Ride 16: Re:Union

23rd of April, 2019 AD

*BANG*

"Alright, everyone, shut the fuck up." Kiri-sensei then enters Class 2-A after kicking the doors open. "Before we begin class, I'd like to welcome a new student. Come on in."

After the teacher makes his gesture, a dark-haired girl of Western origin wearing Kuoh Academy's female student uniform and a pair of shades over her eyes walks in as she taps her cane on the floor before her.

"... Do you want to make the introduction yourself or should I do it for you?" Kiri-sensei asked.

"... I'll do it," she replied as Kiri-sensei backed off. "... Hello, everyone. My name is Pandora Othrys, and I am from the village of Evinochori, Missolonghi Municipality in Greece. I... I look forward to being with you all. Please, take good care of me."

Upon her introduction proper, about 99% of the classroom began murmuring to themselves.

"Othrys-chan looks absolutely radiant..." a girl commented with a hushed and bated breath, admiring the new girl's divine beauty.

"Ah, we are truly blessed to be in this class..." a boy sighed with ecstasy.

"She makes Gremory and Himejima-senpai look obsolete in comparison..." another female student remarked with slight envy (to which Nidhogg lapped up without hesitation).

"You can't beat a foreigner chick's charms, that's for sure..." another male student said with infatuation.

"Bust size-"

*WHACK!*

Naoto was immediately shot in the head by Kiri-sensei's fifty-caliber chalk flick, rendering him unconscious on his own desk, prompting everyone to shut up or follow his example.

"Thank you." The teacher then looks back on his clipboard. "So, Othrys... you're sitting behind Ryuugamine. And Ryuugamine!"

Takeshi's back immediately stiffens upon being called.

"I'm putting you and Kiba in charge of taking care of Othrys," Kiri-sensei ordered. "According to her doctor's notes, she just got out of an eye surgery a week prior and will be needing assistance until the beginning of second semester. Keep an eye on her and for the love of God, don't leave her by herself or you're both answering to me, understood?"

"Yes sir," Takeshi replied as he walked up and helped Pandora to her desk, the latter playing along with her role in the act.

It was for the best, since her Charm would be a hindrance in living a normal life.

"Tch, why does Ryuugamine get all girls nowadays?" one resentful male student remarked.

"First Toujou and now I heard rumors of him and Gremory-senpai being arranged..." a rueful girl bitterly commented.

"I thought that bastard Kiba was a playboy, but Ryuugamine is the one actually hoarding all the chicks..." another boy muttered under his breath.

"I swear to every god and demon in existence, if he gets his filthy mitts on Othrys-chan, I am going to ruin his reputation again-!"

*screech*

Everyone in class winces in pain as Kiri-sensei runs his nails across the blackboard's surface. Once everyone was pacified, the teacher let out an exhausted sigh before speaking to his students.

"So, before we begin attendance, I have a few announcements," he began. "First of all, Golden Week is coming up, and for those uninitiated, the holiday period has been extended to the 6th of May due to Emperor Akihito stepping down in favor of his heir, Naruhito. A new era will be declared upon the ascension during that week, so look forward to saying your goodbyes to the Heisei Era."

A few murmurs were heard throughout the class as Pandora pokes at Takeshi's back for his attention.

"... Era?" she asked with a whisper.

"Japanese thing," Takeshi replied. "... The role of the Emperor is mostly ceremonial, but there's a tradition that every new coordination requires a declaration of a new era. Heisei has been a thing since 1989."

"... I see," the (supposedly) blind girl acknowledged before Kiri-sensei continued.

"Secondly, before you idiots think about partying hard over next week, I'd like to remind all of you that Midterms are coming up," he announced as all of the students paled at that proclamation. "So don't get ahead of yourselves, and be sure to at least study so that you don't end up having to come closer to repeating a year."

A few students (particularly Issei) are now in the state of an existential crisis, with Takeshi's Evil Dragons savoring their pain and misery from within their host's soul.

"You have until the 15th of May," Kiri-sensei declared as he adjusted his glasses before flipping over to another sheet on his clipboard. "... Now I'll be taking attendance. Present when called. And can someone wake Motohama up?"

Once the morning calm passes, the rest of the school day blitzes by until lunchtime.

Normally, this would be the time where Ryuugamine would buy a yakisoba bun and milk before napping the rest of the period away under the sun, but today wasn't that day.

Mainly, the density of male students surrounding his desk proved too thick for him to let through, even though his predisposition was on full blast, but the pack of male students led by Naoto and Eiji (with Issei no longer around, much to Takeshi's concern), fear was the furthest thing on their minds right now.

"... Kiba, take Pandora away from here, now."

Without a word, Yuuto takes the (not) blind girl out of the class room as Takeshi was left to fend for himself.

"... What the Hell do you pricks want?" Takeshi grumbled, barely acknowledging their glares aimed at him. "... You're blocking the sun for my nap."

"So you don't deny it then?!" one of the boys pointed out. "You're going after Pandora as well?!"

Takeshi's eyebrow widened. "... Now what could've brought that up-?"

"BULLSHIT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW!" Naoto accused him. "I SAW YOU WALKING TO SCHOOL WITH ORTHYS-CHAN THIS MORNING!"

"FIRST TOUJOU, THEN GREMORY, AND NOW HER TOO?!" Eiji exclaimed. "DOES YOUR GREED KNOW NO BOUNDS?!"

"SHIT! MY TEARS AREN'T STOPPING!" another boy cried out. "I BLAME YOU FOR THIS CRAP!"

"THE BLISSFUL SCHOOL LIFE WE ENVISIONED IS IN TATTERS BECAUSE OF GUYS LIKE YOU!" Eiji cried out.

"AT THIS POINT, THERE WON'T BE ANY GIRLS LEFT FOR US GUYS!" Naoto panicked.

"ONE GIRL!" One of the boys then seized Takeshi by the collar of his uniform. "AT LEAST PUT IN A GOOD WORD TO ONE GIRL! AT THE VERY LEAST!"

"Sure," Takeshi deadpanned. "Her name is Kiryuu Aika."

The crowd of boys then all looked back at the pigtailed girl eating her packed lunch by herself, to which the latter took notice (and the reason why she stayed behind is that she enjoys the drama).

"... No thank you. We have standards."

*SNAP*

And in the next .4 seconds, Aika was performing the Boston Crab on one of the boys.

"YOU SCHMUCKS THINK THAT YOU'RE ALL TOO GOOD FOR ME, HUH?!" she exploded as she then grabbed another by his collar before performing a Camel Clutch, stretching the boy by his neck and chin from behind and arching up his back. "WELL SCREW YOU AND YOUR DATELESS ASSES!"

Several boys took flight as the resident "She-Witch-Bitch of Kuoh" revealed another side of herself that no one saw coming.

"... Is she in a wrestling stable off-campus or something?" Takeshi muttered to himself as she caught Eiji in a Texas Cloverleaf, twisting the latter's legs like a four-leafed clover before pulling his toes up to his lower-middle back. "... Ah, forget it. Crowd is dispersed enough for now."

And just before Naoto could escape Aika's wrath, the latter seizes him by his hair before lifting him up and stretching his back in an arch as the girl performs the Argentine Backbreaker on him, with Takeshi hearing his spine being fractured as he walked past the pair and out the door.

"... She's good," he remarked as all he could think about now was yakisoba bun.

Okay, I did not see that coming, Nidhogg pointed out.

Eh, I've seen better, Grendel grumbled. She's still green.

Upon reaching the school store, Takeshi then runs into Issei. "Hey."

The brown-haired boy then turned his head towards him. "... Oh." He then shook his head. "... It's you."

"In the flesh," Takeshi replied before stopping Issei from walking elsewhere. "... Come on man, talk to me."

Issei then grabs his hand before peeling it off. "... Don't you have your girlfriend to worry about?"

"Issei, you're my friend, and when I saw the newspaper, I got worried," Takeshi pointed out. "... Look, I-"

"I don't care."

Issei then walks away without a word, much to Takeshi's confusion at his first friend's sudden shift in behavior.

"... He's... different," he muttered as he absentmindedly bought his lunch without looking the store clerk in the eye. "... Why do I feel so... wrong?"

I think that's what happens when you neglect your mortal friends for too long, whelp, the Evil Dragon of Envy chuckled. Then again, one world is when a near-death experience changes a person forever, whereas the other side hands death out as a commodity.

I don't care, his pain right now is exquisite, Grendel snickered to himself as he enjoyed this novel taste coming from Issei's wavering self.

I would say that you guys suck, but you clearly have a reputation to maintain. Takeshi then bit into his lunch with his teeth bared.

After School...

"... Ryuugamine." Pandora then walked towards Takeshi with her cane in hand.

"Milady." Takeshi bowed as he then took her hand gently. "... Shall we?"

Pandora slightly blushes as she began walking with Takeshi as both of them were subjected to withering death stares aimed solely at the latter.

"... You know, you don't have to treat me like a delicate little flower," Pandora insisted as she walked while tapping her cane.

"I know that you're not, but it's just that about 90% of the male student body at Kuoh are complete horndogs," Takeshi bluntly pointed out. "... Did I forget to mention that my guests are turned off by them?"

It took Pandora two seconds to realize what he was implying. "... You cannot be serious."

"As a heart attack." Takeshi then let out a sigh as the two walked out of the school's gates. "... And trust me, Kiryuu-san flat out befuddles them."

I still cannot get a read on that stelpa, Nidhogg growled in frustration. ... And I don't want to say that she reminds me of that certain eight-headed freak.

I'm more surprised that a bitch thin as reeds like her can throw a punch, let alone toss those sorry excuses for males around like ragdolls, Grendel huffed. ... I'm partially amused, more than anything.

Hear, hear, Takeshi internally deadpanned as they drew near towards his home. "... Also, one more thing, Pandora, but how familiar are you with braille, given that, well... you know. 'Blind'?"

"Already figured it out by this morning," she reassured as she and Takeshi walked into the Ryuugamine residence.

As the two walked inside, the pair found themselves alone at home before they settled down.

"So," Pandora remarked as she adjusted her shades, "what do you usually do around this time?"

"Well, normally, I'd study, do my homework, and then play video games until my parents come home," Takeshi answered before yawning. "... But honestly, the fact that it was kinda nonstop ever since I joined ORC, I... kinda missed doing this. Just... being here and acting like a normal High Schooler."

Pandora slightly chuckles. "About as normal as you being a 'host' for a 'foreign exchange student'."

It was indeed rather strange, since Takeshi himself had provided the cover story that allowed Pandora to stay at his home.

Of how he failed to join any clubs at school, so he instead opted to take in a foreign exchange student/Pandora to receive credit for extracurricular activities, and that her initial host family (read: no one) "rejected her at the last minute" with nothing but the clothes on her back, prompting Takeshi to come in and take her in on their stead.

Several (fraudulent) documents were presented (with fake government seals and ID), all of which authenticated and provided by Re:Live, and combined with a few small memory edits here and there, the rest was history.

"I still cannot believe that Re:Live got that all done in less than 12 hours..." Pandora remarked as she looked at her ID, reading the following:

Name: Pandora Othrys

DoB: 13th of October, 2002

Nationality: Missolonghi Municipality, Greece

"Well thank our lucky stars that it happened," Takeshi remarked as he took out his homework from his bag. "... Want some help with yours?"

And so, the two studied on the living room coffee table until finishing their given work at around 4:30 PM.

"... It feels weirdly good right now," Takeshi chuckled as he leaned back on the couch. "To actually have a single day where I don't have to constantly worry about me or other people dying. Peace is quite underrated and underappreciated, don't you think?"

Pandora nods as she lays on the couch, content with her current place in life. "... It beats having to worry about my curse taking the lives of the innocents away from me against my will," she pointed out as she flicked up her shades before closing them back down. "And well, these anti-Charm eyewear definitely helps me readjust to modern society."

"And I'm pretty tough to kill, so don't worry about it," Takeshi reassured before the doorbell rang. "Coming!"

Night began to settle in as their dinner was placed on the table around the whole Ryuugamine household and Pandora.

"Itadakimasu!"

"... Itadaki... masu," Pandora fumbled in her Japanese as the family began eating their curry rice and tonkatsu.

"You know, kid, I never thought you'd do something as ballsy as taking a foreign exchange student behind our back at the eleventh hour," Shiori pointed out.

"... Is it... too much trouble?" Pandora asked.

"It's no trouble, really!" Hiroto reassures. "Our boy has been breaking out of his shell lately thanks to Gremory-san's friend group. So really, I'm proud of him for my boy being the one to reach out to you when no one else did."

That statement hits Pandora a bit too close to home, causing her to shed some tears in the memory of what had actually happened.

"Dad..." Takeshi sighed before wiping her tears with a napkin.

"No, it's... nothing, really," Pandora explained as she composed herself. "... I'm just... overwhelmed...?"

Shiori gives her husband a light smack across his head before the family eats in silence, with Takeshi being the one to feed her (as part of the act). Once the food was finished, Shiori then helped Pandora upstairs while the men of the house were "punished" by doing tonight's dishes.

"... You really don't have to do this for me, Mrs. Ryuugamine," Pandora stammered as she was disrobed.

"Come on, it's just us girls here." The matriarch reassured as she stripped herself nude before locking the doors leading out of the bathroom. "A girl's gotta keep her hair and skin nice and maintained, even if they're old prunes pushing 40 like me."

Pandora then takes off her shades in exchange for heavily-tinted swimming goggles and bath cap as the two get themselves cleaned up before dunking themselves into the tub.

"So, how's your stay here with us so far?" asked Shiori.

"... It's nice," answered Pandora, being sure to avoid the sensitive details of her own life (and give away the fact that she's not actually blind).

"I'm glad, really," the matriarch beamed before submerging her head into the warm water before coming back out. "... You know, I've always wanted a daughter of my own. But you know how this economy is, with the prices for food and education going through the roof. My man's job is cushy and pays really well, but even then, I have to pitch in however I can because God forbid if the economy takes another downturn and I get the shit."

Pandora then looks down at the water. "... So am I... useful around here?"

"Come 'ere." Shiori then pulls Pandora in for a soft hug. "Kids like you don't need to worry about being 'useful' and all that junk. That's the responsibility of us adults. But for now, I'll just say this: thank you for being in my kid's life. And I hope that him being in your life brings about good things to you as well."

The tension around Pandora's chest was unwound for the moment. "... Right," she answers before nodding. "I'm sorry for asking."

"Don't be sorry," Shiori reassured. "Be honest with what your heart truly wants while you're still young, Pandora-chan. The human heart is like a wild horse. Resisting it will just make it buck violently."

"... Be honest with what my heart wants," she echoed in a low tone before speaking up. "... I'll... consider it, Mrs. Ryuugamine."

"Aw come on, just call me Shiori or mom if you wanna!"

As soon as the two girls were done cleaning up, Takeshi and Hiroto finished with tonight's dishes before the guys cleaned themselves up.

As soon as the tub was drained and the lights of the house were dimmed, it was now 10 PM, with everyone turning themselves in for the night.

"... I... never been used to being inside a boy's room," Pandora commented as she was on Takeshi's bed while dressed in Shiori's spare clothes. "... And are you sure having a girl inside your room is appropriate?"

Takeshi gives her a blank stare. "... I had Koneko and President's naked bodies sandwiched between myself two days ago," he deadpanned. "... I know how to conduct myself."

Pandora sighs as she looks around Takeshi's Tokusatsu-related merchandise, including the DX Ryusoul Saber (from Yuuto, still in its packaging) and the Special Edition Mashin Chaser figure (the commission reward from Re:Live). "... I can see where you got your fighting style from, Takeshi."

"Excuse the mess, but I kinda like my stuff I put in here," Takeshi remarked as he set the futon down next to his own bed, letting his guest have the more comfortable accommodation. "Oh, and I cannot say this enough, but be careful when you wake up from that bed."

Pandora tilted her head as her body entered the sheets. "... Why?"

"Trust me when I say this, but it's usually a premonition of something big about to happen soon when I wake up falling off of said bed in the first place," he explained as he turned off the lights in his room. "Already happened a few times. And the Evil Dragons usually laugh about it."

Damn straight, Nidhogg chuckled.

Your pain is my caffeine shot! Grendel declared. It tastes better than actual coffee, mind you.

Glad to see that the current accommodations are satisfactory, Takeshi thought as he settled himself into slumber. "... Goodnight Pandora."

"... Goodnight."

And the whole house falls silent as everyone inside goes to sleep.

24th of April, 2019 AD

"Come on, Ryuugamine-kun!" Akeno spoke as she led Pandora by her hand while Takeshi was carrying several bags of clothing around his arms. "Us girls can't be held up in one place for too long!"

"... I'm okay with what I have, really!" protested the (not) blind girl, her cane dragged behind her while she was being towed.

"Oh no, a girl can't go on with just a black dress, her school uniform, track suits, and hand-me-downs!" Akeno rebuked. "We're getting you some actual, proper clothes! It'll be a waste to let your beauty be left stuck in the muck now, would it?"

"... I fought many battles within two months... So why is a mere shopping trip after school for the girls so exhausting?!" he heaved out as he lagged behind the two other girls, about a few meters behind despite using his Devil physiology to better carry the load.

I think the effect is psychological, Nidhogg hypothesized. Normally, in fight-or-flight situations, adrenaline would be pumping across your entire body to handle itself in those high-crisis situations, but comparing this to a fight for your life... is like trying to compare a mere lizard to us Dragons.

Bah! You humans have gone soft if this is more than enough to send you on the verge of tears! Grendel huffed. PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT, BRAT! IF YOUR MUSCLES AREN'T SCREAMING FOR MERCY OR SWEATING BLOOD FROM THEIR PORES, THEN YOU'RE NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH!

Yes, Master Sergeant, sir! Takeshi then takes a mental note of Grendel enjoying extreme physical workouts and exercises. "... Should've changed out of my school uniform... why didn't I learn that kind of magic-oh right, the Evil Dragons are picky on what kind of magic they want me to learn lest I want it to explode in front of my face..."

And that's why we won't let you have nice things, whelp, the Evil Dragon of Envy snickered.

I WILL WHIP YOUR PUNY-ASS BODY INTO SHAPE AND YOU WILL ENJOY THE PAIN THAT COMES WITH IT! the Evil Dragon of Wrath roared out. FASTER!

Takeshi groans before he stops next to Pandora and Akeno. "... Okay, so, uh... where are we?"

Akeno smiles as she points towards the store in front of them before it was revealed as a lingerie store, causing Takeshi's own face to turn cherry-red.

"My current underwear is getting a bit too tight around the chest and hips, so I figured I needed a refitting," explained Akeno. "That, and Pandora needs new ones herself after all."

Then it was Pandora's face that turned red. "... Please whatever you do, don't buy me anything too fancy," she begged. "My heart can't take the pressure..."

"Ara ara." Takeshi began to sweat as he saw his senpai lick her lips like a carnivore as she then gently shoved Pandora into the store. "... When you beg like that, how can I say no?"

Takeshi was left utterly helpless as he was forced to watch Akeno drag Pandora into the lingerie store as he waited outside, finally dropping the bags onto the ground before sitting down between them. "... Sweet Satan, I need a large boba after this."

You humans are the most frivolous creatures I've laid my eyes on, Nidhogg scoffed. ... No, really. Even Asgard has some sense of practicality compared to this bazaar you call a "shopping street."

I for one, don't get it, Grendel added. Are those flimsy striplings of barely-translucent and colorful cloth supposed to be arousing? A naked bitch hanging from a pole with her legs pried open has a better effect than whatever these things you called "underwear."

Different time, different values? Takeshi asked internally.

The fact that I find you being affected by this flashy display of skimpy clothing utterly ridiculous, whelp, the Evil Dragon of Envy deadpanned. ... Were those two stelpur baring themselves open to you in your bed weren't enough?

Takeshi tried to protest, but he came up short, even the whole "consent"-argument being questionable at best on the count of him being unconscious. ... Touché.

"You're in our spot, Ryuugamine."

Takeshi then looks up to find Naoto and Eiji standing over where he was standing. "... Small world, huh?"

"What are you exactly doing here?" asked Eiji. "I know that you have a girlfriend, so why aren't you inside like a normie yourself would be?"

"Because one, Koneko's not in there," he explained. "And two, Himejima-senpai insisted that I take Pandora out for clothes shopping. I'm just their pack mule."

"Well good for you," Naoto scoffed as he adjusted his glasses. "... Keh, I'm a man dying of thirst while watching another man drown."

Takeshi groans with disgust before switching to a different topic. "... Where's Issei?" he asked. "Isn't he usually like with you guys or something?"

"Tch, ever since he got himself a girlfriend, we of the Committee of Perverts have excommunicated him from our guild," Naoto revealed.

"What he means to say is that we've been trying to contact him, but he's not been answering our texts," Eiji pointed out.

"Your texts, you mean," the bespectacled boy huffed. "He's dead to me."

Takeshi furrowed his brow upon Naoto's casual dismissal. "... He almost died, you know that?"

"Good for him." Naoto simply adjusts his glasses. "And?"

"Were... were those past years spent together before I came along mean anything to you?!" Takeshi sputtered out in sheer disbelief.

"It was his choice to throw us away like a used cum rag when he revealed that photo to us," Naoto rebuffed.

"Come on, surely he didn't mean to be that harsh..." Eiji protested.

"FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK! GROW A FUCKING PAIR, WOULD YOU?!" Takeshi's anger erupted at their bonds fraying so easily. "WERE ALL YOUR FRIENDSHIPS THIS WHOLE TIME SOLELY RELIED ON PORN?!"

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Naoto erupted back. "GIRLS ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING BESIDES THEIR THREE SIZES FOR US GUYS! IF THEY CAN'T PROVIDE THAT, THEN THEY DESERVED TO BE PERVED ON!"

A few people walking by gasped before one child dropped her ice cream.

"What horrid words..." a mother hissed in disapproval as she dragged her son away.

"Coming from a High Schooler too..." a passing salaryman remarked with disgust before returning to his call.

"What is this country coming to...?" another Kuoh Academy student remarked with hostility before walking away.

Eiji and Takeshi, on the other hand, had their eyes widened like dinner plates.

"... Dude," the shaven-head youth remarked. "Not cool."

Nidhogg snickers inside Takeshi's mind. ... So that strákur finally shows his true colors, he commented. ... Predictable, but still, a welcome surprise.

Bah! Naught but mewls from a weakling, Grendel dismissed the other boy's rage. All bark, no bite behind his vitriol.

"... Naoto, what the fuck?" Takeshi remarked. "... Do you... actually hate women?"

The bespectacled boy clicks his tongue before walking away coldly. "... I lost my appetite."

Eiji tries to reach out towards him, but couldn't bring himself to go after him, now afraid of that boy he once called friend.

"... Is this... my fault?" he asked himself. "... Why?"

Takeshi sighs before asking him the following. "... I have no choice but to be honest, Matsuda-san," he began. "But I need to ask this of you, but how did you two end up becoming friends in the first place?"

Eiji sighs. "... I don't want to talk about it."

"That's fine," Takeshi answered. "... Just tell me when you're ready. I'll be waiting to listen to your story once you find me."

The shaven-head boy sighs before walking away only to stop suddenly. "... Why?" he asked. "... After getting girls to like you... why are you still poking your nose into our business?"

"Because you guys were my first friends that stuck around after I came to Kuoh," answered Takeshi, shocking Eiji. "... Personal tastes aside, I don't want to see what you guys have right now be destroyed beyond repair. I know that life can be so much more than finding girls and the fairer sex. Granted, I had Koneko to thank for letting me see this fact, but still, I want you guys to grow up so that you don't live your life like I did. Isn't it enough for fellow human beings to look out for each other as common decency?"

Eiji was left speechless before sighing. "... Fine," he answered. "... After Midterms. I need to get my shit together first."

As soon as he left, Akeno and Pandora walked out of the store with sizable bags in their hands.

"Ara." Akeno then looked down at Takeshi sitting between their purchases. "What happened out here? I could've sworn I heard a commotion outside."

Takeshi then looks up towards the girls with his pitiful-looking and foggy eyes. "... Senpai," he began. "... Can we get some boba? My treat."

And then the three shared some boba milk tea as Takeshi recaps what had happened while the two girls were busy inside the lingerie store.

25th of April, 2019 AD

After training Pandora to better control her innate Charm once the school day was finished, she, Takeshi, and Akeno return to ORC's main building for some rest.

"... You know, I know that they're your friends before you met ORC, but hearing what they are, they sound like genuinely awful people," Pandora commented.

"I know, but is it a bad thing that I want them to at least not end up behind bars for sexual harassment?" Takeshi protested as he sat next to her on the sofa in ORC's main office. "... It's the least I can do ever since they acknowledged my existence last year. I want them to become better people."

Akeno sighs. "It's admirable, almost noble even," she commented as she poured some tea into the cups for the three of them. "... But if my father is living proof, is that some people don't deserve redemption."

"And yet, the whelp is foolish enough to try," Nidhogg commented with a sinister cackle. "... You can't help admire his heart, but his head may as well be made of solid bone."

"Just try it, brat," snarled Grendel. "Play coy with me, and I will burn you."

The office doors then open to reveal Rias. "Good afternoon, everyone. I trust that you're all in the clear?"

Pandora slightly shudders at the amount of clothes she has right now stuffed inside Takeshi's own closet. "... I told you, Miss Himejima. Don't buy me anything too fancy!"

"Trust me, Pandora-chan, those are basic compared to what I usually wear." She then leans into Takeshi's ear with a wistful smirk before whispering the following into his ear. "... I'm wearing a thong and bondage lingerie today."

Takeshi's shudders loudly as Pandora spits out her tea into her cup after hearing what she had whispered into his ear.

"... Okay, maybe you might have a point," shuddered Pandora.

"Senpai, I am constantly both horrified and aroused when I'm around you," Takeshi remarked. "... 'Horroused,' you might say."

Rias then clears her throat, causing everyone in the office to turn their attention towards her. "... Are you three done?"

"Sorry, President," Takeshi apologized. "... Yesterday took a lot out of me."

As soon as everyone settled down, the present members began their business.

"So today, Yuuto is out on a commission on his own at Aichi Prefecture, while Koneko is helping the High School Division's Wrestling Club practice, which then leaves the rest of us to pick up the slack," the President announced. "Pandora, are you now confident enough to take on a commission?"

The girl fidgets before answering. "... Maybe," she answered softly. "... But I think I can use someone who can help me."

"Luckily for you, that's exactly what I have in mind." Rias then DMs Takeshi Pandora's request. "Pandora, you'll be tailing Takeshi for a job at Shizuoka City. Is that acceptable?"

"Y-Yes, of course!" Pandora answered. "... I-I will do my best, President!"

"Just stick close by and you'll be fine, alright?" Takeshi reassured as he gently took Pandora's hand and led her to the magic circle. "Ryuugamine Takeshi and Pandora Othrys, heading out!"

The two then teleported to their client's given address and out of the ORC building entirely.

"... So, Akeno," Rias began. "... What was yesterday about-"

*bzzt*

Rias then picks up and looks at her vibrating phone before sighing.

"... Hold that thought." The President then leaves the room to make her call.

At Shizuoka City...

"Umm..."

"What... is all this, exactly?"

Both Takeshi and Pandora were left utterly speechless as they found themselves inside a dorm room adorned with traditional Japanese decorations, ranging from the floor being installed with tatami mats, a golden pavilion with flowing clouds and cherry blossom branches painted on the canvas, a shimenawa hanging from the ceiling over said tapestry, tansu wooden cabinets next to the kitchen sink, an old map with the country of Japan divided during its Sengoku Jidai borders, a chabudai low table next to a Samurai helmet and a two-tiered koshirae holding a sheathed katana and a wakizashi.

But the strangest of all was the person sitting upon a folding stool before the pavilion, who was decked out full Samurai armor, their face completely covered in a mustached sōmen mask, their eyes and facial features obscured by the mask's hollows, and around her waist were a pair of sheathed swords cradled in a sash-like belt, the usual katana and wakizashi-affair.

"Ah." A high-pitched and feminine voice then squeaked out of the Samurai, outing the client as a woman. "... It's nice to meet you two! My name is Susan Adams, a Second Year student in Shizuoka University's Department of Social and Human Studies from the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States!" She then bows her head, revealing three lengths of drill-like curls of blond hair poking out behind her helmet. "It's nice to make both your acquaintances, de gozaru!"

The two Devils looked at each other awkwardly before introducing themselves.

"... My name is Ryuugamine Takeshi, here's my proof." Takeshi then shows his House Gremory Seal on his palm before putting it away. "And here with me is the Peerage's new initiate, Pandora Othrys."

"... It's nice to meet you," she clumsily said before bowing. "... What can we help you with?"

Susan then tries to compose herself as she is about to speak, but then loses balance on her own stool before collapsing onto the tatami mat floor.

Takeshi then helps her back up before the three of them knelt on the floor across from each other.

"... You see, there's something I've been meaning to do... but I can't," she explained as she fiddled her fingers. "... I have a... crush on someone from my Department. I... want to confess, but every time I try to approach him out of class, my heart starts going crazy... and before I can calm myself down, he's already gone!"

"So, you need help in confessing your feelings to your beloved but you lack the will to do so?" Pandora pointed out, to which Susan nodded.

"Yeah, I figured that'd be a complicated case," sighed Takeshi as he looked around. "... Before we move onto the actual confession, I must ask, Adam-san. Can we know more about this man that you hold a candle for? How did you two end up first meeting and what motivates you to pursue him?"

"Uhh... yes, sure!" Susan replied before she began her explanation. "... When I was little, I went on Ancestry and discovered that I was a direct descendent of William Adams, aka, Miura Anjin! So out of wanderlust, I began to learn more about my ancestor, and soon enough, I became obsessed with traditional Japanese culture, de gozaru."

"I can tell," Pandora deadpanned, unable to wrap her head around why an American girl is dressed in full-Samurai armor.

Takeshi then looked at the swords around her hip and two-tiered rack. "... Look, I know you love Japanese culture and all, but you do know that Japan has the Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law for a reason, correct?"

"Don't worry!" Susan then unsheathes her katana before revealing it to be a blunt replica. "They can't cut or stab, but they sure look like the real thing, de gozaru! I'm part of my Department's Cultural Reenactment Committee, and earlier this month, I was participating in the Shizuoka Festival's parade!"

"That's... actually kinda neat," Takeshi remarked.

"... And I take it that you met your crush in the same club group?" Pandora scrutinized.

"Yes," answered Susan as she sheathed her replica katana. "... Horii Yamato is his name, de gozaru. He's been so nice to me ever since I transferred here. I... I want to repay his kindness with my love! I want to show that I'm serious... but I'm such a chicken!"

"Thank you for sharing, Adams-san," Takeshi said as he bowed his head. "... Let's brainstorm."

The three began conversing with each other on how to make Susan get her love across to Yamato.

"Okay, so I've noticed something about your repetition," Pandora pointed out as she adjusted her shades. "It appears that you seem to... freeze up when you approach him. Perhaps a longer-distance form of communication can work?"

"A love letter?" Takeshi pointed out. "I think that's a good start. What do you think, Adams-san?"

"Love letter..." she said in an awed voice of English before going back to her tense self. "But what do I say in it?! What happens if it comes out wrong?! What if he hates me regardless of what I write?!"

"Adams-san! Please! Calm down!" Takeshi and Pandora soothe her with their magic and Charm respectively, the latter barely moving her shades out of the way to bring a sense of euphoria to her troubled soul.

"... Sorry, de gozaru," the Samurai cosplayer apologized before taking a deep breath. "... I've never been good with people, both in and out of Japan."

"Trust me, I've been there," Takeshi sympathized. "... People are hard to reach out to, but personally, I think there's no shame in giving it your all, as long as you be yourself."

Pandora smiles at Takeshi's words, reminding of how she was brought into ORC in the first place.

"Be myself..." Susan contemplated before a spark of inspiration struck her like lightning. "... Yes! I know what I must do now, de gozaru! I-I'll give it a try!"

Susan then rushes to her chabudai table before placing a tray with an ink stone, calligraphy brush, and a sheet of paper. Once prepared, she begins writing her heartfelt message the only way she knew how:

"I am writing to you about no specific business, thus you may set your mind at ease..." she read out loud as the Samurai cosplayer wrote her letter.

"Sounds a lot like an official address then an actual love letter," Pandora commented.

"Let her do what she knows best," Takeshi reassured. "It's not the form that matters, but feelings conveyed in said letter."

Pandora then looked back at Susan, who she can feel that the girl was pouring her very heart and soul into the confession despite the awkward way of conveying her feelings into words for her beloved Yamato.

"... I'm not sure that those words will get her feelings across," the (not) blind girl pointed out. "But somehow, I can't help but root for her despite her clumsiness."

"Love is best conveyed when it's natural and from the heart," Takeshi pointed out. "Even if she is turned down, the only thing at stake is her own pride."

"I'm done!" Susan exclaimed. "Now to send it!"

In less than a second, the Samurai cosplayer then pulls out a yumi bow with her love letter tied around the arrow's shaft.

"An arrow delivery?!" Takeshi panicked. "WAIT! THE ARROW ISN'T EVEN BLUNTED-!"

It was already too late as Susan fired her arrow out her dorm room's open window.

"... Do you even know where the arrow was aimed at?" Pandora asked.

Susan then chokes on her own throat before dropping her bow. "... Oops."

At Hirono Seaside Park...

"Mom, what is that?" a little girl asked as she pointed towards something.

"Don't point, dear," the mother chided. "It's rude to ask."

Said thing that the girl was pointing at was Susan sitting on her folding stool before a jinmaku curtain with several nobori banners planted around them, turning the small section of the park into a Samurai encampment straight out of the Sengoku Jidai.

"... What is all this?" Pandora groaned as she resisted the urge to facepalm.

"Adams-san, do you have a permit to even pull this kind of crap?" Takeshi asked.

"I already have a permit from the city, and I already texted them that I'm just doing a photoshoot," the Samurai cosplayer reassured before sighing in worry. "... I just hope that Horii-kun received my letter."

"Provided that we don't get sued by someone else for public endangerment..." Pandora deadpanned. "... Or possible manslaughter."

As the three waited, they began to make small talk.

"... So, uh, Adams-san," Takeshi began. "What is Horii-san like anyway?"

"He's from a traditional Japanese household, and a really cultured man," Susan answered. "A Japanese gentleman through and through... I admire his conduct and bearing. He embodies the ideal Japanese man that I envisioned ever since I was young."

"Anything else besides assumptions?" Pandora pointed out.

"He's also a captain of his High School's Kendo Club, and has won several national championships!" she continued. "His grades are top-notch, he's well-loved by both the professors and students alike... and... I'm nothing."

Takeshi sighs. "You're not nothing, Adams-san," Takeshi pointed out. "You're Susan Adams. You came all the way out here and you're already thinking of quitting?"

Hearing those words, Susan then slaps both her knees to pump herself up. "... You're right," she answered with resolve in her voice. "A true Samurai fights on until the bitter end! I will not retreat until I am answered, de gozaru!"

And so, the trio waited as the sun began to set. As the orange rays began to sink into the ocean's horizon, faint sounds of heavy clanking could be heard coming from a distance.

Emerging from the shadow of the sunset-kissed trees' canopy was a man dressed in a full plate of metal armor, wielding a halberd in one hand and a sheathed longsword around his waist, looking more akin to a European Knight than someone out of Japan.

"Who's that Dark Souls-looking mofo?" Takeshi remarked.

"... Uh, Ryuugamine?" Pandora then pointed her finger towards the knight's head. "... I think I know where the arrow went."

It was true. Takeshi and everyone else present saw that the knight had received an arrow to his head, embedded into his silver helmet with the letter tied around its shaft missing.

"Hark!" the knight addressed in fluent, yet archaic Japanese as he raised the letter he'd received from the arrow to his head. "This knight errant has cometh for one named Susan Adams!"

"State your business," Pandora replied as her nerves were standing on their edge, ready to pounce if things went south.

"That voice...!" Susan then springs up from her stool. "... Horii-kun?!"

Both Takeshi and Pandora looked at this bizarre pair's union. "EEEH?!"

Somehow, a man from the Department of Social and Human Studies hailing from a traditional Japanese household that Susan Adams, an American weeaboo, had yearned for... was a total westaboo.

"A one-in-a-million chance and she hits right on the mark..." Takeshi chuckled out in disbelief. "... Literally."

"The Fates must smile upon her..." Pandora remarked in the flattest tone she'd ever spoken.

... That is just lazy plot development and you know it, whelp, Nidhogg grumbled.

Both of them are dressed for war, and yet they dare to seek love in my presence?! Grendel growled. Disgusting!

Upon the two cosplayers finally facing each other eye to eye, Takeshi and Pandora step aside as they bear witness to the fated exchange.

A few moments of silence pass as the leaves scatter about the evening wind, before the knight speaks first.

"I have read your address, my fair lady," declared Yamato. "It was sublime. Truly, you've demonstrated your earnestness to me after years of mustering the courage to bare your feelings unto me!"

"Really?!" Susan gasped in anticipation. "You truly mean it?!"

"The moment thine arrow had burrowed into thou art's head, it had also struck mine heart true!" the knight declared. "And thine letter! Oh how it was pure and honest like the sun searing our eyes during midday!"

The Samurai and the knight both run into each other's embrace. "Horii-kun!"

"Dearest Adams!"

The two finally become one as both their hearts have longed for.

"... It appears that I've gone insane," Pandora remarked at this weirdly-heartwarming scene before her.

"Trust me, this is tame compared to the usual fare," Takeshi pointed out.

"Prove me wrong." Takeshi then whispers into Pandora's ear, sharing about his job with the Sitri Peerage involving the Jorogumo and the messy aftermath. "... I stand corrected."

After the two had shared their feelings, both of them take off their helmets, revealing their faces to the Devils. Susan was the typical fair-skinned, blue-eyed blond American girl whereas Yamato was the straight-laced, slightly-tanned, raven-haired and thick-browed Japanese man.

"Truly, I thank thee for uniting us!" the Japanese knight cosplayer said as he bowed deeply.

"I'm so happy... that I could just die now, de gozaru!" the American Samurai cosplayer began to cry tears of cathartic joy.

"No sweat, you two." Takeshi then gave them a thumbs up.

"I hope... that you two find happiness together," Pandora remarked, still feeling awkward about this exchange (but not against it).

"We have a whole life ahead of us after college, so we shall sally forth to our happiness!" Yamato declared. "Mine kin must and shall hear of the good news!"

"Here's your fee, and a little bonus, de gozaru!" Susan then transfers the commission fee through her Venmo account to Takeshi's, completing the transaction.

"And a parting gift from yours truly...!" The Japanese knight-cosplayer then relinquishes his sheathed longsword to the Devils. "This right here is a genuine, 16th Century-estoc from France! Maintained and brought to my kin as a diplomatic gift during the Taishō Era!"

Takeshi's eyes widened upon hearing that before he then partially unsheathes the weapon, revealing it to be very real.

"... The Firearm and Sword Possession and Control Law," Pandora recalled as she and Takeshi stared at the genuine article.

"Thou art shall find it a better use than a man born in the era of peace and understanding for a weapon meant for war!" Yamato then let out a hearty laughter as he then carried Susan in his arms as the latter carried both their helmets around her chest. "Fare thee well, dear Devils! May fortune smile upon thee!"

"Thank you!" Susan cried out.

With the united lovers departing, Takeshi and Pandora were left alone in the jinmaku-bordered encampment.

"We should hurry before the police come," Takeshi suggested.

"Seconded." Both he and Pandora began to work like bees in disassembling the camp as the Evil Dragons summarized what had happened today.

... Typical love story trajectory, but the ending wasn't so bad, Nidhogg commented.

It'd been better if we'd pried that weapon from his cold, dead hands, Grendel commented. But I admit, at least he has good taste when it comes to the tools of murder.

26th of April, 2019 AD

"I can't thank you enough for coming," said Mii-tan as the man was dressed in a gray hoodie and sweatpants as he led Takeshi and Pandora up to the apartment complex's rooftop. "Out of all the people who understand me, you've been the most receptive."

"That aside, how is your transformation sequence coming along?" asked Takeshi.

"Oh it's going wonderfully!" the giant man answered as he opened the door leading to the building's roof. "I think merely talking about it won't suffice, so instead, how about I just show it to you?"

"I'd rather die," Nidhogg deadpanned from the manifested [Cataclysm Zone].

"Magic barriers and structural reinforcements, please," requested Takeshi.

"Takeshi, what is happening?" Pandora asked as the man then allots to his request. "I thought we're helping someone with their progress today, but feels more like a prelude to a fight-"

From the hoodie's pouch, Mii-tan then pulls out his magical girl stick radiating with magical power.

"I hope you're ready!" declared the man as he then struck a pose. "Super Magical Transformation! Star Heart Make-Up! KYUN!"

The drab-looking clothes were all faded away as blinding light shone throughout the whole roof. The radiance obscured most of Mii-tan's nude and muscular body, and a single sparkle danced around him like a fairy, forming his Magical Girl Dress that was no longer just merely a cosplay of Magical Girl Milky Spiral 7 Alternative, but rather, his own favor.

It was still an ensemble consisting of a short skirt and sleeveless vest, both bright and pastel in color, maintaining the pink coloration with highlights of white and gold with heart-like motifs. However, this new outfit was frillier and more revealing, but thankfully, there were a pair of shorts underneath the miniskirt this time around, but that didn't negate the fact that the man's bulge was the side of an apple.

In place of the beret and cat ears were now a pair of pink ribbons that tied his hair around into high pigtails, with one having a ruby-gemmed heart and the other being a pure gold star.

"Super Magical Girl of Stars and Hearts... MITTEN-CHAN!" declared the transformed Magical Girl. "In the name of all the cuteness in the world, I will punish you, nyo!"

Everyone else sans Takeshi were left stunned at this man's new look.

"... Your existence is punishment enough, damned freak," the Evil Dragon of Envy groaned while trying not to vomit.

"I'm... no one to judge," Pandora remarked as she adjusted her tipped-over shades back in place. "... But there are these kinds of days where I wish I was actually blind."

"What the Hell was with all that showboating?" the Evil Dragon of Wrath asked, to which his host ignored him.

"Well, at least your transformation worked, Mii-tan," Takeshi remarked. "... So, what do you need help with today?"

"Well, you see, after I finished coming up with my transformation sequence, I kinda... hit a roadblock," Mii-tan explained as he twiddled his fingers. "... Mainly, I don't know what kind of fighting style I should take up on!"

"... You're pretty big and muscular, Mr. Mii-tan," Pandora pointed out, most of her brain still on the fritz of being unable to comprehend what is happening right now. "... Can't you like, you know, use your natural gifts?"

"True, but I'm also a Magician," he replied, much to Pandora's shock at this absolute unit of a man gifted with the body of Adonis being knowledgeable in the arcane arts like herself. "I took up studying under my father just to learn how to become a Magical Girl. ... As soon as he heard that... Well, you can take a good guess."

"... Ah," Pandora remarked as she figured out why. "... My condolences."

"It's okay, we don't talk that often," Mii-tan rebuffed before turning back to Takeshi. "In any event, I can't visualize how I am supposed to carry my bearings as a proper Magical Girl! And if I can't get my act together, then my debut won't happen!"

"Stay away from people, you sin against nature," Nidhogg jeered. "At least I was born evil, but you deliberately chose the path of degeneracy."

"TO HELL WITH WHAT THEY THINK!" Grendel roared. "PROVE THEM THAT YOU'RE THE STRONGEST WITH NOTHING BUT YOUR STRENGTH!"

"Alright, both of you, chill." Takeshi then raised his hand to calm everyone down. "... Okay, so regarding how you'll present yourself, I think I can... see a few options we can start working from."

"I'm just tailing you, so I'll just sit back and watch." Pandora then leaned her back against the door before sitting down with her legs coiled up, leaving her fellow Devil to work out the kinks in the mechanism.

"So, Mii-tan, this is me speaking from personal experience, but I think collaborating what you watch on TV, in your case, the Magical Girl genre, how about emulating the two of the most prominent sub-genres?"

"Oh! You mean either like a traditional Magical Girl like Cardcaptor Sakura or Ojamajo Doremi?" Mii-tan pointed out. "Or maybe like the more modern 'Magical Girl Warrior'-sub genre like Symphogear or Kill la Kill?"

"Honestly, the best advice I can give to you is 'try everything'," Takeshi answers. "You need to be the one who makes that choice, because only you know what's right for you, even if you don't know it yet."

The transformed Magical Girl takes a moment to contemplate before standing back up. "... In that case, I'd like to try out my powers on you, Ryuugamine-san."

"Ah, a bout?" he remarked. "I should warn you, I am very poor at holding back."

"I expect nothing less!" Mii-tan then took his stance. "Come! Whenever you're ready, nyo!"

Takeshi smirks as he then begins his own transformation pose. "Henshin!"

One Bout Later...

"HOLY CRAPCAKES, MII-TAN! I KNOW THAT YOU'RE YOKED TO HELL AND BACK AND ALL, BUT HOW DID YOU SURVIVE GRENDEL'S RAMPAGE?!"

Pandora watched the whole fight unfold until its end, leaving the whole (magically reinforced) rooftop covered in smoking gouges and fissures with the two standing across from each other, their bodies slightly bobbing up and down from exhaustion. During the speculation, she actually noticed Mii-tan's body shrug off [Berserk Devastator] better than an actual war machine designed to use her powers, provided if her own eyes weren't playing tricks on her senses.

"Through positive thinking and endless training, nyo!" the Magical Girl answered. "So, how was my performance?"

Takeshi then withdraws his Sacred Gear's armor. "... Honestly, you're in a pretty good place when it comes to raw power," he revealed. "It's just that when I saw your movements, it looks, unrefined. Like how a white belt in Karate would try a high kick."

"Speaking of which, don't ever do that in front of me ever again," Nidhogg growled with a shudder.

"Tch, you're a tough son of a bitch to break, if that counts as a virtue," Grendel dismissively remarked.

"My advice going forward... I see two paths, although one of them is going to be a bit complicated unless some hoops are jumped through," Takeshi explained. "Either A) start taking up martial arts to supplement your natural gifts, and given your physique, maybe boxing would fit the best for you, or B) get some actual field experience by taking on actual, tangible threats, but I'm kinda afraid that you'll either be designated as a Stray for vigilantism, or I might be held culpable for you possibly dying on the field."

"Oh, don't worry about me becoming a Stray, nyo!" Mii-tan then takes out his phone before revealing his photo ID labeled "Magician Practical Registration". "Remember, my family are subcontracted Magicians ala House Gremory, and even though I'm an independent contractor with only part-time gigs from other Underworld's Houses, I still renew my license to legally practice magic every year."

"Then forgive me for worrying about you, Mii-tan," Takeshi apologized. "... Well, I think that's it for this commission."

"Thank you so much!" Mii-tan then sends his fee to Takeshi's Venmo account. "I'll be sure to become the best Magical Girl in the world! You'll see, nyo!"

"Chop off that one-eyed snake first and I might be half-way convinced." Nidhogg then gagged before the two Devils left the apartment building.

"... Well, that was... an experience," Pandora remarked as she walked behind Takeshi as the latter took her by her hand. "... Our clients are the more esoteric ones, aren't they?"

"Trust me, there was one time where someone was willing to pay to make me carry them in a princess-carry," Takeshi recalled. "... That said, are you getting used to the life of a Devil so far?"

"... I mean, fine, I guess?" Pandora shrugged. "... It's vibrant, that's for sure. I mean, compared to my previous life... I'm more fulfilled."

"If you're worried about your past coming back to haunt you, let the record show, they're gonna have to get past all of us first," Takeshi reassured. "Be it those cultists or those Greek Demigods, if they so much as harm a single strand of hair on your head, then I will take extra pleasure of turning them into the Evil Dragons' personal chew toys."

That better be a promise, whelp, the Evil Dragon of Envy hissed.

I don't care who comes, so as long as they die screaming in the end, the Evil Dragon of Wrath declared.

Pandora couldn't help but smile, even though she should think Takeshi as a complete fool for using the Evil Dragons themselves as a deterrent. "... Fair, but you know about tempting the Fates."

"My mere existence is a sin against causality itself," Takeshi deadpanned as he checked his phone for his next commission with Pandora. "At that point, I have a blank check to kick the Fates in their collective nuts as much as I want."

At Their Next Commission...

"Mmm..." Morisawa glowered at Pandora dressed in a provocative nurse's outfit while he took pictures with his camera as Takeshi continued shading the drafts on the coffee table. "... Othrys-chan, can you like... lean down, and perhaps, move that side of your hair with your hand? Enough so to show me your forehead?"

Pandora grumbles as the camera's lens clicked in front of her face. "... Remind me, why am I doing this?"

"Sorry, Pandora, but Koneko-chan's out at another commission today," Takeshi explained apologetically. "... Apparently, some historical museum in Tokyo is importing a legit sarcophagus from Egypt and she's sent there to make sure that no one else jacks it."

So grave robbing is still a practice to this day? Nidhogg commented.

Instead of desperate peasants, it's now bigwig corporations and those in power doing that kind of act, Takeshi answered as he then puts on the finishing touches on the page he was given. I mean, it's rich coming from a Devil like me, but how are human corporations like America's Hobby Lobby more evil than the actual Satans?

Because you're all not trying hard enough! Grendel pointed out. Screw law and order! Just kill any fucker that looks at you wrong! It's not that hard! It's just that you're all overthinking it!

Gonna ignore that fact. Takeshi then hears the Evil Dragon of Wrath grumble to himself in discontent right as Pandora returns sitting next to Takeshi.

"Thank you for the material, Othrys-chan," Morisawa remarked. "I'll be sure to provide a generous tip for your services."

"Can you also keep the fact that I'm not actually blind under wraps?" Pandora requested.

"I've watched enough anime and hentai to know that eyes being hidden means either they're the protagonist, or hiding some super-dark powers," the man explained before he went back to his desk. "I won't pry. For I am a professional."

"Thank you." Pandora then looked over at what Takeshi was working on. "... Is that... how... does human anatomy even work like that?"

Takeshi groans before handing her a tankōbon doujinshi book written by "k41RyUwU" called "DIGEST - Secret Menu for Sadomasochists."

"I thought Kiryuu-san would be the one to introduce this kind of shit to you, but..." the Devil sighs as Pandora cracks the book open, "If I want to ask for your pointers going forward, then I'm going to have to be the one to take responsibility for your... education."

Upon reading the first few pages, Pandora's face turns cherry-red before steam shot out of her ears before she slammed the book shut. "W-WHO COMES UP WITH THIS... PERVERTED STUFF?!"

"Not me," Morisawa denied. "I'm just given the line art over on Discord."

"Definitely not me," Takeshi also denied. "I'm just an extra pair of hands helping him out because I get paid to."

Pandora grumbles after being tempted to continue reading "DIGEST," slowly becoming more engrossed in the book itself despite its spicy content.

Smut aside, the artwork and panel flow was a master's work. Character dialogue and art flowed seamlessly, the designs themselves were detailed, but nowhere near opulent, and the story, while 99% an excuse for the characters to fornicate with each other in the most bizarre of circumstance, was genuinely gripping and that 1% of non-coitus was about a compelling and emotional story about a red-light district business trying to keep itself afloat against its newer and modern competitors.

It felt real, almost as if whoever this "k41RyUwU" was, wrote it from a position of personal experience.

"Alright, I think we cleared this chapter," Morisawa remarked as soon as he took Takeshi's finished draft. "... Your shading and toning skills are getting better. And I take it that you know what 'k41RyUwU' can do?"

Takeshi nods as he leans back with a sigh. "... Whoever this project head is... has some pretty high standards."

"Believe me, 'k41RyUwU' earned the community's respect in a shockingly-short period of time, and a pretty good boss too," Morisawa remarked as he paid his fee, including a tip for Pandora's part. "And a little bonus, for Othrys-chan, you can keep the nurse's outfit."

Pandora promptly glares at the older man. "... No thank you."

As soon as the job was over, the two then returned to ORC, where Rias was waiting for them with a very cross-looking expression on her face.

"... In my defense, it was consensual!" Takeshi defended himself.

"That and the musclebound crossdresser survived my wrath with nary a scratch," Grendel revealed, causing Rias' eyes to widen in surprise.

"... As long as no one's hurt too badly," she grumbled, causing the President to renege her prior ire. "... Dismissed."

After the President allowed the two Devils to leave without a word, the pair walked back home together.

"... You know, Takeshi," Pandora began, "I can teach you how to draw if you want."

"Really?" he replied. "... Wow, that's kinda great-ow ow ow!"

Pandora grumbled as she pinched Takeshi underneath his ribs.

"But next time, warn me if I go into that kind of... 'cosplaying' myself," she hissed before huffing. "... I don't particularly care for flashy clothing."

27th of April, 2019 AD

"We're here!" Takeshi and Pandora enter the ORC's office before sitting down on the sofa. "How's everyone doing this whole week?"

"Tired." Koneko was found curled up on the other sofa, her head lying on Akeno's plump-looking laps while being fed Pocky by her. "... I think that sarcophagus from yesterday might be cursed."

"Miss Toujou, there's no such thing as curses from Egypt," Pandora remarks before stopping herself. "... Rich coming from me, I know. But still, the whole 'Pharaoh's Curse' is nothing more than superstition brought upon my human movies."

"Let's just leave it at that and worry about it when we actually have to deal with it," Akeno reassured before resuming feeding Koneko.

"Cool." Takeshi then looked around the room. "... Where's Kiba-kun?"

"Out on a commission," Rias answered. "He was the first to arrive and first to depart. He's in Gifu Prefecture right now."

"Ah," he remarked as he then shuddered at the bad memories that got him blacklisted there. "... In any event, any commissions for any of us?"

"One second." Rias then checks on her laptop before finding something for Takeshi. "... There's a post for someone from the city of Tachikawa. It's a simple request demanding two people to work at a convenience store until the client's evening shift is over. Is that acceptable?"

"Doable." Takeshi then turns to Pandora. "So, are you ready for another job?"

Pandora herself grumbles before taking Takeshi's hand. "... Please let this job be somewhere close to normal."

"Assume nothing. We're Devils, after all," Takeshi replied chipperly as he took himself and Pandora into the magic circle. "Ryuugamine Takeshi and Pandora Othrys, heading out!"

The pair teleports out of the office. Once they were gone, Koneko pouted before throwing a small fit.

"Ara, jealous?" Akeno teasingly asked.

"... Shut up." Koneko then snatched a massive disk of chocolate chip cookie from the tray before taking a massive bite out of it.

At Tachikawa City...

"Thanks for coming today, you two," an unassuming young man in his early twenties dressed in a striped uniform shirt with the name "Kawabata Tsuyoshi" printed on his tag said as he adjusted his glasses. "... When I received the call that my coworker had to take a sick leave, I was afraid that I'd be short-staffed today."

"No problem, Kawabata-san," Takeshi replied as he and Pandora also dressed in the same shirts as their client for their commission.

Their job took place at a branch of Lawson, where Takeshi was in charge of restocking the shelves and sweeping the entrance, while Pandora assisted their client on the cash register. Right now, the store was quiet, save for a few people buying a few drinks and snacks for the evening.

"... I'm curious," Pandora spoke to her client. "... Mr. Kawabata, how did your coworker end up getting sick?"

The young man then lets out a breathy sigh before explaining. "... Ching-san has a habit of snatching karaage straight from the fryer. I think one of the ones she poached after making 'too many' might've been undercooked."

Pandora grimaces. "Thank the Fates that it wasn't the customer who suffered her fate."

"Yep." Tsuyoshi then adjusts his glasses before looking out towards Takeshi. "Hey, uh, Ryuugamine-san. Can you go outside and sweep the entrance? I don't want the floor to track dirt and grime before I mop 'em."

"Got it." Takeshi then takes the broom and heads outside of the convenience store.

"I'm gonna go take a break, Othrys-san." Tsuyoshi then walked to the back and towards the break room. "Watch the front for me while I take a power nap."

"Understood." She then looks out the front window as night begins to settle in, watching Takeshi sweep the front before the parking lot. "... Ah, finally. A normal job after a week of insanity-"

Suddenly, she then spotted several kinds of people walking up to the store in a gang-like coordination and surrounding Takeshi as he stood before the door.

"... Can I help you gentlemen?" he asked with a flat smile.

"We're looking for Kawabata Tsuyoshi," a gruff voice said, coming from a clean-shaven karateka with muscles brimming from underneath his gi uniform.

Takeshi then observes the others in the group present before the Lawson store's entrance. Behind the karateka was a redheaded kickboxer in a blue hoodie and ripped jeans, an aikido practitioner in full uniform, a bandana-wearing Nak Muay whose tanned, bare chest glistened under the setting sun, a dreadlocked middleweight boxer in a black tank top, olive cargo pants, and army boots, a tattooed delinquent with a wooden katana wielding the weapon like a proper kendo fencer, a brawny-looking hoodlum with a combat knife tucked behind his belt, a suit-wearing man with slicked-back raven hair wearing padded gloves and steel-toed shoes in a Taekwondo stance, a limber-looking man in a low stance like capoeira practitioner, and a short, but muscular judoka whose hands were covered in calluses that showed his dedication to his training.

... Who did my client piss off to have these guys go after him of all people? Takeshi thought. "... Look gentlemen, I'm just a part-timer filling in for someone else, so if you have an issue with him, can you please wait until-"

Suddenly, the bokken-wielding delinquent then took a surprise swing at Takeshi's head, the latter catching it between his teeth and snapping the wooden sword in two.

"... Fine then." Takeshi then ditches his broom before pulling out his phone to look for an empty lot. Grendel?

A low rumbling growl was heard in response.

... Whatever you do, don't kill them.

Grendel snarls before realizing that his host was leaving that statement up for interpretation at his desecration on purpose. ... Be careful what you wish for, brat.

Takeshi then leads the band of thugs elsewhere as he saw Pandora run into the back to probably call for help.

Once he and the ten martial artists arrive at the empty lot placed betwixt two skyscrapers under construction, the Devil then turns his head towards the motley lot, with the delinquent substituting his broken bokken with a metal pipe.

"Before we begin, I must ask you all," Takeshi began as he turned himself around to face the ten men. "... For what reason are you after my client?"

The lead karateka growls in frustration before answering. "... You really don't know who Kawabata Tsuyoshi really is, huh?"

"Look, if he's in debt to the yakuza or something, then I can pay for him-"

The karateka then slaps the phone out of his hands, cracking the touchscreen upon impact.

Takeshi then lets out a sigh before manifesting his [Cataclysm Zone] around his waist. "... Remember that I started with reason."

The gem around the belt then glows its unholy light.

"Henshin."

Just Outside...

"Othrys-san, what's going on?" Tsuyoshi asked as he was dragged by Pandora.

"Ten people surrounded him and I think Takeshi's going to try and fight all of them!" she panicked.

"Really?! Aw crud," the young man remarked as he tried to pull out his phone. "Hold on, I'll try and call the ambulance-"

"It's not him I'm worried about," she pointed out as they turned a corner before spotting a man flying out of the side and crashing into a streetlight. "... Oh no."

The two run towards where the man had flown out of and right onto the clearing, finding Takeshi in his armored form with [Berserk Devastator], surrounding in the bodies of the martial artists that he'd defeated, all of them having gashes and wounds belonging on a battlefield.

"... Don't worry," Takeshi remarked in a breathy voice. "They're not dead."

He then dismisses his armor before walking past the two and dragging the kickboxer back to the clearing.

"And now for my favorite part of the day..." Takeshi said in an overly-sarcastic manner. "... Pandora, you mind helping me heal them?"

"One second." Pandora then joins Takeshi in healing their injuries and wounds with their magic before erasing their memories of the last 24 hours. Once they were all patched up, all of them were laid against the wall on their backs before Takeshi fixed the lamppost by literally bending it back into place.

"There, I'm finished," Takeshi remarked before he looked back at his client. "... Kawabata-san, I won't pry into your life by asking you why these guys were after you."

"Oh no, don't worry about it!" he brushed off casually. "... I mean, it's been happening since I graduated High School. I don't know why a bunch of martial artists are after me. I just want to be an artist for crying out loud."

Pandora tried to chime in, but all she could notice was how... nonchalant Tsuyoshi was at the carnage. ... He almost seems like... he's used to it.

Grendel also took notice of Tsuyoshi's abnormal behavior as well, sensing an ember of divine strength within that human. ... Hey brat, he said. Try fighting him next. He makes a better quarry than those sorry excuses for "martial artists."

It's getting late, Grendel. I'd rather not make more of a mess than I have to, Takeshi thought before yawning as he retrieved his damaged phone before fixing it with his magic. "... So, Kawabata-san. Our fee?"

"One second." The plain-looking young man then pulls out his phone before transferring his payment to Takeshi's Venmo account. "... I wish I could call you guys more often so I can work in peace, but that was my lottery winnings from last week, and I don't earn much from my current job. Regardless, thank you for giving me a day of relative peace."

Both Pandora and Takeshi sigh in relief that their client was understanding, relatively speaking.

"... And thank you for not reporting us to the authorities." Pandora then brandishes her House Gremory designation seal on her palm as it shone red. "Have a nice rest of your evening."

The two Devils then make their way back to Kuoh Town as Tsuyoshi returns to Lawson before finishing the rest of his shift.

28th of April, 2019 AD

"... You... have a peculiar ritual every Sunday," Pandora commented as she watched Star Twinkle Pretty Cure Episode 13, "Lala's Heart-Pounding First Day of School," which can be a thinly-veiled message of how to get kids off of their damn smartphones through Lala having a hard time learning new things without her spaceship's A.I.

"You don't have to watch it with me, Pandora," Takeshi remarked as he sat next to her, the latter removing her shades on the account of both of his parents being out of the house.

"I know, but I'm curious about what you said to Mii-tan earlier this week," she replied as she watched Lala sneak her A.I. into the school via a glove to better learn Japanese customs. "... You implied your personal fighting style is based on emulating the shows you watch. I don't see it right now."

"Well, I'm more or less a casual fan of PreCure in general," Takeshi shrugged as the enemy's general, Kappard, appeared outside of the school window. "Besides, will you ever see me dressed up in frills and pastel colors?"

Debatable, scoffed Nidhogg.

Grendel however, simply let out a low grumble, seemingly dissatisfied at something.

"That said, I don't think it's a bad thing to base the method of dealing with reality off of fiction as long as it works," Takeshi pointed out as the episode ends with Lala being accepted into the school the day after the big fight. "After all, Aesop's stories weren't literally about animals and people's misadventures if you know what I mean, no?"

Pandora chuckles. "... Perhaps you may have a point," she replied as the episode's ending credits play. "... Maybe I should borrow a few of your manga as reference."

"Read Kamen Rider W: Fuuto P.I.," Takeshi recommended. "The best part about that manga is that it's enjoyable without having to watch the original show."

"I'll hold you to that." Pandora then watched Kamen Rider Zi-O's 33rd episode playing on the TV screen, which began with Woz agonizing over how to celebrate the main character's birthday. "... Speaking of which, did you ask the President when her birthday is? Let alone, anyone else's?"

Takeshi nervously chuckles as he watches Sougo and Geiz look for "oni" (not the Yōkai) before Another Hibiki ambushes them during the search. "... In my defense, we've been really busy, myself included," he confessed. "... I should probably find the time to ask for their birthdays, since well, you know, they all went out of their way to celebrate mine. Figured that I should return the favor and all."

Pandora goes into deep thought as she looks at her fake/assumed DoB of October 13th, wondering how it'll feel as the identity of Another Hibiki was revealed to be the main character's old classmate on screen.

... Do I have such a right? She thought only for her to look at Takeshi and chase her own inner demons away.

"Trouble?" Takeshi asks.

"... There're parts of my psyche that think that I don't deserve this kind of life," she explained with a hint of melancholy. "... I have lived my life unwanted by everyone. So it's only natural that I'd feel... a bit doubtful."

"Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day," Takeshi replied as he placed his hand on her shoulder as a sign of reassurance while the episode ends with Another Hibiki being reinstated and resuming its warpath, now against the host's will. "If it helps, then I'll be your reminder that your choice to be with us will be something that you can be proud of."

Pandora's heart lightens after his words of encouragement. "... Thank you."

"No sweat!" Takeshi gave her a thumbs up as Ryusoulger's 7th episode begins with Asuna accidentally breaking one of the fossil rocks while bored. "Good things come to those who wait! And I waited four years for my life to have meaning and I have no regrets of letting you all be in part of my life, both good and the bad!"

For however long it may last, Nidhogg sinisterly remarked as Grendel still remains mute sans gnashing and grinding his teeth in seething fury.

The episode's plot then kicks off when Towa and Bamba run into an alien princess named Cardena on the run from the Druidon, revealing after the fight that her planet was invaded by said enemies.

"In a world of Devils and gods alike, why the Hell aren't there any aliens recorded throughout the history?" Takeshi pointed out as Kleon summons the Cockatrice Minosaur from a one-hit-wonder star past his prime.

"Maybe because they don't exist?" Pandora answers as the Druidon Tribe's new general, Wiserue, arrives on Earth to take Tankjoh's place.

"So why are the humans making up stuff that even the gods don't know about, and said gods and Devils holding phenomenal cosmic powers?" Takeshi pointed out as the modus operandi of this week's monster of the week was revealed: monster of the week goes on a rampage while Wiserue brainwashes the children as his meat shields while he takes potshots from afar. "... Don't you find it strange that humans are the only ones coming up with these kinds of ideas on the fly? Don't you think that's a little fucked up when nature and human minds are influenced by gods in the sky and Devils below the earth?"

Yes, yes, then this whole world might as well be a dream, the Evil Dragon of Envy deadpanned while Cardena gives the rest of the heroes her backstory, revealing that her sister has been captured by Wiserue during her planet's invasion as she herself fled on her own.

The weak can do nothing but dream, Grendel snarled in a low drone akin to a volcanic tremor. The strong bend all of reality to their will.

You forgot that dreams can also be fun~! Takeshi wistfully remarked as Pandora digests on his question before relenting followed up with a sigh.

"... I think I'll just chalk that up to being that the divine's powers are offset by their lack of imagination, including those who patron the arts," Pandora deadpanned as the Cockatrice Minosaur deliberately stands before a ferris wheel full of people before the KishiRyuOh can deliver the coup de grâce. "But I was raised in most of my life behind a gaol cell. So sue me."

Takeshi nodded as the episode ended on a cliffhanger and the revelation that the Cockatrice Minosaur's true host was none other than the Princess' sister, Fita. The very same one that Wiserue had kidnapped during the invasion.

"You know, if we have the time, then I should take you and the rest of ORC to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum," Takeshi suggested. "... I finally remembered that my forgotten childhood friend loved dinosaurs. Who knows? Maybe the Evil Dragons can find which of the dinosaurs are their ancestors!"

Hardly, Nidhogg scoffed. At least I know whom I was born from.

And I don't venerate the dead, brat, Grendel snarled. Only the weak die, hence why we Evil Dragons are feared even by God himself!

But just before Takeshi could make a comeback, his phone vibrates, revealing a DM from Koneko. "Oh," he remarked as he and Pandora read the same message. "... It says to have everyone come to ORC right now."

"Really?" Pandora replied as Takeshi then took his empty bowl of Cornfrost before putting it into the sink and rinsing it. "What could it be?"

"Something important, given it's Sunday." Takeshi then heads upstairs before poking his head out of the stairwell. "... Oh, and uh... I'll change in the bathroom entrance. You can change in my room."

"Thank you," Pandora replied as she followed him upstairs.

At the ORC Building...

Panicked screaming and yelps were heard from above as two shadows descended to the building.

"Steady... steady...!" Takeshi was the first to land as he held Pandora by her hand, the latter nearly tripping as she withdrew her wings too soon. "So, how was your first flight?"

"... Terrifying, but kind of... exhilarating," she replied as she adjusted her shades.

"Ah, I've been expecting you two."

The two Devils then turn their heads towards the ORC Building entrance, spotting a beautiful young woman that looked to be in her early-twenties. She had striking red, rubicund eyes and a back-length white-silver hair with a pair of long braids draped down from both sides of her head, and a large tail of braided behind her. Strangest of all was her attire, which was a dark-blue Victorian-style maid dress, corset, apron, frilled hairband, and the works.

Yet, in spite of her subordinate-like disposition, there was no denying that she was radiating nothing but power that made the two of them feel puny.

"An Ultimate-Class right before our feet..." Nidhogg began to snicker. "... It was nice knowing you, whelp."

"Fear not, for I am not here to quarrel," the maid reassured before performing a small curtsy. "My name is Grayfia Lucifuge, and I'm but a humble servant to House Gremory."

"I am Ryuugamine Takeshi, Pawn of the Gremory Peerage," Takeshi greeted. "And current Evil Dragon User."

"And I go by Pandora Othrys," she also greeted with a curtsy. "And I am the second Knight of the aforementioned affiliation. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"I've been made aware of your identities and affiliation ahead of time by the House's current Lord, Sir Ryuugamine and Dame Othrys," the maid explained. "To think I am bearing witness to none other than both the Evil Dragon User and the Calamity Witch in the flesh at once... truly, no wonder why the Underworld spoke of you two joining my Lady's Peerage with bated breath."

"Humility is a bad look for you, harlot," Grendel taunted. "... I've been aching for a challenge. Come on and fight me! I bet we can make beautiful agony together!"

"And for the record, they do not speak for me!" Takeshi immediately goes into "damage control"-mode.

The maid sighs, feeling sympathetic for the boy as much as her profession allowed it. "... I've held you two out here for too long." She then opens the door behind her. "Follow me. My Ladyship and her gathered Peerage require your presence."

And so, Takeshi and Pandora follow the maid inside, walking through the dim halls of the ORC Building, the latter two still trying not to pass out on their feet from the sheer power disparity between the two Low-Class Devils and the maid in front of them.

"... Don't mean to pry," Takeshi said in an attempt to break the ice as he then pulled out his phone, "but when you said 'Lucifuge,' do you perhaps mean this Lucifuge?"

The maid then smiles before stifling a chuckle. "Oh dear, it appears that humans have mastered the art of flattery. To think they managed to emulate my former House's founder so accurately..."

"Seriously?" Pandora then looked at the "Lucifuge," who resembled a sage-like Devil dressed in fancy turquoise robes with silver sashes and golden rims that were both printed with vaguely-Greek-looking alphabet and runic cuneiforms, wearing a heavy silver mask resembling a horned Devil's head with a beard and a golden crown, and holding a small grimoire in his hand. "And this was made during like what, the 1990s?"

"Well, you know what they say about broken clocks and all..." Takeshi then puts his phone away. "... And apologizes for the holdup. I can't help but be curious."

"Oh no, there's no fault in being curious about my origins." Grayfia then cleared her throat before resuming her walk towards the ORC's main office before standing by the door. "Lady Rias, the last of our roster have arrived."

"Enter." Rias' voice then signals the maid to open the door, allowing Takeshi and Pandora to enter inside.

Upon entering, Takeshi found the rest of the Peerage all taking their seats, with him sitting next to Koneko while Pandora sat next to Akeno and Yuuto, while Rias herself was behind her desk. Once everyone was seated, Grayfia entered the office itself, shutting the door as she went in.

"Before we begin, it is a pleasure to have the entire Gremory Peerage present," Grayfia began. "I've been informed of two new members ahead of time, so there is no need to introduce yourselves."

"So," Rias began, "what brought you to have all of us here?"

Grayfia then summons a stamped roll of paper before unsealing it. "I will keep it brief as possible," she began as the maid read the form. "In light of the Gremory Peerage averting a regional fallout at the hands of the Yomi Faction and unearthing the conspiracy of the Stray Fallen Angels' that aided us in finding our primary suspect, the Underworld's Council of Nobles have deemed it appropriate to sanction a Rating Game to determine whether your subordinates can achieve a full-rank promotion."

"... Seriously?!" Takeshi remarked. "We're finally being recognized?!"

"Finally..." Koneko sighed out. "... The old prunes are giving us our due."

"I'm glad that our efforts have now finally paid off," Yuuto agreed.

"... Hold on," Pandora said before she turned her attention towards Grayfia. "... It feels like it's too soon. What's the catch?"

"The catch is that there's a wager involved."

Everyone sans Grayfia then turns their heads towards where the voice had come from, revealing Re:Live leaning against the wall next to the cabinet, causing everyone to yelp in surprise.

"Can you please stop doing that?!" Akeno pointed out.

"No." The armored superhero then walks up to Rias. "And before you ask, yes, the Underworld's Council approved when I gave them my appeal. The details will be explained after you and your Peerage succeed."

Rias then lets out a sigh. "... So," she began, "what's the catch?"

Then the magic circle in the room then glows with an orange golden-like hue, superimposing a phoenix-like sigil over House Gremory's crest before a bright gout of flame shoots out of the floor.

"... Oh come on," she groaned. "Him?"

The flames then dissipate, revealing a young man with blond hair and a crisp-looking red suit without a tie around the white dress shirt.

"Ah, it's been a while since I've set foot upon the mortal plane," he said before pinching his nose. "... Smells unpleasant. Almost... corrupted."

He then turned his attention towards Takeshi before giving him a scowl.

"... How quaint," he remarked with disgust. "So the rumors were true about you adopting an Evil Dragon User into your ranks. I thought you were better than this, Rias! You know how stray dogs carry diseases."

"Why, thank you for acknowledging my existence," Takeshi deadpanned before flipping him off.

"I take it that you know what I'm implying by the 'wager', correct?" Re:Live pointed out. "And before you ask, yes, I had to give all parties a fair shake to ensure that my appeal went through. Hate me all you want for this, but this will determine if your successes this past month and a half haven't been solely due to dumb luck."

"Someone, please explain," Pandora requested. "... I've only been here for a week."

"Lady Rias?" Grayfia asked.

"I'll explain," Rias replied before sharing her history. "... For the uninitiated, this man before me is none other than Riser Phenex. Third son of House Phenex... and one of my most persistent suitors."

"And in spite of House Phenex's high standing within the Underworld's nobility, their youngest son is on thin ice due to him falling short compared to his older siblings," Re:Live revealed, causing Riser to grimace. "I'll cut to the chase. The wager is that if the Gremory Peerage wins, Riser will be stripped of his title and inheritance, effectively exiling him from his House forever, as per the orders from Lord Phenex himself."

"And should I emerge victorious..." Riser then takes Rias by her hand before giving it a soft peck, causing Takeshi's blood to boil at this sight. "... I will have her hand in marriage, and not only my position shall be secured, but her own House's standing shall be ascended to the highest echelons of the Underworld's nobility!"

The emotions were becoming a tangled mess right now, with all of the members of the Gremory Peerage feeling a sense of betrayal from Re:Live.

"... I thought you were on our ally!" Akeno pointed out.

"I am," they answered immediately. "This is a test for all of you. To determine whether you're either a pariah in the eyes of the Underworld... or their next saviors since House Bael after the Great War."

"Laying on the pressure, aren't you?" Koneko grumbled.

"And really, can I be honest with all of you rabble for a second?" Riser remarked as he turned around to face the rest of the gathered Peerage. "... All of you are dragging her and her House's name through the muck. The Queen herself, while beautiful and an excellent addition to my prospect marriage, is still a half-breed filth reviled by both the Underworld and the Japanese communities of gods and Devils, the Rook is related to an infamous murderer, your two Knights was once a terrorist and a nobody found in the gutter respectively, your freak of a Bishop can't be bothered to show their face, and need I mention the basket case that is your sole Pawn?"

Riser then walked up towards where Takeshi was sitting before looking down upon the Devil.

"Out of all the members of this Peerage, it is you who is running my Rias' reputation through the shit, maggot," he growled. "You know what they call her behind my back? They call her 'power-drunk.' They call her 'dangerous.' They call her 'a spoiled brat running high on the privileges of her brother being one of the Four Satans.' So really, if you want to salvage her social standing, then do all of us a favor, and get the fuck out of her life-"

*TWACK!*

Before anyone could even react, Rias had slapped Riser across his face.

"Enough," she growled. "... I have no intentions letting anyone, especially you, drag my Peerage through the mud any further."

"Ah..." Riser then licked the blood from his lips. "... I love it when a woman I love has fire in her belly."

"Thank you so much for your kind words," Rias deadpanned before dragging Riser away from Takeshi.

"... May I be so bold to ask," Takeshi said as he raised his hand. "I am perfectly aware of the fact that the President is the kind of woman that any red-blooded man would go head over heels for her, but why the insistence of you marrying her specifically? Surely, given your caliber, you could easily have as many women in your bed as you want with little trouble."

"Such an ignorant fool..." Riser shook his head dismissively. "... If you must know, then you are aware that the Great War wiped many of us Devils out, no? Specifically, us pure-blooded kin are in a decline, so it's not mere infatuation that drives me to pursue your beloved master. It's also our obligation to preserve our bloodlines."

"Oh yes, because clearly, eugenics are on your list of priorities for a fuckboy like you," Takeshi replied sharply before giving him the double-middle finger.

"Watch your tongue, peasant," Riser hissed as his body began radiating with hellish heat. "Lest you wish it cooked well-done-!"

*click*

"Enough," Re:Live answered as they pressed a holy Beretta 92FS Inox against Riser's temple. "Remember your current standing within your House."

With reprehension, Riser relents before walking towards the back of the room with a huff. "Fine," he remarked. "And besides, it's not like I can do anything as long as the 'Strongest Queen' is present."

Takeshi and Pandora looked towards Grayfia, with both of them figuring out that the Ultimate-Class Devil was indeed the strongest in the room besides Re:Live.

"Now I want to fight her more...!" Grendel shuddered with anticipation, causing Grayfia to give the Evil Dragon a look of absolute disgust.

"So, I take it that all of you know what's at stake?" Re:Live said as they put their gun away, to which everyone nods. "... Good. Both parties have now understood the terms and conditions of this Rating Game. The prize will be a full-rank promotion to the whole Peerage sans the King. The wagers will be Rias' freedom and Riser's titles. Do both parties consent to the terms?"

"I accept," Rias declared with a bold look. "Mark my words, Riser. I will get you out of my life. Forever."

"I accept the terms as well," Riser answered with a confident smirk. "... And I look forward to walking down the aisle with you, dear Rias."

"This has to be the most inane reason for bloodshed, whelp."

Everyone then looked towards Takeshi's [Cataclysm Zone], whose gem was now ash-gray.

"What in Thor's ballsacks happened to you Devils to resort to such pageantry?" the Evil Dragon of Envy asked. "Why is it that our desires to bring death upon those we hate must be determined by the fate of this pompous fool before us? Surely, the world is better off destroyed if idiots like him are overwhelming the genetic pool."

"Watch your tongue, lizard," Riser growled as his whole body began to heat up again.

"I felt hotter flames," boasted Nidhogg. "Yours would make an excellent cooling patch for Surtr's armpits."

"Burn," Koneko deadpanned.

"Don't get coy, Evil Dragon." Riser then snapped his fingers. "Your Peerage may be strong, but mine are much stronger and just as beautiful! Behold!"

From the superseded magic circle, another bright pillar of fire erupts from the floor, widening into a burning curtain before it dissipates to reveal an ensemble of fifteen women, the maximum number of servants allowed within the Evil Piece system.

The group consisted of a fancily-dressed and mature-looking woman resembling a mystic from a bygone era, a girl around her mid-to-late teens dressed like a European Princess who facially resembled Riser (but less douchey), a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko-looking girl in a kimono, an armored woman with a length of white bandages wrapped around her short, chestnut-brown hair, a slightly-wilder-looking woman with a massive claymore sheathed behind her back, a mysterious-yet flashy woman whose face was covered in a half mask that made her look like if she belonged in a visual kei band from the early 2000s, a Chinese girl wearing a dark-blue cheongsam dress, a pair of twins consisting of two identical-looking girls with turquoise hair dress in PE uniforms with chainsaws slung around their backs and a pair of cat girls wearing sailor school uniforms whose tops were two-sizes too small for them despite their modestly-sized breasts (making it more of a fetish-wear), a pair of maids dressed in the sleeveless "French Maid" outfits, with one of them having bigger breasts than the other, a young, Indian (or Pakistani) woman dressed like a belly dancer, and a bo staff-wielding girl dressed in a short white kimono with a maple-red haori jacket over it.

"So, what do you all think?" Riser boasted as he stood before his maxed-out Peerage. "Scared?"

"Dude, did you run out of fetishes halfway when you were assembling your harem?" Takeshi deadpanned, not even remotely intimidated by the larger roster size. "... I'll put it in a way that a fuckboy like you can comprehend: none of your bitches are going to last two seconds against me."

As expected, none of Riser's Peerage took kindly to that insult.

"You got a big mouth there, brat!" a claymore-wielding woman growled.

"Are you looking down on us, dammit?!" the mask-wearing kei woman barked.

"Forget the match!" the mature-looking mystic replied. "We'll pulverize you here and now!"

"Girls, girls, relax," Riser placated. "... That Evil Dragon User is clearly all talk. It's obvious that he see naught but your outer selves when you're all clearly so much more. So, a demonstration is sorely needed. Mira!"

"Yes, Riser-sama," the girl with the bo staff answered with a kneeling bow.

"Take him out."

Mira then thrusts her staff towards Takeshi...

*SPLAT*

Not even the oaken tip of the staff could reach his face as Takeshi was now in his Sacred Gear's armor, and his limbs and face encased in [Berserk Devastator].

As for how the exchange ended, it ended with Mira's entire upper half exploding, the insides of her covering the majority of Riser's Peerage in her blood and guts, the only thing left of her being her pelvis and legs that were now standing on their own without the rest of her body.

"Bam." Grendel's voice spoke before he flipped the blood-covered Riser off with his own blooded gauntlet that was once a fist. "You're dead, bitch."

*thud*

The topless torso then collapses onto the floor, causing the younger members of Riser's Peerage to scream in horror.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" the Evil Dragon of Wrath roared, prompting everyone to shut up as Takeshi's body got back up onto his feet, cracking his neck side to side. "... I'm not exactly the most articulate person, so I'll keep it as simple as possible: point any weapon, magic, or killing intent towards me, THEN ALL OF YOU BEST BE PREPARED TO DIE!"

Grayfia tries to intervene, but Grendel answers her by blasting all of his infectious rage into directly her mind, putting her into a neurotic fight-or-flight-paralysis state that forced her very being to keep herself together at all costs or succumb to the Evil Dragon's malicious influence that is now trying to drive her to kill Rias, something that she cannot allow, no matter what the cost.

"Don't underestimate me just because I lack my original body," warned Grendel as the maid sweated if she was in a sauna as she clutched her head in desperation. "Not even God can put me down permanently, so what hopes does a mere Devil have against me?"

Now Playing: "Spinnin' Around" by Takashi Hagino (From Kamen Rider Ryuki)

"I'm sick and tired of being denied my right."

A moment of clarity passes, allowing Grendel to then blast another wave of his infectious rage towards the Phenex Peerage, completely driving them murderously insane immediately.

"KILL THAT BASTARD!"

"ALL OF YOU! NOW DIE!"

All of the members of Riser's Peerage then all dogpiled towards Takeshi.

Grayfia then recovers her bearings, right as Re:Live then grabbed both sofas occupied with Koneko, Yuuto, Akeno, and Pandora before throwing all of them out of the nearest window as she then ran towards Rias before tackling her and herself out of the window behind her desk.

Once the maid have made her way out, she saw Re:Live grab both Riser and his sister, Ravel, by their hair before throwing them both out of the same hole where Grayfia had breached from, right before tackling them both down, pinning the two siblings onto the ground as they frothed and raged under the superhero's grip.

"LET GO OF ME!" Ravel thrashed and screeched in place, her eyes misty and face swelled with blood. "I'LL KILL HIM! I'LL FUCKING KILL HM!"

"UNHAND ME!" Riser howled as he chomped his teeth with every syllable he spoke, spitting foam everywhere. "THAT BASTARD NEEDS TO DIE!"

"How do we cure them of Grendel's madness?!" asked Grayfia.

"Let it pass," Re:Live answered. "Grendel's rage is only short term-"

*SHATTER!*

The masked lady's freshly-ripped head then tumbles along the broken glass from the window where she was thrown out of.

"You were saying?!" the maid pointed out.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch. I brought several vials of [Phoenix Tears] with me," the superhero revealed. "And not those crap sold on the public market. I mean those pure-concentrated ones that could bring back the recently-deceased. Straight from Lord Phenex himself. And at a discount to boot."

"How...?!" Grayfia asked, mentally noting that even one vial of the [Pure Phoenix Tear] is about a hundred times more expensive than the mass-production [Phoenix Tear] product that is sold in the Underworld's market (which then, are known to be quite pricey), that it was taken off sales due to diminishing returns/no one was buying that expensive crap.

Re:Live dismisses as they and everyone else outside who made it outside watched in horror as the entire ORC Building descended into pandemonium. "Whatever it takes to save the world."

Suddenly, both Riser and Ravel snap back to their senses, to which then they are released from the superhero's grip.

"What the Hell is happening?!" the girl asked.

"Your idiot brother talked shit," answered the superhero. "And now he's paying for it."

"HOLD ON A MINUTE! I DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Pandora cried out as she walked up towards Re:Live. "I THOUGHT TAKESHI HAD GRENDEL UNDER CONTROL! IT'S HOW HE SAVED MY LIFE IN THE FIRST PLACE!"

"He does," they answered as the inside of the manor exploded as the rest of the Gremory Peerage watched in shocked silence as more body parts rained from the sky. "... This is merely Phase Two."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'PHASE TWO'?!" Rias cried out, prompting everyone else to look towards Re:Live for answers while the rest of Riser's Peerage were being horrifically slaughtered by a pissed-off Evil Dragon embodying the sin of Wrath.

"The boy's rage has now reached a state where he can make it his own, denying Grendel's direct avenue of overriding his will," the superhero revealed. "In turn, Grendel now has tapped into his own natural fury to overwhelm him by force through superior output."

"So now what?!" Koneko asked. "Senpai's now Grendel's bitch?!"

"... Not quite." Re:Live then looked back towards the blazing manor that was the ORC Building, now with Takeshi dragging the mystic out of her gouged out eye sockets as the rest of her body was a charred mess of its former self.

"... Yubelluna!" Riser panicked.

"Got it all out of your system, Grendel?" Re:Live asked, to which Takeshi's hand then crushed the woman's upper skull as if it were like an overripe fruit.

"Not yet."

Then all of the thrusters flared up from his Sacred Gear.

"I STILL GOT A PUNCH SAVED FOR THE DAMNED CHICKEN!"

Enraged, Riser then charges towards the speeding Grendel, the latter ripping his heart out of his back with a single arm thrust before the former could even try anything.

"BROTHER!" Ravel cried out as Takeshi then tore out the organ before crushing it.

But rather than fall over dead, Riser simply laughs even though there's a gaping hole in his chest. "SO THAT'S WHAT THE EVIL DRAGON OF WRATH AMOUNTS TO?!" he boasted as the wound began to close on its own. "... Pathetic."

Instantaneously, Riser's excavated heart was grown back and restored, as if the attack had no effect on him.

"You cannot kill a phoenix, boy," he boasted. "My House is known for their signature trait, [Immortality]. Like my family's namesake, I rise after every fall, just like the immortal firebird! Only the ravages of time can even hope to claim us! No amount of arms or magic can ever destroy our perfect bodies!"

Grendel, rather than feeling angry, simply laughed. First a low chuckle, then it rose to a higher pitch, and then finally, he erupted into a rapturous, explosive howl of a laughter akin to thunder and volcanoes going off all at the same.

"FINALLY!" he cheered. "A PUNCHING BAG THAT DOESN'T BREAK AFTER ONE USE!"

Riser was immediately taken aback by the Evil Dragon's declaration. "... P-P-PUNCHING BAG?!"

Grendel then turns towards Grayfia, the latter being on guard as he pointed his finger at the maid. "I guess the brat has proven me wrong twice!" he declared with joy in his cackling voice. "Good things do come to those who wait!"

"... I swear on my life, monster. You will have to get past me if you wish to harm my Lady or her Peerage!" she declared, already wise of the Evil Dragon's implications behind his words. "Especially the boy you hold hostage!"

"Counting on it." Grendel then relinquishes his control back to his host, allowing the latter to look on in horror at what he'd done.

"... This mess is all my fault." He then collapsed onto his knees as he and everyone else saw the ORC Building burn.

"Re:Live planned for this to happen, allegedly," Pandora broke the news as the maid then ran past Takeshi, the latter looking at the superhero in shock. "... He says that it's 'Phase Two' of something."

"Help me find the bodies," Re:Live ordered as they and Grayfia went inside to search for the corpses left behind during Grendel's rampage.

"[Re:Create]," announced the superhero's belt. "[Hee-Hackgun]."

Re:Live then summons a fire extinguisher gun in their hands as they begin spraying the pressurized stream of foam to douse the Evil Dragon's flames while Grayfia scavenges the ruined manor for the bodies.

Once the flames died down, Re:Live and Grayfia both came out of the ruins, carrying the several mangled and mutilated bodies before laying them all down in a row.

"Hold on." Re:Live then conjures a magic circle to then summon a cardboard box full of concert t-shirts and bath towels. "Their clothes didn't survive the fire, after all."

"Hurry up and use the damned tears already," Grayfia growled as Re:Live then swiped down another keycard.

"[Re:Create]," announced the belt. "[Transteam Gun]."

As a small handgun-like device was summoned to Re:Live's hand, the superhero then pulls out a vial of red liquid before transmuting it into a cylindrical shape through a process resembling alchemy.

"[Phoenix]!" announced the [Transteam Gun] as the [Pure Phoenix Tear] vial was installed into the gun's loading port. "Mist Match! Fire!"

A reddish steam cloud was exhaled from the gun's barrel and all over the gathered corpses, causing them to regenerate from where they laid followed up by a cacophony of agonized screams as their bodies were restored back to full, albeit sans their clothes.

"Wakey-wakey, ladies," Re:Live spoke over their cries of pain as all of them felt their missing skin, muscle, and bone grow back. "Up and at 'em!"

After the slain Phenex Peerage members were successfully revived (and dressed), the two Peerages faced each other down awkwardly.

"So, uh..." Takeshi nervously remarked as he tried to make up for what he'd done, "... I'm sorry-"

"GET AWAY FROM US, YOU MONSTER!" Mira screeched as she and the rest of the Peerage hid behind Riser in fear, the latter looking utterly furious at the Evil Dragon User.

"... Mark my words, boy," he threatened. "... I've killed for less."

"Old news, so did we," Nidhogg bit back. "... You're nothing special, strákur. Your flames are tepid, your stelpur are weak, and your personality is nothing new."

"I'm looking forward to feeling my fists crush your face in over and over again, Mr. 'Immortal Punching Bag'," Grendel giggled in anticipation, causing Riser's face to pale upon that declaration. "... And you whores scream very nicely as you all burn while I dug my claws into your bodies. Looking forward to another fine bout."

"Which is why I will be training them," Re:Live revealed to literally everyone, much to their collective shock. "... Face it, Riser. You and your Peerage will all die facing the Gremory Peerage the way you are now. So to give everyone a fair shake, here's the schedule: the Ratings Game will be held on May 6th, Monday morning. Both sides will have one week to train up and prepare for the coming fight. And hopefully, by the time comes, the odds will be even enough to make it interesting enough for a spectator sport."

"Why are you doing this for us?" asked Rias. "This Rating Game, this 'wager'... what are you trying to get out of this?!"

"I'll tell you when you win, Gremory," answered Re:Live as they clicked their tally counter repeatedly until it read "16". "This is not just about the boy anymore. It's time for you Devils to show the whole world what you're really capable of."

"Again with the cryptic bullshit..." Koneko growled.

Akeno then looked at Grayfia with a disconcerting look. "... How much of all of this is planned?!"

"Honestly, the only missteps were the Evil Dragon User going on a rampage that killed 14 out of 16 of Sir Riser's Peerage and Re:Live electing to train said Peerage," Grayfia answered. "... Although I'm starting to think they deliberately left out that little detail on purpose."

"Seriously?" Yuuto sighed as he sucked his teeth.

"I get it now."

Everyone then looked towards Takeshi.

"... This is not just a test for just one of us," he answered. "This is a test meant to prove both our mettle. One side represents the Devil skirting and bending the rules through excessive action... and the other being the lacking and lazy Devil who does nothing but flaunt his powers that he was born with. And most of all..."

Takeshi then looked at his hand before balling it into a fist.

"... It's also a test to see if I can take on Grendel, now that he can't exploit me anymore," he answered, causing the Evil Dragon in question to growl in growing ire.

"Close enough." Re:Live then pulls out their phone before DMing everyone's' respective locations. "Grayfia, I'm saying this as both your friend and your fellow Ultimate-Class: push the entire Peerage to their absolute limit. Because I will be doing the same."

Grayfia sighs as she looks at the location of where their respective training camps will be held. "... Very well," she answered before putting her phone away. "And for the love of Satan, don't get them killed. Again."

"Pinky promise." Re:Live then pokes their finger into the empty space before emitting a ripple from the area. "... Training starts at 9:00 AM sharp, tomorrow. None of you better be late, because I know where all of you live. Oh and be sure to pack your bags for the whole week. You're gonna rough it in the wilderness."

Everyone gulps as Re:Live then enters the spatial ripple before disappearing. Once they have left, everyone finally sighs a relief to then do their last-minute trash talk.

"Killing my entire Peerage once over doesn't validate your superiority, Evil Dragon User," Riser growled. "It only proves my point."

"Exactly," Grendel snarled back. "It just shows how weak you all are. Don't disappoint me in the next round. I happen to enjoy taking time with my prey."

"You Devils clearly forgot the natural order of this world," Nidhogg warned. "True power is fear. Fear is power. I'll be more than happy to remind you all of that soon enough. For I am a very good teacher."

"... I don't fear you Evil Dragons as much as that boy rightfully does," Riser declared with a forced sneer. "... You know, I heard an old adage from your country. They say that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Keep that in mind going forward, boy."

"Don't tell me what I already know, you fuckboy," Takeshi snarled back as the two Devils stared each other down. "... Careful, this nail's rusty."

Riser blinks at that sudden shift in metaphor. "... What?"

"I hope that you get gonorrhea," Takeshi clarified before flipping him off right before his face.

"Alright, that is enough trash talking," Grayfia intervenes, separating the two. "Everyone, rest up for today for tomorrow."

"That's nice and all, but I have a question," Ravel said as she raised her hand. "... How are we supposed to go home when the magic circle we teleported from is destroyed?"

Just before the maid could answer, her phone vibrated. "... It's from Re:Live," she answered before reading the DM. "... They said that they have someone who'll fix the building."

"Who exactly?" asked Akeno.

"WASSUP, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!"

Everyone looks up to find a giant paper airplane carrying a bikuni nun wearing a tengai hat over her head waves at them from the sky.

"Chiha?!" Rias cried out.

"Who?" Pandora remarked.

"Re:Live's ally and possibly agent," Takeshi answered. "We first met her while you were getting your eye implants. Dunno how she made a paper airplane that big. Or how she got it to fly in the first place."

"Ah, I remember now." The ex-Calamity Witch remarked as the secular nun lands between the two Peerages and the maid present.

"Whoa, that's a fucked up building if I ever saw one!" Chiha remarked as she walked towards the building. "Don't worry though! It's just a little fixer-upper. Nothing I can't deal with, fo sho."

She then produces a mallet from her sleeve, causing both Mira and the kimono-wearing Devil to recognize it.

"That's...!" the kimono-wearing girl gasped. "... That's Daikokuten's mallet, the [Uchide no Kozuchi]!"

Mira's eyes widened upon that reveal. "Are you serious, Mihae-neesama?!"

"Pulling Ultimate-Class Sacred Gears out your arse..." Grayfia pinched the bridge of her nose. "... You are incorrigible, Re:Live."

"Hup!" With a single swing of her hammer, Chiha then produces a whole swarm of mice all dressed in Japanese workers' kimono and sarashi wraps around their furry bodies as they all tied their rope hachimaki around their heads before raising their construction tools in their tiny little hands into the air. "Alright, boys and girls! Let's git 'er done!"

"... I think we'll take our leave," Rias suggested as the mice began their reconstruction. "... Takeshi, can we all crash at your place tonight?"

"What movies do you guys want to watch?" he replied. "I got a few DVDs at home."

"And Grayfia," Rias continued. "Can you pack my clothes for me as soon as you get home? Preferably something practical and easy to move in and enough for a whole week?"

"Of course," Grayfia answered as the Gremory Peerage left the area while the Phenex Peerage was forced to wait for their way back home to be repaired.

"... I can't lie, Lord Riser," Yubelluna spoke as she struggled in her t-shirt. "Those mice are actually cute."

Riser tried to protest but he couldn't find himself hating those diligent yet cute creatures that raise the manor back up towards its first story in less than an hour. "... Dammit, you're right."

As a consolation prize for having to die at the hands of Grendel before coming back to life (painfully), the rest of the Phenex Peerage got some form of therapy via watching Daikokuten's mice work their butts off before they got to leave.

To Be Continued...

And with that comes the end of the reboot's "Chapter 16."

A lot of context was changed, mainly the circumstances around the Ratings Game.

One, Re:Live's appeal made the game official, meaning that promotion is up for grabs.

Two, Riser Phenex gets something to lose should he be defeated besides his pride and Rias' hand in marriage, that being his noble title and inheritance.

And three, the training day is shortened to a week rather than ten full days, meaning that everyone now has to put in the effort to actually train up and not waste a single day.

As for why Takeshi's not being raked over the coals for... well, KILLING A MAJORITY OF THE PHENEX PEERAGE (before Re:Live revives them with a purer concentrate of the [Phoenix Tear] dispersed through the [Transteam Gun]) is due to Re:Live covering for them legally. But that relationship is a two-way street. Re:Live will grant them legal protection, but in exchange, they'll put the Gremory Peerage through nothing short of HELL to make them stronger.

In layman's terms, Re:Live has no time for political bullshit, and for those saying otherwise, they've been doing that ever since Takeshi joined ORC/the messing up the meeting schedule to make it digital for starters. They'll just strong-arm their way through the middleman process, and given that they're now confirmed to be an Ultimate-Class and on speaking terms with Grayfia to the point where the latter is listening to the former... more on that in a bit.

Moving on from that, Pandora's now attending Kuoh Academy, albeit pretending to be a blind student until next semester so no one can creep on her as the original fic's iteration. That and she needs an excuse to keep her Charm under wraps while she learns how to control them.

After that, I adapted parts of the original fic's Chapter 10 date with Akeno for Pandora's clothes shopping. Unlike the original fic, Takeshi's waiting outside due to being the girls' pack mule, which then gives him a perfect opportunity to interact with the rest of the fractured Pervert Trio... and they're not doing too great, with Naoto outing himself as a probable incel in public and Eiji's left to clean up the mess.

I noticed that in the original DxD, that even after Issei joins ORC, he was the sole glue that kept the trio together. Now with him dejected and in need of reflection... the group is going through a "rough patch" and we'll just leave it at that.

Moving onto lighter topics, Aika revealed herself to be a pro wrestler by manhandling all the boys who declared that they have "standards." Remember, she may be a degenerate, but she does not tolerate double standards. If she's perving, she fully expects to be perved on sooner rather than later (and explain why she sort of respects Naoto despite his horrible personality, but not enough to spare him from an Argentine Backbreaker).

And now, Pandora's own hard knocks of taking on Peerage commissions, starting with another canon DxD reference, Susan!

I gave her background some add-ons, in that she's specifically from Boston, Massachusetts, she's studying at Shizuoka University's Department of Social and Human Studies, and her reason of becoming a weeaboo is that she discovered that William Adams/Miura Anjin (aka, the first Englishman to reach Japan) is her direct ancestor, hence her surname being Adams.

As for Horii, I gave him the name "Yamato" just for the sheer irony of a man with the most Japanese-sounding name to be a total westaboo. And he speaks in poor (read: mine) archaic English like if he's from an old European Knight-tale. Really, he and Susan were made for each other.

And of course, Mii-tan's journey to become a Magical Girl and Morisawa's doujinshi pages are still continuing, with Pandora providing commentary, and her slightly anti-LGBT comments coming from the fact that she's not used to the modern world yet (but compared to Nidhogg, she's miles ahead, which really isn't saying much for the latter), and her discovering "culture" being her introduction to help Takeshi out with his job... sort of.

Finally, this chapter's crossover cameo is none other than Kawabata Tsuyoshi from TSUYOSHI - The One Who No One Can Win Against. Basically, the manga is One Punch Man, but more grounded seinen (but definitely not Holyland, another great manga series about martial arts/street fighting), and the sheer absurdity of the characters' motivations to fight the MC borders on inane.

Anyway: here's the fancast:

- Kawabata Tsuyoshi: Daisuke Sakaguchi (JPN) and Max Mittelman (ENG)

But now the main crux of this chapter: Grendel.

Now that Takeshi sort of understands how to prevent Grendel for using his anger as a jumping off point, the latter is now PISSED.

All of those blue-balling throughout the whole week with the commissions, right down to being unable to fight Tsuyoshi and Grayfia, of course he had to let it explode at the last minute, with Mira being his first victim, and Grayfia herself being not immune to Grendel's infectious rage to the point where she was rendered immobile. Grendel's far from the smartest, but he knows how to use his seemingly-useless powers VERY WELL. That and inflicting infectious rage to others is such an esoteric method that normally, people wouldn't bother making defenses for it (and a nod to most JRPGs where the [Rage/Berserk] status is effectively useless for everyone).

Those concert t-shirts that the Phenex Peerage got might as well say "I survived getting punched by Grendel and all I got was this lame t-shirt."

And of course, being the utter psycho that he is, he considers Riser's [Immortality] trait not as a deterrent, but as an opportunity to get his hands on an "Immortal Punching Bag." Just because one cannot die doesn't mean they're exempt from feeling pain.

All the more reason why Re:Live is training the Phenex Peerage (that and to give everyone a fair shake).

And with that, that's all for this chapter! Tune in next time as both Peerages go through their own "Training from Hell"-arc. Everyone's getting their fair shake. May the Satans help them, for God can no longer hear them.

Addendum Note (30th of October, 2024): replaced "Sunday" with "Monday" during the Rating Game announcement. My eyes betray me at the worst of times.