SAK Chapter 2 An Interesting Meeting

Issei sat upright on his futon and still feeling the heat in his chest slowly fade, he was drenched in sweat, still reeling from his spiritual dragon dream experience with a massive red reptile who introduced himself as Ddraig, the Heavenly Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. The name alone was metal enough to be its own band.

“That was... definitely real. A giant red dragon living inside my soul.” He wiped his brow and took a shaky breath.“The Boosted Gear, huh...?” 

He stood up and cracked his neck. “Okay. He said it’s tied to will and desire, right? So let’s test this out the old-fashioned way.” He soon started to stretch, but immediately paused.

“…Why does my shirt feel tight?” He glanced down. “...Wait a minute. Are my muscles bigger?!”

He poked his bicep, which did seem slightly more defined than earlier. Not ripped or anything, but more toned. And his chest felt just a little broader, too. “Whoa. Is dragon meat full of super proteins or something?” He then shook it off and mentally prepared.

“Let’s try this...” Taking a deep breath, Issei stood in the center of the room and struck a dramatic pose, lifting his arm like a shonen protagonist mid-transformation.

“Boosted Gear—Activate!!”

Nothing. Not even a puff of smoke.

He narrowed his eyes and tried again, this time crouching slightly with one hand stretched out like he was holding a spirit bomb.

“Boosted Gear, arise from the depths of my soul!”

Still nothing. Not even a sparkle.

He switched tactics.

“Release the seal! Awaken, crimson fury! Final form! BOOSTED GEEEEAR!!”

His stomach growled.

The only thing rising from within him was mild hunger and rising embarrassment. He dropped to his knees.

“Ugh… I really thought that one would work. It sounded so cool in my head.”

After several more failed attempts—including finger guns, ninja hand signs, and the ever-faithful “yell and scream until something glows” method—Issei flopped back onto the futon in defeat.

“So much for desire and will. I desire oppai more than anyone alive and that didn’t do a damn thing!”

He sat up again, scratching his head. “Wait… maybe I need to know what the Boosted Gear looks like first? Is it a sword? A glove? Some kind of ability?”

He looked at his body again, flexing dramatically. “Is it supposed to just appear when I want it? Your advice was super vague, Ddraig!”

After a moment of silence from his very absent dragon tenant, Issei groaned and stood up.

“Okay. Fine. New plan—ask the dragon maid for advice. Tohru might know something about this kind of stuff. She’s a dragon. She might know something about dragon power-up stuff. Hopefully Oba-chan isn’t too mad that I missed dinner…”

He started to walk and reached for the door but paused, frowning as he tugged at his shirt that was still too.

Before he could process how he got so buff, the doorbell rang.

Ding-dong.

Issei tilted his head. “Maybe Aunt Kobayashi got worried?”

He reached for the doorknob and twisted—

CRUNCH.

The doorknob snapped clean off in his hand.

“…HUH?!”

He stared in disbelief at the mangled piece of metal in his palm. “What the hell?! I didn’t even twist it that hard!!” His heart jumped. “Am I super strong now?! Is this from the tail meat? Is this a side effect?!”

The door creaked open, slightly ajar now. Issei, now on edge, slowly pulled the door open and froze.

Standing in the hallway, just below eye level, was a girl.

A middle school-aged girl with white-lavender hair tied in thick twin ponytails, deep blue eyes that stared up at him blankly, and a flat, emotionless expression that somehow still radiated quiet judgment. Two horns curled from either side of her head—one facing up and the other downward—and a thin, twitching tail ended in a soft puff, like a cotton pom-pom.

She wore a white capelet with fur trim over a pink blouse and a frilly white skirt. Red doll-like shoes completed the ensemble.

She stared up at him, completely silent.

Issei blinked. “Uh… hi?”

She blinked up at him slowly. “…You’re not Tohru.”

Issei blinked back, still holding the broken doorknob. He nodded slowly. “Yeah… I’m Issei. Hyoudou Issei. And you are…?”

They stared at each other for a long moment.

“I’m Kanna Kamui.” She said flatly.

Issei blinked at the small girl standing in his doorway, still a little stunned. “So... uh, Kanna, right?”

She nodded once, blue eyes unblinking.

He glanced down at her again. “You, uh... looking for Tohru?”

Kanna tilted her head slightly, her expression as unreadable as ever. “Yes. I sensed Tohru-sama’s energy from here.”

“Here?” Issei raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think she lives in my apartment?”

Kanna stared at him for a moment, then answered in the same flat, serious tone. “You smell like her. And the perverted woman who seduced her.”

Issei’s face went red as he sweatdropped. “Okay, I really didn’t need to hear my aunt described like that.” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Maybe I smell weird because I spent all day with them and didn’t shower yet?”

Kanna shook her head. “No. You don’t just smell like Tohru-sama. You feel like her too.”

Issei blinked. “Feel...?”

“You feel like a dragon.”

There was a beat of silence.

“…You’re saying I feel like a dragon?”

Kanna nodded. “Mostly Tohru. But… a little different.”

Issei’s eyes widened slightly. ‘Can she smell the dragon inside my soul.’ This girl wasn’t just some eccentric kid considering the puffy tail and horns. “You’re a dragon too, huh?”

Kanna didn’t answer. But the slow blink and ever-slight puff of her tail seemed to say, obviously.

“Well that explains a few things...” Issei muttered. Then, figuring there was no point standing in his doorway anymore, he stepped outside and locked his door—well, sort of locked, given the doorknob situation.

“Alright, come on. Let’s go next door. Tohru and Kobayashi are there. I’ve actually got questions of my own.”

Kanna followed without complaint, her footsteps practically silent.

Issei stared at her out of the corner of his eye. ‘Man, how many dragons are going to show up around here? First Tohru, now this cute girl... Is this gonna be my life now?’

He stopped in front of Room 303, took a deep breath, and knocked carefully on the door.

Knock knock knock.

Inside, faint sounds of clinking plates and Kobayashi’s voice drifted toward them.

“...You think she’s gonna freak out that I brought another dragon girl to her apartment?” Issei whispered to Kanna.

Kanna shrugged. “She’ll deal with it.”

Issei sighed. “Yeah I’m sure my aunt will handle it.”

The door handle turned.

—---------------------------

Kobayashi stood in her kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee, and waiting for her cup of instant noodles to cool,  while her work shirt hung neatly on the back of a chair. The sun filtered softly through the blinds, casting golden lines across the tatami floor.

She had just finished preparing her bento for the day, but her mind wasn’t focused on deadlines or code. Instead, her thoughts drifted toward one particular idiot. 

‘Issei. He hadn’t shown up for dinner last night. It was unusual. He was many things, loud, impulsive, hopelessly hormonal but he wasn’t the type to miss dinner without reason.’

Kobayashi narrowed her eyes slightly as she set her coffee down and crossed her arms. “Maybe I should check on him before I leave.”

She turned toward the hallway.

Knock knock knock.

She blinked. “...Speak of the devil.”

The faintest smile tugged at her lips. ‘He actually came to me first. Good.’ She straightened her shirt, brushed off imaginary wrinkles, and took a calming breath. ‘No big deal. Just my adorable idiot nephew finally remembering I exist.’

She opened the door.

“Issei, it’s about time you—”

She stopped.

Her gaze locked onto Issei—and her brain short-circuited for just a second.

There stood Issei. But something was… off.

He was… a bit bigger.

Only slightly. Maybe two or three centimeters taller than yesterday, but it was noticeable. More defined shoulders, slightly tighter shirt around the arms and chest, and a subtle change in posture. It wasn’t drastic but it was just enough to register.

‘Did he have a growth spurt overnight?’ Kobayashi’s tired eyes narrowed. “...You grew overnight?”

Issei gave her a sheepish grin. “Uh... morning, Oba-chan.”

She opened her mouth to question him, until she noticed someone else.

Standing beside Issei was a cute teenage girl. White-lavender hair, puffball tail, soft blue eyes that were unreadably blank, and—yep—four small horns curving from her head.

Kobayashi sighed. “Is she another dragon?”

“She’s a dragon,” Issei said quickly, gesturing again toward Kanna. “Like Tohru. With the horns and tail and everything.”

“Good morning.” Kanna stared at her. “You must be the perverted woman who seduced Tohru-sama.”

Issei nearly choked. “K-Kanna!! You can’t just say that!”

Kobayashi’s eye twitched. “...I’m gonna need more coffee for this.”

“Oba-chan.” Issei said quickly, trying to steer the situation before it escalated further, “Tohru’s home, right? Uh... Kanna here is a friend of hers. And I kinda need to talk to her about... something important.”

Kobayashi raised an eyebrow. “You brought a girl to my apartment before 8 a.m., Issei.”

“I—it’s not like that!”

“Why didn’t you come to dinner last night?” she asked, arms crossed, eyes narrowing.

Issei winced. “Yeah... that’s actually part of what I need to talk to Tohru about.”

Kobayashi pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re lucky I’m too tired to yell.” She then moved aside, holding the door open with an exhausted wave. “Fine. Come in. You better tell me why you didn’t come for dinner..”

“Fair,” Issei muttered as he stepped inside with Kanna trailing behind him.

—------------------------------

The low hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet living room of Apartment 303.

Three figures sat around the floor on simple pillows, Kobayashi in her office-casual attire, Issei sitting cross-legged with a nervous air, and Kanna, stiff and emotionless as always, glaring softly at Kobayashi.

Kobayashi rubbed her temple with one hand while sipping lukewarm coffee with the other. “Unfortunately, Tohru went out.” She said flatly. “We forgot some ingredients yesterday, so she ran back to the market.”

Issei sighed, slumping a little. “Of course. Figures I show up to ask about something important and she’s out shopping for carrots.”

Kobayashi gave him a sideways look. “You can wait. Not like I’m kicking you out.”

He nodded. “Yeah, it’s fine. What I need to ask her… she’s the only one who might have an answer anyway.”

From across the room, Kanna spoke without shifting an inch. “Good. Because I’m here to talk to you, shorty with glasses.”

Kobayashi blinked. “...Me?”

Kanna slowly stood up, her tiny fists clenched, eyes sharp with quiet fury. “Break up with Tohru-sama.”

Both Kobayashi and Issei froze.

“...What?” Kobayashi asked, blinking as if the coffee had suddenly stopped working.

“You heard me,” Kanna said, pointing at her dramatically. “I know what’s going on. You seduced her. You corrupted her innocent heart with your disgusting body. You lewd glasses.”

Issei choked on nothing. “Lewd glasses?!”

Kobayashi put down her mug with a sigh, trying to keep her cool. “Look, I don’t know what Tohru told you, but you’re misunderstanding—.”

“No!” Kanna declared, eyes wide with righteous fury. “I won’t let you keep her like this!”

She stomped forward and, without warning, started patting her fists against Kobayashi’s stomach in a slow, childlike tantrum.

“Give! Her! Back!” She said between every soft, ineffective punch.

“Stop that,” Kobayashi muttered, too dead inside to even flinch. “That’s not how you ask someone for a favor.”

Issei’s eyes widened as Kanna kept patting at his aunt’s chest, dread filled his heart that his aunt’s chest might get smaller than it already is. “Alright, that’s enough!”

He quickly stepped between them, gently separating the small fury from Kobayashi with a calm but firm motion.

“I said enough. No attacking Oba-chan, even if you are an adorable bishoujo.”

He used one arm to pull Kobayashi slightly back—and unintentionally pulled her into his chest.

Kobayashi blinked up, flushed as she realized she was being semi-cradled against Issei’s now notably firm body.

“I-Issei.”

But Kanna was still fuming, and now she began punching Issei instead—her fists softly thudding against him without making him even flinching.

“Don’t protect her! She stole Tohru-sama’s purity!”

“Of course I'm going to protect her. What if attacking her chest repeatedly causes her already small chest to disappear.” Issei barked, panicking, as he tried to restrain Kanna gently with his free arm.

He had Kobayashi tucked against one arm, and Kanna wiggling and struggling in the other, fists bouncing off him.

It was at that exact moment—

Click.

The front door opened.

“Kobashishi-san, I’m back—!”

The moment Tohru stepped inside, a bag of vegetables in one arm and sparkle in her eyes, her gaze landed on the scene before her.

Issei, standing tall in the middle of the living room. Holding Kobayashi in one arm like a blushing housewife. While also holding Kanna in the other like a rebellious girlfriend.

Tohru blinked.

The sparkle in her eyes shattered.

The bag dropped.

“…I see.”

Issei turned his head slowly. “Oh no.”

Tohru’s golden eyes narrowed into slits, the faint glow of magic already sparking at her fingertips as flames came out of her body.

“I was right... so it was you all along.” she hissed.

“W-What me?!”

Tohru pointed a trembling, accusatory finger at him, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “You’re the true threat! The one who’s going to steal Kobayashi-san’s heart and love away from me!!”

“What?! I’m her nephew!!”

“That makes it worse!!”

Kobayashi, still half-cradled, sighed and muttered, “I don’t get paid enough for this. Tohru.” The single word, calm and cold as ice, cut through the room like a blade.

Everyone froze.

Tohru, caught mid-glare and mid-power-up, slowly turned her head toward the source of the voice, Kobayashi, now standing upright and adjusting her glasses with that familiar ‘I’m done with this nonsense’ look on her face. “Don’t make this worse.”

Tohru blinked. “I—I wasn’t—!”

“You were,” Kobayashi said flatly. “You saw him holding me and this teenager and immediately jumped to a love triangle conclusion instead of asking questions.”

“But—!” Tohru suddenly paused. Her eyes drifted down to the girl still tucked into Issei’s other arm. The puffy tail. The blank stare. The pale-lavender hair. 

Tohru gasped. “…Kanna-chan?”

Kanna, still calm as ever, blinked up at her. “Hello, Tohru-sama.”

The entire atmosphere shifted from chaos to a confused calm as Tohru took a few slow steps forward, no longer angry but puzzled. “Kanna… what are you doing here?”

“I came to find you. You disappeared.”

Tohru tilted her head in realization, hand slowly rising to her cheek. “Oh… that’s right. I did kind of vanished from our world without telling anyone.”

Kobayashi sighed and looked at both Tohru and Issei. “Tohru, you have to let people know when you are leaving for a trip. And Issei if you’re not coming to dinner, maybe let someone know?”

Tohru bowed deeply. “I’m sorry, Kobayashi-san!”

Issei quickly mirrored her. “Yeah, sorry, Oba-chan! I passed out and kinda forgot to check in...”

Kobayashi sighed. “Unbelievable. Dragons and teenage boys, both equally reckless.” She turned back to Tohru. “What I don’t get is—how did Kanna find you here? This isn’t exactly next door to wherever you came from.”

“I was wondering that too,” Issei added.

Kanna stepped forward, her voice calm and cool. “When Tohru-sama used her magic carelessly, it flared through dimensions. It acted like a beacon.”

“Ahhh,” Tohru said, hand to her cheek. “That makes sense now.”

Kobayashi raised an eyebrow. “You mean like when you breathe fire while cooking? Or flying around in your dragon form?”

Tohru smiled innocently. “Maybe...”

Kobayashi groaned. “You’re too careless with your power.”

Kanna stepped closer and looked up at Tohru. “Tohru-sama… Why are you living like this? With them? Why not come back?”

Tohru’s expression faltered. Her usual cheer faded, replaced by a soft, distant look in her eyes. “I can’t go back.”

The room went quiet.

Issei and Kobayashi exchanged a glance.

Kanna frowned. “Why not?”

Tohru took a deep breath, blushing slightly, and then threw her arms wide as her voice rose with dramatic passion. “Because I’m crazy in love with Kobayashi-san!!”

The room fell silent for a beat.

Then—

Clap clap clap clap clap.

Issei stood, applauding enthusiastically. “That was amazing. Beautifully said. From the heart. I support this completely.”

Tohru sparkled. “Thank you, Issei-kun!”

Kobayashi turned red. “Don’t encourage this.”

Kanna’s expression darkened. “No.”

Tohru blinked. “Huh?”

Kanna’s fists clenched. “If you won’t come back… then I’ll have to take you back by force!” She lunged forward with surprising speed, arms raised in miniature fury. “I’ll kill Kobayashi!!”

Kobayashi’s eyes widened. “W-Wait, what?!”

“NOPE!” Issei scooped her up mid-dash and sat back down, holding Kanna against his chest like an angry kitten. 

Kanna squirmed in his grip, kicking her little feet. “LET ME GO! SHE BRAINWASHED TOHRU-SAMA!”

Issei rubbed the top of her head gently. “Shhhh. No killing family members.”

To everyone’s surprise—including Kanna’s—his touch seemed to instantly relax her. The tension in her shoulders faded, and her fists fell limp as she snuggled into his arms. “Mmm... warm...”

Tohru’s eyes widened. “Eh?! She stopped?!”

Kobayashi, just as surprised, watched Issei cradle Kanna like a sleepy plushie.

Kanna’s tail wagged lazily as she mumbled, “I feel completely comfortable...”

Tohru stepped forward, poking Kanna’s shoulder gently. “You really can’t move? Did you get weaker?”

“No... You’re the abnormal one,” Kanna mumbled, eyes still closed. “You can absorb the magic in this world. I can’t. It’s full of it, but... I can’t pull it in.”

Kobayashi and Issei both looked at each other.

“Wait,” Issei said slowly. “There’s magic in this world?”

Kobayashi narrowed her eyes. “There’s magic in this world?”

Kanna nodded slowly, already drifting. “Lots of it. It’s everywhere… like air. Just… hard to see…”

Issei blinked as Kanna murmured about ambient magic, still snuggled peacefully against his chest. But her words triggered something in his brain. “This world is full of magic…”

“Oh crap!” He shouted suddenly.

Kobayashi flinched. “What now?”

Issei gently sets Kanna down, standing up with sudden energy. “I almost forgot! That’s why I came over in the first place!”

“Tohru,” he turned to face her, looking more serious than usual, “I need to tell you what happened to me last night. Something weird happened.”

Tohru blinked. “Did something happen?”

Issei nodded slowly. “Yeah… something big.”

He took a breath and began recounting the events. “Last night, I passed out in my apartment. My whole body felt like it was on fire. I thought I was dying or something.”

Kobayashi stood up, concern on her face now. “And you’re just telling us this now?! Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine now,” Issei said, holding up his hands quickly. “It stopped after I passed out. But then... I had a dream. And in that dream, I met a dragon there. A red dragon. Massive. He called himself Ddraig—the Heavenly Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. Said he was sealed inside me.”

Everyone’s attention turned sharply to him.

Kobayashi nearly dropped her coffee. “Sealed inside your soul? That sounds made-up.”

“It’s real!” Issei insisted. “He said he was sealed inside my soul ever since I was born. Something about being a dragon emperor? And that eating the tail meat gave me enough energy to wake him up.”

Tohru’s eyes widened, her ears perking.

“You ate what now?” Kanna said flatly, now fully alert again.

Issei continued, “And now… I’m way stronger than before. My muscles feel tighter, I crushed my doorknob by accident, and—uh—I’m taller, I think?”

Kobayashi looked him over, concern creeping into her voice. “Are you sure you're alright?.”

“I’m okay now, Oba-chan” Issei reassured. 

Tohru’s eyes glowed slightly as she gasped and stepped closer to Issei. Her nose twitched. She leaned in and—before anyone could stop her—sniffed him.

“Wha—Tohru?!” Issei yelped.

Sniff sniff.

Tohru circled him with frightening speed, sniffing around his chest, neck, shoulders, and even behind his ears.

“Kobayashi-san…” She whispered in shock. “He smells like me now.” Tohru’s nose twitched. Then her face lit up like a festival. “Amazing! You’re part-dragon now!”

Kobayashi blinked. “...Excuse me?”

Issei blinked. “I’m a what now?!”

Kanna tilted her head. “So you were not a  dragon before?”

Tohru grabbed him by the shoulders. “Congratulations, Issei-kun! You’re no longer a weak, pathetic human! You’ve become a noble, superior dragon!”

Issei blinked. “Wait—should I be happy about this?”

Kobayashi sighed, rubbing her temples. “Tohru, this isn’t something to celebrate.”

Tohru blinked innocently. “What’s wrong with that?”

Kobayashi pinched her nose. “The fact that he has a dragon in his soul! Is that even normal?!”

Tohru gave a serious shrug. “I have no idea. I’ve never heard of dragons being sealed into humans before. It sounds super illegal.”

Kobayashi pinched the bridge of her nose. “Wonderful.”

Tohru turned back to Issei. “Did Ddraig say anything else?”

“Yeah,” Issei said, lifting his left hand. “He said if I focus my desires—my will—it’ll activate something called the Boosted Gear. But… nothing happens. I tried shouting, posing, even screaming cool attacks. Nada.”

Kanna stepped forward. “Maybe…just like me, you don’t have enough magic to draw it out.”

Tohru gasped. “That must be it!” She spun toward the kitchen. “Wait one second! I’ll cook up another tail!”

“NO!!” Issei and Kobayashi screamed in unison.

“Absolutely not!” Issei held his hands out defensively. “Now that I’m part dragon, that’s basically cannibalism!”

Kobayashi pointed a finger. “Tohru, stop cooking parts of yourself!”

Tohru pouted. “But it’s nutritious and it made Issei-kun into a dragon.”

“Still no!”

Everyone paused in awkward silence.

Kanna finally broke it. “…What about trying to transfer magic through contact.”

Issei blinked. “What?”

“Tohru touches you and transfers energy. Like a mana infusion.” Kanna explained

Tohru lit up. “That could work!” She held out her hand. “Shall we try?”

Issei stared at it for a moment before slowly placing his right hand in hers. 

A rush of warmth passed from her into him. It wasn’t overwhelming—it felt like a radiant wave washing over his body, tingly and powerful, like someone pouring blood into his veins.

“I can feel it…” Issei whispered. “The energy. It’s flowing in.”

“Good,” Tohru said cheerfully. “Now do what the dragon said. Desire it. Want it with your soul.”

Issei closed his eyes. He focused on his will. The power to protect those around him. To understand this new world. To rise above being just another perverted teenager.

He opened his eyes, and his voice came out strong:

“BOOSTED GEAR!!”

A flash of red light surged through the room.

A glowing red gauntlet with emerald green jewels materialized over his left forearm, glowing faintly with energy.

A deep, echoing voice rang out in his mind.

Boost!

Everyone stared.

Tohru gasped. “You did it!”

Kanna blinked. “...Looks powerful.”

Kobayashi, wide-eyed, took a step back. “Okay… that’s definitely not normal.”

Issei looked down at his new arm, mouth slowly breaking into a stunned grin. “…Cool.”

Everyone in the room stared, wide-eyed—until a sudden, echoing yawn broke the silence.

It wasn’t human. It was deep, guttural, and ancient. And it came directly from the Boosted Gear.

(Fwaaahhh... Finally.) Came a lazy deep voice.

Everyone jolted.

Issei looked down in amazement as he recognized that voice. “...Was that from the gauntlet?!”

(Took you long enough to wake me, Partner. Do you know how boring it is, being stuck in your soul while you flail around like a confused chick?)

Issei flushed red. “Hey!! That’s not fair! Your advice was way too vague! ‘Use your desire,’ you said!”

Ddraig chuckled. (Well I’m here now. That’s what matters.)

Tohru leaned in, eyes sparkling like a child meeting a celebrity. “Who are you? A talking gauntlet?”

Kanna’s head tilted slightly. “So this is a dragon from this world?”

The green jewel shimmered, and Ddraig’s voice took on a regal, slightly theatrical tone.

(It has been ages since I’ve spoken to others of my kind. I am Ddraig—the Heavenly Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. The one whose name shook the heavens and whose roars split the skies!)

He paused, voice twisting in amusement.

(Now tell me—which one of you was the lunatic who fed a human their flesh?)

Tohru perked up with pride, placing a hand on her chest. “That would be me!”

(You fool.) Ddraig snapped, his voice suddenly sharp.

(You could’ve KILLED him! Are you insane?! Dragon meat is potent beyond mortal comprehension! That much power would tear most humans apart! Even I wouldn’t recommend that!)

Tohru pouted at being scolded. “But I took out the poison… and it worked.”

Kanna added, “He didn’t explode.”

“It’s not just the poison!” Ddraig growled. “It’s the essence—the raw magic. Do you know what would’ve happened if his body and soul rejected it?! Instant combustion!”

Issei paled. “Ehhh! I really could’ve exploded?!”

Kobayashi blinked, then slowly sipped her coffee. “Finally. A dragon with common sense.”

Tohru, pouting, crossed her arms. “It worked out fine! He’s strong now and part dragon!”

Kobayashi, slightly amused, leaned forward. “Still. That brings up the question—why does Issei even have you sealed inside him?”

Ddraig paused.

(…And who are you supposed to be?) He asked rudely. (Some mere human nagging my host like a roach? Why should I answer you?)

Issei’s eyes twitched. “Hey! That’s my aunt!”

Tohru’s smile vanished. The temperature in the room dropped. Magic flared subtly in the air around her. “That mere human is my master.”

The weight behind her words hit the room like thunder. The air shimmered as pressure radiated from her body—controlled but unmistakable.

Kanna’s eyes widened. Issei’s heart skipped a beat. Even Ddraig was silent for a moment.

(…Hohhh... Interesting.) Ddraig finally said, his tone shifting. (She holds the loyalty of a dragon. A dragon who possesses the power of a Dragon King. That explains your strength.)

He let out a sigh. (Very well. I’ll play nice since she is the family of my partner. Sorry, miss. I meant no offense.) His tone wasn’t exactly sincere, but it wasn’t openly hostile either.

Tohru’s power receded. Kobayashi just nodded, deadpan. “Apology accepted. Sort of.”

(Now then to answer your aunt's question, let me share a tale.) Ddraig said dramatically, his voice now filled with ancient weight.

(Long ago, two dragons stood above all others—myself, Ddraig, and my eternal rival Albion, the White Dragon Emperor. Our battles were legendary, so fierce it  even interrupted a war between Heaven, Hell, and the Fallen. For interrupting their war, Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels tried to end our centuries-long conflict, only for us to blow it all apart in our rage.)

Tohru and Kanna both stiffened slightly as they were completely captivated by the story of two dragons.

Kanna’s eyes glimmered. “That sounds awesome.”

Tohru whispered, “So much power...”

Issei blinked. “...You crashed a war because you two couldn’t stop fighting?”

(Yes.) Ddraig said proudly.

Kanna whispered, “Respect.”

Ddraig continued.

(Eventually, the Biblical God Himself intervened. Our bodies were destroyed, our rampage stopped... but our souls endured. He sealed them into sacred gears—powerful tools given to humans to protect them from the supernatural threats that walk their world.)

Tohru's eyes sparkled. “Sacred Gears…”

(The sacred gear I inhabit is called the Boosted Gear, one of the thirteen Longinus-class sacred gears. Our powers are passed down to chosen bearers and when they die we go to the next generation.) Ddraig said.

He paused, his voice solemn.

(And Hyoudou Issei… is now my current host.)

Issei stared at his glowing gauntlet, wide-eyed. “So I’m the… Sekiryuutei?”

(Indeed. Your path will be long, filled with danger, and likely filled with many enemies)

Now that Ddraig was done with his tale. Issei and Kobayashi were left with even more questions, especially on how many fairy tales are true and what else was real if dragons and gods existed in this world. Meanwhile Tohru and Kanna sat side-by-side now, both teary-eyed and sniffling.

“To be sealed away for so long…” Tohru whimpered, wiping her eyes with the edge of her apron. “Alone… abandoned… forgotten…”

Kanna sniffled and nodded. “A fate worse than death. Poor Mr. Ddraig.”

They leaned on each other dramatically, little tears of sympathy glittering around them.

Issei and Kobayashi, sitting across from them, exchanged a slow glance. Then back to the sobbing dragons. Then back to each other.

“Okay, but…” Issei said, scratching the back of his head, “Why were you and the other guy fighting in the first place?”

Kobayashi leaned forward as well. “Yeah, was it over something important? Like territory? A stolen treasure? Betrayal?”

Ddraig was quiet for a beat.

Then, with all the gravity in the world, he answered:

(We forgot.)

There was a pause.

Kobayashi raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

(We forgot the original reason long ago.) Ddraig admitted. (We just kept fighting because we were rivals. And after centuries of battle, our clash became about one thing—pride.)

Issei deadpanned. “You mean to tell me... the two of the most powerful dragons in existence destroyed half the supernatural world because you were too stubborn to call it quits?”

(Yes.) Ddraig said with reverent pride. (It was glorious.)

Tohru sobbed harder. “So tragic...!”

Kanna wiped her nose with her sleeve. “True dragons... noble to the end...!”

Issei facepalmed.

Kobayashi sighed, pinching her brow. “That’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard for eternal war.”

(t’s not dumb!!) Ddraig snapped, his voice echoing through the room in indignant rage.

Tohru slammed her hand on the floor. “Of course it’s not! A Dragon’s pride is sacred!”

Kanna nodded fiercely. “Curse those armies! Curse that god! How dare they interrupt such a sacred battle!”

“Sacred duel my ass…” Issei muttered under his breath.

Kobayashi, trying to refocus the conversation, cleared her throat. “Okay. Let’s move on. What exactly does that gauntlet do, anyway?”

Ddraig’s voice shifted back to prideful explanation mode.

(The Boosted Gear contains my power—specifically, the ability known as Boost. Every ten seconds, the host’s physical power, speed, and magical output are doubled. And it can continue stacking endlessly.)

Everyone in the room froze.

Issei blinked. “...Wait. So like… two times… four times… eight times…?”

(Yes. But boosting too much will exhaust your stamina and could destroy your body if you’re not ready. It’s a power that demands both control and commitment. And there are more abilities hidden within the gear… ones you’ll unlock in time, Partner.)

Tohru’s eyes widened with sparkling admiration. “Amazing! That means Issei-kun could eventually rival a dragon!”

Issei grinned, lifting his arm. “So I’ve got an amazing weapon strapped to my arm, but it makes me stronger every ten seconds? That’s awesome.”

Kobayashi glanced at the clock.

And froze.

“...Crap. I’m late.”

She stood up instantly, chugging the last of her coffee. “I have to go to work at 9 sharp!”

Tohru snapped to attention. “Should I fly you there?! I can have you there in seconds flat!”

“No!” Kobayashi said firmly, already throwing on her shirt. “I can make it if I run. You flying me through the sky just causes more problems.”

“...But your lunch—!”

“I’ll buy something at a store.”

Kobayashi marched to the door, stuffing her arms into her jacket as she moved. “You three don’t break anything while I’m gone. And Tohru, stop trying to feed us your tail for dinner.”

Tohru pouted, deflating slightly. “Yes, Kobayashi-san…”

“I mean it.”

Issei raised a hand. “See you later, Oba-chan!”

“Don’t ‘see you later’ like you didn’t pass out and skip dinner last night.” She called back.

Tohru clasped her hands together. “I’ll keep the house perfect until your return, my beloved!”

“Goodbye, seductress,” Kanna added without emotion.

Kobayashi rolled her eyes and left the apartment, shutting the door behind her with a firm but tired click.

The three remained behind, staring at the door for a moment.

Tohru looked around at the remaining trio. “Sooo… what now?”

Then Issei grinned. “So… anyone wanna help me test how strong I can get with this Boost thing?”

Tohru beamed. “Absolutely!”

Kanna stood up. “It sounds like fun.”

Done with the second chapter. Stopping right here and for anyone asking yes Kanna does look older. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes. This is a commission for Luis. So thank him for allowing me to post this for everyone. And if you want you can make a commission for me to make your story but only for people at the emperor tier. Comment and tell me what you think.