The air of Kuoh Town filled his lungs with a sense of freedom, of overall well-being. Diodora couldn't help admiring the trees and streets, the way people went about their business and their look of content as they did so. It felt like he had come to Japan on a trip, that the only thing he was looking ahead to would be to travel and sightsee. He could imagine himself taking some pictures, maybe trying to get something for his sister (because he'd kill him if he didn't bring her anything), and just have a good time without the intervention of anyone he knew. Some quality alone time in a foreign country.

It was an illusion, of course. This world had a lot more to offer than just normal vacations. And some people might even find it weird that he imagined himself doing something so mundane while being able to project beams from his hands and fly in the sky with his wings.

They'd be fools. Diodora had spent a month in the isolated barrier, and he had nothing but desire to go out and do stuff. He knew that this world still belonged behind the screen, at least from his perspective, and that things would be dire from now on. But he wanted to dream, he wanted a moment to himself. To think that things would be okay.

Diodora sighed, feeling a bit ill as his lungs expanded. With the crutch he used to support himself tilting slightly, making him anxious as to whether he'd trip with such a simple motion.

He shook his head, knowing that he'd just have to get used to it. But a very big part of him hated using the thing, because he hadn't injured his legs or waist. But instead, his spine and upper body had lost some strength. So it didn't make sense to him that he had to use it, no matter how enchanted it was to give him a bit more vitality. He still didn't like it.

The normal people looking made him feel worse, as he now knew that his apparent weakness had become a part of it. He knew from experience that appearing weak could be an advantage, his sister was good at this, but he didn't have a way to prove them wrong. So it only demoralized him.

That he now headed toward the residential zone that the devils lived in didn't help. He didn't want to be seen as weak or pitied, even if he tried to convince himself that it'd do no harm. It was humiliating how little he could do by himself; and although he'd recover most of his mobility and stamina, Diodora knew that it wouldn't be a full recovery. The physicians said as much.

He still headed in that direction, because brooding and escaping his problems would make him a loser. Like his older brother. And Diodora refused to give up no matter what. He survived the interrogation of the Three Factions, he gave them information on the Khaos Brigade, and had mostly cleaned the original Diodora's name after surviving Star Seeker's ambush. He had won, and no one would take this victory away from him. Not even his own insecurities.

"Hey there, sleeping beauty~." Kuroka's voice echoed behind Diodora's ears, above his head, below his feet. It confused him enough that he held the crutch tighter and had his senses sharpened with demonic power to try and catch where the catgirl actually was. Only for her to appear right behind him, chin resting on his shoulder "So you didn't kick the bucket in the end, meow."

"Ah, it's just you." Diodora bought himself a couple of seconds to get his balance right "Can't believe you're still around town."

"My cute little sister lives here, meow." Kuroka replied matter-of-factly "In fact, it's more surprising that you came here. Meow."

"Nah, I'm a well-liked member of devil society. I'm just here to see how everyone's doing."

"Sure, sure. I'm convinced that you're not here just to cause more trouble, meow. At least you didn't bring a wanted criminal with you this time." Kuroka purred slightly, placing her hands softly on Diodora's shoulders as she spoke.

He chuckled a bit.

"I redeemed myself. Can't go around messing up so soon." He smiled a bit "It's good to see you."

"We barely know each other, meow." Kuroka stretched herself back into a standing position "But sure. My cute apprentice has been eager to see you again, meow. So some of it might've rubbed on good-ol me."

Diodora scoffed.

"Of course, of course."

"Okay, so I want to know how it all went." Kuroka walked around Diodora, stepping to his front to talk to him directly "Are you in the green or…?"

"Seems like they're willing to trust me." Diodora nodded, understanding what Kuroka wanted to know almost immediately after "I don't know how they used my info, but I'm willing to bet I can do something for you once peace talks start anew."

Kuroka blinked.

"I don't know if that'll be a thing, meow."

"It will." He assured her.

"I mean, it's taken them so long I thought they'd just go straight back to how things used to be. The Three Factions' war has been going on since forever, meow. It was so bad that every other pantheon knows about it and was affected to some extent." Kuroka looked serious while speaking, placing a hand on her chin and moving her twin tails from time to time "Are you sure it'll be okay? I know Bel won't stand for it, at least."

"A lot to unpack there, but yes. I have faith." Diodora replied "If it doesn't, then we still should be able to do something about your situation."

"Okay." Kuroka didn't look convinced, but neither did she seem to distrust Diodora "You owe me for babysitting Gen all this time, don't forget it."

"I thought he was your cute apprentice?" Diodora tilted his head.

"Teaching is an honorable profession and should be rewarded accordingly, meow." Kuroka placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin, eyes closed with conviction.

"True." Diodora nodded before offering the catgirl his hand "Hope we can keep working together, then."

"We didn't really work together before, meow. But sure." Kuroka grabbed his hand for a couple of seconds before taking some distance "They're hanging out, I'll go get lost in the woods."

"Don't cause too much trouble." Diodora managed to blurt out before Kuroka disappeared.

Okay, he hadn't expected such a civil reunion with the catgirl. But he didn't complain. It gave him some energy, knowing that he hadn't completely lost everything on the way.

Diodora sighed and kept moving onward.

The living quarters had changed since the last time he went there. Even the halls had more space, better lighting, looked more pristine and expensive. Diodora couldn't help steal glances at the decorations with borders either made out of exquisite wood or something that looked suspiciously like gold. He didn't know whether to be surprised or not, since he suspected that the devils could and would go this far for their homes. Given how big the Astaroth manor had been in the Underworld, and how much money Latia mentioned he'd get even if he had all but lost his rights within the household.

It didn't matter, not really. Building up a solid power structure came first, even if he wanted to get back his position as the heir. And talking with Rias and Sona was probably the easiest way to start working on it, given how much his image probably degraded after everything that had happened.

He asked the person in charge of the building, who gave him a floor and a number. Diodora chose not to use the elevator, more out of pride than because he wanted to exert himself, and slowly climbed up the stairs while trying not to tire himself uselessly. Perhaps two mutually exclusive goals, but these small challenges kept him busy in prison. And it'd seem like it already rubbed off him as a habit.

When he finally got to the floor the clerk told him about, he felt a bit of a fluid-like sensation wash over his feet. Curious, but since it didn't seem to trip any alarms he ignored it.

When he got to the room's door, he could hear hurried chatter and hushed steps all over the place.

Okay?

Diodora turned to doorknob after knocking four times, waiting a couple of seconds before opening it and letting himself in.

The room, if one wanted to be low-key about it, looked decorated for a fantasy ball. With chandeliers and pillars tracing where the expensive decorations agglomerated, drawing circles around the pillars when it was about statues and plants, and carpets with crimson red color and golden lining.

The people…

"Diodora-san!" Genshirou rushed to meet him, dressed in a dark blue graduation gown. Arms spread to either side "You're here!"

Diodora blinked as Genshirou surrounded him with his arms, pressing him tightly against his developed muscles. Diodora felt himself get squeezed until his 'carvings' stung, and he hissed in pain without thinking. Trying to push the blond away from him.

"Stop…!"

"Oh! Sorry!" Genshirou released him, catching the clutch before it could fall over to the side "I'm just so happy, I…!"

"Gen-kun, give Diodora-sama some space." Akeno had a cub with red liquid in her hand, and wore a simple red dress with a lot of cleavage and a separation on her left thigh. She looked more mature, less teasing and more centered, and her eyes found Diodora's like she expected the returning stare "You're fine."

That was an overstatement, but Diodora didn't want to spoil the festive mood too much.

"Of course I am."

"Diodora-san." Yuuto was next, also wearing that graduation gown. But he still had the headpiece on. He placed his own glass on one of the counters, and power walked toward Diodora with a big smile on his face. He opened his mouth, but didn't speak until a few seconds ago "...You're free."

"That I am." Diodora covered his eyes theatrically "It's fortunate that I…"

Yuuto interrupted him, closing in the gap and taking Diodora between his arms. Yuuto's body wasn't as buff as Genshirou's now, but he still felt the Knight's strength press his injuries until he had to augment himself with demonic power to not squeak.

"Why're you all trying to hurt me…?" Diodora wheezed as Genshirou tapped Yuuto, trying to separate him from Diodora. But having little success until Yuuto decided to release him on his own.

Koneko caught the clutch this time, and Diodora took a step back before she could take a swing at him or something. Because, even if she only wanted to take a turn to hug him, the smaller catgirl could fold him like a wet towel without any difficulty.

"Here." Koneko had grown, looked more like her 'Shirone mode' art that Diodora saw one time in his previous world, rather than the petite little girl that he remembered her for. She pushed the clutch on Diodora's hands, and when Diodora took it she clung to his chest without a second thought.

Diodora stiffened, ready to be crushed, but Koneko didn't. She carefully wraped her hands around his ribs, and bit slightly onto his shirt. Making him feel her little fangs against one of the healed up injuries.

That made him choke out a scream.

"Sowwy…" Koneko let him go, only barely missing Diodora tumbling back as he clutched his chest.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

"Sowwy…" Koneko repeated herself, helping Diodora as he clutched his body.

His vision swam, a few drops of tears running down his face and finding the thin cracks in his cheeks. It made things sting a little more, and Diodora sort of forgot where he was for a moment.

He felt hands on his shoulders, but couldn't tell who was where. He had to blink a couple of times to center himself, and when he did he found Rias and Genshirou helping him stay standing.

"Diodora." The red haired devil called, looking oddly relieved as they locked eyes. It made Diodora feel oddly at peace. Even if the stinging sensation stayed in the back of his head.

He slowly straightened his back, taking in air as he did. He relaxed his features.

"Hello, Rias." He noticed the black dress, the way it looked more modest than Akeno's, and the way they had mixed up the colors. But nothing of that matter at the moment.

The red head smiled weakly.

"Yes, hello."

Diodora took a couple of steps back, giving each of the peerage members a good look before speaking. He saw Sona's werewolf Rook and Knight. He recognized the blue haired little girl, blinked once he realized he had seen her before. Back when Elijah attacked them. That it didn't surprise him back then bothered him now. The little girl belonged to the grim reapers, and she shouldn't have been there.

Things weren't completely the same as in the original timeline, but Stain had been filling so many gaps that it didn't surprise him anymore.

The peerage stared at him expectantly, like they didn't want to break the illusion of Diodora being there. With them. It made him a bit uncomfortable, so he just gave a quick look to his surroundings and chuckled.

"They're not here." Akeno assured him, her smile getting a bit bigger "Ise-kun left with Shiki-chan a few days back."

He didn't like the way she referred to them, but he ignored it for now.

"So that's why there's a party now, I see." Diodora nodded approvingly "It's a simple but effective tactic."

He turned to Genshirou when Akeno released some air from her nose instead of chuckling.

"Congratulations. Sorry I missed the real event."

"That's… That's fine." Genshirou's grin could've split his face. It made Diodora feel strange, like his chest became tighter, but returned the smile all the same "I'm just glad you're here again."

Diodora looked down as he saw Genshirou's hand move, and saw a couple of kids behind him.

"Oh? These are Kaho and Gengo?" Diodora didn't like children, but he'd make an exception just this once "They're so big."

"Thanks." Kaho stated, looking very nervous but decided to stay her ground.

"Yes. Kaho, Gengo. This is…"

"Hello, Diodora-san." Kaho reached out, offering Diodora his little hand.

Diodora shook it.

"I heard you helped Gen-onii-chan a lot."

"Just a little bit." Diodora assured her "I didn't do much."

"You did enough." Genshirou commented, still staring straight at Diodora.

"Doesn't feel like that." Diodora pushed Kaho back a bit, prompting her to go back to her brother's side "Feels like I cheated you out of our deal. I…"

"It's fine." Genshirou repeated.

"No, it's really not." Diodora insisted "I…"

"You helped us all." Yuuto interrupted, taking his headpiece off while he stood beside Genshirou. The Occult Research Club, or the members that Diodora knew, forced a half circle around him "That's what happened."

"Helping out Gen-kun was no problem at all~." Akeno giggled hollowly, clearly not amused, but keeping a cool face all the same.

Gengo flinched, taking a step away from Akeno and Rias. Clearly overwhelmed by Genshirou's company.

Diodora wanted to say something in return, but caught himself before doing so.

He let them continue.

"When you didn't wake up immediately, we knew that it'd take a while." Rias explained, leaving out how she was directly linked to the people in charge of taking care of him "So we took one for the team. It's what we do."

"I mean, like Akeno-senpai said, it wasn't a problem at all." Yuuto smiled "We couldn't have you come back and be empty-handed."

"I might not have come back." Diodora looked away, thinking about how he hadn't wanted to come at first.

"You had to." Koneko interjected "It couldn't end like that."

"Ummm…" Kaho seemed like she was trying really hard to follow the conversation, Diodora had almost immediately forgotten her.

"Yuni might've killed me." Diodora chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Ah, speaking of." Rias took the hint, clapping her hands together as she spoke "She didn't come with you? We invited her, but there was already a low chance of her showing up."

Diodora gave her a sideways smile.

"She does her own thing."

"Even with you, huh." Rias nodded "Well, okay then. Guess I can just send her a piece of the cake later."

Diodora turned to the other two members, moving his hand to beckon them closer.

"You, on the other hand, expanded your peerage." Diodora commented as the two looked at each other and started approaching.

"Well, not exactly." Rias frowned "I traded my pieces with Sona, she's…"

"Eh?"

"Her… Her parents fell to the sleeping disease." Rias whispered, low enough that only Diodora's devil senses made sure he caught that.

"Oh." Had that been a thing? "I see. That's… Unfortunate."

"A pleasure to meet you." Loup Garou nodded.

"Hey." Bennia Orcus waved her hand.

"How do you do? I am…"

"Diodora the Accursed, in the flesh." Bennia's comment made everyone stiff. She didn't seem to mind "So this is you, huh."

"What a needlessly edgy title." Diodora saw Rias giving him a worried expression, but he paid no mind to it "Don't call me names, there's children present."

Loup gave the blue haired reaper a quick back-handed slap on the shoulder, a silent warning.

"Right-o." Bennia nodded "The real party's going to start when they go to sleep anyway."

"That's not true." Genshirou quickly interjected, a bit awkward "We'll wrap up here normally."

"You can totally go out and party, onii-chan." Kaho pouted "It's fine. We're old enough to know that's okay."

"We're not going to party after this." Genshirou insisted, a bit more forcefully.

"What a serious little girl." Bennia chuckled "It's his party, if he doesn't want to. We just won't."

Kaho frowned.

"It's fine, really." She looked at her brother, and the young boy nodded.

"She's so mature…" Akeno whispered, bumping shoulders with Diodora while the Saji tried not to argue.

"There's no mature kids, Akeno." Diodora thought back to Miyuzuin, to the desperate way she tried to stay calm and serious "Only traumatized children."

His words strained her smile a bit, but she didn't give up on keeping up appearances. It made Diodora feel a bit of respect for her, as he usually chose the same path during difficult conversations.

So he cut her some slack.

"You look marvelous in that dress."

"Why, thank you." Akeno's smile gained a bit of genuineness.

"Sorry for not dressing up for the occasion." Diodora gave himself a look, to the casual jeans and loose shirt he wore. What he could get in the most comfortably "I'm still not fully healed."

"It's more of a formality than anything." Akeno chuckled "Diodora-sama has nothing to worry about. Not dressing up for the Underworld event is not allowed, though."

"I'll take it into account."

"Ahem." Rias coughed in her closed hand "At any rate, can I offer you anything to eat? I did prepare some good things to celebrate."

"Not all for Gen-kun and Yuuto-kun, mind you." Akeno interjected with a cheeky smile.

"I think we're all happy to see Diodora with us again." Rias crossed her arms and looked away from her Queen.

"I'm glad to be back too." Diodora gave them the most honest smile he could muster "But I'm tired, I won't stay for long."

That had a visible effect on the whole room, and Diodora had to suppress a smile.

"You just arrived." Rias protested.

"Still not fully healed." Diodora reminded her.

"That's…"

"I don't suppose I can get an invitation for breakfast? I should be more rested tomorrow, now that I know what to expect." Diodora patted himself on the chest. He glared at Koneko.

The white-haired catgirl didn't even look away.

"Breakfast?" Genshirou turned his attention back to him, now having his little brother clinging to his leg and his little sister on his arms "Sounds good!"

"It does." Yuuto added.

They all turned to Rias, who after a few seconds just sighed.

"I suppose it's settled then." She fake-glared at her peerage, hiding her hands behind her back "Sorry, I didn't mean to push you around."

Diodora couldn't tell if her attitude had changed compared to the last time he saw her. Probably not by that much.

"It's quite alright. There's a lot of catching up to do, after all." Especially without Fate Weaver around. Diodora was quite interested in hearing the devils' side of the experience.