Chapter 11: Arcade Encounters and Promises

I held up my box of tokens and said to her,

"You are the first friend I have made in Kuoh, so let me treat you to Air-Hockey."

I pulled over the booster stools for us to stand on, because we are too short, cough. I inserted plenty of tokens and the air shot up on the table, ready for us to grab the paddles.

While I readied us, the little girl's violet eyes were fixed on my crimson hair, that is a bit rare even in this Human world. This was another Gremory power I mentioned, the ability to draw the attention of those cougars when we came to the mall, and this little girl's maiden heart. No the power is nothing sexual, because we are fucking little kids. Rather, I just radiate an aura of coolness to this girl.

As we started playing, I was periodically affected by small amounts of pain in my eyes?! I had noticed the girl had a cross around her neck, and this little distraction let her beat the tar out of me, making her very happy to win. Seeing her cross, I had a hunch and asked.

"Hey, my name is Ray G, what is yours?"

She patted her forehead in embarrassment, and said with animated expressions.

"Sorry, he-he. I was having so much fun I forgot. My name is Irina Shidou. You are the first friend I made as well."

Damn, what the hell, and what are the odds of this? I guess Irina is considered a talent in my Powers perspective. But has she not met Issei yet?

"Really? But you're so nice, you should have a bazillion friends, Irina."

She blushed in embarrassment and poked her fingertips together and said.

"I do not know how to make friends..."

I thought about it and said,

"Just walk up to anyone and smile, then say... "Let's be good friends!"

Her eyes opened at such a simple thing. Well do remember that even when she was 17 or 18, she totally got scammed by people. But right now she is dressed like a proper girl, and not a tomboy like Issei described in the anime?

She jumped off her stool and ran over to me, then smiled and told me what I said to do.

"Let's be good friends!"

"Sure, but... I live in another country, so sadly I am just visiting Kuoh. But in the future, I am moving here when I go to high school."

Her smile faltered hearing I was not living here, and to a child, it is like saying that you are flying to Jupiter for 200 years. I felt really bad for her, so I thought fast.

"Here, take this to remember me by. When I come back to Kuoh, I will come and take it back, how is that?"

I took off a platinum chain with a ruby stone hung on it as an ornament. It is a beautiful crimson color, and it was a birthday gift from some noble I cannot remember. But it looks better than what Human jewelers can make, well because the material came from the Underworld, but I won't tell her that.

I knew she would reject it, so I just put it over her head and I tried to not touch or look directly at her cross. I might be resistant, but it still feels annoying. She held the ruby stone and could not believe how pretty it was. So I tell her two things.

"First, I will come back for it later when I am older, so it is only on loan, okay? Secondly, you are a cute girl and you should grow your hair and dress like a young lady, don't hide who you are, alright? It is time for me to go."

Irina panicked and asked.

"Can you play just one more game with me before you leave, Ray G?"

"Sure, what game?"

The holy maiden with the smile of a Devil, pointed to the one game I hate with a fucking passion... Dance Dance Revolution!

-

And 30 minutes later, I looked dead inside, as I walked out of the arcade with a waving Irina now holding a stuffed Pikachu I bought her. If my body was not literally my soul, I would swear my soul left my body. I weakly waved back to her and went to find Grayfia.

-

When Grayfia saw me her eyebrows raised in concern and she asked.

"Ray, what happened, did you not have fun?"

"I ran into a Dance Dance Demon, and was thoroughly defeated. Then I put my underworld ruby necklace on an Exorcist's daughter for fun, and received a hug from a girl wearing a cross, that stung me like a bee, sigh."

"I assume you are fine, since you are joking? And I assume all three characters are one in the same person?"

"Yup, so lets go before she finds me again!"

The edge of Grayfia's lip curled seeing me defeated and telling me.

"Let us go to the back employee room to a hidden teleportation circle. From there we will travel to meet your brother in Kyoto Sirzechs Hotel."

I was shocked at her words and verified.

"Kyoto and Urakyoto? Are we really going to the West Youkai Faction's Capital City? Wow!"

Grayfia clarified.

"We are only going to the Human portion, not the Youkai parts, so let us go Ray."

So I followed Grayfia with life put back into my body once again.

Kyoto Japan, here I come!

I was unaware that my visit would alter history in a way I could never have imagined.

One day, I will look back on this moment, the day I watched Grayfia finish the silver magic circle to whisk us to Kyoto, and I will have one thought...

This day was sad.

"Ray it is ready, now step on the teleportation magic circle."

I hopped in and smiled at her and gave her my answer.

"Let us go sister Grayfia, I am excited!"

Grayfia then activated the circle and silver light enveloped our sight for a moment.