Chapter 2:
Issei sat in the middle of his bedroom, staring into his wall as his thoughts raced around like a never-ending marathon.
"So what happened yesterday was real..." he muttered while touching his scar. He then slammed his head on his desk and began pulling at his hair. Then he hears a ding from his phone. Issei picks it up. It's a message from Shido. He reads the message.
'Issei, can we meet at the convenience store closest to school after lunch?'
Issei's eyebrows rose and automatically replied with 'Uh why man?'
Within a matter of seconds, Shido answered with 'It's serious. Trust me.'
Issei looked over at his ruffled bed, then to his chest scar, then back to the message. He sighed and moans irritatedly before saying to himself "Fuck it. This day can't get any weirder."
"You, Shido, belong to us" Sir Michael stated cleanly. Shido felt a shiver go down his spine and ripple throughout his body as the angel's deep green eyes locked onto him. "Judging by your face, you obviously have questions" he continued unphased, arms stiff to his side ", so it probably is best if you sit down and listen for what I have to say-"
Before he could finish, Shido manically blurts "Nope! This can't be real! This is just some fucking weird-ass dream."
Sir Michael sighs annoyedly and comments to the woman "Teens are so immature" The woman, seeing the look on his face, replied nonchalantly "Don't be surprised, my Lord. All par for the course."
Shido, not knowing what to do, made a run for his bedroom door in a panic. He began tugging at the door, his panic increasing as it stayed in place, pulling at every tug. "Come on dream! Just let me wake up!" he mutters hurriedly. The woman, giving Sir Michael a smirk, walks over to Shido and turns him to face her.
"Do you mind if I do this?" the woman asks warmly, the smile still present.
"Uhh do what-" Shido mutters puzzled before feeling a sharp pain in their face. The woman chuckled as her fingers pinched onto Shido's cheek. "Ouch!" he yelped.
"Well is this a dream?" the woman asked rhetorically. Shido stared blankly at her. She rolls her eyes and asks louder "Well?!" In that instance, Shido snaps into the unfortunate truth of reality. He stares over to Sir Micheal, his long blonde hair and the gold pattern on his clock glowing from the rising sun through his window. Shido had no other choice but to sit at the edge of his bed and listen. Sir Micheal's gaze locked onto Shido as he began talking. "Now that you're calmer, let's begin where I left off," he says as he takes a sit on Shido's desk chair. "I am Sir Michael, an angel. You, Shido Shiori, now work for me." Shido looks at him dumbfounded, to which Sir he elaborates. "You see child, I've been watching you for a while now. You're quite valuable amongst our ranks and from our perspective, it was only a matter of time before a devil persuaded you to join them, or worse..."
Shido then has a flash of memories. He feels being spread out on cool concrete, blood blanketing him, and a woman with black, feathered wings standing over him. "That woman..." he muttered while clenching his sides. "Yes, Shido" Sir Michael replied sternly. "That woman was a fallen angel. Filthy low lives that were banished from heaven for going against our lord. Some might say what happened to you last night was a chance meeting of a lifetime. I see it more as a horrible coincidence..."
"So I could've died last night...?" Shido said jittering.
The woman then, who was standing next to Sir Michael the whole time, spoke up and answered "Could've, if it wasn't for me."
Shido turned and looked at her for and replied "What? How's that?"
The woman rolled her eyes and wave her hands upwards, presenting something thin in her hand.
Shido looks for a moment before hastily blurting out "The pamphlet you gave me!"
The woman nodded with a smile and replied "Yep. Thanks to it, you were guaranteed to not die on my- uhh our watch. So yeah, you can thank me for saving your behind", making Sir Michael roll his eyes.
"Ah yes, I forgot. This pile of joy over here is Mae" Sir Michael dryly remarked while gesturing with his hand. "Because I have much more important business to take care of, she will be in charge of teaching you everything about our ways and train you in combat. Think of her as your own personal trainer."
"Wait wait, slow down. Personal teacher? Combat?!" Shido shouted.
"Oh don't be so melodramatic," Sir Michael said sternly.
"But this is too much! And besides, I've got school and well, other stuff! This is ridi-" Shido started before Mae replied aggressively "Yeah well tough shit. Unless you wanna bleed out again on the pavement, you need to learn to defend yourself!"
Before they could continue, there was then thumping from downstairs and an older man's voice calling out. "Shido?! You up now?!"
"Oh shit, it's my uncle" Shido replied. "Uhh, you two gonna escape through the window or something?"
At that, Sir Michael summoned a circle that glowed similarly to his hair. "Oh ok then..." Shido remarks meekly.
"Well, it was nice meeting you proper, Shido" Sir Michael said while stepping into the light.
"See you later, Shido. Try not to get stabbed anytime soon" Mae said with a half-hearted smile as she stepped into the light.
From the light, Shido saw her gasp and shout "Oh yeah, and stay away from that Issei kid!"
"Wait, what-" Shido replied.
In a golden flash, both disappear, just as the door opened. Shido turned to see his uncle standing there, looking confused. His hair matched his, though his eyes didn't; his uncles were grey.
"Huh. I could've sworn that I heard another voice" his uncle remarks in a similar accent to Shido's.
"Maybe you're hearing is finally eroding, old man" Shido remarks playfully while grabbing some clothes.
"Oh don't give me that. Now hurry up. Your aunt's getting annoyed" his uncle responds similarly as he closes the door.
As soon as he left, Shido grabbed his phone from his bag and began texting Issei, the dried blood still staining its case and glass.
Shido sat on a bench, drenched in a thin layer of sweat. He then saw Issei coming around the corner, making him spring from the seat and hurriedly walk over to him. Before Issei could take a breath, Shido remarked loudly "Issei! You're fine!" Issei looks at him confused and asked "Yeah I am? Shido you ok?"
Shido, calming down a bit, grabbed Issei's hand and dragged him into a nearby alleyway.
"Woah, dude! What's up?!" Issei blurted out. Shido, after turning their head, let go of Issei and replied calmer "Issei, do you remember what happened yesterday night?" Issei, still confused, replied, "Umm what about last night?"
"Dude, don't you remember Yuuma?" Shido asked slightly panicking.
Issei felt his mouth dry up. Shido continued. "You do... Well," they said while pulling up their shirt and gesturing to their scar "She did that to me."
"You... you were there..." Issei mumbled, which turned into panicked shouting as he said "How are you alive?!"
"Same way as your dumbass" Shido replied dryly while putting their shirt back.
"What, by Rias?" Issei asks inquisitively.
Shido looked at him confused and replied "No?"
Issei then asked, his eyes widened in confusion, "then by who?"
"By me, Devil" a stern voice answered.
Both boys turned and saw from the shadow a woman relaxing against the wall. Issei felt his head pierce with pain as Shido, unphased, replied "Mae?"
Mae smirked, getting up and saying "What did I tell you, kid?"
"Look lady, I don't know what Heaven is like, but I can talk to whoever I like" Shido replied snidely.
"Even if that person is, in fact, a devil?" Mae remarks while getting close to Issei.
Issei stared up at Mae's eyes, which were shaped into a dark blue pool of anger. Issei felt a lump in his neck, but then he looked down at her chest, which caused a dopey grin to form on his face. 'Damn I don't know what's happening, but these lady's knockers are amazing!' he thought. Mae, seeing his gaze, punched Issei's stomach, causing him to spit blood. Shido froze in terror as Mae walked over to him. "Some friend you got there" she comments dryly.
Shido then breaks from his state and runs Issei. Issei looked stunned, with glassy eyes staring emptily at the sky.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Shido screamed while leaning Issei against a wall.
"Oh please. The perverted monkey saw it coming" Mae replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to murder him like that!" Shido clapped back.
"Well be happy I didn't go harder," Mae said, getting uncomfortably close to Shido's face.
"Oh please, as if you would do it" another voice called out. Both turned their heads to see Rias standing, a smirk drawn across her face. Mae, in a flash, shoved Shido forcefully aside. "Do you really want to do this, Mae?" Rias said with a cocked eyebrow. Mae cracked her neck and replied, "Maybe I do, Devil." Shido, recovering from his daze, looked at the two and felt his eyes drop at the sight of Rias, her red hair glowing brightly from a red circle that has appeared on the ground. Both women noticed this and Mae was the first to speak up.
"Now do you understand my words, Shido?!" she screamed.
"Yes but..." Shido muttered.
"This so-called 'friend' here is a Devil, and as an Angel of our Lord, we mustn't associate with such foul creatures" Mae continued.
"Oh heavens, you don't have to scare him-" Rias began before Mae shouted, "Shut your mouth, hellspawn!"
Issei, half-conscious, regain his vision and looked over at Issei and stammered "W-what happened?"
Shido turned to him and relieved, replied sarcastically "A very pissed off lady punched you for gawking at her boobs."
"Awesome..." Issei muttered with a smile. Mae snickered in disgust and said sternly "be careful where your eyes linger, Pig." She then said to Rias "I'll forget this encounter ever happened and leave you Imps alone just this once."
"Oh my, how nice of you" Rias smugly replied.
"No, just for the sake of not causing any unwanted causalities..." Mae remarked unimpressively.
Mae then walked over to Shido, knelt down and said passive-aggressively with a smile "Promise me you won't be tempted by such serpents like them, ok?" while lightly slapping his face. Shido felt a lump in his throat as he struggled to say anything. Mae stood up and, without saying another word, disappeared in a flash of golden light. Rias sighed and remarked "Same annoying Mae" while walking over to the boys and leaning a hand.
Issei gladly accepted while Shido hesitated. Rias rolled her eyes at this and commented "Accepting basic courtesy from me won't turn you, Angel boy." With that, Shido awkwardly grasped her hand and got up.
"Well, that was unexpected. But in any case, I'll be seeing you both tomorrow," Rias said with a soft smile. Both boys blushed slightly, making Rias chuckle. She then made a red circle on the ground by tapping her foot before walking into its centre. Within a flash, she disappeared into the flash of velvet. Issei then grabbed Shido's shoulders and began shaking him down while saying in a panic "Who the hell was that?!" Shido slapped Issei's hands off him and replied dryly "The reason I'm still alive right now, doofus."
On the following Monday morning, Issei woke up to the sounds of his erotic alarm clock going off. After doing his usual schoolday routine, he was walking to school. When he ventures had him past the convenience station, he bumped into Shido. Both stared back at each other, each mirroring their own awkwardness.
"Umm, hey Issei" Shido said meekly.
"Oh, hey..." he replied swiftly.
"Uhh, how you feeling?" Shido asked.
"All things consider, pretty good thanks" Issei answered while looking around. At that, both heard a loud voice shouting "Yo, Issei man!" Shido cringed as he saw Matsuda and Motohama come around the corner. As they approached the two, both saw Shido and gave him a nasty snarl.
"Ugh, it's you" Matsuda replied.
"And nice to see you too, Master Roshi," Shido says unimpressed. "You here for lunch or to perve on some random girls again?"
"No we weren't Shitface, so how's about you keep it down!" Motohama stated loudly while forming a tight fist.
"Hey hey hey! You guys chill out!" Issei commanded while standing between the two.
"Oh, I'm chill Issei. Chill enough to knock this white ass punk out!" Motohama responded before swinging a punch towards Shido.
As the punch flew to Shido's face, Issei, without thinking, grabbed his fist and lightly pushed him back. Shido stood in awe as he watched Issei move in a flash before, not even a second later, seeing both Matsuda and Motohama on the ground 20 feet away from him.
"What the hell was that for, Issei?!" Matsuda shouted.
Issei, stunned for a moment but regaining focus, replied confusingly "I... I don't know"
"Ugh, whatever. We're heading off" Motohama said while helping himself and Matsuda up. As they walked past, they pushed Shido aside and remarked in disgust "Move out of the way, pasty."
Issei sighed and mumbled "Sorry about that man" in mild embarrassment.
"It's fine. Those two aren't exactly threatening" Shido replied before smiling and saying "Hey I didn't know you had that type of strength in yeah."
Issei chuckles but then realises. "Oh, I never did," he remarks, making Shido grunt in confusion. Issei then smirks before saying "My hand skills are used somewhere else if you catch my drift~"
At that, Shido's face contorts in disgust before punching Issei in the shoulder and remarking "Weirdo."
"Ouch! I was talking about video games!" Issei shouted.
"Really?" Shido asks as he begins walking off.
"Uhhh... Erotic games..." Issei slyly replies.
Shido rolls his eyes and remarks "Whatever, I'm leaving now. I came here for food, not for fights."
At that, Issei snapped to his senses and joined Shido while he bought his food and began walking the rest of the way to school. After many minutes of silence, the two were at the gates of Kuou. Issei spotted Rias leading against a wall, looking expectantly at him. He swallowed his throat and cautiously walked over to her and soon both began walking off to class while talking, all the while the rest of the students stared in quiet shock.
Shido chucked to himself, amused at the boy's jealousy and the girl's disgust. He thought about joining them, but before he could act, he heard a faint voice tell him 'Leave him...'
He moved his head around but saw no one. Feeling weirded out, Shido decided to head to class alone and had a compulsion to avoid Issei.
"Good morning, new member. How are you?" Rias says with a beaming smile.
"Uhh m-morning," Issei says while blushing "What do you mean 'new member'?"
"Well you're part of the occult research club now" Rias states.
"I am? Oh that's great..." Issei says while zoning out.
Rias turns her head in every direction and remarks innocently "Hey Issei, I think the girls are finally taking an interest in you."
'Yeah, they probably want me dead. I am hanging with the school's number 1 hottie!' Issei thought.
"Oh come on now Issei. Ignore them. It's none of their business who I hang with" she said calmly.
"Yeah, but you do know who I am right?" Issei mumbled.
"Well of course. Your reputation precedes you" Rias replies with a grin.
"Hehe, sweet..." Issei mumbles out.
"Say, where are your friends? I could've sworn you had at least 3 boys with you" Rias questions with a confused look.
"Uhhh well I know Matsuda and Motohama was ahead of us and-" Issei begins before he looks behind him to see a lack of Shido.
"That angel boy isn't with you?" Rias comments.
"Uhh no. I'm not surprised. Shido isn't great with socialising" Issei states casually.
"Well he's certainly interesting, ain't he?" Rias asks.
"I guess so..." Issei adds.
Soon both made their way into the school's front entrance, to which Rias bows and states with a smile "Today at lunch, someone will come to pick you up for your first meeting. Hope to see you there." As she made her way up the stair, Issei stares longingly at her, and her rear. He smiles goofily, only for it to be cut short by a punch to the face.
"What the hell Issei?! Since when did you become goody-goody with Hot Mcstuffins?!" the piercing voice of Matsuda shouts.
"Look guys I can explain-" Issei began before Motohama cuts in. "You broke our oath! 'If one of us gets a girlfriend, then you need to: 1, TELL ALL OF US, and 2, introduce their friends to the others!'"
"Seriously? I thought those were more a suggestion-" Issei mumbles before Matsuda bolts out "Cut the crap, Issei. JUST TELLS US THE DEES!"
As this was happening, Rias was walking up the stairs. On the first floor, she was met with the student council president and vice president, Sona and Tsubaki. Sona had short, bob cut black hair and Tsubaki had long black that almost touched the floor.
"So, how's your new pawn coping?" Sona asked.
"He's coping quite well all things considered" Rias answers "Though, we did have an encounter with Mae yesterday that nearly went south, but that's all."
Sona tilts her head in interest and asks "What happened? Did you breathe near next to an angel or something?"
"Oh no. My new pawn, however..." Rias says with a sigh. Both Sona and Tsubaki stared in confusion.
"Do you two know of a boy named Shido Shiroi?" Rias said. Both nodded.
"He was reincarnated as an angel" Rias finished. Tsubaki look surprised and Sona was a little upset at the news.
"Hmm, that stinks. If we had gotten to him sooner..." Sona said, which made Rias chuckle.
"Well, that's not the worst part" she comments before stating bluntly "The worst part is he's friends with my new pawn."
Tsubaki then spoke up and said, "Must we worry about any potential conflicts with Sir Michael?"
"As of now, no. And there's no need to antagonise him either. He does have a gear after all" Rias replies.
With that, Tsubaki goes silent. Sona then chips in and asks light heartedly "So tell me Rias, what's it like having someone like Issei around?"
"If I was honest," Rias begins as she walks towards the stairwell and stares down at Issei "it's like having a new little brother" she answers with a chuckle. At that, the bell rang, and people began moving to class.
"Well see you later then," Rias said while walking off. Sona smiled and waved back as she began to walk off with Tsubaki.
The day went by as usual and as lunch approached closer and closer, Issei wondered who'd pick him up. At lunch, he ate lunch alone while Matsuda and Motohama were off doing something. 'Those idiots better not be looking at any breasticles without me! And what's this stupid "introduce to her friends' crap?! Me and Rias aren't even like that... Are we?-'
His rant was cut short when the sounds of cooing entered their ears, and he turned to see Kiba come into the classroom. As the girls crowded around him, Issei muttered under his breath in a mocking tone "'Oh my god, it's prince golden nuts' oh shut up..."
Then without warning, Kiba came over to his desk. "Rias sent me to come and pick you up," he said with a smile on his face.
Issei stared in disbelief and stammers out"Oh, uh ok..." while getting up.
As the two left, Issei could feel the stares of the girls burning his back. He then heard one shout out "Be careful Kiba! Don't let that perv infect you!"
Annoyed, Issei spoke back with "Don't worry, I won't even touch him! Fucking psychos..."
As the three were walking through the hallway, Issei commented "So you're in the occult research club. How long has that been a thing?"
"Hmmm. Since I've been here I guess" Kiba answers casually.
"Really? I'd never imagined that" Issei replied.
"Well, what did you imagine then? One of the many sports clubs?" Kiba asks with an awkward smile.
"Uhh..." was all Issei could muster, which made Kiba chuckle.
As they walked through the school, passing many crowds of girls that were gawking at them, they found themselves at the old schoolhouse.
"Hey, any reason you chose this old fossil as club headquarters?" Issei asks bluntly.
"Well, club leader thought it would be a waste if no one used the space" Kiba answers as he opens the door, the windows casting a dim light through the thick blinds. "Also it adds to the vibe of occult researchers, yeah know?" he adds while gesturing for Issei to come in.
Issei, gulping and feeling a shiver go down his back, walks in. The musky air of the empty hallways filled his lungs as he followed Kiba deeper into the building. After walking upstairs, they entered a clubroom that was dimly lit by candles. Inside were a desk and chair that stood at the opposite end of the room and in front of it were three couches with a coffee table in the middle. All the furniture looked victorian to Issei's eyes.
Sat on the couch to their left was Koneko, minding herself with some brownie. She eats quietly before moving her eyes to Issei, scoffing in disgust.
"Uhh hi there," Issei says awkwardly. No response, Koneko goes back to eating. 'Well she's friendly' he says to himself. He then notices another light shining from a door to his right and hears the sounds of water running.
"Wait there's a shower in here!? That's fricken awesome!" Issei shouts.
"Watch it creep. You might blow a fume in that thick head of you" Koneko says in a dry monotone.
"Oh my, Issei. Don't tell me you got on her bad side already?" a voice called out.
That same voice then appeared from the shower, to which Issei realised it was Akeno Himejima, a girl with long black hair tied up with an orange ribbon.
"Don't let Koneko scare you. I promise you that everyone in the club is very nice~" she said calmly before walking to him. Issei was overtaken by his manhood and began thinking perverted thoughts.
'Oh man, I can't believe it. Wait, if Akeno is part of the club, I wonder what she gets up to when she's alone with Rias' he wondered. 'I think they'd just hang out in the nude and when it's cold, they cuddle up together and have pillow fights in the morning! I love this club!'
"Hey pervert, stop daydreaming. You're drooling" Koneko says while giving Issei a death glare, making him go stiff. He then felt a hand on his shoulder before hearing Kiba say with a half-smile "You might wanna watch where you, Issei."
Soon, the sounds of the shower stopped, and Rias came out in only a towel. "Good day, Issei. I see you're already making yourself comfortable" she remarks innocently. Issei's jaw reached the seventh layer of hell as his eyes bulged from his skull, which made Rias giggle.
After putting on her school uniform behind a mere paper wall, Rias sat down at the desk in an upright position.
"Before we start, let's all welcome Issei into the occult research club" she states with strong leadership. Soon Issei and Kiba sat down on the couch opposite of Koneko, with Akeno standing right to Rias. "So Issei, how are you readjusting?" she then asks.
"Well, I mean…" Issei began. "I guess I'm doing well, though I'm still a little shaken up."
"Oh, don't worry Issei. You'll ease right in within no time. I guarantee it~" Akeno said giggling.
"Hehe, you don't say" Issei replies while trying to sneak a look at her breast.
"You couldn't be more obvious if you tried" Koneko blurted out.
"What!? I don't know what you're talking about" Issei stammers meekly.
Koneko sighs and remarks "Would my fist in your nuts make you remember?" while putting down her plate and cracking her knuckles, making Issei wince.
"Ok you two, knock it off" Rias commanded, making Issei freeze up.
"Ahem, so Issei as a devil, it's our job to help people out with their various wants and desires in exchange for their soul. In order to entice people, we hand out pamphlets in hopes of finding someone."
Issei then remembers that mysterious woman he met and asks "Hey, didn't some woman give me a pamphlet?"
"Yep, the very same ones we use every day. What people would do with these pamphlets is call us for any jobs or services they want in return for their soul. If we do our job to their satisfaction, we make a contract with them, allowing them to use us at any time. For a price of course."
At that, Issei heard a familiar voice shout from outside "Hey Issei! Are you being inducted into the cult or some shit?!"
"Oh it's Shido," he mumbles casually. Before he could reply back, the memories of yesterday replay in his head and he hesitates. "Ugh, what does the angel want?" Koneko groans while getting up and heading to the front door.
Outside, Shido stood patiently waiting for an answer. He then got a jump when Koneko opened the door abruptly and gives him a death glare.
"Oh uhh hey there, Koneko..." he says shyly.
"You look lost, angel boy. You aren't exactly welcomed here" Koneko replies.
"Angel boy- Look, I just wanna hang with Issei, ok?" Shido pleads.
"Clubs in session. Now buzz off" Koneko answers while slamming the door on him. Shido stood for a moment before muttering "Rude" and beginning to leave.
Issei hears all of this and says to Koneko as she returns "What the hell was that for?!"
"Do you have a screw loose? He's an angel. He could've been sent to spy on us" she replies.
"Woah, slow down. Shido isn't like that" Issei states in annoyance.
"Well, I don't care. He's just another annoying pain in the ass anyways" Koneko retorts while sitting down.
Issei is about to jump up from his seat, but Kiba's hand forced him back down.
"Take a breather Koneko. You don't have to worry about him" Rias begins "To prove this, Kiba, can you go grab him?"
At this, he nods before getting up from the couch and leaving.
"President, I'm telling you. This could end badly" Koneko reiterates.
"And I'm telling you to calm down and to trust me" Rias reassumes.
Shido sat stiffly next to Issei on the couch, with Koneko staring daggers across him. Kiba made an apologetic smile at Shido. It didn't help much.
"So this is clubroom," Shido says shyly "It's uh nice."
"Oh my! I didn't know the new angel would be such a cutie~" Akeno replied smiling.
"Oh uh," Shido muttered, turning his head away while blushing. He then made eye contact with Issei, who was also red but from anger.
'Oh, you gotta be shitting me! He shows up for a minute and he's getting more attention than I do?!' he shouts in his head.
"Uhh you good there, Issei?" Shido asks innocently.
"No, because of course you gotta hog the limelight!" Issei shouts back.
"Hog the limelight- What the hell are you talking about?!" Shido questions in annoyance.
"Well for once, hot women are actually talking to me, and you come in to steal them!" Issei shouts even louder.
"Hold up, you for real? You're only getting attention cuz you're a newbie!" Shido claps back, getting into Issei's face.
Both boys stared at each other, ready to throw punches. Then suddenly, Issei feels hands pull him back, as does Shido.
"Cool your jets, Issei. No need to do anything irrational first day here" Kiba says sternly, making Issei sigh and shaking himself free of Kiba's grasp.
"Oh my Shido, you have quite the temper. That's not very heavenly" Akeno says in a soft tone, making Shido blush as she lets go of him.
Seeing this, Akeno smirks and gives Shido a head pat. Shido, blushing immensely, abruptly stood up, stammered out "While it's been fun, I uh, gotta go now, so bye" and left in a hurry. Issei started off, feeling a little embarrassed at his actions. As Shido descended the stone stairs that lead up to the schoolhouse, he stopped suddenly when he heard Koneko shout out "Hey, where you off to?!" Shido turns around and sees her standing over him at the stairs.
"Oh, uh hey. I'm just buzzing off. Like you wanted me to..." Shido said, still red from embarrassment.
Koneko tilted her head sideways and said in a monotone "You're still red. What are you, a pervert?"
"I'm not! Not like Issei, anyways" he replies, turning back.
Koneko rolls her eyes and remarks "Hey, wanna take a walk?"
"Umm sure" Shido answered gulping.
Back in the clubroom, Akeno was having a good laugh to herself, while Kiba and Rias sat there in silent awkwardness. Issei was also there, but he was too focused on the fact that Akeno was super close to him. 'If only she wasn't wearing that stupid uniform~' he thought.
After a bit, Rias continued with her speech.
"Ok so now back on topic, " she says while looking at Issei "Issei starting tomorrow, you'll be handing out pamphlets to people downtown. Any questions?"
"Ahh, yeah. How long will I do this for?" Issei asked sheepishly.
Rias answered simply "As long as you need. If you deliver enough, you'll start doing contracts and you'll work your way up the devil ranks."
"There's ranks?" Issei responds.
"Indeed. All devils start out low ranking, but with hard work can rise up" Rias says.
"Wait so are you saying I can become a high-ranking devil like you?" Issei asks excitedly.
Rias raised an eyebrow at this question and said "Of course. If you do, you might even have servants of your own.
Issei gasped at the idea and thought 'My own servants?! My sought-after dreams to become the harem king can finally come true!'
Issei stood up in his seat and said with a fiery passion in his voice "Rias, I promise you that I'll do my damn best and I won't disappoint you."
Rias chuckled and replied "Hehe, ok then. No need to be so overdramatic."
Outside further away, Koneko and Shido stood by a vending machine getting drinks. Shido felt his body clam with every movement, feeling like he was being watched in every movement. He then notices Koneko's relaxed yet focused expression. He saw her around the school, and whether they made eye contact, she had the same face.
"So, when did you two idiots meet?" Koneko asked, sipping her drink while leaning on a adjacent wall.
"Good question" Shido began with a chuckle "We were 5 I think when we met."
"Good lord, how did you not kill him sooner?" she asks bluntly.
"Well he was more than a pervent back then" Shido replies "Being massive Otakus might have something to do with it."
"I wouldn't expect less from you two" Koneko says in the same tone, making Shido chuckle again.
"Heh yep. We spent a lot of time together up 'til I was like 10" he adds.
"What happened then?" Koneko asks inquisitively.
"Uh, family stuff made us distant. That and he was becoming more of a sex pest" Shido answers solemnly. Koneko looked at him and stared into his eyes. In her monotone, she retorts "Welp I guess you're not a complete degenerate after all then." Shido smiles and says "Issei's my friend, but I have standards", to which Koneko rolls her eyes and comments "We'll see."
After a moment of drinking in silence, Shido casually asks "Well you know my story. What about you?"
"You gotta be a bit more specific, Dumbass" she says with a stoned cold face.
"Uhh like how long have you known Rias?" Shido stammers out.
"Eh, can't remember. A while now" she states.
"Huh, cool," he remarks "And how did you two meet?"
At that, Koneko freezes. Though her expression never moves, Shido saw her arms shake slightly. "Hey, you ok?" Shido asks worriedly. Koneko snaps back to her senses says passively "Yeah yeah, I'm fine, angel boy." Shido, not convinced but not wanting to push her, comments "Ok then. I'll head off then" before leaving in a hurry. After passing many people, he makes his way to an area of pure bush and trees. Here he ducked into one which led to a covering where he hid out for the rest of lunch.
Through the last few classes of the day, Issei was fantasising about what just happen at lunch. He was excited for the day following and for the chance of being a high rank devil. When the day ended, Issei decided to hang out with Matsuda and Motohama near the front of the school. He also invited made Shido come along as he wanted him to get along with Matsuda and Motohama.
"Really, you want to bring HIM along?" Motohama says in an annoyed tone.
"What? Am I not fun cuz I don't assault women?" Shido replies sarcastically.
"Would you shut up?!" Matsuda states with a cletched fist.
"Guys, chill out. I think it would be fun to have him around" Issei said while winking at Shido, making him rolls his eyes.
"So, what's the plan?" he says dryly.
Matsuda in a serious tone answered "Well you see, my older brother gave me this new DVD and I want you guys to judge it."
"Oh it's a show huh? Do you have it on you?" Shido asked.
"Obviously! We're going to Motohama's after all" Matsuda replied.
"Hmm, can I see it?" Shido said.
At that, Matsuda froze. Shido gave him a cheeky grin and said "Oh come on, it can't be that bad."
Matsuda, feeling corned, pulled the DVD out of his bag with such force, he almost slapped Shido with it.
They all looked at it. The cover had a young woman on it, who was wearing a very revealing outfit and standing next to a muscular man, who was wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.
Shido just looked at it and said "Huh, it really isn't that bad. I own some of her stuff."
The perverted trio looked at him in surprise.
"Wait, you mean you watch the works of Airi Akitsuki?!" Matsuda asked.
"Well duh. I am a man of culture" Shido responded sarcastically.
At that, Matsuda began to say "No way. What are we doing here, let's go home and watch some high-quality DVD por-", before, in a flash, Shido covered Matsuda's mouth before he could say the magical word. Issei was stunned to see how fast Shido moved.
"Come on now mate. Let's get a move on" Shido said before grabbing Matsuda's arm and moving towards the gate of the school.
Issei just looked on as Shido had a smile on his face. He and Motohama caught up to him and they made their way to Motohama's house.
Author Note: YES IM NOT DEAD. I'm so sorry for the long wait. Life has been distracting me a lot BUT I DID IT. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a good day :