Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 113 - Concerned

Aika had moved into Jin's room and was currently living out of suitcases as the DIY kits had yet to arrive for the wardrobe and shelves. But so far it had been nice. But a lot more erotic as Aika was very provocative. It had only been a week but she was very comfortable living in Jin's house. Already making out with him and Mittelt. Strutting around in just panties like Mittelt. Out of showers she even came out entirely naked with a towel only covering her hair, which Jin had no understanding about. A towel was to cover and dry the body just as much as the head. But Aika didn't see it like that and often teased Jin about looking.

Needless to say, Aika was completely comfortable living with Jin and sleeping in the same bed as him

Maybe a bit too comfortable. But Jin wouldn't complain. He was enjoying having her over and he said he would cater to her desires. He wasn't lying when he said that. But he made himself clear saying he didn't want to rush their relationship and Aika respected that.

School continued as usual, but some things weren't the same. Sona still didn't return and Jin hadn't seen Koneko ever since she found out he was a person. Losing Koneko hurt but Jin didn't stop waiting under the tree for her return. Even if he had to wait for her until she came to school. If she did. But Jin also missed Sona, talking to her and their games of chess. He didn't know what she was doing, but he had a feeling that if she needed to be gone this long, it was something big that would definitely fix things.

However, nothing about Jin's life was completely normal as Kiba called Jin to the Occult Research Club meeting room. Now seated opposite Rias and Akeno, with Kiba standing behind them.

Rias: Jin, I'm not saying you did anything wrong, but what was your relationship with Koneko exactly?

Jin: Is she okay?!

Jin said worried as he really didn't want to hurt Koneko. That wasn't even on the list of the things he wanted to do. He didn't even know how things got to this point or how he could have avoided losing her.

Akeno: She's fine. Physically she's fine at least. But in the underworld, since she hadn't received an education before, she's been learning everything she's missed, but recently after the moment you two had, she's been distracted. She's even been leaving her room less often. That's why we wanted to know. Something about meeting you has changed her and were confused as to why.

Jin: I... I honestly didn't mean for any of this. I first met Koneko falling out of a tree.

Kiba: Wait. You're... You're that fox she talked about?

Rias & Akeno: Fox?

Kiba looked at Jin and Jin could tell Kiba knew about his relationship with Koneko. It was something Koneko must have talked about with him. So Jin gave a small nod as Rias and Akeno looked at Kiba.

Kiba: Koneko told me she met a fox with a strong power around him. She told me she caught it falling out of a tree nearly half asleep. She thought it came from the Familiar Forest and escaped. She decided to let it go because it seemed tame and peaceful. But from then on it kept on coming to the tree she sits under, resting on her lap. She seemed to take a liking to the fox and even smiled thinking of it. I then got punched mentioning her smile and she never spoke to me about it again.

Rias: Koneko...

Akeno: Smiled?

Everyone looked at Jin, the fox in question as they were completely surprised about what they just learned. But the word surprise was a word that couldn't even begin to describe how they felt. But their stares made sure to express what they were feeling. Though not saying anything left Jin slightly confused.

Jin: Are you going to say anything?

Akeno: Koneko... smiled with you.

Jin: Is that really surprising?

Rias: Jin. I'm telling you this in confidence. But that's completely shocking. Koneko was severely traumatised in her earlier life.  Because of it she's withdrawn and doesn't show much of any emotions. She's quiet and cold. Sometimes she's even sarcastically mean. I've never once seen her smile for as long as I've known her. To hear she smiled with you, a random fox is more shocking than anything. Even around her own familiars, she doesn't smile.

Jin listened to Rias and it only made him feel worse. More distraught about her loss than he already was. Jin had already hurt a girl that was already very damaged. He wanted nothing but to make Koneko happy and he only made the cracks in her heart even worse.

Kiba: But it makes sense why she's acting the way she is. You must not have had a relationship where you talked but only listened. She was able to confide in you and just talk without being judged and just listened to. You weren't coming back to her because you were bound by a contract. You wanted to come back to her. We haven't been able to see Koneko much because we all have our lives up here, so you must have been her best friend. One that always came back, one that always listened.

Jin: One that showed affection to her.

Jin said looking down at his hands. It was a habit of his. When something changed about him, he looked at his hands. When he hurt someone, he looked at his hands. When he hurt someone he didn't want to hurt, he looked at his hands. When unintended consequences happened because of his actions. He looked down at his hands.

Rias: Jin, this...

Jin: Is my fault completely. I hurt her. I decided to not reveal who I was and continued to see her as a "regular" fox. I'm the one who couldn't find a better way of telling her who I was. There's no need to try and say this was no one's fault. I know it's my fault and I take responsibility for this. I'm sorry to all of you, I... I didn't mean to hurt Koneko.

Jin said looking at Rias. She looked into his crimson eyes and could only feel hurt. For him. For how he lived. He carried the weight of everything he did. Not once did he let up on himself or try and throw away the blame that anyone could have. Anyone could have said no one was at fault here. But he didn't do that. He carried everything on his shoulders.

Looking outside the Occut Reseach Club window as it began to rain.

Jin: {I guess it's another wet day. It completely suits how I feel again.}