DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 45: The Aftermath

This chapter marks the beginning of Act 2: The Curse of Lucifer, as well as Volume IX: The Daemon's Awakening. Enjoy!

BGM: Persona 5 - Alleycat

Three weeks.

It had been three weeks since Zach Praktum lost his powers. Three weeks since Koneko Toujou died, and two since her funeral. Three weeks since Rizevim Lucifer escaped.

And nothing was being done about it.

Zach stared out at the rain through his classroom window, trying to drown out the sounds of Issei and his friends' conversation.
"Yo, pretty boy!" Matsuda yelled. "Stop sulkin' and get over here!"
"Yeah, we want to hear all about your exploits with that new girl Luci!" Motohama added.
Zach's stormy gray eyes locked onto Issei's friends, giving each of them a silent death glare before he turned back to the window.
"Leave him alone, guys," Issei chided. "He's having a rough time."
"What, he ain't been getting off lately or something?" Matsuda guessed.
"Can it, man. Seriously." Issei left his friends behind and came to Zach's side. "Sorry about them. You alright?"
"I'm fine." Zach didn't meet Issei's eyes. "Just thinking."
"Gotcha. Well, the club's meeting up again today. As usual. You coming this time?"
"Don't know yet."
"That's what you say every day, Z, and you still haven't been to a single meeting since the attack on Lilith. Gotta come back eventually." Issei sighed. "Well, guess you don't feel like talking. See you later, maybe. Just... we're here for you. No matter what." Issei returned to the Perverted Trio, the other two members of which were debating what was more important in a pair of breasts: size or shape.
Zach would've replied, but he was busy keeping the lump in his throat under control.

Aika Kiryuu watched Zach from across the room. "Hey, Asia, d'you know what's been going on with him? He's usually... I dunno. Less broody. Hell, your entire little group has been down for weeks. What's up?"
Asia looked up from her work. "Hm? Oh, Zach. He..." She looked back down at the desk to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. "A c-close friend of his... recently passed away." She was frustrated by not being able to tell anyone the truth, but couldn't let it show.

Flashback: Hyoudou Residence, the day after Koneko's funeral

"...and so, to keep suspicions down, the school will be informed that Koneko transferred away. We all have to keep up that story as well, seeing as we were her closest friends," Rias finished instructing the ORC. She took a moment to compose herself. "I don't like it, and I'm sure none of you do either. But that's what we were ordered to do."
The team was silent, processing their orders.
"...and we're just going along with it?" Zach asked quietly.
"What more do you want us to do? It's out of our hands."
"We could at least tell them that she was in an accident or something. She deserves that much," Zach argued. "Maybe we could get the school to hold a memorial service, or-"
"I said it's out of our hands!" Rias snapped. "We can only do what we're told."
"You know I've never been good at that," Zach countered. "I'll talk to Sirzechs again, or to Azazel, whoever decided this. I'll convince them. I know I can."
"Yeah? How?" Rias demanded through her tears. "We can't do anything about this! Especially not you."
Zach froze. "Fine," he said coldly before standing.
Rias's words finally dawned on her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
Zach stormed out of the mansion, slamming the door behind him.
Irina looked from Rias to the door multiple times before finally making a decision and chasing after Zach. 
Rias held her head in her hands. "Oh, what have I done..." she groaned. 
"He just needs time," Kiba said. "He'll be alright eventually. We all will."
"Kiba is right," Akeno agreed. "You didn't do anything wrong. We just have to keep up this lie of her moving away, that's all."

Present day

Aika narrowed her eyes. "I gotcha. Say, I haven't seen that little first-year girl you always hang out with lately. What was her name? Koneko Toujou, right?"
"Mm-hm," Asia whimpered, still not meeting Aika's eyes.
"Hey, are you okay? Come on, it's alright, don't cry, you're fine." Aika came to Asia's side and wrapped her in a hug as she broke down crying. "You'll be okay."