Highschool DxD: Crawling x Chaos

~Yuta Yukimura~

"That was pretty good, don't you think so Bobby?"

"Nya."

I reached down slightly and petted the cat lying down with me across the couch. We had just finished the last episode of the Sword Art Online of this world, or should I say Bladeworks Online? There were no major differences except for Kibito and him having a catchphrase of "I'm gonna show you how to work the blade!".

The show wasn't that great but the trip down bootleg memory lane was fine. I had nothing left to do today other than relax and I was taking my relaxation seriously. However, the cat across from me still puzzled me.

Bobby seemed way smarter than the average cat, or the world was gaslighting me by making her meows come out whenever I wanted a response. Both were likely.

I couldn't help but look down and wonder.

"Are you a familiar or some kind of magical beast buddy? Maybe a spy keeping a watch on the town?" I muttered while absentmindedly petting the cat. Curious I picked up the cat who went limp like liquid and looked at it in the eyes.

I held its gaze for a few seconds before concluding.

"Yeah no way, there is not a thought behind those eyes, the lights are on but no one's home. Not a speck of light behind those orbs, it's like looking at a bluescreen." It was a stupid little thing, perhaps since this world was clearly more anime and the world grew up with mana animals were smarter than average or just understood humans better.

"Hiss!" Bobby hissed at me and batted my hands away, making me drop her as I chuckled and patted her head.

I put Bobby aside and decided to roll the Item Ticket before going to sleep, maybe I would get something good or I would get yet another building and start crying, at least now I had a little guy in my house to cheer me up and keep me company other than my elemental.

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Rolling Bronze Item Gacha Ticket...

A Common Consumable!

[Common - Scrap Iron Candy]

|Rarity: Common| |Cooldown: 8 Hours|

"Tastes like its name"

When consumed, bolsters the user's defence for 30 minutes.

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I looked at the notification, a consumable huh? Does the cooldown mean when it respawns? Curious I summoned the candy in my hand, when it suddenly appeared in my hand Bobby's ears perked up and she stared at the candy, it was inside a purple wrapper, the moment it appeared in my hands I noticed the cooldown start ticking down. Interesting, so I have an unlimited supply, nice to know.

Since Bobby was curious about the candy I held it for her to try, she gave it one lick and started gagging, swatting it out of my hand and glaring at the offending candy. I picked it up from the floor and put it in my mouth.

Mmh.

Tastes like metal and rust, no wonder Bobby didn't like it. When I swallowed the foul treat I felt... hardier? As expected from a common item, it was no game-changer, but it was noticeable. I transformed one finger with Natural Weapon and dragged it across my skin, it indeed gave more resistance to cut.

Seems like this roll was not wasted after all.

♢—•♧•—♤—•♡•—♤—•♧•—♢

~Yuta Yukimura~

I got up early for my date with Asia and because I was not used to waking up early in general thanks to my cloud elemental dousing me daily. Bobby had left last night, I wasn't surprised since she was still a stray, but I knew how strays like that worked, she would leave and then come back when she sniffed my cooking.

I should buy a cat bed.

Before going out I retrieved another Scrap Iron Candy, I saw that even though I did not consume it, it still went on cooldown. Good to know, I put the candy in a jar and did my morning routine before starting my workout waiting for Asia. I went to the promised spot half an hour early just to see Asia already sitting and waiting there. She greeted me cheerfully, like a cute puppy.

Asia and I went on our... Date? It was close enough to a date in definition anyway. We hung around the park while I toured her around Kuoh asking her about her life in this church at the same time.

I was not so subtly probing about why she was truly here and Asia was such a terrible actor. She got nervous whenever I probed her about who she was living with, or what they were.

I was 95% sure she was staying with a supernatural and that she was also supernatural.

And that was confirmed when we were walking to a lower portion of the park and I somehow managed to slip on the stairs, someone spilt something on the stairs. Nothing new to me honestly, I have taken a tumble down more stairs than I would like to admit.

Thump Thump Thump.

"Urgh..." I took a rough tumble down the stairs, I was pretty sure my ankle was twisted and my ears burnt for some reason.

"Yuta-san! Are you okay?" Asia quickly rushed to my side while I was slightly annoyed that I couldn't use regeneration next to her if I didn't want to get exposed or be asked questions. Asia may not be ill-intentioned but I didn't trust her ability to keep a secret.

But what I didn't expect was for two ornate rings to manifest on Asia's fingers, one on each hand, and for her to emanate green light from her hands, almost instantly I felt my wounds disappear, the strain gone. I looked at Asia in disbelief while I tested my leg, nothing, no pain or discomfort.

"Wait, Asia, you can heal people?" She nodded while smiling, seeing that I had recovered.

"Yes, it's an amazing power I have received from god... truly..." She said with a solemn expression as her words trailed off, making me raise an eyebrow.

"That sounds like it has got some story behind it, want to share?" I walked over to a bench and patted the spot next to me while Asia followed behind me, sitting without a fuss.

"I... wouldn't want to trouble you with such things." I sighed, too kind for her own good.

"Come on Asia, you wouldn't be inconveniencing me, we're friends, I don't mind listening." At my words, Asia brightened up considerably and seemed to gather the courage to speak.

"...I was abandoned by my parents who dropped me off at a church in a small town in Europe. I was raised there by the church, and when I was eight, I stumbled across an injured and sick puppy, I prayed to god for its wellness with all of my heart. And when I did, a miracle happened, the puppy was healed." Asia said while looking up at the sky, and I looked up with her.

"Immediately after, I was taken to a larger church and told to heal the ailments of believers. I was ecstatic at being able to help people with my power. But then I came across a man, severely injured, I healed him but then..." She bit her lip slightly.

"...They said I was a witch, that my powers were evil for being able to heal a Devil. I was driven out of the church and excommunicated before being taken in here. Even still I haven't forgotten my prayers and gratitude to God. I'm sure that this is just another one of his trials for me, if I prevail I hope he will fulfil my wish." Asia said, bringing her hands together in a prayer while I leaned back.

...That was rough, she lived a rough life. I wanted to console her but at the same time, I didn't know how to. She was a tough person, tougher than me at least. In a similar position, I gave up and cursed the entire world and any god I could name.

When I heard my parents screams the only thing I felt was disillusionment. There was nothing in the world working for me. I felt no hope, just bitterness. I admired Asia's tough spirit to be able to hold onto hope even still.

"You're a good person, Asia, don't let anybody ever tell you you aren't. What is your wish?" Asia averted her gaze from me and flushed.

"It's a bit embarrassing you see. My wish is to have lots of friends, to be able to eat together with them, buy flowers with them, go to school with them. I don't have a lot of friends you see. That's why, when you said you were my friend I was very happy." Asia bashfully admitted while I looked up at the sky.

Whoever was up there had to be either deaf or dead to not hear Asia's wish and let her fate be like this. But I knew better than to place hope in things as fickle as gods.

I put a hand on Asia's head.

"Well, I may not be a god but I am your friend Asia, and friends help each other. I'll do my best to get you more friends, and even if I do fail, well, you always have me in your corner. If you ever need something from me, I'm gonna be there." Asia trembled a little, holding back tears or trying to, she was doing a rather poor job as her shoulders shook and she held a hand up to her mouth.

"T-thank you so much Yuta-san, I am so grateful!" I smiled a little and petted her head comfortingly.

"Don't mention it, we're friends after all. Now, let's continue, the day is long and we have time to still look around like you wanted."

I felt a sense of kinship with the poor girl, and I was not lying, I would be her friend, such a kind and good soul was a rarity, mythical even. If anyone wanted to do anything to this cinnamon roll, they would have to get through me first.

Relations between a nun and a devil be dammed, I was down to throw down for this cinnamon roll with my life on the line.

♢—•♧•—♤—•♡•—♤—•♧•—♢

~Yuta Yukimura - Tomorrow~

After my little date with Asia I, had gone back home to resume my usual routine, strangely, I hadn't gotten any contracts despite it being a Sunday, when people were the most free. That annoyance aside I went about my night as usual. And as I had suspected, Bobby came right back when I started cooking again, I cooked a portion of salmon for her and an egg sandwich for myself before doing my callisthenics routine.

Bobby seemed very interested in my workout, sometimes laying on top of me as I did push-ups. She also stole my shirt and I still couldn't find it. I swear that cat is fucking with me, I just can't prove it.

But just like that, another day had passed and I had to go to school again, school came and went by but I noticed a more subdued and sombre mood that I didn't care enough to ask anyone about it.

Well, that was before I received an urgent message on my phone at the end of the school day, from Rias asking me to come to the Occult Research Club for an emergency meeting, so I quickly ditched whatever plan I had to go there.

Opening the door I saw everyone there already, how am I the last one every time? All of them held serious expressions, was I getting lynched?

"Hey Boss, what did you call me for?" I tried to break the mood, making Rias smile at me, alright, I'm still safe then.

"You're here Yuta-kun, that's good. We have some very serious and concerning news." I nodded and sat down on the couch next to Koneko while Rias was leaning against the desk in front of us with her arms crossed.

"Someone in Kuoh Academy was murdered."

Huh?

A/N: We are finally moving to the actual plotline. I think it's rather obvious who dies around this time. A butterfly flaps its wings and it becomes a storm in another part of the world. An insignificant change of factors. Like someone being slightly late can throw everything completely off.

Asia is a precious sweet cinnamon bun and needs protection, fortunately, Yuta is there to provide her with more than she could ever want. Kindred spirits stick together. What did you guys think about Asia and Yuta? Also, do you guys like the small slice-of-life scenes with Yuta and his totally not suspicious pet?

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