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Something was wrong with Azz-Azz.
Clara was sure.
At first she chalked it up to Iruma-chi being absent from school due to a cold, but even that never got him
this
down. He wasn’t reacting to her usual antics at all. She messed with the plants in Stolas-sensei’s class. She bothered Camu Camu-san. She ate her textbook. She ate his textbook. No reaction. Zilch. Nada.
It worried her.
Asmodeus was eating lunch with Valac in a secluded area of the school grounds. He was the one who asked to eat outside - the noise of the school halls grated his mind more than usual today.
He had just swallowed the last bite of his meal when Valac spoke up.
“What’s wrong, Azz-Azz? You’ve been acting weird aaaaall day!”
Ah. So she noticed.
Had it been that obvious?
He put away his plate.
“It’s nothing, Valac, I just didn’t get much sleep last night…”
That was, in fact, only a fraction of the truth. While he did, indeed, not get much sleep the night before, it was because he had forgotten about today’s classroom lectures test, so he stayed up late studying for it, and then did badly on it anyway because he was tired.
But he couldn’t tell her
that
. He couldn’t tell her that he cried because of it and had generally been on the verge of tears the entire day. No. He was Asmodeus Alice, of
the
Asmodeus clan, honor student, top of the class, hell, top of the whole
grade
, it wasn’t befitting of him to mess up so
pathetically
.
“Are you sure…?” Valac narrowed her eyes.
“
Yes
, I’m
sure,
can’t you just leave it be?!” his voice wavered on the last word.
A couple of wet drops ran down his cheeks.
Oh no. No no no no. Seriously?! Why now?!
He quickly hid his face, hugging his knees defensively.
A pair of arms wrapped themselves around his torso. He didn’t find it in himself to swat them away.
And then…
A peck on his head?
Wait,
what
?
“...Did you just kiss me?”
Clara stared for a moment, as if processing his words.
“Oh! Well, you see, in my family, when someone’s sad, we go mwah mwah to make it better! Sooooo, I thought it might work on you?”
Oh right, of course. It wasn’t romantic. Why would it be? Asmodeus decided to ignore the implications of the glint of disappointment that arose in his heart at that thought.
Before he could think, his mouth moved on its own:
“Can you do it again?”
It absolutely was romantic.
But Clara couldn’t just
tell
Azz-Azz that. A strange occurrence, it was - she usually had no qualms with speaking her mind, but in this particular matter, a barrier stood between her brain and her mouth.
“Oh! Well, you see, in my family, when someone’s sad, we go mwah mwah to make it better! Sooooo, I thought it might work on you?”
Silence. Second thoughts.
Why did I do that?!?!?!?!? He totally thinks it’s weird, I should’ve thought before I acted, oh no, oh dear, oh yikes–
“Can you do it again?”
…
HE LIKED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The doubt was drowned out by a wave of euphoria and with newfound fervor, she kissed him again - on the head, on the cheek, on the tip of his nose…
“Hey– don’t get carried away now–!” Azz-Azz protested weakly through bursts of giggles.
There you are
. Clara mentally high-fived herself.
Mission accomplished
! She let up her barrage and Azz-Azz sighed happily.
He stared at her silently for a few moments, a fond smile adorning his face, before speaking up:
“Thanks, Clara. I love y–
I mean
! Uh, thanks, yeah, goodbye!” He sprinted off, blushing furiously.
She watched his silhouette get smaller and smaller.
Clara… Clara…
The use of her given name echoed in her mind, filling her heart with a bright warmth.
“You’re welcome, Azz-Azz.”