The sky over Kuoh was absurdly clear that noon, with white clouds lazily dissolving into the deep blue above the city's rooftops.
The constant sound of cars, scattered conversations, and the chime of the shopping mall's automatic doors created a soft soundtrack for the calm bustle of an ordinary day.
Or at least, it would have been ordinary if not for the trio crossing the main entrance of the city's largest shopping mall.
Kazuya walked in the center, his hands occupied by those of the two beauties flanking him. He wore something simple yet impeccably aligned with his laid-back charisma: lightweight black pants, a white dress shirt with two buttons undone at the collar, and a casual dark blue jacket that fell nicely over his broad shoulders and relaxed posture. His tousled white hair fell lightly over his blue eyes, as clear and languid as the sky above.
To his right, Ereshkigal. She wore a summer dress in cream and gold tones, with black accents that complemented her ivory-pale skin and golden hair that cascaded like silk down her back. A small white hat adorned her head, while her reddish-brown eyes, curious and slightly shy, darted away whenever she noticed someone staring too long. She kept her hand delicately intertwined with Kazuya's, her slender fingers lightly brushing his palm in an almost instinctive gesture.
On his left, Ishtar. Unlike her sister, the goddess exuded presence. Black leather shorts, thigh-high boots, and a sleeveless red top, slightly loose, with a neckline just bold enough to draw eyes like magnets. Her black hair swayed freely, and her ruby-red eyes gleamed with a permanent half-moon of smug satisfaction. A gold necklace and some bracelets completed the ensemble. She walked as if daring the world to look away and only tightened her grip on Kazuya's hand whenever someone did.
"This place is noisy…" Ishtar grumbled, her lips curling into a pout that couldn't hide the satisfied glint in her eyes. "But I guess the vibe works. Sun, pretty people… and me in the middle of it all as the incredible Goddess I am. Perfect."
"You always complain about enclosed spaces," Kazuya commented, his voice low and laced with a serenity that felt almost lazy. He glanced at the goddess out of the corner of his eye. "But you haven't stopped checking your reflection in the shop windows since we got here."
"It's quality control!" Ishtar shot back, her face flushing slightly as she leaned toward him, playfully nudging his muscular arm with her free hand. "If I'm going to be by your side, I need to make sure my appearance is flawless at all times!"
On the other side, Ereshkigal let out a soft laugh, her demeanor shy as if she wanted to hide behind her golden hair. "A-am I pretty, Kazuya?"
Kazuya gave a faint sigh, leaning down to lightly kiss the top of her head, making Ereshkigal blush to the tips of her ears. "Of course you are, Eresh. Sorry I didn't compliment you earlier; I've had a lot on my mind lately…"
"I-it's okay, Kazuya…"
Ishtar cleared her throat loudly. "Hmph. Don't think I'm going to let you monopolize him, you spoiled golden-haired girl!"
"I-I'm not monopolizing anything!" Ereshkigal defended herself, though a faint smile still played on her lips.
"Hmph, while you two were being all clingy with each other, you didn't see what just happened…" Ishtar remarked, lowering her voice just enough for only them to hear, her lips curling into a sharp smile. "A girl who passed by us nearly tripped trying to stare over here. Hah! I told you these shorts were a hit."
She spun briefly on her heels, her black hair following the movement like a living veil of ink, before shooting Kazuya a narrowed, challenging look.
"Admit it, Kazuya. I'm fabulous."
"You're always fabulous," he replied with his usual lazy smile, knowing that the proud Ishtar fished for compliments this way. His half-lidded blue eyes met hers as if admiring a familiar yet still captivating work of art. "But I wouldn't expect less from a goddess who makes it her mission to remind the world of it."
"Ha! I knew it!" Ishtar puffed out her chest, proud, and squeezed his hand as if claiming a victory. But she quickly cleared her throat and looked away, her cheeks taking on a traitorous pink hue. "N-not that your opinion matters *that* much, idiot! I just… well, I need to maintain my standards for my audience, that's all!"
Ereshkigal smiled quietly at the scene, her reddish-brown eyes sparkling with genuine warmth. This was the first time they'd gone out together in a city without the threat of the world ending. They had strolled at night in Uruk once before the battle against Tiamat, and again afterward, though that had been more of a farewell since the Singularity was coming to an end.
But setting that aside, she glanced at Kazuya and, unable to help herself, let slip, "You always… make any place feel better, Kazuya. I think even the underworld would seem more beautiful if you were there."
Kazuya let out a low, soft, and husky laugh, this time giving her hand a gentle squeeze, making Ereshkigal blush and look away.
"I hope I don't have to visit anytime soon, but… if it's with you, even the underworld would do."
Ishtar bit her lip to keep from smiling at the scene, her traitorous heart beating a little faster. She hated to admit it, but… that idiot Ereshkigal had her moments. And it wasn't like she didn't get it. Kazuya had that effect. He wasn't just impossibly handsome in this reincarnation or indecently charismatic like when he was Chaldea's Master. He was… himself. The kind of person who could make even a proud goddess like her feel at home just by being near.
"Okay, okay, enough romantic drama," Ishtar grumbled, hiding her own slightly goofy expression as she gestured with her chin toward the massive bookstore ahead. "There's a fashion magazine section I want to check out. And I'm not letting you two ditch me in the middle of the mall."
"You're literally holding my hand, Ishtar…" Kazuya said, raising an eyebrow.
"Details! You know how it is; these places are full of clueless guys, and I'm way too gorgeous to walk alone. Besides, if I go, who's going to stop you from falling for that ice cream shop clerk's charm again?"
"I never fell for any charm…" Kazuya said, his voice laced with that implicit humor only he could pull off. "She just gave me three scoops of ice cream for the price of one. Quality service, that's all."
Earlier that day, after leaving the mansion, they'd come to the mall at Ishtar's insistence, and the first thing they did was get ice cream. That's when the incident happened—Kazuya getting two extra scoops for free because the clerk was all over him. Not that he had much to say about it. It just felt good to be the target of female affection like that; it stroked his ego a bit.
"Ha! Quality service, my foot. I was there; I saw how she looked at you. And you with that good-guy face… pathetic," Ishtar huffed, her expression displeased.
On the other side, Ereshkigal covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, her eyes now sparkling with genuine amusement.
The three soon headed to the bookstore at a leisurely pace.
The bookstore was immense, with shelves so tall they seemed to defy architectural laws, and the scent of fresh paper mixed with the air conditioning created an almost sacred atmosphere for book lovers. Ishtar marched straight to the magazine section, dragging Kazuya along, while Ereshkigal lingered behind for a few seconds, admiring the glossy covers and colorful signs.
In no time, Ishtar practically tossed a fashion magazine into his hands.
"Look at this one. Summer hair, trends, cursed accessories—totally my divine collection vibe."
He raised an eyebrow. "Cursed accessories? Like… limited edition or actually cursed?"
Ishtar shrugged, a feline smile playing on her lips. "With me, you never know."
While she flipped through the magazines, Kazuya wandered off to the manga section. His fingers grazed the colorful spines until he found some new editions of series that were a bit bland in this world but, after some searching, spotted a few that might be interesting.
"Jackpot," he murmured, tossing the manga into the basket he'd grabbed without realizing.
It didn't take long for Ereshkigal to appear, carrying two books: one about underworld architecture across different cultures and another of ancient poetry.
Kazuya shot her an amused look.
"Sure that's not too heavy for you?"
"It's just paper," she said, flashing a calm smile with a glint of pride in her eyes. "Unlike certain impulsive divinities, I read about things before blowing them up."
"Did you hear that, Ishtar?" Kazuya called, knowing the goddess was just a few steps away.
"I heard, I heard," Ishtar grumbled, emerging from behind a shelf with three magazines. "And my response is: if it doesn't explode, it's no good."
He let out a low laugh and headed to the checkout with both of them. The cashier, a teenage boy, was visibly nervous around the trio, his eyes darting between Ishtar's breathtaking beauty, Ereshkigal's gentle smile, and Kazuya's lethally laid-back gang-leader aura.
"That'll be… 24,300 yen, sir," the boy said, trying not to choke.
Kazuya swiped his card like it was nothing, while the two goddesses exchanged knowing glances. As they left, he carried the bag of books in one hand instead of stashing it in his [Inventory] with so many people around.
Ishtar seized the opportunity and immediately looped her arm through his, the one holding the bag, with a smug little smile. "My spot."
Kazuya raised an eyebrow but didn't complain, as if he knew it was easier to let it slide.
"And I'll take this one," Ereshkigal said, and Kazuya offered his free hand, which she took without hesitation, their fingers intertwining.
Thus, the three continued through the mall, drawing stares from everyone they passed. Ishtar leaned a bit closer to him.
"Alright, reckless human. You've got the goddess of war and the queen of the underworld escorting you. Feeling important yet?"
Kazuya flashed that lethal, serene half-smile. "I feel at home."
Ereshkigal blushed faintly but kept her grip on his hand firm. Ishtar looked away, hiding a goofy smile, and the three figures continued through the golden light of noon, leaving behind a trail of racing hearts and discreet sighs.
After that small shopping trip, the three headed to a clothing store, which, in Kazuya's eyes, was unnecessary since Servants could materialize any outfit with magical energy and a mental image. He never fully understood the mechanics, but he found it useful. Still, after what happened there, he wasn't complaining—it was a privilege in itself to see his Servants parading in various outfits for him.
The trouble started when Ishtar, after trying on a black jumpsuit, pulled back the fitting room curtain, peeked around, and called Kazuya with a suspicious little smirk. "I need help with the zipper. And maybe something else." He should've said no. Really. But with Ishtar looking at him like that, the word vanished from his vocabulary. What followed was exactly the kind of incident that would make the gods sigh and roll their eyes, and it got even more chaotic when Ereshkigal, red to her ears, decided to "see what was going on" and slipped into the fitting room too.
Apparently, gods have a very elastic concept of personal space.
Of course, it couldn't last long. A store employee knocked on the door seconds later with an irritated "This isn't a hotel room!" and they had to leave as if nothing had happened. Ishtar fixed her hair like she was on a runway, Ereshkigal could barely look at her own reflection, and Kazuya… well, he just pretended nothing happened.
After the clothing store fiasco, they headed to the cinema.
At the movies, things only got worse—or better, depending on who was telling the story. Ishtar picked a futuristic action flick with spaceships, shootouts, and a protagonist as bold as she was. Kazuya barely saw half the movie since Ishtar spent the entire time draped over his shoulder, muttering about how she'd have handled the plot with far more style and destruction. Meanwhile, Ereshkigal, who'd chosen the seat on his other side, tried to focus on the screen, but every time Kazuya's arm accidentally (or "accidentally") brushed hers, her attention evaporated faster than a poorly cast spell.
When the lights came up, he was slouched in his seat, one arm around each goddess, sporting the grin of someone who'd just cleared the secret route of a mythological dating sim.
Afterward, they wandered the mall's corridors aimlessly. Ishtar dragged them to a perfume store, testing fragrances with absurd names and spraying half the samples on Kazuya just to "see how they reacted with his scent." Ereshkigal, meanwhile, convinced him to check out one of those shops full of useless but charming trinkets, like cat-shaped lamps and notebooks with embroidered covers.
Fortunately, after a few more stops, they finally decided to head to the food court.
The afternoon sun lazily filtered through the mall's large glass windows in Kuoh, casting golden light over the crowded tables of the food court. Ryougi Kazuya threw himself into a plastic chair with the ease of someone who solemnly ignored physical exhaustion. Across from him, Ishtar expertly balanced three trays piled with food and a liter of soda. Ereshkigal followed close behind, more reserved, holding just an iced tea and a plate of curry.
"These mortals know how to cook, I'll admit," Ishtar said, already snatching a fry with her teeth. "It's not Uruk, but it's not as bad as I expected."
Kazuya snorted, pushing his own tray—a double burger that looked ridiculously appetizing—toward the center of the table. "You're only saying that because you threatened the cashier when he said they were out of nuggets."
"It wasn't a threat," Ishtar countered with a charming and utterly dangerous smile. "It was… divine persuasion."
Ereshkigal sighed, carefully setting her drink on the table. "You two caused four minor commotions in three hours."
Kazuya just shrugged, resting his chin in his hand as his eyes scanned the surroundings. People came and went, voices blending into muffled echoes of laughter and the sound of trays being shuffled.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Until he saw something.
A few tables away, sitting with an overly casual expression, Hyoudou Issei was chatting animatedly with a dark-haired girl.
Ryougi froze for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly.
He recognized that girl.
Yuuma Amano. Or rather: Raynare.
The memory hit with the cold precision of a file being opened: fallen angel, enemy, responsible for Issei's death in the original events. She was the spark that ignited the powder keg that was High School DxD's story.
But something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Issei… he shouldn't be there. Not like that.
Kazuya had rewritten the core of Issei's personality, along with his two pervy sidekicks, twisting their emotions into an intense, not-so-subtle crush on Kiba Yuuto. A surgical adjustment, let's say, to eliminate some… future complications. Issei shouldn't even be interested in girls at this point.
Especially not Raynare.
What Kazuya didn't know, having skipped school that day, was that Raynare had been rejected by Issei for her original "date" proposal. In an attempt to improvise, she was now approaching him with a different strategy: pretending to be a friend and helping Issei with his crush, something she'd been working on for days—a far bigger headache than she'd anticipated.
"You're staring at that girl like she kicked a puppy," Ishtar commented, noticing his fixed gaze.
"She didn't kick one," Kazuya replied curtly. "But she'd probably kill without a second thought."
Ereshkigal discreetly turned to look. Her reddish-brown eyes narrowed for a moment.
"…That presence," she murmured. "She's not human."
Ishtar clicked her tongue. "I felt it too. Subtle, but wrong. Like cheap perfume covering old blood."
"I know her. Her name's Yuuma Amano," Kazuya said. "She's a fallen angel. She's supposed to try to kill Issei soon."
The two goddesses stared at him for a moment. Ishtar crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair with a lazy smile.
"So that's it? Want me to take care of her…" She raised her hand, a faint golden glow flickering at her fingertip as she pointed at the girl, her hand hidden in the gesture of crossing her arms so no one noticed. "One shot, and you won't have to worry about it anymore…"
Kazuya shook his head, a half-smile on his lips.
"Not yet. If you kill her, it'll probably cause a panic since we're in public. That'll draw too much attention. And besides… Issei might be an idiot, but he's not my problem…"
Though he could use a spell to alter people's memories, he didn't want to go through that unnecessary hassle for someone who wasn't worth it. Would it go against his goal of protecting humans? Not really…
Ereshkigal watched him for a few more seconds, as if weighing the value of intervening. Then she turned back to her plate.
Ishtar lets out a theatrical sigh. "You were way more dramatic when you were the last master of Chaldea, do you know?"
"And you two were less clingy," Kazuya shot back, already snagging a fry from her tray.
"Blatant lie," both replied in unison.
As the trio slipped back into their natural rhythm of teasing and eating, Kazuya kept one eye on the distant couple. He wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away; an idea was forming in his mind…