Chapter 88: Love letter in locker!
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Issei had even bought Irina's old house so that the two could move in next door to him. Yet, strangely, both girls seemed hesitant about actually relocating.
Under ordinary circumstances, he would have pressed the issue, but he found their respectful company refreshing enough not to insist.
He had set a soft deadline for their move-in to coincide with his parents' return later in the week—no need to arouse undue suspicion or questions.
As Saturday rolled around, he faced the reality that he was just one day away from witnessing Red's Four Portal Explosion Stunt.
'Just need to get through today, hopefully drama-free, and then it's off to an exciting day with Red,' Issei mused while finishing his morning routine.
As he headed to his motorcycle, Irina and Xenovia joined him. Straddling the bike, Irina turned to Issei with a questioning glance. "So, you never actually told us where you'll be tomorrow. What's the plan?"
"I'll be out of town," Issei responded carefully, "It's a personal commitment. I promised a friend I'd be there for something he's planning."
Irina's eyes narrowed skeptically. "Would it really hurt to give us a bit more to go on? We promise not to nag you about it."
Xenovia chimed in, "Yeah, who is this mysterious friend?"
"Is it a girl?" Irina's voice tinged with a hint of anxiousness.
Issei shook his head, trying to put them at ease. "No, no, it's not like that. It's a guy, alright? Just please, try to keep the drama to a minimum today and tomorrow. I can't afford to miss this."
That wasn't enough for Irina, though, who continued her line of questioning. "Okay, but what exactly are you two doing?"
Issei sighed, finally relenting a little. "It's a stunt event. Some sort of explosion involving four portals. It's complicated, but also incredibly exciting."
Xenovia's eyes lit up at the mention. "A stunt, you say? That actually sounds really cool. Can we come along?"
Issei's eyes narrowed skeptically at the letter sitting inside his shoe locker at Kuoh Academy.
Ever since Irina and Xenovia had joined the school, he'd been using the locker more often instead of relying solely on magical means to change his shoes.
Intrigued yet wary, he picked up the elegantly folded paper, sniffing it cautiously for any hint of magical traps or curses. There were none, but the scent unmistakably belonged to a devil.
He weighed the paper in his hand, caught between curiosity and caution. 'What in the world could this be? Another devil-related mess, or is someone playing pranks on me?' He thought, 'I better stash this away before someone jumps to conclusions and thinks it's a love letter or something.'
Before he could do so, however, a girl nearby caught sight of the delicate paper in his grasp. In mere moments, she had initiated a flurry of whispered conversation with a friend standing next to her. "Did you see that? Someone left a letter in Hyoudou-san's locker."
Her friend's eyes widened with incredulous delight, "Really? Do you think it could be a love letter?"
Issei caught the speculative glances aimed his way and sighed in exasperation as he hastily pocketed the letter. 'Great. Just great. Now that's going to be the talk of the school. Which one of these devil jerks thought it would be funny to stir the pot?'
No sooner had he started walking toward his classroom than Irina and Xenovia caught up with him, already privy to the burgeoning rumor. Irina looked particularly interested. "Hey, Issei, we heard you got a letter in your locker. What's the story?"
He could sense the intrigue in her voice, but all he managed to say was, "Yeah, I got one."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of curiosity and concern coloring her expression. "Well, aren't you going to open it? Do you have any idea who it's from? The rumor will suggesting it's a love letter."
"I haven't read it yet," Issei replied, his voice tinged with a nonchalance he didn't feel. Inside, his thoughts were a swirling mix of speculation and mild annoyance.
"It must be a love letter. I overheard some girls in the bathroom talking about you, Issei. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them liked you," Xenovia remarked nonchalantly as she leaned against the lockers.
Issei's cheeks reddened, and he couldn't help but cringe at the audible volume in which Xenovia spoke. A few nearby girls began to giggle as if confirming the rumor was true, adding to his embarrassment.
'If God was still alive, I would swear that he hates me,' Issei thought with a sinking feeling.
"Aren't you going to read it, Issei?" Irina asked, her curiosity piqued as she adjusted her school uniform.
He shook his head, his voice tinged with a hint of irritation, "No…if it was important, they could have just spoken to me directly."
"Issei! That's so mean. What if whoever wrote it is really shy? It would hurt their feelings if you ignored it," Irina protested, her blue eyes filled with genuine concern.
The dragon-boy gave her a quizzical look, raising an eyebrow, "What would you think if it was a love letter then?"
Irina's face turned a shade of pink that matched her hair, and she stammered, "I-I mean if it is, then shouldn't you find out? Y-you know…just to know for sure?"
"Did you write it?" Issei teased her with a playful smirk, trying to ease the tension.
"Eh?! No, of course not! I wouldn't do something like that!" Irina protested vehemently, her blush deepening.
Issei sighed theatrically, leaning against the lockers, "Too bad…now I don't have the motivation to open it."
"What!?" Irina almost shrieked, her eyes widening in disbelief as she realized she might have inadvertently squandered her chance to find out the mysterious sender's identity.
"I'll read it later, I guess," Issei said, his tone growing more serious. "But just so you know, it has a devil's scent on it. I don't think it's wise to read it right now. Whoever planted it might be watching us."
The embarrassed Irina immediately looked concerned, her brows furrowing with worry. "Really? I guess it's probably a good idea to look at it later then."
Issei nodded, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings as they continued down the hallway toward their classroom.
The school's bustling corridors were filled with students preparing for their morning classes, but Issei couldn't help but feel a sense of unease lingering in the air.
He was known for his devil powers, and the thought that someone might be keeping tabs on him was disconcerting.
"Yeah," Issei replied, his voice low, almost a whisper, to avoid drawing attention. "We need to be cautious. It might be harmless, but I'd rather not take any chances."