Back in Kuoh.

Today was the day Issei was going to start attending school after his two weeks long training journey.

'Damn, I can't wait to know how much that Bastard has improved.' Issei thought on his way to school.

If he could improve so much in two weeks, Issei theorised that Yuuki could've done the same. The only way to know the answer was Observing the Gamer's updated status.

"Hey, do you know.." He heard a group of girls whisper amongst themselves as he passed by, "I heard a few students say that they saw Rias Senpai and Yuuki-kun in the cafe yesterday. Apparently they were on a date."

Iseei's lips thinned at the news. And knowing Yuuki, he knew that this rumor was not false. He could not bring to care about it in the slightest as he had nothing to do with whom he dated and who he fucked, but there was an irritation present in Issei's mind knowing what kind of a person he was.

The rumours only increased as he closed to the school gates, but he ignored all the voices around him and made a beeline to the Student Council's room.

"May I come in?" Issei asked by slightly opening the door and peeking inside.

"Yes, you may." He heard a voice and saw that it was Tsubaki, the Vice president of the council.

Issei nodded and entered the room. He easily spotted Sona sitting on her office desk while going through some papers.

"I see that you're back from your leave." Sona stated and gestured at Issei to take a seat before her, "So how's your hand now?"

"Perfectly healed." Issei replied by raising his left hand after taking a seat, "I just wanted to inform you that I'm back from my leave and would be attending classes today onwards."

"Hm." Sona nodded in acknowledgement and looked at the only other person in the room, since the rest of the council members were in their own classes for the homeroom lecture.

"Tsubaki, can you leave us alone for a while?" Sona asked in a calm tone.

"Sure, Kaichou." Tsubaki nodded and moved out of the room, but not without an confused look on her face. After all, what would Sona want to talk with a person like Hyoudo in private?

"What is it about?" Issei asked with an confused look.

"Yuuki Kageyama." Sona replied by adjusting her specs and getting serious, "He's been coming to the Student Council room and challenging me in the game of Chess."

"I wonder what that has to do with me?" Issei asked with an silly expression.

"Are my breasts not appealing to you anymore?" Sona asked out of the blue, "You have not even tried to peek at them once."

Issei didn't know how to respond to such an confrontation. Saying that he has changed would make the matter even worse because people don't change so easily, unless they are cursed by an perverse God.

"So?" Issei raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure how you feel about Yuuki, but he's been playing his cards too properly." Sona remarked, "It's like he already knew about us even before meeting us in person. Our habits, life style, favourite activities and whatnot. Almost like he's from the future, but that's not possible for several reasons."

"Again, what does it have to do with me?" Issei asked with an tired expression.

"Because the time he appeared, you lost your left hand in an unfortunate accident." Sona replied, "I know it could be an coincidence and I hadn't even noticed the things beyond that, until you entered into the Student Council room with Saji two weeks ago."

"Your posture, you trying to stare at Momo's breasts, and intentionally creeping her out. I knew you were acting." Sona continued, "People underestimate me because I'm young and still in highschool, but I'm great at observing the people around me."

"Hm, good for you." Issei nodded with an polite smile and got up from his seat, "I'm getting late for my class now, so I'll take my leave."

"I advise you look for the changes in your class." Sona advised by standing up as Issei moved towards the door, "Especially your two old friends."

Issei didn't say anything in response and simply closed the door behind him as he left the room. He was contemplating the things Sona had said to him, while he made way to his classroom.

'Does she know that Yuuki is a Gamer?' Issei thought with an frown.

[That's not possible, because the Game prevents the Gamer from revealing its existence to anyone. Anyone who finds out about the Game will be targeted for an elimination Quest, but only if the Gamer knows that someone is aware.]

'So if Yuuki finds out that I know about the Game, he will receive a Quest from the Game to eliminate me.' Issei comprehended with a nod, 'Sounds sweet.' That would only give him the reason to confront the asshole as soon as possible, even if Issei wasn't completely prepared to win in a fight to death.

He entered into the Classroom and easily noticed some extra new faces present on the seats near Yuuki. The first was an petite girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, while the other was an beautiful fair skinned girl with long black hair.

Aika was amongst the group, with his Ex-friends sitting next to an young blonde girl and an hot lady in their school uniform.

'Motohama and Matsuda?' Issei was astounded even though he maintained an calm look on his face.

Now he understood what Sona meant, because they had changed drastically from their past selves. Motohama was tall, almost two meters, with an lean muscular figure and his signature bald head.

Where else, Matsuda had also grown physically, but he looked more smarter and cunnining with his specs on.

"Oya, isn't that Hyoudo?" Matsuda easily noticed the new entry into the classroom and grinned mockingly, "Welcome back, loser."

"Don't be so rude." Motohama pitied with an false smile, "Issei just can't get any pussy for his small dick!"

They both started laughing out loud, which made Yuuki quietly glare at them to not cause a scene in the classroom. He was an idol student, after all.

He nodded at Issei with an friendly smile, which was clearly full of deception and hidden malice.

'What an idiot.' Issei scoffed in his mind as he grabbed an seat away from them, 'He didn't even care to Observe me despite me clearly showing signs that my left hand has healed.'

Sometimes arrogance could make even an highly intelligent person to act like an fool. Unfortunately for Yuuki, Issei was not going to miss the opportunity to Observe them and know what's going on.

[Name: Yuuki Kageyama

Level: 65

Age: 17

Sacred Gear: Corrupted Boosted Gear

Race: Humanoid Dragon

Title: The Gamer

Strength: 139

Endurance: 136

Agility: 165

Intelligence: 90

Wisdom: 93

Luck: 36

Relation: -40.]

'It seems he has grown stronger in the time that I had left, but not as much as I had expected.' Issei thought with an deep scowl while measuring his opponent's strength, 'As much as I hate to say this, I cannot defeat him if what Vali showed me is true.'

Vali and Bikou had shown him the video of Yuuki's fight against Riser Phenex, where the former had used the Longinus Boosted Gear to easily crush his opponents.

Vali was excited to fight his destined rival in coming future and that's why he had decided to train under the mentorship of Sun Wukong, who actually did great job at teaching them various techniques. Within a single day, the old monkey had taught him the basics of Sage Arts and even how to utilise them properly in combat.

'Moving on.' Issei thought and Observe the next person whom he was curious about.

[Name: Raynare

Level: 22

Age: 29

Sacred Gear: Twice Critical

Race: Reincarnated Devil

Rank: Middle Class(4 Wings)

Title: The Seductress

Master: Yuuki Kageyama

Strength: 26

Endurance: 32

Agility: 28

Intelligence: 22

Wisdom: 19

Luck: 32

Relation: -80.]

'What the fuck?' Issei visibly frowned at the relation score he had with the girl, 'I've not even met her before today!'

[She's enraged that you didn't check her out even once, despite all the rumours surrounding you.]

'Yeah, the bitch can go fuck herself.' Issei irritatedly rolled his eyes and Observed the next.

[Name: Asia Argento

Level: 11

Age: 17

Sacred Gear: Twilight Heal

Race: Reincarnated Devil

Rank: Low Class Devil

Title: The Ex-Nun

Master: Yuuki Kageyama

Strength: 16

Endurance: 18

Agility: 15

Intelligence: 16

Wisdom: 18

Luck: 8

Relation: 10.]

'Nothing special.' Issei thought with an bored expression, 'Next.' He looked at the pervert Duo.

[Name: Motohama Sato

Level: 14

Age: 17

Sacred Gear: Vritra-Delete Field

Race: High Human

Title: The Musclehead

Master: Yuuki Kageyama

Strength: 32

Endurance: 34

Agility: 22

Intelligence: 12

Wisdom: 9

Luck: 18

Relation: -60.]

Issei thinned his lips.

[Name: Matsuda Suzuki

Level: 14

Age: 17

Sacred Gear: Vritra-Shadow Prison

Race: High Human

Title: The Sly Mastermind

Master: Yuuki Kageyama

Strength: 24

Endurance: 25

Agility: 24

Intelligence: 36

Wisdom: 28

Luck: 18

Relation: -60.]

It was a huge shock for Issei to know that his former friends hated him more than his sworn enemy.

He Observed the girls sitting next to them as well and turned out they were Fallen Angels. The Mature one was named Kalawarna, while the petite one was Mittelt. Both of them were enslaved by Yuuki as well.

~

AN: Updates are not consistent because I have a busy schedule these days.