Disclaimer: I own nothing related to this project.

A/N: Ugh… try number 2 at telling this story. I'm telling you guys, this is not the best way I can handle this. Normally, I'd be doing something else right about now, but there's just no way I can let this die out like it had before. I mean, the last time I tried working on this story, it was back in 2021… at least, based on the progress I made for it on Questionable Questing, where I'm starting this story over again on.

Anyway, nothing new with the content I have here, other than some grammar fixes and a bit at the end after Issei's POV segment. I hope this doesn't become a problem going forward.

Okay, time to get this show on the road, everyone. When I upload this chapter, I plan to have the next one ready to upload as well. Thanks for hearing me out, at least.

Can't Escape From Crossing Fate! Fight!

Demon King? Or Harem King?
by Xamusel

Prologue: Life's Ups and Downs

"Issei, what are your plans for after school today?"

I sighed when I heard that question. "I was planning on heading home today, Motohama," I answered. "I mean, yeah, I'd like to stick around afterward, but that's not exactly conducive to my health being good."

Before I could hear the inevitable outcries of shock from my female classmates, I heard the voice of my other friend, Matsuda, cut through the silence that my prior statements had made. "Did you get a new set of videos lately?"

"What are you… no, I didn't get a new set of videos, Matsuda!" I couldn't help the snarl in my voice as I answered him.

This made my female classmates even more shocked. Not that I blame them, though… given the situation I had to deal with when I got home, I wasn't at liberty to spend time with my pals for much longer. I need to prevent the situation from worsening, though… how do I do it, anyway? Oh, right, I got an idea.

"Sorry, guys, I should've told you sooner…" I gave off a groan when I finished that statement. "My parents are planning to move to Okinawa, of all places. My dad's job requires a new manager in the branch there, and he got a promotion to be manager."

"Damn, man," Motohama told me. "I feel sorry for you, having to move away to Okinawa. Well, at least it's still part of the country."

"Yeah, Issei," Matsuda placed a hand on my shoulder. "At the very least, you get to do something none of us in Kuoh have ever done, and that is visit a truly gorgeous island chain."

I considered what was being said. "Hey, guys, you're right. Thanks for cheering me up, Matsuda, Motohama," I said. I gave the two of them a small smile, something to show my appreciation.

"Aww, don't mention it, Issei," Motohama replied. "Anyway, hopefully you can come back later, to share what you've done with us. We'd love the story you can share… right, everyone?"

"Damn straight!" Matsuda exclaimed. "We'll give Issei the time of day he deserves for this story."

With that, everyone in the classroom began chiming in, expressing their desire to hear my stories more often. Huh… didn't expect that to happen.

Eventually, the school day ended, and I walked on my way home. What I had said was the truth, but I had my doubts about the trip. True, I can't go against my parents' wishes, no matter how much I want to, but I couldn't help but feel something wrong about this mess. I don't have any concrete proof, though, but the feeling was gnawing at me like a dog at a bone.

What am I supposed to do, though? I can't skip out on the flight to Okinawa, nor can I convince my parents that this was a bad idea from the onset without getting proof. How do I get this proof, anyway?

With all those thoughts in mind, I made it to the bridge that I needed to cross on the way home, before I stopped at the end nearest to home. I was getting ridiculously tired of this hubbub going around. What am I supposed to do? I can't just call my dad's boss and confirm my suspicions. Can I?

Wait… why didn't I think of that sooner?

With a spring to my step, I head on my way back home, kicking at something really clunky in the process—hold up, what did I just kick?

I bent down to pick up what I kicked, seeing some sort of watch that I had never seen in my life until now, only it's perfectly blank. I pick it up off the ground, before I look at it more carefully. It might seem like it's perfectly blank at first glance, but it seems to have the year 2018 inscribed on the face. It sure looks strange, that's for sure, but what am I supposed to do with this thing? Throw it away? I might want to return it to its owner.

With a nod to myself, I stood back up, making sure to head back home —

TIME MAZINE!

…what was that?

Looking up into the sky, I saw what had to be a gray robot of some sort falling towards the path in front of me, almost as if it was going to land face first. Upon reaching the ground, however, it landed on its feet. I don't know how it did it, though, but I'd like to find out later. When it landed, it turned to face me, before a girl's voice called out from it… wait, hold up, what?

"Get in!" the robot seemed to tell me… wait, that's not a regular robot, that's a mecha! Of course… hold the phone!

"Why? Is there someone trying to kill me right now?" I looked around for any sign of trouble, on the off-chance I actually needed to get in the robot.

"Yes!" The robot lowered a hand to let me get in. "A certain psycho I'm forced to call a partner is on the warpath to kill you before you become a threat to humanity in the future!"

As I stepped on the hand, I blinked a few times. "Wait, what's going on?"

"You see—"

I heard someone coughing into their hand behind me. "Excuse me, but are you Hyoudou Issei-kun?"

Blinking at the sound of a second girl trying to talk with me, I turned to see a girl with the build of a swimsuit model and hair as dark as midnight. I was too far away to see her eyes clearly, though, so no comment. As for her outfit, well… it was a school uniform that I didn't recognize as being part of the local uniforms. Mostly burgundy in color, even the skirt was that color.

With all of that said… "I am, yes," I answered. "Why?"

"I love you!" the second girl said. "Please go out with me!"

That… made me feel conflicted inside. On the one hand, if I did go out with this girl, I might end up on the chopping block of whoever wants me dead. On the other hand, if I went with the girl in the robot, I might not have a girlfriend in my entire life… what gives?

That said, I had to come to a decision quickly before this psycho of a partner for the girl in the robot came knocking. I decided to take the girl with me as I got in the robot. Of course… I need to know if this is even a good idea.

Turning my attention to the mecha, I asked, "Is there room for one more person to come in?"

The girl behind me seemed to be the smart sort because she let out an intelligent "eh?" in reply to my asking the pilot a question.

"Yes, there's room, but—oh… I see where this is going," the pilot answered. "Very well, but she needs to be swift about it."

I nod, before turning to the girl again. "C'mon, we need to get in," I said. "Please come over here."

"Wait, wait, wait," the girl began, waving her hands in front of her. "How are we supposed to get in that to begin with? I don't see an opening anywhere—"

At that point, the chest portion of the robot opened up, revealing the pilot to us. "Does this answer your question?" she asked.

"Y-yeah, it does…" the girl who said she loved me said. She then walked over to me, getting on the robot's hand with me. "I'm just shocked that this sort of thing is going on…"

"You and me, both," I said, the robot's hand lifting to take us into the cockpit. After we got into the cockpit, the hatch closed, and I felt the urge to ask the pilot, a girl around my age, a major question. "Who are you?"

"Introductions later," the pilot answered, fiddling with a hard light panel that appeared in front of her… wait, what am I seeing? "Grab onto something, both of you!"

"Huh?" both myself and the girl crushing on me asked as one.

The robot seemed to shift into a different mode at that point in time, because we seemed to rush into the air and through… a tunnel? "Temporal displacement system, activate!"

And, just like that, my life changed for good… but whether it was for the better or worse, I couldn't tell you, because I still needed the info figured out.

Seventeen Months Later…

"Where the hell is Ohma Zi-O as a teenager?!" a young man in a red, yellow, and black robot snarled as he tried to find Issei in the greater Tokyo city limits. "According to the public records, he's supposed to be in this city by now!" A message indicator pinged on the console in front of him. "Who's contacting me…?" He accepted the message. "Yes?"

"Geiz, the Time Jackers are causing trouble in the year 2018," one of the now identified Geiz's superior officers informed him. "They seem to be gathering in Sapporo, which is completely out of their normal range of activities…"

"The Time Jackers are in Sapporo?!" Geiz exclaimed. "I'll remove them, then continue the plan to kill Ohma Zi-O right away!"

"Alright, Geiz," the superior officer replied. "Be careful on this mission." With that, the comm cut off.

"Okay… here we go, one trip to Sapporo coming up," Geiz said, breathing in and out. "Here's hoping that the Time Jackers don't succeed while I'm on my way there."

As he flew his robot over to Sapporo, he failed to notice a space ship in orbit above the Earth, which had appeared there while he was in communication with his superior…

A/N: FINISH!

Okay, this was not my brightest idea, but it's hard for me to get things worked out the right way. I started redoing this story even slightly on the second to last day of the year 2024, but there's hardly any way I can leave well enough alone. Of course, there's going to be a massive amount of trouble for me, especially since I started this in the last few hours of the day before midnight.

Why am I doing this, exactly? Ugh…

Well, no use crying over spilled milk. I'd better make the most of it. For the record, though, I plan to make a fair amount of work happen about this while I'm off the clock from my day job.

What do I do for a day job? I'm a janitor. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but it pays the bills.

So… let's talk in the next chapter about how things are going, shall we? I would appreciate reviews here, too.

Until We Meet Again… Farewell.
~Xamusel

PS: No, I'm not going to abandon any of my writing, but I'm also not going to add more to my plate as it stands. I have a commission I'm working on for someone, and that's going to take up a lot of my time and energy going forward. When I update this will be anyone's guess. Sorry to do this to you all, but it's the truth.