Kouh Town, Nature Park
The quiet of the night was broken by the crimson glow of a teleportation circle. Rias Gremory stepped out, her long scarlet hair shimmering in the moonlight. At her side walked Koneko, silent as ever, her golden eyes fixed on the unconscious boy sprawled across the ground.
Rias's gaze softened. "What happened?"
"The pervert ran into a Fallen Angel and got attacked in the process," Koneko said flatly, crouching beside Issei. "He awakened his Sacred Gear."
Rias's eyes sharpened. "What kind of Sacred Gear? And why is he unconscious?"
Koneko's face betrayed no emotion, though her words carried weight. "It looked like fire… a strong one. It nearly killed the Fallen Angel the moment it awakened. He collapsed right after."
Rias's lips curved into a thoughtful smile, though her eyes gleamed with something else—hope and greed. "A fire type, that powerful on its first manifestation? Could it be… Incinerate Anthem?"
But Koneko's next words shattered her theory. "I heard a voice say *Boost* before his flames doubled."
The word hit Rias like a thunderbolt. Her smile froze. *Boost? That can't be… There's only one Sacred Gear that does that. The Boosted Gear. But these flames—could it be a subspecies? The first subspecies Boosted Gear?*
Her heart raced, excitement threatening to spill from her calm exterior. "We'll take him home."
---
Next Morning, Hyoudou Residence
Issei woke up in his bed, drenched in sweat. For once, the warmth wasn't suffocating—it was alive. He remembered it all: the fire, the rage, the overwhelming power. Proof. Proof that he wasn't crazy.
He clenched his fist, feeling the faint pulsing heat beneath his skin. The flames were there, coiled tightly in his chest like a sleeping dragon. Waiting. Eager.
But as the thrill faded, questions came crashing down. *How did I get home? Who healed me? Where did this power come from?*
One memory pierced through. Yuuma's mocking voice. *"God won't save you."*
The word *God* burned in his throat like acid, his chest searing as if his very being rejected it.
"Then what am I?" he whispered, gripping his shirt. "That man called me a stray devil… but my parents are human. I… I died. I came back. Someone brought me back."
The thought festered as he stumbled through his morning, leaving for school with his mind clouded in fire and doubt.
---
Kouh Academy – Homeroom
Class dragged on in a blur. Issei barely registered the teacher's words, his thoughts swirling around flames and devils. He was snapped back only when the girls in class squealed.
Golden hair. Sharp teal eyes. Prince-like smile. Yuuto Kiba stood in the doorway.
(Oh, it's *Prince Golden Nuts* himself…) Issei thought sourly, rolling his eyes.
"Issei Hyoudou," Kiba said smoothly, his voice carrying that annoyingly perfect tone. "My club president would like to see you."
"Huh? No thanks," Issei replied instantly.
The room went dead silent. The *pervert king* rejecting an invitation to see the most beautiful girl in school? Impossible.
Dozens of eyes burned into his back. Groaning, Issei gave in. "Fine! I'll go!" He bolted out of the classroom before the whispers could start, leaving Kiba blinking in confusion before following.
---
Occult Research Club – Old School Building
The old building creaked with age as they entered. The scent of tea and sweets lingered in the air. Issei's eyes immediately locked onto the petite white-haired girl lounging on the couch, munching cookies like nothing else in the world mattered.
"Want some tea?" A soft, melodic voice floated through the room.
Issei turned, nearly choking on his own breath. A stunning young woman with violet eyes and an impossibly long black ponytail smiled warmly, pouring tea.
But then the bathroom door opened, and his heart nearly stopped. Steam billowed out, framing the silhouette of a woman with scarlet hair, a towel clinging to her curves.
*Rias Gremory.*
The flames in his chest stirred.
"Pervert." Koneko's monotone voice cut through his daze like a knife. Unlike when the others at school mocked him, her words felt absolute, like she was stating a universal truth.
Issei deflated instantly. "…Yes. May I have some tea?" he muttered, his voice depressingly flat.
Rias chuckled softly, sitting across from him with her towel still clinging. The way she crossed her legs—just out of sight of anything revealing—felt deliberate. Teasing. Mocking. His irritation grew, but he swallowed it down.
"Let's begin," she said finally, her tone businesslike. "Firstly… we are all devils."
Issei's world froze. He laughed awkwardly, praying it was a joke. But then leathery wings sprouted from their backs, dark and undeniable.
"Oh…" His voice cracked. "…you weren't joking."
He sat back, staring at his hands. His gut already knew the truth. "…You're the one who revived me, aren't you?"
The room went silent.
"Thank you… for bringing me back," Issei said quietly. His words shocked them all.
"How did you know?" Rias asked carefully.
"How dumb do you think I am?" His voice was sharper now.
She smiled faintly, though unease flickered in her eyes. Still, she began to explain. Gods, angels, yokai, myths, devils—real. The Christian pantheon, Heaven, Hell, Fallen Angels. The long war. The Devil Houses.
Issei listened in silence, shadows hiding his expression.
"So I'm a pawn in your Peerage," he asked finally.
"Yes," Rias said gently, sensing something wrong.
"I died. You revived me. That's why I'm here."
"Yes."
"And this is *your* territory. Meaning you knew what was happening in this town."
Rias flinched. "…Yes."
Issei stood slowly, his fists trembling. Flames licked at his skin, spilling from cracks in his control. "…So that's your answer."
The wall behind him scorched as the door he touched burst into ash. He turned, his voice a growl.
"You let me die. You forced me into your little group without asking. You left me in the dark for days—and now you expect me to fight for you? To serve you?!"
The room filled with the roar of his flames, the heat suffocating. His shirt seared as wings of fire flickered faintly behind him.
"Don't approach me," he spat. "If I want to talk, I'll come to you."
With that, he walked away, leaving only fire and silence behind.
Akeno broke it with a soft, amused laugh. "I saw that coming."
Kiba's calm voice followed. "Maybe next time, President, think about how you recruit people."
Koneko said nothing, still nibbling her cookie, though her eyes followed the trail of scorched floor.
Rias sat frozen, her chest tight with guilt. She knew he was right. She hadn't thought about *him*. Only about Riser… and her Peerage.
Now she was left with a pawn who burned brighter than she had ever expected—
and who was already slipping from her grasp.
---