Another chap-, wait, no.

So, there was supposed to be a full chapter, but I deleted it so many times I decided to change it entirely. So here's the first interlude that focuses on another character instead of Issei. That, and also I love the thought of making a BAMF!Miki.

As usual, some notes (and spoilers) below:

-To FieldTested, yeah, true. I wouldn't worry about it though. The Systems Issei and Miki have are the same at the moment, but there's a reason why Issei is the main character.

-Introducing Concepts. Essentially special attributes that the System can catalog and turn into Stats/Skills. Talent and Will are just two examples. I have several more in the back of my head, but there's probably thousands out there. Ideas are always appreciated! (Oh, and don't worry, this isn't a common thing)

Anyway, that's enough from me. Enjoy this little interlude!

Miki Hyoudou had known that her son had changed one day. She'd seen him withdraw into himself, the cheer he held every day so painfully fake. He'd made no mention of his dream, and his friends had come to her expressing their concerns over how her boy had stopped hanging out with them. There was something that had hurt her boy, something that reminded her of the feral dogs her papa used to take care of.

When she first saw those two girls appear by the doorstep, she'd been shocked to silence. But then they mentioned that her boy had told them to come here, and she'd known that she'd come to know the truth soon. She welcomed them in, and her heart broke at the tearful gratitude they gave.

And then her son appeared, bloodied and injured and burnt, carrying a pale shivering girl in his arms. He tried to appear strong, but she knew him. She knew her boy. So she hugged him with no hesitation when he cried. There was no fear when he told her of what he'd done. It didn't matter. The world had so cruelly tried to take her son from her. This was her son. If it meant killing men worse than monsters for him to stay alive, then that was fine.

(Issei Hyoudou would always live as a dragon, but it seemed his mother was no different.)

But as everything winded down, her son's eyes turned glassy. She worried then, asked him what's wrong, and he simply asked if she wanted to Party with him. She blinked, surprised that he'd taken her joke so seriously. So she shrugged and said yes.

She hadn't expected what would come next.

[Miki Hyoudou has joined User Issei Hyoudou's Party. Activating System Protocol…]

[Activated]

She hadn't expected it to be this.

Name: Miki Hyoudou | Age: 44

Race: Human | Class: -

Level: 1/15 | Exp: 0/5

HP: 30/30 (3 HP/hour) | MP: -

Stamina: 100% (3%/hour)

Strength: 1 | Vitality: 3

Dexterity: 1 | Intelligence: 3

Wisdom: 5 | Luck: 4

Stat Points: 0

She didn't know games like her husband and son did, but she knew enough to know that this was something you wouldn't see in real life. Except it was something her son somehow gained when he…died. And now she too had it.

She turned to her son. Her son stared back.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Her son said with a wry grin, idly scratching his neck as he twirled his finger. "I-, uh, I had a little nervous breakdown when I first saw it, so you're already doing way better than me."

She jokingly huffed. "I am you mom, after all." Her son laughed, and she took pride in seeing some of the weariness fade. "But this really is incredible…"

He nodded. "Yeah, I don't think I would be alive today if it wasn't for it." He smiled. "Saved me so many times."

She silently frowned at the idle disregard for his own life, but she forced the frown away. "And I'm guessing I can gain Skills and level up to get Classes and all?" Her son blinked, before he nodded. She smiled. "Well, well, that gives me so many ideas."

Her son stared blankly. "You're…taking this really well."

"I just heard that my son died and got sent to the past, and then I also heard that my son almost died again." She made her best unimpressed stare at her boy. "I think suddenly learning that both our lives have been turned into a video game can faze me after that." She said. Her son at least had the decency to cough and look away.

All the crying had gotten her a little hungry though, and she needed to do something to get her mind off the fact that her son had died. Making some lunch was the perfect distraction, and her son was more than eager to help. He had a Cooking Skill actually, which surprised her at first, but it suddenly explained why her son had gotten so good at cooking.

He wouldn't be catching up to her any time soon though, and the System (was that it's actual name?) was more than happy to show her son that.

[Discovered Unique Talent. Cataloging…]

[Activated. Gained [Master Chef] Skill!]

"...Master Chef?" Her son echoed.

"Oh my." She said, both embarrassed and surprised that the System had dug that up. "It's nothing special, dear. I just used to work at a fancy restaurant, that's all!"

"Uh huh." Her son turned to her. "You sure about that?"

[Master Chef]

Lvl 1/250 | 0%

Your food is a form of art. Any food you create will always be appealing.

Increases proficiency in cooking by 502%

"...oh my." Was her cooking that good? She doubted that was true, but it seemed the System said otherwise. So did her husband and son actually. They'd always said that her cooking was the best. Perhaps there was some truth to that?

No, no, surely not. There were so many people better than her! The System must be being generous with her and her son.

(Imposter Syndrome was a thing.)

They talked as they cooked, and it was…nice. It'd been a while since she last had a simple conversation with her son. It was nice that she could talk with him without worrying about her son's deteriorating health. And all it took was seeing her son coming home hurt, burnt, and covered in blood.

She wondered if she was a bad mother.

She shook her head. This wasn't the time. This was a happy moment—a meal between her and her son. These thoughts could wait. She'd let herself crumble later.

Later.

Hours later, after her son finally fell asleep on the couch, she walked up to her room. She locked the door behind her, and finally alone, she slid down the wall and cried.

Because her son had almost died. Because the last serious conversation she could remember having with him was her reprimanding him for his grades. Because she realized she hadn't shown her love enough. Because the world had almost taken her child again. Because she came so, so close to burying her third child.

No more. Not again. Her son wouldn't be alone again. Never again.

[Discovered Life-Long Will. Cataloging…]

[Activated. Gained [Heartful Determination] Skill!]

She blinked.

[Heartful Determination]

Lvl 1/100 | 0%

Reduces the effect of Despair

Increases general experience gain by 2%

Passively provides +1 Vitality and +1 Wisdom

She laughed silently. She was beginning to wonder the incredulity her son felt in his every day.

But-

This world was cruel. She'd known that, but now she was reminded that the cruelty hadn't gone away. It had only changed its grasp, and now its claws were coiled around her son. She wouldn't let it.

That was her promise.

There was something incredibly cathartic about cleaving through skulls. Maybe it was a little morbid for her to say, but she found the Zombie ID the ideal place to burn off all the heavy feelings in her chest. She'd swing the machete she'd usually use for her garden at the zombies, and she'd decapitate them before they could get their hands on her.

She pointedly ignored the almost-terrified laugh her son made when he first watched her slay her first horde of zombies.

Her son, bless him, asked if she really was alright with doing all this. "I am." She said back, with determination and vengeance. "I am your mother. I…nearly lost you. I won't let that happen again." She turned to him, and she smiled. "So rely on me some more, okay?"

The smile her son gave back was a fragile thing, but she could feel the love all the same.

And perhaps it was a little strange just how quickly she'd gotten used to this. No, it was strange. She knew it was strange. Heartful Determination must be doing something to make her so accepting. But she didn't mind. She couldn't stomach the thought of letting her son fight his battles on his own.

She would get strong. Her son had taught her how to use the ID Localization Skill—she'd been quite awed when she first saw the world change—and she had the time to spend. It wasn't as if she had a job.

Of course, her husband would need to be told. Her son didn't mind that, though she didn't miss the sliver of hesitation when he agreed. He was afraid his own father wouldn't accept him.

Somehow, she knew Gorou would. The man had always been…odd, but he loved Issei like he was the world. He would understand. She knew he would.

And if he didn't, well-

Once this was all over, once he was able to go back to Kuoh, she had many ways of making him understand.

(She unintentionally giggled at the thought, and a distance away, Issei shivered as he watched his mom tear through zombie after zombie with a smile on her face. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when his mom joined his Party, but it sure as hell wasn't this.

He silently apologized to his dad, even if he didn't know why.)