Time flies I'm a second-year high schooler now.
As for my school life…
"C'mon, Issei, switch already!"
"Gimme a sec, Matsuda."
"We agreed on one minute each!"
Yup, Matsuda, Motohama, and I are peeking into the girls' changing room.
Whoa! Katase and Suzuya have nice figures! Our school's girls are top-tier! I'm so glad I enrolled here!
As I'm marveling at their underwear-clad forms, the girls start moving. Seems we're busted. Time to bail.
"Alright, Matsuda, your turn."
"Hell yeah!"
I swap spots with Matsuda and signal Motohama. He nods, getting the hint.
Ignoring Matsuda's glee, Motohama and I slip away. He's too focused to notice.
"...Issei."
"Yeah, every mission needs a sacrifice. Motohama, let's pray for Matsuda's soul!"
"He was a good guy…!"
"We'll never forget you!"
We offer a silent prayer to the heavens.
SCREEEAM!
A bloodcurdling cry echoes behind us.
Rest in peace, Matsuda. Amen.
"Damn it! You could've warned me before ditching!"
Matsuda slams his desk, face covered in bandages and gauze. Apparently, kendo club girls Murayama and Katase beat him with bamboo swords. He ratted us out, but since we were gone, they didn't buy it.
"Don't be mad," I say. "I'll lend you my new gentleman's disc."
"I'll toss in one too," Motohama adds. "Call it even, Matsuda."
"Fine," Matsuda grumbles, calming down.
True comrades understand each other.
A voice interrupts. "Peeking again, big brother?"
A girl with long black hair, mature yet with a youthful face my sister, Miu.
Second year of high school, and Miu's grown so refined. I'm shocked at how much she's changed in a year.
"W-what're you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb. Think I wouldn't notice?"
"Ugh…"
Her sharp senses caught me.
"Don't do stuff girls hate, okay?"
Being scolded by my sister stings. Guess I'll cool it for a bit…
Matsuda and Motohama chime in.
"Miu-chan's gotten so gorgeous…"
"Too good to be Issei's sister. She's super popular with guys easily a top idol at school."
True, Miu's a hit. Kind, smart, beautiful, and… well-endowed. Guys idolize her. Oddly, though, no confessions or love letters yet.
"Issei, you're wondering why she hasn't been confessed to, right?" Motohama says.
"You know why?"
They sigh. Even Matsuda knows!?
"You're the reason, Issei," Motohama points.
"Me? Seriously?"
What'd I do? My pervy nature? No, it's guys confessing, so that's irrelevant. I'm stumped.
"Remember when Miu got hassled by delinquents?" Matsuda asks.
I think back. "Yeah, last summer."
Miu was walking home with classmates when local thugs tried hitting on her. She refused, but they wouldn't quit, even targeting her friends. She nearly unleashed her magic, so I stepped in and stopped them.
"That made the local paper," Matsuda says. "One student taking down a dozen thugs? Big news."
"Don't make it sound so bad. Yeah, some got broken bones and hospital trips."
The incident got famous. Police hauled me in with the thugs, but Miu and her friends' statements cleared me. Looking back, I could've handled it quieter. Still, it kept creeps away from Miu.
"How'd you take them all on?" Motohama asks.
"Haha… I train."
Can't say I fought a Demon Lord in another world.
"Point is," Motohama says, "guys know if they hit on Miu, her scary brother shows up. That's why no confessions."
Seriously? I'm blocking her love life? That's depressing…
"Sorry, Miu…"
"Don't worry, big brother. I'd turn them all down anyway. I love you!"
"…"
Wait, was that a confession? No way, she's just a brother's girl. She wouldn't say that in a crowded room.
"Miu, can you say that again?"
She blushes, fidgeting. "Again? …Fine, big brother."
"Go ahead."
"I love you, big brother!"
The room freezes. This awkward silence… I'm thrilled, but…
Ten seconds pass in dead quiet. Then
"WHAAAT!?"
The class erupts, echoing last year's chaos.
"DIEEE, HYOUDOU!"
Guys from the class and hallway charge me, fists flying.
After school, I'm heading home alone, aching all over. Muscle pain tomorrow, guaranteed. Matsuda and Motohama are at their part-time jobs, and Miu's with friends. I track her presence with my energy, so I can rush to her if needed. She's okay with it.
I'm glad she's made close friends. I want her to keep bonding. When did I become such a brother-obsessed idiot, like Motohama said?
My phone rings Mom's ringtone.
"Hey, Mom. What's up?"
"Issei, can you grab eggs? Forgot to buy some."
"Just eggs?"
"Yup. Thanks, Issei."
"Got it."
Eggs, huh? Might hit the supermarket where Matsuda works. Maybe score a friend discount. Doubt it, though.
As I turn, a girl in an unfamiliar uniform stands before me. Long black hair, quite a beauty. She's staring, and I tense up. Normally, I wouldn't be wary of a random person, but she's no human— I sense a non-human presence, different from Kiba's devil aura.
She's also been tailing me. Is she after me? If so, why? Time to find out.
"Need something?"
She fidgets. "Um, you're Issei Hyoudou from Kuoh Academy, right?"
"Yeah. What's up?"
"I'm Yuma Amano… Um, w-will you…"
She's freaking out. Then, words I didn't expect:
"Go out with me!"
"…"
My brain stalls. Two confessions in one day? Miu's might not count, but still.
As I process, Ddraig speaks. "Sorry to interrupt, partner, but she's a fallen angel."
Fallen angel? One of the races that sealed you?
"Exactly. Angels who succumbed to desire and fell from heaven."
So, what's a fallen angel want with me?
"Likely sensed your Sacred Gear. The three factions devils, angels, fallen angels are obsessed with Sacred Gears. They recruit wielders or… kill them to steal the Gear."
Kill me!? This cute girl?
"No one's killing you easily, partner. She doesn't seem that strong."
True, I'm not easy to take down.
But her motives bug me. Let's probe.
"How you gonna play this?" Ddraig asks.
Accept her confession. Dating might reveal something.
I face Yuma. "Sure, I'm in. Nice to meet you, Yuma-chan."
"Yay! Thank you, Issei-kun!"
She bounces with joy or so it seems. But I catch a flicker of sadness in her eyes. A forced smile, almost pained.
What's going on with her?
It's Saturday, no school, and I'm meeting Yuma for a date. Miu threw a fit about joining, but I explained, and she relented. That was the hardest part.
I'm at the station, ten minutes early. Can't keep a girl waiting, even a fallen angel. I'm a gentleman!
"You? A gentleman?" Ddraig scoffs.
Shut up! Let me have this!
"All driven by lust, huh?"
So what if I'm checking her out? She's a gorgeous, curvy girl! Of course I'm interested!
Yuma runs up, hands in an apologetic gesture. "Issei-kun! Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"
"Nah, just got here."
"Good! I came early, but you beat me. Thought I made you wait."
"No worries. A guy's job is to wait for a girl. Shall we go?"
"Yup!"
We head into town.
We hit a movie theater, arcade, and a trendy café super fun. Yuma seemed to enjoy it too, but…
Evening, we're in a deserted park. A normal couple might share a kiss here. I'm thinking that when Yuma, walking ahead, turns to me.
"Issei-kun, today was fun."
"Same here."
"…Can you grant me a request?"
"Name it."
A strong wind blows, trees rustling eerily.
"Could you… die?"
Black wings sprout from her back, her cute outfit shifting to dark attire.
"So, you're a fallen angel."
She's shocked, then looks down. "You knew?"
"Yup."
"You went along to figure out my goal?"
"Partly. But your confession you seemed happy, yet sad. That bothered me."
"Really…"
She lifts her face, tears streaming. Light gathers in her hand, forming a spear.
"I'm sorry!"
She hurls it at my heart, crying. If I don't move, it'll pierce me, ending my life.
But—
I silently grab the spear's tip, stopping it. With a squeeze, I crush it, the spear dissolving into light particles.
Yuma's eyes widen. "No way…!"
"Sorry, Yuma-chan. You might have your reasons, but I can't die here."
Mom, Dad, Miu they're waiting for me. I swore to protect what matters. I won't die in a place like this.
"Tell me, Yuma-chan. Why target me?"
"It's…"
A voice cuts her off. "Can't even kill a single human? Useless."
It comes from above. A middle-aged man with black wings hovers.
Yuma gasps. "Lord Donasheek!? Why are you here!?"
"Hmph. You were dawdling, so I came myself. Be grateful."
Donasheek, a fallen angel. Her boss, judging by his condescending tone.
He glares at me. "You, human, bear a Sacred Gear. You could disrupt our plans. So, you die here."
He hurls a light spear without warning.
"That's gonna kill me?"
I wrap my fist in energy and smash the spear, shattering it into mist.
Donasheek's stunned. "Impossible… A human broke my attack!?"
"Wanna kill me? Train harder. You're not enough."
"Don't get cocky, human!"
Tension crackles, but Donasheek hesitates, wary of my strength.
A crimson light appears behind me, forming a red magic circle.
"Tch, devils," Donasheek spits. "Can't fight them now. We're leaving, Raynare."
"Yes!"
They fly off.
So, Yuma's real name is Raynare. Next time we meet, Raynare…
I should get out of here too. Don't need more trouble.
I leave, not noticing I dropped my wallet.
[Rias Side]
I'm Rias Gremory, a high-ranking devil and heir to the Gremory family, overseeing Kuoh Town.
Sensing fallen angels, I brought Akeno to the source a park near Kuoh Academy. Fallen angels are our enemies; I can't let them run wild in my territory.
Akeno speaks. "The fallen angels are gone."
"Seems so. But I sensed a fight. Whoever they fought left too."
I wanted to catch them, but we're a step late.
"Oh?" Akeno says.
"What is it?"
"A wallet."
"A wallet?"
Did the person fighting the fallen angels drop it? Could just be a coincidence, though.
"It's warm," Akeno says.
"Recently dropped?"
"Likely."
Maybe the fighter's?
"Any clues about the owner?" I ask. "Might tell us something. Plus, they're probably looking for it."
"It's a Kuoh Academy student's," Akeno says, checking it.
"One of ours? Name?"
"Hyoudou… Issei Hyoudou."
"Issei Hyoudou…"
Him, fighting fallen angels? Am I overthinking?
Let's have him visit the clubroom tomorrow. I want to hear him out and return his wallet.
Akeno and I head back with it.
[Rias Side Out]