I do not own anything.
'thought'
"Speech"
"Text via book or newspaper... when those are around..."
System Text


Previously

"Hey- uh... b-big bro?"

"Yes, Issei?" I question as I fold another shirt and place it in my backpack.

"I have... uh... a question."

"Sure. Go for it." I hum as I grab several pairs of socks and stuff them in the bag.

"What's... it like being a devil?"

"Hm... well, with Rias it's pretty much just exactly the same as how I've been living the past three years or so as her friend." I admit with a shrug. "But, my experience is not what usually happens. Rias is unique among devils. Genuinely one of a kind. Not even Sona compares, and she is among the nicer devils."

"W-Wait- The student council president is a devil?! I KNEW IT! I knew she was evil with those punishments!"

"I think she punished you so hard because of your repeat offenses." I deadpan with a half-lidded glare.

"Like you're one to talk! Snuggling up to the top beauty in Kuoh Academy! Damn pretty boy bastard! And you even got that blonde angel chick hanging around!"

"I'm literally right here." Said blonde twin-tailed girl states from the bathroom door.

"Technically, she's also a devil now." I admit as I go back to sorting what I need. "But, as I was saying, Sona is a bit of a hardass to her peerage- which is the entire student council- Imagine all the work you do at school. Add in all the work of a student council. Then likely whatever paperwork is needed to run the school that the principal should honestly be doing... then imagine you sometimes need to go out and complete random menial tasks for some guy so you can form a contract for some funny 'devil points' to get money and a golden star!"

"Do... you do tasks?" He asks.

"Nah. It'd waste my time." I admit before turning to look at him. "But for you, I'd help out a bit, cause you're family and all that."

"Rias pretty much uses me exclusively as an anime watch along buddy." I shake my head as I stuff another hoodie into my bag. Mittelt is also packing, but she has far less that I do. Just some extra clothes.

"Asia... said she was kicked out of the church for healing a devil." Issei whispers. "I- I just want to know if they are really as bad as the bible makes them out to look."

"Oh. Absolutely." I nod. "Like... if you were to look at human morality and draw a line through it. One side being fucking Hitler and the other side being... honestly Asia... if you were to compare a devil's morality to that, the 'middle line' would be closer to 'fucking asshole' than the 'true neutral' of humans."

"..."

"To explain it in a not confusing and stupid sounding manner." Mittelt cuts in. "The best devil is worse than the best human, but far better than the worst human. The worst devil however is far worse than the worst human."

"I... I see." Issei mutters. "So, should Asia have been kicked out of the church?"

"Oh, absolutely not." I shake my head. "They labeled her a heretic for healing a devil, acting like her power is an abomination for healing a devil, but at the end of the day her power is to heal. It's not faith based, or based on race. It is to cure wounds. Not ask questions and not hesitate."

"She... she didn't even know how to eat a burger... was... was healing all they ever made her do?" He whispers, biting his lip.

"Listen, bro. Every faction has their skeletons in their closets. Devils torture and abuse their peerage, the church murder children in an attempt to find out how to wield Excalibur-"

"Excalibur is fucking real?!"

"And the fallen, well, they soak up all the coo-coo bastards that were too intense for the church." I finish. "And yes, Excalibur is real. It got broken into seven fragments, though, so there's seven 'Excalibur' swords, each with their own superpowers. But I digress."

"Asia was kept practically under lock and key. Twilight healing is an incredibly valuable sacred gear due to healing magic being so rare. She likely had little entertainment, few friends, and few meaningful experiences."

He gazes down at the ground, a frown tugging at his lips.

"But. Despite your perversions... she seems to genuinely care for you." Mittelt begins. "treat her well and, well, maybe you'll actually get a date."

"Fuck you Fallen Star." The boosted gear wielder pouts. "Fuckin' smug loli."

He did sometimes play games with us, so, it's a little less awkward between them. about as much as you could possibly have between a human and a girl who's coworker nearly murdered that human.

Mittelts hands shake in poorly restrained 'I'm going to strangle this boy' energy as her eyebrow twitches.

"Issei. You should be wary, as well. Think a little deeper on Asia's circumstances." I begin.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"She was kicked out for healing a devil, yes let me ask you this... why was the devil there?"

"H-Huh?" He blinks.

"Ooooh shit." Mittelt curses, eyes growing wide

"You said Asia didn't even know how to eat a burger, right, that means she was likely never let out of the church compound itself. So, let me ask you this. Why was the devil there. On church ground. When Asia just so happened to have no protection... and said protection just so happened to show up after she healed the devil and declare her a witch? Kicking her to the curb despite the fact they refused to give her any life skills at all? Why were they so hasty to cast her out? Why was she cast out in the first place when her sacred gear is called 'twilight healing' and not 'this heals literally everyone but devils'?"

"Y-You are saying the church sold her out?! To some devil?!" Issei gasps.

"Not the entire thing, but someone there, clearly." I nod. "Healing is a valuable power. Especially in a rating game. There's probably no end to devils who want to add her to their peerages... regardless of her opinion on the matter."

"So." I turn placing a hand on his shoulder. "If a devil shows up looking for her... tell me. And don't fucking trust them. They can put on such a nice front, being all 'oooh all we do is braid the hair of puppies and kittens down in hell!' Then once she accepts, he'll reveal that he's a serial rapist who likes to bang little girls who he tricks into willingly putting a slave collar around their necks."

His face hardens slightly. "Big brother... I... I want to protect her... can you help me out with that sacred dragon thingy?"

"Uhhh, well, I sort of don't really have much time right now, buuut." I begin slowly. "let's see here. How did Rias explain this-"

"Wait, why don't you have much time... why are you packing?"

"Oh, Rias and gang are taking us on a three week training montage." I casually answer.

"Why?" He blinks

"So we can duel her fiancé." Mittelt shrugs.

"Hah?"

"Apparently Rias is stuck in an arranged marriage, and we need to win a 'rating game' with her Fiancé if she wants out." I shrug idly. "Oh, and to explain rating games briefly, think a team vs team battle but with some chess rules, like with rooks being strong, knights being fast, bishops being good with magic, and pawns being able to become any piece if they make it to where the other team starts."

"is-isn't that dangerous?! Will you be okay?!"

"Oh, sure. Accidents sometimes happen-"

"It's actually safer than some human sports like American football and most forms of MMA and Boxing." Mittelt informs. "Teleportation and healing magic goes a long way."

"Huh... didn't know that, actually." I blink. "Anyways, now. For your sacred gear. I want you to imagine the strongest thing you can-"


I lay flat on my bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Early bugs bunny was a fucking cunt. He had nothing likable about his character at all, spoke in a deep ear grating goofy from mickey mouse-esque voice and laughed like WOODY FUCKING WOODPECKER!

Oh, also he looks nothing like bugs.

My eyebrow twitches slightly.

A long breath leaves my lips.

At least I managed to get to the 'classic' bugs quickly... only like five episode or so of imposter bugs before he started getting voiced by Mel Blanc.

Wow.

Old cartoons are fucking racist.

Like... far more than I remembered as a kid.

There's a knock on the door.

"Come in." I call out.

A blonde slowly walks inside, she looks a little ragged, her clothes lightly blackened.

"Mittelt? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She growls, eyebrow slightly twitching.

She walks forwards, faceplanting on the bed.

She's stronger than she was earlier today.

To think that I could see a notable increase in her power in just eight hours. Unlocking her potential was like... maybe a four times increase, and she has improved a further twenty percent or so.

Dragon ball stuff is bullshit.

"You know, I've heard that when a girl says that 'she's fine', what she really means is 'listen to my problems'." I roll my eyes.

"You prick. You just have to watch cartoons all day. Don't you fucking sass me." She glares, head turning to the side.

"If you didn't want my sass, why'd you seek me out?" I ask, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I mean, you've got your own room right across from me."

I roll her over and sit her up, she leans on my shoulder like a puppet with her strings cut.

"It's..." She lets out a long sigh. "I missed you at dinner today."

"Sorry, I'm trying to pack in as much content as I can." I admit.

"I know." She whispers.

"..."

"Alright. Fucking tell me. Let me lend my ear. What's wrong? I hate to see you this mopey." I frown down at her.

"I- is it just me... or... does-" she cups her chin, gathering her thoughts for a moment. "Is... Akeno a bit of a bitch?"

"Mhm." I nod once.

"She does it to you as well?!" The girl gasps, her face falling into an angry frown, here eyes narrow slightly, she looks genuinely infuriated.

"No." I shake my head. "She doesn't bother me. There was just something that rubbed me the wrong way about her. What did she even do?"

And just like that her anger is erased, letting out a long sigh. She's like... bullying me. Which is fucking ridiculous when you consider I'm twenty six."

"You're twenty six?!" I gasp, looking over her.

"What about it?!"

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?" The girl frowns, lightly glaring at me.

"Twenty six years old, yet you haven't even kissed a dude yet."

"Hey! I'm saving myself."

"For?" I question.

"Uh..." She pales. "You- You know how some people say dudes become wizards if they're a virgin till thirty?"

"You were looking to become a witch and gain tremendous arcane power by being a virgin?" I flatly observe idly wondering if she meant to just flat out say 'you' but pussied out at the last second.

"Yeeeees?" She eventually nods taking a moment to decide if she was actually going to go with this lie.

I roll my eyes. "So, what has she been doing?"

"Well, I've had boiling tea 'accidentally' poured on my lap five times this past fucking week I've been a devil... and believe me, that doesn't fucking feel good. Then there's all these fucking backhanded insults like 'I didn't expect your kind to last this long' and 'typical for someone like you'. Like what is that bitch's problem?! I've done nothing to her! Oh, and don't even get me fucking started on me sparring with her."

She lets out a small breath. "Thanks for awakening my potential... she... she seemed to get some sort of sick fucking kick out of it. Like she was enjoying hitting me with lightning. Had I been any weaker it's likely she would have borderline tortured me and called it 'training'."
A frown appears on my lips as my gaze strays over Mittelt.

"I-" she seems to find the words she wants to say for a moment. "Like. Here I am, sticking my neck out for Rias. My friend. Yet this smiley little bitch seems to want to make my life hell for existing! Like, what is her problem with me?! It's only been a week and I'm fucking SICK of it!"
"I can try and talk to her if you want." I suggest.

"No- don't." The girl sighs. "I-I... should take care of this on my own. I just wanted a pair of ears to whine at."

"..."

"So." The girl beside me grins. "Watch any good porn, lately?"

"Not really? When you have someone like Rias cuddle up with you and watch anime for hours at a time, normal porn doesn't really do it for you anymore." I admit.

"True. She's so fucking hot. Ugh. Damn devil genes." The girl scoffs, before bringing her hands to her chest. "I wish I had a figure like that."

"Eh. I'd say I like you better like this." I shrug. "If all girls shared the same body type... you'd all be less special, y'know?"

Her eyes widen slightly, scarlet dancing across her cheeks. "Oh damn... did you take some sort of class on flirting or something?"

"Nah, I've just got that monocular pirate rizz."

"Huh?" The girl blinks.

"Oh. Right. Twenty twenty-four meme. You wouldn't get it."

"Alright. Hang the fuck on right this second... can you REALLY see into the future? Like... see the future of media?!"

"Pretty much, yes." I nod once.

"What the fuck?! That's- that's crazy!"

"..." she is silent for a moment.

"What's the next generation of Pokemon look like?" She eventually asks, the curiosity apparently getting the best of her.

"What gen are we on, currently?"

"Four. Diamond and Pearl." She answer.

"Ah. My Personal favorite gen is next, then. Black and White."

"Black... and White?" She echos. "What, is there going to be a third game called Pokemon Morally Grey or something?"

"Nope. But they will get a sequel called black two and white two... and the third legendary is technically grey, yes." I nod slowly.

"..."

"So, like, are you just not going to fucking show me any pictures."

"Here's the player characters from each."

"DAMN! What the fuck?! Twin Tail girl has GOT to have some porn of her, right? I'm not the only one seeing this, am I?"

I snap my fingers, changing the image, the corners of Mittelt's mouth turn upwards. "Sweet."

"What about the legendaries?"

I snap my fingers again.

"YOOOO what?! Those look fucking BADASS!"

"They're also contenders for the worst shiny pokemon Gamefreak has ever released alongside Garchomp, Gengar, and Scyther."

"Oh god. What did they do?" She sighs.

Another image appears.

"Fuck all!" I cheer.

"You're telling me that they didn't pallet swap them?!" She deadpans.

"I know! It should have been fucking obvious!" I exclaim.

"Ugh." She shakes her head.

Her gaze strays back to me. "So. Another question. Favorite hentai tags. Go!"

"E-Excuse me? Is this just something you casually talk about? Maybe this is why you have so few friends, Mittelt." I sputter.

"Oi! Answer the question!"

"Why don't I pick least favorite, first." I begin.

"Alright. Fair game. Shoot."

I think for a moment. "I don't exactly know all the tags off the top of my head, but I know a few general ones that I hate. My most hated would be... honestly? I'd say Scat."

"Woah. That places over Gore?!"

"Honestly, I'd rather read about a girl getting fucked to death by a horse than be forced to deal with scat, diapers, or farting. But yes, Gore and beastiality is down there as well, as is vore, inflation... ah... fuck, I'm having a hard time thinking of the bad ones."

"Furry?"

"Not big on that one either."

"Netorare?"

"Pardon?" I blink.

"Cheating." The girl elaborates.

"Oh, fucking horrible. I hate that shit with a passion." I not slowly.

"Honestly same." The girl agrees. "You're pretty much on the exact same wave length as me so far."

"Tentacles?"

"They're whatever, I guess. Sort of neutral on that." I shrug.

"Futa?" She asks.

"Not a fan." I shake my head.

"What?!" She sounds genuinely affronted. "It's like... the best part of a girl mixed with the best part of a guy!"

"That's the issue. I'm not into guys." I shrug.

"What about muscles?" She questions.

"How much muscle are we talking about here?" I question. "Cause like... tomgirl with sixpack and toned legs? Fuck yeah. But if we are talking about super muscular girls that put like... male body builders to shame? No."

"Incest?"

"Is wincest."

"NIIIICE!" The girl cackles. "Those are the bad ones I can think of off the top of my head. So. What about your favorite. Come onnn. Tell me!"

"I don't really understand why we are talking about this." I weakly sigh.

"Just some casual philosophy between pals." The girl shrugs. "Tell me. Come on~"

"What's yours?" I ask.

"Girls with dick." She shrugs. "You?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Say it!" She demands.

I rub my face with a hand, letting out a low groan as I cover my mouth and let out a low mumble.

"Pardon?"

A long sigh leaves my lips as I desperately question each and every decision I've made up until this point.

"It's... well... ah..."

"Come on, dude, no judgement here." The girl smirks, gently elbowing me in the side.

I close my eyes pondering for a long moment, building up the general courage to say anything at all.

"Impregnation."

"That's HOT." The girl grins, causing me to shoot her a flat glare.

"So, that's what gets you going? The idea that you're going to spread your genes? Continue your bloodline and repopulate?"

"Yes. Now quit talking about this or I'll breed you." I roll my eyes.

"Promise?" The girl questions.

"..."

"So... this is what it feels like to be on the other side of that." I blink. "Why are you like this?"

"You can't ghost my sexting in person." She smirks. "Also... I-uh... sort of want to get my mind off things."

I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her closer, causing a small blush to appear on her face as I rub her shoulder. "Want to watch some cartoons?"

"I... I'd like that." She nods slowly.


"Akeno." I glare.

"Ah. Hello Verrti" she smiles only to cock her head to the side. "Is something wrong?"

"Leave Mittelt alone." I demand.

"P-Pardon?" She mutters.

"I noticed how you were treating her this past week and I am genuinely sick of it. Get over yourself."

"She- you shouldn't trust anything she says-"

"Why not? Because she's a fallen angel?" I question. "News flash, bitch. She was born into a race where everyone despises her for being born, and that hasn't been easy on her. You're acting like she has had any conscious choice BESIDES joining Rias her ENTIRE life. It was the Grigori or death. But. The one time she tries to take control and live life for her own sake, there's you. Trying your damned best to make her miserable for being born as the wrong race."

"Here she is. Sticking her neck out for someone who YOU call a friend, yet here you are constantly tormenting her for something she has no control over."

"I don't like you, Akeno. Frankly, I never really have. Your fake smiles, teasing, and enjoyment of suffering? Everything about your personality rubs me the wrong way. But. Here's the thing. I am not letting that cloud my judgement here. Rias needs help and AS part of Rias peerage. YOU also need to get stronger. As Rias' queen you should be willing to put HER needs over your own selfish desires- and yes, that's EXACTLY what all this is. Your own selfishness. To really stroke your fragile sense of self and be all 'wow I sure showed the fallen by torturing someone who cast everything aside to join up with a devil she made a connection with. That'll show all the loyalists how foolish they are'. Like get a fucking HOLD OF YOURSELF. Rias is about to be forced into a loveless marriage, yet all you can think about is yourself! Don't you fucking CONSIDER what she might do if she loses? What Riser might try to KONEKO if Rias loses?! Do your friends mean so fucking little to you?"

Her hands clench, she bites her lip, a fierce glare in her eyes.

"I'm going to go unlock Koneko's potential now." I glare as I turn and begin to walk away. "Don't worry. I'm not being hypocritical here. I'll unlock yours as well... last, that is."


"Hey Koneko..." I greet.

"Mn." She replies.

"How are you today?" I ask.

"Fine."

"How's your training coming along?" I continue.

"Fine."

"..."

She stares into my eyes for a long moment.

"I heard you... fighting with Akeno..." She eventually speaks. "She suffered... to them... the fallen. Please don't blame her..."

"Look. I understand. However, that gives her no right to do what she has been doing to Mittelt. Just because you have had bad experiences with one person, you shouldn't use that shit as an excuse to torment people who hold no connection to the actions of that one person."

"Mn." The girl hums. "That's... True I guess... I... just don't want you all fighting. Rias likes you. Rias is Akeno's friend... having to pick between you... will hurt her. Don't hurt Rias or I'll hurt you."

"I don't plan to. But you know as well as I do that we can't let bad blood get between us during the rating game."

"Yes." The girl nods once. "You are... right... If Akeno doesn't stop... I will... talk to her."

I look over the girl for a long moment. "We should probably get you some therapy as well."

"I'm. Fine." She frowns, eyes narrowing slightly in challenge.

"Sealing off your emotions isn't a healthy reaction to anything Koneko. But we're not talking about that. You aren't actively hurting anyone- except maybe yourself- with this, so we can leave this can of worms for the future." I place my hand on her shoulder. "Just know that the peerage cares about you, and while Mittelt is a little new and doesn't really know what to think of the peerage yet, and, well, I've been a little distant... I know you deserve to be happy... to be able to show yourself being happy."

I shake my head. "We're not talking about this right now. Ahem. Powerup!"

Power flows around her body as she begins to breath heavily.

I can see a brief shimmer of cat ears atop her head and a tail on her back, but they disappear just as quickly.

A hand comes to her chest as she quickly gets a slightly terrified expression under control and returned to her flat impassive glare.

"Koneko..." I whisper, a small pitying look on my face.

"Nothing happened."

A sigh leaves my lips. "We will talk about this sometime later."

"How about sometime never. I'm fine. This is fine. Everything is fine."

She's saying that more to herself than me.

I reach up and pat her head, but she quickly swats away my hand.

"Be safe." I wave as I turn and begin to walk away.

"Teaser... pervert... bastard..." She grumbles to herself.


You know, it might sound a little fucking rich coming from a guy who's power is to LITERALLY just sit on his ass and watch anime and play games, but... wow, this is a little mentally exhausting.

I've been taking little breaks every now and then, playing through a little Crash Bandicoot every now and then.

I can just say one thing...

TIME TRIALS ARE FUCKING HELL!

Like, I can't even complete the first level because the time Trial requires literally FRAME PERFECT movement. Then I don't want to move on beyond it because, well, level one isn't complete. It's just fucking infuriating.

I wonder if I could purchase the ability to 'get good' or something.

I shake my head, letting out a long sigh. "Let's get back to the loon."


Well, Mittelt and Verrti are hanging out, plus we see that not everything is puppies and rainbows in Rias' peerage!
Plus we got to see Koneko and Verrti interact... that's neat.

anyways, it's time for ME to bitch and moan for a bit. my mouse has been double clicking a lot recently and it has been driving me fucking crazy!

also, if the images don't work, I'll quickly fix them. they worked in the Preview, though.