Chapter 17

I got dressed and started heading to school this morning. The first thing that greeted me when I opened the front door was Issei's stupefied face. What the hell does he want?

"G-Good morning, Ryou-san," he stammered. I just gave him a nod while walking away. Issei soon caught up.

"I wanted to ask you some questions," he said. Oh, well, this'll be interesting.

"Ask away."

Issei seemed like he was going to wait until we reached the crosswalk, but I couldn't be bothered. My head was killing me, I might've drunk too much last night.

"Wa-wait up!" he called, catching up to me and letting out a breath. "I wanted to know, are you going to join Gremory-senpai later on when you achieve your dream?"

What? Does he not know? Right, no, he wouldn't.

"She'll be too weak to reincarnate me, Issei," I said, noticing the confused look on his face. I wonder if she's too weak to reincarnate me even now. Oh well. "If someone is significantly stronger than the devil reincarnating them, it wouldn't work. Vasco Strada isn't known as the strongest human for nothing. I highly doubt even those stronger than Redhead could reincarnate him. He's just that strong."

Judging by Issei's expression, he either saw me as a threat for some reason or he was constipated.

"Why do you call Gremory-senpai 'Redhead'? She asked me once, and I couldn't give her an answer."

I wish I could've taken a picture of her face when I first called her that. Why do I call her that? Well, for one, she's a liar. And two…

"Because she's weaker than she should be. I'd argue she doesn't train every day or even twice a week. She doesn't use the potential she has. She doesn't train to stop her fate from being decided for her."

With that, we arrived at the Academy. Great, another long day of boringness.

"See you later, Issei," I muttered.

Spotting Redhead and Akeno, I made my way to my desk and abruptly put my head down.

"Fufu~ Ryo-kun, you seem tired. Ara~ would you like to use my legs as pillows?" Akeno teased.

"No, I wouldn't Akeno-chan," I replied. Why didn't I just ditch school? It's not like I need to be here. I could probably pay someone in the supernatural to fake a certificate of education or whatever.

"Now, Akeno-chan, it seems Ryou-kun has a headache. Should I show him to the infirmary?" Redhead chimed in.

Turning my head to the left, I spotted both of them looking at me, with Akeno sitting on Redhead's desk, almost giving me a straight shot up her legs. Ugh, my head feels like it's about to split open.

"No," I grumbled, then buried my face back in my arms, trying to get some sleep. Fortunately, they seemed to get the message.

Just as class was starting, Redhead whispered over to me, asking if I could visit the Occult Club later. I didn't bother responding. And with that, dreamland called to me.

This wasn't dreamland. I was in the Blood River again, great.

'Free it.'

'Let it out.'

'Chaos bringer.'

'Consumer.'

Well, that's ominous. Second time hearing whispers from this place. Luckily, I learnt how to wake up from this.

I ran my hand through my heart.

Back in the real world, Akeno was poking my cheek.

"Ara~ finally awake, are we? Fufu~ I was starting to think a princess was needed to wake the sleeping beauty."

"When you see the princess, tell her I said hello."

I stretched as I stood up and made my way to the tree. Koneko was already there, eating in silence. Neither of us said a word as I sat down, leaning against the tree. I could feel myself dozing off again, doing that a lot recently.

"Aren't you scared of it?"

I looked down at her. "Of what?"

She had stopped eating, staring listlessly at her food.

"The curse. Of going insane."

right, her sister issues.

I looked up at the sky. "Truth be told, I don't think about it much anymore. I learned that the stronger my will is, the better chance I have of staying in control. Am I scared? I don't know. I was told that once the bloodlust and curse take over, the only way to stop it is to die. And I'm not ready to die yet, so I won't let it take over."

She stared at me. "What if you hurt someone you care about?"

Someone I care about? I don't know if I have parents or what they even look like. I've only had one friend.

"I don't have anyone I care about. But if I did, I wouldn't be scared. I'd work harder on making my will stronger." Her eyes widened at that. "I'd barely fear it knowing the people I trust would be there for me, just as I'd be there for them."

She looked back at her food. "Okay."

It was a quiet, heartfelt response. Then, she handed me an onigiri.

"For you."

I took it, and we both sat there, eating in silence. For some strange reason, I felt lighter than I had in a while.

School had ended, and I made my way to the clubroom. My thoughts drifted to my rejection of Redhead's offer. Was I too hasty? No. It goes against my goal the thing that drives me to see tomorrow.

It had something to do with the Evil Pieces themselves. They felt odd, like there was some kind of connection. Hard to explain. Were the pieces linked to the Blood River somehow? Had Ajuka used it in their creation?

As I approached the club door, I heard yelling. Hmm, the only times I knew Redhead got this upset were either with Riser or when Issei met Asia Argento. Instead of knocking, I just walked in, and the room fell silent.

"You wanted to see me, Redhead?"

"Ryou-kun! Please tell Issei he can't interact with a member of the Church!"

Can't control your own servant? What did you expect? If it's a woman, Issei acts like a loyal dog.

"Issei, you should introduce me to them." 'Asia might know Vasco Strada'

"Ryou-kun!"

"Ryou-san, I will!"

Redhead's glare shifted from me, though all I did was raise an eyebrow in response to that, and focused back on Issei.

"No, Issei, you won't! I forbid you!"

Issei, deciding not to listen to his master, dashed past me and out the door.

"Issei! Ryou-kun, stop him!"

I just walked over and sat down.

She started glaring at me again, faint traces of her aura swirling around her.

"What? Why do you expect me to help you?"

Her aura lowered, and she slumped into her chair, frowning.

"I thought we were friends, Ryou-kun."

What?

"No, we're acquaintances maybe less than that. Just because you call me by my first name doesn't mean anything."

Akeno's smile faded, and Redhead's frown deepened.

"What about Issei-kun though, Ryo-kun?" Akeno quietly asked.

Issei? Well...

"He has a dream. Now that he has the power to achieve it, I'm giving him a chance to prove he's worth it. As long as he strives to grow stronger for his dream, I'll reluctantly respect him."

Everyone frowned deeper at that. Redhead spoke up this time.

"And how would you know if I've been training and growing stronger, Ryou-kun?"

That was easy.

"Since the moment I met you, you haven't grown stronger, while I have. I'm just a human, and I'd wager I'm bordering on the peak of Middle-Class. And before you say anything, I'm aware you have an arranged marriage with the Phenex family and that you've managed to delay it until after your studies. But you, who wield the Power of Destruction don't seem confident enough to win. You're looking for someone else to fight him and his peerage instead of working on yourself."

With that, I got up and walked out without waiting for her response.

I hate people like her. They remind me too much of my old self.

And if someone saw me stumbling toward my apartment that night, tipsy from all the wine I'd been drinking, I wouldn't care. This plum wine was just too damn good.