DW DXD Chapter 2 Remastered Savior

[nasuverse] Fuyuki City – Five days before the Fourth Holy Grail War, 12:30 PM

The midday sun hung high over Fuyuki, bathing the city in a pale winter light. The streets bustled with the noise of ordinary life, workers rushing to lunch breaks, mothers guiding their children by the hand, the smell of street food drifting faintly through the air. Cars rolled past on wide roads, and in the distance, the Mion River shimmered with cold light beneath the bridges.

To the citizens of Fuyuki, it was just another day. But high above, on the roof of a quiet apartment building, reality itself began to ripple. The air shimmered like heat waves, bending and twisting, a distortion unnoticed by those below.

Then, with a flash of white-blue light, a boy was spat into existence.

Hyoudou Issei landed hard on the concrete, stumbling as his sneakers scraped across the rooftop. His messy brown hair fell into his eyes, his red T-shirt and school pants hardly suited for dramatic entrances. On his left arm gleamed the red gauntlet of the Boosted Gear, its emerald jewel pulsing faintly in the light.

A cool, calm voice rang from the strange device on his right wrist.

“Transfer successful. The physical body of the host remains undamaged. No hosti—”

“ARGHHHHHH!” Sherri was cut off as agony ripped through Issei’s body. 

Issei dropped to his knees, clutching his chest. His breath caught in his throat, eyes bulging as pain unlike anything he’d ever known tore through him. It wasn’t just physical, he felt as if invisible claws were raking across his very soul, dragging something vital out of him.

“Wh-what the hell—?!” His voice broke into a strangled scream, sweat exploding across his forehead.

Inside his Sacred Gear, a roar echoed in tandem with his own.

(RAGHHHH!!) Even Ddraig, the Heavenly Dragon, howled with pain, his normally unshakable voice warped with raw anguish.

‘If even Ddraig is screaming… then what the hell is happening to me?!’ Issei thought in terror. His limbs convulsed, his vision swimming with white-hot sparks.

The AI’s voice cut through the chaos, still maddeningly steady despite the crisis.

“Hostile entity detected. 

Source: Unknown origin. Presence rising from the ground. No physical injuries located. The host’s soul is receiving direct damage. Secondary target: Ddraig also compromised. Finding a solution without counteracting procedures. 

Initiating scan. 

…Solution found.  Inserting countermeasure.”

Before Issei could even demand answers, a surge of energy erupted from the watch. A glowing blue barrier spread across his body, clinging like a second skin. It shimmered faintly in the sunlight, humming with a low, protective thrum.

The instant it enveloped him, the pain receded. The tearing sensation dulled, then vanished entirely, leaving behind only the echo of agony.

Issei collapsed forward onto his hands, sucking in ragged gulps of air. His chest rose and fell violently as though he’d run for miles. 

Ddraig’s voice rumbled in his mind again, equally strained. (Haaahhh… finally…)

For a long moment, only the sound of Issei’s panicked breathing and the faint buzz of the barrier filled the rooftop. Then, in unison:

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!” / (WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!)

Issei’s voice cracked with fury and confusion, while Ddraig’s roar shook with indignation. Both of them sounded equally outraged at the violation they’d just endured.

Issei staggered to his feet, his legs wobbling beneath him. But his breathing was still ragged, his shirt clinging to his chest with cold sweat and the memory of that soul-rending pain still lingered like phantom claws dragging across his insides. 

He wiped sweat from his forehead, his hand trembling. “Seriously, what just happened?! I thought I was going to die—no, worse, I thought my soul was about to get ripped out of me!”

The emerald jewel on his gauntlet glowed faintly, reflecting Ddraig’s seething presence. (Partner, that wasn’t just pain. I felt something trying to erase us.) 

Issei froze. “Erase… what?!”

Sherri’s voice returned, calm and steady in contrast to his panic.

“Apologies, Master. I did not realize this world would be so hostile to foreign intruders. It would appear that this reality possesses a defense system, one designed to remove anything it perceives as a threat. It is fascinating, truly. Such a system could only have been created by a higher being, or perhaps the world itself has developed a conscience… allowing it to think and act of its own will. Since Ddraig and you are not of this world, it deemed you unwelcomed and attempted to remove you.”

Issei stared at the glowing face of the Watch, his mouth hanging open. His brain struggled to catch up. ‘World defense system? Higher being? The world has… a conscience?’

“…Huh… huh…” He tried to laugh, but it came out shaky. “Alright, fine, sure. But what did you do, Sherri, to keep us from, you know, getting erased?” His voice cracked as he spoke, one hand pressing against his chest where the pain had lingered. His heart still felt like it was running a marathon inside him.

The Watch glowed faintly in response.

“I created a barrier using your own reserves and the ambient energy around you. It cloaks you from the world’s awareness, fooling it into believing you are no longer here while also preventing further attacks. It shouldn’t attempt to strike again, the barrier is constantly active passively”

Issei let out a long, shaky sigh. “So basically… you hacked reality and tricked it into thinking I don’t exist?” He dragged a hand down his face. “God, this is so far above my pay grade.”

A low rumble was heard. (Hhhhuhhh… that was painful.)

Issei snapped his head toward his left arm, worry replacing his exasperation. “Ddraig? Are you okay in there?”

The dragon chuckled weakly, though the sound was tinged with something darker. (It was… interesting, feeling pain again. It almost makes me glad I’m dead. At least it’s rare. But this world…)

“What about it? You mean other than it trying to kick us out like a bouncer at a strip club?”

(I don’t know exactly. But something here feels… wrong. Sickening. As if the very air is hostile, as though the land itself is killing anything it hates. It is not natural.)

Issei shuddered, glancing over the city skyline from the rooftop. The city stretched out before him, calm, bustling, unaware of the boy who had just dropped from the sky. ‘Great. I finally get to another world, and it’s trying to spit me back out. My luck is garbage.’

“Well, whatever it is,” Issei muttered, hugging himself slightly, “this place is scary as hell. Can we just… leave? Go somewhere else? Preferably somewhere with catgirls or girls with big oppai?”

(Agreed. The less time spent here, the better.)

Before he could savor that rare moment of agreement, Sherri’s voice cut through again, unbending as ever.

“Unfortunately, that is not possible. Recall the creator’s rules: only in true life-threatening emergencies may the Watch override protocol to return you. This incident has already been countered. You must remain in this world for at least one week before the next return window is available.”

Issei froze. “…A week? A whole week in this death trap?” He groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “Haaaah, fine. Guess I don’t have a choice.” His shoulders slumped, resignation settling in. “Just… Please tell me if they at least speak Japanese here. I don’t need to add playing tourist mime to the list of my problems.”

The Watch pulsed faintly, almost smug. “Do not worry, Master. The Dimensional Watch is a multipurpose tool. I possess a universal translator function, capable of instantly converting foreign languages into something you can understand. I will relay the information directly to your brain.”

Issei blinked at the device, then let out a hollow laugh. “…Of course you do. Of course you’ve got that. Why wouldn’t you? You’re basically an anime cheat code strapped to my arm.”

He shook his head, still muttering as he crossed the rooftop toward the stairwell door. “Unreal. Just unreal. I survive soul-exorcism by world karma, my dragon’s complaining about the air, and now I’m stuck here for a week. Fantastic. Just fantastic.”

Gripping the handle, he hesitated for a moment, his mind racing. ‘Please don’t let me run into anyone. Please don’t let someone see a random high schooler walking out of their building.’

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, the faint smell of dust and concrete greeting him as he began his cautious descent down the stairs.

—--------------------------------------------

Fuyuki City – Residential District, 7:50 PM

The streets of Fuyuki’s residential district were quiet under the dim glow of streetlamps. Houses lined either side of the narrow road, traditional wooden fences mixing with more modern concrete walls, their shadows stretching long in the cold evening light. Occasionally, a cicada buzzed from a nearby tree, and the muffled chatter of families drifted out from behind sliding doors.

Hyoudou Issei walked aimlessly down the sidewalk, hands shoved into his pockets, his face twisted into an annoyed scowl. His sneakers scraped against the pavement, each step heavy with the frustration of a boy very far from home. His eyes darted from one block to the next, scanning rooftops, street corners, even the occasional vending machine—hoping desperately to see something familiar.

‘Great. Just great. Totally lost. Dropped into some city I don’t even know. And if Sherri’s right… the freaking 90s. I’m so screwed.’

Ddraig’s amused voice rumbled in his mind. (Partner finally admits it… we’re lost.)

Issei sighed, shoulders sagging. ‘Well, sorry, but I’ve never been here before! I barely know my way around my own neighborhood, let alone some random city across time!’

(Look at the bright side. We’re still in Japan.)

“Oh, yeah, that makes it so much better,” Issei muttered under his breath, careful to keep his voice low so the occasional passerby wouldn’t notice him talking to himself. ‘We’re in Japan, sure… in a city I’ve never been to, and let’s not forget we’re stuck in the freakin’ 1990s!’

The dragon’s chuckle rolled through his skull. (Still can’t believe you forgot your wallet at home, Partner.)

Issei groaned loudly, dragging his hands down his face. ‘Excuse me for not knowing I’d be world traveling! Not exactly something you prepare for when you leave your house for the day!’

He cast a quick glance around, relieved that nobody was nearby to hear his self-argument. If people saw him bickering with his arm, he’d definitely get hauled off as a lunatic.

As he exhaled, his stomach suddenly roared. “Gooooooougggh!”

Issei doubled over, clutching his abdomen, his knees hitting the pavement. His face twisted in pain as another loud growl echoed embarrassingly through the empty street.

“Aaaaghh! Damn it!” He groaned, pressing a hand against his gut. “I’m so hungry I wasn’t even able to eat dinner…”

The AI’s voice chimed in gently, almost apologetic. “Apologies, Master.”

Issei forced a weak grin, waving his free hand dismissively. “It’s fine, Sherri. Just… would’ve been nice if this whole dimensional jump came with a bento box or something. I’d kill for food right now…”

Ddraig’s low laugh rumbled in his head. (Hey, look at it this way. If you starve for three days, then the Watch has to take you back. Problem solved.)

Issei’s eyes widened in horror. He whipped his head toward his hand, glaring as if the dragon could actually see him. “Ddraig, please don’t joke about that!”

The dragon chuckled again, his tone mischievous. (Who said I was joking?)

Issei’s jaw dropped. His face paled as he imagined collapsing in some Fuyuki back alley, his obituary reading: ‘Local boy, age 16, died of starvation while arguing with himself.’

“Y-you’ve gotta be kidding me…” He muttered, dragging himself back onto his feet, stomach still growling, mind whirling between anger and panic. “I’m so dead. Either this world kills me, or hunger does. And the worst part? I will never become Harem king.”

—-------------------------------------

The chill of the night pressed down on the quiet residential street, the stillness broken only by the distant bark of a dog and the faint hum of cicadas in the trees. Issei shuffled forward, still clutching his stomach, when suddenly—

“PLEASE HELP ME!!”

The cry pierced the silence as it sounded shrill and desperate. It wasn’t just a cry of fear, it was raw, primal, the kind that ripped straight from the soul when death was already reaching out its hand.

Issei froze. His head snapped toward the sound. It came from the house beside him, its windows dark, curtains drawn. His heart lurched in his chest.

(Partner…) Ddraig’s voice rumbled low in his head, but for once there was no teasing edge. Only tension.

Issei didn’t think. He moved. He lunged to the door, twisting the knob. To his shock, it was unlocked. He slammed it open, his sneakers squealing against the wooden floor as he burst inside.

The smell hit him first. Blood. Metallic, coppery and suffocating. It coated the air so thickly he could almost taste it on his tongue. And then his eyes adjusted to the dim light.

Blood. It was everywhere.

On the floor where a woman lay collapsed, clutching her side with trembling hands, blood pooling beneath her. On the pale hands of a young teenage girl, her daughter, desperately pressing against her mother’s wound, sobbing but refusing to let go.

And on the weapon raised high above them.

A knife, stained dark red. Its wielder stood tall, broad shoulders hunched, his face disturbingly ordinary. A man you could pass on the street and never look twice at. Yet here, in this moment, his humanity was only a mask. His lips curled into a vicious grin, eyes gleaming with sadistic hunger. He looked down at the helpless mother and daughter as though their suffering was entertainment.

Issei stopped dead in the doorway. His chest tightened. A thousand thoughts crashed through his head, but one thing drowned out everything else. Rage.

It was like a switch had been flipped inside him. His fear, his confusion, his hunger—they all burned away in an instant. His fists clenched, trembling not from weakness but from fury.

‘This… this bastard…’ His teeth ground together so hard they ached. He could feel his blood boil, heat racing through his veins. Issei’s eyes locked on the man with the knife. He didn’t think about whether he could win, or if he’d die here in this stranger’s home. None of that mattered. No one deserved to die like this. No child deserved to cry like that. Not while he was here. 

With a snarl tearing itself from his throat, Hyoudou Issei charged. “YOU—!” He roared, voice breaking with emotion, and he hurled himself forward.

The killer barely had time to turn his head before Issei slammed into him, fist drawn back. His right arm burned hot, and without thinking—without even knowing how—Issei pulled at something inside himself. Energy, raw and untamed, flooded down his arm.

‘Move!’ His instincts screamed.

His knuckles connected with the man’s jaw like a cannonball.

CRUNCH!

The sickening sound echoed through the small room as the killer’s head snapped back. His body lifted off his feet and slammed into the far wall with enough force to rattle the wooden frame of the house. A spatter of blood painted the plaster, and several teeth clattered to the floor like dropped marbles.

For a moment, silence as Issei blinked, his chest heaving. He stared down at his own fist, his mind spinning. ‘Did… did I just do that?’

On the floor, the mother’s eyes widened in disbelief, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She gasped, clutching her side, her lips trembling. Her daughter, still pressing her hands against the wound, looked at Issei with awe—eyes shining, as if hope itself had just walked through the door.

But the moment wasn’t over.

With a groan, the man pushed himself up from the wall. He staggered, blood dribbling down his chin, but his eyes—mad, unbroken—fixed on Issei with hateful recognition.

“You little… brat…” He spat through broken teeth.

Issei’s blood ran cold. ‘He’s still standing?’

(That hit should’ve caved his skull in. Tougher than he looks…) Ddraig growled inside his mind. (Careful, Partner.)

The killer wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve, his grin widening grotesquely. To him, this wasn’t fear—it was fuel. He relished the pain.

With a guttural snarl, he lunged forward.

The butcher’s knife gleamed in the dim light as he raised it high, his footsteps heavy, his breath ragged and animalistic. He aimed straight for Issei’s throat, his madness giving him the strength of a cornered beast.

Issei’s eyes widened. His body screamed at him to move, but panic froze his limbs.

“Master!” Sherri’s voice rang from the watch, crisp and commanding. “Take two steps to the left—NOW. Then lean and prepare for an uppercut.”

Issei didn’t hesitate. His body moved before his brain caught up, his legs jerking to the left as the knife slashed down past his shoulder. The blade whistled through the air, close enough that he felt the wind of it brush against his cheek.

“Gh—!” His breath caught.

“Lean left,” Sherri ordered again.

Issei dropped his shoulder, feeling the knife’s path skim just past him. And then—

“Uppercut!”

He threw his fist upward with all the force he could muster. Energy surged again, filling his arm, and his knuckles connected squarely under the killer’s chin.

THWACK!

The man’s head snapped back violently as his body lifted off the ground and crashed into the wall for the second time. His knife clattered uselessly across the floor.

Issei didn’t stop. His rage wouldn’t let him.

He lunged forward, fists raining down in a barrage of wild, furious blows. Each punch landed with meaty thuds, driving the man further into the wall, his face a bloody ruin beneath the onslaught.

“THIS—” BAM! “IS—” BAM! “FOR—” BAM! “THEM!”

By the time Issei stepped back, his chest heaving, the killer collapsed into a heap on the floor. His face was swollen and broken, blood spilling from his nose and mouth. His breath rattled weakly, but he was no longer moving to attack. Hopefully, Issei broke his neck or skull, but unlikely.

Issei’s fists trembled. His knuckles throbbed with pain, but the adrenaline drowned it out. He turned, eyes wide, heart racing, and looked at the mother and daughter.

They stared back at him, both shocked, both afraid, but also relieved. Not able to believe that someone actually came to help them.

He swallowed hard, kneeling down beside them. “A-are you two okay?” His voice shook, not just from exertion, but from the storm of emotions still coursing through him. But Issei asked with a voice full of worry and kneeling down to check their injuries.

The girl kept one hand pressed against her mother’s side, eyes wide and rimmed red with tears. “Y-yes, but Kaa-san, Kaa-san is injured,” The girl stammered, voice small and high. Her brown school uniform was neat but smeared with a little blood on the sleeve. She kept glancing between Issei and her mother like a child trying to be brave for both of them.

The mother’s lips curved into a thin, brave smile despite the pallor of her face. “It’s fine, Yuuka. It doesn’t hurt that badly,” She lied and the lie was painfully obvious. The way her hand trembled, the sweat cooling on her brow, the faint white of the skin around the blood made the lie brittle.

“Listen, I need you to go to a phone and call the hospital and the police. Tell them there’s a stabbing at this address. I don’t know the number for any hospitals around here, so you’ve got to do it. Quick, okay?”

The girl’s eyes fluttered up, panic and indecision warring in them. “B-but, Okaa-san—” she began, concerned about leaving her mother’s side.

The mother’s hand tightened around Yuuka’s, an instinctive, weary squeeze. “Go. I’ll be fine. I promise. You run and call for help.” Her voice was thin but resolute, practiced for a parent who could push fear down when needed.

Issei planted both hands on his knees and leaned in with a look that was half-command, half-reassurance. “I’ll take care of her, I promise. Also someone has to make sure he doesn’t get up. If you go, you’ll get help faster. Trust me.” His gaze was sharp and steady, the sort of look that said he meant it and would stand by it.

The effect on Yuuka was immediate. Her shoulders eased a fraction; the tremor left her hands. There was a small, involuntary flutter in her chest, not surprising, considering she’d just watched a teenage boy punch a grown man through a wall to save them. She nodded once, firm, then turned and bolted out the door.

—---------------------------

Mother’s POV

The room smelled thick of iron. Every breath Hana Misuki took made the wound in her side throb, sharp pain blooming with each inhale. She pressed her hand against it, though her strength was slipping fast. Blood seeped through her fingers, warm and sticky.

Her daughter was gone now, racing to find a phone, her footsteps still echoing faintly in Hana’s ears. That absence left Hana alone with the stranger, the boy who had charged in like a storm and beaten her attacker bloody.

Her gaze lingered on him. He was crouched near the fallen killer, brown eyes darting between her and the unconscious monster as though expecting the man to rise again at any moment. His expression kept shifting from worry, anger,and determination like he was fighting with himself.

He had messy dark-brown hair, a strong jaw still boyish around the edges, and an oddly open face that would’ve been handsome if not for the faint perverted look baked into his features. He looked quite young.

Hana’s lips parted, her voice hoarse but curious. “…Why did you rescue us?”

The boy blinked, caught off guard. He turned to her with an incredulous look, as if she had asked the dumbest question in the world.

“That’s stupid,” He said bluntly, almost snapping. “I heard someone yell for help. What other reason is there?”

Her heart clenched as realization dawned. He was talking about her daughter’s desperate cry. That voice had reached him when no one else came.

But still, she pressed. “But why? Why come at all? What if it was a situation you couldn’t possibly win?” Her words were soft, more a test than a rebuke. She wanted to understand this reckless boy.

He frowned, brows furrowing, and for a moment she could see the fear flickering behind his bravado. But his words came out clear and certain, carrying a weight that didn’t match his years.

“Listen, lady,” He muttered, irritation lacing his tone, “when you truly want to save someone, thoughts of reasoning, gains, and consequences… they don’t matter anymore.” His voice had that stupid kind of honesty.

Hana felt her throat tighten. She wasn’t satisfied yet. Her curiosity pushed again, though her body trembled with the effort of speaking. “…But why? We are strangers. Nothing connects us. If it were the other way around, I… I would not risk my life, or my daughter’s, for a complete stranger.”

The boy looked at her for a long moment. His jaw set.

“Well,” he said finally, voice quieter but no less firm, “I guess that makes you and me different. And that’s fine, there's nothing wrong with how you feel. But me? I’ll never allow someone to die in front of me if I can prevent it. Not if I’m standing right there.”

Hana blinked. The world swam for a moment, her vision fuzzy with pain, but his words cut through it like sunlight. He sounded so foolishly certain. Foolish… and yet, it worked.

Something in her heart eased. His ridiculous honesty carried more weight than clever speeches ever could. And just like her daughter had looked at him earlier, Hana felt a warmth stir inside her, gratitude, relief, and something softer she refused to name.

She let herself smile, even though blood stained her lips. “…My name is Hana Misuki,” she whispered, forcing the words out steadily, as though to honor his resolve. She gave him her best smile, battered though it was.

The boy blinked, then smiled back, sheepish and awkward but genuine. “Mine’s Hyoudou Issei. A pleasure to meet you.”

—---------------------------

The front door slammed open, and Yuuka stumbled back into the blood-soaked room, panting heavily. Her eyes darted from her mother to Issei, then to the groaning heap of the defeated man on the floor.

“They’re coming!” She gasped, voice cracking. “The police and an ambulance—I called both! They’re on their way!”

Issei exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Relief rippled through his chest, but he didn’t let himself relax. His eyes stayed locked on the killer sprawled on the floor, fists clenched, ready to strike again if the man so much as twitched.

Outside, faint at first and then swelling louder, came the high-pitched wail of sirens. The sound grew sharper, bouncing off the narrow streets and growing closer until the flashing red-and-blue lights painted the walls of the house.

Within moments, medics burst inside—boots squeaking against the wooden floor, voices clipped and efficient. Their eyes widened for only an instant at the scene before professionalism snapped back in. Two of them dropped to Hana’s side, kneeling in the pool of blood with practiced calm.

“Female, mid-to-late thirties, deep laceration to the abdomen, significant blood loss,” one muttered to the other.

“We need to move her now. Stabilize later.”

Issei scooted back, giving them room as they worked. He watched with tight fists as they checked Hana’s pulse, applied pressure with fresh bandages, and then carefully slid her onto a stretcher. Yuuka clung to her mother’s hand until the very last moment, only letting go when the medics began to lift.

“Kaa-san!” Yuuka cried, voice breaking.

“I’ll be alright,” Hana whispered faintly, her smile brave though her face was pale. Her eyes lingered on Issei for one last moment, a silent gratitude shining through the haze of pain, before the medics carried her swiftly out the door.

Yuuka surged forward, instinct pulling her after her mother, but then stopped, trembling in place. Her hands balled into fists at her sides as she watched the stretcher disappear into the night. She wanted—needed—to follow, but hesitation rooted her. The sirens outside grew louder, mixing now with the deeper sound of police vehicles arriving.

“I… I should stay,” She whispered, half to herself. “If I go with her now, I’ll just get in the way…”

Issei glanced at her, reading the conflict in her eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but the sharp stomp of boots cut him off.

The police entered—two men in dark uniforms, followed by a woman with a firm gaze. They fanned out quickly, taking in the crime scene. Their eyes flicked from the unconscious man slumped against the wall, to the blood-soaked floor, to Issei and Yuuka standing near the center of it all.

“Secure the suspect,” One barked.

The second officer crouched by the killer, yanking his arms behind his back and snapping cuffs around his wrists. The man groaned faintly, his ruined face twitching, but he offered no real resistance.

The woman officer looked up sharply. “Do we have an ID?”

The cuffing officer checked the man’s pockets, pulling out a wallet. A quick glance was enough. His face paled.

“Ryuunosuke Uryuu, ma’am… I believe it’s him. The one from the reports. The mass murderer, the one that’s been targeting women and children all across Fuyuki.”

Yuuka gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Issei’s stomach dropped. ‘So this bastard… he wasn’t just some random psycho. He was the one who’s been terrorizing this whole city.’

The officers exchanged grim looks. The woman turned back to Issei and Yuuka. “We’ll need both of you to come to the station. Standard procedure. We just need to ask you some questions about what happened here.”

Issei swallowed, forcing himself to stand straighter even as his knuckles throbbed. “Yeah. Sure.” His voice was flat, weary.

Yuuka nodded quickly, eyes still wide and shimmering with tears. “Of course…”

As the killer was dragged out under heavy guard, the weight of what had just happened settled over the blood-stained living room. The nightmare was over—but the echoes of it still clung to the walls, heavy and suffocating.

--------------------------------

Outside Fuyuki Police department 8:30 pm

The cool winter night air of Fuyuki greeted Issei as he stepped through the police station’s glass doors. The sharp tang of cigarettes lingered in the air from a couple of officers smoking by the entrance, and the muffled hum of traffic buzzed beyond the streetlights. His sneakers scuffed against the pavement as he dragged himself out, shoulders sagging under the weight of the interrogation that had just ended.

He tilted his head back and groaned. “My god, that took forever…” His voice cracked with exhaustion, his breath steaming faintly in the evening chill. “I swear those cops had an infinite supply of questions. If they asked me one more time about what I was doing in the neighborhood, I was gonna snap.”

A rumbling laugh echoed in his mind, warm and mocking at once. (Nice job fooling the police, Partner. Never thought you had it in you. That little story about visiting relatives? Hah! You almost sounded convincing.)

Issei’s eye twitched as he rubbed his temple. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. What else was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, officer, don’t mind me, I just fell out of another dimension and decided to punch a serial killer into next week.’” He huffed, glaring at the dark street as if it had personally wronged him. “They’d have thrown me into a padded room.”

(Still…) Ddraig’s voice thrummed with amusement. (Couldn’t you have thought of something better than ‘lost while visiting relatives’? You made it sound like you wandered into a murder scene by accident. Which, I guess, you did, but still…)

Issei groaned, dragging his hands down his face. 

Ddraig chuckled again, the sound like distant thunder rolling over mountains. (Now you did well, Partner. Sure, it was nothing fancy, but you saved them. You acted without thinking of yourself. That’s what being a hero is.)

Issei froze mid-step, a flush creeping onto his cheeks. He snapped his head toward the gauntlet, whispering harshly, “Don’t you start too! It’s bad enough I’m probably gonna show up in tomorrow’s paper as ‘mystery high schooler stops serial killer.’ Ughhh…” He groaned and kicked at a loose pebble on the ground. “I’m just glad I made it in time.”

(You should be thanking Sherri more than me.)

The calm, feminine voice chimed from his right wrist. “That is correct. Master, I would appreciate it if you did not take such risks so recklessly.”

Issei stopped walking, raising his wrist with a glare. “Don’t tell me you think it was wrong to help them.”

“You misunderstand.” Sherri’s voice was as even as ever, but there was the faintest echo of disapproval in her tone. “I do not question the action itself. I question the method. When you powered your body with raw mana, you nearly destroyed yourself. If I had not intervened to regulate the flow, you would have overloaded and caused catastrophic damage to your arms.”

The blood drained from Issei’s face. His lips parted, his skin turning pale beneath the streetlamp glow. “…Wait. What do you mean by ‘catastrophic damage’?”

“Quite literally.” Sherri’s tone was clinical, as though reading from a textbook. “Your arms would have exploded.”

Issei went stiff. His hands trembled as he stared down at them, fingers flexing instinctively as if checking to make sure they were still attached. “…Exploded?!” he croaked, his voice cracking like a boy hitting puberty for the first time.

Ddraig’s laugh rumbled through his chest, loud and unrestrained. (Bwahaha! The look on your face right now, Partner—it’s priceless!)

Issei spun, waving his arms wildly. “This isn’t funny! You’re telling me I almost blew off my own arms like some kind of Gag skit?!” His voice echoed down the quiet street, drawing a few odd glances from pedestrians passing by. He immediately hunched his shoulders and lowered his tone, muttering, “Great. Now everyone thinks I’m a lunatic talking to myself…”

(If you had used the Boosted Gear properly it wouldn’t have happened, but that is true, Partner. Be careful. I know you’re new to this magic stuff, but don’t be careless in how you use it.) Ddraig’s voice had lost its teasing edge; this time it carried a weight of genuine warning.

Issei glanced down at his hands, brow furrowed. “Wait… so that was what I did back there?” His voice came out almost childlike, a mix of awe and dawning terror.

Sherri answered before the dragon could. Her calm, precise tone flowed from the glowing watch like a soft breeze against the night. “Correct, Master. You drew the energy from your body and focused it into your arms to give yourself extra power, breaking your physical limitations. But do remember—you have no control over it. Especially since you only just received this power when I absorbed it from the surrounding plants earlier tonight.”

Issei’s eyes widened. He looked at his fists as though they belonged to someone else. “So I… actually did that? On my own?” He whispered.

A low chuckle echoed in his mind. (What you did sounds a bit like senjutsu to me.)

Issei blinked and tilted his head. “Sen… what now?”

(Senjutsu.) Ddraig’s tone shifted into the rhythm of an old teacher explaining to a stubborn student. (It’s the ability to harmonize with the Earth, to take in natural life force and use it as your own power source. But we’re getting off track.)

He paused for a moment, then added more quietly, (Partner, remember, your body is still weak. You can’t even handle most of the power you’ve collected. And you can forget about mastering the Boosted Gear at the level you’re at right now. One wrong move and you’ll tear yourself apart.)

Issei swallowed, his throat dry. He could feel the weight of the dragon’s words pressing down on him like an invisible hand. ‘So I’m basically walking around with a nuke I don’t know how to disarm… great.’

Sherri’s voice followed, softer this time but no less firm. “Just remember, Master, I will be here to help you—in battle as well as in life.”

Issei exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “Yeah… thanks for that. I mean, you even gave me directions back there. How did you do that anyway? You told me exactly how to dodge that psycho’s attack like you’d already seen it happen.”

The watch’s glow pulsed faintly as Sherri replied. “Master, I am essentially a supercomputer. Predicting the most likely path of an object using your eyes and environmental data is child’s play. More importantly, the Dimensional Watch possesses a high-depth sensor capable of scanning over a ten-kilometer radius. Anything within that range which is a threat to you will be detected. In addition to that, I can regulate the amount of power you draw from your core to ensure you do not overexert your physical limitations.”

Issei blinked, taking a step back as he processed the explanation. “So basically… you’re my own personal danger radar and power regulator rolled into one.”

“That is an acceptable simplification,” Sherri replied.

Issei let out a long sigh, shoulders slumping. “Okay… okay, I’ll try to be careful,” he muttered, the words tasting like defeat on his tongue. He ran a hand through his messy brown hair, eyes drifting toward the neon glow of a nearby vending machine. ‘Man… I’ve got a long way to go. I don’t even know what I’m doing and I’m already on the news.’

Ddraig rumbled low in his chest, somewhere between a laugh and a growl. (Good. Admitting it is the first step. Now stop looking so gloomy—you’re alive, they’re alive, and your arms are still attached. That’s already a win.)

Issei gave a weak chuckle despite himself. “Yeah… when you put it like that…” He dropped his gaze back to the watch, the glow reflecting in his tired eyes. “Guess I’m just gonna have to survive long enough to get good at this.”

The streetlamps buzzed faintly overhead, their glow cutting through the shadows along the narrow road. Issei leaned against the railing near the steps, still replaying everything that had happened. His knuckles throbbed, his stomach growled, and his mind was a storm of conflicting emotions.

“Issei-san!”

The sudden voice pulled him from his thoughts. He blinked, turning just in time to see Yuuka rushing out of the station doors, waving one hand high above her head. Her school uniform was slightly rumpled, the sleeve still smudged with traces of dried blood, but her face carried a small, relieved smile.

Issei straightened, scratching his cheek awkwardly. “Yuuka-san, are you free to go too?”

“Yeah,” She said, jogging up to him and stopping just a few feet away. Her breath puffed faintly in the cold night air. “It was a bit hard telling them everything, but at least that monster is in jail now… and in a coma.” Her smile flickered, relief and lingering fear mixing in her expression.

Issei froze. His brows furrowed as her words sank in. A coma. He didn’t know how to feel about that. Part of him was glad the bastard couldn’t hurt anyone else. But another part, an angry, gnawing part, hated that someone so vile got to just lie in a hospital bed, alive, while his victims would carry scars forever.

He clenched his fists before forcing himself to relax. ‘Damn it… I don’t even know if I should feel satisfied. That guy deserved worse. Way worse.’

Yuuka’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Issei-san, I also wanted to ask…” She hesitated, twisting the hem of her sleeve nervously. “Where are you staying?”

“Staying?” He echoed dumbly, tilting his head. Then it clicked, and his face went pale. “Ah, shit. I don’t have a place to stay for the week…” His stomach growled loudly in protest, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since before the whole ordeal began. “And I haven’t even had dinner yet,” He muttered under his breath.

Yuuka’s eyes lit up in surprise, and then—unexpectedly—in happiness. “Really?!” She blurted, a little too loudly, before quickly softening her tone. “I-I mean… if you want, you could stay with Kaa-san and me until you have to leave.”

Issei blinked, his brain short-circuiting for a moment. “What? Are you sure that’s a good idea?” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, avoiding her gaze. “I mean… what would your dad say about a boy living in your house?”

Yuuka’s expression hardened slightly, but there was a strange relief in her eyes. “That old man is no longer with us,” She said simply, voice laced with something between bitterness and finality. “Good riddance too. But it’s fine. Mom already called and said it would be okay.”

Issei’s mouth opened, then closed again. He wanted to ask, but the weight in her tone told him not to. He wasn’t the type to pry into wounds he didn’t understand. Still, something about it tugged at him—a reminder that she and her mom had more scars than the ones visible.

‘They’ve already been through enough… and now she’s offering me a place to stay?’ The thought made guilt twist in his gut. He shook his head. “Are you really sure you want me to stay? Because, just so you know, I’m a huge pervert.” He blurted it out without hesitation, his voice almost too blunt. “All I think about are breasts and sex. For all you know, I could be some kind of rapist.”

Yuuka’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly at his unabashed confession. She stared at him for a long moment, shock flickering across her face. Then, slowly, her shoulders relaxed. She bit her lip, then looked down, her cheeks dusted pink. Somehow, instead of fear, she felt… reassured by his honesty.

“I know you would never hurt Kaa-san or me,” She said quietly, fingers fidgeting as she poked their tips together in a nervous little motion. “And I know… you would protect us. You already showed me that today.” Her blush deepened as she glanced up at him through her lashes.

Issei’s face went red in an instant. His heart thumped like a drum in his chest, heat rushing to his ears. ‘What the hell is with this girl?! She’s blushing at me? After I basically confessed I’m a pervert? And why is she poking her fingers together like that—it’s too cute!’

He looked away quickly, gripping the railing to steady himself. But deep down, he felt something stir—a warmth that was more than just embarrassment.

Still, before he could accept, he felt he had to say one more thing. Something that was always at the core of who he was. He turned back to her, his expression a mix of sheepishness and stubborn honesty.

“Is it really okay?” he asked, his voice low but earnest. “Because you should know… my dream is to become the Harem King. So do you really want a pervert like me in your home?”

Yuuka blinked in shock, her mouth falling open slightly. “Harem King!” She repeated, almost breathless.

The words hung in the cool night air like something ridiculous and impossible—yet he had said it with absolute honesty, no shame in his tone and no hesitation in his eyes. That bluntness caught her off guard. Any other boy would have hidden such a perverted dream, laughed it off, or lied. But not him. Hyoudou Issei had blurted it out as naturally as breathing.

Her thoughts swirled. ‘Could I really accept something like that?’ The idea of sharing someone’s attention, of having to stand among other women for his affection, tugged at her pride. It felt wrong, unfair… and yet, when she looked at him, standing there with that sheepish grin and tired eyes, her heart softened. Against her better judgment, her mind whispered, Yes.

Because this was the boy who had risked everything for her and her mother. The boy who didn’t hesitate to charge into danger when no one else would.

“I see…” Yuuka finally said, her voice low but steady. “What an… interesting dream.” She smiled faintly, though her cheeks still burned red. “But still, I must repay you for helping us in our time of need.”

Issei waved his hands quickly, his goofy smile spreading wide across his face. “You don’t have to repay me anything! Just as long as you and your mom are safe, that’s enough for me.”

Something about that smile, so carefree, so unshaken despite the blood and fear they had just gone through, made Yuuka’s heart beat faster. She felt her blush deepen, her chest tightening in a way she didn’t fully understand.

She turned her face slightly to hide it and nodded. “Well… let’s go to my house, Issei. Because I’ll tell you right here and now—you will stay with us.”

For a moment, Issei blinked in surprise, then chuckled, scratching his cheek awkwardly. “…Okay.”

With that, the two of them began walking side by side down the quiet street, the neon lights of the police station fading behind them. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of water from the river nearby. Neither spoke immediately, both wrapped in the lingering weight of what had happened.

Finally, Yuuka broke the silence, her voice soft but curious. “By the way… how old are you, Issei?”

“Sixteen,” He replied without hesitation, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. “And you, Yuuka?”

“Seventeen,” she answered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Issei gave a short laugh, his grin crooked. “Guess that makes you older than me.”

For some reason, Yuuka’s lips curved into a small smile. Walking beside him in the quiet streets of Fuyuki, she realized she didn’t mind that at all.

Finally done. Tell me what you think of Chapter 2 Remastered.