Intangible

Disclaimer: I own neither High School DxD nor Demon Slayer. This story is purely fan fiction. Please support the official release.

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●Muichiro's POV●

"So, how did you know about Draigg?"

"I heard it from the bitch."

"Really? Did you torture her for it?"

"Yes."

"Nice, but how?"

"I'll leave it to your imagination."

Issei-kun is quite the talker.

It was the day after I stumbled upon his mother and got invited to his house for breakfast.

We were walking through Kuoh Academy's forest.

He appeared quite enthusiastic at the idea of putting himself under my tutelage, the temptation of meeting the beautiful women of the supernatural world served to strengthen his motivation no doubt.

I mean, he isn't wrong about that part. Even back in my time, there was no small number of ill-mannered people who presented women as an offer to entice me into joining their ranks.

After that little discussion, I could tell he was just raring to go. On the contrary to his energy though, the senile dragon in his soul was holding himself back from bursting out of his left hand. I couldn't see it with my eyes, but I could sense his draconian aura intensify.

It seems my calling out his name yesterday wasn't enough for this guy to come out. I expected him to manifest the gauntlet on his own and berate me, but I was left quite disappointed upon seeing no sign of it happening while Issei's face contorted in confusion.

He must have been yelling into his ear to punch me in the face or something.

Draigg always hated when random people, those he saw as weaklings especially, called his name as if they knew him like that.

I always found it amusing to verbally bully this dragon who was boisterous to the high heavens...

Why didn't he come out then?

Maybe he didn't recognize me? I do look younger...

I am pulled out of my musing by another question.

"So what kind of training exercises will I be doing anyway? Push-ups? Sit-ups? The benchpress?"

"None of the above. They aren't of the orthodox kind, but they are very simple to execute."

"Okay! I can deal with that! Oh, yeah! What did you do to get so strong anyway?"

The number of questions he's asked me since yesterday has if I'm counting right, reached the hundreds and is nearing a thousand.

"You're human right?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any special powers?"

"Depends on what counts as a 'special' power."

"You know, like say... teleportation, flight, ninjutsu, that kind of thing?"

Ninjutsu? That sounds Japanese... Maybe a fighting style? Something to research later.

"Like, you're so much smaller and younger than me." His arms make a gesture as if he were swinging a sword. "And yet you were fighting so fast I couldn't even see your slashes. You're able to run faster than any of the seniors in my school's track and field club too." He then ponders with a hand on his chin. "Super strength? Super speed? Or maybe even future sight?"

"Perhaps your standards are too low when it comes to something being special. I don't think I have some unique power like what you're describing, and neither do I need one."

"..."

He went silent for the rest of the walk after that, freeing me from this torment of nonstop inquiries. Draigg must be yapping his ear off about something or another, one of his better uses at the moment.

We continued like that for about 5 minutes.

"We haven't even started yet and you're already getting tired?"

Sweat marred his brow and chest, soaking his shirt."

"It's hot, okay?" He swivels his head around us. "And aren't we lost? Muichiro-san, where are we going anyway?

"There is a spot in this forest where I train, and I believe I gave you permission to address me casually?" I raise an eyebrow.

"N-Nonsense... You are my benefactor, and after telling me what you did... There is just no way I can call you so casually, you know?" He puts on a wry smile and scratches his nape, to which I merely shrug.

"Well, if you say so. Just don't suddenly start treating me like an idol, capiche?"

He affirmed with a curt nod. Good, he didn't call me out for misuse of slang. My studies have borne fruit.

We arrived at a familiar clearing littered with dozens of punching bags ripped to pieces, scattering sand and making a total mess of the place. "I told her to tidy up the place last time..."

Almost as if on cue, the sound of light footsteps could be heard, accompanied by a monotone exclamation.

"Finally you're back, annoying-senpai. What are we gonna do toda-" I never saw an expression turn to disgust so quickly. "...What are you doing here?"

I turned to look at what made her cringe so bad and saw Issei-kun at the end of her gaze.

"It seems the mere sight of your face is enough to invoke such blatant revulsion in someone as unexpressive as Koneko-chan." I remark. "The path to your dream is a long and perilous one I see."

"Oh, come on! It ain't that bad... Wait, why is Toujou-san here?"

"Isn't it obvious, Degenerate-senpai? It's training." She shot him one more glare before turning to me. "I'm done with the waterfall. Two hours, like you said."

I couldn't help but whistle at her declaration. She just won't stop smashing my expectations.

"Heh~ So you're training her? Then Buchou must have hired you or something, huh?"

I don't bother correcting the brunette nodding to himself at the side.

"Iyaah~, look at you. I am so impressed that I might just..." I started approaching her, but she dashed away before I could finish. "Oya? Why are you avoiding me?"

"Hmph. I know this pattern. I have bested you. Your paws won't ever reach my head again since I have mastered that weird footwork you use."

She puffed her chest and held her nose high as if to boast. Credit where it was due, while imperfect, she did execute my version of shunpo quite well.

But to proclaim herself a master and to have bested me...

Surprise followed in her eyes, for right after she blinked, I was behind her with my palm already on her ivory locks.

"Were you expecting something a little like this?" I began patting her head, thereby ruffling her hair. The sound of her angry mewling will never get old. "I was just going to congratulate you and then reward you with more sweets, but... It seems you don't want them, huh?"

I'm still going to do that, but she might get the wrong idea if I simply reward such behavior, right? Better to give her a scare first.

In the first place, what made her think that comprehending just a part of my moves made her more proficient at them than I, their creator?

Plus, she leaves some traces of her ever being in her previous position...

"My, my. The student seems to have gotten arrogant with her accomplishments. This is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg, you know~." Horror and realization dawned on her face as I whispered near her ear. "Bad students just might get their sweets reduced, you know~." I then turn, definitely not noticing her pale face and trembling shoulders. "Now then, you were asking about the next stage of your training?"

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●Issei's POV●

"I-I can't go on anymore."

I'm so exhausted, the dirt feels softer than my bed back home.

[What?! Come on, I know for a fact you've got at least a hundred miles left in you! Don't let yourself get shown up by that little kitten! And you also haven't punched that boy in the face yet!]

Shut up! I'm wheezing over here, Goddamnit-

"Aargh! Shouldn't have thought that..."

In the first place, isn't this too spartan to count as training?! I mean sure, I felt that it would be a piece of cake at first, but that was with only one log!

And I've been running since the last 20 minutes with 4 logs strapped to my back.

Imagine my surprise at learning how Toujou-san has been lifting EIGHT of them while running around for an entire hour!

These suckers both tower over me and are as thick as my waist, give me a break man!

[Tch. If you have the time to make excuses, then you sure as hell have the time to keep running! Come on! You're embarrassing me, you know?! What would people think of me when they find out my host can't even lift some measly little logs?!]

As if I care! And neither is that relevant to my current situation! My body's given up okay? My mind can still keep going but what's the point if I can't put my thoughts into action?!

"And this is just the beginning...? Just what kind of hell did I fall into?"

Not to mention the maniac who created this insane regimen...

"Arara... So this is your limit, Issei-kun." From behind me, Muichiro-san's signature monotonous voice breaks me out of my wallows. "Hmm, I suppose that is enough for today. It is your first time, after all...'

"Why do you have to make it sound so weird!?"

I turn to look and get smacked in the face with the sight of the person jogging with 9 huge logs on his back.

And that isn't the only surprise.

Holy shit! What are those muscles?! You could grate cheese on those abs!

Even professional bodybuilders have got nothing on this glorious sight. I'm not an enthusiast for these kinds of things, but I am sure anyone would be mesmerized by it. Not to mention the symmetry...

And what nasty scars... Small, but they're all over him. Just what kind of monsters has he been battling?

Paying no attention to my prior outburst, he approaches, jogging all the while, before setting down the load off his back. The drop was strong enough to shake the forest floor.

"Have some of these onigiri." Disregarding my exhausted state, he reaches into his pocket before grabbing my hand and shoving a pretty big rice ball in it. "I heard this is what people commonly eat after doing strenuous exercise, so I watched a video on how to make it. I like the taste, but do tell me if it isn't to your preference."

He drags my limp body under a tree before settling down in a seiza by my side and pulling a dozen more onigiri out of his gakuran.

From my training's start to finish, I've seen him bring out all sorts of stuff. Onigiri, a bottle of water, towels, things that one would find incredibly hard to move around with. Just how much space does he have in there? He doesn't even look winded, let alone sweaty...

"So how was your first day? Not too hard, I hope?"

"Sorry, are you being sarcastic? I can't tell because I'm dying here... Hrk?!"

I nearly let out a groan after biting into my onigiri.

He says he made these based on a video, but they're just as tasty as Akeno-senpai's! The filling is perfect too.

...I probably shouldn't think that when she's nearby. It's like she could read my thoughts sometimes.

"These are delicious! Are you sure you've never made them before?"

"Yes. I only learned about Onigiri recently, you see." He says, taking a bite. "Mostly from browsing the interwebs you modern folk use."

"That's a weird way of phrasing it... you sound like an old man."

He just shrugs in response.

"So how are you feeling?"

"Like shit. My lungs are still burning from the sheer exertion."

"Well, better get used to it. There is more to come."

Ah, I'm going to die, aren't I?

"There is no need for that look. Your body will acclimate with time."

"And I'll get muscles like yours?"

"Possibly."

"I'll also become popular with women?"

"...That depends."

"What's with that pause?!"

Gulping down a bite, he stares at the swaying trees in front of us, tranquility present on his face. "From what I've observed thus far, unpopular would be an understatement when referring to your love life. You've never had a girlfriend, right?"

"Guh?!"

"Not just women, people in general veer away from your path when you walk down the street."

"Ugh?!"

"It's only been a few weeks, but the girls in this school have developed a sixth sense that activates when you're close."

"Agh?! It hurts!!" I clutch my chest.

Th-this emotional damage... it's too much.

"Then what should I do...?"

My ambitions, my goal, my glorious harem... Will I ever reach it?

[Seriously? That's your main concern? Not protecting yourself from those who will hunt you or even protecting your loved ones?]

I tune out the dragon.

"Simple. Just shut up sometimes." He sees my dry expression and sighs. "You have a nice face. Definitely above average."

"Th-thanks, yours is not bad either..."

"You made it weird..." I receive a smack to the head. "Normally, looks alone would be enough for women to take an interest in you, but alas... you are very verbal about your perverted inclinations."

"All men are perverts, you know? Why do I get singled out?"

"Did you not hear what I just said? This isn't a matter of who is a pervert or not. You voice out your thoughts too much, which normally isn't a bad thing, but it becomes a problem when you only think of tits. That's what causes women to always look at you in disgust and avoid you. Hence, why you should just shut up sometimes."

I mull over his words as we eat in silence for a minute.

"I suggest you revise your thought process when it comes to such things. You want to build a harem even the highest of the high would envy, right?"

I nod so fervently my head would have fallen off.

"You can dream on then if you still see a woman's breasts first before the person she is. Females in general possess the ability to manipulate males through provoking lust with their bodies. Any male gullible enough to such wiles is bound to die an early death."

My mind flashes back to that night with that fallen bitch.

I already had a brush with death because of my foolishness...

"Think about it this way. Let's say there's a woman you love. Her looks, her personality, everything." I nod as he crosses his arms. "You love her for everything she is. To the point that you can't imagine a life without her in it."

A figure appears in my head.

Long, silky, crimson hair. Blue eyes that sparkle as beautiful as the stars. The most adorable smile...

No, no no no no- Wh-who am I kidding? As if I would be that lucky! But maybe...

[Hoohhh... What's this? The little shit has got a crush? You've only known each other for a little bit more than a week, you know?]

Shut up, man...

"How would you feel if she suddenly left you for another man?"

I pause, my breath stopping.

A painful sting fills my chest at just the thought of it.

"And when you ask her why, there was only one reason she gives you." I gulp as he turns to me. "She found someone more handsome than you."

My eyes widen in realization.

"See? Not very pleasant, is it? That's what you're doing. You only see the body, and not the person. You only view them not for who they are, but for how they look."

A moment of silence passes by. Memories of my perverted exploits going through my head.

I see. No wonder...

"I know not how credible my words are given how I have little experience with women, but trust me when I tell you that you will live a happy life, a better life if you focus on the intangible aspects of those close to you..." I feel a rough hand on my head, making me turn to the owner. "You are a rare breed among all the humans I've ever met. You are sincere and kind. Even after suffering from a great betrayal that almost cost you your life, you do not exhibit any signs of it. Rather than dimming, the light in your eyes grew stronger after that night. A testament to your unbroken will, albeit said will is directed towards a bizarre goal."

I didn't know he was capable of making such a gentle expression.

"But I didn't do it by myself... you were there for me back then. You pulled me out of my despair that night. Even if I had survived by some miracle, I don't think I would have been the same if it weren't for you."

"Modesty and integrity too. What a weird, gentle Sekiryuutei we have on our hands."

"Geh! Stop it with that! You're gonna make me blush!"

We share a moment of laughter, although I'm the only one doing it.

"Okay. That was a good talk. I'll get back to training now."

"Already? But you still have, like ten more..."

I only find empty wrappings in his hands.

What? When did he eat them?! Did he inhale them or something?! Those things were the size of my fist!

"I would like it if you could put in one more lap after you're done eating, but don't force yourself, yeah?"

Getting up, he pats me on the shoulder before strapping his logs back on.

I watch as he begins jogging along the dirt path.

"Draigg, real talk." I whisper. "Is Muichiro-san human?"

There's no way that's true, right? Someone with such monstrous physical stats can't be human.

Well, does it even matter what he is?

"Still... look at her for who she is, huh?"

The blue sky seemed so much clearer all of a sudden.

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A/N: A bit of a long chapter for this release. Comment your thoughts and give me stones!