Issei and his friends hadn't dared to visit their usual spot in days—terrified of the mysterious gorilla that kept appearing out of nowhere just to beat the crap out of them. They tried telling people about it, but no one believed them. In fact, most who heard their story just laughed. If not for the bruises and welts on their skin, even they wouldn't believe it themselves. Every time it happened, they mysteriously woke up in their beds—no broken bones, bodies intact—but the nightmares stayed. So, they avoided that spot. And most others too.
Weeks passed. No sign of the gorilla. They started to think maybe, just maybe, they were finally safe.
Motohama, with his usual misplaced confidence, suggested, "Maybe it's over. Maybe we can go back to our paradise."
So, the Three Perverted Idiots returned to their favorite spot to spy on the Kendo Club. And nothing happened. No ominous wind. No sudden chill. No thunderous footsteps. They were safe. They actually enjoyed themselves.
But as they walked home, just as they reached the school gates, their hearts sank.
There it was.
Him.
The massive silverback gorilla. The very one that had haunted their dreams for weeks, now lounging in a lawn chair by the school gate. Reading a novel. Drinking tea.
It was one of the most bizarre things they had ever seen.
They froze in place.
The gorilla looked up, casually raised a finger—wait a moment—slipped a bookmark into his novel, closed it, set it aside… and stood up.
He walked over and held up a sign.
"Did you miss me, boys?"
They all instinctively shook their heads no. Fast.
The gorilla grinned. He cracked his knuckles and approached them silently.
Moments later, they were dragged out of sight, screams muffled.
When it was over, Bancho stood over three broken teens, dusting off his hands with satisfaction. As he turned to leave, Issei—barely conscious—croaked out:
"Why us? Why do you specifically target us?"
Bancho raised an eyebrow, then held up another sign.
"Really? Come on, buddy. You know why."
Then he disappeared into the night.
As always, Issei woke up in his bed the next morning—healed, whole… but deeply unsettled. It wasn't a dream. He knew that now.
Outside his window, a small bat watched him silently.
---
Back at Kuoh Academy, Rias was pacing in her office.
"This keeps happening. Someone keeps assaulting those three… but I can never find out who."
"I keep telling you," Koneko said, munching on a snack. "I've been smelling a gorilla on the school grounds."
Rias gave her a gentle smile. "Koneko, there's no way an escaped gorilla would come to a school, target only three people, and leave. That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard."
"But I can smell it. In fact… I can smell it right now."
Akeno turned to the window—and froze.
A massive silverback gorilla, wearing a delinquent's uniform, was hanging off the side of the building, staring straight at her through the glass. He held up a sign:
"This season… you."
Then he made the hand gesture for I'm watching you.
Akeno blinked. Rubbed her eyes. Looked again.
Gone.
She said nothing, silently returning to her work. But in the back of her mind, a chill ran down her spine.
---
Bancho vanished into the night for real this time, returning to the mansion.
He found his boss in the training yard, getting repeatedly slammed around by a dark warrior wielding a halberd.
Bancho facepalmed.
"That's about right," he thought.