DXD: Samsara Finis

Another month had passed.

I stood in the quiet of the music room, bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, the silence broken only by the ticking clock above the door.

My hands trembled.

I brought up my status screen:

Name: Eishi Lucivar

Age: 16

Points: 10

Main Class: (B) Singer – Mastery (56%)

Subclass: (C) Pianist – Mastery (63%)

Other Classes:

(B) Martial Artist – Mastery (50%)

(B) Violinist – Mastery (93%)

(B) Chess Master- Mastery (22%)

Available Classes:

(C) Villager – 1 pts

(C) Illustrator – 1 pts

(B) Chef – 2 pts

(B) Alchemist – 2 pts

(B) Soccer (GoalKeeper) – 2 pts

(A) Dark Slayer – Locked

(A) Tech Engineer – Locked

(A) Dreamweaver – Locked

(S) Unknown – Locked

The past month had been relentless. Hours at the piano, singing until my voice cracked. Punches and kicks thrown at the heavy bag until sweat soaked the floor of my room.

But it paid off. I unlocked a new class:

Chess Master — Mastery (22%)

Funny thing is, I picked up the class because of a bet with Issei. He said if I beat him in chess, he'd buy me dinner and stop bothering me during training.

Apparently, when I train martial arts on the weekends, I get a lot of looks from other girls. So naturally, Issei made it his personal mission to tag along.

Can't say I'm surprised.

Honestly, thinking back… I probably could've beaten him even without this class.Sigh—what's done is done.

Still, it's a fun class. A nice break from all the physical and musical grind. I've been spending time online, playing against random opponents. 

Point:10

At first, I didn't understand how the points were added up. It felt random — unpredictable.

But last night, as I practiced martial arts alone under the flickering park lights, something changed. My mastery reached 50%, and suddenly, my total points jumped from 5 to 10.

That's when it clicked.

(B) Martial Artist: +5 pts

(B) Singer: +5 pts

(C) Pianist: +2 pts

It was tied to class tiers.

Singer and Martial Artist—both B-tier classes—rewarded me 5 points upon reaching level 50. But Pianist, a C-tier class, only gave me 2. That would also explain the 5 points I had at the beginning. That must have been from Violinist when it hit level 50 long ago.

So that's how I started with 5.

A quiet breath escaped me.

I knew it. There was more to this system than it was telling me.

And yet, that wasn't what haunted me right now.

I turned to the wall.

The violin hung there, suspended like a memory I hadn't yet forgiven. The bow rested beneath it, untouched for weeks. I hadn't even dared to look at it directly since… that day.

But I still remembered the last conversation with my mom.

Flashback start:

"How's your preparation, Eishi darling?"

"Good," I said, keeping my tone calm.

"So what song will you play?"

I stiffened. "Come and see, Mom. It'll be a surprise."

"Hooo~ keeping secrets from your mother, huh? Fufu~"

Then her smile softened as she stirred the soup, her voice quieter. "It's been a long time since I saw you play the violin."

She glanced over at me during dinner, her eyes far away in memory.

"Back when you were little, you never asked for anything. You were always so mature for your age. Even after we moved here, you stayed quiet—lonely, really. Issei was your only friend, and we were worried. But then, one day, you said something to your father."

She smiled faintly. "You said, 'I want a violin.'"

"That was the first time you ever truly asked for something. Earnestly. And I remember thinking… we were struggling back then. Money was tight. I told your father we could only afford a toy one. But your father…"

She paused, eyes misting.

"…He said, 'This is the first time my son has asked me for anything. I want to fulfill it.'"

"Your birthday was coming up. You were five. He had seen you watching a classical concert on TV, eyes sparkling… and the next day, he made a decision."

"He meant it. He worked overtime. Skipped meals. Came home late. And in the end, he brought home that violin."

She wiped her eyes gently.

"I think… maybe he knew. That he didn't have much time left."

Flashback end.

I blinked back the wetness in my eyes.

I stood slowly, walking toward the violin. The room felt heavier the closer I got. My breath caught in my throat as the trauma surged up again.

The glare of the stage lights.

The trembling bow in my hand.

The sound of the string snapping.

The sting on my cheek.

The gasps from the judges.

The sudden, horrible silence…

I staggered.

Gripping the table for support, I panted. Cold sweat dripped down my brow.

You can't… You can't play it anymore. You failed. You froze. You collapsed.

But then—

My eyes caught a scratch near the base of the violin. A jagged little mark.

Shiro.

My old house cat.

That idiot had once pounced on my music stand, sending the violin toppling. I remember crying. He just stared at me, then curled up next to it like nothing happened.

Shiro was gone now. Just like Dad.

But the memories remained.

I took a shaky breath.

So many bad moments… But so many good ones, too.

I reached out again. This time… I touched it.

No flashbacks.

No pain.

Just warmth.

The feel of the wood was familiar—smooth, slightly worn. The strings vibrated under my fingertips as I tested them gently.

I sat down.

Pulled the bow.

And played.

Not a performance. Not for school. Not for the system. Not for the world.

Just for myself.

The melody that spilled from my fingers was rough at first. Notes shook. Rhythm faltered. But then—it steadied.

The piece I was supposed to play that day. The one I never finished.

Now… it flowed.

My fingers remembered. My soul remembered. And I played it all the way to the end.

When the last note trembled in the air and fell into silence, I realized—

I was crying.

"I… I did it…"

My hands dropped to my lap. My chest ached.

Not from fear.

From relief.

I had reclaimed it.

And as I looked at my hands—trembling not from trauma, but from catharsis—I knew what I had to do.

Ding!

Violinist (B) – Mastery (93%) → Mastery (96%)

A soft chime echoed in my ears.

"…Huh?"

I stared down at the violin resting gently on my lap, the strings still vibrating from the last note I'd poured my soul into. My breath came out slow, but steady. I hadn't realized how long I'd been playing, how deep I'd been immersed in that moment.

I gently ran my fingers along the polished wood again—this time without fear. The pain, the trauma… it hadn't disappeared, but it no longer shackled me. The violin felt like a part of me again.

A part of him again.

"I've decided…" I murmured. "This piece… it'll be the one I perform."

I carefully packed the instrument, slinging my bag over my shoulder. The sun was beginning to set. Time to go home.

As I stepped out onto the familiar sidewalk leading home, I heard a voice behind me.

"Eishi-senpai!"

I turned, a bit surprised. A girl—probably from another school—ran up to me. She had long black hair tied in a loose ribbon, her eyes large and sparkling. She looked… cute, honestly.

"Um… do you know me?"

She fidgeted, hands behind her back, eyes down shyly. "I always see you walking this way after school. I… I've been watching you for a while."

"…Huh?"

"My name is Yuuma. Please go out with me!"

I blinked.

My mouth parted slightly in confusion, caught off guard. That was… sudden. Too sudden. Her voice trembled slightly, her face tinted a soft pink as she clutched the hem of her skirt nervously. She looked genuinely embarrassed—like she had worked up the courage for days to say this.

For a second, I didn't know how to respond.

"It's… tempting," I said at last, scratching my cheek awkwardly. "Being confessed to by a beautiful girl like you—it's not something that happens to me every day."

Her eyes lit up, glimmering with hope.

But my next words dimmed that light.

"But… I'm sorry. I don't think I have the luxury to focus on romance right now. There's too much going on in my life."

I bowed slightly, trying to be respectful. I didn't mean to hurt her. But something in my gut had already warned me—this whole situation felt off.

And my instincts had never screamed so loudly.

I turned to leave, wanting to get away from the discomfort quickly.

"Wait!"

Her voice sharpened—just slightly—but enough that I stopped mid-step.

The air around us… shifted.

Heavier.

Like a pressure I hadn't noticed before was suddenly bearing down.

I clenched my fists slightly, ready to defend myself. Then—

"Oh my… Eishi-kun? Are you on a date?"

A familiar voice cut through the tension like a cold wind.

I turned.

Standing just a few meters away, arms folded, was Tsubaki Shinra-senpai, Vice President of the Student Council. Elegant, composed, and always calm, her presence was strangely grounding.

She looked between me and Yuuma with narrowed eyes.

"No, no, I was just heading home," I said quickly, holding up my hands defensively.

Her eyes shifted toward Yuuma, sharp.

"I see. Then I suppose… this pigeon doesn't know where she's standing."

"Huh?" I blinked in confusion. "Pigeon…?"

Yuuma's expression shifted.

Subtly at first—but unmistakable to anyone watching closely.

Her sweet smile warped, just slightly, the corners curling too far.

The atmosphere around her darkened, almost imperceptibly, but to those with a sharp sense—it was like a predator revealing its true nature.

"Oh? The Queen of Sitri's little Heiress. You think you can fight me alone?"

Her tone had dropped its feigned innocence, replaced with a mocking, twisted lilt.

But before anything could escalate, she suddenly glanced to the side—toward the rooftops or perhaps the shadows—and smirked.

"Hmph. Seems I'll have to retreat. It's not the right time… yet."

With one final, venomous glance, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd like smoke fading into the wind.

I stood there, stunned.

What the hell was that…?

"Um… Tsubaki-senpai?"

She adjusted her glasses, her expression unreadable. "You're surprisingly popular, Eishi-kun. Just… be careful not to fall into depravity like your friend. Some things aren't always what they seem."

Her voice softened just a little, almost as if she was genuinely worried. Then she turned her gaze to the setting sun.

"It's late. You should head home. Be careful and don't trust stranger ."

Still trying to process everything, I nodded.

"…Right."

I left without another word, my thoughts a storm of confusion.

[Meanwhile – After Eishi Leaves]

Tsubaki stood silently for a moment before murmuring,

"You can come out now."

A soft chuckle echoed from the shadows.

"Ara ara~ cold as always, Tsubaki-san. I did just save your life, you know."

Akeno Himejima stepped out gracefully from behind a tree, her expression playful, her smile mischievous.

Tsubaki didn't react. "I could've handled her myself. Why are you here, Akeno-san?"

"Why ask, if you already know?" Akeno replied sweetly. Her smile turned knowing.

Tsubaki's eyes narrowed. "So even Rias noticed. That boy attracts attention too easily."

Akeno twirled a strand of her hair. "It's no coincidence that a fallen angel chose to make her move on him. Something about Eishi is… unusual. Intriguing."

Tsubaki turned away. "I have to report this to Kaichou. A fallen angel sighting, this close to Kuoh Academy… It can't be ignored. Whether it was random or planned, that girl wasn't here by chance."

[Elsewhere – Yuuma's POV]

Perched on a rooftop, watching the two Queens speak, Yuuma—no, Raynare—smirked to herself.

"Tch. Didn't expect both Queens—Gremory's and Sitri's—to have eyes on that boy."

She clicked her tongue.

"And now I've been noticed. Great."

She turned, melting into the shadows.

"No matter. I'll lay low for now. Just until we gather enough intel on this town. Once we do… i will a move again."

She vanished with a chuckle.

"Hehehe… Things just got interesting."