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In hindsight, maybe Iruma should have been a bit more careful when it came to accepting food from strangers.
He couldn’t help it, though. That apple looked so juicy and sweet, perfectly round and red. Plus, it was given to him by a demon who was wearing the student uniform. Surely they only had good intentions when they offered the treat as dessert, right?
Wrong.
Iruma had unknowingly turned into Snow White, except instead of being sent into a coma, he was informed that his curse was to be unable to lie for a predetermined amount of time.
Which wouldn’t be that much of a problem, if he weren’t hiding his identity as a human being, surrounded by creatures that wouldn’t hesitate to savor every last bite of him were they to find out.
Worse yet, he’d been keeping that secret for more than a full year. Even if the ones he considered to be his friends decided that maybe he was worth keeping alive, they would still be upset and feel betrayed, right? Would Iruma be left alone again?
Iruma decided to inform his teacher Balam of his predicament, since he knew of his true species, who promised him to punish the demon responsible and gently asked if Iruma wanted to come up with an excuse to not attend classes that day.
And thus, Iruma made the second biggest mistake of the day.
He declined.
Balam accepted his decision, though he still seemed worried. Iruma assured him that he’d be careful, and then left the teacher’s room.
However, as soon as he did so, there was a classmate waiting for him outside.
Iruma was dragged inside the Royal One against his will, where the rest of the Misfits were waiting for him, sat in an organized circle. The large door closed shut behind him with a comically loud ‘bang’.
Oh, he was so going to be eaten.
~~~~~~~~
Purson, the one who’d cornered him in the first place, leaned in on his elbows with his usual deadpan expression, but his lips seemed to be quirking up slightly. “Do you like someone?”
Iruma’s eyes widened. Oh no. How come he didn’t think of this possibility? Of course they were going to ask about crushes. This was, somehow, much worse than being outed as a human.
Lowering his head, Iruma muttered a barely audible, “Yes.”
He winced as multiple sharp gasps echoed throughout the room. He didn’t dare to look up, dreading what kind of expressions must be on everyone’s faces.
“Oh my devi, seriously?”
“So he really can’t lie!”
“Wait until the rest of your harem hears about this.”
“Who is it? Spill it, Iruma-kun!”
He didn’t want to answer. He prayed with all his being that the effects of the curse would wear off right in that moment, but his mouth was already opening of its own accord.
“It’s-”
“Fluffy-kun, stop!” He was cut off by Clara’s voice. She sounded distressed, maybe even angry. Two hands covered Iruma’s mouth, one belonging to her and the other to Asmodeus.
“What’s wrong, Clarin?” Lied asked, tilting his head at her with a frown.
“What’s wrong?” Asmodeus echoed, almost mockingly. Fire was beginning to gather around them, warm but not hot enough to hurt either of his soulmates. It had a threatening aura, and everyone else began to back off in genuine fear of getting burned. “Everything about this is wrong, you buffoons! Can’t you see how upset this line of questioning is making Iruma-sama?”
All heads turned to look at Iruma, and it’s only then that he realized that his hands were shaking and that there were tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. He blinked them away, then laughed wetly, fake as it got. He tried to say that everything was fine, unsure if to reassure them or himself, but what came out instead was a soft, broken, “Thank you, Azz-kun, Clara. I… I don’t want to say it.”
Clara hummed in understanding, gently caressing his hair for a moment, a touch he couldn’t help but lean into, before turning to pout at their classmates. “Using that spell to your advantage was really mean, you guys.”
Allocer was the first one to bow as an apology, the rest of them following not long after.
Before Iruma could wave them off, the bell rang, that obnoxious loud sound that he had grown used to. Kalego pushed the door to the classroom open at the same second, as if he’d been waiting outside for that exact cue.
The paralyzing glare that he sent the Misfits as he did so was enough to get them scrambling to their seats.
A tense silence befell the entire room, not a word uttered until Kalego finished his scrutiny of everyone’s expressions with a sigh, letting his gaze linger on Iruma.
“Today, we’ll have a pop quiz,” He said simply, skipping over roll call.
Groans of disdain echoed, though Iruma only felt relief. At least a test would force him to focus on something that wasn’t his racing heart.
From beside him, coming from each opposite end, Iruma felt a hand gently squeezing his in a small semblance of comfort. He refused to meet his soulmates’ gazes, well-aware that the flush on his face at the simple gesture would be nearly impossible to hide.
~~~~~~~~
Lunch time came around, and Iruma poked at the food on his plate absentmindedly.
Clara had been rambling about something or other, and for once Iruma couldn’t pay attention no matter how hard he tried. Eventually, she trailed off, glancing at him sadly.
“Iruma-sama,” Began Asmodeus, his tone filled with apprehensiveness and worry. “You’ve barely touched your food.”
With a poor attempt at a reassuring smile, Iruma replied, “I just don’t feel like eating today,” It was true. Every bite felt like it landed wrong in his stomach. He was hungry, but it was like he’d throw up if he insisted on eating any more.
His soulmates traded a concerned look.
“Iruma-chi, why-” Clara cut herself off, looking away. It was strange seeing her so fidgety, and Iruma cursed himself for causing her such distress. “Never mind.”
It was then that he realized that she was hesitant in asking a question due to his earlier reaction.
His heart filled with gratitude for the demon.
“It’s okay,” Iruma truly meant it. “I don’t mind, not if it’s you two.”
Clara beamed at his response, not as bright as usual but still a big improvement. She cleared her throat. “Why are you so afraid of talking about who you like?”
Lowering his eyes to stare at his food instead, Iruma talked in a hushed tone. “I didn’t have any friends growing up. Coming to Babyls, meeting everyone, has made me happier than I could ever have imagined back then,” He took a deep breath, and it came out shaky. “The demons I have feelings for, they’re… They’re very important to me. I guess I’m just afraid that things will change if they find out.”
For a moment, no words were spoken. Iruma glanced at them through the corners of his eyes, and they both seemed to be deep in thought. Meanwhile, he was freaking out over having admitted that he liked multiple people. Was that too obvious? Would they figure it out?
“Would it truly be that awful? If things were to change between you,” Asmodeus’ voice was gentle, gentler than Iruma had ever heard him sound. Before Iruma could answer, he clarified, “Iruma-sama, any demon would be lucky to be at the receiving end of your affections. You may not realize it, but you are more loved than you think.”
Clara nodded along as he spoke. “Yeah! There are plenty of demons who would like to smooch you, who’s to say the ones you are head over heels for aren’t part of them?” As Iruma’s face turned scarlet and he tried to protest her statement, she ignored him and continued, softer still, “ Besides, don’t you think it’s a little rude, to dismiss their feelings before you even know what they are?”
Eyes wide, Iruma carefully evaluated their words. With a sudden burst of courage, he took one of each of his soulmates’ hands in his, giving them a little squeeze. It took but a second until he felt them firmly squeezing back.
Was it just him, or were their faces slightly red as they looked at their joined hands with something like amazement?
That was the last encouragement he needed.
He gulped, looking at someplace between their heads, finding looking directly in their eyes to be very difficult at the moment. “Will you two follow me for a bit?”
They did not hesitate. They would go to the edges of the Netherworld for him, that he knew.
~~~~~~~~
Iruma took them inside their Battler room, which was thankfully empty. He closed the door behind them, not wanting anyone else to overhear, not until he knew for sure what their response was.
“If I said…” He started, realized he had said it too quietly to be heard, then tried again. “If I said that you’re the ones I’m in love with… Would things change?” He asked, deciding to get things over with, like ripping off a band-aid.
A long, long pause.
Iruma’s palms were starting to become sweaty, and his face surely resembled a tomato. Still, he kept looking at Asmodeus’ and Clara’s expressions, watched them shift from startled to what seemed like tentative hope.
He was surprised when they replied at the same time. A firm, “They would,” making him freeze in his tracks.
“Oh,” He mumbled, dejectedly, rushing to let go of their hands. “I see. I’m sorry, I-”
However, as soon as he did so, two hands reached out to take his once again, grip so tight that it hurt. But he didn’t care, not when pink and green eyes sparkled with unbridled joy and determination.
“We would hug more, and cuddle more, and hang out more just the three of us…” Clara started listing activities, speaking fast in excitement. She gave a meaningful glance towards Asmodeus, who turned a pretty pink, hesitantly opening his mouth to add:
“If Iruma-sama wishes to, we could also,” He swallowed audibly, wringing his hands together. “kiss?”
Clara flushed at the thought as well, though she still giggled happily. “Why was that a question?”
The taller demon glared at her, no heat behind it. “Not all demons in relationships kiss, stupid Clara. If Iruma-sama doesn’t want to-”
“I do!” Iruma blurted out, louder than necessary. He stared at his soulmates in awe. “I really want to.”
With a squeal, Clara tackled them both into a hug, Asmodeus complaining all the while, though a small smile tugged at his lips. “That settles it! The three of us are courting now!” She laugh, loud and bright. Then, before Iruma could reboot his brain enough to return the hug, she was pulling away, hand in the air. “I call dibs on the first kiss!”
In a heartbeat, Asmodeus turned to scowl at her. “You can’t decide that on your own! Who Iruma-sama kisses first is up to him.”
As happy as Iruma was that they were bickering like normal, this was an argument he did not want them to have. Just as he was coming up with a way to solve it, Clara smirked, sharp teeth glinting in the light. “Who said anything about Iruma-chi?”
That turned Asmodeus scarlet. He spluttered, apparently at a loss for words.
Iruma’s voice finally came back to him. “Do you mean…?”
“Yup!” She giggled in a way that made it seem she was trying to sound evil. It was rather cute. “You don’t mind, do you?” She gave her head a questioning tilt.
Iruma could only shake his own head, stunned.
“You should be asking me that!” Asmodeus’ protest came out high-pitched. He did not seem to notice or care, however, not when Clara kept approaching him as he stepped back until he was trapped against the wall.
Gaping, Iruma realized he was honestly witnessing a kabedon in real life, though the roles were switched.
Should he intervene? But Asmodeus hadn’t made a move to push her away even though he could easily do so. Did that mean he liked Clara, too?
More importantly, why was watching this from the sidelines making Iruma’s pulse speed up considerably?
“Okay,” Clara eventually said, so softly that Iruma almost didn’t hear her. “Can I kiss you, Azz-Azz?”
Asmodeus’ shoulders dropped, though he kept frowning. “If you must.”
With one last smile, Clara closed the distance between them. Iruma made an embarrassing squeaking sound at the sight, quickly covering his eyes. Should he leave? But his soulmates made it seem like they wanted to kiss Iruma too, so it was okay to stay, right?
That was the justification he told himself when he peeked from between his fingers.
Asmodeus seemed to relax at the contact, and it was clearly a chaste, sweet kiss. Until, for some reason unknown to Iruma, it turned into some sort of battle for dominance.
When they pulled away, it was with flushed faces and defying expressions.
“Can’t you match my pace for once, stupid Clara?”
Clara stuck out her tongue. “It’s not my fault you’re too slow, Azz-Azz!”
“Wha- I’m not slow, I was being seductive,” Asmodeus countered.
Puffing out her cheeks, Clara complained, “Why would you need to seduce me when I’m already yours?”
“That’s…” Asmodeus’ blush deepened. He rubbed at his temples, then sighed. “Fine. You win.”
Clara cheered, then diverted her attention to Iruma, whose face was just as flushed. “Enjoy the show, Iruma-chi?” She teased with a wink.
“Clara!” Iruma whined, hiding his head further between his palms. “Don’t say it like that.”
In a sudden shift, Clara was leaning closer. “Why not? You were so entranced, watching your soulmates kiss! Naughty Iruma-chi!”
Until Asmodeus pulled her by the back of her uniform, hanging her in the air like a kitten. “Don’t call Iruma-sama by such names,” He growled, though it seemed to be just for show, not like he was genuinely angry.
The green-haired girl grinned in return. “You’re just mad because I’m the better kisser!”
“I did not say that-”
“So, Iruma-chi,” Clara turned to him, shifting in place almost bashfully. “Since I won the kissing battle, that means I get to kiss you first. Is that okay?”
For a moment, Iruma did nothing but blink at her. It didn’t take long before his face became painted in a deep shade of crimson. This was really happening, wasn’t it?
As Clara’s expression started to fall a little at his silence, he snapped out of it and nodded vigorously. Asmodeus gently settled Clara back on the ground, clearly unhappy but not arguing.
Clara approached him, and unlike Asmodeus, Iruma did not move, only swallowing heavily, anticipation making his heart go wild inside his chest. When she leaned in, he met her halfway.
It was exceedingly cheesy to admit it, but the moment their lips met, Iruma felt as if he was coming home. She made a sweet noise against his mouth, one that had butterflies fluttering in his stomach, and pulled him closer, tightening her grip around his shoulders. Clara tasted like candy and bubblegum, a taste that he immediately wanted more of. As soon as he had that thought, however, she broke the kiss.
Embarrassingly enough, a breathy whine left his throat at the loss before he could swallow it down.
In response, Clara’s eyes became impossibly wide, and then she giggled. Booping him on the nose, she stepped back, amusement swimming clearly in her green irises. She tilted her head towards Asmodeus, who looked away as soon as they turned to him. To anyone else, it’d seem like he was annoyed, but to Iruma, it was obvious that he was simply flustered. Had he been watching them, too? The thought made Iruma feel a little better about earlier, when he was unable to tear his gaze away.
“Don’t worry, Iruma-chi,” Clara said, voice as close to as whisper as she could make it. “You get a kiss from Azz-Azz, too. He is…” She paused, pouted, then crossed her arms. “...really good at it. But don’t tell him I said that.”
Iruma’s chuckle had a shy edge to it. “I won’t.”
“What are you whispering about?” Asmodeus was directly behind them, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Nothing~” Clara sing-songed, giving him a light push in Iruma’s direction. “I was just warning Iruma-chi about your sloppy kissing!”
Asmodeus’ responding glare could make any demon drop dead, but Clara remained unfazed. “Why you-” Iruma couldn’t help it. He laughed so loud that both his soulmates turned to look at him, Asmodeus’ expression immediately softening.
At the attention, Iruma flushed. “I guess it’s our turn now, huh, Azz-kun?”
Lowering his body in a half-bow, Asmodeus looked at him earnestly, blush equally as bright. “If that’s what Iruma-sama wishes.”
Iruma frowned at that. His chest felt heavy. “Azz-kun, you shouldn’t do this just because I want to,” With a sad smile, he continued, “I understand if you don’t feel that way about me. Please don’t just go along with it for my sake.”
Asmodeus gaped at him for a few seconds, until Clara snorted.
“Silly Iruma-chi, Azz-Azz wanted to kiss you from day one,” Iruma swiftly looked at the pink-haired boy, scanning his expression for any signs of protest. Asmodeus did not contradict her, however. “But you make him say the dumbest things sometimes.”
Iruma kept looking at his taller soulmate, a little skeptical of her words if they were not verbally confirmed.
With a deep sigh, Asmodeus bit the inside of his cheek. “Though I hate to admit it, Clara’s right.”
“So you want this?” Iruma had to ask.
“I do, so badly that it does indeed overwrite any rational thought.”
“And you like me?”
The smile Asmodeus gave him could rival the sun in warmth. “Iruma-sama, I adore you.”
“Oh,” Iruma’s cheeks were certainly pink. “So if I do this…” Ever so carefully, Iruma trailed his fingers over his cheekbone before cupping it. “...you won’t mind?”
As lieu of an answer, Asmodeus laid his hand over Iruma’s, then fluttered his eyes shut as he leaned into the touch. Iruma could swear he heard him purr.
“Azz-kun,” Iruma breathed, overwhelmed with emotion. “May I?”
Eyes still closed, Asmodeus smiled softly and leaned down. “Please.”
It was strange, initiating a kiss. Iruma tried to channel what Clara had done, hoping he was doing it right. Unlike with her, Asmodeus did not try to take control of the kiss, instead following his lead and matching his pace. It gave Iruma an odd sort of thrill that he could not explain. Asmodeus tasted like the strawberry chapstick that Iruma had seen him apply from time to time, and it made him smile. Without thinking, he let his free hand caress the back of his soulmate’s neck, which made him shudder in response.
Letting go was hard, but Iruma needed to breathe.
Foreheads resting against one another, neither of them said anything, simply enjoying existing in each other’s space.
Clara was the one to break the peaceful quiet. “Should we change our name to ‘kissing trio’?” Iruma couldn’t quite tell if she was being serious or not.
Asmodeus coughed to mask his laughter. “I think ‘love trio’ still suits us just fine, Clara.”
With a bashful grin, Iruma lowered his head a little, looking up at them from between his bangs. “Because we’re all in love, right?”
Nodding, Clara wrapped them in another embrace and buried her face between the crooks of their necks. It tickled as she giggled. “Head over heels,” She confirmed.
Thanks to the cursed apple (sort of), Iruma got to date his long-time crushes.
And he managed to avoid getting eaten somehow, which was also a plus.
All’s well that ends well.