Red and White III

Issei Hyoudou

"Issei-kun, why are you frowning so much?" 

"Shut up, Reiji. I told you it's none of your business."

I was doing push ups on the ground while Reiji kept trying to interrogate me. I was frustrated beyond belief.

Valerie and I are supposed to be equals. Two monsters that can shake the entire world when they fight. And yet, here I am, taking punches I can't even see.

My face had almost healed from yesterday, but the feeling of despair remained.

[Partner, don't worry about it too much. Remember that you're still only 11, and have lots of room to grow.]

Ddraig's words were falling on deaf ears. I am supposed to fight her in 1 year. And yet...

The first four years I did this training, my power increased exponentially. But then, the learning curve hit me. These past few months I had barely even grown. 

Let's see it this way. During the first four years, I was gaining 100 levels per month.

Last month, I gained maybe 3 levels.

At this rate, how the hell am I supposed to catch her?

'Ddraig, is there nothing I can do to grow faster?' 

[Well, you could always go ask someone for help.]

'You know I'd rather let White eat me whole instead.' (A/N: He's referring to Valerie as White.)

[Then I'm afraid you have no choice but to keep training like humans do. You don't want to enter the supernatural and you don't want to ask for help. I don't know how you're planning on catching up to her in one year.]

I don't need this lizard to remind me. 

He knows I can't enter the supernatural. I'm not strong enough to protect my mother in case something happens.

[You could try lifting a boulder or a building. I can guide you to some of my treasures that'll help you, but you'll die before reaching them. After all, a Dragon's gold is always well guard-]

'Yes, yes. I know.'

"By the way, Issei-kun, I think I'm going to confess to Akane-san."

I looked in Reiji's direction, "Who?"

"Akane-san? She sits next to me in class. I've told you about her many times."

"I wasn't listening. Also, why are you telling me this?" My voice was annoyed, I didn't want my training to be interrupted.

"Well, shouldn't you give some advice and courage to your best friend? You never know, I might get rejected and be so depressed that I stop meeting you." He said with a smirk. 

"This isn't meeting, this is you following me." I retorted and turned back to continue training. When I didn't hear him say anything for a few seconds, my mouth involuntarily voiced, "Make sure you say it with confidence and don't stutter. Do it when you're alone with her, in private. Just, don't put pressure on her. I'm sure you won't get rejected." 

I honestly don't know why I said that, but I did. I myself never had a girlfriend, so why the hell am I giving advice to someone else. And why does it sound actually helpful.

I heard him chuckling besides me so I turned my head to him, he was sporting a teasing look.

"You always act like you don't want me here, but you didn't deny that we're best friends. I got it, you're a full fledged tsundere, Issei-kun!" Reiji shouted, announcing his words to the whole world.

"Ha?! I'm not a tsundere! Shut up, you cheeky, annoying piece of-"

I stopped because I heard leaves rustling behind me. Something, or someone was walking towards us from the trees. 

Putting Reiji behind me, I readied myself for a battle. I had been attacked by wild animals before, but he had no experience. 

However, I soon relaxed my body upon seeing who it was.

"Why are you here again..." I muttered, gazing at the still attractive figure of Valerie. Her breasts and butt were a bit more reigned in, even though she was wearing the same outfit. Maybe she wasn't wearing any underwear yesterday.

"How are you doing, lecherous brat? I came to give you some pointers, so be thankful!" 

"Heyyy, what, what, Onee-san, are you Issei-kun's girlfriend?" This dumb human is just blurting shit out-

"I'm not his girlfriend! Also, who are you?!" She replied with a partially red face.

"I'm Reiji Miyamoto, Issei-kun's best friend! Issei-kun, why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend, that too an older woman?!" He asked me while grinning mischievously.

"Didn't you hear her? She's not my girlfriend."

'Ddraig, what the fuck is she doing here? Did she change her mind and is going to kill me right now?'

[I don't sense any hostility from her, partner.]

Tch, I don't like it when I don't know someone's intentions.

"Mhmm, so what is Onee-san doing here?" Reiji continued his delusions.

"I'm here to give Issei some pointers in his training." She said with a haughty voice, dictating she was above us and that this was a generosity from her.

"Ah, would you look at that, Isse-kun. Your girlfriend is lonely without you."

"I'm not lonely!!! And I'M NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND!!!" I'm starting to feel bad for her, dealing with Reiji is tough.

Although, I'm happy that someone except me is on his radar for once.

"Hahahaha, no need to be so bashful. I always knew Issei-kun would be popular if only he went to school. Anyway, I'll take my leave so you can have some privacy with your boyfriend, Onee-san." Saying that, Reiji just began walking towards the direction of his home.

"Like I said, she isn't my...nevermind."

After sighing like a huge burden was just lifted off me, I was going to go back to my training...

"Issei..." Valerie looked at me like I had just peeked under her skirt, even though she wasn't wearing one. "Did you tell people I am your girlfriend?"

"No, no I didn't. Why would I do that? Um, Valerie, why are you coming closer? Valerie?"

...

Valerie Lucifer (Present day)

"I went there daily, to bother Issei. We would talk, spar and sometimes even eat the food he brought along. Over the next year, we became really good friends. Reiji would also hang out with us sometimes, he was Issei's best friend at the time." I told Tiamat. 

"I see. It sure is a peculiar meeting." She said. I know it's unusual for rivals, especially two dragons, to not be hostile. "Wait, you said 'was'...where is this Reiji know?"

My eyes darkened as I was forced to remember the one incident that I didn't want to. 

"I was...very fond of Issei. I don't know. There was just something about his frank nature that drew me in. He was unlike anyone I'd ever met, that's for sure. And that's why, that day hurt even more..."

...

(Six Years Ago)

I was sparring with Issei once again. It has become a daily routine at this point.

It's been nearly a year since our first meeting, and the day for our battle to the death is approaching.

I...don't want to kill Issei.

I don't know why I feel like this. 

If I say it's because I want him to get even stronger, I'd be lying. I can push him to draw power from the Sacred gear during our fight. That power will kill him, but it will give me the fight I want. 

And yet, I don't want to do it.

He's my fated rival. He's someone I was meant to kill the second I received Divine Dividing. 

So, why am I hesitating?

My mental gymnastics is forced to end as I dodge another punch from Issei. He's gotten a lot stronger in the presence of a foe. 

I get a little too excited and send an explosion-like blast towards him. It misses him completely and lands somewhere I couldn't see.

"AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A deafening scream is heard from where the blast landed.

Both Issei and I turn at the same time, to see Reiji fall to the ground...

...with half his body missing.

I feel like my stomach is in my mouth. Did I really just kill Issei's best friend?

Wait, maybe it didn't kill him.

No, half his body is missing. He's just a human. He's dead.

What is Issei feeling right now? I can't look at him. I'm too scared to. 

I flinched when he moved.

But instead of attacking, or shouting, he just went and knelt besides his friend. Issei had his back to me, so I still couldn't see his expression.

"Ah, dear me. I always knew you two were special, but to think I'd die in this way..." Reiji's voice echoed in a silent forest. "I should've-ugh-! I should've said goodbye to Akane-san." 

The poor boy was coughing up blood with every word. He was forcing his body to speak.

"Fuck, Issei-kun, you better...you better become happy! I'll come back from the dead and kill you if you remain a loner!" 

My eyes felt watery, and my senses were shutting down. Were those his last words? I couldn't tell. I was too focused on Issei's back.

Is he going to go into Juggernaut Drive?

No! 

NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!

I don't want him to go into Juggernaut Drive! If he does, he'll exhaust his life force and die!

I don't want him to go into Juggernaut Drive because of me! I don't want him to die because of me!

One second passed by. I waited. Waited for him to unleash the full power of the Welsh Dragon and kill me for what I had done.

Another second passed. 

Why isn't he doing anything? Why is he just sitting there?

I was too overwhelmed by everything, and lacked the courage to face him.

So, I turned around, created a magic circle...

...and left.

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...(NEXT 7 chapters are already out on my Patre0n!!!!)

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(A/N: If anyone has read the novels and knows what events happen after the Riser fight in detail, and they want to help me make my story more accurate time-wise, please contact me. It can be through a comment. In fact, you can just tell me what happens after in the comment, but do go in detail.)