The break had finally arrived, and Issei limped out of the classroom like he had aged fifty years since morning. Every step sent a sharp reminder of Sona's punishment through his body. He pressed a hand to his lower back, trying to ease the pain.
"Damn it… she didn't have to be that strict," he muttered.
Even so, deep down, he was happy. Asia was alive, part of Rias's peerage, and finally safe.
That thought made the pain easier to bear.
He took a few steps toward the first-year corridor, wanting some air away from curious eyes. But before turning the corner, he heard two familiar voices.
"Well, look who showed up," Matsuda said.
Motohama pushed his glasses up. "The great Issei Hyoudou… walking like he got run over by a truck."
Matsuda laughed. "Or by a student council president, right?"
Issei scowled. "Shut up."
The two moved closer, inspecting him like a rare exhibit.
"You know," Motohama said, narrowing his eyes, "we thought that after you joined the student council, you'd turned into a saint."
"But now that you're heading for the first-year hallway…" Matsuda flashed a huge grin. "Hope has returned!"
Motohama nodded. "You're still on our team, right?"
Issei stopped in the middle of the corridor.
"My team?" he asked.
Matsuda crossed his arms. "The team of perverts, obviously."
"Our banner still flies proudly," Motohama said. "And you were the standard-bearer!"
Issei felt irritation surge. "I'm not the standard-bearer of anything!"
Matsuda raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying you've changed?"
"Yes!" Issei shouted.
Motohama tilted his head. "Liar."
Matsuda pointed at him. "You're going to the freshmen corridor. And walking all crooked too. That's not saint behavior."
Issei clenched his fist. "I just… wanted some air."
"Air?" Motohama repeated. "Is it purer over there?"
"Or are the panties more colorful?" Matsuda added.
That was the last straw.
"You're idiots!" Issei yelled.
He shoved both of them at once.
Matsuda stumbled, crashed into Motohama, and almost fell.
Motohama regained his balance by grabbing Issei's arm.
The three of them started pushing each other like kids fighting over a toy.
"You betraying the team, Issei?" Motohama asked, gripping his shirt.
"I'm not betraying anything!" Issei shoved back. "I just… have other things to think about now!"
Matsuda nearly fell backward. "That's what people in love say!"
"I'm not in love!" Issei shouted, turning red.
"You are!" Motohama yelled.
"I'm not!"
The commotion drew attention, of course. Students walking through the corridor slowed down, trying to figure out whether this was a real fight or just another idiotic moment from the school's most problematic trio.
Issei tried to escape by pushing them aside, but Matsuda grabbed the collar of his uniform.
"Admit it!" Matsuda insisted.
"You totally are!" Motohama added.
Issei yanked himself free. "I'm not!"
They stood there panting, staring at each other like they had just fought an epic battle, even though it was nothing more than a ridiculous scuffle in the middle of the hallway.
Matsuda raised a finger. "Then why are you going there, huh?"
Motohama pointed too. "That hallway's full of girls. Fresh ones. Innocent ones!"
Issei opened his mouth to answer.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"It's… complicated," he muttered.
Matsuda's eyes widened. "Complicated?"
Motohama grinned wickedly. "So it's serious! One of them caught your eye!"
"No!" Issei shouted, shoving them again.
They went back to pushing each other like idiots until, suddenly, Matsuda froze.
"Issei…"
Motohama's eyes went wide. "Dude…"
Annoyed, Issei turned around to yell at them.
And stopped dead.
At the end of the corridor, silent, motionless, watching the three of them like they were the most pathetic trio in Japan, stood:
Gasper. Koneko. And Asia.
Asia looked genuinely confused.
Koneko bit her lip, clearly irritated that Issei and the other two were blocking the hallway.
Gasper simply observed, his expression neutral enough to make anyone feel ashamed.
Silence fell like a brick.
Asia looked at Issei with timid curiosity, not recognizing him. Before she could say anything, Issei took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to salvage his dignity.
"Asia… I—"
Koneko moved.
Not slowly. Not threateningly.
Just sharp, direct, inevitable.
Her fist slammed into Issei's stomach with a short impact.
Paf.
Issei lost all the air in his lungs. His knees buckled, his eyes watered. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out for three full seconds.
Matsuda covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
Motohama backed away like he had seen a ghost.
"My God," Matsuda whispered, holding back laughter.
Motohama adjusted his glasses with shaking hands. "It's… it's always like this with him… always him…"
Issei finally managed to breathe again.
"Ghh— Koneko… why…?"
Koneko crossed her arms, as if the punch had been basic social hygiene.
"Asia doesn't talk to perverts."
Matsuda and Motohama looked at each other, offended by the indirect insult.
Issei tried to stand up straight, still gasping. "I just wanted… to say hi…"
Koneko looked at him like that somehow made it worse.
"Stay away from her."
Asia's eyes widened, startled by the firmness.
"Ah— it's… it's okay, you don't have to hit him because of me…"
Koneko turned to Asia with the serious calm of an older sister.
"You do."
Before Asia could protest again, a hand closed around hers.
Another hand took Koneko's.
Gasper had stepped forward without a word.
The gesture was firm, direct, almost possessive, and completely unexpected.
Koneko looked up at him, surprised for a moment, then suspicious.
"Gasper."
He didn't back down.
"I know Issei's reputation."
Koneko narrowed her eyes. "And?"
"He doesn't get close to Asia."
The words weren't threatening.
They were a simple fact, a rule Gasper had no intention of discussing.
Asia felt her breath catch for a second.
Issei had helped her reach the church that day. Clumsy and desperate, but he had tried.
But Gasper was right.
Issei was… complicated.
And Asia, still fragile, chose to keep that to herself.
'It's better not to say anything…'
Gasper released their hands slowly and turned away.
"Let's go."
Koneko didn't argue.
Asia didn't either.
They followed Gasper down the corridor, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Issei remained there, bent and defeated, watching the trio walk away.
Matsuda let out a low whistle. "Man… who was that?"
Motohama adjusted his glasses. "No idea, but he holds both of them like he's the protagonist of an anime."
Matsuda put a hand on Issei's shoulder. "Relax, Issei. There are other girls in the world."
Motohama nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. A whole ocean. A school. A… what's it called? A fleet of opportunities!"
Issei spun around.
"You two shut up!"
Matsuda laughed. "Yeah, he's alive."
Motohama pointed in the direction Gasper had gone. "But seriously. Who is that guy?"
Issei huffed, still bent from the pain. "He's just a new student, okay? Nothing special."
Matsuda raised an eyebrow. "A new student who grabs two girls by the hand and walks off like he owns the hallway?"
Motohama added, "Definitely nothing special."
Issei waved a hand dismissively. "Just shut up. He's just… weird. Quiet. Serious. That's it."
Matsuda crossed his arms. "Weird. Quiet. Strong. Serious. Dude… that's anime protagonist material."
"And he's walking with the cute blonde," Motohama added.
Issei stiffened. "So what?"
"So," Matsuda said, "you're jealous."
"I'M NOT JEALOUS!"
The two burst out laughing like they had just heard the joke of the year.
Issei turned away, scowling, and limped off, trying to ignore them.
___
Farther down the corridor, Gasper stopped for a moment.
Asia looked at him, curious.
He turned toward her.
"Let's have lunch."
Asia smiled instantly, bright and sincere. "Yes! I really want to."
Koneko made a low sound of approval, as if the decision were obvious.
Before they could take a step, a gentle voice echoed behind them.
"Oh, there you are."
Akeno appeared with light steps, her expression calm and that smile that said more than words ever could.
She approached, hands clasped elegantly.
"Rias asked for the three of you to come to the club during lunch."
Asia blinked, surprised. "To the club?"
"Yes," Akeno said, tilting her head. "We'll eat there today. And Rias wants to talk to you before the next classes."
Gasper crossed his arms slowly. "Me too?"
"With you especially." Akeno smiled with playful intent.
Gasper sighed.
Akeno gently touched Asia's shoulder. "Don't overthink it. Just come. Lunch is already prepared."
Koneko took Asia's hand again. "Let's go."
Asia nodded quickly. "Okay!"
Akeno turned to Gasper and beckoned with one finger.
"Don't be late. Rias wants you there now."
Gasper gave a short nod.
Akeno started walking at her usual calm pace, unhurried, but making it clear the direction was decided.
Gasper glanced one last time toward the end of the corridor, where Issei's distant shouting with his two friends echoed like a pitiful remnant of chaos.
Then he turned to Asia and Koneko.
"Let's go."
Asia smiled at him.
Koneko snorted softly, but didn't let go of the newcomer's hand.
The three followed Akeno in silence, ready for the next step, completely unaware that the day was about to become far more intense than they imagined.
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