Issei looked at me as if I had just asked him to dance ballet in the middle of the schoolyard.
"Boost? You're kidding me, right? Is this some kind of prank by the Student Council?"
I kept my expression serious, although inside I was enjoying his confusion. It was exactly what I'd expected. After all, Issei Hyoudou still didn't know who — or rather, what — he really was.
"It's no joke. Just do as I ask. Raise your left hand and say 'Boost'."
Issei let out a nervous laugh. "Man, that's ridiculous. You want me to do this like I'm some anime character? Do you think I look like an idiot?"
"Would you rather I called the President of the Student Council to discuss your extracurricular activities in the woods?" I asked calmly, crossing my arms.
The mention of Sona Shitori made Issei swallow. Her reputation as a ruthless disciplinarian was well known throughout Kuoh Academy.
"All right, all right!" he relented, glancing around to make sure no one was watching.
"But if that's—"
"Just do it."
Reluctantly, Issei raised his left hand, looking completely embarrassed.
"B-boost," he muttered, almost inaudibly.
"Louder. As if you really wanted something to happen."
He rolled his eyes but obeyed. "BOOST!" he shouted, now with more conviction.
I hoped that this would be enough to make the Boosted Gear awaken, but nothing happened. His Sacred Gear was still dormant. It would need a stronger trigger, perhaps a situation of real danger or intense emotion.
Issei lowered his hand, looking relieved. "Satisfied? I knew it was just a stupid joke."
"It's not a joke," I replied thoughtfully. "Just a check."
"A check on what? My willingness to look like an idiot?"
"Let me show you something," I said, ignoring his question.
I raised my own right hand and concentrated. A small red fireball with black edges materialized over my palm. It wasn't big — about the size of a tennis ball — but the heat emanating from it was intense enough for Issei to know it was real.
Issei's eyes widened comically. He took a step back, tripped over his own feet, and fell onto the floor, still staring at the flame in my hand as if he had seen a ghost.
"What the fuck?! How did you... how did you do that?!" He asked, pointing with a trembling finger at the Stygian Flame.
I smiled, pleased with his reaction. It was fun to see an ordinary human's first reaction to the supernatural.
"The world is much bigger and stranger than you realize, Issei Hyoudou."
"Is this some kind of trick? Like a hidden lighter or something?"
I closed my hand, extinguishing the flame, and then opened it again, creating a new one.
"It's not a trick. It's real power."
Issei stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving my hand. "Who... what are you?"
"Someone like you, or rather, someone like you will be soon."
I took a step towards him, and he instinctively stepped back. "Don't worry... I'm not going to hurt you. In fact, I'm here to help."
"Help with what?" he asked suspiciously.
"Discovering your own power. Stay still. It'll only hurt a bit when I touch you."
Unfortunately, according to what Raynare had told me, the Sacred Gear had to be awakened before it could be removed from the user. That made sense; after all, when she took the Sacred Gear from Asia, Twilight Healing had already been awakened a long time ago.
"Will it hurt?" he stammered.
"Just a little. Like a needle prick. Nothing the great Issei Hyoudou can't handle, right?"
He swallowed dryly but, surprisingly, didn't run away. Instead, he closed his eyes tightly, like a child waiting for an injection.
I was about to touch his chest when a notification popped up for me.
[Ding! The system proposes the mission 'Issei Hyoudou!']
1 - Tell Issei it was just a joke (Reward: 1 Fusion Point)
2 - Use the Stygian Flame special ability and burn Issei's Sin of Lust without killing him. (Reward: 50 Fusion Points)
3 - Burn Issei severely to awaken Boosted Gear and Ddraig. (Reward: 100 Fusion Points)
A notification popped up at the wrong time again. After all, it made me hesitate at the final moment.
Issei's Lust was the reason why I, like many fans, preferred not to have Issei Hyoudou around. This trait of his personality, this sin, was so prominent that it made it difficult for even his fans to defend him.
However, without Lust, Issei would probably be someone great to have around. The only problem was that, unlike most shonen protagonists, Issei's motivation was based on his Lust. To see breasts or grab them, he was capable of moving mountains.
Without it, would he still be so strong?
Without natural compatibility with Boosted Gear, as Vali had with Divine Dividing, could Issei become powerful enough to be useful to me without his Lust?
As I pondered, my hand still hovered inches from Issei's chest. He opened one of his eyes fearfully and saw me standing there.
"Hey... are you okay?" he asked, his voice a little shaky.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind in my mind. Issei was paying too much attention, so making a decision was difficult.
"I'm deciding the best way to help you," I replied, staring at him.
It was the truth, but a partial truth.
Issei rolled his eyes. "Save? From what? I'm living my life just fine, man. I just want to—"
"Survive..."
He blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"Tell me, Issei-kun, would you rather live and be a virgin forever or die?"
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