Chapter 4
Issei Hyoudou couldn't stop himself from sneaking glances at the classroom door as his teacher droned on about the importance of maintaining focus. The warm sunlight filtering through the windows, the usual banter from his friends, and the general monotony of the morning were failing to hold his attention.
"So, Matsuda, you think she'll wear the same skirt today?" he whispered, leaning toward one of his two best friends in the entire world—the great Perverted Trio.
Matsuda grinned slyly. "Oh, she'll wear it. Trust me, man. I have intel on these things."
Motohama, adjusting his glasses with an ominous glint, chimed in. "Based on my calculations, there's an 87% chance. I checked her social media this morning. She's all about consistency."
Issei couldn't hold back a snicker, though he kept it quiet. The teacher's voice was background noise compared to the very important conversation they were having. After all, a man had to focus on what truly mattered in life: boobs.
"Alright, settle down, class," the teacher's voice cut through their hushed laughter, pulling their attention to the front. "We have a new transfer student joining us today. Please give him a warm welcome."
The door slid open, and the room went silent. Issei turned to look, and the words he was about to whisper to his friends caught in his throat. The figure who stepped inside was… massive. Easily 190 centimeters tall, with broad shoulders that seemed to stretch the fabric of his Kuoh Academy uniform. His jet-black hair, tipped with a faint red at the ends, gave him an aura of menace that didn't belong in a high school classroom. His face was sharp and angular, with small glasses perched on his nose, and his expression was locked in a perpetual frown, as if smiling was too much effort. Combined with the fierce glint in his deep red eyes, he resembled a wolf or a battle-scarred dog ready to pounce at any moment. The intensity of his presence was suffocating.
"Holy crap, he's huge…" Issei muttered under his breath, feeling an odd mix of awe and intimidation. Matsuda and Motohama seemed equally stunned, their mouths hanging open slightly as they took in the sight of the new student.
The transfer student walked to the front of the room with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. His piercing gaze swept across the classroom like a predator sizing up its prey, and for a brief, horrifying moment, those eyes landed on Issei.
Issei felt his blood run cold. It wasn't just a look; it was a glare, sharp and deliberate, as if this guy could see straight through him. He swallowed hard, unable to break eye contact until the transfer student's gaze moved on, scanning the rest of the room with the same assessing intensity.
"My name is Victor Cross," the newcomer said, his deep voice resonating in the now eerily quiet classroom. "I transferred here for personal reasons. I enjoy reading, and my dream is to start a company someday."
Short and to the point, but it was enough to leave an impression. Issei's heart was still racing from that earlier glare. "What the hell was that about?" he thought, trying to shake off the feeling of unease.
Victor's eyes continued to roam the classroom, but then they stopped. His gaze locked onto someone at the back of the room, and for the first time, his stoic expression shifted. His eyes widened slightly, and his mouth opened just a fraction, as if he'd seen something… or someone… unexpected.
Curious despite himself, Issei followed Victor's line of sight. His gaze landed on none other than… Kiba Yuuto, the school's resident pretty boy and self-proclaimed "prince."
"Wait," Issei thought, his brow furrowing. "Is this guy… staring at Kiba? Like, seriously staring?"
Victor's gaze lingered on Kiba for a few more seconds before he seemed to catch himself. He blinked and shifted his attention back to the rest of the class, his expression returning to its unreadable neutrality. But Issei couldn't unsee it. His overactive imagination kicked into overdrive, painting all sorts of wild scenarios.
"Does he have a grudge against Kiba or something?" Issei wondered, shuddering slightly. "Man, I don't even wanna know. As long as he's not after me, I'm good. I've got enough on my plate already."
The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Issei tried to focus on his classes, but his mind kept drifting back to Victor. There was something about the guy that didn't sit right with him. His size, his aura, that intense glare… it all screamed "danger."
By the time the final bell rang, Issei was more than ready to go home. He waved goodbye to Matsuda and Motohama, who were already plotting their next escapade, and started making his way toward the school's front gate. The cool afternoon breeze felt refreshing after a long day of unease.
As he approached the gate, he noticed a figure standing off to the side. A girl, her long black hair cascading down her back, was waiting there. She turned as he approached, and Issei's heart skipped a beat.
She was beautiful, with a kind smile and eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Her presence felt almost angelic, and Issei couldn't help but stare, captivated.
"Hi there," she said, her voice soft and melodic. "You're Issei Hyoudou, right?"
"Y-Yeah," Issei stammered, caught off guard. "That's me. Do we… know each other?"
She shook her head, her smile never wavering. "Not yet. My name's Yuuma Amano. I was hoping we could talk."
Issei blinked, his mind struggling to process what was happening. A gorgeous girl… talking to him… willingly? Was this some kind of dream?
"Sure, I… I'd love to talk," he said, trying not to sound too eager.
The two of them chatted for a while, and to Issei's amazement, Yuuma asked him out on a date. A real date. He could hardly believe his luck.
As they parted ways, Issei practically floated home, his mind replaying the conversation over and over. He had a date. With a girl. A cute one. This was the best day of his life.
Little did he know, it was also the beginning of something far more complicated than he could ever imagine.
Issei Hyoudou could barely contain his excitement. He was on a date. An actual date. With a girl. And not just any girl—Yuuma Amano, the beautiful and kind-hearted angel who had approached him out of nowhere. She had actually asked him out. Him, Issei Hyoudou, the guy who spent most of his time daydreaming about boobs and hanging out with his two equally perverted best friends. If this wasn't proof that miracles were real, he didn't know what was.
They strolled through the park, the crisp winter air nipping at their faces. Snow had fallen earlier in the week, blanketing the ground in a soft white sheet. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the serene landscape. Issei could barely feel the cold, though. He was too focused on Yuuma, who walked beside him with a radiant smile.
"This place is beautiful," Yuuma said, looking around at the snow-covered trees. "Thanks for bringing me here, Issei."
Issei scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin on his face. "It's nothing, really. I'm just glad you're having a good time."
"I am," she said, turning to him with a sparkle in her eyes. "I'm really glad we met, Issei."
His heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe this was happening. A gorgeous girl was smiling at him, saying she was glad to be with him. It was like something out of a dream. He tried to come up with a cool response, but all he could manage was a nervous chuckle.
They continued walking, chatting about school, hobbies, and other small things. Issei found himself relaxing as the conversation flowed naturally. Yuuma was easy to talk to, and her laughter was like music to his ears. For the first time in a long while, he felt genuinely happy.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, they reached a quiet spot by a small frozen pond. Yuuma stopped and turned to face him, her expression suddenly serious.
"Issei," she said softly, "can I ask you something?"
"Uh, sure. What is it?"
She hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Then, she smiled, though there was something sad about it. "Will you do something for me?"
Issei's heart pounded in his chest. The way she was looking at him—it was like she was about to say something incredibly important. "Of course. Anything."
Her smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Will you die for me?"
Time seemed to freeze. The words echoed in his mind, each syllable like a hammer blow. He stared at her, his brain struggling to process what he'd just heard.
"W-What?" he stammered, taking a step back. "What did you say?"
Yuuma's expression changed. The kindness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something cold and cruel. Her body began to glow with a dark light, and black, feathered wings sprouted from her back. In an instant, the sweet, gentle girl he'd been walking with was gone, replaced by something terrifying.
"I said," she repeated, her voice dripping with malice, "will you die for me?"
Before Issei could react, she raised her hand, a spear of light forming in her grasp. His legs felt like jelly, his body frozen in place as she aimed the spear at his heart. This couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare.
"Goodbye, Issei," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
She hurled the spear. Time seemed to slow as it flew toward him, the glowing weapon illuminating her cold, unfeeling face. Issei's mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused to obey. The spear pierced his chest, a searing pain exploding through his body. He stumbled back, clutching at the wound as blood spilled from his fingers.
"Why…?" he choked out, his vision blurring. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the snow, the cold biting into his skin.
As his consciousness began to fade, he thought he saw a figure approaching—a tall, imposing silhouette against the dying light of the evening.
A deep, resonant voice cut through the haze. " Buren Gurīdo-ryū Kettō Jutsu,Nanajūyon-shiki – Kuroitsushiruto Untsea'burehirihi!!"(Brain Grid Blood Battle Technique: Unzerbrechlich Kreuzschild)
A massive, blood-red cross appeared in the air, intercepting a second spear that Yuuma had thrown to finish him off. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the park, scattering snow and shaking the trees. The figure stepped forward, catching Issei as he fell.
Victor Cross knelt beside the wounded boy, his expression calm but focused. With his left hand, he pressed against Issei's chest, golden light emanating from his palm. The warmth of healing magic began to close the wound, though Issei was still too dazed to fully comprehend what was happening.
Victor's right hand, meanwhile, was cocked back, ready to unleash another attack if Yuuma dared to move.
Yuuma's eyes narrowed as she hovered above them, her wings outstretched. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded, her voice sharp with anger.
Victor didn't answer immediately. He adjusted his glasses with a slight motion of his head, his cold, unyielding gaze fixed on her. The blood-red cross lingered in the air, pulsating with a menacing aura that seemed to weigh down the very atmosphere.
"You've made a mistake," Victor said finally, his tone like ice. "Stabbing a civillian in my presence? Unforgivable."
Yuuma snarled, her spear reforming in her hand. "Stay out of this, human, if you value your life."
Victor laughed at being called human as it has been a while since someone called him that, though his eyes remained cold. "Human huh?." His laughter stopped replaced by a determined look
He raised his hand, and the blood-red cross turned back into blood and went into the steel cross gauntlet on his hand, the blood began to churn, its glowing with fiery intensity. Issei, still cradled in Victor's arm, could only watch in awe and terror as the scene unfolded. Despite the pain and confusion, a spark of hope flickered in his chest. Maybe—just maybe—he would survive this after all.