29 days left
"Hey, Uzume," Issei said, tilting his head slightly. "Who's your friend?"
Before Uzume could respond, the redhead grinned mischievously, stepping forward and adjusting her glasses with a flash of light reflecting off the lenses.
"Friend? Oh, my dear, sweet, naïve Issei-kun," She purred, placing a hand on her hip. "I'm more than just a friend. You could say I've been keeping a very close eye on you."
Uzume groaned, already dreading where this was going. "Matsu, don't start…"
Issei blinked, confused. "Wait, how do you know my name and what do you mean 'keeping an eye on me'?" His eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't mean—"
"Oh, but I do~," Matsu cut in, her smile widening. "You see, I've been listening to everything since last night. Every. Single. Word."
Issei tensed slightly. "So, wait—you spied on us?"
Matsu chuckled, waving off his concern. "Oh, don't make it sound so dirty! I prefer the term information gathering. I simply had to know what kind of man waltzed into Maison Izumo, disrupted the status quo, and charmed our little Uzume so thoroughly~."
Uzume's face burned. "He didn't charm me!"
Issei raised a hand sheepishly. "I really didn't…"
Matsu merely smirked. "Oh, but you did get her all hot and bothered earlier. Didn't you, Uzume~?"
Uzume turned a shade of red that rivaled Matsu's hair. "You—! I wasn't—!" She groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "Can we not do this right now?!"
Matsu chuckled in satisfaction before turning her sharp gaze back to Issei. "Anyway, let's talk about you."
—----------------
The group soon found themselves seated inside Uzume's room, the atmosphere slightly more relaxed—if only marginally. Matsu had made herself comfortable, sitting cross-legged on the floor while adjusting her glasses.
"So, you already know my name, but let's make this official," she said, leaning forward. "I'm Matsu, the Sekirei of wisdom. A scientist, hacker, and overall genius."
"That's a lot of self-praise," Issei noted dryly.
She grinned. "It's earned praise."
Issei shook his head, but before he could ask anything else, Matsu suddenly narrowed her eyes at him, her playful demeanor momentarily shifting into something more inquisitive.
"You're an interesting one, Issei-kun." She mused. "I can't feel your presence at all. No aura, no presence… nothing. But Uzume can."
Uzume glanced at Issei. "Yeah, now that she mentions it, I do feel something from you, but it's kinda faint unless I focus."
Issei furrowed his brows. "Huh? I haven't done anything to hide my presence."
Matsu hummed, tapping her chin. "That makes it even more interesting. The fact that I can't pick up on you while Uzume can means something's at play here."
Issei scratched his cheek, thinking. "Maybe Sherri would know."
As he called out her name, Sherri's voice rang out.
"Yes, Master? Do you require assistance?"
Matsu's eyes widened in fascination, her glasses flashing. "Oh my… now this is interesting!" She scooted closer, staring intently at the watch. "That's an AI, isn't it? A highly advanced one, too! The vocal patterns, the response speed… Is she sentient? Does she have adaptive learning capabilities? What's her base programming? What kind of quantum computing structure does she use?"
Issei quickly pulled his arm away as Matsu reached for it. "Whoa, whoa, calm down! I'm not letting you take apart my arm!"
Matsu pouted. "Just a peek?"
"Absolutely not!"
Uzume snickered at the exchange but soon turned back to the matter at hand. "Sherri, why can't Matsu feel Issei's presence?"
"That would be due to the protective barrier that was formed around Issei when we entered the world of the Holy Grail War." Sherri explained.
"Uhhh. Don't remind me of that. It was the worst experience of my life." Issei interrupted with a shudder.
Sherri continued her explanation. "The World itself attempted to erase his existence, so the barrier was created using his own energy to prevent that. As a result, it conceals his presence from supernatural senses."
Issei frowned. "Wait… so I've been invisible to supernatural detection this whole time?"
"Correct. However, there is a limitation—the barrier does not prevent someone from sensing you if they have direct physical contact with you."
Matsu's expression lit up in intrigue. "Oho… now that is useful information." She adjusted her glasses before turning to Issei with a smirk. "Well then, Issei-kun, how about a little experiment?"
Issei blinked. "Huh?"
Matsu scooted even closer. "Let's hold hands~."
Uzume choked on air. "WHAT?!"
Issei, just as confused, stared at her. "Why?"
Matsu grinned. "Because I want to see if we have a connection. If we do, then I might just become your Sekirei~."
Uzume looked like she was about to have a meltdown. "Matsu, you can't just—!"
Issei, still processing, gave her a skeptical look. "And why exactly do you want to become my Sekirei?"
Matsu's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Because you're an anomaly. A walking mystery. And as a scientist, nothing excites me more than understanding the unknown."
Issei stared at her for a moment before shrugging. "Eh, I guess I don't see the harm."
Uzume groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Why am I surrounded by crazy people…?"
The moment their hands connected, Matsu felt it.
A surge of raw, unfiltered power rushed through her, an overwhelming force unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was beyond what Uzume had described—deeper, richer, more potent. Her breath hitched as every nerve in her body reacted, her Sekirei instincts screaming for a connection, for claiming, for possession.
Her heart pounded. This power… it's impossible. No human should have this much!
And yet, here he was. Issei Hyoudou. A being whose existence shattered the very limits of what she understood.
Matsu's analytical mind raced, running calculations, theories, and possibilities. If he had this much energy—if his sheer presence alone was enough to make her body respond like this—then theoretically he has enough power to wing No. 1.
Her red eyes widened behind her glasses, realization crashing into her like a tidal wave. That level of energy wasn't just rare—it was unheard of. Miya, the strongest of their kind, has been stated to never be able to be claimed by an Ashikabi. But if Issei truly possessed the power to do it.
Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Fascinating," She breathed, her fingers tightening around him. "Absolutely fascinating."
Issei blinked, confused. "Uh, you good?"
She wasn't. Not at all. And she wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
Before Issei could react, Matsu moved. With a swift, decisive motion, she pulled herself forward, her body pressing lightly against his as her hands slid up to cup his face.
And then—she kissed him.
"Spiritual and mental connection created." Sherri noted as a new bond was created between her master and the alien.
Issei's mind blanked.
One second, he was trying to process whatever the hell Matsu had been muttering about. The next, her lips were on his—soft, warm, and surprisingly bold. A spark of energy ignited between them, and suddenly, the room exploded with light.
The winging of a Sekirei.
Glowing feathers of pure energy manifested around them, fluttering in the air like divine symbols of the connection being forged. The bond between Ashikabi and Sekirei solidified in an instant, a flood of warmth flowing between them like a bridge linking their very souls.
Matsu felt it completely—the undeniable completion, the deep-rooted connection, the intoxicating rush of being claimed by someone whose power eclipsed any human in existence.
Her glasses slipped slightly down her nose as she pulled away, panting softly. Her wings, glowing ethereal constructs of light, spread wide behind her.
Then, with a sultry smirk, she whispered the words that would forever seal their bond.
"Wisdom of my pledge, bestow the teachings of the world, to my Ashikabi."
A final pulse of energy sealed the connection, causing the feathers to burst into shimmering fragments of light before fading into nothingness.
Uzume stood frozen, her mouth hanging open. "Matsu, WHAT THE HELL?!"
Issei just gawked, completely stunned. "…Huh?"
Matsu adjusted her glasses with a smug grin. "Ufufu~. Well, that was exhilarating." She turned her gaze to Issei, her eyes gleaming with mischief and scientific curiosity. "Looks like you're stuck with me now, Issei-kun~."
Issei groaned. "Oh, come on!" How the hell was going to explain this to the girls back home.
A deep, rumbling voice came from Issei's other hand, filled with curiosity and mild concern.
(Partner… something's different this time.)
Bringing greater curiosity to Matsu over her Ashikabi possessing a dragon in his arm.
Issei blinked. "Huh? What do you mean, Ddraig?"
(When you bonded with the first woman, I barely felt a difference. But now, after winging this second one, I can feel something happening to you.)
That got his attention. "Wait, something's happening to me? Like what?"
Matsu adjusted her glasses, her sharp red eyes gleaming with excitement. "Oho~ now that's interesting. It seems like you're finally starting to feel the perks of being an Ashikabi!"
Uzume looks confused. "Ashikabi gain perks. I thought getting a cute, devoted alien waifu was the only thing they gain from winging a Sekirei."
Matsu ignored her. She leaned forward, hands on her lap, her voice slipping into full researcher mode. "The Ashikabi-Sekirei bond is a mutual exchange. Usually, the Ashikabi gains benefits over time—enhanced strength, improved health, sharper reflexes and a general boost to their overall vitality. These perks get stronger the more time the Ashikabi spends with their Sekirei, deepening their bond naturally."
Issei's brow furrowed. "So, it's kinda like training? The more we interact, the stronger we get?"
"More or less," Matsu confirmed. "But there's also another way to increase the benefits much faster—by winging more Sekirei."
Issei blinked. "Wait, what?"
Matsu smirked. "The bond doesn't just strengthen over time—it also amplifies when an Ashikabi connects with multiple Sekirei. Think of it as a network of energy. The more connections, the more power that flows through it."
Ddraig let out a huff. (Sounds like a cheap power-up method. Partner, are you seriously collecting power-ups through kisses now?)
Issei groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ddraig, please don't put it like that. You're making me sound like some kind of pervy gacha game protagonist…"
"You are a perv." Uzume snorted, covering her mouth to keep from laughing. Matsu, on the other hand, looked positively thrilled.
"But now I have another question for you, my dear Ashikabi." She purred, adjusting her glasses. "You're interested in what an Ashikabi gains—but what about us? What do Sekirei gain from searching for an Ashikabi in the first place?"
Issei nodded. "Yeah, actually, that's a good point. If you all get stronger from the bond, why not just wing with anyone?"
Matsu's expression shifted, her playful smirk softening into something more thoughtful. "Because we can't."
Issei frowned. "Huh?"
"The bond isn't just about power. It's about compatibility," Matsu explained. "Sekirei don't just bond with anyone. We search for someone who is truly compatible with us, someone who we can create a strong connection with. The stronger the love between an Ashikabi and their Sekirei, the more powerful the Sekirei becomes."
She held up a finger, giving him a sly smile. "But that's not the only reason."
Issei tilted his head. "There's more?"
Matsu's smirk widened. "Sekirei are instinctively drawn to strong Ashikabi. Not just for power, but for something even more primal." Matsu leaned in, eyes twinkling mischievously. "We seek strong Ashikabi because we want strong children."
Issei immediately choked on his own spit. "WH—EXCUSE ME?!"
Matsu, completely unfazed, continued. "It's simple genetics, my dear Ashikabi! Stronger mates lead to stronger offspring. It's basic evolutionary logic."
Issei's face turned red as a tomato. "W-Wait, wait, wait! So you're telling me that this whole Sekirei bond thing is also about… making babies?!"
Matsu tapped her chin in mock contemplation. "Mmm… not exclusively. But the stronger the Ashikabi, the stronger the urge to mate. And considering how ridiculously powerful you are—" She gave him a teasing smile, eyes half-lidded. "Well, let's just say my instincts are going crazy right now."
Issei gulped at just how intense Matsu looked at him.
Ddraig snorted, making his voice be heard. (Heh. The gene pool in this world must be pathetic if you are considered the best option. If we were in our world, there'd be far stronger candidates than you, Partner.)
"HEY!" Issei shot back. "I'm plenty strong, thank you very much!"
Matsu chuckled, nudging his shoulder playfully. "Relax, Issei-kun~. I wouldn't have bonded with you if I didn't find you irresistibly fascinating."
Issei soon became embarrassed. "I see, uh thanks."
"Now that I'm officially your Sekirei, you have no reason to keep any secrets from me, right, Ashikabi-sama?" she purred, her voice brimming with barely restrained curiosity.
Matsu's hands were already on his shoulders, shaking him eagerly. "The watch! What is it? What does it do? How does it work? Where did you get it? Who made it? What abilities does your AI have? How many worlds have you seen? What abilities do you have? What are you? What is Ddraig? What's the Boosted Gear? How did you acquire it? Are you open to experimentation? When are we leaving for your world? And can I take the watch apart to study it?"
"Matsu, calm down!" Uzume shouted, waving her hands in exasperation.
Matsu was practically bouncing on her toes, her grip tightening on his sleeve. Issei gulped, trying to think of a way to slow her down before he drowned in her rapid-fire interrogation.
"Uh—Matsu, let's just—breathe for a second," he said, raising both hands in a placating gesture. "You're throwing a lot at me right now."
"But it's all so interesting!" Matsu whined, squeezing his arm tighter. "Come on, you can't just expect me to sit on the sidelines when you're walking around with a device that can traverse dimensions! Do you have any idea what I could do with that kind of technology?! The research! The discoveries! The possibilities! Ohhh, I'm tingling all over just thinking about it!"
"That was a whole dissertation worth of questions!" Issei groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can I even answer half of those?"
Uzume slumped onto the futon, rubbing her forehead. "Trust me, you won't be able to keep up with her when she gets like this. Matsu's a walking supercomputer. If she finds something interesting, she has to break it down to its core, understand every last bit of it, and then probably improve it."
Matsu was still vibrating with excitement, her gaze darting between Issei and the watch strapped to his wrist. Her fingers twitched, itching to take it apart. "Just a peek inside," she murmured. "Just a little scan—maybe a diagnostic—"
Issei sighed and placed a firm hand on her head, ruffling her hair in an attempt to distract her. "Okay, okay, I'll try to answer some of that, but one thing at a time, alright?"
Matsu pouted but relented. "Fine, but I'm holding you to that!"
Issei took a breath, gathering his thoughts. "So, the watch... Honestly? I have no idea how it works. I just know that it lets me travel to different dimensions."
Matsu blinked. "Wait, you don't even know?"
"Yup. No clue."
She stared at him as if he'd just confessed to being a caveman who stumbled upon the internet. "...That is the most absurdly reckless and stupidly cool thing I've ever heard."
"Yeah, well, that's simply how I am."
Sherri's voice suddenly spoke up, her digital tone calm but firm. "The information regarding the watch's origin and functions is classified—even to me."
Matsu's eyes widened. "Wait, even the AI doesn't know?!"
"My primary functions are to help Issei's connection to the watch, providing support, and ensuring his safety." Sherri explained.
Matsu crossed her arms, muttering, "That's suspicious..."
Uzume whistled. "Dang, so even your talking watch doesn't have the answers."
Matsu wasn't satisfied, though. "Okay, if the watch is a mystery, what about you? What are you?"
Issei scratched the back of his head. "Well, uh, I'm just a regular human. Before the watch entered my life. It all started when I was out one night, running through the park. I saw a comet streaking through the sky, and before I could even react, it crash-landed right on me."
Uzume winced. "Oof, sounds painful."
"Oh, I definitely thought I was dead," Issei admitted. "But instead of, you know, being splattered all over the pavement, I woke up with this thing—" He gestured to the Dimensional Watch "—fused to my wrist."
Matsu's eyes gleamed with fascination. "So you didn't find it, it found you."
Issei shifted uncomfortably under Matsu's intense gaze, feeling like a specimen under a microscope. "Yeah, pretty much. Then after that, the Boosted Gear appeared after Sherri discovered it hidden inside me. Apparently, it's been inside me since birth." Issei soon materializes the Boosted Gear.
Before Matsu could bombard Issei with even more questions, a deep, rumbling voice echoed from the Boosted Gear.
(Hmph. If you wish for true understanding, then allow me to speak.)
Matsu gasped, her eyes locking onto the crimson gauntlet on Issei's arm. "Is this the one called Ddraig?!"
Issei sighed, already knowing what was coming. He flexed his fingers, causing the emerald jewel on the gauntlet to glow. "That's right. And no, he's not an AI."
(I am the Red Dragon Emperor, one of the Two Heavenly Dragons, the Welsh Dragon, Ddraig.)
Matsu's mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again. "...I'm sorry, did you just say dragon?"
(Indeed. I am a being who once shook the heavens and battled gods. My soul resides within the Boosted Gear, a Sacred Gear granted to select humans by the Biblical God himself. This relic.) Ddraig's voice rumbled with pride as the gem on Issei's gauntlet pulsed. (Is one of the Thirteen Longinus, powerful artifacts that can slay even gods if wielded properly.)
Matsu's eyes twitched. "Sacred Gear? Biblical God? Did you just say gods in the plural? Like, more than one?"
"Oh, right." Issei rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, uh… so gods are real too."
Matsu visibly staggered. "Wait—wait—wait! You're telling me dragons, magic, gods, other worlds, and who-knows-what-else all exist?! This is way beyond advanced technology—this is science fiction levels of crazy!"
Uzume smirked. "Welcome to the wonderful world of my hobby, where nothing makes sense, but it somehow works out anyway."
Ddraig scoffed. (The fact that you an alien exist should prove that magic can exist. The Boosted Gear is a fusion of divine power and sorcery, allowing me to manifest through it should also prove it.)
Matsu's brain was running at light speed. "But—but how?! Magic is supposed to be fantasy! It defies every known law of physics!"
Issei chuckled. "You say that, but you're fine with the rest of what I do existing?"
Matsu opened her mouth, paused, and groaned. "Okay, fair point."
(Now let me continue.)
"You just love telling this story." Issei mumbled as he remembered how many times he told the story.
(Long ago, I was one of the strongest dragons to ever exist. I fought my rival, Albion, the White Dragon Emperor, for centuries. Our battles ravaged the world, shaking the very foundations of existence.) Ddraig's voice carried both pride and regret. (During our many fights, it led us towards the biblical war of Devils, Angels, and the Fallen. Causing a ceasefire as they soon had to deal with us. But our strength was too great. Finally the Biblical God and the Four Great Satans intervened, sealing us away inside these Sacred Gears, ensuring that our power would not bring further destruction."]
Matsu's expression was unreadable as she processed everything. "So you—this massive, legendary dragon—got turned into… a fancy gauntlet?"
(Do not belittle me, woman!) Ddraig growled, and the gauntlet briefly flared with red energy.
Issei sighed, patting the Boosted Gear. "Easy, Ddraig. She's just trying to wrap her head around all of this."
"So what does this thing do?" Matsu questions with Uzume leaning forward interested.
(The main ability of the gauntlet allows my host to increase his power in the form of a Boost.)
Matsu exhaled, rubbing her temples. "So let me get this straight. You have a dragon in your arm, which is also a god-slaying artifact, made by a god, and it lets you boost your power indefinitely?"
"Every ten seconds," Issei corrected.
Matsu's eye twitched. "That's broken. That's so broken."
Issei snorted. "It's not that impressive. For one there's only a certain amount of Boosts I can handle. Plus every Boost takes away from my stamina and magic."
Matsu took a deep breath. "Okay… okay… fine. Magic is real, dragons are real, dimensions are real, and my Ashikabi is walking around with all of the above strapped to his wrist and arm." She suddenly grabbed Issei's shoulders, shaking him wildly. "DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY THINGS I CAN DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?!"
Issei yelped, struggling to break free. "Matsu! Can you let go?! It's starting to hurt!"
"I NEED TO STUDY EVERYTHING! Do you realize how much I can learn?! I have to recalibrate my entire understanding of the universe!"
Uzume laughed. "Welp, you broke her."
Matsu stopped shaking Issei and pressed her forehead against his. "Ashikabi-sama, I need access to everything. Every spell, every bit of magical theory, every artifact, every record of interdimensional travel. Everything."
Issei groaned, already regretting this conversation. "I don't even know that much magic!"
Matsu's glasses glinted ominously. "Then we'll just have to fix that." A grin of pure scientific excitement stretched across her face. "This. Changes. Everything."
Soon Matsu took Issei out of the room with Uzume following behind.
—----------------------------------
Issei barely had time to blink before Matsu threw him into her secret room and was suddenly behind him, her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she peered at the Boosted Gear and the watch on his arms with a hungry fascination.
"Alright, Ashikabi-sama! Time for some science!" She announced, her voice practically vibrating with glee.
"Wait, wha—?!"
Before he could protest, Matsu dragged him onto a large circular pad in the middle of her lab. The floor was covered in cables, glowing monitors, and suspicious-looking devices that beeped ominously. The screens flickered to life, projecting various scans of Issei's body, the watch, and the Boosted Gear in rapid succession.
Uzume leaned against the doorway, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Where did you even find all this stuff, Matsu?"
"Eh, around."
Uzume stared at her. "Around?"
Matsu gave her an innocent smile.
Uzume sighed, running a hand down her face. "You know what? I don't even wanna know."
Issei, meanwhile, sat frozen in the middle of the lab, wires strapped to his arms, the Boosted Gear glowing faintly as a dozen holographic displays flashed around him. Sherri's calm voice echoed from his watch.
"Miss Matsu, I must remind you that Master's biological structure and the Boosted Gear's functions are not fully documented in any known scientific database. Your equipment is unlikely to provide complete readings."
Matsu scoffed, adjusting her glasses. "Oh please, Sherri-chan! Science and technology are meant to push boundaries! If I don't understand it, I'll find a way to make it make sense!"
Ddraig, his deep, rumbling voice carrying a note of amusement, chuckled. (Partner. She has the reckless ambition of a proper researcher. She reminds me of that Fallen with her pursuit of knowledge.)
Issei paled. "That's not exactly reassuring, Ddraig. We might be turned into experiments."
Uzume says with a worried expression. "Yeah, Matsu, try not to blow up the inn, alright?"
Matsu waved them off, already hyper-focused on the data streaming in. "Let's see… Your body has an unusual energy flow, but that's likely tied to the Boosted Gear. Hmmm… I also can't sense any of this so-called magic. And this watch of yours, it's completely outside of anything I've ever seen! It's not bound to normal physics! If I could just—"
She reached out toward the Dimensional Watch, fingers twitching in excitement.
"Nope." Issei immediately pulled his wrist away. "Not happening."
Matsu pouted. "But think of the advancements! The discoveries! The possibilities!"
"Think of my survival," Issei shot back as he worried what could happen to him if she messed around with the watch.
Sherri added dryly. "Attempting to disassemble the watch would result in unknown consequences. I would strongly advise against it."
Matsu huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But I still want to test something else, can you use a bit of magic?"
"Sure." Issei says with a thought a small flare appeared in his hand.
"Ohhhh! So that magic!"
"Ya. It's not much but this is something I just learned." Issei says proud of his accomplishment.
Before anyone could react, Matsu spun around, grabbing a small metal sphere from one of her shelves. She tossed it in the air, and the device unfolded into a floating ring that pulsed with blue light.
Uzume eyed the device warily. "Uh, what exactly is that?"
"An energy detector!" Matsu declared proudly.
Issei blinked. "Wait, you just had one lying around?" With the small flame still in his hand.
Matsu shrugged. "You pick up a lot of things when you're a genius with a knack for hacking and scavenging. Now while this baby scans the flame it will also try to find other signatures like it."
The ring-like device hovered above her palm, scanning the air. However, instead of glowing in response, the lights flickered weakly before dimming altogether.
"Huh?" Matsu tapped the side of the device. "That's weird. I set it to detect any energy in the air… but it's coming up empty?"
Sherri's holographic form materialized above the watch, looking contemplative. "This world does not appear to contain natural mana. The atmosphere lacks the necessary magical particles for conventional spellcasting."
Matsu frowned. "So… you're saying magic doesn't exist here?"
Ddraig chuckled. (That would be correct. Unlike our world, where mana flows freely, this dimension has none to speak of. Even if you could learn magic, you wouldn't be able to use it here. The only reason Partner is able to is because of his own internal storage.)
Uzume threw up her hands. "So you're telling me that even if I wanted to shoot fireballs like Kagari, I can't?"
Ddraig's tone was amused. (Not unless you plan to take a little trip to Issei's world.)
Matsu deflated instantly, shoulders slumping. "Aw, that sucks. I was already picturing myself wielding magic like some kind of technological sorceress."
(Partner try not to waste all of your magic. We wouldn't be able to replenish it if you run out.)
Issei let out a relieved sigh. "Right. Who knows when it will be necessary to use it"
Matsu immediately perked up, her eyes gleaming. "That just means I'll have to go to your world with you someday and learn magic properly!"
Uzume laughed, slapping Issei's back. "Yeah, good luck with that, Ashikabi-sama. You're stuck with us now."
Issei groaned. He could already see the headache forming.
Ddraig chuckled once more. (You've attracted quite the interesting group, partner. I almost feel sorry for you.)
Issei sighed, rubbing his temples. "Almost?"
Ddraig smirked in his mind. (This recent one has proven to be quite entertaining.)
Matsu clapped her hands together. "Alright! If I can't learn magic right now, I'll settle for continuing my tests on you!"
Issei paled.
Uzume smirked. "Oh yeah, we're definitely not done here, hubby."
And just like that, his suffering continued.
—----------------------
24 days left
Adjusting to life at Izumo Inn wasn't easy for Issei. Not because the place was bad—far from it. The traditional Japanese inn had a cozy charm, with sliding paper doors, warm tatami mats, and a peaceful atmosphere that made it feel like a home away from home.
No, the real problem? Were his two new Sekirei. Matsu and Uzume were clingy. The type where their affection left Issei constantly caught between pure bliss and sheer terror as he tries to hold his promise to Yuuka.
Every morning, he woke up in bed, only to find one—sometimes both—of them latched onto him like koalas. Uzume would be snuggled against his side, her arms draped around his chest, while Matsu clung to his other arm, glasses slightly askew and drooling onto his shoulder.
"Morning, hubby~" Uzume purred one morning, stretching her arms above her head. The loose fabric of her nightshirt—if it could even be called that—slipped off one shoulder, revealing way too much smooth skin for Issei's poor heart to handle.
Matsu, still half-asleep, yawned and snuggled closer. "Mmm… five more minutes. Data collection isn't complete."
Issei tensed. "Uh… you do know this isn't data collection, right?"
Matsu cracked one eye open and smirked. "Isn't it, though?"
Uzume laughed, rolling onto her stomach and kicking her feet playfully. "He's turning red again. So cute~"
—-------------------
The insanity didn't stop at morning cuddles. No, his Sekirei took things to another level.
Uzume, being the playful type, had apparently decided that her newest hobby was dressing up in all sorts of revealing outfits just to mess with him.
One afternoon, she strode into the common area wearing a bunny girl outfit—complete with fishnet stockings and a fluffy tail—striking a pose like a model.
"Welcome home, Master~" She cooed, her tone dripping with playful seduction.
Issei choked on his drink he carried that Miya had given. "PFFFFFT—"
Before he could recover, Matsu strutted in, adjusting her glasses with a devilish glint in her eyes. She was wearing a nurse uniform—one that was about three sizes too tight.
She twirled a stethoscope around her finger. "Ara, ara~ Patient-kun, you seem to be running a fever. Shall I give you a thorough examination?"
Uzume pouted. "Hey! I was supposed to go first!"
Matsu smirked. "In war and seduction, the most tactical woman wins."
Issei, meanwhile, was torn. Half of his brain was screaming THIS IS HEAVEN, while the other half was warning him that something was about to go very, very wrong.
And he was right.
Because the moment Uzume pounced on him and Matsu tried pinning him down for her "examination," the air in the room shifted.
The temperature plummeted.
A dark presence loomed behind them.
A terrifyingly sweet voice spoke. "My, my. What interesting activities you three are engaging in."
Issei, Uzume, and Matsu all turned in slow horror.
Standing there in the doorway, wooden practice sword in hand, was Miya Asama. Her ever-present serene smile was in place… but the aura of doom surrounding her was anything but peaceful.
Uzume paled. "Ah. Crap."
Matsu adjusted her glasses. "Hmmm. Tactical retreat?"
Miya's grip on her sword tightened. "Tactical discipline."
Then Miya moved.
—---------------------
A few nights later, Issei thought he'd finally get some peace by taking a relaxing bath.
Steam curled lazily in the air as he leaned back in the warm water, sighing in contentment. Where he could just soak in silence, relaxing.
The door slid open.
Uzume stepped in, completely bare, a towel loosely draped around her. She grinned. "Oh? Didn't think you'd be here, Ashikabi-sama. Mind if I join~?"
Issei's eyes widened. "W-W-Wha—?!"
Before he could react, another voice chimed in.
"Oh, so this is where you ran off to," Matsu said, stepping in right behind Uzume. She pushed up her glasses, her own towel barely hanging on. "Well, this just saves me time."
Issei's brain short-circuited.
Uzume smirked, stepping forward. "Scoot over, big guy. We won't bite~"
"Nope! No, no, no! Girls wait if Miya comes–"
Too late.
They were already in the water.
Uzume leaned on his shoulder, her breath teasing against his ear. Matsu, meanwhile, let out a pleased sigh as she settled in beside him, stretching her legs under the water.
Issei's survival instincts screamed.
The door slid open again.
And standing there, with a perfectly serene smile that did not match the eerie shadows darkening the room, was Miya.
"My, my."
Issei froze. Uzume paled. Matsu tried to act casual.
Miya stepped forward, wooden sword in hand.
"I do hope you three are prepared for your lesson."
A second later, pain.
—--------------------------------
If the constant "affection" from his Sekirei wasn't enough, Issei also had to deal with Matsu's experiments.
"Hold still!" she commanded, tightening a strap around his arm.
"I would if you'd stop strapping me to machines!" Issei snapped, struggling against the restraints. "I feel like a lab rat!"
Matsu adjusted her glasses. "Nonsense. Lab rats aren't as adorable as you. Now, let's test your reaction to electricity!"
"Wait, what—?!"
A surge of electricity zapped through him.
His scream echoed through the inn.
Uzume peeked in. "Hey, should I stop her?"
Sherri's voice chimed from his watch. "I doubt it would change anything."
"Yeah, fair."
Matsu cackled. "For science!"
Issei swore he was going to die.
—--------------------
After five days of absolute chaos, Miya finally had enough.
"You need a job," she told him flatly over breakfast, sipping her tea.
Issei blinked. "Wait, what?"
Miya smiled. "If you wish to continue staying here, you must pay rent."
Uzume laughed. "Oof, guess that means you're out of good will hubby."
Matsu nodded. "I recommend something that won't involve further bodily harm. I need you intact for future experiments."
Issei sighed. "Right. Because that's the main concern."
By the end of the day, he found himself working construction. It wasn't glamorous, but at least it kept him away from certain death.
For now.