Highschool DxD - On the Run

Chapter 8 - An Attempt was Made

I didn't sleep much last night. My mind was too active and I had to do some training to get my mind off of everything. Ddraig says I should start finding some other ways to get my mind off things. I'm still trying to find out what to do. For now, it's morning, and I gotta get ready for school. I took a shower without the any of the girls since they got up pretty early. At least, I'm pretty sure they did since I didn't see them around. They might be downstairs.

I stood in the shower for quite some time, just thinking to myself for a while before Ddraig snapped me out of it. 

Ddraig: "Partner, you don't wanna be late." He's been really helpful, I'm glad to have him as a friend.

Issei: "Right right, thanks." I quickly finished up and got out, getting dressed and heading downstairs. It was quiet. Like the past couple of days. In the kitchen was just Asia.

Asia: "Oh, Issei. Good morning." She smiled a little bit.

Issei: "Morning Asia, where's everyone at?"

Asia: "They left already. But I wanted to stay back and wait for you." How sweet of her. "Here, your breakfast is on the table too."

Issei: "Thank you." I sat down and took a moment before starting to eat. "How uh, was everyone doing this morning?" 

Asia: "They're...okay." She sighed. Must be awkward to try and eat with them, probably a good thing they left early.

Issei: "Any better than before?"

Asia: "Well...it's hard to tell what they're thinking sometimes. They say they're okay, but I don't know if that's true." She admitted.

Issei: "I see.." He nodded and kept eating. "And...how are you doing Asia?"

Asia: "I...I'm alright."

Issei: "Are you sure?"

Asia: "Yes yes, I'm fine. I...I just miss how we all were before that all happened." She sighed sadly.

Issei: "We all do." I sadly said. We both stayed there in silence until I finally finished eating, getting up and washing my dishes. I finished and dried my hands. "You ready to go then?"

Asia: "Yes." She nodded. 

Issei: "Alright then, c'mon." I walked out, Asia walking close behind me. We both walked out together. "Hope we won't be late."

Asia: "No I believe, we'll be on time." Suddenly, she yelped and turned around.

Issei: "Asia? What's wrong?" I looked around, but there wasn't anything there. 

Asia: "I-I just heard Max.." 

Issei: "What? I didn't hear anything." 

Asia: "B-b-but.." She kept looking around a bit before turning back. "I-I think I was just hearing things..." She mumbled. I gently put a hand on her shoulder.

Issei: "Let's head to school. Maybe it's just stress?"

Asia: "Maybe.." She nodded and kept walking with me, though I'd occasionally see her turning and looking behind her to check if he was there. We'd eventually make it to the school, just walking together in silence. We both went to class and I'd sit down in my seat, glancing over at where Max used to sit. As the lesson started, I couldn't help but glance over at the desk every so often. Eventually, I took a look over at the desk and saw him sitting there like nothing had ever happened, it honestly made me jump a bit in my seat.

Teacher: "Mr Hyoudou?"

Issei: "Sorry sorry, a uh...fly landed on me." They nodded and went back to the lesson. After that, he was just gone. Not anywhere to be seen. Am I seeing things? Going crazy from stress and memories of him? Am I going through the same thing as Asia? Am-