Chapter 27 - 26 - Interlude

Aya's P.O.V.

This, this is all too much. ​​

Since the day that woman showed up and almost killed my mother everything has been upside down. It was so terrifying, I felt like I would die then and there, and even after I somehow survived and Soma-Kun helped my mother, things were still bad.

When Soma-Kun and Mittelt-san explained to me about the supernatural I was shocked. All the myths and legends, all the Gods and religions, they all existed.

But, the worst part was when they explained to me about Sacred Gears, about how they were items made by the Christian God and given to humans as blessings to be able to survive and thrive in this world.

"Blessed? How am I blessed?" I muttered to myself while walking down the streets back home. Well, it was Soma's home but I am living there now, and just thinking about it made me wonder if perhaps I was blessed in the end.

Soma told mom all about the supernatural as well and gave her a proposition. If she wanted to go back to living in her old house with me she could, he would set up defensive measures around our house and everything, but if we wanted to we could live in his house instead and Mom would work as a cook in the house.

She wanted to say no, but Soma made a promise of payment that was three times larger than mom and Jirou's usual salary put together, and she only had to make the meals and take care of the kitchen. It was a lot less work and thankfully mom accepted the deal.

We can go anywhere in the house, except for the basement or, as Soma-Kun likes to call it, his workshop/man cave.

I can't help but smile though, Soma-Kun is so nice and gentle, he even said he would help me with training how to use this Sacred Gear of mine starting today since he wanted a break from some work he was doing in his workshop.

I am sure it will be fine.

///---///

It is NOT fine!

"Come on, you either shoot or dodge." Soma said as he kept throwing small balls at me. These balls were made to be very painful on impact even if they did not actually hurt.

BANG

BANG

BANG

I kept shooting all the balls I could, but there were too many and they came too fast.

Running and trying to dodge was the best I could do, I felt like an FPS game character from that game Mittelt-san lent me to play for a bit.

"Pay attention to your surroundings." Soma said and suddenly I fell into a trap that suspended me in mid-air, it was a very simple trap but I could not get out of it now.

Aiming the gun at myself I imagined myself a few feet away and shot. Instantly I was where I thought about it, but I fell face first since I forgot to imagine myself in the right position.

"Ouch." I said while rubbing my nose, it was bleeding now. Why did my gear had to be this specific about its uses?

The balls stopped and Mittelt came quickly.

"Here, let me see." She said as the rings on her hand did their magic, my nose injury and the scraps on my body healed rapidly.

"Thanks." I said while standing back up.

"You should take it easy." Mittelt-san said. "You are already very tired and have been practicing with your gear for over an hour now. It should be enough."

I shook my head at her words.

"Thanks for worrying, but I can't do that. I am too weak right now, but I want to be of use to Soma-kun, to be able to help him when he needs it. And if I want to do that I must at least not be an inconvenience for him." I said seriously.

Mittelt-san just shook her head and sighed.

"Well, I won't be stopping you even if I think this is a bit stupid. But, I don't hate it either." She said with a light smile as she stood up and looked at me with a bright smile. "Hey, after this how about we go play some games?"

"Oh, how about if we play Mario Kart again?"

"S-Sure, just make sure to not use that blue shell of death so much." Mittelt said and I chuckled.

"No promises." I said with a smile to my friend.

Smiles, friends, playing, all these things that I thought were not for me now are, I belong here and I won't be letting this go no matter what!

///---///

Kiyoharu's P.O.V.

"You creep! Boy's can't come into the girl's bathroom!" An annoying girl shouted after she saw me just cleaning my hands in the sink. her friend beside her nodded her head.

Look, I honestly have no interest in either of you two so can't you just leave me already?

"Get the hell out!" Yeah, yeah, I heard that before.

"Can't believe this is happening." At last, they left it at that, this time. I sighed in relief.

Not of their insults, I have had to deal with those for so long that it isn't even funny.

It was to calm her down.

CLICK

One of the stalls doors opened and a red-faced and glaring Ravel came out.

"I can't believe those two. I SOOOO want to beat them up for offending you, Ki-chan."

I smile a bit as I hear what she said, it is nice to have friends.

Regardless, I shake my head at Ra-chan's comment and wave it off.

"Forget it, I am used to this sort of thing." I said honestly.

"Humph, why didn't you just go ahead and use your gear on them?" She inquired.

I simply smile as I explain.

"Ra-chan, I do have a plan laid out already and in effect, you know?"

"Huh?"

"Yes, once they grow up, have stable jobs, find someone they love, and reach their happiness... that is when I will take all the happiness from them."

I already set it all up, leaving orders in their brains for when they reach what they consider the apex of their lives. They will ruin it all themselves, they will do everything to ruin all happiness and satisfaction they achieved after years, and years, and years of effort to reach that point, and they are not allowed to kill themselves or anything like that either, they have to be punished properly and not skip on it.

Ravel shivered a bit at my smile.

"K-Kyo-chan, you can be quite scary sometimes."

I just shrugged.

"I imagine. Anyway, do you want to go hang out later? We could invite Aya-chan and have a girl's night out."

Ravel just shook her head.

"Sorry, I can't. My King wants to do group training and she seems to have remembered I am a part of her peerage."

"Well, that is too bad. Maybe next time? Oh, we could invite Soma as well and go to an arcade or karaoke." I said happily, and Ravel nodded before we began moving along.

I am just happy these days. After everything became clear and we could all talk openly the mood became different in our group but I enjoyed this honesty more.

And for this sort of peace, for friends that like me for me, I can and will do anything.

Anything.

///---///

Rossweisse's P.O.V.

It was quite a weird chain of events that led to this situation.

Originally I was just supposed to be guarding Odin-sama, as was my duty, while Soma taught him about those runes he knows. I stood guard while Soma explained about the runes, and it was fascinating.

I was always quite a bit of a, well, a nerd about magic. It is not for nothing that I managed to become the youngest Valkyrie ever, I have a great passion for magic.

Regardless, when the lessons were over and we were about to leave, Odin-sama gestured for me to stop.

"Rossweisse, do you have nothing better to do than watching me go to a strip club next, do you really intend to waste the chance of going out with the only man that seems to have wanted you?"

I was irritated and saddened at his words. Back in the Valkyrie Academy, I had no friends, and the heroes of Asgard didn't like me much either saying I was too young... or just not being interested in a 'know it all' like me.

I wanted to protest as tears gathered in my eyes at having my lack of luck with men pointed out to me.

"Well, we could just go out tonight then." Soma said as he stepped close to my side. Looking at his handsome face I blushed and wanted to protest when he continued. "Working non-stop wouldn't be healthy either way and my body modifications now are simple enough that being on a date wouldn't interfere with the process. Besides, I would like some fancy food once in a while and Riser gave me a credit card that I would like to test out. How about it, we could just go as we are and buy some clothes and whatnot on the way?"

I just blushed and nodded, is this what being pampered feels like? Is this why the older Valkyries kept bragging about back in the academy? If so, I can understand since the feeling of appreciation is great.

We went around town for a while, visiting several boutiques. He let me decide what to buy and I ended up buying more than my normal.

After selecting a lot of things without paying much attention to the value I went to the cashier and the prices started accumulating.

GULP

This... this is quite a lot, huh?

"The total value is 1.2 million yen, would you like anything else, miss?" The cashier said and I felt like passing out, this is far too much.

"Well, that is not quite what I expected." Soma said, coming beside me with just a simple suit on his arms compared to my multiple outfits.

"I, I can explain. I, I, I did not see the prices well and-"

"Rossweisse, it is fine. This sort of thing happens and I said it, didn't I? You can go and buy as much as you want, money is not an issue here." Soma said and I gave a weak smile before accepting it, while he told the clerk to mail all of them apart from the one she will be using to my address. I changed into one of the said outfits, a simple white dress with some rose designs on the side.

It felt quite nice to use and it was also very beautiful, as I got out of the changing room and saw him all dressed up as well. We both went to a fancy restaurant downtown, there were a lot of things available that I never heard about but I wanted to taste them all.

We drank and ate freely while we talked and laughed at some of each other's stories. It was all so interesting and we just kept drinking and making merry.

As the night progressed and it was close to the time to end this date, my first true date, I felt him coming closer.

No, bad Rossweisse, you must resist the temptation. You can't just let him take advantage of you again, what would dear grandma say?

'Babies! Babies! Babies!'

Huh? Why did I have the distinct impression grandmother would not help me in this situation?

No, I must be strong. I must-

... I did it again?

What is wrong with me? It was supposed to be just a simple date, so how did we end up sleeping together again? Bashing my head against the wall while taking a bath after this short marathon, only lasting for five hours straight, I have to wonder.

What is wrong with me?

"Room for one more?" Soma enters the bath behind me, pressing against me. I try to say no to his advances. To be strong!

... I failed.

///---///

Issei's P.O.V.

This is terrible.

Since that meeting a few days ago the mood in the club has gone from bad to worse. Buchou has been angry every day, Akeno-senpai has been distant as if thinking about something, and that bastard Kiba has returned and spends most of his time brandishing his sword against some rocks in anger. Only Ravel-chan seems to be well, but that isn't really comforting since she is only like that because of being friends with that bastard.

I want to punch him for making everyone sad, but Buchou won't allow it. Something about politics or something, I don't really understand it, but she made it clear I can't go after him.

Listlessly walking through the halls during lunchtime I see my two friends, a smile appears on my face as I approach them. I was so lucky to have found true friends like Motohama and Matsuda, they were the first friends I've met since Irina-kun that I could talk normally with.

"Hey, Issei, help us decide something." Motohama said as I approached.

"Sure, what is it you need my help with?"

"Listen, the question is simple. Which is better, widows or lolis with knee-socks?" Matsuda said, the girls passing by sending us dirty looks.

Fools, don't they understand we are discussing some of the great truths of the universe here?

"I already said, lolis are the best. That small chest promising bountiful harvest, that innocence, the face, being called 'onii-chan', it beats any old hag who is used goods. Besides, the knee-socks emphasize their toned little legs and give a hint of lewdness to them, which makes them even better!" Matsuda said confidently.

"Used goods? You gigantic idiot, they are the better option for sure! They are experienced and are so lonely, they have mature bodies that carry reality instead of a shaky future! They are plumper in all the right places and would be more willing to put in the effort!" Motohama said, him and Matsuda glaring at one another.

I listen to both of them, they both make perfect sense to me and neither is wrong in how great either opinion is, but...

"You both are missing the bigger picture." I say confidently, making both my friends turn to me. Smirking at my imminent triumph, I speak. "Of course the best one is that they are girls and thus have OPAI."

The two look at me and soon the two clasp hands, masculine tears streaming down their faces.

"He is right, my friend. We were missing the point." Motohama said.

"Yes, I agree. Either one of those is good, because in either case, they are erotic." Matsuda said and I too felt some tears of pride glistering in my eyes. These friends of mine are truly perfect.

After our little moment, and ignoring a girl passing us by and calling us 'perverts' for whatever reason, Matsuda turned to me.

"Friend Issei, what is the reason for you to look down like that?" Motohama said and I sighed.

"It is nothing, just, well, some bastard has made the guys in the occult research club sad." I said, I can't really explain much but that would be enough.

"What? Who ] made our two great Onee-samas sad?" Motohama exclaimed.

"I will punch whoever did that? And is he the one responsible for Koneko-chan not coming to school these days?" Matsuda questioned.

I scratch my chin in thought. In a way he was related, if you squint your eyes enough, then yes... I guess.

"Somewhat." I say and the two seemed filled with righteous fury.

"Who is it? We must teach him a good lesson!" Matsuda said, flexing his muscles.

"He is in middle school and is the cousin of Hanakai-sempai." I say and two's eyes turned fiery.

"Yosha! We will go teach this little punk a lesson for doing so many terrible things!" Motohama said and Matsuda joined in, with me doing the same and going with the flow.

We were about to strategize when a small commotion caught our attention.

"What's going on?" I question as I approach to see what is happening.

And, right over there coming over, was the bastard. He was coming to this place as if he owned it and I could see how the girls swooned over him, but I couldn't see what the big deal was.

I mean, he is very muscular, has white hair that is quite different from the rest of us, has quite a wild air around him, acts like a punk, and is wearing a few rings, two necklaces, and a few earrings.

Why are the girls acting like he is some hot shit, with some of them even calling him the 'white mysterious prince of Kuoh'?

I turn to my friends and notice that Matsuda is not quite as confident anymore.

"... We might need to think more on what our plan to take him down should be." He says and all three of us nod. This guy is taller than us, richer than us, more influential than us, and he looks a lot more intimidating than us as well.

We look on as we see Sona approaching him and he soon follows her. I then notice someone around Sona that was glaring at him and a small smirk appears on my face. We may have more allies than we thought in taking down this bastard.

///---///

Riser's P.O.V.

"So, we agree on the colors of the napkins?" A demon of the ninth layer of hell spoke as I groaned a yes.

Fucking dammit, why do I have to take care of all this shit? Wasn't it supposed to be a bride's responsibility to take care of preparing for the engagement party and the wedding?

But, when I talked to the queen bitch about it, she just said she wouldn't marry me for what must be the 800 times and dumped all this work on my lap. Now here I am, doing my duty in this engagement I don't like either, and having to spend a perfectly good day deciding on seating arrangements for the guests and the colors of every single little thing.

And why did I have to let Yubelluna come along again? I just wanted to let everyone sit whatever way they wanted and to let everything be red and golden, the colors of House Phenex. If the queen bitch doesn't want to help make the preparations then she will have to be surrounded by the colors of my house including a big picture of myself half-naked covering the wall... or that was the plan.

But Yubelluna wouldn't let me 'ruin my image' or whatever, so she came along and is making me do the actual work.

"Now, for the tabletops. Should we go with simple white or mountain peak white?" The organizer said and I groaned.

I must be diplomatic or something, because they look exactly the fucking same.

"Let's go with mountain peak white then." I say.

"Are you sure? Simple white is the one trending right now." The woman says and I feel a desire to burn this bitch to a crisp.

"Then go with that one." I say while gritting my teeth. This is getting absurd, why can't I just choose the appetizers and drinks served (by tasting them all, of course)? If it was just that then this would at least be somewhat entertaining, instead of this hell.

At least I know that Yubelluna promised to do that thing with her tongue later if I do this, it is the only thing giving me the strength and will to stay in this place.

Closing my eyes I concentrate on the other thing that gives me strength, namely the fact that I am having my bachelor party in a few days. I wonder if bro would want to come along? He seems like he would be down to party, but I need to ask him first, and if he would accept being my best man for this thing.

I have other male friends I knew for longer, but none of them saved my sister's life and managed to put queen bitch in her place quite so well, and the fact that the fallen bitch had when her bullshit was called was great as well. Just for those, I can't think of a better person to be there with me on that day, just need to ask him. Plus it would piss off the queen bitch, which she deserves after making me go through this.

Organizing a wedding party is not something a man like me can enjoy whatsoever, and I will have my revenge!