Highschool DXD : Gacha Life

Seven days had passed since Chysis began my training, and the difference was remarkable.

Every day I pushed my limits under her watchful eye. What had started as clumsy attempts to combine my leopard transformation with water manipulation had evolved into something that felt as natural as breathing. It was a progress.

The breakthrough had come on the third day, when Chysis had me practice while blindfolded.

"Stop trying to control everything" she'd said, her voice calm but firm "Let your instincts guide the water, let your transformation blend well with your mind and ability" When I'd finally managed to maintain both abilities simultaneously for, the pride in her eyes had been worth every moment of frustration.

Now, as I walked through the quiet morning streets toward Kuoh Academy, I could feel the subtle change in my body.

I paused at a small fountain in the town square, extending my senses toward the water while allowing the familiar warmth of transformation to flow through me.

Without conscious thought, streams of water rose from the fountain, moving in complex patterns that mirrored the fluid. This was what I'd been missing during my spar with Akeno – the proper integration of my abilities. Otherwise, I would have defeated her for sure.

The past week hadn't just been about training, though.

Chysis had an... interesting way of showing appreciation. My apartment was now filled with expensive clothes I'd never asked for, gourmet food that probably cost more than my monthly rent, and enough high-end electronics to stock a small store.

Every time I protested, she'd wave off my concerns with a casual "What good is money if you can't spend it on people, you care about?"

The generosity was overwhelming, but I'd learned to accept it gracefully. Chysis seemed to genuinely enjoy spoiling people, and rejecting her gifts only made her more determined to find something I couldn't refuse.

I let the water settle back into the fountain and continued toward school, my mind already shifting to the reason for this early morning trip. Rias had sent a message through Koneko the previous evening, asking me to meet her at the academy before classes started. The tone had been formal, almost businesslike, which usually meant something important was happening, fallen angels? Issei? Only way to know, is to meet her in person.

As I walked, my thoughts drifted to the other project I'd been working on in secret. The Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist – a martial arts technique I'd been developing during my late-night training sessions in the woods.

The technique blended well with my arsenal of abilities, the concept was sound: using water manipulation to create devastating pressure waves while my leopard form provided the speed and precision necessary for the complex movements.

The problem was finding time to practice without alerting the devils to my expanding skills. They already knew about my water manipulation and transformation – adding a martial arts technique to the mix might raise uncomfortable questions about where I was learning these abilities. It has raised enough attention in one faction.

I'd have to be careful. Find isolated places, practice during off-hours, maybe even—

A gentle tap on my shoulder interrupted my thoughts. I turned around, expecting to see a classmate or perhaps a stranger, but instead found myself face-to-face with a young woman who immediately caught my attention.

She was petite, probably around my age, with long blonde hair that fell in gentle waves past her shoulders. Her eyes were a striking shade of green, wide and expressive, with an innocent quality that seemed almost luminous in the morning light. But what really stood out was her attire – a traditional nun's habit in pristine white and black, complete with a white veil that framed her delicate features.

She was clutching a well-worn leather suitcase in one hand, and when she spoke, her voice was soft and melodious, though heavily accented with what sounded like Italian English.

"Excuse me" she said, bowing politely in a way that seemed both formal and genuinely respectful "I am... how do you say... lost? I am looking for the church, but I cannot find it. Could you perhaps... help me?"

Her broken English was endearing, and there was something about her presence that felt different from the other supernatural beings I'd encountered. Not powerful or dangerous, but... pure, somehow. Like she carried light with her wherever she went.

"Of course" I said, offering what I hoped was a reassuring smile "Are you looking for the main church in town? It's a bit tricky to find if you don't know the area"

Her face lit up with relief and gratitude. "Yes, yes! The main church. I am supposed to meet someone there, but..." She gestured helplessly at the unfamiliar streets around us "Everything looks so different from what I expected."

I glanced at my watch. I still had time before my meeting with Rias, and this girl clearly needed help. Besides, something about her made me want to ensure she reached her destination safely.

"I can show you the way," I offered. "It's not far, just a few blocks from here. I'm Akira, by the way"

"Oh!" She bowed again, deeper this time. "Thank you so much! I am Asia. Asia Argento. It is very kind of you to help me find the way"

. . .

As we continued walking toward the church, Asia began to open up more, her initial shyness giving way to genuine curiosity about her surroundings. She asked questions about the shops we passed, the people we saw, and the general culture of Japan. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself enjoying her company more than I'd expected.

"This is my first time leaving Italy" she admitted as we paused at a crosswalk. "Everything is so different here. The buildings, the people, even the air feels different."

"Italy must be beautiful," I said, watching as she carefully observed the morning commuters hurrying past us. "What part are you from?"

"A small town near Vatican City," she replied, her voice taking on a wistful quality. "It was... quiet. Very different from this."

There was something in her tone that made me glance at her more carefully. Despite her obvious wonder at the new environment, there was an underlying tension in her posture, a wariness that seemed at odds with her innocent demeanor.

"And you said you're here for church work?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Yes," she said, her grip tightening on her suitcase. "I have... special abilities that can help people. Healing abilities. The Church thought I could be of use here."

My blood ran cold. Healing abilities. Blonde hair, green eyes, a nun's habit, and that particular combination of innocence and hidden sadness...

Asia Argento. The exiled nun with Twilight Healing.

The realization hit me like a physical blow, and I had to force myself to keep walking normally. I knew this story. I knew exactly what was supposed to happen to her. She would be taken in by the fallen angels at the church, who would pretend to accept her while secretly planning to extract her sacred gear. They would use her healing abilities, manipulate her faith, and then when they no longer needed her... they would kill her to steal Twilight Healing.

She would only survive because Issei would save her at the last moment, and Rias would reincarnate her as a devil. But Issei wasn't awakened yet. He was still just a regular student, completely unaware of the supernatural world. Without him...

"Akira-san?" Asia's voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. "Are you alright? You look pale."

I forced a smile, trying to push down the growing panic in my chest. "I'm fine, just... thinking about something."

But I wasn't fine. The weight of what I knew was crushing. This innocent girl, who spoke with such genuine faith and kindness, was walking directly into a trap that would end in her death. And I was the one leading her there.

As we continued walking, getting closer to the church district, I found myself studying her more intently. She was exactly as I remembered from the story – sweet, trusting, with that luminous quality that made her seem almost ethereal. She had no idea what kind of monsters were waiting for her.

The internal debate raged in my mind. This was the main plot. If I interfered, what would happen to the timeline? Issei's awakening, the events that would bring the main characters together, the entire sequence of events that I knew was supposed to unfold...

But then I looked at Asia's face again, saw the way she smiled when she noticed a small shrine tucked between buildings, the way she unconsciously blessed herself when we passed a group of elderly people. This wasn't just a character in a story – she was a real person, with real feelings, real dreams, and real faith.

How could I just deliver her to her death, even if I knew she would eventually be saved? The trauma she would experience – being betrayed by those she trusted, having her sacred gear torn from her body, dying in agony – wasn't something I could just dismiss as "part of the plot."

"Asia," I said suddenly, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. "Can I ask you something?"

She tilted her head, curious. "Of course, Akira-san."

"Are you absolutely certain that the people you're supposed to meet at the church are trustworthy?"

Her expression grew puzzled. "I... yes? They are fellow servants of God. They specifically requested help from the Vatican because they needed someone with my abilities."

"And you came all this way alone?"

"The Church thought it would be best," she said quietly, and I caught the slight tremor in her voice. "I am... not always welcome in traditional church settings. My abilities are sometimes viewed with suspicion by other clergy."

Just as I remembered. The fallen angels had manipulated the Church into sending her away, isolating her from any support system. Perfect prey for their schemes.

A soft rumbling sound interrupted the heavy moment. Asia's face turned bright red as she pressed her hands to her stomach, looking mortified.

"I... I'm so sorry," she stammered, clearly embarrassed. "I haven't eaten since yesterday. I was too nervous about the journey, and then I got lost this morning..."

The innocent admission broke something in my chest. Here was this sweet girl who had traveled halfway around the world to help people, and she was starving because she was too nervous to eat. She was about to walk into a trap that would end in her death, and she was apologizing for her stomach growling.

The decision crystallized in that moment. Plot be damned.

"Asia," I said gently, "how about we get you something to eat first? You must be exhausted from traveling."

"Oh, no, I couldn't impose—" she began, but her stomach chose that moment to growl again, even louder than before. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"I insist," I said, already changing direction away from the church district. "There's a wonderful café not far from here. My treat."

Asia looked torn between her obvious hunger and her sense of duty. "But... the people at the church are expecting me..."

"A few more minutes won't hurt," I said, guiding her toward a small café I'd noticed earlier. "Besides, you'll be much more effective in your work if you're not running on an empty stomach."

As we walked, my mind was already racing ahead to the next problem. I couldn't just feed her and then send her on her way – that would only delay the inevitable. I needed to find a way to keep her safe, somewhere the fallen angels couldn't find her.

And I knew exactly where that might be.

"Actually, Asia," I said as we entered the cozy café, "I might have a better idea than just breakfast. I have a friend who runs a... private residence. Very secure, very discrete. She's helped other people who've found themselves in difficult situations."

"I don't understand," Asia said, confusion evident in her voice as I guided her to a corner table.

"What I mean is," I chose my words carefully, "sometimes the people who claim to want to help us aren't always who they seem to be. And sometimes, the best help comes from unexpected places."

Asia studied my face for a long moment, and I could see her weighing my words. She was clearly torn between her duty to report to the church and some instinct that was telling her to be cautious.

"I... I don't know why," she said finally, "but I feel like I can trust you, Akira-san. There's something about you that feels... safe."

The irony wasn't lost on me. If only she knew how dangerous my world had become, how complicated "safe" really was.

"Then let's get you fed," I said, signaling to the elderly café owner. "And then I'll make a call to my friend. I think you'll like her."

As the owner approached our table with her warm smile, I was already planning my next move. I would need to call Chysis, explain the situation without revealing too much about my knowledge of future events. She was intelligent enough to understand that Asia needed protection, and powerful enough to provide it.

The fallen angels would be expecting Asia to come to them at the church. They would never think to look for her in the mansion of a high-class devil on vacation.

"This place smells wonderful," Asia said, breathing in the aroma of fresh coffee and baked goods. Her eyes lit up as she took in the cozy atmosphere, and for a moment, she looked exactly like what she was – a young woman far from home, experiencing something new and delightful.

"Wait until you taste the pastries," I said, watching as she carefully set her suitcase beside her chair. "The owner makes everything from scratch."

As we settled in to wait for our order, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of satisfaction and apprehension. I had made my choice – I was going to save Asia from her canonical fate. But in doing so, I was stepping fully into the role of someone who could change the course of events in this world.

There was no going back now. The question was whether I was strong enough to handle the consequences of my decision.

"Akira-san," Asia said softly, interrupting my thoughts. "Thank you. For helping me, I mean. I was feeling quite lost and alone, and you... you've been very kind."

Looking at her grateful smile, I knew I had made the right choice. Whatever complications arose from changing the timeline, protecting innocence from those who would exploit it was worth the risk.

Some things were more important than maintaining a story's plot.