"Beep! Beep! Sloth is the enemy of mankind!" Groaning, Xenovia heavily lifts herself up, failing miserably, last night's toll still on her shoulders. Rubbing her eyes, the beauty forces herself to rise up for good this time. The comfy bed drags her down, apparent that the lady lacks the strength to compose herself for the day to come.
'Ugh… I feel like crap…' Opening her eyes completely, Xenovia meets the clock that's been beeping non-stop for the past minute. In one swift yet aggressive move, she turns it off. It's 6:45.

'Still got time to patch myself up, don't want to miss school again.' Who knows how the President would react if she ditches school twice in a row, and Xenovia isn't eager to find out, not yet. She had to get her stuff together, and prepare for the day ahead. A soft hum escaped her bright lips as she finally lifted herself off, her legs weary from yesterday's events.

With a burnt-out sigh, Xenovia took off.

Drying her hair, the lady took a moment to compose herself. She'd wasted more time than she should in the bath.

She could blame it on the water pressure, especially after she'd moved here along with her partner, Irina. Crappy motels couldn't hold a candle to the comfort of this house.

Hopping from her spot, Xenovia made her way to the kitchen with light steps, to fill the emptiness in her stomach, sincerely hoping to find something that could satiate the hunger burning inside her. The wetness on her steps left marks on the marble, but she could care less at the moment. It's about damn time she and Iri did a complete cleaning.

Approaching the fridge, one that they could afford after being excommunicated, anyways, Xenovia's tummy sounded desperate, wishing to be satiated and content. As soon as her brown eyes landed on the little memo left by her "roomie", Xenovia's legs trembled with fury.

'Out of supplies, no breakfast for today. I'll be heading to the bakery, I advise you to do the same, Xen.'

It took every ounce of willpower for her to not make a mess out of their kitchen.

It's alright, the bakery is close to their flat.

Yet, Xenovia's tummy grew more and more impatient, even going as far as grumbling in public, kind of impatient. She is no harborer of social anxiety, however, even then Xenovia couldn't help but be worried by the assumption that people around her were staring right at her.

Her steps quickened, closing more and more distance as best as her feet could at the moment. The lady couldn't help but feel as though her stomach was collapsing on itself. A symptom that carried over from her childhood, she's always been self-indulgent when it came to food. She blamed Dulio for enriching her tastes with cuisine all across the world.

She could see the familiar scene of the neighborhood's bakery, so close yet so far at the same time. Her and Irina took turns working part-time there when they first moved to Kuoh, thanks to the blessed-heart of the owner, who gave them a chance even when they had no prior experience. Xenovia accepted the offer without thinking, and delved into the world of baking. It was… pleasant.

To shape and bake, calculating every ingredient and applying the correct recipes. It opened a whole world of possibilities, and perspectives. A hot-headed gal like her couldn't learn the importance of process. It took time, yes, but finally, Xenovia learned that not always the end product is the most important factor. She had to enjoy what she was doing at the moment, relishing in the process and being satisfied by the end product no matter how bad it looked, or tasted.

It was no easy task, that Xenovia could say. At the very least, she's glad their former boss is a man with the patience of a saint.

Pushing the fond memories aside, Xenovia bent the knob and made her way into the bakery.

The scent of freshly baked pastry filled her nostrils, fueling the never-ending satiation of her tummy. As if on cue, the waiter waved at her, gesturing to her to take a seat at one of the empty tables, which Xen heeded towards. Her eyes wandered, looking for someone in particular.

"She's taken off…" Muttered the girl under her breath, almost disappointed, Xen expected Iri to be around, so that they could walk together to the Academy after having taken their fill. Even if the lady doesn't make it public, having Iri by her side is almost comforting, to have someone that she can confide within. Even if they're currently experiencing a fallout due to someone's being a douche, cue in, herself. Xen had her own reasons for what she did, but Iri would not listen, not especially after that.

Her eyes wandered, taking in the sights of the few customers around, most of them are around her age, and probably her schoolmates even if she doesn't know them, one particularly stood out, as she had made acquaintances with them.

Captain of the School's Football Team, Miyazaki Ren.

From the looks of it, the boy's quite busy, talking with someone over the phone. As soon as his eyes landed on her, Ren flashed a smile, a friendly one at that. Gesturing her to take a seat across him, the boy hung up the phone quickly and greeted her.

"Sup, Quarta?" Fixing his messy, short black hair with one hand, Ren made eye contact with Xen.

"Fine and dandy, mostly. What about you? Haven't seen you around here for a long time, Miyazaki." Their dynamic only revolved around small talk and occasional greetings from time to time, but he's been quite the gentleman, or so she'd heard. During Xen's time working here, she'd seen most of the Academy's brightest drop by and chat before taking off to the classes, due to the close distance between the two facilities.

"Just trying to get by, same as usual. Tryna fulfill the coach's demands." The boy's eyes now darted back to his phone, as if he's expecting a message, or a call. As far as Xen could see, he's tense, and nervous. Not by her presence, she could say that. She wasn't some sort of idol to be nervous of, that title belonged to other girls at the Academy, specifically those that are part of the Occult Research Club.

"Huh? Is there some kind of drama going on at the Football Team that I haven't heard of?" That is nigh-impossible, as Iri would've mentioned such thing. Maybe Coach himself had some sort of dilemma, but nevertheless Xen hadn't seen Ren be nervous, even if they don't interact often.

"Drama? No. Absolutely not. It's more than that, I'm afraid." Xen could see the worry in his eyes, even if he tried to conceal it. She's no empath, but knows that whatever bothered the otherwise cool Captain, is taking its toll on him, severely.

"If it ain't too personal, may I?" Xen offered help, even if she knew she had nothing to do with the politics and internal affairs of the Soccer Team. Ren's the Captain, she's just a Treasurer in the Student Council.

"Sports week. Coach wants us to represent Kuoh Academy in the annual Nationwide Tournament. The problem is, I don't have any wingers, those that are up to standards, at the very least." His voice sounded exhausted, Xen picked up on that. He must've been trying to find potential candidates that fit the description, but at the same time, they do need to agree to participate. Dealing with people always comes with headaches.

"Up to standards?" Xen understood what he said, however, what is he expecting out of Kuoh Academy's boys? As far as she is concerned, the boys here aren't exactly known for their athletic skills, save for a few, but rather their academic success.

"Yes. I'm not saying my boys aren't enough, believe me, they'll make excellent substitutes. However… If we participate with what we have at the moment, we won't see past the Open Qualifiers." He's troubled, beyond relief even. Xen couldn't understand it thoroughly, but knew enough that those passionate about sports considered making it deep into tournaments like this a very big deal. It's akin to a life and death situation for them.

"I see… Who are the candidates you're suggesting to take in on the team, then?" If convincing them is the only issue, Xen and Sona Sitri could handle it with a few… benefits. Making progress in such a tournament, a Nationwide one at that, could bring their Academy so much recognition. They could finally get financed by the Government for the sport teams, not solely relying on beneficiaries.

Ren tosses a detailed list of candidates, handpicked by him and the coach. There are a few names that made sense, but three of them didn't.

"Yuuto Kiba?" First of the unusual candidates, Kiba is a Devil, a potential hack for a tournament like this. He'd speedblitz his wing with such excellence that he'd be sent to doping tests every match.

"He's fast, and a proper baller. I've played against him in a few practice matches a year ago, he's nuts. He denied the request due to some personal issues, and the fact that Gremory-Senpai doesn't allow him to participate." To think that a Devil like Kiba would enjoy playing football… Xen learns something novel everyday.

"Yasuaki… Matsuda?" Now this is borderline defamation, having someone like him participate in such a privileged event? Everything could go wrong.

"What's the surprise for? Do you know what makes him special, well, apart from the obvious?" Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Ren is willing to take every bit of action needed.

"Apart from the fact that he's the Sexual Harassment Paparazzi?" Xen shot a look of disgust, clearly not liking the idea to include someone like him into the Sports-team.

"He's a record-holding jock, and an excellent Left-Back. Back in junior high-school, Mats was the fastest man alive, literally. He's got so many prizes and records that don't literally make sense considering his physique. If he went down the road of decency and considered his career, that guy would've surely been snatched away from Kuoh, straight to the capital, probably under the Government's program." Hearing such things from Ren, someone Xenovia considered honest and down to earth, came as a surprise. So… One of the perverts had another path they could choose, and decided not to?

"It says here he rejected the offer as well." Xenovia kept looking at the list in front of her, and asked.

"Yeah… He's in Photo-Club and didn't want anything to do with the Tournament, for now. I have a way to convince him, If I can convince the last name on the list." Placing all his hope on the last candidate, huh… As Xen glanced down the list, she found a name… that she expected the least.

"Hyoudou? Really? Are you seriously going to tell me that he's some kind of prodigy as well?" That didn't make any sense, Matsuda she could understand, as his former status as a Jock-Star. Hyoudou? No, not in a million years.

"Haha… Believe it or not, he's by far the best one amongst everyone in that list. I'd dare to say even better than anyone currently on the team, as well, including me." Even better than the actual captain of the Football team, Xen called shots on that.

"Bull." Nope, Xen isn't going to buy in this lie. Hyoudou is far, far unathletic to even consider playing football.

"Don't act so surprised, Quarta. You've been only around Kuoh for like… a few months? Perverts weren't always… perverts, if I have to say. There used to be times that they weren't, and they were good, I mean it." Ren's tone left no room for arguments on her side, but Xenovia expected an answer, the look in her eye conveyed that enough.

"Hyoudou used to be the former captain of the Kuoh Junior, and I participated in the team as a Striker. We reached the semifinals of U-15 Tournaments, under him. He's by far the best winger currently under Kuoh Academy, possibly in the whole region, and I desperately need him if I can even begin to consider making it deep in this tournament. Just need to ignite the love he has for the beautiful game, that's all." His explanation only left Xenovia with more questions, was Hyoudou once a decent human being? Even the thought of such concept felt foreign.

"Sure, good luck on that. That pervert only thinks about his own desires, I doubt he's going to be any help to you, or the team." It's no easy feat for her to change her perspective on the pervert she came to loathe, from day one. Xenovia only endured his presence solely due to the fact that he and Irina are childhood besties, again, something she can't wrap her around to.

"He should be here… any moment actually. Wanna help me out?" Ren's words drained color from Xenovia's face, slightly. To convince the pervert? No, not in this lifetime, possibly not in any. He'd want payment with her body, and that is the least he could do.

"Nope. Have a nice chat." Quickly excusing herself, Xenovia stood up, and signaled the waiter that she'll have her pastry and cup of coffee on the go. Hyoudou is the last person she wanted to run into today. Not after the events of two nights ago.

As fate would have it, Xenovia bumped into the man she wanted to see the least, on her way out.

"You just can't help it, can you?" His words echoed, clearly displeased by the fact that his favorite shirt is covered in coffee.

As Xenovia opened her mouth to protest, the boy just waved her off, and continued on his path.

"Save it. You hate my guts, I hate yours, Let's keep it that way." Not even sparing a glance to her, the Pervert went on to use the restroom, possibly to clean his nose, also affected by their unexpected crash.

'Just… great.'

The news of the Pervert's disfigured face spread like wildfire.

The student consensus as a whole regarded it as Karma, deciding that Hyoudou finally got his lesson, and his ass beaten. The stain of coffee in his shirt served as a warm evidence of it.

Some boys, however, wondered what actually happened with him, as they believe he's a tough nut to crack, even by people older than him.

No one got the answers they wanted, as Hyoudou dismissed the issue as a work accident, never disclosing what happened in reality.

However, a certain blue haired girl is confused to the core.

'Why?'

The question nagged her brain, trying to come up with terms with Hyoudou's recent actions. Why would he feel the need to conceal the truth?

Is it because no one would believe him? That might be the case, but even then, Hyoudou leans to the side of the more… ambiguous type of individuals. There is no reason for him to conceal the truth, even when people don't consider him a reliable source of information, especially if the accusation is against someone in the Student Council.

What does he have to lose, anyway? Spread an accusation and once the President learns, she will get the truth out of both of them.

His actions, didn't make sense to her, not in the slightest.

Even the sole witnesses of both incidents didn't speak, or throw an accusation alongside her way.

They kept quiet, Iri kept quiet, everyone kept their mouths shut.

It unnerved Xenovia.

So, the lady did the only thing she could come up with.

Another bad idea.

"Normally, I wouldn't protest being in such position, but now? I'm feeling disgusted." His voice came out as sharp as a razor, as she expected. Both of them didn't want anything to do with the other. The sight would be hard to explain to other people, but luckily, Xenovia managed to corner Hyoudou in one of the places not many people would come in during this time of the day, the Boys locker room.

"Shut it, Perv." Her gaze met his, both of them would rather look somewhere else, but the position they are in didn't leave much room for such luxury. Pinned to one of the lockers, Xenovia's knee threatening to burst his bubbles, one wrong move by him would result in Pervert being forcibly removed from manhood. He's unusually calm for being pinned like this, even if Xenovia didn't want to admit it.

"So what? You're after my life now? First my sight, then my reputation, what comes next, Quarta?" Pervert almost sounded… tired? He should've been grateful that she didn't castrate him right here, right now. If things come to it, Xen is more than happy to remove one stain from the face of the Earth.

"I don't know what type of game you're playing, Perv, but I don't like it." Xenovia spat as she leveled herself with Hyoudou, her knee still in place, but more relaxed. She's only here to talk, to talk and get the hell out of here as soon as possible.

"You're either deranged, or… Nope, there's no or, You're batshit crazy, Quarta. Conspiracy theories now, really?" He literally had no clue what she's talking about, that much Xenovia could infer from his eyes. Come to think of it, Hyoudou's more or less seen as a honest type by people. However, she doesn't care what people think of him, only what she herself has seen in her limited time at the Academy.

"Cut the crap, Pervert. Why don't you rat me out, huh? Going around telling people it's just a work accident, when in reality we both know that's not the case, not on both occasions." The way he behaved, almost made her think the unthinkable, that this pervert had a conscience of his own.

"Pfft… Really? You're all worked up just because I decided to hide the truth, Quarta? I'm doing both of us a favor here, take it, and shut up." His gaze softened, along came a slight chuckle, to think Xenovia Quarta of all people would think he's plotting something behind her back, really? If he wanted to do that, Issei had every opportunity to do so.

"I really don't like to be indebted, Pervert. Don't think you're doing me a favor for even a second, because all you'll have is a mouthful of spit to your face in return." She meant every word of it, Issei's so sure of that. What could he say? He likes his women feisty.

"Aight, you do you, beautiful. You don't owe me anything, I don't owe you anything. Just keep your mouth hole shut, and we're both good. Mind you I'm not doing what I'm doing out of sympathy or care, it's better to leave my image as tainted as possible for me." Issei could see her conflicting emotions, just by looking at the way she stared at him. Why would someone like him go out of his way to hide the truth? Especially when this little piece of information could ruin her image, and cleanse his own. He has his reasons, so should Quarta.

Her grip on his shoulders relaxed, and she retracted her knee, just subtly looking at him as if he's some kind of a sadist, enjoying the fact that those rumors about him getting hit with Karma. He couldn't deny that they are well-developed, but to enjoy them? Nah, Issei's just content on letting the fire die and rather than fan the flame. Issei's perspective on her remained the same, more or less, but one thing is certain, Xenovia Quarta had a seed of doubt lingering in her mind.

"I know what you're thinking, Quarta. That I'm playing the long game, and in the end, you're gonna get hurt. Let me tell you something, World isn't what you picture it to be, and there are people that just do what they do, no ulterior motives, no grand schemes. Sooner you accept it, the better." She continued to stare at him, as if his words struck a nerve in her. Issei's no psychic, but he could see that defense mechanism in her working overdrive, almost hearing the sounds of the corks in her brain turning and turning. Always on edge, always expecting people to ask for something in return. It's carved inside some people, like Quarta, with experience.

"I don't buy it, Hyoudou." Her voice came hoarse, but Issei could notice the difference, albeit slightly.

"Then why didn't you call me Pervert, but Hyoudou?" There's something in her tone that made Issei flinch at hearing his own last name, the way she used it. He couldn't tell what exactly, but Quarta seemed less… hostile, lesser than what's considered usual for her.

Xenovia froze on the spot, not being able to register her own words. Why did she call him by his last name? She's content with only using Pervert… She really is. In her eyes, Hyoudou, damn it, no, Pervert, is a low-life, whom she expects to not survive in the real world, when his past finally catches up to him. Everyone associated with him, everyone that considers him a friend? Xenovia would rather cut her ties with them to breathe the same air with him, after this encounter.

"Think about what you've done, Xenovia. You're lucky that I'm willing to get it under the rug. To spare me a headache, don't twist it." With that, Issei ducked under her shoulder, keeping his gaze intact on the floor whilst doing so. He's not going to take a peek at her chest, not now, presumably not in this lifetime. He's got taste, after all, and people like Xenovia?

They tasted sour.

"Are you sure, Ren?"

"You talk as if we have any other choice, Issei. We don't, it's either him, or we play with only you as our winger."

The two boys set out on a mission, one that had been tasked by the Coach.

To secure another winger, of their choice. Regardless of what it takes.

When Miyazaki Ren approached him with his offer, Issei hesitated at first. Understandably, as he hadn't been on the pitch for three years straight, and it'll take time for him to get back into form. 2 Weeks until the Open Qualifiers begin, not enough time as it is for him. However… It'd prove to be a refreshing take, away from all the stress of balancing his work and studies. The perks that came with being under the Football team are no joke either.

Now… Him and Matsuda were back on the pitch, formally, along with Ren, albeit in a different role this time.

"Let's get over the roster for a final time." This squad… It's something only he dreamed about back in Junior High.

"Kaname's our Keeper, I'm sure you're still traumatized by his saves, cause I am." Hideaki Kaname, one of the best goalkeepers Issei had ever seen, when they faced him back in U-15's. He's unusually good at saving shots despite his small hands.

"We've got Souma, Mako, Hideo as our Centre Backs. We'll cycle between Mako and Hideo, Souma's our main man." The core trio stood intact, that's good. They had known those three, as they were the main men behind their success.

"You covered our Left-Back, Mats, and I convinced Souna Shitori to lend me Genshirou for the tournament, I'm placing him at Right-Back. Our defence is solid and they have chemistry." The line of defence is as good as it could be. Issei had no doubt in either one of them.

"What are we running this time?"

"4-2-3-1. We've got enough juice to try it, thanks to our Left and Right backs." Issei nodded, there are advantages of having two top of the cherry quality LB and RB, one of which is having Wingers play as Inside Forwards from time to time.

"Good, What about Midfield? Who's going to be our middle man?" They suffered from the lack of midfields back in the day, surely they had some decent people this time.

"Fuyuhiko as 8 and Daisuke as 6, add Ayasa in the mix as he can rotate between 6 and 8 depending on the game. I say we're pretty good." Fuyuhiko and Daisuke were the inseparable duo of Kanto Junior High, and it felt good to have them on their side now. Ayasa's role as the wildcard would prove to be effective as well.

"I'm on the Left, and if we convince him, Prince Charming is on the right. Who's going to take the ball from midfield and deliver it to you this time?" It's no surprise that Issei thinks Ren is going to play as a striker once more, however, he couldn't be more wrong.

"I will." Dropping the bomb, Ren sighed.

"And we'll play without a true striker?" Something is not right, in this formation, at the very least.

"No, I assure you we do have a much better 9 than I am at the moment." A better number 9 than Ren? Top-Scorer of the U-15 Tournament a few years ago?

"Who?" It's hard to imagine finding someone else around their age that can finish better than Ren, at least in Japan.

"Suzuki Akihito." That… isn't who Issei expected to hear.

"Him? He can't finish like you do, Ren. I know his team won the U-15 Nationals, but he's not quite like you."

"That's why. We're playing a Target-Forward, not a Striker." It made sense, too much sense. Akihito's main strength came from his height, ability to take aerial control and put headers in the top bin. He wasn't the top scorer because he often opted to create chances rather than finishing himself. With the best Striker and the best Forward? They'd push deep.

"I get it, but where do you fit in all of this?" Issei knows, but wants Ren to confirm it for him.

"Shadow Striker, or 10. He creates chances, I finish them. I take the ball from midfield, you make a deep run and voila, Akihito scores a header. I'm kind of a second 9, but more restricted than usual." Ren's explanation made sense, they already had too much shooting power, with him, Yuuto, Ren, and occasionally Fuyuhiko. Having someone like Akihito on their team, who's not at all a bad finisher, it only made sense when he's playing as a striker.

"We're gonna make it this time, aren't we?" At least quarters, at the very least.

"Don't go daydreaming on me, Issei. If we can't get our second winger, it's all speculation." Ren's voice was final, as they kept walking.

"There's no going back from this, Ren." They approached the old building, and went in. Only thing left to do now is to convince Rias Gremory to lend them Yuuto Kiba for the entirety of the Tournament.

"I'll do the talking, only chip in when necessary. I take it you can behave yourself in front of them, Issei." Ren had no doubt, but felt obliged to make a reminder. He's known Issei since his childhood, and not always he's been the pervert, there's a man inside him, that only a few got to know.

"My lips are sealed, my eyes? Can't promise anything." The brunette says as he knocks on the door, his expression betraying a hint of amusement. The chance to take in the beauty of not only Rias Gremory but Himejima Akeno as well? He wouldn't miss it, even if he's not here to do it exactly.

On cue, the door is opened by none other than their target, looking at them with a mix of curiosity and kindness. The damn bishonen made not only Issei's self-esteem collapse in just one look, but also Ren's. He's everything a guy wishes to be, and more. It didn't help that he's one helluva baller as well. Taking a look back and forth, Yuuto Kiba opened the door whole, gesturing for them to come in.

Issei glanced around, hoping to not get a glimpse of someone he particularly despised at the time being. When he took in the surroundings, he left a soft sigh of relief. Moto wasn't here, not at the moment. He couldn't deal with him, not now.

"Hmm… The Captain and the Pervert? Quite the unusual duo, I have to admit. What brings you here, exactly?" The condescending gaze of the most beautiful girl in the whole school befell on both of them, her blue eyes scrutinizing them. Straight into the point, time seems to be of essence, figures. Signaling them to take a seat, Rias Gremory looked almost concerned, when her eyes fell on Issei's face. She'd heard about the rumors, but hadn't seen him herself. They really aren't exaggerating.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Senpai. Besides, Is it that strange that I'm hanging out with an old friend?" They both had their own authorities, as respective President's of their clubs. It just happened that Ren's authority rivaled Rias Gremory's. She might be Ren's senior, but they are pretty much considered equals in School affairs. Her gaze softened, shoulders dropped.

"No… Not at all. It's only that I wouldn't picture two people like you dating back, as you might expect, Miyazaki." The three sides of the school, the good, the bad, and the beautiful. All in the same room at the moment.

"We do, actually, Senpai. However, as you might know, we aren't exactly here to have a chat here." The sooner Ren convinces Rias, the sooner they can schedule training sessions. There's much work to do and only so little time. Rias' brows furrowed at that, keeping silent as she wanted the Captain to continue.

"As you might have heard, there's an upcoming tournament, part of the sports week. Coach and the Council kindly ask the Football Team to represent Kuoh Academy in the U-19 Nationals." Ren's hazel eyes fixated on the fellow President, his voice serious and unwavering. He didn't come all the way to be rejected.

"Hmm… I see. I don't see the point in revealing this to me, Cap'n. I don't believe there is anything I can do for you." It seems as if Rias Gremory doesn't know one of her members is a potential candidate for them. All the better.

"The Team has a shortage of players, and I'm willing to take a risk, Senpai. Including but not limited to, having concrete support from the Coach and the Student Council to recruit candidates I see fit." His eyes darted back and forth, from Yuuto Kiba to Rias Gremory, seemingly conveying his interest in one of ORC's most wanted, by the ladies, of course.

"Are you considering one of our members as a potential candidate?" Rias' eyes befell on Yuuto, reading his expression. She had to admit, seeing Yuuto on the pitch, might do him good, in regards to his recent turmoil. The beauty had no clue whether Yuuto could be up to their standards, as she'd never seen him participate in sports, due to his indifference. However, Captain of the Team has seen something in him.

"Yuuto Kiba, yes. I believe he can become a crucial part for our team, one of the most influential, even." Issei chimed in, looking straight into the eyes of the President, and only her eyes. He's not here to indulge in his hobby, only here to back Ren up. Rias' eyes darted on him, and he could feel the surprise in her expression. It's only natural, of course.

"Hmm… It's true that Yuuto-kun can be determined when he puts his mind to it, yes. However… The decision is not up to me, I'm afraid. If my dear s-, ahem, member wants to participate, I believe we can come into an agreement, Hyoudou-kun." Hyoudou-kun, Miyazaki-kun, and Yuuto-kun in the same team? It's a recipe for disaster. However… Rias could see the point in their efforts.

When her eyes darted on Hyoudou Issei, Rias felt the tiniest bit of sympathy in her chest, seeing his face up close, covered in bruises and cuts, yet still moving forward as if it didn't bother him. She could respect that. If he's willing to go to such lengths in this condition, the very least thing Rias could do is hear them out, and hear Yuuto out in regards to his opinion on the matter.

"An agreement?" Now, this made things interesting for everyone.

"Of course. You need one of my members, it's only fair if I ask for something in return, Hyoudou-kun." The Red-Head carefully observed the enigmatic duo, after making sure that Yuuto is not only up to the challenge but embracing the invitation as well. A deal would suffice.

"I'll see what I can do, solely on my behalf, Gremory-san." That's where Issei comes in, as Ren's done his part of accepting that this transfer is only temporary and he'll take care of Yuuto Kiba as long as he's within the Football Team, if he agrees, of course.

"A talk is all I'm asking, on Moto-kun's behalf. I believe it's a fair deal, no? One small chat, and Yuuto-kun is transferred to the Football Team for the remainder of the Tournament." The fallout between perverts has been the talk of the school for as long as Rias could remember. She's only heard from one party, and she'd be lying if she's not curious about the other party's feelings on the matter.

"I'm afraid I can't exactly do that, Gremory-san. Is there anything else I can do?." The mention of Motohama pushed a nerve in the Beast of the Academy, and Rias could see it clearly. Whatever happened between them, affected not only the three of them but Rias as well. Seeing her only pawn down all the time is surely not a sight she wishes to see.

"It's only a matter of time, Hyoudou-kun. You can't exactly escape this, can you? The sooner you two figure out what's bothering you, the better it is." She underestimated the severity of the situation, and Hyoudou-kun's eyes conveyed such… anger that reminded her that this could be a serious issue, not just a fight between friends.

"Better for who, exactly? He's gone his separate way, I've gone mine. Our friendship wasn't meant to last, that is all, Gremory-san. Why are you curious, anyway? He's better off without us, and so are we." His tone, riddled with… disappointment? As in that Hyoudou-kun wasn't exactly pleasant of how things came to be, not like this. His emphasis on friendship conveyed enough for her, as boys like Hyoudou-kun and Motohama-kun, often considered the closest to them as their own flesh and blood.

"I… see. Could you at least explain how things came to be like this? If it's not personal, of course." Rias could infer from his reaction that it is indeed personal, on a level he's not quite content sharing with multiple people at once.

Picking up on that, Rias Gremory kindly asked Miyazaki-kun and Yuuto to leave, leaving only the two of them at the Club. She might come off adamant, but in reality, the beauty is only worried. If they keep it in such intensity, Moto-kun would only grow more and more distant from his only friends outside the Research Club.

"Better?" Pouring a cup of tea for her guest, Rias Gremory made her way back into her seat, her blue eyes fixated on the man before her. She could sense that he's still nervous, but more relaxed than before. Of her presence, or the heavy topic about to come their way, she's sure it's the latter, and such concept perplexed her. Hyoudou Issei alone in a room with Rias Gremory and he hasn't checked her out? Things are serious, more than she'd want to admit.

"Yeah, thanks, Gremory-san." It's refreshing, to see a side of someone you only heard bad things about, from people that didn't know him, and ones that did. Is there another side to the multi-faced Pervert of the Academy she hasn't known yet? His left hand found its way up to his neck, caressing a necklace that seemed important for him. This little action made the President slightly confused, nevertheless.

"No need to call me so formally, Hyoudou-kun." Being seen as an unreachable figure is tempting, at times. If it's constant? Only a headache.

"Got it, Rias-san. Same here." His eyes fell upon hers, sincerity evident in his tone. Only focusing on her eyes, only here to fulfill his end of the bargain. Rias Gremory could see it in his demeanor that Issei-kun chose to respect her, instead of what she had heard about before.

"So… Shall we?" The sooner Rias could learn about the intensity of their fight, the sooner she could begin her attempts to make things right. Moto-kun could use help, especially in times like these.

"Mhm." It's going to be one hell of a talk, and Issei braced himself for it.

"How'd it go on your end?"

"We've secured our winger… Though we still do have a problem." If there's something called relief, Ren's having a spoonful of it at the moment. At last, his squad is complete, with substitutes.

"Which is?" The brunette perked an eye, intrigued by what is to come.

"Kiba's fine and dandy, but he's got something to handle first before attending the training in two days. I dunno what." His behaviour was suspicious, enough for Ren to ask whether Kiba's using some sort of drug that would hinder them in the long run. The ease that came when the Bishonen adamantly refused, it would've brought Ren back from the grave.

"Eh… At the very least, we got Prince Charming. Helps with the image, y'know?"

"When we got you and Mats in the team? Nah, we're gonna be branded as SA's. Even he can't save us, bud." Ren had a point, and Issei knew it. However, that did in fact, not bother the Captain in the slightest.

"Admit it, you love being the bad guy in times like these, Ren."

"Guilty as charged, heh. Where's the fun in being a perfect squad? You, Kiba and Aki? We're gonna have a field day, I hope you three don't take it too far."

"Too far as in? I ain't gonna do shit to them, Ren. Meanwhile it's absolutely true that I loathe Kiba, he's a cool dud and I can respect that. As for Aki? As long as he keeps his distance, you know what I mean, we're gonna be besties." Issei's stand on the issue is absolutely clear. Yuuto Kiba might be part of Issei's most hated list, but it's only superficial due to how good that damn blonde looks. They would get along, he had no doubt of that. Akihito? Issei's scared shitless on thinking about that dude, due to the team he swings for.

"I just hope that I don't catch the three of you alone in one of the locker rooms after school hours. If I do, I might get the wrong idea." Issei got what Ren intended, and even the thought of it sent a shiver down his spine.

"I'm gonna draw you as a pregnant furry, Cap'n. Don't tempt me." Two could play this game, and Issei had the upper hand at the moment.

"Be my fucking guest, Hyoudou. I still remember that." Issei's most wicked painting, featuring not only the one and only Captain, but also someone else.

"Oh yeah… Fun times indeed." It took every bit of knowledge in Issei's perverted mind to make that painting a reality. He had to delve in… some implicit and absolutely forbidden topics. If he could, he'd bleach his entire mind to forget some of those Yaoi doujinshi.

"You're not keeping that in a secret basement, are ya?" Ren swore to God that if Issei's still got that painting somewhere, he'd burn his entire house in hopes of destroying it.

"Nah, even I couldn't look at it anymore. Mats and I burned it. It's only a memory, at least that's what I hope." Issei could only hope that it's gone, forever. Even he came to agree that he's gone too far with it.

"Good… good… You cursed me with that, y'know." Seeing yourself oiled up and bent down in front of the most famous adult film actor? It left a mark.

"You're not the only one, Ren. I couldn't open the Hub for like a week." Even Issei was fearful of his own creation, and it meant something, as he's pretty used to drawing fun stuff in general.

"Anyways… Still trying to come up with a plot for your doujinshi?"

"Nah, I gave up on it. Doing what you love for money? It's pretty darn exhausting, Imma keep it as a hobby of mine and draw whatever comes to mind." Issei could go to Tobio-san whenever he's short of money, and he knew his Aniki would cover him. Being a doujinshi artist doesn't even guarantee you'll make it, even if you're pretty good at what you do.

"Good call, really." Ren's known Issei for over six years now, and even if they don't hang out often, he held the boy in high regards. The folks could say what they wanted about him, because Ren knew that none of those actually depicted Issei for what he is.

For starters, how Ren saw Issei and how others saw differed, due to their shared past and childhood. They've seen the Pervert, the Worst of Academy. He's seen the determined and kind man that helped him out every so often, whenever he could. Ren could get why Issei behaved the way he did, and it never bothered him.

After all… Him and Hyoudou are alike.

In ways more than one.

"Finally…" It's over, and she could finally head home.

Head home and boot up her setup. It's been two days since the launch of Siren of Darkness 2, and she's… rather slower than usual. Whether it's due to her spending most of her time watching the Vod over and over again, or that she's indulging in conversations with those two, Valerie wasn't sure which. However, one thing is certain, there's something about Hyoudou-kun's gameplay that made her attracted to his playstyle.

His DPS was low, his defence even lower, compared to her Diabolos Cursebearer. So… How could he manage to wipe out the entire Island section clean in under three hours? It took her 5 Satan-freaking-damn hours, even after Hyoudou-kun gave most of the quest items to her, something Valerie thought was impossible, and she's not even bothered by other players. If someone came by and told her something like this, she'd have instantly PK'd them for wasting her time. Watching it unfold right in front of her eyes? A defining experience.

She underestimated him, greatly.

Underestimated the brilliance of his class, the magnificence of the game, and most importantly, how great a player he is. What shocked her the most is that Hyoudou-kun is capable of even influencing quest syncs and triggers for his avatar, able to skip most of the fetch quests and conversations, who could guess those small interactions made that big of a difference? It never occurred to her, not in such a plain way before.

He came prepared, that's for sure, as when she delved into the {Quest Branch: Islanders} Issei-kun was still fetching outside the Fields, looking for certain items. She had literally no idea it was connected with the Islander Quests, Valerie only interpreted his actions as not being ready to take on that magnitude of Quests at once. Imagine her surprise when he literally rewrote the entire quest line and finished the damn sector in one swoop. Min-Maxing at its finest.

Taking out her phone, Valerie indulged in social media, her mind still at the fact Hyoudou-kun beat her in her own game, speedrunning the Islanders. Still got time before the bus arrives, anyway. Walking through the school grounds alongside a magnitude of students, completely and only interested in her phone, the beauty ignored every bit of interaction coming her way, not even sparing a glance. Until, one of the voices pulled her back to reality.

"-llo?, Val?" Strolling beside her, a blondie, and a voice of reason at the current situation.

"Kritty?" Valerie must've dozed off again, at least that's what she could infer from the look on the blue eyes of the lady right next to her, almost concerned.

"You were a few inches away from crashing right into the pole, y'know?" For the last couple of days, Valerie seems to have forgotten her remaining attention span at home, or at least that's how Kritty could explain her distant and disinterested behaviour.

"Oh… Didn't notice it, my bad..." There she goes, right back to staring at her phone, this time, plugging in a set of earbuds. Something's off with Seiko High's Queen, and it's not something Kritty could detect at the moment, plenty of voids to fill to even begin to understand what's the matter with Valerie.

Paying more attention to her surroundings after the warning, Valerie slowly made her way to the bus station, situated just a couple of meters away from the main gate, careful as to not bother anyone or bump into them, or a pole she narrowly avoided last time. Plenty of vehicles, lined up one after another. Valerie could get her own personal chauffeur to drive around, but she refrained from it solely because she wanted to live an ordinary life, without too much attention drawn to her, at least no more than she had at the time being.

Today took its toll on her, just like her mind tormented her the whole time for the past three days. With a low hum, she continued on her path. Issei-kun didn't blame her for what happened, alas she should bear no blame. If it were that easy, of course.

Just as then, her cell buzzed.

Ise-kun.

Her eyes widened, a call at a time she didn't expect.

'You do look great, Valerie.' His voice echoed in her earbuds, amusement in his tone evident, however it's not a moment later that the beauty registered the words.

'Huh?' What in the..? Is Ise-kun watching her from somewhere? Is he prank-calling her? So many questions swirling inside her head.

'Look behind.' She froze, upon hearing the suggestion. Slowly turning, Valerie observed her surroundings, and faintly, at the middle of the line, she could see two boys, sitting on the hood of a car, one of them she knew very well.

Hyoudou Issei, smiling at her general direction.

Hanging up the call, Valerie fastened her steps, she didn't expect him to come all the way here from Kuoh, as Seiko High is located at Kyoto. Nevertheless, how did he even find her? She didn't say which school she's at. Maybe, this is a coincidence? No… It can't be, can it? The exact timing is very suspicious, he'd have to skip classes to get here, assuming he's in a school that follows the curriculum of course. He did mention an Academy before, so maybe he's in a prestigious school?

Seeing him, up close and a smile on his face… Crept up a feeling Valerie couldn't get enough of in her mind.

"Sup?" Hearing his voice outside of the calls, even if it's been three days since their first real life encounter, Valerie could notice the stark difference. It's tame, calm, and refreshing, not the focused grinder mode she's heard over the course of the last days, more relaxed and carefree.

"Sup?" His eyes lit up upon noticing the tone, eager as it came out. There's something about him, that no matter how much she tries to deny, that draws her in. They are alike, more than he could ever know.

"Just got here, waiting for someone. Imagine my surprise when I located a diamond amongst the coal. You stick out, y'know?" His voice, sincere. She could sense that this encounter is nothing but just a quirk of fate, he's as surprised to see her. Her face heated up on Ise-kun's remark, a diamond?

"I-I see…" She tried to hide it, and thankfully Ise-kun didn't catch up on it. Did he really mean it? Sticking out like a diamond among charcoal?

What is this feeling..? Of anxiety?

"Yeah… Oh and this is Ren, a… friend of mine, let's say." Ise-kun gestured towards the boy beside him, who is watching the entire situation with a look of disbelief in his eyes.

"By the Gods, the Apocalypse is nigh…" The boy muttered, his voice carried a sense of dry humor, and disbelief. Hyoudou motherfucking Issei made a girl blush?

"I… uh… Beg your pardon?" Staring at him with perplexed eyes, Valerie examined the boy. If Ise-kun came here with him, it must mean that he's reliable, and trustworthy. His remark, she did not understand, however.

"Sister, you do know that this man is the Mortal Enemy of your kind, right?" Did he crash and die on the way here? Are Hyoudou and him stuck in Purgatory? There is no possible and reasonable explanation behind all this.

"I'm afraid I don't quite follow. Are you referring to what they call him at the, what's the name, that school?" Maybe, Valerie misjudged him, or are they that close that this Ren boy can make fun of him in front of her?

"So you do know, and are still around… Yeah I'm waiting for the meteor. No, seriously, I'm glad my guy turned out to be a charmer. Miyazaki Ren, pleased to meet you." Valerie had to admit, he had her in the first half. Charmer..? She did not catch up on that, unfortunately.

"Valerie Morningstar. The feeling is mutual." Morningstar..? This girl..? Here? Aren't they supposed to be… pretty big shots in Tokyo? If Ren didn't know any better, he'd say Issei scored one hell of a banger and a rich gal, at the same time.

As Ren was about to ask another question, he refrained from doing so at the last minute. Hyoudou minds his own business, he's not here to judge or fawn over, just to wait for his Sister, who should be here at any minute.

"Huh… You never told me your last name, it's… unique, so as to say." Morningstar… it did fit. She's glowing like the sunrise, and warming him up at the same time. Just as the night passes, and the sun rises.

"You never asked, of which I'm glad, most people find it… creepy." He never pushed somewhere he isn't supposed to, and it made Valerie happy, to an extent. Taking her seat right beside him, she looked deep into his eyes, and winced when she unknowingly came into contact with his injuries. The wounds on his face are still too fresh.

"Creepy? Hell nah. I find it my job to be the creepy one wherever I am. It's unique, as I said, but in a good way. If I had such a beautiful last name, I'd boast about it at every opportunity." This guy, he never misses an opportunity, does he? To make her feel important in a way that no one could, that he meant everything he said, that his feelings are genuine. In a world full of deceit and lies, he's a shining light.

"..." Silence ensued on Valerie's part, torn away between changing the topic and being content with his smooth talk. With a warm smile on her face, she continued to look at him, taking in the sight of his brown eyes. She could stay here, as long as he did.

As they finally had some time just enjoying the presence of the other, Issei wandered off, his gaze fixated on a girl, walking out of the main gate, humming to herself. Valerie traced his eyes, and hers landed upon the same girl. She looked younger than all of them, dressed in Seiko High's uniform, her long, black hair danced along the wind. This must be the person they were originally waiting for.

The girl's hazel eyes perked up when she noticed Ren, and a small smile formed on her lips.

"You didn't need to…" Her tone almost apologetic, as if feeling a burden on her shoulders due to Ren's appearance.

"Didn't need to, wanted to, c'mere you little rascal. How did your day go?" Ren's posture was relaxed, upon the presence of the girl. His eyes gleamed, and the moment she got in his vicinity, he took her under his arms, ruffling her hair, an action that made the youngster feel embarrassed.

"O-Onii-san!" She flushed, not expecting such affection in front of Ise-san.

"What? I can't love my baby sister, is that it, Saya?" Ren's hand got more and more careful, so as to not make her uncomfortable. Even if she's all grown up and can handle herself, in his eyes, Saya is always going to be his little sister that made him the man he is today.

"Not in front of Ise-san and… and…" Her eyes fixated on Valerie, an expression mixed with shock and awe washed over Saya.

"Q-Qu… Queen!" The words barely came out of her mouth, but it was enough for Ren and Issei to hear, and spare a glance to the girl beside them. From the looks of it, Valerie is the talk of the School, understandable in both of the boys' eyes. She's a freaking model candidate with her appearance alone, it wouldn't surprise Issei to hear that she's already taken, just leave him a little bit… disappointed.

"Queen… Huh. Kinda like our Great Onee-sama's, don't you think?" Every school had the mascot girl, they had Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima, Seiko High got Valerie. Issei's sure that her competition is non-existent, as even he couldn't picture someone boasting better looks than Valerie, not in this World, at the least. Maybe Jupiter had babes that he couldn't even begin to comprehend?

"Your Onee-samas? Please, Ise-san, don't disrespect the Queen of Seiko High like that… What happened to you..?" Saya's eyes widened the moment she inspected the wounds on his face, and the sight alone made her heart ache. Ise-san was always around for her, even going as far as to repel anyone that dared to disturb her. Saya came to acknowledge him as another Aniki of hers.

"Work accident, I'm afraid. Doesn't feel as painful as it looks, don't worry. Just feels itchy." A half-truth, as it hurt like hell, especially after Valerie stitched him without any kind of anaesthetic substance. It's for the best, truthfully. Made him aware how fragile he can be in the right situation.

"Is that so? Are you giving into that itchy feeling, Ise-kun?" She did the best she could at the moment, couldn't afford to heal him with magic as it'd bring more questions and possibly end up with Valerie getting kicked out of Black/Dog Bar as well.

"Believe me… I try my best not to. I'm aware how messed up it is." An inch closer? He'd be blind. Issei's gotta be more thankful than he already is. His hand found its way up to his necklace once more, gripping it tightly. It brought him comfort, especially in times like these.

"Anyways, let's not stick around more. You two need a ride?" Ren gestured to Saya to take the front seat, he'd not let this opportunity pass, he owed that much to Hyoudou after today. She caught up on that, and quickly found her way.

"Eh… Sure?" A ride with Ise-kun?

That… could be fantastic.

Don't ask, it's how it is.

Valerie's being the more appreciated heroine at the moment, as Xenovia and Issei still are in the process of forgiving one another.

Anyways, Our perv is both a charmer and a baller at the moment, let's see how this goes.

Read and Review boys and grilles.

Shiwftie, out.