Chapter 2: Prologue
Volume 001: The Beginning
"Every hero's journey begins with a single step, or in this case, a single redheaded manipulative Devil."
Table of Contents:
Prologue
Chapter 1: Newbie
(Ddraig talking)
[Albion talking]
Prologue
A 7 year old child with messy brown hair was sitting on a swing at the playground by himself. This child is none other than Issei Hyoudou. He looked around, observed dozens of other children playing with each other with a longing look in his eyes, and then looked back down dejectedly. Issei sighed. He always knew he was different than other kids, but he couldn't help but feel sad over how no one wanted to befriend him. They were all scared of him, and he didn't understand why.
Flashback
It was the start of the school year. Issei was in gym class and everyone was told to play basketball in teams. One team had to wear colored jerseys while the other didn't. Issei was put on the colored jersey team.
Issei's eyes twinkled in excitement. He knew this was his moment to shine and show everyone how cool he could be.
The ball was tipped, and the jersey squad won as the ball went to Issei. Immediately, Issei ran towards the opposing team's hoop, dribbling fast, keeping the ball out of the reach of the other team.
Issei leapt. He caught the ball out of the air and slam dunked it into the hoop, an alley-oop play.
"Let's go!" Issei cheered.
For the rest of the match, Issei was a one man army. He was in the zone (2) and carried his team to victory. He thought someone would approach him and say something like, "That was amazing! Can you teach me how to play?"
Unfortunately for him, no such words came. To his shock, all the other students, even the teacher, glared at him out of fear. Issei had no idea why.
Flashback End
"Hey there! Mind if I sit next to you?" A girl suddenly asked.
Issei looked up at her in surprise. She had long light brown hair tied into twintails and violet colored eyes, smiling at him expectantly. Issei smiled back and nodded. "Oh! Sure thing!"
She happily took a seat on the swing next to him, kicking her feet and humming to herself. "My name is Irina Shidou. What's your name?"
Issei smiled politely yet shyly. "Issei Hyoudou. It is nice to meet you, Irina."
Irina beamed. "What are you doing out here by yourself, Issei?"
Issei turned his face away and frowned. He didn't want the first person he could potentially be friends with to reject him too. "I... I don't have any friends. No one wants to be friends with me. For reasons I wish I knew, everyone is scared of me."
Irina smiled sadly. "That's too bad. You seem like such a nice person. Alright!" She exclaimed, standing up and turning towards him with a determined smile, placing her hands on her hips in a sassy manner. "It's settled, then. I will be your friend, Issei."
Issei was surprised. He felt hope surge through his body. 'It's too good to be true!' He thought to himself, but his eyes shimmered with desire. "You mean it? You want to be my friend?"
Irina smiled and nodded. "Of course!"
Issei felt tears running down his cheeks. He sobbed quietly, lowering his head, his hair covering his eyes. 'My first friend!'
Irina panicked, not wanting to draw unwanted attention. "H-Hey! There is no need to cry now, is there?" She gently hugged Issei, who immedately brought his arms up to return the gesture. "Geez. You're such a cry baby." She gently rubbed his hair.
. . . . . . .
("I see. It's because this boy is still too weak to control even the miniscule amount of my power I lent him that my aura leaked out and frightened those other children, although he is able to tap into that power without either of us even knowing. I only found out recently that he had done so since I had woke up from a nap. Perhaps his new Angel friend will help keep him strong. Heh. Hang in there, kid. For now, all I can do is watch you, but when the day comes that you are strong enough to communicate with me, that is the day I will activate the Boosted Gear for you.")
. . . . . . .
Throughout the years, Irina was often Issei's rock. She kept him safe from bullies, and she played with him all the time. Now in middle school, and Issei is 11 years old as a First Year student at Kuoh Middle School.
Issei started to physically change in ways he didn't quite understand. It was embarrassing to even think about it, but he started to have perverted thoughts of a few girls here and there, and he started masturbating occasionally when he couldn't help myself, especially at the thought of a girl he had a crush on. Her name is Natsuki Murayama.
One day, Irina found out about Issei's porn stash, and she was pissed.
"Issei, I know everyone has these... primal urges at some point in life. However, you need to learn to control yourself!" She said as she pulled on one of his ears, which hurt.
Someone help! Mom #2 has gone full lecture mode!
Despite the pain, Issei smiled at her as best as he could with one eye open, the other closed, wincing. "I understand, Irina. If it's for you, I'll do anything. I don't want to drive away my first and only friend." Issei replied, catching her by surprise.
She blushes but nods. "J-Just make sure you learned your lesson, okay?" She stutters out quietly.
. . .
Two years later, Issei was 13 and in his 3rd year of Middle School, now a Junior with only two years left till he is in High School. A/N: That's how school works in Japan. They run a 4-3 (4 years of Middle School and 3 years of High School) unlike here in the USA where we have 3 years of Middle School and 4 years of High School. Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program, so let's continue!
It was lunch-time. Issei was waiting in line to buy lunch. Usually, his mom would make lunch for him, but it was the start of the school year and he wanted to see what was on the menu.
Squinting his eyes, he read... Mappo Tofu?! Issei sighed. He usually tried to eat healthy and only spoiled myself with something tasty once in a while. Coincidentally, he likes spicy food too, despite the fact that he has have very little tolerance to spice and ends up feeling like he's breathing fire like a dragon.
Suddenly, before Issei could step forward, there was a commotion to the right of the line. It was the school bully, the alpha wannabe, the tough guy, the douche bag, the jerk, the one who makes girls feel uncomfortable, etc. His name is Kakeru Ryuen (3). He was holding a white-haired boy by the collar.
"Vali, you bastard! Listen here, you piece of shit! You are beneath me! I will never acknowledge you as someone who is more athletic than me! I am better than you, you got that?!"
The victim, Vali, glared daggers at Ryuen. "First of all, do not fucking call me by my first name. Call me Lucifer or Lu. You're not related to me, you're not friends with me, so how about you go chew on a bone, you noisy mutt? Secondly," Vali grabbed the hand Ryuen was holding his collar with and twisted his wrist, making him yelp in pain as he fell backwards. Vali stood over him. "It's not my fault you're jealous of the fact that I am better than you at sports, so fuck off and leave me alone."
Issei could tell that Vali was having trouble restraining himself from assaulting the douche.
Ryuen gritted his teeth in anger. "YOU FUCKER! YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!" He launched himself at Vali, as if he were going to tackle and beat the fearless kid up for daring to stand up for himself.
Issei sighed. Usually, he doesn't talk to other people at school other than Irina or if the teacher calls on him in class. He decided to get out of the lunch line and play the peacemaker before the situation got out of hand. Before anyone had time to register what happened, in the blink of an eye, Issei launched himself at the bully and grabbed the back of his school uniform by the neck with one hand while using his other arm to wrap it around him, applying pressure on his jugular, effectively putting him in a chokehold.
He could tell by the way Ryuen struggled in his grip that the bully is very strong for a normal person, but unfortunately for him, Issei is anything but normal.
"Now, calm yourself before I make you."
He turned his head to face find the source of the voice. "HYOUDOU! YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD! WHAT DO YOU FUCKING THINK YOU'RE DOING?! LET ME GO, BASTARD!"
He thrashed wildly in Issei's arms for a minute before he realized it was useless and stopped struggling. Issei set him down on the table and looked at him and then at Vali, who looked interested and amused at the fact that Issei just manhandled the school bully.
"What's going on here?" Issei inquired.
Vali sighed. "Well, Mr. Big Ego over here was bitching about the fact that I whooped his ass in basketball today," Vali said, gesturing to Ryuen, who scowled at him. "We were placed on teams, but there were only two people in the spotlight. I was carrying my team, and he was carrying his, but I clearly kicked his ass and won 166-66, and I wasn't even trying."
Issei's jaw dropped for a moment before he recollected himself and turned towards the embarrassed jockey, who turned his head away from the two with an audible, "Tch!" He glared in a random direction, causing anyone in his peripheral vision to nervously look away.
Issei smirked. "That bad, huh? You must either really suck or your new arch nemesis is just that much better than you. Probably both."
Ryuen growled, slamming his fists down onto the table. "Fine! I propose a rematch! How about a two-on-one?! I'll take both of you on and show you who's boss!"
Vali and Issei glanced at one another and smirked with the same thought running through their minds: 'This guy is a moron.'
"Hoh? In that case, I accept your challenge, Ryuen. By the way, you don't even deserve to have 'Dragon' as your name, because you sure as hell don't scare me. I'll make sure that Vali dunks on you a bunch of times." Issei stated, feeling quite superior.
Vali huffed. "That won't be necessary. I'll be the shadow to your light (4). The Wannabe Dragon said your name is Hyoudou? You're a respectable person, so let's be friends. It's nice to meet ya, partner," Vali said, offering his hand, which Issei gladly shook.
"Nice to meet you too Vali, and yes, let's be friends. You can call me Issei." Issei replied happily.
Irina frowned at Issei in concern, worried he might get assaulted, but he simply gave her a confident smile and a thumbs up, to which she blushed. 'Why is she blushing?! Kawaii!' Issei screamed in my head.
They then played a 20 minute long match of basketball, 2 vs 1, Team Vali and Issei vs Team Ryuen, which every student in the school watched. They even got a teacher who coaches basketball to handle the scoreboard and referee the match.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!" Vali chanted as he dribbled in insane Aomine Daiki fashion, using a spin move twice, dribbling fast as hell. Ryuen briefly tripped as he chased Vali, trying to cover him, but there was too much space. Vali, without even looking, channeled his inner Kuroko and alley-ooped the ball behind his back up to Issei from the corner to the left of the hoop.
"ZA WARUDO!" Issei yelled as he proceeded to grab the ball and dunk on Ryuen.
"Timeout!" Ryuen said, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath, glaring at the duo through his eyebrows (5) with pure hatred.
The entire school couldn't believe what they were seeing. After a mere 5 minutes into play, the score was 66-6, and the best part is that Vali and Issei made it obvious to everyone that they weren't even trying. All they did is play keep away, shoot for 3's, and alley-oop the ball to each other at impossible angles before dunking on Ryuen. The duo crossed him over multiple times and made him fall due to their blinding speed; ankles fucking broken!
Four delinquent-looking douches entered the gymnasium. They snarled at Vali and Issei. Their leader, a bald dude with small earrings in his ears, spoke, "Hey, tough guy. We'd like to join Team Ryuen and play!"
The referee shook his head. "No. I cannot allow you to interfere in the way these kids are handling their disagreement, which they've done mostly peacefully so far. More jocks will only make this situation worse."
Vali and Issei shared a look, smirking as Vali, being the one initially involved with this situation, stepped forward. "Actually teach, we welcome them with open arms to play against us. You see, Issei and I are barely trying. This is so boring that we haven't even come close to working up a sweat since we're not trying at 100% right now. We will now show you why you don't ever mess with us again."
The teacher gulped and nodded. "Very well. A 2 on 5 then for the remaining 15 minutes, I take it?"
He turned to the two, who nodded with excited smiles.
They finally went all out and proceeded to massacre Team Ryuen, as they didn't let the other team score one point.
That's how Issei's friendship with Vali started. Vali became Issei's best male friend, and after hanging out with Issei and Irina, he also became Irina's friend.
. . . . . . .
As all this was going on, Ddraig and Albion were having a conversation using their draconic magic.
("Hmph. Unfortunately, it seems our hosts are getting along too well,") Said Ddraig, feeling uneasy at the prospect of working alongside his rival.
Albion sighed. ["Do you even remember why the two of us were fighting? I sure as shit don't."]
Ddraig closed his eyes and let out a ("Hmmmm") in thought as he tried to remember. He opened his eyes. ("I don't remember.")
["... I see. In that case, shall we call it a truce? While I am reluctant to call you a friend just yet, I do think it would be wise of us if we stopped trying to kill each other since our hosts seem to have bonded. We obviously cannot force them to fight, and besides, you and I never seem to actually die when our past hosts perish."]
Ddraig huffed. ("I agree.")
To Be Continued
References:
(2) Kuroko no Basket
(3) Kakeru Ryuen from Classroom of the Elite
(4) Kuroko no Basket
(5) Full Metal Jacket referenced by Bill Burr in his joke about child adoption; you can find the video on YouTube lol.
I'm also certain that I do not need to point out what "ORA ORA ORA" and "ZA WARUDO" are from since you, my fellow weebs, should get it. XD
Issei's Harem (same as peerage members, most to least powerful, will not change):
Issei Hyoudou (Mutated King)
Arisu Yamauchi (OC, Six Mutated Pawn Pieces)
Raynare (Main Girl, Queen)
Akeno Himejima (Knight)
Kuroka Toujou (Bishop)
Irina Shidou (Rook)
Tsubasa Yura (Knight)
Rossweisse (Rook)
Ravel Phenex (Bishop)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone