Edited by: Priapus

– Ichiban –

Stepping out of the taxi, he paused before the towering Torii gate, its vibrant red contrasting with the muted urban landscape. The not-so-fresh air of Kamurocho—tinged with street food and exhaust—filled his lungs. He had almost forgotten what it was like here.

This was not how he'd expected his day to go. He'd expected a short conversation with Arakawa, and that was it.

I can't believe I'm back here again. He thought to himself.

So this is your home town? Ddraig asked, his tone curious. I expected something more… rural.

Oh, I wish it was. The countryside sounds like heaven compared to Kamurocho. Ichiban couldn't help but sigh. This shithole is the farthest thing from that.

Hmm… His partner sounded curious. You don't sound too pleased about this place. Do you hate it?

I have almost nothing but bad memories here. Ichiban responded. They call it the armpit of Japan for a reason.

How vulgar. The Red Dragon Emperor snorted, finding the nickname amusing.

And honestly, it was fully warranted. Granted, it was popular. It was the nightlife capital of the country. A red-light district nearly in its entirety, filled with nightclubs, hostess and host clubs, several bars and porn stores, and soaplands. Spending a single night here would surely alleviate most of your stress. Considering the country's work environment, no wonder Kamurocho was popular.

By day, Kamurocho appeared dull and lifeless, but the district burst into vibrant life as night descended. Neon lights flooded the streets, casting a striking spectrum of colors and filling the air with a thrilling energy that transforms the area into an exhilarating playground.

But it was mostly for adults.

And besides those artificial 'benefits', compared to most of Japan, this town was incredibly dangerous for the average person. Drug dealers, human traffickers, weapon smugglers, gangsters, and delinquents in every corner— the fact that Ichiban had made it this long while living here was a miracle.

Then again, it had also taught him how to defend himself. Getting into several fights with the locals every single day was exactly what had made him toughen up back then. Nothing compared to now, of course, but he did have a long winning streak at the time. Around 100ish fights won in a row? Or something like that.

…But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel some sense of comfort. He added.

"Been a while, hasn't it?" Masumi Arakawa said, stepping next to Ichiban.

"Heh. Yeah. Feels like years. I almost didn't recognize it." Ichiban chuckled, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips. "But it's been barely two or three months."

"You've been through a lot in Kuoh." His boss said, patting him on the back. "It's only natural you'd feel this way."

"I guess you're right." Ichiban nodded. "When I went there, I never thought I'd be dragged into a fight with a crazy fallen angel or befriend a giant dragon."

We're not friends. Ddraig pointed out. Just partners.

That's just another way of saying friends.

Ddraig didn't verbally respond to that, deciding to growl as a way to show his dissatisfaction. But he could whine all he wanted. That wasn't going to stop Ichiban from treating him like a friend. He would grow to accept it eventually.

No, I won't.

You will.

"Do you find Kuoh to be crazier than Kamurocho?" Arakawa asked.

"Oh, hell no." Ichiban shook his head. "Not in a million years. I mean, Kuoh is crazy, not gonna try to deny it, but Kamurocho's brand of insanity is unmatched. Even before I was born. Remember when the Millennium Tower blew up, and money suddenly started raining? I was four at the time, but I still remember it perfectly. Or that time when some lunatic rammed his truck into Shangri-La."

He thanked his lucky stars that he wasn't there when it happened. A toddler living in a brothel was already problematic enough. He did not need to go through a highly traumatic experience on top of that.

"Haha, that's very true," His boss laughed. "Those were crazy times."

There used to be at least one historical event per year happening in this godforsaken town, and none of them were good. So, on top of the constant and various illegal practices and gangsters infesting Kamurocho, it was also Fate's favorite punching bag.

Things had calmed down in recent years, though, specifically after all the bad actors and terrible people from the Tojo clan had been killed or kicked out. It took a while before Daigo had successfully reformed the yakuza to be less yakuza and more Japan's supernatural military force.

"Though, I don't understand why you brought me here with you," Ichiban said, rubbing his neck. "I mean, I'm not complaining. Visiting home occasionally is fine, and I want to say hi to some of the friends I left behind. But I thought you just wanted to talk?"

For a moment, Arakawa didn't say anything. He remained quiet, his soft smile never dropping as he started to walk.

"Let's go to my office first." He said. "I'll explain everything there."

"Oh, okay." Ichiban blinked, following after his boss.

He wanted to ask more, feeling very curious, but he remained patient. He didn't want to bother and annoy Arakawa with questions he'd have answered sooner or later anyway. But it had to be important if he couldn't tell him in Kuoh.

Something about this made Ichiban increasingly nervous. He hadn't done anything wrong, did he? He didn't remember anything of the sort. Was it because of his performance at the finals? Perhaps his failure to rescue Akane during the invasion? Or is it because… they knew what he did with her last night?

The feeling of dread began to grow at a rapid pace. He'd made a mistake, didn't he? By sleeping with her, of all people, the Tojo Clan princess, while he was nothing more than an errand boy who wasn't even qualified to be part of any family yet. Oh, he'd fucked up big time. They were going to gut him and throw his carcass into the river.

B-but Arakawa-san wouldn't do that. He stared at his boss. …Right?

Then again, wasn't he called 'Arakawa the Assassin' during his prime? Was Ichiban being assassinated?

Oh, fuck me. I'm actually dead, aren't I? Ichiban started to panic. I'm walking to my death right now.

Calm yourself, partner. You're not in any danger. Ddraig said. At most, they're going to punish you. They would never willingly lose someone of your caliber.

Ah… Yeah, you're right. Ichiban agreed. I mean, it's not like Arakawa-san would ever kill me. He's not that type of person.

But being punished didn't sound like all that fun, either. What was he supposed to do about this anyway? It wasn't like he was the one who had initiated it that night. She had. And now he was being punished for it? Didn't that sound unfair?

And even after everything is said and done, was he supposed to just… break up with her? Being a nobody and all, he could understand where the clan was coming from, but Ichiban had to admit he wasn't willing to go through with that. Because besides him wanting to continue their relationship, wouldn't it make him look like a scumbag?

What else would you call someone who says all those intimate things to a woman just to have sex before running away? A total scumbag. No way around it.

Wait— I'm getting ahead of myself right now. He took a deep breath. If I was being punished, why would Arakawa do it? Why not the yakuza stationed in Kuoh?

If they needed to punish him for something as big as sleeping with the daughter of a legendary yakuza, then choosing Arakawa to do it didn't make a lot of sense. Majima and Saejima were there in Kuoh, too. Why have the patriarch that's in Kamurocho do it instead? It wasn't like Arakawa had any connections to Akane or her dad, as far as Ichiban knew.

Maybe I'm just overthinking… Ichiban thought again, feeling calmer.

"What's wrong?" Arakawa suddenly asked, making him flinch. "You look nervous."

"Er, no…" He chuckled awkwardly. "It's just… I'm not in any trouble, am I?"

"Haha, you're worried about that? No, not at all." His boss shook his head as they arrived at the office. "On the contrary, it's a happy occasion."

Arakawa swung open the door and stepped inside, with Ichiban trailing closely behind him. The office was nothing to write home about, both in its exterior and interior design. Nestled right above a bustling bar, its only entrance was a narrow pathway through the dimly-lit alley that served as an entry point.

Inside, the office was comprised of three rooms. The general office, intended for the family's use, felt particularly cramped; it was one of the smallest spaces imaginable, incapable of hosting more than five people. On one side was a small restroom, and on the other was Arakawa's personal room, where their boss would do his work.

Despite his stature as a legend in the Tojo clan, Masumi Arakawa was pretty modest. Most family patriarchs had much larger buildings solely dedicated to them, but because of how small the Arakawa family was, their boss insisted on something less extravagant.

"It is?"

"After seeing the report of the invasion and watching your performance in the tournament finals?" Arakawa pointed out. "You made a name for yourself, you know? Even in the clan, other patriarchs are talking about you."

Ichiban felt a little embarrassed. If he'd known Arakawa was going to be watching the finals, he would've tried to do even better. Despite being praised, he couldn't help but feel like he's disappointed his boss. Though, he knew it was not true.

"Welcome home, oyabun."

Ichi paused as he saw the family's captain, Sawashiro, stand before their boss with his head bowed in respect. The captain caught Ichi's gaze and responded with a silent glare, which made Ichiban frown slightly.

Now, after his countless hours of training in Kuoh, Ichi could tell just how strong the captain was. He knew that Sawashiro was no pushover, but he didn't think he'd be so powerful. He was confident in himself, but he didn't think he'd be able to defeat him without his Balance Breaker.

That's like… ultimate class, I think? He thought to himself. He honestly didn't know how these rankings worked. And I don't think he has a Sacred Gear either…

Hmph. He's not bad, but you're superior. Ddraig butted in. Even with the knowledge of your subspecies, I doubt he'd stand a chance.

That was true. Admittedly, after hanging out with the monsters of the Tojo clan, such as Majima, Saejima, and even Akane, to some extent, Ichi wasn't as intimidated by him as he used to be.

"…Ichi." Sawashiro nodded in acknowledgment.

"Sawashiro-san." Ichiban nodded back respectfully. "It's been a while."

"It has." He agreed, then looked at their boss after a pause. "Excuse me."

"Good luck," Arakawa responded. "Send me a message when you land."

Ichiban blinked. He had no idea what they were talking about.

"Naturally." The captain said with another bow. With that, Sawashiro left the office, leaving Ichiban alone with Arakawa.

"What was that about?" He quickly asked. "Where is he going?"

"Don't worry about it. It's just a quick job outside the country." His boss shook his head before he led his subordinate to his personal office. "Take a seat there."

His personal office was pretty simple. The modestly sized room had a sturdy wooden desk opposite the door, paired with a cushy chair. Shelves lined the walls, holding organized books and personal mementos. In the center, a coffee table sat between two couches, creating a small meeting space. Meanwhile, a few plant pots were placed in the corners for simple decoration.

"Okay." Ichi sat on the couch. "So, um, what's going on?"

Arakawa remained silent as he reached under the desk for something. Ichiban sat quietly, not wishing to irritate his boss with excessive questions, but soon felt a sharp intake of breath as he observed the older man pull out a sake bottle and a cup, then move to take a seat on the couch across from him.

"T-this is…" Ichiban couldn't believe it.

He knew what this was. As a massive fanboy of yakuza culture, he read about their traditions all the time.

"From the look on your face, I guess you already know what this is, huh?" Arakawa smiled. "And here I thought I could surprise you. I should've known."

"B-but sir, I-I– Isn't this too sudden?" Ichiban asked. "I-I mean, I thought… I wasn't ready yet. You said you'll do it once I'm done with high school at least, but I haven't even finished my second year yet…"

Arakawa's gentle smile dropped, his expression suddenly turning almost melancholic. It was as if he wanted to change his mind, take the bottle and cup away, and tell Ichiban to leave and forget that this had ever happened.

He may not have said anything, but that look held so much sorrow, guilt, and even fear in it that it confused Ichiban greatly. Did he say something wrong? Was he being rude? He didn't know. He didn't understand what was going on.

"I-I'm not trying to sound ungrateful—"

"It's okay, Ichi. I understand." He nodded. "To be honest with you, I never wanted you to join the family. Or the yakuza."

The confession shook Ichiban to the core, but at the same time, he should've expected this. It made sense. He'd been given a mission, one he clearly didn't take seriously if his performance was anything to go by.

He remained quiet for a moment.

"…Did you think I wasn't cut out for it?" Ichiban asked.

His question made Arakawa hesitate, but before he could respond, Ichi continued.

"I get it," Ichiban said. "I'm not the brightest person around, and I always get into trouble. I… was never really useful to you, was I?"

"Ichi…"

"I-I mean, even when you sent me to Kuoh as an undercover bodyguard for Akane, I… let her get hurt too many times. She almost got kidnapped because I wasn't good enough." He added. "Even though I should've been by her side all the time, I failed my only job. A job that you gave me."

His mind was racing— going through all the times that his weakness nearly got the one he loved killed. Kokabiel, Diodora, and Shalba. Each time, he was helpless, and they almost always got away through sheer luck. Without that, his friends would've died several times over.

Arakawa looked like he didn't know what to say.

"It hurts knowing I can never meet your expectations. Not when I'm this pathetic." He said quietly, feeling his throat closing up. "A failure like me should never even be in your presence. I don't want to join because you felt pity for me."

Ichiban didn't know where this was coming from. It seemed as if the lid he had tightly sealed over his insecurities and fears of disappointing his role model had shattered, releasing a rush of anxious thoughts that overwhelmed him and exposed a vulnerability he'd thought he had buried.

It was petrifying, to say the least. Saying all of this in front of Arakawa of all people.

"You were right. I'm not… cut out to be by your side." He tried to keep his tears in check, lowering his head. "If I can't even protect the person closest to me, how can I protect someone like you? I'll just be a liability…"

It made him feel like a hypocrite. All those times saying that sometimes, things can't be helped. Saying how they couldn't just deny the fate they were dealt and have to move on and learn from their mistakes, even if a tiny part of him agreed with Akane.

Despite him knowing she was wrong, knowing that the perfection she desired couldn't be achieved. But if there was even the slightest merit in her words, then was he wrong? Was he just being complacent and weak, trying to excuse his own failings?

"…Thank you for the offer," Ichiban muttered. "But I can't. I haven't earned it yet."

Aren't you being too harsh on yourself, partner? Ddraig questioned.

Ichiban didn't respond, making him snort.

Suit yourself.

For a moment, Arakawa didn't say anything, but then he sighed deeply.

"When did you become so cynical, Ichiban?" He shook his head. "That's not why I didn't want you to be a yakuza."

Ichiban looked back at his boss.

"I don't think you're pathetic, Ichi. You're not weak or a failure." He said, his gentle smile returning. "You're just too good to be one."

This made him pause.

"W-what?"

"The thing is, the Tojo Clan isn't something you should be idolizing. Not when it's built on many innocent lives— countless crushed hopes and dreams." He continued vaguely. "Someone like you, who's so honest and kind, shouldn't be a cutthroat yakuza. You're better than that. Better than the entire clan combined."

Ichiban didn't say anything, waiting for his boss to finish, who paused for a moment.

"There's a second reason I sent you to Kuoh, you know? I wanted you to get attached to the friends you make there." He revealed. "Amamiya, the devils, and everyone else. Your loyalty should be to them, not to someone who doesn't deserve it."

"You DO deserve it!" Ichi vehemently disagreed, standing up. "You saved my life! You taught me so much and treated a street rat like me so kindly! And above all, you've given me a reason and purpose for living! What kind of a man would I be if I just left you without repaying anything?!"

"And that was my mistake, wasn't it? Maybe I should've tried pushing you harder." He responded softly. "But that's not fair to say, is it?"

"...What do you mean?"

"I don't want to reject your experiences and feelings, Ichiban. Rejecting the path you wish to take isn't right of me." He explained. "This is why I've decided to take you in. I want to walk this path with you and help as much as I can. I can't for the life of me deny you your purpose."

"…Even though I keep failing?" Ichiban sat back down.

"You will keep failing. Over and over. For the rest of your life." Arakawa said, taking the sake bottle and pouring some into the cup. "But like you always do, you'll climb back up. Even if you hit rock bottom, you'll claw your way back to the light. As many times as it takes."

Ichiban remained silent.

"That's just the kind of person you are." He added, setting the bottle aside. "You're too stupid to give up."

Ichiban couldn't help but feel a smile tugging at his lips.

"And it makes me very proud of you."

Ichiban felt like time stopped when he heard those words. A wave of emotions hit him all at once, overwhelming everything else. His heart raced in his chest as if trying to escape the intensity of the moment. He could hardly believe what he had just heard.

He realized that the man he admired most in the world, someone he respected deeply, had just said he was proud of him. That simple statement lit a fire in Ichiban, pushing away the shadows of his past failures and doubts. At that moment, he felt a strong sense of belonging, as if all the struggles he had been through mattered.

"Hah…" Ichiban lowered his head, feeling the tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. "Damn it…"

Crying in front of his role model was embarrassing, but it didn't seem to bother Arakawa as he chuckled, taking the sake-filled cup and sipping from it.

"Welcome to the Arakawa Family, Ichiban Kasuga." He said, handing him the cup. "Officially, this time."

"Thank you, boss." He nodded after wiping his tears, taking the cup, and drinking its contents. "I promise I'll do my best no matter what."

"Haha, that's the Ichiban I know," Arakawa responded before standing up after finishing his sake. "Now that's over, do you want to take a walk with me? I want to hear all about your adventures in Kuoh. And don't worry, I have already spoken to your school and told them everything."

"Yessir!" Ichiban saluted. "It'll be my honor."

"Relax. You don't have to treat me like this, you know? I'm not some king."

"Maybe not literally, but you are like a king to me."

Arakawa only sighed in exasperation but decided not to argue as they left the office.

I'll prove that I'm worthy. Ichi thought to himself as he followed his boss. I swear it.

You better. Ddraig muttered. I'll be watching you. You don't want to disappoint me.

I'll make you proud, too, Ddraig. I'll be the best and strongest Red Dragon Emperor in history. Ichiban vowed. Just watch me.

Heh. I am looking forward to it.

With newfound resolve burning in his eyes, that was a promise he wouldn't ever break.

– Akane –

"Hawaii, huh?" Rias hums, picking up a raygun I had made ages ago and twirling it around. "That sounds so nice~"

"Stop playing with that thing and put it down, Rias." Sona chastises the redhead, who rolls her eyes. "I imagine Hawaii would be packed during summer vacation, though."

"Probably. But anywhere worth visiting would be packed during vacation. It's vacation." I shrug, using the blowtorch to work on my new armor. "Besides, people with my kind of wealth have VIP status anywhere they go. I'll be fine."

Plus anyone who comes with me. Even if I bring Ichi, Asia, Issei, and all the devils using my own money, it wouldn't put a dent in my wallet. Really, being a billionaire is just cheating in life. Adding my talent, power, and beauty into the equation, and I might really be the chosen one.

I love being me. It's the best.

And as long as Majima agrees to what I asked of him earlier today, we should be good to do anything we want there. Hopefully. I would've asked my mother, but not even she's irresponsible enough to go with it. The Mad Dog, though? When I told him, he thought it was the funniest shit ever.

Here's hoping he gets those forged IDs before we leave. But the flight is in two weeks, so it should be fine.

"I suppose that's true…" Sona mutters, looking around my garage and seeing dozens of inventions lying about. Most of them are of the deadly variety. "There are so many things… No wonder your attendance in school is less than adequate."

I mean, attendance isn't really that important. As long as I ace the exams, I should get top of the class. That will complete my quest at school and rid me of any reasons to continue my "education" there. This means a lot more free time. And time is precious. Verily so.

I've been getting a bunch of ideas on how to improve my tech. Or rather, how to improve Nemesis especially. Creating the AI was a fantastic idea for sure, but I haven't really utilized him to his full potential.

Granted, he's still basically a baby since I just made him a month or so ago, but I feel like I can do so much more with him. Starting with creating a robot body for him to pilot. Letting him control my armor is cool and all, but creating some kind of 'backup' in case I'm cornered would probably help.

Mostly, I got thinking about it when Shalba took me to that gap subspace. I had Excelsis to save me that time, but using Excelsis is a risk in itself because of how it affects me mentally and physically. I need more layers of protection. After all, the sword needs to be my last resort.

Now that I have used it for real, I'm satisfied. I don't feel as much of an urge to wave it around anymore.

I'll continue making new armor for sure, improving my tech level that way, but if I'm making my magnum opus, it won't be armor; it'll be Nemesis. Thankfully, I have a few ideas to turn him into an utter powerhouse, but for now, they'll be shelved until I make that base in Hawaii.

And I think I've found the perfect location.

Or, well, Nemesis did. It's under his recommendation, and honestly, it's better than any potential place I've found. Credit where credit's due. I know he's just an AI, but I'm starting to really like how reliable he is.

So useful. Is this what it's like to be a proud mother?

"I get it. I wouldn't go to school if I knew how to make things like this." Rias giggles, checking out the raygun up close. "Hey, is it okay if I take this?"

"Sure, I don't really care."

"Aw, sweet!"

"Is this okay?" Sona asks, looking at the raygun in slight concern. "Isn't it dangerous?"

"To anyone weaker than High-class, yes." I nod. "I doubt it would leave a scratch on either of you or your peerages."

"Who cares? It's a raygun!" Rias says, pointing it at the wall with a pose. "How cool is that?"

I just made that one to level up my engineering skill. I could've put it in my inventory and forgotten about it there, but leaving it here makes me feel like a genius engineer. And I like feeling like a genius. Because I literally am.

"By the way, where's Kasuga?" Rias asks, lowering the gun. "Haven't seen him in school today."

"Ah, right. I forgot to tell you earlier, but I got a call from Arakawa-san saying he's busy today," Sona answers. "Not sure what for, though. It sounded a little important."

"And he's still not back?" The redhead blinks. "The sun's about to set."

"I asked him. He said he's coming tomorrow." I explain, putting the blowtorch aside and glancing at them. "Anyway, any reason you two are bothering me?"

Sona was about to answer before Rias beat her to it.

"Nah, not really." She shrugs. "We just wanted to hang out."

"I was done with my work early, so I thought I'd see what you're doing. Sorry for coming unannounced," Sona says with a little bow. "By the way, is this the new armor you're working on? It looks very similar to that other one, albeit sleeker."

"Yup. That one I wore against Diodora and Shalba was just a prototype." I smirk. "This thing is the real deal. I'm putting everything I learned during the invasion into it."

Kind of. Again, I'm trying to hold back so my jumps in technological knowledge seem believable. I can make something a lot more powerful than this if I really want to, but as I said before, my masterpiece will be Nemesis' body.

Because when I was making armor, it was because of how fragile I used to be. Now? Oh, I'm a lot more durable. I can handle a lot more punishment after getting the END essence. So, while I'll still make armor, it's not as much of a priority anymore.

No, if anything, I need more minions—mechanical ones. I need a whole army hidden somewhere as an emergency backup in case things go south. It'd be at the risk of revealing my real talent, but it'd be better than dying.

Why go through the effort of gathering a loyal army when I can just make one?

But I digress. This new armor is significantly more powerful than the old one. Not by a massive margin, but it should be a reasonable upgrade. I bet if I wore this against Shalba, I would've defeated him before he had a chance to use the snake.

"So cool~" Rias approaches to examine the armor closer. "Why the bronze, though? I liked the white color a lot more."

"I didn't want to make a copy," I answer. "But I also didn't feel like making an entirely new design. Changing the color requires no effort."

"I like the bronze." Sona nods in approval, a thoughtful hand on her chin. "Works well with the blue visor."

"Right?"

"Dunno." Rias doesn't seem to think so. "To be honest, I always thought you'd try to go with the edgy black and red color scheme."

First of all, the black and red combo is cool as fuck, and I'm tired of pretending that it isn't.

Second, that's reserved for my true armor and/or Nemesis' body. Not these toys.

"Looks too evil." I make a random excuse. "By the way, I was wondering what you two plan on doing during summer vacation. Wanna come with us? My treat."

"Hmm…" Rias crosses her arms and thinks for a moment. "That's tempting. It sounds like a lot of fun, but I think I'll pass."

"Really?" I raise a brow. "What? Do you have something more important to do?"

"Unfortunately." Her expression turns serious. "I barely had time to investigate what happened to Gasper that time."

Ah, that. I forgot about it.

"I promised him I'd figure it out." She adds. "So until I find some clues, my hands are full."

Good luck with that.

"Though, I might think about letting my peerage members go with you. If that's okay." Rias says with a smile. "Honestly, I think they deserve a nice, long vacation. After everything they've done for me, I want nothing but to make them happy."

Cute.

"…Sure, I don't mind." I turn my stare to Sona. "What about you?"

Sona frowns, suddenly looking upset. I don't know at what, as she suddenly stares down at her feet, but it looks important. I'm not sure what she's thinking about. A part of me thinks she's not up to it.

"I am sorry, but I…" She hesitates, her fists clenching tightly as she looks back at me with a very fake smile. "I'll be busy this vacation. Thank you for the offer, though."

Thought so. However, her response sounds a little weird. Even Rias notices it as she glances at her childhood friend with a mildly concerned look.

I can detect a hint of anger in her answer. No, not just anger. Overwhelming fury that she's keeping a tight lid on, which I find very impressive. Odd. I've never seen her feel this way before.

Something is bothering her a lot.

"That's too bad," I say, not wanting to bring it up. She probably wouldn't appreciate it. "How about winter vacation, then?"

"That sounds wonderful." Sona's smile turns real.

"Oh, maybe we can celebrate Christmas together!" Rias suggests.

"Devils celebrate Christmas?" I blink.

"Yup. Though, it's only been a recent practice. Started around ten years ago." She nods. "I wonder what Santa is getting me this year…"

"For all the pain you've caused me when I was training for Riser's Rating Game, I'd be disappointed if it's anything more than coal."

"For the love of– Can you please let that go already?!" She whines. "I changed! I got better!"

"Not much, seeing that you still believe in Santa." I scoff. "I always knew you were childish, but this is beneath even you."

"Oh, he's real," Sona suddenly says.

I pause, slowly turning to look at her.

"What?"

"Santa's real." She reiterates.

"No, he isn't." I frown.

"Devils, gods, dragons, and magic exist—" Rias points out. "But Santa is where you draw the line?"

"I—"

I'm at a loss for words for some reason. I mean, she makes a good point, but it still sounds pretty unbelievable. Santa is real? Or they fucking with me?

"He does exist." Lucifer quips as he materializes, seeing doubt clear on my face. "I've even met him a few times. Jolly old fellow. Surprisingly powerful as well."

Well, if Lucy says it's true, then I can't really deny that, can I?

"Huh…" I take a moment to process this. "Santa is real. Okay."

…Wait a minute.

Then does that mean that all those times I got coal was because of his fatass, and it wasn't my mother messing with me?!

That son of a bitch. I'm never baking him cookies again.

– Ichiban –

"Thank you so much for the meal, sir!" Ichiban bowed in respect to his boss, standing right outside their office. "You were right; the Peking Duck was delicious!"

"I can tell you loved it." Arakawa nodded with his usual soft smile on his face. "Though, I got a little worried seeing how you devoured everything on your plate. It seemed like you haven't had a good meal in a long time."

"Haha, no, that's not it." He chuckled, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "Kuoh has a lot of good and cheap places. I just wanted to show my appreciation, y'know?"

Though, in hindsight, it probably made him look like a gross dumbass. Granted, he was a growing young man and had a very big appetite, but he should've tried to show some class. He knew that if Sawashiro was there, he would've thwacked Ichiban on the head with a cane. And it would've been deserved, in all honesty.

But he wasn't lying. That restaurant was extremely good. He couldn't remember enjoying Chinese cuisine this much before. And considering it was pretty upscale, Ichi would hate to waste anything.

All in all, this was probably one of the best days of his life. Not only had he officially joined the Arakawa family at last, but he had hung out with the man he admired the most, which was a rare occurrence because his boss was busy most of the time. He couldn't wait to return to Kuoh and tell his friends all about it.

Ichiban was finally a yakuza. A real one. It was a dream come true for him.

"This again? I told you before, Ichi. You don't need to show me so much respect."

"But I have to." He insisted. "You're like a god. How else should I be treating you?"

"First, you call me a king, now a god? You're doing too much." Arakawa sighed and shook his head. "I would prefer it if you just treated me like a normal person. Starting with calling me by name."

"Um, sure, if you insist, sir." Ichiban blinked before realizing. "I-I mean, Arakawa-san… No way, I can't do it. It sounds way too weird."

Arakawa sighed again before smiling.

"Well, I can't do much about it, then." He said. "I know you want to wander around and say hi to your old friends here, but don't stay up too late, Ichi. You're going back to Kuoh tomorrow."

"Yessir."

"And remember to study for your exams." He added, opening the door to the office. "I may not think much of it, but you want to show Sawashiro up, don't you?"

"Yes."

He was sick of being treated like a moron by him. He wanted to prove that even a street rat like him could be an outstanding student. Maybe. Kind of.

"Then you better take it seriously."

"I will." Ichiban saluted. "I'll do my best."

"I'm sure you will." Arakawa nodded. "Good luck, Ichi. And good night."

"Good night." Ichiban bowed as his boss closed the door behind him.

As he was left alone, the Red Dragon Emperor decided to take a walk, seeing that there wasn't much else to do. He took out his phone and quickly texted Akane, asking if she could help him study for the exams.

Her response was demanding praise before she could consider it, to which he smiled softly after sighing in exasperation, doing as he was told. At least she wasn't demanding anything he couldn't do because she would do something like that just to watch him fail so she could laugh at him.

She could be annoying sometimes, but he loved her all the same.

She's got you dancing on the palm of her hand… Ddraig commented.

Shaddap.

…Admittedly, he still couldn't believe they were a thing.

– Akane –

"How intriguing," Lucifer says with a hum, standing behind me and looking at my current work. "So this was the project you were so eager to work on? Nemesis' body, I believe."

It's very late— a few hours before sunrise, in fact, but that's the best time to enter the dungeon and do my secret work. Now, obviously, ID Create has a two-hour limit every day, so there's not a lot I can do before I'm forced to leave.

This current project would take me a month even if I was working on it six hours a day. And while progress is painfully slow, it's still progress, so I can't really complain. Now, why would it even take me that long if an entire suit of armor took me less than two weeks?

Because this needs to be done perfectly, and it's the first time I've made anything like it. I'm still learning.

"Hm, well, yes and no." I do a so-so motion with my free hand. "Nemesis will definitely be utilizing this, but it's not his body."

"So they're different projects. Fascinating." Lucy says. "Then what purpose would you have this machine serve?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I glance at the Devil King. "I need someone to fill in for me. I can't have people notice my quick disappearances to the dungeons and whatnot."

"Hmm…"

"There's a reason I've had Nemesis observe everything I've been doing the past month," I explain. "He was analyzing my mannerisms for months. From the way I walk, talk, and even when I'm idle. Every little thing was being absorbed into his database for this sole purpose."

I look at my newest, shiniest toy, grinning at the perfect replica of my face, staring back at me with its lifeless eyes. It's not even close to being finished yet, and I may have spent so much time sculpting the head to absolute perfection.

It honestly looks incredibly eerie, but I'm still proud of myself. I mean, replicating such perfection is impossible, so what does creating this make me?

"Do you think it would work as you believe it would?" Lucifer asks. "You realize that any magician worth their salt would notice the lack of magical energy? Even if you found a way to counter that, Senjutsu users can detect souls."

"That's why it's not close to finished." My smirk widens. "I'm not an idiot, Lucy. I'm not activating this for Nemesis' use until I've found a way to eliminate those concerns."

It's also why my estimation is a month. Creating the robot itself isn't the issue— it's having it fool people into thinking it's me that's the problem. Giving it something that feels like my own soul, so even Senjutsu users are tricked…

It's not going to be easy, but if I manage to pull it off, then I won't have to worry about people figuring out that it's me who's devouring souls. And by the time they think something is off, I'll be utterly unstoppable.

The moment this thing is fully functional?

I win.