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Hyoudou Issei is my name. My parents and friends call me Ise. Currently, my life had become a whirlwind of madness and exhaustion. That very morning, the routine had been the same torture as always: I have an alarm clock with a tsundere voice that is supposed to wake me up, but it doesn't manage to, and I always end up mumbling on the floor because I fall out of bed. On top of that, the simple act of walking to school had become agony, since sunlight felt as if it were piercing through my skin, and I simply could not stand it.
But, despite the exhaustion and the headache caused by that afternoon's encounter, I arrived at the old Occult Research Club building with a spark of excitement in my chest.
When I opened the double doors, the elegant and perfumed atmosphere of the room welcomed me. Rias Gremory was sitting behind her desk, reviewing some documents. Every time I saw her, my eyes felt drawn to her crimson-red hair. She was undeniably beautiful, the kind of girl who made me momentarily forget that I had been murdered a few days ago. Akeno Himejima was beside her, serving tea with her usual serene smile.
"Ah, Issei. You arrived early," Rias greeted, looking up and giving me a soft smile. "How was your route delivering magical flyers today?"
"Exhausting, Buchou... but something incredible happened," I replied, approaching the sofa and dropping onto it, releasing a dreamy sigh. "I met an angel! Well, not an angel with real wings, but a girl. She's a blonde foreigner, very cute, and she was wearing a nun's habit. Her name is Asia Argento. She was lost in the city."
The effect of my words was instant and chilling.
Rias's smile disappeared completely, replaced by an expression of pure ice. The clinking of Akeno's teacup stopped dead. Kiba, who was reading a book in the corner, lifted his gaze with a frown, and Koneko stopped chewing her sweet. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
"A nun from the Church?" Rias repeated. Her voice was no longer that of the kind club president, but that of the heiress of a demonic clan. "Issei, listen to me very carefully and burn this into your head. Devils and the Church are natural enemies. We are beings of darkness, and they serve the light."
I shrank into the sofa, frightened by the sudden change in atmosphere. "E-Enemies? But she was very kind and sweet..."
"It doesn't matter how kind she seems," Rias interrupted me, placing both hands on her desk, her blue gaze drilling into me with absolute severity, identical to that of a general in the middle of a war. "For someone of your class, a newly reincarnated devil, any sacred believer is a lethal danger. If you get close to her, if you so much as brush against the silver cross she wears around her neck, or if a little of her holy water splashes on you, you will suffer horrible burns. You could even die. I forbid it, Issei. As your master, I strictly order you not to get involved with that girl from the Church."
I swallowed hard. Rias was telling me exactly the same thing Kaiju had warned me about only a couple of hours earlier.
"Yes... Kaiju told me exactly the same thing after she left," I murmured, scratching the back of my neck, feeling a chill as I remembered the headache I had gotten from being near Asia.
Upon hearing that name, the silence in the room became even denser. Rias slowly straightened, exchanging a look full of alarm with Akeno.
"Kaiju Hano?" Rias asked, her voice dropping an octave. "Kaiju was with you when you met that nun?"
I nodded, unaware of the tactical bomb I was about to drop right in the faces of the demonic peerages.
"Yes, actually, she accidentally bumped into his back while we were talking in the street," I explained, rubbing my temples as I remembered the heavy moment. "And it was very weird, Buchou. You know Kaiju is a monster capable of disintegrating Fallen Angels and launching beams of light into the sky, right? I thought he would ignore her or tell her to move aside, but he did the complete opposite."
Rias walked around the desk and stood in front of me, crossing her arms. "What exactly did he do, Issei? I need every detail."
"Well... he was super polite with her. They talked about religion," I said, gesturing with my hands. "Asia started talking about her faith and about God. And Kaiju didn't get annoyed or move away. On the contrary, he listened to her with a lot of respect. He told her something like: 'The true power of a miracle does not reside in the one who grants it, but in the kindness of the soul that receives it.'"
Kiba let out a slight gasp of surprise, and Akeno brought a hand to her lips, her violet eyes shining with disbelief.
"An individual with enough destructive power to make all of Kuoh City tremble... openly respecting the Church and the faith of the biblical God?" Rias whispered, her face paling a little as her mind tried to process the information.
For devils of the Old School, the world was divided into clear factions. But now, the most powerful and lethal entity they had witnessed—the "Ghost" who had annihilated renegades without breaking a sweat—seemed to have an ideological and spiritual alignment toward Heaven. If Kaiju Hano was a devout believer, the balance of power in Kuoh was not only broken, but threatened to crush the devils at any moment.
"But that wasn't the craziest part," I continued, unaware of Rias's silent panic, driving the nail in a little deeper. "Kaiju and I accompanied her to the top of the hill, toward the abandoned church on the outskirts of the city."
"You took her to the Fallen Angels' lair?!" Akeno exclaimed, losing her composure for a fraction of a second.
"That was her address," I shrugged, remembering the unsettling structure. "But before she went inside, Kaiju did something strange. He put his hand in his pocket, took out a small metal button, and gave it to Asia."
"A button? A magic weapon?" Kiba asked, stepping forward.
"I don't know. It looked like a normal button, but Kaiju looked her directly in the eyes with a seriousness that was scary. He told her to keep it safe, and that if she was ever in danger or felt cornered in the darkness... she should press it. And then, he made her a promise. He swore to her that if she did, a miracle would happen."
The entire club was buried in absolute silence.
Rias took a step back, slowly dropping onto the sofa in front of me. Her blue eyes were fixed on the floor, empty with consternation. Miracles were concepts strictly tied to Heaven, the sacred system of the Creator, and divine interventions from the highest-ranking angels. If Kaiju Hano, a simple high school student, was capable of guaranteeing and orchestrating a miracle with a simple mundane object, this boy's true identity surpassed any file, legend, or record in the Underworld.
What Rias did not know, and what escaped her demonic understanding, was that Kaiju had used his Lunar Infusion ability, infusing the object with the energy of his original celestial gift. An ability that would only grant power and salvation, a tiny fragment of the arsenal of the Celestial Eyes, designed to protect humanity.
"A miracle... he promised a miracle in Fallen Angel territory..." Rias murmured to herself, bringing a hand to her forehead. She looked toward the club window, where the afternoon sun was beginning to set, dyeing the sky in orange tones. "Akeno, contact Sona immediately. The rules of the game have just changed. The 'Ghost' is not only an unpredictable destroyer... it seems he is also a guardian of light."
While the demonic peerages prepared to enter a state of maximum alert, I simply settled into the sofa, rubbing my neck. My head still hurt from having been near Asia, but I could not stop thinking about her beautiful green eyes. Despite Rias's strict warnings and Kaiju's own, something inside me told me it would not be the last time I saw the sweet blonde nun.
...
The morning light filtered softly through the immense leaves of the giant oak in Kuoh Park. Inside the dimensional laboratory, the silence was interrupted only by the rhythmic and metallic snoring of Tank, the Aggron, who slept peacefully in a corner on top of a pile of steel beams.
In the kitchen area, Sylvie moved on tiptoe. She wore a pink apron over her pajamas and held a spatula with the concentration of someone about to disarm a bomb. In front of her, a pan smoked with what were supposed to be perfect pancakes.
"Just a little more..." Sylvie murmured, biting her lower lip.
Beside her, Lala, the Gardevoir, levitated a couple of plates with her own psychic energy, watching the girl with a maternal smile.
Suddenly, one of the drops of batter in the pan began bubbling dangerously, threatening to burn. Before Sylvie could panic over ruining breakfast, a firm and warm hand settled on her waist from behind.
"You're using too much heat, Sylvie."
Kaiju rested his chin on the girl's shoulder, his jet-black hair still messy from sleep and his eyes half-open. Without letting go of her, Kaiju blinked, and his brown iris was devoured by an immaculate White color. Using this ability to manipulate energy at a molecular level, Kaiju subtly altered the temperature of the pan's Teflon. The pancake stopped smoking and turned a perfect golden shade in milliseconds.
Sylvie immediately blushed, leaning against his chest, though she made a small pout of fake indignation.
"You cheated, Kaiju. I wanted to make breakfast using only my hands, without any magic involved."
"And you did wonderfully. I only prevented the fire alarm from waking Charizard," Kaiju replied with a lazy smile, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. "Besides, remember I'm a growing boy. I need perfect calories to endure Issei's nonsense at school."
Kaiju blinked again, and the color of his eyes changed to Purple. Using telekinesis, he made the spatula, the plates Lala was holding, and two cups of coffee levitate, carrying them gently toward the dining table.
They sat together, enjoying the calm.
"By the way," Sylvie commented, cutting a small piece of pancake and bringing it to Kaiju's mouth with the fork, "Aika sent me a message last night. She says she wants us to go to karaoke with her after classes."
Kaiju accepted the bite, but almost choked when he heard that name.
"Tell her I'm indisposed. Tell her I contracted a deadly disease, or that I was devoured by a dragon."
"Kaiju, don't be like that. Aika only has a... peculiar way of analyzing people. Besides, she said that if you didn't go, she would assume you're afraid she'll keep 'measuring your capabilities.'"
The young man sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He possessed absolute immunity to all lethal diseases and toxins, but he was certain there was no ability in his repertoire to defend himself against the crude humor of a bespectacled high school student.
"Fine. We'll go. But if she tries to measure the circumference of my wrists again, I'll open a portal and send her to Yardrat," Kaiju grumbled, though Sylvie's soft laughter was enough to dispel any real trace of annoyance.
It was another day in Kuoh. No gods, no battles. Just a perfect breakfast and the imminent headache of youthful life.
...
The bell announcing the end of classes echoed through the hallways. Before Kaiju could even hang his backpack over his shoulder, Aika Kiryuu had already materialized in front of his desk, flanked by Sylvie, who smiled at him nervously.
"I hope you haven't forgotten our little agreement, Kaiju-kun," Aika purred, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose with her index finger. "Today is karaoke afternoon. And I won't accept 'I was attacked by a bear' as an excuse to skip."
"Considering my luck, a bear attack sounds like a much more relaxing afternoon," Kaiju murmured, standing with a sigh of resignation. "A promise is a promise. Let's go."
The karaoke place in Kuoh's shopping district was lit by flickering neon lights and smelled of fried food and cheap lemon air freshener. After renting a small private room, the three teenagers settled onto the synthetic leather sofas.
Sylvie sat in the middle, looking at the enormous song catalog with the same fascination with which a scholar would look at an ancient tome. For her, who had spent most of her life locked in the hell of slavery, the simple concept of singing for fun in a colorful room was an overwhelmingly magical experience.
"I'll break the ice!" Aika announced, snatching one of the microphones and quickly typing on the control panel.
The room immediately filled with the frantic rhythm of a pop song about schoolgirls in love and suggestive situations. Aika sang with crushing confidence, adding winks and exaggerated hip movements directed straight at Kaiju, in a clear attempt to make him uncomfortable.
Kaiju, however, remained reclined on the sofa, drinking his soda with the same stoic and bored expression with which he would look at a blank wall. His immunity to cheap flirting was absolute.
When the song ended, Aika dropped onto the sofa beside Sylvie, panting slightly and passing her the microphone.
"Your turn, Sylvie-chan. Show this ice wall what passion is."
With her cheeks dyed a soft crimson and her hands trembling slightly, Sylvie stood up. She chose a slow and melancholic ballad. At first, her voice was barely a whisper drowned by the instrumental track, but as the song progressed, she gained confidence. She did not have the technique of a professional singer, but the sweetness and honesty in her voice were overwhelming.
Kaiju closed his one healthy eye for a second, letting himself be carried by the melody. For the first time that afternoon, a genuine smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
When she finished, Sylvie received enthusiastic applause from Aika and a gentle pat on the head from Kaiju.
"You did excellent," he whispered to her, causing the girl to blush even more and hide her face against his shoulder.
But Aika Kiryuu had not brought Kuoh's "mysterious bad boy" to karaoke simply to listen to ballads. While Sylvie was distracted searching the catalog for which song to perform as a duet, Aika slid across the sofa until she was dangerously close to Kaiju.
The atmosphere changed. Kaiju's passive instinct caught the sharp analytical intent of the girl with glasses.
"So..." Aika began, resting her chin on her hand and looking at him from the corner of her eye. "You two live together. Alone. Without adult supervision."
"We are orphans and independent. It is a matter of logistical practicality," Kaiju replied coldly, taking another sip of his drink.
"Logistical practicality... sure." Aika let out a small mocking laugh. "You know, Kaiju-kun, I've been observing the way Sylvie looks at you. That almost religious devotion. And I've also evaluated your... physical capabilities. You have the potential of a battle tank."
Kaiju tensed imperceptibly. He hated when she entered this territory.
"Where are you going with this, Kiryuu?"
"I don't buy your Buddhist monk act." Aika leaned even closer, lowering her voice so Sylvie, absorbed in the song machine, would not hear her. "You have the sweetest, most beautiful, most accommodating girl in the entire academy living under the same roof as you. Girls our age would kill for a scenario like that with a boy of your caliber. But you act as if you were made of stone."
Aika narrowed her eyes, and a lethally perverted smile formed on her face.
"Tell me the truth, Kaiju. Do you really not do anything with her? Because if you have her there only to cook for you and clean your house, I'll start to think all those magnificent proportions I measured in your hand are just display-window decoration. Don't tell me Kuoh's great bad boy is all bark and no bite... or worse, that you don't have the stamina to take care of a woman's needs."
In the deepest part of Kaiju's soul, where the echoes of fallen deities and assimilated concepts resided, the passive ability Pride ignited like a spark in a barrel of gunpowder. It was not a physical attack; it was a direct and calculated attack on his dignity and virility. His divine instinct, the one that refused to be lowered or humiliated under any circumstances, momentarily overrode his logical filters.
His blood boiled all at once. The idea that a high school girl would label him impotent or cowardly when he was capable of shaping space-time was an unacceptable insult.
Kaiju set the soda can on the table with a dry thud, turned his head toward Aika, and pierced her with a dark and intense stare.
"For your information, Kiryuu," Kaiju snapped, with a deep, fast voice loaded with wounded indignation, "I satisfy Sylvie every fucking night until her legs trem—"
Kaiju's brain finally caught up to his mouth, but it was too late.
His eyes opened wide, injected with pure existential terror. He raised both hands at the speed of light and covered his mouth tightly, as if trying to push the words back down his throat.
The silence in the karaoke room was absolute. The background instrumental seemed to have shut off before the magnitude of the revelation.
Aika Kiryuu was petrified. The lenses of her glasses fogged up from the psychological impact. Her jaw slowly dropped while her brain processed the mental image of the boy's words, and a faint trickle of blood threatened to spill from her nose due to the overload of perverted imagination.
A couple of meters away, Sylvie had dropped the heavy song catalog onto the floor.
The gray-haired girl stood with her back to the karaoke machine. Her face had turned such a violent and intense crimson red that it almost emitted light on its own. Her ears gave off figurative smoke, and her legs, which indeed remembered the nights at home, lost all strength, making her fall seated onto the sofa like a rag doll.
Kaiju, still with both hands hermetically covering his mouth, looked at Aika, then at Sylvie, and then at the ceiling with neon lights, seriously considering the option of using the Golden color of his Celestial Eyes to erase both teenage girls' memories.
"Oh my God..." Aika finally whispered, recovering her breath. An immense, devilish, triumphant smile split her face in two. "I knew it! You're a nighttime beast, Kaiju-kun!"
"Aika, please shut up!" Sylvie shrieked, hiding her steaming face in her hands while sobbing from absolute embarrassment.
The young God who had created fear in two clans and crushed Fallen Angels closed his eyes, realizing that he had just given Aika Kiryuu the greatest blackmail ammunition in the entire history of Kuoh Academy. Surviving devils would be easy; surviving this afternoon would be the true miracle.