The start of a new week greeted Issei with a cool morning breeze. Ikki had dropped him off before heading to see his girlfriend, leaving Issei to walk toward the locker room with his posters tucked under his arm. He'd finally bought a proper lock the day after his mall trip, so no more hiding things in secret corners.
As he walked, excited whispers rippled through the courtyard. Curious, he glanced over his shoulder.
Takeshi was walking with Rias Gremory.
They looked… close. Too close. Takeshi's face was slightly red, but he still looked confident.
'He was with that black‑haired chick just this weekend… is he two‑timing them?'
Issei stopped mid‑step.
That used to be his dream, having multiple girlfriends, a harem, the whole fantasy. But seeing Takeshi doing it in real life… it didn't look cool. It looked scummy, if Takeshi was toying with the black-haired girl. It made him feel bad for that black‑haired girl.
'I really was a prick for wanting that… breaking hearts, playing with emotions… that's not right.'
He silently thanked every adult and senpai who had steered him away from that path in the past week and walked a new path.
That peace lasted all of three seconds.
"ISE, YOU TRAITOR!"
"Huh?!" Issei barely dodged the incoming double‑fist strike from Motohama and Matsuda. 'Oh great. They're back.'
He had enjoyed the quiet while they were gone.
Motohama blinked. "Huh? Why'd you dodge?"
Matsuda frowned. "Yeah, man, you usually just take it."
Issei exhaled sharply. "What do you want?"
"How dare you patch up our secret hiding hole!" Matsuda barked.
"Yeah! What's your deal?" Motohama added.
"I told you I did that last week. Or did your time away make you forget?"
Students nearby murmured. "Hyoudou patched the peephole?"
"No way. Probably one of the princes."
Issei caught Takeshi in the corner of his eye, not denying it, but he wasn't accepting the credit, even if Issei thought so.
'Of course. Taking credit for someone else's work.'
Matsuda jabbed a finger at him. "Not cool, dude!"
"Yeah! Now we gotta find a new spot!"
"Good luck with that," Issei muttered, turning away.
"Hey, you got new posters! Lemme see!"
"Back off!" Issei jerked his bag away.
"You owe us new content after the student council took our porn," Motohama said. "Where'd you hide yours?"
"I didn't bring any. And I'm not planning to."
"Got it!" Matsuda snatched a poster roll.
"Hey! Give that back!" Issei retorted.
Motohama blocked him while Matsuda unrolled the poster.
"What the hell is this?!" Matsuda yelled, tossing it to the ground as a giant robot stared up at them.
"No boobs, man!"
Motohama grabbed another. "Probably grabbed the wrong one."
"Knock it off!" Issei snarled, anger rising.
Motohama unrolled the second. "Huh? Another robot? Dude, what happened to you?"
One by one, they tossed all four posters to the ground.
Students stared. The Perverted Beast… doesn't have porn?
Issei trembled not with fear, but with fury. This was the second time his posters had been thrown to the ground.
Motohama misread it completely. "Hey, don't sweat it. Those posters weren't worth anything."
"Yeah," Matsuda smirked, kicking dirt onto one. "We'll go this weekend and get the good stuff."
That tiny kick snapped something inside Issei.
"Fuck you!" He roared and tackled Matsuda to the ground.
"I'm sick and tired of your bullshit!" Each word punctuated by a punch. "I wish I never met either of you fucks!"
His knuckles split. Matsuda's face bloodied. Before he could land another blow.
"ISSEI!" Kenichi tackled him off, pinning him down.
"Let me go!"
"No! This is not the time!" Kenichi barked. "Mizunuma! Get Matsuda to the infirmary!"
Issei thrashed, glaring murderously at the former friends of his, while trying to get out of his senpai's grip.
Nearby, Miu and Renka gathered the posters, brushing dirt off them.
Miu picked up a Dragon Ball one and blinked. 'Isn't this why he wanted to join Kenichi‑kun's club?'
She looked up, only to meet Issei's glare. A glare that screamed for her to not judge him.
Kenichi dragged him away. "You're coming with me."
Renka clapped her hands. "Alright, show's over! Get to class!"
Students dispersed, whispering. No one expected Issei to snap like that. No one expected him to have no porn. And no one expected the Perverted Beast to look… dangerous.
Renka handed Miu the bag and briefcase. "Take these to Kenichi. Issei dropped them."
"Why can't you?" Miu asked.
"I need to explain to the student council that this was self‑defense." Renka sighed.
"As if they'll believe that."
"They have to. It's his second violent incident and it's only week two." Renka shook her head.
Miu crossed her arms. "Why do you care? Wouldn't it be better if he left the club?"
Renka sighed. "Maybe you should spend time with him. He's really trying to change. Remember, you said seeing is believing."
"And leave you alone with Kenichi? Hell no!"
Renka stuck her tongue out and walked off.
Miu sighed and headed toward the dojo.
Kenichi had to slam Issei against the wall of the dojo, when they got there, his eyes sharp. "What is the matter with you?"
"Nothing." Issei growled back.
"That's a lie. You can't just snap at everyone."
"And do nothing?!" Issei shot back. "They were trashing my stuff! Nobody did anything! So I did!"
"That doesn't mean you resort to violence."
"I do! Because no one cares what happens to me in this school!"
Kenichi's expression softened. The stigma was eating Issei alive. Lust had turned into anger and Kenichi recognized that path all too well.
"This club cares about you," Kenichi said quietly. "We're trying to help you. You were opening up."
"No. Only a few care. And you'll be gone by the end of the year." Issei snorted.
"Maybe. But you still can't let others control your emotions."
"Easy for you to say."
Kenichi sighed. "You're right. But I was like you. Mizunuma probably told you, I was the most bullied kid until I grew into who I am now."
"Uh huh. In two years. And you got your harem too. Next..."
"You're still on about that?" Kenichi cut him off.
"No, but I..."
"If multiple girls liking one guy is what's bothering you, then I haven't done my job."
Issei looked away. "It's a little of that. I'm jealous, sure. That's why I want a girl who's never heard of my reputation…"
Kenichi chuckled. "You know I was a pervert too, right?"
Issei blinked. "Huh?"
"Yeah. I had my moments. Kensei used to show me spots to catch Miu and Shigure‑sensei bathing."
"What?! Who's Kensei?"
"Renka's father."
"The one who taught you Chinese kenpo?" Issei remembered her mentioning that.
"Yep. He's quite the pervert himself."
Issei stared at Kenichi, frustration simmering beneath his skin.
"Is that why you put Renka‑senpai with me?" he muttered. "Because she can handle her perverted father, so she can handle me?"
Kenichi shook his head. "No. I paired her with you because she was the one you met when you came to tell me you were joining the club. And… I'm going to need you to stay away from it for a bit."
Issei's expression darkened. "Kicking me off. I should've expected that."
"No," Kenichi said firmly. "I want you to stay away because of your anger. Other than Renka, Ikki, Mizunuma, and myself, you haven't made many friends. People will use your reputation against you. If they exploit that anger, you'll be blinded by it and anyone can beat you. I don't want you bursting out again. Keep your emotions in check. Understand?"
"…Yeah. Sure." Issei relaxed.
Kenichi held him against the wall a moment longer before finally releasing him as footsteps approached.
Shigure stepped out of the dojo, her expression unreadable. "What's… going on… out here?"
Kenichi bowed slightly. "Sorry, Shigure‑sensei. I was holding Issei to cool him off. He got into a tussle this morning."
Shigure's violet eyes drifted to Issei. He avoided her gaze immediately.
'He continues to hide himself,' she thought.
"Hey," Miu called as she approached, holding a bag and briefcase. "These are for you."
Issei accepted them stiffly. "Thanks, Fūrinji‑senpai."
Miu blinked. 'He called me by my last name…?'
He called everyone else by their first name... well, except Ukita, but most people didn't. Issei didn't linger. He walked past them, entered the locker room, stored his posters, and left for class without another word.
Miu frowned. "What was that about?"
Kenichi sighed. "I told him he needs to keep his emotions in check. Otherwise his opponents will get to him."
Shigure spoke softly. "He… hides himself… you know."
"Hides himself?" Miu repeated. "How? He's one of the biggest perverts in school."
"His eyes," Shigure murmured.
"Huh?"
Kenichi nodded. "Some say the eyes are a window to the soul."
"Exactly," Shigure said. "It shows… in his eyes."
Kenichi folded his arms. "I wonder what he's afraid to show us."
Shigure turned away. "Himself." With that, she slipped back into the dojo.
Miu stared after her. "Himself…?"
Kenichi shrugged. "She has a point. We don't really know his interests. Other than training to prove something."
Miu glanced at the posters in her hands. "Those might be a clue."
"Maybe. Come on, we'll be late."
Issei was surprised he hadn't been summoned to the student council yet. He washed the dried blood from his knuckles and entered class. Students eyed him warily.
'Better than disgust,' he thought. 'Well… from some of them.'
Motohama flinched and moved seats.
'Good. One less headache.' Issei thought as he tried to calm down but Kenichi's words lingered. 'I let people get to me. I'm too easy to provoke. If I don't fix that… I'll never reach my dream.'
He reached into his bag and pulled out the samurai book.
'Good thing I brought this.'
Classes passed quietly, though the occasional stare made his jaw tighten. He wanted to yell at them but that would undo everything he'd worked for this past week.
When lunch came, he didn't go to Elize's office as he needed space to think. So he decided to head for the roof like he had seen in anime that he's watched in the past.
"Ara~ ara~… you shouldn't be going up there."
Issei turned. Akeno Himejima stood at the base of the stairs, smiling sweetly. Too sweetly.
His eyes flicked to her chest. 'Damn it.' He forced his gaze away, cheeks heating.
"Are you going to stop me?" he asked.
"Perhaps," she teased. "Maybe I should tell the student council."
A growl rumbled in his throat. That same uneasy feeling he got from Yuuto, Takeshi, and Rias crept up his spine.
"Tch." He walked past her and up the stairs.
Akeno blinked, surprised he brushed her off so easily. Then she smiled and headed back toward the ORC.
Issei found a quiet corner on the roof, sat down, and opened his book. Before he could read, his phone buzzed and saw that he had a text message from Ikki.
Ikki: Hey, I heard what happened. You alright?
Issei: I'm fine.
Ikki: Kenichi said he wants you away from the club for a bit, but you can still do your workouts.
Issei: How so?
Ikki: Use that anger in the gym. Whenever you get pissed off, go there and vent it out. You'll stay in shape and keep growing.
Issei: I'll do that. Thanks.
Ikki: Nobody messes with my stuff either. I'd have done the same. You'll turn it around. I got faith in you.
Issei exhaled slowly. 'Yeah… maybe the gym is the right place for this.'
He put his phone away and opened the book.
The first chapter discussed the samurai mindset and having ambitious goals, unwavering discipline, and the understanding that results were the byproduct of consistent effort.
'That's me… or at least who I want to be.'
A sticky note fell out. "Discipline separates those who get it done from those who settle for mediocrity." It said.
Issei smiled faintly. 'Mitsurugi‑shishou must've added this. No wonder he looks like a beast… so cool.'
Another note read: "Like the samurai, you need both physical and psychological training."
He nodded. 'Ikki-senpai said the same thing…'
"Mind if I join you?" a voice chimed.
Issei nearly jumped and turned to the source of the voice. Akeno stood there again but this time with a tea tray.
"Himejima‑senpai? What is that?"
"Green tea," she said gently. "You looked like you needed it."
"So when should I expect the student council to come get me?"
"They won't," she said, setting the tray down.
Issei narrowed his eyes. He remembered the ORC. Yuuto Kiba. Rias Gremory. That strange feeling.
"No thanks," he said, scooting away.
Akeno pouted. "I didn't put anything in it."
"Sorry. I just don't feel comfortable around you."
"Why's that?" she asked, voice turning silky. "I don't bite."
'I beg to differ,' he thought, fighting the urge to blush.
Discipline. He needed discipline.
"It's just tea," she coaxed.
"Maybe. But I don't see why you'd be nice to me unless you're planning something."
"I'm planning nothing," she said with a soft smile. "You looked agitated. I thought you'd like some tea. Try it before it gets cold."
Reluctantly, Issei accepted the cup but he didn't drink.
Akeno sighed, poured herself a cup, and took a sip. "See? I drank it first. If anything happens to you, it'll happen to me too. Okay?"
Issei waited a few seconds, half expecting the tea to explode, turn him into a frog, or curse him with eternal embarrassment before finally lifting the cup to his lips.
His eyes widened. "…This is good. Wow."
Akeno smiled softly. "Thank you. I must say, you put on quite a show this morning."
Issei immediately tensed, shoulders rising like a startled cat.
Akeno raised her hands in surrender. "Before you ask, no one from my club saw it. Other than me. I was surprised that Rias and Takeshi‑kun didn't stay longer."
Issei narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"
"As I said," she replied, voice honey‑smooth, "nothing. I just thought I could help my precious kohai."
A shiver ran down his spine. 'Nope. Nope. That tone is dangerous.'
He stood abruptly, packing his things. He handed the cup back to her.
"Huh? I thought you liked it," Akeno said.
"The tea was nice. Thanks for that, Himejima‑senpai." He slung his bag over his shoulder. "But I feel like you're just playing with me. I don't know why since you're obviously not interested in someone like me. I'm the local pervert of this school. So I can only assume you're planning some elaborate prank to embarrass me. And there's nothing I can do, because you won't get in trouble."
His voice grew quieter, but sharper.
"I'm just the school pervert. You'd be doing everyone a favor. Just like the bastards who beat me up, they all got away scot‑free. You could push me down a flight of stairs and no one would bat an eye. So no thanks. I'm not playing your game."
He left her standing there on the rooftop. Akeno watched him go, pouting. She had expected him to melt under her teasing, maybe blush and stammer. Instead, he rejected her outright.
And yet… she had felt something earlier. A spark. A strange energy when his anger flared. She wasn't sure what it was, but she wanted to get closer if only to understand it. Maybe it could even help her mistress.
Issei walked back to class with mixed emotions. Proud for resisting Akeno and also disappointed for resisting Akeno.
His perverted side screamed internally about the "wondrous breasts" he had just turned down. His disciplined side slapped that part of him across the face.
'It could've been a prank. A setup. A trap. Better to avoid the ORC entirely.'
He added them to his mental "Do Not Trust" list, right next to the student council. It sucked, though. A part of him had hoped Yuuto was actually chill. He wanted a friend in his own grade.
Back in class, he was relieved Akeno didn't follow him. The room was empty, so even if she had, no one would've seen them together.
Lessons passed smoothly. He even answered questions correctly. He gave himself a tiny fist pump under the desk.
'Discipline is working.'
Matsuda glared at him with a swollen cheek. Motohama avoided eye contact entirely. Issei ignored both of them as they were not his problem for the time being.
When the final bell rang, Issei stayed seated. His teacher blinked at him.
"Hyoudou‑san, class is over. You may go."
"I know, sensei. But… could you check outside and see if..." He described Renka's appearance. "...is out there? And if she is, please tell her I already left."
The teacher stared at him. "Very well. Wait here. Quietly."
Issei nodded.
Minutes passed. Too many minutes.
His nerves tightened. 'If it's not Renka-senpai… who is it?' He didn't want to talk about this morning. Not to anyone except Elize. Yu‑Mi might scold him, but at least she'd listen.
Finally, the teacher returned, sighing. "Teenagers…" He pressed a finger to his lips.
They waited a little longer. Then the teacher peeked outside again, nodded, and motioned for Issei to go.
Issei bowed gratefully. The teacher didn't understand him, why a pervert would avoid a girl waiting for him, but he didn't pry. The boy's grades were improving. That was enough.
Issei crept through the halls like a seasoned fugitive. His old peeping routes came in handy, ironically. He reached the locker room, grabbed his posters, and headed to the nurse's office.
He stopped at the door.
'What if they're… doing something?' His perverted side perked up, while his newly developed disciplined side karate‑chopped it.
He gulped as he knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Elize called out as he entered.
Thankfully, both women were fully dressed and calm.
'Good. No awkwardness.'
Elize grinned. "Well, well, well, there's our little fighter."
Issei blushed. "H‑huh?"
Yu‑Mi crossed her arms. "You went all day without getting your hand looked at after beating someone's face in."
"What makes you think it was me?"
Elize pointed at his hand. "Issei, we can see the bruising."
Yu‑Mi added, "And your senpai explained everything."
Issei lowered his head. "…Sorry."
"Put the bag down," Elize said gently. "Let's fix your hand."
He handed the bag to Yu‑Mi, who blinked but accepted it. Elize cleaned his knuckles, disinfected the cuts, wrapped them in bandages, and placed an ice pack over them.
Yu‑Mi rested a hand on his shoulder. "Want to tell us your side?"
Issei did. He explained everything, from the posters, the perverts, the expectations, the frustration, the feeling that no one cared. How a week wasn't enough to erase his reputation.
Yu‑Mi sighed. "All that for some posters?"
Issei blushed. "They were for you two…"
Elize laughed. "My, my. Keep giving us gifts and people will think something else about our relationship."
"It's not like that!" Issei yelped, face red. "I just thought you'd like them!"
Yu‑Mi unrolled a Dragon Ball poster. It was dirty but salvageable. "We can use them to decorate the apartment. Thank you, Issei."
"You're welcome…"
"But," Yu‑Mi continued, "we still need to deal with your anger. You can't lash out just because people mention your perverted past. You need discipline."
"I am!" Issei pulled out the samurai book. "Look, I'm following this. I started reading it at lunch."
Elize smirked. "So that's why you didn't come here."
"No... well, yes. I wanted to be alone. And I didn't want anyone messing with the posters again."
Yu‑Mi raised an eyebrow. "Where did you have lunch?"
"Please don't say the bathroom," Elize muttered.
"No… I was on the roof," Issei admitted.
Elize frowned. "You shouldn't have been up there."
"I know. But I needed space. You're not going to tell on me… right?"
Yu‑Mi shook her head. "No. You did what you needed to find peace of mind."
Elize laughed. "Look at you bending the rules, Yu‑Mi‑chan."
Yu‑Mi ignored her. "Where did you get this book?"
Issei sighed. "At the Shishi‑Oh. The kendo club was there. They harassed me about it. I lashed out. Kiba protected them. He also bought me new posters since the kendo duo ruined mine."
Elize leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "That was nice of him."
Issei nodded slowly. "Yeah… but he also gave me an uneasy feeling. Same with Himejima‑senpai."
Yu‑Mi raised a brow. "When did you meet her?"
"At lunch," Issei said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She saw me go up to the rooftop. I didn't care if she told the student council. But she said she wouldn't… and then she gave me tea."
Elize burst out laughing. "Tea? She gave you tea? Why?"
"She said I looked like I needed it," Issei muttered. "Which… she wasn't wrong. I was still frustrated about this morning."
Elize leaned forward. "Was it good?"
"What?"
"The tea, kiddo. Was it good?"
"Oh. Yeah, it was good." He sighed. "But I didn't finish it. I only took a sip. I felt like it was all a hoax from her and her club. A prank to humiliate me. After all… no one cares about the Perverted Beast. This morning proved that."
Elize smirked. "At least you got a good view."
Issei was confused. "What do you mean?"
"You can't tell me you didn't look at her breasts at least once."
Issei's face went crimson as he looked away.
"Haha! I knew it. Tell me... were they better than Yu‑Mi‑chan's?" Elize laughed.
Yu‑Mi sighed, rolling her eyes. "Why aren't you at your club?"
She noticed something, though. Issei hadn't once looked at her chest since learning she and Elize were together. He really did try to avoid ogling at someone else's partner.
Issei rubbed his arm. "Kenichi‑senpai told me to stay away for a while. Makes sense… my anger's made me lash out twice in two weeks."
Yu‑Mi nodded. "And this book, do you think it will help?"
"I think so. The guy who gave it to me… he seemed like he knew what he was talking about. He runs the shop. He's my boss and..."
"Wait, wait, wait," Elize cut in. "Your boss?"
Yu‑Mi's eyes widened. "You got a job?"
"Yeah," Issei said, cheeks warming. "Since the kendo duo harassed me, he wanted to know why. So I told him everything, from the harem king dream to why I believed in it. The same things I told you two. I was just honest. I guess he liked that. He said he needed help in the shop, so I..."
He didn't finish as both women pulled him into a hug.
Yu‑Mi smiled. "Congratulations."
Elize ruffled his hair. "You did good, kiddo. Your parents know, right?"
"Yeah. I told them I planned to look for something when I left on Saturday. We celebrated."
Yu‑Mi rested a hand on his head. "Well, try not to let your anger get to you. Since the kendo duo shops there, you'll have to tolerate them."
Issei blushed at the gentle contact. Not in a perverted way, just… warmth. Comfort. Then he remembered Ikki's advice and wriggled free.
"Sorry. I just remembered. Ikki‑senpai told me to go to the gym to vent my anger. So I'm heading there. I'll see you later, Elize‑sensei, Yu‑Mi‑sensei."
He hurried out.
Elize waved. "See ya."
Yu‑Mi smiled softly. "Take care."
A moment passed to ensure that they knew he was gone.
Elize blinked. "When did he start calling you 'sensei'?"
"When I was teaching him history," Yu‑Mi replied dryly. "You were too busy reading that manga to notice."
Elize froze. "Eh?"
Yu‑Mi chuckled. "Looks like he got you hooked on that manga."
"Hey, I could say the same about you and that mecha one."
"Haha, fair enough." Yu‑Mi shook her head. "You were right about him. He's not a bad kid. He just needed guidance."
Elize sighed. "I wonder why his parents never did it."
"Who knows," Yu‑Mi murmured. "He doesn't seem to have siblings. Only children get spoiled easily. Or… maybe he was the baby of the family. Maybe the only one they could conceive."
Elize's expression softened. "If that's true… they'd do anything to keep him happy. Maybe they lost children before him."
Yu‑Mi nodded. "Could be."
Elize clapped her hands. "Well, you better get home. Maybe find some frames for those posters."
Yu‑Mi picked up the bag. "Yeah. I'll see you in about ninety minutes."
Elize gave her a quick kiss. "Ninety minutes."
"Until then," Yu‑Mi said, leaving the office.
The ORC gathered in their dimly lit clubroom, tension thick in the air. Their mission had failed.
The fallen angel Takeshi had asked out had refused to join them. Worse, she had her own agenda. Rias feared she might be rogue. The last thing she wanted was to provoke a war between devils and fallen angels.
Rias sighed. "So we got nothing?"
Takeshi shook his head. "No. She bailed on me at the end of the date."
Rias turned to Yuuto. "What happened to you? I thought you were backing him up, just in case."
Yuuto grimaced. "I was… taken by my fans from the kendo club. They caused trouble at the store I was at."
Akeno giggled. "Ara~ ara~. Hopefully they don't ban you."
"I hope not," Yuuto said. "There was still much I wanted to check out."
Rias looked at Akeno. "Where were you at lunch?"
Akeno smiled. "On the roof."
"Sona's going to be mad." Rias shook her head.
"Perhaps," Akeno said sweetly. "Unless you don't tell her."
Takeshi smirked. "Maybe I could join you sometime, Akeno‑senpai."
"Oh my," she teased. "How nice of you. But I already had an interesting guest today."
Yuuto tilted his head. "Who?"
"Hyoudou Issei."
Koneko paused mid‑bite. "The pervert?"
"The one and only."
Takeshi scoffed. "I bet he just sat there gawking at your chest. You know how he always spouts about 'oppai' and harems."
Most of the club laughed.
Akeno shook her head. "He glanced once or twice. But he mostly wanted to read his book."
Takeshi snorted. "Probably about boobs."
"No," Akeno said. "It looked old. Really old."
Takeshi frowned. "Why was he up there with you?"
"I followed him," Akeno said. "He didn't invite me."
Koneko munched her sweets. "So the pervert found a new peeping spot."
Takeshi nodded. "Maybe we should inform Sona-kaichou. He shouldn't be roaming around."
Yuuto sighed. "He hasn't been roaming. And if he was, it wasn't to peep."
Takeshi raised a brow. "How can you be sure?"
"Because," Yuuto said calmly, "there haven't been any complaints about the Perverted Trio all last week."
"Weren't they suspended?" Takeshi countered.
"Hyoudou-kun wasn't," Yuuto said. "And the staff member supervising him confirmed that she and Issei clogged up every peeping spot in the school. I was there. According to her, Issei did nothing perverted. They talked about things. He has interests beyond breasts."
Takeshi scoffed. "How can you be so certain?"
Yuuto folded his arms. "He was in the shop I was at." Takeshi nodded at the answer.
Akeno added, "And he beat one of the perverts this morning. The bald one. I'm surprised you and Rias didn't stay to watch."
Takeshi waved a hand. "Thought it was a ploy, so I didn't want to get involved."
Koneko nodded. "Maybe the perverts are getting smarter. Make people think one of them isn't perverted. Lower their guard."
Takeshi smirked. "You may be right, Koneko‑chan."
Akeno twirled a strand of her hair, her smile faintly amused. "Maybe. We'll see. But he did seem a bit afraid of me."
Yuuto nodded thoughtfully. "Like he sensed something was off?"
Akeno blinked. "Yes… how did you know?"
"He gave me a similar look."
Rias crossed her arms, ruby eyes narrowing. "He's not a priority. We still need to figure out what Raynare is doing here. If she joined us, she'd be useful."
Takeshi stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Rias's shoulder. "Hey, we'll get you out of that marriage. I promise."
Rias softened, smiling up at him. "Thanks, Takeshi."
"Anytime."
Neither of them noticed the small bird perched outside the window and its eyes glowing faintly. Through that bird, a blonde man watched the scene unfold… and smirked.
After school, Issei went home, changed clothes, and headed to the gym. A different receptionist was working today, not Hikari. She was pretty enough, but the dirty look she gave him made his stomach twist.
'Great. Ikki‑senpai probably said something stupid again…'
Still, she didn't say anything to her coworkers, so at least his afternoon workouts weren't ruined.
Thanks to Ikki's coaching, Issei moved through his exercises with proper form. He didn't check his phone once. He didn't need to. He had a routine now.
Feeling good, he walked home afterward, planning to study proper bokken form online. He wanted to show Mitsurugi‑sensei... and maybe even Shigure‑sensei, that he wasn't a complete idiot. He wanted to prove he could learn.
And so the week passed. He was still in the same routine. Morning workouts with Ikki with boxing lessons. Lunch with Elize and Yu‑Mi, where Yu‑Mi patiently explained the samurai book's lessons.
One lesson confused him: "Upgrade your software."
Yu‑Mi explained it meant strengthening the mind, like taking cold showers daily. Elize added the health benefits: increased testosterone, reduced depression, improved discipline.
Issei nodded. He'd been taking cold showers since he started this journey. It made sense.
Afternoons were spent at the gym, venting his anger like Ikki suggested. Kenichi texted him occasionally, checking in. He also mentioned that Renka was upset as she waited for Issei every day after school, only to be told he had already left.
Issei felt a pang of guilt. He didn't really have friends. Not anymore. Not since Matsuda and Motohama betrayed him for their own amusement.
His senpais weren't friends, they were mentors. Elize and Yu‑Mi were the only ones he opened up to. He never mentioned his parents' miscarriages, but he understood now why they spoiled him. Why they never corrected him.
Even though it was not required by Mitsurugi, he still got the drug test done. He was sure it would come back clean. He might have been a pervert, but he wasn't a druggie.
He felt himself changing, both physically and mentally. He gave himself a mental fist pump every time he resisted old habits.
He sold the last of his porn. He wanted nothing tying him to his old self.
He even found a new song to sing himself to sleep.
Saturday arrived. It was rest day finally. Ikki still taught him boxing in the morning, but the rest of the day was his.
As he walked through town, he spotted Takeshi talking to a blonde girl in a nun's outfit.
'Another one bites the dust…' Issei facepalmed. 'My harem king dream made me look like a playboy. Not the image I wanted. Takeshi's living my old dream, now a cute blonde girl included.'
He was about to leave when he saw a green glow around the girl's hands. A little boy's scraped knee healed instantly.
Issei froze. 'What… what the hell did I just see?' He shook his head. 'Maybe it was a trick of the light.'
He headed toward a burger joint, only to see Takeshi and the nun walking inside.
'Ah, man… so much for a burger.'
He turned away. He didn't want Takeshi spreading rumors to someone who clearly wasn't from around here. He didn't need his reputation going international. He walked toward the park instead.
At the fountain, he saw the black‑haired girl from last weekend. She looked like she was waiting for someone. A light bulb went off in his head.
'Oh yeah. Takeshi…'
He debated telling her, but when he snapped out of his thoughts, she was already staring at him and that uneasy feeling returned. She waved him over.
He swallowed and approached. "Can I help you?"
"You were staring at me for quite some time," she said, voice sweet but sharp. "Are you interested in me or something?"
"No, no," Issei said quickly. "I was just shocked to see you here. I saw you talking to one of my school mates before. And I saw you on a date with him last weekend."
"You saw that?"
"Yeah. Then he was walking to school with one of my senpais. People think they're a couple. And now he's on a date with a blonde girl."
"A blonde girl?" she repeated, eyes narrowing.
"Yeah. She didn't seem to be from around here. Wearing a nun's outfit. I don't think she realizes the church is abandoned."
"Abandoned…?" The girl pondered.
"Uh‑huh. I used to go there with a friend. Their dad worked with the church." He noticed her jaw tighten but continued. "After they left, the church was abandoned. But lately it's been giving me a creepy feeling. I'd stay away if I were you."
"You don't say…"
"And no offense," Issei added, "but I kind of get an off‑setting feeling from you too."
Her eyes widened slightly. 'Does he know I'm a fallen angel? Impossible. He has no Sacred Gear… he's just a human.'
"Oh really?" she said. "And what's your name?"
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
"Perhaps," she said with a smirk. "But you were the one staring. So it's only right that my stalker introduces himself."
"I'm not a stalker," Issei frowned. "I was deciding whether to tell you your boyfriend was cheating. Which I did. So I'm going now."
"Wait!" she called. "Sorry, that was rude. Thanks for telling me. Considering he gave me this gift…" She held up a bracelet that looked somewhat expensive. "My name is Yuuma. Amano Yuuma. But my friends call me Raynare."
"Raynare? That doesn't sound anything like Yuuma." He shrugged. "But your real name sounds nice. 'Heaven's Evening Daze.' Way better than Raynare."
Yuuma blinked then blushed faintly. "You think so? And what's your name, stranger?"
"Issei. Hyoudou Issei."
Yuuma tilted her head, her dark hair swaying gently. "Huh… 'honest soldier,' is it? Then I guess I should take your word for it."
Her eyes shifted past Issei toward the burger shop entrance. "And it seems you were right about my… boyfriend."
Issei turned just in time to see Takeshi walk in with the blonde nun and he grimaced.
"I'll leave you to it," he said quickly. "I don't want to be part of your drama."
"Why not?" Yuuma smirked. "Let's show him up for the cheater he is."
"No thanks. He and I don't get along. He's the 'dark prince' of the school, and I'm the pervert."
Yuuma blinked. "Pervert? If that's the case… I'll let you feel my breasts if you help me out." She pushed her chest forward, deliberately enticing.
Issei flinched slightly as he looked at her chest but remained firm on his decision. "No thanks. But good luck with your relationship, if it lasts. Unless you girls have an agreement and are part of his harem."
Yuuma's eyes sharpened. "Harem? How do you know about that?"
"Oh? So it is an agreement." Issei shrugged. "I won't interfere then. Have a good day."
He turned and walked away before Takeshi could spot him.
Yuuma watched him go, her expression twisting. 'Pervert? Yeah right. Guess you weren't so honest after all, Issei Hyoudou… After all, how could you resist me?'
Issei headed toward the shopping district, stomach rumbling. He'd been craving Chinese food all week, maybe he could find something to cook with his mom later. She always said a man who could cook was attractive.
He stepped inside the restaurant, already imagining the smell of fried rice.
The hostess began to greet him. "Hi, welcome to—YOU!"
Issei froze.
Renka-senpai stood at the podium, dressed in a tight mid‑thigh Chinese dress that showed off her toned legs and curves. She looked stunning. She also looked furious.
Issei instinctively tried to retreat but Renka was already grabbing him by the ear.
"Re–Renka-senpai!"
"I don't want to hear it!" she snapped, dragging him to a table and shoving him into a seat.
He sat stiffly, eyes glued to the table. Renka slid into the seat across from him, arms crossed.
"Don't look away." Her voice was low, dangerous.
Issei gulped.
"You've been ignoring me, Issei."
"Well, I..."
"Don't deny it. You even sent your teacher out to check if I was waiting."
"…Yeah. I did."
"Why?" Renka urged.
Issei exhaled. "I didn't want to talk about what happened that morning. You would've confronted me, and it would've just made me mad again."
Renka's glare softened, barely. "Well, of course I was going to confront you. You're my kohai. And my student. That makes you my responsibility."
"…Sorry." He lowered his head.
"So," she said, leaning forward, "how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Ikki-senpai told me to go to the gym to vent. And I've been reading this book about discipline."
"Mhm." Her tone said she didn't buy it.
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"You avoided me for a week, Issei. I don't know what to believe."
"That's… understandable."
Renka tapped the table. "One of your posters showed a martial artist. Is that why you joined the club?"
"Somewhat… but yeah." He nodded.
"Finally, something of substance." Renka exasperated.
"Huh?"
"Issei, you open up more to the guys than to me. And I spend the most time with you."
"Actually, Ikki-senpai spends the most time with me. Morning workouts and all."
"It would have been me if you weren't such a prick this week."
"…I'm sorry."
"It'll take more than that." She sighed. "But at least you opened up a little. I never knew you liked Dragon Ball and robots."
"Are you a fan too?"
"No. But I didn't know anything about your interests besides breasts. It surprised me you didn't look at me after the ice bath."
Issei blushed. "Actually… I did look. But only because you were talking to me. I didn't expect the, um… well… that."
Renka raised a brow. "What?"
"The… view. With your shirt soaked. I'm sorry."
"Oh? So you've kept the image of my soaked breasts in your mind?"
"No!" His face turned scarlet. "No, no, no, not since that day! I haven't thought about them!"
"Really?" Renka raised an eyebrow, but she was slightly disappointed.
"I'm trying to move away from my perverted past, Renka-senpai. So no. I haven't."
Renka stared into his eyes, searching for any hint of deceit.
After a long moment, she nodded. "Very well."
She stood up abruptly.
Issei blinked. "Aren't you going to take my order?"
"No need. I know what you need."
She walked away, hips swaying slightly. Issei forced himself to stare at the table.
'Discipline. Discipline. Discipline.'
He failed a little as he caught a glimpse of her toned legs and perfect posterior from the corner of his eye.
'Wow… Renka-senpai really looks good in that dress…'
He sighed. He'd just have to wait for another waitress. Except none came. They all avoided him, assuming Renka was handling him.
He practiced his bokken form at the table, earning a few odd looks from customers. He didn't care as he needed the practice. He sensed someone approaching and nearly swung his imaginary bokken, but Renka dodged effortlessly.
"What are you doing?" she asked flatly.
"I'm, uh… practicing kendo. Sort of."
"Right." She set several dishes in front of him. "Well, time to bulk you up. Here we have traditional yangzhou fried rice and chow mein."
Renka tapped the table with her pen, eyes sharp. "Don't get the chow mein confused with the zhajiangmian." She pointed at the bowl with a knowing smirk.
Then she set down another plate. "And now we move on to the meats. We've got char siu, mapo tofu, sweet and sour pork, and of course… kung pao chicken."
Each dish landed in front of Issei like a culinary ambush.
Issei stared, overwhelmed. "This is… a lot of food. I don't think I..."
"Ah, ah, ah." Renka wagged a finger. "Don't worry about the word tofu. It's not vegetarian. It's beancurd with minced meat. Beef, in this case. And you also have xiaolongbao. I suggest you combo‑eat it with the rest."
Another dish appeared.
"And don't worry," she added, placing a cup beside him, "you can wash it all down with some green tea. Enjoy."
"But..."
"Do you want me to feed it to you?" Her smirk turned wicked.
Issei stiffened. In his mind, Renka wouldn't feed him gently, she'd shovel food into his mouth with malicious enthusiasm.
"N‑no, ma'am. Thank you for the food."
He immediately began eating at a frantic pace, terrified she'd take over if he slowed down. Renka smiled triumphantly and walked away.
Issei peeked from the corner of his eye, not to ogle her. Though the dress made that difficult, but it was more to confirm she was actually leaving.
'I better eat up…'
He shoveled food into his mouth like a soldier under fire. It may be seen as disrespectful in Japanese customs, but he felt that he should leave a generous tip. She was going above and beyond for him out of all people. He also had the worry of Renka might never teach him Chinese kenpo. And if she found out he worked nearby… he'd be doomed.
Dinner at the Fūrinji estate, which was also the new location of Ryōzanpaku, was peaceful, the warm glow of lanterns filling the room.
Kenichi sat with Miu and her father, Saiga, enjoying the quiet evening.
Saiga set down his chopsticks. "Tell me, Kenichi. How is your student doing?"
Kenichi blinked. "Oh, Issei? Well… he has some anger issues to work on."
"Oh?"
"He let his emotions get the best of him after two guys at school messed up his stuff."
Miu huffed. "You can call them what they are, Kenichi‑kun. They're the other perverts at our school, Otou‑sama."
Kenichi nodded. "Issei's former friends, to be specific. But something happened."
Saiga leaned forward. "What was that?"
"When his anger was provoked… I sensed a small spark of ki awaken in him."
Saiga's lips curled into a pleased smile. "Good."
Miu blinked. "What's so good about that?"
Kenichi looked at Saiga. "Could you explain, Saiga‑sama?"
Saiga folded his arms. "You said he was a pervert trying to change, correct?"
Miu nodded. "Yes."
"Then he would have been driven by lust if he stayed on that path. But now… it has shifted to wrath. Anger. He needs to hone it and mold it."
Kenichi added, "Ikki goes with him to the gym in the mornings. He told Issei to vent his frustrations there. And Issei's reading a book about discipline, a samurai's mentality."
Saiga's smile widened. "Even better. He's moving in the right direction. I trust you have not interfered with the demons at your school."
Kenichi shook his head. "No. We haven't."
"And they are not aware of your presence?"
"No. We're focusing on ourselves. We're not interfering with the supernatural."
"That is fine," Saiga said. "But if they try to make Issei a weapon… anger is a strong motivator."
Miu frowned. "Wouldn't they prefer to focus on his lust instead?"
"They would," Saiga replied. "Let them think he is just a pervert. Imagine their surprise when they learn he is not as much as one as before. A samurai's mentality will benefit him greatly. Continue to watch him grow."
Miu tilted her head. "Why do you care so much about him, Otou‑sama?"
Saiga chuckled softly. "I don't, really. I simply saw Kenichi in him. And I believe he could be… special. Besides..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I saw the way he looked at me as well."
Kenichi blinked. "What was that?"
Saiga leaned back, folding his arms with a faint, knowing smile. "He sees me as an obstacle. But he's years behind. Still… he'd like to be at my level."
Miu nearly choked on her tea. "I don't think Kenichi‑kun can get to your level yet and he was trained by Ojii‑sama."
Saiga chuckled. "That's right. Perhaps I should train this Issei in our style."
Miu slammed her hands on the table. "What!?"
"Haha," Saiga laughed, amused by her reaction. "He has a charm about him. You just need to look beneath that perverted exterior, Miu‑chan."
Miu puffed her cheeks. "Well… I know he's a nerd like Kenichi-kun can be. He didn't have anything perverted on him. I guess I'll consider it. But he'd need to come to the club."
Kenichi nodded. "When he's ready. I'll give it another week."
"Smart move," Saiga said. "When do tournaments begin?"
"In about a month."
Saiga's eyes gleamed. "Then perhaps we should throw him into the fire and see what he can do."
Miu snorted. "He'll get his ass kicked."
Saiga burst into laughter. "Perhaps. But maybe we'll see that spark again. And that is something worth looking forward to. For now, let us enjoy our meal."
"Hai," Kenichi and Miu said in unison.
The three continued eating, but the two teenagers couldn't shake the lingering thoughts. Saiga clearly had plans for Issei, plans that could shape the boy's future. There was still the looming possibility of Issei getting tangled in the supernatural, but Saiga had a point: anger was a powerful motivator. If guided properly, Issei might unlock his ki.
Maybe it was time to step up his training.
Kenichi glanced at his chopsticks, tightening his grip. 'I hope you're ready, Issei.'
Meanwhile, Saiga's thoughts drifted elsewhere. 'I wonder if Issei will turn out like Mitsuya… Only time will tell.'