Harem Hero

Honesty

Rias messaged you a few hours later, stating that 'Koneko locked herself into her bedroom and refuses to come out.' She clarified a moment later that she meant it in a good way, and that Koneko had suggested that she was interested in mastering her powers properly. That meant they were soon heading to the underworld to train as a team, as there is a rating game coming up.

You don't know if it's the same training scheme that they undertook in the anime; the 'real' version of DxD is a much more complex place than what can be shown on TV. They don't skip over huge periods of time between important events to make things convenient. Regardless – you hope that Koneko finally learns that her power isn't something to be afraid of. Does Kuroka even know how much of a problem she's caused for her younger sister?

Rias also sent you some images of the rooms in the manor. She used Venelana's pull to have some mock-ups created for you, and they're very professionally done. They are highly detailed, transforming empty white rooms into lavish gothic landscapes. Heavy wooden furniture with plush silk cushions and wooden floorboards are the order of the day. As you flip through each one, you start to understand her affection for this kind of décor. It looks very cosy.

Particular attention has been paid to the master bedroom, which contains a monstrously sized bed. Four wooden pillars support an engraved canopy, which itself allows a selection of semi-transparent white curtains to surround it on all sides. It dominates the view with a commanding presence. Surely Rias has been considering just how many women are supposedly going to occupy it in time. You could easily fit twelve people on there with room to spare. It's a good thing that money is no object for you at the moment.

You are also very happy to see that Venelana has not included any significant changes to the houses' layout or exterior buildings. Eerily high ceiling crisis averted. Mitsuru speaks to you through a pile of discard parts on the garage's workbench, "I'm glad that our alien friends decided to keep away. It's allowed me some much-needed time to test the form change system."

"Now that you've said it, I'm sure they'll attack again in a few minutes..."

"Don't be so superstitious. You're just subscribing to a form of confirmation bias," she laughs, "Most of our conversations are on this very subject. It's merely a matter of chance that significant events occur at the same time."

"You're right. We never talk about anything else anymore."

Mitsuru adjusts her glasses, "Is that a problem?"

"Kinda? I feel like we haven't had the chance to hang out for a while now."

"Hm. 'Hanging out' can wait until the invasion of earth is ended."

"You know that's not true. I still find time to hang with... you know, the girls."

Mitsuru rounds the table and points a wrench at you, "They aren't the ones designing your equipment and monitoring social media for attacks. I'm a very busy woman. Not to mention managing our new media empire..."

You sigh. Mitsuru used to love shooting the shit about what anime she'd watched lately, or to talk your ears off about an amazing new invention she had come up with. It feels like a lifetime ago now. You both grew up, but it never felt like this before. Everything changed when she thrusted this superhero business onto you. Sometimes you miss the old days. Tucked away inside of your bedroom, watching anime above your age grade with the laptop facing the door.

"Don't look so sad," Mitsuru scoffs, "You should be the happiest damn guy on the planet right now. There'll be plenty of time for us to screw around together when these aliens are dealt with. Keep your eyes on the prize."

Things come to a sudden halt as an alarm triggers within the garage, a robotic voice calls out over a newly installed intercom system; "Warning! Alien incursion detected on fifth avenue, Wellton."