"...." - A character's dialogue

(....) - A character's thoughts

{....} - Issei communicating with Ddraig in mind

{....} - Ddraig speaking in Issei's mind

[....] - Ddraig speaking openly to his surrounding

(...)- Ddraig's thought.

------

Currently, Hanakai Momo's emotions are in a jumbled mess.

(...Hyoudou-kun, is he going to be alright?)

Kuoh Academy, The Front Gate.

When given the position to check the students' attendance, Momo absentmindedly does her assignment while her head is...in the clouds, metaphorically speaking. She was doing her work diligently, but people who pay attention to her in detail will notice her distracted state. Some people look at her with furrowed brows in confusion, while her classmates look at her knowingly with teasing smiles.

After all, it's already an open secret that she has a huge crush on the chestnut-haired boy in her same class.

As for the girl herself, she couldn't help but be reminded of the meeting 2 days ago.

Her morning was as usual: Wake up, brush her teeth, take a bath, and say goodbye to her parents.

From that point, everything was per her normal cycle.

What's NOT normal was when she met the boy and his acquaintances.

(...It was a fallen angel.)

Fallen Angel. The archenemy of her current race. Although she doesn't know her exact identity or the purpose for coming to this town, there's no doubt it's related to Issei. For what purpose did she come to this town and meet with the boy, she could only take a guess.

A few bad guesses.

Frowning heavily at their terrible tendencies toward humans, Momo gripped the pen with a stronger grip, imagining that possibility happening to her cru---close friend. 

On that day, she did feel a sting in her heart when her classmate introduced his girlfriend bashfully. While it'll be a lie to not feel jealous, all of those dark emotions are replaced by full-blown wariness and suspicions.

How badly she wanted to stop him from going on a date. How much she wanted to expose her identity and the danger from her bringing to his footsteps.

But her worry didn't disperse. Rather, it wasn't allowed to.

Remembering the 'warnings' given by The Student Council President, Souna Shitori-senpai, the silver-haired girl gritted her teeth frustratedly. However, she was smart enough to know the underlying messages underneath it, stopping any kind of reckless actions. Therefore, she could never try nor even dream to stop him.

Warnings are the softer words. In truth, she was forbidden to even be involved in this case. Most of all, she even realized who made her not to dip her toes into this.

(...Damn it.)

Unconsciously, she gnashed her teeth in frustration at her state of powerlessness.

Rias Gremory.

The great beautiful lady of Kuoh Academy. The leader of the Occult Club she founded. The future heiress of the long lineage of the Gremory family of the high-class devils. If she listed all of the titles assigned to her, it would take an hour for every one of them. 

However, the most important title is the future heiress in this situation. Moreover, the said privilege given for it makes her banned from being involved, much to her frustration and sense of hopelessness.

It was an open secret there was a deal for the red-haired devil to poach Issei before Souna herself.

"...She's planning to recruit him, isn't she?"

The Great War led the devils to pay hefty tolls in every segment, especially in lineage and population. Nowadays, out of all 72 original noble families, not even half survived to the present.

Therefore, to save this predicament, the smartest devil and Maou in entire history devised an object to stop the 'dam itself from collapsing', so to speak.

Said object is called Evil Pieces.

An item that reincarnates other species into devils, excluding exceptions like deities for obvious reasons. She knows all of this because she was told by her master herself, who is the Student Council President (SCP).

Yes, her leader and the Occult Club's president are the devils who have the Evil Pieces due to their pedigree. She was also recruited by Souna Shitori herself by offering Momo to be a devil. 

Therefore, it's not strange for Gremory-senpai to try to recruit Issei into their world and repopulate their society. Considering the sign of a sacred gear inhibiting the boy, such desire was perfectly normal for the red-haired heiress. While a bit sad about them following a different master, she was giddy about the possibility of Issei joining their world.

After all, she won't need to put a wall between them, nor be restricted in her decision relating to the boy anymore.

Such hope fizzled out instantly after thinking about it deeper. After all, Issei joining this world will expose him to its excessive cruelness and cut-throat community.

Thinking of her current situation and species, she couldn't help but sigh forlornly at her past choice with a bitter smile.

"...Am I doing the right thing?"

Doubts about their own choices are natural for all intelligent living beings to experience. Changing races doesn't make all worries disappear. It only makes her see the world through a different lens than usual.

She, being reincarnated by SCP was not able to integrate with society normally. Initially, Momo didn't worry much about the benefits given: The devil's long age and ability to use magic. It far outweighs the cons. Not only that but with her choice, her parents and the household won't ever worry about funds for a few generations.

Money, eternal youth, and bright stability in the future.

What's to think twice about getting those benefits?

Now though? She couldn't help but regret it a little. Living as a devil for months makes her realize belatedly everything is not what it seems. There's always a price for everything, especially for seemingly good things.

Looking down at her fidgeting hands, Momo smiled wistfully.

"...Hyoudou-kun."

Hyodou Issei, a normal High Schooler. A normal boy who lived a simple life. A mediocre person who seemingly won't achieve big in this small town. While it seemed rude to think that way, she was a practical person after being raised in a business-oriented family. Small communities consequently led to smaller chances for larger success.

And yet, she couldn't help chasing his silhouette with her eyes constantly.

The way he talked to her cheerfully with no hidden agenda, the way he paid attention to her in detail but not offensively showing his care, the way he never leered at her but made her feel like the most attractive girl in the room from the admiration shown in his golden brown eyes. When people flattered her due to above-average looks with their transparent desire, only he looked at her with the clearest eyes ever.

What's funny is that he wasn't her ideal type of boyfriend. If only for physical looks and demeanor, the prince of Kuoh Academy is her ideal type. 

It was ironic to the finest. Instead of the perfect gentleman, her target of interest is completely invested in the mediocre boy. Strangely, she didn't feel averse to her attraction.

Instead, he just felt right to her.

(...Haahh. It wasn't supposed to be this way.)

Sighing melancholically in his mind, Momo lets out a wry smile. It looks like emotions and logic are always working separately. No matter how much she knew her current feeling was wrong, she couldn't help it.

She, Hanakai Momo, was hopelessly in love with him.

No matter how much she wanted to deny it, she couldn't lie to her faster-than-normal beating heart when she thought of him. At this point, it'll be a denial and losing game.

But, her crush was stopped even before she stepped the starting line. Her status as a newly changed race won't let her. Not only does the difference in lifespan lead to an obvious problem, but the difference in everything (such as culture) in their respective worlds makes her unable to compromise anything.

That's why, she refused his advances, even if it felt ripping her own heart to do so. Not because she doesn't want to, but couldn't. That one word makes all the difference. She didn't want Issei to enter this world either, for the countless dangers lurking in it are disheartening, to say the least.

That's why she was so frustrated with that Fallen Angel girl accompanying her crush for an unknown goal. Imagine her despair and grief for being unable to help him. Most of all, she can't blame nor point fingers at Gremory-senpai too, for their status difference are too big.

She, who was supposed to have feelings for the boy, couldn't even lift a single finger because all of the restrictions placed wouldn't allow her.

Her emotions are in a shitty state, to put it plainly.

...However, that crappy feeling stuck in her chest will be dropped to an even more lower point than now.

Because everything has changed.

"....Hanakai-san?"

*Badum.*

Her heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice. It was impeccable timing too as the voice was the person she thought about just now. Taking a deep breath, she controlled her erratic emotions. She doesn't want the boy to worry about her because of it.

Raising her lowered head, she greeted her favorite classmate with a cheerful smile as usual.

---Intended to.

"Good morning, Hyoudou-ku---!!"

She couldn't complete her sentence. It got stuck in her throat completely. 

She wasn't lost for words because of his changed presence into a devil. Considering the threat of the Fallen Angel and Gremory-senpai's invested interest, she just put two and two together. Not many people could decline the sweet allure of being a devil, herself being the prime example. Getting a safe haven and a concrete guide for avoiding danger are attractive notions too.

But, that's not what made her stumped in her greetings. No, what makes her hesitant about her next words is how foreign his expression is directed to her. 

After all...

"....Good morning, Hanakai-san."

The boy is not the same person as yesterday anymore. If she paid attention to the tone of his voice, she would notice the irregularity of it immediately. Compared to usual, his greeting was quite off, almost mechanical.

"You say good morning, but---"

Hyoudou Issei, the 'former' human was looking at her straight to her eyes. That itself is no problem.

What's making her body involuntarily tensed is how he stares at her with narrowed eyelids. Most of all, he kept his distance from her, as if he was looking at someone not to be trusted.

His eyes---

"It's not a good one for me, sadly."

--- is full of caution and suspicion toward her.

------

.

.

.

.

Tens of minutes ago, Issei's point of view.

"...My life is truly bizarre, isn't it?"

Muttering that, he looked up at the blue, clear sky absentmindedly.

Starting with the conclusion, his terraformation of becoming a dragonoid was a success. No, the word 'success' was underselling it. His current body is a one-in-a-billion miracle if Ddraig uses the past Sekiryuutei's case as a standard line. There was no rejection from his new body. Ddraig even commented in surprise at how seamlessly this new physique working for them.

It also showed the high compatibility between the two of them, possibly the highest in history.

{How is it, Ddraig?}

To avoid being seen with looks as if he was a lunatic, he communicated with his draconic partner in a public place telepathically, (He also changed his way of speaking in a frank manner, as trusting with each other but talking politely is just weird). For his newly transformed partner's question, Ddraig answered him, albeit in a trembling voice.

{It's...immense. A very long time has passed since my sealing. So it's been a long time since I have felt all of this again.}

Hearing his voice filled with overwhelming emotions, Issei's eyes softened naturally. He couldn't sympathize with being sealed for generations to generations, but he could understand how impactful this moment was on him.

His third reason for letting his body be shared with the dragon was just that. The main purpose is to help each other, but it is also for the Crimson Dragon to experience all of this again.

What it means to live.

Thousands of years. That amount of time passed brought great changes to everything: Mountains getting flat and eroded, countries destroyed and rebuilt, and seas dried up resulting in canyons.

And yet, only Ddraig himself was unchanged. Worse, his soul and powers are not his to control either. All of that was selfishly directed at his past hosts, regardless of being used for evil or good.

It was more cruel than slavery. Slaves have their own will too, even if it's mostly controlled by their master. However, the dragon was solely a puppet exploited by humans according to their needs only.

It made him numb, forgetting the sensation of being alive.

{The winds touching your face, the legs moving forward, how you breathe from your nose, how you change expressions, how you blink your eyes...}

Trailing off, the shared sense makes his view full of the blue-colored sky, filled with clouds. It was supposed to be a common scene to him, but sharing Issei's body as his own makes it all different to him.

His field. Where he could reign as the emperor. When he was titled The Red Dragon of Domination.

{...The sky. It was so much wider than usual.}

Finishing, his voice is a touch heavier. If Issei is not imagining it wrong, his partner is choked to tears of bubbling emotions due to sensory overload. It was quite surreal for the former supreme ruler to feel this sentimental.

But, he didn't point it out. Instead, he chuckled wryly for his realization. Humans, dragons, devils, and fallen angels. All of them are not much different if you exclude their respective traits.

They all are individuals who feel and act for themselves.

(...My choice was not wrong.)

With this, he was completely sure. He didn't make a wrong choice. In the future, no matter how much people point their fingers at him, he'll never regret this decision.

For he was able to make his partner happy again. That is something no amount of money or power can obtain.

With a melancholic smile, he soothes the dragon in his soul softly.

{...One day. One day we could go there together. You could experience endless freedom up there.}

{...Yeah. Yeah, I really could, huh?}

Sharing bodies means experiencing each other's emotions. It's a bit of a struggle, but not strange if they get used to it. However, what makes it a bit awkward is knowing that the big ass dragon is crying openly in his mind.

Well, he won't say much. Let the big guy have his moment.

However, when he reminisced about the talk with his parents just a moment ago, his face darkened abruptly. Both of his fists are unconsciously shaped into fists, nailing his palm.

.

.

"....Amano...Yuuma? Who is that, Issei? Your new friend?"

.

.

His mother didn't recognize the name at all. Gorou, his father, looked at him strangely too. Both of them showed no sign of pretense, nor needing it either. He was speechless for a few moments, but it led him to a very inhumane hypothesis.

Their memories these past few days have been changed.

For what, it wasn't that hard for him to figure it out. They want to eliminate any chance of the normal populace noticing the supernatural. What's weird though, the signs of magic used are not from Raynare, but from the devils.

His supposed 'neighbors' not only infiltrated his house, they also tampered with his parents' minds.

Sensing his conflicting emotions, Ddraig wakes up from the stupor and focuses on his partner. His melancholy could wait, the boy needs his help more than ever.

{Issei, I get that you are angry. It's perfectly understandable after what your parents just experienced. But---}

{....I know.}

Taking a few deep breaths, Issei calmed his raging emotions down. One side-effect of becoming a dragon is becoming emotional easily. To Issei, it was strangely nostalgic, remembering his bratty moments as a child. On the bright side though, Ddraig occupying his soul will help make it not go berserk and uncontrollable. it won't be a big hurdle adapting to this change, as annoying as it may be.

What's NOT acceptable, is how many dastardly actions these devils have done to him and his family.

{Ddraig, any sign of mind control?}

{Thankfully none. It was just the memories of the Fallen.}

{...Thank goodness.}

He sighs a huge breath of relief hearing that.

If he considers solely from his experience, the Devil's modus operandi is mainly manipulation and deceit. Since he became a devil unwillingly, it wasn't a stretch for his parents to become mindless slaves if needed.

For what, it's disgustingly effective for him to not betray them.

Because it's going to work, spectacularly. His parents are not only his reverse scale but his biggest weak spot.

Since they're not, that means the devils have a semblance of morality, even if it's low as it is.

Speaking of them though---

{...Nobody's watching us?}

{No one. I stretched our senses to hundreds of meters, but nothing got caught up. They just...reincarnated and left you alone, strange as that sounds.}

"...How weird."

Spoken out loud in a low voice, he furrowed his brows at their confusing actions while walking to school.

Reincarnating him while he's in a near-dead situation gave him mixed signals. On one side, he could see that Devils require him to be alive, for his sacred gear. Currently, it's unknown whether they know about Ddraig or not, but hopefully, they don't. When the time comes that they'll ask about it, he'll only introduce it as the small gauntlet in his left arm, Twice Critical. It was the initial state of Boosted Gear and widely common ones too, modeled from the crimson dragon's power.

Issei wants to hide the dragon's existence as long as possible to be his final trump card. While Ddraig felt a bit complicated, he ultimately understood and accepted Issei's suggestion if it came to that.

Nothing would be good about gaining extra attention when they couldn't handle it.

As for the sensors spoken by Ddraig, it's one of his obtained abilities to become a hybrid of Dragon and Devils. Not only did his body get stronger, but his eyes, nose, ears, and sense of touch became tens of times sharper. If Ddraig didn't share his body and help to give him, his brain would have acute headaches, experiencing an overflow of new sensations flowing through. Relying on the dragon as the main driver, they could pick up enemies that'll attack him, losing their surprise element.

Although, If Ddraig himself didn't pick up anything, then they truly left him alone. He also looked around carefully for any prying gazes, but not even a speck of shadow caught up with his evolved eyes either.

(...Are we thinking this too much?)

On the other hand, them making him his/her servant means his opinions are painfully irrelevant to the decision-making process. After preparing for the worst, however, both Ddraig and Issei are left in confusion about how easy it is on his way to school without much trouble.

There was no sign of Fallen Angels coming to finish the job either.

So why---

{Issei.}

Called by his name in mind, the draconic boy stopped walking momentarily. When he tilted his head in confusion at the sudden call, his whole body was tensed stiff suddenly. Then, he directs his eyes toward his school after walking for a few minutes.

Cautiously, he called his partner back in his mind.

{...Ddraig, I'm not imagining it, right?}

{---No. No, you aren't.}

Both of them put all of their attention to Kuoh Academy. To Issei, it looks the same as always. The large buildings, the wide garden fields, and the sea of students entering it for their daily class.

However, that's not what made him stop moving. The number of foreign presences assaulting his senses from the entire area makes him so. It has the same signature coming from his parents too. All of it was coming from said school itself, which was obvious in hindsight. 

{...No wonder.}

His school was a nest for devils.

{They don't need to monitor you at all times. It also explained why the Fallen didn't make a move either.}

Agreeing with his partner inwardly, Issei pursed his lips while looking at his school with narrowed eyes. It was supposed to be a place for study, but Issei looked at it as if it was a dungeon where traps could spring out any moment.

Most importantly, the person who was assigned to check the students coming in. He knows that person quite well. To be specific, he supposedly knew her. Her silver hair and turquoise eyes are her telling traits, but that's not all.

"...Hanakai-san?"

His sensor picked up her real race, which made her more foreign than ever.

Walking to the front gate slowly, he calmly walked to his 'classmate' in cautious steps.

"...Good morning, Hanakai-san."

Greeting her, the girl raised her head immediately. If Issei was in a normal state, he would be in worry that her action could snap her neck badly. Sadly, he was NOT in his usual self. To him, this seemingly harmless girl in front of him could be a possible enemy.

"Good morning, Hyodou-ku---!"

She wasn't able to continue her words after looking at his face. While he didn't know what expression he was currently making, it was definitely not a good one. Her hesitant face changing from the cheerful smile tells him all he needs.

In her green eyes, he could not only see her confusion and surprise but also her recognition of his changed state.

His presence of Dragonoid is minimized to the extreme. Unless it was another dragon or people with sharp senses, she was only able to sense him as a devil now.

...Then, there's no room for mistakes anymore.

"You say good morning, but---"

Cutting off the middle way, he looked at her with narrowed eyes. Perhaps recognizing the unusual mood coming from him, her expression became more befuddled and worried. While it could be a genuine reaction, he couldn't take any more chances. Not only his life, but his parents' fate are in his hands now.

Hanakai Momo is not the friend he once knew, nor a human. Therefore, he cannot interact with her the same as usual anymore.

...Those happy, ignorant school days are over. Both of them can't go back to that past eternally.

Just like him---

"It's not a good one for me, sadly."

She was a devil.

----

Author's Note: And done. As always, please leave a comment and/or review. Regardless of bad or good criticism, I'll try to accept it. I want to make a good story too.

Now, for this chapter itself. The point of view from Momo and Issei's struggle to become the hybrid of dragon and devil. Let's begin with Momo herself. This is my personal opinion, but I have a preference for long-haired, especially silver-haired ones like her. So she, who was supposed to be an extra in the OG story, has an important role in Issei's growth. Moreover, I want to show that Issei's changes not only affect himself but also the people who are close to him. Momo is an obedient servant of Sona's, but this story will be a bit different. She won't be just a doormat accepting orders and the current situation as it is. She will be going high places, everybody!

As for Issei, this is what happens if you change his personality to a logical guy with a strong sense of empathy and a good priority order. The chapter expresses it, but his importance is his survival and the safety of his parents, first and foremost. NOTHING would ever change this. Raynare got a pass from him since he could tell she didn't want to kill him willingly. But, that doesn't mean he's not cautious of her. Controlled or not, the fact of his being murdered by her will remain. But it's better compared to the devil's side, at least.

I mean, in the anime, Issei is the picture of THE Japanese Beta Male protagonist. Not only did he forgive most of Rias' actions that hurt him mentally and physically, but he ignored the damage done to his blood parents. Good intentions or not, memory erasing, and MIND CONTROL are two big things for morality and the safety of own person. You CANNOT just shrug that off simply because "It's necessary." That's why my Issei is VERY ticked off by her actions. He gets reincarnated as the devil without his permission, not given necessary pieces of information, AND his parents are possibly mind-controlled. Yeah, OG Issei has screwed priorities. I get a pretty girl is good and all, but please care more for your OWN family, man.

That's all from me. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Ciao~~