Chain

Chapter 12

Victor sat at his desk, sipping his tea with quiet satisfaction. His newly acquired Tail Wind merchandise surrounded him, proudly displayed like trophies from an epic battle. A limited-edition poster of Taiga Tachibana was carefully framed on the wall above his desk, her cheerful expression lighting up the otherwise stoic study.

For the first time in years, Victor felt… peace. True, unbridled peace.

The weight of his past battles and burdens had been temporarily lifted, replaced by a singular goal: to support Taiga and her idol group to the best of his abilities. He'd even learned the choreography of her songs—perfectly, might he add—after spending countless hours practicing in secret.

Yes, life was good.

Until Valerie barged in, her face a mask of uncharacteristic fury.

"Victor!" she declared, slamming the door open.

He calmly set down his tea. "Yes, Valerie?"

"Explain yourself!" she demanded, pointing an accusatory finger at the flags still strapped to his chair. "What is all of this? The flags, the glow sticks, the posters—Victor, have you lost your mind?!"

Victor blinked, unfazed by her outburst. "It's called supporting a passion, Valerie."

"A passion?" Valerie's voice rose an octave. "You've been sneaking out for weeks to attend idol concerts! Is this what you've been doing while we've been training Issei?"

Victor tilted his head thoughtfully. "Yes. Is that a problem?"

Valerie's eye twitched. "A problem?! The man who sealed Dracula, the so-called Mad Dog of the Underworld, is now the number-one fan of an idol group! Do you even realize how absurd this sounds?"

"I don't see the issue," Victor replied, reaching for another sip of tea. "Taiga-tan's energy is infectious. Her music is inspiring. And her smile…" He paused, a faint, rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Her smile is a beacon of light in this dark, cruel world."

Valerie groaned, dragging her hands down her face in exasperation. "I can't believe this. Issei, back me up here!"

The door creaked open, revealing Issei, who sheepishly peeked inside. "Uh… actually, Valerie…"

"What?!"

Issei hesitated, holding up a small bag filled with glow sticks and a Tail Wind concert pamphlet. "I, uh… kind of get it now. Taiga-tan really is something else."

"You traitor!" Valerie shouted, pointing at him in disbelief.

Victor leaned back in his chair, clearly amused by the chaos. "It seems you've been outvoted, Valerie."

Valerie clenched her fists. "This isn't over! Mark my words, I'll figure out what kind of spell that girl put on you two!"

The next day, Valerie hatched a plan.

If Taiga Tachibana was the cause of Victor's strange behavior, then Valerie needed to confront her directly. She disguised herself once again, this time as a "fellow fan," and attended one of Tail Wind's meet-and-greet events.

To her surprise, Victor was already there, waiting in line with an intensity that rivaled his battle-ready demeanor.

"Taiga-tan deserves my respect and punctuality," he had said earlier that day when she asked why he was leaving the mansion so early. Valerie hadn't understood then, but now she was seeing it firsthand.

When Victor's turn came, he stepped forward, towering over the petite idol.

"Ah! Victor-san!" Taiga greeted him with a bright smile, completely unbothered by his intimidating presence. "I'm so happy you could make it!"

"It's an honor, Taiga-tan," Victor said, his deep voice softening ever so slightly.

Taiga tilted her head curiously. "You brought snacks last time, didn't you? The staff loved them! You're so thoughtful."

"Your work inspires me," Victor replied simply.

Valerie, standing a few spots behind in line, watched the exchange with wide eyes. This wasn't just Victor indulging in a fleeting hobby—this was genuine admiration.

By the end of the event, Victor left with a signed poster, a custom Tail Wind wristband, and a renewed sense of purpose. Valerie, however, left with even more questions.

Back at the mansion, Valerie cornered Issei once again.

"What are we going to do?" she asked, pacing back and forth. "Victor's gone off the deep end."

Issei shrugged. "I dunno, Valerie. Maybe it's not such a bad thing. I mean, after everything he's been through, doesn't he deserve something to make him happy?"

Valerie stopped in her tracks, his words sinking in.

Victor had always been a pillar of strength, carrying the weight of his past without complaint. Perhaps this quirky obsession wasn't a sign of weakness but a rare glimpse of his humanity.

Still, she sighed. "I guess you're right. But if he starts calling himself 'Victor-tan,' I'm drawing the line."

Issei snorted. "Fair enough."

Little did they know, Victor was already planning his next outing—this time with custom-made Taiga-tan banners.

The cicadas droned incessantly, a hallmark of Japan's oppressive summer heat. Valerie sipped a chilled glass of blood-orange juice, reclining on the mansion's balcony while fanning herself lazily. It had been a month since the traumatizing discovery of Victor's secret wotagei escapades, yet she still couldn't erase the memory of his wild light-stick dances from her mind.

"Unbelievable," she muttered, staring at the clouds. "A man who fought Dracula toe-to-toe… chanting idol chants like his life depended on it. Is this what they call duality?"

"Still stuck on that, huh?" Issei called out, stepping onto the balcony with his trademark goofy grin and a popsicle in hand. "You've got to admit, though, Taiga-tan does have a way of mesmerizing people. Even I got hooked after watching a few of her music videos."

Valerie gave him a deadpan look. "I'm still processing the fact that you knew all the chants. How deep does this rabbit hole go?"

Issei rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Hey, it's not like I was gonna let Victor-senpai hog all the fun. Besides, I wasn't about to pass up a chance to see him act like that." He leaned against the railing. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Before Valerie could reply, the door behind them creaked open, revealing Victor in his usual formal attire. His stoic face betrayed none of the manic enthusiasm they'd witnessed at the idol concert.

"Ah, there you both are," Victor said, his deep voice steady. "Prepare yourselves. We're leaving in an hour."

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "Leaving? For what?"

Victor walked over and set a slip of paper on the table between them. It was an itinerary titled: "Reinherz Summer Training and Leisure Retreat."

Issei squinted at it. "Wait, this sounds suspiciously like… a boot camp."

Victor nodded, arms crossed. "Precisely. Summer vacation is no excuse to slack off. We'll be heading to my private estate in the mountains. The fresh air, open terrain, and lack of distractions will be ideal for physical conditioning and mental fortification."

Valerie groaned. "Victor, we just finished final exams! Can't we enjoy summer vacation like normal people? You know, the beach? Fireworks? Festivals?"

Victor tilted his head slightly, considering her words. "There will be fireworks."

"That's not the point!" Valerie shot back.

Issei let out a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, I'm sure it won't be that bad. A mountain retreat sounds kinda cool, right?"

Victor turned to him. "Good. I expect you to carry twice your body weight in supplies."

The color drained from Issei's face. "Uh… maybe not that cool…"

The drive to Victor's estate was a journey through winding roads flanked by dense, towering trees. The air grew cooler as they ascended, and soon they arrived at a sprawling estate nestled against the backdrop of a picturesque mountain range.

Victor stepped out of the car and took a deep breath. "This," he declared, "is where true warriors are forged."

Valerie and Issei, however, were less enthusiastic. "It's just a fancy mansion in the middle of nowhere," Valerie muttered, dragging her suitcase behind her.

The first day of the retreat was grueling. Victor wasted no time in pushing them to their limits with a series of intense drills. While Valerie and Issei struggled to keep up, Victor himself seemed completely unaffected by the heat, his movements precise and disciplined as he demonstrated advanced combat techniques.

"Focus!" Victor barked as Issei tripped over his own feet during a sparring session. "Your stance is sloppy, your movements predictable. Do it again!"

"Why does summer vacation feel like hell training?!" Issei whined, collapsing onto the grass.

By evening, they were too exhausted to protest when Victor announced an outdoor dinner by a campfire. The starry sky provided a breathtaking canopy as they sat around the fire, enjoying skewers of freshly grilled meat.

"Alright," Valerie said, breaking the silence, "I'll admit, this part isn't so bad."

Victor sipped his tea, seemingly lost in thought. "Discipline and leisure must be balanced," he said after a moment. "Only through struggle can one truly appreciate rest."

Issei frowned. "That sounds suspiciously like something you'd say to justify more training."

Victor's lips twitched—almost imperceptibly—but he said nothing.

The summer sun hung high in the sky as the gentle hum of cicadas filled the air. Victor von Reinherz sipped his tea on the veranda of the Reinherz family estate, enjoying the rare tranquility. Issei was off training with Steven, Valerie was reading inside, and Victor had been left to his thoughts. The day seemed ordinary enough—until a familiar figure arrived.

Victor sensed her before she made herself visible. Chain Sumeragi, the invisible werewolf, had an uncanny knack for slipping past even the most sophisticated detection barriers. Her ability to manipulate reality around her presence allowed her to erase her own causality, making her a ghost even among the sharpest sensors. She stepped out from seemingly nowhere, her sharp suit and casual demeanor as intimidating as ever. Victor raised an eyebrow, placing his teacup down with a deliberate motion.

"Chain," he greeted, his tone neutral. "I take it you're not here for small talk."

Chain smirked, her hands in her pockets. "You know me too well, Victor. I've got something for you."

With a flick of her wrist, she produced an envelope. The insignia on it made Victor's expression darken. It bore the seal of Raju Jugei Shizuyoshi, the infamous witch doctor of Libra, a man Victor knew all too well. The envelope was addressed to Issei Hyoudou.

Victor hesitated before taking it. "When did Issei request this?"

"He didn't," Chain replied nonchalantly. "Steven did, on his behalf. Consider it a 'helping hand' for the boy's progress."

Victor pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. "Steven... always going above and beyond."

Chain tilted her head, a playful grin on her face. "You seem... apprehensive. Don't tell me you're scared of Raju?"

"Scared isn't the word I'd use," Victor muttered. "It's just... Raju's methods are—let's say—intense. Issei could very well die in the process."

Chain shrugged. "That's part of the charm, isn't it? Survival of the fittest and all that."

Victor didn't find her remark amusing. Instead, he stood, folding the envelope and slipping it into his coat pocket. "This also means I'll have to notify the school. Souna Shitori's going to love this."

Chain's grin widened. "What's the matter? Afraid of the Student Council President?"

Victor frowned, his stoic façade faltering for a moment. "She reminds me too much of my boss from a previous life. The same calculating gaze, the same aura of authority... It's uncanny. Back then, I couldn't so much as breathe wrong without getting an earful."

Chain's curiosity was piqued. "Your boss must've been quite the character."

"You have no idea," Victor muttered, a hint of a shudder in his voice. "If Souna's anything like her, I'd rather not cross her unnecessarily. Fighting Satans doesn't faze me, but paperwork and bureaucracy? That's a battlefield I'd rather avoid."

Chain laughed. "You're a strange one, Victor. A man who can go toe-to-toe with Dracula himself, but a student council president gives you pause."

Victor didn't dignify her remark with a response. Instead, he turned toward the house. "I'll inform Issei. And then... I'll draft the leave request for Souna. This is going to be a long day."

Victor found Issei in the training yard later that afternoon, drenched in sweat and panting from his latest sparring session. Steven had really pushed him hard today, and the results were showing—albeit slowly. Issei looked up as Victor approached, his usual goofy grin faltering when he saw the serious expression on Victor's face.

"What's up, Victor?" Issei asked, wiping his forehead with a towel.

Victor handed him the envelope without a word. Issei's brow furrowed as he took it, breaking the seal and reading the contents. His eyes widened as he scanned the letter.

"Wait, what?! Training under the Blood Battle God himself? This is insane!"

Victor crossed his arms. "Insane is one way to put it. Suicidal might be more accurate."

Issei looked up at him, equal parts nervous and excited. "But this could be huge for me! I mean, if I survive..."

"That's a big 'if,' Issei," Victor said sternly. "Raju's methods aren't for the faint of heart. Steven seems to think you're ready, but I'm not so sure. And there's another complication—I need to clear this with Souna Shitori before you can leave for an extended period."

Issei blinked. "Wait, why Souna?"

"She's the Student Council President,and the defacto leader of kuoh academy" Victor explained. "Technically, she's in charge of approving all student leave requests. And trust me, she doesn't make it easy."

Issei tilted his head. "You're acting like she's some kind of tyrant."

Victor's eye twitched. "You've never dealt with someone like her. Let's just say... she reminds me of someone I'd rather forget."

Issei shrugged. "Well, if it means I get to train under a legend, I'm all in. Whatever it takes, right?"

Victor sighed, placing a hand on Issei's shoulder. "Just don't get yourself killed. That's all I ask."

As Issei grinned and bounded off to prepare for the journey, Victor couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. Chain's casual attitude, Raju's deadly reputation, and Souna's bureaucratic hurdles—it all felt like the prelude to something far more complicated than it seemed. And for a man who had faced down Dracula himself, that was saying something.

Chain watched from the shadows, her smirk returning as she observed the scene. "This is going to be interesting," she murmured to herself before vanishing into the ether once more.