"Let's teleport back to the clubroom!" Izashi's voice cut through the tense air like a knife, commanding and confident. His words brought everyone back from the brink of chaos. Rias, ever composed and regal, nodded silently and raised her hand to form a massive red magic circle beneath their feet. The familiar hum of power surged through the air as the teleportation spell activated, and within seconds, the group was back in the comfort of the Occult Research Clubroom.
The soft lighting of the room seemed to chase away the lingering tension, but for Kiba, the battle in the park still played on repeat in his mind. He stood there, dumbfounded, lost in the whirlwind of thoughts that gnawed at his consciousness. His emotions were a storm of confusion, fear, and, above all, helplessness. How had things spiraled so far out of his control?
His fists clenched at his sides as his mind swam with possibilities. What should I do? He couldn't shake the faces of his fallen friends, the ones who had been mercilessly killed in the church's twisted experiments. Their voices echoed in his mind, whispering accusations that cut deeper than any blade.
"What happened, Kiba?" "Have you forgotten us?" "Why haven't you avenged us?"
Each question was like a needle, driving into his skull, urging him to act. To run. To take up arms against the holy swords that had been the instruments of his friends' deaths. Every instinct screamed at him to destroy them, to rid the world of their cursed existence.
But then… there was Izashi.
Every time Kiba thought about making a move on his own, the image of Izashi's cold, powerful gaze flashed before him. His threats, while spoken casually, were no less terrifying. Kiba knew what he had said wasn't an empty threat—Izashi could and would kill him if he acted recklessly. The gap in their power was enormous, and Kiba wasn't a fool. There was no way he could reach the holy swords without Izashi stopping him, and if it came to that… well, Kiba knew his fate would be sealed before he ever got close.
As Kiba battled with his inner turmoil, Issei, who had been lying unconscious for some time, began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His body felt strange—stronger, somehow. His muscles were firmer, his senses sharper. It was as if every fiber of his being had been enhanced. He looked down at his hands, flexing them experimentally, and felt the raw power coursing through his veins. He was stronger now, there was no doubt about it. He could feel the change in his very bones.
So this is what it feels like to level up, he thought to himself, grinning like a kid who had just unlocked a new superpower in a video game.
Looking around, he noticed the familiar surroundings of the clubroom, and his mind drifted back to the events at the park. The fight. The exorcists. And Asia…
"Where's Izashi-senpai?" Issei asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the soft chatter of the others. His gaze was fixed on Rias, who was sitting elegantly in her chair, her long crimson hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked up from the papers she had been reviewing, her expression unreadable.
"I want to thank him for speaking up for Asia," Issei added, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. For all the aloofness Izashi had displayed since Issei joined the club, that moment at the park had shifted something in his perspective. He had always thought of Izashi as distant and cold, but hearing him defend Asia had been a surprise. It made Issei realize that maybe, just maybe, Izashi cared more than he let on.
Rias exchanged glances with Akeno, who stood beside her, smiling softly. "He's outside," Rias finally replied, pointing towards the balcony. "He went out there a few minutes ago, but he hasn't said much since."
Issei nodded and stood up, his legs still feeling slightly wobbly from the earlier battle. He made his way to the balcony, sliding open the door to find Izashi leaning against the railing, his eyes scanning the distant view of Kuoh Academy.
The air was crisp, and the cool breeze ruffled Izashi's hair as he stood silently, a grim expression etched across his face. He looked almost statuesque, unmoving, as if lost in thoughts that were far beyond Issei's comprehension.
"Senpai," Issei began, stepping out onto the balcony. Izashi didn't turn, but it was clear he had heard him. "I… I don't know how to thank you," Issei continued, his voice sincere. "You've always been kind of distant, you know? But hearing you speak up for Asia… it made me realize that you care about us. You really do."
Izashi finally spoke, his tone cold and monotone, "If you think that was just for Asia, you're wrong."
Issei blinked, surprised by his reply.
"I spoke because I can't stand people who look down on devils," Izashi continued, still not bothering to look at him. "What happened to Asia? That wasn't because of her; it was because the church is full of fools. They tossed her aside like she was nothing."
Issei took a deep breath, trying to digest the words. Even though Izashi's response wasn't exactly warm, it didn't matter to Issei. The fact that his senpai had taken a stand for Asia meant everything to him. No matter how distant Izashi pretended to be, Issei knew now that he had their backs.
"Still," Issei said with a grin, "it means a lot to me. Asia is important to all of us, so thank you for stepping in."
Izashi didn't respond to the gratitude. Instead, he shifted the conversation in a different direction, his voice taking on an almost dismissive tone. "You should go thank Kiba. He's the one who fought for you against those exorcists."
Issei's expression faltered. "Kiba-senpai?"
Izashi's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced over his shoulder, locking eyes with Issei for the first time during the conversation. "Yes. While you were writhing in pain, he was the one who took on Xenovia. He fought in your place."
Issei's stomach churned with guilt. The memory of the excruciating pain that had paralyzed him during the fight came rushing back, and with it, the realization that he hadn't been able to do anything while his friends were fighting. Without another word, Issei turned and hurried back into the clubroom, intent on finding Kiba.
The room was quiet when Issei entered, but the soft creak of the clubroom door caught his attention. He saw it slowly closing and immediately rushed after it. He quickly darted outside, just in time to catch sight of Kiba walking away, his posture stiff and his expression distant.
"Kiba-senpai!" Issei called, jogging to catch up.
Kiba stopped but didn't turn around at first. When Issei finally reached him, Kiba sighed softly and faced him with a strained smile. "Issei," he greeted, his voice weary.
"I wanted to thank you," Issei began, his voice earnest. "For fighting in my place. I'm really sorry I couldn't be there to help. I didn't even get to see the fight."
Kiba let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "There wasn't much to see. I got beaten pretty badly. I couldn't stand up to that holy sword, no matter how hard I tried."
Issei frowned but quickly tried to inject some optimism into the conversation. "That doesn't matter, Kiba-senpai. Everyone gets knocked down sometimes. What's important is that you'll come back stronger. I'm sure of it."
Kiba's smile remained bitter as he looked away. "I'm not so sure about that," he muttered. "But I appreciate the sentiment. You're a good guy, Issei."
An awkward silence stretched between them for a moment before Kiba broke it, his tone more serious now. "The truth is, I wasn't fighting because of you. I didn't step in to save you."
Issei blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Kiba clenched his fists at his sides, the tension in his body returning. "I fought because of that holy sword. I've hated those swords for as long as I can remember. Seeing Xenovia wielding one… I couldn't control myself."
"Why do you hate them so much?" Issei asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
Kiba sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging as if a great weight had settled on them. "It's… a long story. I wasn't always Kiba Yuuto. I was once an orphan named Isaiah. I was taken in by the church, along with a group of other children, for something called the Holy Sword Project."
Issei listened intently, his heart sinking as Kiba's tale unfolded.
"We were deemed failures," Kiba continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "The church decided to kill us to cover up their mistakes. My friends… they all died. I only survived because of their sacrifice. Rias-buchou found me after I escaped and revived me as a devil. Ever since then, I've trained relentlessly, all for one purpose—revenge. I want to destroy every single one of those cursed holy swords."
Issei was silent for a moment, overwhelmed by the intensity of Kiba's words. He couldn't even begin to imagine the pain and anger that his friend had carried all this time. "Kiba-senpai… I can't pretend to understand what you've been through, but holding onto this revenge… it's not going to bring you any peace. You should talk to Rias-buchou. I'm sure she'll support you."
Kiba let out another bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Izashi-senpai already made it clear that if I try to do anything on my own, he'll kill me. He said he'd consider me a stray devil."
Issei grabbed Kiba's arm, his grip firm as he stared into his friend's eyes. "Kiba-senpai, you're not thinking straight. You're so focused on your revenge that you're missing the bigger picture. Izashi-senpai wasn't trying to stop you from getting revenge—he was trying to stop you from going at it alone. He doesn't want you to throw your life away."
Kiba's eyes widened slightly as he processed Issei's words. "What…?"
"Think about it," Issei continued, his voice filled with conviction. "He didn't say you couldn't have your revenge. He just doesn't want you to do it alone. That's why he sent me after you. He didn't want you to go off by yourself and do something reckless."
Kiba's mind raced as he connected the dots. Everything started to fall into place—the way Izashi had refused to stay out of the conflict, his threats, his harsh words… It all made sense now. Izashi hadn't been trying to stop him; he'd been trying to protect him.
Slowly, a genuine smile spread across Kiba's face, a sense of clarity washing over him. "I get it now," he said softly, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "Thank you, Issei. I needed to hear that."
Issei grinned, releasing Kiba's arm. "You should go back and thank Izashi-senpai. He's the one who deserves it more."
Kiba nodded, his smile widening. "You're right. Let's go."
The two of them walked back to the clubroom together, a sense of camaraderie and understanding between them. When they reentered the room, they found Izashi sitting in one of the chairs, flipping through a book with an expression of casual disinterest. The awkward tension from earlier had dissipated, replaced by a more comfortable silence.
Kiba hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, his voice filled with gratitude. "Izashi-senpai… thank you. For everything."
Izashi didn't look up from his book, but there was a slight smirk on his lips as he responded, "So, are you ready to fight against them?"