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Chapter Text

The room was dark. A small glimmer of light came from a curtain that hadn't been closed properly, but no one noticed it. Just as no one was allowed near his room when one of his soulmates showed up.

"Ahhh!" Iruma gasped, feeling the thrust come deeper. The short legs surrounded the pelvis which sank faster and faster into him, a movement now uncoordinated but constant. The blue haired boy's arms had left the demon's back to cling to the pillow under his head, to look for a fixed point in the midst of that frenetic and non-stop movement. Almost instinctively, the young human tried to get away and begged to slow down, he felt too close and it was all too much.

"Iruma-sama, you're doing so good" Asmodeus said, his eyes shining with pleasure, continuing to push his member faster and faster into the soulmate's slit. Squelching sound came from below him, the noise alone excited him even more and encouraged him to do better to give pleasure to the blue haired boy.

“Nnghh… ahh…” Iruma panted beneath him, his eyes half closed, sobbing into the fabric of the pillow. Iruma felt himself getting close, the soulmate's right hand moving incessantly up and down on his cock not helping him delay the inevitable at all. The thumb continued to tease the tip, as if challenging him. But the combination between that movement and what he currently felt entering and exiting within him made it a losing challenge from the start.

"A-Ah-zz-kun...!" the blue haired boy tried to say, squirming away in vain, his legs now lying limply open at the pink haired boy's sides. Asmodeus kissed his neck and whispered, between his breaths, "I know, Iruma-sama, I too...", the tip of his nose deliberately rubbing against the short boy's skin. Iruma was so overstimulated that he could no longer form a complete sentence, only pants and moans came out of his mouth. He buried half his face into the pillow, little whimpers escaping his nibbled lips in an attempt not to be too vocal, before Asmodeus captured them in yet another kiss.

"Mnh..." he panted into the pink haired boy's mouth, his cheeks streaked with tears of pleasure and pain, because despite the various private approaches he couldn't get totally used to the demon's rhythms. In the quieter meetings they limited themselves to two times in a row. That afternoon, it was definitely not a quiet day.

Asmodeus was at a point where the most form of self-control he could exert on himself was to not be too rough. The heat he felt around his own cock, the moans of approval from his soulmate, the contact with the sweat-soaked skin of the blue haired boy, those languid blue eyes that looked at him with love, the lips swollen from too many kisses, the pressure from that tight walls, that it changed based on how much he pushed, went out and pushed even more to get deep and deeper between the short boy's ass... they made him feel incredibly powerful, bordering on the feeling of freedom he experienced when he entered Evil cycle thanks to the pills invented by Balam. And this was much, much better.

"I-Iruma-sama...!" he moaned into the boy's open mouth, who was trying to capture as much air as possible. Iruma emitted a sharp whining, his body began to tremble under that of the demon, stiffening regardless of the continuous thrusts in and out of him. Asmodeus grabbed him with his own left hand Iruma's right forearm, which until that moment was clutching the right side of the blue haired boy. Accelerated gasps escaped the pink haired boy's ajar mouth, his thrusts getting deeper but slowing, until he stopped his cock in the young human's body.

“Ah…!” A series of spurts filled the devicondom, while the demon moaned in the other boy's ears. His grip on Iruma's body firm, his forearm feeling so thin in the grip of his left hand, his right hand stained with the other's cum. Asmodeus leaned heavily on the boy, their chests rising and falling at different rates. The two boys were so wet, a loud squelching caused by one last thrust. They were both embarrassed by their mess, but they were happy. Flushed faces looked for each other, not enough breath to be able to communicate.

Iruma reached out with his left hand to caress the soulmate's face, his fingers gently brushing away a few sweaty strands of hair from the demon's cheek. Asmodeus released his member to pull him into a hug, small kisses scattered across the crook of the young human's neck. The two exchanged a few more gentle effusions, before the pink haired boy decided to free the soulmate from the cumbersome presence of his dying erection. Asmodeus broke the embrace and rose to his knees, stretching over the boy. With his left hand he took his member wet with lube and slowly pulled it out of the blue haired boy's hot entrance.

"Ohh..." Iruma panted softly, in the post orgasm he was sensitive to any movement. The flushed cheeks and parted lips of the blue haired boy were a very strong temptation for Asmodeus, but he knew that for that intercourse he had run out of time. The demon took off the filled devicondom, closed it and threw it on the ground along with the others.

"Iruma-sama, I'm going to check the bathroom" stated the pink haired boy, getting up from the bed but without first leaving yet another kiss on Iruma's left cheek. The latter simply nodded, exhausted, his legs still slightly apart, heart beating wildly. Asmodeus covered him with a sheet to ensure some decency, after which he put on the first clothes he came across and left the room.

Iruma's gaze wandered around the room, with no particular focus. He now knew the ceiling by heart, while there were details in the room that surprised him every time. Like the growing collection of photos of Clara and him with Clara that he had discovered that day. His memorial mural was getting frighteningly crowded, he thought. A little sigh left his lips 'It's so peaceful, here. I wish things stayed the way they are now' Iruma thought, trying to recall the feeling of the soulmate's warm skin on his own.

A pang of pain interrupted his thoughts, his right arm more than his pelvis and thighs. Iruma observed the sore arm for a few moments, and then brought it closer to him "It's fine" he said, in a monotone voice "It's nothing. It will pass".

…

That evening, after dinner, Iruma went to his private bathroom. He took off his clothes with exasperating slowness, his aching muscles giving him no respite. Iruma didn't need to look in the mirror to understand the cause of those pains: various bruises stained different parts of his body. Apparently indistinct dark blue or blue and purple shapes stood out on his right forearm, on his left shoulder (he still remembered with a slight embarrassment with how much intensity Asmodeus had surrounded his shoulder and pressed his body towards the demon's pelvis), on his hips, on his pelvis, on his thighs, just above the ankles (Asmodeus had been a little too imaginative the second time).

There was definitely something on his ass too, considering the pain he was in, but he was too self-conscious and didn't want to turn around. Just as he didn't want to look between his legs, the sore and red nipples were enough for him to see. Sighing, one foot at a time, he stepped into the warm water, the only refreshment for his body. His muscles benefited immensely from this second bath, especially since Opera had started enriching it with highly scented herbs. "They've been using them since I've been with Azz-kun, maybe it's a custom?" the blue haired boy wondered, his personal reflection interrupted by a hissing of pain. His stomach was still churning, no wonder he hadn't managed to eat all thirteen desserts after dinner. After each sexual intercourse with Asmodeus he was even hungrier than usual due to tiredness, but his belly didn't much appreciate being filled with food after being filled with… something else.

Iruma raised his right arm out of the water to better observe the bruise "It's fine. It's nothing, it will disappear soon as always" he stated, more to himself than to anyone else. "Are you sure, Iru-boy?" Alikred asked, stepping out of the ring. Iruma let out a sharp cry, closing his legs to his chest and covering himself with his left arm "Ali-san! S-Since when are you awake?" the young human asked, embarrassed enough that his cheeks were red.

Alikred shrugged "For far too long, it's not a good thing at all for my skin. But also for yours!" the spirit exclaimed, and then pointed the index finger of his left hand at his nose "Iru-boy, I understand the emotion of youth but you have to get a grip on yourself! Every time you come out like a destroyed punching bag, it's not good for your skin and for you. And for me! Reckless boy, have you ever thought about what you're putting me through? You don't feel sorry for me at all?" he asked, taking on the appearance of a classic Japanese housewife "Remember that we are connected, I can't disappear on command when you meet alone with your beloved Azz-kun! Think about my poor heart! Youthful audacity is an admirable thing, but here we are at the extreme!". Iruma, shocked, realized something he had always ignored "A-Ali-san, you... can you hear us? Do you see us?!”

Alikred turned his back to him, taking on the appearance of an old man with a long beard "Sometimes, Iru-boy... achieving inner peace helps you not to think, to distance yourself from the world while remaining in contact with the universe" said the spirit, the vacant gaze staring at an indefinite point. Iruma's face was completely red with shame "I'm sorry, Ali-san! Really, I'm so sorry!" the young human apologized, curling up in a ball from the extreme embarrassment he felt.

“And that's why" added Alikred, resuming his usual appearance after turning towards the boy "That you have to talk to him about it. Every time it takes a long time before you heal, Iru-boy. Couldn't you at least use some healing lotion?". Iruma looked away, embarrassed. He murmured "If I use something in the bathroom, Opera-san will notice", thinking back to the time he was almost out of shampoo and that same evening he had found sixty-six new bottles in the cabinet provided. Alikred snorted impatiently "Don't change the subject, Iru-boy. You have to talk about it. So you have to take the conversation. It's not good at all, you won't be able to keep it hidden for long. You better deal with it before it blows up in your face, understand?".

Iruma remained silent, a thoughtful expression on his face. With a calm voice, the blue haired boy replied "I don't want to make Azz-kun worry. It's only my fault, I have to strengthen myself. Who knows if Sabnock-kun would be willing to give me some lessons..." The spirit looked at him annoyed "Iru-boy..." Alikred said, but was interrupted by the boy "And then Azz-kun already takes all those unnecessary precautions, there is no risk that I could get p-pregnant. I'm human, and human males don't run that risk. These little bruises would only make him feel bad, I know him and I know that he would try to fix it in vain. It's my fault, my body struggles a little to keep up with the rhythms of the Netherworld, but I'm learning. I'm fine, Ali-san. It's nothing, it will pass”.
Saying this, the boy got out of the bathtub, immediately covering himself with his blue bathrobe.

Alikred did not lose sight of him. "Are you sure, Iru-boy?" he murmured again, the boy nodded. 'Are you sure these are unnecessary precautions, Iru-boy?' thought the spirit of the ring. Maybe Iruma needed to better understand certain dynamics between demons.

…

The next morning he woke up very badly, not even the extremely soft mattress had been much comfort to him. He turned off hellclock with a sharp flick of his hand, yawning six times before getting out of bed. "I'm tired" he murmured, dragging himself with difficulty to his private bathroom.

That day seemed to be like any other. Asmodeus and Clara were waiting for him at the gate, as usual. Once we arrived in Babyls after the morning walk, lessons had started at the usual pace. Everything was going as usual. The only thing in particular that day seemed to be the insistent gazes of two demons "Irumacchi, are you okay? Did you sleep badly? Today you move like a po-pew" Clara asked him, at his side, standing like all the Misfits and waiting for Kalego to arrive for the next lesson. "A mechanical doll, did you say? No, it's just your impression, Clara" Iruma replied, smiling as usual.

It was true that various parts of his body hurt, but Iruma was doing his best to not make it obvious. Asmodeus leaned over him slightly, ready to ask him a question of his own. However, another demon got ahead of him. A large hand reached between the soulmates, grabbing the blue haired boy's right arm.

"Ngh?" an exclamation of pain and surprise was suppressed between Iruma's teeth, and he turned towards the owner of the hand. Sabnock, in silence, observed him with a serious and implacable gaze. "You idiot, cease this display of disrespect at an instant!" Asmodeus shouted, bright flames waiting in his palms. "Uh oh, what's this? A lovers' quarrel?" Jazz remarked, hoping to calm things down with irony. Lied, behind him, quickly thought about which of the two to bet on.

Sabnock completely ignored Jazz, his gaze fixed on the boy he held firmly in his grip. With a heavy voice, the blond demon asked him "So, Iruma. Where's the dead flesh of a demon that hurt you?". An exclamation of surprise rippled through Royal One. Iruma, the most surprised of all, tried to deny it "You're wrong, Sabnock-kun!" replied the young human, shaking his head, a slightly forced smile on his lips "I haven't argued with anyone, I'm just a little sore from PE class of yesterday".

Asmodeus looked at him confused: it wasn't what the blue haired boy had told him the afternoon of the previous day, before simple hand caresses became an escalation of amorous effusions. Sabnock made an annoyed noise "My rival, do not underestimate the experience of one such as I am. I was engaged in and witnessed various fights. You are worse off than the training dummy we use in the Sabnock clan while growing up" the demon stated, and then grab the sleeve of his right forearm with his free hand. With a decisive move, he lowered his sleeve, revealing what he had suspected from the moment he entered the courtroom, what he had long suspected: a large bluish stain on the skin, uniform in the center and with five branches outward.

A loud gasp went through. Asmodeus, dismayed, turned to the blue haired boy, who was struggling to free himself from the iron grip of his classmate "Iruma-sama, give me a name and I will burn them and their clan to ashes!" said the demon, the flames barely kept under control. Clara pulled out a spiked club from Toy-Toy "Yeah, nobody touches Irumacchi!" the green haired girl exclaimed, as furious as the other soulmate. Exclamations of solidarity and sworn revenge spread among the Misfits, unable to forgive anyone who might have harmed their leader.

Iruma, shaken, managed to free his captured arm with a sharp move. He looked around, eyes hungry for blood and revenge begging him for a clue, a name, an explanation. The young human covered his forearm and took a deep breath, then said in a voice that was trying to be firm but failing "Guys, you're right. I didn't want to say it because it's a little embarrassing, but... Well, yesterday, uhm... I mean, I messed up and... I hit my arm. P-Professor Suzy wouldn't be happy, I... I underestimated some of her lessons. I'm sorry".

Instead of calming things down, that confusing response only generated more questions. Asmodeus, who both asked the most specific questions and used his body as a barrier between the soulmates and the rest of the Misfits, suddenly froze. His brain was racing in directions he didn't like, providing explanations that clashed with the one just given by the blue haired boy. Knowing his habits well, he knew that he did not study in the evening, having done his duty as a student in the afternoon. At Asmodeus manor. A flash crossed his mind, a detail he had forgotten until he saw the soulmate's forearm. Until he realized that yesterday afternoon that forearm was free of any bruising, when he had grabbed that forearm.

Asmodeus gently but firmly took Iruma's right hand. With his other hand, he squeezed Clara's shoulder, dragging her with him. "Tell Professor Kalego that we will be back soon, we have to check something of utmost urgency" declared Asmodeus, leaving the classroom with his soulmates and leaving the other classmates stunned. Sabnock was stopped and appeased by Allocer, Jazz, Gaap and Kerori. Issues of the Iruma's army remained between the Iruma's army, after all.

"Where are we going? Azz-Azz, where are we going?" Clara asked, surprised but happy. Iruma wanted to say something, but the light in Asmodeus' eyes intimidated him. The three soulmates arrived in front of the boys' bathroom inside Royal One. Asmodeus turned to Clara and said "Iruma-sama and I have to resolve something. Stupid Clara, can I entrust you with the mission of not letting anyone in until we get out?". The green haired demoness beamed "Yes, yes! Choose me! Clara will make a great bouncy bouncer!”

Asmodeus gave her a quick thank you, then entered the bathroom, taking Iruma with him. The demon closed the door behind him and let go of the young human. Iruma, restless, tried to say "Azz-kun, I can-". A sudden hug silenced the blue haired boy, the soulmate's face hidden in the crook of his neck. He heard him take deep breaths, his long arms wrapped around him. "Azz-kun, are you okay?" Iruma asked, a little worried about that reaction. They had agreed not to exchange affection in public, although probably all the Misfits knew about their new type of relationship.

And Asmodeus was a demon faithful to his promises and respectful of decorum, that display of affection was unusual. The pink haired boy took one last deep breath, then murmured "I deeply ask your forgiveness, Iruma-sama". The human boy didn't have time to ask for explanations before the soulmate's tapered hands quickly slipped towards the end of the shirt, at the edge of the waistband of the school uniform. With quick and knowing skill, the boy's fingers lifted the shirt.

"Wha- Azz-kun?!" Iruma shouted in surprise, his hands trying to stop those relentless fingers "No, we're at school... Azz-kun, please!" the blue haired boy exclaimed, embarrassed and worried more than ever. Iruma stepped back to escape the embrace and those overly curious hands, but his back soon hit the bathroom wall.

"Hngh...!" he almost shouted, his sore shoulder not having appreciated the blow to the hard surface. A breath of wind on his skin made him jump, his navel bare. 'No...!' Iruma thought, panicking, immediately understanding why he felt that slight coolness: the shirt and jacket of his school uniform had been lifted, his bare skin exposed up to his stomach.

Asmodeus paused abruptly, his eyes locked with Iruma's. The demon's breathing could barely be heard, only the crazy beating of the blue haired boy's heart. Iruma lowered his gaze, thus being able to understand what had upset his soulmate so much: other bruises, similar in shape to the one on his forearm, dotted the skin of his hips.

Iruma instinctively tried to say something to him "Azz-kun, I have to tell you something-", but from the other boy's reaction he understood that it was too late. Asmodeus' entire body trembled violently, his eyes wide. 'He found out!' Iruma thought, unable to think of any excuse, any good justification.

In a small voice, Asmodeus asked "Why... didn't you tell...?" "Huh?" the young human replied. It wasn't what he expected him to ask. Asmodeus released his grip on her body abruptly, as if his skin were on fire. The pink haired boy looked at his hands, heartbroken "Iruma-sama, you have to tell me whatever you feel pain. I've told you so, haven't...?". Iruma gasped, he felt his heart drop. The soulmate's broken voice hurt his chest, he would have preferred a furious scene a thousand times to... that.

"It's because... I don't want you to worry" replied the blue haired boy, trying to remain calm for both of them "Plus, it's something that concerns only me. It's my fault, but I'll do better-" An indefinite strangled noise came out from the throat of Asmodeus, who was looking at him shocked "Iruma-sama, what are you saying? Why would it be your fault, something I did? I didn't know how to regulate myself, I selfishly sought my own pleasure forgetting your safety and-"

A silence suddenly interrupted the demon's sentence. Asmodeus slowly shook his head, as if denying something to himself "It's not the first time, is it?" he asked, horrified "Iruma-sama, have there been times when I have not reduced you to this condition? Please, tell me the truth!". Iruma would have liked to be able to refuse that request, at least once in his life he would have liked to be able not to comply with a plea. He lowered his head, while his hands clumsily straightened his clothes "...No. I'm sorry, Azz-kun. I'm so sorry". A magical fireball right in the face would have caused much less pain.

"I am unforgivable" Asmodeus stated, his hands shaking "I hurt you, Iruma-sama, the very one I promised not to...!". Iruma reached out to take the demon's hands, to try to calm him down. He didn't want the pink haired boy to feel that way, it was the main reason why he had kept quiet until now. Asmodeus, at the slight contact, suddenly removed his hands from those of the young human. He grabbed his own arms, squeezing them tightly, unable to look up enough to see the broken expression on his soulmate's face.

"Iruma-sama, I don't deserve to touch you. I have behaved like the worst of the most undisciplined demonic beast, I have caused you inconceivable damage. I don't dare ask for your forgiveness, the blame falls on the unworthy demon that I am"
"No, you're wrong!" exclaimed the blue haired boy, his voice trembling "It's my fault, I should have paid more attention!"
"Iruma-sama, you're making a mistake, it's only my fault! I was careless!"
"Azz-kun, it's my fault! Please, you didn't do anything wrong!"
"Iruma-sama, it's my fault!"
"Azz-kun, it's my fault!"
"Let me decide!" exclaimed a third voice, suddenly appearing at their side.

The two boys turned, seeing a visibly annoyed Clara, her hands clenched into fists and resting on her hips. The girl said "Why have you been arguing for six minutes? Tell me everything and I will decide who is right!". The two boys saw them taken from Toy-Toy and wearing a black robe that resembled a forensic robe, a curly white wig that she wore messily over her rounded horns and a wooden gavel in her left hand.

Asmodeus and Iruma exchanged a look, perplexed. A vague sense of embarrassment pervaded them, they had never talked about their private meetings with anyone and they didn't want to start doing so with Clara. It was Iruma who spoke first "We weren't arguing, we were... discussing a small incident that happened yesterday" explained the blue haired boy, who still hadn't managed to formulate a convincing excuse.

Asmodeus immediately contradicted him "Iruma-sama, it was not a "small" accident, I seriously injured you! It's happened because of me! I was careless and foolish". Clara looked at him with an incredulous look "Azz-Azz, are you okay? Did you sleep badly last night? Bad dreams?" asked the green haired girl "You would never hurt Irumacchi, really really impossible". Iruma jumped at the topic "Clara's right! Azz-kun, it wasn't your fault! I was wrong not to tell you sooner, but it's my responsibility to fix it. It's okay, it's just a superficial thing". Asmodeus shook his head forcefully "Iruma-sama, you are too good but that doesn't mean you should condone such a grave act! I have broken my word, I have disappointed you immeasurably" "It's not true, you-" "The jury has decided!" Clara interrupted them again, waving her wooden gavel.

“Shouldn't you be a judge?” the pink haired boy asked, perplexed. Clara silenced him "Details! Your Clara has the verdict: the culprit is... both of you!". The two boys looked at her surprised, but remained silent to listen to the explanation of that choice.

Clara turned the gavel towards Asmodeus and declared "Azz-Azz, I wasn't there for the afternoon study but Diabotanical is such a quiet subject. If Irumacchi got hurt while doing homework in your company it's strange! Really strange! Are you sure you feel good, Azz-Azz? Pay more attention next time and everything will be fine".

After that, the girl turned the gavel towards Iruma and declared "Irumacchi, you are a little clumsy sometimes. It may happen that there is an accident, but that doesn't mean it's all your fault. You hurt yourself, really really bad. Let's go to infirmary, okay? You need to take more care of yourself, that's what's important".

The gavel was placed in Toy-Toy, because Clara needed both hands free. She took one of both boys' hands in hers. A small, soothing smile on her lips as she declared, "You both made mistakes, but it's fine. Mistakes happen. Leave what happened to yesterday and don't argue anymore, okay?” The two boys nodded, their heads held low. The smile on Clara's face widened. She sensed that it wasn't over yet, but that was already a step forward towards true reconciliation.

Iruma shyly asked "Wouldn't it be better to go back to class? Professor Kalego may have already arrived". Before the two could object, he justified himself "I'll get treated later, it doesn't hurt at all". The two soulmates simply nodded, not fully convinced. When the three returned to class, Kalego scolded them harshly and threatened them with disciplinary sanctions the next time they were absent without a valid reason.

At the end of the lesson, Iruma explained to his classmates an excuse he had invented during it, something very improvised about a plant they had studied in Diabotanical that had proven to be uncooperative. Throughout the lesson, Asmodeus didn't even turn once towards the blue haired boy, stiff and thoughtful as he took notes with his usual precision.
When Iruma finished telling the little lie, he looked around for Asmodeus, but couldn't find him. "It's time for a treasure hunt, Irumacchi! We'll find Azz-Azz in no time!" proposed Clara, who had noticed the expression of deep anguish on the soulmate's face.

…

Asmodeus walked quickly through the various corridors of Babyls, urgently looking for a particular demon. "Opera... Professor Opera!" exclaimed the pink haired boy, approaching the cat demon. "Good morning, Asmodeus-san. How can I help you?" asked the red haired demon, acting as Babyls' professor that day. The two demons were in a now deserted corridor, the students were going to their respective classrooms for the next lessons.

Asmodeus bit his lip, still a little hesitant about talking to anyone. But in such a desperate situation, he had learned that the help of an adult could be indispensable. Even more so, the help of an adult demon who knew the boy at the center of his thoughts very well. Asmodeus took a deep breath, then replied "It's about Iruma-sama" he said, seeing the other demon's cat ears flutter slightly "I...I used violence on Iruma-sama!".

Asmodeus didn't have time to blink before a red-ringed left arm stuck into the wall behind him. The student's right ear had barely been grazed, but it was ringing as if it had been hit. Opera, who had closed the distance between them and was now looking straight at him, slowly withdrew their arm. The stiffened fingers of the left hand, the claws dangerously sharp, were pulled with speed and elegance from the crater they had created in the wall.

"Oh, my. I ask for forgiveness, my hand slipped" Opera apologized, their gaze shining with everything but sincere repentance. "Asmodeus-san, will you kindly follow me? I notice there is something you would desire to update me on". The pink haired boy, trembling, gulped. He fervently hoped he hadn't made the wrong choice.

In an unused classroom, Asmodeus explained summarily and in deliberately vague terms about the details of the sexual intercourse between him and Iruma. Opera listened patiently, standing with their backs resting on the blackboard, their arms folded.

"Oh, youth" said the red haired demon, in a sighing tone. "If I understand correctly, these bruises were only discovered today and Iruma-sama has confirmed that they are not the first?" Asmodeus nodded, anguish clear on his face. "I have always respected Iruma-sama's needs and wishes, I have always taken all necessary precautions. Nonetheless, I have caused him great pain and have not proven trustworthy enough to deal with the problem together. I have used violence on Iruma-sama all this time and I was completely unaware of it… it's a fault I couldn't wash away even if I wanted to, I'm not worthy of being his soulmate, his partner".

Opera captured sincere repentance in the young student's words, along with desperate need of punishment. But they knew that any punishment would not be enough to appease the demon.

The cat demon asked "Asmodeus-san, I humbly ask forgiveness for what I am about to ask, but I would like to know the frequency of your private meetings". The pink haired boy blushed, observing the floor with unusual interest "I would say... once a month, more or less" Asmodeus replied, trying to ignore his own burning cheeks. Opera commented "So little? Youngsters are usually more frenetic". The pink haired boy blushed even more, not wanting to discuss that topic with another demon. "Ah, is that so...? I respect Iruma-sama’s boundaries, just that" he asked, receiving an answer from the professor "Oh, absolutely. Demons seek pleasure like few things in the Netherworld, be it sexual or of any other nature. Achieving goals and ambitions can provide a similar thrill, after all. Kalego-kun knows something about this". Asmodeus jerked his head up "P-Professor Kalego...?!" he asked, shocked.

Opera waved their left hand, symbolizing that they did not want to continue on that topic despite the tasty bait they had just thrown. The red haired demon stated "It's not my job to regulate the private lives of you guys, but the question you asked me is very worrying. In recent months I had believed that strange behavior on Iruma-sama's part depended on typical growing pains, but I sadly realized that I was wrong. He has never consumed any medicinal or healing products, so I had no reason to believe that he would suffer from these “consequences”. I would like to speak to him as soon as possible, but this would violate the confidence you are giving me”.

Opera had a brief cough. “Asmodeus-san, I think the best thing to do for now is to completely abstain from any physical contact with Iruma-sama. It's not a punishment: it's a choice based on logic, Iruma-sama needs time to heal and you are not in a position to exercise complete control over your physical abilities. Because you have come to me personally for advice, I will not do you any harm for now. I will refrain from reporting to Sullivan-sama for the moment, but you will understand that I will have to do this in order to avoid unpleasants accident again. Iruma-sama is Sullivan-sama's precious grandson, as his guardian it is incumbent upon him to be informed. As long as they're just bruises I'll turn a blind eye, but just this once. Sadly, I regret telling you that what you told me today does you great disservice. I can only hope that you think carefully about what happened and find the best solution in the shortest time possible, to prevent Iruma-sama from being further hurt. He is deeply fond of you, this is both an honor and a source of considerable responsibility for you, Asmodeus-san".

Asmodeus nodded repeatedly, he considered that advice important. The two demons agreed not to tell anyone else about it for the time being. They left the classroom empty at different points in time. Shortly after, Iruma and Clara found him on the way to the next lesson "I humbly ask for forgiveness for having left without notification, a matter of the utmost urgency required my presence. Now everything is resolved" the pink haired boy justified himself, smiling.

Iruma flinched: that smile was clearly forced, fake.

…

The situation seemed to have been resolved. Apparently it was like this, but Iruma and Clara knew well that underneath there was something that still burned in their soulmate's soul. Both that day and the following ones, Asmodeus accompanied them, participated in their games and conversations, ate with them as usual, but there was always a sense of restlessness among them.

Clara was clearly unnerved by the situation, giving vent to her quirks more than usual, of which the other Misfits were often the victims; Iruma, on the other hand, was taciturn and thoughtful. Asmodeus, for his part, tried to calm their souls with reassurances and smiles, but the more he tried, the more the two soulmates felt restless.

On one occasion, Iruma had tried to take the pink haired boy's left hand with faking nonchalance, but the latter pulled it back before the touch occurred. Iruma felt a sharp pain in his chest, his breathing quickened for no reason. He managed to distract himself only thanks to Clara, who encouraged them to participate in an obstacle race to get to Royal One.

That false smile of Asmodeus was causing damage not only to the Love Trio, but also to the rest of the Misfits. They didn't understand what had happened, given that the three soulmates were always together as usual, but they sensed that something was wrong. Not even Lied had wanted to make bets on the matter, the situation was so serious.

The real problem, however, was what happened to Asmodeus when he discarded that mask of normality. The pink haired boy was not unusual in having periods of pause from private meetings with Iruma, indeed he internally prided himself on being capable of so much self-control and being able to respect the limits and times of his soulmate. Because of the revelation of the bruises, that belief collapsed like a house of cards.

At night, sometimes, he happened to dream about encounters he had already experienced. The next morning, with great embarrassment, the sheets bore the marks of those wet dreams. In that last period, however, his sweet dreams had turned into distressing nightmares: a continuous repetition of the bruises on Iruma's body, the anxious expression on the blue haired boy's face when he discovered them.

'What was Iruma-sama afraid of?' the demon wondered, tossing and turning in bed after yet another sleepless night 'Why didn't he tell me anything? What if he has more bruises? I would really like to ask him if he is treating them properly, but it would be extremely rude on my part. Iruma-sama is suffering and it's all my fault! I will never have the audacity to even touch him again, I am not worthy of him'.

Demons were creatures who pursued their own ideals and ambitions, accustomed to pleasure but reluctant to forced impositions. Asmodeus wanted to be closer to Iruma, but at the same time he knew he had to stay away from him for his safety. Such ambivalence, for a demon so dutiful and blindly faithful as Asmodeus, could only result in one thing: pure stress.

…

Iruma knew that the day was not going to go well from the moment he saw a demon missing in front of the gate "Good morning, Clara. Where is Azz-kun?" the blue haired boy asked her, looking around, hoping for some out of character joke. The green haired girl shrugged her shoulders "Azz-Azz isn't answering my messages, if he doesn't show up as soon as we get to school, at lunch today I'll put some helltuna on his plate!" Clara stated, her cheeks puffed out to show her displeasure.

Iruma nodded, hoping that the soulmate had just had a setback and that they would see each other again in Babyls. Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed when at Royal One, Kalego began the first lesson of the day by saying, "Asmodeus will be temporarily missing. We have been informed that he has entered the Evil cycle". Iruma felt a boulder on his chest, a heavier boulder than the giant one he once ran away from while searching for rare insects that his parents wanted to collect and resell. He turned to Clara, seeing in her eyes the same anguish that pervaded him.

The Misfits tried to console the two classmates, but without much success. When it was time for the lunch break, Iruma and Clara headed towards the cafeteria, but found an unexpected demon at their side "Well? Has the imposing presence of one such as I am amazed you enough to take away your speech?" Sabnock asked smugly, tapping his left thumb on his chest. Iruma hesitantly asked, "Sabnock-kun, are you coming to the cafeteria today? I thought you would eat here like always". Clara also chimed in, exclaiming "Mountain Sabro goes to discovery!" Saying this she climbed up to his head.

The blond demon snorted, crossed his arms over his chest and replied "That was my intention, my rival. Nonetheless, Asmodeus was very... insistent in begging me to protect you until he recovered from the Evil cycle. Consider it an honor, you can say in the future that the Demon King has granted you to be your guardian!".

Iruma was perplexed by that answer: why had Asmodeus contacted Sabnock but not responded to Clara? Despite this oddity, he felt relieved to know that the pink haired boy thought of their good even during an Evil cycle. Even in the form of excessive protectiveness. ‘Azz-kun would be the classic overprotective parent’, the blue haired boy found himself thinking, a small smile at the thought of... what?

While his mind was caught up in this disjointed river of thoughts, Clara ordered Sabnock "Sabro, take Irumacchi and let's go, today's special menu will end immediately if we are late!". Iruma felt himself being lifted from the ground, in the blink of an eye he found himself under the powerful left arm of his classmate "Don't fear, my fellows! The word delay does not exist in the register of the future Demon king!" Sabnock exclaimed. Iruma's surprised scream at the blond demon's running speed could also be heard outside the Royal One.

In this way, six days passed without Asmodeus. Sabnock quickly adapted to Clara's frenetic pace and bizarre games, often winning several games. Sabnock learned how difficult it was to keep Iruma separate from his food, extra snacks a challenge at almost any hour. The fact that Clara helped him for fun didn't help maintain the discipline of the temporary new Snack Police.

Iruma often found himself smiling at the new interactions between Clara and Sabnock. He often checked his hell phone to see if Asmodeus had responded to his messages and wishes for a speedy recovery, all of which went unanswered. He was rereading the latest messages sent, when he found a very heavy arm around his neck from behind "My rival, how's it going?" Sabnock asked him, his face pressed to his as he glanced at the hell phone screen.

"It's nothing, it's just… I was checking on Azz-kun". With unexpected delicacy, Sabro took the wrist of the injured arm between his large fingers. The demon let out a light snort, then asked him again "And you? How's it going with that arm?". Iruma flinched instinctively, he had forgotten that the first to have noticed the bruise was Sabnock. He forced himself to smile as he replied, "It's fine, it's practically healed".

"Are you sure?" "Yes. Thank you for your concern, Sabnock-kun" replied the blue haired boy, this time actually smiling. The blond demon nuzzled his face into the other boy's neck. "S-Sabnock-kun?" Iruma asked, surprised. "That fool" Iruma heard him mutter, his chin resting on his small chest. Sabnock was about to add something, instead he brought the boy's hand low to his face and placed a small kiss on the elbow, the delicate human veins close to the jaws of the unpredictable demon. Iruma flinched, surprised.

At that moment, Clara intervened, exclaiming "Everything is ready! This time you won't beat us, Sabro!". The muscular demon straightened up and left the other's elbow, but not before running his thumb over Iruma's parted lips. "You will find out again what it means to taste defeat, my fellow!" he stated with clear self-confidence, approaching the waiting green haired girl. Iruma was a bit puzzled by that strange action. He took one last look at the screen of his hellphone, before placing it in his pocket and walking over to the two demons.

…

"We need to take action! Now!" Clara exclaimed, brandishing one of Opera's homemade cookies in her closed left fist. "What do you mean?" Iruma asked, the cookie in his hand evaporating the moment he brought it to his lips. The two soulmates were in Iruma's room, at the green haired girl's suggestion after classes, the uniforms still on.

"We can't leave Azz-Azz alone, he'll feel abandoned! Mommy says the Evil cycle makes you feel really, really bad. We have to do something!". Iruma nodded, after taking a sip of hell tea he replied "You're right, he hasn't been in touch for days. But shouldn't we wait a little longer? Evil cycle is a delicate thing, I suppose". The girl made an annoyed noise "You don't understand, Irumacchi" she pointed the biscuit at him and stated "You two must make peace! A real peace! Azz-Azz will get better immediately and we'll go back to be together! It's a bulletproof plan!".

The blue haired boy tilted his head slightly, thoughtfully. He too was sure that that Evil cycle depended on their argument, but he didn't know what to do to make amends.

Clara added, this time with a more serious tone "Azz-Azz just... deep down, he doesn't take himself into account, you know? He's always been like that. Since you've known each other, you're his sunshine, all of him revolves around you too. Ah! You are my sun too, Irumacchi!” the girl wanted to clarify, and then continued "And that's why you two need to make up as soon as you can. I know that Azz-Azz's strange behavior hurts you too. His smile was so suspicious that it gave us chest pain! It's not like Azz-Azz! I still have goosebumps! And you're strange too, Irumacchi. But no matter how your heart aches, you mustn't ignore how you feel, you need to tell him and make peace once and for all. Irumacchi: stand your ground, confront him, and tell him frankly how you feel. And when you make peace, I will give you many smooch smooch as a reward!".

Iruma, his eyes shining with emotion for all the affection the girl felt for them, nodded with more determination than before.

"And that's why..." Clara said, taking two balaclavas out of Toy-Toy "... We're going to infiltrate Azz-Azz's house!" "What?!" the blue haired boy exclaimed, surprised "Are you sure, Clara? Won't Azz-kun be angry?" "Believe me, I've already planned everything! First move: we have to bring them something, so they'll let us in! Second move: I'll distract Dav-Dav-san! Third move: you will talk to Azz-Azz, you will make peace and I will join you! We will be the Love trio again!". Iruma nodded, smiling exclaimed "You're so smart, Clara! Let's go!". The two soulmates raised their fists shouting "Let's go!".

The first item of the dish met an unfortunate impediment. "Iruma-sama, if I understand correctly... do you want to try cooking again?" asked Opera, feline ears and tail low. The cat demon observed both the young human, whose lack of cooking skills were sadly known to them, and Clara, whose lively character made them strongly doubt whether she was better in the kitchen than President Ameri. The two nodded with conviction, their eyes shining with determination and the desire to cook together. Opera felt a shiver run all over their skin.

The cat butler stated "There is no need to take away precious time from your day, I already have a basket ready for your courtesy visit to Asmodeus manor. Young master, are you sure you want to go? Asmodeus-san is currently under excellent care and also monitored by Professor Balam, but this does not make it exempt from causing you possible detriment." Iruma shook his head "Azz-kun would never hurt us. And then it's just a visit, Davide-san will be with us. Everything will be fine" stated the blue haired boy.

Opera sighed, then told them "I will inform Sullivan-sama when he returns from Babel. I would ask you to get ready and head towards the gate, the carriage will be ready shortly". Iruma and Clara high-fived with both hands. In less than six minutes, the two were on the carriage headed towards Asmodeus manor.

Chapter Text

"I am truly moved by the generosity of your spirit" Davide told them, once they got out of the carriage, as they followed the butler of Asmodeus manor into the villa. Holding the good luck basket in his hands, the old demon added "Unfortunately, Alice-sama is not fully recovered from the Evil cycle yet, but he will be delighted to know that you thought of him and came to visit for him." Once they were in the main entrance, Clara and Iruma exchanged a knowing look.

They nodded at the same time, and then Clara shouted, "Dav-Dav-san, what's that beautiful sparkly sparkly thing over there?" The green haired girl started to run away, as expected Davide followed her worriedly. Iruma, who knew the way to Asmodeus' private rooms well, walked quickly, hiding as other servants passed by. Once he was at the door, Iruma took a deep breath before knocking.

"Azz-kun...?" he asked, but received no answer. Iruma gulped. 'Im sorry!' he thought, then opened the door slightly. The room was completely dark, the curtains completely drawn not letting in a single ray of afternoon sun. Iruma opened the door a little more, enough to enter the room. He closed the door behind him, trying not to make any noise. 'If Azz-kun is resting, we'll try again tomorrow' the blue haired boy promised himself, turning towards the room.

A very strong smell reached his nostrils, so intense that he had to cover his nose with his right hand. It was a floral-tinged aroma, in particular it smelled of roses and something vaguely reminiscent of peach. A smell that isn't nauseating but strong enough to make him feel a little dizzy. Iruma leaned his back against the wall, seeking a brief moment of relief. The gaze wandered around the room, looking for its occupant.

A figure with well-known outlines appeared in front of him, but before he could react two strong hands surrounded his wrists and pinned them against the wall, at the level of his ears. "Azz-kun...!" Iruma exclaimed surprised, even more so when he heard the other say in a mellifluous voice "These types of dreams are the best~ What are you? A dream, or a nightmare~?"

"Azz-kun, I'm not a...mph!" Iruma replied, before finding his mouth blocked by the other boy's. A knowledgeable tongue quickly entered his mouth, surrounding and moving the blue haired boy's tongue with determination and urgency. The lips caressed his, moving to a rhythm they knew well. Iruma tried to rebel, but the pink haired boy tackled him against the wall with his body, closing off any possibility of escape. Small gasps escaped the lips of the two boys, Iruma felt himself losing strength quickly. His legs began to tremble, but they stiffened when Asmodeus placed his left leg between them, pressing his knee gently against his southern regions.

"Nh!" Iruma tried to speak unsuccessfully, cheeks blushing as the kiss deepened. Pressing and caressing, Asmodeus took absolute dominion over the blue haired boy's mouth, moving it as he pleased. Iruma had a moment's pause when the demon broke the kiss, but only to move his lips to the crook of his neck. "Ah, you look like the real thing~" Asmodeus stated, leaving lewd kisses on the soulmate's skin. Gasping for air, Iruma exclaimed "I-I'm real, Azz-kun! It’s me, Iruma! I just came to talk! To talk!".

The pink haired boy stopped abruptly. Slowly, he brought his head back to the blue haired boy's level, pink eyes blinking repeatedly, vision adjusting to the dark. Those same pink eyes filled with shocked surprise "Iruma-sama...?". Asmodeus looked down at his own hands, which held the short boy's wrists, his small hands clenched into fists. He immediately let them go, exclaiming "I'm so sorry! Iruma-sama, I didn't mean to…!”

Asmodeus, shocked, took a few steps back. This allowed Iruma to slowly slide towards the floor, his legs practically jelly. The pink haired boy immediately knelt in front of him, worriedly asked "Why are you here, Iruma-sama? Weren't you informed about my condition? What if I... Oh Devi, do you feel bad? I'm really dismayed, where have I hurt you? I'll call Davide immediately, he will be able to give you assistance!".

Iruma managed to grab with his fingers a corner of the left sleeve of the purple pajamas worn by the demon "No!" the boy shouted, anxious. He hadn't played his part in Clara's plan, he couldn't stop yet. The young human explained "I'm fine, really! It's just that this... incense? You're using. It's a little strong for me, but I'll get used to it". Asmodeus looked at him with a doubtful look "An incense, you say...?" he murmured, and then realized. He was still wearing off the last effects of the Evil cycle, so his Bloodline ability was a bit out of control. The demon exclaimed in panic "Iruma-sama, you must leave at instant! Staying here isn't safe for you!”

Instead, Iruma shook his head. He pulled the other boy's pajama tail towards him, saying "No! Azz-kun, I need to talk to you. I won't take up much of your time, I promise. It... it's important, really". Asmodeus, torn between wanting to push the blue haired boy away for his safety and wanting to listen to him to respect his will, remained silent for a few seconds. The demon said "Okay, then could you wait for me in the living room? I'll join you soon, I'm not presentable at the moment".

Iruma shook his head again, then said "I'm sorry, I can't. It's something that concerns... us, I'd like to avoid spectators if possible. And then there's also Clara, it would be a bit -" "There's is stupid Clara too?!" Asmodeus interrupted, stunned. “Yes,” Iruma replied, hinting at a smile. “Coming here today was her idea. She's distracting Davide-san at the moment, but she'll join us. In case... shall we go to your bathroom? It's so big and elegant that it looks like another room, and we'll be alone".

Asmodeus was doubtful, but nevertheless he approved. Trying to touch the soulmate as little as possible, he helped him get up and the two left the dark room, Asmodeus narrowed his eyes at the sunlight that penetrated from the corridor windows, but he accompanied the young human to his personal bathroom. To be on the safe side, knowing Clara's unpredictability, he locked the door behind him.

He sat down Iruma on a finely decorated upholstered chair, white and full of lovely rose patterns. He knelt before the boy "What do you wish to talk to me about, Iruma-sama?" asked Asmodeus, still surprised by that unexpected visit "I deeply regret the terrible welcome I reserved for you and stupid Clara. If I had known in time, I would have given instructions on the matter". Iruma, his hands above his knees, suddenly clenching them into fists. He murmured "If you had responded to the messages, we would have notified you."

Asmodeus looked at him in disbelief, such a harsh tone was unthinkable from Iruma. The latter flinched, realizing he had spoken out loud "I'm sorry, Azz-kun! I didn't mean to! You felt bad, I have no right to-". Gently and carefully, Asmodeus covered his closed hands with his own "Don't worry, Iruma-sama" said the demon, seeing that the blue haired boy had gone silent at the contact "You have every right to criticize my ineptitude. I recognize that having made you worry, I deeply regret it. I find no justification in saying that I was not mentally prepared to interact with you, I barely understood Sabnock's daily written reports..."

Now it was Iruma's turn to be incredulous "The written… reports?" the young human repeated. Asmodeus, embarrassed by his gaffe, gave a quick cough, and then explained himself better "My temporary absence was not a valid excuse for being negligent towards you two. Therefore, I ordered Sabnock to act as my substitute, instructing him properly on your needs and your routines”.

This version was different from the one given by Sabnock, but the goal was still the same: despite the Evil cycle, Asmodeus had cared about them. At this realization, Iruma felt his heart skip a beat. The boy let out a short sigh 'Azz-kun deserves an explanation' the boy thought, more resolute than before.

Iruma stated "Azz-kun, I need to talk to you." The pink haired boy stiffened, his pointed ears open wide. Iruma continued his speech "It's about... the bruises. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to keep them hidden from you. I was a little anxious- no, I was scared..."

"...of me?" Asmodeus asked in a breathless voice, shocked. If the blue haired boy had confirmed, the demon would have torn off a wing on the spot as a sign of sincere repentance. For the sake of his wings, Iruma replied "What?! No, not at all!". Asmodeus was not completely calmed down, his breath held in suspense waiting for the sequel.

The short boy continued, his fingers intertwined, moving nervously "No, it's true that I was scared, but not of you. I could never be scared of you, Azz-kun. I feel very comfortable around you. The truth is, I didn't want to worry you, I really did. You're always so thoughtful of me, so patient in explaining to me a lot of things I don't know, that I didn't want to give you another thought, another reason to worry. Besides, I was scared because..." Iruma gulped, looking at his now clasped hands. He continued, in a slightly lighter tone, a trembling smile on his lips "I'm fine, really. Small incidents like these happen to me all the time, so my body's probably used to them. And then I'm much shorter than you, it's normal that it doesn't react very well, but I'm trying to understand what I can do to improve and-"

Asmodeus leaned towards the seated boy to cover the small hands with his own. Startled, Iruma moved his gaze to the soulmate's anguished face, who exclaimed "Iruma-sama, you should never discredit yourself like this! This isn't normal at all! It's not your fault, your body has no flaw that can be named. I'm the one responsible, not I managed to measure my strength, to exercise sufficient self-control. The immeasurable joy of being with you is not an excuse, it is not possible to repair such an honor with such shamelessness. Iruma-sama, please don't accuse yourself anymore. You got hurt because of me. I'm your soulmate, your partner, yet I didn't even notice that you were hurt by my own hands!".

Iruma looked at him in dismay, a lump in his throat preventing him from speaking. He hadn't come here to hear his soulmate falsely accuse himself, yet it was happening again. 'I'm here to solve this story, not to make Azz-kun feel worse,' the boy concluded mentally. Iruma slowly turned his hands, enough to be able to grasp the demon's fingers between his own.

The lump in his throat remained, nevertheless the blue haired boy said "You're wrong, Azz-kun. It's not your fault. I should have told you right away, but... I was scared. I was scared of disappointing you, I was scared of showing you how much I actually am weak. You think too well of me, Azz-kun. I have flaws too. And that's why I didn't want to disappoint you, because I felt that... if I told you, you would definitely take the blame on you like now. That if you had taken on this other burden because of me... you would have found a reason to leave me. I don't want to. I’m scared of losing you, Azz-kun. I don’t want to lose you. At least this time, I wanted to..."

Iruma couldn't continue. The lump in his throat had dissolved, becoming a consecutive series of sobs. His eyes, shining, had started to shed tears that he couldn't turn back even if he desperately wanted to. Dismayed, he looked away from the pink haired boy's face, in a vain attempt to hide that sad sight from him. Asmodeus, shocked, clasped his hands into his own. He tried to make eye contact with the blue haired boy again, but the latter continued to shy away from him.

Asmodeus, in a calm and patient voice, said to him "Iruma-sama, how can you even think that I could do something so vile? I have sworn eternal loyalty to you, I would never dare such a thing, perish the thought! There is no way that you can disappoint me, I would be grateful to repeat it to you every second if it would help you. You are so amazing that it would not be enough to sing your praises in the corners of the Netherworld to cover even half of your greatness...!”

For a moment, the young human wondered if the incense in Asmodeus' room wasn't some truth potion, or something that made you lose control, because he found himself shouting what he had never said out loud, "But didn't it was enough for them!". Asmodeus looked at him in surprise, while the short boy caught his breath from the unexpected scream. His mind confused, disoriented by the desire not to talk about it and the need to do so, Iruma muttered "I'm not... I wasn't enough for them. I've always done everything they asked of me, no matter how dangerous or scary it was. I've always been "a good boy". But it wasn't enough. As much as I think about it, I don't understand what I did wrong. Where I could have done better, or more, there must have been something why I've disappointed them. I don't want to do this again. I don't want to disappoint someone I care about very much again!"

"Iruma-sama" asked the pink haired boy, gently cupping his right cheek with his left hand "Who are you talking about? Who are the wretches who dared to hurt you?". The young human bit his tongue, but it was too late. He had spoken. He closed his eyes, unable to deal with the subject that he thought he had already overcome during the Harvest festival. He rested against the demon's warm hand, whereupon Iruma replied "My… my former guardians". He couldn't call them "parents" anymore, because his family was now made up of a completely different kind of people, for the better.

"I love Grandpa very much, he loves me and he treats me very well. It's thanks to him that I go to school now, if I was able to meet you, Clara, everyone. Grandpa and Opera love me very much, and I love them. I don't want to go back. But... but I also understand that I did something wrong. I just wish I knew what. I could have done something. But I don't know anything. I don't know what could disappoint you, disappoint everyone. I'm doing my best, really. That's why, when I saw... when I realized that there is something in which I might not be at your level, I was afraid. I thought, "There it is. That's me". And I tried to hide it, thinking it would go away. Everything passes, somehow. But... the next time they came back. And the one after that. I love you, Azz-kun. I like being close to you. I like it when we hug, when we kiss. When we h-hold each other like that. I really like it. And I know you like it too, so I didn't want it to be the thing where I couldn't be on your level, the very thing where I could disappoint you".

The tears, uninterrupted, created two long parallel lines on the boy's cheeks. The tears fell in large drops on the back of the pink haired boy's hands and on the trousers of his school uniform, the sobs prevented him from continuing. Asmodeus, heartbroken, tried to dry yet another tear that flowed from his eyes with the thumb of his left hand.

'I will tear them to pieces' thought the demon, determined 'I will find them, I will force them to talk. I will make them confess what they did to Iruma-sama and make them suffer it thirteen times. I will make them choke with their fingers and their tongues cut out. I should take some of Professor Murmur's lessons to learn the best techniques to prevent them from dying right away. So much mercy will be denied them. I'll have to talk to Clara about it, she deserves the right to have a part in their execution. I will burn their corpses to ashes. I will scatter their ashes to the farthest reaches of the Netherworld, so that Iruma-sama will not have to risk even feeling their grainy presence. And I will burn the cursed land where their miserable remains will rest. I hope Sullivan-sama hasn't already done so: this revenge is mine to take’.

Asmodeus left the kneeling position he had been in until then to raise himself a little, just enough to get to the level of the crying boy sitting down. After a moment's hesitation, Asmodeus hugged Iruma. The demon's arms wrapped around his arms and his back shook with sobs, his tear-stained face well protected against his chest. Asmodeus waited. He wanted to speak immediately to console his soulmate, but instinct told him to wait, and so he did. After a few seconds, small fingers clung to his back, the fabric of the pajamas was squeezed between the fingers first hesitantly and then forcefully.

Asmodeus lowered his mouth to the level of the ear adorned with the feather earring, and thus said "Iruma-sama, everything is fine. I am here, Iruma-sama. I will remain by your side forever, unperturbed from your possible flaws. I love you, Iruma-sama. That's why I don't want you to suffer the slightest pain or discomfort. If I had realized what I did to you sooner, I could have given you support in the moment. This was an unforgivable shortcoming, which is why I will remedy it by paying much more attention to your safety and your needs from now on. It would never have crossed my mind to see you in a different light or to think less of you. I can assure you now and always, ask me whenever you want. Iruma-sama, you can always count on me. I will always worry about you and your safety, you don't need to hide anything. Together, Iruma-sama, we can think of a solution. Just as you have helped me countless times, let me help you for once. Is all right, Iruma-sama?"

"Y-Yes. Thank you, Azz-kun..." Iruma murmured, his face still buried in his chest. The demon smiled, satisfied and his heart swollen with love more than ever. He let the blue haired boy cry some more, knowing how much he needed to do so. Iruma was always smiling, helpful, altruistic and courageous, you rarely saw him in this other guise. Being the only witness to that rare moment made him immeasurably proud of himself.

After a while, Iruma released his hold on the demon and moved his face away from his chest "I'm sorry, Azz-kun..." the young human said, while the demon passed him some tissues to clean himself up. The boy blew his nose and dried his eyes, the handkerchiefs thrown into a funny fluttering basket that disappeared after the pink haired boy's verbal command. The latter was visibly hesitant, yet managed to ask him in a firm voice "Iruma-sama, can I ask you to see your bruises? I know it's shamefully late, but I would like to take care of them with some cures".

Iruma stared at him, thoughtful. Before Asmodeus could apologize for the impudence of that request, the blue haired boy took off his uniform jacket, folded it and placed it on the arm of the chair. He rolled up the sleeve of his right hand up to the elbow, in this way Asmodeus could see the bruise again days later. "Don't worry, Azz-kun: they're healed now" Iruma stated with a firm voice, the bruise reduced to a yellowish stain that was disappearing. The pink haired demon leaned towards the arm. Slowly, delicately, he took the wrist and elbow of the arm that the other boy was offering him in his hands.

The demon's eyes filled with renewed suffering and sincere regret. "Iruma-sama... does it hurt...?" Asmodeus asked, bringing the other's wrist close to his own forehead. Iruma slowly shook his head and replied, smiling "It doesn't hurt. Don't worry, Azz-kun"
"Are you sure, Iruma-sama?"
"Yes, I'm sure”

Asmodeus nipped the urge to ask his soulmate for forgiveness again. By now he understood that it was only counterproductive, that instead of expressing his repentance in words he should have done so with actions.

As he became aware of this, a peculiar odor reached his nostrils. 'What's this scent?' he wondered, brushing the tip of his nose against Iruma's wrist. The demon smelled a familiar smell, a little metallic, like freshly wrought iron left to cool. A scent that smelled of cold iron and scorching heat, entwined with typical old paper smell. It was a very strong mix, he thought it was strange that he hadn't noticed it before. A similar scent was reminiscent of... hormones. Marking hormones.

The demon's right hand, meanwhile removed from touching Iruma's body, slammed shut. Claws dug into the skin, eager for another demon's blood. "Iruma-sama" he asked in a low and threatening voice, looking him straight in the eyes "Did Sabnock do something to you?". Iruma was taken aback by that sudden question. Hesitant, he lowered his gaze as he replied "Well, these days he has always been with me and Clara, he has played some games proposed by Clara and-"

The blue haired boy stopped abruptly. There had been something about Sabnock's behaviors that he had found strange. Asmodeus waited patiently for the next sentence. Iruma gulped and continued "...actually, Sabnock was a little...peculiar lately? He was very affectionate, and I think he was worried about you too". Satisfied that he hadn't said anything that could damage the friendly relations between the two demons, the young human looked back at the soulmate's face. He found him openly outrageous, furious. The fangs were exposed, but not for him. "Affectionate?" repeated the pink haired boy, as if he had spat out a horrible tasting mouthful.

Asmodeus bent over the boy's neck, sniffing the crook of his neck. "A-Azz-kun?!" Iruma asked, surprised, before the demon proceeded to smell his lips too. "... Even here!" Asmodeus muttered, outraged. He released his grip on the boy's wrist, but only to take his face in his hands and exclaim "Iruma-sama, forgive my boldness: there is an indescribable stench on your body"

"Huh?!" the blue haired boy exclaimed in shock. He immediately smelled his right wrist and also his other arm just to be sure, but he couldn't smell anything. Asmodeus released his face, only to take the opportunity of his raised arms to take him from under his armpits. "Iruma-sama, sincerely, I ask for forgiveness for such impudence" stated the demon, lifting him completely from the chair and carrying him bodily towards the bathtub.

Iruma loved demon bathtubs, they were always full and at the right temperature. However, he was less adoring when Asmodeus dumped him in, with all his clothes. "Azz-kun?!" he asked in surprise, brushing his wet hair from over his eyes. Asmodeus entered the tub too, indifferent to his pajamas which quickly got soaked. Standing above the young human, he began to rub his nose against the crook of his neck, while he rubbed his own fingers against the inner wrist of the newly conquered boy's right hand. "Azz-kun, wait-!" Iruma pleaded, feeling very embarrassed. His back leaning against the wall of the bathtub, he had his faithful soulmate between his spread thighs, his legs bent and abandoned next to the other boy's hips.

Asmodeus stopped immediately. He looked up at his face, eyes filled with anger...and something else? "I appreciate the effort in trying to replace me in the role of your care and protection, but Sabnock has definitely exaggerated" said Asmodeus, caressing his parted lips with the thumb of his right hand, which was holding his face "That foolish ...! He took advantage of my absence to carry out a courtship towards you, Iruma-sama! These disgusting traces are a clear proof of this. Iruma-sama, let me cleanse you of such unpleasant obscenity. I will ground that idiot at the right instant I'll see him again!”

Iruma looked at him silently, trying to process what he had just heard. Courtship? Scent? Grounding? He had no idea what they were, yet another gap in his knowledge of the customs of the Netherworld. Only one thing was more or less clear to him.

"Iruma-sama, why is his stench even on your mouth? Did Sabnock dare to kiss you? Did he force you?! According to what you tell me, I will understand what exemplary punishment to execute on that impertinent barbarian" Asmodeus asked again, made anxious by the soulmate's silence.

Iruma laughed, amused. A totally unpredictable reaction, which Asmodeus wordless. Iruma replied, wiping away his tears "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to not take you seriously. Don't worry, Azz-kun. Sabnock-kun touched me in a bizarre way, it's true, but I think he did it just to spite you. I'm really sorry, if he was serious in his intentions I should apologize properly to him". Iruma didn't appreciate lying by omission, but now that Sabnock's strange behavior took on a very specific meaning, he didn't want the two classmates to fight over him like they did in "Hatsukoi Memories".

The young human took the pink haired boy's face in his hands, his right wrist free from the grip which in the meantime had lost intensity "Azz-kun, trust me, everything is fine. I want you". Asmodeus could feel three little Asmodeus swirling above his head, chorusing with Iruma's voice "I want you, I want you, I want you." The pink haired boy blushed violently, embarrassed for his disproportionate reaction, for even being able to think that there was a demon outside of himself capable of standing by Iruma's side. Except Clara, as their rightful companion.

Asmodeus buried his face in his soulmate's wet shirt, his hands gripping the edges of the tub next to his head. Iruma took the demon's head in his hands, his fingers sliding through the strands that had escaped the ribbon at the back of his head. He pressed his lips to the demon's head. "It's okay, Azz-kun" the short boy murmured, smiling. Asmodeus raised his head, his lips a breath away from the young human's mouth. Pink eyes jumped from the boy's blue eyes to the latter's lips, until the demon made a decision. With his cheeks still flushed, he closed his eyes and with his lips parted, he kissed him on the mouth. Iruma reciprocated, parting his lips, letting the pink haired boy's tongue enter his mouth. He closed his eyes, he missed the contact of their lips.

Their tongues began to move in sync, lips testing each other with ever greater urgency. Asmodeus' body became close to the young human's by habit, the wet shirts rubbing against each other.

"Ah..." Small hurried breaths came out of their lips, while the pink haired boy's hands gripped the edges of the bathtub even tighter, his arms stiffened in the effort given by the self-control he tried to exercise. It was Iruma who broke the kiss first, needing some air for his extremely needy lungs. Both boys had their eyes half closed, breaths coming out quickly from their open lips. "Want to?" Iruma whispered, his cheeks red from the kiss and from the embarrassment of his own shamelessness for having asked that question.

'More than anything' Asmodeus thought, gulping. But he replied "Not now". Iruma looked at him bewildered. "Why… ?" he asked in a small voice, his courage quickly disappearing. He felt rejected, which caused a strange feeling in his stomach and chest at the same time. Asmodeus opened his eyes fully, seeing the anguished expression on his soulmate's face. With an urgent tone, he explained himself further "No, Iruma-sama, it's not what you think! It's just that being so close to you right now is..."

"...So bad?" Iruma continued, looking away. The hands left the pink haired boy's head, the arms closed around his own stomach. He regretted having shown the demon the traces of one of the bruises, he had made him worry needlessly again.

Asmodeus shook his head violently, then covered his face with both hands. "My hands..." the demon said, his voice full of embarrassment. "Is there a problem with your hands? Do they hurt?" Iruma asked, anxious and worried for his soulmate. Asmodeus replied "No, Iruma-sama, nothing of the sort. It's just... they want to touch you". The young man's expression soon turned into pure perplexity "And is... something bad?" he asked, confused. The pink haired boy took his hands off his face to look him in the eyes, as panicked as he was embarrassed he replied "Of course it is, Iruma-sama! It was these hands that hurt you, I can't touch you carelessly! And I still have some traces of the Evil cycle, what would happen if I was too rough or if I hurt you or worse!"

Iruma understood the boy's point of view, which is why he nodded. Slowly, he took those of his soulmate in his hands, and brought them to his lips "I guess everything is fine then. You also said that we would find a solution together, right? This is the perfect opportunity. I know you will be careful, Azz-kun. I won't hide anything from you anymore, I'll tell you everything I don't like. Go ahead. I trust you, Azz-kun" said the blue haired boy, and then gently kissed the knuckles of the demon's hands.

Asmodeus felt his heart skip a beat. Their closeness, the complete and sincere trust that the soulmate placed in him, went straight to his chest. The eyes with which he had always looked at the young human with admiration and devotion, now looked at him with the strong desire to do all sorts of things with him. Asmodeus gulped, opening his fingers enough to fit his soulmate's small fingers through, to squeeze them gently. "Iruma-sama" asked the demon, leaning forward enough to touch the crook of the boy's neck with his lips "Allow me to rephrase my answer. Can I erase these offensive traces left by Sabnock from your body?"

The blue haired boy smiled "Yes!" he replied, happy not to have been rejected by the boy.
The demon began to kiss the skin of Iruma's neck, saliva left on purpose on the wet surface to re-establish the supremacy of his own marking hormones 'I need to mark Iruma-sama as soon as possible' thought Asmodeus, while his hands slipped under the clothes of the young human, who flinched slightly from the tickling 'That reckless dared to advance a courtship towards Iruma-sama just because I haven't been left my mark yet. In the eyes of the Netherworld Iruma-sama is an enviable and extremely desired match. This situation cannot go any further".

Asmodeus' pelvis rubbed against Iruma's, causing the latter to let out a squeak of surprise.
Asmodeus quickly returned to reality. He looked around, trying to focus on the various pieces of furniture in the room. "Iruma-sama, before we continue we must... we must take the necessary precautions" the demon stated, muttering a curse through gritted teeth because he had left lube and devicondoms in his room. "I'll go straight to my room and-" he stopped when he felt the boy's arms tighten around his chest pulling on his pajamas. His face lowered, his body clinging against his. Asmodeus felt a hard bulge against his belly. "Oh" the demon murmured, just as embarrassed as the young human, who let go of him to close his thighs in an attempt to hide the obvious bulge in his pants.

Long, tapered demon fingers gripped his thighs from the inside, slowly spreading them apart again. The pink haired boy's left hand moved to the bulge, Asmodeus visibly gulped in excitement. "Iruma-sama, are you... in pain here?" he asked him, already knowing the answer. A bulge had also appeared in his pajama bottoms, aching and crying out for freedom from the fabrics that held it captive. Iruma managed to look him in the eyes, his face hot "Yes.... and... I'm fine even without protection, I... I don't need it..." the young human said.

Asmodeus returned to kiss him on the lips; first kindly, then with severe impatience. From beneath the water, the demon's left hand moved over the waistband of the young human's pants, slowly sliding beneath the soaked fabrics as he opened it. Iruma gasped, his hands resting on the demon's shoulders, while the latter's right arm caressed the hair at the nape of his neck. Asmodeus teased his small cock with his thumb, his other fingers trailing down a little more "Is this okay, Iruma-sama?" the demon asked, breaking the kiss briefly. Pleased, he listened to the whimpers that came out of the human's parted lips, the silent pleas of his body under his repetitive and intentionally slow movement.

The heat coming from the pink haired boy's hand contrasted with the cooling water, pumping his throbbing penis. Big eyes became moist, the known pleasure was rising quickly. The demon's other hand unbuttoned his shirt, his chest now in direct contact with the water.

"Ohh..." Iruma gasped, his hand moving without slowing around his cock, his legs starting to stiffen. Asmodeus brought his mouth close to the young boy's right nipple, while his right hand began to gently pinch the left nipple. "Ah!" gasped Iruma, the doubling of pleasant sensations came unexpectedly. Asmodeus began to lick the nipple in front of his mouth, circular movements alternating with small suctions. "Ngh..." moaned the blue haired boy, squirming and whimpering, his hands now encircling the head of the demon who was doing too much for his soulmate.

The more the undulating movement continued, the more Iruma unconsciously began to squirm. The trousers, no longer held up by the belt, began to slip, helped by the demon's hand which deliberately released its grip on the short boy's member to feel him move his pelvis in the form of a weak protest. The lower half clothing was hastily bundled around Iruma's ankles, as the hand quickly returned to work.

“Ah!” The renewed physical contact made the blue haired boy gasp. Asmodeus was so busy giving pleasure to his soulmate that he didn't realize how he began to sob because he was overstimulated, how his body began to squirm to try to escape, too over sensitive to continue to suffer that adorable form of release. Asmodeus left the swollen nipples to return to focus on the open and panting mouth of the young human, the lips found each other and pressed against each other.

"Mh!" moaned Iruma inside Asmodeus' mouth, his tongues swirling while his thighs began to tremble with increasingly intense spasms. The blue haired boy grabbed and held the demon's left arm, feeling himself close to cumming. He spasmed and clenched, he gasped and sobbed in the middle of the kiss every time the pink haired boy's hand gave unforgiving pumps on his little cock. Softly, the demon's fingers squeezed his balls.

"Hgh!" he exclaimed into the soulmate's mouth, cumming. The pink haired boy's hand did not calm down, it continued to move while the orgasm was underway, the same thing went for the thumb that continued to rotate on the young human's nipple. Iruma's pelvis shook with small undulating movements, spasms shooting up his entire back.

Asmodeus released the boy's mouth, both needing air. The gaze made unfocused by Iruma's pleasure was a great satisfaction for the pink haired boy, trembling with excitement and suffering from the construction he felt around his cock. Asmodeus licked Iruma's bottom lip as he took deep breaths, their chests rising and falling at different rates. Asmodeus gave the short boy's lips a quick kiss, then moved on to nibble the earlobe without the earring.

The pink eyes wandered around the room again, until they spotted the object of his search. "Forgive me for a moment, Iruma-sama," Asmodeus said, rising from the water. The blue haired boy, still a little dazed from the orgasm, saw him get out of the tub, take a bottle among the many displayed on the surfaces of the furniture and return to the tub, resuming his position between his legs "I hope it's suitable, it has a oil base for... another type of use" explained the demon, lowering his pajama pants after opening the bottle. Iruma, thanks to the translation spell, managed to read a name he had never heard after the word "balm".

Asmodeus squeezed some of the contents of the bottle into his left hand and then placed the bottle on the edge of the bathtub. He leaned over Iruma, brushing his lips on his, as a rubbing noise was heard. The blue haired boy clung to Asmodeus' shoulders, breathing against his neck as he felt a finger slide into his opening.

"Nhh" he panted, hiding himself further into the crook of the demon's neck, his face red with shame as Asmodeus moved his index finger back and forth, trying to spread the tight walls. The surface of the water began to ripple as Asmodeus inserted a second finger, causing the young human to stiffen, before he began to squirm. “Let me know if it's too much” Asmodeus said, continuing to move his left arm in a slow but firm rhythm, the young human's shoulders held up above the water with his other arm. The moans of pleasure that Iruma couldn't hold back made Asmodeus really hard, his cock throbbing with impatience just from hearing the blue haired boy's gasps, the tip moistened by precum. The pink haired boy had to restrain himself not as when he heard the soulmate moaning louder and louder.

"Ah...!" moaned Iruma, before bringing his lips to the demon's mouth to give him a kiss. He continued to moan in his mouth, whining if the pink haired boy pulled away for even just a second to allow him to catch his breath. The third finger entered, moving and stretching more easily along with the other two fingers. Asmodeus deliberately touched the well-known hidden spot in Iruma's body, thus being able to witness the latter's surprised and ecstatic reaction. Iruma stiffened, his arousal stiff against Asmodeus' belly.

The pink haired boy pulled his fingers out from inside the boy, quickly grabbed the bottle and poured a generous dose of liquid into the palm of his hand, then absentmindedly placed it where it was. He began to spread it along the entire length of his cock, his eyes mesmerized by the short boy's swollen lips. The blue eyes stared at him with a strange expression. "Iruma-sama, are you sure that... well, there's no need to-" Asmodeus asked him, but Iruma promptly replied "There's no problem, I can't get... y-you know", losing courage when he had to use the term "pregnant". He still didn't understand how male demons could deal with pregnancy, in the human world it was a practice reserved only for women. He found the differences he was discovering between the two worlds incredible. For a moment, just an instant, he wondered what it must be like to be pregnant, to be able to give life.

Normally, with a clearer mind, Asmodeus would have had enough sense to avoid the risk. At that moment, however, between the aftermath of the Evil cycle and the real pain of abstinence he felt towards the young human's body, he didn't insist enough. Iruma rose to his knees, coming to eye level with the demon's face. Gently, he slowly pushed the boy backwards. The latter's back touched the wall of the bathtub, a surprised exclamation came out of his mouth as he found himself sitting with his soulmate on top of him "I-Iruma-sama?!". The blue haired boy, his face red with embarrassment, leaned over him. Placing his hands on his shoulders, he looked into his eyes. With some hesitation, Iruma stated "I-I thought that this way you would feel more... safe. If you are afraid of holding me too tight, you can grab the tub - but please don't break it, it's yours!".

Asmodeus giggled, caressing his face with his free hand. He rested his forehead on that of the young human "Iruma-sama, how can you think about the safety of a bathtub when you are involved? You are truly incredible" said the pink haired boy, more and more in love with that amazing boy. Iruma smiled back as he positioned himself above the demon's arousal. They shared another kiss, before Iruma began to lower his hips. Asmodeus directed the tip of his quivering member between the young human's buttcheeks.

"Ahh!" Iruma exclaimed as he felt the tip enter. Asmodeus loved the awkward, longing look Iruma was looking at him with. The blue haired boy went down a little more, which made his body twitch. Another short push followed, this time it was Asmodeus who gasped between his teeth.

"Ngh!" The pink haired boy hadn't fully entered yet, but he already felt the huge difference compared to when he used devicondoms. He felt the heat of the tight walls around his member much better, the contractions that followed if every little movement, he felt everything. The hands, which were encircling the young human's hips without touching them, sprang to grip the edges of the tub. No, with those sensations so new and intense, he couldn't trust himself completely.

Iruma, for his part, remained stiffened halfway. With watery eyes, he whined "Azz-kun, I... it won't go... all in!". He rested his forehead on the crook of the demon's neck, taking deep breaths. Asmodeus rubbed his head against the short boy's face, not yet trusting himself to be able to caress him under those stimuli. "Iruma-sama, rest assured. It's okay, just breathe". So saying, Asmodeus began kissing his temples and cheeks, murmuring more encouragement in his ear. Iruma whimpered, breathed deeply a few more times, after a while he started to descend again.

"Ohh..." he moaned, feeling the soulmate enter deeper and deeper. Asmodeus began to caress his hair and his ahoge, wrinkled with pleasure. "Ahn!" he exclaimed when he reached the bottom, feeling the contact of the demon's balls against his buttcheeks. Asmodeus felt it tighten around his member, so tight and warm. He let out a long sigh, he shouldn't give in to lusty impulses. Iruma, whimpering softly, released his grip around his neck. They exchanged a look, before the blue haired boy gave him a kiss on the left cheek. The human boy's right hand slid over his own tummy, pressing down gently on the bulge that had formed beneath his belly button. Slightly moaning, timidly, Iruma said, with hazy eyes "C-Can... feel you here..." A twitch quickly passed along the pink haired boy's back, he nervously pursed his lips as he gripped the edges of the tub with trembling hands.

Asmodeus felt so needy. He felt the need to move, to hear his soulmate panting, to call his name - just his name. He felt the need to feel those narrow walls move in his arousal, to feel wrapping legs around his waist to lock him in place. Asmodeus took another breath, then said, "Iruma-sama, be... be careful." The human boy looked at him confused "What... do you mean, Azz-kun?" the latter asked. The pink haired boy kissed the crook of his neck, then replied "Make sure you hold on tight". Iruma obeyed, hands resting on the demon's shoulders. He heard a movement from inside, Asmodeus was retreating as much as the little space available could allow him. He pushed forward, shaking Iruma's entire body.

"Ah!" moaned the blue haired boy, not expecting to feel it so deeply. 'My insides... feel...' he thought, as the demon gave another hard push. "Ahhh!" The hands clung tightly to the pink haired boy's shoulders, his arms trembling like the rest of his body. Asmodeus slammed into Iruma again, and again. The two began to moan, the sound of the water moving with each new splash. A blush was spread across Iruma's face, completely in bliss. His member rubbed underwater against the belly of the pink haired boy, while the cock inside him twitched with each new thrust. Asmodeus resumed kissing the boy, the look of resigned pleasure on the soulmate's face was like wood on the fire for the young demon, who continued to move undaunted inside and outside of him. Thrusts alternated with hip rolling, causing the intensity of the pants and moans to change, cries of pleasure held between their mouths.

“A-Ah-zz-kun…” Iruma was soaked, drenched in sweat and bathwater. Asmodeus, gaining some self-confidence, caressed the soulmate's face while continuing to thrust inside him. The sound of splashing water carried through the room, along with their panting. Asmodeus broke the kiss to ask, "Iruma-sama, do you need me to slow down? Or speed up?" The young human, whining and sobbing, his eyes watering, replied "P-Please slow down... Ah…Azz… kun!" So the demon did, slowing the thrusts but maintaining the intensity. Iruma struggled to keep his hips raised, he felt so overstimulated. Tear-streaked red cheeks buried into his neck again, whimpering and shaking, he let Asmodeus do what he wanted because that's what he wanted too.

Asmodeus moved his free arm from the edge of the tub to the soulmate's waist, circling his pelvis while his hand rested on his hip. The grip on his hip served to keep him still on his cock as Iruma whined and panted, his short arms clinging to him with all their strength, his fists clenched behind his shoulders. Asmodeus felt him squirm, clench, sob and leak right on his pelvis, sensations he could never say he was satisfied with. “Aangh!Ah-Azz… Azz-kun…!” Trembling fingers tried not to press too hard against the blue haired boy's wet skin, while other fingers stroked his wet hair to soothe him.

In the young human's ear, Asmodeus whispered the request he had kept in his chest for a long time "Iruma-sama, please can I mark you?". The blue haired boy gasped at that plea. He still didn't understand much about the customs of the Netherworld, but he understood that marking was an important thing for demons and that it involved biting.

'I don't want Azz-kun to risk drinking my blood, I don't know what could happen to him' the young human thought every time, before refusing by omission, reminding him of one of the few rules they had agreed upon, namely no bites. He had already experienced what human blood could do for the wounds of demonic beasts and for the growth of plants, but he did not know what effects his blood would have on demons. And he didn't care to find out at the expense of the demons he cared about, especially his soulmate.

Asmodeus' thrusts stopped, worried by the other boy's silence. Iruma, taking advantage of that pause, lifted his face from his neck to look him in the eyes. There he saw the demon's determination to obtain a positive response to that proposal, an urgency he had never expressed. Iruma gulped, then asked "Yes, if... can it be done without losing blood?".

Asmodeus nodded vigorously "Of course, Iruma-sama! It is not a blood contract, the important thing in marking is the contact of the fangs with the skin between the mate's neck and shoulder, leaving traces of your hormones in an indelible way... except in certain cases. Essentially it is a mix of scents, no blood required in any form!”

Iruma sighed in relief, happy to know that he had only been thinking the worst to no avail the entire time. He tilted his head slightly to the right, offering him the crook of his neck. "It's fine, then..." the young human replied, a little embarrassed and anxious. Asmodeus blinks repeatedly, not believing what he was seeing. He didn't have much hope for it, but it was happening. Asmodeus gulped, also a little anxious. It was his first marking, after all. He hugged Iruma to his chest, slowly rubbing the tip of his nose against the skin of his neck. "I love you, Iruma-sama. Thank you so much for granting me this honor. I solemnly swear to remain by your side forever, to support you with my entire being. I solemnly swear to never disappoint you and never bring you dishonor."

Saying this, he began to lick the young human's skin a little to leave the first marking scents. Iruma giggled at the ticklishness, then tensed when he felt the tips of the demon's teeth press against his skin. Asmodeus bit the skin, careful not to bruise or tear it under his fangs. “...Ah!” Iruma stopped breathing for a second, trying to metabolize and accept that sensation. Iruma had never liked to suffer, he had always avoided situations that could bring him pain as much as possible. He had had his share of bites from small wild animals when he was in the Human Realm, but nothing compared to the bite of a demon. The bite of a demon who did not bite him to devour him, but to mark him as his property.

Asmodeus tasted the blue haired boy's skin again, the smell no longer hidden by the false demon scent reached his nostrils. The demon took a deep breath before loosening his grip on the young human's neck. He looked satisfied at the mark left on the skin, red and with the shape of his teeth. He snorted with pride as he noted that he had fulfilled his soulmate's request of not causing blood loss.

A throb inside made Iruma gasp. The demon's arousal was felt in all its cumbersome presence. Asmodeus smiled, gave a kiss to Iruma's forehead before continuing to push inside him. "Ahh!" moaned the young human, his own member trembling on the demon's belly. Asmodeus returned to paying attention to it, surrounding it with his left hand and resuming the up and down movement that he knew he enjoyed extremely.

“Mnh…” Iruma rested his forehead on his soulmate's sweaty one, his eyes closed while gasps and moans continued to come out of his mouth and each new thrust. Asmodeus became more vocal in expressing just how good he felt, reveling in the sight of Iruma trembling with excitement on his pelvis. His Iruma, now more than ever.

"Made for me..." Asmodeus murmured. Rotating his pelvis between one thrust and another, the pink haired boy felt himself deeper and deeper into his soulmate, feeling like he really wanted to cum. Iruma began to grow tired of riding him, however passively, his hands gripping the demon's shoulders as small pleading sounds escaped his lips. Asmodeus began to slam it into him deeper, faster, sensitive to the broken pleas of the other boy whose message he had understood well. "I love you, Azz-kun..." whimpering sweetly Iruma, as he pulls him closer.

Iruma tried to take it but it was too big, too excited. He felt so tight around his cock, while Asmodeus began to caress his body and guide his hips, murmuring "Iruma-sama, you're doing so good..." Iruma bit his own lip in shyness, the soulmate's praise always embarrassed him greatly but also made him feel so good. Asmodeus had developed the intention to pull it out when the moment arrived during the intercourse, but when this arrived the willpower had crumbled, dissolved. 'Too tight, too good-!' he thought, continuing to push back and forth, the blue haired boy's moans a continuous incitement.

“Ahh… ahh…” The pink haired boy's cock repeatedly hit the sensitive spot, making Iruma feel embarrassed at how quickly it managed to make him boneless and whimpering. Asmodeus completely lost coordination, thrusting his length as he held the blue haired boy's body to himself. Iruma began whining, sobbing and clawing at his pajamas more frequently. His shaking thighs tried to squirm away from the thrusts, the loud audible squelching sound made it even more embarrassing. The water around them moved in more and more waves, splashes wetting the floor. Little uninterrupted whines came out of Iruma's mouth, his hazy eyes opened to look at the soulmate's ecstatic expression.

"A-Ah-zz-kun, I'm...!" Iruma squeaked, before Asmodeus closed his lips with his own. Sobbing, he cummed in the demon's hand, his insides milking him to the very last drop. Iruma was a sobbing mess and super sensitive. Asmodeus cummed too, continuing undaunted to push inside the young human, feeling the walls tighten convulsively around his cock. Not being limited by the devicondom, the pink haired boy felt he was filling his insides in their deepest forbidden places with various spurts.

His reason was telling him that this was wrong, that he had to stop, that he had to pull out now. But his body was saying and commanding the exact opposite, telling him that it was okay and that this was how it should have been all along. His hips kept pushing up, moving in tandem with the thrust against his insides, waves of unparalleled ecstasy crashing over him.

“Mmmh…” Iruma whined in the other's mouth, feeling a strange heat spread in his belly. He felt so overwhelmed, full. It wasn't like usual, he felt like there was something- something else, filling him in places the demon had never reached before.

“Ngh!” Continuing to cry, oversensitive, trembling with pleasure, he endured the last slow but powerful thrusts of the demon's pelvis beneath him, before breaking the kiss to collapse on the latter's left shoulder. Sobbing from the after-effects of his orgasm, full body trembling, Iruma began to breathe hastily, his lungs empty and burning with the need for air.

Asmodeus, also breathing heavily, gave small kisses along his temple, caressing his head with one hand while the one on his side gently massaged his lower back. The two remained in that position for some time, listening to each other's breathing, heartbeats and the sound of the water calming them down. Asmodeus, having recovered, asked in the blue haired boy's ear "Are you feeling well, Iruma-sama? Did I hurt you?". Iruma slowly shook his head, without lifting it "No, I'm… fine..." he replied, between short gasping.

When he felt strong enough, the young human raised his head, meeting the gaze of the pink haired boy. The demon's hands slowly slid towards his pelvis, caressing his thighs lewdly. Asmodeus brought his lips close to the other's "It looks like we'll need to take a shower soon" he murmured. He kissed him, gently at first, then more greedily. Iruma, heartbroken, broke the kiss, caressing his face with his right hand "One more time, Iruma-sama?" asked the pink haired boy, giving two little thrust with his hips, his arousal revitalized and ready. Iruma smiled sadly, he didn't want to but he promised "No... Let's stop here, Azz-kun”.

The pink haired boy looked at him perplexed, usually the minimum number of times was two. He felt his body quiver with the desire to mark his body up again, ramming into him as if he wanted to carve his shape inside, showing him how good it felt. But he had promised to always respect his needs and limits, and every Iruma's wish was an order.

"Uhm well it's that I have to reach Clara soon, and Opera-san will come to pick us up so I wouldn't want them to suspect anything and-" Iruma was justifying himself, nervously playing with the fingers of both hands, already regretting having expressed that need. 'If I worked hard I could handle another round' thought the young human, ready to change his answer so as not to disappoint his soulmate.

On the contrary, the latter held his hands in his and said "It's okay, Iruma-sama. I don't have the slightest intention of forcing you, you don't need to formulate justifications. You can tell me when you don't like to continue, always, at any moment. You have more than the right to refuse". Iruma, moved, nodded silently. Asmodeus gave a quick kiss to the boy's forehead, before lifting him from his hips to exit from inside him. His own cock, throbbing in displeasure, was still stiff. Iruma saw it, ignoring the knot in his stomach that he felt when he was finally emptied by that presence, he asked worriedly "B-But how will you do it, Azz-kun?”

The boy was about to dismiss the question with some excuse, when from behind the door a well-known voice was heard shouting "Come on! Irumacchi! Azz-Azz! I give up! You won at hide and seek, okay?!".

The two boys jumped, recognizing Clara's voice. They immediately straightened out their clothes, running out of the tub, still soaked. Asmodeus helped Iruma get out of the tub without slipping, while the latter quickly closed his trousers and school uniform shirt. The pink haired boy, in a hurry putting on the first dressing gown he came across, opened the door "Here we are, Stupid Clara!" he exclaimed, nervous. His erection finally died when the girl, in the middle of the corridor, turned to run towards them. "I looked for you everywhere, you were great!" the girl stated, hugging them. She let go when she realized that the two were soaked from head to toe, blushing cheeks on their faces.

"Irumacchi, Azz-Azz, why are you wet?" the green haired girl asked, curious. Iruma tried to improvise an excuse, when he suddenly stopped. He felt something liquid, thicker than the water that drenched him, uncomfortable sticky between his buttcheeks that slowly ran down his inner thighs. 'It's...!' thought the blue haired boy, blushing sharply, legs quivering beneath him. His body was shaking as he nervously stood stiffly, trying to ignore the sensation, but it was too much to handle. He could feel dripping from his hole, his underwear an insufficient barrier. Iruma sweatdropped nervously, hoping the two demons wouldn't notice.

It was Clara herself who answered the question "Ah, I understand! You played water balloons without me! You meanie, you could have told me! Does that mean you've made peace? Azz-Azz, are you feeling better?" the girl exclaimed, puffing out her cheeks because she felt left out of the game. Asmodeus nodded forcefully "Nothing can be hidden from you, Stupid Clara! It was an arduous battle, but Iruma-sama unquestionably defeated me. Iruma-sama let me know his reasons and we came to a compromise and a happy reconciliation" the pink haired boy improvised, searching the short boy's gaze for approval.

As he did so, he noticed that the young human's face was as red as his flames, his eyes fixed on his shoes which were also soaked. "Y-Yes, Azz-kun is right" Iruma replied through gritted teeth, and then asked with glassy eyes "Azz-kun, is it a problem if I take a quick shower...?". Asmodeus took Clara over his shoulders, leaving the bathroom with her "There's no problem, Iruma-sama! Take your time, choose the robe and body dryer you prefer. You can put your clothes in the devidryer, they will be warm and dry in the blink of an eye! We are waiting for you in the living room, have a good shower!" Asmodeus exclaimed, visibly agitated, practically taking Clara with him in a hurry.

Iruma watched them go, then closed the door. For once he didn't move with wobbly legs, even if he was a little stiff from the position he had assumed until recently. He took the bottle of demon perfume from the jacket placed on the chair, took the clothes to dry himself, mentally thanking Asmodeus. After that Iruma slowly undressed, placed his wet clothes in the devidryer and entered the shower, sighing at the muscle aches coming from all over his body. The warm water running over his skin was soothing and soothing, but it didn't distract him for long from the pang in his stomach that followed. Iruma leaned forward slightly, watching the whitish liquid slide down his inner thighs. "It still feels like something's in me" murmured the blue haired boy, surprised and embarrassed. He looked at his skin for the usual bruises, but he didn't seem to feel them, neither above nor below his skin. He sighed in relief.

Iruma soon rejoined the two soulmates, now washed and with dry clothes, the demon’s perfume renewed on his skin. Asmodeus too had dried himself off somehow, now dressed in an elegant white suit as usual, beaming as he chatted with Clara. Davide, standing behind the armchair on which the two young demons were sitting, dramatically dries his tears with a pink handkerchief, moved to see his young master completely recovered from the Evil cycle.

"Sorry for the wait" said a smiling Iruma, joining them. The three demons whipped their heads in his direction. Asmodeus blushed slightly, a satisfied smile on his lips. Clara looked at him confused. Davide, petrified, couldn't say a word.

Clara threw herself off the sofa to hug him, her legs and arms crushed him like an octopus, she continuously sniffed him "Irumacchi, you put on Azz-Azz’s cologne! You two smell the same!" the green haired girl exclaimed, beaming. Iruma blushed slightly and thanked her doubtfully for the compliment, not having understood what she meant.

Davide, who in the meantime seemed to have aged thirteen years, intervened to announce that House Sullivan's Security Devil had just arrived. A reaction similar to Davide's was shown by Opera, cat ears totally down, much more contained but the dismay still shone through on their emotionless faces.

Iruma tried to ignore that reaction, explaining to Clara on the ride home that he had made peace with Asmodeus after having a peaceful discussion (he omitted everything that happened after the discussion). Clara was dropped off in front of the Sullivan mansion, where Mother Valac and the rest of the Valac Family were waiting for her to return to their home. Iruma got out of the carriage ahead of Opera, he just wanted to have dinner and go to sleep, the bath already taken, even if elsewhere.

However, as soon as he entered the hall, he was welcomed and lifted by Sullivan's long arms "Welcome home, my cute grandson! Was everything going well at Asmodeus-kun's house? You made me worry, you know? Opera told me that you went to a demon's house under the influence of the Evil cycle, you know how dangerous it is" the bald demon told him, spinning around.

The cheerful chatter stopped abruptly, as did the demon's movement. Sullivan brought him back into contact with the floor, his now trembling hands gripping his shoulders "Iruma-kun...!" the High ranking demon exclaimed, his voice strangely serious. "Y-Yes?" the blue haired boy asked, a little worried. Had he scared his loving grandfather that much? How could he properly apologize? Opera entered the lobby, joining them in a few moments. Sullivan turned to Opera, his gaze still serious. "Opera, you know what to do" the short horned demon commanded, his voice heavy. Iruma gulped. What if he got Asmodeus into trouble somehow? How could he prevent them from picking on him? "I understand, Sullivan-sama," Opera replied, equally serious.

The cat butler nodded, then added "I'll organize the “Iruma-sama has a mate” party immediately”. The blue haired boy looked at them shocked "Huh?!” he exclaimed, surprised and embarrassed.

It was Sullivan who answered the doubts easily readable on his face "My cute Iruma-kun, you have been marked for the first time, it is an exceptional event in the life of a demon. The mark is a serious matter, it is like a marriage proposal. You are still young, so in your case it is an official engagement proposal. Having been marked, possible other suitors will have to stay away, if they do not want to incur the wrath of your mate. It is not a common thing in the Netherworld, demons prefer freedom and avoid constraints, even in relationships. The marking scent of Asmodeus-kun feels great, you will not have problems with any annoying demons, it's screaming that you're his now. My cute grandson has grown up so fast, he already has his first mate! Amu-chan will be happy too!” Saying this, he hugged him again, showering him with cuddles while Opera theatrically wiped a non-existent tear from their eyes.

Iruma made a lot of effort to prevent this celebration from actually taking place, even though he greatly appreciated the special menu for the occasion that Opera prepared in time. Kind of like they knew Asmodeus and Iruma were in a relationship before it became official. With a full belly, the boy wished them goodnight and headed towards his bedroom, exhausted.

When he opened the door to his room, a voice behind him asked "Young master, can I ask you an indiscreet question? I won't report to Sullivan-sama, don't worry". Iruma gasped, not having expected this. He turned around, his heart still in his throat from fear "Yes, Opera-san? What do you want to know?" the young human replied. Opera stretched out their arms towards him, making him spin around several times, observing him from various angles. "Perfect health" the cat butler said, satisfied to themselves, while Iruma swayed on the spot.

Confused, the blue haired boy looked at him while the demon asked him "Young master, have you mated again with Asmodeus-san?". He tilted his head slightly, not knowing what the demon was talking about. Opera explained better "Iruma-sama, do you remember when you asked me a while ago about relationships between demons?". The boy nodded, so the cat demon continued "Of course, by "mating" we mean sexual intercourse. I hope that in this case Asmodeus-san was a caring and helpful partner in your needs. In particular, I hope that in this case you have used the appropriate protections, especially because you are a human".

Iruma had to work a little to connect the dots, but when he did he blushed violently "I'm sorry, I'm really sleepy, good night, see you tomorrow, Opera-san!" he screamed in panic, locking himself in the room. 'How do they know? Can you hear it from the marking? Does Grandpa know this too? And Clara? And everyone?!' Iruma thought, covering his burning face before crying out in embarrassment.

Luckily for him, the next day he had a pleasant denial of his doubt, since no demon seemed upset or asked him any questions about it. All three returned to the Royal One, Asmodeus set himself in open defiance against Sabnock "Your courtship has been in vain, Sabnock! Never again dare you approach Iruma-sama with feelings other than sincere subjection, or the gracious clemency of my mate will not save your wings a second time!" stated the pink haired boy, deadly serious, a bright warning flame in his left hand.

Iruma, red in the face, tried to calm him down "Azz-kun, it was just a prank! A prank! Right, Sabnock-kun?" he asked hopefully to the blond demon, who was watching him with his arms crossed in his usual bold pose. From behind them, bets on one or the other demon could be heard, bets collected by two joyous Jazz and Lied. Sabnock looked back, a smirked smile on his face "Yes, I understand" replied the demon, walking away.

Clara, arms full of weapons pulled from Toy-Toy, dropped them to the ground with an annoyed huff. The other classmates also showed visible discontent, a fight between classmates as suitors was a very rare event. With Kalego's entry into the classroom, the animosity finally subsided.

At lunch time, the three had to head to the cafeteria as usual, but at the last minute Asmodeus said to Clara "Can you go ahead and get us a table? I have to check something of the utmost urgency with Iruma-sama" "Okie dokie!" the green haired girl exclaimed, running towards the room. Iruma, surprised, let himself be guided by the pink haired boy onto the roof of Royal One. Slightly anxious, Iruma asked "Is there a problem, Azz-kun?".

The demon shook his head, cupping his face in his hands. He bit his lower lip, before asking the young human "Iruma-sama, yesterday I couldn't ask you, so I'll take advantage of this in this moment of solitude: did I leave you bruises again?". The demon's gaze full of suffering moved Iruma, who shook his head "Don't worry, Azz-kun. It's tiny, I can't feel it at all" replied the blue haired boy, lifting his shirt. He showed Asmodeus an indefinite red spot at his hips, where his soulmate had grabbed him the afternoon before. Asmodeus touched the reddened area delicately with one hand, while the other remained on the soulmate's face.

Iruma covered the demon's hands with his own, smiling he added "I mean it, Azz-kun, everything is fine. It will take some time, but this is already a big improvement. We will solve this together, okay?" Asmodeus nodded, smiling back. "Together, Iruma-sama. Next time, if this happens again, please tell me right away. Don't try to manage it alone" he said, before pressing his lips on those of the blue haired boy, caressing them gently with his own until they parted, their tongues finding each other and immediately embracing.

"Guys, seriously? In front of my lunchbox?" an outraged voice asked from nowhere. The two boys jumped, surprised. Purson made himself visible, ready to give them a little speech about the importance of remaining humble despite being in a relationship.

THE END?

Choose your ending:
1) First ending, fake pregnancy trope (chapter 3)
2) Second ending, mpreg (chapter 4)
3) Bad ending, spontaneous abortion (chapter 5)

Chapter Text

Two weeks later, everything was back to normal. That morning, however, Iruma didn't have the best of awakenings. "It's so hot..." the boy murmured, ignoring the gusts of cold wind blowing outside the window. With difficulty he moved the warm blankets he slept with and slowly went to the bathroom to wash himself. That day he felt particularly exhausted, hot and nauseated. Nonetheless, at the table with Sullivan and Opera he pretended nothing had happened, eating breakfast even though his nausea made it less appetizing than usual.

Hearing a call from outside the Sullivan mansion, he quickly swallowed the last morsels, said goodbye to the two guardians and ran towards Asmodeus and Clara, who were waiting for him behind the gate. The three soulmates went to Babyls on foot, but the pace was slower than usual. "Iruma-sama, are you feeling well? You seem tired today" Asmodeus asked, leaning over him. Even Clara agreed with him "Yeah, Azz-Azz's is right, you look like a crushed slime today. Irumacchi, do you want to go back?" the green haired girl proposed, worried. Iruma shook his hands "Don't worry, everything's fine. I was just a little lost in thought" he reassured them, struggling to maintain the pace at which he used to walk.

Once they got to Royal One, the situation didn't improve at all. Iruma's concentration was non-existent, his stomach hurt. Waves of nausea distracted him from taking logical notes in class, his closed stomach made him regret having eaten for the first time in his entire life. Strangely, Iruma felt like he was being watched, but not just by his soulmates, who had noticed his worsening skin tone. Kalego, during the explanation, did not take his eyes off him.

When the two-headed demonic beast made its noise, the lesson ended. The students got up to change the classroom, but the professor approached Iruma's army "Valac, accompanies Iruma to the infirmary, he has the face of someone who is about to repaint the floor with breakfast and I'll be damned if I allowed such atrocity happen in the Royal One. Iruma, I will send you Shichiro for a private interview, make sure you answer all his questions with honesty. Asmodeus, you stay here with me" the demon ordered them. The three tensed upon hearing those orders, but obeyed. Both hands in his belly, Iruma nodded. The Misfits, intrigued, decided to follow Iruma to understand what was happening, giving him support when they saw that he was barely holding on his legs.

When the classroom door was closed, Asmodeus and Kalego were left alone. Asmodeus gulped, standing next to the desk, where the professor had returned to sit. Hell phone in hand, he watched him write a quick message, before gaining his undivided attention.

Kalego stared into his eyes for a few seconds, his grim expression mixed with a trace of resentment "Asmodeus" said the professor, crossing his arms over his chest "I don't usually listen to gossip about students, but I heard that you chose and proclaimed Iruma as your mate. Is that correct?".

Asmodeus nodded, doubtful of where the purple haired demon wanted to go "I confirm and announce it with pride. Iruma-sama has granted me the priceless honor of being his mate. I have read the Babyls rules, there is no only article that shows itself to be adverse to our relationship. Therefore, Professor Kalego, I ask you to express the reason for your interest" said the pink haired boy, suddenly anxious at the thought of being separated from his soulmate. What if he hadn't found the relief he was looking for in the infirmary? What if some demon had approached him? He was in the company of Clara and the Misfits, but in Babyls the unpredictable was the norm.

Kalego replied "As mates, you should know that there are obligations to follow. Duties. Among these, there is also that of not having unprotected sexual intercourses before adulthood." Asmodeus felt his ears ringing. Shocked, he asked the demon to repeat himself. Kalego sighed, rising from his chair. "Come with me" he ordered. The two demons left the Royal One, walking through the corridors that were quickly emptying of the various students and professors who passed through them.

Kalego, a few steps in front of Asmodeus, stated "The Naberius clan is well informed about the practice of mating, because it is one of the few clans in the Netherworld that does it very often. The prohibition on unprotected sexual intercourse before adulthood is not revenge of some gnawing bigot, but a safety measure aimed at protecting the mate who is supposed to carry the pregnancy. Young people have bodies that are not fully developed, this is a big risk for both the pregnant demon and the unborn child. Many, many side effects that can result from unprotected sexual intercourse. Illnesses, chronic disorders, time extended heat, Evil cycle, physical damage to the reproductive parts, spontaneous abortion are unfortunate events in this bond that cannot be underestimated".

Asmodeus slightly blushed, he never thought that one day an austere professor like Kalego could talk about certain topics. The pink haired boy coughed, then asked "I understand that behind mating there are many variables to take into consideration, and yet... why are you talking about it?". The two demons stopped in front of the door of a prep room that Asmodeus had never seen.

Kalego turned to him angrily. With a mocking voice, he said "Asmodeus, don't act like a fool, it doesn't do you honor. Three weeks ago you were absent because of your Evil cycle, you come back the next day with Iruma attached to your side as if you were opening the wedding ceremony, proclaiming officially him as your mate. And today, after two weeks, Iruma looks exhausted, pale, with the face of someone who is about to vomit his guts out too? Didn't you notice the hands he had on his belly?".

Asmodeus shook his head, starting to remember those details only because they had been pointed out to him. Stunned, he put his head in his hands. Kalego continued, giving him the final blow "I asked Shichiro to check, sincerely hoping I was wrong. Derkila-sama forbid, Iruma could be pregnant. With your child, Asmodeus. Pending confirmation, you will have to hold a private meeting with Professor Raim, both on what concerns the obvious sexual relations that the two of you have had, both on the negative consequences of unprotected intercourse and the consequences of a pregnancy. Should it be confirmed, your respective families will be informed instantly. The Chair-demon is an idiot, that's for sure, but he cares a lot about Iruma. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes in case he finds out. It's time to take responsibility for your actions, Asmodeus. Good conversation" Kalego said, opening the door to the prep room.

Asmodeus, still upset, entered the prep room, greeted by a flirty Professor Raim, before completely changing her mood following Kalego's brief summary. Kalego, having finished his role, left them alone. It was a particularly full hour of information, where not only did Asmodeus listen carefully to any information that could be useful for Iruma, but in which he had a real discussion with Professor Raim regarding how to proceed in the event of a pregnancy.

At the end of the meeting, Asmodeus bid farewell to Professor Raim and walked briskly towards the infirmary. The conversation had helped him overcome his initial doubt. If Iruma-sama was truly in a position to carry their child, and if he wanted to keep it,
he would have supported him with all his possibilities and even more.

'Convincing Mother won't be difficult, she loves everything that is cute. And Iruma-sama's child will surely be the most adorable and cute being in all of the Netherworld' thought Asmodeus, approaching the infirmary, his chin pinched between two fingers 'On the contrary, I might find a barrier of resistance from House Sullivan. I have to devise a plan to get their blessing'.

Once he arrived at the infirmary door, he knocked three times. Clara opened the door for him, beaming "Azz-Azz, here you are! You can't understand what we discovered about Irumacchi!" the girl exclaimed. Asmodeus gulped, the moment of truth had arrived. He entered the infirmary, which was unusually empty. Following Clara, they reached the bed where Iruma was resting, a light sheet covering his sleeping body.

Sitting on the bed next to him was Sabnock, his left hand gently gripping the blue haired boy's right hand. Asmodeus saw red. The demon's hand gripped his mate's hand, those dangerous claws so close to their child...!

"Sabnock!" Asmodeus exclaimed furiously, summoning flames in both hands. Balam, in the room, turned towards the newcomer "Hey, Asmodeus-kun. Sabnock-kun stayed to keep Iruma and Valac-san company, I would ask you to calm down. We are in the infirmary" said the gargoyle, apparently calm. Asmodeus, however, did not withdraw the flames. His eyes were fixed on the demon sitting on the edge of the bed, on that hand with a strong, rock-hard grip so close to Iruma and his belly. He felt a strong urge to reduce the number of arms of the classmate to zero.

Balam looked at him seriously. In a less conciliatory voice, the gargoyle stated, "Asmodeus-kun, I am your professor. Breathe and calm those flames. It is an order. Do not contradict a demon of higher rank than you. Now". The pink haired boy took a deep breath, the flames gone. Then, he asked "Good morning, Professor Balam. I am sincerely dismayed by the sad spectacle I have just given. I came to check on Iruma-sama's health condition. May I ask your opinion on the matter?".

Balam adjusted his mask slightly. In a jovial voice, the professor announced "Nothing that cannot be remedied, Asmodeus-kun. It is the first case of food poisoning we have seen on Babyls soil for a while, obviously we will take the necessary measures to prevent it from happening again".

Asmodeus gasped "Intoxication...?" he repeated, shocked. Balam nodded "Yes, I have already cleaned it of the food in question, do you know anything about chocolates soaked in a not registered potion?" he said. Asmodeus pondered that question, but nothing came to mind. Clara raised her hand "Me, Me, Me! I know it! Irumacchi found some chocolates in our Battle room yesterday! They were delicious, we ate them secretly from Azz-Azz because he always takes away everything that's good from us!". A strong grip surrounded the girl's scalp "Stupid Clara...!" exclaimed Asmodeus, furious. The green haired girl managed to escape the hold, running away from the infirmary "Irumacchi, I'll be back soon! Azz-Azz, try to catch me! Sabro, you too!" the girl shouted, disappearing into the corridors.

"That gremlin!" exclaimed Asmodeus, furious. Balam reassured him "Don't worry, it could happen. Iruma-kun's appetite is very famous, after all. Rather..." said the demon, closing the infirmary door left wide open. Asmodeus turned to the other classmate "Sabnock, cease this disgusting concern for Iruma-sama immediately. Your presence is unnecessary and unsolicited. Go to the next class like everyone else. Or I will not answer for my flames".

The blond demon smirked, rising from the bed and letting go of Iruma's hand. He stood in front of Asmodeus, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. Looking him straight in the eye, Sabnock stated "You call my presence 'unnecessary', when my rival is left alone in a moment of weakness and vulnerability. Being summoned by Professor Kalego is not a good excuse. Would you say the same if someone had targeted him taking advantage of this golden opportunity?". Asmodeus conjured flames in his right hand, his teeth gnashing at the accusation received "How dare you...!" exclaimed the pink haired demon.

Balam stood beside them, his hands raised to symbolize a truce. "Guys, I would be here, you know? Iruma-kun is in no danger under the tutelage of a professor" the gargoyle said, trying in vain to calm those two inflamed spirits.

Sabnock nodded at Balam, then added, looking at Asmodeus "Our top scoring student is forgetting an important detail, I see" said the blond demon, visibly confident in himself. "You may have marked my rival, but he hasn't marked you back. I can't smell him on you, it's obvious that the mark isn't mutual. I still have a chance with him, and I'll take it. I am worth it to him and I will prove it. And when Iruma chooses me, when he marks me, I'll cover your mark with gusto. My mark will be so strong that it will be felt all the way to the North of the Netherworld, because it will be the mark of the future Demon King as one such I am".

Asmodeus was a demon who observed etiquette and decorum. Or at least he was until Iruma got involved in something bad. "I'll fucking ground you right now for such impudence" the pink haired boy promised in a menacingly calm voice, the flames taking shape. Balam intervened, closing his summoning hand in one of his hands and grabbing Sabnock by the cloak with the other hand. "Boys, I said to calm down. Leave this youthful heat for another time. Iruma-kun needs rest, not to watch a futile fight to the death" the gargoyle scolded them. The two boys nodded, regretting only that they had risked disturbing the blue haired boy's rest. Balam, when he was sure that the two would not bite each other's throats out within the next thirteen seconds, let go of Asmodeus' hand and led Sabnock towards the exit of the infirmary, pushing him out.

Asmodeus, meanwhile, sat on the edge of the bed, his hand ringed over Iruma's right hand to remove any traces of odor left by Sabnock. Balam approached the two boys again. In a serious voice, he stated "As I was saying before your argument, I also found something else. Kalego-kun notified me that you would speak with Professor Raim about some sensitive topics. Therefore, I can only suggest that you have no further unprotected sex with Iruma-kun. His… race does not allow him to support a pregnancy, but nevertheless safe intercourse allows you to avoid other unwanted consequences, not just pregnancy".

Asmodeus nodded, embarrassed to be talking about that topic with three adult demons in the same morning, still shaken by the clash he had earlier with Sabnock. He gently stroked the back of Iruma's hand. His love for his soulmate had nothing to do with his ability to carry an heir, that's all. Iruma woke up in much better condition than that same morning.

With Asmodeus and Clara at his side, it wasn't difficult to follow the remaining lessons. The two soulmates accompanied him to the hellcarriage in which Opera was ready to take him home. After Sullivan's tears of desperation and joy for his health, after dinner and yet another reassurance that he would never again eat anything whose origins he didn't know, after a refreshing bath, the blue haired boy put on his pajamas and he got ready for bed.

“What a shame…” Alikred muttered, fluttering overhead. "What are you referring to, Ali-san?" the young human asked, tucking himself in. The one-eyed being snorted and replied "I had cast a spell to make you understand how important protections are when sleeping with your beloved Azz-kun, but it had no effect. This means that I cannot completely influence your organism and change things at will, really a great shame"

Iruma gave him a shocked look "ALI-SAN YOU TRIED TO DO WHAT-".

THE END

Chapter Text

Two weeks later, Opera's typical day took an abrupt turn. They were used to hearing Iruma's hellclock sing for a short time, because the boy would wake up immediately to turn it off. However, that morning, their cat ears continued to distantly hear the hellclock croaking at the top of its lungs. Intrigued, Opera went to Iruma's room to check that everything was okay. When the cat demon arrived in front of the boy's room, he found it with the door wide open and without the presence of its usual inhabitant. The two hellkittens came running in their direction, hinting at them to follow immediately. Opera did so, being guided to Iruma's private bathroom.

The cat butler was about to knock when he heard an unmistakable sound of vomiting, repeated several times, until a brief interruption followed by the sound of water flushing into the toilet. Concerned, Opera knocked three times, but they received no answer. Therefore, they opened the door. "Young master!" Opera exclaimed, seeing the young human kneeling in front of the toilet, panting, with his left hand resting on the toilet for support and his right hand clutching his pajamas at stomach level. The red haired demon immediately knelt next to Iruma, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and touching his forehead with his free hand to check his body temperature. Exhausted, Iruma apologized "I'm... sorry, Opera-san, I'll go get ready right away..."

"Young master, don't talk nonsense. In these conditions you can't go to Babyls. Please follow me" the demon stated, mentally confirming that the boy did not have a fever. They wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, then picked him up and took him back to his bedroom. They made him lie on the still unmade bed, turning off the hellclock to have some silence. They covered him with the blankets, seeing that the blue haired boy had curled up in a fetal position, clasping both hands on his belly "Iruma-sama, tell me what symptoms you are suffering from, so I can give you adequate assistance" asked the cat butler, ears cat facing down.

Whimpering in pain, Iruma said "I feel nauseous and... It hurts. My stomach really... hurts. What should I do... it really hurts... maybe it's food poisoning... I'm sorry, Opera-san..." Opera caressed his sweaty forehead, deciding what to do. The demon nodded as he said "We will soon determine if it is food poisoning. For now, I will serve you a potion that helps stop the nausea, so you will have some relief. You will not be able to go to school for today, I will let you know immediately Sullivan-sama and the two classmates of yours who will be arriving any minute now. Don't worry, Iruma-sama, we will resolve this situation".

Saying this, Opera left the room, in the company of the two hellkittens. Iruma, feeling his head cloudy due to the weakness that had seized him, heard hysterical and worried screams in the distance, perhaps from Sullivan, perhaps from his soulmates, perhaps from everyone. He closed his eyes, and everything went dark.

…

When he woke up, Iruma felt a bitter aftertaste on his lips. He vaguely remembered drinking something Opera had brought him, but he hadn't been awake enough to remember well. The curtains were drawn to prevent his sleep from being disturbed by sunlight, yet a few rays of sunlight penetrated the corners of the windows. Thanks to this, his half-closed eyes were able to see the one-eyed being staring at him closely.

"Oopsie daisies. We're getting a bit too many in this body, huh?" Alikred said, fluttering above him. "I think I screwed up. Sorry huh, Iru-boy." Iruma lifted his head from the pillow, sitting up with difficulty, his back resting against the headboard. "What are you talking about, Ali-san?" the young human asked. Alikred stopped fluttering, shrugging his shoulders he replied "Remember when you said that your beloved Azz-kun took useless protections? Let's say that now they would have been really useful to avoid this situation". Iruma looked at him silently, not understanding what the one-eyed being was referring to.

Alikred gave a cough to tone himself down, after which he explained himself better "The night we had that discussion in the bathtub, I cast a tiny tiny innocent spell on you: I gave you the ability to procreate like some male demons can do". Iruma looked at first confused, then worried, then shocked "Ali-san, what did you do?!" the blue haired boy, now fully awake, asked incredulously.

Alikred continued, a slight sense of guilt was evident in his tone of voice "I don't understand why boys don't have to attend courtship education lessons. Haven't you noticed that you've been in a variable mood lately? How you were more sensitive when there was something about your beloved Azz-kun? Come on, even Mr Muscle tried to court you and mark you as soon as he noticed it! Not to mention how much you practically seduced your mate to do it without protection. Well woken up, Iru-boy: you were in your first heat! And I emphasize "were", because now someone is pregnant! And that someone is you!".

Iruma felt like the time he had worked as a warehouse worker for a well-known global furniture chain, where he lifted and moved various very heavy pieces of furniture day and night despite his young age. He gently clasped his hands belly "Pregnant...? I..? A child...?" he asked, with a monotone voice.

On the one hand, he felt his heart swell with joy: he had never had blood relations outside of his parents, who had not proven to be particularly loving and capable of carrying out their duties as parents. On the other hand, he felt frozen in despair at the thought that he could be like them, or worse. "I-I don't know what to do! I don't know how to behave as a parent, I've never had a good example! What if I made them suffer? What if I was a terrible parent?! What if I did something wrong... and Azz-kun! I had reassured him, but instead I realized exactly what he wanted to avoid! I don't know what I could do if he told me that I had disappointed him! He had believed in me and I had disappointed him, he’ll be so angry!”

Iruma exclaimed, leaning forward slightly, clutching his belly tightly. Alikred sighed, patting his forehead "I'm sorry, Iru-boy. This prank was in poor taste even for me. You're still young, you can't take on these responsibilities. Children are precious treasures of the Netherworld, but not at this cost. You're too young to be pregnant, your body isn't fully developed. And then we don't even know what would be born: a demon? A human? Both? None of this? I'm really, really sorry, Iru-boy. Grit your teeth, it will be a quick thing and then we can pretend that nothing happened. I will also remove the spell, don't worry. At least we know that it works, so if in the future you are still with him and you want to have an heir, it will be possible".

Iruma made a strangled noise, curling up on his belly. He raised his head towards Alikred and shouted "Please, no! I need time to think! And I have to talk to Azz-kun about it too, the baby is his too! Ali-san, please, I just need a little more time!". Alikred snorted, raising his arms in surrender "Okay, okay, Iru-boy. But if things get bad, I will act in your favor. Remember that we are connected, if something happens to you it happens to me too". Iruma nodded, thanking him.

A few seconds later, Opera knocked on the door "Iruma-sama, is everything alright? I heard you scream". The young human took a deep breath, then replied "It's okay, Opera-san. I just had a leg cramp, don't worry." The cat butler opened the door slightly, looking out to check that the blue haired boy was okay. Iruma smiled at them as if nothing had happened, and asked if he could prepare a snack for the guests who were coming in the afternoon. When Opera responded positively and they left him alone, Iruma picked up the hell phone and quickly wrote a message.

…

“Irumacchi, how do you feel? You made us worry!" Clara exclaimed, jumping onto the bed. She and Asmodeus had been invited to spend the afternoon at Sullivan mansion, after the boy had reassured them that he could receive visitors. "For anything, call me" Opera told them, leaving them alone in the bedroom with Iruma. "Stupid Clara, get down from there! Iruma-sama needs absolute rest!" Asmodeus scolded, trying to drag her out of the bed. Iruma shook his head and, smiling sadly, said "No, Azz-kun. I would prefer it if you were close to me. I called you because I have to tell you something important".

The two demons, serious, sat down next to him. Asmodeus on his right, while Clara on his left, but they both held one of his hands gently in theirs. Iruma lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked at each of their faces in turn and said "Clara, I'm sorry if we kept the fact that Azz-kun and I are dating as mates from you. That doesn't make the relationship we have any less special, you are very important to us. You are so precious, Clara."

The girl, beaming, nodded "Yes! I am! I'm your Clara, your Big Sis! You can always count on me! Don't worry, Irumacchi, I understood it when you started smelling like Mommy". Asmodeus looked at her in confusion, while Iruma bit his lower lip in nervousness. Clara was truly a special demoness, she could understand what it was that other demons couldn't.
But it wasn't fair to let her explain the situation.

Iruma took another deep breath. Shaking the hand that Asmodeus was touching him with, he turned to him and said "Azz-kun, I love you. And that's why I owe you an apology. I... there's something I have to tell you. I know that Opera-san warned you that I wasn't well. It's the truth, but I'm not sick either. Azz-kun, the afternoon we came to visit you, when you were recovering from your Evil cycle... you were right. I was a fool to downplay it. I'm... I'm pregnant. I'm sorry."

Asmodeus froze, while Clara let out a scream of excitement "I knew it! That's why you smelled like Mommy! We're going to have a little Irumacchi!". However, Iruma shook his head "It's not that simple, Clara. I'm telling you this not only because you are my soulmates, but because Azz-kun has the right to know. The... child is his. We must decide together what to do".

Asmodeus gripped Iruma's right hand in his own hand with much more intensity. He brought his hand to his forehead, resting his fingers against his bangs. The demon exclaimed "Iruma-sama, I cannot express in words the emotion this happy news brings to me. Having an heir from you, a "little Iruma-sama", as Clars said, is more than I could ever ask for. I do not accuse you of nothing, you didn't do anything wrong; I also had a role in creating this situation, and I will take full responsibility for it. Iruma-sama, I will respect your every decision. I will support you in every path you decide to take".

Iruma's eyes moistened, moved. The boy asked "Are you sure, Azz-kun? We're still at school, it won't be easy. I don't know what being a good parent means, I can't guarantee that I'll be good. It will be a more demanding challenge like those to increase in rank. And we'll have to tell everyone. Is it okay then... is it okay if we keep it?". Asmodeus nodded forcefully, bringing the young human's hand to his chest "Iruma-sama, I couldn't ask you anything else." Small sobs escaped Iruma's lips, and he leaned forward and tried to hold back his tears. Clara jumped among them, hugging them she stated "Irumacchi, Azz-Azz, don't worry! I'm here, your Big Sis Clara! I'm very good with children, I'll help you 666%!”

Iruma murmured thanks, while the three soulmates hugged each other tightly. Moved, Asmodeus and Clara also began to cry. Once they had all calmed down, Iruma gestured to the phone on the coffee table next to his bed. The two demons nodded. A call was made.
Opera and Sullivan, both summoned, entered the room. Iruma, squeezing the hands of his soulmates, gave them the news.

Sullivan lifted Asmodeus off his shoulders, his legs dangling over the bed, a menacing aura around the High ranking demon making him fear for his life. Gulping, Asmodeus prepared to face him, confident that he could convince him to support the grandson's decision. But there was no need, because Sullivan hugged him tightly "We have two new members in the House Sullivan! I'm so happy! My cute grandson will give me a cute great-grandson!" Sullivan exclaimed happily, thus giving his blessing.

Opera, on the other hand, was not of the same opinion. "There are risks. They are young, Iruma-sama might not be able to carry the pregnancy to term. We must move very carefully" said the cat butler, unable because of the Netherworld’s rules to openly contest his master's immovable decision.

In a short time, measures were implemented: one of the empty rooms adjacent to Iruma's bedroom was prepared to welcome the unborn child. Clara and Asmodeus sewed together a life-size plush toy in the shape of a bear but with Clara's horns, the pink and green fabric, as the child's first faithful toy. Sullivan and Opera purchased the necessary items in the appropriate shops and even more, but they assembled the cradle with their own hands, peace to the sore fingers of Sullivan who nevertheless completed the task and proudly showed it to the enthusiastic grandson.

Although Iruma returned to school, as long as his body allowed him to do so, Balam became his personal doctor, monitoring him and helping him with the inevitable health problems that arose. Iruma began to suffer from constant fatigue, but his appetite, if anything, had only increased. He had frequent abdominal cramps, as well as discrete mood changes. The nausea accompanied him for a few more weeks. His sense of smell improved, making him able to not only smell food at greater distances, but also making him suffer when he smelled strong-smelling demons, such as Sabnock and Kalego. The latter did not really appreciate the blue haired boy's impromptu naps during his lessons, but he tried to maintain order in the classroom without scolding him harshly. Balam had warned him that Iruma could not handle severe stress, so they replaced the heavier lessons with equivalent ones in learning.

Iruma began to be unable to keep much down. Walking long distances became a challenge after the first three months. Despite normal pregnancies for demons, Iruma lost some weight. It wasn't just the nausea and constant tiredness that were the problem, but also the fact that he had developed a strange condition, which Balam blamed on his human nature, which made all the taste of food spoiled. Opera got into the habit of serving him medicine before meals to enable him to eat.

When the weight loss made Balam and Opera worried about the child's development and for Iruma's life, Amaryllis and Sullivan held a meeting to decide what to do. Asmodeus and Iruma also participated. Despite expectations, the two young mates managed to convince their guardians to continue with the pregnancy. Iruma was convinced he could do it, Asmodeus supported him wholeheartedly in every decision he made.

Months later, at dawn, the scream of a newborn baby could be heard outside the Sullivan mansion.

THE END

Chapter Text

Two weeks later, it seemed like a night like any other. The inhabitants of Sullivan mansion had gone to sleep, nothing unusual that day apart from the heartburn that Iruma had confessed to feeling in the afternoon, following attempts by his guardians to make him express the presence of a problem vocally instead of keeping it to himself. He was given a drink suitable for this type of pain, along with strict recommendations from Opera to avoid extra snacks between main meals.

Everything seemed to be going well. Or at least until a scream pierced the silent stillness of the night.

"AAAAHHHH!" a high-pitched shriek abruptly pulled Sullivan and Opera out of their well-deserved rest. The two demons immediately exited their respective bedrooms, passing each other as they ran towards the source of the scream. The bedroom door was thrown open with a bang "Iruma-kun! What's going on?!" exclaimed Sullivan, running to the grandson's bedside. Opera, behind him, did the same.

Iruma was curled up on his left side, sobbing and sweaty on his face, his arms hidden under the covers. The blue haired boy was whimpering softly, sobs following endless tears. He looked up at the two demons, visibly worried about him. Iruma, in pain, replied in a low voice "Ugh… I feel sick… I'm sick to… my stomach... hurts... My stomach… hurts so much... something...!". A new scream escaped his mouth, no less intense than the previous one. In agony, Iruma curled even tighter into himself, his eyes closed and his eyebrows furrowed in pain. Opera immediately removed the blankets from over the boy with a fluid and quick gesture.

The two demons gasped. Iruma clutched his belly tightly, trying to breathe more slowly but to no avail. Between his legs, at the level of his private areas, there was blood. Lots of blood. Opera immediately covered their nose and mouth with their left hand. They moved away just long enough to borrow one of the blue haired boy's cloth handkerchiefs, to use as a temporary mask.

When they returned, they found Sullivan gently clasping the grandson's left hand in his right hand to give him courage, while with his left hand he caressed his sweat-beaded forehead. Opera proceeded to apply healing magic on the young human, but he didn't seem to be feeling any better. Sullivan shook his head "That's enough, Opera. There's nothing left to do".

The cat demon obeyed the order and stopped the healing attempt. Iruma, sobbing in pain, clenched the bald demon's hand "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." the blue haired boy began to mutter. Sullivan pressed his forehead against his, saying "Don't worry, Iruma-kun. You didn't do anything wrong. You just weren't ready, you're not to blame. Rest well, my dear grandson”.

Iruma, between requests for forgiveness and sobs, closed his eyes. When he was sure the boy was asleep, Sullivan gently lifted him off the bed, holding him up from under his knees and behind his shoulders.

The High ranking demon turned to Opera and said "Destroy everything that is soaked in Iruma-kun's blood. For now I will take care of the internal wounds, but I will not be able to relieve him of the wounds of the mind. I will erase his memory, he will not remember what happened on this unfortunate night. I don't want to cause him more pain than he has already suffered. As soon as you are done, bring a change of Iruma-kun's pajamas to my room. He will sleep with me tonight."

Opera nodded and asked "Sullivan-sama, is that what I think? In that case, I will have to inform Asmodeus-san of what happened, he has the right to-"

"There is no need to inform anyone" Sullivan interrupted them seriously, as a thick black cloud rose from under his feet. Opera, terrified, held their cat ears flat on their heads. Sullivan proclaimed "You imagine the right, and that's why it won't be known. My poor Iruma-kun is too young to face a life in the making, tonight's is the sad confirmation of this. Tomorrow Iruma-kun will have to stay home to rest, we will explain to him that it is necessary because of his "heartburn". I will carry out my duties from here. You will go to Babyls and carry out your duties as a professor, Opera, you will also arrange to have a peaceful and reasonable discussion with Asmodeus-kun. I don't want to hinder their relationship, but they need to pay more attention in future. Remind him of the importance of protections, he is still young so he cannot be given all the responsibility. To be safe, we will start serving Iruma-kun some pills to avoid any more unfortunate incidents. Since if this night were to happen again, I might forget for an unpleasant minute that Asmodeus-kun is also one of the precious treasures of Babyls"

Opera, kneeling in the pose of complete submission as is appropriate when faced with a High rank demon, nodded "It will be done" the cat demon stated, trembling under the pressure of the miasma emanating from the demon closest to the role of the next Demon King.

Sullivan left the room with the sleeping boy in his arms, his little eyes closed and still shedding tears. After following orders, Opera changed Iruma's pajamas and underwear, allowing him to rest peacefully on his grandfather's giant bed.

The next morning, Iruma woke up groggy and exhausted. 'Where I am? Why didn't the alarm ring?' the blue haired boy wondered, his gaze wandering around the room. A phantom pain in his belly made him flinch, his hands sought comfort in clutching the warm blankets that wrapped him. In the distance, he could hear the voices of Sullivan and Opera, about to enter the room.

Iruma didn't understand why, but he felt broken. "And yet nothing happened..." the boy said to himself. As much as he tried to think, he didn't understand why he felt so distressed. Sullivan and Opera were acting as usual, so everything was fine, right? Nonetheless, Iruma felt something was missing. As if he had lost something, but nothing came to mind. As if there had been something, for a short time, but it had been there. It had been there, but it was no longer there.

Just so much, so much bitterness for an unspeakable sad loss.

THE END