And as such... Another extra chapter. I promise this will be the last one, I swear, unless someone wants another extra. I dunno. I feel like it, and after this one, I'll give a small break as for now. I hope you all enjoy it and have a nice day.

As always, DxD doesn't belong to me...

"Ichijou-kun...?"

"Eh...?" I blinked, and before I knew it, I noticed I was in a small pancake house next to school, a small plate of pancake right in front of me. At least a half dozen of pancakes covered in syrup and some fruits on top, it look unhealthy delicious. I picked a fork, but before I could take a bite out of it, I looked up and my fork fell onto the table. The one in front of me is... "Ah! Shiori-san!"

"Uh-huh, Shiori-san here. Is something wrong?" She so nonchalantly said with a wink. Wait, screw that, how the hell did I end up here?! In a pancake house, a cute one at that, in front of Kamiyama Shiori, the first-year's number one idol?! Is this... Is this a date?! Am I dating Kamiyama Shiori?! Are we getting married?! But I'm too young to be hooked!

...

Holy shit, what was that? Is this how canon characters feel when the OC enters the story and they need to fall in love with him? That's fucking sick...

"Ichijou-kun...?"

"Yes!" I practically saluted her when her voice reached my ears, and accidentally ended up kicking the table and hurting my leg in the process, fortunately enough our deserts just jumped a few millimeters away. Ow~, what the hell is going on. Pull it together, Ichijou. I turned back to her and smiled, the best I could, anyway. "I-I mean... Yes, Shiori-san?"

"Yes, I'm Shiori-san."

"Eheh..."

"I mean, I'm just curious now. You called saying, sorry, screaming that you wanted to eat something with me, and when we did our orders, you... Went off for a second." I could feel my ears starting to burn. What am I? A high-school girl?! She just said I called her to blow off some steam, and this makes me feel I just reached a new low, possibly the lowest! I snapped back when she forked her pancakes and took a bite out of it, then turning it to me. "Is something bothering you? You can tell me, you paid me pancakes, after all."

"..." Ah~, she's so dreamy and perfect. Such a nice girl~, all of my problems suddenly dissolved seeing how she's worried about me. I woke myself up from my reverie when she blinked a few times, and took a bite out of my pancake. Huh, yummy. "Did I? Sorry, I think... I'm just nervous about exams and stuff. Plus, summer is just around the corner, but it's raining so bad lately. I must be getting SAD or something..."

"Well, it is understandable. You might've not noticed, but Nanami-sensei also felt ill with sadness this time." She declared, and only now I remembered that gloomy and sad teacher of mine who just became worse and worse about her depression. I think she's a person whose mood is also related to the weather. I'm a person whose mood is related to the imminent-danger-supernatural-creatures-and-devilish-affairs-have-to-my-overall-health, which is probably not very far from this, honestly. Shiori-san took a bite from her pancakes and turned her eyes to me. "To be fair, even I am feeling down with this weather, so I am happy that you invited me to eat pancakes with you."

"..." I couldn't contain my blush, And I had to bite my tongue again to not spread my cheeks on a gianourmous smile until they rip part of my skin off. So it wasn't just me, I helped Shiori-san too! This made me take another bite from my small flat confectionery and nod, hanging my head low so she wouldn't see my blushing face. "I-It's nothing, really. I was... Even a little hesitant to call you, my life has been such a mess as of lately, I need a shoulder friend to help me out. And you're... The closest thing I can think of having a normal conversation..."

'Wow, thanks for nothing, friend' Shut up, Mizuki-san...

"Huh... Huhuhuh~. Now you're being silly." She spoke, and I allowed myself to smile just a little for the fact I made her laugh, something that has been happening a lot since we started to know each other better between lunches and walks back home. I like that, I like to make her laugh, even if it's a little. "Don't you think you're being a little overdramatic? I know life can be hard sometimes, but don't say I'm the only thing normal in your life."

"Ah, if only you knew." I moaned out loud, taking another bite out of my pancakes and looking at the running drops of rain from outside the pancake house. I wonder, is this how my life would've been without the Boosted Gear? Eating pancakes with a cute classmate of mine? I wonder. But then again, I called her because I am part of the Supernatural world now, and I need a break from that to pin me back to reality. My reality. After all... She's my only human friend now, and that... Makes me happy. I could've a friend as a normal highschool student, and friends with the most beautiful girl of the first years on top of that! But I shouldn't be thinking like that about her. Shiori-san is... Someone I glad that I'm with. "Shiori-san, thanks for coming. I know this might sound strange, but I'm glad that you're my friend."

"No, no. It's the other way around, Ichijou-kun." With her mouth filled with cream, strawberries and lard, she spoke with a finger lift to point at me, her fork hanging from her mouth as she speaks. I tilted my head to a side, and then she showed me the fluffy pink bracelet I gave her. "I'm the one who should be glad... You called me. You consider me a friend."

"Uh... Huh? Really?" I said scratching my cheek. Wow, this is kinda nice, but then she went on about it, taking another bite from her pancakes.

"You're the first person who ever called me for those kind of things." She spoke, lowering the fork in her mouth, and her expression soured a little. Wait, what? Isn't she the famous Kamiyama Shiori, the aloof yet popular cool beauty who all the girls and guys fawn over for her intellect? She's not a sports-type like Rina, but still... "Y'know, Ichijou-kun, I'm very Popular back in Kuoh academy. They call me Cool Beauty and other things."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Kewl byooti, eh? Sounds nice to be popular." I said taking a sip out of my juice. She did the same, and chuckled, tapping her fingers on the table.

"It is kinda nice. People worship me like I'm some kind of heroine, having tons of love letters on my shoe locker and from time to time, they call me 'the smartest one' or 'Shiori-sama'. How cool is that?" She says. Huh, so there are people who like to be popular, who could've thought? I'm only infamous for that time when the girls from the kendo club beat me up for thinking I was a girl or something, so I can't honestly say I know anything about it. Even so, she blinked once, and sighed. "And you know what's the best part is? Everybody put me in such a high pedestal, no one dares to approach me, and I'm glad for that."

"Eh...?" I tilted my head to a side. That... Doesn't sound too nice coming from her. She took a bite out of her pancakes yet again, and turned to me.

"To tell you the truth, Ichijou-kun, I can't actually stand people. I don't know if it's because I didn't have many friends back in junior school, or because I never lived near someone to have a childhood friend of all things, but I don't like to be close to people." She confessed, taking a small breath. This is actually new to me, and kinda distorts what she really is. A popular girl... Who doesn't like the people around her? That's weird, my style of weird. "They make me anxious, sad and a little... Off. Ever thought that, sometimes, you don't belong somewhere? Like, everyone is talking and laughing, while you observe them from afar, wanting to know how to deal with them, but not actually, Y'know, getting involved with them?"

"A bit, yes." I honestly said. I do really feel that way sometimes, and all the time back when I was a little boy, but she keeps saying this, and I feel a little nervous next to her now. She doesn't like people that much, that's kinda bold to admit. She sighed, supporting her chin on her hands and them her shoulders on the table and balancing her fork in her mouth.

"That's what I like about being popular. People gather around me and praise my beauty and attitude, and in return, I can stay close to them, but not close enough to not break my image." She sighed with a small smile, mixing her juice with her straw a taking another sip, While I remained quietly listening to her vent. So this is how it works for her. She can't stand people, yet wants to maintain her 'cool beauty' status for looks and still stay away from them. Can't blame her, but still. There's something wrong with this. This whole thing. "I do want to understand and socialize with people, but I can't stand them too. Maybe I'm a little too lonely. But until I can make friends on my own without them getting on my nerves, I'll stand low like Kuoh's cool Beauty and keep trying to get along with them."

"I... See." I said, my head hanging a little low. So she doesn't like people. This is a surprise, even coming from me, the guy who couldn't have any friends because of my bitch sisters. She's lonely, but now she showed me her colours: she's alone by choice, even if she's that lonely. I feel like looking at my opposite right in front of me. Even so... I scratched the back of my head, and gulped hard. I know I'll regret ever asking, but... I need to know. I need to know if she's just like the others. "But... Why did you come for pancakes? Why did you walk home with me? Why... You became my friend?"

"..." She turned to me, blinked her red eyes a few times. Yeah, I know I'm scum for this, but even if she's using me just to keep the cool beauty persona around me, I wouldn't care. I like her... Very much, and she's really pretty. I know I'm being shallow, but I just want to know, so I can harden my heart for her. She dropped her fork, opened her rosy lips and said that... "Because I like you."

"Look. I always had the feeling tha-...!"

"..."

"..."

...

...

"Eh...?"

"I like You, Ichijou-kun. I dunno why, but the moment I laid my eyes on you, I thought to myself: 'this boy seems nice', and for some reason, I felt attracted to you. It was the first time I ever wanted to come closer to someone, and for all the time we've spent together, I feel myself liking you more and more. After all, you're my first friend and... I wanted to get close to you, beyond anyone before. What I'm trying to say is... I like you, Ichijou-kun."

"..."

"Ichijou-kun...?"

1jou-dot-exe has stopped working...

.

~~x~~

.

And once we were done with the pancakes and I finished rebutting for what's worthy, I helped her walk home, holding the umbrella for us despite the fact that she's taller than me for a few. So... She likes me. Kamiyama Shiori; the cool beauty of Kuoh academy and a cute classmate of mine... Likes me. I dunno why, and I know it's not like we're boyfriend and girlfriend or anything, but I can't smile despite being that elated; it feels so weird, my face is contorting in a way that almost hurts, but it doesn't matter... Shiori-san likes me!

"So, is your house anywhere near? I don't want the rain to get worse before we could reach it." I said to her, as we turned in a road away from the one that leads to my house and take the streets that walks to a wealthy neighborhood.

"It's not very far from where we split. It's not like it's that hard to miss either. Once we reach there, you won't forget about it." She blinked and I was a little dumfounded for that. There she goes, being all mysterious and gloomy again, but then again, that's one of her charms.

Once we got there, however, I found out what she meant by that: she lived in a mansion! As in, not even my hotel-like house can compare to it! It's an old Japanese-style house that shines like an old relic, I can almost feel the Edo oozing from it, and from here at the gate, I can also see she has a lake and a deer-scarer too. It's so traditional! She opened the door, passed to the other side then turned to me.

"It was nice seeing you, Ichijou-kun. We should... Date more." She spoke, hiding from the rain under the roof of her little gate, blushing and occulting her face behind a hand. To think I'd get this far. She extended a hand for me, and I took it. We tangled fingers together, and held hands. "I don't... Know how to have a friend like that, so... I hope this is enough."

"Y-Yeah, it's enough. I can feel Shiori-san, so this is the best feeling." I said back, not letting it go of her hand. I blushed; she blushed, we continued to hold hands for a few seconds, and then, we let go of each other. It felt nice, to touch her. I looked back at her. "So, take care."

"Take care, Ichijou-kun. Have a safe trip back." I can't get enough of this. I'm finally close to this girl I have a crush on since day one. I nodded for that. She waved a goodbye with her hand, and calmly smiled. "So... Until classes. See you later."

"Yeah, see ya." I waved also a goodbye to her and responding her. She chuckled one more time and closed the door. Now I'm alone, in the middle of the rain, dumbfounded from everything that happened to me. So, I have a normal friend now, and she's caring, nice, quiet and who likes me wholeheartedly. And for that, I have only one thing to do. "Yay~..."

I fist-bumped the air and made a face. Hah~, yeah. I'm both happy and relieved now. Happy since I'm now Shiori-san's first and therefore best friend, and relieved because, yes, I could've been a normal human with friends, I could've been... A normal young man. This is a great deal out of my shoulders. I always thought that it was the Boosted Gear that made me easy to approach and befriends, but now I see, I can make friends and who knows, even have a girlfriend If I try enough! I'm so...!

"Well, hello there, young man."

"Eh...?" I snapped back from my reverie when a sweet yet mature voice crossed the rainy place and reached my ears as wet steps were getting closer. I turned to that direction and was taken back to the figure now next to me: an mature and beautiful woman, of hair dark as night, yet fair skin, a mole decorating one of her soft red eyes, and gentle aura surrounding her. Her body was wrapped in a beautiful crimson kimono, her socketed legs wearing geta sandals and a red paper umbrella protecting him from the rain. Ah~, another pretty woman, and she has this Yamato Nadesico feeling about her too. I took a step back, surprised, but then bowed. "I-I'm sorry for my interruption, ma'am. I know I sound suspicious but I'm already leaving."

"What a fine young man you are. Huuuh~..." To my surprise, she smiled and took a step forward to face me and cup my cheek. Wow, now that is awkward. For some reason, though, I couldn't move, so she continued to massage my face like I was something out of China. In the end, she blinked, and her smile turned into an nervous one, as she removes her hand from my face. "Oh, I'm sorry, young man. It's just... It has been a while since I found such a handsome looking lad such as yourself. I apologize, you must hear this all the time."

"Hm~, no problem. It just surprised me, that's all." I said with a scratch on cheek. That was freaky, but I don't know, something about her doesn't make me feel mad about it. How strange. She sighed in a pose that shown how relieved she was, and opened her eyes for me.

"What a relief. Besides being handsome, is also such a nice young man. I presume girls flock all over you, isn't it?" She continues with the praises. Well, I'd be lying if I say that some people do flock around me, but this is really freaking me out now. She looked at me again, and I could see that her eyes started to scan me. "Such a handsome man, indeed..."

"Uh~... I know it's kinda rude, but I'll taking my way now before the rain gets worse. You should watch yourself as well." I said to her, walking past her but without taking my eyes out of her figure. I mean, as in so she doesn't do anything strange again. It's not like she has also a nice ass or anything, which she does, but I won't comment on that, not at all. She turned back to me, and we locked glances. I blushed a little, and again she chuckled. I turned around and waved a goodbye. "So, huh, take care, miss..."

"Likewise." She waved her hand at me as well, and turned around. I also was about to turn around and follow my path. "Nice to meet you, Ichijou-kun..."

"Wha...?" I thought I have heard my name coming from her, but when I turned back at her, there was none. Not a single life besides myself at the street. What the hell? For a moment, I thought I felt something... Something... Warm.

What was that about?

And now the third love... Ichijou's first crush.

I honestly wanted him to confess and that they would become a couple later on, but after a few thoghts, I decided it's too soon for our hero to have a stable relationship as for now. I always thought as shiori as the link between ichijou and the normal world. After all, it is hard to pull a completely normal human girlfriend since this is a harem and stuff. But honestly, its nice to write about them, despite their low-interactions. I personally want to write more about them.

enougbh with my rant. thanks for the view, R&R, and greetings~.