The Stars Above

Chapter 9

Written in 2019, uploaded 12/24/2022

Note (12/24/2022) - Don't expect the whole "video game stuff" to stick around because lmaooo

--

"Hey, so how'd it go?" Issei asked Kuraima as the two walked through the halls of Kuoh Academy.

"Dude, we hit it off really well. She's a lot like Asia. Except the more food you give her, the more she warms up to you."

"Man! I'm both incredibly jealous and yet so proud of you, bro!"

Kuraima paused mid-step. "Wait, jealous? Don't...don't you have Asia-san?"

"...what?"

"You serious, Issei? I...you know what, forget I asked..."

"Oi! What are you talking about?"

"Too late, dumbass!"

"Hey! Get back here!"

Everyone watched the spectacle as Kuraima took off, leaving Issei behind.

It seemed like yesterday when the third year had berated the first year's ideals of becoming the Harem King™ and now the two were acting all buddy-buddy.

All they knew for certain is that you do not fuck with the new girl just transferred in. Aka, Asia Argento.

The last group of delinquents who tried to take advantage of her shy and naive personality...well...

—

"D-Demon!"

"He's not fucking human!"

"RUN FOR IT!"

—

He just wanted to look a bit intimidating, so he had channeled his animosity into his [Rage] ability.

He might as have well channeled the fucking Doom Slayer. Who would've known that [Rage] had a passive pacification effect on normal humans?

Anyways, back to the here and now.

Kuraima finally allowed Issei to catch up to him, chuckling. "So, eh, you develop that [Boosted Gear] at all?"

The reincarnated Devil shrugged and scratched the back of his head. "Haven't really had much time to practice. I can reach up to 4 boosts, kind of a hard cap, though."

"Gotta start somewhere, y'know? If it's doubling your power, then that means that once you reach full power, that's like what, a 16x multiplier?"

"....Yeah! You're right! Imagine how powerful I'll be by the time I become a High-class Devil!"

"Issei! Not in front of the normal people!"

"Haha...sorry."

—

Later at lunch, Kuraima held a light novel in one hand and a bento in the other.

"Hey, Kuraima-san." Kiba said, taking a seat next to him.

"Oh hey there, Kiba-san."

"Watcha reading?"

"I decided to start reading the Halcyone series written by that guy who runs the Moonlit Cafè. Apparently, they're really good, and I can see why."

"Oh? I see..."

"It's absurd how much I can relate to the MC. We're both blessed by cosmic deities, both socially awkward— albeit in different ways— and we both have a crippling addiction to Hot Pockets. It's almost like he's a self insert of me."