[Issei Side]
"Ugh… sniff…"
Ddraig, stop crying. I'm tearing up too.
This is too much…
Before me, two old men—Maurice and Azazel—are joking about me and Ddraig. Why is our reunion, after two years, turning into a roast? It's supposed to be emotional!
Rias and the others are just giving awkward smiles, unsure how to react.
"So, this guy reached Balance Breaker by groping a girl's chest, right? Spill the details," Azazel said.
What?! Sensei, not that story!
"Balance Breaker? Oh, the red armor. That was wild. In a dire battlefield moment, this guy asked Princess Alice, dead serious, to let him touch her chest. I didn't know how to react," Maurice added.
Don't answer him! Everyone's staring at me now!
"Issei, care to explain later?" Rias asked, smiling but with cold eyes.
"Buchou?!" I yelped.
"I want to hear it too, Onii-chan," Miu chimed in.
Please, have mercy! I was desperate back then, needing to trigger Balance Breaker!
"Alice agreeing was something else. Baring her chest mid-battle? Time stopped," Maurice continued.
Stop talking! Valkyrie's glaring at me like I'm filth!
"Irina, is Alice…?" Xenovia whispered.
"Almost certainly," Irina replied.
The girls are freaking out? What's going on?
Wait— "Where are Alice and Risha?" I asked.
"Alice is buried in paperwork. Risha's a magic school instructor now, busy. Alice is in the castle. Go see her. Nina, guide him," Maurice said.
"Sure, follow me, Onii-san," Nina said, pulling me out.
Nina led me to a top-floor office labeled "Princess's Study." Alice doing desk work? She hates that stuff.
As if reading my mind, Nina giggled. "Nee-chan always piles up paperwork, so I handle most of it."
"Seriously? You're seventeen, right? That's impressive," I said.
"Right? You can pat my head like old times," she teased, leaning in.
I stroked her silky hair. Feels nice.
"Hehe, your hands are still big. Go on in. I'll head back," Nina said.
"You're not coming?" I asked.
"Nope. Your reunion shouldn't have me in the way," she replied.
Not true, but if she insists…
I opened the door and froze.
A stunning blonde woman, slender and radiant in the sunlight, stood in white underwear, holding clothes. She was changing.
Our eyes locked. The air grew heavy.
I broke the silence. "Uh… long time, Alice…"
"Issei…? Why are you here?" She glanced down, realizing her state. Her face reddened, eyes teary with fury. "Y-You…!"
She trembled, grabbing a spear from nowhere. Trouble!
"Amazing body! Thank you!" I clasped my hands, bracing for the end.
"Baaaka!" she screamed.
"Gyaah!" I yelped as she attacked.
"Ow… go easier on me," I groaned, as Alice treated my wounds.
"Be grateful you got off lightly for seeing me like that," she retorted.
Her care felt nostalgic.
"Knock next time! This is the princess's office!" she scolded.
"Sorry, but why change here? Isn't your room next door?" I asked.
"With all this paperwork, going to my room's a waste," she said, pointing to a mountain of documents.
How does it pile up like that? Is she that busy?
"Your room's literally next door. Nina told me," I said.
"So?" she replied.
I sighed. Was she always this scatterbrained? I thought she was sharper.
"Why are you here?" Alice asked.
"Maurice didn't tell you?" I said.
"Tell me what?" she asked, confused.
She really didn't know I was back. That old man set me up, keeping it from her!
Alice's smile turned menacing. "Maurice, huh? Issei, you know what to do?"
"Yup. I'm punching him," I said.
His prank got me pummeled!
"Anyway, it's been a while. You look good, Alice. More beautiful than ever," I said sincerely. She's practically divine.
"W-What? Flattery won't get you anywhere!" she blushed, red as a lobster.
"But you still love breasts, right? Mine aren't that big. Nina's more your type," she mumbled.
True, Nina's bigger, about Asia's size, but— "No way! I love all sizes!" I declared.
"Don't yell that!" she snapped, landing a clean punch to my face. Painful, but nostalgic.
"You're still such a pervert," she said, blushing.
"Valkyrie said the same, but her glares were brutal," I laughed.
"Oh, right. Congrats on the demon peace treaty," I said.
"Thanks. It was tough, but we made it," Alice smiled.
"Your dream—humans and demons hand in hand. You always talked about it," I said.
"Yeah, but I couldn't do it alone. Nina, Maurice, Risha, Valkyrie, and you made it possible," she said.
"I didn't do much. I beat Sirius and left," I said.
"You ended the war. Without you, no peace. Your strength did it," she said, eyes earnest.
I scratched my head, embarrassed.
She stood, stretching. "Let's go get Maurice. He needs a punch," she said, grinning wickedly.
"Sounds good. Oh, I brought my friends. I'll introduce you," I said.
"Looking forward to it," she replied.
We left the room.
[Kiba Side]
Five minutes after Issei and Nina left, Maurice and Azazel's jovial mood turned serious.
"What do you want to know about Issei?" Maurice asked.
We gasped, eyes wide. Only Azazel and Valkyrie, in the corner, stayed calm. He'd read our minds in minutes, without much talk.
"So that's why you sent Nina away. Impressive," Azazel said.
"Talking with you gave me a sense of his time here," Maurice said. "He told you some, but you want my perspective."
Issei's past. He's open, likely sharing everything. But we wanted an outsider's view.
Our eyes fixed on Maurice.
"Fine, I'll talk. He trusts you. But, demon princess, this might be tough," Maurice said to Miu.
"I want to know," Miu replied, her gaze firm.
Her resolve was strong. Maurice's story would cover the war, when Issei fought for humans and Miu was with demons—enemy sides. Painful memories awaited, but she was ready.
"Alright. Let's start with when Issei arrived. It was normal… mostly. He appeared naked in Alice's bath, and they both fainted," Maurice said.
That's not normal! Already bizarre.
Alice must've been mortified, waking to a naked stranger. Total pervert vibe.
"We cared for him and heard his story. Confused, he stayed until he could return," Maurice continued.
Issei was an ordinary third-year middle schooler, unaware of sacred gears or supernatural powers, suddenly thrown into this world. Easy to imagine his shock.
Supported by Maurice's group, he lived here. He bonded with Light Orville, the era's hero, like brothers. Both straightforward and passionate (minus Issei's perversion), they ate street food and trained under Maurice.
Issei had anxieties but was happy. After a year, the demons invaded Audilia. Not uncommon—Alice and Nina's father had attacked Gailpein, and other nations faced demon assaults.
The demon army swiftly reached the capital, Central. Maurice and Light evacuated citizens, but manpower was short.
Issei volunteered to help.
Despite protests, he went to town, finding a lost, crying child. As he tried to escape with them, a demon soldier attacked. Issei shielded the child.
But Light took the blow.
"Bad luck. Wartime—death was normal," Maurice said grimly.
"Issei was just a kid from a peaceful world. Expecting him to cope was unfair," Azazel noted.
"When I arrived, Light was dead, the child unconscious, and a bloodied Issei stood over the demon, gripping Light's sword. That sight's burned into me," Maurice said.
Issei was a wreck, blaming himself for Light's death.
"Alice told him to go home—not just for safety, but to stop his self-blame," Maurice said.
"That's why he hates war," Azazel realized.
I recalled Issei's reaction to Kokabiel's war talk. It wasn't just anger for his friends—there was more.
"It's my fault. If I'd stopped him, this wouldn't have happened," Maurice said.
"But that child might've died," Azazel countered.
"Yeah," Maurice admitted.
The rest matched Issei's account: training in the divine realm, returning to reclaim Audilia, traveling with Maurice, Alice, and others, and defeating Miu's father, Sirius, ending the war.
"That's all I know. I've never been to the divine realm. Issei fights to protect, even recklessly. Help him when he does," Maurice said, sipping tea.
[Kiba Side Out]
[Issei Side]
Alice and I returned to the room.
Bang!
Alice flung the door open, radiating fury. "Maurice, you set me up! Ready to pay?"
White lightning sparked around her, her body glowing, blonde hair turning pure white.
"Wait, calm down, Alice! It was a surprise!" Maurice pleaded.
"Your surprise got me peeped on!" she snapped.
"You were changing in your office again?! That's not my fault!" he retorted.
"Shut up! No excuses!" Alice, wreathed in lightning, lunged.
"W-Wait—Gyaah!" Maurice screamed, charred by her strike.
Terrifying as ever.
Kiba approached, eyes misty. "Issei, I'll get stronger. Strong enough to stand by you."
"Uh, go for it?" I said, confused.
Rias and the others came closer. "Issei, as your master, I'll grow strong to protect you. Don't be reckless," Rias said, teary.
Why's everyone crying? Did I do something?
The charred Maurice croaked, "Sorry, I told them about you and Light."
Damn. I'd skimmed that part to avoid upsetting Miu. Maurice must've checked with her first, but her somber face made sense now.
I stood before Miu. She looked guilty. "I'm sorry, Onii-chan. I didn't know…"
"Why're you apologizing? You did nothing wrong," I said.
"But…" she started.
"I had rough times, sure. But without them, I wouldn't be here with you. Light's death hurts, but meeting you makes me happy. So, smile," I said, patting her head.
Those experiences shaped me, gave me strength to protect everyone.
"Okay…" Miu said, still gloomy.
"C'mon, cheer up!" I teased, gently pinching her cheeks.
"O-Onii-chan, what're you doing?" she mumbled.
"Haha, can't understand you," I laughed. Her soft, smooth cheeks felt amazing.
Miu's shy face was adorable. I couldn't stop.
Koneko tugged my sleeve. "Senpai, stop. Your nose is bleeding."
"Huh?" I wiped it. Damn, Miu's too cute. Gotta control myself.
"Issei, introduce me already. I've been waiting," Alice said, smiling calmly.