Issei Hyoudou Meets Ruby Rose

Issei’s shoes crunched against the road as he wandered through what had to be the most gothic-looking city he’d ever seen. Tall spires, clock towers, and industrial bridges loomed overhead, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. The whole place had a mix of old-world charm and futuristic tech, with airships cruising through the sky and cobblestone streets lined with neon-lit shops.

Okay, so definitely not Earth. Another world, another city, and still no idea where the hell I am.

He sighed, adjusting his jacket. So far, no monsters, no immediate threats—just a bunch of normal-looking people walking around. Maybe this was a rare peaceful dimension for once?

That thought didn’t last long.

A sudden whoosh split the air as a blur of red and black zipped past him at an alarming speed. A moment later, a loud CRASH echoed from an alleyway, followed by a frustrated groan.

Issei blinked. “What the—?”

Curious, he jogged toward the source of the noise, stopping at the entrance of a dimly lit alley. There, tangled in a mess of crates and broken boxes, was a girl.

She had short black hair with red highlights, a combat dress with red trimmings, and a tattered cloak that billowed slightly as she shifted. Resting beside her was a massive scythe—easily taller than she was—its blade gleaming in the moonlight.

Issei whistled. “That was one hell of an entrance.”

The girl groaned, pushing herself up and brushing off bits of wood. “Ugh… stupid crate… It totally came out of nowhere!”

Issei smirked, folding his arms. “Uh-huh. Definitely not because you were going too fast?”

She froze, finally noticing him. Her silver eyes widened slightly, but instead of freaking out or getting defensive, she gasped. “Oh my gosh, did you see that?! That was so not my fault! I was just practicing my landing strategy, and then—BAM! Crates! Evil, evil crates!”

Issei chuckled. “Yeah, I saw it all. Pretty sure those crates weren’t moving.”

She pouted. “They were totally in the way.”

Issei shook his head, stepping closer and offering a hand. “Need help?”

She hesitated for a second before taking it, letting him pull her up. “Thanks! I’m Ruby, by the way. Ruby Rose.”

“Issei Hyoudou,” he replied, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Traveler of dimensions, occasional ass-kicker, and guy who just watched you lose a fight to some boxes.”

Ruby huffed. “That was not a fight! It was an accident.”

“Right, right.” He smirked. “So, do you normally zip around at supersonic speeds, or am I just lucky to witness it?”

She grinned, her previous embarrassment forgotten. “Oh, that? Yeah! I can move super fast with my semblance!” She mimicked a quick dash, red rose petals fluttering in the air. “I’m like—whoosh!”

Issei arched a brow. “Semblance?”

Ruby tilted her head. “Wait, you don’t know what a semblance is?”

“Nope. First time hearing about it.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh! Oh! That means you’re new here! Are you from another kingdom? Oh! Or—wait—you said traveler of dimensions?! Does that mean you’re from an entirely different world?!”

Issei blinked. “…You caught on to that way too fast.”

She grinned sheepishly. “Ehehe… I read a lot of comics.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, fair enough.”

Ruby crossed her arms, studying him with curiosity. “So, Issei, if you’re from another world, does that mean you have a cool weapon?!”

Issei smirked, raising his left hand. The Boosted Gear shimmered into existence, its crimson gauntlet glowing faintly. “You could say that.”

Ruby’s eyes sparkled like a kid in a candy store. “That. Is. So. COOL!”

Issei had to admit—this was a way better reaction than he usually got. Maybe this world wouldn’t be so bad after all.