A Date’s Ask

"Err…" Issei hesitated. He was caught off guard. He'd expected to be approached by Yuuma one day, but he definitely didn't expect it to happen today. And he certainly didn't expect her to be this direct.

'Don't tell me you've fallen for the tricks of a crow,' Ddraig snickered.

Issei didn't take offense to the dragon's teasing; it actually helped him clear his mind and think straight.

"You… mean me?" he asked, pointing at himself, still unsure if he was dreaming.

'Lost your senses too, huh?' Ddraig muttered, half-amused.

'Shut up,' Issei shot back, trying to regain some composure.

"Y-Yes!" The girl, Yuuma, nodded nervously. She kept her head down, but her eyes kept darting to him, her cheeks tinged pink.

It was, in fact, a pretty adorable moment from an outsider's view.

Issei looked around, playing the fool that everyone knew him to be. Anyone could tell he was struggling to process what was happening.

"I-I-I—" he stammered, the words not coming out as he tried to make sense of it. "I can't believe it!"

'Oi! Cut it out!' Ddraig grumbled. 'This is embarrassing, even for you!'

But Issei didn't stop. In fact, he leaned further into his role, mimicking the over-the-top, clueless guy that seemed to fit the situation.

"A pretty girl asking me out?!" He seemed both flustered and overjoyed, spinning around and locking eyes with Yuuma. "You're not messing with me, right? This isn't a prank, is it?"

Yuuma shook her head, her expression shy yet sincere. "I… I've seen you around here a lot, and I admire you. A lot."

'Admire?' Ddraig howled in disbelief. 'Sure, kid, sure.'

Issei ignored the dragon's mockery, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"I admire you, Issei Hyoudou," Yuuma said, her voice soft but earnest. "And I… like you… a lot."

Issei couldn't help but beam, his smile practically stretching from ear to ear. He was acting like a fool, but he didn't care. He was happier than he'd ever been.

"Please… go on a date with me," Yuuma said, her voice filled with sincerity as she lowered her head slightly.

"Are you kidding me?!" Issei exclaimed, nearly jumping out of his skin with excitement. "I've never been approached by a girl before, much less someone as cute as you!"

Yuuma's eyes brightened, clearly eager to hear his response.

"O-Of course I'll go on a date with you!" Issei said, grinning even wider. "I'd love to!"

'Think it through, kid,' Ddraig warned, his voice laced with concern.

Yuuma's face lit up, relieved and happy at his answer.

"R-Really?" she asked again, just to make sure.

"Yes!" Issei confirmed, all while replying to Ddraig. 'Yes, I've thought it through.'

Her face brightened even further. "Okay!" she said, her enthusiasm contagious. "Then… would you like to go on a date this weekend?"

'That gives you some time,' Ddraig mused.

"Works for me," Issei said. "Would you like to pick the venue?"

To be honest, Issei felt a little helpless in this situation. If she asked him to choose, he'd have to do some serious research to find a decent cafe.

Why?

Because the only cafe Issei had ever visited was a hentai cafe, and as for restaurants, the only ones he'd gone to were family-friendly ones his dad took him to.

All things considered, it was probably best for her to pick the place.

"I…"

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side.

"I'd like it if you chose the venue," she said, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. "I want to know what kind of places you like to visit."

'Great…' Issei sighed internally, while Ddraig couldn't help but laugh at his expense.

"Well… I can do that," Issei replied, no longer playing the fool. "What time do you want to go, then?"

Yuuma thought for a moment, then answered, "Evening works."

Without missing a beat, Issei pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

"Then, please put your number in here. I'll let you know where to meet."

He wondered briefly if Yuuma would even have a phone, considering that supernatural beings weren't exactly dependent on technology.

'Maybe not,' he thought. 'But I've seen some of them use phones regularly.' His memory had to be right on this one.

And they turned out to be spot on.

"Alright!" Yuuma took the phone eagerly and typed in her number. "That's my number."

Issei smiled and nodded, not feeling the need to dial it right away. He didn't want to risk making the moment awkward. When he finally got the number, the air between them seemed to shift a bit.

"Would you like me to walk you home, Yuuma?" he asked, suddenly looking more like a gentleman than the bumbling idiot he'd been moments before.

"A-Ah, no." Yuuma quickly shook her head. "I have to visit my grandmother, so I can't accept your offer." She looked disappointed, though. "I would have loved it."

Issei couldn't hide his disappointment either. "That's unfortunate…"

But he knew dwelling on it wouldn't help. With an awkward smile, he scratched the back of his head. "Then, I guess that's it for today?"

Yuuma pouted, a disappointed look crossing her face. "Yes, I would have loved to talk more…"

Issei shook his head. "It's fine. We'll see each other this weekend. And now that I have your number, I can call you anytime."

Yuuma's unease was subtle, but it didn't escape his notice. She seemed a bit hesitant about the idea of him calling.

'Call her. I'd love to see a crow annoyed,' Ddraig teased.

Issei ignored the dragon's voice in his head as he slid his phone back into his pocket.

"Then… I'll see you this weekend, Issei," Yuuma said, giving him an adorable smile that made it hard for him to look away.

Both of them lingered for a few moments, hesitant to part ways. Finally, after exchanging a few more shy smiles, Yuuma turned and walked away, leaving Issei standing alone.

As soon as she was out of sight, Issei couldn't contain his excitement any longer.

"Yeah!" He roared, pumping his fist in the air. "I won't die a virgin! I have a girlfriend now!"

'Stop it!' Ddraig bellowed inside his head. 'You're embarrassing me!'

But Ddraig wasn't blind. He could feel the eyes of others on Issei, watching him, following his every move. The sensation was unsettling—not just for Issei, but for the dragon too.

'You can't sense them, can you?' Ddraig asked.

Issei sighed, frustration creeping in. 'I can't, which is even more annoying.'

The dragon could empathize with Issei's frustration. While Ddraig could sense the supernatural presence around them, it was even worse for Issei. Since he couldn't sense their watchers, he was always left wondering whether he was being observed. As a result, he had to maintain a constant persona, unable to ever truly relax.

After all, everyone wasn't Kiba to appear in his sight.

There was no moment of peace for him, not until Ddraig manifested. But thanks to the dragon's abilities, Issei could now tell when the supernatural beings stopped watching him.

'And they're gone,' Ddraig sighed as Issei unlocked the gate to his house.

'I figured,' Issei replied. 'They always stop watching once I'm home or on my way to school.'

'Tch,' Ddraig clicked his tongue. 'These crows and bats just can't stop being annoying.'

'They'll stop once I get stronger,' Issei said, a quiet determination in his voice. 'That's what you told me, right?'

'Only if you train,' the dragon responded, his tone firm. 'No matter how many abilities I give you, if you don't learn to use and master them, they're just skills that could end up hurting you and everyone around you.'

Issei didn't deny that. It was the truth, and he needed to get serious about training.

'Tomorrow, we'll go somewhere, Ddraig.'

'Where?' the dragon asked, but Issei didn't answer. Instead, he smiled and unlocked the door.

"Mom, I'm back!" he called as he stepped inside.

"Ah, Issei," his mother replied, smiling warmly. "You're a little late today. Go freshen up. Dinner will be ready soon."

Issei followed her instructions, tossing his bag in his room and putting his clothes in the washer. Then, he headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Lately, he'd been enjoying warm showers, preferring them over the cold ones he used to take. The dust in the air had been irritating his skin, so the warm water was a welcome relief, leaving his skin feeling softer.

As he finished his shower and dried off, the delicious aroma of food drifted into his senses, even from a distance.

'One thing's for sure: I love her cooking.'

'Shut up,' Ddraig grumbled inside his head.

Issei chuckled. 'My bad. I forgot you can't taste anything.'

'Shut up!'

Laughing to himself, Issei quickly changed into comfortable clothes and made his way to the dining table.

As usual, the table was filled with a variety of side dishes, a cultural tradition that Issei had come to love. Each dish was simple, yet bursting with flavor.

'I love this culture of having so many side dishes,' he thought, his stomach growling in anticipation.

"You look happy today, Issei," his father said with a grin, having just returned home a few minutes earlier. "Did something good happen at school?"

"You could say that," Issei replied with a shrug. "Just a good day in general."

"That's good," his father said with a proud smile. "You're at the prime age for adventures. Don't waste it."

Sitting next to them, Issei's mother added, "Just make sure you don't get into trouble." She glanced at her husband, her expression amused. "Learn from your father, especially from his mistakes."

"Oh, shut up," his father laughed, waving her off. "There were only a handful of times I got into trouble."

"If you say so," his mother replied, sipping from her soup, her tone playful yet knowing.

Issei couldn't help but smile at the dynamic between his parents. Despite the years that had passed, they still seemed as in love as they had been in the past. It was a comforting thought, and Issei felt grateful.

'Lucky to have such a family,' he mused inwardly. For once, Ddraig didn't offer a sarcastic reply.

After a while, as Issei was nearly finished with his meal, he heard his father speak up.

"I hope you've arranged for your school to excuse your absence tomorrow, Issei," his father said. "You'll be visiting your grandmother, after all."

'Grandmother?' Ddraig's voice was laced with confusion.

"I'll call the student president later," Issei explained casually, his tone reassuring. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."

His mother added, "Just make sure you're not late. Your grandmother will be eagerly waiting for you." Her gentle words prompted Issei to nod in agreement.

"Of course, Mom," he replied with a smile.

'What's this about?' Ddraig asked, still struggling to understand the significance. He had discarded many of Issei's memories over time, deeming them unnecessary, and this seemed to be one of those lost fragments.

'I told you we'll be training tomorrow,' Issei replied, his voice calm but resolute. 'And there's no better place than my grandmother's house—it's far from the prying eyes of the supernatural.'

'I don't understand,' Ddraig admitted, still puzzled.

'Don't worry,' Issei reassured him. 'You'll figure it out tomorrow.'

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