Chapter 13: The Dream That Shouldn't Be Real

Kevin stared at the man before him, every instinct screaming to stay on guard. The air in the hidden library chamber was thick with an oppressive energy, one that Kevin recognized immediately—because it was something he had felt before. In a dream.

The man's face was pale, angular, and his eyes gleamed with a cruel intelligence. His black cloak shimmered faintly, as if imbued with magic beyond Kevin's understanding.

"You..." Kevin whispered, narrowing his Sharingan-covered gaze. "How do I know you?"

The man smirked, his expression a mixture of amusement and malice. "Because you've seen me, haven't you? Not here... but somewhere else."

Kevin's fists clenched as fragmented memories began surfacing—dreams that felt too vivid to be mere figments of his imagination. They had haunted him for weeks since his reincarnation into this world. In them, he stood in darkness, facing this same man, locked in a deadly confrontation.

Rias took a cautious step forward, her crimson eyes sharp. "Who are you? What do you want with Kuoh Academy?"

The man's smirk deepened. "So many questions, Rias Gremory. Unfortunately, none of them will matter soon." He spread his arms, and a pulse of dark magic surged outward.

Kevin, Rias, and Akeno braced themselves, shielding their bodies with magic. The barrier had been a warning, not a defense. This enemy wanted them to find him. He was toying with them.

"Kevin," Rias whispered, her voice low but urgent. "Do you know this man?"

Kevin shook his head slowly. "Not... exactly. But I've seen him. In dreams." He stared hard at the figure, whose grin only grew wider at Kevin's confusion. "And I don't know how that's possible."

The man chuckled. "Oh, young Kevin. Your dreams are more than mere visions. They're fragments—remnants of what you were never meant to remember."

Kevin's Sharingan spun violently, trying to unravel the mystery hidden in the man's words. Fragments of what?

Before he could press further, the man's figure began to shimmer, distorting as if he were about to disappear.

"No!" Kevin shouted, darting forward. Akeno unleashed a bolt of lightning at the same moment, but it was too late. The enemy dissolved into a swirl of shadows, leaving behind only his echoing laughter.

Kevin gritted his teeth. "Damn it."

They returned to the clubroom, unsettled by the encounter. Rias paced the room, deep in thought, while Akeno leaned back on the sofa, twirling a strand of her hair. Kevin sat at the table, resting his chin on his hands.

"That man..." Kevin muttered. "He knew me. And it wasn't just some random encounter." He clenched his fists. "He's tied to my dreams, somehow."

Rias stopped pacing. "Do you think it's connected to your... template?" She glanced at him carefully. "The one you're using now—Sasuke Uchiha. Could it be some lingering memory from that?"

Kevin shook his head. "No. Sasuke's memories are limited. They influence how I think and fight, but nothing from his past should transfer like this. These dreams are mine... and they started after I came to this world."

Akeno tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Then it's possible that your arrival here awakened something. Maybe it's not just coincidence."

Kevin let out a frustrated breath, rubbing his temples. "Whatever it is, I need to figure it out. If this guy is part of the Kiryuu Clan or pulling their strings, he's going to strike again. And next time, he won't be as subtle."

Rias gave him a determined look. "We'll find him. But we need more information. There has to be a way to track him."

Akeno smiled slyly. "Well, we've already broken into one ancient library today. Want to try another?"

Kevin groaned, though a small grin tugged at his lips. "I'm starting to think you enjoy this too much."

That evening, Kevin wandered the empty halls of the academy alone. The dreams weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on beneath the surface—something beyond just the Kiryuu Clan's schemes.

He leaned against a window, watching the moon rise over Kuoh Town. His thoughts drifted once again, unguarded and restless.

I need to be stronger. Faster. Better. I can't let anything happen to Rias or Akeno. If I fail, it's on me.

A familiar warmth flickered inside his chest—one that wasn't his own. It came from Rias. Unconsciously, he smiled, though he didn't know why. He wasn't aware that his thoughts were being heard, loud and clear, by the very girls on his mind.

In her private quarters, Rias lay on her bed, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. Kevin's thoughts echoed gently in her heart, unguarded and honest.

He's really hopeless, she thought, though her smile betrayed the fondness growing within her. There was something comforting about hearing Kevin's inner voice—his determination, his vulnerability, his desire to protect her.

Across the room, Akeno hummed to herself, sitting cross-legged on her own bed. She gave Rias a knowing glance. "He's interesting, isn't he?"

Rias turned her head, pretending not to notice the teasing look in Akeno's eyes. "He's... different. That's all."

Akeno's grin widened. "Sure. Different."

The night passed uneventfully, but Kevin knew the calm wouldn't last long. Something big was coming—something connected to both his past dreams and the Kiryuu Clan's machinations.

And when it did, he would be ready.

As Kevin drifted off to sleep, the familiar dream returned. This time, the dark figure stood closer, his voice clearer.

"You cannot escape your fate, Kevin. No matter how hard you try... it will always find you."

Kevin woke with a start, heart pounding in his chest. The figure's words lingered in his mind, heavy with meaning.

But he wasn't afraid. Whatever this so-called fate was, he would fight it—and win.

He had to. For Rias. For Akeno. For everyone he cared about.

And no shadow from his past or future would stop him.