Alex, reeling from Motohama's memories and his absurd situation, managed a shaky nod "Right, class" he mumbled, adjusting his glasses. He fell into step with Issei and Matsuda, the familiar rhythm a strange comfort. He glanced at Issei, the unassuming, perverted protagonist.
'So, this is the guy who's going to become the Red Dragon Emperor, huh?'
As they neared the school, Issei's eyes lit up. He nudged Motohama "Hey, Motohama! You know what today is, right?"
Matsuda immediately caught on "Oh, yeah! It's kendo club practice day! The girls' practice!"
Issei leaned in, voice dropping to a stage whisper "The kendo girls usually do their warm-ups outside the dojo around this time. Perfect opportunity for a quick peek before homeroom, don't you think?"
'Oh, right. The perverted trio's daily routine. Peeking. This is what I usually do. If I go along, I'm just following Motohama's footsteps. But if I don't... what happens? Do I mess up the timeline? He looked at Issei and Matsuda, their faces alight with anticipation' He felt Motohama's ingrained desire to join, but his own sensibilities screamed in protest.
'No. I'm not doing that. I'm not going to start my second chance by being a creep. And, I doubt my actions would affect the timeline in the slightest'
Taking a deep breath, Motohama shook his head "No, guys. I don't think so. I'll pass"
Issei and Matsuda, who had already started to veer off, stopped dead in tracks. Their heads snapped back, expressions a mixture of shock and bewilderment.
"Huh?" Issei blurted out.
Matsuda squinted "Motohama? Are you... possessed?"
Motohama forced a weak smile. He could feel curious, slightly disgusted glances from nearby schoolgirls. He needed a believable excuse to dodge this predicament.
"No, nothing like that!" Motohama said, rubbing his temple with a sigh "Just... not feeling so great today. My head's a bit fuzzy. I need to take it easy. I'll catch you guys next time, okay?"
Issei and Matsuda exchanged a look, unconvinced but not wanting to push a 'sick' friend. Issei scratched his head "Really? You look fine, but... okay, if you say so, Motohama. Get well soon, man!"
Matsuda shrugged "More for us, I guess!" He grinned, turning back towards the dojo.
"Yeah, see ya!" Issei waved, and with a final wave of hand at Motohama, the two disappeared around the corner.
Motohama watched them go, a profound sense of relief washing over him. He hadn't just avoided a morally questionable act; he had, for the first time, made a choice that was truly his own. He was no longer just Motohama and he had just taken his first step on a path that would undoubtedly diverge from the original story.
He adjusted his glasses, a thoughtful expression on his face 'Okay, as a Motohama. I'm on my own now. Let's see what kind of adventure I can make of this'
The final bell chimed. Motohama quickly gathered his things, avoiding eye contact with Issei and Matsuda, who were already discussing after-school peeking session. He slipped out of the classroom, needing time to think, to process, to simply be without the constant pull of Motohama's ingrained habits or the looming presence of the DxD plot.
He walked through the bustling school gates and onto the familiar streets of Kuoh Town, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. People chatted and laughed, heading home or to clubs. It was all so normal, yet for Motohama, every detail felt surreal.
'So, this is what Kuoh Town feels like' he thought, adjusting his glasses and looking up at the clear blue sky 'Motohama. A background character. My role was to be a perverted sidekick, comedic relief, nothing more' A wry smile touched his lips 'But I have Earthbending. And a gacha system. That's a good start for me, isn't it? Yeah. I think so'
'I'm no longer Motohama, if I'm actively pursuing power and making my own choices, then I'm going to wreck the plot' He considered his options 'Should I try to stay hidden?' A wave of familiar discontent washed over him 'Safe? Hidden? That sounds an awful lot like my old life. Predictable. And I died trying to escape that'
A firm resolve settled in his chest 'No. I didn't get a second chance, a gacha system, and Earthbending just to be a spectator' He stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light 'Whatever happens, happens. I'm going to live this life as I feel like, acting on my own choices, my own desires. If that messes with the plot, then so be it. It's my life and I can live how I wish to'
A sense of liberation filled him. The weight of riding with 'canon' lifted, replaced by a thrilling sense of joy and adventure. He was no longer a puppet of fate. The light turned green, and he stepped onto the crosswalk, with a determined glint in his eyes.
Motohama continued walking, his pace quickening as he left the more populated areas of Kuoh Town behind. He needed to be alone. His destination: the dense forest bordering the outskirts of town, a place Motohama's memories told him was rarely frequented. The place where the sounds of the city fading into a distant hum.
Once deep enough, he stopped. He closed his eyes, focusing, trying to tap into the Earthbending ability. He remembered Toph from Avatar, how she "saw" with her feet. He pressed his palms to the ground, concentrating. A strange sensation, like a faint vibration, spread through his hands, up his arms, into his chest. It was subtle, but it was there.
[ Seismic Sense ]
He expanded his awareness. The vibrations grew fainter with distance, but he clearly sensed the absence of human footsteps, the lack of any significant movement.
'Good. No one is here and I wasn't followed'
He opened his eyes, a thrill coursing through him.
He placed his foot firmly on the ground, channeling his focus. He imagined the earth beneath him, a part of him. With a grunt, he tried to shift a bunch of rocks. A faint tremor ran through the ground, and a few grains of soil shifted and then they moved at once "Whoa!" Motohama breathed, a wide grin spreading "It worked!"
He spent the next hour experimenting.He could make cracks in the rocks, lift rocks, and create depressions. He tried to lift a car sized rock. It resisted, but with intense concentration, he made it slowly lift a few centimeters before dropping with a thud.
"Okay, strength is a factor. And control. His head started to ache, and his muscles felt fatigued. This isn't just waving my hand. It takes energy. And focus"
He slumped against a tree, barely out of breath, but a triumphant smile remained. He had a pretty good control over it and it was enough to protect him from the multiple enemies at once.
As he rested, a thought struck him. The gacha system. He hadn't checked it. "System!" he thought, and instantly, the familiar shimmering blue panel materialized.
[GACHA SYSTEM] Quests: 0
Below that:
[Rank 1 Gacha Ticket: 1]
'One more ticket?' Motohama's eyes widened. He hadn't completed any quests, so this must be a welcome bonus. Curiosity and excitement bubbled within him 'What could it be?'
He willed himself to "roll" the ticket. The Rank 1 ticket icon pulsed, then dissolved into a familiar glow of bright white light. The spinning wheel appeared, blurring, then slowly decelerating. His gaze was fixed on it, heart pounding. It landed on a dark symbol that looked like a cavern entrance.
[GACHA RESULT: DUNGEON STONE (GOBLIN'S LAIR)]
'Goblin's Lair?'
Motohama stared at the text, then at the small, rough, purplish stone that materialized in his hand. It felt cold, smooth, and pulsed with a faint, eerie light. This was even better than he imagined! A chance to test his newfound Earthbending, to gain experience, to maybe even get some loot!
A wide, exhilarated grin spread across his face. He gripped the stone tightly. "Alright, let's do this!"
With a surge of anticipation, he crushed the purple stone in his hand. It crumbled into sparkling dust, and as the last motes of light faded, the forest dissolved.
The trees, the sunlight, the sounds of nature, all vanished, replaced by a damp, earthy smell and the sight of a dark, imposing archway carved into a rocky hillside.
He stood on a small, overgrown path with unsettling silence. Before him, glowing with a faint, malevolent aura, was the ominous entrance to the Goblin's Lair Dungeon.
"Let's do this"