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Dimensional Watch DXD Chapter 30 Falling Snow
🕑 Added 2025-04-15 14:06:11 +0000 UTCThe Izumo Inn had always been a curious place—filled with energy, laughter, teasing, and a touch of chaos. But over the past few days, things had escalated in a way that even Issei Hyoudou couldn’t begin to understand.
It all began the day Seo left. Issei had returned from work, tired, sweaty, and eager for a hot bath and maybe some cuddles from Uzume, Matsu or Yashima. Or maybe all three at the same time. That would be heavenly. Instead, he was met with an unexpected and strangely intense sight.
Miya was waiting for him in the foyer wearing her usual miko outfit, her purple hair pristine as always, and holding a plate of warm rice balls wrapped in delicate cloth. Her brown eyes softened when she saw him, and before he could speak, she stepped forward and placed the food in his hands with a gentle smile.
“You looked tired, Issei-kun.” She said sweetly. “You should eat while it’s still warm.”
Issei blinked. “Uh… thank you, Miya-san?”
That was the beginning.
From then on, things began to change.
—--------------------
No longer was she the stoic, distant landlady who only interacted with him over meals and polite conversation. No—Miya now actively sought him out. Whether it was suddenly sitting next to him during dinner, offering to prepare his favorite dishes, or brushing imaginary lint off his clothes while sending smoldering glares toward anyone who dared to get too close—it was as if the inn’s matron had become his second wife overnight, Tamamo will not be happy.
It was also confusing as hell.
At this very moment, Issei sat cross-legged on the living room floor, trying to repair a busted rice cooker under Matsu’s supervision with his magic Alteration. He is using this moment to train and show Matsu a bit of his magic. His concentration, however, was shot. Because just behind him, Miya knelt gracefully, gently combing his hair with her fingers.
"Y-You really don’t have to do this, Miya-san." Issei mumbled, his face redder than the Boosted Gear.
"Ara~ but your hair was such a mess, Issei-kun. I couldn’t possibly let you walk around like that," Miya purred softly, the brush strokes agonizingly gentle.
Across the room, Matsu watched with open amusement, her glasses catching the glint of her barely concealed mirth. She even brought popcorn.
“Looks like our Miya has entered full wifey mode~,” Matsu commented, grinning ear to ear. “Did something happen while I wasn’t looking? Did you secretly wing her?”
“NO!” Issei yelped, nearly knocking over the rice cooker. “I-I didn’t! I swear! I don’t even know what’s happening!”
“You poor, dense boy…” Matsu cooed, clearly enjoying every second of this.
—--------------
It wasn’t that Miya suddenly became flirtatious. No, her elegance and attitude remained untouched. But it was the attention—her eyes lingered longer on Issei, her smiles were softer when directed at him. She began seeking him out during meals, asking him to join for tea in the afternoons, and gently guiding him away from the other girls with perfectly timed interruptions.
At first, Uzume and Matsu found it hilarious.
“Looks like our landlady’s finally cracking,” Matsu snickered behind her laptop screen, pushing up her glasses.
“Hopefully she starts to calm down.” Uzume had declared. “Maybe then we can take our relationship further!”
But that didn’t last.
Because every time Uzume so much as threw her arms around Issei’s neck, Miya’s presence would fill the room.
A single glance. A single smile.
A burst of wrathful, unholy pressure.
Uzume would immediately let go and step away with a stiff, nervous laugh.
Even Matsu, bold as ever, would shuffle awkwardly away when Miya approached, suddenly remembering she had ‘research’ to do in her room. Yashima, poor girl, was the worst off—any attempt to sit beside Issei resulted in her stammering apology and retreat after a terrifying glint from Miya’s eyes.
Issei noticed. How could he not?
Every time he tried to spend time with one of his Sekirei at the inn, Miya would appear like a divine warden, offering him tea, or a snack, or engaging him in conversation that somehow left the other girls feeling completely shut out.
And it wasn’t as if Miya was doing it maliciously. She was still the same graceful, composed woman. But she was there. Always there.
Issei sat in the common room one evening, sipping tea with a puzzled look on his face.
Yashima had been curled up beside him just a moment ago, and Uzume had been arguing playfully with Matsu on who would get the next cuddle.
But then Miya entered the room. And they were gone. Poof. Like shadows in sunlight.
From the hallway, Uzume, Matsu and Yashima peeked in, all three looking like they’d swallowed a particularly sour lemon.
“She’s doing it again,” Uzume whispered darkly. “That wrathful aura… I can feel it creeping down the hall.”
“I don’t think I can handle another death stare.” Yashima whimpered, clutching her hands nervously. “She nearly glared at me into a different timeline yesterday when I tried to hold Issei’s hand…”
Matsu leaned over with a fox-like smirk and said in a whisper, “I think our dear Miya is simply staking her claim.”
Uzume growled quietly. “Well then, we’ll just have to claim harder when she’s not looking.”
—-------------------
Whenever Miya was around, Issei was her territory. She hovered beside him that made her warnings all the more terrifying. The moment Uzume or Yashima tried to flirt, cuddle, or even casually lean on Issei during dinner, a sudden shift in the atmosphere—a pressure like an incoming storm—would descend upon them. Her gentle smile never faded… but her aura said otherwise.
Still, as soon as Miya left the room for even a second, the girls pounced.
It started with Uzume.
Issei had just stepped out into the garden after finishing his morning training, a towel slung around his shoulders, shirt still clinging to his chest with leftover sweat. He barely had time to catch his breath when he heard the familiar click of sandals.
“Hubby~!” Uzume called out sweetly, appearing with two water bottles in hand and a sly smile on her lips. “I brought you something cold to drink. You’ve been working hard~!”
“Thanks, Uzume.” Issei said, taking the bottle gratefully.
Uzume didn’t stop there. With feline grace, she slinked beside him, casually pressing her side against his arm. “You know, I’ve been thinking. A strong man like you deserves a reward~ Maybe a massage? A kiss? Or both~?”
Issei blushed hard. “W-Well, I mean—”
Then the air dropped ten degrees.
A shadow stretched across the porch.
Both froze.
Standing there, seemingly out of nowhere, was Miya. Her violet eyes calm… too calm.
Uzume stiffened. “I-I mean… j-just kidding~!”
Miya tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “Uzume-san, were you bothering our dear Issei-san during his post-training cool down?”
“N-Nope! I was just… um, helping regulate his body temperature!” Uzume stammered, backing away slowly.
“Ara~ How thoughtful,” Miya said, her smile never changing, though the faint creak of the wooden post she was gripping made Uzume retreat in terror.
—----------------------
Next came Yashima.
She found Issei sitting in the common room reading one of this worlds manga. Yashima stood at the doorway, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. “U-Um… Ashikabi-sama… I… I brought some rice crackers. Would you like some?”
Issei looked up and smiled kindly. “Sure, Yashima. Thanks.”
She took a deep breath and slowly walked over, kneeling beside him and setting down the small tray. Her fingers brushed his as he reached for one. Her cheeks turned bright red. “I-It’s nothing… I just… wanted to share with you…”
Issei tilted his head. “You’re always so thoughtful, Yashima.”
She looked like she was about to explode.
But then—creeeeak.
Both turned slowly toward the hallway.
Miya stood once again, holding a broom this time, her expression blank.
“…Miya-san?” Issei asked.
“Oh, please continue,” she said softly, sweeping near the doorway… very near. “I’m simply cleaning.”
Yashima froze like a deer in headlights, bowed quickly, and scrambled out of the room. Issei blinked, munching on the cracker in confusion.
—-----------------------------------
Then there was Matsu. She’d had enough of subtlety.
As Issei came out of the bath wearing a fresh white yukata that was given to him by Miya and was his size. He spotted Matsu waiting with a grin.
“Well well~ Look at you, fresh and clean~ Perfect timing, my dearest Ashikabi!”
Issei gave her a wary look. “Matsu… what are you planning?”
“Oh, nothing too forward.” She cooed, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into the hallway alcove. “Just thought maybe a kiss for your hardworking techie might be in order~ I’ve been sooooo neglected lately…”
“I—uh—Matsu—”
And then, like the strike of divine retribution—SLAM.
Miya appeared out of nowhere again, this time holding a tray of tea that rattled slightly in her hands.
Matsu stiffened, sweating. “...I was just… testing his reflexes. Important training, you know!”
Miya’s smile was serene. “Ah. Of course. But perhaps you’d like to test your reflexes… further away?”
Matsu vanished with a whoosh, leaving only a hairpin behind like a ninja fleeing a crime scene.
Issei was left standing alone. He looked up at Miya with a nervous chuckle. “You’re everywhere today.”
Miya gave him a gentle smile. “Just ensuring the inn remains… orderly.”
“…Right.”
—----------------
The moment Miya was gone. Uzume or Matsu would grab Issei’s arm and press it into her chest, whispering, “Quick, quick, emergency cuddles before she comes back!”
Yashima would immediately seat herself in Issei’s lap, nervously trembling but determined. “I-I just want… a little time…”
Issei’s soul was being yanked in three directions at once. What baffled him the most, however, was Miya herself.
‘What the hell changed?’ He thought as she helped him fold his laundry that night—something she never used to do. ‘She wasn’t like this before… It’s like… she’s trying to be my wife?’
He swallowed hard. ‘But I haven’t winged her. At least, I don’t think I did?’
Ddraig's voice, ever the uninvited third party in Issei’s thoughts, rumbled in dry amusement.
(You really are hopeless when it comes to women, partner.)
‘Not helping!’
(Is it really so hard to believe that someone who’s lost love might want to feel it again?)
‘…’
Issei glanced at Miya, who was folding his shirt with such care it looked ceremonial.
His chest tightened.
‘I don’t know what’s going on with her. But if… if this is how she heals… then I’ll do my best not to screw it up.’
Issei, sitting down at the porch, was completely alone with the serene hurricane that was Miya, and he finally decided to ask.
“Um… Miya-san?”
“Yes?” she replied, still smiling.
“Did I… do something?”
Miya’s expression softened for a moment—genuinely, this time. She walked towards him and knelt beside him with grace, folding her hands in her lap.
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Issei-kun,” she said quietly, almost tenderly. “But I’ve decided something.”
“…Decided what?”
Her eyes met his. Clear. Focused. And warm. “I’ve spent too long hiding in the past. And you… make it hard to keep doing that.”
Issei stared, stunned into silence. His heart skipped.
“I’m not saying I’m ready to be your Sekirei yet.” She added quickly, her cheeks coloring faintly. “But… if I were to choose someone, someday… I think I’d want them to be someone like you.”
Issei rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the heat rising to his face. “Well… I’ll try to live up to that.”
She stood, calm once more. “You already do.”
As she left the porch, her steps light and sure, Issei let out a long breath.
—------------------------
8 days left
Night had long since fallen over the Shinto Teito skyline, casting the city in a sea of glowing neon and pale moonlight. Amidst the blinking lights and drifting haze of smog, the sleek, towering figure of the MBI headquarters stood tall—monolithic and oppressive, a pillar of power and secrets.
CRACK—BOOM!
An explosion of jagged ice erupted from the upper levels of the skyscraper. Frost instantly crystallized on the windows several stories below the blast, and snowflakes began to drift where there had been none. The detonation shattered the silence, sending a shockwave that made traffic halt and heads turn for miles.
From the epicenter of the chaos, a figure burst through a wall of glass and steel, falling.
A woman—naked, vulnerable, and bleeding—tumbled through the sky, limbs limp as shards of frozen debris scattered in her wake. Her light brown hair whipped around her like a wild halo. Carved just above her eyes glowed a brilliant crimson—the unmistakable mark of a Scrapped Sekirei.
Her eyes were sad and full of pain. Crystalline tears streamed down her face, freezing mid-air as the wind howled past her.
“Fuji.” She whispered, her voice choked.
The world was a blur as gravity pulled her down, but her mind reeled faster than her fall. Betrayal. Pain. The sick joy on that man’s face. Her heart trembled, not from the cold—but from the cruel truth she had just escaped.
She has been broken. No longer will she ever be complete or feel the joy, the rest of her kind can feel without worry. She will never be able to meet her destined one and be loved.
A glint of sadness reflected in her dull eyes as her arms curled instinctively around herself, the remnants of power still radiating faintly off her bare skin—melting the snowflakes as they neared.
Far below, the distant sounds of car horns and panicked screams echoed.
And then—
CRASH!
Her body struck the top of a building, sending a layer of accumulated snow flying into the air like a plume of dust. A deep dent formed in the metal rooftop where she landed, her breath shallow, her consciousness fading.
For a long moment… there was silence.
Just the slow, rhythmic sound of her breath. The glint of moonlight on ice-covered skin. The bitter wind rustling the torn remnants of cloth that clung to her fingers.
She was alive… barely.
The crimson mark on her forehead still glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat. A symbol of her curse.
Somewhere far above her, within the cold, merciless tower of MBI, alarms had begun to blare.
—--------------------------------------------
7 days left
“Ahh~ this is heaven,” Issei murmured dreamily, a wide, blissful smile stretched across his face.
His head was comfortably resting in the soft lap of Uzume, who had a playful sparkle in her eyes as her fingers gently combed through his hair. Her light brown locks draped over her shoulder as she looked down at him with a fond smile, humming softly like she was petting a particularly adorable cat.
“I could stay like this forever.” Issei added, eyes closed, utterly content.
Uzume giggled, her cheeks faintly pink. “You better. It’s not every day I get you all to myself, especially with Miya hovering around like a hawk.”
That earned a mutual chuckle between the two. Today was Issei’s day off from the construction site, and with Miya out shopping for groceries, the house felt freer… less intimidating. The girls wasted no time claiming their Ashikabi for some well-deserved pampering.
Yashima, who had been sitting nearby watching the affectionate moment with bright eyes, fidgeted. Her hands nervously played with the hem of her sleeve before she finally spoke, her soft voice almost a whisper.
“U-Um… Uzume-san… I think it should be my turn now… to have Ashikabi-sama on my lap…”
Uzume blinked, then looked over, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “Aww~ Yashima-chan, you gotta wait your turn! I'm still enjoying my hubby’s dumb face~.”
Yashima’s cheeks puffed in a pout, her voice slightly firmer. “But… but I’ve been waiting for a while…”
Issei, still reclining like a spoiled prince, opened one eye, watching the two girls bicker over him with equal parts amusement and embarrassment.
Before the lap-war could escalate into something more dramatic, the door slid open.
Matsu stepped inside, her usual confident swagger replaced by an uncharacteristic tightness in her brow. She looked distracted—troubled.
Issei sat up, instantly noticing the change. “Matsu? What’s up?”
The hacker adjusted her glasses, lips pursed. “There’s a sale. South side of the city. Specialized electronic components I’ve been hunting for… and of course, the bastards don’t deliver, and they’re too niche to find online.”
Uzume leaned back, tilting her head. “So, go get them?”
“I would,” Matsu sighed, “if I wasn’t still a walking red flag for MBI. I can’t exactly stroll into a tech shop without risking the whole building going Code Red.”
Yashima glanced between them worriedly. “That’s awful… What will you do?”
Matsu flopped onto a floor cushion with an exasperated groan. “Sulking was my first plan. Then maybe hacking a vending machine to spit out free drinks.”
Issei grinned and stood, dusting himself off. “Or… option three. I’ll go pick it up for you.”
All three women looked at him.
Matsu blinked. “Wait, really?”
“Sure,” Issei shrugged casually. “It’s my day off, and if it’ll make you happy, I don’t mind. Just give me the list and where to go.”
Uzume crossed her arms with a faux grumble. “Tch. There goes my lap time…”
Yashima hesitated, then bowed slightly. “P-Please let me come with you. I want to help too.”
Matsu looked between them, then offered a sly grin. “My, my~ A loyal Ashikabi and his devoted flock. Alright, alright. I’ll pull up the address and details.”
Issei gave her a thumbs-up. “You can count on me.”
As Matsu passed over a slip of paper scribbled with details and technical names that might as well have been another language to Issei, she gave him a soft smile—grateful, affectionate, a bit proud.
“Thanks, Issei. Really.”
“No problem,” he said, tucking the note into his pocket. “Besides, I get to be a hero for a nerdy damsel in distress. That’s gotta count for something.”
Matsu rolled her eyes. “Nerdy damsel, huh? I’ll remember that next time you need tech support.”
Uzume stood as well, tugging on Issei’s sleeve. “Well, if you’re gonna run errands, I’m coming too. Someone’s gotta help you not get lost.”
Yashima nodded quickly, cheeks a little pink. “I’ll come too. If that’s okay…”
Issei grinned, eyes twinkling with warmth. “Alright, alright. Let’s make it a mini date.”
Behind them, Matsu leaned back, lacing her fingers behind her head with a knowing smirk. “Miya’s gonna lose her mind when she finds out we left her out of this.”
And with that, the small party of three set out, laughter and light banter echoing through the halls of the inn as the door slid shut behind them.
—-
The south side of the city had a certain charm in the late afternoon—a lively blend of old storefronts, cozy alley cafés, and street vendors peddling all manner of delicious, unhealthy snacks. The streets buzzed with locals and tourists alike, their laughter and chatter a pleasant hum beneath the occasional call of a passing bicycle bell.
Issei strolled along the sidewalk with a peaceful smile stretched across his face, flanked on either side by his Sekirei. Uzume clung to his right arm, animatedly pointing out a boutique shop window filled with colorful dresses and fluffy jackets.
“Ooooh, Issei~! That one would look amazing on me, don’t you think?” Uzume cooed, twirling a strand of her light brown hair as she pressed her face closer to the glass.
Issei laughed. “You’d probably make the mannequins jealous, Uzume.”
She gave him a wink and an approving pat on the shoulder. “Good boy. Flattery gets you everywhere.”
On his left, Yashima clung a little more subtly to his other arm. The quiet Sekirei was wide-eyed as they passed a small pet shop. Inside, a group of fluffy Shiba Inu puppies yapped and bounced around, their tails wagging like crazy.
Yashima’s eyes sparkled. “They're so cute... I’ve never seen them up close before,” she whispered.
Issei glanced over at her gentle expression and smiled softly. “Wanna go in and look for a bit?”
Yashima nodded, blushing lightly. “C-Can we?”
So they did. Time slipped by quickly as Uzume cooed over accessories and Yashima quietly petted puppies through the glass. Issei just enjoyed the simple bliss of their company—the way they laughed, smiled, and relaxed so easily around him. Compared to the chaos of his usual daily life and battles, this was a perfect day.
They saved their main errand for last—the tech store Matsu had marked on the map. It was a small, tucked-away shop, more of a cluttered hardware lab than a commercial store. But the elderly man running it had the parts Matsu needed and even gave them a slight discount when Uzume batted her lashes at him.
“Careful, Uzume,” Issei muttered as they exited, bag of parts in hand. “Any more of that and you’ll give the poor guy a heart attack.”
Uzume shrugged playfully. “Hey, I’ve got my charms. No shame in using them for a cause.”
They turned the corner, stepping back out into the now-calm street. The sky had turned a beautiful amber-orange, casting long shadows across the sidewalk.
“That should be everything, right?” Issei asked, double-checking the note Matsu had scribbled for him.
“Everything,” Yashima confirmed softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her eyes. “I’m sure Matsu will be happy.”
But then—it happened.
A soft, cold sensation landed on Issei’s nose.
Blinking, he touched his face.
Then another.
And another.
Uzume tilted her head, staring up at the sky. “Wait… is that… snow?”
Yashima followed her gaze, her voice puzzled. “But… it was so warm today.”
Issei furrowed his brow and looked up.
Sure enough, tiny white flakes drifted slowly down from the clear darkening sky above. Not a single cloud in sight.
“…This doesn’t feel right,” Issei muttered.
Uzume frowned, instinctively stepping closer to him. “It’s too sudden. Too unnatural. You feel that, too, right?”
Issei nodded slowly. Ever since Issei dodged Miya swing, he could feel himself creating a six sense. There was a faint pulse in the air, almost like the thrum of static. The temperature hadn’t dropped enough to explain this phenomenon.
Yashima held her arms around herself, shivering. “I-It feels… strange.”
Ddraig’s voice rumbled in Issei’s mind. (“Be careful, partner. That’s not natural snow. Something’s leaking powerful energy into the atmosphere. It’s distorting the weather.”)
“This weather is indeed unnatural. Master, please proceed with caution.” Sherri spoke.
Issei’s gaze sharpened as he scanned the surrounding rooftops, alleyways—anywhere that could hide an enemy presence.
“What do you think it is?” He murmured, eyes narrowing.
(“I don’t know.”)
The warmth of the perfect day was gone, replaced with unease. The trio stood together, snow slowly dusting their shoulders, their breaths now visible in the air.
Issei slowly clenched his fist, his other hand tightening protectively around the bag holding Matsu’s parts. Soon their curiosity peaked and all three followed the path of energy.
—-----------------------------
The wind whispered through the trees as the sun fully vanished beneath the horizon, and the city’s lights flickered on one by one. But in the quiet corner of a dimly lit park, the atmosphere was entirely different—cold, eerie, almost mournful. Snowflakes continued to fall, an unnatural chill hanging in the air despite the dry pavement below.
Issei walked slowly, his eyes focused ahead. “…This is it,” he muttered. “The energy… it’s coming from over there.”
Uzume and Yashima followed close behind, both of them tense, the snowflakes melting against their skin but never shaking the strange heaviness in their hearts.
As the trio stepped onto the frost-kissed grass, they saw her.
Sitting motionless on a worn park bench beneath a lonely street lamp, a woman slumped forward, her light brown hair matted and stained with dried blood. Her clothing—or what little remained of it—clung to her thin frame like rags. Pale skin was exposed to the cold, covered in bruises and dried cuts, and yet she didn’t even shiver.
She looked quite sad.
Issei’s steps slowed, the image before him digging painfully into his chest. ‘How long has she been like this? Alone? Hurt?’
He gently handed the bag of Matsu’s parts to Uzume without a word and took a cautious step forward.
“Hey…” His voice was soft. Kind. “Are you okay?”
The woman didn’t move at first. Her gaze was cast down toward the snow at her feet. Silent. Emotionless.
But then she slowly lifted her head.
Her dull golden eyes locked with his—and for the first time, Issei saw a depth of pain that made his stomach turn. This wasn’t just physical suffering. This was something deeper. Something that had hollowed her out.
“You… have Sekirei,” she finally said, her voice a rasp. “You’re… an Ashikabi.”
Issei paused. “…Yeah. I guess I am.”
She stared at Uzume and Yashima behind him, then returned her gaze to the ground.
“…You should leave.”
“Why?” he asked gently.
“…Because I’m worthless.” Her voice cracked. “I… can’t be winged. I’m broken. A failed Sekirei.”
Uzume gasped quietly. Yashima’s eyes widened in shock.
Issei’s heart clenched. There was no hesitation in her words. No self-pity. Just resignation.
“I… don’t belong anywhere.” She whispered. “No Ashikabi will ever want me. MBI said I was defective. And now… I have nowhere left to go.”
The snowflakes danced around her, settling on her hair and shoulders like a soft funeral veil.
Issei stepped closer, ignoring the cold. “That’s not true.” He said firmly. “You’re not worthless.”
She flinched slightly.
“It doesn’t matter if you can’t be winged. That doesn’t make you broken. That doesn’t mean no one will ever care for you.”
She looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes for the first time.
Issei slowly knelt down in front of her, placing a gentle hand on her knee.
“You don’t need some magical bond to be loved. You’re still a person. Still someone who feels pain, joy… still someone who wants to be seen, to be accepted.”
Her eyes trembled.
“If it’s that important to you… if having an Ashikabi is what gives you purpose, then I’ll be that for you. Even if there’s no bond. Even if I don’t have the power to ‘wing’ you like the others…”
He smiled at her—warm and full of hope.
“I’ll still stand beside you. I’ll care for you. You’re not alone anymore.”
The woman stared at him, wide-eyed. Her lips quivered, but no words came out. And then… tears. Silent tears began to stream down her cheeks.
Uzume stepped forward, her voice unusually quiet. “Issei… is amazing, isn’t he?”
Yashima nodded, tears welling in her own eyes.
“I’m… Akitsu,” the woman finally said. Her voice cracked with emotion, but the frost that once coated her soul had begun to melt. “I’m…former Number Seven.”
Issei nodded. “Nice to meet you, Akitsu.”
And in that moment, something changed.
The unnatural snow slowly began to fade, the air warming as the aura of despair surrounding the woman lessened. Not because of any magic or bond… but because for the first time in what felt like forever, Akitsu no longer felt unwanted.
She wasn’t alone anymore.
A crack of displaced air split through the moment like a whip, and a sudden blur of movement forced Issei’s new instincts to flare.
“MOVE!” he shouted, grabbing Akitsu’s wrist and yanking her to the side just as a burst of wind cracked the ground where she’d been sitting.
Uzume leapt backward, her veil unraveling and growing like a whip to deflect a projectile. Yashima took a stance, eyes sharpened, hammer growing in size at the ready.
Four Sekirei landed in a semi-circle before them, surrounding the group with practiced formation. Their presence was undeniable as they were fully aggressive.
But they weren’t the center of attention.
No, that belonged to the one standing smugly behind them.
A short, silver-haired teenager in an immaculate white coat with an expression that screamed self-entitlement and arrogance. He stood with his hands in his pockets, clearly unfazed by the tension. Standing directly next of him, like a silent shadow, was a tall man with piercing eyes and the calm stillness of a blade. His black clothing fluttered slightly in the breeze, and his entire demeanor radiated deadly efficiency.
Mikogami Hayato. And his personal bodyguard, Sekirei No. 5—Mutsu.
“Well, well, what a sight.” Mikogami smirked, stepping forward and examining Issei’s group like they were a display. “An unwinged Sekirei in the wild? Looks like I’ve found a new addition to my collection.”
Akitsu stiffened at his words, another Ashikabi that also wants her. Someone that can’t even be winged.
Issei stepped in front of her without hesitation, standing tall. “She’s not a thing to collect.”
Mikogami raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And you are…?”
“Hyoudou Issei,” he said calmly. “Ashikabi to Uzume and Yashima.”
Mikogami whistled mockingly. “Two already? That’s greedy. You don’t look like much—what are you, some construction worker?”
Issei ignored the jab. “I don’t care what you think. But you’re not taking Akitsu.”
Mikogami laughed. “Oh, I’m not asking. I’m offering her a chance to be part of something better. You hear that?” He looked past Issei to Akitsu. “You’ll be cherished. Protected. All you need to do is come to me.”
Akitsu’s gaze didn’t waver from Issei as she thought of the difference between the two Ashikabi.
“I don’t know who to choose.” That was all she said as she was confused at which choice to pick.
Mikogami simply smiled. “That’s fine. I help make the decision for you. Everyone get ready to eliminate our opponents.”
Mutsu’s expression didn’t change. “Understood.”
But before he could move, Issei stepped forward. His voice was low. Serious. “You touch her, and you’ll regret it.”
Uzume stood at his left, her veil swirling around her like a storm.
Yashima was at his right, hammer glowing faintly.
And Akitsu—who had only moments ago been curled on a bench in despair, watched, wondering what to do.
Mikogami scoffed. “So dramatic.”
Issei’s fists clenched. His voice carried through the tension. “You think this is a game. That Sekirei are trophies. But they’re not. They’re not weapons, or dolls, or tools for some twisted ego trip. They’re people.”
Mikogami simply snapped his fingers. The four Sekirei surrounded them preparing to attack.
Please comment and tell me if I made any mistakes.
Comments
Neonxd 37
Show them Issei🙂↕️
Logan Hill
Great chapter please make more
