Kapitel 20: Frustration

Though he wasn't happy that Rias had slept naked with a boy known for his perverted nature, Vahn didn't feel that Issei deserved to die to protect his feelings. If Rias hadn't done what she did, the seat to his left would no longer be occupied in class, and while he and Issei weren't even remotely close, his sudden death would definitely affect him.

With such thoughts in his mind, Vahn returned to his class after lunch and immediately looked to where Issei was seated, modeling a broad smile as he conversed with his only two friends in the Academy, the remaining two members of the Perverted Trio, the glasses-wearing Nakakuni Motohama and the perverted baldy, Takumi Matsuda.

Noticing Vahn's arrival due to the reaction of various girls, Matsuda and Motohama scowled, while Issei, seemingly feeling that he was on top of the world, laughed and bid his friends goodbye, prompting them to return to their respective classes. He even decided to speak to Vahn for the first time, waiting for him to sit down before asking, "Hey, man, are you feeling okay? You look like you've just learned your girlfriend was cheating on you with another guy."

Meeting Issei's gaze with a slightly incredulous expression, Vahn couldn't help wondering if the boy was provoking him. According to Rias, Issei had yet to be made fully aware of his situation, but his question was so on the nose that it felt like it couldn't be a coincidence.

Inhaling and then exhaling huffily through his nose, Vahn responded, "It's more like there is a guy aiming for my girlfriend, unaware that she is so far out of his league, they might as well be from different worlds..."

"Oof, that's rough, man," said Issei, completely unaware that Vahn was talking about him as he beamed and said, "Well, whoever it is, I'm sure they'll get what's coming to them. No need to get hung up over it."

"You're right..." affirmed Vahn, adopting a somewhat mean-spirited smile at the thought of how Issei would react to discovering the truth. Rias had asked him to bring Issei to the club room after school, so only a few hours remained before his delusion was supplanted by reality. Vahn wasn't used to looking forward to or hoping for another person's downfall, but since he had come to view the ORC as his home, he wouldn't tolerate Issei perving on the members of his family, least of all his girlfriend...

Though Vahn's expectant grin made him uncomfortable, Issei assumed it was directed at the boy aiming for his girlfriend, not him. Thus, after a few more brief exchanges, interrupted by the arrival of their teacher, he spent the rest of the day absentmindedly doodling a surprisingly accurate pair of breasts in his notebook, eagerly awaiting his reunion with their owner...

...

With Sixth Period ending, signaling the start of after-school and club activities, Vahn gathered up his things before surprising Issei immensely by saying, "Let's go. Rias and the others are waiting."

"Wait...you know Rias?" asked Issei, a feeling of dread swelling within him as Vahn nodded, surprising several curious eavesdroppers by confirming, "She's my girlfriend."

"Oh...of course she is..." responded Issei, his previously vibrant brown eyes losing their luster as he laughed eerily and adopted an expression that looked like his soul had left his body, descending downward. While he was recovering, Vahn fielded several questions from the girls who had overheard what he had said, confirming that he and Rias were dating and destroying what remained of Issei's hope by revealing that, if everything went as planned, they even intended to marry once they graduated from college...

...

"So, how long have you and Rias-senpai been dating...?" asked Issei, exhibiting a remarkable ability to recover and adapt as he modeled a cramped smile and followed behind Vahn to the Old School Building.

"Only since the start of the term..." confessed Vahn. "But the two of us have been living, bathing, and sleeping together, so don't think you can weasel your way in because we only recently started dating..."

Turning his head to meet Issei's gaze with narrowed eyes, Vahn added, "I know what happened between you and Rias, but she only did that to save your life. I don't care if you act pervertedly with other girls, but the ORC is my family. If you hurt them...I will break you..."

"Wow, Vahn...you don't hold back," said Issei, eyes wide and brows raised but not due to offense. He could understand Vahn's desire to protect the people he cared about, and if their situations were reversed, there was no way in Hell he would be okay with another guy seeing his girlfriend naked or perving on her. Thus, while he was more than a little envious, Issei felt that he and Vahn weren't all that different.

Catching Vahn a little off guard, Issei adopted a toothy smile and asked, "Well, regardless of how we ended up in this situation, we'll be working together from now on, right? There's just one thing I have to know before I decide whether we're going to be friends or frenemies..."

"And what's that...?" asked Vahn, genuinely curious. He expected Issei to be a lot more upset, but since he was being friendly, Vahn's opinion of him improved considerably compared to even a few minutes prior.

"Are you an ass or tits kind of guy?" asked Issei, his grin broadening as he held up his hands and spread them apart, expressing, "I can appreciate a beautiful behind, but for me, it's breasts a hundred percent. Big or small, it doesn't matter, but if I had to choose...I would pick the breasts of the girl I like."

Though he was taken aback by Issei's question and subsequent sharing, Vahn faced forward, raised his head to the sky, and seriously considered his response before affirming, "Boobs are definitely nice...they feel really comfortable when pressed against you or when you nestle your face into them..."

"Kuh..."

Understanding that Vahn was likely referring to Rias's breasts, Issei bent over, clutched his chest, and imagined himself crying tears or coughing up blood. What he didn't imagine was Vahn abruptly stopping and turning to face him with the most genuine smile he had ever seen, sincerity exuding from every pore of his being as he disclosed, "But my favorite thing about a girl is their eyes. When your eyes meet those of the girl you like, and the only thing you see reflected in them is your face, it makes you feel like the most important person in the world..."

Feeling goosebumps spread across his body, Issei opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak. He had a vivid imagination from watching anime, reading manga, and playing hundreds of games, including dozens of eroge, so he could easily visualize the scene Vahn was describing. He had even experienced it himself the previous day, before his date turned around and tried to murder him, so while he was determined to have his final words be about the wonder of breasts, Issei couldn't help respecting Vahn's answer.

Adopting a broad smile, Issei extended his right hand, saying, "You know, we never officially got introduced, did we? My name is Hyoudou Issei. We didn't get started on the best of terms, but I think we can be friends. How about it?"

'He's actually not a bad guy...' Vahn realized, reciprocating with a smile of his own as he accepted Issei's handshake, responding, "Vahn Mason. And yeah, I think you're right. Just remember what I said..."

"Hey, no worries, man," assured Issei, beaming as he added, "I may own being a pervert, but I'm a firm subscriber to the bro code. I will envy you until the day I die a second time, but I wish you and Rias-senpai the best of luck in your relationship."

"Thanks," responded Vahn, giving Issei's hand one final, firm shake before releasing it and contending, "But you shouldn't have to be envious for that long. I've been learning a lot about Devils and their society since the start of the term. They value people with great potential, and according to Rias, yours is greater than most. You shouldn't have any difficulties getting one or more girlfriends if you work hard to become stronger and increase your Rank to a Mid or High-Class Demon."

"So polygamy is fair game for Devils...?" asked Issei, his clear brown eyes sparkling as if he had just heard the God of Breasts talking through Vahn.

Nodding, Vahn explained, "According to what I've learned and been told, Devils were pushed nearly to the brink of extinction a few hundred years ago. They have really low conception rates, so the process of rebuilding the society and replenishing their ranks has been slow. That's one of the reasons they started recruiting humans and reincarnating them as Devils, both to expand their numbers and nurture talented individuals to pass on their genes..."

"I see, I see~" hummed Issei, his nostrils flaring and his smile comically wide. He still wasn't over the fact that Vahn was dating the first real girl he had seen naked and slept beside, but if it was true that his potential was high and that Devil society was looking for individuals to contribute to the enlargement of their population, he was really looking forward to learning more and growing stronger...

...

"Ah, Vahn, you've returned. Welcome back. And thank you for bringing Issei-kun here with you," stated Rias, standing with her arms crossed and sitting against the edge of her desk with Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko, rising from where they were seated on the sofas.

"Of course," responded Vahn, causing Rias to raise her brows slightly as he made his way around the sofas to stand next to her, leaving the spot next to Akeno for Issei to occupy once introductions were out of the way.

Realizing that Vahn was executing a kind of power play, an amused smile developed across Rias's face as she grabbed his uniform's ribbon, pulling on it to bring his face down for a kiss. The smile on Issei's face cramped at this, but since Vahn had already made his relationship with Rias clear, he didn't let it bother him too much as he turned his attention to the other members of the ORC, his eyes sparkling at the appearances of Akeno and Koneko before grimacing when he saw Kiba smiling back at him.

Releasing her hold on Vahn's ribbon after staring into his eyes for a few seconds, Rias turned to the room, focusing on Issei as she said, "Alright, everyone. Let us take turns introducing ourselves to the newest member of the Occult Research Club, Hyoudou Issei. Kiba, if you would."

"It would be my pleasure," responded Kiba, offering a slight bow to Rias before turning to Issei and introducing himself. Akeno followed suit, and since Koneko wasn't very sociable, particularly toward perverts, Rias took the liberty of introducing her before providing an overview of the ORC and what was expected of Issei now that he was a newborn Devil. It was a lot to take in for someone who was ignorant of the existence of supernatural entities just one day prior, but since Rias eventually confirmed what Vahn had said about him being able to assemble a harem, Issei was keen to get started as soon as possible...

...

"Is this really okay...?" asked Vahn, swallowing hard, his face redder than it had ever been.

"I could see the pain and conflict in your eyes when I told you what I had to do to save Issei's life..." responded Rias, sporting an affectionate smile and spreading her legs a little wider as she asserted, "I don't want you to have any doubts about our relationship..."

"Okay..." responded Vahn, swallowing even harder before he drew his and Rias's bodies closer. Like Rias, he felt it was too soon to take the next step in their relationship, but since he wanted to be as close as possible to her, he set aside his apprehensions and gave what came next his all...

...