Iori Murayama wasn't like other girls. She didn't necessarily like girlish activities, preferring a fighting sport as her hobby, and more physical activities.
Something like shopping for clothes wasn't an activity that brought her enjoyment. She tended to be more decisive is getting her clothing, rather then spend a lot of time deliberating on what to get. It was something of a small point of pride she had in herself, to not waste time unlike other girls. She doesn't express this to her best friend, Manami Katase, since her friend does enjoy taking her time in doing things like that. Manami might think Iori was the same, but that's only because Iori just liked hanging out with her friend.
It's why when she went to her usual shop, already mentally prepared for a specific number of outfits to buy, along with what type, she found herself extremely annoyed that her flow was interrupted.
Because for the love of all that is holy, why was Hyoudou Issei in a woman's clothes store!? Iori thought with a frown.
Before she could even assess the situation, the Murayama girl found herself marching toward the infamous Boob-Loving Pervert to shout him out of the store.
Issei was standing near one of the changing rooms with one of the retail employees, with the pervert holding some girls clothes.
"Um, Mr. Issei." A cherubic voice called out from the changing room.
"Everything okay, Asia?" Issei spoke back in a language that wasn't Japanese.
That is what made Iori slow down in confusion. It took her a moment to parse what the language sounded like.
Spanish? No, wait the tone feels... more relaxed? Is that what it is? Italian? I think. Probably.
"The skirt is the right size and length, but the blouse is too big. I-If it's not too much trouble." The innocent girl's voice said from behind the curtain.
"Of course, it's no problem," Issei said back, before speaking to the shop attendant. "Do you have the same shirt by one size smaller?"
"Of course, just a second." The female employee said, and headed to one of the clothes rackets.
Seeing him alone, Iori proceeded toward Issei, but walked with less force as she felt like this situation wasn't as she expected.
"Hyoudou, what do you think you're doing here?" Yet the moment she reached the Oppai Pervert, she couldn't help but instinctively fall back on her normal aggression.
"Hmm?" Issei blinked a few times as he noticed her. "Ah, yo, Murayama." Unlike the stuttering or panic she expected, Issei greeted her casual.
"Wha? Don't 'yo' me. What are you doing here? This is the girl's store." Iori pushed to try and get him to answer her quickly.
"Yes. I am aware." However Issei answered her in a dry tone, that threw her off, making her take a step back. "A family guest and a friend of mine is living with me and my parents right now. She has a limited amount of clothes due to traveling a lot, but given that she's staying with us for the foreseeable future, I'm here with her to get her some new outfits. She doesn't know a lot of Japanese, so I'm translating for her."
"Huh, I see." Iori said as she processed that, but couldn't help her suspicion that the Hyoudou boy was using this chance to perv on the poor girl somehow. "And I'm sure you're not making her wear skimpy outfits, while telling her those are normal Japanese fashion trends." She said with her arms cross, as accusatory glare on her face.
Issei rolled his eyes. "I don't perv on someone I'm responsible for."
"Huh?" Iori felt herself flinch and step back from shock. Not just at Issei's dismissive attitude toward her, but his response.
Issei? Not perving? N-No way. That's impossible right? Iori thought.
"No way, are you really Hyoudou Issei? It's almost like you're a decent human being now." Iori couldn't hide her shock.
"Oi." Issei deadpanned.
"Excuse me, Miss? I brought the shirt." The attendant came back with a blouse with a sweater on top of it as part of the outfit, and placed it over the curtain.
"Thank you." Angelic girl's voice came from behind the curtain.
A few moments later the curtain opened to reveal a blonde foreigner.
"How do I look, Mr. Issei?" The blonde asked Issei right away.
"You look cute, Asia. It looks good on you." Issei replied with a small smile on his face.
...Okay, seriously, what the fuck? Iori couldn't help but think. Somehow... Hyoudou's calm demeanor and non-pervy gentle smile, along with speaking another language... kinda made Issei look handsome. Princely even.
No, no, stop! This is Issei for god's sake. It's just some kind of trick! Stop brain! Iori berated herself.
"Um, who is this?" The girl, Asia, asked Issei upon noticing Iori, making the girl pay attention to the reason why she confronted Issei to begin with.
"This is Iori Murayama, a classmate from my school." Issei answer... in English this time.
"Since when were you good at English? No, wait, since when can you speak two foreign languages." Iori asked in shock.
"Since always." Issei shrugged. "You don't know what I spend my time on outside of school."
"Like hell you're-" Iori began to hiss before a quiet threw her off.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Issei's friend?" Asia asked in English, with the innocent excitement of meeting someone, you thought you shared a commonality of having the same friend.
"Um, I am..." Iori began to speak English with some slow hesitance. She knew a fair bit, as she was good in the subject in school, but being good in a language by school standards, didn't translate to being good in a language in real life. "How do I say not a friend, but not some... I'm hostile toward." She asked Issei, deciding to give a tentative olive branch for the sake of the girl living in his house, whom he... actually didn't look at with dirty eyes this entire time.
That realization had Iori's brain short-circuit for a second, she almost missed Issei's reply.
"Acquaintance." Issei said in English.
"R-Right," Iori nodded. "We are ac-quaintan-ces from school." She voice out the word 'acquaintance' slowly as she said it. "We," Iori looked at Issei for a moment as she chose her words. "Interact a lot."
"Really?" Asia asked, looking interested. "Can you tell me more? What's school like? What's Mr. Issei like in class? What are clubs like? I heard you have to join one or the school expels you through a cannon."
Iori was overwhelmed by the rapid questions. Issei however was surprised by that last question.
"Wait, what? Where did you hear that? Schools don't shoot students out of a cannon. No one does that." Issei said.
"But, but... TV?" Asia said, sounding almost disappointed.
"Asia, those were either anime, or game shows. They're not real." He explained.
"Aww," Asia pouted. "It looked like so much fun."
"Um, we had... a lot fireworks in school festival, last year." Iori offered.
"Really?" Asia asked, her excitement reignited.
"Err, yes." Iori found herself smiling at Asia's cheerful presence.
Issei found himself smiling at the interaction.
He supposed Asia did need to spend time with girls her own age, and not be cooped up in his house all the time, and just go out to hangout with him, or go get groceries with his mom.
Maybe I can asked Rias to help get Asia into Kuoh Academy. He might as well bring it up with Asia and his parents, then go asked the Gremory Devil.
"Asia," Issei spoke, cutting the blonde ex-nun off, from overwhelming the kendo girl with questions. "How about we pay for these, leave Murayama to do her shopping then meet up at the burger shop near here? You two can talk freely then." Issei gave Iori a look. "Unless Murayama already has plans."
"Okay," Iori said after some thought. "Alright, I will join you. To protect Asia-chan."
"Yay, the more the merrier. Wait protect?" Asia asked looking confused.
Is this real life? Iori Murayama thought as she looked at the scene before her.
"I told you to be careful with the ketchup packs." Issei sighed as he got some napkins, and began cleaning Asia's messy face, like one would a small child, or younger sibling.
"I'm sorry," Asia said, teary-eyed and unresisting. "I dirtied up the new clothes Mr. Issei got for me."
"Asia, it's fine." Issei said with a gentle smile. "There are lots of ways to clean that up, and mom is an expert even with just the mundane stuff. I'm just glad none got into your eyes. Careful now, okay."
"Mmm," Asia nodded like a good child, even though she was a teenager.
Who the hell is this? Where's the perversion? The chance to use any opportunity to leer at a girl, or being this close cop a feel? Who is this fit handsome prince?-Wait, since when does Issei have muscles? How come I never notice... He's always wearing the school blazer. Iori thought to herself. Arrrg, no! I'm not getting interested in Oppai Pervert Issei of all people!
"Ms. Iori, are you okay? You look like you're in pain. Do you need healing?" Asia suddenly said, looking at Iori in worry due to seeing the girl shake her head, while looking frustrated.
"It's fine, Asia." Issei interjected. "She's just thinking really hard about something." Issei said, before looking to the side and whispering in Japanese. "Something stupid."
Iori frown, letting out a small whine.
Then kicked Issei's shin under the table.
Issei blinked in surprise, and frowned at Iori, before giving an annoyed smile. Iori smiled cheekily back.
"We're not at school." Issei said making Iori blink in surprise. "And I am very much an advocate for gender equality."
"S-So you finally show your true colors. Damn, if only I had my shinai." Iori said back, almost glad to get back into a familiar routine, but feeling also worried if she might have pushed things too far.
"Shame. If you did, you'd have caused a scene and the mall cops could have taken away the crazy girl waving a shinai." Issei said with an annoying attractive smirk.
Iori frowned and made to kick his shin again.
Issei anticipate it, and moved his legs away, causing her to kick the restaurant couch without subconsciously holding back.
Iori's eyes widened as her toes, even while wearing shoes, got more backlash than expected, as she felt the pain shiver up her leg.
She bit into her sandwich and let out a concealed whine to hide the pain.
"Ms. Iori?" Asia asked concern.
"Sounds like she really likes her burger." Issei said with a smirk.
"I see, yes, it really is a good burger!" Asia nodded and smiled brightly.
Iori just glared at Issei, silently promising to get back at him the next time he tried to spy on her club. Personally.
Iori completely forgot to ask Asia, if Issei did anything inappropriate while they lived together, as the annoying pervert kept all her attention.