DxD: Tempest Lord (Redux)

Training In The Mountains

"Wake up master! Wake up master! Wake up master! Wake up-"

Issei slammed his alarm clock with his hand, shutting it up.

The clock read five am. A ridiculously early hour to wake up at, especially on a saturday, in Issei's mind.

"Damnit!" He moaned. "Why me... this is the worst thing anyone could ask for..." He miserably sat up in his bed.

No matter how long you live for, you'll never have what I have.

"..."

A knock came at his door.

"Issei, are you in there?" Asia called out to him. "Are you awake? Rias is going to be waiting for us soon!"

...

Issei huffed as he and Asia began finally approaching the designated meeting point Rias had given them.

"Issei..." Asia spoke up. "Do you have any idea what Rias has planned for us?"

"No fucking clue." Issei replied. "But it's probably gonna suck like hell."

Asia smiled sadly. "...The president as done a lot for me." She said. "She was the one to bring me back and give me a chance to stay with you. She let me live at in the clubroom for a while, and she even gave me the opportunity to go to school. So many things I could only ever dream of."

Issei didn't say anything as Asia continued.

"So, I plan to work as hard as I can to help her win."

"..."

Asia blinked. "O-oh! But I don't mean that I'm not extremely grateful to you for saving me! I am and always will be!" She insisted. "I was just trying to say that it's only right to do everything we can to-"

"You're right."

Asia stopped. "H-huh?"

"I complain a lot, but honestly? I wouldn't have been able to meet you or any of the others if I never became a devil." Issei smiled at her. "So let's do everything in our power to kick that burnt chicken's ass."

Asia nodded determinedly. "Let's!"

Soon enough, Rias and the others came into view. "Oh, were we late?" Issei asked.

Rias shook her head. She was smiling happily. "No, of course not! You're all just on time."

"Okay, cool. Um..." Issei trailed off. He was surprised by how happy Rias seemed to be looking. He figured she would be much more serious.

"Oh!" Rias blinked. "That's right. Now that everyone is here, I have a special announcement to make!"

"What is it?" Issei asked. Everyone was curious, including Akeno. Despite being Rias' queen, she wasn't aware of  this.

"Now, I know that we might have had a few... bumpy encounters in the past few weeks." Rias started. "But, I'm happy to introduce our newest peerage member! Everyone, please give a round of applause for our brand new rook!"

Everyone was shocked.

"Fuck sake..."

They heard a voice behind them, and everyone turned around.

"I can't believe I'm doing this stupid shit." Suk-chin Kang was standing there, wearing a black tracksuit.

...

"Fuck."

"I just can't seem to figure these things out." Suk-chin sat in Kuoh's arcade, fumbling with the crane machine.