Touching grass?

Chapter 11

Victor's days had become almost routine—training Issei, sipping tea, and watching the world go by. It had been three months since Issei started training under Uncle Steven. From what Victor had observed, the boy had made significant progress. Valerie was meticulous with his basic drills, and Steven's expertise in honing Issei's control over his power made him sharper.

But Victor? He had largely kept himself out of it. Instead, he sat quietly, sipping tea in the corner of his office, letting his thoughts wander.

"It's been so peaceful lately... I'm bored," Victor muttered to himself, setting his teacup down on the desk with a sigh. His gaze wandered to the room around him: shelves lined with books, manga, and light novels, a meticulously arranged workspace, and the occasional scattered item from his past lives.

With a deep exhale, Victor stood and stretched, his towering frame almost brushing the ceiling. The lack of action had left him restless. He decided to take a walk, hoping some fresh air would clear his mind.

Stepping out of his room, Victor noted how the mansion felt alive in its own way. Valerie was in the backyard overseeing Issei, who was grumbling about another basic stance drill. Steven lounged on the porch, observing Issei with a bemused expression as he occasionally barked orders. Everyone seemed to have something to occupy their time, some purpose to focus on.

Victor, however, felt stuck.

He strolled down the street, blending in effortlessly despite his imposing size. His thoughts wandered to his own history. As a transmigrator, he had already experienced more than his fair share of lives. The technology of this world—things like video games and movies—had lost their charm. He'd already seen it all. Games felt too outdated, their mechanics simple, their graphics lackluster. Most of the newer ones seemed like rehashes of older ideas he had already experienced.

He smirked bitterly. "What a luxury, being bored of everything," he muttered.

Victor's steps slowed as another thought surfaced, one that had been lingering at the edges of his mind for weeks now: Issaiah.

Here at Kuoh Academy, Issaiah had taken the name Kiba Yuuto. To the rest of the world, Kiba was the charming, sword-wielding pretty boy of the Occult Research Club. But to Victor, he was a painful reminder of their shared past.

Another survivor of the Excalibur experiment.

Victor had thought, for the longest time, that he and Zapp were the only ones who had made it out alive. Yet, here was Issaiah, smiling and laughing as if the horrors of the past had never happened. Victor couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or not.

"Should I reach out to him?" Victor mused aloud as he walked. "Or would that just reopen old wounds?"

He remembered the scars—both physical and emotional—that he carried from those days. He wondered how many Issaiah bore. Would it even help to bring it up? Or would it only drag them both back into the nightmare they had worked so hard to escape?

Lost in thought, Victor eventually found himself back in his room, pacing back and forth. His eyes drifted to the stacks of manga and light novels on his shelves. Once, they had been a source of comfort and entertainment. Now, they felt hollow, the stories too predictable.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Even the big three can't save me now," he muttered, glancing at his monitor, where a paused episode of one of those classics sat frozen.

Victor plopped down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't help but feel that the world had become too small for him. The days blurred together, each one quieter than the last. It was as though he were waiting for something—anything—to shake things up.

"No point in sulking," he said after a while, sitting up. "Procrastinating isn't going to solve anything."

With renewed determination, Victor decided it was time to "touch some grass," as the modern world called it. He grabbed his coat, checked his wallet, and set off with a single destination in mind: Akihabara, the beating heart of otaku culture.

If he couldn't find a new hobby there, where else could he possibly look?

As Victor strolled through the vibrant streets, his imposing figure stood out like a sore thumb. At over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a face that looked perpetually scowling, he didn't exactly blend into the sea of excited shoppers and tourists. Most people instinctively gave him a wide berth, sneaking quick, wary glances in his direction.

But that all changed when he accidentally bumped into someone.

"Ah—sorry about that," Victor said, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder as he extended a hand to steady the person he'd nearly knocked over.

The young woman he'd bumped into barely even blinked. She dusted herself off and looked up at him with a bright, cheerful smile. "No problem!" she said, her voice light and melodic.

Victor blinked. She was the first person all day who hadn't been at least a little intimidated by him. Her lack of hesitation was refreshing, and it caught him off guard.

"I'm Taiga Tachibana," she said, brushing her short, auburn hair behind one ear. "I'm kind of in a hurry, though. I have a concert to get to—actually, I'm in the concert. You should come!"

Victor stared at her, momentarily unsure how to respond. Her energy and friendliness were disarming in a way he wasn't used to. "You're performing?" he finally asked.

"Yup! I'm part of Tail Wind," Taiga said, grinning proudly. "We're not super famous or anything, but we're pretty good! Come check us out!"

Victor hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."

And just like that, he found himself following her through the crowded streets to a small venue.

The concert was a whirlwind of lights, sound, and movement. Victor stood near the back of the crowd, his towering frame giving him a clear view of the stage even from a distance. The group Tail Wind took to the stage with an explosion of energy, and Taiga was at the center of it all.

Her movements were sharp yet graceful, and her bright smile never wavered. Her voice carried effortlessly over the music, and her enthusiasm was infectious. For the first time in months, Victor felt genuinely entertained.

It wasn't just her talent that impressed him—it was her presence. She was so full of life, radiating a joy that seemed to reach every corner of the room. By the time the concert ended, Victor understood why the audience was so captivated.

As the crowd began to disperse, Victor found himself wandering into a nearby merchandise booth. His stoic expression softened ever so slightly as he examined the various items on display. Without even realizing it, he started picking out posters, keychains, and a limited-edition figure of Taiga.

By the time he left, his arms were full of merchandise.

Back at the mansion, Victor set his bags down and carefully began unpacking his new collection. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he placed a Taiga poster on the wall near his desk.

"Taiga-tan," he muttered under his breath, the nickname slipping out unbidden.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Victor felt like he'd found something new—something that brought a little brightness to his quiet life. And, he thought with amusement as he glanced at the growing pile of merchandise, maybe this was the start of a new hobby after all.

Valerie tapped her pen against the notebook on her desk, staring out of the window in deep thought. For the past month, Victor had been acting… different. He wasn't the usual stoic, composed man who went about his day without a flicker of excitement. No, lately, he had been leaving the mansion after school with a peculiar spring in his step. He returned home beaming, his smile so wide it was practically terrifying.

It was unsettling.

Valerie narrowed her eyes. What on Earth could make Victor von Reinherz, of all people, so visibly happy?

The first thought that crossed her mind was perhaps the most outrageous. Could it be… a woman?

The idea sent a chill down her spine. Victor, the eternal virgin, getting a girlfriend before her? That was unacceptable. Completely unthinkable. Valerie puffed up her cheeks in indignation. She had to know the truth.

Resolving to uncover this mystery, she began her preparations. She donned a suspicious-looking overcoat, a wide-brimmed hat, a mask, and large sunglasses. Coupled with stealth magic and presence-erasure magic, she was nearly untraceable. Or, at least, she thought so.

At precisely 3 PM, Victor left the mansion carrying a large briefcase. Valerie slipped out after him, her heart pounding with anticipation. She had barely made it a few steps before a voice startled her.

"What are you doing, Valerie?"

She jolted, spinning around to see Issei standing there with a curious expression.

"Shhh!" Valerie hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. "Keep quiet! I'm following Victor. He's been acting weird lately, and I'm going to find out why."

Issei's eyes widened in excitement. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? That sounds like so much fun! Wait here!"

Before Valerie could stop him, Issei ran into a nearby convenience store and came back moments later wearing his own ridiculous disguise: a surgical mask and a pair of oversized sunglasses.

"Let's go," he said with a grin.

Valerie sighed but didn't argue. Together, the duo began tailing Victor, who seemed blissfully unaware of their antics.

Victor's journey took them through the streets of Akihabara, where he made a few curious stops. He bought cold drinks and snacks, which Valerie noted was strange. Why would he travel all the way to Akihabara for such trivial items?

"Suspicious," Valerie murmured.

"Super suspicious," Issei agreed, nodding solemnly.

The duo's intrigue only deepened when Victor took a sharp turn into a secluded alleyway. He stopped in front of an unmarked door, glanced around, and entered without hesitation.

"Hey, Valerie…" Issei whispered, his voice tinged with dread. "You don't think Victor's into… shady stuff, do you?"

Valerie swallowed nervously, refusing to answer. "There's only one way to find out," she said, her determination outweighing her apprehension.

They crept up to the door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

As they stepped inside, the sound of energetic music filled their ears. It was loud and upbeat, the kind of music that could get a crowd on their feet. They followed the sound down a narrow hallway, the air growing warmer with each step.

When they reached the main venue, they froze.

The sight before them was one they would never forget.

Victor, their usually stoic and fearsome leader—the man who could strike terror into the hearts of vampires and devils alike—was in the center of the crowd, swinging a glowing light stick with wild enthusiasm. He was performing a perfectly synchronized wotagei dance, spinning and waving the light stick in intricate patterns as if his life depended on it.

But that wasn't all. Strapped to his back were two large flags, each emblazoned with the image of a young, cheerful idol. The same idol currently performing on stage.

It was Taiga Tachibana, the lead singer of Tail Wind.

Victor's eyes were glued to the stage, his expression one of pure, unadulterated joy.

"Taiga-tan!" he shouted, his deep voice carrying over the crowd as he waved his light stick in a frenzied rhythm. "You're amazing!"

Valerie and Issei stood in the doorway, their jaws practically hitting the floor.

"That's… that's Victor?" Issei stammered, unable to reconcile the image of their fearsome leader with the man dancing his heart out in the middle of an idol concert.

Valerie could only nod, her brain struggling to process what she was seeing.

The Victor they knew—the stoic, imposing figure who rarely smiled—was now a die-hard fanboy.

As they watched, the crowd erupted in cheers, and Victor waved his flags even more enthusiastically. His chants for Taiga-tan were loud and unwavering, his devotion evident in every move.

Valerie finally found her voice. "I… I don't even know what to say."

"I'm scared," Issei admitted, taking a step back. "I'm never going to unsee this."

The two of them stood there in stunned silence as their image of Victor shattered into a million pieces. Whatever they had imagined he was up to, it wasn't this.