A day earlier

Morgana's POV

He scowls.

If only he had his Persona. Seeing Akira regain his powers, not going to lie, he felt a bit of envy. He could never forget the rush that came alongside using Zorro or Mercurius, the adrenaline that got one's blood pumping in a battle, making himself useful as he helped to fight foes and heal his teammates. They were literally him, after all. Now? He's just nothing more than a simple housepet who wanders around the town, interacting with various cats at times.

While this sort of lifestyle is certainly much more relaxing, it didn't feel right. It didn't feel right that he was simply living the relatively stress-free life here, doing nothing but licking his paws while Akira did all the heavy lifting. He'd been informed of the meeting between Akira and the Hero Faction. There was a storm coming and he couldn't do anything about it.

He couldn't talk through phones, because when talking over the phone, the voices are heavily processed, hence it would come out as nothing more than a meow on the other side should he try to speak with any of the team and his paws were not suited to use the tiny keyboard on the phone. He could understand Akira's reluctance to tell everyone, but this is something that should be tackled by everyone together.

He was tired of this. He didn't like being useless. He didn't want to be dead weight anymore. He wanted his Persona again. He wanted to fight alongside Akira. He wanted to be of use to Akira. But just wanting it, doesn't mean you'll get it. Morgana had no idea how he awakened his Persona. Despite having witnessed most of the team's awakenings, he doubted that it was just as easy as ripping a mask off his face, mostly because he had never ripped off a mask when using Zorro or Mercurius. It looked pretty painful too, a pain that he wasn't sure he wanted to experience.

Sighing, he expertly navigated over the tall walls of Kuoh Academy, using the trees and his superior dexterity to get over it. Since he didn't have anything to do now, he might as well just check out the school and see how Akira is doing. He pauses midstep, noticing something strange.

Another cat? Strange, he knew of the various cats due to his various walks in the town and he'd never seen any animal lurk near the school. Given how there's a barrier at school that acts as a deterrence barrier of sorts by implementing suggestions within their minds, a normal cat shouldn't be able to make it in. The barrier had made him think of going away, a thought that most animals would have acted on due to their intelligence not being very high, with Morgana being an exception with his mind able to easily overcome that weak compulsion. This cat was sitting on a tree branch that gave a direct view for a Year 1 classroom if he remembered correctly.

He decides to approach the cat. The cat feels...strange. Even though he might not have his Persona anymore, his senses have not dulled too much. It feels as if she blends in with the tree so well that he would have mistaken it as a normal cat. But it made a mistake. It blended too well, to the point where it felt as if the cat was nothing.

"Meow?" Morgana starts. Cats generally interact with meows and purrs, yes. But the way they perceive it is different. It's not like they will actually perceive the meows/purrs cats make to each other like how humans can easily perceive words and their entire meaning. Cats perceive the sounds that their race makes in a more general manner, they only tend to be able to understand the general meaning and not anything too sophisticated behind the sounds, due to their limited intellect. With that limited intellect, it makes them unable to form more complicated sentences with the sounds they make as well.

Plus, it's not like he can actually speak, just that due to some cognition bullshit, the Phantom Thieves' brains translate his meows into words. Well he could try speaking since he knows of how to speak, but his vocal cords differ from that of a human's, which means that any attempt would make it harder for him to speak.

So that's why when the cat meowed back after a short while, he was shocked to realize that he could fully understand the meow, and not just the general meaning. The first thought that crossed his mind was that he had to somehow show Akira the cat.

Shrine, Current Night

Akira's POV

He'd finally realized why the cat was so strange and gave off such a weird feeling. It took an hour's worth of observation and some thinking, but he finally figured why it felt wrong. No, it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that it has two tails. Mutations weren't an uncommon thing, and there were definitely stranger things around the world than a cat with two tails.

There is a cat sitting in front of him, he can see that. His other senses tell him that there is nothing there. See the problem?

Others might have fallen for the trick, thinking of the cat as nothing more than part of the backdrop but not him. If he were to put it in words, it's like the cat is trying to get people to ignore that it exists. "I see it." He mutters the familiar words used to activate the Third Eye. A handy little gift from Igor, just that he hasn't been using it much. It's best used for recon and the like, it doesn't have much utility value in combat where you're fighting for your life.

The cat is shrouded in a weird aura. It's hard to tell what exactly it is, but if he were to describe it, it would be reminiscent of something that is like nature. It's like the cat is in tune with nature or something. There is also a dark aura that's been heavily suppressed to the point of him almost being unable to see it, but its implications are undeniable. He could ask his Personae, but he doesn't want to rely on them too much, not that they are that reliable anyway.

That must have been what Morgana was trying to tell him earlier. Akira has no idea how Morgana found the cat, nor how he managed to convince the cat to come along. He should probably keep the cat close by, or at least have Morgana observe her, but given how cats seem to have a whimsical behaviour, this one might not be too different as well.

Odd. The cat had also twitched earlier, as if reacting to his usage of the Third Eye. Another thing to note. What is this cat? How is it reacting to him using magic? Perhaps it was a Familiar sent by the Hero Faction to spy on him?

No. If it was, it wouldn't have come here in the first place, it would have been better off spying on him from a distance and he would have already known if it was attempting to observe him. This cat clearly didn't have any reason to stay around and it was led here by Morgana, so that meant that it was highly likely not trying to observe him. The Hero Faction wouldn't have bet on his cat bringing another one back, it would have been too risky. His mind continuously churns out a few other possibilities, but they are all shot down due to their low feasibility.

In the end, he can only let the cat stay here and have Morgana observe it, watch its actions. "If you're going to stay here, then I'll need to give you a name."

The cat continues to laze on the floor, not even deigning to look at him. This is going to be hard.

Morning, Student Council

Of course, he should have expected Sona Sitri's interference as well. The moment he entered the school, he'd been guided to the Student Council by the Vice-President, leaving him no chance of escape. Well, he could have tried to escape Tsubaki Shinra and would have most likely succeeded as well, but a meeting with the Student Council had been long overdue. Plus, he's interested in hearing what she wants to say. If they want to make him apologize or something, there's no way he will do it. Even exerting her authority on him won't do anything, not that she had any authority over him in the first place.

He stares down at Sona Sitri. Her glare isn't something to be afraid of. Heh, she can glare at him all she wants but it won't do anything. He'd faced tougher, like Sae Nijima, for example. Iwai's stare could probably make some people scared with just a few seconds of eye contact, as expected of a former Yakuza member. In comparison to those two, Sona Sitri is but a mere fledging when it comes to trying to intimidate people.

"To what do I own the pleasure of seeing the Student Council?" Her entire peerage is present, pretending to do work related to the Student Council but he knows better. They are here to safeguard their King in case something goes wrong. He can detect the not so pleasant intentions of Sona Sitri, who's currently focused on him. Well, it's not that they are pleasant, but they more or less align with that he doesn't want to deal with.

"Akira Kurusu. Do you have any idea of what you've done?" Ah, so she's getting straight to the point. Perfect. This won't take long then.

"I was defending my beliefs, that's what I've done."

"You've essentially earned the ire of Sirzechs Lucifer himself. Right now, the only thing that's stopping him from killing you is that no one else has checked up on Rias next." The Student Council gasps. So they haven't heard. Well, this will be interesting.

"And?"

"You should fix this. Apologize to her." Apologize? Even if Hell freezes over, he won't do such an absurd thing. Even if he was threatened with his life on the line, he wouldn't do it.

"You think you can simply make me apologize to her? What a joke." He can appreciate that Sona is being more forthcoming, considering how she's at the very least attempting to mediate the conflict and trying to wrap it up in the simplest and least harmful way possible, he can respect that much. Too bad he isn't someone who's going bend backwards just for them. It'll take more than mere words to make him apologize.

He also has more than enough reason to dislike Rias. Rias Gremory, his opinion of her isn't really high. It's as if she doesn't really regard him as anything, or at the very least didn't treat him as anything much until the Familiar Forest incident. When she gave him the full details of the Supernatural World, she clearly didn't like how she was being forced to yield. It's as if she has never really been on the side where she stands to lose more. Then again, considering her background, there's a high chance that's the situation.

"Listen here, I'm just trying to fi-"

"No, you listen here, Sona Sitri." He brings forth one of his stronger Persona, the heavy pressure enveloping the entire room in an instant. He will make a point right now. "I might just be a human, but I will not bend my knee just like that. Even I have my pride, and I will not give up my pride just like that. Even if someone tries to make me, they best better be prepared to bleed for it. Are we clear on that?" He releases the pressure.

He may fix it. But that doesn't mean he will apologize. It's as simple as that.

"Hey, apologize to Sona-kaichou!" The only other male in the room cries out. If he remembered correctly, that is the only male of the Student Council. Honestly speaking, he seems rather disappointing. Probably a pawn, he doesn't seem to have the fortitude, intellect or speed to be a Rook, a Bishop or a Knight. While appearances might be deceiving, he's willing to gamble that he's right on the money for this one.

"No, I don't think I will. You're welcome to make me try, however." Sona's peerage isn't going to be able to beat him either. Even if they all tried to fight him at once, alongside their King, it still wouldn't be enough. He's already accounted for any possible Sacred Gears they might have as well so barring Longinus tier, he can handle it. Even so, he has enough raw power and if he wished it, he could simply let loose some of his more powerful Personae, though he wasn't sure how they'd react to having demons or angels at his command.

"You..."

"Enough, Saji." Sona shoots a piercing glare to diffuse the situation. "Please don't antagonize my peerage, Kurusu-san."

"Sure, sure. So, as I was saying, are we clear about that?"

"..." Of course, it's hard for Sona Sitri to bow her head towards a human just like that. If anything, pride is her sin as a Devil. No doubt cultivated from young up till now. That pride would make it hard for her to easily yield to anyone unless someone manages to prove to her that they are superior.

"You're welcome to try me, as I said earlier. The only question is, whose pride will fall harder?"

Sona's POV

*Clack*

There is only the sound of chess pieces being moved, as both competitors are currently engaged in a deadlock, neither of them wanting to give the other even a single inch because they both knew if the moment that happened, they would seize the opportunity to take a yard. Such is the ruthlessness of chess, the chosen method of competition.

She'd been surprised when he willingly agreed to a chess match, because it was no secret that chess is her forte.

Neither her or Akira are willing to relent, all because of one simple thing. Pride. If Sona had to point out her gravest sin, hers would be Pride. It was always made clear. Her grades were constantly at the top of the cohort, far above even Rias, even though it's said that devils have better cognitive ability as compared to humans, hence their average intellect would always be higher. It simply proves how far she exceeds her peers when it comes to her intelligence. Not only that, but her position as Student Council President is also well deserved, as it is known by everybody. Another example of her own Pride in play.

Yet, how is it possible that a human is capable of keeping up with her?! Sure, Akira was already different from most humans, that had been established. Akira Kurusu is someone who is not to be underestimated, given how easily he made that threat earlier. That was why she didn't hesitate to take him seriously the moment the match began. So how, how can he keep up with her when she's clearly doing her best?

"Holy shit, how is he keeping up with Sona-kaichou?" Her Pawn mutters, but she pays that comment no heed. All that is needed to pay attention to is the chessboard in front of her and the opponent across her. The moment she lets slip her concentration will be the moment when he gains the upper hand.

He is frowning in concentration, considering his next move. His hand moves to pick up the Pawn, to take her Pawn. Tch, she'd gotten careless. But he also coincidentally set up the perfect way to take that Pawn through her Bishop.

She doesn't hesitate. Immediately, she does so, taking the Pawn. He smirks. Her heart fell in that instant. She'd fallen into his trap.

"Check." The Bishop she moved had been right in front of her King, so moving it allowed him to move his Rook to a spot that gave him a window of opportunity. What should she do now? If she doesn't move her Bishop, it would be swallowed up by the Kni-?

When had that Knight been there? Her mind finally registers the Knight. There could only be one reason why she didn't notice. The Pawn. The Pawn had been a bait and she took it. Hook, line, and sinker.

Now, if she doesn't move her Bishop, she would lose it, but if she moves it, she would protect her King. But there's no way, right?

Apprehensively, she moves her Bishop back to the original position.

His hand reaches for the Rook. There's no way that he's doing it, right? To send his Rook into enemy territory just like that.

Without any hesitation whatsoever, his Rook takes her Bishop. "Check."

Her Knight effortlessly takes that Rook, avenging the loss of her Bishop. Why would he take that kind of dumb risk? Her mind goes into overdrive analyzing the chessboard once more, trying to grasp any detail that she'd missed. Her eyes widen as every part of the board is taken into consideration.

Impossible. She's actually at a disadvantage. How had she not noticed this at all? How had he managed to run around in circles around her?

His pieces are capable of taking her pieces in several positions, but at the same time, if he executes those maneuvers, she will be able to take those pieces, not without suffering the loss of those pieces of course. In essence, his strategy is a high risk, high reward one. What kind of strategy is this? Is he insane? She cannot afford to play this carelessly, or else she'll face a loss. Not just any loss. The first loss at something she's supposed to be the best in.

She looks up at him, trying to confirm something. His expression tells her all she needs to know. He knew what he was doing. She got his message, loud and clear.

"If you want, we can call it a tie." That infuriating smirk of his did not help in the slightest.

It would be the first time of her life that she was forced into a tie in a chess match. On this day, it was Sona Sitri's Pride that fell harder.

Issei's POV

He had wondered why Asia looked so serious when he woke up. She always looks so carefree and innocent, but today is an exception. What could have bothered her to this extent? Such an expression on her face doesn't suit her at all. After he took a shower, had a meal and got back on his feet, the bomb was dropped. He didn't even get a chance to brace himself.

"Your death was set up by Rias."

Denial.

"Wait, what? Are you sure about this?" There's no way that what Asia said could be true, right? Did Rias really set him up to die? Why would she go through all that trouble just to make sure he died? How would she even know that Raynare was going to approach him? What reason would she have to d-

His permanent crimson arm provides the answer for him. The Boosted Gear. That would be why. One of the Thirteen Longinus that was said to hold enough power to kill even Gods. That kind of power would hold a fatal attraction for anyone. Faced with undeniable proof, he can't deny it anymore. To deny any further would be delusional.

Anger.

A Dragon's rage is nothing to scoff at. Even when incapacitated, bound or shackled, a Dragon is never to be messed with. Dragons are power itself. Dragons have pride. Nay, it would be better to say Dragons are Pride. Ddraig is no exception to this rule, neither is his host, who is part Dragon, to a lesser extent.

"She allowed Raynare to kill me just like that?!" Asia's words had easily allowed him to piece everything together in an instant. He remembers that fateful day clearly. Why had she allowed him to die like that? Was that why she seemed to act so kind around him? Did she have a guilty conscience of sorts? It sickened him. She acted kindly to him just because she had a guilty consciousness? Or maybe not. Maybe she just wanted to secure his loyalty. That would make far more sense than anything else.

Rias Gremory knew. He'd not only been played like a fool by Raynare throughout the date and even got killed, but Rias Gremory knew of it and didn't take any action. Sure, he was a pervert but was he really beyond saving? Was it not even worth it to just drop him a hint or something? Was he only reincarnated because of the Boosted Gear? What would happen if he didn't have the Boosted Gear? Would he have just died, bleeding out in that park?

And the worst part. How could he have been so blind to all of this?

Wait. There had been a hint. "You know that even if you train, you might not have the ability to defeat Riser Phenex. Riser Phenex is clearly almost an insurmountable mountain to you. Why do you want to defeat him, even though you yourself know that there's barely any chance to defeat him?"

Did Akira know? Nevermind. Now's not the time for that. He hadn't taken Akira's words into consideration back then. That is his own fault. There is something else much more important to deal with. That bitch. She tried to manipulate him into serving her like a loyal dog. How dare she. He's not a dog. He's a Dragon.

Damm the consequences. He won't be played for a fool any longer. He's going to find Rias and he's going to get some answers.

He was, of course, patient enough to wait until night. Everyone would have gone home by now. Only the ORC and the Student Council members would be left due to the duties that they do at night, something he's very familiar with doing.

As he walks to the school, he has had time to clear his head of some anger that clouded it. Did Rias reincarnate him out of desperation? She had seemed rather desperate, trying to break out of her engagement through losing her virginity.

No. He won't think about it any longer. He'll get the answers straight from Rias Gremory herself before he does anything rash. He stares at the ORC Building. There is one light on, as expected.

The moment he enters the ORC Clubroom, he can tell that Buchou isn't exactly in the best of conditions. Still, she looks up to him. She looks afraid, as if she's expecting him to say something that she didn't want to hear. He takes a deep breath to brace himself.

"Did you let Raynare kill me?" She shudders as if having heard the very thing she didn't want him to say.

"Yes." It's soft, but he picks it up. His shoulders sink, having learned the truth from Rias herself. Initially, it was anger that drove him to come here, but it is no longer anger that he feels.

It is hard to be angry at someone who looks like they've gone through hell or had a bad day. He isn't one to kick someone when they're already down either. Not only that, but it has also already happened, there's no point getting angry over it right now. What he feels, it is nothing more than disappointment. Disappointment that Rias Gremory didn't try to help him in any way when she could have done so.

"I'm sorry, Issei." It sounds fake. It sounds insincere. It sounds unremorseful. He can't accept such a half-hearted apology. There's only one reason why she would sound like that. He might be a pervert, but he isn't that dumb to miss the signs.

He shakes his head. "You have no idea where you went wrong, did you? What if it had been me sitting there, while you were the one standing in my position?"

She is silent as if pondering over his words. She makes no attempt to stop him as he closes the door behind him.

[So, what will you do now?] Issei does not answer Ddraig as he walks down the streets.

It's hard to describe how he feels now. He feels as if there's something weighing him down, as he slowly takes step by step, wandering with no destination in mind. Yes, he does feel disappointment and a bit of anger towards Rias Gremory, but there's also something else mixed into it that creates this blend of confusion. "I don't know." He finally confesses.

Rias Gremory has treated him kindly ever since he got reincarnated as a Devil, that much is certain. She hasn't treated him cruelly, nor punish him in any way yet. It appears to be the same for his fellow peerage members, or they wouldn't be happy or relaxed around her.

Part of him is still angry at Rias for letting him die just like that. Not even a hint or warning was given to him when he'd set out that day and was given the flyer that would eventually summon Rias Gremory when he was about to die. She could have at the very least try and give a warning to him via her familiar, right? It hurts to know that she actually just let him get played like a fool and she doesn't even show any remorse for it.

So, what will he do now? That line of thought is interrupted when a sword nearly bisects him.

A/N: I would have liked this chapter to be up before May ended, but I had to deal with several milestones in my projects and prep for internship so I couldn't exactly check up on this chapter and do any revisions.

I left the reveal to Issei thing short, because I think it doesn't need it. It has enough impact as it stands, if I tried to add on, it would have ruined that part. Asia telling him is because Asia's the kind of person who will know that he will suffer but Issei still has to deal with it anyway. It's better to tackle problems sooner than later, in her perspective I guess.

Anyways, I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter and leave a review if you guys think that there's room for improvement that you think is possible! Feel free to PM me if you want. On that note, peace out people!

322n