KU DXD Chapter 5 The Search for the Princess (Patreon)

The morning sun had climbed higher by the time Issei and Rito finished walking Mikan to her elementary school. After waving her goodbye, the two cousins continued toward Kuoh Academy, their shoes clicking against the quiet sidewalk.

“Man, yesterday still feels like a dream,” Issei said with his arms behind his head.

“Did you seriously fight off those aliens?” Rito asked with a look of concern.

Issei groaned, rubbing the back of his head. “Not exactly, it was most me running away with Lala… and almost got flattened by a truck in the process.”

Rito blinked. “A truck?”

“Yup. One of those guys chasing Lala, he just randomly picked up a truck and threw it at us.” Issei gestured with his hands, voice rising with disbelief. “It blocked the whole park! I thought we were toast until Lala pulled out one of her inventions.”

Rito’s brows furrowed. “Invention?”

“Some kind of vacuum thing shaped like an octopus,” Issei said, sighing. “It started sucking up everything, trash cans, signs, benches, even the trees around us. Then it blew up and took half the park with it.”

Rito stopped walking. “…You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was.” Issei could only sweat-drop, picturing the blast again. “Right now, I’m just hoping no one figures out we were involved. The park’s probably a disaster zone.”

Rito ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, good luck explaining that one. So what are you gonna do about the whole engagement thing?”

That question made Issei pause mid-step. He looked up at the blue morning sky. “…Honestly? I don’t know.”

Rito smirked. “Not every day a guy gets proposed to by a gorgeous alien princess.”

“Yeah,” Issei admitted, chuckling weakly. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t kinda awesome. Lala’s… well, she’s amazing. Funny, smart, beautiful. But this all happened so fast.” He rubbed the back of his neck again. “I don’t even know if she actually wants to get married or if she’s just using me to dodge her dad’s arranged suitors.”

Rito nodded slowly. “She seemed pretty genuine this morning.”

“Yeah…” Issei smiled faintly, remembering Lala’s cheerful grin over breakfast. “She did.”

They reached the school gates just as the morning bell echoed through the air. Students filtered inside in small groups, laughter and chatter surrounding them.

Rito elbowed him lightly. “Whatever happens, you’d better figure it out soon. Knowing your luck, trouble’s probably already looking for you.”

Issei sighed, eyes half-lidded. “Please don’t jinx me.”

But far above, cutting through the clouds, a faint silver streak descended toward Earth—Zastin’s craft homing in on Kuoh.

—------------------------------------------

5th of January, Wednesday – Morning

Kuoh Academy, Class 1-B

After parting ways with Rito at the gates, Issei walked down the hallway with a spring in his step. He couldn’t help it. His entire body felt light, warm, buzzing with a quiet, ridiculous happiness. For all his confusion, all the chaos, all the explosions… Lala in the end still chose him. 

Even if the engagement was a misunderstanding, the fact that a beautiful, brilliant, cheerful alien princess wanted to stay by his side. Not out of pity or obligation, but because she wanted to.

Issei grinned uncontrollably as he replayed the morning in his head. ‘A cute girl… no, a super cute girl… slept with me. Hugged me. Called me cute. And she’s my fiancée… somehow.’ His cheeks warmed just remembering the softness of her hair, her smile, her big Oppai. He didn’t know if it would last, or if she’d change her mind after meeting more of Earth… But until then, he wasn’t going to complain about being adored.

By the time he reached his classroom door, he was smiling so widely. His classmates were milling around, chatting loudly before the bell,  but the moment he slid it open, Matsuda and Motohama zeroed in like vultures.

“Issei…” Matsuda narrowed his eyes with immediate suspicion.

“Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of eroge?” Motohama added.

Issei smirked. “Oh, it's nothing,” he said casually. “Just… I think I found someone.”

The room fell silent.

A nearby boy paused mid-sentence. “…Ha?”

A girl in the next row blinked, pen hovering over her notebook. “…Who?”

“Impossible,” Someone muttered.

“Bullshit,” Another boy said bluntly.

Almost instantly, the classroom erupted as students began throwing out theories.

“He’s lying, obviously.”

“He must’ve paid her.”

“No way. He used blackmail, that’s the only explanation.”

“Mind control? Hypnosis? Alien tech—no, that’d be too stupid, even for him.”

“WHAT GIRL WOULD EVER PICK HIM!?” Came the response of several female students causing Issei’s eyebrow twitch.

Before he could snap back, two very familiar voices chimed in from the back with smug mockery.

“As if a pervert like Hyoudou could ever get a girlfriend,” Murayama said, flipping her hair.

“Seriously. Did he confuse a polite smile for romantic interest again?” Katase added with a pitying sigh causing laughter to spread across the row of girls.

Then came the female perverts as they chimed in with Aika, smirking sharply. “Well, Hyoudou does have his… ‘talents,’ but I doubt any girl would commit.”

“Unless she’s weirder than him~” Risa joked.

 “Ooooh, maybe she’s blind!” Mio said with wonder and gasped dramatically.

The trio laughed. clearly enjoying themselves.

Matsuda and Motohama immediately bristled on Issei’s behalf, leaning over their desks. “Hey! Don’t make fun of our brother in lust!” “Hyoudou is a proud representative of the male species! Just like us.”

Aika just shot them a lazy look that shut them up instantly. “Oh? Then where are your girlfriends?”

Even Yui, class rep extraordinaire, sitting primly with her notes neatly arranged, joined in with a weary sigh. “Hyoudou-kun, please don’t spread delusional fantasies in the morning and also no bullying inside this class.”

Issei had already taken his seat, but at that he slammed his hands on his desk. “I’M NOT MAKING IT UP!”

The room went silent again as everyone stared at him.

He stared right back. Slowly, deliberately, a grin spread across his face, confident, smug, dangerously close to cocky. “You’ll see.” He said simply.

For the first time, the class noticed the confidence in his posture. The light in his eyes. And the faint redness still lingering on his cheeks.

Aika’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. She tapped her pen against her lips. “…Huh. Maybe he isn’t bluffing.”

Before anyone could dig into that thought, the bell rang sharply, cutting through the noise, causing students to slip into their seats, still whispering and glancing back at Issei like he’d grown a second head as the teacher walked in.

—-------------------------------

Hyoudou Residence

Meanwhile, back home…

Miki Hyoudou wiped down the dining table while humming a pleasant tune, enjoying the calm domestic rhythm of the morning. 

Floating beside her was Lala used Peke’s flight mode, hovering with a feather duster in hand and sparkles in her eyes. “I really like helping, Mom!” She said cheerfully, dusting with far more enthusiasm than precision. “It’s fun doing Earth chores!”

Miki laughed softly. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, dear. And it’s sweet of you to help.”

Lala smiled happily, tail swaying behind her. Until her tail’s sway slowed and drooped. “…I wish I could go with Issei to school.” Her voice softened, just a bit.

Miki paused her wiping. The look in Lala’s emerald eyes that tugged at her heart. “I know, dear,” She said gently. “But you’ll see him after school. He’ll come back before you know it.”

Lala blinked, then suddenly brightened as if someone had flipped a switch inside her head. “Mm! You’re right!” She suddenly hovered higher, determined. “And until then… I can make cleaning easier!”

Miki blinked. “…Easier?”

Lala then pulled out her phone-like device, floating upside down now as she tapped rapidly through menus. Dozens of items flickered on the holographic screen, spinning drills, glowing cubes, something that looked like a toaster with legs, and a few items shaped so alarmingly she couldn’t even assign them a purpose.

A cold dread crept up Miki’s spine. She didn’t know why… But her motherly instincts told her this was bad.

“Found it!” Lala cheered triumphantly.

A shiver ran down Miki’s back. But before she could caution her.

Lala had already typed a series of commands at lightning speed. Space itself shimmered and suddenly, a strange metallic sphere with four sharp mechanical legs and a top-mounted propeller materialized out of thin air.

Miki stared, horrified and impressed all at once. “…What… is that?”

“This is Clean-Clean Robo Mini DX!” Lala announced proudly, hugging the orb like a puppy. “It’ll clean the whole house in seconds!”

Again a bad feeling came and before Miki could stop her as she waved her hands frantically. “L-Lala-chan, maybe we should—”

Too late.

Lala pressed the button to start the machine. 

Beep-beep—VRRRRRR.  

Clean-Clean Robo Mini DX shot straight into the air like an overly excited drone strapped to a blender.

The living room erupted into a hurricane as papers flew, the cups rattled and the curtains snapped like sails in a storm.

“LALA-CHAN NO—!!!” Miki screamed, diving behind the couch.

“DON’T WORRY MOM, IT’S TOTALLY SAFE—!!” Lala yelled over the gale.

“THAT MAKES ME MORE WORRIED—!!”

Then the robot activated suction mode.

WHOOOOOOOSH!!

The curtains were sucked in. The TV remote flew past. Throw pillows vanished into the vortex. A cat figurine shot across the room like a missile.

“TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF—!!” Miki cried, clinging to the couch for dear life.

Lala yelped, fumbling through mid-air. “It’s not supposed to be doing thiiiis—!”

Then—

BOOOOOOM!!!

A soft explosion burst outward, covering both women in a cloud of gray dust, soot, and an impressive snowfall of shredded pillow feathers. The Clean-Clean Robo Mini DX clattered to the carpet, smoking, twitching, and emitting a faint mechanical whine of defeat. Feathers drifted down like snow.

Lala blinked through the soot, her hair sticking out in random directions. “Ah… oops.”

Miki slowly wiped her face with the calm acceptance of a war veteran. “It’s fine, dear. Really.”

She exhaled a long, tired sigh. “Let’s just… clean the traditional way.”

Lala immediately perked up, soot falling from her face as she smiled brightly again. “Okay!”

And with that, the two resumed cleaning.

—------------------------------

Somewhere in Japan, Hokkaido

Far, far away from Kuoh… A lone, bone-armored figure stood atop a snowy mountain peak, surrounded by an endless sea of white. The wind howled mercilessly, biting at his exposed face and tugging at his long purple cape. 

Zastin, elite commander of the Devilukean Royal Guard, stared at the frozen mountain with a twitching eye. “This…” He muttered, glancing left, right, and then at the blinding white sky above him, “is most definitely not where Lady Lala is hiding.”

He checked his handheld scanner again, tapping it sharply as if scolding it. Zastin narrowed his eyes. “…Did I make a wrong turn?”

A deep snort sounded behind him.

Zastin slowly turned his head.

A massive Hokkaido brown bear was sitting ten meters away, staring at him with a judgmental expression only a bear could achieve, a mix of boredom, pity, and silent criticism.

Zastin stared back.

The bear didn’t blink.

Zastin clenched his fist with the dignity of a man desperately trying not to lose his composure in front of wildlife. “Princess Lala…” he muttered through clenched teeth. “Where are you…?” He took one step forward causing him to slip on ice.

And Zastin, the galaxy-renowned swordsman of Deviluke, the terror of criminal warlords across twelve star systems, slipped like a cartoon character and fell face-first into a snowbank.

Snow exploded upward like a geyser.

The bear chuffed once, unimpressed.

Zastin slowly rose from the snow, frost clinging to his armor and hair now standing in frozen spikes. His eye twitched harder. “…I am never trusting the ship’s autopilot again.”

He re-calibrated his locator, fingers tapping rapidly across the device. The screen buzzed, flickered again—

BEEP! BEEP!

 The new arrow pointed south. Far, far south.

Zastin stared at the reading. Then he stared at the bear.

The bear gave him a look that very clearly said, “Finally figured it out, genius?”

Zastin inhaled deeply. Exhaled slowly. “...Wonderful.”

Without another word, he crouched low, the snow beneath him cracking. Then he shot into the air, breaking the sound barrier with pure brute force, blasting southward in a streak.

Below him, the bear watched the shrinking figure, snorted once, and wandered off, shaking its head as if thinking: That guy’s not gonna make it.

—--------------------------------------

Hyoudou Residence, Issei’s Room

Issei’s room, usually messy, but still recognizable as a teenage boy’s den, was now glowing, humming, clanking as it was now full of construction.

Wires dangled from the ceiling. Holographic screens flickered in midair. Metal scraps levitated as tiny robotic arms welded them together. Something that looked suspiciously like a miniature particle accelerator hummed on top of Issei’s dresser.

And floating in the center of it all was Lala, dressed with Issei’s clothes, wearing goggles, oversized gloves, and holding a welding torch that shot sparks. Peke, her dress doll was seen floating around looking with worry.

“Mm-hmm~! If I connect this here, and attach that there and stabilize the reactor output, then Issei’s room will be perfect!” Her tail swayed in sync with her humming.

Tools clattered. Metal hissed. Something popped.

“Oops! That’s supposed to pop.” She assured Peke, who looked uncertain.

Just then Knock knock.

Lala paused mid-weld. “Coming~!” She zipped to the door and opened it with a bright smile.

Standing there was Miki, holding a glass of orange juice and wearing the expression of a woman who had lived through enough chaos to accept anything… with moderate dread.

“Oh! Mom!” Lala beamed. “You brought juice!”

“Yes dear,” Miki said warmly then her eyes drifted past Lala. The scene caused her smile to freeze.

Behind Lala was a swirling mess of inventions, glowing circuits, levitating screws, half-assembled machines, a small floating orb shooting out holographic blueprints, and an ominous device emitting a black-light glow from under the bed.

“…Lala-chan,” Miki slowly asked, “what… are you doing in Issei’s room?”

Lala lifted her welding mask with sparkles in her eyes.  “I’m upgrading it!”

Miki blinked. “…Upgrading it?”

“Yep!” Lala said proudly. “I’m going to make my Lab here!” She gestured enthusiastically at the room, nearly hitting a floating screwdriver.

“I brought everything from my ship and teleported it here! Isn’t it exciting?”

One of the machines behind her suddenly made a concerning whirrrrrrrrrr-click… sound.

Miki flinched. “Y-You brought… everything?”

“Uh-huh!” Lala nodded. “My reactors, my generators, my mini black-hole compactor, my portable gravity adjuster—well, the non-exploding one—and all my tools!”

Miki stared at her, frozen between motherly concern and absolute terror. “Lala-chan… sweetie… why didn’t you use the extra room we offered you?”

“Oh!” Lala smiled brightly, as though the answer was obvious. “Because I want this room to be comfortable for both me and Issei! We’re engaged, after all!”

Miki’s eye twitched, but she kept smiling.

“And also~” Lala continued happily, “this way I can invent things even while spending time with Issei! And if I create something incredibly dangerous, which I definitely will, it will be contained here!”

Something in the back sparked violently.

Miki nodded slowly. “I… see.”

Lala beamed. “Plus! I’m going to expand the room!”

Miki’s smile cracked. “Expand…?”

“Mm-hmm! Don’t worry, I won’t damage the house at all!” Lala said confidently. “I’ll just warp the interior dimension of the room using a semi-stable compressed space grid powered by an reactor!”

“Is it…safe?” Miki repeated weakly.

Lala nodded proudly. “Oh yes! It might probably implode if calibrated wrong, but Peke and I will make sure that doesn’t happen!”

Peke blinked nervously. “Probably.”

Lala clapped happily. “See? All safe!”

Miki stood there for a long moment. Processing and internally praying. Finally, she exhaled and placed the orange juice in Lala’s hands. “Well… good luck, dear,” Miki said with motherly resignation. “Please… don’t blow up the house.”

Lala saluted. “Leave it to me, Mom!”

A loud BZZZZZ-KRACK sounded behind her.

Miki jumped. But Lala didn’t even blink.

Miki backed out of the room with the calm, steady steps of a woman evacuating before the explosion.

The moment the door closed—

Lala turned back to her half-built lab, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Alright! Back to work! Issei is going to love this!”

Behind her, something began ticking.

Peke slowly rotated toward it. “…Mistress Lala, that device is counting down—”

“I know! Isn’t it cute?”

—-------------------------------------

Zastin descended from the sky and landed atop a towering skyscraper with the precision and grace befitting the Commander of the Devilukean Royal Guard while striking a noble pose as he surveyed the area, his cape fluttering behind him, stance wide, one hand on the hilt of his sword. The wind swept past dramatically, as if acknowledging his presence. This time for sure he arrived in the proper location and as he looked below him. 

But instead of a peaceful town he was met with a sprawling bustling city that stretched endlessly in every direction, tall skyscrapers, bright signs, massive screens, honking cars, crowded streets, and an overall vibe far louder and busier than peaceful little Kuoh. Billboards flashed bright colors. Trains rattled through the air on elevated tracks. Drones zipped overhead carrying advertisements.

“Where am I?” He squinted as he looked around for any indication of where he was but couldn’t make sense of the written language. He squinted, trying to read the human-written signs. Unfortunately for him, they were indecipherable squiggles.

A beat later a realization came to him as this city did not fit the description of the town where the princess resided. “This…” He muttered slowly as he continued scanning the environment with a mixture of confusion and dread, “does not resemble the peaceful little town described in the report.”

He stared, deadpan, at the glowing skyline, the bustling crowds, the towering buildings dwarfing him on all sides.

“…Wonderful.” His heroic cape, as if reacting to his mood, deflated slightly in the wind.

Still, determined not to fail his mission, he lifted his locator again. The device sparked once, made a noise like it was choking, then flickered to life. Zastin exhaled in relief. “Good. Perhaps I can recalibrate this now—”  He began tapping buttons with delicate, practiced motions.

The screen blinked.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP—HARD TURN WEST.

Zastin blinked.  “…West?” He looked to his left and was met with a giant billboard of a panda mascot waved cheerfully at him. He stared back with hollow, frozen eyes. “…I am going to destroy this machine.”

Without another word, he took a single dignified step forward and blasted off into the sky with so much force that the nearby antenna bent from the shockwave.

His cape whipped behind him as a sonic boom cracked across the skyline, scattering pigeons and startling half the office workers on lunch break. This time, he manually corrected the course, teeth gritted, determination blazing in his eyes. One way or another he would find Lala.

—--------------------------------

Kuoh Academy

The final bell rang, and the usual chorus of chairs scraping against the floor filled the room. Students filtered out in small clusters, chatting about homework, clubs, and weekend plans.

Issei, however, remained at his desk, calmly packing his notebooks into his bag with a humming sense of excitement. He couldn’t help it, the thought of Lala waiting for him back home made his stomach feel warm and electric. Just as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

SLAM!

Two bodies landed on either side of him. Matsuda on the right with his eyes blazing and Motohama on the left, glasses glinting ominously.

“Isseiiiiiii…” Matsuda hissed. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Motohama pushed up his glasses, the lenses flashing. “We were just wondering if you wanted to hang out. Arcade. Munchies. Babe watching. A classic after-school activity.”

Issei winced. “Ah… sorry, guys. I, uh… can’t today. I have plans.”

Both perverts froze. Then slowly, terrifyingly… They leaned in.

“You can’t?” Matsuda repeated.

“You have plans?” Motohama echoed with suspicion dripping from his tone.

Issei scratched his head as he remembered what he’d told the class that morning. Making him remember Lala, her smile, the morning on how she snuggled up against him, the way she grabbed onto his arm with absolute innocence and affection —

Something inside him swelled with pride. He smirked. “Well,” He said, leaning back casually, “let’s just say… I truly entered my popular phase.”

Matsuda twitched and Motohama’s lenses cracked.

“Popular…?” Matsuda whispered in horror. 

“With who?” Motohama demanded. “Your hand?!”

Issei chuckled darkly. “No, no. I mean with an actual woman. Did you know that girls have smooth, soft skin.” He gave a slow, smug grin

His friends deteriorated instantly. “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

Matsuda grabbed his hair. “THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!!” 

Motohama clutched his chest. “BETRAYAL! UTTER BETRAYAL!”

Issei shrugged, patting Motohama’s shoulder sympathetically. “I know, I know. Life is tough. But hey… some of us are just destined for greatness.”

“DON’T YOU DARE SAY GREATNESS!” Matsuda barked, shaking him by the collar.

Motohama leaned forward, eyes narrowed to slits. “We don’t believe you. No way. Not until we see proof. Pictures. Video. A live demonstration. Something!”

Issei raised a hand, already inching toward the door. “Nope! Not happening. Not yet. I’ll… introduce her some other time.”

“ISSEI—!!!”

“COME BACK HERE YOU TRAITOR!!!”

But Issei had already grabbed his school bag tight and slipped out of their grasp. “Sorry guys! Gotta go! See you tomorrow!”

“GET BACK HERE—!!” 

“DON’T YOU WALK AWAY LIKE SOME COOL PROTAGONIST—!!”

Issei sprinted down the hall, practically glowing inside. Lala was waiting for him and he couldn’t wait to get home.

—--------------------------------------

Somewhere else in Japan

Zastin descended again, boots hitting the pavement with a heavy thud. His cape fluttered dramatically behind him as he straightened his posture with the dignity of a man who refused, utterly refused, to admit he was lost.

This time, he landed in front of a large sign: WELCOME TO OSAKA!! THE CITY OF FOOD, FUN, AND CULTURE!

Zastin stared at the sign. He couldn’t read a single character on it but he noted the gorgeous beach that stretched along the coast. Waves rolled lazily against the shore. Tourists splashed in the water. Vendors sold ice cream and beach toys. A group of teenagers in swimwear walked by laughing. He was clearly not where he was supposed to be.

“…This is… not my destination.”

He lifted the locator again, his cursed, traitorous, absolutely broken locator because it was still his only way to find the princess.

It pointed north-east. Far, far north-east.

Zastin inhaled deeply and held his breath. Then exhaled with the calmness of someone clinging to sanity by a thin, fraying thread. “Calm down. You are a proud Devilukean warrior. The greatest swordsman of the Royal Guard. You have survived warlords. Assassins. Cosmic beasts. Supernova-level battles. You will not be defeated by—”

The locator short-circuited for a moment and began spinning in a full circle. Zastin stared at it. Then spoke with the quiet fury of a man moments from losing his patience. “…By this horrendous GPS.”

Then he slowly turned his gaze to the ocean horizon. “Princess Lala…” He said with exhaustion, “why is your rescue mission turning into a planetary tour…?” He squared his shoulders with renewed determination. “No matter. A true Royal Guard does not give up.”

He blasted off again with another sonic boom leaving Osaka’s beachgoers staring up at the sky, wondering how a cosplayer had just taken off like a missile.

—----------------------

Hyoudou Residence 

Issei jogged up to the front door of his house, humming happily to himself. After spending his entire day being mocked, and questioned by his classmates, he was ready for the one thing that had made all of it worth it. The cute alien girl, Lala.

He barely touched the doorknob before the door burst open, and he was yanked inside with superhuman strength.

“ISSEI~!!!”

His face was immediately engulfed in a warm, soft, heavenly embrace as his head was buried between Lala’s oppai. A place he was beginning to suspect might be the true paradise that monks and sages searched for.

He could barely breathe but he didn’t care.

“I missed you so much!” Lala giggled, squeezing tighter. “Are we going to see more of your town today?”

“Mhmph—yes—absolutely yes—!” Issei managed, muffled in bliss.

She pulled back only enough for him to breathe, still holding onto his shoulders. “Great! Then go change out of your school clothes! I have something to show you!”

Issei blinked. That tone, that smile and the excited sparkle in her eyes. Instantly shot alarm bells. He remembered this morning that Lala was incredibly smart. “L-Lala… what exactly… Did you do to my room?”

Lala beamed proudly. “I upgraded it!”

Issei froze. ‘Upgraded.’ He remembered the last invention that had exploded in his face yesterday. And then remembered everything inside his room with the most important items from his limited edition collectibles, his manga and finally his ecchi treasures.

Issei felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine. “Uh… my stuff is okay, right? RIGHT?”

Lala smiled innocently. “Mhmm! I took good care of everything!”

Somewhere inside him, something tightened in terror. Before Issei could panic further, Lala grabbed his hand and dragged him through the living room and up the stairs.

“Mom! We’re going upstairs!” Lala called out cheerfully.

“Have fun, you two!” Miki said with a wave and a small sweatdrop, as if bracing for whatever cosmic horror would soon emerge from her son’s room.

“Thanks, Mom—GACK— Lala slow down—!!”

Lala did not slow down. She pulled him right to his bedroom door, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Okay Issei,” She said with the enthusiasm of a kid opening a birthday present. “Ready?”

“Um… no—”

Lala opened the door and Issei’s breath left his body.

His room, his tiny, messy, cramped teenage room was gone. In its place was a space so enormous and advanced that his brain refused to accept it existed inside a Japanese house.

The room was now three times bigger than the entire living room downstairs. The floor gleamed like polished silver. The walls were made of reinforced metal lined with glowing lines of blue energy. Huge holographic screens floated in midair. Tables full of futuristic tools and alien tech lined the room. A machine humming ominously sat in the corner, occasionally sparking with pink electricity. Another rotated slowly, projecting blueprints of something round, sharp, and definitely deadly.

Most of the gigantic space had become a full-blown futuristic laboratory. And at the far end,sat his bed, neatly made. His shelves full of his figures were displayed. His manga and magazines were stacked neatly and all perfectly organized.

Issei let out a sigh of PURE RELIEF. “Thank goodness… you kept my stuff safe…” Then another, darker thought struck him. His magazines, his secret stash, his secret shrine of forbidden literature.

He whipped around so fast Lala flinched. “Lala—!!”

“Yes?” She blinked, tilting her head.

“You didn’t… read anything in my collection, did you?”

Lala innocently placed a finger to her lip. “Hm? No, I didn’t read any of your books.”

Issei exhaled.

But he missed it. He missed the tiny, faint blush that appeared on Lala’s cheeks. The tiny sparkle of curiosity in her eyes. And the way she subtly avoided looking at the shelf where his magazines used to be.

Completely oblivious, Issei continued looking around. “Okay… so… where are my clothes?”

“Right here!” Lala chirped.

She pointed to a closet door near the corner.

Issei walked toward it carefully, sidestepping wires, tools, a glowing generator, a floating cube, and a bubbling test tube.

He closed the closet door behind him for privacy and began changing.

Outside, Lala stood patiently, smiling to herself as her tail curled happily.

“Issei’s going to love everything I prepared,” she said softly, hands clasped behind her back. “I just know it.”

Something behind her beeped and hissed as a machine sparked and on its screen started a 10-second countdown.

Lala blinked and turned toward it. “Oh, that’s supposed to do that.” She smiled serenely and quickly went to shut it off with urgency.

—------------------------

Zastin descended once more, boots hitting the soft earth with a muted thump. The dramatic landing he intended was immediately ruined by the fact that he stood in the middle of a rice field.

Rows of young rice plants stretched across the landscape like a green, watery grid. Dragonflies buzzed lazily. Frogs croaked peacefully in the irrigation channels. 

But then a tractor engine rumbled nearby.

Zastin slowly turned his head and met the gaze of a lone farmer sitting on his tractor, staring at him with the shocked expression of a man who had not planned for his day to turn weird.

A long, painful silence stretched between them.

Zastin, still maintaining eye contact with the farmer, slowly raised his locator again, hoping that he was at least close.

Unfortunately it pointed south-east.

Zastin stared at it and he let out the sigh of a man who had been spiritually defeated. “…Of course.”

The farmer raised a single eyebrow.

Zastin felt compelled to salvage what little dignity he had left. He bowed politely with his hand on his chest, posture perfect despite being covered in dust. “My apologies, my good sir. Wrong planet— I mean, wrong location.”

The farmer blinked confused. Then gave the smallest nod of acknowledgement. “I have no idea what’s happening, but good luck.”

Zastin then blasted into the sky with enough force to create a miniature shockwave, sending ripples through the rice paddies and nearly flipping the farmer’s tractor onto its side.

The tractor wobbled, screeching. The farmer grabbed the wheel, eyes bulging in shock.

Then silence returned and the farmer slowly removed his hat and wiped his brow. “...What the hell kinda cityfolk was that?”

—------------------------------------------

Issei and Lala stepped out into the warm afternoon glow of Kuoh, the soft breeze brushing against them as they walked down the quiet street.

Lala happily intertwined her fingers with his the moment they left the house with the absolute confidence of someone who adored the physical affection between them.

Her grip was firm and warm causing Issei to feel like his heart was doing backflips.

“Issei! Let’s hold hands while we walk!” Lala had said with a bright smile.

He had absolutely, zero, negative resistance. “Y-Yes ma’am.” He complied instantly.

Now, walking together, her tail swaying behind her, Lala leaned toward him with a bright, curious smile. “So!” She asked, voice bubbly and full of genuine excitement. “Where are we going first?”

Issei blinked, trying desperately to stay calm and not explode from happiness. “I, uh…” He scratched his cheek with his free hand, trying to think. “There’s a few places I thought you might like.”

Lala tilted her head adorably. “Like where?”

Well, there were a lot of options.

He thought about the plaza, his school, the arcade, the shopping district, several cafes, pet stores, the electronic stores, the town’s aquarium, he even wanted to bring her to the park but then remembered that they had blown it up. His mind raced.

‘Think Hyoudou, think! She probably wants to go somewhere fun and exciting.’ Finally a few good ideas have formed. He quickly brightened up. “Oh! I know just the place.”

Lala’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer, excitement bubbling inside her. “Really? Really?! Where? Where are we going, Issei??”

Her tail wagged like a dog’s. He didn’t know tails could wag like that, it was adorable but she really has to hide it.

“Come on,” He said, gently squeezing her hand. “I’ll show you.”

Lala squealed happily and let him lead her as he pulled her deeper into town.

With each step forward, Issei felt the lingering nervousness melt away replaced by a warm, rising joy. Issei felt like he could die happy.

Lala, walking alongside him with a bright smile, seemed just as thrilled. “Issei~!” She chirped, squeezing his hand back. “I’m so excited! I want to see everything!”

Issei grinned. “Don’t worry. We’ve got all afternoon.”

And so, still holding hands, they disappeared around the corner to start off their first real outing together.

—------------------------

Zastin descended once more, boots hitting solid pavement as he landed in the middle of what looked like a peaceful shopping district.

He stood there in full bone armor with his cape flowing gallantly and his trust sword at his side, like a warrior who had mistakenly stepped out from an epic fantasy.

He stared around slowly and was again left disappointed as there was still no pink-haired princess in sight.

Just… regular, normal, completely average, earthlings. A group of middle-school girls walked past him, slowing as they gawked openly at the armored stranger.

One whispered, “Is he… a cosplayer?”

Another whispered, “So cool… and he’s very handsome.”

A third whispered, “He looks really lost.”

Zastin felt his pride continue to evaporate. He was a commander of the Royal Guard. A respected Devilukean warrior. The strongest swordsman of his generation.

Being mistaken for a lost stranger was not on his bingo card. He growled softly under his breath.  “PRINCESS LALA… WHY IS FINDING YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF MY LIFE…?”

He tightened his grip on the locator until the casing creaked. His eyes blazed with frustration as he lifted the device again.

The screen flickered.

Then displayed, with obnoxious clarity:

DIRECTION: SOUTH-WEST. DISTANCE: 103 KM. TARGET: LOCKED

Zastin stared at the reading.

He inhaled and held his breath. Then exhaled through gritted teeth. “…I swear, if this is wrong again—”

No more hesitation.

He launched himself skyward, cape snapping like a whip behind him. A sonic boom erupted from the ground, rattling windows and sending shoppers stumbling.

Several civilians screamed. One hot dog vendor dropped his tray. A cat on a nearby fence arched its back and let out a startled “MRRRRROW!”

And just like that, Zastin became a white streak vanishing across the horizon, leaving behind only a trembling shopping district and one very confused cat.

Finally done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes. A question: where is a good place for Lala and Issei’s date? You get to decide. This commission was brought to you by Galaxy Shard Star, so make sure to thank him.