NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: 1. Autopilot [OFF]
The street lights flickered in the quiet night.
Kuoh Town was calm, or so it seemed.
*Click* *click* *pan*
In a small corner of the town, a fierce battle was playing out.
A huge monster that resembled a manticore was fighting a death battle against a group of people...
And a brown-haired boy was observing the scene through a monitor.
He glanced at the clock.
2:00 am
"... 5 more minutes left."
Hyoudou Issei, 18 years old
He was currently participating in a guild raid in an MMORPG game, against a newly released boss.
The time limit was fast approaching and they had only whittled down half of its health points.
Many of his guild mates were already down and waiting for a revive, but the monster was not giving the other players to rest even for a second.
So the only thing they could do while waiting was to... Cheer the remaining members through text chat, while the revive timer ends.
Hyoudou Issei's game character, Yuusha36, was simply running around, avoiding all attacks, and not engaging in combat.
Click Click Pan
He dragged his mouse to adjust the camera angle towards the boss while running.
A wide area around the boss turned red as it unleashed an Area of Effect (AOE) attack. Two other members were taken out. Only Issei and another person were left.
Time Left: 4:03
…
When the clock hit 4:00, something unexpected happened. Mini-manticore-like creatures started to spawn all over the battlefield. Issei's character, Yuusha36 evaded the attacks of the minions and pointed his camera again at the boss. But the other member wasn't so lucky...
*Click.. Click... CLICK…*
Time Left: 3:07
Issei exhaled and pressed 'W' on his keyboard.
He started running towards the boss.
He dodged its claw attacks and rolled to the side to dodge the tail attack that followed. He pulled out his bow, pointed towards the sky, and--
*SHOOT*
The arrow disappeared into the sky.
Satellite Arrow, as the name suggests is a skill for the bow class, where an arrow is launched way up in the sky with so much power that it disappears for around 10 seconds and then comes down with incredible power and momentum. However, if the boss moved away in the meantime… it would just be a waste of energy and time.
Yuusha36 switched to his sub-weapon, a shortsword and rushed at the boss, the minions trailing behind him. Issei used a movement skill, called 'Shadow Step' to teleport behind the boss monster. He then started doing simple normal attacks with his shortsword. The mobs surrounded him and started attacking him.
But, Yuusha36 started charging a shortsword skill, ignoring the minions.
Suddenly the boss moved to the center of the arena, signalling for an AOE attack. The minions started to chip away at his hp and now he was stuck in the position of charging his attack while being at the receiving end of this onslaught.
...
..
.
"... Boom."
*BOOM*
It was as if a meteor had landed on the boss.
The satellite arrow had found its mark. The AOE attack of the boss was interrupted. Moreover, some of the minions who were near the boss were killed too.
Seeing this-
*Stretch*
Issei's lips stretched across his face resembling a messed up smile. The screen light from the monitor made his eyes appear blue.
Yuusha36 unleashed his shortsword skill onto the stunned boss.
The combo chipped off a good portion of the boss' HP.
*ROAR*
The monster, regaining control, focused once again on Yuusha36. But-
*SHOOT*
Yuusha36 switched to his bow and shot another arrow into the space.
The monster made a crouching stance. It was an indicator that it was going to charge.
Yuusha36 however moved out of the dash direction and switched to his short sword to attack the surrounding minions.
The monster charged. Missed. Turned around and charged again.
Yuusha36 dodged at the last moment. The monster turned and charged--
*BOOM*
The second satellite arrow found its mark. Issei had positioned himself at angles so that the monster was back to the center after the 3rd dash.
Issei followed up with an instantaneous sword skill, which wasn't quite as powerful as the previous sword skill but decent nonetheless.
Yuusha36 distanced himself, switched to bow, pointed at the sky, and...
_Time Left_ : 2:23
*SHOOT*
....
_RAID CLEAR_
Ranks
Attacker: Yuusha36
Tank: LastuAegis
Support...
....
...
..
.
The raid ended with only 7 seconds left in the timer. Issei's teammates showered him with praise.
"…"
He quickly moved his fingers on the keyboard.
*Blank*
Issei turned off his PC.
*Flop*
He finally put down his headphones after hours of use and basked in the silence. It was past 2:05 AM.
*Beep* *Beep*
The sound was coming from his phone on his desktop. It was his message notification.
He unlocked the phone to see thousands of unread messages, that had accumulated over the weekend. He scrolled through the messages:
Break up with Rias Sama, you bastard!
You do realize how unsuitable, unworthy and and… utterly… ugh I can't even…
I know that you are a pervert too like those two little monkeys. You can't fool my eyes.
Don't assume you can just come and do us all like that.
I know where you live.
… the messages went on.
Issei browsed through the names of the people hoping to find a certain name, but 'that' person wasn't among these people. Issei turned his phone to silent and flopped onto his bed.
"… Goodnight."
He said to himself and immediately fell asleep.
… …
…
"Streaks of red, and streaks of light…
Together they shall paint,
The stage for my flight."
*rumble*
My own face came into view. It was pale and splattered with blood, wearing a dazed expression.
*SCREEEEAAAAAMM*
I flinched upon hearing the scream, covered my face hurriedly with my arm and ran—
My heart was banging against my chest. Everyone was staring at me in horror. Something bad has happened—
…
..
.
*RINGGG* *RINNGGGGG*
*RINGGG* *RINNGGGGG*
I woke up with a start, completely soaked in sweat.
*RINGGG* *RINNGGGGG*
*RINGGG* *RINNG—* *CLICK!!!*
'… A weird dream…'
I thought while turning off the alarm.
*****
The clock read 7:45.
It's time for me to leave for school but before that…
*Slash* *zooooom* *Shoot*
The game from last night was running again but this time, the character was moving independently without any input from the user.
I need to set up my auto-farming bot.
Yes, I am using a script to farm mobs for the whole day, while I was away at school.
Why? Because I can't be bothered to spend my time farming while I am supposed to be playing for some 0.1% drop rate item.
Of course, this was against the game's terms of service and could result in a permanent ban, but that has yet to happen and I have enjoyed my game in peace.
"…"
*Hack* *Slash* *Shoot* *Pause*
The character was moving according to my script. I recorded hours of my personal gameplay, studied it, and created this automation script that will run the keyboard on my behalf, as close to my style as possible.
After double-checking the farming process, I picked up my bag and left.
**********
*Vroom*
*Sirens*
*Murmur*
Kuoh town was bustling as usual in the morning.
I am Hyoudou Issei. 18 years old. An ordinary 2nd year high student, living an ordinary life, in this ordinary town, Kuoh, currently on my way to school.
*HONK* *HONK*
"Hey! Move it, old man!"
"WHO are you calling an old man?!"
The sidewalks were just as packed as the main road.
Students and the working population were making their way towards their destination. I weaved through them, making my way towards my school, Kuoh Academy.
Soon the majestic campus came into view.
Kuou Academy. A private school. It has several divisions such as the primary division, high school division, and college division. It's a co-ed school right now, but since it was a girl's school until a couple of years ago, there are more girls than boys.
As the grade goes down, the number of boys increases, but there are still more girls than boys overall.
I'm a 2nd year high school student and the ratio of girls and boys in my class is 7 to 3. For 3rd year students it's 8 to 2.
I am a student of class 2-C.
The entrance exam to this prestigious school is supposed to be really hard and I clearly remember doing poorly in the exams, but somehow, I got the minimum score and am currently in class 2-C.
"…"
I sidestepped to the left, and two guys flew past me. From their arm positions, it appeared as if they were trying to lock my head between their elbows.
"The heck?!" the guy with glasses, complained.
"Do you have eyes on the back of your head or something?!" His bald friend commented.
The guy with the glasses is my classmate, Motohama. He has a special ability called Scouter that lets him get the numerical values of the girls' measurements through his glasses. Along with a special body where his power level plummets down when he takes his glasses off.
His nickname is the "Perverted Glasses" and the "Three-size Scouter".
The bald guy is another classmate of mine, Matsuda. He might look like a sportsman, but he is a pervert who makes sexually harassing comments every day.
He was a sports-boy during his time in junior high school where he broke many records, but he's in the Photo-Club now. He is really open about his ambition of wanting to take photos of every part of the girls' bodies through the camera lens.
His nickname is the "Perverted Baldy" and the "Sexual Harassing Paparazzi".
These two are the only people in the school with whom I am on speaking terms.
As for my nickname, the students sometimes call me 'dead fish' because, apparently I appear despirited, and always have a dead look in my eyes. But I am unsure whether it has stuck as a nickname yet because people hardly ever speak to me.
We walked together to the school. The Duo started talking about some random porno, earning stern gazes from students. Oh, wait… maybe those eyes are directed at me.
I didn't have to think twice as to why. The duo, perhaps realizing the same, kept their mouths shut for the rest of the journey.
The answer was waiting for us at the entrance of our school.
The girl with crimson red hair. Our school idol whose beauty is beyond a normal human's. Her slim proportions aren't the shape of a Japanese girl.
Of course. She isn't Japanese after all. I heard people say that she is from Northern Europe.
It seems like she is attending a Japanese high school due to her father's work.
Anyone will get their heart taken by her after witnessing her beauty.
Rias Gremory.
She is a 3rd-year student of this school. So that makes her my senior.
Everyone looks at her when she walks past them. Some people stop walking. Others stop talking. Everyone turns around to look at her.
The wind gently blows her crimson hair while every student in this school watches her.
Her long crimson hair which comes down to her hips makes her surroundings look like it's colored in crimson as well, when the wind blows her hair.
Her beautiful skin, which is white as snow, is remarkable.
Beautiful.
That's the only word to describe her in one word. That's the only word you need to describe her.
And… this is the girl I am dating (?)…
I know, I know. The last part didn't make sense.
"Good Morning," Rias Gremory said with a gentle smile.
"… Good Morning," I replied, and quickly added, "Senpai."
She chuckled softly.
"Would you be available this afternoon?"
I heard a few gasps from the surroundings. The entire space seems to be more crowded than usual.
"I am free."
Don't overthink. Play it cool. Don't let her know my interaction with the female population is almost zero.
"I wanted to discuss some things with you over lunch, are you okay with that?"
Excited whispers broke out from the surroundings. I nodded. I already had an idea of what she wanted to discuss.
"I will send someone to get you, well then…"
She waved me bye and left.
*****
Surprisingly, no one came to bother me now that I was physically at school, even though everyone was raging online. Don't misunderstand, everyone was glaring at me, but that was it. The boring morning lessons passed by quickly due to me half sleeping through them.
As the clock approached lunchtime, my thoughts wandered to my supposed girlfriend.
Three days ago, Afternoon at school
"So Issei-kun, your punishment for losing the bet is…. Asking out Rias Gremory-senpai from the third year!"
The perverted glasses, Motohama, gave his order after winning the football match prediction bet… I will never bet before a match starts. Why is he so good at these things anyway?!
"Oh shit!" Matsuda curled his fist over his mouth, "You better do it online Issei, hahaha!"
….
"… Please go out with me."
Grandpa in heaven, I just confessed to a girl, in person too. I am sure you are feeling proud.
I remember the surprised expressions of the surrounding students, especially her fans. Not just their expressions but also their cruel words.
'Did he just…'
'Eww…'
'He is a dead fish even when he is confessing...'
'Yeah, as if our Rias-oneesama is ever gonna—'
"… Yes."
Rias Gremory revealed a sweet smile, introducing a plot twist I never anticipated.
The two perverts watching from afar had their mouths hanging open from shock. Her loyal fans displayed a face of betrayal and horror.
But no one was more surprised than me. And we didn't even talk following that confession until today morning. The entire student body seemed to have a different idea though. Apparently, someone spread a lie that they saw me and her this weekend, on a date. How can they even say stuff like that about a guy who pulled two all-nighters playing video games?
As I was wondering who was going to come to pick me up now that lunchtime had started, I heard the girls screaming. The reason was…
It was our school's number 1 best-looking prince Yuuto Kiba, who experienced an entirely different school life from me. Maybe a life similar to my…
Anyway, he is insanely popular among high school students in this school, maybe in this whole town.
He's in the same year as me. Though he's from a different class.
You can hear girls screaming with joy from the classroom and the corridor.
He is the eternal enemy of the duo because, according to them, he is the reason they haven't got any girlfriends in this school with a massive female-to-male ratio. That is because he hogs all of the girls' attention…
While I was thinking about all of this, 'Kiba-Kyun' made his way to my table.
'Ah…'
Looks like he is the one who came to pick me up.
...
As I was walking down the corridor that led to the cafeteria following his lead (did she, by any chance, think I didn't know my way to the cafeteria?), I recalled that Rias Gremory was the president of a school club called the Occult Research Club (ORC). Our handsome guy was also part of that club. Apparently, it is some sort of high-profile club, invite-only, that gathers the most popular students. I often hear from the duo how likely it would have been that they would have landed a girlfriend if they were in this club. I thought it was because of their misguided belief that they could bag any of the popular girls in that club but apparently no… They believed that if they joined the club, female students, especially the ORC fans would go out with them just to make sure that they wouldn't approach the ORC girls.
… I could totally see that happening. It was such an unusually brilliant plan from them that I was speechless… but are you guys really ok with that sort of relationship…?
Personally, I wish they wouldn't ask me something troublesome like joining the club because, for one, I am not into supernatural or mystical stuff, especially, prophecy and those cards stuff. I would probably end up playing video games in that club, which would surely ruin the mood. Second, I will stick out like a sore thumb (as if I am not already), because all of the club members are really beautiful. Honestly, I feel like I am decently handsome but just on an average level.
I wonder how the club members feel about me dating Rias Gremory. Like, what are the odds that this guy is gonna lead me to somewhere else and try to stab—
"Hyoudou-Kun, can we talk somewhere in private for a minute?"
… Okay, I am dead.
************
We went behind the gym, and he made sure no one was around. I was on high alert level.
"Are you aware of the real reason as to why our Buchou*, Gremory-senpai, accepted your proposal?"
Because she loves me?!
Yeah, no. You have to be a Pro-max delusional guy to believe that Rias Gremory would fall in love with you if the first words you ever spoke to her were 'Please go out with me' and you are Hyoudou Issei to boot. I happen to be a bit of a realistic guy.
But I do have an idea as to why she said yes.
"Is it because of Hiro Satoru and other guys?"
Kiba nodded.
As perfect and dreamlike as our Kuoh Academy is, it still isn't without its flaws. This is a school where girls were dominant due to the high ratio. Even the student council president was a girl after all. But, two years ago the youngest child from a rich family running a huge corporation called HIRO joined the academy, the young talented boxer who won the junior boxing championship last year, and an S-grade bully…
Hiro Satoru.
Kuoh Academy isn't a normal school, the bullies aren't normal either. They act like rich, spoiled, and entitled nobles who deserve to collect money from students because they are apparently protecting them from other schools' bullies (while actively bullying the subjects they protect).
So what does that have to do with Rias Gremory?
Hiro Satoru has been pursuing her madly ever since last year. Everyone in the school knows about that. His influence in the school is almost on the same level as the student council now, perhaps even a tad bit higher. It is said that his father has connections with the principal.
Back to Rias Gremory, she has been constantly asked out by a lot of students ever since stepping foot in this academy. Ever since Hiro began his pursuit, a lot of other students backed away, fearing that he would turn on them if he found out. So the current recommended way to ask her out is online, like Matsuda said. If you pay the right money to the right people in this school, you can get her Line ID. I believe everyone got my ID to threaten me the same way. I didn't want to do all that so I risked it and quickly asked her out but… yeah. Plot twists do happen.
So, what is my role in this whole scenario? For that, I have to introduce another character. My brother. A year younger than me, but in the same school year as me. Someone who is almost as, if not more, popular than handsome prince Yuuto Kiba. A member of the student council and the one who beat up all the members of Hiro Satoru's gang (except for Hiro who wasn't at the scene) all by himself last year. Hyoudou Izo. The only one Hiro is afraid to mess with, or so everyone says. There were no repercussions for Izo's actions. They left him alone which led to the birth of those rumors that Hiro is afraid of Izo.
I guess that Rias Gremory-senpai wishes to get rid of Hiro by using the brother of the guy he is afraid of. She is playing the power card.
But there were two variables to this plan. It is said that Hiro is afraid of Izo. Rumors aren't a piece of concrete evidence. The second variable is my relationship with Izo. We have a sort of 'we don't know each other' relationship. There was a time in the past when we were close but that's history now. This is the biggest variable here. If Hiro learns that Izo doesn't care what happens to me, he will come after me.
"Buchou believes that Hiro Satoru will stop bothering her if he learns that she is going out with Hyoudou Izo-Kun's brother."
Yeah. Like I thought.
"So… now me and Senpai are dating?"
Kiba nodded and continued.
"Please go out with her until graduation," Kiba said, "She believes that you are a perfect candidate for this role because of your reputation."
… The dead fish. Are these rude people implying that I would have never got a girlfriend in my remaining two years either way? Well… they aren't wrong though.
"…Alright. But why are you the one, saying these things to me?"
Wasn't I supposed to discuss these things with Senpai?
"… It will be hard to speak this in the cafeteria. And also in compensation for helping out Buchou, she said she will give you any reward that you wish for… I, no we, as her fellow club members who admire her and look up to her…"
He bowed in front of me.
"We wish that you wouldn't demand anything extreme. This is a humble request which I do not know a better way to present."
My eyes narrowed. He knows that what he just said is rude. He is preassuming that I would have asked her something 'extreme' unless he said this to me.
The problem is what he implies by 'extreme' here. I hang out with two reincarnations of pervertedness in human form. Naturally, I was also labeled as a pervert without context in the beginning, but those rumors naturally faded away over time. But the question remained, why am I so friendly with the two if I didn't share the same interests? The answer is that I am not. They are the ones who won't leave me alone. I just came to accept that fact after a while. His implication of 'extreme' is hinting at those rumors.
Well, I guess this shows how much Mr.Usually-Nice-Guy cares about her. He is willing to offend a guy he doesn't even know. I think everyone in that club shares this sentiment.
"… I will keep that in mind."
He bowed again.
"I deeply apologize about the way I came off just now."
Hah… I will just let this go.
He then led me to the Cafeteria like he initially came for.
...….
*Clink* *Clink*
*Pause*
Food, food everywhere. But no appetite to eat.
Why?
*murmur* *murmur*
Because everyone was glaring daggers at me while throwing betrayed puppy expressions at the beautiful senpai seated opposite me who was eating elegantly. Catching my gaze, she gave me another sweet smile. In response, I offered her a half-attempted smile.
I can't smile. Or should I say I do not know how to do it without freaking someone out? Something must have gone fundamentally wrong when they were programming data into my brain. My cheek muscles don't respond to the warm fluffiness of daily life for some reason.
Initially, Rias Gremory said all of this food was for me, which freaked me out. She wanted to talk to me while I was eating in this cafeteria where everyone was releasing killing intent. I requested her to have a meal with me so that at least the food wouldn't be cursed by these well-wishers around me.
"Did Yuuto explain everything to you?"
Kiba's last name is Yuuto. I keep forgetting that because it is always 'Kiba-Kyun this' and, 'Kiba-Kyun that'.
"Yeah."
I guess it really was difficult to discuss those things in this cafeteria. I never expected it to be this crowded. I can see a guy in the corner munching on a piece of bread as if he is venting his anger and glaring at me. There is also a group of girls sitting close to us. Not close enough to overhear us but you never know.
"So what do you want in return?"
She lowered her voice so that others wouldn't overhear.
Looking at this objectively, there is a small to medium possibility that I will be pummeled to death by 30-40 third-year students. And the reward is to compensate for taking this risk. But to be fair, I was already risking that the moment I asked her out. There was a chance that Hiro would have come for me there too. The difference is that he might have let me off, in the scenario where she said no, because I am Izo's older brother but in this scenario, I feel like using a brother card is a bit too much. There is a 20%, no maybe a 30% chance that Hiro will say, 'fuck it' and attack me out of anger because otherwise, it would be like confirming the rumors that he is afraid of Izo. In fact, I am surprised he hasn't come for me so far. So perhaps this might be a safe bet…
"I will ask for compensation if Hiro Satoru does something."
"No, that won't do, you acting as my boyfriend is a shield against not only Hiro Satoru but others too."
True… it is not like Hiro is the only one who asks her out. Damn, being popular sounds painful.
"Something I want…"
She nodded, waiting patiently.
Should I ask for money? I heard she is from a wealthy family and money would help out a lot when moving out. But it's not like I can't do it myself. Hmm, I will keep money as an option.
What else… something I really want…
…..
A girl's sweet laughter echoed in my mind.
*Grip*
My grip on my chopsticks tightened.
"… Amusement park? Accompany me to the amusement park…?"
…. ….. …. CRAP, I SAID IT OUT LOUD!
She looks shocked as well! Grandpa in heaven, what is happening to your boy… I asked someone out over a bet, got a 'yes', and now I am asking her out on a date?! Am I using up the rest of my life's luck right here?!
She chuckled.
"Oh my. That was rude of me. Pardon me, it was just unexpected."
The murmurs intensified.
'Look at that… Rias-oneesama is laughing…'
'That dead fish… actually knows how to talk to girls?!'
'He is dangerous…'
'No Rias-sama…'
'Drop dead, Hyoudou!'
Shut up…
"Of course, I will go with you. In fact, going on a date with Hyoudou-Kun to the local amusement park or shopping in the department store was something I had in mind so that we could establish that we were a couple. Since you asked for it as a reward, I will make it worth it. Do you have a passport?"
… I was left speechless. Where did she plan on taking me…? … The rich live in a different world.
I quickly denied it.
"No, no, if we already doing that then I will take that as my reward."
Not gonna lie, that was an A-grade simp line.
Rias Gremory made a troubled expression.
"You flatter me, but that would leave you with the shorter end of the stick in this deal. For my sake, can you please accept?"
"I don't have a passport. Besides I am completely fine with the dates being my reward itself."
That was an S-grade simp line, period.
"I can quickly arrange a passport for you," she insisted.
Damn… she is being so pushy with this. To be honest, I am sure it will be a fun experience, wherever she is planning to take me, but I am sure there will be a lot of people there… I dislike being around too many people.
"… actually I always wanted to go to the local amusement park in Kuoh, because there was an important promise associated with it."
"Oh?"
Senpai asked, curious.
"I spend a good part of my life in this town. I am pretty familiar with that park…"
I revealed a sad expression.
"Before the renovation, the park was slowly dying. Me and my friends often went together to that park. Screaming, shouting, getting scared on the rides… that park…"
I paused and took a deep breath.
"That park… where our memories and emotions lie… one day, we wanted to revive it again. We promised we would visit it when we grow older, with our newly made friends. Perhaps even with our girlfriends, as a tribute to those wonderful memories… Looking back, perhaps we already knew… that we would all go on our separate ways as we grow older."
I paused again and said.
"But fulfilling that old promise is more than enough for me, senpai."
"... Oh, okay… I understand..."
Rias Gremory-senpai wiped away her tears, with her handkerchief.
… Grandpa in heaven, I lied to my girlfriend (?) on our first conversation.
To be honest, that park deserved to die. The food was total trash, until recently. I am glad that they finally used their two brain cells to figure out why they were hardly retaining any customers. I still can't seem to enjoy the rides itself, but that might be just a 'me-thing' because I always went there alone…
I dislike crowded places. I can adjust but if I am supposed to be enjoying I prefer my local amusement park.
'Did he just make her cry…?'
'That's it. I'm gonna go kill him.'
'Knock it off, you know who his brother is right?'
'Look at that smug idiot borrowing muscles… UGGGGHHH his existence irks me so much…'
… I wish these NPCs wouldn't follow us to the local amusement park… Maybe it was a better idea to go to another city's amusement park. Seriously, get a life.
During the rest of the conversation, we addressed things such as how often we should be seen together in school, whether we should walk to school together sometimes, and other convincing acts to show that we are dating. We will end this relationship when Rias goes to Kuoh Academy's college division, if Hiro follows her there, then she said she will approach me with a second deal until her college graduation because, as of right now, I was planning on going to the same college as her. And this time, she will decide the proper reward herself. But she stressed that a college deal is completely optional if I was looking for actual romance there. So… no high school romance for me, huh? Well… I don't think that could have happened either way.
And finally, we addressed a core issue. How should we address each other?
"Since we are pretending to be dating, you can call me Rias."
What a normal thing to say…
"Rias… san."
"Simply Rias would be fine."
"Rias… san. I will drop the honorific sometime later."
She chuckled.
"Alright, but can I call you Issei?"
That was quick… What is this warm feeling in my chest…? Wait… No, no, no, noooooo!
*curl*
I immediately covered my mouth to stop it from attempting a smile. She looked at me puzzled.
"Yeah… fine."
"Alright, Issei."
She said cheerfully.
*Flinch*
YOU NEO-GRADE SIMP!!!! DIE!!
As the clock approached the end of lunchtime. Rias-san quickened her eating speed… elegantly.
*******
Finally, this chaotic school day came to an end.
I made my way to the main gate weaving through the crowd of students. I could feel the heat of some glares on my back. Stop it, people…
…. I decided to stop by my favorite spot.
********
Vehicles zoomed by beneath the footbridge. This spot has always been my favorite. Watching the vehicles rush past has become one of my most cherished activities to pass the time. Their constant passage mirrors my life—days swiftly passing, each moment fleeting.
Going to school every weekday, playing video games at night, occasionally studying, getting lost in social media apps, working out to keep my body in shape, sleeping, waking up, and doing it all over again. Playing games throughout the weekends. I live a peaceful and ordinary student life.
The best way to make your time on Earth meaningful is through doing things you enjoy. To understand what you enjoy, you need self-reflection. Self-reflection leads to self-discovery. You'll learn who you are—your talents, your interests. Self-discovery opens the path to self-fulfillment. You'll live as who you want to be or who you were meant to be. This process can take years. You may mistake your interests, your true talents, and your limits. You may have to start over many times.
Some people are born with more talent than others, but they might discover it much later than someone who has less talent, evening the field. Sometimes the opposite also happens. That's just how it is.
But there is a truth about talents I learned much later. Not all talents are meant to be polished. Some talents and interests are not acceptable in society. Therefore, people who possess them have to settle with their other talents—living against their own 'self.
Some people are gifted with what's called a 'God-given talent.'
I am one of them. I discovered my so-called 'God-given talent' quite early in life. It is… well..
… what use is in thinking about it now?
Still, a part of me wonders: What would have happened if I never abandoned that talent?
… It reminds me of the famous poem that was taught in our English language class. "The Road Not Taken."
I scratched my head and sighed.
I sound like an old man. What is even an 18-year-old guy like me thinking?
I shifted my thoughts about the bot playing my game at home. I should have around 10 Million coins by now. Or maybe around 15—
"Um… Excuse me!"
A high-pitched voice pulled me out of my thoughts. A beautiful girl was standing nearby, looking nervous. A girl with silky black hair and a slender figure. I am sure I have never seen her before.
"…Yes?"
"You are Hyoudou Issei-kun, right?!"
She quickly said. How does she know my name…?
"Yes…?"
Why is she blushing so hard? We are speaking for the first time—
"I am Amano Yuuma, a second year at Sakuraba High. I have always seen you pass by here and wondered... are you by any chance single?!"
She quickly spit all that out, looking at her feet.
Wait… this can't be going in that direction… This isn't possible in any multiverse… The timing… just when I and Rias-san entered a deal… Wait, Rias-san? AHH, I see now. Jesus, I can't believe Motohama's and Matsuda's theory worked! This girl obviously is asking me out so that I won't be in a relationship with Rias. They set up a girl from another school?! Because if it was a girl from the same school I would get suspicious… Who called it?! Who is it?! Was it Hiro?! Hiro Satoru?! Goddamn…
"No, I am in a relationship."
She looked surprised and then… heartbroken (Hold up, this can't be the real deal, right?)
She looked down unsure of what to do next.
"… I wished that you would go out with me… but…" She looked genuinely sad.
*Drip* *Drip*
Wait wait, you can't be serious?! She is actually crying?! WAS THIS REAL?! High school romance was actually possible?! Just outside Kuoh Academy?!
"Excuse me," she said, wiping her tears, "I didn't expect you to be taken."
Guess what? Me neither…
What is going on Grandpa?! First Rias Gremory, now this girl?! Are you sending me good luck from heaven?! Surely you could have waited until the deal was over?!
After a brief pause, she wiped her tears away.
"But can we at least talk for a few minutes? She asked, "I want to talk it out with you now that I know you are taken. Can you please spare a few minutes and help me please?"
She bowed.
Whoa... That's a strong character, there. I guess, I can help her with that.
"Sure. Do you want to talk here or...?"
"The park would be fine," she said in a small voice.
...…
We were at the park and I just had my most awkward + silent walk with anyone in my entire life. She kept sniffing along the way and everyone was looking at me suspiciously.
This park was a bit outside the town. But usually, there were always few kids playing here. But today it was eerily quiet. The water was bubbling from a fountain nearby. I spotted a vending machine and decided to buy drinks to cheer her up.
"Amano-san, which drink would you like?"
I asked Amano Yuuma who was standing near the fountain, behind me.
*Silence*
*Bubble* *bubble*
The water continued to bubble peacefully in our silence.
"…"
Is she that upset?
I was about to turn when…
?!?!!
I felt my whole body screaming at me to jump to the side.
*LEAP*
*WHOOOSSHHH*
Something went past me at terrifying speed.
*BOOMMM* *EXPLODE*
…
*cough* *cough*
Smoke was coming out of the destroyed vending machine. A ringing noise started to fill my ears.
"That was unexpected. Do you train? No… perhaps it was just luck."
I turned my head in the direction of the fountain, towards the voice.
Black feathers were falling from the sky.
*Ba-dump*
Something that shouldn't exist was standing before my eyes. The young girl with a high-pitched voice had disappeared. In her place, a woman with folded black wings, wearing a revealing outfit was looking at me with interest.
For a second the word cosplay crossed through my mind, but the destroyed, smoking vending machine was proof that this situation was just… wrong.
********
Far away in Issei's room, the bot was still playing the game according to the script. Hacking and slashing at the never-ending swarm of monsters.
If I had to compare my life to anything it would be this bot. I have been playing this game called, 'life' as if on autopilot. Following a script, doing what I am told.
Despite being called 'normies,' I don't think having a girlfriend is the norm. Sure, it's normal to have one at this age. I believe that, in my life, relationships would be like, events—disturbances to my quiet, peaceful life, not in a negative way, but just in an eventful way. Events come and go, like in any average life. One day, my deal with Rias Gremory will be over, and that would be the end of that event, I believe even that is part of my 'script'.
But…
Even for the most average, normal person, sometimes an event will come where he has to step out of this mode and work hard to bring life back on track. Oftentimes, they succeed in doing so.
But rarely… very rarely…
The game suddenly froze, and a message abruptly popped up on the screen.
'You have been disconnected from the server due to suspicious activity.'
An event happens…
*******
*FLASH*
Light flashed and morphed into a spear in Amano's hand.
I shakily got up and ran as fast as I could.
She… that creature isn't human!!
An event that changes everything and pushes your life…
*BA-DUMP* *BA-DUMP*
"Phawh…."
I exhaled deeply upon seeing the empty streets that were usually packed with people.
*BA-DUMP* *BA-DUMP*
*BA-DUMP* *BA-DUMP*
What is going on?! Is this a hyper-realistic dream?! I counted my fingers.
1...
2…
3…
4...
5...
Reality came crashing down like a boulder on my chest, dragging my heart into despair.
… Onto a completely different trajectory.
......
CHAPTER 1- Autopilot [OFF]
END
Buchou means President/manager/department head in Japanese. Here it means, club president.
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Happy New Year, dear readers. Updates will be slow in the beginning because I am still messing with the drawing board, but I believe I have delivered a decent Chapter 1. I have big plans for this year. I am sure everyone does. All the best and I would really appreciate feedback. I am curious to know if someone who hasn't watched the anime or read the original work can understand what is going on here. Like, am I leaving things to the prior knowledge of the source material, like before? My current impression is no. But don't hesitate to correct me otherwise. Well then, see you in the next chapter.