Kenji woke up refreshed, feeling lighter than the day before. The immense emotional weight that had been dragging him down, the crushing guilt over Erza's disappearance, seemed to have lifted during the night, replaced by a quiet sense of calm.
His mind felt clear, the usual feel of his Gamer's Mind returning to its optimal state, allowing him to process thoughts without his mind feeling like a storm. As he stared at the ceiling, thoughts of Erza floated into his mind, but instead of the dread and self-reproach that had plagued him, he felt something else, a fragile but persistent hope, a quiet conviction that she was not truly lost.
He knew there was nothing he could do for her right now. He couldn't travel to her world without a specific world travel ticket and an invitation from her, and world tickets cost quite a bit, something he didn't have now after using a bit of his points earlier.
It was a frustrating, almost agonizing limitation, but one he had to accept. All he could do was believe that she was safe, that the Fairy Sphere had indeed activated, and that she would eventually return. He truly hoped nothing changed too differently from the original timeline.
For whatever reason, this made him feel like he was weak, he had thought he had gotten stronger, but now he felt weak even when this wasn't a question of strength. Limitation.
With a soft sigh, a quiet acceptance of his current limitations and a hopefully trust in the underlying resilience of canon, he sat up in bed and stretched, feeling the satisfying pop of his joints and the renewed vigor in his Tier 8 body, before heading off to begin his morning routine, a sense of purpose guiding his movements.
By the time he made his way downstairs, the house was already alive with noise and energy, a vibrant contrast to his internal silence. The cheerful chatter of his family filled the air, warm and familiar, a comforting symphony of domesticity that grounded him. The kids had finished breakfast and were busy packing up their bags for school, their youthful energy infectious, their voices a joyful cacophony, while Anastasia was bustling around the kitchen, a whirlwind of efficiency, putting the final touches on everyone's meals and schedules, preparing for her own demanding work day. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, a testament to their settled routine.
"Morning, everyone," Kenji called out as he stepped into the kitchen, making his presence known, a genuine smile gracing his lips.
"Good morning, Dad!" came the chorus of responses, a wave of warmth washing over him, making his chest swell with quiet contentment.
He sat down at the kitchen table and began eating his breakfast, savoring the familiar taste of Anastasia's cooking, a simple pleasure he now cherished. Ren, his youngest, looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, a faint crease of concern on his brow, mirroring the worry from the previous night. "Are you feeling better today, Dad? You were really quiet last night, and Mom looked worried."
Kenji couldn't help but smile, his heart melting slightly at the small one worrying about him. He reached over and ruffled Ren's hair. He gave him a reassuring grin and told him, "Yeah, buddy. I wasn't feeling too good yesterday, just a bit under the weather, but I'm all better now. Good as new, thanks to a good night's rest."
Ren grinned widely enough to show all his teeth, his concern immediately replaced by relief and a renewed focus on his cereal. Across the room, the girls, while trying to appear uninterested, visibly relaxed at his words, their shoulders subtly dropping. He could see the tension melt away from Ayaka's posture as she sat in front of the television, ostensibly watching a morning news report, but clearly listening to their conversation, her gaze occasionally flicking towards him.
Taking his cup of coffee with him, the warmth of the mug a comforting weight in his hand, Kenji walked over to the living room where Ayaka was watching the news. The local news channel was showing footage of a cordoned-off area, flashing police lights, and a charred building. "What's all this about, sweetheart?" he asked, gesturing to the screen, a premonition already forming in his mind.
"Oh, it seemed there was a gas leak," she answered, her eyes still fixed on the screen, a slight frown on her face. "In an old abandoned church at the edge of Kuoh. The news is saying it was a faulty pipe or something, but it looks pretty bad."
That froze his blood. A cold dread seeped into his bones, replacing the morning's calm with a chilling realization. He didn't need to think hard to already know what that so-called gas leak was all about. His mind immediately connected the dots, drawing on his extensive knowledge of the High School DxD canon.
That was no gas leak, it was the aftermath of a brutal supernatural battle, the conclusion of the Asia Argento arc. He knew that canon had already started when he remembered dinner from a while ago when Ayaka and Aoi had complained over dinner after coming back from school once, saying that they didn't understand why one of the great ladies of Kuoh, Rias Gremory, came to school with that perverted monkey Issei, and that they were worried when Kiba came to pick him up that he would infect Kiba with his pervertedness.
Honestly, he had forgotten about it all until he saw this news on TV.
Next should be the Riser Phenex arc, which should be a few weeks away if he was right, possibly a month at most. Well, it wasn't his concern, as that particular arc would focus primarily in the Underworld, not Earth, so he wasn't going to be directly involved unless he had somehow pissed off some greater deity or faction already, which he hope he hasnt, in a world like this you never know.
He was not getting himself involved with any of these major supernatural conflicts, not if he could help it, not when his family was still vulnerable. Still, that didn't mean that he was free to relax just yet. The supernatural world was bleeding into his mundane reality.
His eyes narrowed as he took a slow sip of his coffee, the warmth doing little to thaw the cold, resolve settling in his heart. Those yokai from last night, the Flesh Rippers Gang, were still out there, and their leader, Omiji, if what he got from observation was saying, was no doubt furious with him for killing his men.
And one of them had reported back to their boss, meaning his presence was known, his location potentially compromised. He had to deal with them, and fast. Being passive and allowing your enemies to dictate the pace, to choose the battlefield, was a sure way to lose everything, a lesson he had learned painfully in his past life of countless entertainment.
He wasn't someone who would wait for his opponent to target what he cared about, not anymore. If it were only him, he wouldn't care much, he could handle himself. But…
He turned to look at his entire family talking, laughing, their faces bright with innocent joy, completely oblivious to the supernatural dangers lurking just beneath the surface of their world, the devils and fallen angels and yokai that now shared their city.
He knew that if he was passive, if he waited for the enemy to make the first move, if he allowed them to set the terms of engagement, he might lose them. The thought was unbearable, a searing pain in his chest that overshadowed any physical discomfort. He would not allow that to happen.
He turned to his family, a sudden, decisive plan forming in his mind, a strategy to move them out of harm's way while he prepared. "Hey," he said suddenly, gaining everyone's attention, their chatter dying down as they looked at him expectantly.
"I was thinking... why don't we go to Kyoto this weekend? Just to relax for a few days and have fun. Last time I went there, I saw some really beautiful places I wanted you all to see too. It's a perfect family getaway, a change of scenery before school gets too intense again."
The kids lit up immediately, their eyes sparkling with unadulterated excitement, the prospect of a trip overriding any morning grumbles.
"Yes!" Ren shouted, practically jumping up and down in excitement, his small body vibrating with anticipation. "I want to go! I want to see the samurai castles and the ninja villages!"
"I want to go too!" Aoi chimed in, her voice a sweet melody of eagerness, already imagining the beautiful kimonos and sweets.
"Me too," Ayaka added, her initial disinterest dissolving into genuine excitement, her eyes sparkling at the prospect of a trip, already thinking of photo opportunities and new sights.
Anastasia, however, hesitated, her brow furrowing with a familiar worry, her practical mind immediately calculating the logistics. "I'm not sure, Kenji. I have a lot of work this week, and the new project is really demanding. I don't think I can take time off right now."
"I'll help," Kenji said quickly, stepping closer, his voice earnest and reassuring. "Let me take some of that load off your shoulders. I can handle some of the administrative tasks, organize your files, or help you organize your schedule to free up some time. And then, we can all spend some time together. Real family time, away from everything, a chance for you to truly de-stress from all that work you have been doing."
She still looked unsure, her gaze lingering on the mental list of tasks she had, the weight of her responsibilities evident. But then the kids all turned to her at once, a coordinated assault of cuteness, deploying their best puppy-dog eyes, their faces radiating pure, unadulterated longing and hope. It was a formidable tactic, one no parent could truly resist.
She sighed in defeat, a soft laugh escaping her lips, a mixture of exasperation and affection. "Alright, alright, you win. We'll go. But you're doing all the packing!" Her resistance crumbled under the combined weight of his persistence and their children's hopeful gazes.
Cheers erupted from the kids, who immediately began chatting excitedly about what they wanted to see and where they wanted to go, their voices overlapping in a joyful cacophony, already planning their adventures.
Ren wanted to see the ancient samurai castles, Aoi dreamed of the beautiful Zen gardens and sweets, lots of sweets, and Ayaka was already planning which sites she would visit and what photos she would take.
As they all chatted excitedly and got ready for school, Kenji's mind was racing, already shifting gears from being a loving family man. He didn't want to bring his family into what would no doubt be a war zone between him and the Flesh Rippers Gang, into a city that wasn't filled with unknowns, but at the same time, leaving them behind felt even riskier, a vulnerability he couldn't afford.
If the yokai came looking for revenge while he was in Kyoto. If the Flesh Rippers Gang decided to target him through his loved ones, they'd go for the people he cared about most, the people he was sworn to protect, the people who were his anchor. Kyoto, while a hub of supernatural activity, was also home to powerful Onmyoji and Shinto shrines, offering a different kind of protection, a place where yasaka had made into a peacful place for both humans and yokai even if its not completely without danger, and while it was not 100% his family would be closer to him and hader to get to.
'I need a safeguard,' he thought, his mind already sifting through possibilities, accessing his system's knowledge base. Familiars? Spirit guardians? Golems? Perhaps even a powerful warding spell, or a hidden safe house? Something that can watch over them when I can't be physically present.
Something that can defend them against supernatural threats, something that can alert me if danger approaches. He needed an unseen protector, a silent guardian, a failsafe. He had given them items with enchantment, but he wasn't a master, and they are people who it wont be able to help against.
He made a mental note to look for such solutions once they arrived in Kyoto, where they were cheaper and easier to get things from than in his system.
For now, thou, he'd enjoy the warmth of the moment, the simple joy of his family's excitement, a brief calm before the storm.
As the kids left for school, their cheerful goodbyes echoing, Anastasia leaned in to kiss him goodbye, her lips soft and warm against his.
This weekend would be about the family.
And war.
He would make sure he was ready for both.
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