italics - Thoughts
Bold underlined - Spells/Sword Skills
[Bold] - Ddraig
[Ddraig] - Ddraig mental speech
{Bold} - Albion speech
[Issei] - Issei mental speech with Ddraig
[Issei] - Issei speaking with Ddraig
Underlined - Timeskips/Flashbacks
"Bold" - Rating Game Announcement
Disclaimer: I do not own Highchool Dxd, Sword Art Online, or any of its characters. All rights belong to their creators.
Chapter 23: Trouble in paradise?
After seeing his master crying and leaving in tears, Issei just laid there for a few minutes, unable to do anything. He was thinking about what had just happened.
Wait, what did I do to make Buchou cry? Issei was very confused by what had just happened. What did I do wrong? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?
These words kept circling in his mind, all the way until he left the bathroom.
Oh yeah. I forgot to drink some of the milk...
After he got upstairs, the first thing he checked was his room. When he arrived, the first thing he saw was the small piece of paper plastered to the door's knob, which read 'No Issei allowed!'.
The next place he went to was the kitchen. Koneko was most likely there, since she liked to snack on the treats that Asuna baked. And she was the best person he could ask about Rias, since she was more observant about others due to her ability to sense ki. But when he ecplained what had happened and asked what he did wrong...
"...Issei is a idiot." After saying that, the small cat girl picked up her bowl of snacks and walked out, leaving Issei with more questions than answers.
Aare? Issei blinked in surprise at Koneko's actions. Was Koneko harsher then usual? Eh? Why?!
..
The same thing happened when Issei asked Akeno, Asia, Xenovia, Irina and Silica. They all looked at him with a deadpan(and somewhat angry) expression, before calling him an idiot. Asia and Irina were a bit more polite in calling him that, but Xenovia's bluntness more than made up for their kinder way of saying he was an idiot.
When he asked Kiba and Gasper about what he did wrong, the Knight sighed and shook his head, before saying that Issei did not understand Rias's feelings, while the hikikomori vampire also said that the boy was not thinking hard enough. Which, while helped him a little, did not give him that big of a clue as to what he did wrong.
Now, all I can ask is Kirito... Finally, after exhausting every avenue, Issei decided to ask Kirito for help. Although, judging by the responses I have been getting, I might not get the answer I want...
*Knock knock*
"Kirito-san, I..." Issei hoped that the boy would have some answers for him. "I have a question I want to ask you. Can I come in?"
"… …" Silence met with his question. Eh, does that mean that Kirito is out? I guess I would-
*klack*
"Issei-san, what is it that you wanted to ask?" A curtain of chestnut brown hair covered half of his sight..
"A-a-asuna-san!" The moment he saw that it was Asuna and not Kirito that answered the door, Issei instantly had cold sweat dripping down his face. If Asuna finds out I did perverted things with Rias, she is going to kill me!
When Asuna opened the door, she had not expected Issei to be standing outside.
And yes, although she had heard Issei speak, all she had heard was a muffled noise, since the experimental noise muffler Kazuto had made was activated.
"Issei-san, please, come in." Asuna opened the door wider. "I…have some things to talk to you about. If I can, I would also help to answer whatever questions you have."
"O…Okay." Issei sounded hesitant, but he still went in anyway.
Once Issei stepped inside her room, Asuna shut the door behind him, before making her way to a small refrigerator. Opening it, she took out some drinks, and a plate of her baked treats, before she set them down. "Here. Drink these first to calm yourself. Then, please hear me out first before you tell me what it was that you wanted to ask Kirito-kun."
"O-okay." Picking up a cup, Issei drank some of the tea she had made, before he set it down. "Asuna-san, so, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
"It's about your perverted actions." Seeing the boy stiffen, Asuna raised a hand. "Now, I am not going to punish you for doing any perverted acts with people who are fine with it, like Rias-san and Asia(as sweet as she is). But, if I do catch you undressing girls who are not fine with you doing so, I WILL step in. Okay?"
"Y…yes." Issei relaxed.
"Good." Picking up her own cup, Asuna took a sip from the cold tea, before she spoke to Issei. "So. What was it that you wanted to ask Kirito-kun? He is out right now, so you can ask me instead."
"A-ah…" Issei gulped, looking away from Asuna. This made her instantly suspicious. "Issei-san?" She asked warningly.
Cold sweat started to from on the boy's forehead. "Promise…you won't be mad?"
"…I'll try." Asuna folded her arms. "I can't make any promises for what I don't know."
"…Better than nothing I suppose." Issei whispered under his breath, before he spoke, louder. "Asuna-san…can you hear me out?"
..
"Hmm, I see." Asuna nodded her head, eyes closed, once Issei was done explaining. "Well, first off, you are a blockhead, Issei-san."
The boy winced slightly when he heard the blunt admission from the chestnut-haired girl. "So I've heard."
"Well, that is something that can't be helped, I suppose." Sighing, Asuna got closer, patting Issei's hand. "I know what you did wrong, however, I am not going to tell you outright. You need to figure it out on your own. Otherwise, you can't call yourself a man. Or even a King, for that matter, since a King would have to be able to read the situation."
"…so, this is a test for me?" Issei looked a little downcast. "But I am bad at figuring things out though…"
"That's what you think, Issei." Asuna smirked lightly. "But in reality, you are pretty good at reading situations. If not, you would not have attracted...never mind. Anyway, all I can tell you is think over what you did with Rias-san, and what you said. Once you figure out the main reason why…well, you should be able to figure it out."
"That does not help me at all!" Issei complained, though it was a light-hearted one, with no heat behind it. Asuna could tell that he was actually thankful he got some sort of help and advice.
"Just, think about it, okay?" Asuna said, before she started to push Issei out of her room. "Now, could you go? Kirito and I were in the middle of having a chat with our friends from Argo's Peerage before he went off to buy some stuff, so please leave."
"Eh?" That was all Issei said before he was unceremoniously pushed out of Asuna's room.
Asuna sighed once, before she locked the door, her mind thinking about what Issei had just told her.
She could understand why everyone acted the way they did. She really could. But it looked like they were overestimating his capabilities, as well as underestimating his trauma.
She heard about it from Rias. That Issei had died at the end of a date with his first girlfriend. His first girlfriend. Asuna would not have been surprised if Issei had became fearful of women from that point on. But, it seemed like his denseness, combined with his obliviousness and tendency to just charge ahead on his feelings alone, helped to put off, and subdue, his trauma.
His fear of women.
Honestly, Asuna was a little shocked when she noticed the hint of fear in Issei's eyes when they first met. She had thought it was their first impression that made him have these sort of feelings, but if that were the case, why not wariness and anger? Why did he have pure, undiluted fear passing through his system for the first time(well, technically, it was the third time they met, but the first time they spoke face to face)
She stumbled across that answer when she heard of the story of how Issei died. And she hoped the others, as well as Issei, figured it out soon. Otherwise, things were going to head in a bad direction. Though, I am a little mad that his dream is to be a harem king. At least he is not going to be one that is cruel and such, like the other devils here.
Her thoughts went to Joan.
She was a good example of a horrible master that had a harem. Because that bastard had such sick tendencies, he created a harem, solely to abuse them for his own entertainment.
In that sense, Issei was already much better then most devils that had harems, since he already had one, but he just did not realise it yet. Well, Kirito-kun is also going to get one, since he agreed with the plan. Now, how should I plan this…
Issei was currently in his room. The smaller one, since he was not allowed in the bigger one at the moment. And he was currently thinking about what Asuna had said.
'All I can tell you is think over what you did with Rias-san, and what you said. Once you figure out the main reason why...well, you should be able to figure it out.'...huh. Issei would admit, he felt stumped when he looked at the entire situation as a whole. There were just too many factors for him to think about!
…Wait. If it is too complicated as a whole, maybe I can break it down into parts? Issei thought to himself. Okay, so first would be what I did leading up to Buchou being upset with me. Issei started to compartemantilse. Then, would be what the reason or why Buchou was mad with me. The clues I have from Asuna-san and the rest is that I was being stupid, and if I realise the reason, I would be able to figure it out…
…okay, so Buchou came in, right? Then she started to want to make love with me, right? I heard thatomen seek for romantic atmospheres, so I think the reason is somewhere there. Issei thought back to the situation. Rias had been naked, but Issei had not shown any actions towards Rias, even when she started to kiss him. And tongue at that! My action….was bad I guess. No, that is an understatement.
But, it seemed like Buchou was only doing that because she was frustrated with me. Issei thought back to the situation. Now that he thought about it, Rias had a hint of frustration and sadness in her eyes, before she went full 'ero mode' on him. So, what kind of mistake did I make!?
As he thought about that, his mind drifted to a memory. Some words he had with Rias Gremory's mother.
'In private life, what kind of existence is Rias to you'…huh… Rias's mother's words went around in circles in Issei's head. He wanted to say that he could not make heads or tails of what she told him, but in his heart, he already knew the answer. "Something that isn't a master-servant relationship…"
As Issei muttered these words out loud, he could not help but think, 'What should I do if my guess is wrong….?'
A painful memory appeared at the back of his mind in response to that question.
–The fallen-angel Raynare.–
No no! Issei shook his head, trying to clear that memory from his mind. But no matter what he tried do, the image of his first girlfriend remained.
And in the middle of all that, he missed the small figure of a fairy flying into his room.
"Is that it?" He wondered aloud. "Is it because of her that I can't ever take everything to the last step? Because Raynare killed me that I will forever be afraid of going beyond with the girls?"
"…" No one answered him. Well, of course no one would. After all, Ddraig is not one for these type of things, and there is no one-
"Well, you are technically right, Issei-san."
"–! Who?!" Surprised by the unexpected voice, Issei nearly fell out of his chair. At the last moment, he managed to use his feet to hook themselves under his table, preventing him from falling flat onto the floor…but then he table itself was upended, throwing both it, the books that were on it, and him to the floor, the table pinning his legs.
"Ow…" Rubbing his head and pushing off the things on him, his eyes quickly zeroed in on the speaker who had surprised him. "…Yui-chan? What are you doing here?"
"Mama told me to follow you, since she was a little worried you would not be able to come to terms with what you might have learned." The small fairy-like girl chirped, before she glowed briefly, turning into her ten-year-old form. "And I just so happened to listen in on you saying that you had trauma."
"Ah…" Issei blinked in surprise at seeing the transformation of the little girl(not that it had not already seen it), before he waved his hand, trying to get Yui to leave. "No, it's fine Yui-chan. I will be fine on my own. So, go back to Asuna-san, okay?"
"No, you are not." The small girl huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she did so. "I am the daughter of Kirito and Asuna, but before that, I have always been a mental health counsellor. And right now, I do not have to be one to know that you are in need of some counselling."
"…eh?"
"Honestly, did you really think that trying to hide your problems from a kid would be good?" Sighing, Yui shook her head. "That is bad in itself. A kid can sometimes be more perceptive than an adult."
"E-eh?"
"Although I can't really call myself a child, since I was originally an artificial intelligence program in SAO meant to help the players, but Kayaba sealed me off." Yui pouted. "Hmph! That man may be my creator, but then why create me when you have no intention of using me?"
"E…EHHHH?!" Issei's mind finally caught up to what was going on, his eyes wide open.
"Oops. I got carried away ranting." Yui put her hands to her lips, before she took a deep breath and faced Issei, sitting on his nearby bed. "Let me start over. My name is MHCP001, also known as Yui Kirigaya. I am here to help assist you with whatever mental concerns you have, so feel free to ask me anything."
..
It took a few minutes, but Issei was finally able to be calm enough to talk to Yui without going nuts over the fact that the girl before her was part of SAO, and a program at that too!
Once he finally calmed down, Issei picked up the fallen chair, before facing it towards Yui's position and sitting on it. What do I do? Do I…treat this as one of those online Q & A programs? You know what, never mind. "Erm, my name is Issei Hyoudou. I think… I have some trauma with women."
"Hello Hyoudou-kun." Yui's voice was soothing and calm, completely unlike her usual innocent and cheerful tone she used around them. "I have heard your problem. To answer your question, yes, you do have a slight fear of women due to some trauma that has been rooted in your brain. Do you have any idea as to what the root of this trauma is?"
"…yes." Issei closed his eyes. Already, he could see the image of his first girlfriend, Raynare, forming. Her disguised form, before it melted into her true one. "My first girlfriend, Raynare. She…killed me after our first date."
"I see. That would indeed be cause for trauma." Yui narrowed her eyes slightly as she nodded her head. "This is something that is not easily overcome. At least, that is if you are one of the regular cases."
"Regular cases?" Issei asked questioningly.
"Yes." Yui nodded her head. "Issei-san, your problem is already half resolved." Yui's voice shifted back to her usual tone. Innocent, and cheerful. "The source of your trauma is women. And that part has already been resolved due to your spending of time in close proximity to not one, but numerous women for the past half a year."
"Then… what is my problem?" Issei was confused. "If the source of trauma has been healed, why can't I call Buchou by her name?"
"I am afraid that is something you would have to discuss among yourselves." Yui stood up, before she turned back into her pixie form with a flash of light. "I am merely a councillor. I should not guide you through your problems all the way. The most I can do is to set you on the path you need to follow for self-healing. Plus," she added in a teasing tone. "Mama said that this was training to help you become a good King, no?"
"…Oh yeah."
"Besides, I said that your problem was half resolved already." Yui circled around Issei's head. "The source of your trauma is women. I did not say that that IS the trauma you are dealing with at the moment. Please, think about it a bit more, and find your own answer to that question." With those parting words, Yui left, humming a small tune as she did so.
The source of my trauma is women, but it is not the trauma I am dealing with at the moment? Issei was confused. "Damn it as I thought, things with the heart is super complicated. A maiden's one even more so…" Then, his mind registered what she said earlier. Wait…everyone else?
"Ufufu, maybe it does seem like that from a man's perspective." Akeno appeared just as he was thinking that, clad in her usual casual wear and her usual smiling face on. Following behind her was also Koneko, her two tails out and swaying about.
"A…Akeno-san! –And Koneko-chan! You were listening to that…..?"
"…All of it. We overheard by accident." Koneko nodded, her eras pressed against her head. Ah...looks like she is a little sorry that she overheard my counselling with Yui-chan, huh...
"Iss, you have not been paying attention to Rias's feelings. You got that, right?"
"Mmm." Issei clenched his hand tightly. He knew what he had been doing wrong. Partially at least. "But why is Buchou acting like this?"
"Idiot." Koneko immediately retorted, although there was no heat in her words. "Think about what she has been doing."
What she has been doing? Issei frowned. What has Buchou been-
Issei thought back to what Rias had been doing.
-Ah…
Issei quickly realised what everyone had been trying to hint to him.
..
Issei had always been in doubt. About how Rias treated her servants.
There were three boys in the Gremory Peerage: Himself, Kiba and Gasper. Yet the way she treated the three of them were vastly different.
Rias came from a family where they showered their servants with love, treating them similar to a family. So, it should be that she treats everyone the same, or at the very least, similar treatments and rewards.
Yet, out of the three of them, only he had been kissed by their master. Not only that, it was mouth-to-mouth, and sometimes there was tongue involved. None of the other boys had been kissed in such a manner. Sure, she adored them preciously, but none of them had been treated in the same way Issei had.
His mind flashed back to the first incident he had after becoming a devil.
Originally, Rias had been engaged to Raiser Phenex. But, she had a strong fixation towards the thing called love. So much so that she wanted to break off the engagement with Raiser because there was no love between them, even though it would have benefitted her house for generations to come. She had such a pure and innocent obsession to it, she behaved like girls her age.
And then, when the engagement was broken off, she became free. She could have done anything she wanted. And yet, to Issei's surprise, she decided to choose to live with Issei, and later, renovate his home.
'Why not her own home?' That question had been on Issei's mind for a while now, but he simply ignored it. But now that he thought about it… …Rias could have chosen to fortify her own living space, or maybe to indulge in some of the manga she loved to read. And yet, she decided to live with Issei and upgrade his own home too!
And then, that led to other questions popping up.
Almost immediately after the broken engagement, Rias decided to live with Issei. Not only that, but she started to have more physical contact with him. Starting back to when she first moved in with Asia. And lately, she had been more forward.
Would a person who has such pure thoughts regarding the relations between man and woman do such a seductive motion on their servant just because they were their adorable servant?
No, they won't…
Even from an objective view point, even Issei could tell that Rias has a strong sense towards her chastity. And yet, she has attempted to sleep with him, to do the deed with him, on multiple occasions this past few months.
And Issei knew it was only with him, since he had asked both Kiba and Gasper about it.
When he gathered all these facts together, only one conclusion remained.
..
Buchou…likes me…
This was something that was truly like a fantasy for him, even if it were true. After all, it is a development that every man wants! To be with the person they love!
Plus, in the past six months, he had seen many sides to his master.
Her magnificent side, her noble side, her glamorous side, her gentle side, her angry side, her cute side, her spoiled side, and the part where she is like an Onee-sama yet she acts as the same age as Issei.
All of this had just made him fall for her even more. Yet, when he thought about taking the plunge, to ask her out, he would always find his hands shaking, sweat forming on his clammy hands.
'Why was that?' He had wondered. Day after day, he had wanted to confess to her. But he did not act. He feared that if she had rejected him, they would have lost the relation they had. And, much to his slight confusion, she would appear.
Raynare.
And after that, his body would cool, and he would stop thinking about confessing to his master. He would feel the wall of 'master' and 'servant'. Of how hard it was to overcome it. And when one added in the fact he came form a normal, run-of-the-mill family, while Rias came from a noble one...well, that made the wall even bigger and taller in his eyes.
But now that he knew why he was acting like this, and pieced all the facts together.
"…I really haven't thought about Buchou's feelings that much huh." Issei sat down heavily on his bed, having stood up in surprise when he first saw Akeno and Koneko step into his small room.
Slowly, Akeno sat next to him, and spoke. "Yes, that is true. You also haven't taken concerns about me, Asia-chan, Xenovia-chan, and Koneko-chan who is right here as well."
Koneko also sat near Issei in silence, her tail swishing about. "….."
Seriously? I really didn't take any concerns for the girls…? Issei wondered. I'm always lecherous and always imagining about women's naked bodies, and I always dreamed about perverted things. But the truth is, I really didn't think about the girls…? Ah, actually that may be true. I really didn't try to understand the heart of a maiden. If I think like that, not just Buchou, but I also haven't thought about the other girls in the group…
Though, I am getting better after Kirito and Leafa hit me into shape.
"Though, we possibly didn't try to understand Ise-san as well." Asia's voice cut through his thoughts.
-Asia's voice.
When Issei looked up, Asia was standing near him, her face filled with sorrow. Apparently, she had managed to get into the room without him noticing.
"….About me?"
"That's right. We had been thinking about it before, but after hearing that...our worries became real."
"…Our?"
"Yes." Akeno hugged Issei tightly, a pained expression on her face. "…..When Ise-kun looked at us, sometimes you would do so with frightened eyes. I didn't understand why at the beginning, but I finally understood why. Especially after Yui-chan spoke about it."
-! …Frightened eyes… I see, so I have been making such eyes without me noticing it…..
"…Probably, only those who know about that incident can notice it." This time, it was Koneko who muttered this in a sad tone, her tail curling up around her body.
That incident... Issei quietly exhaled. Yes, the ones who know in detail about that incident are the group members that were already within this group when I joined.
"Inside Ise-san's heart…deep inside your heart…, does Raynare-sama still haunt you?" Asia asked in a timid tone.
"-!"
Asia's words became a trigger. Appearing in his mind, a beautiful girl with black wings hovered before him, a cruel smile on her face.
..
'Will you die for me?'
..
His first girlfriend, Yuuma. Or rather, the fallen-angel Raynare.
In that instant, every fear he ever had surfaced. They haunted him in Raynare's voice and snide tone.
'I don't want a filthy low-class Devil like you talking to me.'
…..At times, I wonder if it's okay for me to talk to everyone here who is a bishoujo.
'Ahahaha! Yeah, you are right! It was a very royal date! Thanks to it, I was very bored!'
….When I go shopping with Buchou and the others, I start to wonder if they are actually bored by being with me.
'I don't want a rotten brat like you calling my name!'
….I also want to call Buchou by her name…
'Ise-kun! Please save me! This Devil is trying to kill me! I love you! I love you so much! That's why, let's defeat this Devil together!'
….My first girlfriend begged for her life to me…..and the woman I love, killed that woman.
Issei knew that it was proper for Raynare to have been killed. Not only had she done horrible things to Asia and killed her once, she also sowed no remorse for actions. She had also very nearly violated the ceasefire rule that was in place by entering Rias's territory without first informing her.
And yet...tears dripped down his face when he thought about her.
"…She was my first girlfriend…" Issei muttered.
..
When I was confessed to by her, I was really happy.
..
"….When I dated her, I really did my best." Issei weakly chuckled. "I did so much planning for my first date. I even thought deeply about my future with her. I even imagined about Christmas and Valentines Day like an idiot, and I was fantasizing all by myself."
..
I knew I was being a fool, yet, I wanted this first date to be the best! So that we could enjoy it together! To make it something to be remembered!
..
"But, she was actually my enemy…..! And she killed me…..!" Issei shuddered. "She looked at me with cold-eyes after I became a devil…..! And I found out she was acting the whole time….., and even I was fine with that, she was really evil! She killed Asia, and I fought her! I snapped! I hit a girl for the first time, and that happens to be my first girlfriend…..! After that, she begged for her life to me, but she was killed by Buchou….."
..
Raynare perishing. The black feathers which belonged to his first girlfriend spreading within the Church.
..
"….Asia, Akeno-san, Koneko-chan….I'm scared. I'm actually scared of getting along with girls….. Because it makes me think that the same thing will happen again…..!" Issei finally said his deep-rooted fear out loud. The fear he had been dealing with from his trauma. "The girls in our group are being kind to me, but if I tried to take another step and try to get along with everyone, it makes me think everyone will reject me and laugh at me…..! I know that everyone isn't bad inside my head! All of you are good people! But, I still can't! The more I tried to understand everyone, the more it makes me stop!"
Issei burrowed his face into his hands. He did not want anyone to see his miserable looks at that moment. He did not want to let anyone see the face of someone who was still dragging the scars of his past on his back. "…I don't want to taste…..the same thing again….."
I really am a pathetic guy…. In front of the girls I get along with, despite claiming that I will become a Harem-King, I told them the truth that 'I don't have the courage to get along with girls'…..
In this sort of situation, it would not have been weird if the girls around him started to hate him, or even lose interest in him. In fact, Issei was half-expecting some of them to walk out of his room in disgust at his pitiful behaviour. No one wants to be with a guy who is a coward like me…
Yet…
Issei felt a warm hand touching his own, gently pulling it away from his face. When he looked up, he saw that the hand belonged to Asia. "I like Ise-san very much."
"!"
Issei got shocked at Asia's words. Asia continued to speak, her smile reaching into the depths of his heart. "I want to stay with you forever. There is no way I will talk ill about you. I respect you. I admire you. You are the man I can depend on the most. I think deeply from my heart that I want to stay with you even in the future."
For the first time, Asia did not speak frankly towards Issei.
"There is no way Rias-oneesama will hate Ise-san. I know that Ise-san likes Rias-oneesama. Ise-san is someone who can fight much harder than anyone for Rias-oneesama, and not only me, but everyone knows that. Of course, Onee-sama should understand this too."
Ah…so Asia had been paying close attention to me… I thought I was protecting her but in the end, she was the one who was doing the protecting…
"That's why, please have courage. It will definitely be okay if it's Ise- san. If it's Ise-san who has been able to work hard until now, then you will be able to break through the wall inside your heart."
Hearing the blond girl before her say that, Issei could not stop the small tears that fell down his face. Shit! This is just sweat from my heart! I just started sweating because I received comforting words from her!
Akeno continued to hug Issei. "I also like Ise-kun very much as well."
Koneko slowly grabbed onto Issei's free hand. "…Me too. I like you very much. I think it is okay for you to forget about that fallen-angel."
"Koneko-chan is right." Akeno released Issei from her embrace, before she placed her hands on his cheeks. "If it is a fallen-angel you like, then I will be able to make Ise-kun happy. That's why please have more confidence. If you don't take another step with Rias, then I can't….."
Akeno hesitated.
"I also…." Similarly, whatever Asia was about to say was stopped halfway. As if she realised something, she shook her head. "Ise-san, everyone wants to get along with Ise-san even more. Onee-sama, Akeno-san, Koneko-chan, Xenovia-san, Irina-san, Rossweisse-san, Kiba-san, Gasper-kun, and I all love Ise-san. Can you not believe what I, Akeno-san, and Koneko-chan are saying…?"
Asia...why didn't I realise it? Issei shook his head. Sometimes, I am really dense, aren't I? Everyone likes me. The girls even more so.
"Asia. Koneko-chan. Akeno-san." Issei looked at each of them individually. "I like everyone in the same way as I do Buc-, no Rias. But, I can't say it until I have confesse to Rias first. So...instead, I will say this. I will promise everyone once again. –We will always be together. Let's stay together even ten-thousand years later as well!"
"""!""" Like a gun that had been fired, everyone who had not already been hugging Issei hugged him, even tighter than usual. He could also feel his shirt becoming damp, which meant that they were also crying. Well, I guess that is the right response, since I was being dense and all...wait...
"I know I said this, but I really have not been treating all of well, haven't I?" Issei wanted to punch himself for his obliviousness towards all the girls. Specifically, Asia, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Xenovia, Irina, and probably Ravel as well. All of them have some sort of love directed towards me, yet I just ignored their feelings...what sort of harem king would I be if I continued to ignore their feelings for me?
"Ah! Xenovia, come here!"
The warm atmosphere soon disappeared with the appearance of a certain angel.
"What is it, Irina? Did you find Ise?" Ah! Xenovia too!
When he looked at rhe doorway, he could see Irina's floating form, with Xenovia showing u a scant few seconds later. When she saw the situation he was in, she started to think for a moment, before she pounded one of her hands on her palm as if she understood the situation.
"Oh, so this is a fight over Ise? This is surprising, these things happen suddenly so I can't let my guard down. On top of that, today is the day where we push him down naked right? Leave it to me!" As Xenovia spoke, she approached Issei, her clothes being flung off her body at high speeds. "Irina, you also come. If you don't, your childhood friend will be taken away. More like, I will take him away!"
"Awaawawaawawawa, I should join as well right!?" Irina's face was beet red. "I'm Michael-sama's Ace and I'm going a stage one rank higher by giving birth to the child of the Tenryuu(*1*) Rather, I'm also joining for the fight over Ise-kun!"
Irina, having been persuaded by Xenovia, started to have her wings change between white and black rapidly.
I-isn't this bad?! Issei thought in a panic. Yet, when he spoke, it was with a small smile on his face.
"Y-You guys! Like I say every time, fix that part where you move without any hesitatioooooooon!"
Like I thought, there are many parts of girls that I don't understand. But one thing is for sure. I was saved by the words and feelings of the girls around me, and the therapy with Yui-chan. Issei could not help but grin in amusement when he saw the girls arguing in a corner. Raynare had been living in my heart, preventing me from getting any closure. But after today...she would be mostly gone. Even if she doesn't disappear completely, compared to before and until now, I think it became much lighter now.
Timeskip
It took a while, but Issei finally managed to get away from the group of girls that had formed around him in his room. And he had quite a lot to think about.
So I technically have a harem...it's just that I did not realise it sooner. Issei still could not get over the fact that he had achieved a part of his dream already.
[Partner, you were too dense.] Ddraig supplied in his mind. [Part of the reason stemmed from your encounter with that fallen angel, but the other part...I have never seen a host like you, who managed to be blind to his dream forming right before his very eyes.]
Shut it… Issei blushed in embarrassment.
[So, are you going to confess to your master, boy?] Ddraig asked, all traces of amusement gone from his voice.
Yeah. I am Ddraig. Issei nodded to himself. I need to explain to Bu-, no its Rias isn't it? Anyway, I need to explain to her why I did what I did to her, as well as apologise to her as well. Confessing to her seems like I am just rushing things, but it actually is me stepping forward and accepting my resp0onsibility for what I have been doing to her...to them, for so long. I ain't going to be those type of bastards who sit on the fence because they are too weak-willed.
[Even though you were one of those people until recently?] Ddraig asked, amused.
…no comment. Issei decided to take a page out of a series he had read before.
After ten minutes of looking through the large house, he found Rias just as she was entering the office they had for their Peerages. "Buchou!"
"…Issei." Rias did not turn to face him. "What do you want?"
"…I wanted to speak to you." Issei gulped. He had never heard Rias sound so distant before. But he was not going to let that stop him from confessing! no way! "Can we…do it inside?"
"…okay." Rias opened the door. "Close it behind you."
Yes! Step one complete! Issei had expected Rias to say no, but with this, part one of his plan was complete.
"So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Rias asked, heading towards her desk.
Issei took in a deep breath. Here goes…
"Rias, I…am sorry for what I did. And I love you."
Flashback, Rias side after she left the shower in tears
Baka... Rias thought to herself tearfully as she stormed out of the house. She had wanted Issei to realise her feelings for him...and yet! Issei, you baka! Aho! How come you can't pick up al these signals I am sending out? Didn't you want to be a harem king?
Usually, after something bad happens to her, she would take a shower to cool off, or perhaps read one of the numerous light novels, manga, or web novels(thank you Onii-sama for the laptop you gave me!) But since she had been rejected by the one she loved, not once, but numerous times(even if most of them had been teasing the poor boy), she did not want to see anything that could be associated with him at the moment. Like all the merchandise in Issei's room that they were sharing.
She did not have a end goal in mind. She jus wanted to get away from the house for a while, maybe walk around the town to cool off, before she went back home.
As she walked around town and started to cool off, she quickly realised a few things. One, Issei was most likely not rejecting her feelings for him on purpose. After all, despite all the series which she had read about servants marrying their master in the end, that was merely fiction. Real life was completely different. There was no real evidence that someone who had been thrust into the world of the supernatural would wish to marry their master, to bed them, after like, what? Half a year of being together as master and servant? That was more likely if it was a year.
The second, was that she had strayed further from the house then she had anticipated. Oh dear... Rias looked around her. That shophouse...looks like I am near the school.
…might as well go inside the clubhouse. Rias made up her mind after a moment of thinking. I needed to sort through the contracts that everyone had done when Issei and I were in the underwor-
"Oh? Rias-san?"
Rias turned around in surprise at the appearance of a new person. Or rather, two. "Ara," Rias put on a smile. "Kirito-san, what are you doing here?"
"I took a break from ALO for a while." Kirito raised his hand, allowing Rias to see the bag of things he had on him. "Thought that I would go and buy some ice cream for Asuna while I am at it."
"I see…"
"What about you?" Rias stiffened up slightly at the question. "What are you doing here?"
"I…" What should I do? Should I tell Kirito the truth? Or should I lie? For that matter, even if I tell him the truth, what would he do? From what Asuna told me, he was quite dense to matters regarding love…
Rias chose to merely smile, and say. "I was out for a walk. I was also hoping to pick up a recently released light novel from the bookstore."
"Out in broad daylight, without your customary disguise?" Kirito instantly shot down her paper-thin excuse. "No. That is not the main reason why you are out here. Perhaps...it has to do with Issei? Trouble in paradise?"
E-eh? How did her know?
"The look on your face confirms it then." Kirito sighed. "Come on. We can talk more back at the house."
..
..
"Alright." After putting the cold treats in the fridge, Kazuto placed a cup of cold water before Rias. "I know I am not the best at romance related stuff, but maybe talking about it to someone would help."
"That is an understatement." Rias gave a small smile. "Asuna-san told me all about how your were so dense to other's feelings."
"Bfft!" Kirito did a spit-take. "W-when did she-? No, that is not the point here?!"
"I know." Rias giggled. "I was just…trying to steel myself."
"…so, what happened?" Kirito prompted.
So, Rias told him. About her feelings for Issei. How they came about, how they grew, how they eventually exploded into her wishing to do the deed with him, multiple times, starting from two months back after the fight against Fenrir, when she realised that Issei was prone to danger because of his status as a Heavenly dragon. She spoke about it until up till when she ambushed Issei.
"…and when I was literally on him, naked as the day I was born, he still called me Buchou…" Rias exhaled, tears appearing from the corners of her eyes. "Why would he call me that? Can't he understand that I WANT him to call me by my name? Why does he seem content with just having a servant position with me? Does he not…love me?" She nearly sobbed at the end, her bottled up feelings from the first day she realised her love for Issei exploding.
"… …" At first, Kirito kept quiet. Then, when Rias finallt managed to calm herself down enough to listen to him, he spoke.
"…I can't say that I know Issei very well." Kirito began slowly. "When Asuna and I first became devils, we were untrusting of everyone, of everything. We were thrust into a new world with no warning, no heads up. Just because we were helping my cousin with moving her things to Kuoh.
That part made Rias perk up in interest. She, along with the rest of the Peerage, had never delved too deep into how the duo had became devils. Even after they became friends, they had never really asked about the circumstances surrounding their reincarnation as devils.
"But, after we got over that phase, and we started to get to know all of you better," Kirito continued. "I can safely say that I know Issei well enough that he loves you. Not as a master, but as a woman."
"…really?" Rias asked. "You're not lying?"
"I'm not." Kirito stood up. "Issei likes you, but he is afraid at the same time."
"…of me?"
Kirito shook his head. "Of women."
….what? Rias did not expect that response. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, that Issei is fearful towards women. Not the untrusting type of fear, but rather, the fear of being scorned, of being rejected, I guess." Kirito sighed. "If I were to make it simpler...it would be PTSD in regards to relationships with women."
"… ..!" Rias's eyes widened. She knew what was wrong, but Kirito continued on.
"I was similar to Issei, I guess." Kirito looked at Rias straight in the eye. "You know that Asuna and I were in SAO, right?"
"The death game?" Rias did not see how this was applicable. Then, her mind thought over the words she had just said. Her eyes widened again. "You don't mean-"
"Yes." Kirito nodded his head. "In the death game, I was forced to kill five players. And since dying in there meant you died in real life, I took the lives of five people. Not numbers, but rather, living humans. And I was only 15 at the time."
… no…
"A kid killing humans at such a young age…." Kirito shook his head, ignoring the shocked and pitying look on Rias's face. "As you can imagine, my mind supressed these memories, and when I regained them a year after clearing the game, you could imagine that I became a different person from the PTSD."
"…do you still have it?" Rias asked the boy.
"Thanks to becoming a devil, the PTSD is practically gone now." Kirito looked at his open palm, as if only he could see the blood that stained his hands. "But, some fragments do remain. Like when I went berserk because Asuna got retired in the Rating Game. I knew that she was alive, but seeing her vanish into light..." Kirito shook his head. "Never mind."
"We were talking about Issei, right?" Kirito forcefully brought the conversation back on track. "Well, can you think of anything tha would make him fear having a relationship with women?"
It took Rias a single minute to think of the reason why.
….Raynare… Rias cursed. Even when you die, you still cause problems for Ise…
"Judging by the look on you face, I guess you do." Kirito sat back down.
"How do I break him out of his trauma?" Rias asked. She wanted Issei back to normal, without any restraints on his heart. It pained her to think he would suffer because of her and the girls that loved him.
"…give him some time." Rias blinked. She was not expecting that response. "He may be a pervert, but he is pretty observant and on the ball about these sort of things. Give him a nudge in the right direction, and he would figure out the answer to himself." Kirito explained, before he tilted his head to the side, as if he was listening to something. "…I see. Never mind then. Issei has figured it out."
"He has?!" Rias stood up immediately. "Then-"
"Nope. You are staying here." A quick throw of a potion he materialised, and Rias found herself stuck to the chair she was in, unable to move. What is this?
"In case you are wondering, what I just used is a short paralysis potion." Kirito took out the cold treat he had brought back. "Give Issei some time. He would need to process what he just found out about himself, and you need to think carefully about him."
"…Think carefully?"
"Yeah. Don't rush things with him." Kirito opened the door. "Asuna and I were not this close so suddenly, you know? In fact, we had a big fight that made us become cold to each other most of the time when we were in SAO."
"Really?" Rias asked, surprised. She did not think, nor could she imagine, the close couple fighting.
"Yeah." Kirito gave a wry smile. "It was stupid, really. I wanted to break our partnership because of the murder I did. She did not. After that, we were pretty cold for a while, until we reconciled somewhat after like, half a year of being cold to each other. We only realised our feelings after I nearly died. Or it could be just me." Kirito frowned for a moment. "I was pretty dense anyway…well, think about it, okay? Don't rush things. Give him time to sort out his thoughts before you go for it."
Present time
"Rias, I...am sorry for what I did. And I love you."
It took Rias a moment to process what Issei had just said. And when she did...
…wait, Issei called me by my name! Rias was overjoyed. It was the first time Issei had ever called her by name. But she forced herself to calm down. Calm down! Kirito said to give Issei some time to figure out his thoughts. If he is just here to apologise, then I will let him go. But...
Rias killed that train of thought, not allowing herself to hope. Otherwise, she might do something she might regret. "Do you know why you are apologising?" Rias kept her voice level, lest she lose control and try to kiss the boy behind her for finally calling her by name.
"Yeah." Issei's voice sounded… …apologetic. "I have been ignoring Rias's feelings for a while now. And I hurt you by doing so."
"Then, tell me why you acted the way you did." Rias did not want to ask this, but she knew that if she got this out of the way now, nothing bad would happen along the way in the future.
"Because...I was traumatised." Issei admitted. "I was afraid of forming stronger relationships with everyone. I was afraid that they might be thinking the exact opposite of what they were saying. And Raynare was to blame for all that...but, I…I want to protect Rias…I want to protect Rias for the rest of my life… I am in love with you! I love you Rias!"
"!" Rias could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears driping down her face. Rias looked at Issei, who was surprised to see her crying. "Di…did I fail…?"
Rias shook her head. "…No that's not it. I…I'm just so happy…"
Slowly, she walked towards the boy, until her hand was on his cheek. "You finally called me by my name...and, you seem to have gotten over your trauma."
Issei's eyes gained a surprised glint. "Who told you?"
"Kirito helped me out." Rias admitted. "He helped me with love troubles, surprisingly enough."
"Really? That guy who seems to have nothing but experimentation and training on his brain?" Issei had a bewildered expression on his face. "I totally did not expect him to give out love advice!"
"Me neither." Rias chuckled. "But...it helped me regardless. Issei," Rias placed her other hand on his other cheek. "You finally called me by my name… "I have waited for this the whole time. I really did… But I didn't have the courage to tell you… So I thought that it would never happen… But after what Kirito told me, and what you just said...I...will you..."
"Buchou loves me?" Issei caught on quick. Although he had returned back to calling her by her title, Rias did not mind. Now that she knew his feelings for her, she did not mind him calling her 'Buchou' as much now. The distance between them had grown shorter.
Rias nodded. "Ise. I love you… I love you more than anyone else…"
"…I love you too, Rias…" And with that, they kissed as the sun set for the day.
"A happy ending for a new couple." Kazuto commented quietly, as he moved away from the small crack he had been watching from. "That is quite nice."
"It is." Beside him, Asuna also slowly moved away from the window they had been looking from. "Still," she gave a teasing look towards Kazuto. "You giving other people love advice?"
"It was less of love advice, and more of me telling her about my own interpretation and experiences." Kazuto scratched his cheek as he blushed, determined not to look at Asuna.
"Same thing for us girls." Asuna giggled. As they watched, they saw the door towards the miniature replica of the office in the Occult Research Club burst open, causing practically everyone in the home to come spilling out, including the teacher, angel, and boys. Interested in hearing what they had to say, Kazuto approached the window, before carefully carving out a small piece of the glass. He would fix it later, but for now…
"Co…congratulations Ise, Buchou! "Xenovia sounded stiff as she spoke. "Now, I can hit on you without worrying about anything!"
"U…um, congratulations both of you!" Asia said next. "With this I can follow after Onee-sama!"
"Ara ara. With this, I can now become serious at having an affair with Ise-kun."
I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything. Kazuto resolutely chose not to look at Asuna's gaze, which he was sure was a little suspicious of him.
"…The good part was about to start now, correct?"
""Eh?"" Both devils turned to look a the culprit who said that in shock. Koneko-chan!?
"Sorry, I also saw it." Kiba does not sound apologetic at all.
"I'm so moved!" Gasper?! Why?!
"I can allow an illicit sexual relationship just for today you know?"
Says the peeping teacher. Kazuto directed a flat gaze at the silver-haired woman in question, although Asuna was looking at him in a somewhat exasperated manner.
Oh? Kazuto noticed that Rias started to shake. Is this it?
Rias who was next to me started shaking.
"Geez! All of you!" Rias sounded half irritated, half annoyed, and half angry. "This was supposed to be the most important scene in my life! What will you do about it!? This is all your fault, Ise! It happened because you confessed to me here!"
"Eh!? It's my fault!?" Issei let out a surprised voice.
"""""LET'S MAKE IT THAT WAY."""""
"…Damn, poor guy got thrown under the bus." Kazuto winced when he saw the shocked look on Issei's face.
"I would feel sorry for him, but he DID confess to Rias in a place where it was guaranteed to not be private, so..." Meanwhile, Asuna did not seem to be too sorry for the boy. Although, she was overlooking the entire scene with fond eyes.
Looks like Asuna has some things she wants to speak to Rias about... Kazuto observed his girlfriend from the side, before he looked at the sunset. And to think that after this, I would have to deal with a possible harem too…
(*1*) - Heavenly Dragon
AN
Hello hello hello! I am back again with another chapter! Like I promised, I have released a new chapter in celebration of this fic's birthday!
So, with this, we have hooked Rias and Issei up! Yay! No need for all that tension and stuff in season 4! We can just go on with the plot! Hell Yeah!
And with this, season 1 of this fic has ended! After a long~ interlude about the fight between Sitri and Gremory, we will proceed with season 2, which will be the fight in Kyoto, the duel against Sairaorg, and a possible arc about the SAO gang!
Now, I am going to address a comment that I read within literal minutes of updating this story
..
PinkHimeLacus: I am sorry about this, but yes, there will be a harem. No ifs, buts, and takebacks. Sorry for that. However, there is a consolation prize! The harem is acting as more of a deterrent than for plot purposes(I lie! There IS a plot purpose! Comedy Gold!) The main reason being…well, that would be telling, now wouldn't it? Rest assured, Kazuto would be spending most of his time with Asuna. The harem part is like the DLC of a game. It is extra, not part of the main content. There would be hints of it here and there in the series, but it would not take the dominant ship of AsunaxKazuto. This also makes Asuna a little more OC, but that part would be covered in the interlude I am planning.
Also,, the main reason for the harem pairing is because of the polygamy being legal in the supernatural world, and it is a shout out to the fic, A Gamer's Guide to The Underworld. Too bad it has not been updated for a year at least at the time of me writing this(2/4/2021).
..
Fair warning, the interlude is not going to be as good as what people are expecting, since I feel like I could have done better. Unfortunately, since my first, rough draft was following the main canon so much, I could no longer deviate from it too much, lest I start from scratch. Again. Which will take like, two months of waiting for it to come out. As it is, the interlude has been making slow progress with all the adjustments, lack of time, and changes I have made. At the latest, I will be posting the interlude in end of April. NOT an April Fool's joke unfortunately.
Well, with that out of the way…
The poll is out! Same format as before, lease remember to put forms before the string of text at the bottom.
This is the Poll by the way: forms. gle /XSC64bpsdhB3WobH7
And thus…
Anime is Life, and please review!
