Everyone fell silent.
I mean, c'mon! From behind, it looks like a fancy black dress, but from the front... it's total pervert wear!?
Pumpkin shorts, a belly tied with strings, and X-shaped nipple pasties, how does that even happen!?
Ophis looked down like she was thinking, then lifted her head, but instead of looking at me, she turned to someone else.
"...Azazel. Is my outfit... strange?"
Looks like she wanted a second opinion from someone she's known for a while.
"M-Me!? Well... yeah, by normal standards, it's pretty strange. Actually, now I'm curious. Why did you pick that outfit?"
"I... hadn't gone outside in a long time. I went into the first shop I saw in town. It was labeled 'Recommended New Item'... so I chose it."
That's gotta be a shady shop's "top pick"!!
So she pulled the "I'll take what the mannequin's wearing" move... and picked the worst possible store.
No way the designer ever imagined the Dragon God herself would wear it.
"Vali! Don't you know anyone who can help coordinate girl's clothes!?"
Like, I don't know... Le Fay? Le Fay? LE FAY!?
"Hm. Then allow me to introduce my sister. She has a normal sense of fashion... will that suffice?"
Arthur turned to Ophis, who gave a small nod.
"...Nee-sama. Why is Ikki-senpai so desperate?"
"Because, Shirone... I think as a devout fan of wholesome eroticism, Ikki just couldn't forgive that open-perv outfit."
Hey! Nekomata sisters, I can hear you! Not that you're wrong, though...
"...I'm leaving."
"O-Ophis? Wait, I didn't mean, "
She said just that, then vanished instantly with Arthur, probably to meet his sister. Hopefully, she'll be in a proper outfit by tomorrow.
Satisfied, I handed Diodora and Shalba over to Sirzechs, and with that, the incident came to a close.
====================
Later, at Kuoh Academy's Sports Festival
Because it was Saturday, both my and Issei's parents were out with picnic mats, cheering us on and taking pictures.
Given that both our families live in mansions and share their homes with beautiful girls, they've become close neighbors. Not a surprise, they probably have lots to talk about.
Kuroka showed up in her modern outfit, cheering on Koneko from the same area.
Right now, it's the bread-eating race for first-years. Koneko and Gasper are biting into bread... I'm not gonna comment on Gasper wearing bloomers anymore.
"Damn it! That blonde transfer student in the first year looks like a beautiful girl, but he's actually a dude!? Motohama, I've never wished harder that your scouter was broken!!"
"Don't say it, Matsuda... I'm already crushed. What's even worse is that Kuroka is really Koneko-chan's big sister. If this keeps up, she might end up as Ikki's stepsister... That's shocking!!"
We're lounging in the student seating area, killing time until the next event.
...Motohama, I doubt she'll be his stepsister. Honestly, she's more likely to end up his wife, but if I said that aloud, I think you'd lose your mind.
Eventually, Koneko won the race, and elsewhere, in the sprint events: Xenovia and Irina dominated the 2nd-year division, while Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki were locked in a heated battle in the 3rd-year division.
"Alright, my turn soon."
"Yo! Ikki, you're in the spoon relay, right? Don't lose!"
"C'mon, Issei."
Not to brag, but when it comes to body control, no one here can beat me. No need to hold back, I'll win and score points for the class.
I grabbed the spoon and ping-pong ball at the waiting area.
The ball's so light it bounces easily, even a gust of wind could blow it off. I have to carry it to the finish line without dropping it.
If it falls, I have to return to the drop point and start over.
"Ikki! If you lose, it's punishment time, okay~"
"Good luck, Ikki-senpai!"
From afar, I can hear Kuroka and Koneko cheering. Others from the club are also calling out encouragement.
Just as I'm getting ready, someone taps my shoulder, it's Irina.
"Hey hey, Ikki-kun, can I borrow that spoon real quick?"
"Huh? Sure, but why?"
I absentmindedly hand it over, and she yells "Thanks! I'll give it back after I finish!" and runs off.
Wait, WHAT!?
She's holding a card that briefly reads "Spoon", oh, right. She's in the scavenger hunt race!
But why take it from me!? Even if it's the only one she saw, c'mon!
While I'm freaking out, it's my turn.
"Hmm? Ikki, where's your spoon?"
Azazel-sensei, who's relaxing near the start, asks me.
"Uh... Irina took it. For the scavenger hunt."
"Ahh, I see. Well, we can't delay the race. Ikki, stand by at the start. If Irina returns the spoon before others finish, you can go."
Grr... I did give it to her without thinking, so I can't complain. Meanwhile, Azazel-sensei starts the race anyway.
"Alright, everyone take your positions! You've got a better shot with one less rival!"
"Yeah!"
"Wahoo!"
"Ready! I can start anytime!"
Don't encourage them, sensei! And why are you guys so happy about this!?
Irinaaaa! Come baaaaack!!
Azazel raises the starter pistol.
"Alright, ready... BANG!"
The other three take off, leaving me behind.
Irina's just finished her race, cheering "Yay!" Girl, give me that spoon back! I'm on a timer here!!
She notices me, runs over, and I shout:
"Irinaaaaa! THROW ME THAT SPOON!!"
She gets it, and with angelic strength, launches it with pinpoint aim.
That thing could kill someone! It's a spoon, not a spear!
Still, I caught it. Time to move!
I grip the spoon vertically and toss the ball into the air, then catch it mid-stride as I bolt forward.
Using the headwind to hold the ball in place, I race to catch up.
With precise control, I adjust everything down to my muscles' limits. This isn't magic, it's pure technique. Totally legal!
"Wha, no way!? He's catching up! No, he's passing us!?"
"Wasn't he just at the start!?"
The front-runner turns to look, bad move. I've been training since childhood. No way I'm losing now!
"Damn! He got cheers from Koneko and her sister! He's our rival now! Go on ahead, we'll stop him!"
"Yeah! You go on, we'll hold him off!"
"You guys... Alright! Your sacrifice won't be in vain!!"
The second- and third-placers slam on the brakes to block me. What happened to racing, guys!?
No time to go around! I duck low, so do they.
"Now!"
I launch forward in a forward roll, minimizing time lost.
"Deliver me to victoryyyyy!!"
=====================
In the end, I got second place.
But hey, Irina won thanks to the spoon, and I still got us major points. That's good enough, right?
At lunch, we joined our parents and Kuroka. I was about to dig in when she smiled and said:
"Punishment game's confirmed"
Guess she didn't expect me to lose. She said she'd think about it later, probably means another expensive meal somewhere...
And thus, the sports festival ended. As we cleaned up, I spotted Issei and Asia behind the gym at sunset.
Probably another shining heroine moment for Asia.
After packing everything, I stood on a small hill and looked at the almost-set sun.
...Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, is about to begin.
"Ugh! Why am I acting like an edgy teen!? So embarrassing!!"
Later, I'd be cringing in bed over that one.
=============
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