Past Memories and New Experiences

"Morning Utena." The girl blushes at my words and words try to break free from her mouth as she squirms. I let out a small sigh and took a guess at what she's trying to say. The shrine is a backdrop for our encounter.

"Are you still good for our date after school?" I've already thought of a plan. First we are going to buy some Tres Magia merch, then I'll take her for a walk where'll we go watch a movie, then we can finish off the day with some tea at home.

I also plan to probe her about her taste in women, if we both have the same taste . . . maybe we could make this a more permanent thing. I really care about the girl, but she's the exact opposite of my type.

I like a mature woman who knows what she wants. A woman who has that nefarious vibe, a real sexy villain. Of course if she has superpowers that's a plus too, who wouldn't want a hot superpowered girlfriend. I like most types of girls, but that's by far what makes my heart flutter!

I let out a small sigh as the girl nodded with a crimson face. I have no idea if I'm just born weird or if my past life was downbad for hot evil girls and that's leaking into me somehow.

It's really a shame that I don't find Utena that attractive. She's cute, and I care about her a whole lot, but she spends more time talking about Tres Magia than anything else. Her ramblings can be quite adorable, but hearing her talk about other girls while putting herself down more often than not hurts to watch.

I don't find self-deprecation attractive at all. I'd tried to help her through it, and her confidence is definitely building. But it's like there's some kind of internal guilt, or some last thing that she is either suppressing or doesn't even know she should be taking care of.

Considering her taste in women though . . . I might have found it. Something to think about later. Sexual repression would make anyone not be their best, and while I am slightly concerned by the idea of being the one to introduce her to that sort of thing, her happiness comes first! Another part of me finds joy at being the one to introduce the girl to that, and I'm not sure exactly how to feel about that . . . I don't even know if Utena's mom has given her the talk yet, but I'm going to assume yes considering that one time I found her porn stash. I quickly shift my thoughts with the power of chunni!

Even if I must become the Dark Lord, I would do it for the girl who had brought Light into this Demon's life. I wrap an arm around her shoulder and pull her close to my chest as we start walking to school. She hugs me back, and I can't help but feel her warmth against me as we move.

"A-aki" She practically purrs at my firm grasp, and I get the feeling this girl might be a little bit of an M. For now though, I'm just going to be the best friend I can be for the small girl. If we become more than that . . . so be it. I blush lightly as I hold her against me, I'd never really considered seeing Utena this way.

This was supposed to be a thing I do just to get my mom to accept that we wouldn't make a good couple, and let Utena off lightly. But new revelations about another side of Utena might make me reconsider!

I pause as I stand in front of the street where we are supposed to part ways. I hold her just a little closer before letting her go. I don't want to be late to school.

"I'll see you at the Shrine where our paths shall collide once again, our fates intertwining for a serene moment after a long separation!" All this lovey dovey talk must be balanced by equal chunni.

"A-ah, yes our paths shall collide once again!" She nods as a little bit of her hair nearly gets in her eye, I brush it aside as I smile at her.

"You don't have to act like I do Utena, I'll still like you." She starts stuttering, her face a tomato. Leaving her with those honest words I cross the street to school.

I hadn't considered Utena would try to act like a chunni, she'd never done it before after all. I suppose we're similar in the sense that we both have a trait that isn't fully compatible with the other person.

Hiiragi Utena POV
Aki touched my face! Watching him walk away I can't help but let out a dreamy sigh. He's so weird, but I can't help but like that about him. I still remember back when I'd been dealing with them. They'd told me that magical girls were lame and had stolen my figurines, they'd taunted me for days and hidden my stuff, they'd pushed me around, and I'd never felt so helpless. I'd wished Tres Magia would save me, but they were off saving the world and couldn't worry about a hopeless girl like myself.

Then one day everything stopped. It's like a switch was flipped. The angry group of three had sat down with the teachers and they were heavily berated before all my stuff was returned unharmed. The teachers said I had 'my little friend' to thank for everything.

But that was odd, after all a lonely girl like myself had no close friends who did anything, much less take credit for the act. My mind flashes back to what I'd saw that day after school, the day I'd truly noticed Aki for the first time.

Four Years Ago
What a great day of school . . . words I'd never thought I'd speak but nonetheless come into my mind. Everything had suddenly been resolved, like magic. Perhaps Tres Magia had noticed what happened and saved me! Truly my heroes are amazing, even helping someone like me!

"You little shit!" A voice yells out causing me to flinch, but the voice wasn't directed at me. I'd however recognized the voice as one of those three bullies. I went to turn and run before they found me, but a scared voice halted me in my tracks.

"I-I didn't do anything, I promise!" The scared voice reminding me of myself, causing me to peek around the corner in horror.

"We knew you ratted on us, you're so dead!" Around the corner stood an unharmed boy surrounded by my three bullies. His expression was terrified, but there was a gleam in his eyes I couldn't shake. Like somehow he had everything under control.

"I would never, please- how can I make it up to you?" Isn't that the weird kid from PE? The one who always runs triple the amount of laps you're supposed too . . . even he can be scared too.

"Hah, looks like the teacher's pet is a-" Her voice is cut off in a choking gasp. The weird kid moved and rotated his entire body, slamming a fist into one of my bullies' necks. Diving towards the one on the left he grabbed her hair while the bully stood shocked.

By the grabbed hair she was pulled and slammed into a wall before being kneed in the stomach.

"W-what the fuck?" The boy glanced over his shoulder at the last girl, as though playing with his prey he began to speak. For some reason my breath sped up and my body started to feel hot. Am I getting sick? I should tell mom . . .

"How pathetic, disgusting rats that only know how to gnaw at the caged. The moment a truly black heart descends you are consumed by darkness."

"L-look, we won't mess with the magical girl lover anymore! Just let me live!" The bully staggers back and prepares to run but the boy cuts her off.

"Did I give you permission to flee?" The girl pales and goes to flee anyways, but that weird kid was famous for being fast and having stupid amounts of stamina. Something the bully would find out as she was tackled to the ground.

"I suppose it's only right for a mouse to flee at the sight of a hunter . . . perhaps I expected too much of a lowly animal." He shakes his head with a light laugh. A fist descends and the area goes silent before a profanity is yelled out.

"Fuck! My Tea!" The boy rockets up, and picks up a backpack from off the ground. A canteen of liquid long popped off leaving a pool of liquid on the ground.

"Damn it. I need to get a new canteen . . . and the poor tea." He sadly shakes his head and walks off, my form in dumbstruck silence as I realize my hand has drifted down to between my legs. Weird, why'd my hand do that?

This whole situation is so weird! I feel so hot, but it's kind of a good hot? I think that boy told the teacher about those bad guys? Then he beat them up after pretending to be weak?

Everyone says to keep away from that kid, the bottom on the totem pole of the social ladder. Somehow even lower than me, he'd been nice to all his teachers, had perfect grades, and was a monster in PE.

What a scary guy . . . but if he's the one that saved me, then that means I at least owe it to him to give my thanks! B-but what if he thinks I'm a loser and only helped me because I'm a loser! My mind spins as I think back to the display, h-he was so cool. Yet I can't also help but feel he's more weird if anything. Ugh, I need to tell mom. She'll know what to do!

The Present
Mom had given me 'the talk' that day and I'd been too embarrassed to approach Aki for a week straight, yet nothing I masturbated too could match that moment where I'd seen him beat up those bullies. I guess Aki is just that cool . . .

Anyways, when I'd finally worked up the courage I just ended up talking about magical girls. He'd seemed a little interested so I'd kept going, and going, and going. Then he said those fatal words. 'See you around' He wanted to see me again! So I'd always find him and continue telling him the latest news on Tres Magia. He always nodded along with what I was saying, a small smile on his face as he ate up my words.

Apparently Aki used to be obsessed with Magical Girls, a fact I'd found out from his mother after accidentally following the boy home (I was rambling and lost track of where we were). She told me about his 'Magical Girl' phase. Where'd he'd tried everything to learn more about them, where their powers came from, and potentially how to get his own.

Aki wanted to be a Magical Boy and save people, just like Magical Girls! Unfortunately he'd had to settle for saving me, but I couldn't help but be thankful towards him. Tres Magia had all those powers and saved the world. It was only fair that with such power they could do that, but Aki was my Hero and he didn't have powers at all.

He was just that awesome. So awesome in fact that some bitches got it in their head to confess to him when they weren't even worth his time! So I made sure they knew that Aki didn't like them and preferred me! When it comes to dealing with Aki I crumble, but when dealing with those who would get in my way of getting to him . . . I get a new burst of courage! I wish I could just throttle Venalita and get the little thing out of my way, but blackmail is the scariest thing in the world for me!

Pulling away from my thoughts I look up to the board in class, math equations I'd only known thanks to Aki actually made sense! A far cry from my grades before studying with him.

I can't believe I'm going on a date with my hero later! A pleasant shiver runs through me at the thought. I'd always wanted too, but could never ask. I think I'm the happiest girl in the world with Aki waiting for me . . . he feels like my Manic Pixie Dream Boy!

It even helps me forget about my troublesome situation with Venalita.

Suddenly my phone buzzes. Then it buzzes again. Then again. Then again-

Whipping out the small device I see I have over 9000 messages . . . I'd be the one spamming Aki's phone like that, but he refused to have one.

Something about being consumed by his phone in one life was enough. He's so strange . . . but I love him for it. Pressing on the app I have multiple messages from Venalita.

> Magical girls are on the move.

> Get over here.

> Transform and you can fly.

> Use the thing I gave you and say "Trans Magia."

> Meet me here.

I let out a frightened eep, Venalita keeps blackmailing me into doing this sort of stuff. But I have to comply, Aki can never find out about this whole evil magical girl thing!

Ugh, and on the day of my date with Aki! Let's just get this over with as fast as possible . . .

Akihiko Inoue POV
Seeing not only Tres Magia fly away from the school, but that evil magical girl as well I couldn't help but narrow my eyes. My thoughts flicker by at a rapid pace as I think about yesterday.

Perhaps Utena thinks the magical girl is misunderstood because she saw her transform and knows her identity . . . it's possible but unlikely. There's still an important piece of information missing from this whole scenario, and I intend to figure it out.

"Sensei, can I run to the restroom? Something is wrong with my stomach." The man nods and gives a concerned look.

"Alright, and if you need to head to the nurse you don't need to tell me. Just have them call me and I'll get someone to run over with your backpack." I give my sensei a grateful smile. It's good to be good to your teachers. Walking out of class I skip the bathroom and activate Stealth, instead. I then Dash out of the school and decide I'd rather cut off the flying evil magical girl than let her get wherever she is going.

Rule number one of dealing with bad guys. Never let things go according to plan. Be annoying, be spiteful, and never let the ritual finish! I don the Faceless Mask while I think of a plan.

Actually she's kind of high up. Huh. I've always been good at running, hopefully I can just run up the side of the building. Gotta make sure to avoid windows though, that's property damage just waiting to happen. I Dash, deciding that a running start is too risky I just try and straight up the wall.

To my surprise I feel the shadowy energy channeled through my legs sort of stick to the building and allow me to pretty easily run up the structure. Noticing her flying I came to a horrible realization.

I think the only way I can reach her is by chucking arrows. Fuck, I need to level up Dash. I decide to do so immediately with one of my two skill points. I instantly feel how much energy I can pour into it rise dramatically.

Alright, please let me walk on air. I take a step and a shadowy platform appears where my foot is before it breaks a moment later. Fuck, I can't act chunni if I have to constantly remake my platforms! I'll need to upgrade Dash again for that I think, but that's going to cost two skill points while I only have one.

Also why is this ability just called Dash when it lets me walk on air? Hmm, thinking back to my other abilities it seems like they each do a general 'thing'.

Stealth hides my presence at the cost of 'Stamina' or Ki, whatever I'm calling it.

Sneak Attack lets my attacks hit harder while in Stealth or when striking an off-guard foe.

Dodge increases control over my movement and sudden increases in speed for short bursts.

Dash allows me to move much faster at the cost of some energy just like Stealth, additionally it seems to be focused on long term movement rather than short term movement for small evasions like Dodge.

Following the magical girl with my eyes I notice her starting to descend around an abandoned factory. Tres Magia fighting one of their usual monsters in the same area.

I also spot a yellow portal, but I ignore it for now while making a mental note of the new color for later.

Time to crash the party. Dashing over I slowly enter a large room as two figures finish conversation. One being the magical girl, and one being some kind of dark mascot. The sound of a riding crop slapping into the group of mannequins as the girl lets out a . . . cry?

[Event: Demon Lord's Puppet Show]

[Defeat ???]

[Defeat the Mannequin Monsters]

[Defeat Tres Magia]

Well it's time to farm aura.

"The power to corrupt. I've seen such control among the Demon Nobles of long ago, but to think their powers would one day reincarnate in such a child."

The black mascot slowly turns its head as it looks towards me wearing my mask. The mask is a blank black piece of wood, yet somehow I can see through it just fine as it sticks to my face.

"You must be the one who saved Tres Magia the other day."

"Saved? Those who walk the light can never be saved by darkness. All I am capable of is carving away those who would seek to destroy this imperfect world."

The dolls rise up and some of them approach me while others flee.

"L-let's just finish this quickly!" Is this evil magical girl on a schedule? That reminds me I've got a date after school. I can't stay here too long.

Fuck I need to think of a 'name' for this persona of mine. Should I just go with the default darkness . . . or should I go with something more unique . . . I decide that I'll retreat into the shadows for now.

I'll let the two groups duke it out before I arrive to kill steal. It should end up being faster as I'll spend less time stalling with my chunni speech.

Retreating from the factory I hear . . . laughing? Whatever, I think I've got my name picked out.

Slinking through, I spot the Demon Lord just straight up molesting them again. Damn it, why are all the hot ones crazy . . . and why do I find this situation weirdly hot?

Fuck it, I'm going to end this in one strike.

I Dash the enhanced skill rocketing me forward as I land a Sneak Attack on the Demon Lord, her form rocketing into some now destroyed crates as she lets out a small cough of pain.

"Again Tres Magia has found themselves defeated in an instant. This is the light that is supposed to protect the world?"

One of the mannequins sends a fist flying towards me, but I Dash onto its shoulder then crush its wooden head with a kick. The action freeing Magia Azul. A portal encomapsses the evil magical girl as she vanishes from sight.

For a moment I want to chase them through the portal, but I have a date later and can't go on multiple hour long adventures.

"You saved us again . . . are you even a villian?" I let out a smirk. In the words of a wise man who shares my name.

'I've been waiting for this!'

"I am not what is behind the dark sheets, but the curtain itself that protects this world from destruction beyond its comprehension. I am blacker than darkness, I am deeper than despair, I am the shield that keeps the world from going from a rainfall, to a hurricane. I. am. Veil. "

"Veil . . . " Magia Magenta seems to be enraptured by my speech while Magia Sulphur has very different opinions.

"You fuckin' dick you should have just said that last time. Also would it kill you to speak japanese!?"

AN: He is speaking Japanese, he's just using way too many edgy words.

The group lets out heavy breathes as they try to recover the lost air from . . . whatever happened earlier.

"Yet I find you still far too weak." I Dash and tear the head of one of the monsters from its body. Holding its head as though I were in Hamlet I glance at the thing while sitting upon the creatures shoulder.

"Alas, what a poor and pathetic group." Then I crush it and the body falls to the ground and I softly land. As I speak Magia Sulphur slams a shield through one of the mannequin monsters and kills it instantly.

No, my reward! Narrowing my eyes slightly she speaks to me.

"Are we really going to let this asshole get away with this!?" Magia Magenta looks slightly opposed to the idea for a moment before pointing her wand at me.

"Veil, we are going to show you that Tres Magia always wins because love is on our side!"

"Very well! Then show me the extent of your love Tres Magia!" Extending my arms outwards I let out a jovial laugh. Azul rushes towards me and I activate Stealth but Sulphur has better instincts than I give her credit for because a bubble shield appears as I attempt to strike the girl in the back.

A beam flies towards me, the position they are in making it impossible for them to hit their own ally. Huh, they actually have pretty good teamwork. I Dodge out of the way, Dash around a corner.

"Running already-" Sulphur's words are cut off by a falling axe kick. In a fight people tend to forget to look up, and my newly enhanced Dash lets me move through the air with a single shadowy platform for me to bounce off of. The action took a large amount of stamina out of me, but it had taken out their defender instantly.

"Your own arrogance has carved you apart. If you wish to defeat me, you must ignite the fire inside your soul. That is the only way to burn this curtain away, and to outshine the darkness." More training wouldn't hurt them. They really gotta up their skills when it comes to crafty opponents. After all, if I really am in a hentai world that'll be their biggest problem.

Turning towards the pair I see anger, and trace fear in their eyes. Yet its backed by a fiery determination.

"You've lost." Please just agree so I can leave! Hopefully if they admit defeat I can get all my rewards!

"Tres Magia hasn't lost-" I cut Magenta off. Now isn't the time to give it your all!

"Take your wounded ally home, and train harder. I see great potential in all of you. It would be a shame to pointlessly injure yourself against an impossible enemy." She gives a hesitant nod before picking up Sulphur, Azul remaining on guard the whole time. Then she breaks out in a smile as she looks at me over her shoulder.

Honestly I'm glad she's leaving. I'm not sure I can win with my energy levels in their current state, and I also don't want to leave three unconscious girls in the middle of this place.

"Veil, thank you for your lesson today. Tres Magia will one day become strong enough that we'll extinguish the darkness with our own two hands! Then you can get some rest and we can become friends!" D-does she think I'm a tragic hero? Wait no! I'm supposed to be dramatic and cool!

"You are welcome to try, but this Veil is forever black." She tears up a little bit and shakes her head in disapproval.

"I don't believe that! Tres Magia is going to save you too!" I feel a little bad. She's so genuine after all.

I have the feeling that no matter what I say she's going to misinterpret it . . . whatever I've got a date to prepare for. Instead of using Stealth immediately I round a corner and I hear one of the two approaching. From the sound it seems to be Azul as the person doesn't seem to be carrying anyone.

Before she can get around the corner I use Dash and Stealth like my life depends on it. I must have the mysterious disappearance!

. . .

After my disappearance I sat against a park bench and caught my breath. Let's see what I got.

[Defeat ??? Succeeded.]

[Defeat the Mannequin Monsters. Partial Credit Given.]

[Defeat Tres Magia Succeeded.]

[Gain Two Shard of Darkness]

[Gain Three Shard of Light]

[Gain Fragment of Darkness]

Fragment? Also these rewards are insane!

[Fragment of Darkness]

An inkling of Darkness given form, lack of freedom in exchange for power. Use to gain one random attribute point.

So it's just a worse Shard then. Alright, it's time to go gambling!

Rolling 5d6.

+1 Strength gained. +1 Dexterity gained. +1 Constitution gained. +2 Charisma gained.

Power flows through me. My stamina and strength had always been quite ridiculous from my stupid amounts of physical training. Dexterity represents control over the body and reaction speed, so my reincarnation seemed to help quite a lot in that department. But Charisma? That was a new feeling.

It wasn't like intelligence where I could feel my mind heating up, this was more subtle. This was knowledge of communication. Intelligence represented the speed at which my thoughts could flow, connecting the pieces of a puzzle, and accuracy to how my thoughts played out. Wisdom perhaps represented instinct and willpower, the ability to not only think but to use the knowledge gained to its maximum efficiency . . . Charisma was weird. It wasn't exactly reading people, it wasn't exactly changing how I behaved, it was more subtle than that.

Charisma inched me towards the best thing to say, even if that thing wasn't exactly what I wanted. That's freaky as hell.

I also decided to dump the rest of my points into strength, because while dexterity lets me use more of my strength to its fullest potential, it doesn't actually give me more.

Then something strange happened as I peered over my status with widening eyes.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 3

STR: 18

DEX: 20

CON: 15

INT: 16

WIS: 10

CHR: 14

Skills:

• Stealth II

• Sneak Attack I

• Dodge I

• Dash II

Equipment:

• Quiver of Red Moon

• Faceless Mask

Claims:
+ Damage against Humans
[Twenty Dexterity reached. Select a compatible Perk.]

[Arms Mastery]

[Self Mastery]

[Twitch Reflex]

If Arms mastery is going to make you better at weapons, then presumably self mastery makes you better at martial arts.Twitch Reflex probably just increases my reaction time but that is also very, very appealing.

I mull it over for a moment before taking [Self Mastery] who doesn't want to do cool martial arts! Also finding a proper weapon that I'll actually want to use could be sort of hard. Even with the dungeons, and what if the weapon doesn't match my style! What would I do then!

I mostly chose to avoid reflex as I already have Dodge and I don't know how strong it is.

Locking in [Self Mastery] I suddenly feel more deeply intune with my physical being. I feel the ability to simply turn my limiter off, stop my own heart, and just refuse to breathe if I so will it.

Does it give me control over my automatic body functions!? Alright, that's still really good. Turning towards my status I turn off my limiter and my body feels ignited. I feel my entire body tense with power and my heart slamming in my chest.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 3

STR: 22 (+4)

DEX: 19 (-1)

CON: 13 (-2)

INT: 16

WIS: 10

CHR: 14

Skills:

• Stealth II

• Sneak Attack I

• Dodge I

• Dash II

Perks:

• Self Mastery

Equipment:

• Quiver of Red Moon

• Faceless Mask

Claims:
+ Damage against Humans

Turning the ability off I let my body go back to its normal state. That's interesting. I'd read about 'Hysterical Strength' in my past life, but this feels more than that. As though I'm overclocking my body in the pure pursuit of physical strength.

Additionally I can feel those martial arts videos I'd watched in the past not necessarily make more sense, but more as though I could much more easily perform the movements.

It really does what it says. It gives me mastery over physical form. I wonder what other types of perks I can get at twenty in my other stats?

Making my way back to my class I see my teacher packing up, the bell already having rung. My sweat covered and exhausted form has his eyes widened as I let out an apology.

"Sorry, that took a lot more out of me than I thought. I'll be heading home now."

"Get plenty of water and rest Akihiko-kun."

Snagging my bag I make my way over to the shrine after a long walk.

Sitting by myself on one of the benches, Utena doesn't show up for a bit before I hear someone yelling while running down the street.

"AAAAKKKIIIII I'M SOOOOOORRRRYYYY!"

There she is. As she rounds the corner I notice something that pisses me off. There's a small bruise just above Utena's chest. I stand up and softly hug the girl as my expression turns dark.

"Utena what happened." Her face pales lightly as she looks down at her bruise.

"I-I-I-" Hugging her just a little bit more gently. She looks like she's about to cry.

"I ran into a railing!" Huh. Her face is buried in my chest so I can't see her expression, but I can feel the tears staining my shirt. I softly run a hand through her hair.

"Let's get you patched up, then we can go on our date." She nods and smiles a little as I put her in a princess carry.

"This knight born of darkness has come to your aid my lady." She smiles at my words and gives me a wide hug.

"Then I have to accept." As I move towards the house with the girl in my arms I can't help but have my mind wander a bit towards that evil magical girl from earlier. She attends Utena's school and I'm fairly certain Utena knows something . . .

"Utena, remember that misunderstood magical girl?" She freezes, but hesitantly nods a blush creeping onto her face.

"Y-yes." I briefly eye the bruise near her collarbone and then turn to her.

"Did she hurt you?" If she did I might have to take the kiddie gloves off and handle her dungeon style. Nobody hurts Utena and leaves without at least a broken face.

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head violently, there's nowhere to hide her face and I can tell she isn't lying. Well at least that's good, but she knows something.

"Utena, it's alright if you don't want to tell me . . . but do you know something about that new magical girl?" Her face pales, her eyes flick to the side and her lips flutter to form a no, but she hesitates.

"I-I do . . . but I can't tell you yet!" Behind my eyes is a gleam, my theory being confirmed. The mystery isn't solved, but Utena will tell me when she's ready. I trust her. I give a nod before setting her in one of the outside chairs of mom's shop.

Luckily it's a morning shop so I get the whole place to myself after school! It also means that during summer I usually help her out quite a lot . . . maybe instead of getting a part time job I should join a club. It'll probably just be boring though.

"I'll be back in a moment, Utena. I must find the elixir of purest life in order to cleanse your wounds!" I'm going to go get an icepack and some antiseptic. A faint feeling of anticipation wells in my chest as I do so.

A certain part of me can't wait to give Utena a day she'll never forget.

AN: Aki farms as much aura as is physically possible for his schedule and is slowly figuring out Utena is hiding something deeper. Also for those wondering I am actually rolling a bunch of d6 for the random stat increases. Gotta get my gambling fix somewhere after all! With how Aki is hurting Utena and then consoling her, an outside viewer might think they are already in a S/M relationship . . . Speaking of, I do plan to write some lewd scenes later down the road for this fic, but it's going to be a bit before we get there.

Thank you for reading!