The following day was Saturday, the day before Issei's long-anticipated date with Akeno-senpai.
Though President Rias and Asia-san appeared calm, I could tell they weren't entirely at ease. Still, training for the Occult Research Club was scheduled as usual.
To make things less troublesome, our underground training rooms, mine at my house and Issei's at his, had recently been connected. With just a panel's adjustment, the two pseudo-spaces could be merged into one.
Apparently, by cycling surplus energy and reinforcing the structure, this setup could withstand the growing destructive power our club was bound to unleash in the future.
At the moment, we had finished our basic drills, and Koneko-chan was sparring against Issei.
Issei wore the crimson armor of the Red Dragon Emperor, while Koneko fought in her adult form to match his strength. It was also good practice for her to get used to that powered-up state.
She slipped past Issei's Dragon Shots with minimal movement, closing the distance. Issei, eager for close combat, charged straight toward her.
Koneko ducked under Issei's straight right, her motion a graceful arc, and grabbed his wrist. Using his own jet-propelled momentum, she subtly shifted his vector downward.
A technique like that's impossible without perfectly reading your opponent's movements…
Though she only managed to nudge him slightly, if the "destination" happened to be the ground, well, that was another story.
With a BOOM, Issei slammed into the floor, his armored body scraping and bouncing across the terrain at frightening speed.
The armor probably cushioned most of the damage, but no doubt the constant shocks left him unable to even tell up from down.
Before he could stand, Koneko unleashed two blazing white fire wheels, which smashed into his helmet from both sides. The impact seeped straight through his armor, and Issei collapsed.
Match to Koneko.
"Damn it! No matter how close I get, I can't land a single hit, on either Ikki or Koneko-chan! I get it with Ikki, but Koneko-chan? Our power and speed aren't that far apart. If it's just martial arts without illusions, being toyed with like this stings."
"I think Issei-senpai's technique is actually quite sharp… Though, the fact that Ikki-senpai beat it into you every day because you tried peeking on girls changing, that's… complicated."
While Asia lightly healed him, Koneko gave her assessment.
"Then why is it that you can dodge my attacks by just a hair every time? It feels like you know my every next move…"
"That's because I do know them," I cut in.
"Yes," Asia added softly, "I believe it's a weakness of the Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet, Boosted Gear, that only we who use Senjutsu can sense."
"The Boosted Gear's weakness?" Rias perked up, clearly intrigued.
"As his King, I'd very much like to hear this."
Everyone else, on break, turned their attention our way.
"Sacred Gears grow stronger the more willpower fuels them. And Issei's Balance Breaker type, the Boosted Gear, is pure, condensed power spread across his body."
"That's why," Asia explained, "right before Issei acts, we can read his aura's flow to know his next move."
So Cao Cao wasn't exaggerating about aura flow being a weakness. Seeing it firsthand as a Senjutsu user makes it crystal clear. Plus, Issei's straightforward personality only makes it more obvious.
"For real!?" Issei yelped.
"Unfortunately, yes," I said. "Anyone decent with Senjutsu, or who can sense aura at all, will read your every move like a telegraphed punch. If you're shifting aura into your left leg while swinging with your right hand, they'll know you're feinting before you even throw it."
"Ughhh! No wonder my feints never work! Isn't there anything I can do!?"
"Well, since it's tied to the nature of the Boosted Gear, you probably can't erase it. Your options are either to boost your raw power and speed so much that reading ahead doesn't matter, or just blow everything away in one massive strike. You are the Red Dragon Emperor, sometimes, 'power is power!!' is the best strategy."
Sure, he could learn Senjutsu to sense and control his aura, but that'd take ages. Worse, with Issei's… tendencies, the negative energy he'd absorb would turn him into a walking sex offender. He's already dangerously close to that line.
"You're right," Rias said firmly.
"Countermeasures are important, but raising your base strength is just as vital. If the gap is big enough, you can overcome bad matchups. Still, don't stop thinking just because brute force works, Issei."
"Yes, President! I'll train harder and keep working on it!"
With Issei's spirited reply, everyone returned to training.
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The following day, Sunday, was Issei's big date with Akeno-senpai.
The two had deliberately gone separately to their meeting spot, though Rias, Asia, Xenovia, and Irina had decided to secretly tail them. Sunglasses, masks, and hats could only do so much when you've got Rias's crimson hair or Xenovia's blue hair standing out like neon signs. At least they could've used magic to change their hair color.
Me? Along with Koneko and Kuroka, I saw them off but didn't follow. Even I wouldn't go so far as to sabotage a friend's date.
"Kuroka, Koneko, do either of you have plans today?"
"Nothing in particular, nya~. What about you, Shirone?"
"I don't really have any plans either… but… um…"
She trailed off suddenly. Hm? Something on her mind?
"Nya? What is it, Shirone? You want to do something?" Kuroka prodded gently.
After hesitating, Koneko finally looked up, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Ikki-senpai! Why don't we go on a date too?"
Wha, !? That's… surprisingly straightforward.
No mistaking it, she was thinking about Issei and Akeno's date.
"Hmm. Sounds good to me. Go for it, Shirone," Kuroka smirked.
"Ah! But maybe… if you'd like, Onee-sama could come too, and we could go as three, "
"No need to worry about me, nya. Shirone finally mustered the courage to invite you, Ikki. If I tagged along, I'd just be a third wheel. …Though a three-person date does sound fun. Maybe another time, nya~."
Come to think of it, I've gone shopping with Kuroka and Koneko plenty of times, but we've never gone on an official 'date.' Maybe this is the perfect chance.
"All right, then! Let's go have some fun, no, let's go on a date, Koneko-chan."
"Yes! Thank you so much, Ikki-senpai!"
"Though… hmm…"
I paused, frowning slightly. Her golden eyes shimmered nervously.
"D-Do you not want to after all…?"
"Sorry, sorry, not that. I was just wondering where we should go. We've walked around town plenty already, and if we went shopping, we'd risk bumping into Issei's date."
I could avoid them by stretching my awareness, but I'd rather not spend our whole time worrying about that.
"Then… how about the amusement park? It's a classic, but if it's not a holiday, the crowds should be manageable."
"A solid idea. The classics are classics for a reason. We'll have to be back by evening since Ravel's coming over, but a teleport will fix that."
And so, our sudden amusement park date was decided.
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Next time: the amusement park date, with some comedic twists.
(Oh, and for the record: Ophis is everyone's mascot. Not a heroine.)