DxD: The Dragon Origin System

No matter where he turned, the message followed him like an annoying shadow.

Everyone had their status card.

And then it hit him like a punch to the gut—they were all devils. Most of them had been human once, and to make things worse, he recognized a lot of faces.

"So, how do you plead, Issei?"

The voice belonged to a girl who, at first glance, seemed... ordinary. Average height, average build—nothing special. But there was something about her. Her delicate features had this mix of charm and authority that made you pay attention.

And yeah, she was cute. Really cute.

"I've lost count of how many times you've been dragged here this month," she continued, her tone calm but cutting. "Care to explain?"

Her expression was unreadable, but Issei could feel the irritation simmering underneath. It was like watching a candle flicker in a breeze.

He got it, though.

Running a school full of chaos-bringers—including his infamous trio of perverts—while keeping the female students safe? Not exactly a cakewalk.

Still, he needed an out. And fast.

"I… I wasn't looking at any of the girls, President," he stammered, barely stopping himself from blurting out her devil name. "I was, uh, focused on the… other floors."

"Oh? And which floors would those be?"

The sharp tone cut through the room like a blade. This time, it wasn't the president. The words came from the girl standing behind her—Tsubaki Shinra.

Strict, sharp, and confident, she had that vibe of someone who knew she could outsmart or outfight pretty much anyone. Her glasses framed those piercing eyes that missed nothing, and her sleek black hair was as flawless as her composure.

Issei swallowed hard. Tsubaki wasn't just anybody—she was Sona's queen. A strong devil who could crush the current him like a bug if she wanted to.

"The floors… uh…" He floundered, scrambling for an excuse. But deep down, he knew it didn't matter. There was no way out of this one.

He hated this. Hated playing the role of a clueless pervert. But dropping the act wasn't an option. If he suddenly stopped being that guy, people would start asking questions—questions he couldn't afford to answer.

'Just one more week,' he told himself. 'One more week of this crap.'

The thought made his stomach churn, but what choice did he have? Acting too normal would make things worse, and skipping school wasn't an option either. His parents would lose it, and his grades would take a hit.

And then there was Sona and Tsubaki. They already suspected he had something—a gear, maybe. He couldn't let them figure out he knew about their suspicions. That would only make things messier. For now, he'd grin and bear it. The insults, the bruises, the humiliation—better that than blowing his cover.

"Issei," Sona sighed, sounding utterly exhausted. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to defend you? To keep giving you chances when you won't even try to change?"

Her words stung more than he wanted to admit. He glanced around the room. All eyes were on him—frustrated, disgusted, disappointed.

It hurt, but he forced himself to smile.

"Sorry, President," he said, keeping his tone light and casual, even as his chest tightened. "I'll try harder next time."

Better to play the fool than let the truth slip. At least for now.

And thinking about it for a few minutes, sitting in front of them? He couldn't bring himself to care for much longer.

'I don't even know the names of half these people.'

To him, they were just background noise—bland, unremarkable faces that didn't matter enough to stick in his memory. Their disdain for him? It barely registered.

The only person in the room who mattered was the one in front of him.

"Please," he said, his voice low and almost defeated. "Just give me another chance, President. I swear it won't happen again."

He didn't need to look up to know she wasn't buying it.

Why would she? He was Issei Hyoudou, after all.

A pervert. A hopeless, unapologetic pervert.

'If it weren't for the Sacred Gear, I'd probably be the most useless guy alive.'

"This isn't the first time, Issei," Sona said, her tone heavy with disappointment. "Or the second. Or the third. Honestly, I've stopped keeping track of how many chances you've burned through."

She stood 'tall', arms crossed, her sharp gaze pinning him like a bug under glass.

"And unfortunately for you, I can't give you any more leeway."

Shit.

This was bad.

If he got expelled now, everything he'd been working toward would be toast.

'I'd be completely screwed.'

But then, just as his panic hit its peak, her next words pulled him back from the brink.

"So," she continued, turning her attention to the two unconscious idiots on the couch, their noses still oozing blood, "you and your friends will be doing civil work for the next month. Cleaning the school, helping teachers and students—whatever needs doing. No matter how gross or tedious, you'll do it."

Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"And if you can manage not to cause any more trouble during that time, I'll make sure the school board doesn't expel you."

Relief flooded through him.

It wasn't ideal, but at least he wasn't getting kicked out.

'Could've been worse.'

This punishment was nowhere near what he'd expected, and in some ways, it might actually work to his advantage.

"Does this... help include hard labor?" he asked, trying to sound nervous.

The girls in the room exchanged amused glances, and Sona's lips curled into a faint, almost sadistic smile.

"Oh, it definitely will," she said, her calm demeanor masking just a hint of wicked glee. "You'll be assisting with gardening, moving materials—whatever physical tasks need to be done. Consider it part of your rehabilitation."

"That..." He hesitated, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "I see."

Inside, though? He was thrilled.

'This might actually help with my training. Moving heavy stuff around all day? That's a win.'

He bit his lip, letting just enough fake unease show to sell the act. The girls smirked, misinterpreting his reaction completely.

"I'm sorry, President," he said, injecting as much sincerity as he could into his voice. "It won't happen again. And thank you for giving me this chance."

Sona studied him for a long moment, her sharp eyes searching for cracks in his words. Finally, she nodded, looking satisfied.

"Good. You may leave now," she said, her gaze flicking to the two unconscious boys sprawled like broken dolls on the couch. "And be grateful Toujou decided not to punch you. You'll need your strength to carry them out of here."

Koneko Toujou, to make him the carrier, had spared him her wrath. And judging by the bruises on his friends' faces, he knew they would require a long time to heal.

'Yeah,' he thought, glancing at their battered forms. 'They're definitely gonna feel that tomorrow.'

"And starting tomorrow, for the next thirty days, you'll be assisting with the school's work," Sona said, her tone sharp and final. "This is your last chance, Issei."

'Last chance, huh?' Issei glanced at his unconscious friends slumped on the floor, then back at Sona.

"Understood, President," he replied, bowing slightly. He bent down and hoisted one boy onto his back and slung the other over his shoulder, grunting under their combined weight. 'This might actually work out better than I thought.'

"I won't disappoint you, President," he said with as much conviction as he could fake.

The truth was, the weight was killing him. His legs trembled with every step, and he was one wrong move away from a faceplant.

'Don't collapse. Don't collapse,' he chanted internally, biting back a groan as he staggered toward the door.

With an awkward laugh and a grimace that screamed help me, he somehow managed to shuffle out of the student council office, the weight of his friends—and his questionable life choices—pressing down on him.

The moment the door clicked shut, Sona let out her fifth sigh of the day, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"He's never going to change, is he?" she asked, her voice heavy with exasperation.

"No," Tsubaki said flatly, crossing her arms. "He seemed a little more serious today, but only because he was threatened with expulsion."

Momo, standing nearby, frowned. "Why do we even bother with him, President?"

Sona's gaze lingered on the door for a moment before she turned to Momo. "Kuoh Academy only recently went co-ed. Expelling a male student, especially under public scrutiny, would hurt the school's reputation."

But that wasn't the whole truth.

There were things Sona couldn't share, not even with her closest allies.

'I hope you're right about him, Rias,' she thought, suppressing yet another sigh.

…

…

[Later – Occult Research Club, Kuoh Academy]

The soft crackle of an old record player filled the room, mixing with the comforting scent of freshly brewed tea. Rias Gremory, her vibrant red hair catching the dim light, lounged casually on her couch. She looked calm, but her eyes held the weight of unspoken thoughts.

Beside her, Akeno Himejima sipped tea with a smile that was equal parts warm and teasing. Her beauty was undeniable, her presence impossible to ignore, and there was always that slight edge of mischief in her demeanor.

Leaning against the wall nearby was Koneko Toujou, arms crossed, her white hair falling into her usual unbothered expression.

"Any signs of him awakening his gear, Koneko?" Rias asked, trying to sound casual, but the faintest trace of frustration slipped through.

"No." Koneko's reply was as blunt as ever, her tone almost detached. "And the way he acts? I doubt he ever will."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with disappointment.

"Do you think he's even worth all this effort?"

The question came from the doorway, where Yuuto Kiba stood, his posture relaxed. With his golden hair and ridiculously perfect face, he looked like he'd walked straight out of a fairytale. But there was no arrogance in him—only quiet confidence.

"Koneko's probably right," he said, his tone calm but thoughtful. "I don't see anything in him that stands out."

It wasn't harsh, just an honest assessment.

Rias let out a small sigh, her gaze drifting. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "But we don't have the luxury of being picky right now. For now, we just have to hope he's the one."

Her words carried a quiet weight that silenced the room.

She turned to Kiba, her expression softening just a bit. "Make sure he stays out of trouble, alright?"

Kiba straightened slightly and nodded. "I've got it covered."

Rias's lips curved into a faint smile before her attention shifted to Koneko. "And you'll keep an eye on him, too. No matter how clueless he seems, we can't afford to overlook him."

Koneko didn't look thrilled, but she gave a small nod. "Fine."

Rias leaned back against the couch, her smile fading into something more thoughtful. "As for him…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "We'll just have to wait and see. Because if he's not the one…"

Her voice softened, barely above a whisper.

"We're out of options."

The room fell quiet, the tension settling over them like a thick fog.

Issei Hyoudou wasn't just some random bet.

He was their last shot.

And if he failed?

They were done for.

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