Reincarnated in the World of High School DxD

[Yumi Kiba]

~~~~~~~~~

Kazuki met her furious gaze head-on and said, 'Where should the hatred of my fallen comrades go?' That rage, that need for vengeance... I've heard those same words before, Yumi. They came from you."

"I…!" Yumi's breath hitched, her body stiffening as if struck.

Kazuki's words cut deeper. "You said it when you lost to Xenovia and decided to leave Rias. You remember that day, don't you?"

She clenched her fists tightly, her voice barely audible. "…Yes."

That day was seared into her memory—the day she betrayed her master, turned her back on her group, and walked away from the people she owed everything to.

Kazuki's eyes bore into her. "And there you have it—that's the road of a revenge-driven fool. Is that what you want, Yumi? To end up like Kokabiel?"

"No!" Yumi snapped back, her voice trembling with fury and desperation. "I'm nothing like him! I'll never become someone like that!"

Yumi's denial was fierce, almost desperate, but Kazuki wasn't buying it. "You think so? Kokabiel probably didn't start out like that either. At one point, he must have been preparing for his glorious return, dreaming of a day when he'd rise again. But when that day never came, he broke. Yumi, tell me—how does your revenge end? Will killing Valper satisfy you? Shattering every single holy sword? Or maybe it'll only end when you slaughter every single church official involved in the Sacred Sword Project. Will that finally put it to rest? Tell me, Yumi."

"I... I don't know..." Her voice wavered, and for the first time, Yumi faltered.

Kazuki leaned in, his voice low and sharp. "Even if you kill Valper, one of the seven Excaliburs is still missing. And if you go after the Church, you'll spark a war with Heaven. That fallout would land squarely on Rias. Is that what you want? Are you okay with dragging her into your mess?"

Yumi flinched, trying to muster a defense. "I... I'm no longer a part of her peerage. I left. Whatever happens won't affect her..."

Kazuki scoffed. "Only if she lets you go. Do you really think someone like Rias—someone as loyal as her—would ever cut you loose? If she truly didn't care, do you think I'd be here right now, standing by your side?"

Her eyes widened as the truth hit her like a slap. Of course. Kazuki being here was proof enough of Rias's intentions. Despite Yumi's defiance and betrayal, Rias had sent him, her trusted blade, to ensure her safety.

"President..." Yumi whispered, her voice cracking.

Tears welled up as the realization sank in. Rias had never abandoned her. Even after everything, Rias still cared. That unconditional love, the kind Yumi felt she didn't deserve, was enough to shatter her composure.

Kazuki's voice softened and said; "Yumi, I'm not telling you to give up on revenge. But think about it for just a second. Did your comrades really die, leaving nothing but hatred behind?"

Her head shot up, eyes glistening with confusion. "What... do you mean?"

Kazuki's gaze was steady. "Do you really believe that, in their final moments, all they left was hate? That all they wanted was for you to carry on their grudge?"

Before she could stop herself, anger flared in her chest, and she came to an abrupt halt, spinning around to face him. Her voice rose, sharp and cutting.

"Don't be ridiculous! What could you possibly know about us?!"

Her words were like daggers, her fiery glare aimed straight at him. But instead of fighting back, Kazuki merely looked at her, his eyes filled with an unbearable sadness.

'Why? Why is he looking at me like that?'

"Yumi," Kazuki said softly,

"Imagine for a moment that it wasn't you who survived. Imagine it was someone else from your group, and you were the one who died. At that moment, would you really want them to dedicate their lives to avenging you? Would you want them to be consumed by the same hatred you carry now?"

"HUH!!" Her breath caught in her throat.

The thought struck her like a thunderbolt. If the roles had been reversed, she knew exactly what she would wish for. She'd want that person to live on, to find happiness for both of them.

Not to waste their life chasing vengeance.

"I... I..."

Yumi's body began to tremble uncontrollably. If she felt that way, then wouldn't the others? Her kind, gentle comrades—wouldn't they have wished for the same? Of course, some anger and bitterness might have remained, but... if they wanted her to live on, to be happy, then hadn't she twisted their wishes to fuel her own rage?

'Had my vengeance all this time long, been... wrong?'

"Calm down, Yumi."

Kazuki's voice was close, and before she could spiral further into her thoughts, she felt a warmth envelop her.

It was him.

He had pulled her close, one strong arm wrapping around her, while his other hand gently rested on her head, his fingers brushing soothingly through her hair.

"Senpai...?"

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"I pushed too hard. I didn't mean to upset you. I just... I couldn't believe that they'd leave this world with nothing but hatred. That's all I wanted to say. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry."

The heat of his body pressed against hers, his scent—musky from the battle and just a bit sweaty—filled her senses. Strangely, it didn't bother her. In fact, it felt... grounding.

The rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat, his steady breathing, the warmth of his arms—all of it worked together to calm the storm raging within her.

"Yumi?"

His voice brought her back, and she slowly looked up to meet his gaze.

"I'm okay now, Senpai," she said softly, a small, sincere smile on her lips.

Kazuki visibly relaxed, the tension easing from his shoulders as he mirrored her smile with a faint one of his own.

"I can't know for sure what everyone else was feeling," she began, her voice steady though tinged with regret.

"But... I don't want to believe that all they left behind was hatred. My drive for revenge—it wasn't about honoring them. It was my guilt, wasn't it? I survived when they didn't, and I twisted their memory to justify my need to avenge them. I'm such a fool."

Her lips curled into a self-deprecating smile, bitterness seeping through her words.

"But now that you realize it," Kazuki said, his voice warm and firm, "you still have time to make it right."

"Yes..." Yumi nodded, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. "Kazuki-senpai, I can't forgive Valper or Kokabiel for disrupting the peace of this town. That's why I'll fight. Not for revenge, but as a Knight of Rias Gremory's peerage."

Her declaration was resolute, her stance solidifying with her renewed purpose. Kazuki's gaze softened as he spoke the words she hadn't realized she longed to hear.

"Welcome back, Yumi."

"Yes!" she replied enthusiastically, her voice clear and firm.

They exchanged a look, one filled with understanding and mutual respect, before sharing a small but genuine smile.

"Ahem... if it's not too much trouble, could we get moving already?" Both turned toward the voice to find Xenovia standing a little ways off, looking visibly awkward as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Oh... were you there, Xenovia?" Yumi asked, blinking in surprise.

"Wait, you were there?" Kazuki added, equally nonchalant.

"Wh-what?! You two are awful! Of course, I've been here the whole time!"

Ignoring Xenovia's indignant outburst, the two exchanged a sly glance before breaking into a sprint.

'Boss... I'm sorry for everything I've done without your permission!! Akeno-san, thank you for always watching over me. Asia-san, I'm sorry for making you worry. Koneko-chan, Issei-kun... you both helped me when I was consumed by revenge, even though there was nothing in it for you. Searching the town with you, Koneko-chan, I felt so supported. And when you told me, "Don't disappear," I was so happy I could've cried. It made me realize something important—this is where I belong. This is my home.'

As Yumi ran, thoughts of her companions filled her mind.

'When I return, I'll apologize to everyone with everything I have. I'll accept whatever scolding I deserve for the trouble and worry I've caused.'

Her heart swelled with renewed strength as she ran alongside Kazuki, her path clear.

'That's why I'm coming back now. As one of Rias Gremory's peerage. As her Knight.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I personally imagine Haruka Tomatsu to be the voice of Yumi Kiba.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10 Advanced chapters are now available at Patreon: [email protected]/SMU_NANI

Support me by joining my Patreon page and start reading my advanced chapters earlier: [email protected]/SMU_NANI