The Start Of It All

Sighing, I closed the classrooms door behind me and sat down on one of the empty desks.

...Being popular is, well, draining. Always having a crowd following you around is very draining. Having to keep up a smile is very draining.

I wonder if Kiba-san feels the same way? We're both in similar shoes, after all.

The door slowly slid open and in came one of the few people I could actually act natural around - my childhood friend, Issei. He was an average-looking teen, with average height, build and weight. But the thing that set him apart...was the lustful look in his brown eyes.

...I won't say that my choice in friends was very good as a child.

"You know, Issei, I kinda envy you at times," I said, seeing how nonchalantly he could enter a classroom without having to be cautious of a group of fangirls following him. Though, that is partially up to his personality..quirks, yes, that's a polite way to put it. The lustful look in his eyes was definitely what stopped him from garnering attention from girls.

Not that I'm free of such desires towards girls, it's just I'm not so blatantly obvious about it. Even if I decided to do that as an experiment to see if it would lessen the harrassment I get from the girls of this Academy, I doubt it would deter some girls. I guess a handsome pervert is better than a normal pervert?

"Eh? Why?" he laughed, confused by my sudden admittance.

Shrugging, I stood up as I spoke, "You're freedom, I guess. You don't have people bothering you like I do."

Hearing me he just began to laugh, "You do know that's because most girls are disgusted by my hobbies, right?" he said before laughing again, "And anyways, if it bugs you that much, why not just tell them to get lost? Or hang out with me and the others. That'd keep the girls away. Or not, and me and the guys would get a gallery of girls we could ogle at!" he gave an enthusiastic shout, his eyes sparkling and I could only shake my head at his antics.

"You could probably get a girlfriend if you didn't act like this, you know that, right, Issei?" I said with a sigh, knowing all too well what his answer would be.

"I mean, I guess but I'd rather stay as I am," he shrugged.

Figures.

I internally said but just as I was about to speak, he continued, "But!" he damn near shouted, "It's finally paid off! I have a date!" he said and I have to admit...I was pretty shocked.

"...Really?" I raised an eyebrow in confusion and he proudly nodded, his arms akimbo, so I continued, "...Bullshit," I said, honestly feeling like he was only pulling my leg after what I siad.

"It really isn't!" he said before fishing his phone out of his pocket frantically before flicking it open and showing a picture of him, with an excited smile and pervy face, and a girl with black hair and violet eyes smiling a tad awkwardly. Something about her made me feel uncomfortable like I was staring at something dangerous but my utter shock at the photo in front of me...

"...It's actually real," I said, both to myself and Issei. Coming out of my shock, I turned to Issei and looked at him with a confused look, "How the hell did you pull that off? Did you actually act normal around her and she's been mislead or something?"

"Don't say it as if it's a common occurence, Leo!" Issei said with a forlorn expression.

Laughing at his expression, I pushed on, "Seriously Issei, how did this come about? And looking at her uniform she doesn't even go to Kuoh Academy," I pointed out and he nodded, his expression going back to his happy and smug smile.

"Yeah, she goes to a nearby school. She told me she's liked me for a while and we agreed to go on a date tonight," he proudly said, to which I raised a questioning eyebrow at.

"And you don't find that weird?" I asked and seeing his confusion I clarified, "That some random beautiful girl came out of nowhere and asked you out. As your best friend, Issei, I'm gonna tell you right now; this has all the signs of a massive death flag," I seriously said to which Issei just scoffed with a 'Yeah right!' expression across his face.

"Yeah right! I think you're just jealous because I've got a date and you haven't!" he refuted and I levelled a disdainful gaze at him.

"...Really? Why would I be jealous of you? I could become the Harem Prince of this school if I wanted to! My power is maximum!" I posed like some sort of super villain, an arm raised to the sky and my other hand covering my face - a cringey pose that would no doubt ruin my image among the students at Kuoh Academy.

"Tch," Issei clicked his tongue before pocketing his phone, "I guess you're right. Wanna ask a lucky girl out and go on a double date with me and Amano-san?" he asked to which I gave a thin smile and a helpless shake of my head.

"No can do, buddy. I've gotta go and pick up Anna's medicine tonight," I said, knowing he'd understand.

To which he did, his face going serious and losing any sign of the joking atmosphere between us for the last few minutes, "How is Anna-chan? Still doing better?" he asked with genuine worry.

Anna. My younger sister. A rare disease that has made both her heart and respiratory system incredibly weak and susceptible to overexertion. Coughing fits and bouts of dizziness, followed by general weakness were the norm for my younger sister. But she never let it keep her down. Always smiling. Always cheerful. She's part of the reason I could keep up this charade.

Nodding my head, I lied, "Yep, she's actually looking better than ever," I beamed a 'sincere' smile. Or what I felt was a sincere smile.

...The truth is that Anna's condition is worsening. Her heart gets weaker every year and the doctors fear that in another year or two...

I had to forcibly stop my shoulders from slumping at the thought of my sister's weakening condition and I turned away from Issei, under the guise of getting my bag. But in reality, I was just finding it hard to keep up the facade I was holding up and needed a second to gather my composure.

Grabbing my bag and turning back, I smiled, fakely, before speaking up, "Wanna head off then? We should have been here long enough for most of the people to clear off home so I don't get a repeat of what happened in Middle School..." I harshly recalled the incident and Issei began laughing.

"What? When a bunch of weirdo fans of yours found out where you lived and kept putting love letters through your letter box?" he questioned before laughing, "Oh man, that was hilarious!" he said, no doubt because of envy.

"It was not," I refuted as we left the empty classroom, "It was annoying as hell," I said, resting my bag on my back as we got to walking.

Who knew how much would change in just the next few days? Even the next few hours would change my life completely.

. . .

Getting off the bus, bag of medicine in hand, I smiled, trying to look at the bright side - at least I had enough of the inheritance left to pay for all the medical bills and such. Things could always be worse - I could be broke as hell and still have to pay for the medical bills, after all.

Though thinking like that makes it seem as if I'm glad my parents are dead...

Pushing the gloomy thoughts from my head, I picked up into a jog as I needed to get home in time for 8:00 PM when the babysitter had to leave. Anna was 14...but she could stay home alone, especially if her condition acts up. I shuddered at the thought of her having an episode without anyone nearby.

Looking to the right, I saw the park entrance coming up, so I quickly took the narrow pathway into the park. I could use it as a short-cut. It was already 7:38 PM, after all, so I needed to get back.

But halfway through the park, I caught sight of Issei and that girl he had been going on a date with.

Raising an eyebrow, I chuckled to myself at the coincidence before getting ready to go and say hello to the two of them. I still had 15 or so minutes to get back, so I had the time for a quick greeting, right?

But as I got closer, about 15 meters away. I saw them stopping in front of the fountain. The atmosphere around them looked pretty fluffy and happy, like they were about to kiss, and I was about to turn around and walk off...

Before the girl suddenly grew wings and slashed Issei across the chest with a spear of light.

I...I didn't know what I was looking at, and the 'girl' or whatever the hell she is, actually turned around and looked dead at me with her violet eyes. Even over the 15m distance, I could hear what she said loud and clear, "Oh? The second target's appeared? How lucky I am~!" she cheered, trying to look cute but with those crow-like wings and that spear of light...she looked terrifying and inhuman.

All my instincts were going off in my head, with the main one being...'RUN!'. But looking passed her, I saw Issei with his eyes wide and bloodshot, pain, both emotional and physical filling them. His hands held at the shallow slash that had stopped bleeding for some reason.

Probably because of that light spear. If it is actually light, it's probably pretty hot. Most likely cauterized the wound.

Seeing Issei like this. Seeing my friend, like this. Only one instinct got through to my body.

Before my mind caught up, I was running at the girl with speed I'd never imagined I could produce and power dwelling in my body that I never knew was there.

But right now, that didn't matter. The girl just watched me with a smile and slight bit of surprise in her eyes. Getting in front of her, I placed my foot up on the fountain stone before jumping into the air. My body moved on it's own, settling into the perfect stance to perform a punch.

I didn't know why I did it but all I knew was that I needed to protect. Like it was an instincts engraved into my very soul.