Diodora's fist, clad in magical energy, shot straight for him.
However…
"Wha!?"
"Doesn't hurt. Put more feeling into it."
Frankly, Diodora's punch was weak. Compared to Koneko's punches, this was nothing for Issei.
"Tch, how about this then!?"
Diodora took distance and fired magic bullets. But,
"Like those would work on me!!"
"Boost!"
Issei's fist knocked away the incoming magic bullet. What was this? Compared to Akeno's magic bullets, this only felt like getting hit by a volleyball.
He couldn't feel any of the overwhelming magical power he'd seen in the previous footage. 'Is this bastard still underestimating me even at this point?'
"...You're fucking kidding me."
Issei clenched his fist tightly in anger. 'Fine then. I'll make you regret ever underestimating me!'
"Take this!"
Perhaps thinking one shot wasn't enough, Diodora scattered magic energy in a shotgun-like pattern. But Issei calmly dealt with it, blocking, evading, and knocking away only the bullets aimed at him.
Yumi's [Demonic Sword Meteor Shower] was way scarier than this.
"Impossible!?"
Issei dashed towards the astonished Diodora.
"Huh, fast!?"
'Fast? Don't be stupid. Xenovia is way faster!'
"Let me show you how to throw a punch, Diodoraaaaaaa!!"
"Boost!"
Just as Kazuki had taught him, he focused on his footwork and weight transfer, thrusting his fist straight out along his center line.
"Gufaaaaahhh!!"
Issei's single strike sent Diodora flying. He crashed through a pillar and finally slammed into a wall before stopping.
Issei keenly felt how all the training he'd done until now had become his own strength.
Diodora seemed to have lost consciousness, buried under collapsed rubble. He didn't intend for one punch to erase everything this guy had done, but he felt relieved for now.
Next was Asia. Issei began walking towards her.
"Issei-san..."
"...I'm sorry, Asia. Even though I said I'd protect you, I just ended up hurting you, making you cry... But I... I love you, Asia! Please, at least believe that!!"
Asia was stunned by the sudden confession. But her expression quickly clouded over.
"I can't believe that..."
"Asia...!?"
"Because... because you got hard for Raynare, but you didn't get hard for me...!"
"..."
Ugh—The deeply uncomfortable gazes of all his fellow servants were now fixed on him. 'Awkward... So fucking awkward...'
"What is the meaning of this, Issei!? I heard that Asia saw you being comforted by Raynare, misunderstood your relationship, and ran away!? Is what Asia said true!?"
"Well... It's true."
When Issei answered Rias's interrogation honestly, she was speechless and held her head in her hands. 'What?' Issei didn't really understand the meaning behind her reaction. 'What is going on?'
"What do you mean, didn't get hard...? Does that even happen?"
"Who knows? Senpai never has a problem getting hard..."
"Kazuki is always rock-hard, nyaa!"
"...He's inexhaustible."
"Everyone, boys are sensitive, you know. You should wrap your words a little more gently..."
Everyone was whispering among themselves. Rias, who had been holding her head, finally recovered and looked at Issei with troubled eyes.
"You really... are a severe case. Listen, Issei, you seem to think Asia left because she misunderstood your relationship with Raynare, but that's not all of it. Asia was shocked, thinking you had chosen Raynare over her, and that's why she left."
"Huh!? Wh-why would she think that!?"
"Well, if you didn't get hard for her but did for another woman, it's only natural she'd think that. It must have been a tremendous shock for Asia."
'What!? Anyway, I have to clear up this misunderstanding! But what should I do? How can I reach Asia's heart...?'
"So listen, Issei, you must properly put your feelings into words and tell Asia. Feelings kept only in your heart won't reach her. Use your own words to truly get Asia back!"
The words Rias had said to him before the match suddenly floated into his mind.
'That's right. Screw shame and appearances.' He'd hurl his honest feelings at Asia. If she hated him or was disgusted, then so be it. Because that was Hyoudou Issei...
"Listen to me, Asia! ...I, I'm actually... scared of women...!!"
"...Huh?"
Asia stared blankly at his sudden confession.
"...That's a lie. Isn't Issei-san's room full of dirty books and videos? And you're always peeping into the girls' changing room... I can't believe that..."
Ugh!? ...He knew this would happen, but hearing it from Asia stung... But he couldn't falter now.
"It's true I love women. I love breasts, butts, and thighs! ...But, but deep in my heart, a fear of women had taken root..."
"..."
"If I told you it was Raynare who planted that trauma in me, wouldn't that ring a bell for you, too, Asia?"
"...Ah."
Asia seemed to have understood the source of his trauma. Issei offered her a self-deprecating smile.
"I didn't realize it myself until recently. No, I pretended not to realize it. Even while saying I wanted to be a Harem King, whenever a woman actually touched me, my body would freeze up. Even when you hugged me, Asia, I was frozen stiff and couldn't move my hands; I just brushed it off by treating you like a little sister. A coward who loves women but is too scared of being betrayed, of being rejected, to make a move. That's the real me, Hyoudou Issei."
"But Issei-san, I'm—"
"I know! I know Asia is different from her. I know you're a good girl who wouldn't betray me! But it's no use! Whenever I try to touch you, 'that scene' flashes in my mind, and my body freezes, my thoughts stop! Even back then, I really wanted to respond to you, Asia! But when I was about to go through with it, again, 'that scene' came to mind... and I... went soft."
"..."
"...The real me is such a pathetic guy, Asia. ...But, even so, I want you by my side. I know you must think, 'What is this guy who couldn't even answer my feelings or my courage saying?' But that's my true feeling. Stay by my side, Asia! I, I've loved you since the first day we met—!!"
Tears had begun to spill from Asia's green eyes.
...
Continue reading at: ko-fi.com/supreme_king
Support me and read advanced chapters with NSFW at: https://ko-fi.com/supreme_king
More than 18 advanced chapters available at: ko-fi.com/supreme_king