Chapter 5: The Occult Research Club

"Good morning! Greetings, all. You're listening to Kuoh Radio, and your host, once again, is me, your friendly neighbor, Akito Suzuki. What a refreshing morning it is. The weather is perfect, and I have just the song, in mind, to start off the day. Here's Al Stewart's Year of the Cat; only the best music for your early mornings, here on Kuoh Radio…"

The sound of gentle piano and rhythmic guitar stirred me awake, as I forced myself up and let out a considerable yawn. Refreshed, but still feeling like I'd just gotten out of the Third Battle of Verdun, I lazily sat there in my bed, listening to the music coming from the radio on my window shelf.

"Weird." I pondered aloud as I rubbed my eyes.

I'd experienced strange dreams before. Under psychiatric tending, there were points where my schizophrenia would skyrocket, leading to a complete withdrawal from reality, such as imagining the voice of a dragon or seeing things that weren't there.

But yesterday was different. If it even happened.

The song on the radio tuned out as I looked down at my calloused hands, squeezing them together into fists. I'd never experienced such vivid nightmares before. Did I ever even go to school? There was just no way any of it could have been real, even if it had felt like it. The dragon bestowing power; Motohama and the dog saving me; the chase in the middle of the night; Doctor Sakura, herself, trying to kill me. It all had to have been a dream, or another one of my episodes.

But from this moment forward, you will live your life for my sake.

I shook my head. It didn't matter. I'd go to school and start over, simple, done…

My train of thought, however, quickly shifted into panic, as I noticed my clothes from last night were messily sprawled across the floor next to my bed.

"…Ngh…"

Mid-crisis, the sound of a silky, sultry voice suddenly caught my ear. I took in a breath, knowing full-well it wasn't coming from my radio, and shyly glanced to my side—the familiar scent of spring and fragrant fruit suddenly assaulting my senses, and reminding me of that first day of school.

"Zzz… Zzz…"

The crimson-haired angel from my dream was sleeping sound as a baby besides me, and she was completely, unapologetically naked. Her snow-white skin, fine and rich, dazzled like a sharply cut diamond underneath the rays of the morning sun. Her blood-red hair, spread out over the pillow like the enveloping Yangtze River, was nothing short of mesmerizing.

I couldn't believe it. It was her. The center of my ongoing plight. The crux I couldn't seem to escape. The beautiful creature that'd saved my life. The one that Motohama had warned me about.

The most dangerous girl in this entire town.

Rias Gremory was in bed with me.

No, no, no. This was not happening.

I tried to calm myself down, but reality was starting to kick in. Why was I in bed with Rias? Wasn't my house destroyed? Did Motohama and Matsuda escape? But more importantly, what did I do?!

I gripped my head, trying to rack my brain around how all this could have happened. What had I done? How did we end up like this? I was so confused, I felt like my head was on the verge of exploding.

"Issei!" Someone shouted from downstairs. "Honey, it's time for school!"

Mom?! I almost screamed aloud.

"He's probably just getting up. C'mon, there's no need to rush him."

I could hear my foster parents talking downstairs, followed by the gentle sound of footsteps climbing up the staircase. They weren't slow and heavy, meaning they must have belonged to Mrs. Hyoudou! She was on her way up!

"Issei? Issei, are you up, honey?" She asked, outside my door.

Suddenly, I felt a shift in my bed. "Ngh… Is it morning?"

The breathtaking, alluring figure, still lying beside me, spoke in a sleepy manner. Ignoring my shocked expression, Rias raised her head to let out a soft, gentle yawn.

Click.

The door opened—and at the very same moment, Rias sat up in bed. My eyes immediately met my mom's.

"Good morning," Rias suddenly said, beaming.

My mom's gaze shifted from me to Rias. Her face was frozen with shock.

"…S-surprise…? I croaked and awkwardly shrugged. "Uh… we'll be ready in like five minutes, thanks…" I stiffly nodded. "How are you?"

She glanced back at me, before silently closing the door behind her. A second later, I could hear her footsteps thundering down the stairs.

All I could do was bury my face in my hands, as a heated debate began downstairs. It was easy enough to imagine what sort of dialogue was going on between my foster parents. How could this have happened?

They were going to send me back to the hospital. There was no possible excuse, conceivable, that would be able to explain this situation logically.

"You have quite the lively family," Rias said as she nimbly rose from the bed to go retrieve her uniform. As she approached my desk, my eyes instinctively followed the sway of such a relaxed amble. How exactly could one describe such a thing of beauty? She was akin to a sculpture fashioned from the finest of clays, meticulously crafted with honed, mastered skill and technique—sheer, utter perfection. The words rambling within my thoughts weren't enough. She was just that amazing.

Though, the awkwardness of just staring at her like an object was starting to really creep me out. So, I tried starting up a conversation: "Um… R-Rias?"

"Hmm, what?"

"You're naked," I murmured, shyly glancing away. "I can… sort of see everything…"

"Go ahead," Rias boldly replied with a malignant smile, as she changed into her uniform. Before I could take in her response, she suddenly asked. "How's your stomach, by the way?"

"Stomach?" I reached down to my abdomen, feeling another chill run up my spine.

"You were stabbed repeatedly yesterday, alongside a series of equally troubling injuries."

Her words instantly opened the floodgates to my memories from the previous day. I was sure that Sakura had gouged a hole right through me. And yet, here I was, alive and still in one piece. Logically, I shouldn't even be here, back home. Did that mean it was all a nightmare?

"Just so you know, it wasn't a dream," Rias spoke, as if reading my thoughts.

"Then," I shook my head, "why am I still alive…?"

She smiled. "I healed you. Or, more appropriately speaking, I helped. It was a mortal wound, but you're a hard nut to crack. I felt it at school, but to see it, in-person, was something to truly behold. Your self-healing traits are off the chart; that's what was keeping you alive, as you fought off your attackers. And that, combined with my powers, is what ultimately saved you."

"You… saved me?"

Rias nodded. "I had to embrace you—naked—in order to use my magic to give you strength. It's an ability normally reserved for members of the same Familia, but I decided to make a special exception for you. And don't worry, as promised your two friends are safe."

"Special exception?" I responded, bewildered. None of this was making sense to me.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. This world is a beautiful thing; filled with more mystery than you could possibly begin to imagine." Rias drew close, dressed only in her underwear, and stroked my cheek with her slender fingers. It felt like electricity was running through my skin, as my face turned a bright red. It was only natural, being fawned over by such a beautiful woman.

"My name is Rias Gremory," said the crimson-haired girl. "I'm a devil."

I felt my eyes widen as she pulled me in closer.

"It's nice to meet you, Issei Hyoudou. Is just Issei all right?" I wasn't sure how I didn't notice it earlier, but her smile, beautiful as it was, certainly looked demonic now.

A few minutes later, we were downstairs, sitting side by side at the breakfast table.

Rias Gremory gently blew then softly sipped at a bowl of miso soup, her ocean-azure eyes suddenly sparkling with excitement as her lips met the hot, cloudy broth. "This is just wonderful, mother. Absolutely delicious!" She commented.

"Ah… you're very welcome." My foster mom responded, shifting her focus between me and the stranger. Her usual bubbly persona was now suddenly clad with visible disarray and anxiety.

I swallowed and tried not to look her way. This world is full of dangerous beasts—but none quite as frightful and uncontrollable as a mother who's discovered her son has finally flipped off the tracks of reason. To a mother with such a concern, her son will likely run completely amok—like a priest into sex, or a narc-squad cop who suddenly decides to start sampling his contraband.

Both of my parents were sitting across from us with incredulous expressions that were far too complicated and intense to get a proper read on. Usually, I considered myself half competent at figuring out these sorts of things, but now I was way out of my element, and straining my brain to try and come up with something to say.

"Issei," Rias suddenly spoke to me. "What are you spacing out for?"

"Huh?" I jumped; my response was like that of a student caught cheating.

A literal, biblical devil—capable of destroying a city block with ease—stared at me with an expression of disbelief, as though I were an inattentive child.

"Your mother went out of her way to make such a wonderful breakfast, so put that sour expression away and eat up," Rias ordered calmly, almost as if she were my older sister. "And don't be so ill-mannered when you eat as well. Slowly enjoy your meal, so you can savor all the flavors. There's no substitute for proper home cooking," she scolded, wiping at the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, as if she were royalty, though her demeanor certainly added to that theory.

"Uh… right. Sorry." I replied and stiffly picked up my own bowl.

"So, Issei," Goro suddenly addressed me. He glanced back and forth between me and my classmate, then smiled. "Would you mind introducing us to your lovely girlfriend?"

I nearly choked on a piece of tofu. Girlfriend? My girlfriend? This is all a very bad show! The urge to shout and profess my innocence, yet was weighed down by my own self-awkwardness, plus the difficulty that came with swallowing breakfast.

On the other hand, Rias Gremory had no trouble with diplomacy. Putting her chopsticks aside, she bowed towards my parents. "My most sincere apologies for having not introduced myself earlier. Please, Father, Mother, allow me to start over. My name is Rias Gremory. I attend Kuoh Academy alongside your son. It's a pleasure to meet you both." She finished with an elegant, picturesque smile.

"Rias Gremory?" My foster dad spoke her name back, then nodded. "How couldn't I see it from the hair? Of course! Say, your father wouldn't happen to be Zeoticus Gremory, would he?"

My classmate, interested in his response, replied. "Why, yes. Have you two met?"

"Oh, no. No way." Goro laughed and waved his hand in denial. "But, back from my days of press pool, I do know he's quite the wealthy philanthropist, and one of the biggest shareholders of JR Freight. Though, it's surprising to think that our son would know his daughter. Small world, huh?"

Rias glanced my way and smiled. "I suppose that is quite the coincidence."

"We're not dating." I spoke bluntly. "We're… friends."

"To think that I've been friend-zoned," she replied with a sigh infused with a hint of over-exaggeration. "Oh dear, the horror, the anguish. My poor heart just can't take it." She smiled and broke out into a light chuckle.

I felt my face rush with heat. I didn't know girls could make such cute faces! Hell, I didn't know girls this cute even existed to begin with!

"Rias," my foster mom suddenly said. "Is it alright if I call you that?"

My classmate nodded. "Of course, mother."

"What kind of relationship do you have with my son?" She asked and leaned forward, but Rias acknowledged the query with yet another smile.

"We're just classmates who get along splendidly. Right, Issei?"

"Mm-hmm." I rigidly nodded while downing the last bit of my breakfast soup, trying my hardest to not look back at my parents.

"Last I checked, classmates don't casually share a bed," my mom countered immediately.

"Issei said he had been having nightmares," Rias beamed, "so I offered to sleep next to him."

"Next to him?! B-but you were naked! Both of you!"

"Yes, that's how young people sleep nowadays, mother."

"Excuse me?!"

My old man burst out laughing, despite mom's outcry.

"Leave the kids be, Miki. I'm sure they were fine, while we were gone."

I looked up from my bowl, surprised.

"But Goro!" Mrs. Hyoudou pouted, justifiably upset.

My foster dad slowly stood from his chair, squeezing his wife's shoulder with a display of comfort and affection. "It's all okay. Let's save our kid the embarrassment for now and leave it at that." He turned and gave us a wink. "That work out for you guys?"

I said nothing, but awkwardly nodded. The crimson-haired girl's blue eyes fell on me, and it looked like she was loving every second of this.


"Your parents are really sweet." Rias said as we left the house for school.

I knew I was in for a punishment later, but that was the least of my worries now. "Oh… yeah, well," I cleared my throat, "They're caregivers. I've only known them for about a week."

"Is that so?" She replied. "And are they treating you well?"

I nodded.

She smiled. "Good. Cherish your parents, Issei. It's clear they love you."

"Okay…"

Rias shook her head, giggling. "I don't think I've ever met someone so stiff, especially somebody my age."

I frowned, lugging my school bag over my shoulder. "That's rude."

"Rude," she replied, then suddenly stepped into me. My brain turned to mush as she placed her lips against my ear; the wonderful scent of her hair reminding me again that I'd slept in a bed with this immaculate being. "But factual." She laughed again as she broke away, and I realized that she had slipped her bag into my arm. "For instance, yesterday, when I found you climbing up the school staircase. That was quite an impressive display of energy."

"So, that was you." I responded, smiling. "Sorry about all that, and thanks for taking care of me. That whole thing was like some sort of fever dream."

"Indeed," she replied. "Do you remember anything else?"

"Yeah," I glanced at her, "that you saved my life. And you call yourself a devil."

Rias beamed. "I can confidently say that both of those statements are spot-on. I am a devil, next in line to the House of Gremory. However, Issei, you should know that you had a hand in keeping yourself alive too, thanks to your Sacred Gear."

"Sacred… what now?" I asked, shaking my head. "Is that the dragon?"

She stopped walking, suddenly wearing an expression of deep thought. I stopped and stared at her, unsure as to what was on her mind. "Rias?" I spoke her name.

She smiled and waved a finger. "No, no, no. We can't have that now. Understand that there must be a boundary of respect between us, especially since I'm a third year. Address me as President, please?"

"Uh, sure." I was a bit taken aback, but, then again, this was a girl capable of hurling literal explosion magic. And she was a devil, apparently. "Why, President, though?" I asked, nevertheless.

"Since I operate mostly at the school, I think the name President is most suitable. You'll understand more so, later. Trust me."

"Uh, gotcha, boss."

Hearing this, Rias broke into a truly devilish grin. She looked genuinely happy. "Hee-hee, an excellent response. Very good, Issei. I'll make a man of you yet." With that, she gently stroked my chin with her fingers. "Now, come along. Otherwise, we'll be late."

Everyone stared at us as we walked through campus—mostly out of pure animosity. After all, Rias Gremory, a girl unrivaled in beauty and class, was leisurely walking at my side, and I was carrying her bag like some sort of personal manservant.

"Why is he carrying her things like that…?"

"Are you for real? Rias is walking with a creep like him…?"

From every direction, boys and girls alike, to my amazement, cried out with a mixture of bewilderment and frustration; almost like they viewed me as some sort of war criminal recently out on parole, and free to sneer and wander around at leisure.

"Jesus, I hope they're exaggerating," I swallowed and glanced around.

"You think so?" Rias smiled as we made our way to the entrance of the main building. "You're sharper than you look."

"Thanks."

"Here, in the plains of Ku-oh A-cademy," Rias announced in her best David Attenborough impersonation, "we observe the wild students, green with envy and jealousy, target their prey, a young, naive species of goofball, called… an Issei."

"You forgot to mention the apex predator, Rias."

"President," she responded and gently flicked my ear. "Now, hand over my bag. I will send someone for you later. We have business after school," Rias declared with a soft smile.

"Send someone? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like, silly." She laughed and walked away.

Unsure of what to make of it, I decided to go about my own business. Past the students who were using the entrance lockers, I decided to head upstairs for my classroom; something I failed to do yesterday. The second I opened the door, most eyes locked onto me, though, at this point, it wasn't too surprising.

"Well, don't just stand there like a bump on a log." Someone said, behind me.

I turned around, only to find Motohama and Matsuda waiting for me. "Live steady. Don't mess around. Give anything weird a wide berth—including people. It's not worth it." The school reporter by day, supposed monster hunter and gun connoisseur by night, grinned at me. "I guess we're officially classmates, huh? How about that."

I crossed my arms, refusing to budge.

"Right, right." Motohama sighed, then leaned a little forward to whisper. "Sorry for last night. Thanks for not getting us killed."

I thought over his apology, then smiled. "Glad to see you're still in one piece. How's the dog?"

Motohama thought about it for a moment, then chuckled and looked at Matsuda, who gave me a thumbs up. I blinked, simply staring at my bald, cheerful classmate.

"Oh, c'mon." Motohama laughed. "With all the weird you've seen, does that really surprise you?"

His response would've sent any sane person reeling, turning around at full-speed, and getting out of dodge, escaping town to never come back. But we were far from going back.

I sighed.

"So, where's my desk?"


Class, surprisingly, was nothing interesting. One of the few things I was looking forward to experiencing for the first time, and our homeroom teacher couldn't even be bothered to take attendance. When the English teacher yawned and announced we'd be going on break for lunch, the students scrambled like roaches caught under the kitchen light. Motohama and Matsuda signaled me to follow them to a spot by the classroom windows, since we all brought lunches.

"So, what happened last night?" I inquired, just before taking a seat.

Motohama shook his head. "I don't know. Frankly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. Shortly after the crash, we both woke up in the park. Our injuries were healed, which is great. The bad news is, the car, my rifle, and a few other costly items are still totaled."

"And we're alive." I added.

He sighed and begrudgingly nodded. "That too."

Matsuda scratched his head, then said. "I mean, you can fix all that stuff anyway, dude."

"I'm not a full-fledge alchemist." He groaned. "I can't just fix things on the spot, you know?"

"You're an alchemist?" I asked and opened my lunch bag.

He looked at me and shrugged. "No, not really. My… mom was." He looked like he didn't want to talk about it any further. "Class, uh, everything you thought it'd be and more?" He changed tones and asked, while unwrapping the clear covering from a rice ball.

I chewed a piece of my sandwich and shrugged. "I guess," I responded, "although I thought there'd be more ringing of bells and textbooks."

"Your version blows." Laughed Matsuda, who was already on his third milk box.

"Start getting used to that." I chuckled, then asked. "So, what's your story. Are you, what, a werewolf?"

He shrugged. "Kinda. I'm what you'd call a Lycanthrope. Werewolves are like our bigger, tougher cousins."

"Uh-huh."

"We're smaller and can transform at will. Werewolves, the stronger ones at least, can do the same, but even they can be still pressured by the effects of a full moon."

I nodded. "Sounds like you got the better end of the deal."

"Well," he frowned, studying the box carton in his hands, "we have our own issues to deal with."

"Do tell." I respond out of genuine interest.

Looking at him now, that slight grin was all too like that of the canine from last night. "Werewolves can maintain their human form with no effort; heck, some even prefer it. Me, though? Nah. I've gotta continuously focus to keep my human appearance." He balled his fist and tapped his chest.

"Basically," Motohama interjected, "he's one sneeze away from accidentally reverting to his true form. Which is why I always supply him with medicine; the very same, this idiot let you try."

"Yeah, man. That was my bad." Matsuda spoke and put up a hand. "What I smoke is special, and actually helps me relax and not focus all the time on looking human. When I gave it to you, I thought you'd just get a little high, not… well, yeah. That was weird, dude."

"I've been told."

"Yeah, man…"

We sat there in awkward silence as if we were attending a wake; no one was exactly quite sure who should speak first. That's when we overhead cries of excitement and joy sound from just down the hall, right outside our room.

Suddenly, a foreign-looking male student walked into our abode. He was sharp and handsome, with light-blonde hair practically banking on white; and looks that could likely pierce the heart of any girl at our school.

"What's happening, prince-boy? Suddenly feel like hanging out the rabble for a change in pace?" Motohama seemed to know him, and spoke rather dismissively, not even bothering to look in his direction.

Our classmate's smile, however, didn't waver. Instead, he turned and reached out a hand to me. I nodded and shook it. "The name's Yuuto Kiba." He spoke. "I've come on Rias Gremory's instructions."

Matsuda choked, milk spraying out of his nostrils.

Motohama nearly leapt out of his chair spinning to look at me. "You know them?!" He glared.

"It's a long story." I explained, standing up. "But she's the one who saved us last night. We were attacked again by fallen angels and she fended them off. She's strong."

"You're kidding?" He glared at Kiba. "Why would your boss ever think to save us?"

"Relax." He raised his hands. "All can be explained. I only ask that you guys come with me."

"Screw that!" Matsuda immediately replied.

"Matsuda, it's cool." I spoke and grabbed him by the shoulder. "They went through all the trouble of saving us, right? And look, I met Rias Gremory last night. She might be a devil, but, honest to God, I think we can trust her."

Kiba chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't go so far as to add God to the equation. That said, we already know everything about you two. Issei, you're a bit of a different story, however."

Motohama was visibly apprehensive but nodded. "Fine, I'll bite." He shook his head. "Great, and here I thought I was doing a half-decent job of staying underneath the radar."

We ended up following Rias's acolyte all the way to the opposite end of the school grounds, behind the central building, to a spot hidden behind a nest of darkened foliage and tall trees. Kiba pointed out to me that this was the old school building, which, to the public, was seemingly deserted.

"It's a pretty nifty hiding spot." I replied, looking up at the windows, wondering who else was inside.

Kiba nodded. "Exactly."

Motohama whistled as he looked up at the towering, eerie structure. "It feels like there's a hurricane waiting for us. No wonder it's called one of the Seven Wonders of the academy."

"Seven Wonders?" I repeated.

"Yeah, whatever." Matsuda replied, standing behind us. "I don't care what this place is called. It gives me the creeps."

We watched as Kiba pushed open the doors. Though old and built entirely from wood, the windows were all intact, and nothing looked damaged. "The president is waiting." He said and waved us inside.

"This is a bad idea, man." Matsuda whimpered. We went inside and climbed the staircase to the second floor, traveling deep into the building. I followed Kiba at the front, while Motohama and Matsuda stayed at the rear. None of the usual hallmarks of abandoned buildings were present. The halls were clean, and even the unused rooms looked completely free of dust.

"No spiderwebs stretched across the ceiling? Not a single blade of grass sprouting through the floorboards? Someone's been keeping the place tidy." Motohama snickered from behind.

"Thanks," replied Kiba. "We try our best."

"Oh, I bet."

I looked away from the freshly wiped walls and asked: "So, you're a devil too, Kiba?"

"That's right." He nodded. "Though, I wasn't born as one."

He stopped us in front of one of the classrooms. Apparently, we had reached our destination. A nameplate with the words Occult Research Club was ingrained in the door.

"Aren't you guys being a little "too on the nose" with that title?" I chuckled.

"Maybe just a little." Kiba shrugged before knocking on the door. "President, I've brought them," he announced from outside the door.

"All right, come in," came a response.

Despite a shared look of hesitation between Matsuda and Motohama, we stepped inside. Surrounding us, every square inch of the room seemed to be filled with strange symbols and glyphs. The floor, the walls, the ceiling—they were all covered with incomprehensible, ancient-looking writings. Just looking at it all made my hair stand on end.

"Wow…" I swallowed.

Matsuda crossed his muscular arms and shivered. "Oh, this is beyond fucked, dude."

"Keep cool, okay?" Whispered Motohama, who was already scanning the spacious place. At the very center of the room was some sort of magic circle. The complex pattern was huge, taking up almost the entire room. "That said, this place could use a bit of cleanup, yeah?" He snickered, despite being visibly anxious.

"Hey… hey, I know that girl over there." Matsuda pointed at a collection of leather sofas near a large, weighty desk. Sitting on the armrest corner alongside a collection of pillows was a short, petite girl wearing our uniform. "That's Koneko Toujou." He shook his head in amazement. "She's a first year, and an amazing up-and-coming kickboxer. I've seen her at a ton of competitions."

Apparently, she was a high schooler just like the rest of us, but with her childish face and cat-shaped hair pin, I thought she looked more like an elementary school student, much less a boxer. She wore a deadpan, stoic expression, as she nibbled away at some sort of jellied sweet. Matsuda's comments must have caught her attention, however, since she glanced our way.

"Koneko, these are our classmates: Issei Hyoudou, Matsuda Okami, and Motohama Ken." Kiba introduced us.

Koneko Toujou bobbed her head in response. "Ah, hi."

I waved, but Koneko ignored me and continued nibbling on her snack in silence.

"Guess she's not very chatty…" I muttered, before noticing that there was another doorway by the center desk. Running water could be heard coming from the open door, which revealed a custom shower room, hidden only by a large plastic curtain. Through it, I looked carefully and could spot a silhouette; the unmistakably shape of a woman taking a shower.

My eyes widened on their own, as the sound of a running shower head died away.

"Here you go, President." A very feminine voice spoke from inside.

"Thank you, Akeno." From the sound of things, Rias was getting changed on the other side of the curtain. My mind raced back to the scene from earlier this morning, and I could feel my face flush red.

"…What a lecherous expression," someone muttered.

I spun to find the source of the voice, only to spot Koneko Toujou. Before I could say something, the curtain slid open, and Rias entered the room with her uniform. Her crimson hair was still dripping-wet, but it simply made her look more incredible. I could see from their expressions that even Matsuda and Motohama were completely taken aback by the President's undeniable beauty.

Rias, however, glanced my way and flashed a joyous smile. "My apologies. I wasn't able to wash up last night since I was staying at your place, so I took a brisk moment to freshen up a little."

"Understandable." I laughed, a little embarrassed.

However, my gaze suddenly shifted to the feminine figure standing just behind Rias. In those few seconds, I noticed all I needed to notice about this girl: the combination of long dark hair, hung in a black ponytail, with dark violet eyes and light lipstick, the everlasting smile and gentle face, the luscious, ample breasts—even greater than Rias's own—and the narrow waist, the exquisitely classic Japanese bearing and paragon of feminine virtue. The sight of her seemed an irresistible attack on my own habits, standards, and ambitions. Something designed to put me in my place for good.

Looking between her and Rias, I was stupefied, realizing that I was genuinely staring at two of the prettiest girls I've ever seen in my life.

"Oh dear. Greetings, I'm Akeno Himejima. Pleased to make your acquaintance," she said with a polite expression. Her voice was amazing as well.

"S-same here." I nodded. "I'm Issei. Nice to meet you too." I replied, my heart pounding.

Rias nodded to everyone. "It looks like we're all here now. Gentlemen, we, the Occult Research Club, welcome you to our humble abode."

"Uh, thanks." Motohama swallowed. "You guys don't happen to have a bathroom, do you?"


"So…" Motohama readjusted his glasses as he spoke, but I could tell he was glaring at me. "Rias Gremory spent the night at your house?"

I nodded. "Mhmm."

"Even though you only just learned about the existence of the supernatural, devils and fallen angles alike, yesterday?"

"Yup."

"That right…?"

It took every ounce of strength to not look in his general direction, and thankfully Akeno—Rias's second-in-command from what I could gather—was there to save me from the immense awkwardness. "Some tea?" She asked me.

"Yes please," I graciously accepted. "Thank you."

She brought a cup over to the sofa where I was sitting.

I took a quick sip, surprised by the hint of blackberry. "Wow, it's really good."

"Oh my, thank you." Akeno chuckled happily.

We were sitting on the couches in the middle of the room, separated only by a large coffee table that held several snacks and other miscellaneous edibles. Kiba and Koneko sat together on one sofa, while Motohama and Matsuda sat parallel to them. Rias insisted that I sit beside her.

"Akeno, come sit with us."

"Yes, President," Akeno replied, taking a seat next to Rias. The temptation to make a "Rias-sandwich" joke was strong, but I somehow resisted.

"Well, shall we get down to business? First, let me say this, we're all devils." She spoke, picking up her own teacup.

Motohama picked up a pack of strawberry pocky, while Matsuda kept looking around the room.

She then looked at me. "Issei, of course, you remember the group from last night, don't you?"

"Unfortunately." I replied and nodded.

"They're fallen angels—beings who once served Heaven but were ultimately sent to Hell as punishment for their evil deeds and intentions. Their kind are our sworn enemies." She crossed her legs and scooted a little more into the couch. "We devils have been at war with them since the dawn of history, fighting for control over the underworld known by you humans as Hell. Demons like us build our strength by forging pacts with humans and exacting payment. Fallen angels seek to manipulate humanity and destroy demons."

I shook my head. Lycanthrope "Just like it's written in the Bible."

"You're a funny one." Rias chuckled with amusement.

"My, my. He's just like you said: a dopey little brother." Akeno couldn't contain her gentle laughter either. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that two supernatural entities just casually threw out insults at me.

Rias smiled. "Speaking of the Bible, there are also proper angels as well. They follow the will of Heaven, indiscriminately targeting demons and fallen angels alike. These three factions—the devils, seraphs, and fallen angels—have been locked in eternal conflict." She motioned towards her fellow devils. "Of course, this town is a harbor for devils. The Occult Research Club, here, is just a front. Think of it as my hobby. Its real purpose is to provide a place for devils to meet."

"Harbor?" I looked around at Rias and her associates. "Wait, there are other devils here?"

"Yes. It might sound surprising, but like the members of my club, there are plenty of devils who have chosen to blend into human society. I'm sure you've met more than a handful already without even realizing it."

"That's really amazing, actually." I shook my head in disbelief. "How do guys just blend in?"

"Well," Rias nodded, then continued, "some humans are able to detect us, but most can't. Those already affiliated with the supernatural, such as Motohama and Matsuda over there, can pick up on our true nature, given they're skilled enough."

"That supposed to be a jab?" Groaned my bespectacled associate.

She ignored him and continued talking to me. "Humans filled with powerful desires, or who want to make a deal, are better at sensing our presence. They're the type who usually summon us, using magical leaflets that we hand out." She rested a finger on my cheek. "Then there are others like you, who can tell us apart, but can't bring themselves to actually believe we exist. Not until we show them our demonic powers anyway."

I shivered. "That, you definitely did."

Motohama shook his head and passed the pocky to Matsuda. "Okay, this has been an impressive crash course and all, but I know you didn't bring us here for a history lesson. So, why are we here? And more pressingly, why are the fallen angels here?"

Rias turned to address Motohama. "We haven't uncovered all the details yet. However, whatever it is, it can't be good," Rias declared. "They've remained relatively concealed, but they'll be back." Rias snapped her fingers, and Akeno pulled a photograph from her pocket, handing it to me.

I was left utterly speechless at what I saw.

"This woman—this fallen angel, she's the leader of those who attacked you last night."

It was true. The picture was unmistakably Doctor Sakura, the woman who had given me a second chance at life. Just like last night, the picture displayed a pair of jet-black wings sprouting from her back. Seeing her face again provoked a sudden feeling of ire within me, and I felt my face slightly contort with anger and hatred. "Where'd you get this picture?" I spoke, plainly.

"One of our familiars found her. They're tasked with searching Kuoh constantly."

Motohama sighed. "So, that's how you've kept tabs on us. That also explains how you were at the park. You've been surveilling us this whole time, haven't you?"

"Yes. However," Rias continued. "I've also come to the conclusion that Issei, here, has some sort of role to play in their grand operation."

"Me…?" I blinked, suddenly feeling a pain creep in my chest.

She turned to me. "When we first met, your power was slightly flaring up. I could feel it."

"You mean, when he smoked some of my stuff?" Matsuda asked.

"Yes. It's very likely that Issei reacted the way he had, since he, himself, is a part of the supernatural as well." She turned to me, nodding. "Issei, your body is a vessel for a Sacred Gear."

Her words reawakened memories from the hospital, the hourly checkups, the recurring psychiatric treatments and assessments, all of which now began to painfully plague at my thoughts.

"Oh, please. What are you talking about?" Motohama groaned. "Are we also supposed to believe that pigs can fly? I don't care what you say, there's a lot of weirdness in this world, no doubt about it, but Sacred Gears, for one, aren't real."

I wondered if any of the time I spent under psychiatric care was even real.

"That's not true." Kiba suddenly spoke up, explaining: "Sacred Gears are exceptional powers entrusted to certain humans. Several famous historical figures are believed to have possessed them. It's the power of their Sacred Gear that inscribed their names into the history books."

Was the voice in my head not the result of schizophrenia, but some sort of dragon entity planted inside me?

Motohama laughed. "Bullshit."

If all the staff members, that I'd entrusted my life to, were nothing but monsters.

"We exist," Responded Kiba. "So, why's it so hard to believe that Sacred Gears exist as well?"

Then what did that make me?

"Even today, Sacred Gears continue to appear in the world," Akeno nodded, jumping into the conversation. "The many great individuals who play important roles throughout society? Many of them possess Sacred Gears, too."

Rias agreed, saying: "Most of these items aren't capable of much more than making a few waves in human society, but some have power formidable enough to threaten devils and fallen angels. Issei, raise your hand…" She paused. "Issei, are you okay?"

"I'm fine… Rias… I." The words barely came out before I collapsed over the coffee table.

"Whoa, dude! What's wrong?!" I overheard Motohama yell.

It became difficult to breathe, and suddenly I was hyperventilating. My heart was racing as I shook like a leaf, feeling like, at any moment, I was doomed to pass out. Terror washed over me as my right arm suddenly went numb and I felt my control of the situation dissipate. Suddenly, the numbness was replaced with a sickening heat, as it began glowing. Like an erupting volcano, my hand and front arm burst into a twister of flames and purple electricity. A roar, like that of a feral animal, escaped my lungs as I latched onto my right elbow, trying to stabilize the process.

That's when a pair of familiarly soft hands reached out to gently hold and stabilize me. It was just like the first day we met, when my senses filled with the strawberry fragrance of her crimson hair, and she cushioned my head against her soft, comforting breasts. Despite my frightening state, Rias opted to tenderly embrace me, resting her small chin right over head.

"It's going to be okay." She whispered. "Focus. Give it shape. It's yours to command, not the other way around." I exhaled and tried doing as she said, focusing intensely on the prospect of my arm not falling off.

Suddenly, the light began to take concrete form, enveloping my forearm completely. When it finally subsided, I was shocked to see my arm was encased in a red gauntlet. A round, jewel-like object was embedded in the part covering the back of my hand.

"Wh-what?" I gasped, realizing the pain had vanished.

"This, Issei, is your Sacred Gear, the Boosted Gear. Now that you have manifested it, you can use it whenever you like." Rias gave me a tight squeeze, showing she was proud of me. "Well done."

Motohama took a knee, studying my transformed arm. "This day just gets weirder and weirder." He suddenly smiled and grabbed my transformed hand to help pull me up. "You good?" He asked.

"Yeah," I awkwardly chuckled. Matsuda joined his side, watching me open my new hand and flex my fingers. "Well, it feels like normal." I awkwardly chuckled, then glanced at Rias. "How'd you know I had this thing?" I asked her.

"Upon meeting you, I immediately could feel your energy, and that you were a vessel for something particularly powerful. After that, I had my familiar look after you." She smiled. "It was during your battle with the fallen angles, however, that I quickly determined the rest."

"Right," I flexed my arm, trying to get a better feel for this Sacred Gear. "So, now what?"

"Like I said," Rias spoke as she returned to her seat beside Akeno. "We're certain that the fallen angels are here of no coincidence. They understand this is our territory, and I'm certain they're planning something reprehensible." She smiled, returning to her tea. "Which is why, I'd like to recruit you three as temporary, honored members of my Familia."

"Lady," Motohama laughed, "you aren't converging me into your ranks. I'm not becoming a devil. Sorry, I enjoy being human too much."

"That's fine," she replied, "I'm simply offering you a place in our club, until the fallen angels are dealt with. A temporary truce, where we can all work together to better obtain our goals."

As if under command, wings burst forth from the backs of the club members surrounding us. Unlike the black, raven wings of the fallen angels, these were leatherier, like those of bats.

"Let's start over. Yuuto, if you'd please?" Rias volunteered the only male in their club to go first.

With that, Kiba turned to me with a wide grin. "I'm Yuuto Kiba. As you know, I'm a second-year student here like you. Um, and I'm a devil. Nice to meet you."

"...First-year… Koneko Toujou. Hello… I'm a devil, too," Koneko said softly with a bow of her head.

"Akeno Himejima, third-year. I'm the vice president of the Occult Research Club. It's a pleasure. I'm also a devil." Akeno let out a little giggle as she bowed in greeting as well.

Last was Rias. With a flick of her long, crimson hair, she proclaimed, "and I'm their master, Rias Gremory, of the ducal House of Gremory. We'll be working together from here on out, gentlemen."

I glanced back at Motohama and Matsuda, but they had nothing to say.

"Right on." I smiled.


By the time our meeting was finished, my arm had reverted to normal. I said my goodbyes to Rias and the others, while Matsuda and Motohama suggested we get something to eat after classes. Later that day, I invited Kiba to join us as well, just before we left the school.

"Why's he here?" Motohama asked while elbowing my shoulder.

Kiba waved from the other side. "Miss me?"

"Yeah, like I miss lower back pain." He replied and popped a piece of gum in his mouth.

"Man, that meeting stressed me out." Matsuda grumbled. "You guys are scary."

Kiba laughed. "Why? We're just like you guys."

"You mentioned that you weren't born a devil." I spoke, while tossing my bag from hand-to-hand. "Does that mean that you were once human?"

"Pretty much. See, just so you know, our society is divided into a variation of what you'd normally associate as a caste-system. The President has a noble title. In our world, one's status largely depends on birth and upbringing, but there are some devils who manage to climb the ladder. Folks. like me, start on an even playing field and it's up to us to work hard to advance."

"So, you're somewhere in the middle?" Matsuda asked.

"Still pretty close to the bottom, actually." He laughed.

The wolf-guy laughed. "That's tough."

He nodded. "Most pure-blooded devils perished in the Great War long ago, resulting in a critical shortage of loyal servants. Without fresh blood, our kind were doomed to perish."

"What, there aren't donor banks in Hell?" Motohama chuckled.

"Just like with humans, there are male and female devils, and they're capable of bearing children. However, it would take eons for our numbers to recover through natural birth alone. Such a thing, as you can imagine, would leave us defenseless against the fallen angels. That's why pure-blooded devils, such as the President, have been working tirelessly in finding suitable humans and turning them into demons—as retainers."

Motohama smirked. "So, you're just some lackey. A stooge."

"For now." He shrugged. "Here's the point. This conversion method only helps increase the total number of lesser-ranked devils. It doesn't bolster the number of powerful ones, so a system was introduced to give reincarnated devils—that is, those who were once human—a chance to climb the ranks. If a reincarnated devil proves worthy, they will be granted a noble title, regardless of their origins. You'd be surprised, but this system has really boosted the devils' population."

"Wait, so you level up like in a video game?" Matsuda asked.

"I guess that's one way of putting it." Kiba replied and reached into his school bag. "Devils mainly work in making a human's wishes come true. It basically boils down to getting summoned, forging pacts, granting desires, and exacting payment." He pulled out a leaflet and handed it to me.

"Check it out," he said, as I looked it over. "This is what humans summon us with."

The phrase 'Your Wishes Granted' had been scrawled over it like a bad catchphrase. A magical circle was also drawn on the handout. On closer inspection, it seemed identical in design to the huge one in the center of the Occult Research Club.

"The magic circle serves to summon us. Few people go through the trouble of drawing summoning arrays like that anymore, so we distribute these flyers for them to use instead. As the President would say, 'they're simple and convenient.'"

"Wow, some hustle." I said and handed the flyer back.

For a bit longer we walked, right until Matsuda piped up and suggested we go to the ramen shop across from where we were just strolling. The booths were stationed outside, and just enough space for the four of us. An older chef greeted us as we took our seats.

"I'm starving, boy howdy." Matsuda licked his chops while scanning the overhead menu.

"You turn into a dog and all," Motohama sighed, "but you don't have to make it so obvious."

The chef took our orders, and we ate heavily. Carefully, I pulled my bowl closer to me. I smiled and clasped my hands together in thanks. "A well-deserved meal." I prayed.

"Amen, brother."

"Ouch." We all turned to see Kiba rubbing his head.

"Seriously?" Matsuda laughed.

Kiba lightly chuckled. "Yeah, unfortunately. It actually took me some time to relearn bits and pieces of my vernacular, since so many phrases sting."

Motohama took off his glasses before eating. "Sounds annoying." He spoke while blowing his noodles. "That, in itself, is not worth the change in becoming a devil."

Kiba, suddenly, seemed irked. "Nothing's simple." He spoke, coldly.

Motohama slurped down his noodles, then moved to retrieve his glasses. "Are you familiar with the concept of dualism?" He asked.

Kiba, mid-chew, covered his mouth and replied: "Yes. Like Yin and Yang?"

"Right," Motohama responded, glancing at the three of us with an expression eerily firm. "It's the idea that opposite or contrary forces may be complementary and interconnected in the natural world. Heck, basic physics dictate that forces always come in pairs—equal and opposite reactions."

Continuing to speak, he picked up a salt and pepper shaker from the counter and thew it to Kiba, who caught it with a swipe of his hand. "Good catch," he nodded. "You get hungry, you go eat. You're tired from a long day of school, so hop into bed for nap. Cycles of cause and effect control our daily lives, but some are far graver than others."

"What are you getting at?" I asked.

"For the greatest catastrophes, there is an equal and opposite reaction; opposite forces that unwillingly become interconnected. Two bombs, greater than anything beforehand, cause unparalleled destruction, so thousands of equally powerful bombs are created to ensure that it would be apocalyptic if another goes off." He slowed down, giving pause.

"A sacred gear user out of the blue? Fallen angels in devil territory? Just what on earth is going to happen next?"

Kiba stopped eating. Matsuda looked confused.

I lowered my gaze, glancing at my right hand resting on a pair of chopsticks.

"Well, frankly," he frowned, "I'd be real scared to find."