl in a whisper.
"Why?"
"...Just don't...in other case, are you sing-"
"I am, but not interested in a relationship."
"I hate my life right now."
"Well, either way, thank you for caring about our comrade, Lucinfeld-san, you are always welcome by us."
"The Perverted Trio, right?"
"Formerly, but it still stands until then I guess…" Motohama gave a bit of a frown and cracked a nervous smile. "Ah, I guess it was stupid to peek at women...and I noticed it too late...fucking retard…" He muttered to himself.
"What?"
"Some choice words I chose for myself, don't worry, it is for my...our own good…"
"...Okay then…" Vali had mixed feelings as the rumors had been completely false as the Perverted Trio were barely perverted, sex driven? Not really, maybe just like to peek on women, which don't really harm them and then get beaten up for it…
It was too far, simple enough…
Then again, she couldn't blame them with how...lewd these uniforms are...corsets and short skirts? A recipe for disaster.
As the day went by, Issei said his farewells and all, before he limped out to the gate like a depressed man from work. The sheer nightmare had broken him apart, guess he should've stayed home, it would've helped him with getting more sleep or...something.
Who would've guessed that him trying to get back to sleep, only to just stare at the ceiling for four hours straight and then going to school without getting some coffee was such a stupid idea?
"Err, excuse me?" A young voice called out, he didn't respond, thinking it was just his head. "Excuse me?"
"Ehh?" His voice was a bit slurred due to his less than wellbeing.
"Are you Hyoudou Issei...by any chance?"
Eh?
Eh?
"...I...am, why?"
"W-Well, I-I know this is sudden, but...will you go out with me?"
'...Maybe...just this once…' His depressed self said to him, nothing to worry about, right?
"...Issei?"
"Yeah?"
"I really hate your luck with people." Matsuda began steaming out some hoy steam out of his ears. "How? How the hell did you get a girlfriend!?"
"Oi, Matsuda. Back off a bit, but I agree, how did you meet her?" Motohama asked, curiosity lacing his voice.
"W-Well, I just met her when going home from school yesterday...she wanted to go on a date with me, so I thought, why not? I mean..."
"...That's a risky play, Ise, what if she's trying to rob you?"
"...I'm not dumb..."
"You're not strong..."
"I've seen enough action anime..."
"That doesn't help your case, aho(idiot)." The smartass sighed as he lowered his head in hopelessness. "...Well, I can't really convince you, then at least call us if something goes wrong, put our numbers on your speed dial."
"W-Wait, mine too!?" Matsuda pointed to himself.
"Aho. Is he your friend or not?" Motohama asked at the bald head.
"Wha-I mean yeah, but-!"
"I...it's alright and all, really-!"
"No, we three stick together. If one's in trouble, like hell we're going to leave the other hanging, unless it's Matsuda."
"Hey!"
"If it's you, now you care. Aho, I told you." Motohama smacked the baldie's head.
"That's just mean."
"Che, well, in any case, Ise. Just be careful and this is about time I bring up some news."
"Bad or good?"
"In between, so to say." Motohama sighed dejectedly. "My cousin asked me to come to Tokyo, he wanted to show me around when I graduate, so I can hopefully be a scientist."
"That's neat! You're going to get your dream job, Moto!" Matsuda cheered for him.
"That's also part of the problem...I'm going to stay there for a semester."
"W-What?" The two looked dumbstruck at the glasses wearing student, who gave a pained smile.
"This isn't goodbye, but it really does hurt to leave you two…"
"...It's alright...Moto…" Matsuda was growing overdramatic.
"Ah, well...I...can't stop you, just follow it. And don't forget about us." Issei gave a weak grin.
"...You two...aho, I'm not leaving forever. Six months and I'm back. Granted it'd be long, but I'm trusting you two to keep getting yourselves straight."
"...Actually...my Uncle...asked me if I was interested in space explorations…" Matsuda poked both his pointer fingers against each other.
"Eh!?"
"Well, you see, he is one of the Commissioners of TPC and is part of TPC's Mars Neo Frontier Project. He asked if I was interested in getting a tour on Mars and a possible scholarship for it."
"Ehhhhh!?"
"This is...this can't be a coincidence, right? Issei…"
"...No worries, I'll hold the fort while you two are gone…" Issei gave an even more pained and weak smile, his eyes drooped. He looked even more tired and stressed than before.
"...Issei…"
"...It's alright, let's keep in touch though…"
"Totally."
"Obviously."
"So when are you two leaving?"
"Next week."
"I still have a month to prepare...I...I'm probably taking a pardon to prepare myself mentally." Matsuda rubbed the back of his head.
"...There goes our plan, huh?"
"...No worries, Issei, we're gonna come back."
"That's an oath, aight?" The two other boys simply grinned at their buddy.
"Aye."
"Oath of Brothers." Matsuda stated.
"...You two wanna do anything now?"
"Well, you got a date, so we'll help you around a bit. Schedules and all, we watch each other's back." Motohama simply adjusted his glasses as he spoke that.
"It's still not fair though! Don't think we're doing this out of kindness!"
"Haha, alright…"
Days passed as Issei tried to keep himself fresh, the nightmares still got to him though. Each day, everyone would see Issei getting worse and worse, with no forms of distraction, he was prone to dreaming about the past.
"Hey, Ise? Ise?" Vali approached him as he was staring blankly outside.
"Oi, Issei?" Matsuda whispered as he kicked his chair.
"W-Wha?"
"You've been blanking out." Vali spoke up about the situation as he blinked.
"Ah...sorry…" He mumbled as he bit his lips. "I didn't get enough sleep yesterday."
"Is it acting up again?" Motohama asked from his seat, Issei nodded at the question.
"It?" Vali raised an eyebrow at the matter.
"Personal information, only Issei can grant anyone knowledge about that. Neither of us two can consent for him." Matsuda shook his head.
"...Oh, I see…" Vali looked a bit bitter and saddened at the matter.
"I'm fine, Vali-san...I'm fine…" He gave a weak smile back to reassure her.
"Do you need...to go to the nurse's office?"
"No, no thanks, I...I'm fine, I'm…" He looked as he was about to faint.
"Ise?"
"...Fine…" He fell, Matsuda was quick on his feet to get out of his seat and jumped to catch Ise's falling figure.
"Oi, Ise!" Matsuda shook his friend's body before he checked his temperature. "...It's a fever…"
The other two were by his side before gasping, Motohama had quickly adjusted his glasses. "Take him to the nurse's office! Stat!" Matsuda slinged Issei's arm around his neck before he got up and stood up.
"Can I help?" Matsuda and Motohama locked eyes for a moment before nodding.
"Get his other arm and help us take him to the office."
"Got it." Vali got Issei's other arm before slinging it around her neck. "Lead the way...please be alright, Ise…" She gave him a pained look as his face was paling by the moment.
"That serious?" The nurse's assistant looked a bit surprised as she finished up her papers, Motohama had been explaining the whole situation. The assistant herself was a young girl with light brown hair, a caramel color, with a pair of blue azure eyes, fair skin and a short stature of 5' 6". She seemed to be a year younger than them and she seemed awfully mature for her age.
"Yes, while I can't explain all the details due to his wishes, that's all I can say."
"So, he has nightmares...a lot of them before he got into...peeping then?" She asked, a bit awkwardly with a blush.
"That's right, Amy-san, he got into it only because there was no way of us keeping his nightmares at bay."
"...I'll believe you. As far as I know sometimes nightmares can be stopped by lots of means, I won't be surprised if this one is...weird in nature."
"Thank you for understanding." Motohama nodded at his junior schoolmate.
"It's no problem." She smiled, having no ill intentions towards them, which was surprising. "I need to be open about my seniors, so of course, there would be a reason for his pervertedness…" She looked a bit uncomfortable. "That aside, you can trust him with me."
"Well...alright…" Motohama relented, having no reason to suspect the girl. "Vali-san, Matsuda…"
"Right, just please take care of him." Matsuda gave her a praying gesture.
"No worries, Ise-san will be alright." Her smile shone brightly at the bald head.
"Now now, Matsuda." Motohama sighed. "Let's just get back to class." Vali looked back at Issei before turning to the girl.
"Don't worry, Lucinfeld-san, Ise's going to be fine. He needs only, but a rest."
"...Promise me that."
"By my heart." She nodded, crossing her heart with her finger before the three left. "...Well, Ise-san...I guess I still need to keep you stable…"
"...Ugh…" Issei opened his eyes before he saw the white ceiling. "Eh?"
"Alright, oh, you're awake." A voice perked up. Issei turned to find the nurse's assistant with a notepad. "How are you feeling, Ise-san?"
"Ummm, fine?"
"Ah, that's a relief. You fainted in class, did you remember anything?"
"...W-Well…"
"I'll take it slowly then, it's alright. We have time. The nurse is out, so I was taken out of class and put in charge for the moment."
"Wait, they can do that?"
"As far as I know...yes, so, do you feel unwell?"
"...No, not really, I feel...fine…" He checked his hands, they were sore, but they were workable at least.
"I see…" She noted it out on her notepad. "For your information, you've been out for a good two periods, but of course, we have protocols for things like this, so I can extend your time to a four period rest."
"I-Is this necessary?" The girl shook her head with a smile.
"It's not, it is a preference however."
"Oh...err...I…"
"I'll just do the safe bet then, four periods. Ise-san, please rest, at least then you'd be able to study in peace." Issei wanted to decline, but ultimately accepted it.
"Alright then...thank you…"
"Amy...Amy Stapleton. I'm a transfer student that transferred when middle school, I've been here for about four years." She introduced herself. "Now, please just rest as I write the report...the nurse is often out, so I had to work her workload as well…" She sighed at her situation.
"...She seemed nice…" He observed his junior before laying back his head. 'Maybe…'
No.
'Yeah, I guess you're right, inner voice I made for myself in my head.' Issei sighed mentally before shutting his eyes.
"Well, you're up and running, Ise-san." Amy smiled as Issei got out of the medical bed.
"Yeah, sorry for bothering you…"
"Bothering? This is my job, Ise-san, so you know." She pouted playfully before smiling. "You may need to take a day off or two, this isn't a trivial matter."
"I know, I know…" Issei shook his head. "...I'll rest up for the next few days…"
"Good, it's for the best." She nodded her head in affirmation.
"Amy-chan, are you dating someone?"
"...Eh? No, I guess not, why?"
"No, no, I just...Matsuda's...pretty lonely, y'know? I thought maybe-"
"Ah, pairing me up with him, huh?" She smiled a knowing smile. "Sorry, Ise-san, I don't date people I barely know."
"...I know that was too good."
"But he does seem like a good guy...I heard he played baseball and went for competition in the running club."
"Yeah, he did."
"...I guess something happened, huh?"
"...It's a bit personal like it is for mine."
"I understand, I won't go to that area." She smiled. "Well, if there is anything, you can come to me or the nurse to fix you up. I need to file a complaint on her for now."
"Eh?"
"She's been absent for sometime and always texted me to do all the things for her. So, I had to file something against her." She rubbed her head in annoyance at her senior. "Well, catch you later?"
"Catch you later. Thanks for all your help, Amy-san."
"I told you it's my job, geez." She smiled nervously.
"Right…"
(Play OST - Ultraman Dyna OST - Love Theme of Dyna)
"...So the date's going to be around the corner, huh?" Motohama gave Issei a look, as the three were by the river, the three simply sat as the sun lowered itself. "...I swear, Issei, sometimes I hate you."
"Understandable I guess…"
"...By the way, did you say something to Amy-san? Since I got approached by her, asking if I wanted to hang out sometime…"
"Not really, no."
"Oh...well, I guess I have bad luck then with my time going to Mars and all…"
"With the Cosmo Net and all, you wouldn't need to worry, you'll be talking non stop with her." Issei smiled at his bald headed friend.
"Damn, you think things through huh?"
"Yeah, how about you, Moto?"
"...I'll give up on the girl for now, I need to focus on my research and all."
"Well, I guess a girl sometimes slows you down huh?"
"You don't know half of it…" Motohama rolled his eyes and chuckled. "But you're lucky, Matsuda...Amy-san seems to be a great girl from the looks of it…"
"...Well, I don't know that the time has come, but good luck on your date, Ise." Matsuda grinned at the brunette.
"Yeah, thanks, man…"
"...What's wrong?"
"Nothing...hopefully...I just feel like...something's wrong, call it a gut feeling, I think I shouldn't go on the date."
"...Maybe just the wind, to be honest, Ise. You got a girlfriend, so that's cool."
"But what if something happens!?" Issei went on his paranoid route.
"Oh, here we go with paranoia. Dude, you're at least going to have someone to help you through your rough times! C'mon, man!" Matsuda nudged Ise's side.
"What Matsuda has said is true...most of it, but they are valid."
"What do you mean most of it!?"
"Issei and his mother are both being sent a good amount of income from both her job and the benefits from his...ehem, we both know who. So, it is possible that she is a gold digger, although a seamless one."
"Guys...it's...it's fine, I'll have fun and all…" He gave his best smile, which still didn't assure his two friends, but sighed at him.
"...Alright, Ise, just...call us if there is anything you need. Okay?"
"Yeah...I got it."
"...Wanna go home now?"
"It's getting late, so yeah, let's just go home..."
"See you guys next week?"
"Bet on it, Ise." The glasses-wearing student grinned. "You should be careful, alright?"
"Yeah, alright." Issei relented with a smile.
(End OST)
"...Should I just call it off?" Issei doubted himself as he looked at the situation. Dating someone you barely know? Was she a gold digger? Was she going to kill him?
…
If he knew anything, no one would even target an insignificant guy with issues in the bundles. He laughed mentally, who was he kidding, he wasn't going to be killed, these paranoias, they were worthless to the lesser extent.
What was the worst that could happen?
He got up ready to go out of his house. "Kaa-chan?"
"Yes, dear?"
"...I'm heading out."
"Oh, alright." She responded back from the kitchen. "What's the occasion?"
"...I'm...hanging out."
"...Ah, okay...stay safe."
"Safe, huh?" He muttered to himself in a hesitant manner. "...I'll be alright…" He was sure of it.
'This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong. Abort. Abort. Abort.'
His mind blared at him, yelling at him to just say, 'Sorry, Yuuma, I can't date you. I'm sorry for wasting your time.'
His other continued to retort with the carefree attitude of his when he was still a pervert. 'The boobs!', who wouldn't deny that part?
You're going to die.
'I'm not. Stop. Just stop it.' He tried to cease his paranoia.
You can't, you are too weak to stop me.
'Just shut up!' He fumed from within, the paranoia didn't give into his demands.
You know I'm right, sooner or later, you will beg for forgiveness when I'm proven right, like always, fool.
"Ise-kun?" His mind shattered as he was met with the familiar sight of Yuuma Amano, the girl who asked him on a date.
"I...Yuuma-chan...I...sorry…"
Don't give in.
"...I think that-"
DON'T! YOU'LL PROVE HIM RIGHT!
Pride does not matter, you fool. Either you back down or perish.
"We should call this off."
"Eh?" A stunned response came through her lips.
"...I'm sorry, but I don't think we should meet, we barely have known each other and I should've not accepted it from the start."
WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? YOU FOOL! YOU'RE A COWARD! A SPINELESS COWARD!
So you do have a spine, interesting…
"It's not you, it's me. Farewell, Yuuma-chan." With that he turned around and walked away, leaving the girl alone.
…
What had he done?
The right thing.
YOU FOOL! You're worth nothing! You had blown our chances of getting our hands on a female body! You are a worthless coward as you have always demonstrated yourself as-
Begone, foul voice. But in other words, very interesting, we shall...speak again, fool. You've impressed me for this moment.
The paranoia began to subside as he began to walk, lifelessly, his eyes blanked out, cold and lifeless, he got to the park before he sat there. Contemplating what he had just done in the past moments of his life.
He still had time to kill, so…
...Did he have Vali's number? Address?
...
He really should get Motohama something for remembering the contact numbers of everyone in school...
"Sorry for calling you at this time of day." Issei muttered a bit sheepishly, looking away from the person he invited out on a hangout session.
"No, it's alright, usually it's the girls who call me to hang out though, so this is a nice change of pace." The silver haired girl shrugged with a smile.
"R-Right…"
"So, what do you wanna do?"
"...I dunno, to be honest…" Issei looked a bit clueless. "I was going to...have us dine in somewhere nice and all, maybe go to the arcade and then a walk to the park before dropping you home?"
"...I have to say, that is a very simple plan you have there."
"I can't pull off a spectacular setup...sorry."
"No, it's fine, I can't expect you to bring me to a lavish restaurant and all." Vali gave him a small smile. "The time spent is better than money wasted."
"Right…"
"So, anyways, where to?"
"Burger Queen."
"Ah...I was expecting Mickey Dees…"
"...I mean...you want Mickey Dees?"
"I'm following you."
"I'm trying to follow your taste, so…"
"Well, err...let's just go to Burger Queen…"
"You're sure?"
"You're making this awkward."
"I am?"
"...Nevermind that, let's just go there, Ise-kun." Vali shook her head.
"I...well, suit yourself…" He sighed as the two set off to their destination.
The hangout the two had was one of the best time Issei can have in his life, he had no form of female friends outside of Vali the first time they met, Aika was not counted due to...can she be counted as a friend? As while she has a lewd thought process it was never as much as the trio's.
So no, he guessed he can consider her an acquaintance rather than a friend. Sona-kaichou was barely a friend as she acts more like his superior or senior or whatever. Amy-san was his second friend after Vali, friend? Or acquaintance, they were off on a good note, but she was younger than him and it was a more professional relationship.
So essentially, she was his first female friend. The two had fun actually, while it was junk food, Issei barely ate any of that stuff, Vali had been a lot more fit than he first thought when playing in the arcade's basketball throwing machines.
Boy, did he feel so pathetic when throwing those balls and missing the hoop multiple times, it was not a good day for Issei as he sucked at sports, but when it came to button mashing, it was that he beat Vali every time if they were playing seriously, but he toned it down a bit. "That was a lot of fun, Ise."
"It sure was..."
"We should hang out from time to time, maybe not always...but…"
"I gotcha…" He sighed, mentally lamenting his fate as Motohama and Matsuda would want to spend their time with him. He felt a bit conflicted as Vali would probably not feel comfortable. How she was feeling comfortable with him was beyond him. "Lots of stuff to do, right? I...kinda have the same…."
"...Are you alright, Ise? You're sure you're not tired like when you were at school yesterday?" He shook his head, keeping a smile as the two began to walk home.
"No, no, I'm fine, it's alright…" He shook his head. "I had a lot of fun, but I got too carried away that I got a bit tired…"
"If you're sure…" Vali looked a bit unsure at her friend's situation.
"R-Right, I'll just drop you off then I can go back on my own." He muttered out hastily, it was unclear on why he said it, but Vali looked even more worried than before.
"Ise, you know you can tell me if there is something bothering you."
"...I...no, there's nothing I can say, right now…" There was nothing sane enough to be discussed for that matter...
"...I won't press it then." Vali sighed, not wanting to press the matter further. "...Just tell me when you need something, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep that in mind…"
It was grueling to think that he could actually be friends with the girl and not make himself a bumbling mess. He thought to himself whether it was actually possible to be more than just friends.
Just be subtle, fool. Do not rush, time is not up the essence for your relationship...
'Geez, where'd you come from? I can't form any forms of conversations like you did, thoughts of my head…' Issei spoke mentally to himself, chuckling to himself as he felt like he was on the verge of insanity.
Oh? I'm not your own thoughts and no, you are not going insane any time soon.
He stopped his legs from moving. 'Eh?'
Must I speak it to you, fool? I am not your own thoughts, I am my own.
'Wait, so...how...what!?'
It is a matter of another time, in any case. Watch twelve o'clock above, go backwards now, fool.
'Eh!? Woah!' He jumped sideways as a spear of light destroyed the pavement. "W-What the fuck?"
Hmm, light spears...Angels, no, they're too...bendy...Fallen Angels, heh, look alive, fool. You want to be a hero? Kill those fools trying to kill you.
'What the fuck was that!? Who are you!?'
I shall answer then. That was a light spear as I spoke off before, I, on the other hand, am Ma Chao, former Bearer of the Light and Military General under Liu Bei.
'Bearer of the Light?'
Something you should know of in the future, but-Dodge to the back.
Issei did as told as if on instinct.
Ah, interesting. His Instinct's fusing with yours. Slow, but you're a foolish kid to begin with...
'His!? What are you talking about!?'
Less thinking, more focus on your foes above you.
'What!?'
"Aren't you the slippery slimeball you are…" Issei looked up and found a familiar face.
"Y-Yuuma-chan!?" There she floated, Yuuma Amano, wearing a BDSM outfit with two black raven wings, her face far more mature than what she was before, but her hair and eyes already imprinted themselves on Issei's mind. Without a doubt, that was the girl known as Yuuma Amano.
What a sight it was to behold.
"How saddening...I really wanted to like you, I prepared that little confession for you, I set aside my pride and this is what I get? A cheating bastard?" Her face twisted in disgust, Issei's hair stood up with a chill going through his spine.
Ah, the evil monologue typical villainess, you're in luck, fool.
'S-Shut up.'
"Well, your life will end either way, so goodbye, bug." Yuuma threw another light spear at him, Issei's eyes bulged as his mind frantically went haywire with one distinct thought that got approved by a frantic word processor.
'What do I do!?'
Hold your hands in front of you.
'This is not the time for games!'
Then hurry it up, fool!
He held his hands and he shut his eyes. He felt a warm feeling, it felt like an eternity, but he felt like…
There was something…
CLANK!
"What!?" His vision returned as he opened his eyes to look at what had transpired.
"Woah…"
A natural bearer of the light, although weakest in link, hmm? We shall see how you fare then, fool.
In front of him was a translucent aurora shaped like a wall of thin glass. "Che, don't think you can win even if you have your Sacred Gear unlocked!"
"Sacred Gear?"
Fool, she's mistaken the light for an attempt of a replication of the light? Banish her, fool.
"How?"
...Damn it, with your mind fumbled, turn and run! I will act as your...warning for catastrophe and heed my words and trust me, you have not awakened his might yet.
'I-She...Fuck!'
Issei turned around and floored it, his legs ran as fast as they could. The sudden burst of speed turned his legs to mush, but he carried on as adrenaline pumped through his system.
Well, fool. I shall explain. The Light is a being that embodies the concept of Justice, Miracles and Strength.
'So, what!? This Light is basically a power that is granted to random people!?'
False. Shift left.
He did so as a light spear fell by his previous lane.
Good. The Light chooses the worthy, before they were born and they have not yet disappointed him.
'So what about you!?'
Justice does not discriminate, Miracles are only for those who have given their all and Strength of one's will to live and fight. Keep on going, a light spear is coming.
True to that, a spear embedded itself behind him.
Now as I was saying, I fight in the name of Justice! And you may have offended my ego a bit.
'So why were you chosen if you have that kind of ego!?'
Fool! I was worthy of my physics and mentality and thus I was chosen.
'Then why are you dead!?'
War is waged and I died in combat, my family slaughtered, my cousin lived...I was left alone to face the force of the Demonic King of Darkness, fool. Many of us only relied on our Light, but you are a special case...my time with you is thinning by the moment. Dodge to the right.
He did so as another spear fell to the left of him. "Stand still!"
Don't listen to her. Your current situation begs you to use Tiga's body. The stoned Giant, you will need him as the Light within you is not as powerful as ours, yet regardless, you stand above many foes, but not like any of your predecessors.
'That's nice and all, but what do you mean!?'
It would mean that you are without doubt the weakest linked Bearer to the Light which begs you to use his body. But other than that! You still retain his Light and his powers even in human form.
'So!?'
Are you going to flee or fight?
Issei widened his eyes as the voice grew gruff.
There is no dishonor in running, but will you do the same to all your problems? Hide and run? Your recurring nightmares, your fears, your objective and your deteriorating body...would you wish to fight? Or run?
Like all times?
"...I…"
Choose wisely. Both paths end with you dying. Which is it?
...Fight…
Why not run if it is the same? Saves you all the trouble? Right?
Right…?
Wrong…
You know it's wrong, so fight it.
To be brave and courageous is hard…
But would you rather be a coward? Would you want to be that?
'No…'
Hmm?
'I won't run away anymore!' He halted as he turned to the Fallen Angel and held his hands out as the barrier appeared and blocked the spear.
Good. Let your instincts guide you. Last lesson. Never doubt your guts. Till we meet, fool.
"Ma Chao-san…" The voice did not respond. "Thank you." He muttered before he quickly felt his guts replacing his own mind. "This is...his Instincts huh?" He quickly felt his body move, he was stuck in a trance as if he was watching a VR movie with him incapable of moving his own body as he did backflips that his body previously couldn't with him on the wheels.
After stopping his stunts, his instincts rolled his body sideways to avoid a pair of light spears. "Stop moving! You imbecile!" Yuuma roared as Issei soon found his body standing up straight and felt it warming up.
Both arms stretched and pulled to his sides before they stretched outwards and crossed hands, a flash of light spread as he pulled his hands back to his sides, full stretch, a line of bright violet light appeared before it merged into his hands, enveloping them in light.
His body brought it to an L position, his right forearm up straight with his left arm horizontal and below his elbow.
A blinding flash of light fired off from his vertical forearm, Yuuma did not even expect it as the light engulfed her body, Issei couldn't see anything as the intense light brought with it blinded his eyes.
As it ended, he fell to his knees, his control over his own body came back as he brought his right arm to his view and tested it, moving each of his digits. A white aurora-like light formed around it before disappearing, he didn't bother checking up on Yuuma's body as it was most likely pulverized into bits and dust. "This power…"
He quickly noticed the sounds of flapping wings before he jumped back despite his fatigue to dodge a few blows of light spears. "Well, Raynare seems to fail her mission, pitiful...but, I guess you've spent your energy to be a problem." A man's voice came through before Issei tried to look up, only to watch a blur come across to the pavement and dashed for him, a light and shadow blurred right in front of his very eyes and after that-
Pain.
It burnt…
It burnt and it's painful.
"A-Agh…"
"Well, you won't be much of a problem anymore...hehe…" His hope of living diminished as he looked at his chest, a serrated and crooked light spear pierced through his chest, blood seeping out of his chest. "My job's done. You're a fool, human."
A fool…
Him?
No, there can only be a few people that may call him that…
'I missed you already...Ma Chao-san…' Anything was better than a lowly fallen to call him that.
"Don't…"
"Hm?" Energy and hatred built up within him, anger, confusion, rage, hopelessness, a desire.
A desire to kill. A will to live.
"Screw with me!" Summoning all his might, his right hand was engulfed in an ultraviolet light that flashed intensely, lightning and electricity burst out of it before Issei threw the light towards his attacker.
The light flew.
Like a bullet from a damn railgun it went, thundering, an ear piercing crash came as it collided with the Fallen Angel on his chest.
"GWAH!?" His cry was confused and pained, he didn't realize that Issei had a bit more spirit within him.
"H-How's...that…? Ma...Chao...san?" Issei's body deteriorated even more as his vision faded rapidly. He was dying, but he killed two of them...right?
It's a win win situation…
But…
It was too short…
Just as he figured himself out, just as he was about to work his way through his pain and guilt, this happened…
Ah, such is fate, wasn't it? His pain and his desperate thoughts came through for a savior of his own.
"Ise!?" He could only hear the soft and distorted voice before he fell. But just before he got into the void of darkness, he could faintly remember the blinking of a massive stoned Giant.
First Part complete, we'll be moving to the second in a bit...