Chapter 96 R-18+

She was actually lucky that everyone was so distracted by Issei's rash move that they forgot about Valper and Freed because Issei had no explanation that wouldn't cause him a headache.

"Aren't you worried that something is going to happen to you." Sona wondered. Considering what she'd have to report there was no chance it would end well for her.

"Of course I am, but I believe it will all work out." Irina smiled even if internally she had no way of knowing.

"I see" Sona replied as everyone waited to see what Issei would say.

"Good luck then Irina." Issei smiled before getting up and leaving.

"Where are you going?" Xenovia wondered and everyone else was equally curious

"I'm going to stay somewhere else tonight. You girls can go but I'm not going to."

"Are you sure" Irina said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah I am." Issei replied before leaving.

"Well that was interesting." Valerie said curiously before looking at Irina who was clearly annoyed.

"He really hasn't changed has he Momo?" Irina frowned.

"Nope and that's why we fell for him." Momo replied unable to hide her own annoyance.

"Did we miss something?" Ravel wondered.

"If we stayed in the same house tonight, there's a good chance he'd do something to convince me to stay and if he did, I'm pretty sure I'd fold." Irina mused.

Her or Xenovia needed to go in order to return the fragments and with Xenovia's decision to stay, she had to go back.

"If that's all we should probably get going." Sona spoke up aware things were done for the moment.

"Right. I need Xenovia to stay so I can make her a devil and we can begin to arrange her transfer to Kuoh."

"This is going to be a long day." Sona groaned.

(Park)

After leaving the ORC, Issei made his way over to the park where he and Irina played as kids and smiled as he simply sat down at the small wooden bench and reflected on what happened.

Irina was leaving and he knew it, but he gave her a little something to remember her by. "So this is how it ends. Hottie Magnet Hyoudou reigns supreme and as I promised Miyuki 'The Hiatus' will also end." Issei smiled bitterly.

He worked out his feelings for Irina and now he could move on.

"Partner you did the right thing. If the three of you returned something would've happened between you and Irina and she would've stayed." Ddraig reminded him.

"Yeah" Issei groaned.

One of the girls had to return the Excalibur, which meant that one of the girls had to return to the church.

Xenovia would ultimately be a devil in short order which left the task to Irina.

With God dead and her partner in Kuoh, the only things Irina would have left was a church that lied to her.

Convincing her to stay would've been child's play.

"That's what it means to truly care about somebody." Ddraig smiled.

"Yep and I have to stay focused for my girls here." Issei smiled.

"You're damn right you do." Momo Hanakai shouted causing Issei to mentally berate himself for not sensing her coming.

"I'd ask what you're doing here but in the end it doesn't matter." Issei shrugged.

"You really haven't changed if you're this cold. Then again I can only imagine what's running through your head." Momo smiled.

She knew Issei was hurting and that he was angry but there wasn't much he could really do.

"I'd say you have a good idea Momo. After all you ARE the one who manages my Kuoh dates. I gave you that position for a reason" Issei smirked.

Momo was the second closest girl to Issei behind Irina and she knew him very well.

"Yeah I do and it's the right move for you to send Irina on her way. Politics in our world sucks but we have to deal with them. Hopefully what both of us have done will help move things along."

"Both of us" Issei asked in slight confusion.

"Yes you idiot, both of us. After Sona gave Xenovia her information and left to become Rias's knight, I asked Sona to prepare for Irina to get ready to transfer in down the road. She agreed that she'd start the paperwork but make nothing official" Momo smiled.

"Why would you do that?" Issei wondered. A part of him was furious she would go out of her way to do this, but the other part was curious what Momo's endgame was.

"Call it a contingency plan." Momo smiled.

"Alright." Issei smiled.

As much as he schemed around, he could allow a scheme or two.

After all she and the others made a website to recruit girls to his harem and created his empire with a scheme, he wasn't aware of.

"I'm surprised you're not asking me what I'm planning." Momo snickered.

"You're the one who manages my harem in Kuoh. I don't know the numbers, but I don't imagine it's a small number." Issei deadpanned.

"You're at about 120 if you include the girls who graduated last year but as far as current Kuoh girls go 98. Xenovia would technically make 99 but I can't put her into the tally of Kuoh girls since you guys had sex before she became a student. As for the breakdown you've got about 30 third years including Sona and Akeno, about 55 second years, and 13 first year girls." Momo smiled.

"My point exactly. You're the one I trust to manage those girls for me and that means I have plenty of trust in you. Whatever your planning is probably not a big deal" Issei smiled.

"Fine but can you do something for me." Momo asked calmly.

"Depends" Issei smirked causing Momo to frown.

"Listen Issei, Irina's leaving for England tomorrow and although it's a contingency plan, there's no guarantee it'll work or be needed. Spend this last day with Irina so you both have a good final memory of each other." Momo smiled.

"I'm surprised you're so willing to throw me to Irina one more time." Issei smiled.