Sirzechs sighed softly, a mixture of relief and resignation in his expression, before a bright smile illuminated his face. Izashi stepped forward, wrapping his arms around his elder brother in a tight hug, exclaiming, "Thank you, big brother. You really are the best! I'm going to brag at school that I have the most awesome big brother in the entire underworld."
Sirzechs's heart swelled with pride, all his worries momentarily melting away. Those were the words he had longed to hear for so long, words that made all his efforts worthwhile. The weight of his responsibilities felt lighter, and the challenges ahead seemed more manageable.
As he gently rubbed the back of Izashi's head, Sirzechs added in a slightly conspiratorial tone, "Alright then, but let's keep this our little secret, okay? Don't tell Father or anyone else about Kuroka until I've actually found her. We don't want to stir things up too soon."
Izashi nodded enthusiastically, his grin widening. "Of course, big brother. I wasn't planning on telling anyone anyway."
Despite the relief on Sirzechs's face, Izashi's mind was already at work, calculating the time it might take for Kuroka to be located and brought into his peerage. He knew it wouldn't be an easy task, and he was prepared to wait, biding his time until the elusive Nekoshou could be found.
'How intriguing,' Izashi thought to himself, already plotting the future. 'Kuroka as my peerage member… She'll be perfect—strong, mischievous, and with just the right mix of allure and danger. It shouldn't be too difficult to win her over if I promise to help her reconcile with Koneko. Besides,' he smirked inwardly, 'didn't she always dream of having powerful offspring? Kekeke…' The thought of what he could achieve with Kuroka by his side filled him with a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Kiba Yuuto, who would soon be joining the Gremory household, didn't particularly interest Izashi. Though the boy had potential and would undoubtedly be a valuable addition to Rias's peerage, Izashi's focus was elsewhere. Kiba's skills were commendable, but they were hardly of any concern to him, as he preferred to keep his attention on his own plans.
Izashi spent the rest of the day eagerly questioning Sirzechs about ways to further refine his Power of Destruction, seeking any new techniques or insights. To his surprise, Sirzechs offered several suggestions that sparked his interest, and Izashi found himself itching to try them out.
~~
~~4 Years Passed~~
Izashi now found himself in the famous Kuoh Academy, a school jointly managed by the Gremory and Sitri households. When it came time for him to join high school, he had specifically requested Zeoticus to enroll him in the same school as Rias and Akeno. The request wasn't met with any resistance, and as a result, the formerly all-girls school had been converted into a co-ed institution.
However, the requirements for male students were exceedingly stringent, and as a result, very few boys were accepted. Furthermore, the news of the school's transition to a co-ed system hadn't spread widely, so most people were still unaware of the change. The ratio of boys to girls in each class was astonishingly uneven, often standing at 1:20 or worse. It was common for a single boy to be the only male student in a class full of girls, with the maximum usually being just three boys per class.
This unique environment had turned Kuoh Academy into a paradise for the few perverted boys who managed to get in. After all, many of the girls at Kuoh were known for their extraordinary beauty, the kind that seemed to make the heavens envious.
Among all the students, two girls stood out above the rest—Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. These two were not only the most beautiful but also possessed the most impressive figures in the entire school. Their allure had earned them a massive fan base, with both girls and boys alike admiring them from afar. The students had affectionately dubbed them "The Two Great Onee-samas," and they were the cause of many a heartache among the young men of Kuoh.
But as famous as Rias and Akeno were, there was another name that echoed through the halls of Kuoh Academy—Izashi Gremory, also known as the "King of Kuoh." In the two years since he had joined the academy, Izashi had participated in every sport offered and had taken each one to the national level, winning championships and bringing glory to the school.
Izashi's talent in sports was unparalleled, but his true passion lay in football. His control over the ball was nothing short of magical, earning him the title "King of Football" from his fans. His skill on the field, combined with his striking good looks, made him the object of admiration for many girls, who found themselves captivated by his effortless charm and irresistible smile.
However, Izashi wasn't the only handsome young man at Kuoh. Kiba Yuuto, often referred to as the "Prince of Kuoh," was another student who garnered considerable attention. While his kendo skills and good looks earned him plenty of fans, his abilities were overshadowed by Izashi's overwhelming prowess. Nevertheless, Kiba was still respected as the second-best in the school, and many students admired him as well.
Kiba was a year younger than Izashi and had just entered his second year of high school, while Izashi, along with Rias and Akeno, had advanced to their third year. During these years, Izashi had kept his relationship with Akeno a secret from Rias. Though Akeno often found opportunities to steal a kiss or spend time alone with him, their relationship hadn't progressed beyond those intimate moments.
Rias, on the other hand, had stopped sleeping in the same room as Izashi since they entered high school. As her body matured and became more alluring, it was Izashi who requested that she no longer share his bed. He had told her that when he felt comfortable, he would allow her to sleep in his room again.
This arrangement created more opportunities for Akeno to sneak into Izashi's room at night, where they would snuggle and deepen their bond. Akeno's affection for Izashi grew stronger with each passing day, and she often admitted to him how difficult it was to maintain her composed "Onee-sama" image in public. She longed to proclaim her love for him openly, to declare to everyone that she belonged to him and him alone.
Meanwhile, Koneko had also been receiving education in the Gremory household, learning how to become a proper peerage member. After spending some time with her, Rias eventually reincarnated Koneko as her Rook. Before doing so, she had asked Izashi if he wanted Koneko as his peerage member, but Izashi had declined, stating simply, "I have no interest in making her part of my peerage."
As for Kiba, Izashi's decision was more direct. When Kiba first arrived, Izashi advised Rias, "Reincarnate him as your Knight. I can sense that he has great potential."
The same was true for Gasper, whom Izashi recommended Rias reincarnate with her mutated Bishop piece. Izashi had no interest in adding a male or a loli to his peerage, and Gasper's Sacred Gear, the Forbidden Balor View, which could stop time for anyone in his line of sight, was of little use to him personally. Izashi had tried to work with Gasper to change his timid personality but quickly found the task too frustrating and eventually gave up.
Izashi was always one step ahead of Rias when it came to their activities at Kuoh Academy. Knowing what she planned to do, he had been the first to propose using the Occult Research Club as a front for their devil activities. The idea was swiftly approved by the student council, and they were granted the old school building as their base of operations.
As the founder of the club, Izashi naturally took on the role of president, with Rias serving as the vice-president. Though the other members of the club were unaware of the exact nature of Izashi's influence, they all instinctively recognized his authority. In the underworld, they had witnessed firsthand the overwhelming love Rias showered upon her younger brother.
While Rias was technically their King, each member of her peerage knew deep down that any order from Izashi held more weight than one from Rias herself. They understood that making Izashi unhappy would incur Rias's wrath, something none of them wanted to experience. An angry Rias was a force to be reckoned with, and they were all keen to avoid being on the receiving end of her fury.