Chapter Text
After being stuck in that fuckass hospital in almost 2 weeks, the doctors finally let him go to school— with a cast on. The cast on his neck was thick but not as thick as shows made them to be, but still big enough to annoy the demon general. He's pretty sure that this is Lucifer's fault but he relents as he went to school the next day.
His classmates gave him pitying gazes and some “hey man.” Here and there.
“It's good that you're back Naoki!”
“God the amount of meetings that principal made after you were hospitalized was pure torture!”
“I heard that we were getting a new teacher after Kamoshida’s arrest.”
“Shit you sure? That's kinda quick of them.”
“Goes to show how much of a shitshow this place is.” A couple more mumbles and whispers were thrown. The Demifiend decided to ignore them as he stared at the window beside him, well— as much as a person with a cast on their neck.
The whispers became mumbles whilst he was gone, he knows that it's because of his recovery but it's stinking more and more of that false thing's influence. Thus the Demifiend renewed the boundary of his influence in the school once more and made those mumbles whispers.
The teacher snapped at the class coincidentally as he spread his influence to make the mumbles to whispers once more.
Again, either this teachers' gunning on him or helping him, who fucking knows.
He already tried to gleam onto her and it didn't give him much,
She was in fact as normal as she looks, those mere coincidences were just that, coincidence.
Even a demon like himself is irked out at how these coincidences keep happening though, she's probably blessed by a god of sorts. A much better god than that false thing.
Either way what's done is done, all he could do was looking at the window with a pen in hand and his notebook on the table.
He vaguely remembered that he has PE today, but given his recent recovery he got a pass to get benched during the entirety of PE.
He'll take anything at this point really.
He just hopes that the new teachers' less of a dick than Shida, something dude.
__________________
Dante is a PE teacher.
No wait, let me rephrase that, Dante the Devil Hunter— is MY PE teacher.
"How are you legally even a teacher- you don't even have the license for it!?"
"Rich people pay man. Rich people pay good looking guys like me.” if it wasn't for the fact that he's still ‘recovering’ and still pretending to be a human he would've mauled the man right then and there.
"Is dad's babysitting payment not enough for you?” he sneered, ignoring the whispers that came to life at those words.
“Actually kid it was your dad that proposed this idea to me.” What.
“What!?” Ryuji's voice can be heard from afar.
“Woah plot twist.” Ren added with a cat-like smirk.
The Demifiend couldn't help but put his palm to his face with a groan. “Of course he did… well! Can you at least tell me as to what he was planning to do with such an idea?” Fuck he's reverting back to demon general, gotta reel that shit back in before that guy realizes it.
He hates it when Dante has the upper hand, and that shit eating grin tells him that it's already too late.
“Because your dear old daddy couldn't trust the school for shit, thus hired his most loyal, physically fit and handsome bodyguard there is!”
“So you were just the nearest one to hire quick enough then.” Bastard laughed at his expense.
“C'mon kid, ain't I the greatest PE teacher around? And besides, the paychecks are good and the experience could be fun for lil ol me.”
“Can you stop sounding like an old 70’s advertisement, I can smell the booze from here.”
“Nah kid you're just smellin a good ol minty toothpaste, I had to freshen up a bit to show off my good will.”
“Damn, I had hoped I was there to spray you cold hose water as you hiss like a damn cat screeching as if you are being actively killed.”
Both demons continued their little banter, either ignoring or unaware of the group of human children having to discover more and more about their enigmatic recovering 1st year.
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Yusuke is funnily enough, easy to manipulate just as long as you know how.
Which the Demifiend does, via food and art inspirations. Perks of being a demon y'know?
Sure it cost him Pixie scolding him for using her as a muse for the guy (not like she enjoys it) as well as having to conveniently be there with a lunch box whenever they meet up. (which was a weekly thing)
He knows that the phantom thieves are still getting used to being vigilantes and all that but if it were back in his world's conception, these kids would've been caught and killed just for even trying.
Like fuck he can clearly see Ryuji and Ren trying to take a snippet of their conversations.
Even if the Demifiend didn't have his demonic senses active, these idiots would've gotten their asses be found.
Sometimes it's just easy to pretend that he can't obviously see them at the edge of his peripheral vision and just be interested in whatever art nonsense Yusuke is saying, which, don't get him wrong— he does enjoy a couple arts here and there, but he never said that he's an artist.
“Anyways as I was saying Naoki-kun, I appreciate for you to convince Pixie-san to have her to be one of my muse’, I also had to convince another but not without having to convince her that I won't sexually assault her.” Ah yeah, the autism runs strong with this guy.
He can't exactly blame Anne for reacting so with how half of the men she met are leering assholes or just perverts.
It's the reason as to why he's closer to her than her teammates. He just doesn't see her that way.
Doesn't exactly help the fact that he's like— way way way older than everyone in that school, teachers included.
“No prob Yusuke-san, even if she complains about it I think she's just happy that somebody finally ‘knows her worth’” he air quoted that last bit.
He knows that demons like Pixie can't help but be big headed whenever somebody compliments them, it's a demon thing to always relish one's acknowledgement of their strength. The Demifiend isn't exempt to this but he doesn't show it as much as the other natural demons would.
Because as the kids say it, it was cringe as fuck.
Damn— can't believe he could actually say that, even when it's an internal monologue. He sounds old.
Well— he is but that's not the point.
“— I apologize for always sharing your lunches and breakfasts with me Naoki-kun, I will find a way to pay you back for this!” No you won't you autism creature, cuz your guardian’s a piece of shit right now and is basically feeding onto your paintings. But I didn't say that, instead I said;
“Nah don't worry man, I'm too rich for you to pay back, besides— I often bring extra lunches for my friends back at school.” Both are truths that Ryuji and Ren can't deny, nor can it contradict me once they try to ‘subtly’ interrogate me during our lunch break.
Ever since the arrest and Dante's newest job (which the Demifiend can't help but grumble in acknowledgement that the guy really is good at teaching kids for somebody who hasn't probably encountered anyone around Nero's age till he met the Demifiend, even then, the Demifiend wasn't a normal teenager by that point.) The Demifiend just somehow ‘coincidentally’ bumped into the poor guy with a disguised Pixie, who was rocking really stylish clothing that the Demifiend could care less about. (She was pouting when she asked for his opinion, she should know that his sense of style hasn't changed since he became the Demifiend.)
Then the guy just started invading Pixie's space and asking—or rather demanding but he can't entirely blame the guy it's the autism and having not taught the way of socialism cuz his guardians a dick— to be his muse.
It took a lot of holding Pixie back via telepathy and agreeing for a meetup somewhere to officialise this whole thing without getting Yusuke arrested for trying to ‘assault’ Pixie.
Or more like Pixie not assaulting the guy for his transgressions, but details—details.
He told Pixie exactly why he's so lenient on him even though what he did was just outright rude and could get him killed if he didn't stop Pixie.
Anyways by the time the meetup came about the phantom thieves were also ‘coincidentally' there just to hangout.
Sure it was a really elaborate way to get them to start moving to their next target but it was also a time consuming one.
And boring.
Again, never said he's into art stuff nor an artist so half of whatever he just said just flew from one ear out the other.
Yes he can understand but he won't really get it either? It's complicated.
He hid his necklace deep inside his jacket because it keeps incessantly shining anytime he had to process information without having him comitting mass genocide.
He does enjoy Yusuke’s time though, even if he had to conveniently be there with an extra lunch box or sandwiches and having to commute to his and Yusuke's usual place (Which was the park)— it is nice to meet new faces.
When they're not actively trying to kill you or force their reasons onto you.
Sure he enjoys his time with the gang back in Shujin but he's kind of impatient with the current situation of Yusuke's.
And he also hates the guy to heaven and back because of how similar he is to Lucifer.
Sure the big guy wouldn't really hurt Demifiend that way, he doesn't wanna kill his precious project, but with how weirdly manipulative he gets pisses him off, especially the baby accusations.
And Yusuke's guardian Madam-fuck-whatever he is just pisses him off the same way as Lucifer does whenever it gets really manipulative.
About how he should go and beat the living shit of some cannibal weirdos while going out, or beat some other demon summoners in different worlds.
It was genuinely a weird turnover of a surprise to him having to be in high school in the first place.
But he digress, that guy's too busy about something he's not aware of, and the conception hasn't happened yet so he hasn't fucked everything to shit. So here the Demifiend was, befriending a couple kids because he could vaguely see the ending that this place was going for.
He ignored the oblivious idiots that were hiding in a nearby bush.
“C'mon man! Can't you tell us anything!?” Ryuji whispered loudly. Which wow what a feat.
“Ryuji shut your pipe off! They're gonna hear you! And us!” The cat— he almost forgot about the cat wow— angrily whispered to the boy with a slap with his tiny soft cat paws.
Yusuke obviously heard the “ow!’ coming from nearby but I just told him that it was probably kids running around and getting hurt.
“Hm, yes I suppose so, children are a rambunctious bunch.” Yeah sure as if you don't exactly act the same way once your inspiration comes around.
“So hey, what's up with your guardian? Isn't he that famous painter or something?”
“Ah yes! I am so happy that you asked! Madarame is—” he just nods and goes ‘oh really?’ to each and every praise the bastard doesn't deserve, which the group behind the bushes heavily agree upon with how he's feeding on their frustrations of how naive Yusuke is.
“Oh man, I'd probably need to visit the place with my friends! One of them is an artsy type, I'm sure he'd appreciate your guardians pieces!” Just smile and hope for the best Demifiend, just smile.
It's within his demonic nature to always manipulate or trick humans, but since he's an outlier of sorts all he can fake are just his emotions and smiles.
Atleast— that's what he tells himself.
“Ah! May I ask for their name? I'm sure I could tell them more of Madarame’s paintings!” I feel so bad. It's like fooling a puppy for thinking that you threw an imaginary ball.
Fuck, how's he gonna go with this… sure he can drag Dante but that man would probably insult Madarame in front of the kid on purpose just to speed it up. Might get themselves banned or Yusuke having unnecessary beef with Dante, he knows the guy deserves the beef but he really doesn't wanna do that. Like genuinely don't wanna smooth that shit out, that man's an adult he can fix his already complicated issues by himself.
Maybe he could get his brother? Might have to pay him via spars if he can convince the blue half demon. Might get pissed off with how Madam-fuck-something is just stealing his students artworks for himself, would also kill the guy and ruin everything, so probably not.
What about Raidou? He's still alive right? He's from another world, he probably hasn't died yet this time around.
“How about I make it a surprise? It'll be more fun for the both of us.” The whispering in the bushes is intrigued by this.
Excuse me??? He has friends outside school y'know??? Like c'mon I'm not like Ren!!
A sneeze was heard which the Demifiend promptly distracted the boy beside him once more.
So with that, the two of them decided to meet up with his guardian's art museum.
The boy wanted to give him tickets for free but he repeated once more that he has the money to spend so don't worry about it.
By the time the boy was taken by his guardian's car, he took a minute to take it all in. Before having to stare at the idiots that he calls his friends.
he thinks that Raidou's the only human friend he has left, if he counts Dante
“So… anymore spying from the great duo?” He crossed his arms at the two boys who were trying (and failed) sneaking off to regroup back with Anne, cat included.
“H—hey Naoki! Just— playing hide and seek with uh Anne! Definitely not sneaking up on you or anything!” An angry meow and a frightening “Ow!” was all Ryuji got for saying that.
“Ignore those two clowns, I didn't know you have friends outside of school, man.”
“What? Like it's hard?” He raised a brow. Technically he is correct, it isn't hard— in demonic terms at least.
Yusuke was just too autistic to notice that he's very much manipulating that poor guy to be his friend.
Ryuji was a coincidence, not really but still a surprise.
“Yeah Ren, it's not like he has a record like you.” The cat huffed but got an ‘ow!’ from their team leader.
What a riot really.
“I just met that guy by chance, besides Pixie was really interested in the nude painting thing, freaky that girl is.” He mumbled that last part.
“Pixie? Who's that?” Ryuji asked while still holding on his scratched side, it didn't bleed so he didn't worry much.
Besides he doesn't think that Mona can give rabies due to his nature, but he doesn't wanna risk Ryuji's health for that.
“A friend from my hometown, she came to Tokyo to visit.” He still hasn't given Pixie a last name yet but if they don't ask too much about it, then her cover's all good.
“Man, is she hot?” Ryuji c'mon man.
All he gave the boy was a deadpan stare as Ren and his cat laughed it off.
“Speaking of which, you guys wanna join me on that art museum thing? I can buy your tickets if you'd like.” He knows that they were given tickets from Yusuke as well but they don't know that.
“Nah man, we got our tickets for free!” Ryuji gave a smug smile.
“At the cost of Lady Anne's body…” the cat mumbled that last bit.
If it were taken out of context, Yusuke sounded like a huge pervert who'd buy any girl he meets.
But he knows that it's not Yusuke's fault for being that way. If the bastard were to have taught the poor kid any decency of social interactions then that guy would've worded it out better.
“Y'know Ren it always surprises me that you were able to keep Mona a secret, given how much he meows during lunch.” the glasses boy flinched.
Yeah it was honestly surprising, even when Mona was quiet, somebody could've snitched him at any given moment.
So the Demifiend had to cast a spell inside the senior's classroom to ensure that nobody could actually notice or hear the cat.
Except for Yuuki, but given for who he was it wasn't exactly surprising.
Even during their lunch breaks, Yuuki would stare incredulously at Ren's bag in any sign of seeing the cat.
That guy probably liked cats.
“Um well— you see—” being in the spotlight, the boy could only stutter with excuses.
“I don't really care for the excuses man, I'm not a teacher.”
“Yeah but you're kinda buddy-buddy with our PE teacher.”
“That man would let you have that cat in his class whenever you wanted just to see if the cat can learn how to jump through a loop of fire for fun.” His answer freaked Mona out more than it did.
“Why'd he wanna do that?”
“That man's interactions with animals consists of being rich people's pets, so they learn a lot of tricks for their master.”
The poor beast demons that Dante terrorized were pretty funny to be honest.
“Dude's with the guys upstairs? Could've sworn he'd be the bum ones you'd see in shows y'know?”
“He is, it's just that he has a surprising amount of friends on the rich side.” Given that he's friends with an heiress who treats him like an uncle, and him being Lucifer's ‘son’, it's not all that surprising that Dante would have an askewed sense of knowing pets.
If Mona was a normal pet that is.
Ever since he knew about Mona’s other form he was really interested in what the poor thing could do.
To join his business apparently.
No Dante I'm not stealing a kid's fucking cat, even if the cat isn't really a normal cat.
“For real?”
“I mean— he was hired by Naoki's dad, so he's pretty much legit to our books.” Oh Ren you sweet summer child. Do not fucking trust the devil that is my father.
“I mean it's nice to know that you guys trust him cuz he's a family friend and all but I would've thought you guys would be more stubborn about it.” He admit to the group.
“I mean— you did have fun talking to him when he was announced to be our teacher y'know?” Please do not trust a demon's friendship, even if Dante is a really good guy you should NOT be trusting his ass for shit!
“Dude you good man? You look like you ate something sour and wanna take a shit.” Thank you Ryuji for such colorful words of wisdom.
“This is the reason why you're Dante's favorite Ryuji.” He sighed which made the two humans and one cat tilt their heads in confusion.
Befriending humans is somehow the most exhausting thing he has ever done ever since he got here.