The Occult Research Club room was a quiet storm in the early morning light. Haruto slouched on the couch, one leg kicked over the armrest, his blond hair a messy halo against the cushions. His red eyes flicked to Issei Hyoudou, still sprawled unconscious across from him, chest rising and falling with the faint glow of Asia's healing lingering on his skin. The kid looked peaceful—ignorant of the sacred gear ticking inside him, the Red Dragon Emperor about to wake up and turn this whole game upside down.
Haruto's fingers tapped his knee, restless. A thousand Lust Points sat heavy in his mind, a gacha jackpot begging to be spent. [Alluring Aura Burst] had been a thrill last night—stunning the room into a flustered mess—but he craved something bigger. The fallen angel mess was heating up, and he needed an edge. Rias's suspicion wasn't helping either; those sharp blue-green eyes had been dissecting him since the warehouse.
The door creaked open, and Rias stepped in, her crimson hair catching the dawn like fire. Akeno trailed behind, her smile soft but strained, while Koneko and Asia followed, the latter clutching a tray of tea with shaky hands. The tension from last night hadn't faded—it'd grown claws.
"Morning, princess," Haruto said, sitting up with a grin. "How's our VIP patient?"
Rias's gaze flicked to Issei, then back to him. "Stable. Asia's healing kept him alive, but he's… changing. I can feel it."
"Changing?" Haruto raised an eyebrow, playing dumb. He knew exactly what she meant—Boosted Gear was stirring, Raynare's attack the trigger. Canon was rolling, and he was front-row for the show.
"His aura," Rias said, crossing her arms. "It's faint, but there's power there. Something dormant waking up."
Akeno poured tea, her voice lilting. "Ara ara, sounds like our little pervert might be more than he seems. What do you think, Haruto-kun?"
"Me?" He leaned back, smirking. "I think he's got potential. Screams 'main character energy'—you know, the kind that trips into greatness."
Koneko snorted, nibbling a biscuit. "Trips into trouble, more like."
Asia set the tray down, her voice soft. "He's kind, though. I… I hope he's okay."
"He will be," Rias said, her tone firm. "Because I'm bringing him in. He's too valuable to leave unprotected—and too dangerous to ignore."
Haruto's grin widened. There it was—Issei's reincarnation, right on schedule. "New pawn, huh? Guess the chessboard's getting crowded."
Rias shot him a look. "And you're still a wildcard. Don't think I've forgotten last night. That 'aura burst'—explain it."
"Magic trick," he said, winking. "Picked it up from a goddess with a thing for chaos. No biggie."
Her eyes narrowed, but before she could press, Issei groaned, stirring. Everyone froze as his brown eyes fluttered open, bleary and confused. "W-where… am I?"
Asia rushed to his side, hands glowing faintly. "You're safe! You were hurt, but we helped you."
Issei blinked at her, then at the room—Rias's commanding presence, Akeno's sultry smile, Koneko's deadpan stare, and Haruto's cocky grin. "Am I… dead? 'Cause this looks like heaven."
Haruto laughed, loud and sharp. "Nah, kid, you're just in the VIP club. Welcome to the weird side of Kuoh."
Rias stepped forward, her voice smooth but authoritative. "Issei Hyoudou, you were attacked by a fallen angel. You nearly died. I saved you—and now, you're one of mine."
Issei's jaw dropped. "One of yours? Wait, what? Fallen angel? Died?!"
"Long story," Haruto cut in, standing. "Short version: you're a devil now, congrats. Also, you've got a badass power sleeping in you. Try not to drool on it."
Issei gaped, brain visibly short-circuiting. Akeno giggled, leaning close to Haruto. "Oh, he's adorable. Should we keep him?"
"Only if he learns to aim that pervert stare," Haruto quipped, dodging her playful swat.
Rias ignored them, focusing on Issei. "Rest now. We'll explain later. Asia, stay with him. The rest of you—outside. We've got fallen angels to deal with."
The courtyard was crisp and quiet, the dawn giving way to a gray, restless sky. Haruto stood with Rias, Akeno, and Koneko, the weight of last night's fight hanging between them. Rias's voice was low, urgent. "The fallen angels we captured—they talked. There's a bigger plan. A faction wants Asia's Twilight Healing and Issei's sacred gear. They're not stopping."
"Faction?" Haruto asked, crossing his arms. "Azazel's crew?"
"Not directly," Rias said. "Rogues, likely. But they're organized—and they've got numbers. We need to hit them before they hit us."
"Preemptive strike," Haruto said, nodding. "I'm in. Got a target?"
"A safehouse," Akeno said, her smile sharp. "Near the river. They're regrouping there."
Koneko cracked her knuckles. "Let's smash it."
"Hold up," Haruto said, grinning. "I've got 1000 Lust Points burning a hole in my pocket. Time for a big roll—might tip the scales."
Rias frowned. "Lust Points? What are you—"
"Gacha thing," he said, waving her off. "Trust me, it's clutch." He focused inward, the Sexual Gacha System flaring to life. Spin it—double roll, 800 points.
The wheel spun twice, lights blazing—swords, wings, a crown dripping gold. First stop: DING!
Congratulations! You've obtained: [Erotic Blade Dance]!
Effect: Summon twin blades infused with seductive energy; each strike weakens an enemy's resolve by 10%, stacking up to 50%. Bonus: +20% agility in combat.
Second stop: DING!
Congratulations! You've obtained: [Charm Sovereign's Crown]!
Effect: A golden crown appears, amplifying all charm abilities by 30% for 10 minutes, once per day. Bonus: +15% resistance to mental attacks.
Haruto's grin was downright feral. "Oh, I'm about to wreck some fallen angels."
Rias stared as twin blades shimmered into his hands—curved, glowing faintly pink—and a golden crown settled on his head, radiating power. "What… the hell?"
"Gacha magic," he said, spinning the blades. "Let's roll."
The safehouse was a squat, ugly building by the river, its windows dark but buzzing with energy. Haruto led the charge, blades gleaming, crown amplifying his aura into something palpable. The fallen angels—five of them, mid-tier and pissed—burst out as they approached, spears and light blasts flying.
"Party time!" Haruto shouted, dodging a spear and slashing with [Erotic Blade Dance]. The first fallen—a lanky guy with a snarl—staggered as the blade bit, his aggression faltering. Another strike, and he dropped, dazed. "Two hits? Weak willpower, huh?"
Koneko barreled into a second, fists flying, while Akeno's lightning arced across the field, frying a third. Rias's destruction blasts tore through the fourth, but the fifth—a burly woman with a mace—charged Haruto, roaring.
He activated [Charm Sovereign's Crown], the boost surging through his charm skills. [Alluring Aura Burst] exploded outward, amplified—five seconds of stunned silence as the fallen froze, eyes glazing. He followed with [Seductive Glance], locking her in place, then slashed twice. She crumpled, moaning incoherently.
"Too easy," he said, spinning the blades away. The crown faded, its timer done, but the fight was over.
Rias approached, breathing hard. "That was… excessive."
"Effective," he corrected, winking. Akeno giggled, brushing his arm. "Oh, I liked that crown, Haruto-kun."
Koneko huffed, kicking a fallen angel's leg. "Show-off."
The Gacha System pinged: Objective Complete: Clear the Fallen Angel Safehouse. Reward: 500 Lust Points. Total: 700. Haruto smirked—another roll soon.
Back at the clubroom, Issei was awake, gaping as Rias explained his new devil life. Haruto leaned against the wall, watching the kid process—shock, awe, and a lot of boob-related questions. Canon was locked in, but Haruto's wildcard streak was rewriting the edges.
Rias caught his eye, her voice low. "You're dangerous, Haruto. Useful, but dangerous."
"Best kind of ally," he said, grinning. The fallen threat loomed, but with Issei rising and his Gacha arsenal growing, Haruto was ready to roll the dice again—and again.