Warm.
That's all he felt when he woke up.
Warmth that encompassed his body.
It was a bit hard to breathe considering he was breathing from his slightly agape mouth.
The next thing he felt was the pain that traveled across his body. Not sharp but more general in most regions of his body, almost like he had very excessive workout and was feeling the aftereffects.
As he regained more sense of his body, he could feel the hands of someone wrapping around his lower back and the back of his head. His face was resting in something soft, really soft. He also noticed his hands were wrapped around the waist of some unknown figure. His legs were intertwined with someone else's, and to the best of his ability, he could tell that they were both naked.
The whole situation wasn't making sense to him, he was realizing that something weird was happening to him.
And that feeling didn't help him as his eyes finally shot open.
All he could see was the flesh that he was buried in along with what seemed to be crimson red hair that draped over their bodies.
An unfamiliar situation, his memory was hazy, and most of all, he felt extremely vulnerable in a life-threatening way.
All in all, it was not a good combo for someone who had been on the run for the past six months and had near zero human contact within that time frame.
His heart began to beat faster.
His thoughts began racing.
What he captured?
Had someone else come to take him?
Where was he?
What happened to him?
Too many scenarios were bouncing around his head, and too many thoughts and fears were taking over his common sense. He just wanted out, and to go back home, to just be safe again.
I'm drowning.
No breath was enough for him, it just felt more shallow than the last. He began to wriggle as best as he could. He needed to get out, get out of whatever or wherever the he-
Deep blue eyes stared right back at him.
Not with fear, not with agitation, anger, vengefulness, hate, or annoyance, but with understanding.
Understanding what he was feeling right now, his agitation and confusion.
She bore no smile nor frown, no sense of anger or happiness, yet her soft hands were still wrapped around his head and back.
That did nothing but send his nerves and instincts through the roof, his chest feeling like it was going to erupt violently, each passing breath feeling like he was drowning.
Everything in his mind and body went into fight or flight mode, and he fully intended to do both.
He violently shoved the person in front of him, which he could now see was a girl and called upon his weapon as hard as he could. Without fail the red armor covered his left hand, and became fully cocked back to deliver a strike with as much force as he could mu-
[BOOST]
"Hey"
The woman's voice was soft and warm, like a blanket had just been wrapped around him. It carried a calmness that washed over him, a slightly sweet smell in the air that seemed to permeate from her amplified the effects of it. Her voice was low and melodic, suiting the quietness of the night as moonlight seeped through the cracks of the windows.
Issei froze, his left arm still raised barely holding back the explosive strength he was about to release. His breath and heart felt like they were on hold like they didn't dare continue. Yet her eyes never wavered from his; in fact, they held steady, seemingly unaffected by what was happening at the current moment. All he could hear and see from her was what he could describe as reassurance.
"Hey," she repeated again, this time with a softer tone. The corners of her lips curled up just slightly as she understood the agitation the boy felt. Her hand reached out to touch the center of his chest, the softness finally uplifting that suffocating feeling on him. His breath and heartbeat began to slow down increasingly as her touch seemed to ground him. "Just relax, come back down."
He couldn't help it.
Whether it was of his own will or his body fighting against his mind, he slowly lowered himself back down to the bed. Her hands snaked its way to his back and his head, his wrapped around her tightly, their legs intertwined once again. She pressed his face into her chest again, but this time they looked directly at each other for a moment.
"How do you feel?" her voice further soothed him.
"I- I don't know," his voice still shaky and agitated, but much calmer than previously. "Who are you"
"My name is Rias Gremory. What's your name?" she spoke softly to him. It was as if this situation didn't bother her in the slightest.
Without thinking, his mouth spoke before he could stop himself, "Issei Hyoudou." Surprising himself with how quickly he gave that information up to a random naked girl in bed.
"Well, you're safe with me, Issei; what's the last thing you remember?" she continued to speak to him in a reassuring tone. He looked at her for a second, trying to discern if there was any ill intent behind her questions or why she seemed to be overly casual with him. Nonetheless, he did his best to think back; most of it was a haze, and anything he did remember was just specific points, nothing continual.
"L-Last I remember was just everything going black. I-I saw blood flowing from me, and then everything went black," he recollected. He couldn't even remember what or who he was fighting, but the image of his blood flowing from him was burned into his memory.
"You summoned my peerage and I to that location, try your best to remember," her thumb continued to stroke the back of his hair. The repeated motion seemed to only calm him down and force him to be compliant, much to his concern.
He thought back, an image of a piece of paper, his blood slowly creeping up the crumpled edges. "Was it that piece of paper with the cir-"
She nodded her head in agreement, "When we found you, you were severely burned all over, and had multiple cuts all over you. Yet you were still alive, albeit barely."
"My peerage and I dealt with that monster, and I took you back to my club room to heal you."
"W-Wait so why are we n-"
"Skin-to-skin contact facilitates healing faster; I assure you nothing else has happened," she said without missing a beat. Issei sighed deeply, unsure what to make of the situation.
"I'm sure you have many questions, as do I, but right now, I want you to be back to full strength. So just go back to sleep now and we'll talk more tomorrow, kay?", Issei would respond if he could, however the seemingly innocent stroking she did on his hair seemed to put him in a trance, before he shortly fell asleep again in the arms of the crimson haired girl.
Issei woke up in an unfamiliar room, the events of the previous night lingering in his mind like a distant, hazy dream. He blinked, trying to adjust to the morning light streaming in through the window. The room was spacious and elegant, decorated with luxurious furniture and rich fabrics. He realized he was in a bed much larger and more comfortable than anything he had ever experienced.
Slowly sitting up, he noticed a neatly folded letter on the nightstand beside him. He reached for it, curiosity piqued, and opened it.
Issei,
There is a fresh set of clothes on the stand next to you. There is also a shower here that is to your disposal. Once you are ready, please meet me in the common area.
Rias.
Issei placed the letter beside him and looked over at the nightstand. There, folded neatly, were the exact clothes he was wearing last night. Unaware of how she would get his size correct, he decided not to question it further.
He assessed his body but could find nothing wrong with it. The aching he had felt last night compared to now was minimal and had left no scars. Even his own healing magic couldn't do that.
Deciding to get up he grabbed a folded towel on the chair nearby and walked to the shower. As the water poured down on him all he could think about was her holding him in her embrace, his slight blush not dying down.
Stepping out of the shower he put on the perfectly sized clothes and walked his way out the bedroom. The small hallway extended down with walls of pictures of people he had never seen. Some adorned his jewelry, armor, and other expensive-looking fabrics.
Reaching the end of the hallway, he could hear the faint muttering of multiple people in the room. With a sigh he pushed open the door, and walked in the room.
The room was small, like a club room, but with high ceilings that gave it a grand, almost cathedral-like feel. An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the entire area. The walls were lined with tall bookshelves filled with ancient tomes, grimoires, and various texts on the supernatural, giving the room a scholarly air. Some of the books seemed to hum with latent magic, their covers inscribed with runes and symbols from different mythologies.
At the far end of the room, there was a large, intricately carved wooden desk, which seemed to serve as a workspace. The desk was cluttered with papers, books, and magical artifacts, reflecting the role of a leader. Behind the desk was a high-backed chair that looked more like a throne, emphasizing the leader's authority, on which the girl from last night sat, Rias.
In the center of the room was a large, round table made of dark wood, surrounded by comfortable, high-backed chairs. A map of the local area, marked with various points of interest, was spread out on the table, along with other strategic documents and notes. A young man with blonde hair seemed to be deeply engrossed in the material in front of him.
To one side of the room, there was a cozy sitting area with plush sofas and armchairs arranged around a low coffee table. A rich, Persian rug covered the floor here, adding to the room's luxurious feel. There he saw a younger girl with with hair eating something from her hands. She seemed to be a quite reserved and quiet.
In one corner, there was a small kitchenette with a tea and coffee station, along with a variety of snacks. There stood a beautiful woman with black hair in pony tail reaching to her ankles preparing some items.
Another notable feature was the large, floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall, draped with heavy, dark curtains. Various magical artifacts and decorations adorned the room, from ancient-looking statues and relics to mystical symbols etched into the wooden panels.
Issei's moment of observation were cut short when everyone's eyes immediately landed on him, their gaze already making him feel like he was intruding on something.
However, Rias gave him a warm smile. "Good morning, Issei. I trust you slept well?"
The memory of their intimate embrace from last night made Issei's face streak red, a reaction that did not go unnoticed by the woman preparing snacks nearby.
Akeno immediately approached him, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she looked him up and down. "Oh~ how did you enjoy it last night, Issei?" she purred, her voice dripping with sultry amusement. "I trust nothing indecent happened," she added with a giggle, her hand elegantly covering her mouth.
Issei's blush deepened, and he struggled to find words. "I... uh... I mean..."
Akeno leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear. "You seem quite flustered," she whispered teasingly. "Did Rias-sama keep you warm all night?"
Rias cleared her throat, a light blush on her own cheeks. "Akeno, don't tease him too much. He's still recovering."
Akeno straightened up, a playful smile still on her lips. "Of course, Rias. I wouldn't want to overwhelm our guest." She gave Issei a wink before gracefully returning to her professional self. She gave a slight bow towards him, "Nice to meet you Issei Hyoudou, my name is Akeno Himejima," she looked directly in his eyes with a mischievous smile, "I hope we can get along cutie~"
"Akeno!" Rias chastised.
"Fufufu, hai, hai," she said as she went back to preparing snacks and tea.
Issei looked around the room again before his eyes landed on the young white haired girl to the side. She seemed to be cuddled up on the sofa with her hands holding multiple chocolates and sweets. They made eye contact for a brief second before she quickly turned away hiding her snacks giving him an accusing glare.
"W-Wha-" a tick appearing on his head.
"Sorry about that Issei, she's likes to mess with people she meets for the first time," she said with an embarrassed smile. Akeno, however, seemed to pay no heed as she continued to hum and prepare her tea.
She got up from her chair behind the desk, "I know I briefly introduced myself last night, but once again, my name is Rias Gremory. President of the Occult Research Club that you stand in now and advisor to the student council for Kuoh Academy, it's good to meet you."
Kuoh Academy was definitely not a place he would've expected to been. Considering the fact that it is, to his knowledge, it was an all-female High School, though there seemed to be a male here as well. Plus, why the hell did a club room have a fully functioning shower, a large room for a bed, working air conditioning, and plumbing? He knew that this school was one of the most elite schools, but he would've never imagined something like this.
Rias, taking note of him appearing to be lost in thought, proceeded with the introductions. She motioned her finger over to the young man with blond hair, "That right there is Kiba Yuuto." the man stood up and did a deep bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hyoudou-san; I hope we can get along," Issei did half a bow, "Y-You as well, and you can just call me Issei," getting a nod in response.
Pretty boy.
That's all he could think of when he looked at him. He just seemed to carry himself like some white knight with that stereotypical look. The one that would most definitely have the female populace in his hands.
Rias then motioned over her attention towards the last individual in the room. "And last but not least," Rias's smiled brightened again, "This here is our adorable Koneko Toujou."
Koneko nodded in response.
"H-Hai, nice to meet you Touj-"
"Call me Koneko," she cut him off.
He swore he could feel a blood vessel pop in his forehead, "H-Hai," he said trying his best to be polite.
Eventually everyone made their way to the seats in the center of the room, Rias and Kiba sitting next to Koneko, with Akeno following soon with a cart full of snacks and tea. Issei took the seat opposite them, and prepared himself for what likely was going to be an uncomfortable conversation.
Akeno placed a cup in front of him and poured some tea, the light scent filling the room. He thanked her before taking the cup in his hand and taking a sip.
"Issei before we begin, I need to understand this first, do you know who we are?" A loaded question she wanted to throw at him that was for sure. If there was, one thing she needed to ascertain from this meeting was how much he knew. That ranged from if he knew she was the younger sister of the current four Devil Kings to if he even knew they were devils. If he had the slightest idea, his blatant intrusion upon her territory would open a can of worms she may need to handle with force.
Issei looked at her for a few seconds before scanning the rest of the members, all of whom had their eyes focused on his, unmoving. "I can tell that you are devils." That much was obvious from the events of last night. What he didn't understand was why there were devils operating under the guise of an Occult Research Club in a school within his town.
"That you are correct, Issei; we are, in fact, devils. Alongside, me and another individual you may meet currently maintain control of this town and are its designated protectors."
He raised an eyebrow at that statement; his knowledge had ranged to the extent that he knew of the existence of Devils and likely other beings like Fallen Angels and Angels, but that was it. A devil is holding authority over a town, especially this girl who couldn't be older than 16. An entire town in the hands of this person, how could that possibly have happened within his three-year absence? Unless she had been operating from the shadows, that definitely raises some concerns.
"What did that jackass mayor get in exchange for selling the town to you guys?" He couldn't wrap his head around a circumstance that necessitated selling en entire town in exchange for something, hadn't one's soul been more than sufficient.
"What?"
"What?"
Everyone blinked, taken aback from the statement, "I-Uh, Issei I believe you are under a misconception, we did not acquire the territory from the current mayor." She cleared her throat before she attempted to explain before she was cut off by Issei.
"Wait so how do you have ownership of this town? Are you like roleplaying or something?" His demeanor completely serious and unfazed.
All everyone could do was stare back at him, unsure how to respond, before Akeno covered her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle. Issei, on the other hand, was genuinely trying to make sense of the situation, considering the fact that this 16-year-old girl from Hell had somehow staked claim on this town.
"W-What N-No! I'm not a role player Issei!" Rias stuttered, both embarrassed and pouting at that accusation. "If you must know I was appointed as the overseer of the town by my older brother," she clarified hoping to move on from the matter.
"Wait your older brother?" he asked. "So, he owned the town before you and handed over the responsibility?"
All he got in response was the girl looking away at him mumbling something under her breath. Akeno giggled as she tried to comfort her club president by rubbing the top of her head. "Sorry could you repeat that I couldn't hear you."
In a whisper that he could barely hear he leaned forward to listen, "H-He owns, all of E-East Asia-"
"EAST ASIA?" He yelled incredulously; his eyes wide open. His sudden outburst caught all the members off guard, Koneko staring at him menacingly for the surprise while Kiba held an awkward smile at the scene, as Akeno continued to comfort her president.
"Well fuck me then I had no idea," leaning back on the seat, "So it's just nepotism then?" The question hung in the air as looked unwavering at the just recovering girl in front of him.
"I-I… It's not like that!" Rias protested, her voice laced with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "My brother, he… he trusts me to handle this responsibility!" She defended herself, feeling the need to justify her position.
Issei maintained his serious expression, "Nepotism," he repeated, his tone steady.
Rias sighed, a mixture of irritation and amusement crossing her features. "Fine, if you want to put it that way…" She relented, realizing that arguing further would likely only prolong the back and forth.
Rias cleared her throat, composing herself before returning to her professional self. "Regardless, I must ask Issei Hyoudou," her tone took on a more serious and authoritative one, "Why have you intruded upon my territory, and what are your intentions here?"
He stared back at her blinking, seemingly unaffected by it.
"I live here."
Rias's eyes widened in surprise. Her serious attitude melted away, replaced with bewilderment. "I- Uh- I- I didn't know that."
"I was gone for a few years due to… certain issues that I had to deal with, and I've recently made my way back."
The room fell into a brief silence, the unexpected revelation hanging in the air. Kiba, standing to Rias's right, exchanged a confused glance with Koneko, who merely tilted her head in curiosity. Akeno's eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing her face as she observed Issei.
Kiba was the first to break the silence, his polite smile returning. "Welcome back, then. It seems there's a lot we need to catch you up on. However, I hope you do understand that we will need to verify your current story after this meeting." Issei just nodded in response.
Rias nodded to that, regaining her composure. "Yes, I hope you don't mind that Issei, the other member that I previously mentioned, will be in contact with you soon to talk to you as well." She sighed as her demeanor returned to being casual before speaking up. "With the more pressing questions out of the way, we can focus more on your knowledge about the supernatural." She took a sip from the tea before placing it down again, "Please tell me what you currently know, and I will fill you on the rest."
Issei took a moment to think before responding, "Well, like I said, I know you all are devils; I also know those monsters I fought are called stray devils. By extension, I guess I can assume that angels and fallen angels exist as well?"
Rias, pleased with his basic understanding, nodded in response, "That is correct. However, we are not the only supernatural beings in this world." Issei leaned a bit forward, intrigued to hear more.
Rias cleared her throat once again to continue, "Alongside us pertaining to the biblical faction, any and all mythologies – gods, monsters, and spirits – from various cultures and religions exist as well." Issei was about to speak up before being cut off again, "Yes and that includes mythologies and religions like Greek, Norse, Hindu, Shinto and many minor ones as well. Most factions tend to stay in their own realm, not really interacting with others." Her face contorted into that of slight annoyance, "However there are a few that like cause a bit trouble for others."
Issei took a moment to take in all the information. Honestly he wasn't that surprised from the revelation, with the fact that devils and stray devils existed, he kept his mind open for any other possibilities. Not because he believed in them through religion or some weird cultist fashion.
No.
He had to keep his mind open for all possiblities because if he didn't he would be killed. He honestly expected the biblical faction to be the "correct" one and mostly any other religion or mythology was a maybe at best. Yet with this information he didn't know whether it was better or worse.
So many questions were bouncing around his head too, like, if he died would he even go to Heaven? Would it even be the Biblical one? Best not think about it now though.
"Issei?" Rias called out.
"Huh? Yes, sorry, just spaced out for a bit. What's up?"
Kiba interjected in the conversation, "Don't worry about it Issei you'll get used to it. I felt the same way when I was told as well."
"As well? What do you mean?" He looked over at Rias, hoping for an answer.
"Ah yes Issei, regarding that there is more that you don't know about us. One is that High-Class devils, such as myself, have the ability to reincarnate humans and human hybrids into devils. In exchange, they become my servants and serve me, their master."
Issei only stared at her agape unable to form the proper words to even react to information like this. "Slaves. You have slaves in this day and age?" He shouldn't even have been surprised, for God's sake he was literally in meeting with devils.
Rias quickly retorted, "I know how it sounds, but it's not like that. I love each and every one of them, and I treat them like my family. They all come from troubled pasts, and I wanted to help them and give them a future." She spoke without thinking, and her face started to blush with red. It didn't help that everyone in the room was looking at her with wide eyes and an expression she couldn't read. She began stuttering, trying to form words, but was cut off by Akeno, who had been covering her mouth with a glint in her eyes.
"Ara Rias-sama, speaking such affections about us in the spur of the moment fufufu~" Rias tried to interject, her face turning the same color as her hair before Kiba spoke up.
"It is true of what Rias-sama speaks. I was near death quite a while back, alone too of all things, and because of her I was given food, shelter, warmth…" he looked over to Rias, "… a family."
"Kiba…" was all Rias could say in response.
"Ano… not to ruin the moment-"
The moment was ruined.
"But what were you getting at about reincarnated devils?"
"Ah-" Rias pulled herself out of her sentimental mood. "Yes, I apologize. As I was saying, High-Class devils have the ability to reincarnate other human and human hybrids into devils as a way to restore our population. Our numbers were significantly reduced after the Great War."
Issei raised an eyebrow. "The Great War?"
Rias nodded. "Yes, the Great War. It was a devastating conflict between the Three Factions: the Devils, the Angels, and the Fallen Angels. The war resulted in a tremendous loss of life on all sides and left our worlds in shambles. It was a war of ideology, power, and ancient grudges. Even now, the scars of that war still affect us."
Issei leaned forward, intrigued. "What caused the war?"
"The root causes were many," Rias explained. "Jealousy, power struggles, and differing views on humanity and its potential. The Angels, led by God, believed in guiding and protecting humans. The Fallen Angels, led by their leader, believed in using humans for their own purposes. The Devils, under the rule of the Four Great Satans, sought to expand their own power and influence, often through pacts and contracts with humans."
Rias continued. "The war was long and brutal. It decimated entire families and caused irreparable damage to our worlds. Eventually, the leaders of each faction realized that continuing the war would only lead to mutual destruction. It's why our kind developed the technology to reincarnate humans, a way to replenish our population."
Issei processed this information. "So, is there still tension between the factions?"
"Technically, the war is still ongoing; I say that because there is an unofficial standstill, but no ceasefire has been officially announced, ending the war. However, there have been little to no incidents regarding the past 1000 years". Rias spoke with a tinge of sadness, "and while there is a tenuous peace, the old animosities and rivalries still exist. Most factions tend to stay in their own realms, but there are always those who seek to reignite old conflicts or cause trouble."
"Is that why you guys wanted to question me about who I am?" His current position was starting to make more sense.
"Yes," she said tiredly. "Had you had an affiliation with any of the other factions, brazenly entering the town without proper clearance would've been considered an international incident in the Underworld. However, I understand you had no knowledge of the situation, so it was no fault of yours."
The room sat in silence for a few seconds, Rias's gaze held onto his, like she was trying to read something that was written on his face that he couldn't see.
"However," she broke the silence again, reaching over and holding his left hand, "That won't stop other opposing factions from trying to recruit you."
The sudden contact had caught him off surprise. "Call upon your sacred gear Issei."
"My w-what?" He tried to ignore her thumb doing circles on the top of his hand.
"Your weapon in your hand Issei, it's called a sacred gear." Her soft hand continued to rub against his for reasons he couldn't decipher.
Doing his best to remain calm, he called upon his sacred gear, responding immediately. The red armor ensnared his arm, as the green jewel shined brightly.
Suddenly, the interest of the whole room was piqued as everyone came a bit closer, seemingly to inspect the gauntlet on his hand. Even Koneko had laid her snack down to come observe, although at a distance.
"Issei," Rias spoke again with a hint of excitement. "This weapon you have is a type of sacred gear. They are weapons that were created by the Biblical God as a way for humans to enact miracles here on Earth. Many notable figures in history are likely to have had a certain sacred gear; it either helped them during military feats, the ruling of kingdoms, art, or even athletics." Her fingers began to trace over the ridges of his sacred gear.
"Yours is specifically called the Twice Critical, also known as the Hand of the Dragon, or the Dragons Hand." Issei clicked his teeth, those names were way cooler than the one he gave. "As you already know, it has the power to double the user's attributes for 10 seconds." Issei could feel his chest swelling with pride. How could he not? The name, the powers, and the look of the armor, it screamed respect and authority. "It also is the most common sacred gear, likely more than tens of thousands of humans possess it." It all came crashing down, not going unnoticed by Rias, as she gave a slight giggle.
"However, Issei, in reality, it is actually quite the rarest sacred gear to see in person." He could only raise his eyebrow at that statement.
"Sacred gear manifestation, for the first time at least, usually occurs when the user is near death or is forcibly opened by a third party through some means," she noticed his hands stiffened, but thought better than asking about it. "Sometimes though it can be manifested if the user has an intricate understanding of their sacred gear, usually provided by some third party."
"However," she continued, "In most cases when this particular sacred gear is manifested during near-death experiences, whatever or whoever was intending to kill said user, would not survive even with their newly acquired power, and most people who possess the Twice Critical, are usually not sought after in the first place. Death or recruitment." The conversation was not making him feel better about himself. If what they were saying was true, those stray devils he fought were probably the equivalent of insects or minor annoyances to devils like these. How would he actually compare to beings that were surely more powerful than those?
Rias continued on with her knowledge of his sacred gear, not paying particular heed to him. "It's why it's so rare to see someone who can manifest the Twice Critical and be alive, more so a human of all things. Either when they do manifest it they aren't surviving the current threat opposing them, or they never manifest it ever in the first place. And to top that off, doing considerable damage to that very powerful stray devil like the one from yesterday goes against the strain for a typical user of the Twice Critical should they even live."
Rias lifted his hands again as her eyes traveled to his. "Issei, I say this with absolute sincerity," her gaze remained firm on his, "You truly are an anomaly of anomalies."
Issei continued to roam around the streets alone; the sun was nearly setting. The weight of the previous conversation was sitting on him, trying to his best to make sense of it. Particularly the part that Rias had told him, an anomaly of anomalies. He supposed it should sound like a compliment, however the circumstances regarding it were saying it otherwise. The best translation he could conjure up would be calling him the strongest weakling.
Approaching the door of his home he noticed an envelope stuck between the wedges. Snatching it away he flipped it over to the front where it was sealed with red wax and had a distinct shape. Weirdly it looked the summon circle on that pa-
He tore it open as quickly as possible, enclosed within it was a letter. His eyes quickly scanned the contents making it's way to the bottom of the paper.
On behalf of the student council president and staff, we formally recognize your acceptance as a 2nd year student at Kuoh Academy. Please report to your homeroom that was disclosed above at 8:00 AM. A uniform is required and has already been delivered for your convenience. We look forward to speaking with you tomorrow. Best of luck.
-Sona Sitri
He hadn't been to school in three years, and now they wanted him to suddenly attend, the next day too of all things. Uniform was gonna be an issue because he hadn't seen any package, so where could they have possibly-
Quickly fumbling with his keys he hastily inserted them into the lock and swung open his door as quickly as possible. He quickly scanned the surrounding area in front of him, nothing had been changed. He made his way around the first floor, looking for any possible intrusion, however everything remained the same as the day he left.
Oh crap.
He spun back around and darted for the stairs to the second floor. Making his way to the top he bolted for his bedroom and opened the door. His eyes quickly scanning the room they made their way to his bed. His jaw dropped, as his brows furrowed.
There lay his uniform neatly pressed.
"Oh for fucks sake!" His hand ran through his head as he groaned. He walked up to his bed feeling the now very expensive fabric, "They can't send shit through the mail like normal people?"
He continued to mumble rant to himself for the next few minutes before he heard a knock on the door. "Now what?" He was still irritated at the fact that somehow a Devil had broken into his room. Making his way down the stairs he opened the door to a surprise that rivaled the one this morning.
There stood in the door was the girl that he met a bit ago.
"Yuuma?! W-What are you doing here?" He didn't have much time to think as she lifted her face up towards him, revealing her puffy eyes.
"C-Can I come in please?" She said sniffling, wiping her tears on her sleeve. His lingering annoyance had instantly disappeared, and he let her through before shutting the door.
Issei led her to the living room, motioning for her to sit on the couch. Yuuma complied, sitting down and taking a deep breath as if to steady herself. Issei sat beside her, concern etched on his face.
"What's going on, Yuuma? Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice soft.
Yuuma sniffled again, looking down at her hands. "I... I've been going through some things. Things I can't really talk about with anyone else."
Issei's concern deepened. "Hey, you can talk to me. I'm here for you. What happened?"
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and something else he couldn't quite place. "I feel so lost, Issei. Everything is so complicated. I don't know what to do."
Issei reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone, Yuuma. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together."
She gave him a small, grateful smile, but it quickly faded. "It's just... everything has been so overwhelming. I thought I could handle it, but I can't."
Issei nodded, trying to understand. He really was, but she wasn't being specific, and comforting people wasn't really his best skill. "I know the feeling. Life can throw some crazy stuff at you. But you don't have to go through it alone." At this point, he was spitting out whatever regurgitated crap he found on Wikihow.
Yuuma's eyes filled with tears again, and she wiped them away hastily. "Thank you, Issei. That means a lot."
They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound being Yuuma's occasional sniffle. Issei's mind was racing, trying to piece together what could have brought her to his doorstep in such a state.
"Well, I'm glad you found me," he said, offering her a reassuring smile. "So, what's been going on? You said things have been complicated. Can you tell me more?"
Yuuma took a deep breath, as if gathering her thoughts. "It's hard to explain. There's just... so much pressure. So many expectations. I feel like I'm constantly being watched and judged. And I don't know how to deal with it."
Issei nodded, listening intently. "That sounds really tough. Is it from your family? School?"
Yuuma looked away; her expression pained. "It's... more than that. It's like... everything I do is wrong. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to make anyone happy."
Issei's tried to ache for her, but he barley knew the girl. Hell, she must've been really desperate to come to him, of all people. He could see how much she was struggling, and it made him want to help her even more, nonetheless. "Hey, you don't have to be perfect. Nobody expects you to be. You just have to do your best, and that's enough."
Yuuma looked back at him, her eyes glistening with tears. "But what if my best isn't good enough? What if I keep failing?"
Issei shook his head. "Then you keep trying. It's okay to fail, Yuuma. It's part of being human. What matters is that you don't give up."
Yuuma's lip quivered, and she looked down again. "You make it sound so simple."
"It's not simple," Issei admitted. "It's hard. Really hard. But you're strong or if you're not then you can make yourself strong. And you have people who care about you. Like me."
She glanced up at him, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "You really care about me?"
"Of course I do," Issei said without hesitation. "You're my first friend who showed me around town. And I don't want to see you hurting."
A tear slipped down Yuuma's cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. "Thank you, Issei. You don't know how much that means to me."
They sat in silence for a while, the tension in the room slowly easing as Yuuma calmed down. Issei couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her story, but he didn't want to push her too hard.
"Do you want something to drink?" he offered, hoping to give her a moment to compose herself.
Yuuma nodded. "Yes, please. That would be nice."
Issei got up and headed to the kitchen, still trying to process everything that had happened. As he poured her a cup of tea, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. Something about this whole situation just didn't add up.
Suddenly, from the other room, Yuuma called. "Hey, Issei?"
"If I had a goal, do you think I should do anything in my power to accomplish it?" Her voice was rather neutral at that point, almost as if it was the most earnest thing she said.
He still faced the sink, holding the cup of tea.
Something wasn't right but he couldn't figure it out, plus his sacred gear wasn't appearing either to warn him.
Suddenly he heard her footsteps appear in the same room as him. However, he didn't dare turn around to face her. If he did, he felt as if his stomach would drop to the very floor and kill him.
"I-I would say so, yeah, you should." He swallowed roughly as he looked as the blurred reflection on the cup of the girl standing behind him.
"I have one more question Issei." Her sorrowful tone was completely replaced with an almost lifeless one.
That's right. I never told her where I lived.
Suddenly the reflection on the cup grew bigger, a tinge of pink shone, and a mature voice spoke out to him. "For my goal, would you die fo-"
The gauntlet materialized on his arm as he quickly spun around.
[BOOST]
"FUCK NO BITCH," using his boosted strength he chucked the piping cup of tea towards her. The scalding liquid landed on her shoulder splashing across her skin. She screamed in pain and anger as a now more mature version of Yuuma stared at him with contempt.
"You little shit!" She hissed in anger, as threw her jagged spear of pink light towards him.
Issei, already anticipating something, had already begun his charge towards her, grabbing the nearby dining room chair and holding it in front of him. The light spear colliding with the chair had exploded it into hundreds of pieces. As the debris splintered in all directions and temporarily obscured both their visions, Issei took a gamble and swung his fist through the debris, thankfully landing square on the woman's face. The force of the impact sent her sprawling towards the wall leaving her dazed for just a second.
That's all he needed.
Using the opening, Issei sprinted out of the room and towards the front door, hurridely swinging it open and making his way outside.
Purple.
It was as if a purple tint was applied to the world before him. Along with that it seemed eerily quiet, like the town was dead, no sign of life or anything. He didn't have time to think about it, though; his steps echoed through the empty street as he ran down the sidewalk.
"Don't run human! I, Raynare, shall be your executioner!" She roared as she flew in the air, her black wings finally unfurled to their full glory. Looking behind him in horror he realized that in the air were six jagged poles of pink light aimed directly at him. Just then they began raining down towards his direction at frightening speed.
"Raynare?! You lied about your name too?!" He yelled.
[RESET]
The loss of his boost slowed down his running speed considerably to his luck as the poles of lightning flew right above his head crashing into the concrete in front of him. The causing explosion sent him flying back.
Facing right in front of her as she rushed him full speed.
Seeing her opportunity, she curled her knee back, both stared at each other with contempt.
Using his momentum as he was about to collide with her, she grabbed both his shoulders, pulled him into her, and swung her knee into his stomach. "Die here human!"
The added force knocked the breath out of him, and he blacked out for a second, not even getting a chance to voice his pain. Had he eaten anything that day, he would have surely thrown up all over her. Issei collided on the ground, his breath sounding weak as he tried to gasp for air, as he held his stomach in pain.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FOCUS GOD FOCUS FOCUS. His thoughts were all over the place, and the sudden explosion from that light spear had him disoriented, unable to boost and protect himself.
Raynare landed on the ground and walked toward him slowly with another pink bolt of lightning in her hand. She seemed to be saying something but all he could hear was the ringing in his ears, and his heartbeat beating his head. She raised her hand prepared to deliver the final blow on him-
[BOOST]
Rolling out of the way just in time the collision of the strike sent him tumbling to the side. Picking himself up, he darted into a nearby alley as Raynare began sending strikes, nearly missing him. He knocked down whatever was in his way to slow her down as she pursued him on foot.
"You're mine now human!" Another spear of light trailed right behind, quickly making a right into another alley, the force of the explosion narrowly missed him. He quickly ran down the secluded lane, trying to put into action a plan he had made on the fly.
7
As he continued running, his fingertips began glowing green, and he traced over the bruised area on his stomach. The pain slowly subsiding would help him in the short term, but using magic while being boosted would make his crash quicker and harder. He needed to end this quickly.
6
He gasped pushing himself to be faster as another light spear formed in Raynare's hand. She hurled it with deadly precision, and he dived to the side just in time. The spear exploded against the wall, showering him with debris. He rolled to his feet, not daring to look back.
5
"You can't escape me, human!" Yuuma shouted, her wings beating furiously as she closed the distance. She wasn't letting up, but he could tell from her ragged breath she was also getting near her limit, but nowhere near close to him.
He turned a corner sharply, nearly slipping on the slick pavement. His lungs burned, and his legs felt like lead, but he couldn't stop now. He had to buy more time.
4
Raynare summoned 12 spears in the air, all crackling with pink energy as she threw them at him. All of them landing around or on random debris around him, sent him tumbling as he barely regained his footing. He barely managed to dodge the last spear whizzing past his ear and embedding itself in the ground. The explosion sent him sprawling forward, but he quickly scrambled to his feet.
"Give up, and I might make your end quick!" she called out, her voice dripping with false kindness.
3
He could see the end of the alley up ahead, a glimmer of hope. He knocked over a stack of crates in his path, hoping to slow her down. His thoughts flickered back to how much time he had left.
2
Raynare was relentless. She threw another spear, and he twisted his body to avoid it, the spear narrowly missing him and blasting a hole in the wall beside him. He felt the heat of the explosion singe his clothes.
"Is that all you've got?!" he shouted back, trying to keep his fear at bay.
1
With a final, desperate effort, he darted forward as Yuuma hurled another spear, the energy crackling ominously. The alley opened up into a wider street, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. The spear nicked his right shoulder, Issei screamed in pain almost tripping over the sensation he felt.
PUSH THROUGH, I'M ALMOST HERE! He screamed in his head, trying his best not to collapse from the burning sensation.
As he neared end of the alley that made its way back on the public street he made a sharp right stopping as quickly as he could.
[RESET]
As expected, she followed through, already having prepared her light spear, as she made the right into the open street. Seeing him stop right in front of her, she conjured another spear in her left hand as she threw the one in her right in front of him. The explosion sent him flying towards her again; she prepared herself to impale him as he flew towards her.
His eyes wide open in rage, he stared at her with a hardened blank expression, his hands suddenly engulfed themselves in green and red energy.
"RAYNARE!"
[BOOST]
The energy around him doubled in potency, he swung his fist towards her, his hands burned as he destroyed the light spear and connected with her liver.
Following through he guided his fist downwards towards the pavement, her body making a crater on impact.
She had no time to even cry out in pain as he grabbed her by the arm and, with all his strength, flung her five stories into the air, immediately following in pursuit.
In a desperate attempt, she summoned another spear to try and impale him, in which she succeeded. While the foreign object stuck through his right shoulder, he didn't seem to notice the pain, lifting his leg, he sent her flying down with an axe kick.
She hit the ground with a large shock wave as she lay on her back, hazily looking towards the sky. She heard a loud roar from him as the light spear, she impaled him with came back right at her going through her arm. She cried out in pain as she was pinned to the concrete.
Issei came flying down, his left hand cocked back he prepared to deliver the final blow to her head.
As his descent got closer and closer to the ground, he stared straight at her eyes, as they welled up with an expression of fear on her face.
He was reminded of a certain girl, no the only girl that cared about him in that place. She had the same eyes. The same expression, the one where he followed through on the final blow, one which he tried so hard to forget and regretted to this day.
He landed on top of her, his fist cocked back as he stared inches away from her face, both staring at each other.
"Do it," she spat. "Kill me already! What the fuck are you waiting for human!?"
He hesitated, his eyes searching hers, his ragged breath matching hers. The anger and pain in her voice seemed to affect him more than he could withstand. His fist trembled as he fought with himself, the memories of her flashing vividly in his mind. His expression softened slightly, and he could feel his resolve crumbling.
"Was it true? What you said in the house?" he yelled, his voice breaking with anger, but it almost sounded like a plea.
Yuuma's eyes widened in confusion and pain, her gaze locking with his. She looked at him like he was crazy, unable to comprehend his sudden change.
"Shut up! Just die already you stupid human! Why can you just die!" She screamed and yelled at him as she tried to summon another light spear. He simply held her down and looked at her with an unreadable expression until she dissolved it. He let his head fall, the fight draining out of him completely. He couldn't do it for some reason.
"Get up," he said, his voice heavy with defeat and sorrow. He almost felt ashamed of himself for his weak resolve. This person, if you could even call her that, was nothing like her. So why couldn't he do it? He let out a frustrated and painful growl before looking away at her. "Get up and go to my house."
Raynare blinked, still lying on the ground, stunned by his words. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I said, get up and go to my house," he repeated, his tone firmer. "Go."
He got off her and faced away from her, "Or I'll kill you here and now," he said with finality.
She got up with a grunt and started walking.
Issei walked alongside Raynare, the tension between them palpable. He led her through the streets to his house, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
While Raynare was carrying herself well, despite her limp, cuts, burns, and hole in her arm, Issei had to continuously boost himself to manage any meaningful travel. While this hadn't neared the maximum amount of times he could boost himself, the use of magic and, unknowingly, his draconic energy made him weak. Even weaker as he wasn't full strength from the healing that Rias had given him.
Fortunately for him, there was no excessive bleeding as the hole in his shoulder was cauterized by the light spear.
They finally reached his home. He opened the door and guided Raynare inside. The house was all the same except for the broken chair which had been decimated into a million pieces and the broken cup. He led her to the living room and gently helped her onto the couch.
"Stay here," he said, his voice strained but calm. He went to the bathroom and returned with a first aid kit and laid it to his side. His fingertips began to glow white and he boosted once again, the color intensified once again as his fingers reached for the hole in her shoulder.
An irritated expression grew on her face as she slapped his hand angrily away. "Don't touch me human! I don't need your help!" Her voice dripped with disdain and superiority.
Issei clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "You're bleeding," he growled, his tone cutting through the air like a knife. "If you don't want my help, fine. But don't expect me to stand by and watch you bleed out."
Raynare faltered for a moment, caught off by his words. She glared at him, her wings flaring slightly in frustration. "I can take care of myself," she insisted stubbornly.
Issei scoffed, his patience wearing thin. "Clearly," he retorted sarcastically, crossing his arms. "Because breaking into someone's house and trying to kill them is really taking care of yourself."
Silence hung heavy between them for a tense moment. Raynare's gaze flickered, defiance and uncertainty clouding her features. She looked away, unwilling to meet his piercing stare.
"Fine," she muttered finally, her voice quieter. "But no tricks, human."
Issei nodded curtly, relenting slightly. "No tricks," he agreed, his fingers rubbed around the edges of the wound.
[RESET]
[BOOST]
This time, his fingertips glowed green; he looked at Raynare, who matched his gaze. "This is gonna hurt," he said curtly.
Raynare scoffed, "Don't look down on me human." Her gaze didn't waver, and he traced his fingers over her wound, the flesh quickly conjoining back together, left with only a raw red mark. She didn't make a sound to his surprise.
Issei looked at the first aid kit full of bandages and cream, and looked back at her, giving her an unspoken demand. She looked back at him briefly before reluctantly taking the kit from him, her movements stiff and begrudging. She began to tend to her wounds, her hands trembling slightly with the effort. Issei watched her silently; his anger over the whole situation finally dissipated before turning into mild annoyance at this woman who kept giving him snarking glances.
He repeated the same process for himself, albeit with much more pain and grunting, eventually bandaging himself as well.
They sat silently for a few minutes before Issei stood up looking at her. "Let's go to my room," he said tiredly. He just wanted this day to be over with. He needed at least a couple of days to recover fully.
Raynare looked at him with her brow raised, "Why?"
"Because your clothes are destroyed, and you're practically naked," Issei said, looking off to the side of her. She may have just tried to kill him a few minutes ago, but even he wouldn't go as far as to leer on a very injured girl.
"So, I'm going to give you new ones." Waiting for her to pick herself up slowly, they both headed up the stairs to his bedroom. Reaching into his drawer, he picked out an old Pokemon shirt and some white joggers that he kept on the occasion he ever went to the gym.
He handed her the clothes and turned around as she began to undress what little she had left on. The ruffling of the clothes didn't help to distract him whatsoever. "I don't mind if you look," she said plainly.
"W-Well I think that isn't right." He tried to say it sternly, but the situation of having a smoking hot older girl changing in his room was preventing him from doing so.
"My bad that you're a virgin," she scoffed.
Issei rolled his eyes. Why was he even trying to get brownie points with someone like this? Now that he wasn't focused on fighting his mind started to wander off onto other more erogenous thoughts. Looking back, her mature version was drop-dead gorgeous from the few times he was able to get a look at her.
He turned around. His memory not having deceived him. She looked drop-dead gorgeous. She even rivaled Rias and Akeno from the club that he visited this morning. The shirt that he gave her really outlined her chest, hell probably any shirt of his would. With her being taller than him, left her naval exposed, and the pants didn't leave that much to imagination either.
"Better?"
"They are… comfortable." They stood there in silence for a bit, taking in the moment. "So now what?"
Issei raised his brow at that question. "I should be asking you that since your… mission at an … attempt at my life has failed," he said with disdain. He couldn't even imagine how one would deal with an issue like this. Usually, the assassin would continue fighting till one of them perished or retreated and tried another time. She was just standing in his room, wearing his clothes, covered in his bandages.
Raynare looked off to the side sheepishly.
His brows furrowed at that look of hers, "What?"
"Uh… technically, I- I wasn't supposed to kill you. Yet."
His eyes widened at that, "You're joking. THEN WHY THE FU-"
"I couldn't afford for you to get in the hands of those devils!"
"Why would I ever join the devils, they literally have slaves!" He threw his hands in the air.
"That's what they do. They. Are. Devils." She said like she trying to talk to a baby.
He groaned, "So what? You just go killing around anyone that isn't affiliated with your kind? Shouldn't you have at least tried to recruit me before?"
"U- Uh-"
He cut her off, already getting the picture, "So you just jumped the gun, huh?"
"I wouldn't expect a human to understand."
"I wouldn't expect a fallen angel to be this stupid," he retorted. She stayed silent despite the hit to her pride. He pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Are you acting alone at least?"
She simply looked away with her arms crossed under her chest.
He sighed at the sight. "Whoever else is with you should leave immediately. I hope you know better than I how dangerous it is in this territory. Considering who owns it."
"Don't lecture me insect-" A tick appeared on his head. They had spent the whole day together just a few nights ago, and now she acted like his name was venom. "-I can handle my subordinates myself."
"First of all, I highly doubt you, of all people, have subordinates. Second, you best believe they're investigating that… weird purple thing you did in the sky. And if they get to find your 'subordinates', the only thing between the devils and them, is me, a neutral party." His words hung in the air as he waited for her response.
"And why would you even bother trying to help us?" She asked him with a suspicious look.
"Because I don't want to deal with you, or any of this supernatural crap more than I have to," he sighed.
Despite her pride and ego as a fallen angel having been practically torn to shreds, even she knew the severity of the situation if she didn't act quickly. Finally, she rolled her eyes and looked at him with an annoyed expression.
"Fine, whatever," she snapped before she stood up, flexing her fist. She unflexed her hand with her palm facing towards the floor. In a few seconds, something akin to a large purple magic circle began to glow underneath them. The purple light engulfed the room before they disappeared.
He felt a disorienting sensation as he felt himself being flown across the town. Before he knew it, he stood in front of the abandoned church. It looked the same as many years ago and stood more as a minor tourist attraction. With many shifting away from religion in Japan, the church became desolate and now stood as a point in the past. The only new thing that he felt was a minor unease as he felt around Raynare emanating from the church. He could assume it was her other comrade.
Taking a deep breath, he followed Raynare as she entered the empty church.
"Kalawarner! It's Raynare come out here!" Her voice echoed off the walls, before the whoosh of wings was heard just as quickly. As she landed before them, Issei couldn't help but drop his jaw at the sight. There stood a tall buxom woman with long, navy blue hair that went down towards her ankles. Her hair obscured her right eye, as her left one had an intense yellow that stared back at them. In contrast to her hair, she sported a maroon trench coat top with a tall collar that was very exposed in the front. Along with a matching miniskirt, she wore a single gold pendant necklace. All in all, she was rivaling Raynare as well in her own way.
Are all fallen angels like this?
Her piercing gaze softened as they landed on him, "The kid… he's here with you," her eyes turned to Raynare, "you actually did your job for once?"
"W-What are you talking about, I always get my job done! While you sit on your-"
Kalwarner raised her brow as she continued her babbling outburst before her eyes traveled to her comrade's outfit, "What are you wearing?" She didn't ask in a condescending tone either, rather, it was a genuine question. A question that sucked all the life and ferocity out of Raynare's babbling, and she stood there almost ashamed of that question. It didn't take long before her eyes landed on her collar, where white gauze could be seen sticking out slightly. Her eyes quickly darted over to the kid who was covered in much of the same thing.
"I-I can expl—"
"RAYNARE, YOU STUPID BITCH!" Kalawarner roared, summoning a yellow spear of light aimed straight at Raynare.
All that could be heard was screaming and the chaotic sounds of battle. The old structure of the church barely managed to hold onto itself from the rumbling and the intense energy of their clash. Debris fell from the ceiling, and the stained glass windows shattered, raining colorful shards onto the floor.
After what felt like an eternity, Issei propped himself up from behind a pillar he had used to take cover. He glanced around, his ears ringing and his vision slightly blurred. The two fallen angels were on their knees, bruised and gasping for breath.
"I swear to God, Raynare," Kalawarner panted, her voice filled with fury and exhaustion. "Once I regain my strength—"
"He was just some idiot with a Twice Critical," Raynare shot back defensively, though she was equally out of breath. "It was an easy kill!"
"Easy kill?!" She glared right back at her. "What don't you understand about surveillance and recruit?!" All this yelling was just making both of them gasp for more air.
"H-He was getting chummy with that devil princess!" Raynare insisted, her voice rising in pitch.
Kalawarner's eyes narrowed. "So you thought killing him in the middle of enemy territory was a good idea? Are you out of your mind?"
Issei, who had been observing their heated exchange, finally stepped forward. "Look, can you both calm down for a second? We don't have much time." He took a deep breath before continuing, "Whoever or whatever your boss is, you can tell them whatever you want so you don't take that much heat from this obviously very screwed situation." Both fallen angels turned their attention to him with a mix of confusion and frustration.
"More importantly, it's best that you both leave this town. Rias and her peerage are probably searching the town from all the commotion this idiot caused," his glare seemed to irritate Raynare further. "I'm only here in case they might have intercepted us, but it seems we were lucky. It's best if you both leave considering the fallout that may happen if either of you are caught."
Raynare's expression tightened, her jaw clenching in frustration at Issei's words. She shot a glance at Kalawarner, who returned it with a stern look of her own, clearly indicating that this conversation would continue later.
Kalawarner nodded slowly, her wings folding back as she regarded Issei with irritation. "Well thanks for letting us know kid. I'll be sure to return the favor."
Raynare exhaled sharply through her nose, her wings twitching with restrained anger. "Fine. But this isn't over, human-"
"Yes it is!" Raynare yelped as Kalawarner hit the back of her head.
With that, Kalawarner and Raynare unfurled their wings and with a powerful flap, they ascended into the night sky, disappearing from view. Issei watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. He really hoped this would be the end of his encounters with the supernatural. However, if he was going based on the past three years, he didn't really have that much faith in holding himself to that.
Turning away from the ruined church, Issei made his way back home. Reaching his front door, Issei let out a sigh of relief. He pushed it open, stepping into the familiar comfort of his modest home. The air inside was still, the faint scent of incense mingling with the lingering aroma of tea. He kicked off his shoes and made his way towards the living room, his steps heavy with exhaustion.
Collapsing onto the couch, Issei finally allowed himself to relax. He sank into the cushions, closing his eyes briefly as he tried to unwind from the adrenaline-fueled evening. His muscles, tense from the day's events, gradually began to loosen.
Just as he felt the first tendrils of relaxation creep over him, a sudden flash of red light cut through the dimness of his living room. Issei's eyes shot open, his heart skipping a beat as he saw the unmistakable glow of a Gremory summoning circle forming on the floor before him.
"You've got to be kidding me," Issei muttered under his breath, his earlier relief swiftly replaced by a sinking feeling of dread.