High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Side Story: Training Experience Edition

The morning after returning from the underworld, at 4:50 a.m., I stretched outside my house, prepping for training. Summer camp was over, but strength comes from daily effort.

Beside me, Buchou and Asia stretched too, used to training with me since moving in. Their movements—let's just say—were a feast for the eyes. Morning blessings! Thank you!

Feeling energized, I stretched my hips when something soft pressed against my back.

"Ufufu, Issei-kun, care to join my stretches?" Akeno-san pressed closer, her presence undeniable through her tracksuit. Heavenly!

"Of course, Akeno-san!" I'd stretch with her anytime!

As I got excited, someone grabbed my right hand. Koneko-chan, blushing and fidgeting, looked up. "Can I… join too?"

Too cute! Since summer camp, Koneko-chan's been different—sitting on my lap on the train, even sleeping on me this morning in cat-ear mode, purring "Nyan♪." Unreal cuteness!

"Absolutely!" I beamed.

"Thank you, Issei-senpai," she smiled, nearly giving me a nosebleed.

Miu, Asia, and now Koneko-chan—my ultimate healers!

"Muu… First Vice-President Akeno, now Koneko? Tough competition," Xenovia muttered, stretching behind me.

"Issei-kun conquers hearts without even trying," Reyna added.

Conquers? What?

"Haha, classic Issei-kun," Kiba laughed.

"Amazing, Issei-senpai!" Gasper chimed in.

I don't get it.

Whatever. Helping Akeno-san and Koneko-chan stretch, I glanced at my watch. They should be here soon…

"Hey, Hyoudou!" Saji waved, approaching with several girls.

"Yo, Saji… and President?"

The entire student council was with him. I'd invited Saji to train in the hospital, but the whole crew?

"I mentioned training with you, and President wanted to try," Saji said with a wry smile.

"After our last game, I realized our shortcomings," Sona explained. "I thought this could inform our future training. Sorry for coming unannounced. Is it okay?"

Classic President—turning defeat into growth. She'll win next time.

"No problem! Let's make this a joint Gremory-Sitri morning training."

Gremory and Sitri members lined up outside my house, with me and a yawning Miu at the front.

"Alright, let's start. Today, you'll experience part of my training routine. That cool?" I'd planned to train Saji, but when I told Buchou, everyone wanted in. Same with the Sitri crew.

Kiba and Saji I could push hard, but the girls? I hesitated.

"Sounds good," Buchou nodded.

No choice then.

"Okay," I sighed, explaining. "My training doesn't start with techniques. No matter how skilled you are, without stamina, it's useless. So, you're running ten kilometers to the next town."

Everyone looked surprised.

Sitri's Meguri raised her hand. "That's just normal training, right? That's your regimen? Kinda unexpected."

Everyone nodded.

"It's not just running," I clarified. "You'll do it with added resistance."

"Resistance?"

"Yep. That's why I got Miu up early."

Only Miu could pull this off.

"Miu, sorry to wake you, but let's do it."

"Yawn Okay. How much?"

"First time, and since you're all demons… ten times gravity? Except Gasper and Asia—they wouldn't handle it."

"Ten times, got it." Miu's magic circle flared and vanished.

"Ugh!"

"My body… so heavy!"

Sweat beaded on everyone's faces; some dropped to their knees.

"Hyoudou, what's this?" Sona asked, breathing hard.

"You're all under ten times gravity."

Shock rippled through them.

"You trained like this!?" Saji gasped.

"Yeah. Said it'd kill me a hundred times, didn't I? Nearly died starting out. My master showed no mercy."

Memories of being kicked off cliffs and tanking attacks in this state flooded back. Pure hell.

They looked rough. Too intense?

"If it's too much, say so—except Saji. Don't want anyone breaking."

"You're fine breaking me!?" Saji yelled.

"Push through with grit."

"You demon!"

Yep, demon through and through.

"Miu, hit me with thirty times. I'm running too."

"Got it."

Her magic circle activated, and the weight slammed me. My shoes sank into the ground. Brutal, but familiar.

"Let's go!"

"Sorry, we give up!" the girls cried in unison.

With the girls out, it was just me, Kiba, and Saji running.

The others trained in my basement gym.

I glanced at them, drenched in sweat, dragging their heavy bodies forward.

"You guys okay?"

"Does this look okay!?" Saji panted.

"Honestly… I'm nearing my limit," Kiba wheezed.

Exhausted already. First time's tough.

"Rest soon?"

"How soon?" Saji asked.

"Four kilometers?"

"You're insane! I'll die!"

"We've only gone one kilometer!"

Saji gaped, and Kiba slumped, hands on the ground. Felt like looking at my past self.

"You're fine with three times our load," Saji muttered.

"Been through it. Plus, I'm boosting with Renkan Keikikou."

Not cheating—just part of the training.

"Saji, less talking, more moving. Talking wastes energy."

"Damn it, I know!"

We reached the next town past noon. Good thing it's Sunday—weekdays, we'd be late.

Miu's gravity spell lifted as we arrived, my body light as a feather. I practiced katas, keeping loose.

Kiba and Saji collapsed on a park bench, utterly spent. Kiba's charm was ruined.

"No surprise. That training's brutal. They can't handle it yet. You did, though—back when you were just human," my partner remarked.

Just had more grit than most.

Our stomachs growled. Lunchtime.

"Time to head back. Mom's probably got lunch ready."

"Yeah…" Kiba mumbled.

"So hungry…" Saji groaned.

"Eat at my place. You earned it."

"I'll take you up on that. No energy to cook," Kiba said with a weak smile.

"Let's dash back. Food'll get cold!"

The two slumped again.

"Run again?" Saji whined.

"No gravity now. Should be easy."

"My legs are jelly!"

"Grit it out."

"Here we go again…"

We ran home, wrapping up the training experience.

The next day, Kiba and Saji were wrecked with muscle pain, barely able to move. Ten times gravity was too much.

I'll coach them again tomorrow, but maybe ease up a bit…