High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

The day after the pool, I leave early. "Buchou, I'm on class duty, so I'm heading out."

"Got it. See you at school," Rias replies.

I'm on duty, so I need to check in with Mr. Sakata and clean the blackboard. That teacher's a chronic oversleeper, though hope he's okay.

Another reason for leaving early: meeting someone. Or rather, dealing with someone who came to meet me.

I grab two canned coffees from a vending machine and head to school. Students are already milling around. At the gate, a silver-haired guy my age waits.

"Yo," he says.

"Hey." I toss him a coffee.

He catches it, smirking. "Knew I was coming?"

"Felt your presence this morning," I say.

"Nice. I'm Vali, the White Dragon Emperor," he introduces himself.

"Issei Hyoudou, Red Dragon Emperor. Nice to meet you," I reply, exchanging grins.

"So, what's up? I'm on duty, so I can't chill long," I say.

Vali looks disappointed. "Just a quick hello. Won't keep you."

Hello, huh? I lean against the bridge railing, popping my coffee's tab. "Azazel was griping about you."

"Azazel? Why?" Vali asks.

"You snitched to Raynare. Shemhazai dragged him back and tied him to a chair to work," I say.

His fault for slacking. Not my problem. Tied to a chair? What is he, a kid?

"Shemhazai's got it rough," I mutter.

"Business as usual," Vali shrugs.

We share a bitter laugh, sipping coffee.

Vali eyes me. "Issei, where do you rank among the world's strongest?"

"Dunno. Never thought about it. I just take down threats to my friends," I say.

"You're among the top," he says.

Really? I know I'm strong training and experience prove it but not cocky.

"So what?" I ask.

"I was thrilled meeting you. The Red Dragon Emperor's stronger than I imagined," he says, eyes gleaming.

I face him. "You want to fight me?"

"Yeah, right now if I could!" he says, battle-hungry.

A gust of wind. Two swords flash at Vali's neck. "Cut the jokes," Kiba says, holy-demonic sword raised.

"No fighting the Red Dragon Emperor here," Xenovia adds, Durandal poised.

Vali's unfazed. This is nothing to him.

I sigh, turning to chop Kiba and Xenovia lightly. "Ow!" they yelp.

"Why, Issei?!" Xenovia protests.

"No weapons in public! What if normals see? You're already eye-catching," I scold. Two gorgeous sword-wielders? Total gun law violation.

They sheath reluctantly.

"He's not here to fight, right, Vali?" I ask.

"Nope. Just a greeting. I'm busy too," he says, glancing behind me.

Rias leads the club, glaring. "Issei's valuable. We'll protect him," she says.

"Don't need to tell me," Rias snaps.

Vali smirks, approaching her. "Those tied to the Two Heavenly Dragons don't live easy lives. Wonder about you all."

"I decide my life. I'm happy with Issei," Rias retorts.

Vali nods and leaves. We exhale, tension fading.

"Issei, he—" Rias starts.

Chime! "Crap, I'm late! Talk later!" I dash to class.

It's parent-teacher day. The classroom's packed with parents, including mine here for Miu and Asia. No big deal, except…

A stunning blue-haired woman draws every eye male students, parents, even the teacher. "Yo, Issei! I'm here!" she calls.

"Why's Tiamat here?!" I hiss.

"Found this in your room," she says, waving the parent-teacher flyer.

She visits often, but this?! The class glares at me. Great.

"Ahem! Let's start!" Mr. Sakata coughs, distributing… clay? English class, but…

"Make something you like with clay. It's conversational," he says.

What?! Lazy, but fine. What to make?

Got it. With my mental snapshots and model-making skills, I can do this. I get to work.

Minutes later, gasps erupt. On my desk: tiny swimsuit figures of the club girls (minus Kiba). Nailed it. Too good to toss.

"Hyoudou! You've got talent!" the teacher exclaims.

Matsuda shoves his worm-like creation at me. "Trade, Issei!"

No way! "Get lost!"

Motohama waves cash. "Five thousand yen!"

"Seven thousand!" a classmate shouts.

"Eight thousand!"

Bids climb. An auction for my clay figures?!

"Ten thousand!" the teacher joins.

You're the teacher! Stop it!

English class turns into a bidding war.

Lunch break. "Nice work," Rias says, admiring the figures.

"New talent, Issei-kun," Akeno adds.

"You made these, big brother?" Miu smiles.

I gifted the figures to the club. They loved them, but Kiba sulked no figure for him. Who makes a dude figure?

"So detailed. Looks just like Rias," Akeno says.

"Yours too," Rias replies.

Years of ogling paid off. Motohama measures sizes by sight; I'm surpassing that. My perv evolution never stops.

"Let's display them in the clubroom," Miu suggests.

Embarrassing, but cool.

"Did Sirzechs come?" I ask.

Rias sighs. "Yes, with Father."

A voice calls. "Issei-kun!" Sirzechs appears, a red-haired man behind him Rias's dad, looking young and suave.

"First time, Issei Hyoudou. Thanks for caring for my daughter," he says.

"Nice to meet you. This is my sister, Miu," I reply.

"Hi, I'm Miu. Rias helps us a lot," Miu says.

"Sirzechs mentioned you, Miu. Thanks for supporting Rias," he says, exuding class. No wonder he's their dad.

"Rias, seen Serafall?" he asks.

"Serafall-sama? No…" Rias replies.

Serafall Leviathan? The only female Demon King? Why's she here?

A girl runs up. "Hyoudou-kun!" It's Sona, the student council president.

"President?! What's wrong?"

"Hide me!" she pleads.

Hide her?

"Wait, Sona-chan!" A woman in a magical girl outfit chases her. Who's that?

Sona hides behind me. Rias sighs. Who is she?

"Sona-chan, why run? I just want sisterly love!" the woman whines.

"That's why! Have some decorum! And no '-chan'!" Sona snaps.

Stop using me as a wall!

"Serafall, your sisterly love is intense," Sirzechs chuckles.

Wait magical girl is Serafall Leviathan, Sona's sister?! I glance at Rias, who nods bitterly.

Seriously?! A Demon King?!

"President?" I whisper.

"Don't ask. Just defeat her," Sona says.

"You want me dead?!" I yelp.

"You can do it!" she insists.

Unreasonable! Cool Sona's gone.

"Hey, Sirzechs-chan. This the Ddraig kid?" Serafall asks.

"Yup, Issei Hyoudou, Red Dragon Emperor. My comrade," Sirzechs says.

She studies me. "Nice to meet you, I'm Issei. This is Miu," I say.

"Hi!" Miu adds.

"Hey☆ I'm Serafall Leviathan. Call me Levi-tan☆ Thanks for saving Sona-chan from Kokabiel☆" She bows.

Nice, minus the clinginess.

"You're here for parent-teacher day?" I ask.

"Yup! Sona-chan hid it from me! I was so sad, I nearly stormed Heaven!" she pouts.

Heaven's catching strays! Now I get why Rias and Sona only called Sirzechs during Kokabiel's attack. Serafall's chaos would've complicated things. Her siscon level trumps me and Sirzechs.

"Please, Sister, behave!" Sona blushes, bolting.

"Wait, Sona-chan!" Serafall chases, yelling about "-chan."

Don't destroy the school.

"The Sitri family's lively," Sirzechs says. "Right, Ria-tan?"

"No '-tan,' please," Rias retorts.

"Gremorys are plenty lively," I mutter.

"Why're you staring, Miu?" I ask.

"Wondering if you'd call me 'Miu-tan,'" she says, disappointed.

"No way."

"Oh…" Why's she bummed?

My parents and Rias's dad join us. We eat dinner at home, watching parent-teacher videos. Rias, embarrassed, locks herself in my room.