*BEEP BEEP*

The repeated tone of the alarm pierced the quiet morning air, filling the small bedroom with life as a hand slammed down on the clock, silencing it in a single motion. Gentle beams of sunlight cascaded through the windows, illuminating a tousled mess of dark raven-colored hair sprawled out across the pillow. Lavender eyes cracked open, squinting against the bright morning light as Hyoudou Issei stirred.

Issei took a deep breath, stretching his arms over his head as he cast a quick glance around the room. The warmth of the morning sun softened the space around him, casting shadows on the simple yet well-kept furnishings. His gaze dropped to the figure nestled at his side, one arm clinging tightly to him, a soft sigh escaping her as he shifted.

"mmm, five more minutes, 'kay?" Her voice was a sleepy murmur, barely more than a whisper.

With a small smile, Issei brushed a few strands of hair from her face, her soft features serene in the early light. "Kuroka," he whispered gently, his hand tracing small circles on her shoulder "if you don't get up soon, you'll have to make yourself breakfast."

One of her dull golden eyes cracked open, glancing at him with a spark of mischief. "Oh? You'd eat without me?" She sighed dramatically, her sleepy face slowly breaking into a grin as she lifted her arms, stretching languidly. "Guess I'd better get up then." She nudged him playfully, eyes lingering on him for a moment.
Issei laughed softly, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead as he rose from the bed, her eyes following him. She sat up, wrapping the sheets around herself like a cloak, watching him with a lazy smile as he began moving toward the kitchen.

In the quiet of the kitchen, Issei gathered the usual ingredients, listening to the soft sounds of the morning. A simple breakfast would do, but he couldn't help but take extra care in preparing each dish, feeling Kuroka's warm gaze on him as she leaned against the doorframe, watching him work. The eggs cracked cleanly against the bowl, the scent of sizzling meat blending with the warmth of the early morning air.

"You know, you're lucky I cook every morning," he teased, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes met hers, a sleepy smile spreading across her face, still wrapped in the thin sheet she'd draped around herself. She gave a little shrug, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

"Oh, don't act like you don't love doing it," she replied with a playful roll of her eyes, a glint of affection in her gaze. "I wouldn't mind having you cook for me forever though." Her voice was soft, but the sincerity there was unmistakable.

The meal came together quickly–a mix of grilled fish, fluffy rice, and miso soup. Simple, yet comforting. They ate together in companionable silence, Kuroka's eyes occasionally drifting to Issei with a warmth that mirrored the morning light spilling into the room.

As they finished, she leaned over and gave him a brief, soft kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for breakfast," she murmured, her gaze lingering on him as he rose to rinse the dishes.

After finishing, Issei made his way to the bathroom. He caught a glance of his reflection in the mirror–a young man with hazy lavender eyes. His dark hair messily framed the sides of his face, the back growing out slightly longer than the rest. A hint of sorrow lay deep in his gaze as he stared back at himself. He ran his hands through his hair, working it into some semblance of order, and changed into his school uniform–a crimson shirt peeked out from a casually unbuttoned white dress shirt, a black blazer fitting snugly over his lean, muscular frame.

Just as he adjusted his collar one last time, he caught a faint, almost imperceptible flash of green in his eyes, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Issei blinked, his expression a bit more curious as he turned back towards the hallway.

As Issei reached the door, Kuroka caught him by the arm, pulling him into a lingering kiss. When she finally released him, her fingers lightly trailed down his arm. "Don't get into trouble, 'kay?"

He chuckled, his lavender eyes radiating with a gentle glow that only she seemed to bring out in him. "I'll see what I can do," he laughed. With one last glance back at her, Issei stepped outside, taking in a deep breath as the crisp morning air washed over him. He checked his watch and gave a small sigh of relief—just enough time to get to Kuoh Academy if he didn't get too lost along the way.

The street was still somewhat empty, only a few early risers out and about. Issei took a few uncertain steps before he realized something crucial: he had no idea which way the school was. The Old Man had given him directions, but he'd been a little preoccupied at the time. He scratched his head, frowning at the street that stretched endlessly in either direction.

"Follow the main road and then turn... right?" he muttered to himself, trying to recall the instructions.

Resigned, Issei set off down the main street, hands shoved into his pockets as he scanned the neighborhood. It wasn't long before he noticed a few students in a similar uniform walking ahead, heading in the same direction. Two girls—a long-haired brunette and a short pink-haired girl—were chatting as they walked.

"Excuse me," he called out, quickening his pace to catch up. They turned, giving him curious glances. "I'm sorry to bother you," he continued, offering a polite bow, "but do you know the way to Kuoh Academy? I'm a new transfer student, and I seem to be a little… turned around."

The brunette offered a smile, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Oh, of course! We're on our way there now. You're welcome to walk with us if you'd like, right Yui?" She glanced over to her friend for confirmation.

Yui gave him a wary look, arms crossed as she appraised him. "Well, sure. As long as you're not one of those… wannabe playboys we've been getting." Her tone was guarded, but not unfriendly, a flicker of genuine concern showing in her eyes.

Issei chuckled softly, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Promise, I'm just here to get to school in one piece."

She gave a slight nod, her posture relaxing a bit. "Well, alright. I'm Katase Yui."

"And I'm Murayama Kaori," the brunette added quickly, a small smile growing on her face.

Issei stifled a chuckle, "Hyoudou Issei, It's nice to meet you both."

The three continued along the path, Murayama pointing out landmarks around the neighborhood as they walked. "Over there's a café where a lot of students hang out after class," she said, gesturing over to a small, bustling shop nestled between a few larger buildings. "It's usually packed outside of school hours."

"Oh, and over there," Murayama continued, gesturing to a little plaza surrounded by greenery, "is where the student council sometimes hosts events. Kuoh's pretty lively once you get used to it all."

Issei nodded, taking in the sights. The school building itself began to emerge in the distance, looming over the trees that lined the streets. His gaze drifted back to the girls, a bit of gratitude in his expression as he kept pace with them. To his relief, they seemed at ease enough with his presence–well mostly.

Murayama turned to him, giving him a small, approving smile before continuing, "Hopefully, you'll like it here, Issei."

Beside her, Yui kept a careful watch, her eyes focused mainly on her phone. "At least he doesn't seem to be pushy," she reflected, her eyes darting away from her phone for a moment. With a small sigh, she slipped her phone into her bag, giving Issei a short nod.

Eventually, they reached the imposing gates of Kuoh Academy, students milling around as they entered. The grand archway, elegant buildings, and meticulous gardens hinted at a prestige that seemed to extend beyond academics alone.

"I appreciate the guide this morning," he said as they reached the entranceway. He gave them a warm smile, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. "I think I can find the office on my own from here. Hopefully, I'll see you two around soon."

The girls returned his smile, and with a quick wave, they each headed off toward their own classes. Issei lingered at the gate for a moment longer, the two whisper to each other as they walked off into the buzz of the forum. He had yet to notice that he, too, was being watched.

From a tall, arched window above the courtyard, two women observed the new student's arrival. One of them, a young woman with long crimson hair, leaned slightly against the glass, her aquamarine eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she observed Issei, curiosity flickering in her gaze.

"Akeno," she said softly, folding her arms as her attention remained on him, "Have you sensed anything unusual about him?"

Seated nearby, Akeno brushed a stray lock of her dark, raven-colored hair back over her shoulder, her light lavender eyes sparkled with a quiet amusement. "Ara, Rias-sama, already taking interest in our new kouhai?" She teased, moving a pawn further on the chessboard in front of her, glancing up with a faint smile. "If I remember correctly, I believe his name is Hyoudou Issei, but if you want more details, I'd have to ask Kaichou." Her eyes shifted over towards the window, "There is something unusual about him, an aura of some kind, though I'm not sure what of yet."

Rias hummed, her gaze contemplative. "I can sense a sacred gear. And yet… there's something more." Her eyes flickered back to the chessboard, and with a small flick of her wrist, she moved her knight to face Akeno's unguarded king. "Checkmate."

Akeno tilted her head, feigning a pout. "I tried to make it harder for you this time," she sighed playfully, then shifted, resting her chin on her hand. "I also sensed something odd. It's faint, but… intriguing."

Rias watched the boy below, her expression softening slightly. "It's not just him. Those girls with him… there's something unusual about them too."

Akeno's smile grew. "Would you like me to send Koneko and Kiba to keep an eye on them? Or shall we meet them ourselves?" She gave Rias a playful look, her eyes bright with interest.

"That would be good," Rias replied, still watching the courtyard thoughtfully. "I need more members in my peerage, and if he's who I think he is… he might be a worthy addition." She paused, glancing over at Akeno with a small, grateful smile. "And as for meeting him ourselves, maybe soon. Thank you, Akeno. It's always good to have you by my side."

Akeno's smile deepened as she moved to join Rias, her voice turning soft with mischief. "I assume you're headed to the showers soon, Rias-sama? I'd be happy to lend a hand."

Rias gave her a grateful nod, a warm smile gracing her lips. "That would be nice, Akeno"

With a graceful ease, the two left the room together, the faint strains of laughter and quiet conversation trailing behind them. Rias's thoughts, however, remained elsewhere, her mind returning to the image of the new transfer student and the enigmatic aura he radiated.

"Just what are you, Hyoudou Issei?"

A/N: Hi chat. Not my best work but I wanted to actually get the rewrite out before I forgot about it. I'll probably update this chapter a tiny bit in the near future, but right now I'm just distracting myself from the US election. Regardless, hope everyone's doing well! Thank you for taking the time to read all of this, and I hope you enjoy everything!

With Love,

Petra