Reincarnated in the World of High School DxD

At Rias's cue, Sona gestured for the two individuals outside to enter.

The ones who stepped in were two girls, both appearing to be around the same age as Kazuki and the others.

The first had short blue hair with a green highlight streaking through her bangs, her sharp eyes giving her an intimidating presence.

The second had chestnut-colored hair styled into twin tails and wore a friendly smile that seemed oddly disarming. Both were undeniably beautiful, easily matching the girls already present in the room.

Kazuki immediately guessed that the twin-tailed girl must be Issei's childhood friend.

Yet, there was something about her face that struck a chord with him, as if he had seen her before.

While he struggled to place where, the twin-tailed girl stepped forward and spoke.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with us tonight. I am Irina Shidou, and this is my partner, Xenovia. We are warriors serving the Church."

Kazuki's eyes widened as he focused on Irina's face. While her features had matured, there was something unmistakably familiar about her. His breath caught as he realized the truth.

"Irina?"

The name escaped Kazuki's lips before he could stop himself.

All eyes turned to him. Irina looked at him, puzzled by the sudden familiarity, while Xenovia's sharp gaze turned into a glare.

"Kazuki, is something wrong?" Rias asked, her voice calm but curious.

"Ah, no, it's just…" Kazuki faltered, unsure how to explain.

Before he could form a coherent response, Irina's eyes widened in recognition.

"Kazuki? Wait… could it be? Kazuki-nii?"

Her voice was filled with disbelief, and when their gazes locked, the certainty struck them both.

"It's really you, Irina!"

"No way! Kazuki-nii, it's really you!?"

Before he realized what was happening, Irina had dashed across the room and thrown herself into his arms.

"I've missed you so much, Kazuki-nii!"

Kazuki instinctively wrapped his arms around her. The sweet, fresh scent of her hair filled his senses, a far cry from the carefree child she used to be.

Now she was a fully grown woman, her toned yet undeniably feminine body pressing against him.

"It's been too long, Irina!!! I've missed you too."

"Wait, you're back in Kuoh Town? I thought you moved away!"

"I did," Kazuki explained as he gently pulled back, still holding her shoulders.

"After you moved to England, my dad got transferred, so we left too. But I came back here for high school."

"You should have told me sooner!" she pouted.

"Hey, don't blame me! I didn't even know where you were!"

"Hmm, I guess that's true… How are Uncle and Auntie? Are they doing well?"

Kazuki's expression darkened. "Irina… Mom and Dad passed away eight years ago. A car accident. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"What? No… That can't be…" Irina's voice trembled, her cheerful demeanor cracking as she stared at him in disbelief.

"It's okay," Kazuki reassured her softly. "I was taken in by my grandfather after that, and he looked after me. Like I said, I came back to this town for high school, so I'm doing fine now."

Irina's expression shifted, a mix of sorrow and determination crossing her face. "Kazuki-nii… I had no idea. I'm so sorry for not being there for you."

"You don't need to apologize, Irina. It's been eight years… time has passed," Kazuki replied, though his tone betrayed a quiet ache.

"That's bullshit, Kazuki-nii! No matter how much time passes, losing someone you love never stops hurting! Uncle and Auntie… they treated me like their own daughter. They were so kind… so warm… I loved them," Irina said, tears forming in her eyes as memories of the past hit her.

"Irina… You're crying for my parents?" Kazuki asked, his heart tightening at the sight of her genuine sorrow.

"Yes, and for you too! I bet you didn't even let yourself cry back then, did you? You didn't want to worry Auntie and Uncle…"

"…Irina…" Kazuki whispered, her words striking him deeper than he expected. "Thank you…"

Before the moment could deepen, a chorus of exaggerated throat-clearing echoed through the room.

"Ahem!"

Kazuki and Irina turned to find the entire peerage glaring at them with varying degrees of irritation, save for Asia, who was blushing furiously. Rias's crimson gaze bore into Kazuki as she tapped her nails against her armrest.

"…So? Would you care to explain this little display of affection, Kazuki?" she asked, her voice laced with icy irritation.

"Ah, well, Irina is—"

"Hold on!! When exactly do you plan to stop clinging to each other like that?" Rias interrupted sharply, her ruby eyes narrowing dangerously.

"…Oh!" Kazuki and Irina yelped in unison, realizing they were still wrapped around each other.

Their embrace, which had started as a tearful reunion, now felt scandalously intimate.

"S-Sorry, Irina," Kazuki said, reluctantly letting her go.

"N-No, it's my fault, Kazuki-nii," Irina stammered, stepping back with flushed cheeks.

The sight of her—still stunningly beautiful yet adorably shy—made Kazuki's heart race.

"KAZUKI!"

"Y-Yes, Rias!?" he yelped, feeling the weight of her glare.

"You too, Irina. Compose yourself! Or have you forgotten he's already a devil?" Xenovia added, her sharp voice snapping at her partner.

"…A devil?" Irina froze, her wide eyes darting between Kazuki and Xenovia.

"Kazuki-nii, is that true? Are you really… a devil now?"

"…Yeah," Kazuki admitted, his voice steady despite the pain in her expression.

"Why…? Why would you become something like that?" Irina asked, clinging to him as if trying to shake the truth out of him.

"Listen, Irina," Kazuki began, gripping her wrists gently but firmly. "I was attacked by a fallen angel. I was seconds away from dying. Rias saved me by reincarnating me as a devil. If she hadn't, I wouldn't be standing here right now. I owe her my life. I don't regret it, and I won't apologize for surviving."

"I… I see," Irina whispered, her knees buckling as she collapsed to the floor, her hands covering her face in despair.

"This is too much… Not just Issei-kun but even Kazuki-nii has fallen and become a devil—"

"Pull yourself together, Irina!" Xenovia yapped, stepping forward with a commanding presence.

"I don't know what kind of relationship you have with him, but remember your duty as a warrior of God!"

"Y-You're right. I have my faith in God!" Irina responded, her eyes lighting up with determination.

"That's the spirit! God is always watching over us! Come, let us pray together, Irina!" Xenovia declared with an almost theatrical fervor.

"Yes, Xenovia!"

Together, the two clasped their hands and began praying aloud.

"Oh, Lord…!"

Kazuki watched the scene with a mix of bemusement and confusion. 'Was Irina always this extreme…?'

"Now then," Rias interjected, her tone sharp as her crimson gaze narrowed on Kazuki. "What exactly is your relationship with that girl, Kazuki?"

"Ah, she's… my childhood friend," Kazuki replied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "The kid in that old photo I showed you before? That's her."

"…WHATTTT!?"

The entire peerage, save for Rias, gasped in unison.

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