The Kuoh summer sun had turned the city into a boiling cauldron. And the school pool, promising salvation in its cool waters, demanded a general cleaning beforehand. So, under the scorching rays, forced labor commenced for the Occult Research Club. Issei, Kiba, Koneko, Asia, and even Akeno, armed with brushes, mops, and buckets, diligently scrubbed the tiled sides and bottom. Issei, of course, was more distracted by the figures of the girls in their summer uniforms flickering around him, but under Rias's strict gaze (she was directing the process with the air of a general), he still feigned vigorous activity. Kiba worked methodically, Koneko scrubbed ingrained dirt with unexpected strength, Asia diligently washed the steps, and Akeno hosed everything down, "accidentally" dousing Issei with cool jets of water.
And where was I, Izayoi Jin? Naturally, on a comfortable lounge chair under a wide beach umbrella, lazily sipping cold lemonade. I was wearing only swim trunks and sunglasses. After the recent battles and tension, this moment of peace felt earned. Cleaning? Spare me. My Student Council member status, foisted upon me by Sona Sitri, proved surprisingly useful for slacking off. I was "supervising."
"Hey, Hyoudou, three feet to the right, there's a stain the size of your head," I tossed out without opening my eyes when Issei got distracted again, ogling Akeno.
"W-what?!" Issei jumped and blushed, quickly returning to work amidst Akeno's giggles.
"Kiba, your technique is flawless, but put a little more energy into it," I added, addressing the Knight. "Imagine it's not dirt, but the remains of a holy sword."
Kiba just sighed heavily, but his movements did become a bit sharper.
"Koneko, you have the strength, but you lack delicacy. You're a Rook, not a battering ram."
Koneko shot me a brief disgruntled look but remained silent, continuing to work.
My "valuable instructions" clearly didn't add to the team's enthusiasm, but no one dared argue with me. Rias just shook her head disapprovingly.
Even my familiar, Kuro, contributed to the general atmosphere. The coal-black rabbit with crimson-tipped ears was busily splashing in the shallow water near the steps, chasing sunbeams on the water and snorting merrily when droplets hit his nose. His carefree nature contrasted sharply with the diligence (and my idleness) of the others.
Finally, the cleaning was finished. The pool shone with cleanliness, filling with clear blue water. Rias's team, tired but satisfied, washed off the grime in the shower and changed into swimsuits.
Rias in an elegant crimson bikini that emphasized her status and curves. Akeno in a seductive violet one, barely concealing her ample assets. Asia in a modest but cute light blue one with ruffles. Koneko in a simple school swimsuit—one-piece and dark blue.
And then Xenovia Quarta appeared at the entrance. Former exorcist, now a demon and Rias's Knight.
She was wearing a white swimsuit. If that collection of strings and scraps of fabric could even be called that. It signified the presence of clothing rather than actually hiding anything. The fabric stretched over her trained but feminine body so tightly it looked like it was about to burst.
"Xenovia! Join us!" Rias waved to her.
Xenovia nodded and walked toward them with the confident stride of a warrior.
"Impractical," she noted, tugging at a string on her hip that dug into her soft skin. "Useless for combat. Too vulnerable to grappling."
"It's for relaxing, Xenovia-chan!" Akeno laughed.
Xenovia shrugged and entered the water.
The fun began. Issei immediately tried to orchestrate an "accidental" collision with Xenovia, but she deftly dodged, awarding him a puzzled look. The girls laughed, splashing water. Kiba swam calmly. Kuro, growing bolder, swam up to Koneko and tried to steal a drop of water from her finger, earning a light flick on the nose.
I watched all this from behind my sunglasses, feeling a pleasant drowsiness enveloping me. Idyllic. An almost normal life.
But even this was destined to be interrupted.
After a while, Xenovia got out of the water. Her wet body glistened in the sun, droplets running down her curves, lingering in the valley of her chest and on her flat stomach. The thin white fabric of her swimsuit, now wet, became almost transparent, teasingly outlining dark areolas.
She grabbed a towel but didn't dry herself off. Instead, she headed straight for me. Her gait was determined, her gaze focused.
She stopped by my lounge chair, blocking the sun. Water droplets from her hair fell onto my chest, pleasantly cooling my heated skin.
"Izayoi Jin," her voice was level, but there was a strange vibration in it. "We need to talk. Alone."
I lowered my sunglasses slightly, meeting her direct, serious gaze. Her green eyes looked at me with an intensity that was unsettling.
"About what?" I asked, trying to remain unperturbed, though the view of her semi-nude body from this angle was… impressive.
"About something important," she replied, lowering her voice slightly. "About the future. Let's go to the utility shed. We won't be disturbed there."
She nodded toward a small single-story building at the edge of the pool where equipment was stored.
'Utility shed? Alone?' flashed through my mind.
Curiosity, mixed with suddenly awakened male interest, overcame my laziness. I stood up, feeling my heart rate accelerate slightly.
"Lead the way," I nodded.
We entered the small room. Inside, a twilight reigned, diluted only by a narrow beam of light breaking through a dusty window under the ceiling. The air was thick, warm, and humid, saturated with the smell of chlorine, old rubber rings, and… something sweet, floral. The scent of Xenovia herself.
She closed the door behind us. The click of the lock sounded unnaturally loud in the silence, cutting us off from the noise and laughter outside.
We were alone. In a cramped, enclosed space.
Xenovia leaned her back against the door and looked at me. In the half-light, her wet skin seemed to glow. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling, straining the thin straps of her swimsuit.
I stood opposite, hands in the pockets of my shorts, trying to understand what was happening. The atmosphere had changed instantly. It had become… viscous. Intimate.
'Okay, calm down, Jin,' I told myself.
But why was she silent? Why was she looking at me like that?
Xenovia took a step toward me. Her eyes glistened. She nervously bit her lip—a gesture completely uncharacteristic of her.
"Izayoi…" she began, and her voice trembled. "I've been thinking a lot lately. About what happened. About my faith. About what I've lost… and what I can gain."
She came even closer. Now only half a meter separated us. I could feel the heat radiating from her body.
'Damn it, is this a… flag?' the thought hit like a shock. 'A romantic flag? Here?'
My mind tried to find the catch, but my hormones and the setting screamed the opposite. A classic anime scene. A girl calls a guy to a secluded place. She's embarrassed. And I literally just need to not screw this up.
Could it be… could there be room for normal high school romance in this crazy world? Was this stern warrior actually just a girl who had… fallen in love?
I looked her over. Wet blue hair plastered to her neck. Collarbones with trembling water droplets. And that swimsuit… God, it was held together by a prayer! Those cutouts on the sides, revealing perfectly defined hips…
'She is fine,' I involuntarily admitted. 'Damn fine. Strong, beautiful, funny. If she confesses now… what do I do? Refuse? Or…'
My heart pounded treacherously. I felt my throat go dry. The atmosphere was heated to the limit. The air between us seemed to spark.
Xenovia looked me straight in the eye, her face crimson. She was clearly gathering her courage.
'Come on,' I mentally urged her, feeling a strange mix of fear and anticipation. 'Say it. Do it.'
"I realized what I need," she exhaled, taking a decisive step right up to me. "You. Your power. Your qualities."
'Oh yes. This is it. A confession!' I internally rejoiced.
I had already taken a breath to answer something like "I'm flattered, but let's start with a date," or maybe just pull her close, giving in to the moment…
"…Therefore," she continued in a firm, businesslike tone, staring at the bridge of my nose, "I propose you become the father of my child. Right now. It is a rational step to preserve a strong genetic line."
…
Silence.
Dead, ringing silence, in which only the sound of my romantic mood snapping like a string could be heard.
"What?" I asked dumbly.
Xenovia, not noticing my glazed look, nodded to herself, as if confirming the correctness of her conclusions.
"Analysis has shown that you possess the highest potential among all males within access radius. Your ability to suppress magic and your physical might are unique. My genes as a Durandal wielder plus your genes… This will produce offspring capable of surpassing even Gods. It is logical."
She said this with the same intonation she would use to order a pizza or discuss sharpening a sword. "Genes." "Males." "Offspring."
"Since the ovulation window is limited, and conditions are ideal—seclusion, absence of enemies," she reached for her neck, "I propose we commence the copulation process immediately."
Her fingers deftly pulled the ties. The knot came undone.
The fabric of the swimsuit, losing support, slowly slid down, revealing heavy, full, pale breasts with nipples hardened from arousal (or just the cold?).
"S-stop! What… what are you doing, you fool?!" I yelled, stumbling back and slamming my back into a shelf of buckets.
The crash of a falling bucket was like thunder.
Xenovia froze with her swimsuit half-down, blinking in confusion.
"What is the matter?" she was genuinely surprised. "Did I miscalculate something? Are you tired after swimming? Or…" she looked herself over critically. "Am I not attractive enough for your arousal?"
"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!?!" I screamed, feeling my face burning with hellfire. "Do you even hear yourself?!"
"But it is effective…" she began.
"TO HELL WITH EFFICIENCY!" I interrupted her, clutching my head.
It hit me.
'Damn DxD world!' I howled mentally, looking at this beautiful, half-naked girl who looked at me with the innocence of a child and the pragmatism of a robot. 'Why?! Why does everything in this world come down to either fighting or breeding?!'
I had, dammit, almost believed! I hoped for romance! For embarrassment! For a first kiss under the moon (or well, in a dark shed)! And what did I get? An application for insemination?!
It was like some surreal hentai where the plot was cut for being unnecessary!
"Do… do you even realize you killed the whole mood?!" I pointed a finger at her, trying not to look below her neck (which was damn hard). "Humans… normal beings… they date first! Get to know each other! Go to the movies! Hold hands! They don't rip their clothes off shouting 'let's breed in the name of eugenics'!"
"Given the information regarding the death of God," she parried with iron logic. "We need strong offspring to protect the world. Romance is a waste of time."
"Aaargh!" I groaned. "Hopeless! You are hopeless, you fool!"
"My answer is no!" I barked, turning to the door. "Categorical, absolute no! And put your clothes on, for the love of all that is holy!"
"But Jin…" she took a step toward me, and the swimsuit slid even lower.
"NO!" I threw the door open, letting in the bright light and sounds of the outside world.
I flew out of the shed like a cork from a bottle, nearly knocking over Kuro, who was peacefully chewing a blade of grass by the entrance. The rabbit jumped in fright, his ears turning crimson red, as if he understood what had been happening in there.
I raced away from the pool, cursing everything on earth.
'Damn demons! Damn ero-logic of this world!' I raged internally. 'I wanted to be a shonen hero, and I ended up in a cheap eroge!'
My heart was pounding somewhere in my throat. And the most insulting thing was that somewhere deep inside, under layers of indignation and shame, a tiny part of me treacherously whispered: 'But she was damn hot… You idiot, you just turned down the best offer of your life.'
"Shut up!" I barked at myself in my thoughts.
Xenovia remained standing in the twilight of the shed, staring at the closed door. She slowly pulled her swimsuit back up.
"Strange," she muttered, genuinely bewildered. "According to my calculations, the probability of consent was 98%. Maybe I chose the wrong location? Maybe I should have proposed it in the shower?"
She sighed. The logic of men remained a mystery to her.