The Prelude

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

After Diehauser turned himself in and the Satans relayed the information they received from him to Team DxD, Team Vali and Slash/Dog Team went into overdrive investigating all the leads they currently had about Rizevim.

The fact that Rizevim wanted to unseal Trihexa was something that they had to stop at all costs. The fact that no one would be strong enough to handle Trihexa by the time Rizevim was expected to release it was one reason. The other being that if the two beings who could handle it were to do so, all the realms would be in danger.

On top of that, they would more than likely not do anything to stop it in the first place. Even though they both enjoyed their current lives, all three of the Apocalypse-Class beings have a purpose in the universe. While Ophis is meant to simply exist as the concept of infinity, Aislynn embodies the concept of Dreams. Meaning, if everything were to end, she would simply fall dormant until the next beings capable of dreaming came into being, once again.

Extinction level event aside, a week passed since the Satans met and James put their operation in motion. In the meantime, two things of great significance were coming up. The first, today, was the day when the results of the college entrance exams were released. Jmaes and the other six girls in their third year at Kouh Academy did very well, as expected. A spot in any univiersity the wanted to attend wuld be open for all seven of them.

And the next day is the day that most boys in Japan both look forward to. A day filled with chocolate and thoughts of romance, otherwise known as Valentine's Day.

"*Sigh* Valentine's Day is so much harder for us than it is for everyone else." Rias said, while she and the rest of James girlfriends were sitting together in the living room of the Alaverus Estate.

"What do you mean?" Rossweisse asked curiously.

"Yes, I can understand why you would say that." Scathach said with a nod.

"Yeah, he's such a weirdo." Akeno said with a pout.

"But it's kinda cute, isn't it?" Sona asked with a small smile.

"What's cute?" Rossweisse asked, growing more confused by the minute.

"That's right, Rossweisse-San started living here after Valentine's Day passed last year." Shuna said with a giggle.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot." Flora said with a smile. "But I gotta say, I thought he was joking when I first heard about it."

With that, everyone began to discuss one of James' unique traits. Everyone except Rossweisse, that is. Eventually, hearing the others speak in such vague terms, she snapped.

"Can someone please tell me what it is you're talking about!?" Rossweisse shouted.

That shout silenced the rest of the girls. Then, they all looked away sheepishly. They felt a bit guilty for going on with their own conversations even after Rossweisse had asked about it twice before.

"Well, the thing is..." Sona said, adjusting her glasses.

The short pause Sona added for dramatic effect was driving Rossweisse crazy. Her curiosity was already on overdrive, and this was not helping in the slightest.

"James doesn't like chocolate." Sona finally continued after a moment. "Like, at all."

Hearing that, Rossweisse looked on in disbelief. She did not know what to say at all. She simply sat in place while blinking her eyes in confusion.

"'Doesn't like' is a gross understatement." Ayame said while shaking her head. "According to James-Sama, he can't even stand the smell of chocolate?"

While most of the girls nodded their heads and Scathach smiled, Rossweisse began to shudder violently. Then, as the conversation was about to pick up again, she began pulling on her silver hair with despair written all over her face.

"Are you kidding me!?" Rossweisse screamed in a desperate tone.

Naturally, this caught the others off guard. So, they all looked at Rossweisse questioningly.

"For half a month, I spent all my free time learning how to make homemade chocolate.!" Rossweisse screamed in frustration. "What am I supposed to do now? There's no time to learn how to make something else."

Looking at Rossweisse with pity, the other girls could not help but feel bad for her. Because they all knew about it, they did not think to tell Rossweisse about it. Especially since they thought everyone else living in the mansion knew about it.

Eventually, after exchanging glances for a while, Sona approached Rossweisse and placed her right hand on Rossweisse's left shoulder.

"Calm down, Rossweisse." Sona said in a soothing tone. "I'll be making some caramel covered strawberries to give him tomorrow. Why don't you join me, and we'll make them together."

Hearing that, Rossweisse slowly lifted her head and looked into Sona's eyes. Then, she suddenly wrapped her arms around Sona and began to thank her profusely.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Rossweisse said, burying her face into Sona's modest chest. "I swear to serve you with all that I am for the rest of my life."

"Why does it sound like Sona just saved her from a fate worse than death?" Flora asked whispering her question into Akeno's ear.

"I don't know, but that girl was always... How did James put it? Extra?" Akeno replied similarly with a whisper.

Meanwhile, up in Ravel's room, Koneko, Mio, Maria, and Kokoa were seated in a circle on Ravel's bed, discussing the same topic.

"So, you're all giving James chocolate?" Ravel asked curiously.

While Mio, maria, and Kokoa nodded in response, Koneko shook her head.

"Really?" Ravel asked in surprise after seeing Koneko's response. "But you like him so much. Why wouldn't you give him chocolate on Valentine's Day?"

After realizing that Koneko shook her head, the other girls also stared at her in curiosity like Ravel was.

"Because James-Nii hates chocolate." Koneko said in her usual tone.

"Is that possible?" Maria asked curiously. "I thought everyone liked chocolate."

"It is." Koneko replied with a nod. A moment later, her facial expression turned into a smile. "You should see the disgusted face he puts on when he eats it by accident."

"Why would you smile about that?" Kokoa asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Because it's funny." Koneko said. "I still remember the time someone gave him some peppermint bark and he took a big bite of it. He had no idea that peppermint bark was a piece of chocolate coated in peppermint candy, and... Hehehe."

Just remembering how James' face scrunched up before he ran off to spit the candy in the trash, Koneko could not help but laugh. Meanwhile, the other girls looked at her, waiting for her to finish her story.

Finishing the story, Koneko tried to contort her face into the expression James made when he tasted the chocolate in the peppermint bark, causing all the other girls to laugh uproariously.

Eventually, they all calmed down. When they did, Mio spoke up, getting to the meat of the matter, immediately.

"If he hates chocolate, then what do you give him for Valentine's Day?" Mio asked, worried since she had bought some expensive chocolate as a gift so that she could finally confess her feelings.

"Right." Maria said with a nod. "Even though I only plan to give him friendship chocolate, I don't wanna give him something he hates."

Kokoa simply nodded in agreement. While Ravel waited for Koneko to answer the question.

"He like's caramel." Koneko replied.

Hearing that, Mio shot off in order to buy a caramel based gift for James.

Koneko, Ravel, and Kokoa watched Mio's back before it disappeared behind the door of Ravel's bedroom in surprise. Maria, on the other hand, nodded in understanding.

"Well, she did buy a pretty expensive piece of chocolate." Mio said with a knowing smile. "I guess she has to find something to replace it with."

"I see, the three other girls replied in an understanding tone.

"I guess I should go get some caramel for James-Nii, too." Maria said with a shrug.

"I'll go with you." Kokoa said.

After a nod, Maria stood up from Ravel's bed with Kokoa in tow. Then, they both left the room calmly.

"My gift is already ready." Koneko said, stretching like a cat. "So, I'll just wait for tomorrow. What will you do, Bird Girl?"

"Hmph" Ravel snorted. "Not that it is any of your business. But if you must know, I will be baking a caramel cookie recipe I came across a few months ago. So, if you'll excuse me."

Around the same time, Leona was seated with Grayfia, Irene, Evangeline, Kahlua, and Erza at the bar, while Venelana was playing the role of the bartender. They had just explaining the way the Japanese celebrate Valentine's Day.

Irene, Evangeline, Kahlua, and Erza all found the difference in culture interesting. In western countries, it was customary for the man to spoil the woman on Valentine's Day. But in Japan, the opposite was the case.

"So, on March 14th, White Day, the guy gets the girl something three times as expensive in return?" Kahlua asked. "I guess I better go find the most expensive chocolate I can."

"That would be a bad idea on two fronts." Leona said with a smile. "My baby is a bit weird in that regard."

"What do you mean?" Evangeline asked curiously.

Immediately, Venelana began to giggle while even the corner of Grayfia's lips curled a bit. Meanwhile, Leona maintained her smile while answering Evangeline's question calmly.

"James hates chocolate." Leona replied. "I mean, he really hates it. Like, even the smell will make him leave a room. And he can smell it through most wrappers. So, you'd be wasting your money on something he hates if you did that."

The four women who had known him for less than a year were naturally surprised by that information. Most people had at least a low-level like of chocolate. But hearing someone who hates it that much was something new for all of them.

"It was good for me, though." Leona said happily. "I never had to worry about him stealing my chocolate."

"But he had to worry about you stealing his strawberries and cream candy, though." Venelana said with a smile.

"Not anymore." Leona said with a slight blush on her face.

Seeing Leona blush, everyone became curious about what happened.

"I think that's a story I'd like to hear." Irene said with a smile.

"As would I." Erza said, chiming in with her mother.

"Well, after giving Leona her fifth warning about stealing his candy, a warning that Leona did not heed, James made a video of himself taking all the chocolate Leona had around the house." Venelana said, trying to hold back her laughter. "Even the expensive stuff she hid away for special occasions. Then, he took all that chocolate, while still recording, and... Hahaha!"

At that point, Venelana could no longer hold back her laughter. Unfortunately, for the listeners, she was unable to gain control for quite some time. Luckily, as she did not want to leave them hanging, Grayfia picked up where Venelana left off.

"After leaving the house with the chocolate, James rounded up a large number of rats and mice." Grayfia said, continuing Venelana's story. "Then, with a solemn expression on his face with all the rodents in the background, he said: 'Did you know that rats and mice are the only mammals in the Human World that can metabolize theobromine? This makes them unique in the fact that they can consume chocolate nearly as efficiently as humans.' Then, he..."

"Eww, rats." Kahlua said, not a fan of rats.

"No way..." Evangeline muttered, having figured out where this story was going.

"He didn't..." Irene muttered as well.

Meanwhile, Erza did not comment. She just wanted to know if the story would finish the way she thought it would.

"... threw the chocolate, by the handful, into the group of rats and mice." Grayfia said, finishing the story. "After that, he sent the video to Leona."

While laughing, Venelana kept her eyes glued to Leona's expression. And as Grayfia got closer to the stories conclusion, and when she saw Leona's lips and eyebrows twitching uncontrollably, she began to laugh even harder while pounding her fist on the bar top.

After Venelana's laughter died down, they explained that caramel is usually substituted for chocolate on this occasion. Then, they all began ordering caramel to be delivered the next day while James and the others were at school.

Meanwhile, the last woman living in the mansion that intended to give James candy for Valentine's Day, Shion, was several stories under the training room in the special kitchen that was made just for her in the last round of upgrades to the house.

"James, I know you don't like chocolate." Shion said with a brilliant smile on her face. "But this year, I'll make some chocolate that I know even you will love. Then, after you eat it, I'll tell you that I love you!"