A few days after Kokabiel's attack, the Occult Research Club assembled after school, this time with a familiar face standing among us.
"Xenovia!? What are you doing here? And why the different uniform?" She was Xenovia, the Church's holy sword wielder, transferred only yesterday after entrance and academic exams.
"I'm Xenovia, now a Devil Knight, sworn to Rias." "Please welcome her," chimed Rias and Akeno, introducing Xenovia to the surprise of only Issei, Yuuto, and Asia, everyone else already sensed her presence via spiritual detection.
"I found out, there's no god. Desperate, I begged to become a demon."
"A holy sword wielder, fellow wielder of Durandal, joining us as a demon-soldier? That's wonderful," Rias said, smiling.
Issei staggered. "M-my Lady...?!"
But Xenovia turned to Asia:
"Asia Argento…I owe you an apology. Previously, I blamed you for not having enough faith. But if there is no god, then there could never have been salvation or love."
She bowed deeply. Asia met her with gentle eyes, her own forgiving smile emerging.
"If I may…would you be my friend?" Asia asked.
Xenovia blinked. "Me? Are you sure? I'm no one special."
"You've become one of the most important people in my life now, I'd be so happy to call you a friend!"
Xenovia smiled, moved. "…Please, show me around the school."
"Yes! I'd be honored!" Asia beamed as they clasped hands. The warmth was impossible to deny.
Issei groaned: "C-cute girls' friendship…just what a romance novel needs."
The club members watched the new friendship burst to life.
====================
Later that afternoon…
"Hey, Xenovia, where's Irina?" Issei asked.
"She took Excalibur back to headquarters. Fortunately, she wasn't told about God's death, telling her would've branded her a heretic. That's why she left." Xenovia replied quietly, shame in her eyes.
"She called me a traitor…when I became a demon. I couldn't even respond then."
She winced, wrapping her arm around her side. "I've wondered, was turning demon a mistake?" She prayed silently, clutching her heart.
Issei softened: "Hey, Xenovia's one of us now. Don't worry. If you need help or advice, we're here."
Xenovia's eyes glistened. "Thank you…actually, I have one request."
Issei perked up: "Anything, bring it on!"
She lowered her voice: "Will you…have a child with me?"
Time stopped. Rias choked on tea, Akeno dropped cookies, Asia froze. Issei simply went blank.
"…Uh, what? Say that again?" Issei stuttered, rebooting.
"Will you have a child with me?" she repeated calmly.
Rias' jaw dropped. Issei's mind spun. She explained:
"As a demon, I live by desire. Once, I held babies at the orphanage. It felt so joyous… I want to experience motherhood. With you. Because you carry the Dragon's blood. The Dragon Emperor's aura will live on in our child."
She paused. Issei's face paled.
"Why not Yuuto? Or someone else?" Rias interrupted.
"I thought, Yuuto is godly, but…you're Dragon-blooded. Your latent strength surpasses even the divine."
Issei gulped. "This…this is kinda logical but also...terrifying!"
Xenovia smiled gently: "If it's meant to be…shall we?" She stepped closer, taking his shirt in her grip. "We can go now, in the old building."
Issei's expression melted between horror and…excitement?
Rias and Asia lunged: "Wait, Issei!" Each holding one shoulder, clinging like life-rafts. Xenovia quipped: "If you won't…we'll be three, then."
The room erupted in chaos. Eventually, it resolved: Issei staggered home unchanged, still a virgin.
====================
That Sunday afternoon…
The club gathered at the school pool: algae-choked, stagnant, green, and smelly.
"Gross...we have to clean this?" Issei complained.
"It's kept full for fire safety and to keep the tiles from peeling," Akeno explained.
"The Student Council did cleanup after the war, now we're doing service. Then a pool-opening party!" Rias declared.
Within the hour, thanks to demon-level stamina and Issei eagerly scrubbing, it sparkled. They changed into swimwear: Rias in white bikini; Akeno in childhood-school swimsuit; Asia in school-styled swimsuit with her name emblazoned; Koneko in a cute orange-yellow bikini with pareo.
Issei building tension: "Rias, you're…like a goddess." Rias beamed. Asia blushed. Koneko flooded pink with praise. They swam, played volley-ball with magic, raced and relaxed like a beach resort, on school grounds.
"A race between Yuuto and Xenovia at noon?" Issei winked as they dove in.
"As Knights, it's only natural," Akeno grinned, joining.
Issei and Koneko sat poolside, watching friends dive into playful competition.
"Koneko's improved so much, remember last year?" Issei said.
She smiled quietly: "I'll win next time."
Memories blurred to the episode nearly one year prior: Koneko's waterfall training with Blackhauling, learning water-based spiritual techniques.
We teleported via Kuroka's magic circle to a secluded training spot with a sizable waterfall. After setting up a subtle barrier to ward off onlookers, we changed into gyo-i, the white, lightweight robes worn during waterfall ascetic training. Oddly, Kuroka undressed right there while I scrambled behind the rocks to change, typically, I'd think the guy would go first!
"All set, nya~n."
"I've finished changing as well."
Hearing their voices, I joined them and made my way toward the waterfall. Both Koneko and her sister were wearing thin white robes, and the sheer fabric hinted at skin underneath. Their tails lifted the hems just enough, it was excruciatingly distracting, and I had to avert my eyes.
The plunge pool was surprisingly deep. After a ten-meter swim, I reached the rocky ledge beneath the falls, but Koneko stopped where the water came up to her knees.
"Koneko? Are you okay?"
"Come along, Ikki, nya~!"
Koneko gestured oddly, almost stiffly. "I—I'll walk along the cliff wall and come round that way!" she declared firmly. Why avoid swimming?
Kuroka's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Koneko… could it be… that you can't swim?"
"Eh, really!?" I asked, turning to Koneko, who promptly looked away.
Sure enough: "We had pool classes at Komao's middle school, but I… avoided them because I felt uncomfortable in the water."
That explained why she was stuck. But what about Gremory's demon training program, didn't summer outings involve swimming?
She sighed and admitted: "Rias-san did take us to the beach a few times…but I mostly just watched. When I did go in, I used a float."
A float, that meant she had some exposure. She skimmed the water with it, flying out and back via her demon wings.
"Okay, then no waterfall training today. Let's switch to swimming practice. If you can't swim, you'll never manage winter training… I don't want to teach you to swim in freezing water!"
Koneko hung her head, apologizing, but I reminded her: avoiding something you're scared of is okay.
"Fortunately, we've got time. Let's go home, get swimsuits, and teleport somewhere shallow enough to practice. Thin robes just won't cut it."
Her eyes lit up. "Thank you… um, does Kuroka have a swimsuit?"
I hadn't thought of that, seeing as she's been on the run as a wanted demon.
"Hm? It might be okay to just stay as we are, maybe even go nude?" she said with mischievous nonchalance.
"No way!" I protested. I can imagine her cheekily deciding to go nude once she warms up, and I didn't want to be forced to supervise that.
We all shared a knowing look and nodded, then teleported to Kamao Town. We headed to a large department store's swimsuit section, staying cautious of other demons around.
"Rias, do you think Kuroka has a wardrobe besides her robes and pajamas? She doesn't seem to care for clothing."
Kuroka shrugged: "I've never been picky, I'm used to my clothes getting torn in rated games or from damage after experiments. I shared my wardrobe with other demon familiars who needed it."
Ah. That's… quite dark.
"Then why not get some modern clothes too? You can store them in a magic circle." I suggested.
Sure enough, we reached the women's swimsuit section: I made a dash to kill time.
"IIKKI?" Suddenly I was snatched from both sides. "Where are you going, silly?" Kuroka teased. "You're not escaping now, right?" Koneko chimed.
The two sisters dragged me into enemy territory, until suddenly everyone was staring. I was a single guy flanked by two beautiful demon girls in the swimwear section. Mortifying.
The three of us worked on picking Kuroka's swimsuit: I focused on bikinis that were stylish without being too revealing.
"Why do you insist on modest choices, Issei?" Koneko teased.
"Because I'm a 'charmer,' not a pornographic billboard!"
Typical. Eventually, Kuroka chose a green bikini with a tropical-floral print. We paid and moved into the clothing section.
"Now for modern outfits... choosing underwear for Kuroka is next, okay?" Koneko smiled sweetly.
Uh-oh.
I was dragged into the lingerie corner, and somehow made it out alive. Then I helped pick out everyday clothes, with Kuroka trying on some college-inspired outfits, she even let her hair down to try a different style.
We finished shopping, and our wallets lighter, we parted ways. I was totally wiped out.
====================
Now,
Koneko teased: "Laughing at Issei-san from before was so much fun."
"It showed me you're as naughty as Kuroka, could you tone down that saintly smile?"
I grin.
"I appreciate you both. Thanks for helping me learn to swim!" she said.
With demon stamina, she picked it up fast, though at first every kick sent water spraying like underwater fireworks.
"Alright, let's swim!"
So we spent the day: Me, Koneko, Yuuto, and Xenovia racing in the pool; Rias and Akeno playing rough underwater volleyball; Issei and Asia hugging the conflict zone, each of us utterly exhausted, but completely exhilarated.
=============
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