Dark Debut

You have rested for 8 hours. You have healed.

Flopping out of bed my body still slightly aches in pain.Looking down at my hands the cuts are greatly faded but a close look reveals their presence. So I don't even get a full heal after 8 hours? This game is too realistic.

My body however doesn't feel all that tired, so I throw on my school uniform with only the slightest bit of hesitation. Another day of pathetically easy classes throwing themselves at me while I try my best to let the bar load- Huh. I'm not waiting for the bar anymore.

That's honestly a stranger feeling than fighting for my life after walking through a portal.

Making my way down the stairs I recall last night's hazy run through. Did I even lock the back door after coming inside? Did I leave blood all over the place? Honestly I don't remember. I was so dead tired it's like I was on autopilot.

Carefully eyeing the stairs there doesn't seem to be any blood for my hasty accent last night, so I let out a sigh of relief and made my way down to the kitchen. There I spot my mom drinking from her mug of tea. An empty plate of breakfast beside her, on my side of the table is a mug of tea. Eggs and toast upon a plate and ready to be consumed.

Her eyes peel away from the book in her hand and towards me with concern.

"What time did you get back by?" This isn't the first time I've come back far too late. At this point she has simply resigned herself to it.

I honestly feel bad for the woman. I have basically no friends, my grades are obscenely high but I don't seem passionate about anything, I wander around and used to get into tons of fights . . . She worries about me and I can't blame her.

Despite me being a handful and a half she's always loved me, and I've returned her compassion in kind. Helping out with the shop, doing groceries, and trying to maintain the illusion I'm a normal kid. An illusion she'd always see right through, but an illusion she'd allow me to maintain. Whether it was out of trust and love for her son or an unwillingness to press me on my strange behavior I did not know.

"About thirty minutes after sundown."

"Did anything bad happen?" Not even questioning what I was doing. Just making sure I'm ok.

"Actually, something good happened." Her eyes widened slightly, I haven't said those words in a long time. Her smile is a little shaky but she actually presses me on the matter.

"Have you finally decided to start dating your little Utena-chan?" I snort lightly at her words, her hope of getting me with Utena has been something she's tried to convince me of multiple times. She probably believes it's literally her only chance at becoming a grandmother.

"Nothing like that, I just went for a nice run." A brief color of confusion runs through her eyes before she nods.

"Must have been a good run, sweetie." I can see the disappointment behind her eyes. Noticing Utena's crush on me was easy, my mother knew I knew. Maybe . . . maybe it's finally time. The bar has finished loading after and the wait is over. Mother and Utena have been good to me. Maybe it's time I at least attempt to see if anything between us would work out.

Though honestly I doubt it.

"I also might ask Utena on a date." Her book drops from her hands as I sip the tangerine tea.

"O-oh! Do you need anything for it! I can give you some more pocket money if it would help!" There's a smile on her face that I hadn't seen directed at me in a long time. Don't get me wrong she'd smile at me. The smile of a mother's love, being excited about me, about my present. But this is pure joy, she's excited about my future. That I may be able to be truly happy.

"I plan on taking her to those magical girl merch shops she loves so much, so it would be appreciated." She hands me a large lump of Yen bills and I shove them in my pocket.

"Akihiko Inoue." I pale slightly as her expression turns dead serious. Formalities gone from her words as she gives me a death stare.

"Do not take Utena-chan to a place you normally go to as friends. Take her to a nice restaurant at the very least. While I'm certain she will love going to those shops, you should do something romantic as well." I nod in acceptance. This woman was scary when she wanted to be.

"Y-yes Okaa-san." Her expression relaxes and she stands up to pull me into a hug.

"Mom?" She's holding me so tightly as she gently shakes, tears pooling in her eyes as she caresses my hair. The feeling relaxes me but my expression twists in confusion.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't. I'm so happy for you Aki-kun." Instead of words I decided to just return the hug. Fuck she must have thought I was as sociopath or something. Am I a sociopath? Honestly I don't even know what that word means at this point.

"I'm sorry I've been a bad son." The words involuntarily leave my mouth but she shakes her head.

"You're such a good boy Aki-kun, I-I've just been worried about you." Fuck I'm such an asshole. I made my mom cry. I feel my thoughts start to turn chunni again but I forcefully suppress them. Would it kill me to have a wholesome moment for once in my life?

"I love you mom."

"I love you too." She gives a light kiss on the forehead. "Now go to school, don't think you can put it off just because you're preparing for your date with Utena-chan." I pull away as the wet kiss lands on me.

"Alright, I'm going." I use a paper towel to wipe off the wet mark on my forehead and start making my way down the street. It's a casual walk where I pass the shrine, I see a glowing green portal resting within it.

That can wait for after school, right about now she should be-

"AKI!" There she is.

"Hey Utena-Chan." I give the girl a hug, deciding being chunni is not the plan today. Heretical, I know. But, I'll get my chunni fix somewhere else.

"A-aki." Her blush explodes.

"There's my favorite magical girl, let's go."

"A-ah, y-yes of course!" Her stutters are pretty cute, but cute isn't sexy. I let out a soft sigh. Whatever, I'll take the girl out on a date, if it doesn't work out better to tell her no then lead her on any more than I already have. Honestly the only reason I haven't outright rejected her yet is because I'm worried she'll become a vegetable.

I hold her hand as we walk together, a faint blush on my face while hers is crimson. I'd feel like a pedophile if my previous life wasn't so distorted. I didn't even remember my name, where I'd lived, or who I was. All I'd gotten was flashes on images merged together with different feelings.

Maybe everyone is reincarnated and mine was just botched? Though then why would I have the Game when no one else did? This world makes literally no sense. What's the deal with magical girls just kind of existing anyways? What the fuck is the Red Moon army? Are they even real? Questions for a future me.

"It's time we part ways. Have a good day at school Utena." She blushes then her eyes widen in shock.

"N-no fateful goodbyes today where the whole world is at stake?" I lightly shake my head. As much as I'd love to say that, today is not that day.

"See you after school." With that I start making my way through the crosswalk and to the other side of the street where my school resides. Time for another boring day of school.

. . .

Occupying the window seat was my divine right as a reincarnator. I'd had to do it, it gave me more grounds to behave chunni anyways. To the teachers I was the 'good kid'. To my classmates I was 'that weirdo'. Staring across the street at Utena's school my eyes narrow slightly.

This seat served a dual purpose, not to spy on Utena but to confirm a theory of mine I'd been brewing. Quite consistently I'd noticed that the famed group known as Tres Magia just so happened to appear ever so often at that school before flying off to fight monsters.

Looking at them was strange as I knew what they looked like, but I also didn't? Some magic bullshit I'm not really sure. Nonetheless I'd often get to see the trio fly off and do whatever it is they did.

Despite not really being a fan it's not like I wanted them to lose. If the world gets destroyed that would suck. I live here after all! Ah, there they are again. Wait. Something is wrong.

Who the hell is that?

"Class dismissed, everyone, you're free to go home." I narrow my eyes at the girl in a straight up pornagraphic get up. Whatever. It's none of my business- Then the giant plant monster appears.

Grabbing the girls it easily pins them and they appear powerless to resist. Then the girl in risque cosplay starts . . . molesting them? Am I in a shitty hentai . . . shaking the thoughts away I make my way down the stairs and out of the front of the school. Many people start pulling out their phones to record the whole thing. Looking at the girls they are still pinned down.

W-wait. Are they losing? This- No. I can't get involved. I must resist. If Utena-chan finds out I'll never hear the end of it.

Yet, something about this whole situation pisses me off.

Looking at the poor girls getting brutally spanked by a sexy evil girl is honestly kind of hot . . . but I also can't just let the Tres Magia get molested by this new villain! Damn it. Curse my bleeding heart. I think the thing that makes me so mad is the realization that I might be in a shitty hentai universe. I knew the girls were a bit more forward here, but this is ridiculous!

Activating Stealth after turning a corner I run across the street. Then I get the notification.

[Event: The Demon Lord's Debut]

[Defeat ???]

[Defeat the flower monster]

[Defeat Tres Magia]

That's new. I'm definitely not defeating Tres Magia' though. I want them to win after all.

Sneaking around the flower monster I think of my first course of action. I need to free Tres Magia, and I need to do it without dropping Stealth. Revealing my identity would be a pain in the ass after all. Getting a closer look at the person I can only assume is ??? I lightly gulp. Damn she's really hot. Why do I have to find demon's sexy?? Curse you past life!

Shaking that away I reach into my quiver and pull out an arrow. Cocking it back I then throw it like a javelin as the dark energy surrounds it, the force tearing through the vines and allowing Tres Magia to break free. I weave behind a wall and reactivate Stealth. I should really leave.

But I find myself rounding the corner as I feel a dark urge to say something stupidly edgy.

"Tres Magia finds themselves at the mercy of a new piece on the board. I wonder how this Game will develop from now on." My voice is deep as fuck, Stealth my beloved doing its best work an boosting my stupid actions.

Was holding back my chunniness just building it up? That's not what I wanted to have said at all!

The drain on my stamina is still quite reduced so I think I can hold this up for a while longer.

"T-thank you! Tres Magia, as one!" The group of three blasts the girl and a dark portal appears behind her before she disappears.

"So, who are you supposed to be?" The blond girl, Sulphur I think? Says with a glare. Just walk away Aki. Don't say anything edgy Aki.

"I am the Darkness that walks the Thousand Worlds. The Red Moon and Pale-Bloods have both fallen by my hand, are you next?" No! You fucking idiot mouth what are you doing!

"Darkness! I'm not sure what you're talking about but we won't let evil run free!" The blue one shouts with a crazed blush on her face before flying towards me with a sword drawn.

FUCK ALL I KNOW IS LETHAL ATTACKS WHAT DO I DO?

"Try not to die." My elbow slams into the back of her head and she plummets to the ground instantly, though it takes all of my energy to keep Stealth manifested after the Sneak Attack. I wonder if my damage increase against Humans works nonlethally? Staring down the blue girl I notice she's still breathing, just unconscious.

"Perhaps the heroes of this world are weaker than I thought." Honestly I meant it. I'm what? A level two rogue and I one shot her?

"I'm going to break your face." The blond haired one rushes at me, a shield ready to slam into my head but I easily Dodge, Stealth making her attack inaccurate the action is easy.

"Pathetic. Only a fraction of my power and you still aren't worth my time." I gotta get out of here before Stealth runs out! Dodging away from a blast of pink energy I run into the city and easily lose them. Utena should be on her way home by now, hopefully she didn't get caught up in the crossfire.

Magia Azul POV
"So two new villains appeared and defeated you? But the villains seemed to be enemies?" With an annoyed nod as Haruka explains what happened while I stare at the ground in shame. My butt and head both aching in pain from my humiliation.

"That's going to be quite troublesome, and you said 'Darkness' defeated Magia Azul in a single strike?" A faint blush crosses my face at the thought of the two, first a mistress shows up and puts her in her place. Then some scary guy who didn't make any sense humiliates her further. A traitorous shiver runs up her spine at the thought.

"He also was rambling about the moon being red and people with pale blood." At those words Vatz freezes. Their tone level as we all look confusedly at him.

"What did Darkness say about them?" Kaoruko raises an eyebrow but answers nonetheless.

"That he defeated both of them." Vatz somehow seems to pale in horror despite their white flesh.

"O-oh. Try not to fight him, just try and escape from now on." Haruka's gaze turns worried as she asks him further.

"What are you worrying about Vatz? He's just another villain, right?"

"Remember how I said there is a mascot dimension? There are many other dimensions as well of which many other factions and powers exist. Those . . . groups were wiped out a long time ago. But they were famous for their strength, if Darkness is being truthful then you stand no chance against them." Kaoruko's expression turns angry and she grits out a reply.

"The fucker ran away the first chance he got. We can't just let him run free anyways if he's truly as dangerous as you say."

"Yeah! We can't just let evil run free! No matter how strong Tres Magia will face evil with a smile!"

"Y-yes." I squeak out. "We have to fight against them for the city." I blush rises up my face as I think of the two. The traitorous thoughts telling me I should meet the mysterious new villains for other reasons.

"I had a feeling you'd say that." Vatz lets out an exhausted sigh.

Akihiko Inoue POV
Passing by the shrine again I don't spot Utena waiting for me. Honestly I'd assumed she would despite the whole 'Terrorist attack at her school' deal going on. I'll come back to the portal later, I should check up on her. She's probably terrified. Or maybe she's just happy Tres Magia showed up to her school.

I can never tell her they attend it, she might go crazy and start trying to stalk them. But Tres Magia is just a bunch of kids. They deserve a childhood.

Thinking back to Tres Magia I peek at the rewards I'd gained from the Event.

[Defeat ??? Failed. ??? Has Escaped.]

[Defeat the flower monster Succeeded.]

[Defeat Tres Magia. Partial Credit Given.]

[Gain One Shard of Darkness]

[Gain One Shard of Light]

Fuck those are such chunni names. I hope the benefits aren't good because otherwise I might have to get further involved with the Magical Girls shenanigans.

[Shard of Darkness]

The Power of Darkness given form, lack of freedom in exchange for power. Use to gain two random attribute points.

[Shard of Light]

The Power of Light given form, the freedom of choice accompanied by hope. Use to gain one attribute point of your choice.

Permanent stat ups. Fuck. Considering how low my stats are, and how leveling up doesn't seem to increase them this may be my only way of actually buffing my base stats. Using both I gain my stats.

Rolling 2d6.

+2 Intelligence gained.

Instantly I feel my mind become clearer, strategies spiraling in my mind and new ideas merging together. W-woah. Uhm, 16 x 12? That's 192. I couldn't do mental math that fast before, that's a pretty big increase.

Select Stat of your choice.

I guess dexterity? It seems to be my main stat and while I'm already quite fast and have good control it doesn't hurt to have more.

+1 Dexterity gained.

I feel lighter instantly, control bursting through my body and finesse enrapturing my physique. I should check my status.

[Status]

Name: Akihiko Inoue

Class: Rogue 2

STR: 14

DEX: 19

CON: 14

INT: 16

WIS: 10

CHR: 12

Skills:

• Stealth II

• Sneak Attack I

• Dodge I

Equipment:

• Quiver of Red Moon

Claims:

• + Damage against Humans

I'm not actually sure how durable the Tres Magia are, but the Claim I possess definitely aided me in that fight. Anyways I need to go check on Utena. Going down the street I end up at Utena's place and knock on the door. After a brief delay the door opens and Ms. Hiiragi greets me.

"Hi Okaa-san, is Utena doing alright?"

"Come in Akihiko-kun, Utena is in her room right now, and . . . I'm not sure. She hasn't responded to anything I've said to her yet."

"I'll go check on her."

"Alright Aki-kun, you're welcome to stay even if she doesn't open the door." With a nod and thank you I make my way to her room.

I hear muttering in the room and knock on the door, an eep coming from the room at my sound.

"Y-yes Okaa-san?"

"Utena are you alright?"

"Aki!? Y-yeah I-i'm ok." I know this girl quite well and she's blatantly lying. She's probably shaken up after the attack. Honestly I'd hoped she had been excited instead of scared. I don't like her being scared.

"Utena, are you sure." She keeps muttering as my expression twists. Then suddenly the door cracks and she peaks out with tears falling from her face.

"Aki I'm ok-" I give the girl a hug.

"Utena. You can tell me anything." I hold her against me and she looks over my shoulder, there's the briefest hint of shame in her eyes before she buries it. I don't know what she's looking at but I can't pull my eyes away from her. There's fear, and guilt in her eyes.

"Utena, I'm not going to hate you for being afraid of what happened at school." She freezes, then shoves her face into my chest. I softly caress her hair as we hold close. A faint nod wipes her tears on my chest.

For making my Utena cry I'm going to thrash that villainess. I'm also going to beat up Tres Magia for being so incompetent. We'll consider it . . . a friendly spar.

"Utena. Do you want to go on a date with me?" She freezes. Was I wrong-

"R-really?" I smile at her as she looks up to me with those golden eyes of hers.

"If you would accompany me, my favorite Magical Girl." She blushes and doesn't refute my words for the first time. I guess she's simply so stunned by my offer that she can't bring herself to speak on it this time.

Hiiragi Utena POV a little bit earlier
"I'm awake?" I slug out of bed and pull the sheets back as I look around at my room. Relief flooding my body along with some shame.

"Thank goodness. What a crazy dream . . ." I did kinda enjoy it though.

"Morning, Utena. Sleep well, I take it?" I pale as my head rotates to the side slowly in fright.

"Too bad about earlier. Never would've guessed the magical girls would turn that around so fast." I stare in dumb shock at the little mascot asI come to a conclusion. That wasn't a dream.

"Meh, don't worry about it. For your first battle, that was pretty dang good." My jaw lightly falls as it continues. "But get up and at 'em! The world won't dominate itself!"

Then a knock lands on the door and we both turn towards it.

"Y-yes Okaa-san?"

"Utena are you alright?" I pale as I nearly throw a pillow at Venalita in a panic.

"Aki!? Y-yeah I-i'm ok." This isn't a good time, Aki! I can't tell Aki what I did to Tres Magia! I know how much he loves them, he'll hate me!

"Utena, are you sure." My voice must have been far too shaky because he catches on instantly. Hiding things from him is so hard . . . he's so amazing. Smart, cool, my hero. Just like Tres Magia.

Venalita smirks as it holds up its phone and I let out a squeak of panic. My form mid transformation in its hands as it gives a sinister smirk. "Do you think he'd be so nice if he knew this about you?" I-I don't know. The thought scares me, and despite the fear I want to see his face. I crack the door open as Venalita disappears through a portal. I need to tell him I'm alright so he doesn't get suspicious of me.

"Aki I'm ok-" His warm body surrounds me and I shiver in his grasp. His secure hold made me feel just a bit better despite my trembling.

"Utena. You can tell me anything." The concern in his eyes makes a heat flow through me, like he could just take control of all my desires and fears. Just taking everything away while I fall under his- Then I spot Venalita holding that damn phone.

The feeling of guilt makes its presence known again, and the fear of Aki seeing the mascot nearly sends me spiraling before Aki saves me one again. Just like that fateful day when I was younger.

"Utena, I'm not going to hate you for being afraid of what happened at school." That's not- A part of me still feels warm at the words. If he knew that it was me that did that to Tres Magia would he say something else? Despite taking his words out of context, they still bring me joy. Aki doesn't hate me for what happened at school!

I bury my face in his chest to hide my lewd smile from him as tears stream out of my eyes. A nearly crazed expression on my face.

His hand runs through my hair and sends a shiver of pleasure through me, but his next words shock me to my core.

"Utena. Do you want to go on a date with me?" Everything fades away and I freeze. All I can see is him as I look up in confusion. I've wished forever he would say that. My hero. My Aki.

"Really?" A trace of doubt flickers through me. I wanted this for so long and I just-

"If you would accompany me, my favorite Magical Girl." Yes. Even if I'm an evil magical girl, I'll still be your favorite magical girl. You've always said so after all.

AN: Aki is forced to engage with the plot! Something sinister brews behind the scenes as different worlds collide through the power of the Game. We started and ended with wholesome moments in this chapter, but the last one was a little bit less wholesome as Utena-chan becomes a little bit yandere over her Aki. Next time we'll be tackling the shrine dungeon and perhaps starting the date with Utena-chan if Aki can get everything ready for her!

I've also started a Ko-Fi. I don't ever intend to paywall anything but if you really like what I'm doing I'd appreciate the funding (prices are going up in my area so I've gotta work more hours instead of writing, but your support can help me spend more time doing what I actually love!) I might include some more tangible benefits besides me just writing more later down the road as well. https://ko-fi.com/bobofthehedgefield

Nonetheless, I thank everyone for reading and I always appreciate nice comments so please leave some!