Chapter 24

Apparently, there were more Sacred Gear wielders than I had originally thought there'd be. The reason I hadn't heard anything about them in the anime was because the wielders either had no potential to unlock them, or the Sacred Gears in question were so insignificant that it wasn't even worth trying to awaken them.

And even with Sona and Rias trying to use their magic to calm the town, there were too many people dying for them to get to each one's family before questions started being raised. While the numbers they missed were few, it was enough to get the local news' attention. By that point, there was little the Devils could do to stop spread of information from making its way around town.

"Well at least try to stay safe when you're walking home. There's no telling what's going on right now, and I'd hate to see something happen to you because you weren't paying attention." Aika pleads. Though she tried to play it off as a scolding, her eyes gave away just how worried she was.

Gently taking her hand, I smile warmly at the girl I was genuinely coming to care for. "Don't worry Aika, I'll be fine. But if you're so worried about what's going on, maybe you'd feel better if I walked you home from now on?"

Even if I was teasing her back, the offer was completely genuine. I don't know what I'd do if my friend suddenly was taken or killed by the Fallen due to our relationship. And I'm worried that once they notice me, that the first thing they'll do is go after my only real connection to this town.

"I'd like that." Aika replies warmly, interlocking our fingers and giving my hand a squeeze as we continued walking to her classroom. Neither of us caring what the other students thought as they pointed and whispered at our holding hands.

+6 Affection with Aika Kiryuu … Affection: 50 | Obedience: 0

Perk Unlocked:

[Dirty Minded] (Perk)

Increased Affection and Obedience with perverts.

Huh, so there are rewards for getting people's Affection to level 50. Nice!

And I noticed that there is an addition +1 to the Affection gain thanks to [Power's Pull], which gives me an increase with anyone a lower level than me; and that's even without the other +1 that I'll gain from the new perk. I now have a very good reason to try and get as many people to higher Affection ratings as possible, in the hopes of farming more Perks like this one.

I had been questioning if it was entirely possible for me to reach Level 999, with now low a level I am and how far I have to go. But between this and the Dungeon rewards, I feel like I actually can reach my dream of becoming the strongest.

Normally I spend my time in class zoned out while thinking over my plans for the future, but I barely had any time to do that with my Spirits around town warning me of several attacks by the Fallen. Had I been in one of the classes with Devils in it, I would have likely seen several empty desks as my Spirits caught both Rias and Sona's Peerages moving about the city trying to erase people's memories.

It almost felt like the Fallen were taking pleasure in killing people based on some of the mangled corpses, before they'd leave the bodies somewhere noticeable for others to find. But the oddest thing was that the short blonde one who I think was called "Mill-something" and the fedora-wearing douchebag "Donut-seek?" were far more into their killings than Raynare and the busty bluenette.

While the other two were quite ruthless in their killings, Raynare and Kalawarner (whose name I barely recall) seem to be almost upset at having to do it. 'Which is nothing like how Raynare seemed in the anime.'

Do you think something happened?

'I don't know, so far things have played out like what little was shown in the anime. But it's possible that this may not be exactly the same as what I remember.' And suddenly I don't feel so comfortable about my knowledge of the future.

I knew that there would be changes happening because of my presence, but for it to be happening so quickly is worrying.

I'll worry about that later. For now, I'm more focused on the approaching apartment building that Aika was leading me to; having decided to take up my offer of walking her home and quickly interlacing our hands. After that first time, she enjoyed holding my hand whenever possible and as long as we could get away with it.

'Does this make us a couple?' I hadn't exactly given it much thought, but her Affection score would suggest that she certainly feels something for me. But we haven't actually talked about it, and I don't know how I feel about getting into a commitment with someone who can't defend themselves from my future enemies.

Before I can voice my question, Aika speaks up as we reach the door to one of the apartments. "Well, this is mine. Thanks again for walking me home Sora, it made me feel a lot safer to have you with me." Leaning up to my cheek, she places a small kiss on it before leaning back with a smile.

Always willing to take a chance to tease her, I copy her action by leaning in to place a kiss on her cheek. The sudden action drawing a blush as she stared at me wide-eyed. "What?" I chuckle, "You can kiss me but I can't do the same to you?"

"N-No, you totally can!" She frantically waves her hands, trying not to sound hopeful or show just how much she enjoyed it. "Y-You can totally kiss me whenever you feel like it!" As her eyes widen even further at what she just admitted, I laugh loudly at the full blush that's covering her face.

"Well if you insist…" Deciding to take the risk, I lean in to her for another kiss. Only this time, instead of her cheek, I plant one directly on her lips.

"Mmph!" Aika moans, half shocked and half excited as her hands quickly come up to wrap around my neck as I place mine of her thin waist, pulling her body close as our tongues start to swirl together.

+7 Affection with Aika Kiryuu … Affection: 57 | Obedience: 0

When lack of oxygen became too great, we both reluctantly broke the kiss, panting as Aika fumbled out, "W-Would you like to come inside?" Seeing the lustful look on her face, I knew that if I accepted we'd be taking our relationship a step further than we already had. And while I wasn't overly prepared to get into a committed relationship, I was more than happy to take this step.

"Sure."

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