The Lone Vigilante Issei – High School DxD
Hello again! It's me – Hide Shinyama!
Sorry, I've been a bit behind schedule. Lots of things have been keeping me up lately, but I'm back!
Matsuda has had sex, being the first one to lose his V-card among the perverted trio.
Issei and Motohama find out about the enemy's plot and about Matsuda's actions. They race to find him and find him struggling against a dangerous nightmare. They save him from it and Matsuda finds out that Nathalie is gone from her bed!
Now Matsuda gets briefed about what the other two members of the perverted trio found out.
What will their next course of action be? And will they ever get behind the mystery?
Find out in…
Chapter 12 – A major clue…
14th September, Friday, about 6:14 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, dorm rooms
Issei, Motohama and Matsuda were sitting on Issei's bed. They made sure to close the door to ensure privacy. After they did that, Issei, Motohama and Ddraig filled Matsuda in on what had happened recently, from Motohama's horrifying ordeal, the succubus lying in wait to kill them, its capabilities and how they found Matsuda thanks to Monique.
The three of them also recounted how livid they were when they found Matsuda naked in Nathalie's bed. Then, however, they saw him thrashing around in his sleep when they found him, too. This shocked Matsuda. He never thought that the dream that he had would make him do something like that.
"Yeah, we know right?" Motohama replied. "We shook you called your name multiple times, but you didn't wake up! That's when we had to take drastic measures…"
"Was it really necessary to punch me in the face with the Boosted Gear!?" Matsuda complained, earning a glare from Issei and Motohama.
"Hey, after what you did, you deserved that punch!" Issei answered him with a frown. "And secondly: Be glad! We saved your life back there!"
"Yeah, about that. What do you mean 'Save my life'?" Matsuda asked incredulously.
[What we are trying to say] Ddraig spoke up. [Is that you that the succubus was attacking your dreams.] Matsuda widened his eyes at that.
"W-wait you're telling me that the same succubus Motohama saw an hour ago was the same one that attacked me? And that it attacked me in my dreams?" Matsuda questioned.
"That's right," Motohama answered seriously. "It's too coincidental to be true. First, Issei's nightmare last Saturday, then came I and that… ugh… frightening day-dream… and now you!"
"Tell me something, Matsuda," Issei demanded. "Those nightmares… You told Ddraig you had sweet sexy dreams, before you had the nightmare, right?" Matsuda blushed embarrassed at Issei's question, but nodded his head, nonetheless.
"What exactly did you dream?" Issei pressed Matsuda.
"W-w-why must I tell you?" Matsuda stuttered.
"Just tell us! Anything you say might be a clue to find our culprit!" Issei said earnestly.
"Well… I don't know…" Matsuda looked away embarrassed, thinking about whether to tell them or not.
"Come on, man… We need you to tell us. Besides, we promise we won't laugh at you. We promise!" Motohama pleaded his friend.
"Well… it's… kind of embarrassing…" Matsuda said hesitantly.
"Matsuda…" Issei grabbed his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "…we're your friends aren't we? We look out for each other… all right. We promise not to laugh. Besides, I told you about my sexy dream with Monique and neither you, Motohama or Ddraig laughed. So, why should we do so with your dream?"
Matsuda let that sink in for a few seconds, before he sighed. "I really don't have a choice, do I now?"
"Nope, you don't," Issei replied.
And so, Matsuda told them about how in his dream, he and Nathalie and sex in all kinds of different positions… and for some reason that got them a prize for the best sex in the world. Matsuda, Issei and Ddraig couldn't help but snigger, for that was the most embarrassing part.
"I told you it was embarrassing!" Matsuda cried out.
[Sorry… sorry… go on… phhhhh…] Ddraig sniggered, trying to hold his laughter in.
Matsuda glared at the dragon in the Boosted Gear and continued. It turns out that prize was the ferry in his dream and thus he and Nathalie took a trip on the ocean. From there on, he recounted how Nathalie then broke off the kiss, moved to the railing, only to turn around sadly and say, "I'm sorry", before her disappearance.
Issei and Motohama raised their eyebrows at that. Even Ddraig thought that that was suspicious.
"Why do you think she said that?" Issei asked his friend.
"I… don't know…" Matsuda replied his mood down as he remembered Nathalie's sad face when she said that.
"Do you think it has something to do with why Nathalie wasn't with Matsuda when we got there?" Issei wondered.
[Who knows, maybe… Anyway, what happened after that?] Ddraig asked.
Matsuda explained how the sky turned gray and a thunderstorm came over the sky. He related how he tried to search for Nathalie, before a number of shark heads attacked him.
"Shark heads?" Motohama asked.
"Yeah, they kind of reminded me of those shark-like Pokémon… oh yeah, Sharpedo! That's what they were called, though they looked kind of different from the normal Sharpedo… if you know what I mean…" Matsuda explained. Issei and Motohama nodded. Having played Pokémon before, they knew of said Pokémon.
"And you say they were the ones attacking you?" Issei asked this time.
"Yup, I managed to fight them with an umbrella and managed to defeat some of them," Matsuda answered with a cocky smile. Then he pretended to swing the umbrella. "BAM! I hit them like a baseball back into the sea one by one! Unfortunately, one of them managed to get my shoulder. I managed to kill it by jumping on my back. Though I have to admit, even though it was all a dream, it still hurt like hell…" Matsuda reminisced as he massaged his shoulder where the shark head bit.
"Man! Reminds me of the time when I fought the kraken! Thankfully, I had the Boosted Gear and was able to use the Dragon Shot! Though, wait! How many shark heads did you fight?" Issei asked, clearly interested in the fight that Matsuda had to deal with.
"Five… at first…" Matsuda answered. "But then more and more jumped on deck and I had to run into the cabin and close it. I was injured and I couldn't fight them all…"
"Ok… what happened then…?" Motohama wanted to know.
"Well… the door held thankfully, keeping me safe from the shark heads, but then I heard a crunch and the boat started to sink…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa… hold on! What on earth could have sunk that boat?" Issei asked.
"It turns out it was a… big shark of some kind…" Matsuda replied.
"A shark!? How can a shark bite through a boat!?" Motohama asked incredulously.
[It's a dream! Anything can happen, young Motohama. Please, go on] Ddraig beckoned.
"I almost lost hope back there… I was ready to die… But then… I decided to take my own fate, in my hands! I mustered what hope I had left and climbed on the roof of the sinking boat through the cabin window. I took my final stand to fight the shark to the death, but then I heard your voices from the sky and then I saw the Issei's fist come down from the sky and… yeah… that's when I woke up," Matsuda finished his tale. His listeners didn't say a word, as they enveloped him in a hug. Matsuda was surprised at their gesture, before Issei spoke up.
"Dude… You've become so strong…" Issei congratulated him.
"You didn't give into despair and fought back with everything you got…" Motohama congratulated him as well.
"Ehehehe… Guys… you're embarrassing me…" Matsuda chuckled flustered.
"Yeah… I hope you don't say any stupid jokes, Ddraig!" Issei threatened the ancient old Heavenly Dragon.
[Yeesh… so touchy…] Ddraig grumbled.
"But back to the issue," Issei said, letting Matsuda go. Motohama followed suit. "It's obvious we can say that both our dreams were pretty much the same: It started off sexy or romantic, but then devolved into a nightmare full of monsters that we had to fight to the death. The only way to get out of those dreams is if we defeat the monsters or someone else wakes him up," Issei concluded. Matsuda and Motohama nodded in agreement.
"Yeah… but now here's the question: How do stop this?" Matsuda asked. "What's to prevent that succubus from doing it again?"
[I don't know… That creature is capable of hiding its scent… so sniffing it out will be hard enough…] Ddraig reasoned.
"What if we signal everyone with a message of some kind if another such attack happened?" Motohama suggested. The others thought about it for a moment, but shook their heads.
"No… we don't have any phones... so calling the other is impossible…" Issei said.
"Besides, how are you supposed to signal the others when you are attacked? I mean, it happens in your dreams… it's not like you can just call someone while you're asleep, right?" Matsuda reasoned.
All of them nodded. That plan could definitely be thrown in the scrap heap… They sat there, mulling over what to do. There was no telling when or where such an attack could happen again… or where the culprit is. Heck, there could even be more than one! Granted, that succubus Motohama encountered sure acted as if she was doing all these things by herself, but she could have accomplices… Wait a minute…
"Guys! I think I've got something!" Motohama piped up. Matsuda and Issei perked up and turned their faces expectantly towards their friend.
"You have a way to catch the succubus?" Issei asked hopefully.
"What? No… no… it's actually something else…" Motohama replied, their hopes going through the roof.
"Well, what is it?" Matsuda asked.
"It's about that guy the succubus was sucking the life out… Yuusuke," Motohama explained.
"What about him?" Issei wondered.
"That succubus is obviously roaming this facility here… and judging by the fact that it attacked us here and not in Kuoh Police Prison or the District Court… means that this is where it's the most comfortable… right?" Motohama explained.
[You may have a point, young one...] Ddraig replied. [So, what are you trying to say?]
"Isn't it obvious? We're in its lair, its headquarters! And that means, Yuusuke was probably kept captive here, hidden in this facility… All we have to do is to search this facility high and low, until we find Yuusuke's body!" Motohama concluded his explanation.
Contrary to his expectations, Issei and Matsuda just frowned at what he just said.
"Dude… I know you may up to something… but there is a problem with that plan…" Matsuda answered.
"Yeah, what makes us so sure that that guy is here in the first place? Sure, this may be succubus's headquarters, but what makes us so sure it isn't hiding him somewhere outside this facility? For all we know, he might be far away from here!" Issei told his friend, who in turn slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
[I wouldn't be so sure, Partner.] Ddraig spoke up.
"Huh?" Issei raised his eyebrow.
[I'm saying, I actually believe young Motohama's explanation] Ddraig said, surprising Issei and Matsuda.
"Really? How? Why?" Issei wanted to know.
[Do you remember last Monday? When the police came by the other time?] Ddraig reminded Issei.
"Well… yeah… but-"
"Wait, what's he talking about?" Motohama asked curiously.
"Well… last Monday when I had to go to the bathroom…" Issei explained, as he narrated of what he saw that day.
Flashback – 10th of September, Monday, about 8:58 am – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, hallway
Issei had just come out of the bathroom after relieving himself. He zipped his fly up and was on his way back to class.
'Whew, I sure am glad that's out of the way! Now, back to class… ehehe… Social sciences are so great because of her!' Issei thought happily. As he turned round the corner, he suddenly heard something on the other side of the hallway just around the next corner.
"Are you sure about that, ma'am?" an unknown male voice said. Issei was mildly surprised at the voice of the man.
'Who was that?' Issei wondered. This wasn't a voice that Issei was familiar with. Maybe they were visitors. Issei was about to let the matter be until he heard a familiar voice replying to the unknown man.
"Well… yes…" the familiar voice replied, causing Issei to perk up in response.
'That's… Monique!' Issei realized. That was when his curiosity got the better of him and decided to sneak closer to listen to the conversation. The closer Issei got, the better he heard what was going on.
"You're telling me that the last time you saw our colleague was at 1:46 pm on Saturday, the eighth of September. Is that right?" the man asked.
"Yes, sir. He finished drinking his tea, signed the necessary documents confirming the transfer of prisoners Todoriki-san, Hibiki-san and Hyoudou-san and drove away with his van. That's the last we saw of him," Monique explained.
'Wait a sec'! Is she talking about our transfer here?' Issei wondered.
"Are you positive that he was on his way back to our headquarters?" the man asked.
"I don't know, sir. He never told us what business he had to do, but it's likely he did. I find it unimaginable for someone like that to drive a police van somewhere else, like for ice-cream trips for example… teehee…" Monique giggled.
Issei widened his eyes as he heard those things. 'Police van!? Wait a minute… If the man said 'our colleague' then that means… the person Monique is talking to must be a police officer! Wait a minute… Did the guy that brought us here go missing?' All these thoughts were swirling through Issei's brain, as he processed what he had just heard, only to be interrupted when the man spoke up again.
"Well… we thank you for your cooperation ma'am… if you find out more about his whereabouts, please call us under this number," the police officer told Monique, before he turned around to leave. Issei heard his footsteps, as they got more and more faint.
"One more thing," Issei heard the police officer say, who apparently stopped in his tracks to say this. "That colleague of mine… is not just a colleague… he's my older brother, too. So, if you find out anything… please call us immediately," The police officer pleaded much to Issei's surprise.
'I see… so he has a personal motive in this, too…' Issei deduced.
"I'll do what I can… officer…" Monique said cheerfully, but Issei did hear a hint of somberness in her voice.
"Thank you, ma'am…" the police officer replied, before he left for good.
Issei didn't say anything. He just stood there, feeling… empathy towards the police officer. He lost his brother and he didn't know whether he was alive or dead. Issei knew how he felt. Even though their situations were completely different – Issei's parents were dead, his brother was just missing – it still involved the loss of one of their loved ones.
Family… how many people were there in the world that would never see their loved ones again… It was sad that this was a reality…
As Issei walked away, he felt… empty. He was reminded of his erstwhile dream to becoming a police officer… he wished he could do something about by becoming one... but when Sally showed him otherwise, Issei knew he needed to try something else… which was why… Issei became more determined than ever to become a private detective.
Issei went back to his class room quietly. Although he managed to suppress his emotions by the time he came back to class, those thoughts stuck to him for the rest of the day.
Back to the present…
Issei had just finished telling the others what he had witnessed with a subdued attitude. The part where the police officer revealed the disappearance of his own brother still left Issei melancholy. Matsuda and Motohama on the other hand were shocked at what they heard. They never knew something like this even happened at this facility… It was sad to hear.
Nobody said a word for a while until Issei spoke up.
"Well, that was what happened. But what makes you so sure that that cop was even the guy Motohama saw die, Ddraig?" Issei asked.
Ddraig cleared his throat before explaining. [The other day… on the day, we left the courthouse for this facility…]
Flashback – 8th of September, Saturday, about 12:38 pm – Outside Kuoh District Court
Issei and the others were moved into the police van. While Issei was getting in, Ddraig (being able to hear, despite being sealed) overheard their driver and a colleague of his talking.
"Sakabasu Detention Facility… Can't say I've heard of it before…" the driver mused.
"Well… me neither… and I've driven prisoners all over the country…" his colleague replied.
"Who knows? I think it's meant for younger offenders, so I guess it may be a place I've never heard about, since you know… Young offenders aren't on my usual list of prisoners," the driver replied.
"Whatever," the colleague replied. "Anyway, the boys and I were planning to go out to Wendy's tonight. Do you wanna come?"
"Oh yeah, sure! I wouldn't miss it for anything!" the driver replied enthusiastically.
"That's good to hear!" the colleague chuckled. "Well see you then, Yuusuke," the colleague waved goodbye.
The driver now revealed to be Yuusuke got into the van.
Issei went in as well. The door closed behind Issei and in front as well. Then the van started moving and drove to its destination – Sakabasu Detention Facility.
Back to the present again…
"Wait," Issei widened his eyes in realization. "You mean to say that that driver that brought us here…"
[…is none other than the man called Yuusuke – the same man young Motohama saw die at the hands of the Succubus!] Ddraig finished his conclusion.
"No way…" Matsuda said fearfully.
"Wait! But that means…" Motohama spoke as adrenaline rushed through his veins. The memories of the driver's face merges with the screams of the same man screaming horrified for his life, leading Motohama to come to a horrifying conclusion.
"… That guy! Yuusuke! It all makes sense!" Motohama exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the room to himself.
"What makes sense?" Issei asked intrigued.
"Yeah, what have you found out?" Matsuda asked him earnestly.
"Julie was the last one who saw him! And if he didn't reappear after that, then that means: He was kidnapped here – sometime after Julie took him for tea!" Motohama told everyone.
"If that's true, then given the fact that the succubus managed to attack all three of us with no problems at all…" Issei mumbled, as he put a hand at his chin.
"…means that the Sakabasu Detention Facility is its hideout!" Matsuda concluded.
[Young Motohama!] Ddraig asked, causing Motohama to turn his face towards the Boosted Gear. [At what time did you see the Succubus again?]
"What time?" Motohama looked at the clock hanging at the wall, before replying. "Nearly an hour ago."
[If there are no dug-up spots around here, then that means Yuusuke's body is probably around here somewhere in this facility] Ddraig explained.
"Yeah, but how are we supposed to find it?" Matsuda asked.
"Indeed… That's the question…" Issei said, mulling over what they could possibly do.
"If we are looking for someone like that cop, we better do it fast; otherwise we'll never be able to find him in time. So how about we split up and look across the facility?" Motohama suggested. But Ddraig shot that suggestion down.
[I don't think that's a wise idea. There's no telling where or when the succubus might strike again] Ddraig replied. Everyone sat there, trying to come up with an idea.
"What if we go two by two?" Matsuda suggested. Issei and Motohama looked at him in confusion.
"I mean, think about it! There's four of us: Issei, Ddraig, Motohama and me. Issei and Ddraig are (of course) always together, while Motohama and I can be a team. That way if one of us goes down, the other can protect the other – and we save time, too!" Matsuda reasoned. This idea received nods from the others, but one concern remained for Issei.
"Guys, although the idea is good and all, what will you do when you come across the succubus? Ddraig and I could take care of our own, but you two don't have any Sacred Gears or weapons… so… what are you going to do?" Issei queried.
Matsuda's and Motohama's faces became serious at that moment. Issei was right… What could they do? They would be as helpless as children against it – Motohama could testify to that. They looked at each other. None of them said a word. It was clear to the two of them what the other was thinking. And it was because of that that they both perceived the fear the other had in doing this.
This was not something to be taken lightly. If the succubus decided to make a move, they would be as good as dead.
Nonetheless, their faces of fear turned into ones of determination. They nodded, apparently thinking the same thing, before turning their faces to Issei. Issei noticed the change in facial expressions and wondered what was going on through their minds and what they had to say.
"I… We don't know what to do," Matsuda admitted to Issei's and Ddraig's disappointment.
"However!" Motohama quickly added. "What we do know is that either way, the succubus will kill us either way, even if we didn't do anything. That's why we want to do this!"
"Yeah, even if we die, at least we can go down fighting! Just like my battle against the shark in my dream!" Matsuda said with a confident grin.
Issei was stunned just how determined Matsuda and Motohama were. He had the Boosted Gear, while Matsuda and Motohama had nothing. Nothing! And here Issei was in worrying about them…
'Wow… What serious situations make people do!' Issei thought in awe.
[Indeed, Partner] Ddraig responded mentally. [Your friends may be perverts of the weirdest kinds, but their courage and friendship towards each other and you are the real thing.]
Hearing this, Issei smiled softly to himself. Before turning his face towards his two good buddies.
"Alright, let's do this!" Issei declared.
"Agreed!" Matsuda said.
"Me too!" Motohama chimed in.
[Good. I want Matsuda and Motohama to search the inside of the facility. When you look, look for all the dark places you can find. That's most likely where Yuusuke has been kept hidden. Issei and I will look outside around the facility to sniff out Yuusuke's body, in case he has already been taken out and buried somewhere. Any objections?] Ddraig asked, laying out his strategy. No one objected.
[Good, then let us begin! Dinner is soon, so we'll meet again. Until then, make sure to keep this among yourselves! None of the wardens are to know of this. Am I clear?] Ddraig asked, leading the perverted trio to nod their heads.
Seeing that the game plan had been laid out, Matsuda and Motohama got of the bed and went out first to look for Yuusuke's remains. Issei stayed behind and dismissed the Boosted Gear, watching as his friends went out.
'Good luck, guys,' Issei wished his friends, as he stared out the window. 'I just hope that Succubus doesn't get you…'
14th September, Friday, about 6:28 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, hallway on the first floor
"Dark rooms… dark rooms…" Matsuda muttered, as he and Motohama looked around for anything they thought was a dark room. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Matsuda and Motohama knew that the facility had quite a lot of rooms, small and big, from the ground floor all the way up to the second floor. Looking through them was quite troublesome. As if that was not enough, many of the rooms were locked, so checking them all was impossible. Peeping through the keyhole (something they reminisced doing in Kuoh Academy to girls changing in the locker room) was also impossible, since it was so dark inside.
"Darn it!" Motohama complained in frustration. "We're never going to find Yuusuke like this!"
"*Sigh* I hate to agree with you," Matsuda voiced his fatigue at the situation. "It's not even been a half an hour and we still can't find him."
They both decided to take a break. Matsuda decided to lean against the wall, while Motohama did the same in a squatting position. They were both cautious, anxious and enthusiastic when they first went out to find Yuusuke's body or the succubus – whichever they found first. What they did not expect was… boredom… fatigue.
One thing they knew was that there was no way they could finish this in one day. They had to do this over the weekend (unless Issei managed to find what they were looking for). They had to do something about those doors; otherwise, they would never find Yuusuke's body.
"Matsuda…" Motohama said tiredly.
"What…?" Matsuda replied with equal fatigue, as he too slumped to the floor.
"Let's call it a day, shall we?" Motohama suggested.
"Agreed…" Matsuda replied, getting up using the wall as a support for doing so.
"*Sigh* We've got to do something about those doors, man. Otherwise, we'll never be able to find that guy Yuusuke," Motohama told his friend, while getting up as well.
"Totally… maybe we should ask Monique or someth-" Matsuda began.
"No…" Motohama interrupted Matsuda. "You remember what Ddraig said, right? None of the wardens are to find out about this," Motohama reminded him.
"Then what are we going to do? Break the doors in?" Matsuda asked sarcastically, but still tired with a frown.
"I don't know… We'll head back and ask Ddraig and Issei what to do about it… But the wardens are not supposed to find out about it…" Motohama stated.
"Um… What are we not supposed to find out…?" a voice suddenly asked from out of nowhere.
"GAAH!" "WAAH!" Matsuda and Motohama screamed startled as they turned to the source of the voice.
"J-Julie!" Motohama exclaimed startled.
Indeed. The person to whom the voice belonged to was none other than the beautiful tall purple-haired warden named Julie. She too looked startled by the sudden screams of the perverted duo, as she calmed herself down and nodded to Motohama's response.
"Sorry, Miss Julie," Matsuda apologized, getting up from his sitting position. Motohama did the same immediately afterwards.
"N-n-no no… It's my fault… I shouldn't have snuck up to you like that unnoticed…" Julie insisted apologetically, as she looked away embarrassed, her fingers playing with her long silky hair.
"A-anyway…" Julie spoke up turning her face back to the two boys. "What are you doing up here?"
Matsuda and Motohama looked at each other nervously for a while, as if trying to communicate with each other nonverbally. Then Motohama turned his face to Julie and spoke up first.
"We… we were just… checking out where the toilet paper was… that's all!" Motohama lied. Julie looked at him uncertain, as if unsure whether to believe him.
"I… It's true!" Matsuda interjected. "Motohama wet his pants earlier and he had to use up so much toilet paper to clean our dorm room!" Motohama immediately blushed at that, before angrily turning his face towards Matsuda.
"Dude! Did you have to say that!?" Motohama berated his friend. But Matsuda stood his ground with his statement.
"But it's true! I looked into the bathroom earlier and I saw that the toilet paper had nearly run out! I bet you used all that toilet paper to clean all that piss of yours on the floor, am I right?" Matsuda retorted, causing Motohama to growl angrily at Matsuda.
"You piece of…" Motohama started but was intercepted by Julie who went in between him and Matsuda, before the first could pounce on the latter.
"All right. There's no reason to start a fight here," Julie said, as she laid a hand on Motohama's shoulder to calm him down (much to the latter's surprise).
She then went to a certain door and pulled out a keychain. Julie looked through the keys she had, before finding the right key and inserting it into the lock. She opened it, revealing a small store room with all kinds of household appliances, including toilet paper. Julie took one out and gave it to Motohama.
"Here. This would make up for your needs, right?" Julie asked with a gentle smile, as she gave the toilet paper roll to a blushing Motohama.
"Th-thank you…" Motohama thanked her sheepishly, as he blushed, this time not out of embarrassment or anger, but because of his hormonal instincts reacting to a beautiful woman like Julie. Motohama looked away for a moment.
Julie was a great girl. Long legs, beautiful long hair, gentle, soft-spoken, a good teacher and tutor. Seriously, how could anyone in the world (especially Matsuda) think she wasn't the best girl… no… woman in the world? Motohama only wished he could be her boyfriend. After all, if Issei could end up with Sally and Matsuda with Nathalie, then why shouldn't he end up with someone as wonderful as Julie?
'But then again…' Motohama reasoned. 'Why would someone as beautiful and wonderful as Julie want to be with someone like me?' Surely, dreams like these… how could they come true?
"Umm… Motohama-kun?" Julie interrupted Motohama's train of thoughts, as he quickly turned his face towards her.
"Y-y-yes...?" Motohama asked in a startled manner after being interrupted by her for the second time today.
"If you don't mind… I have something I need to discuss with you…alone…" Julie said much to Motohama's shock. What on earth…? Despite his bewilderment, he nodded his head.
"Sure, Julie…" Motohama responded. He started following her but managed to turn to Matsuda and hand him the toilet paper. "Here, take this to our bathroom. We'll talk later about our next steps," Motohama whispered, making sure Julie didn't hear. Matsuda nodded, while Motohama followed Julie down the hallway.
14th September, Friday, about 6:30 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, Julie's room
Julie opened the door to her room, as she and Motohama went inside. Motohama was a confused as to what it was that Julie wanted to talk to him alone. Moreover, why was he in her room? Motohama could tell it was her room just by the fact that it had some of her clothes on the bed and in her wardrobe. Various clothes, such as leggings, skirts, shirts, bras and panties were lying around the room. Motohama blushed. He was almost on the verge of touching, feeling and sniffing them. Thankfully, he managed to control himself, since Julie was in the room. But again: Why was he in Julie's room? If they wanted to talk in private, wouldn't a normal classroom have sufficed?
While Motohama was pondering these things, Julie turned to look at Motohama with a slightly reddened face. Obviously, she knew that Motohama was a boy and that there was quite a lot of lingerie lying around. Nonetheless, she didn't freak out. Instead, she just stood there blushing.
"Umm… Don't mind all the stuff that is lying around…" Julie said quietly, yet still audibly for Motohama to hear.
"Ahhh… No worries! No worries… ahahaha…" Motohama laughed embarrassed. Then there was an awkward silence. No one spoke, even though the reason both of them were alone in Julie's room was to talk about something.
Because of the awkwardness of the atmosphere, Motohama tried to stimulate a conversation.
"S-say…" Motohama started, gaining Julie's attention. "Don't you think you should be… uh… putting all these clothes away…?" Motohama asked uneasy. He really didn't want to say it, but he had to say something, right? Motohama felt like he was going to die from embarrassment. He may be a pervert, but even he had some degree of modesty, more so with older women.
Julie just turned away embarrassed, as she replied sheepishly. "Well… You're right about that… I really should clear my room…" Julie was embarrassed. This was not going the way she had hoped the conversation would go, but she had a hard time starting the conversation she wanted to have. Nonetheless, she started to take her things and put them away in the washing basket.
Once again, awkward silence reigned in Julie's room, except the sound of Julie's clothes being moved into the washing basket. It's clear to Motohama that Julie wasn't going to start talking. But why? What was it that Julie wanted to talk to him about? It must be pretty touchy, if Julie was acting this shy, right?
Nevertheless, Motohama could do the next best thing and try to stimulate another conversation. But what could he… then Motohama got it.
"Hey, Julie!" Motohama asked a bit too loudly than he intended, causing Julie to yelp and turn around with her white panties in her hands. Motohama held his hands up quickly in defense. "Woah, whoa… No need to get all jumpy… I just wanted to ask you something."
"You do…? Well… what is it?" Julie asked, still holding her panties. Motohama blushed at the sight of the white panties. He bet she probably wore it not too long ago. Nonetheless, he shook his thoughts as he focused on Julie.
"Well… umm…" the spectacle-wearing pervert started awkwardly. "…It's about your colleagues… Sally and Nathalie… uhh… is it all right for them to be in a romantic relationship with Issei and Matsuda? I mean, they aren't eighteen yet and… well… since this is a facility… wouldn't it be illegal?"
Julie didn't say anything for the moment. She turned around and put the white panties into the washing basket, before turning around to face Motohama once more. Julie had a neutral expression as she looked away for a bit. It seemed like she was trying to find the right thing to say to Motohama but was still trying to think whether it was the right thing to say.
"Well…" Julie began. "Although what you say is true… Nathalie and Sally are adults and they know the boundaries that a student-teacher relationship should have. So, even if they have a… romantic relationship so to speak… it's ok if it doesn't go too far down the road…" she explained, causing Motohama to frown.
"Pardon me, but Issei and Sally have kissed and made out and Nathalie and Matsuda have already had sex… so… where's the boundary?" Motohama asked, causing Julie to widen her eyes in surprise.
"W-w-what!?" Julie exclaimed in a stuttering fashion. "W-what do you mean Nathalie and Matsuda had sex?" Motohama was a bit taken aback at how surprised Julie was. She didn't know? Monique seemed to know about their escapade earlier this day, but Julie didn't? That was surpising.
"Ummm… you mean you didn't know?" Motohama asked curiously. Julie wildly shook her head.
"No! I didn't! So that's why Monique told me not to go into Nathalie's room not too long ago…" Julie deduced.
"Yeah… I also was shocked when Monique told us about them having sex, too!" Motohama added. He sat down on Julie's bed, as he went on.
"I mean, as if Issei and Sally hadn't been bad enough with them making out, Matsuda had to lose his V-card to Nathalie, too! Why am I the only one that hasn't made out with a girl yet? In fact, I never even had a girl who likes me to begin with! So why… WHY!?" Motohama cried out, as he sagged his shoulders and looked down to the floor. "Why am I the only one left behind…?"
Julie looked at Motohama sadly. He was bothered about his friends being ahead of him in terms of romance. That certainly was enviable… being the only virgin or single person in one's group of friends… Julie understood him perfectly. After all, as of now, she was just like him. Sally had her first boyfriend, Nathalie lost her virginity not too long ago, even Monique said she had a boyfriend. Monique never said who it was, but she did say that it was somebody… out of this world or something like that.
Only Julie was left.
Yes.
Julie was the only warden here who has had no boyfriend. Which is why when she heard Motohama's story, she felt… something between him and her… a bond of some kind… maybe more…
Her cheeks blushed as she thought about it. Was she falling in love with Motohama, just like Sally and Nathalie did with Issei and Matsuda? So, this must be how they ended up together… She shook her head. No, no wait! Such a relationship… that is not permissible! He's still too young! Nonetheless, she thought as she looked at the four-eyed pervert, he seemed kind of cute…
Not only, was he very considerate, but in all their sessions together, Motohama was a very open person and an avid learner. Sure, he may have drooled at her a few times, but despite that, he still was a nice person…
But a relationship with him…?
Julie shook her head again. No, no, no… That shouldn't be. She had no idea how Sally and Nathalie were fine with their relationships (it could be because they were mentally still teenagers, unlike Julie), but starting a relationship like this was not only potentially shaky on the long-term, but Motohama was still so young… a minor…
Julie sighed quietly, looking down to the floor in sadness, as she thought of the other reason why such a relationship wasn't possible.
Not only was Motohama too young for her…
But the secret lying deep inside her heart and the situation involved with it would guarantee that their relationship… would not last very long.
More so, there was something about Motohama's idea of getting a boyfriend and losing his virginity that didn't seem right to her.
"Umm… Julie?" Motohama spoke up. Julie shook out of her thoughts, as she focused her attention on Motohama once again. Julie noticed that Motohama's face showed signs of worry.
"Is everything all right?" Motohama asked concerned.
Julie just smiled gently, as she shook her head. "No… nothing you need to be worrying about…" Julie reassured Motohama. Nobody said a word, as Julie pondered about whether she should do it or not. In the end, she decided to sit down right next to him, much to Motohama's surprise.
'Whoa! Julie's sitting next to me! I can almost smell her! No wait, Motohama! Resist, resist! I mustn't do anything stupid here!' Motohama thought, fighting his urges as well as he could. He fidgeted as he sat next to the purple-haired warden, trying his best not to touch her or make her uncomfortable.
"Motohama?" Julie asked.
"Uhh… yeah?" Motohama replied.
"I've been wondering… What is it about getting a girlfriend or losing your virginity to someone that makes you want to do it?" Julie inquired.
Motohama looked at her stunned. OK… He did not expect that question. Motohama pondered how to answer Julie. It took him half a minute before he responded.
"Well… What should I say?" Motohama answered nonchalantly. "Having sex proves that you're an adult now. And having a girlfriend, you know… is a way of getting it. Plus, what could be better in the world than sex?"
Julie nodded. "OK… So, you're saying the girl is only a tool just to have sex… Am I right?" Julie asked calmly. Motohama immediately shook his head.
"No! I mean, girls aren't just tools to a means… Girls need to be treated with respect… and… uh… first you need to be friends… and… umm… well… you should never be unfaithful to them…" Motohama rambled on, trying to do some damage control on what he said before. However, the more he talked, the more he realized how hypocritical his words were. In the end he just went quiet and gave up on trying to justify his motives.
"…You're right, Julie…" Motohama sighed. "I… really do think of women as tools to an end… All three of us for that matter," Motohama explained, as Julie listened attentively to what Motohama had to say.
"We… the reason why we're called the perverted trio… is because of our love for boobs, porn, girl's lingerie and a bunch of other fetishes… including our love for harems! That shouldn't be forgotten!" Motohama quickly added energetically, before returning back to his more somber tone.
"Unfortunately, we always get hated for what we do… I guess I don't blame the kendo club for beating us up over our peeping habits… yet… even then we still persisted… holding on to our ideals of getting a harem someday… but then… as you probably know… we got thrown in jail for beating up some girls, which is something that I never thought we would ever do… You know?" Motohama said to Julie, the latter saying nothing. Nonetheless, she showed interest to what Motohama was saying by nodding her head. Good! At least Motohama knew he wasn't boring her – at least outwardly – before he continued.
"It really was scary… being in jail… not knowing when you'll get out… when I was injured by a vengeful police officer… I thought I was a goner! I thought I was going to die a virgin! It was so horrible… as I lay there agonized by the bullet that had pierced my shoulder… Thankfully, I managed to survive. And things you know… only got better… we got sentenced here for two years, we met you, Monique, Sally and Nathalie and that was when thought… things were going upward for us… you know?" Motohama said and looked at Julie. Julie had an uncertain expression, as if wanting Motohama to elaborate further.
"When we saw you… and how nice you were to us… we were hoping you might be single… and we were right on the money. We all… had perverted, erotic dreams about you four… each one of us had our eyes on our respective candidates… Issei had Sally, Matsuda had Nathalie… and I had you…" Motohama confessed with a smile, causing Julie to get flustered and blush with a brightly reddened face.
"…I… I fell in love with you… at our first tutoring session… You taught me so many different things in that lesson, like expanding your horizon on what you want be when you grow up… but most importantly…" Motohama paused, before looking tenderly into Julie's eyes. Julie was still blushing but didn't turn away. "I discovered that a girl can't be measured by their three sizes… or outward appearances in general… but by the sweetness of the inner person… I know it sounds… like a cliché moral lesson… and I've heard it over and over… but know… I truly understand it… you know…" Motohama smiled happily.
"Uhuh…" Julie nodded, still reddened from Motohama's confession.
"So, I want to say… Thank you, Julie… you're the sweetest girl I've ever met… I'm so glad that I was able to meet you… So, please… will you be my girlfriend?" Motohama asked, as his heart was beating rapidly at the climax of the moment.
"Motohama…" Julie said quietly, her bangs overshadowing her eyes, leaving her facial expression uncertain. Her hands went to her chest, as she felt her rapid heartbeat.
"Julie…" Motohama spoke up. "You don't have to answer me now… If you need me, I'll be waiting for you downstairs…" Motohama said, as he got up to go. But Julie reached out and snatched his wrist, preventing Motohama from leaving. Motohama looked back surprised. Julie's bangs were still covering her eyes, so her expression was still uncertain.
"Motohama… there is something… I need to tell you…" Julie said.
Motohama raised his eyebrows. Something she needed to tell him?
"I… appreciate your honesty with me… about your feelings towards me… But before I get to that… there's something I need to say about your desire to lose your virginity…" Julie told him, as she let go of his wrist.
'Losing my V-card? What about it?' Motohama wondered.
"You said that you wanted to lose your virginity so that you can become an adult, right?" Julie asked Motohama. He nodded.
"Then let me put it this way: If you had the opportunity to lose your virginity… would you take it?" Julie asked.
Mothama was shocked at what he heard. 'Holy crap! I-is she saying she wants sex with me?'
Motohama eagerly nodded his head, but still tried to be modest in his behavior towards her.
"Julie… I'm flattered… but… well… we don't have to do it this quickly…" Motohama blabbered with a reddened face, every kind of fantasy of what may happen next rushing to mind. But Julie stopped him.
"I wasn't finished yet," she said, causing Motohama to stop his fantasies and listen to what Julie had to say. "What if you lost your virginity… to someone who turns out to be… a deplorable person… one who would only give you misery and heartbreak for the rest of your life… would you still wish to lose your virginity then?"
Motohama was surprised by what Julie had to ask. Why was she saying this? He thought for a while, before responding.
"I… don't think so…" Motohama answered honestly.
"All right… next question: What if you could lose virginity… but the girl… was a prostitute?" Julie asked again.
'Whoa, whoa… Why is she asking these questions?' Motohama thought bewildered. Then an idea of why she was asking these things came to mind.
"Julie… you don't mean to say you're…" Motohama said, not wishing it to be true. To his relief, Julie quickly shook her head.
"No, no… I'm just making up a hypothetical case…" Julie replied.
Motohama breathed a sigh in relief, before answering. "Well, the question is no!"
"Good, next question: What if you lost your virginity through rape? Is that something you would want?" Julie asked again.
"Oh heck, no!" Motohama answered. "Why would you be asking all these things, Julie? You know the answer would be no!"
"Well… If you value losing your virginity so much, here's the final question: Why would you refuse all these hypothetical options I've given you?" Julie queried Motohama.
"That's easy! Because all of these options are either painful to go through, degrading, cheap or just plain horrifying. Why would I want to go through all that just to have sex?" Motohama asked rhetorically.
Julie just smiled at that. "Exactly…"
It was then that Motohama realized what she was getting at the whole time.
"I see… you were trying to tell me that losing your virginity is not necessarily a good thing, right?" Motohama deduced with Julie nodding her head.
"Yes… but not only that… your first time should be treasured… cherished with the person you love… not just thrown away at the next opportunity… I understand that you want to have a lover… or even have sex… in fact I, too, want it as much as you do… but there's a right way in doing it…" Julie explained, turning her head away meekly. "… at the right time… the right place… and the right circumstances… And I don't want you make the same mistakes like so many other people have with their first time…"
Motohama just took in what Julie said. Yeah, that's right! It isn't about losing your virginity that matters, but in doing it the right way. What Julie said made sense… Nevertheless, there was one point that Motohama still insisted on.
"I still think it's unfair that Issei and Matsuda can get ahead of me in losing their V-card," he said, folding his arms to his chest. Julie giggled a bit, before her face started to turn a bit serious, something that caught Motohama's eye.
"Well… to be honest… I think you're better off than they are… for the long-term…" Julie said.
"What do you mean by that?" Motohama asked Julie.
"Even though… their chemistry with my colleagues is very good… it probably won't last very long…" Julie explained. Julie becoming downcast, making Motohama worried.
"What? Why?" Motohama said surprised.
Julie didn't answer. All she did was look down with a somber expression, before speaking.
"…Which is why… I can't be with you… I'm sorry," Julie said.
Motohama felt like a train hit him. It felt like… his heart was breaking, as he took those words in.
"W-what…? I… think I didn't hear you…properly…" Motohama responded shocked but sad because of her rejection.
"I'm sorry, Motohama… I… we can't be together…" Julie said sadly, Motohama's heart shattering into tiny pieces. He just froze there, sitting on Julie's bed. He couldn't believe it.
Issei was able to end up with Sally…
Matsuda was able to lose his V-card with Nathalie…
So why…?
Why couldn't he end up with Julie…?
Why was he the one being left behind?
"Motohama!" Julie's voice shook him out of his frozen condition, followed by a hug. Julie hugged him tightly, tears coming from her eyes. Motohama thought it was strange. Why… was she crying? He was the one who got rejected by her, right? She obviously didn't want him for some reason, so why…?
Tears flowed down her cheeks, as Motohama hugged her back.
"Even though… I said that we can't be together… I wish we could… I love you, too… but we just can't…" Julie said between sobs.
'Why not?' Motohama wanted to ask, but Julie answered before he could say these words.
"…there are circumstances… *sob* that won't let us…" Julie explained tearfully. "…if we want to have our first time to be a wonderful… blissful *sob* experience… then we mustn't… not here… not now… and not… *sniff* under the present circumstances…"
'But what do you mean by that?' Motohama asked mentally. 'When… Where… and What would be the right time…?'
"I know you have a lot of questions, Motohama *sob*… but now is not the right time to answer them… for now *sob* all I can tell you is what I have told you in our first tutoring session together *sniff*…" Julie hugged Motohama tighter, her fingers clawing his back desperately. If Motohama didn't have his sweater on, she may have left scratch-marks on him, but Motohama didn't care about that for now.
"'…don't look in only one direction, but in many…' *sniff* that is true not only for your career choices *sob*… but also for your love life as well *sob*…" Julie advised Motohama, repeating those very same words that she had told him last Saturday.
Motohama didn't say anything. He just listened silently to Julie's sobbing. He smelled the sweet aroma coming from her hair. Even though she rejected him... it was nice to be in her arms like this…
After a while Julie stopped crying. She removed one of her hands from their hug and pulled something out of her skirt pocket. She gently put it in Motohama's hand. Motohama looked at what he had in his hand and saw a key. What was it for?
Julie leaned forward and whispered the answer into Motohama's ear.
"Try out every door. Follow your smell. The door to the room that opens with this key will have what you're looking for," whispered Julie. Motohama was confused as to what she meant, before he could ask…
"Julie! Motohama! It's time for dinner!" Monique's voice came from downstairs.
"W-we'll be right there!" Julie replied, removing herself from Motohama, yet still sitting next to Motohama. She also wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve.
"Before you go, Motohama… I want to tell you one last thing…" Julie said. Motohama just turned his face towards her. Her face was still red from crying, but at least she was smiling again.
"…You're a wonderful person, Motohama… Although I can't be with you… I'm sure there will be plenty of girls who might fall for you…" Julie told him. As soon as she finished saying these things, she kissed him on the cheek. It was an emotional, passionate, yet gentle kiss, the kind that lasted only for two seconds, but one with a lot of feelings attached to it.
Motohama was mildly surprised. He wasn't expecting a kiss, right after being rejected. Yet overall, he was confused. He didn't know whether to be happy or sad, jumping for joy for making progress or crying because that was as far as his and Julie's relationship will ever go. Before Motohama could think further, Julie spoke up.
"I think you should go now. It's rude to keep Monique waiting. Please tell the others I'll be coming down a bit later, OK?" Julie said. Motohama nodded. She got up and headed towards the bathroom to wash her face.
Motohama waited until Julie had entered and the door had closed. He went out of Julie's room and headed downstairs.
Resuming where he left his thoughts, Motohama didn't know what to think about Julie's rejection. What's more, he didn't know what to do with that key in his hand. And what did she mean when she said: "Try out every door. Follow your smell. The door to the room that opens with this key will have what you're looking for"? Why, if he didn't know any better it might as well be related to the search for that police driver Yuu-.
Wait a minute! Motohama looked down at the key. Could it be…? He looked back towards Julie's room. She wasn't coming out yet, but that was irrelevant. Then all the pieces of the puzzle came together into Motohama's head.
'Come to think of it, Julie was the last person who saw that guy Yuusuke still alive. She was making him tea if I remember correctly. So, could it be…?' Motohama reasoned, his eyes widening as he came to the realization…
'Julie… so that's why you've been saying all these things just now…' Motohama reasoned.
And there you have it.
It took me a while to write this down, getting distracted sure is annoying!
But I managed to do it in the end
Now as for the chapter.
The succubus's victim called Yuusuke is none other than the police van driver who drove the perverted trio to Sakabasu Detention Facility. So now the gang is going to look for his remains wherever they are.
Meanwhile, Julie and Motohama have had this heartfelt talk about virginity and how precious it is. Now, one thing I've noticed in a number of animes is that characters constantly get virgin-shamed or get pressured into losing their virginity. And when they do get the opportunity to lose their virginity, some cop-out has to get in their way. It's annoying trope that permeates so many animes, including in High School DxD. That is why I went out of my way to get a scene like this to get written.
I mean, come on! Don't they have any sense of valuing their virginity or making their first time kissing or having sex special? Why do they feel the need to get rid of their V-card as soon as they can? I mean I'm sure there are characters that do value their first kiss or first time, but their constitution is played in such a shallow, generic or comedic fashion that they barely even count!
Anyway, it's just ridiculous just how these characters think. If there is an anime that values virginity, I'd like to know.
Back to Motohama and Julie: Now maybe some of you are shocked that I had Julie reject Motohama. Well, if you've seen where Motohama was going with his argument at the end, you might understand why.
I wanted to try something different with Julie's and Motohama's relationship, make it different from Sally x Issei and Matsuda x Nathalie. So why not a relationship that won't become an "official" relationship? As for where their relationship will be going from here… you'll see…
Anyway, here's a- SGVyZSdzIGEgcG9lbS4uLiB0ZWVoZWU=
What may start at the start
Ends not necessarily at the end
As much as he is smart
To succeed is not necessarily a trend
Writing might be hard
And sometimes easy
But stabbing with a shard
Can make one queasy
Getting what I want is the same
The arduous trials one must endure
But that is all part of the great game
And I for one will win…
…for that I am sure…
SSBob3BlIHlvdSBoYWQgZnVuIHdpdGggaXQu
What the…!?
A poem? What on earth does this mean? Why do get the chills from this? What's it talking about winning a game of some kind? I have to say it's a well-written poem… but still! It's freaking me out! Who's writing all these weird messages!?
[…]
Ah well! Anyway, I was going to show you an omake of Motohama's parents until I was interrupted…
Anyway, here it is:
14th September, Friday, about 6:45 pm – Todoriki residence, living room
If anyone were to tell you that the Todoriki couple were neglectful, well… they would be wrong! The Todoriki couple cared very much for their only son, Motohama. They tried to get in contact with their son since they got arrested last week. Unfortunately, by the time they reached Kuoh Police Prison in the evening, the police told them they weren't going to let them see their son because visitor hours had long passed. Phoning their son wasn't going to work because his phone had been confiscated by the police.
They couldn't do it any earlier because they had to work long hours and couldn't get these hours off, no matter how hard they pleaded, so they had no choice but to wait till their son's trial to see him.
When the trial came, they were finally able to see him but were shocked to see his left arm and shoulder being bandaged. They demanded to know why their son was injured, but nobody gave them an answer.
In the end, after Motohama and the others had been sent to Sakabasu Detention Facility, they and the Hibiki family were able to finally visit their children on Tuesday.
It turned out they too had undergone the same ordeal as they did and thus were also desperate to see their son again.
When they arrived at Sakabasu Detention Facility, it was wonderful! The wardens were delightful, polite and charming, unlike the police officials from Kuoh Police Prison.
They were so happy. Motohama and his friends were enjoying their time in the facility, learning and developing under their tutelage and care.
Both families went home that day, relieved from all the worries they had during the past week. Their sons were also glad to see them again.
The only one who didn't seem to be cheerful about it was Issei.
All he could now do was look back at the times he spent with them and cry in silence and loneliness, his only comforter being the Red Dragon Emperor Ddraig.
For he would never see his parents again...
Please read and review!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
I'll see you soon.
Until then.
Hide Shinyama