High School DxD:Volume 2 Checkmate

Checkmate

The battle progress to its climax.

I understand it. I, Rias Gremory, have no more moves. In other words, checkmate.

Now, there is not a single person on my-side who any strength left.

But that boy continues to stand up.

——Ise.

He is the only one who continues to move forward towards Riser even under this situation.

However, it's over. The punch from Riser earlier has finished Ise.

Seeing that boy fall backwards, my body rushes towards him unconsciously.

Ise's body that I am holding onto is bloody and is covered with sweat, so he's in terrible condition. Even so, I still loved this boy.

"...Ise, you did very well. It's all right now. Good job."

I whispered to him gently, but he tries to get up by getting away from me.

"It's all right now! Ise!"

He pushes my hands away, and tries to get up.

He takes a step, and another step without saying anything.

It's a bizarre view which has so much intensity in it.

Everyone is watching him while holding their breath.

The opponent, Riser, also approaches him expressionlessly.

No!

If I let this continue, I will lose Ise!

My adorable servant. My Ise. I'm still planning to adore him even more, so I don't want to lose him in a place like this!

I went between Ise and Riser, and stood in front of Ise.

"Ise! Stop! Can't you listen to my——"

I said it till there, and swallowed my words.

Of course.

This... He is... Ise...you are...

Ise has already lost consciousness.

Both his eyes are hollow and he has his mouth still open. Even so, he continues to move forward while crunching his fists that are shaking...

"....You are still planning to fight even though you are in this state..."

I have tears on my cheeks without realising it. I reach my hand towards this adorable boy's cheek.

His cheeks are swollen, and I can't sense anything from his cheeks that usually gives strength to me.

"...You dummy."

I hug Ise who tries to move forward.

"Good job, Ise."

When I said those words, strength disappears from his body, and he fell to the ground.

I hugged his body and laid him on my lap. You did say that you wanted a lap pillow...

——Buchou! I will definitely make you win!

Ise hasn't barely learned how to use his demonic-powers, yet he continues to move forward with all his might within the battlefield. He barely has any battle experience.

He should have been scared. There should have been times where he almost lost his life...

——I won't give up. I'm dumb, so I don't know anything about "foreseen" or "checkmate". However, I can still fight. I will continue to fight till the end as long as I can crunch my fists!

He continued to fight for me even though his fists got this swollen...

He always did. He was always smiling. He was always doing his best and he continues to fight for me.

I was almost about to lose Ise forever.

"Thank you, Akeno, Yuuto, Koneko, Asia and...Ise. Thank you for fighting for someone worthless like myself."

After I pat Ise's head gently, I say it to Riser.

"It's my loss. I resign."

My first Rating Game.

It starts from a bitter and a painful defeat.

I will never forget this defeat.