High School DxD: Fox of Ill Omen

Yuki

I put on my uniform and began to fasten the buttons.

Despite everything that had happened yesterday, we were still going to school for the sports festival today. 

We had teleported to the Rating Game field for our match with Diodora Astaroth and ended up in the middle of an attack by the Khaos Brigade.

And now we were going to compete against ordinary human students in sporting events at our school. 

It was strange to think about.

After Vali, Biko, and Arthur left, Issei collapsed and passed out. 

There was panic at first when he hit the ground, but after Asia checked on him and he started snoring, everyone quickly relaxed.

He had simply exhausted himself after using [Juggernaut Drive].

Once she made sure he was fine, Asia noticed my injuries and quickly went about healing them while chastising me for not telling her sooner.

We spent a little more time on the Rating Game field before being teleported home to the Hyoudou residence. 

By that time, Asia had healed my injuries, and I was back to normal

Everyone was exhausted after we returned.

We had a quick dinner together and went to our rooms to sleep.

Koneko ended up sleeping in her own room last night as well.

She said she was going to get changed and come to my room, but she must have fallen asleep before coming to my room.

She occasionally slept in her own room, but it was rare.

It was starting to feel strange when she wasn’t beside me at night.

I frowned to myself as I thought of how she had been acting around me lately.

She acted differently with me than anyone else.

I had been telling myself that it was because we had similar, quiet preferences, and because of how I helped her accept her Nekomata side.

But I was starting to question that assumption.

I ignored it because I wasn’t looking for it.

But I was starting to wonder if Kone—

My train of thought was halted by a knock at my door.

I finished fastening the top button of my uniform as I wondered who it was.

I could hear voices coming from downstairs, from the kitchen already, so most people were already awake by this point. 

I began to move towards the door when there was a second, measured knock. 

I opened the door a moment later

Grayfia-sama stood there.

Every thought I’d been having a second earlier vanished. 

My posture straightened, and I schooled my expression immediately.

If Grayfia-sama noticed, she didn’t react or comment on it.

“Good morning,” she said.

I bowed at once.

“Grayfia-sama. How may I help you?”

Her eyes moved over me once, then across my room.

Like she was evaluating everything with a glance.

“I have a message to deliver from Sirzechs-sama,” she said. “May I come in?”

I felt myself become even more tense.

Then I stepped back to let her in.

“Yes.”

She gave a small nod and entered.

I closed the door behind her and stared at the shut door for a second.

I turned back and looked at Grayfia-sama as she stood in the middle of the room.

I was now glad that Koneko had not stayed in my room last night.

Grayfia-sama looked around the room once before turning to me.  It suddenly felt much too personal to be seen.

“Have a seat,” Grayfia-sama said.

I obeyed.

I moved to my desk and sat in the chair stiffly as I faced her and waited for whatever was coming next.

She reached into the sleeve of her uniform and withdrew a small device.

I recognized it at once.

It was a holographic projector,

Similar to the one I had seen used yesterday to show that bizarre song to Issei.

Grayfia-sama set it carefully on the floor between us and activated it. 

Light flared from the projector before creating a three-dimensional image of a figure in clothes that looked like someone trying to disguise themselves.

The image of Sirzechs-sama smiled at me.

The instant I saw him, I dropped out of my seat and knelt on the floor.

“Sirzechs-sama,” I said, lowering my gaze to the floor.

[Yuki, you can relax,] he said warmly. [You don’t need to be that formal today. This is only a check-in before I speak to Issei-kun.]

I doubted that it was something as simple as that. 

Still, I obeyed the order and pushed myself upright again.

I decided to stand rather than sit on my desk chair again. 

Even if he was telling me to relax, I wasn’t going to act in a way that could be perceived as disrespectful. 

I could feel Grayfia-sama’s gaze on me as I rose.

It gave me even more reason not to truly relax.

Sirzechs-sama nodded to himself as I stood carefully before his projection.

[That’s better. So, you were permitted to remove another layer of your seals,] he said, looking at my additional tail. [I see that you are looking more lively due to it.]

This must be his reason for paying me a visit.

To warn me and remind me of my place.

“I only acted in Rias-Buchou’s best interest,” I replied carefully with a lowered gaze. “I thought more power would increase the chance of protecting her and her peerage.”

Sirzechs-sama lifted one hand slightly, stopping me before I went farther.

[I’m not here to admonish you, Yuki.]

That made me look up at him slightly.

[I have no issue with what happened. You and the rest of Rias’s peerage were trapped in the middle of a terrorist attack that we had allowed to happen. Even if I objected at first and was not happy with the idea of my sister being used as bait, I accepted the plan,] he said with a frown. [So in that situation, you requested a seal’s removal to increase your group's power and were given permission by Azazel. While he isn't a member of the Devil government, he is the leader of an allied faction and has constant contact with you and Rias,] Sirzechs-sama smiled at me. [So I can’t fault you for your actions.]

I bowed my head.

“Thank you for your understanding, Sirzechs-sama,” I said.

He watched me for a moment.

I waited for him to continue or to dismiss me.

Instead, he continued to watch me.

Something in his gaze made my shoulders tense again.

[Would you have laid down your life for Rias in the fight with Shalba if you’d had the strength to do so?]

I answered immediately.

“Yes.”

It was the truth.

It didn’t matter if it was Rias, Koenko, or Asia. 

I wouldn’t have hesitated to choose anyone in my peerage over myself if given the choice.

They were far too important to me for me not to make that decision. 

It was the obvious choice. 

“Previously, during the fight against Kokabiel, I tried to do just that,” I said. “I had nearly convinced Rias-Buchou to leave me behind to buy them time when Vali arrived.”

Sirzechs-sama silently studied me.

Grayfia-sama’s expression did not change.

I kept myself still as I was scrutinized.

When he spoke again, his voice remained perfectly calm.

[Only because of my orders?]

I replied immediately again.

“No,” I said.

He waited.

I made myself continue.

“I would act the same way without your orders. I want to protect Rias-Buchou.”

Sirzechs-sama’s eyes did not leave my face.

He was silent for another moment.

Then he sighed.

[When I gave you those orders,] he said, [I was frustrated. I had just watched Rias lose to Riser and couldn’t do anything but hope that Ise-kun would be able to save her from that marriage. I had added you to her peerage as a last maneuver before their inevitable Rating Game. You were weakened by your seals, so no one could accuse me, a Maou, of showing favoritism by giving Rias a powerful piece before the match, and having you added to Rias’s peerage could be seen as similar to how Koneko-chan joined, if someone questioned it further.] Sirzechs-sama paused and sighed again. [I couldn’t have Gasper-kun released to participate in the match, as his power was too unstable, and I had painted myself into a corner when I had him sealed originally. The reasoning I had used that Rias wasn’t ready to control him as a servant stopped him from being released before the match.]

I stopped myself from frowning at the mention of how Sirzechs-sama had been one of the ones to seal Gasper in his room in the old school house.

What had been done to him in the name of safety and protection still upset me now.

Sirzechs-sama continued, not noticing or ignoring my lowered mood. 

[So the last thing I was able to do to assist my sister before the Rating Game was to obtain and give you to her. Because of that and your checkered past in other peerages, I treated you as a tool rather than a member of Rias’s family. Even when I placed you back into her peerage, I did so to have someone I could control in her peerage. But you have truly become a valued member of her family. I understand now that you aren’t a threat to Rias or someone I should be coercing in order to control. You’ve been nothing but loyal to and supportive of her. So I am sorry for treating you how I did.]

I studied him for a moment before responding.

It was harder due to him only being a projection.

He had his same warm smile that he always wore around others.

He seemed genuine, but I couldn’t be completely certain.

“Thank you, Sirzechs-sama,” I said with a small nod.

[I understand that you’re likely not satisfied with that apology, but I do mean it. But more importantly, I had another reason to speak with you. It’s about what happened yesterday. If Ise-kun hadn’t activated his [Juggernaut Drive] when Shalba Beelzebub attacked your group. All of you would likely have died,] he said gravely. [You all got very lucky. Ise-kun is lucky that he wasn’t killed by using his own ability. Your group's efforts greatly helped in the attack, but all of you are not strong enough to face those types of enemies. The issue is that Ise-kun tends to attract powerful beings to himself quite well, and the Khaos Brigade will continue to attack. You will inevitably end up in a similar situation at some point. So you need to grow stronger. I will be lifting most of the restrictions I have placed on your seals being removed because of this. You will still need approval to remove one, but it will be a formality at most.]

I stared at him.

The largest obstacle to regaining the parts of myself that had been locked away was removed just like that.

It was surreal.

But a thought entered my mind that soured my mood.

Even with another seal released, I was unable to do anything meaningful in the fight against Shalba or to free Asia from the device created by the [Dimension Lost] user. 

Both were only overcome with Issei’s power.

It wasn’t enough for me to regain a bit of power at a time.

I would have to train more, push myself harder, and look to improve my own abilities.

Sirzechs-sama must have noticed something in my expression.

[Is there something you’re unhappy with regarding the restrictions still in place on your seals? They will likely eventually be fully removed as you climb in status as a Devil,] he said.

I hesitated.

Then despite the instincts that had been drilled into me, I spoke anyway.

“I…I am frustrated with my own lack of strength. I feel…as if I did nothing during the Khaos Brigade attack.”

Sirzechs-sama chuckled.

[I don’t mean to laugh at you. Worrying about personal strength, I’ve heard from Rias plenty of times before. You’re all young Devils and still coming into your own. You’ve been put into positions where you had to fight those above your abilities too many times already. Rias’s whole peerage is filled with exceptional Devils, including you. But not everyone can be like Ise-kun. His explosive growth is only possible due to being the Sekiryuutei and his Sacred Gear responding to his feelings,] Sirzechs-sama said with a gentle smile. [Your power is locked away and not fully understood. You’ll struggle more than the others due to it, but I feel that you will become an existence similar to Ise-kun.]

“…What do you mean?”

[You're an oddity of a Kitsune. The number of tails you have at your age is already impressive, and if you have more under those seals, you’d be considered a rarity among Youkai. But the truth is, I don’t know what you are exactly. But if my hunch is right, then I’d imagine you may be a legendary existence like Ise-kun is as the Sekiryuutei. Perhaps you’re even a Kiyuubi, and we haven’t realized it yet. My sister’s peerage is filled with powerful and interesting Devils, as I’ve said before.]

I frowned at his words.

At the end of the day, it didn’t matter what I would be.

What mattered was the power I had at my disposal now.

If we end up in another desperate fight, and I’m useless again, our luck may run out, and I may lose one of the most important people in my life.

I couldn’t accept that.

Sirzechs-sama watched me for one moment longer, as if deciding whether anything else needed to be said.

[Don't worry too much about it. I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself, Yuki.]

Then the hologram vanished.

Grayfia-sama moved to pick up the device.

I stayed standing where I was. 

“…Sirzechs-sama does wish to mend the relationship between the two of you,” she said as she rose.

I silently watched her.

“I know that you may not care or see it in a positive light, but he wants to right his wrongs. Please allow him to try,” she continued.

“I understand.”

I felt tired.

There were too many thoughts in my head from that conversation and the concerns about my own strength.

Grayfia-sama moved toward the door.

I followed to escort her out by reflex. 

At the threshold of the door, she paused.

Then she turned her head just enough to look at me from the corner of her eye.

I straightened.

Her voice was softer as she spoke.  

“He is only a man. He can make mistakes and wish to make amends just like everyone else. Please let him try to make amends,” she repeated.

Then she opened the door.

I stood there for a while after it shut.

I could hear Grayfia-sama open Issei’s fort and then walk inside while talking to someone.

But then the door shut and it was silent again.

I thought about how Sirzechs-sama seemingly wished to move past him, using me as a disposable tool.

I thought of how my seals being released was only a matter of time now.

I thought of how I stood by and watched helplessly as Issei defeated Shalba.

I thought of how our luck might run out next time.

How we could lose someone for real next time.

The image of Asia, Gasper-kun, Issei, Yuuto, Xenovia, Rias, Akeno, or Koenko lying, broken and battered, dead on the ground in front of me flashed through my mind.

I looked at my lockbox on the shelf.

Where I kept the cursed items I collected to contain or study.

I should have been happy.

Instead, I found myself fixated on the fact that I still wasn’t strong enough.

I would have to wait for my next seal to be removed, and I wasn’t sure how long that would be.

But in the meantime, I could train more.

I could train harder and grow my strength that way.

So that next time, when we were faced with an enemy that we shouldn’t be faced with.

I would be more ready.

I would be useful.

I went back to the mirror and finished putting together my uniform

I schooled my expression and breathed for a moment, trying to push the tension out of my body.

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