(A/n)
You can think of this as a Filler Chapter. The first chapters of Canon will be like this, so expect some slice-of-life content for a little while until the plot starts rolling.
—
Kuoh Town: March 10, XXXX
The town was quiet as the sun barely peaked over the horizon. Birds chirped as they flew over the sky in search of a place to nest. The roads were quiet with the occasional restaurant owner fetching some ingredients from their local store in preparation for the day. Although, it was Spring, the morning was chilly and a little windy which showed just how recent Winter had ended.
Occupying one of the barren streets, however, was a young man who was currently on his daily morning run. He wore black sports pants, a white T-shirt, a hiking backpack on his back, and a thin red hoodie. Sweat dripped from his forehead, making him wipe it off before it could reach his eyes as he struggled to continue his pace. The load on his shoulders made it difficult as it was starting to cause some strain on his shoulders whenever it bounced.
However, even as he struggled, the young man continued pushing himself as he tried to speed up his pace.
His journey was almost coming to an end as he neared the residential area of the town. Down the street, turn a right past the park, then a left. Soon the silhouette of his home was nearing, the lights were still off letting him know that his parents were still asleep. It was only 5 o'clock in the morning after all.
Only after he got to the front of his house did he stop and tried to catch his breathe. He took in huge amounts of air before blowing it all out, causing it to appear in huge vapor clouds. When his breathing was calmed down, he shakily reached his hands and took off the hiking backpack which caused him to groan in relief.
The young man then opened the backpack and flipped it upside down, dropping its content. A huge cylinder of concrete slowly slid out of it and instantly landed on the dirt floor with a muffled thud. He could care less at the moment of where it landed.
With his legs burning and his shoulders strained, the young man took off his running shoes before entering his home. The warm air that basked him as he entered didn't help as more sweat started forming.
He placed his shoes on the rack and slowly made his way up the stairs towards his room.
Once there, he lazily dropped his empty backpack and fetched some clothes. Although he wanted nothing more than a nice nap, he didn't like being sweaty while he did so. Begrudgingly, he went to the bathroom near his room and took a shower.
The water was refreshing. He didn't know why hot showers were great after exercise, but he wasn't complaining since it was exactly what he needed before a nap. He entered his room again and saw that the time was 5:36. Lazily tossing his running clothes on the ground, he would clean it up later, he plopped head first onto his bed and quickly fell asleep.
—
He didn't know how long he slept for, but to him it felt like he had just closed his eyes when someone suddenly called for him.
"Issei!"
A woman's voice called out from downstairs, the volume of it reaching even his room. The young man, Issei, didn't move and merely tried to get as much rest as he could before his mother dragged him out.
"Issei! Get up! Weren't you going out with your friends today?!"
Issei groaned loudly as he remembered that he indeed DID plan a meet up. It seemed that his mother thought that he was still sleeping since the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs echoed in the hall. His door swung open and the light to his room was flickered on, blinding Issei even though his eyes were closed.
Issei: "Mooommmm!...I'm up, I'm up!"
He brought the covers above his head to block out the light, only for it to be yanked out of his hands by his mother. He slowly opened his eyes to see his mom looking at him with an irritated frown.
His mother was Miki Hyoudou, wife to Gorou Hyoudou. She had dark brown hair, with the front bangs reaching just above her eyes. The rest of her hair was tied and braided together as it reached her hips. Currently, she was wearing an apron on top of her pink dress shirt and blue jeans.
Miki: "Well it sure doesn't look like it! Breakfast is ready for you downstairs, eat it after you dress up."
Issei didn't respond and instead rolled over to face the wall. His mother rolled her eyes at his antics before noticing the clothing on the ground. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
Miki: "What did I tell you about leaving a mess in your room? I don't know what happened, but it's getting more frequent Issei."
Issei mumbled something that she couldn't hear, but she took it as something along the lines of "I'll do it later" or "It's just a few". She shook her head again before grabbing them and putting it into his laundry bin by his closet.
Miki: "I'm being serious young man. I expect you to be downstairs and eating the delicious breakfast I made for you in 5 minutes. Your father is already downstairs."
With that she dropped the covers back on him and closed the door as she left. Only when she left did Issei turn over, his eyes wide awake as he sat up. He looked over to his digital alarm and saw that it was only 7:32, only 28 minutes till the meeting time. Not wanting to anger his mother anymore than he already had, he got dressed and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and freshen up once more.
After that, Issei walked down the stairs and into the dinning room where his father, Gorou Hyoudou, was reading the newspaper with a cup of coffee.
Issei sat at the only seat that had food on the table which was right in front of his father. Eggs with bacon and a side of toast laid in front of him, ready to be devoured. It was only after he took a few bites that his father put down the newspaper and looked at him.
Gorou: "Hey there, little rascal! Trying to sleep in again?"
Issei swallowed his food before sighing.
Issei: "It would be nice to, but I've got plans today. Gonna hang out with some friends at the arcade, maybe hit the movie theatre for a movie or two."
His father sipped his coffee before looking into it and seeing it empty. He sadly put the cup down.
Gorou: "Heh, well you better enjoy the next few weeks to the fullest, school's about to start and I know just how much you hate it."
Issei silently ate his food as he pondered a bit. Gorou saw his thoughtful expression but mistook it for something else.
Gorou: "Hey...I've been meaning to ask you this, but are you okay?"
He uncomfortably asked as Issei looked back up and stared at his dad in confusion.
Issei: "What do you mean?"
Gorou: "Well, for the past year you've been waking up later than usual, your room is getting messier and messier, and sometimes you seem distracted or...I don't know how to describe it."
Issei was gonna try to reassure him that it was nothing, but his father simply raised his hand to stop him.
Gorou: "Look, I'm not a doctor or anything, just a simple office worker. I'm not diagnosing you with anything and I won't pretend like I know how you feel or think...but what I'm trying to say is that I just want you to know that your mother and I are here if you need to talk alright? We love you, never forget that."
He offered Issei a reassuring smile to which Issei offered one back.
Issei: "I don't know what brought this on, dad, but thanks. I love you guys, too."
Gorou got up with his empty mug and patted Issei's shoulder.
Gorou: "Heh! Well, enough of this sappy crap. I've gotta go to the office, they said something about some new project so I'm gonna be gone all day. Your mother is out shopping at the moment, and she'll have to watch over the daycare all day today as well. So you can use the house if your friends want to come over, though they will need to go home by nine."
Gorou said as he put his mug into the sink and turned to grab his suitcase that was on the couch.
Issei: "Alright, do you want me to make some dinner for you guys before you get home?"
Gorou went to the coat hanger and put on one of the coats before turning back to him with a huge grin.
Gorou: "That would be a huge help! Your mother will probably be too tired, those gremlins sure do cause her trouble."
Issei chuckled before waving his hand in a shooing motion.
Issei: "Yeah, yeah, hurry up old man. You're gonna be late. And just so you know, I might hate school, but I'm grateful that it brought me to my friends."
Gorou: "Heh, well then you better hurry up. Don't want to keep them waiting any more than you already have. I'll see you tonight, little Rascal."
They both smiled and laughed a bit before he left through the front door.
Issei turned back and resumed eating but stopped when he heard his dad yell just outside.
"Who put this piece of concrete here!"
Issei winced as he remembered that he carelessly left it out in the front of the house.
He quickly ate the rest of his breakfast before getting his jacket from the coat hanger. He made sure to have his house keys on him, as well as his phone and wallet, before locking the front door and running to the arcade at the other side of town.
—
"What's taking him so long?"
"I don't know, but I told you we should've stopped by his house!"
"Yeah, I know! You've said it a hundred times already! How was I supposed to know he was gonna sleep in today!"
The first one yelling was a young man with glasses and brown hair that reached his chin. He wore a simple blue hoodie paired with blue jeans. He wasn't on the muscular side but was still healthily fit. Rather than playing sports, he spent most of his time building and taking apart electronics, which makes sense since his goal was to become an engineer. This young man is Yujiro Motohama, one of Issei's best friends.
The second young man had a shaved head that was covered in a green beanie. He wore a sports jacket and black jeans. He was more fit than Motohama due to being a soccer player during middle school. Although toned, he wasn't overly built on muscle. This young man is Kenji Matsuda, another of Issei's best friends.
The two young men continued arguing just outside the front doors to the arcade. The people that passed by them gave them questioning looks before simply walking away. The only people who seemed to care were the two young women accompanying them.
"U-Umm, I'm sure there is a good reason as to why he's late...probably."
The young woman with orangish brown hair tied into twin tails spoke. She wore a white winter coat over her T-shirt which was paired with her black tights. She had purplish pink eyes that were trying to ignore the stares from those around them. Her name was Shidou Irina, Issei's childhood friend who had came back from Europe during their freshmen year.
She had a sheepish smile as she tried to calm the two of them, though she was having little progress. A hand was put on her shoulder, causing her to turn and face the other woman of their group.
She had brown hair tied into two braids that dangled on each of her shoulders. She wore a similar set of clothing as Irina except her jacket was an oversized hoodie that almost reached her knees. Her pink square glasses were hanging at the edge of her nose as she gave Irina a sympathetic smile. Her name was Kiryuu Aika, and the final best friend that Issei had.
Aika: "Hey, let's just forget about these idiots and head inside."
Aika suggested as she tilted her head to the arcade. Irina frowned at the thought of leaving them out here.
Irina: "That wouldn't be very nic—"
A sudden cold breeze passed by causing her to stiffen and chills to go down her spine.
Irina: "On second thought, maybe you're on to something."
Aika grinned as they both giggled and went inside, leaving the two others behind as they started calling each other names. Neither of them noticed their two companions enter the arcade without them, even when the door closed with an audible click.
Just when they seemed to be getting into a physical fight, the sounds of footsteps running caused them to instinctively turn. Running towards them at full speed was Issei as he waved at them.
Issei: "Hey, guys! Sorry for being late, forgot we had this whole thing going."
He gave them an apologetic smile as he looked between the two of them.
Motohama: "It would've have been a big deal if it wasn't for the fact that YOU asked if we wanted to hang out today!"
He glared at him, though it was more of a scolding glare than a hostile one.
Issei: "I already said sorry, geez."
Matsuda: "Let me guess, you overslept again?"
He asked as he looked at Issei's haggard clothes and small bed-hair.
Issei: "Just a little bit. Come on, sleep is like one of the best things in life!"
He tried to defend himself when they both gave him disapproving looks. When they didn't budge, Issei simply scoffed and looked around.
Issei: "ANYWAYS...Are Aika and Irina here yet?"
Motohama: "What do you mean? They're right he—"
He stopped as he turned and saw that two of their members were gone.
Matsuda: "God dammit! When did they go in without us?!"
Issei shrugged his shoulders at them before slapping Matsuda's shoulder.
Issei: "You're lucky Irina didn't hear you say that. Want to sit through another lecture on our lord and savior?"
Matsuda: "Shit, forgot about that! She needs to loosen up, it's just the slip of the tongue sometimes."
He chuckled awkwardly as Issei just shook his head.
Motohoma: "Actually...why didn't we just wait inside?"
Motohama spoke out as he held a hand to his chin. Matsuda just looked at him like he was an idiot while Issei gave him a flat look.
Issei: "Because if you did, by the time I would arrive you would be all out of cash and tokens."
Matsuda: "Yeah, bros before hoes is our code, but nowhere in it does it say that I can't play me some arcade games."
Motohama: "Ugh, true. We would probably use up all our money due to boredom."
Issei: "Speaking of money, I only brought enough for myself. So y'all better not come to me begging for some tokens."
Motohama and Matsuda looked at him with their eyebrows raised.
Motohama: "As if I'd ask your broke ass for money!"
Matsuda: "Yeah dude, I think we should be the ones telling you not to beg."
Issei flipped them off as he turned to the arcade entrance.
Issei: "Oh fuck off! Come on, they're probably waiting for us."
They both chuckled as they walked behind him. Upon entering, they quickly looked around the lobby and found Aika and Irina talking as they leaned against the wall. As they approached, Aika noticed them and quickly told Irina, who turned and waved at him.
Irina: "Heyo! There you are! We were getting worried that you wouldn't have showed up."
Issei: "Yeah, sorry about that. I kinda overslept."
Issei awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Aika walked beside Irina and pushed her glasses up as she gave him a look of disbelief that suddenly turned into a teasing one.
Aika: "Did you now? I wonder why?"
She grinned as she saw that she had their attention.
Aika: "Was it because...you were jerking off all night long to your 2D waifus again?"
Motohama and Matsuda held a hand to their mouths as they tried to keep themselves from laughing. Irina blushed as she didn't expect her to say that as she looked between Aika and Issei. Issei scoffed and gave her a half-hearted glare.
Issei: "As if you're one to talk. And you two! I know you can't be laughing when the same could be said to you both."
Both of them stopped laughing before glaring back at him.
Aika: "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Aika gave him a challengingly look as she put her hands on her hips.
Issei: "Come on, it's not a secret that you get it on with your 2D husbandos."
He stated, causing Irina to stare at them with a growing blush. Her thoughts were showing her some very explicit scenes of her two friends. She put her hands in prayer and asked for forgiveness as Aika and Issei refused to back down.
It was a few seconds until Aika reluctantly backed down, but not before punching him in the shoulder with a grin on her face.
Aika: "Touchè, you bastard."
Issei grinned back before he faced Irina who was still holding her hands in prayer with her eyes closed. He walked up to her and booped her nose, causing her to open her eyes and startlingly step back a bit.
Issei: "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to scare you. You ready to have some fun?"
Irina: "Not before I reprimand Aika! I'm seriously starting to consider taking you to church with me!"
Aika held up her hands in surrender as she glanced at the others. Seeing that they weren't helping her, she mentally cursed them and tried to not say it out loud. After all, it was a common agreement between them to avoid cursing in front of Irina out of respect for her.
Aika: "*chuckles*..L-Let's calm down here! I-I'll tone it down for today, hehehe."
Seeing that she was going to keep her word, Irina calmed herself before nodding her head vigorously at them all.
Irina: "Yeah, let's do this! Just like old times!"
With their little charade of teasing and messing around done, the group of friends excitingly went to the cashier and exchanged their money for tokens. Issei and Aika made sure to save a portion of their money for food, though with how little they had at the moment it seemed like the movies would be out of the picture.
They enjoyed their time as they played all sorts of games that the arcade had to offer. They avoided any of the games that were obviously rigged like the crane machine or the coin drop machine.
Motohama and Aika enjoyed the games that involved precision like the zombie themed two-player shooter and air hockey. Matsuda enjoyed mostly the single player arcade games like the racing and the sports themed ones. Issei accompanied Irina as they played some classic DDR and Guitar Hero.
After a couple of hours, they only had a few tokens left to which they decided to eat before they left. They sat at a booth with Issei, Motohama, and Matsuda on one side and Irina and Aika on the other. Currently they were eating some pizza that they had bought with their leftover money.
They chatted about various topics that ranged from what they were planning for the next few weeks to school and who they thought were gonna be in their class. Even with all the pizza gone they simply sat down and waited out the day, they weren't in a rush after all.
Issei: "Though I'm surprised, Irina, didn't expect you to actually make it. No offense by the way. Just thought that you would be at the church since it's Sunday after all."
He said, causing the others to look at her as if they also wondered what made her come. It wasn't to say that they didn't want her to come or that they would leave her out of things, but they all knew that she was a Christian and would never miss attending church.
Motohoma: "I'll say, I was surprised when I saw her too."
Matsuda: "Yeah, like no offense, we know how much you value your religion. It's also why I didn't bring any extra cash on me for the food."
Irina gave them a smile that told them that she didn't mind. Aika leaned forward onto the table as she rested her head on her hand.
Aika: "Yeah, I was surprised too when she was outside of my house waiting for me as if she didn't just mention yesterday that she couldn't come!"
They all laughed a bit while Irina blushed in embarrassment as they remembered how she apologized yesterday for not being able to go. Though Issei's laugh was a bit strained as it was kinda Issei's fault that he chose a day she wouldn't be able to go.
Irina: "I was surprised myself actually, Pops was the one who suddenly told me last minute that the church was getting renovated and that we wouldn't be able to attend."
They all looked at her surprised.
Motohama: "Really? That church on that hill is getting renovated? Kinda surprised since it's all the way out there."
He said as he didn't really believe it.
Matsuda: "No that many people here are Christians, so it's kinda surprising that the church would receive funding to be renovated."
Irina nodded her head.
Irina: "Yeah, I was also confused since its mostly my parents and a few acquaintances that come by."
Aika: "Maybe your dad had some extra cash on him that he didn't bother to use from Europe? He does seem like the type to save and spend to have that old church fixed."
Irina thought about it for a bit before shrugging her shoulders.
Irina: "Maybe, I'm not complaining either way since it did seem like the church could have used some fixing up to do."
Issei then decided to pitch in before the conversation could end.
Issei: "How are your parents by the way? I know your dad could be a seriously hard worker, and your mom is out on a trip to Europe."
Irina smiled and turned to him.
Irina: "Oh don't worry about Pops, he's working himself hard but I've made sure that he gets plenty of rest when he's home!"
She beamed and stuck her chest out proudly causing everyone to giggle.
Matsuda: "And your mom?"
Aika: "Yeah, how's your mom? Last you told me, she was doing some stuff for her friend."
Aika leaned up and looked at her.
Irina: "Yeah, Momma sent a letter home saying that she's probably going to come back after a month or two. Said that she's helping a friend of hers out with some business. Though what exactly I don't know."
Soon they noticed the sun setting as the natural light from the glass entrance was dissipating. They cleaned up their table and brought the spoils of their fun, tickets, to the counter and received their rewards. Issei gave all of his tickets to them when they all were too short on getting the prizes they wanted. They graciously thanked him and promised to repay him by paying for their next hangout with was the movies. Issei didn't complain since he didn't necessarily care about that stuff and just wanted to spend time with them.
Issei checked his phone, the time was 6:58 which meant his parents would be back in another hour or all walked together towards whoever's house was closest, which was Matsuda's.
Matsuda: "Goodnight guys! Call me when you all want to hang together!"
Aika: "Try not to wank it too much! Even little Willy gets tired of doing the same thing over and over again!"
She cheekily said as Matsuda glared at her. Aika was gonna keep going until she felt Irina's gaze on her that quickly shut up what she was going to say. Everyone grinned and chuckled before they all waved and said goodnight as they walked away towards Aika's house.
Once there, Aika wasted no time heading straight to the door as she tried to avoid Irina's scolding gaze.
Aika: "G-Goodnight guys, see y'all later. Call me whenever you plan on hanging out."
Irina's glare went away as she nodded and smiled. Motohama smirked at her, letting her know that he found amusement in her being scared of Irina. Issei waved a goodbye as he and Irina turned and walked away. Though once they did, Aika pinched her fingers close but left a tiny gap before putting it in front of her crotch and pretending to jerk off as she smirked at Motohama.
Motohama's smirk faded as he glared at her.
Motohama: "Ah you bit—!"
He stopped midway as he turned to see if Irina was near. Seeing that she and Issei were a distance away, he turned back but saw that the front door was closed and Aika was making a shooing motion with her hand by her bedroom window before she grinned and closed her blinds.
Motohama grit his teeth and vowed to get her back next time before stomping his way to the other two.
Issei saw his irritated look and smiled.
Issei: "Aika again?"
Motohama sighed tiredly before nodding.
Motohama: "Aika again."
Irina: "Don't worry, I'll make sure to put her in check next time."
Motohama chuckled before shaking his head and pushing his glasses up, making them magically shine.
Motohama: "No need, I have just the way to get back at her. Kekekeke!"
Issei shook his head as he could only imagine what he had planned.
Issei: "Just try not to take it to far alright? Last time you pranked her, you ended up not being able to walk for a whole 3 days."
Motohama waved it off as they walked to his house just down the street. They said their farewells once they reached it and now it was only Irina and Issei. Instead of heading straight for her house, however, they decided to take a detour.
They walked until they arrived at the park that was near their neighborhood. Nothing much changed about it, it was the exact same as it was when they were kids. They both walked up to the swings and sat down. Issei simply swing back and forth in small paces as Irina happily went back and forth.
Issei: "Just like how we remembered huh?"
Irina turned and smiled at him.
Irina: "Yup! Nothings changed since then."
Issei: "Well not exactly, still can't believe you were actually a girl this whole time."
He said as he looked down in shame. He kinda hated himself for not paying close attention to his first and only childhood friend. When he was little, he thought that they knew everything about each other, and yet she came back a year ago and he barely recognized her. But even if he was actually a she, it didn't change their friendship at all, which he was glad for. Irina was still the same as she was all those years ago, even if she was more preachy or girly.
Irina saw his look making her slow down and put a hand on his shoulder.
Irina: "Hey, enough of that already! I already said that I forgive you for not recognizing me. Besides it's my fault for confusing you, we were kids so we didn't know."
Issei looked at her before nodding.
Irina: "And besides! That doesn't change anything! Sure you thought that I was a boy, but is that going to change things between us?"
Issei: "Of course not."
He immediately replied. Irina was still Irina. He smiled at her as she smiled at him.
Irina: "Then that's all that matters! Let's go, I think Pops is gonna be worried if I stay out any longer."
Issei nodded his head and they both got up and went in the direction of her house. It wasn't that far so they made it there quite quickly. They both hugged each other as they bid farewell.
As he was heading home, Issei thought about the day and smiled to himself. No matter what they did together, he would always smile whenever they hung out. He cherished moments like these where the only thing in the world that he had to worry about were whether they had enough time to hang out or if they had enough money to eat.
Soon Issei reach his house. He moved the concrete cylinder with a single hand and hid it behind a bush for tomorrow's morning run. He needed to be stronger. Stronger than he was now, and stronger than he will be tomorrow. There were people he needed to protect, and he would do anything to keep them safe. He made a mental note to ask for a tougher training regime tonight.
He walked to the front door and unlocked the door. The house was warmer than outside, which was a relief since he didn't know how much he could handle the cold. He took off his coat and shoes before turning on the light to the dining table and kitchen.
He thought for a moment on what to make before deciding to make the perfect meal for cold weather: Miso Soup. He brought out the ingredients and got to work.
—
It was only after 2 hours did his parent come home. It seemed that they decided to meet up since they both arrived at the same time. They walked in and soon, Miki and Gorou, smelled the scent of Miso Soup coming from the kitchen. They eagerly put their stuff away and made their way to sit.
On the table was their dinner as Issei walked in with his own set of food and an apron around him.
Miki: "My adorable little boy is looking so handsome in that apron! You would make a great house husband, whoever gets you will be one lucky girl!"
Issei blushed a bit in embarrassment, that only brightened when his dad started laughing.
Issei: "Mom! Please, it's embarrassing when you say stuff like that."
Gorou simply chuckled before sitting down while Miki continued gushing over her son's look. No matter how many times he cooked them dinner, she would always react the same. A mother will always be a mother it seems.
Gorou: "Well, she isn't kidding. Whoever you end up with is sure to be the luckiest gal alive!"
Dinner had gone by in a flash as Issei explained his day which got both of his parents to smile and enjoy the moment. They finished and Issei helped his mother clean the dishes while his father had decided to wash their laundry so they could dry it tomorrow morning. It was right when they finished that Issei decided to let his mother know something.
Issei: "Mom."
She turned to look at him confused before she was suddenly hugged by him.
Issei: "I'm okay, alright? I don't know why you and dad are worried but I love you too, alright?"
Miki stiffened a bit before hugging him back. They stayed like that before they separated and Issei said goodnight to the both of them.
Issei washed up and then dressed for bed. As he laid on his comfy bed, he stayed awake as he looked at the ceiling, as if waiting for something. It was Sunday after all, it was time for his weekly report. He turned his head and looked at his clock, 9:59. After a couple of seconds, the digital clock changed to 10:00.
Soon, at the back of his left hand, a green circle glowed as it appeared to be under his skin.
Issei: "Right on time as always, Ddraig."
He chuckled as he spoke to his hand.
Ddraig: "Of course, partner. What else would you expect from one of the Heavenly Dragons?"
Issei: "Yeah, yeah, butter yourself more would ya? Keep going and I'm sure that you'll make a tasty snack."
Ddraig chuckled as the green orb seemed to flash whenever he spoke.
Ddraig: "I would like to see you keep that attitude when you see me face to face!"
Issei's laugh strained a bit. He wasn't sure he was ready for THAT just yet.
Issei: "Speaking of being ready, I think I'm ready for the next part of my training."
Issei expected for Ddraig to boast of praise him for conditioning his body to this point, but instead he received silence.
Issei: "Ddraig?"
Ddraig: "...are you sure you are ready?"
Ddraig's voice held a hint of uncertainty in it that confused Issei.
Issei: "I'm pretty sure I am, though I do need to work on my running time, the rest I think needs to be upped a notch."
Ddraig: "I see..."
It was for a few seconds that Issei waited before Ddraig once again spoke with uncertainty in his voice.
Ddraig: "Power—"
Issei: "Attracts power, yes I know. You've mentioned it thousands of times."
Ddraig: "Then you must remember the implications of what you are doing."
Issei looked away from his hand not wanting to agree or anything.
Issei: "It's to protect everyone. If I just sit on my ass then what's the point of even having this power? I need to be stronger."
Ddraig: "And stronger you will become. But you are not ready yet."
Issei was starting to get irritated.
Issei: "That's why exactly why I want to move on to my next training regime."
He growled out, but Ddraig didn't seem to mind as he responded back.
Ddraig: "It is precisely because you want to move on that you are not ready. As much as you may hate this, you are only human. You do not posses the body of a dragon nor a supernatural entity."
Issei grit his teeth as he bit back a response that would surely only make it worse.
Ddraig: "Power attracts power, whether that power you attract is good or not is uncertain. But I can tell you this, it will change everything whether you are ready for it or not."
Silence occupied the room as they both didn't speak. Issei mentally debated on whether he should push on or to just listen to his partner's advice. Ddraig only hoped that his host would get his message and think through his next course of actions.
Issei: "I need to be stronger."
That statement alone told Ddraig that his host was being stubborn again. And just like last time, Ddraig merely relented and let his host do what he wanted to do.
Ddraig: "...fine...but promise me this...No matter what happens, do not blame yourself..."
Issei sighed in relief and nodded his head.
Issei: "Thank you, Ddraig! And don't worry, I doubt it'll ever come to that since when I get strong I'll just blow away whoever wants to mess with me away!"
Ddraig chuckled as he smiled, not that Issei could see it.
Ddraig: "Heh! Then rest now, partner, for starting tomorrow I'll make sure to make you a host worthy of the title Red Dragon Emperor!"
Issei: "I'll do my best to live up to your expectations!"
Soon the green circle on the back of his faded out. Issei stared at the ceiling before making an oath to himself that no matter what he would do all he could to protect those dear to him and more.
It was only after a few minutes when Issei fell asleep. Just as he did, the back of his hand glowed green again as Ddraig spoke to his sleeping host.
Ddraig: "...I apologize in advance, partner. The life of a dragon is a lonesome path..."
Ddraig: "...but no matter the outcome, I shall be by your side..."
Ddraig: "...You may be no dragon and it may have only been just a year..."
Ddraig: "...but I still consider you my kin, Hyoudou Issei."
In the silence that followed Ddraig made an oath, just like he did with his previous hosts, to be there till the end.
—
(A/n)
So, how was it? I tried to do it a little differently from my other chapters.
Even though I said it was a "Filler" chapter, think of this as an introduction to Canon.
How did you like the way I did the "Perverted Trio" and Aika and Irina? I always thought the title of Perverted Trio was stupid, since nobody that I know of in real life would ever name a group of people like that. It seemed kinda unrealistic.
Speaking of realism, how did I do with how they speak and interact with one another? I tried to make it as realistic as possible. Plus, since I'm dealing with things in the real world myself, I can put in some experience with how the scenes played out.
I hoped you all enjoyed it and hope that you look forward to more chapters like this.
