~ I have added this Fanfic to my Patreon. If you'd like to read advanced chapters, feel free to check it out!
~ I'm planning to increase the number of advanced chapters to +18 this weekend!
~ I've edited some of the previous chapters to remove anything you might consider "cringe" or "unnecessary." I'll continue reviewing them from time to time!
~ Very soon, we'll return to releasing two chapters daily, including bonus privileges for Power Stone contributions!
<><><>
They all winced. Except for one. Issei's mouth was wide open, and to his mild horror tears were beginning to form in the boy's eyes.
"I thought all this time that Arisato-san was not interested in harems," the pervert clenched a trembling fist in a suitably emotional gesture, "But in reality it was because of your futile love for a single woman!"
What.
"Don't worry, Arisato-san!" Issei actually had the gall to clasp his hands into his own, "I will help you get over this woman as a true friend should! And then we will bask in the joys of the harem together!"
Hmm. He wondered which one of his Personas still ate humans, and if they would consider a male roughly of high school age as suitable sustenance.
"Just imagine, Arisato-san, what you could do with a harem! The sea of breasts! I want to drown in their softness!" Issei's nose had actually started to leak blood, and a vacant look entered his eyes, "I can just imagine it now! Buchou's breasts!"
To her credit, Rias managed to look dignified as her pawn began describing the myriad of things he would do to her rather bountiful assets, and judging from the resigned expressions around the room, Issei's behavior was not exactly unexpected. What was unexpected was when a brown-haired boy the same age as Issei suddenly sprung out from the side of the room that held Sona's peerage.
"Hyoudou-san!" the boy's eyes burned with fire, "You have moved me with your love for your Buchou! I too wish to fondle my Buchou's boobs! Which is why I, Genshirou Saji, will also help Arisato-san get over his love of his former girlfriend and set him on the path of righteousness!"
He had no idea what one had to do with the other, and part of him, the sensible part, told him it was best not to ask.
"Saji-san," Issei's voice was filled with emotion as he took his counterpart's hand.
"Hyoudou-san," Saji returned with equal emotion and grasped Issei's wrist.
He had read about bonds of brotherhood forged from extreme circumstances, almost all of them war. The rigors of battle made companionship tighter, and those that survived alongside one another under great duress became lifelong friends. He had a hint of the same brotherhood with the members of SEES, the obstacles that faced them on the Tower forcing them to become a close-knit group. But all that paled in comparison to what he was witnessing before his eyes.
For the first time in the world's history, a bond of brotherhood was being formed not based on battle or war, but from perversity.
If he was not faintly nauseated by the whole scene, he would have been impressed.
And then the realization hit.
Oh god, there were two of them.
He must have looked significantly aggrieved because Rias suddenly coughed into her hand and instantly Kiba stood up, moving from his seat on the couch with almost inhuman grace. The older boy looked amused as he dragged Issei back with him, shaking his head ruefully at the pervert's antics. His counterpart though, did not seem to share his amusement. Tsubaki's features were set in a stern frown as she pulled a sudden taciturn Saji back towards their side of the room.
And abruptly as the commotion began, it ended, and once more the attention was solely undivided on him.
"How did you defeat the Fallen Angels?"
He had known Sona Sitri, the real Sona Sitri, for barely hours and already he was getting used to the girl's style of conversation. Always curt. Always precise. Always to the point.
"Indeed," Rias took the opportunity to press him, "Issei says you used a gun, though I am hesitant to believe that such a simple weapon was capable of downing all four of them."
The doubt was apparent in her tone.
"I saw what I saw," the boy in question said stubbornly, "Arisato-san pulled out a gun," he winced when he recalled what happened next, "and then Raynare kicked me in the head. I didn't see anything after that."
His knew this. He had discovered Issei out cold after Metatron had done its bloody work. The boy was unconscious when the Lord of Angels had materialized, and had known nothing of what transpired between him and the Fallen. That suited him just fine. He did not mind disclosing his Personas if need be, but some of the higher ranked ones he would rather keep secret. It would be… problematic… if they were allowed to manifest without warning.
In truth, on the way here, he had considered lying to them, hiding the existence of his Personas, and making up a suitable cover story. But then again, they had been be entirely truthful with him from the start, entirely transparent, and he could at least reciprocate the gesture. That, and he knew eventually his power would be revealed, if not from saving Issei, then certainly by doing something else, and he would rather reveal it now in a controlled environment than have it exposed involuntarily in a situation out of his grasp.
Slowly, he reached into his pocket and produced the Evoker, and held it up for them to see.
"That's it!" Issei exclaimed triumphantly, "That's the gun! I told you I wasn't lying!"
Rias took being wrong gracefully, and gave the Evoker's silver barrel a curious glance. That curiosity turned swiftly to shock as he put the barrel to his head.
"Wait Arisato-san-"
He pulled the trigger and instantly chilling power speared through his mind. He allowed it to gather, to reach into his psyche, calling out to the countless manifestations that were stored within.
His eyes were still on Rias. It was perhaps for that reason the Persona that chose to appear was hers.
Its lithe frame materialized from behind him, long, slender limbs draped with black cloth. Steel enclosed its chest, riveted with iron bolts, but that only served to enhance its figure. A casque of metal covered its head, slit-visored yet strangely graceful. On top of the helm, a golden crown sat, signifying the royalty the legends had proclaimed it to be. In one hand it held a rapier, the other a dagger, and it crossed both in an elegant motion across its chest, bowing to him even as the rest of its body solidified.
<><><>
~ If you like the story, please leave a review!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power
Stones]
~ (Soon +18) Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/Anshufanfic
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)