AN: Ah, spring. A time of new beginnings, blossoming flowers, allergies, and flu. Ugh… I'm not a big fan of this time of year, especially since I always seem to get sick. I also got into "The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You" due to the recent anime announcement and got into High Card (that series is criminally underrated!). That, along with having trouble deciding a certain thing, is why I didn't post anything else in March. Oh, yeah, I also posted a new story. More on that at the end.
Those are the main reasons for the delay. But enough with that, let's enjoy the chapter, shall we?
The next day at school, Mizu had come to Izuku, asking for him to visit her sanctum, inviting Xenovia to come also. Once classes ended for the day, the two made their way to the sanctum, accompanied by Itsuka and Ingvild, the two visiting Mizu to help Itsuka learn more about her demonic power and heritage. "Is this truly safe? It's taboo for devils to enter shrines as it is with churches, correct?" Xenovia couldn't help but ask as they walked up the stone steps.
"Mizu-san told me that the previous god that resided here left and Kamar-Taj acquired it. Me and Ochako helped Mizu-san move in, so it's safe for us to enter," Izuku explained as he stepped through torii gate without effect.
"I'm not getting any chills like I normally would get when near places like this," Itsuka noted as she followed.
"Why do you think Mizu wanted you two, today?" Ingvild asked Izuku and Xenovia.
"I had asked her, but she wanted it to be a surprise," Xenovia answered.
"I was wondering when you would show up," Mizu walked up to them. "Sorry for calling you here on such short notice."
"It's fine," Izuku replied. "But what is this about?"
"You'll see," Mizu smiled as she led the back to the shrine.
Once Mizu opened the door to the shrine, a piece of wood flew out from inside and struck Izuku straight in the head.
"Ow!" Izuku exclaimed as he clutched his forehead.
"Izuku! Are you okay?" Xenovia came up to Izuku to check on him.
"Where did that come from!?" Itsuka exclaimed.
"Oh, looks like you couldn't dodge it." Izuku's assailant stepped out of the shrine.
She was fairly attractive, with deep red eyes and long, golden hair that reached down to her waist, wearing a black shirt and pants, a pure-white coat with a large and long sword sheathed on her back, and two pistols in leather holsters on her hips.
"I was expecting more from someone who harbors a Heavenly Dragon," she looked at Izuku with a dissatisfied expression. "Take this as a lesson, Red Dragon Emperor. Never let your guard down."
'Who is this woman and why is she so crazy?' Izuku then recognized her clerical robes. "An exorcist?!"
"Sister Osanne?" Xenovia blinked in surprise, a hint of unease in her voice.
"You know her?" Ingvild asked Xenovia.
"Was that really necessary, Osanne?"
Xenovia's eyes widened in pure, abject horror as Griselda stepped outside the shrine. "G-Gr-Griselda?!"
"And not just her!"
Both Izuku and Xenovia gasped at hearing the familiar voice as a girl with light brown hair tied in twintails step out of the shrine.
"Irina!" Xenovia exclaimed at seeing her.
"Xenovia! Zuku!" Irina cheered and ran to her friends. Xenovia and Izuku were caught up in a tight hug from their friend. "I missed you guys so much!"
"I missed you, too," Xenovia smiled as she returned the hug.
"Yeah," Izuku nodded as he returned the hug from his childhood friend.
"…Can someone please explain what's going on?" Itsuka asked, confused by the presence of the three exorcists.
"What are you guys doing here, anyway?" Izuku asked once they separated.
"We've been asked to act as bodyguards for a special VIP for the conference," the other exorcist, Osanne, answered.
"For who?" Xenovia questioned.
"Ah, so this is the current Red Dragon Emperor, as well as the descendants of Leviathan and Asmodeus."
Someone new emerged from the shrine; he appeared to be a young man with platinum blonde hair even brighter than Yuuto's. He was wrapped in a white robe with ornate metal pauldrons adorning each shoulder as if he were part priest and warrior. Izuku, Xenovia, Itsuka, and Ingvild had to shield their eyes slightly at the light emanating from his matching six pairs of wings. They were identical in shape to those of a fallen angel, only these were shining gold as bright as the sun. The halo hovering over his head made his identity all the more obvious as he approached to shake their hands cordially.
"Mr. Midoriya, thank you for coming this day. I am Michael, highest among the Archangels of Heaven."
With Mizu leading, Izuku, Xenovia, Itsuka, and Ingvild followed Michael and the exorcists to the main shrine. Arriving inside the quite large main shrine, the Devils sat down on the wooden floor with Irina and Mizu while the Angel and other exorcists remained standing.
'This is Michael?' Itsuka thought to herself. 'He doesn't look intimidating, and yet…' her spine was shivering. She glanced at Izuku, Xenovia, and Ingvild, and could tell that they were experiencing the same feeling she was.
"There is no reason to fear," Michale said, having realized that the young devils were nervous. "I did not come to do harm. Though, I must admit that feeling Ddraig's aura, along with Itsuka and Ingvild's aura, is somewhat nostalgic to me."
'Nostalgia implies something pleasant,' Itsuka mentally deadpanned, doubting that Michael ever had any pleasant moments with Ddraig, Leviathan, and Asmodeus in the past.
"So, why are you here?" Izuku asked. "I would've thought you wait until the summit before speaking to any of us."
"I see this summit as an opportunity to form an alliance between the Three Biblical Factions," Michael answered with a smile. "As Kokabiel already told you, the Lord and the original Great Satans died in the Great War. And even Azazel admits that he doesn't want to be involved in another war. As such, this is a great chance for all sides. If we continue fighting with each other, our races will become extinct. Even if we manage to survive, we may face another threat that will overwhelm us if we don't learn to work together. As such, I came bearing gifts for the Devils and Fallen Angels. Your superiors have already given us several Holy Demonic Swords to study."
'Is that why Sirzechs wanted to see Yuuto?' Izuku wondered.
"But why invite me?" Xenovia asked.
Mizu held up two fingers. "Two reasons: One, I wanted your union with Irina and Griselda to happen at a much less serious moment. And two, they're returning something."
"Returning something?" Xenovia blinked.
Griselda nodded, heading into a nearby room before returning with a familiar-looking sword.
Xenovia's eyes widened. "You're… returning Excalibur Destruction to me?"
"Yep," Irina beamed. "We figured it would be better to return it to you then let it collect dust at the Vatican until they find a new wielder."
"I… I don't know what to say," Xenovia muttered. "Thank you, Lord Michael…"
"Think nothing of it," Michael smiled. "Of course, the Excalibur Destruction is not the only gift we have. For you, Welsh Dragon."
"For me?" Izuku shivered as he felt a pull of energy, glancing up he realized the source very quickly. An ornate sword, shaped after a European design with a red and gold hilt was drifting down from the ceiling. The handguard was shaped like four golden claws reaching up the blade, there was no doubt it was a holy blade on par with Durandal.
"I present to you, the blade of Saint George, the Dragon Slaying Holy Sword, Ascalon."
"Ascalon?!" Xenovia gaped.
"Wait, I thought Saint George used a lance?" Ingvild asked.
"Ascalon can actually change between a sword and lance at the will of its user," Mizu explained. "And don't worry, Midoriya. We performed a special ritual to make sure you can safely touch it."
"Wait, this is for me?" Izuku questioned.
"As I understand, while you have made great leaps in your abilities, there is still a significant gap between you and the White Dragon Emperor," Michael explained. "Not to mention there will be other parties interested in you due to your Sacred Gear."
"I see," Izuku glanced at Ascalon. "Thank you for the gift, Lord Michael, but… I refuse."
"…Come again?" Griselda uttered, she and some of the others staring at Izuku like he was crazy. The only ones who weren't fazed by Izuku's response were Irina and Michael.
"I understand why you're offering me this, but I can't accept it," Izuku said. "I've been given so much already."
[Kid, are you sure? Having Ascalon would be invaluable against the White One.]
'I'm sure, Ddraig,' Izuku mentally replied.
Osanne gave a light laugh. "You're an odd one, kid."
"Young Irina has said there was a chance you would turn this down," Michael smiled. "Still, we did go through the trouble of cleansing Ascalon so you could wield it. As such, young Irina will be given the blade and remain with you as a representative of the church."
"Come again?" Izuku blinked as Irina took hold of Ascalon.
"You seem pretty confident this summit will work out," Itsuka said.
"I have faith," Michael simply replied. "I'm afraid that I must take my leave, now."
"Wait, Lord Michael," Izuku quickly said, reaching out a hand. "There's something important I have to ask."
"My apologies, but I haven't the time, child," Michael told him. "I'll gladly hear you out at the conference or after."
Understanding where he was coming from and just how important the meeting tomorrow was, Izuku nodded his head in acknowledgment and stepped away from the archangel.
"Griselda, Osanne, let us go."
"Yes, Lord Michael," Griselda politely bowed her head before standing up.
"See you later, kids," Osanne waved to them when the archangel erupted in light. When the light faded, the three had disappeared.
Not long after Michael left with Griselda and Osanne, Mizu fixed up some tea for Izuku, Itsuka, Ingvild, Xenovia, and Irina.
"Here we go," Mizu handed each of them a cup.
"Thank you, Mizu-sensei," Izuku gratefully grabbed his.
"So, did you help Michael purify the sword to make it safe for Izuku?" Xenovia asked.
"Yeah. It wasn't hard, but the doc did have to help guide me through it long distance," Mizu explained.
"Will the Sorcerer Supreme be attending?" Xenovia asked.
"Yes, the doc will be attending also, but he won't be able to come until the night of the summit."
"I still can't believe you turned down something like Ascalon, Izuku," Ingvild said.
"I'm not," Irina spoke up. "Still, why did you turn it down?"
"Well… let's just say I have a way to even the playing field with Vali," Izuku replied.
Xenovia quickly realized that he must have been referring to One for All and nodded.
"So, Irina, right?" Itsuka said. "Michael said that you're going to be a representative of the church? What does that mean?"
"My best guess, once peace is achieved Michael would want a team formed of the different factions to act as peacekeepers or something," Irina replied. She shuffled in her seat to face the violet-periwinkle-haired half-devil. She was quite shocked when she heard that two descendants of the original Satans were here, but they weren't anything like what she was expecting. Itsuka was nice and friendly and was still learning about the supernatural. Ingvild, though, was a bit of an anomaly. She was friendly, but Irina felt she had to ask, "So, Ingvild…what's your story?"
"…There isn't much to tell," Ingvild took a sip of tea. "I was born in Ålesund, a seaside city in Norway, 100 years ago."
"HUH!?" Izuku, Itsuka, Xenovia, and Irina exclaimed.
"I get why Itsuka-chan's shocked, but why are you three? It's not uncommon for devil women to use magic to maintain a youthful appearance even when they're centuries old," Mizu pointed out.
"Wait, really?" Itsuka blinked.
"Yes. Though, it doesn't feel like it's been a hundred years," Ingvild muttered.
"What do you mean?" Izuku asked.
"…I had only just turned 17, most of the world was dealing with the emergence of Meta Abilities, or Quirks as they're called now, when I caught a rare disease among devils," Ingvild revealed. "It caused me to enter a deep sleep."
"Wait, you caught the devil's sleeping disease?" Mizu asked. "But there's no known cure. How are you awake? And for that matter, where were you kept?"
"My parents contacted their relatives in the Underworld, and I was sent to a hospital in the Satan Leviathan faction's territory. At least that's what I was told. All I know is that, when my Sacred Gear awakened, I woke up."
"Wait, you have a Sacred Gear?" Irina asked.
"Oh!" Ingvild blushed a little in embarrassment. "I guess I forgot to mention that. Yes, I have a Sacred Gear, Nereid Kyrie."
"I've never heard of it," Mizu noted.
"Me neither," Irina shook her head.
"Neither have I," Xenovia added. "What is it?"
"It allows me to control dragons and the sea by singing," Ingvild revealed.
[What?] Ddraig muttered.
"Seriously!? That's amazing!" Izuku said, writing this down in a notebook.
"Where did he- never mind," Irina sighed.
"A Sacred Gear that can control dragons and the sea," Mizu held her chin in thought. "If you wanted to you could easily destroy the world. Is it a Longinus?"
"That's what the doctor I was with told me," Ingvild answered. "It was a shock, learning that I was asleep for 100 years and that everyone I knew was gone."
"I'm sorry, Ingvild," Izuku said.
"Thank you, Izuku. Maybe one day, if you want, I can sing for you," Ingvild blushed slightly.
"I would like that," Izuku replied.
"Man, you're a real ladies' man in the making, huh Midoriya?" Mizu smirked.
Izuku blushed at Mizu's words, though he can't exactly argue against it.
"Izuku having so many girlfriends would make it more difficult for me," Xenovia muttered.
Irina, having heard, felt an eye twitch. "…Girlfriends?"
"Oh, I suppose you haven't heard. Izuku is dating Rias and several other girls," Xenovia casually revealed.
'Xenovia, why!?' Izuku internally screamed, seeing the dead look appear in Irina's eyes.
"…How many?" Irina asked, annoyed. "Just how many women are you planning to seduce, Zuku?"
"Huh!?" Izuku blushed.
[You honestly believe he's deliberately doing this?] Ddraig asked.
"Are you jealous, Irina?" Xenovia asked.
Irina's face blushed crimson. "Me? Jealous?! HA! No! No, I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous that my childhood friend has several girlfriends? What's there to be jealous of!"
As a blushing Irina continued to rant, Itsuka smirked. "Yep, she's jealous," the Asmodeus descendent simply said.
"I'm NOT jealous!" Irina snapped. "I'm not jealous that I'm not one of Zuku's girlfriends! Nope! No way!"
"Sure you're not…" Mizu drawled out, she and the others not buying it while Izuku blushed a little. "Though I am wondering, just how many girlfriends do you plan to get, Midoriya?"
"Huh!?" Izuku's blush deepened.
"You're already dating Rias, Ibara, Ochako, Momo, Kyoka, Ravel, Setsuna, Fuyuko, Mina, Hagakure, Liana, Tsuyu, Milia, Tsubasa, and Yui, and I highly doubt the number won't grow later on. So how many girlfriends do you want? Or is it more arcuate to ask what the limit is?"
"Uh…" Izuku wasn't sure how to answer. He wasn't even sure he should answer, given how Xenovia, Itsuka, Irina, and Ingvild were all giving him expecting looks. "I… I honestly don't know. I definitely don't want too many, or else it'll be hard to keep track."
"True…" Mizu nodded. "Hey, Ddraig, I know that some of your previous hosts had a number of suitors. What's the most any of them had?"
[…Try to stay conscious, kid.]
"Oh no," Izuku paled.
[The most lovers any of my hosts had was… a little over 100.]
"ONE-HUNDRED!?" Izuku and the girls, minus Mizu, exclaimed.
[Calm down! At most you likely won't get even half that.]
"That doesn't fill me with much confidence," Izuku muttered.
"I mean, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines," Irina muttered in thought. "And the Lord only punished him because he began worshiping other gods, so maybe…"
"Rinchan, what are you muttering about?" Izuku asked.
"Oh, nothing," Irina waved off.
Sunday came and, as Izuku promised, he was taking Mina and Hagakure out for a date, the three agreed to meet at a popular coffee and ice cream shop. Izuku was the first to arrive, wearing a mint-green t-shirt and black shorts. Given that the peace conference was in a few days, along with Gasper's training, this would be a welcome distraction.
Izuku looked up the time on his phone, checking to see if he was too early.
"Hey, Midori!" Izuku smiled as Mina ran up to him, wearing a dark purple tank top along with some rather short jeans of the sort.
"Hey, Ashi- WHA!" Izuku didn't have much time as Mina jumped forward, forcing the green-haired devil to catch the pink-skinned girl in his arms. He planted her to the ground, yet Mina snuggled her head on his shoulder and kept a hold of him with a giggle.
"Nice catch!"
"A-Ashido-san! We could've fallen over!" Izuku uttered with a large blush as he felt Mina's assets pressed up against him.
"I knew you would catch me," Mina smiled. "And stop with that!"
"With what…?"
Mina waved her finger. "We're dating, remember? So call me Mina."
"Oh… Okay, M-Mina," Izuku muttered.
"Izi! Mina! Hey!" Letting Mina go, the two saw that Hagakure was running up to them, wearing a bright cornflower blue dress and matching wristbands, and a nice sunhat. "Sorry if I'm late."
"You weren't late, Hagakure," Izuku replied.
"Good. By the way, since we're dating, just call me Toru, okay?"
"Uh, sure, T-Toru," Izuku uttered.
"That's better!" Toru then wrapped her arms around Izuku's left. "Then let's get started!"
"Gladly!" Mina smiled as she grabbed onto Izuku's other arm. "This place has some of the best ice cream and coffee in the city! Let's go get some! My treat!" She led the three inside.
"Y-You don't have to pay for the three of us, Mina!" Izuku protested. "I have enough money to pay for all of us. I would feel bad if I let you spend money on me like that."
They got in line and Mina patted the boy on the back. "Awww, you're so sweet Midori. There aren't many guys that would offer to pay for a girl unless he had some sort of goal in mind."
Izuku turned his head curiously. "What kind of goal?"
"Nothing you should worry about, Izi," Toru replied.
It didn't take long for them to reach the counter. "What will it be?"
"I'll have mint chip ice cream," Izuku answered.
"One caramel ice cream for me, please!" Toru added.
"I'll have…" Mina grinned, giving Izuku a hungry look. "A matcha ice cream."
Izuku blushed and gulped, realizing what Mina was likely implying. Toru also realized this and glared at Mina for a moment. Once they received their cones, the three went back outside and sat down on a nearby bench, Toru and Mina making especially sure to snuggle up to Izuku as they ate, to his embarrassment. 'I should be used to this by now…' he silently thought.
After finishing their desserts, Mina suddenly grabbed Izuku's hand.
"Come on, you two! This was only the first place I had in mind!" She yelled as she started dragging the boy down several streets, Toru close behind.
"Hey, wait for me!" Toru called out as she tried to keep up, ignoring the curious looks people gave them as they ran past.
"Y-You don't have to hold my hand!" Izuku stuttered in an embarrassed tone as Mina pulled him.
"What's wrong with it? You shy, Midori?" Mina laughed as they neared her destination.
Izuku recognized it right away. 'This is the arcade I took Ibara to after we first met.'
The arcade itself hadn't changed much since then, with only the addition of several new games being noticeable.
"Cool!" Toru looked in awe at the various games. "What do we play first?"
"I know the perfect one!" Mina led them to a rather large machine, one with two dance pads on the platforms connected to it. There was a big lit-up sign on top of the machine that read "Dance Dance Revolution NEO".
'Uh oh…' Izuku internally winced. "A dancing game?"
"Yep! It'll be fun," Mina said. "Besides, I need a break from studying for finals and this is the best way to relieve stress."
'That's right, I forgot,' Izuku internally winced. 'Final exams start next week. We've been so worried about the conference that it slipped our minds.'
Toru and Mina glanced at each other for a moment before nodding. "Winner gets to dance with Midori/Izi," they both declared as they stepped onto the platforms.
"Huh?" Izuku blinked before Toru handed him her sunhat.
"Hold onto that for me."
Mina put some tokens she already had on her into the machine, starting it up.
"Now… Let's start off with something to warm up," she said as she began to press a few buttons.
Toru glanced at the screen and saw Mina pick a song, but she set it on the highest difficulty. "Hey, you put it on the hardest mode!"
"Yep!" Mina grinned as she started the game. "But don't worry. It's the easiest song to play on the highest difficulty… for me."
"Oh, you little-" Toru didn't have time to argue with her as arrows came flying up the screen.
Izuku watched the two in amusement as they started stepping on the dance pads in rhythm with the song. Even though they were competing with each other, they were having fun.
When the song was over, the results showed that Mina had a higher score than Toru. "Darn it…" Toru huffed, sweating a little while Mina looked fine. "You cheater… whew…"
"You can't prove it!" Mina grinned as Toru stepped off the platform. "Your turn, Midori!"
"Uh, Mina, I should mention that I can't dance," Izuku muttered.
"That'll change, soon," Mina replied.
Izuku sighed, realizing that he wasn't getting out of this. Handing back the tired Toru her sunhat, Izuku stepped onto the open platform. "Can it at least be set to beginner?"
"Oh, fine," Mina wined as she put the necessary tokens into the machine. "Now, let's go!" She basically slammed the button.
"Wah!?" He barely reacted in time as the arrows appeared on the screen. Izuku started stepping on the buttons on his dance pad to match the arrows. He was clumsily doing so at first and didn't even look like he was dancing, evident by how, by the end, Mina's score was far above Izuku's.
"Wow, you weren't kidding, Izi," Toru said. "You can't dance at all."
"I told you," Izuku said.
Mina let out a sheepish laugh. "Sorry, Midori." A determination then filled her black eyes. "But I swear I'll change it! Mark my words, Midori, I'm gonna make you an amazing dancer!"
[I worry for you, partner. Your mates are a real handful.]
'Ddraig, shut it,' Izuku internally growled at the Welsh Dragon.
"Oh, oh! Look there!" Toru exclaimed, her dress indicating she was pointing at the crane games. Inside one of them, there was a green dragon plushie.
Izuku smiled, realizing what she likely wanted. "Do you want it, Toru?"
"Yes, please!"
"Alright," Izuku nodded. Placing a coin in the machine, Izuku managed to retrieve the dragon plush easily.
"Kyah! So cute!" Toru hugged the plush as soon as Izuku gave it to her.
"No fair, Midori~! I want one~!" Mina whined.
"Okay, okay. I'll get you one, too, Mina," Izuku complied. "Which one do you want?"
"Hmmm…" Mina carefully looked over the various plushies in the crane games before spotting one. A green rabbit with red paws. "That one!"
"Okay," Izuku, once again, retraced the rabbit plush without difficulty and gave it to Mina. "Here you go."
Mina received the rabbit from the boy and hugged it tightly in her arms. "It's soft…" She smiled. "Thanks, Midori."
"No problem," Izuku replied. "So, where to next?"
"I have an idea!" Toru exclaimed.
Toru's idea, it turned out, was karaoke. After renting out a room, the three of them began looking through the songs to see which ones they wanted to sing.
"Anything that catches your eye, yet?" Mina asked.
"Nothing yet," Izuku replied.
"Oh! This looks cool! Let's play this one together, Mina!" Toru sparkled.
"Sure!" Mina nodded. Toru selected the song and picked up her microphone along with Mina as they got to their feet.
The music started, and Mina and Toru took a breath and smirked at Izuku. "Ready for us to rock you?" Mina asked.
"H-huh!?" Izuku blushed.
The two grinned and brought the microphones to their lips as the song began.
AN: Lyrics that are in BOLD are sung in English. The full version of the song is here (YouTube dot com / watch ? v = mv5tkDEp9Uc ). If you're having trouble finding it, just look for Trickster by FIVE NEW OLD.
"I am so blind~ Still running~ Running out of sight~ In the night~ I'm feeling goosebumps~ Betting against the odds again, I'm being swayed like in a dance~ No more Blah Blah Bluff-filled Table~ "
"Whoa…" Izuku gaped at their singing voices. "You're doing great!" He clapped for them, which was enough to encourage them.
"Just tell me how to figure it out~ Inside my head, I'm painting the town~ Addiction is affliction~ Something's missing~ (Oh you really got me wrong)~ I wanna get out so I'm Taking a chance~ I gotta advance~ You know who I am~? I'm a trickster~"
Mina approached Izuku and took hold of his chin with her free hand before tilting his head up to face her, causing him to blush before Toru pulled her back in annoyance.
"Just take a chance~ Play the game~ It sounds insane~ Fate smiles at the borderline~ Rather than dance to someone else's tune, I wanna dance to my own~ " At this point Izuku decided to join them, grabbing hold of a spare mic and began singing alongside them.
"Yea I'm moving like that~ Give it a try~ Keep on going down~ I just need something real~ Then we need no fake~ I'll let my soul be wild and free~!"
After several songs, Mina and Toru sat on the couch with Izuku, resting their heads on his shoulders. "That was so much fun," Mina said, rubbing her head against Izuku's neck.
"Yeah," Izuku nodded.
"You have a great voice, Midori," Mina purred. "I want you to sing solo next time."
Izuku gave a nervous laugh.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Toru suddenly sat up. "Izi, remember when I asked you about your suggestions for my hero costume?"
"Huh? Yeah," Izuku nodded. He remembered how Toru approached him after the Sports Festival, saying how she read his entry in his hero notebooks and asked him about any suggestions for an improved hero costume besides anything based on her DNA.
"Well, I just got news from the support department!" If Izuku and Mina could see it, they would see that Toru was smiling brightly. "They'll have me a proper hero costume ready soon!"
"That's great, Toru!" Izuku smiled.
"Yeah!" Mina nodded. "But I gotta asked, how did you end up with just shoes and gloves for a hero costume, anyway?"
"Well…" Toru looked away in embarrassment, something they could only tell due to her sunhat turning. "It was what I asked for. To be honest, I didn't even know DNA-based stuff was a thing until I read about it in your notes, Izi."
"Then how did it get approved in the first place?" Mina asked.
"No clue. Best guess is a slip-up," Toru shrugged.
"So when will you get your new costume, Toru?" Izuku asked.
"It should be ready before the semester ends," Toru then leaned closer to Izuku. "Also, I still need to thank you for it."
"You don't need to thank me, Toru," Izuku said.
"But I want to. And I know how," Toru slapped her hands on his cheeks before pulling him in, locking her lips with his. Izuku was surprised by her sudden action, but quickly went along with it and kissed her back, making her moan in pleasure.
Mina sat next to them, watching with a blush as they lost themselves in their kiss before having had enough. "Quit hogging him, Toru!" Mina pushed Toru back, separating the two. "I want a turn!" Before Izuku could respond, Mina leaned forward and planted her lips on his, moaning as she did so before Izuku began kissing back.
This went on for several minutes before a timer sounded. "Aww, our time's up," Toru whined.
"Guess we better head home, huh?" Mina sighed in disappointment.
"Yeah," Izuku got up. "I can take you two home if you want."
"That's so you, Izi, but I'll be fine."
"I'll be okay, too."
At that, the three exited the karaoke building and headed home, but not before Mina and Toru kissed Izuku on his cheeks one last time before leaving.
"See you at school, Midori!"
"See you tomorrow, Izi!" The girls waved before they went their separate directions, Izuku waving back at them. Izuku enjoyed the date with them, it was a nice break to help with the peace summit happening soon.
"The day's finally here."
Rias and her peerage stood in their clubroom. July 1st, Wednesday night, the day of the meeting had finally arrived, and a powerful barrier had been erected around the school grounds to provide a safe environment for the meeting. Rias and her peerage were getting ready to depart, making one last final preparation at the main school building.
"B-Be safe, everyone!" Gasper exclaimed, huddled up in a box. Despite his progress, it was deemed necessary for Gasper to stay on the chance his Sacred Gear involuntarily activate during the summit. Koneko, Ravel, and Ochako had decided to stay with him to keep Gasper company.
"Are you sure you three will be okay with him?" Izuku asked.
"We'll be fine, Izu-kun," Ochako reassured.
"There isn't any reason to worry. You just focus on the summit," Ravel added.
Izuku nodded before turning his attention to Hyde, Ingvild, and Itsuka. "Are you three sure you want to come?"
"That Azazel guy had Principal Nezu ask for me, given I have a Longinus, so I can't exactly say no," Hyde replied.
"And we're descendants of the original Satans," Itsuka added. "I want to learn more about all that's happening, so I'm going."
"So will I," Ingvild said.
"I hope this meeting doesn't take too long," Gasper nervously muttered.
"Don't worry about it, Gasper," Rias reassured.
"Yeah," Izuku nodded before handing Gasper a Switch. "You can play with this until we're done, okay?"
"Awesome! Thanks!" Gasper smiled.
"Excuse us," Rias said as she entered the meeting room, revealing to her and the others that they were the last ones to arrive. A gorgeous, circular table sat in the middle of the room and the representatives from the three factions sat around. The table seemed to be extremely out of place in the staff room leading Izuku to believe that it had been brought here specifically for the meeting.
On the Devils' side were Sirzechs and Serafall in fancy garbs with Grayfia waiting on them with a tea trolley. Standing behind the two Satans near the wall were Sona, Tsubaki, Tsubasa, Kudelia, Tye, and Milia.
Standing behind Michael was the team of exorcists. Of them, only Osanne seemed to be relaxed, leaning against the back wall without care. Irina, upon noticing Izuku and Xenovia, waved at them for a moment, causing the two to wave back.
Azazel was also present, leaning on an elbow lazily across the table. He gave a quick wave and smile that looked positively smug beyond words. Standing behind him was Vali, who looked bored.
'At least Bakugo isn't here,' Izuku thought in relief. 'Though, I wonder why Azazel left him out?'
'I can't believe I forgot to invite Katsuki to this,' Azazel silently thought. 'Oh well. I'm sure he'll understand… eventually.'
Principal Nezu was also present, surprisingly. Izuku realized that Nezu was likely invited due to the meeting taking place in his school. Behind him was Mizu, who stood near the principal and an older man wearing a blue tunic, yellow leather gloves, and a flapping, red cloth that gently wrapped around his body, with a meticulously trimmed goatee and combed well-kept hair.
"Everyone is now here. This is my sister, Rias, and her retainers." Sirzechs broke the tension by introducing Rias to the VIPs of the other factions. "And these are Kendo Itsuka, a descendant of Asmodeus, and Ingvild Levathia, a descendent of Leviathan. This is Kido Hyde, who took part in the battle against Kokabiel. And lastly, this is Midoriya Izuku, my sister's Pawn, and the Red Dragon Emperor."
"So that's the current Red Dragon Emperor, huh?" The man said. "I thought he'd be taller."
"Haha, really doc?" Azazel spoke up.
"You're the Sorcerer Supreme!" Rias said, eyes wide in surprise.
"He's Mizu's boss?" Hyde asked.
"That I am," the man nodded. "Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, leader of Kamar-Taj, and current chairmen of the Magus Council, at your service," he greeted.
"…So, what's your actual name?" Hyde asked.
Mizu tried to repress a laugh while Strange grumbled. "Kids these days…"
With introductions out of the way, the new arrivals joined with Sona, Kudelia, and their servants. Izuku took a seat next to Rias. Once everyone was seated, the meeting began.
"Now that everyone's here, let us begin the summit," Sirzechs spoke. "I presume everyone here is aware of the forbidden topic… that God no longer exists? …Then let us continue."
A little time had passed and the meeting was progressing smoothly between the leaders, with Strange and Nezu occasionally chiming in. Izuku did his best to keep up with what was being said, but his concern was mostly on Rias. He only needed to glance at her to tell that Rias was shaking. Sona and Kudelia, though they looked composed, it was easy to tell that they were shaking as well.
He couldn't do much for the latter two, but Izuku could help alleviate at least Rias' nerves by gently taking her hand. Rias was surprised by the action, but she smiled as it helped her relax.
"Now then, Rias, Sona, Kudelia." Sirzechs finally looked to his sister. "I think it's about time you tell everyone the incident that transpired here mere weeks ago."
"As you wish, Lord Lucifer."
Rias, Sona, and Kudelia stood up and recounted the events that led to Kokabiel's attack on U.A. High School.
"…and that is my report on the events that took place in the incident with Kokabiel," Rias declared as she finished recounting the events.
"I, Sona Sitri, confirm the veracity of the report given by Rias Gremory," Sona added from beside Rias.
"I, Kudelia Dantalion, can also confirm Rias Gremory's report," Kudelia spoke up.
"I, Mizushima Akari, can confirm this as not only a witness but also one who partook in the fighting," Mizu added. "There is video evidence as well, which will be shared later."
"Thank you, that will be all," Sirzechs nodded.
"Good job, ladies. You make me so proud, Sona!" Serafall said, sending a wink toward Sona. Sona tried to ignore her and followed Rias and Kudelia back to the wall, the latter smirking at her.
Once they had sat back down, Sirzechs shifted his gaze to Azazel. "Would the Governor General care to comment?"
"Yes, I am rather curious how Kokabiel was able to do all this without the other Fallen Angels aware," Strange added.
"Very well. Before I start, I'd like to apologize for the actions of my former subordinate. He went a bit out of control, as you all saw," Azazel said, his tone rather ingenuine despite his words and making Rias only huff. "As for Kokabiel's actions, they were all his own and did not represent the interests of the Grigori as a whole. He was a defector who splintered off on his own. I sent the Vanishing Dragon to deal with him, and as punishment for his treason, he was locked up in Cocytus. He was meant to serve out an eternal sentence frozen solid, but then someone got to him. But you all should know this, it was part of the handout I gave to all parties."
"It is rather concerning that someone was able to sneak into Cocytus and kill Kokabiel without being detected," Michael noted, his eyes leering into Azazel. "Though, were Kokabiel's actions truly the result of carelessness on your end? Or were you hoping to stir up trouble through Kokabiel without being directly involved?"
"Hah. No reason for subtly, eh?" Azazel laughed before waving a hand. "Nah, I've got no reason to want a war. I'm happy with the way things are now. I'd like to have time to focus on studying Sacred Gears and Quirks. Can't do that if we're at war, right?"
"I see… then I have one last question for you, Azazel," Sirzechs spoke this time, his eyes drilling into the Fallen Angel leader. "Why have you been collecting Sacred Gear users and humans with unique and powerful Quirks over the past few decades?"
Azazel's grin only widened, leaning back in his chair as he waited for the others to add to the discussion.
"When you started amassing humans into your forces, we thought for sure that you were preparing for war against either Heaven or us Devils," Serafall said this time, her demeanor far more professional than what she had displayed before.
"Yes. We were all put on high alert when we learned that you had added the Vanishing Dragon to your ranks." Michael said, leaning his elbows on the table and linking his fingers in front of his face. "But then years passed and you made no move."
"It was just for my research," Azazel casually revealed. "I can forward you my findings if you want. I guarantee that our studies aren't for warfare. I'm not interested in picking fights anymore. I'm content with the current state of the world. And even though there's the school, I've even encouraged my people to stay out of human politics. We have no intention of interfering with the Angels' or Devils' business.
"What school?" Sirzechs asked.
"It's a nifty school in Yokohama called Nephilim Institute," Azazel answered. "It's where our younger members go to, kinda like how the three Devil girls and their servants go here."
"Ah yes, I've heard of Nephilim Institute," Nezu spoke up. "A relatively recent hero school that was established 20 years ago. Kouen graduated from there, correct?"
"Yep," Azazel nodded. "But geez! If you ask me, I'd say I'm the least trusted person in this room."
"You are not wrong," Sirzechs nodded.
"Quite right," Michel added.
"It's true!" Serafall smiled.
"You do have the most… scruples record among us, Azazel," Strange said.
"Oh, come on! Even you, Strange!" Azazel grumbled. "I didn't think such a thing was possible, but you lot are even more annoying than God and the original Lucifer." Azazel then pointed to Nezu. "Except for you. You're a joy."
"Why thank you," Nezu chirped.
Azazel casually picked his ear. "So my research doesn't jive you all, huh? Fine. Let's hurry up and make peace. That's why we're here today, isn't it?"
The entire room fell silent at Azazel's proposal. Even Rias, Sona, and Kudelia were astonished at this turn of events that could result in a historic moment.
Meanwhile, back in the clubroom, Gasper, still taking refuge in his cardboard box playing the Switch Izuku had given him, was feeling more comfortable than ever in the knowledge the rest of the building was empty.
Koneko quietly sat on the sofa, eating some snacks, Ravel was reading a book on the opposing sofa, while Ochako sat at the table studying for finals. "Ugh…" Ochako tiredly rubbed her eyes. "Man, how long do you think this conference will last?"
"Hard to say," Koneko simply replied.
"I mean, it's not like we expected them to get along right away," Ravel said. "There's a lot of bad blood between the factions, so they have to get past that first."
"But…they all might be in danger!" Gasper blurted out, unable to contain his fears even from the safety of his box. "What if the summit fails, war could break out and…and they might all die!"
"Hey, Gasper-kun, it's okay," Ochako said reassuringly. "Everything will be fine."
"Are you sure?" Gasper whimpered.
"Yeah. We just gotta have faith in Izu-kun and the others," Ochako smiled.
Koneko nodded before she froze. Swiftly she stood up, glaring up at the ceiling, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Koneko-chan? Is something wrong?" Ochako asked. Unbeknownst to them dozens of teleportation runes were appearing all over the club building utterly surrounding them.
"…Move!" Koneko quickly grabbed Gasper's cardboard box and hefted it on her shoulder. Right as she did, beams of yellow light sped towards the lounging Rooks and Bishop, obliterating a wall. Ochako, Ravel, and Koneko managed to dodge the attacks.
"What now?" Ravel groaned as she glared at their attackers.
The assailants were human, all wearing odd robes. "Who are they?" Ochako asked.
"They're magicians," Koneko answered.
"Give up the Dhampir if you value your lives!" The lead magician called out once their attempted first strike had failed. They all continued to fire their blasts of magic after Koneko and Ochako who avoided them aptly, leaping over tables, sliding through doors, and otherwise staying one step ahead.
"I've had it!" Ochako summed her witches' staff. "Stop!" Their five attackers were all frozen in place by Ochako's spell. "That'll buy us some time."
"This way," Koneko, still arraying a crying Gasper in his cardboard box, ran ahead with Ochako and Ravel close behind. They didn't get far, though, as several more magicians appeared.
"More of them!?" Ochako gaped.
Suddenly, various bits of metal, glowing in a purplish aura, shot towards them. Koneko, Ravel, and Ochako were knocked back by the metal and pinned to a wall. "What the-" Ochako tried to move, but whatever was controlling the metal was stronger than her. "I can't move! Can you, Koneko-chan?"
"No," Koneko grunted.
"Guys!" Gasper cried before one of the magicians grabbed him.
"Gasper!" Ravel cried out. She began to use her demonic power to burn the metal off, but more metal pinned her further against the wall, stopping her.
"Now now, little boy. There isn't any reason to be afraid," a man wearing black and red armor walked up, his right arm outstretched, giving off the same glow as the metal pinning Ochako. Koneko, and Ravel.
"Tch, how annoying," another man revealed himself, this one wearing a black suit, except for his torso and upper legs which were red-orange.
"Who are you guys?" Ochako demanded.
"Doesn't matter," the man in the suit grumbled. He then reached out and grabbed the Switch from Gasper's box. "Now, vampire kid. Just cooperate, or your friends here," he squeezed the Switch, causing it to glow white before it exploded into marbles, to the devils' shock. "Well, you get the idea," he smirked, popping one of the marbles into his mouth.
"Yes," Michael smiled despite being startled at first. "I intended to make the same offer myself. If the tensions between our factions continue as they are, the world will suffer as a result. It might sound strange coming from the leader of Heaven, but those responsible for the Great War, God and the original Lucifer, have long since passed and it is time those of us remaining move on."
"That's rich coming from the stubborn old archangel!" Azazel burst into laughter. "I still remember when God was the only thing you talked about!"
"…It's true that Heaven has suffered a massive loss," Michael stated. "However, there is no point seeking what no longer exists. Our duty is to guide humanity. We Seraphs agree that the most important thing now is to watch over the children of God and guide them."
"Hey, hey, you'll fall if you keep talking like that!" Azazel joked. "But you took over the System, right? It sounds a hell of a lot more lenient than when we fell."
"We Devils are in the same position." Sirzechs agreed with Michael. "Even if the original Great Satans are no longer here, we must move forward. If we were to engage in another war, our kind will become extinct."
"Yeah, another war like that will be the end of all three of us," Azazel nodded with a serious tone in his voice. "And that's before accounting for the effect it would have on the human world. It would be a complete disaster. We can't afford another war."
"Did you all think life would be meaningless without your God?" Strange asked as he stood up. "That everything was doomed? Sorry to break it to you, but everything's moving on fine. The world continues to spin even without God. Always has, and always will. What matters is what we do now."
At that, they discussed the critical discussion of each faction's military and future power dynamics, all seated at the table sighed as if they just unloaded an elephant off of their backs.
As Grayfia handed out cups of tea to everyone from the tea cart which she had been standing beside since the meeting began, Izuku looked at the clock on the wall and was surprised to see that it was almost 10 pm. It had been almost two hours since the conference had started. It would explain why he was feeling so sore from sitting down for so long. He looked over at the others with him to see that they were all feeling sore from sitting for so long too.
"Does… anyone else feel like they just witnessed something huge?" Hyde asked, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
"We did. This will be a turning point for years to come," Sona spoke this time, pushing up her glasses.
"Holy crap… and we got to sit here and watch the whole thing…" Itsuka mumbled, her jaw slightly slacking.
"With that out of the way, I believe that we now have time for some minor diversion in topic," Michael said, his eyes trailing to Izuku. "Red Dragon Emperor Midoriya Izuku. I believe you said you had a question for me?"
"Huh? O-Oh, yes, I did." Izuku stood from his seat, shifting a bit awkwardly before speaking. "Ibara believed in God with all her heart. But you guys let her get kicked out of the Church. Why?"
Ibara's eyes widened when she was mentioned, but nevertheless looked to the Archangel for answers. Michael's face was colored with shame, his eyes trailing to the ground. "I will admit… that I have deep regrets over that decision. But after God's death, our Holy System was sustained by both the power of the remaining Seraph and the faith given by the believers left behind."
"So… after God died, the system was weakened?" Izuku asked.
"Yes. He was capable of sustaining it on his power alone until that point. But now that we rely on our own power as well as the faith that remains in humanity, we were forced to make… certain decisions to make sure it would not be hindered." Michael looked directly at Ibara, his eyes hiding no amount of regret. "Certain Sacred Gear users needed to be distanced from. Ones such as your Boosted Gear and the Vanishing Dragon's Divine Dividing are ones that would shake the faith of humans… as well as Shiozaki Ibara's Twilight Healing."
"Just because she can heal Devils and Fallen Angels?" Izuku asked, his lips thinning into a line.
"Yes. An ability like hers could shake the faith of those around her. That faith is the lifeblood of us denizens in Heaven. And besides that, there's also the matter of-"
"Those who know God is dead. Correct?" Xenovia spoke up this time, she and Ibara having stood from their seats.
"Yes. Both are things that can easily shake people's faith. Because of that, we were forced to label you both as heretics." Michael said. Without another word, he bowed to both girls, surprising them both. "And for that, I offer my deepest apologies."
"There's no need to apologize, Lord Michael," Xenovia said. "I must admit that since I grew up in the Church I do have some regrets but I can say for sure that I'm more than happy with my new life as a Devil."
"It relieves some of my guilt to hear you say that," Michael admitted without hesitation before looking at Ibara. "And how do you feel, Ibara?" He asked the ex-nun who held her hands together as if in prayer.
"I'm happy with my new life as a Devil. Ever since I became one, I've met so many wonderful people and have been able to speak with Lord Michael himself, it's an honor!" She admitted with a faint blush on her cheeks.
Michael chuckled and gave Ibara a warm smile. "Both of you have such forgiving spirits, and I am grateful for that."
"Nice to see that sorted out," Azazel smiled.
"Hey, don't act like you're off the hook, here. It was a Fallen Angel that looked up to you that killed both Ibara and Izuku!" Rias pointed out, glaring at Azazel.
"I see. I'll admit that it's true that we would dispose of Sacred Gear users deemed unable to control their abilities. Especially ones who could wreak havoc and cause terrible destruction if left alone carelessly. The Welsh Dragon was no exception to that," Azazel said honestly. "It's unfortunate, but to be fair, I normally select those who are to be disposed of personally. And Izuku was one of the people I said not to be killed, but were killed anyway."
"That-"
"Rias, it's okay," Izuku firmly took hold of Rias' hand.
"You're not upset about that?" Azazel asked, raising a brow.
"W-Well, no, but-"
"Then any apology I can give would be too late. You've been a Devil for quite some time, and a few words won't make it up to you," Azazel said, standing from his seat. "Instead, I'll offer what services I can to you. Is that fair?"
"And what service would that be?" A skeptical Rias asked.
"Why helping him learn more about his Sacred Gear, of course," Azazel replied. "Vali here is only interested in fighting strong enemies. He doesn't care about the world," Azazel crossed his arms. "What do you want for the world, Midoriya Izuku?"
"Simple. I want peace," Izuku answered. "I've always dreamed of being a hero, helping others with a smile on my face like All Might. But that could be almost impossible if there was a war. So, if it's for the sake of my friends and family, then I'll use my power to protect them and everyone else." Rias squeezed his hand even tighter and gave him a bright smile when he looked at her.
But then, the entire room felt a strange aura wash over them as the whole world seemed to glow purple. "What the…?" Izuku and Rias looked around when they noticed that his Boost Gear had summoned itself, the green jewel glowing. The interior of the staff meeting room had changed, it and nearly everyone in the room was now covered by a purple aura.
Aside from them, the only ones not covered in the purple aura were Sirzechs, Grayfia, Serafall, Azazel, Michael, Mizu, Doctor Strange, Ingvild, Itsuka, Vali, Hyde, Xenovia, Yuuto, Irina, and Osanne, the latter five being protected by their swords.
"What the hell just happened!?" Hyde asked, holding the glowing Insulator.
"Everything's frozen," Irina said.
"This is definitely Gasper's Forbidden Balor View but it's different from before," Izuku muttered to himself.
"It appears so," Azazel stated, hearing Izuku's assessment and agreeing with it. "Fortunately, those of us with superior power or holy swords weren't affected by it."
"Thank our dragons," Vali spoke up. "They're what protected us," he looked to Izuku. "Those two were protected by the demonic aura they inherited from their ancestors," he added, pointing to Ingvild and Itsuka.
"I'm okay because of you, Izuku," Rias placed a hand on the gauntlet.
"Okay, that explains why we're all okay," Itsuka looked around. "But why would Gasper-kun's Sacred Gear activate now? Can it even affect such a large area?"
"No, he can't," Izuku said. "Even if he could, there's no way that Gasper would do this willingly; I don't even think he can do this on his own yet," Izuku said with confusion, unable to work out what was going on.
"It appears to be-"
An explosion outside the room beat Azazel to the punch.
"-a terrorist attack."
AN: And done. In case any of you wondering, the song Mina, Toru, and Izuku sang was the opening theme of High Card, and that was Bobby Ball from that series helping capture Gasper. As for the other guy, well let's just say he's based on a video game character I'm sure some of you will recognize. Just wait until the next chapter before you start guessing who, okay?
Part of the reason this chapter took so long is because I couldn't decide if Izuku should GET Ascalon. I mean, part of the reason Issei was given Ascalon in the first place was due to him being the weakest Red Dragon Emperor at the time, and even then he only ever used it when he needed a blade. Otherwise, he just gives it to Xenovia occasionally. Izuku, though, he's definitely beyond Issei's level at this point, so I don't think he needs the Dragon Slaying sword/lance whatever.
Oh, and the other story I mentioned at the beginning? It's a Digimon / High School DxD crossover called "High School Digimon: Dawn x Dusk". Squeegeman on FanFiction helped me get the first chapter finish. If you haven't checked it out yet, be sure to do so.
By the way, part of the date between Izuku, Mina, and Toru was inspired by Pikaboo73's "To Be A Hero", specifically the "Date with Mina" chapter.
Anyway, now that the summit reached its goal, only for a certain group to attack, Izuku and the others have to go save Gasper, Ochako, Ravel, and Koneko. But they have to deal with not just the magicians, but also Bobby Ball and someone else. And since the Khaos Brigade is here, that means leaders from the Old Satan Faction won't be far behind, and they want blood.
Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and don't be racist! Go beyond, PLUS ULTRA!