GHK DXD Chapter 3 Time to Train

Read it fast before they hide this from you again. All characters are 18 years old or older.

Thursday, Houydou household

The warm rays of morning sunlight peeked in through the quiet guest room of the Hyoudou household, brushing against Issei’s face. Birds chirped cheerfully outside, blissfully unaware of the eldritch chaos curled around him.

Issei Hyoudou stirred with a groan, one eye cracking open. “Ughhh… morning already? Feels like I barely slept…”

He blinked, adjusting to the light. That’s when he realized something was heavy and warm.

“…Oh right,” He muttered. Issei Hyoudou was completely trapped.

Resting against his side was Nyaruko, firmly wrapped around him like an affectionate octopus. Her beautiful long silver hair spilled to his legs. Her face snuggled into his chest, her breath warm against his skin. One leg was thrown across his hip, and both her arms wrapped tightly around his.

She was still wearing her frilly pajamas and worst of all? Her oppai were smushed against his body like soft heavenly cushions.

‘Okay. Breathe. Just breathe. This is fine.’ Issei thought as he stared at the ceiling. ‘A girl is cuddling me next to me. That’s a win. This is… harem experience I will one day get. Yeah. Nothing to be afraid of.’

But then Nyaruko nuzzled into him and let out a sleepy sigh, her warm breath against his skin.

He carefully tried to shift so as to not bother her with the tent that had grown.

Nyaruko let out a soft whine and tightened her grip. “Hmm… morning, darling~ Let’s stay in bed all day… just you, me, and snuggles~”

His soul almost left his body but then remembered that he still had school today.

“W-WAIT, NO!” Issei squirmed, trying to pull his arm free. “I have to get up! I have school!”

Nyaruko pouted and nuzzled deeper into him like a sleepy cat, her ahoge wiggling slightly. “School? Isn’t it better to lie here in the arms of your beloved? We could skip… and cuddle together all day~.”

She pressed her chest in just a little closer, her frilly pajamas doing very little to contain the situation.

‘Soft. So soft. I'm touching oppai. Actual, living, oppai. This is the dream. This is what I was born for…’ Issei’s resolve trembled. His face flushed a dangerous crimson. A dopey smile started to creep across his lips.

But then a mental image flashed across his brain, Souna Shitori, the president of the student council, glaring down at him with her arms crossed and her piercing, judgmental stare.

“Hyoudou… tardy again, I see. Shall I notify your parents about your repeated absence and indecency record?”

Issei screamed internally. He bolted upright—well, tried to. Nyaruko still clung like a koala. “Nyaruko, please! I need to go! Souna-kaichou will kill me!”

“Let her try~” She mumbled, snuggling closer. Nyaruko’s grip didn’t loosen.

Issei flailed for a moment before groaning. “Wh-What do I have to do to get you to let go?!”

Nyaruko finally cracked one eye open, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “…A date.”

Issei froze. “A… what?”

“A date!” She chirped cheerfully, sitting up now, her cheeks faintly pink and her ahoge wagging like an excited puppy tail. “You and me! Somewhere nice! Holding hands, eating snacks, possibly feeding each other bites of crepes while blushing like lovebirds~!”

Issei’s face turned bright red. “A d-date?! Y-You… You want to go on a date? With me!?”

Nyaruko leaned in, eyes wide and sparkling. “Of course~! Unless you’d prefer we do couple exercises right now in bed~?”

“DATE IT IS!” Issei shouted. He cleared his throat. “I-I mean… f-fine. We can go on a date. A simple, totally normal one.”

She squealed and threw herself back into his arms, tackling him with enough force to knock him onto his back again. “YAAAAY~! I knew you loved me, darling!”

His heart pounded like a drum. ‘She’s warm. She's soft. She smells like strawberry shampoo. I am not going to survive this.’

“But!” Issei said quickly, managing to hold her at arm's length. “Not today! I have school, remember?”

“Boooo~” Nyaruko pouted, puffing her cheeks. “But fine. I’ll wait. Patiently~ But I expect more cuddles as payment!” She finally released him and rolled onto her back, grinning like she’d just won the lottery.

Issei staggered to his feet, his head filled with all sort of thoughts. ‘A date. A real date. With a girl. This is happening. I’m going on a date. I’M GOING ON A—’

He quickly remembered the time and he went to grab his uniform, he threw it on half-on, and ran a hand through his messy hair to fix his bed hair.

“I’m heading out!” He called over his shoulder as he left the room.

“Love you~!” Nyaruko called back cheerfully.

He tripped on his shoe but was able to recover..

—-----------------------------------------

Downstairs...

Miki blinked as Issei practically flew past the living room, and then grabbed a slice of toast in his mouth.

“Good morning, honey—!”

“Can’t talk! Running late! Nyaruko wants a date! Love you mom, bye!”

Miki turned to Gorou, who calmly sipped his coffee. While Kaguya and Evangeline were eating breakfast.

“You think we should be worried?”

He shrugged. “At least we might finally have grandchildren.”

—---------------------------------------------

The final bell rang at Kuoh Academy, and the air in Class 2-B was thick with the usual after-school buzz. Students chatted, packed their bags, and made plans to hit the café, clubrooms, or head home.

At the back of the classroom, Issei Hyoudou sat with his hands behind his head, staring dreamily out the window as the afternoon sun filtered through the glass.

A wide, dopey grin was plastered across his face. He didn’t even realize class had ended. ‘Oppai… soft, warm, life-changing oppai… I have a date. A real one. With a real girl.’ He gave a dreamy sigh.

This did not go unnoticed. The teachers had given him strange looks during class because for once, he was quiet, and smiling like a man who had just inherited a billion yen.

And the class noticed too.

“Is that Hyoudou… smiling?” Whispered a female student to another. 

“What’s with Hyoudou? Did he get possessed or something?”

Even Murayama and Katase, members of the Kendo Club and longtime victims of his perverted antics had taken notice.

“Is it just me, or is the perv actually… behaving today?” Murayama asked warily.

“He smiled at me this morning and didn’t even glance at my chest,” Katase replied. “I thought I was hallucinating.”

Meanwhile, Matsuda and Motohama crept up to his desk like detectives approaching a crime scene.

“Hey…” Matsuda whispered, nudging his friend in the ribs. “What’s with the grin, huh? You win a lottery or something?”

Issei slowly turned toward them with the grace of a victorious war general. “Boys,” He said, oozing smugness, “I’ve done it.”

Motohama blinked behind his glasses. “...Done what, exactly?”

Issei crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and delivered the line like he’d been waiting his whole life to say it. “I’ve. Gotten. A girlfriend.”

The classroom froze.

A quiet gasp echoed from across the room.

Someone dropped a pen.

A chair squeaked.

“……What?” Aika Kiryuu said flatly, who had been scrolling through her phone with one earbud in, blinked and pulled it out. “Wait. Did he say girlfriend?”

Matsuda’s jaw dropped. “You’re lying.”

Motohama reeled like he’d been punched. “You?!”

Murayama and Katase, who had been organizing their books nearby, turned in unison, blinking in disbelief.

Murayama snorted. “No way. He’s gotta be blackmailing her.”

Katase crossed her arms. “Probably imaginary.”

Aika narrowed her eyes. “Are you being catfished?”

Issei stood up proudly, slinging his bag over one shoulder. “You can say whatever you want. Disbelieve me. Doubt me. Mock me. But the truth remains…”

He smirked, pausing for dramatic effect. “I, Issei Hyoudou, have a girlfriend. A real, cute, oppai-blessed girlfriend!”

Matsuda stumbled back a step, like he’d been physically struck. “This… this changes everything.”

“Reality has betrayed us,” Motohama whispered.

“How could you, Issei?!” Matsuda shouted. “We were in this together!”

“We were supposed to suffer forever!” Motohama yelled. “Together!”

Aika squinted suspiciously. “Alright then, Casanova. What’s her name?”

Issei paused. “…N-Nyaruko.”

“That sounds made up,” Katase deadpanned.

“She’s totally real!” Issei protested. “White hair, cute, clingy, bit crazy but in a good way—”

“So she’s insane,” Aika summarized.

“Shut up! She’s awesome!”

“Where’d you meet her?” Murayama asked.

“...My house,” He said, with perfect sincerity.

Everyone blinked.

Matsuda squinted. “Wait, you didn’t order her off the internet, did you?”

Issei snapped. “NO! She’s just living with me at the moment.”

“Well how dare you get a girlfriend first?!” Motohama cried, grabbing his shoulders. “We had a pact! A pervert trinity! Die alone together, remember?!”

“I didn’t plan this, it just happened!” Issei said, grinning.

“Traitor!” Matsuda shouted.

“Enjoy hell, you normie!” Motohama wailed.

Issei merely adjusted his bag, smiling smugly like a man who had finally reached the promised land. “Cry about it,” He said, and strolled out the classroom door like a king.

Aika leaned back in her chair, watching him leave. “…He’s definitely hiding something.”

Murayama nodded. “Or someone’s planning to kill him when they find the perfect chance.”

As Issei walked out of the building, his inner monologue was practically shouting.

‘They can doubt me all they want! They didn’t feel what I felt this morning. That soft warmth… cosmic oppai.’ His hand clenched into a heroic fist. ‘This is the beginning of my rise to greatness! Today, a girlfriend. Tomorrow, the Harem King!’

Then he paused. “…Wait. I still don’t know how to plan a date.” His proud stride slowed.

‘…Do I need money? Should I pick a park? A theme café? What if she wants to watch a movie instead?’ A bead of sweat slid down his cheek. ‘Oh crap. I’m in over my head. What do space girls want?’’ Still, he shook it off and kept walking, his steps quickening again. ‘No. I can handle this. I’m sure dating sims have prepared me for this …Probably.’

—-----------------------------------

The sun hung low in the afternoon sky, casting long shadows across the stone path leading away from Kuoh Academy’s main gate. Students filed out in casual clusters, buzzing with the usual chatter of club meetings and part-time job plans.

Issei walked with a bounce in his step and a smug grin still clinging to his face like glue. Behind him, Matsuda and Motohama trudged with matching glares and wounded pride.

“C’mon, Issei!” Matsuda whined. “At least tell us where she came from!”

“Yeah!” Motohama added, eyes narrowed. “Is she rich? Is she blind? Is she a student from a different school?!”

“I told you,” Issei said proudly, “She’s real, she’s beautiful, and I’ve got a date with her soon. That’s all you need to know.”

The two grumbled behind him as they neared the front gate.

That’s when a voice called out.

“Excuse me… Are you Issei Hyoudou?”

The three boys stopped.

Standing just a few feet ahead was a girl none of them recognized.

She had long black hair that shimmered in the sunlight, soft violet eyes, a modest smile that gave her an aura of innocence and wore a uniform that distinctly wasn’t from Kuoh Academy. Her posture was shy, almost delicate, with her hands nervously clasped in front of her skirt.

Issei blinked. “Uh… yeah? That’s me.”

‘Do I know her? She’s cute. Wait—did I meet her somewhere and forget?! Oh god, do I owe her money?!’

Matsuda elbowed him hard. “You know her?!”

“No! I swear I don’t—

The mysterious girl stepped forward, her cheeks tinged with soft pink. She bowed her head slightly in what looked like bashful reverence.

“My name is Yuuma Amano.” she said softly. “I’ve been watching you… for a while. I know this is sudden, but… I’ve always admired you.”

Issei’s jaw dropped and his brain short-circuited.

Matsuda audibly choked on air.

Motohama’s glasses fogged up.

“W-Wait, what?” Issei asked, frozen in place.

Yuuma smiled softly and her cheeks turned redder. “I know this might be sudden,” Yuuma continued, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt, “but… I’ve always admired you. So… will you be my boyfriend?”

Time. Stopped.

The wind held its breath.

Issei’s heart nearly burst out of his chest. ‘IS THIS MY LUCK DAY?! First Nyaruko, now this?! I didn’t even roll the gacha this morning!’

Matsuda and Motohama were staring like statues.

“I—uh—wha—?”

“S-Sorry if it’s too sudden. I just… wanted to be honest with my feelings.” Yuuma tilted her head slightly, eyes full of hope. “If… you don’t mind, that is.”

Before Issei could respond—before his stunned brain could form words—

“DAAARLIIING~!” The shrill, excited voice shattered the moment.

Everyone turned.

“Wha—?!” Issei barely had time to register the sound before something white and silver tackled him from the side with the force of a small meteor.

“ISSEEEIIII~!”

“GAAAH!”

The world spun.

He hit the ground with a grunt, blinking up at a very familiar face now hovering above his chest.

When the dust settled, Nyaruko was above him. Her ahoge twitched joyfully. Her bright red eyes sparkled with affection. Her arms wrapped around him like an overenthusiastic plush toy.

“There you are~! I missed you soooo much! What took you so long?!” She pouted, nuzzling into his neck.

Issei blinked. “I—I missed you too! Sorry! I didn’t think you’d meet me at the gate!”

She looked up, smiling from ear to ear. “You were gone for hours! What took you so long? Did you forget about your adorable alien waifu~?”

He laughed nervously as she continued to cling to him. “I’m sorry. School went long.” He gently patted her head. She leaned into it with a happy coo.

Matsuda and Motohama looked like their brains had just been rebooted.

“She’s real,” Motohama whispered in horror.

“She’s real and he wasn’t lying,” Matsuda added, traumatized.

Nyaruko pulled back just enough to beam at Issei, still straddling his waist in full view of everyone walking past.

“Come on, darling~ Let’s go home and plan our date! I’ll cook dinner and practice feeding you~!”

“I-Isn’t that too fast?!” Issei stammered, blushing furiously.

But Nyaruko just tugged him to his feet and grabbed his hand without hesitation.

That’s when he remembered.

“Ah—wait!”

He turned, suddenly remembering the raven-haired girl.

He bowed slightly, genuine and apologetic.

“I… I’m really sorry. But I can’t accept your feelings.”

Yuuma blinked, her expression unreadable.

“I-I mean, you’re really pretty,” Issei stammered, “And super brave to say something like that, but I—uh—I already have someone.”

He looked over his shoulder at Nyaruko, who was proudly latching onto his arm, humming happily and not the least bit shy about the close contact.

Yuuma didn’t speak right away. Yuuma still stood exactly where she had been, her hands still folded, her face frozen in place. Her expression was still smiling… but something had changed.

Her lips had tightened. Her eyes darkened.

But Issei didn’t notice.

Yuuma blinked slowly, her hands now clenched behind her back. “I see…” She said sweetly. “That’s… really too bad.”

Issei, oblivious, just gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry again…”

Nyaruko tugged Issei’s hand. “Bye, random girl! Let’s gooooo, darling~!”

He waved awkwardly as they turned and left together, hand-in-hand.

Behind them, Yuuma remained still.

The air around her cooled just slightly. Her smile twitched—just enough for anyone paying close attention to notice.

Her eyes followed them until they disappeared from sight. “…Interesting,” She murmured.

—-----------------------------------

The late afternoon sun cast golden rays across the quiet suburban streets as Issei and Nyaruko walked hand in hand toward the Hyoudou household.

Nyaruko was still humming an upbeat love tune she’d apparently just made up on the spot, swinging their linked arms as if they'd just returned from a honeymoon instead of a ten-minute walk.

“I missed this little human house already~” she chirped. “It smells like you, darling~!”

Issei blushed. “H-Hey, I don’t smell weird, do I?”

“You smell like testosterone~!” She giggled.

Issei wasn’t sure if that was a compliment… but knowing her, it probably was.

As they stepped through the gate and approached the front door, they didn’t even need to open it—because it slid open ominously before they touched the handle.

Standing on the other side were two very unimpressed girls.

Kaguya, arms crossed, eyes narrowed like a noblewoman preparing for a scolding.

Evangeline, sitting atop the low wall by the door, legs crossed and sipping from a fresh cup of tea, stared at them with the expression of someone watching an incompetent soap opera unfold.

“You’re late,” Kaguya said flatly.

Issei winced. “Sorry! I—I was just walking home and—my friends, they, uh… they kept asking questions…”

Kaguya arched her brow. “For an hour and a half?”

Issei scratched his cheek nervously. “T-There was also this weird girl who confessed to me out of nowhere.”

Both girls blinked.

“…A girl confessed?” Evangeline echoed.

Nyaruko chimed in, “Don’t worry! I tackled that situation—literally~!”

Kaguya sighed. “As expected. Troublesome women are attracted to you like moths to flame.”

“I still don’t know why she confessed to me?” Issei said, confused.

Evangeline groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Ugh… I, thank the Mother of a Thousand Young, that I don't have to go to school anymore. Humans are exhausting.”

“Hey, school’s not that bad…” Issei mumbled, scratching his cheek.

Evangeline raised an eyebrow and then slid off the wall and landed without a sound. “Now that your little romantic detour is over…” Her red eyes locked onto Issei’s with chilling intent. “It’s time to train.”

Issei blinked. “Wait. Right now?!”

Kaguya stepped forward, her tone sharp but regal. “Yes. You heard us yesterday, husband. And we wasted enough time. You are not an ordinary human. There is a sleeping dragon inside you, and your spiritual potential is still completely untapped. We’re not letting another day pass without awakening it.”

“But I just got home…” Issei whined.

“And now you are leaving again,” Kaguya said sharply.

Evangeline cracked her knuckles. “Unless you want to discover your hidden power by accident from me beating your body.”

Issei felt a cold sweat begin to build. ‘Why does this feel like I’m about to be enrolled in the boot camp from hell…?’

Still, he knew they were right. Whatever was inside him, he was really curious about it. “Alright… give me five minutes to change,” He said, turning back toward the stairs.

“Make it three,” Kaguya called after him. 

Issei grumbled all the way to his room. ‘How did I go from ‘pervert with no game’ to being bossed around by magical girls?’ But beneath the grumbling… was a flicker of excitement.

He yanked open his closet and pulled out his old tracksuit—the one with the slightly worn knees and a red stripe down the arms. A little baggy. A little faded. But it was still reliable.

As he zipped it up and checked himself in the mirror, he nodded. “Alright, let’s do this.”

—---------------------------------

Kouh Park

The sun had dipped low by the time they arrived at the nearby public park. The orange sky cast long shadows over the grassy fields and quiet walking paths, painting the empty playground in a warm, fading light.

To Issei’s surprise, the place was deserted. Not a single jogger, an old man feeding birds, or couples sneaking a kiss on the bench in sight. 

Issei glanced around warily. “Uh… Is it just me or is this place… too peaceful?”

Evangeline, standing a few paces ahead, gave a faint smile—though it carried no warmth. “That’s because I made sure it would be.” She raised a single hand and snapped her fingers. A faint glow shimmered through the air as a wide dome-like magic circle flashed briefly around them—then vanished.

“There. A layered silence and distortion barrier. No one can hear or see us. No one will enter or notice us. You can scream all you want.” She said coolly. “This space is sealed. We’ll have all the time and privacy we need.”

“...That’s not comforting,” Issei muttered.

Nyaruko grinned and spun in a circle with her arms out. “Oooh~! It’s like a secret training arc!”

Kaguya stood beside her, adjusting her long sleeves, her elegant kimono fluttering slightly in the breeze. “Let us proceed then. The sooner he stops being useless, the better.”

Issei blinked. “Thanks for the encouragement, what are we training in? Magic? Combat?”

Evangeline smiled—but it was the kind of smile that promised regret. “No. We start with the basics: physical conditioning. You're a human sack of pudding right now. That has to change.” She stepped aside, giving him a full view of the open grass field.

“What?!”

“Run,” she commanded, pointing down the paved trail.

Issei blinked. “Wait, like… how far?”

“Until I say stop.”

Issei sighed but didn’t argue. He stepped onto the dirt path lining the park and started to jog, the gravel crunching under his shoes.

But Nyaruko was already followed beside him in a tight-fitting gym outfit she’d somehow acquired during the walk over. “Come on, darling~! I’ll run with you~!”

With no other choice—and not wanting to look like a wimp in front of his harem—Issei groaned and started jogging.

—---------------------------------

Thirty minutes later…

Issei collapsed to the grass, drenched in sweat and groaning like a man on his deathbed.

He had done:

10 laps

20 push-ups (barely)

20 sit-ups (with much groaning)

3 failed attempts at a pull-up on the swing set

 And now he was facedown in the dirt, too exhausted to move and panting like he’d just run a marathon. His uniform clung to him with sweat, his hair stuck to his forehead, and his face was red. “Gaaahhh… kill me now…”

Meanwhile, Nyaruko bounced in place beside him, humming happily, completely unfazed. She hadn’t even broken a sweat. “Wow~! This is so fun!”

“Kill me,” Issei wheezed.

Evangeline approached, looking down on him like a disappointed coach. “Pathetic,” She muttered. “That was just a warm-up.”

Issei looked up at her, face pale. “I can’t move…”

“That’s fine,” Evangeline said flatly. “We prepared for this.” She turned toward Kaguya, who gave a graceful nod.

“Indeed.”

Issei blinked. “What?”

A soft flutter of cloth signaled Kaguya’s approach. She didn’t say a word. She just stepped onto his back like she was mounting a royal palanquin and sat down gently.

“What are you—?”

A soft glow spread through his body. Within seconds, the fog of exhaustion began to lift from his brain. His lungs filled with air again. His legs twitched.

“I—I feel… better?” He said, confused.

His arms still felt like jelly. His legs burned. But the crushing fatigue was gone.

“You’re welcome,” Kaguya said smugly. “I simply reverted your body to a temporal state just before it reached physical exhaustion. You’re refreshed, but I carefully preserved the strain from your prior exertion. That way, the physical development still accumulates.”

Issei blinked up at her. “So basically, my stamina is back?”

“Precisely.”

Issei groaned. “That sounds awesome—until I remember you’re sitting on me like a spoiled cat.”

“I am a princess,” she said proudly. “I’ll motivate you however I see fit.”

“Can’t you at least get off?”

“No.”

Evangeline crossed her arms. “Enough stalling. Get up and repeat the process.”

“Wha—again?!”

“Yes,” She said calmly. “Do you think your enemies are going to let you take naps between fights?”

Nyaruko gave him a thumbs-up. “You got this, darling~! Think of the cool things you’ll be able to do after this! Maybe laser eyes! Or breathe fire!”

Issei whimpered, slowly standing back up. “Okay… okay, let’s do this.”

—--------------------------------------

Two hours later…

He collapsed again.

His shirt was soaked. His arms refused to lift. His back felt like he’d been steamrolled.

But again, Kaguya stepped forward and refreshed his body.

The fatigue vanished.

The pain, however… did not.

“Augh! My everything still hurts!” He cried, trembling on the grass.

“I could take away the pain,” Kaguya offered, lifting her hand.

“No, let him keep the pain. ” She said, cool and firm.

Kaguya raised a brow. “It will slow him down.”

Evangeline interrupted sharply. “Pain is useful in making him be able to ignore it. Plus it is part of progress. He needs to feel what growth costs.””

Issei whimpered like a kicked puppy. ‘Why couldn’t I summon a soft-spoken nurse-type girl with healing hands and cookies?!’

“I believe in you~!” Nyaruko cheered, gently patting his head. “I know you will be able to go through this!”

—----------------------------

The sun had been hidden below the horizon as the moon was rising. The park, still empty thanks to Evangeline’s distortion barrier, had become eerily quiet—save for the exhausted gasps of one Issei Hyoudou.

Issei sat cross-legged on the grass, arms limp at his sides, a towel draped over his head. He was drenched in sweat again.

“Alright,” Evangeline said, stepping forward with her arms folded behind her back like a strict headmistress. “You’ve stretched your body. Now we start testing your soul and mind.”

Issei perked up. “Wait… magic training? Finally!”

Evangeline gave him a deadpan look. “Don’t act excited. You’ll just embarrass yourself.”

Nyaruko leaned in from the side, nodding. “Oooh~! Are we teaching him sparkly fireballs? Or laser beams? Maybe magical detection spells?!”

“No,” Evangeline said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “We start with sensing and drawing out internal magical energy. Basic control before such nonsense. You must first understand the flow of energy within the body.” 

She then sat across from Issei, her expression unusually serious. “Focus,” she said. “Close your eyes. Take deep breaths. Feel your heartbeat. Imagine a small ember in your core. That’s your power. Your goal is to find it, stir it, and let it flow through your limbs.”

Issei obeyed, trying to quiet the distractions in his head—Nyaruko humming the theme to Sailor Moon, Kaguya muttering about the poor shape of his chi lines, his own racing thoughts about whether he'd ever be good at this. Issei determinedly shut his eyes, sat straighter, and started to breathe. 

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

‘Okay… ember… warmth… flowing through my limbs…’

Minutes passed.

Sweat gathered on his forehead again.

Evangeline narrowed her eyes. “…Anything?” she asked.

Issei opened one eye. “I think I felt a flicker!”

Evangeline raised an eyebrow.

Nyaruko tilted her head. “Really?! Where?!”

“…My stomach. But I think that might’ve just been hunger.”

Eva groaned loudly.“You’re hopeless.”

“I’m trying!” Issei protested.

More breathing. More mental poking at invisible reserves.

Still nothing.

“…How long does this usually take?” he asked.

“For a prodigy? Seconds,” Evangeline replied. “For an average person? Minutes. For you…” She trailed off. “You’re not even glowing! A monkey could be glowing by now!”

Kaguya looked over calmly. “Perhaps his talent is not in magic.”

“No,” Eva snapped, standing. “He has magic. It's just terrible. His reserves are low, his control is sloppy and nonexistent.”

“That bad?” Issei muttered.

“Yes, that bad.” Eva confirmed. “You have just enough potential to be disappointing.”

Nyaruko patted his head. “Don’t worry, darling~ You’re still better than any man!”

Issei sighed. “Is there any way to improve?” he asked weakly.

“Yes,” Eva said, her tone clipped. “Like a muscle. You’ll have to overextend your reserves constantly. Drain them. Refill. Repeat. But that takes time. Days, at least, before you see even minor growth.”

“Days…?”

“At minimum.” Evangeline turned, and crunched her fists tighter. “Come on. Let’s shift gears. Maybe your fists work better than your brain.”

“Wait, what?”

“Time to learn some Self-defense.” She said, smirking slightly.

Nyaruko pulled out popcorn from somewhere. “Ooooh~! Fight training~!”

—-----------------------------

Twenty minutes later…

Evangeline stood behind Issei, correcting his stance. “Lower your center. Shift your weight. That’s not a punch, that’s a slap with ambition.”

Kaguya demonstrated a clean throw, flipping Nyaruko—who giggled mid-air and landed on her feet like a cat.

Issei tried copying it and nearly dislocated his shoulder. “OW—MY SHOULDER!” 

Evangeline stood over him, posture perfect, adjusting her collar like she hadn’t just thrown him into the Earth.

“That was Aiki-jūjutsu 101: redirection of force. Your balance is laughable.”

“I tried not to fall!”

“Try harder.”

Kaguya called from her bench, sipping. “Remember to keep your stance low, husband. You looked like a frightened goose just now.”

Issei groaned.

“Now,” Eva said, stepping closer, “punch me.”

“...What?”

“Punch me.”

“But—”

She stepped closer, eyes gleaming. “Do it. You need to learn proper striking form.”

Issei raised his fists awkwardly, legs wide, elbows flared out.

“No,” Eva said instantly. “That’s not a punch.”

“Gah! Fine!”

He swung and she dodged without blinking.

She moved like a breeze, grabbed his wrist mid-swing, and flipped him again.

SLAM.

Issei lay flat on his back, staring up at the sky, birds circling his vision.

Nyaruko clapped politely. “Ten outta ten! Lovely form, Evageline!”

Eva dusted her hands and looked at Kaguya. “Still no reaction from his soul.”

Kaguya nodded solemnly. “Nothing stirred. No awakening. No surges. That dormant power is still sealed.”

“Maybe we’re going about this the wrong way…” Eva murmured.

Meanwhile, Issei groaned from the dirt, raising a shaky hand.“...Can someone rearrange my spine first?” His entire body ached from the brutal physical drills, his soul had failed at magic, and now he was trying to muster enough strength to stand without sounding like a stepped-on puppy.

Nyaruko crouched beside him, poking his cheek cheerfully.

"Ne, ne, darling~! Maybe you're overthinking it."

Issei cracked one eye open, warily. "Overthinking what? My body's spaghetti right now..."

She grinned. "Your dragon powers~! Maybe it doesn't need all that magic discipline stuff. Maybe… you just gotta really want it, y’know?"

He blinked. "...That's your solution?"

Eva paused, arms crossed. Her crimson eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "...As absurd as it sounds," She muttered, "Emotional catalysts are a valid awakening trigger. And so far, logic and technique have failed."

Kaguya tapped her fan against her palm, considering. "Desire-driven manifestation… it has happened before. Particularly in emotionally volatile beings."

"Gee, thanks," Issei groaned, "Glad to know I’m 'volatile.'"

Evangeline ignored him. "Alright then. Hyoudou. Get up."

With a groan, he sat upright.

"Try it. Focus on your deepest desire. Pour everything into it. Force the power out."

"Deepest desire?" Issei mumbled. ‘Okay… deepest desire. I want to be strong. I want to impress these girls. I want to not die. I want—’ His face turned red. ‘...oppai.’

Nyaruko gasped dramatically, her eyes sparkling. “Oh! I got it~!”

Everyone turned to her.

“If you manage to summon your powers, I’ll let you—” She paused for effect, winked, and cupped her own chest playfully, “—touch my breasts~! Just for a second~!”

The park went silent.

Issei’s eyes slowly widened. “...You’re serious?”

“Yup~! Groping privilege: one time offer~!”

Kaguya’s fan dropped slightly.

Evangeline's expression froze. “…You’re bribing him with boobs,” Eva said flatly.

Nyaruko nodded cheerfully. “Absolutely~!”

Issei stared at her… then slowly stood. His legs were wobbling. His arms were shaking. But his expression?

Pure. Unfiltered. Determination. ‘This is it. This is what I have been preparing for. This is what I was BORN for. All my suffering... all my training... leads to this.’

He clenched his fist and raised it to the sky. He then screamed in his heart.

"OPPAI...!!!"

A pulse of crimson light exploded from his left arm.

Kaguya and Evangeline both flinched back, eyes wide.

With a surge of raw power, a red armored glove burst forth from his hand—crimson scales gleaming, emerald gem glowing, energy coiling around it like a beast awakening from slumber.

Issei stood still for a moment, staring at the glowing red weapon on his hand.

“…Huh.”

Eva stepped forward, eyes narrowed. “An armored glove.”

Kaguya’s voice was tight. “I do feel the aura of a dragon.”

Nyaruko’s ahoge twitched happily. “Wow~! I didn’t think he’d actually do it!”

Issei slowly turned to her, face red, voice trembling. “D-Does this mean I get to—”

“Yup~!”

He didn’t even celebrate. He just collapsed to his knees in silent, exhausted victory.

Kaguya groaned with a furious blush. “He really did it for that… Unbelievable…”

Evangeline pinched the bridge of her nose again. “I don’t know whether to laugh or start crying.”

The faint hum of the red aura lingered in the air even after the gauntlet vanished from Issei’s arm. The entire construct faded in a flash of red particles.

Issei remained kneeling on the grass, breathing hard, shoulders slumped, sweat soaking through his tracksuit. He didn’t know how to describe it. But it was quite a rush to his body.

Across from him, Evangeline let out a soft sigh—not exasperated, but grudgingly impressed. “Well,” she said, brushing her hair over her shoulder, “I hate to admit it… but I didn’t expect that actually to work.”

Kaguya raised an eyebrow. “You doubted Nyaruko’s motivational technique?”

“I doubted the idea that someone would actually awaken something through sheer perverted willpower,” Eva muttered. “But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. This is our summoner, we’re talking about.”

“I resent that,” Issei wheezed.

Nyaruko clapped her hands and skipped in place, visibly thrilled. “My darling~! You did it! You summoned your weird glowy dragon glove! I'm so proud~!”

“Thanks…?” he muttered, blinking up at her dazedly.

Eva turned to Kaguya, flicking her hand dismissively. “He’s spent. Get him up. Let’s go home.”

Kaguya walked over to Issei and crouched down beside him. With the dignity of royalty and the grace of someone who very rarely offered help, she gently took his arm and hoisted him to his feet and brought his body back to a better state. “Stand, husband. You’ve earned your rest.”

Issei stumbled upright, swaying.

The gauntlet had faded completely now, leaving behind only a dull ache in his bones and a strange tingling sensation in his left hand. ‘So that’s what’s been inside me all along... Why the hell do I have something that insane sealed in my soul?!’

He didn’t have the answers. But he had a strong suspicion things were only going to get weirder from here.

The four of them began to walk out of the barrier and down the darkened path toward the city lights.

Evangeline trailed a few steps behind, quietly dispelling the magic field with a wave of her hand. The park faded back into normality, as if nothing had happened.

“Tomorrow,” Eva said, “we start testing just what that thing can do.”

Issei chuckled weakly. “Can I rest first?”

Kaguya sniffed, adjusting her sleeves. “You’ll have to recover properly if you expect your body to adapt.”

Nyaruko hummed happily, linking arms with Issei as they walked. “You did amazing today~! When we get home I’ll let you play with my girls.”

This brought a smile to Issei as he hoped to get home faster.

Finally done with the third chapter of this month. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes. Commission for Deus Ex Mina.