Chapter 5

Akira POV Sunday morning

I woke up and went downstairs I saw Asia and Ren sitting at the living room table.

Ren:" Oh, hey there Aki."

Asia:" Good morning Akira-senpai."

Akira:" Morning you two."

Asia:" I know I already said this, but I appreciate that you two are letting me stay here."

Akira:" It's no problem, you need a place to stay, and we have a place for you to stay at."

Ren:" So what are you guys going to do today?"

Akira:" Me and Rias have set up a meet-up."

Ren:" Well have fun with her. I'll probably just watch some movies or TV shows in my room."

Asia:" I'm not sure right now, is it okay if I join you, Ren?"

Ren:" Of course, it's okay."

Akira Pov

I had gone to a nearby park and had waited for Shiho when I saw Shiho.

Akira:" Yo! Shiho!"

She walks up to me and sits down next to me.

Shiho:" Hey Akira, what are you doing right now?"

Akira:" I'm waiting for Rias."

Shiho looked surprised it was like two or three weeks into the school year, and he was not just casually chilling with one of the most popular girls at school but was calling her by their first name.

Shiho:" Oh wow. You are certainly a charmer to be going on a date with the Rias Gremory aren't you?

Akira's face lights up like an agidyne had struck him straight in his face.

Akira:" Hehehe, You caught us."

Shiho:" Huh for real? I was just messing with you! But I'm proud of you."

Akira:" Thanks, but we're just friends hanging out."

Shiho:" You mean that you are friends with her?"

Akira:" Yeah, we've known each other for years."

Shiho:" So how'd you two meet?"

Akira:" Well it was a normal day at school, and then she showed up there was something about her that drew me towards her like no one else maybe I'll tell you the full story later."

Shiho:" Oh, I see Well I'm not going to force you to say what you don't want to."

Akira:" Thank you Shiho I appreciate it."

Shiho:" So what are you and Rias doing today?"

Akira:" We'll walk, talk for a while get some lunch, and split."

Shiho:" I hope you have fun we should hang out soon."

Akira:" Of course maybe we can play a sport together, maybe track?"

Shiho:" Sounds like a good idea."

After a few hours Akira goes home and goes to sleep. The Next day Akira, Ren, and, Asia walk to school.*

Ren:" Hey Aki, our parents are coming home in three days."

Akira:"…Yeah that's just great."

Asia:" Um, Akira-senpai? Do you hate your parents?"

Akira:" I don't hate them, Asia, I can't hate them…I'm just angry at them." Akira awkwardly rushes ahead of us to our class.

After another boring class, the lunch bell rings and, I go to the roof, I sit on the roof alone today after I finish eating my lunch I see the velvet room door.

Akira:" Is that the velvet room?"

I walk into it and I'm back in the velvet room, it's the same as always.

Lavenza:" Trickster, I have found something out."

Akira:" What'd you find out?"

Lavenza:" I Found out that part of the metaverse had gone inside you."

Akira:" What? The metaverse is inside me?"

Lavenza:" That's right trickster. Haven't you wondered why you awoke to your persona and can summon them in the real world?"

Akira:" ……Well, You've got a point there, I never actually questioned why I could do that in the real world. Is the Metaverse being inside me dangerous?"

Lavenza:" No it can't & won't hurt you."

Akira:" I see. Is the metaverse the same as last year?"

Lavenza:" Mostly. Just enter a name, place, and distortion, but there is a new step you must take. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to say what the step is just yet, you'll have to figure that out by yourself but when you do, you will be in the metaverse again. You should be going now lunch is about to end."

When school ends I get a text from Ren.

Ren:" Our parents are going to be here soon come home now."

Akira:" Do I have to? I mean you're clearly their favorite."

Ren:" Are you Jealous? Anyways yes, you have to. I don't want your relationship with the two of them to be any more strained than it is."

Akira:" Fine, I'll be there soon."

After a few minutes, I reach the house and I see our parents' cars in the driveway I open the door and see my mom giving Ren a big tight hug and Dante is sitting on the couch.

Dante:" Welcome home Akira."

Cereza had put Ren down and she awkwardly went up to Akira

Cereza:" Hey there my darling son."

Akira:"…Hey…Mom…uh, how are you?"

Cereza:" I've been fine. Work's been exhausting lately as always. How was your year with Sakura? He told us but I'd like to hear about it from you."

Akira:" It was great…er rather when he chilled out at least. More importantly, are you two hungry?"

Dante:" Yeah, we're pretty hungry we were going to get some fast food."

Akira:" Um…Mom, Dad there's something I need to tell you."

Cereza:" What is it Little one?"

Akira:" Uh well, I don't know how to say this."

Ren:" I'll take over from here. There is someone else that…Aki had insisted on her staying here."

Dante:" Huh, you did that Akira?"

Akira:" Yeah I did. She didn't have anywhere to go and I didn't want her to sleep on the streets."

Cereza:" You're very kind son-."

Dante:" But you should have called and asked us first!"

Akira:"…I'm sorry."

Cereza:" It's fine but still you should have told us."

Dante:" Where is she anyways?"

Ren:" She's out with friends she told me that she won't be back for a few hours."

Dante:" Alright, let's go already I'm extremely hungry right now."

After 2 hours they all come back home. Akira rushes to his room, takes off his glasses, and is about to go to sleep until he gets a text from Rias.

Rias:' Akira there is something important that I must tell you about tonight.'

Akira:' Rias? Are you alright?'

Rias:' Can we meet up in person?'

Akira:' Sure, how about the fountain where you saved Issei?'

Rias:' I'll meet you there.'

I see Rias sitting on the edge of the fountain she doesn't notice me she looks like she is in her world.

Akira:" Rias! I came as fast as I could what is going on?"

Rias was surprised and fell backward, she had almost fallen into the water, but Akira caught her, she felt Akira's strong muscles wrap around my body, meanwhile, my face was in his chest, and I had felt my face light up in a blush.

Rias:" I want to stay here my body being wrapped around in his big, strong, muscles." Rias thought to herself "No Rias, this is your friend you've known him since both of you were four. These are inappropriate thoughts to be having." I had felt my arms wrap around his neck with a smile as I looked into his eyes…his strong, beautiful, piercing, bright, grey eyes. Was his eyes always like this?"

Akira just waves his hand in front of my face.

Akira:" Rias? Are you Alright?"

Rias:" Oh y-yeah I-I'm fine."

Akira:" So, Why'd you call me here?"

Rias:" Oh Right, let's sit down."

After that, they sit down on the edge of the fountain

Rias:" It's very important news."

Akira:" If you don't want to talk about it you don't have to."

Rias:" Your concern for me is very heartwarming however, you have to be aware of this."

Akira:" If you say so, just know that you don't have to share anything you don't want to."

Rias:"…Thanks Akira, Alright let me start from the beginning. Are you familiar with the Great War?"

Akira:" Yeah of course I am."

A few seconds Rias had realized what she had just said

Rias:" Oh yeah that's right, you wouldn't be familiar with the great war would you?"

Akira:" Nope, I wouldn't know anything about that."

Rias:" Alright, well let me explain it to you."

Akira:" I see, so the great war had terrible repercussions on devils, angels, and fallen angels, the devils had created the Evil pieces to help repopulate the devil population, but the "higher-ups" so to speak don't like it, and have arranged political marriages to make more "Pure blood devils" as they're called."

Rias:" Yeah that's right. That was an amazing summary."

Akira:" Thank you. But why did you tell me all that? I doubt that it was for no reason."

Rias:" Because…I-I um well……I'm being forced into one of those political marriages."

Akira:" What?! Is this true?!"

Rias:" Yes, Unfortunately, it's all true I…I'm desperate I'd do anything to get out of this marriage."

Akira:" What are some possible ways to get out of the marriage?"

Rias:" Well, there's a rating game but that'd be nigh impossible it'd be a 4 vs 15, there's another way actually."

Akira:" Oh? Do tell."

Rias:" It involves…Me and someone else they have to…take me, you know what."

Akira:" No I don't Rias, I don't know what your " You know what is" Rias, you'll have to be explicit…unless you don't want to talk about it of course."

Rias:" It's my…uh Virginity."

Akira had blushed and he looked away.

Akira:" Are those the only ways to get you out of the marriage?"

Rias:" Yeah, unfortunately, it is they are the only ways, at least that I can remember at the moment."

Akira:" Hrmm, let's consult the Nav." Akira thinks to himself "Say what's the full name of your Fiancè?"

Rias:" Hm? It's Riser Phoenix he's from the house of Phoenix "

Akira enters "Riser Phoenix" and "House of Phoenix" into the MetaNav.

Akira:" Oh, It's a hit, he's got a palace, that's amazing!"

Rias:" What did you just do?"

Akira:" It's a secret, Rias." "I just need a distortion."

Rias:" Did you say something Akira?"

Akira:" Nope. Do you know what Riser thinks of the house of Phoenix?"

Rias:" Why do you want to know something like that?"

Akira:" Just tell me it Rias."

Rias:" Ummm……Hmm, let me think about that for a second I think that he said his house was like was like a temple."

Metanav:" Palace located, unable to enter please break the wall."

Rias:" Palace?"

Akira:" Alright, looks like I'll have to explain this."

Rias:" So there's another world created from people's cognitions, and those palaces are made from distorted cognitions mixing with strong desires."

Akira:" You caught on quickly that's good, but yeah that's the general gist of it."

Rias:" But why couldn't we enter? And what's with that wall?"

Akira:" I really couldn't tell you, we-Er I had never encountered this wall before."

Rias:" Can that palace place help me get out of my arranged marriage?"

Akira:" Yeah, I hope we can find out about that wall."

Rias:" I'll try to find any more info about that palace. Maybe we could find out about that wall?"

Akira:" I hope so Rias, I really do let's go home."

Rias:" I understand, See you."