DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 6: New Friends

This chapter marks the beginning of Volume II: Flames of Lust.

BGM: Persona 5 - Break it Down

Zach took a deep breath before knocking on Rias's front door. It had been four days since Raynare's death, and they hadn't spoken much since then until she suddenly invited him over during lunch today at school. He had no idea what for, or what was waiting for him here.
A few seconds after he knocked, Rias opened the door. "Hey, Zach. Come on in," she said, opening the door fully and letting Zach into the house. "How have you been doing since the other night?" she asked as they sat down in the living room.
"Doing alright, honestly. Been pretty quiet at home, but I tossed out Raynare's stuff and moved myself into the master bedroom. Little lonely now. But I'll manage. How about you and your peerage?"
Rias sipped her tea. "Everyone's been alright. Asia is settling in nicely, and Issei's Boosted Gear has proven quite potent if he gets the chance to use it right. A shame he's so weak on his own, though..."
"Yeah. We all start somewhere, though. So why did you ask me to come over? Is this a booty call, or something more important?" Zach asked jokingly.
"Very funny, Praktum. I'll to be completely transparent with you: I want you to join the Occult Research Club. If you're going to be hanging around my town, you might as well start to form a bond with my peerage and I. Not everyone is fully on board, if I'm being entirely truthful. Issei's developed an intense distaste for fallen angels as a whole, and Kiba is hesitant to fully trust you despite the aid you provided. Akeno is in the same boat as Issei, though her hate is fully justified in my eyes. Koneko is fine, though. Surprisingly. My people aside, even Sona doesn't love the idea of you sticking around at our school. The only reason you haven't been expelled yet is that I personally vouched for you to her."
"I appreciate that, really. But if everyone but you and Koneko doesn't want me around, it sounds like you're outvoted."
"My peerage will follow my orders. If I want them to accept you, they will," Rias assured Zach. "And if you've convinced me you're trustworthy, the others will come around eventually."
"You really think so?" Zach leaned forward, looking down at the floor. "While we're being honest, it really is lonely here without any friends. So I'd love to join up with you guys. But... if I'm not welcome, I won't intrude. And I don't want you to force everyone else to just suck it up if they don't want me here. I can find another place to stay, I can go back to New-"
"It's not forced," Rias promised. "If you want friends, you've got one in me, at the very least. The others will see you for who you really are. I know it."
"And what do you see, Gremory?"
"I see a young man out of his element, who's scared and looking for help. I see someone lost. I see someone with a heart of gold, even if he doesn't look like it at first glance."
Zach chuckled softly. "Well, I can't argue with being scared. Alright, Rias. I'll join the club. But not your peerage, if that's what you wanted."
"Not in the slightest. Not unless you really wanted to."
"Yeah, think I'll pass. But it'll be my honor to work with you guys." Zach held out his hand. "Friends?"
Rias accepted the handshake, a smile on her face. "Friends."

A couple of weeks later... (BGM: Persona 5 - Suspicion)

"We were scheduled to go on Saturday," Sona said to Rias, standing in front of the latter's desk.
"I believe we were scheduled for Saturday," Rias countered.
"Then how about we compete for it?" Sona challenged.
"Uh... what's happening?" Zach asked, having just walked into the room.
Rias nodded to the council president. "How would you like to go about this? Maybe we do it in true high school fashion, with a sports competition?"
Sona nodded back. "No objections here. See you on the court." With that, Sona and her peerage disappeared through a magic circle.

BGM: Persona 5 - Break it Down

"That was... tense," Zach commented, sitting down next to Asia and Issei. "Mind breaking this down for me, Rias?"
Rias looked over at her new friend. "You see, we scheduled to go to the Familiar Forest on Saturday. In a surprising turn of events, Sona scheduled the same day."
"So... you're having a sports competition to decide who gets to go?" Zach realized.
Akeno nodded, a small smile on her face. "Exactly. And Rias was hoping you could come with us."
"Why me? I don't need a familiar."
"The Familiar Master wanted to meet you. He warned us that there's something in the forest that shouldn't be there, and he wants you specifically to weed it out and solve the issue," Rias explained. "Word of how you helped us spread really quick. The Underworld- or rather, the major part of it- is surprised. You never hear about fallen angels helping devils."
Zach crossed his arms, looking satisfied. "Speaking of... Asia, how're you doing? Getting used to being a devil yet?" he asked, looking in Asia's direction.
Asia looked up at him, seemingly still somewhat afraid of Zach. "O-oh, I... it's be-been a strange experience for me..." she stammered. "B-but I pray to God that I can get through it!" As she finished her sentence, Asia clutched her head in pain, yelping.
Zach commented, "Apparently, you're still not used to it enough to remember not to do that."
Issei countered, "Cut Asia some slack, a-hole! She's doing the best she can." Suddenly, he also cried out in pain. Koneko, who was sitting next to him, was pulling on his ear.
"Zach never said she wasn't," Koneko said. After letting Issei beg for a few seconds, she let go.
"If we're done fighting among each other, this meeting is over," Rias announced. "Zach, can you hang back a minute?" She noticed that Akeno hadn't left her side. "You can go too. I'll be fine."
Akeno hesitated before leaving. As she walked out, she called over her shoulder, "Don't get too rough with her, or I might have to punish you myself."
"Weird fetish," Zach muttered. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Rias leaned back in her chair. "First up, how are you settling in?"
"Not terribly. Even after a couple weeks, I can still feel the animosity from Issei and Akeno. Kiba seems to have mellowed out, and Koneko has always been chill. And Asia... I still feel terrible. She's scared of me, even now. I can see it whenever I talk to her."
"Trauma is a powerful thing," Rias admitted. "But she's a strong girl. Surely she'll adjust, sooner or later. But there's something else. The Familiar Master, Zatouji... this threat he mentioned. He told me something about massive serpents in the forest. Killing familiars left and right. Ring any bells?"
Zach shook his head. "Snakes can point to the involvement of any number of entities. I'd have to see one in person and trace its aura to really figure out where it came from."
"Understood. Well, come Saturday- assuming we win- you'll be able to figure it out. You're free to go. See you later."
Zach stood. "Hugs and lightning bolts," he said with a wink as he disappeared.