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In his defense, Agares was very tired that day. He had only slept thirteen consecutive hours the day before. For those of his clan, it was the equivalent of a sleepless night. For this reason, he was more sensitive than usual. The noise resulting from the usual vitality of the Misfits between lessons was getting on his nerves. He couldn't take a decent nap even though Master was soft and fluffy as expected from the white cloud-bed he always carried with him, almost a trademark for the members of the Agares clan.
For this reason, hearing Sabnock's umpteenth declaration of challenge towards Iruma to become the next Demon King, a declaration shouted at the top of his lungs by the blond demon, Agares shouted "If you want to become whoever it is so much, get married so you can both be on the throne! Let me sleep!"
A shocked silence fell on Royal One as Agares covered his head with his hands, hoping to catch up on some lost sleep.
Iruma blinked slowly in shock, while the demons beside him kept their eyes wide open. All except one particular demon, who beamed, "My fellow, you are a genius! So be it!" Sabnock was fully satisfied with the unproposed suggestion. Iruma struggled to understand. Asmodeus had understood all too well and voiced his displeasure. "May you perish this instant!" he shouted, preparing two powerful blasts of flame in both palms of his hands ready to be thrown at the tall demon. Clara hugged Iruma tightly, squealing, "No, no, no! Get in line, Sabro!"
The other Misfits reacted in a variety of ways, from total disbelief to realization, "Iruma-kun is indeed a good catch, he's the Chair-demon's grandson and all" Allocer stated, shrugging. "Don't worry, my little brother isn't old enough for an official engagement yet!" Jazz and Lied chorused, rushing to use their bodies as shields for the blue haired boy. "That's right, the Chair-demon will never give his consent. This is really stupid for you too, Sabnock-kun" Kerori stated, adjusting her glasses. On the contrary, Elizabetta stated, intertwining her fingers "Why not? It could be the beginning of the first romantic relationship in our class! I'm really curious to see an official courtship at school"
Iruma continued to look around as the various Misfits expressed their opinions, without really understanding. "Why should I ask the Chair-demon for permission? First I need my rival's approval, I'm addressing him" Sabnock stated, leaning over the young human. Pretending not to see the flames at the level of the metal plates of his necklace, Sabnock stated "Iruma, accept my proposal. So, when I become the new Demon King, your efforts will not have been in vain. You will sit on the throne with me, on me"
Iruma flinched, confused and embarrassed "But isn't that strange- I mean, shouldn't you want to marry someone you really, really like? I- uhm I'm still deciding which path to take, and..." Asmodeus fanned his flames, making the blond demon take a step back. He turned slightly to the blue haired boy, who was standing between the two with his back to him, and replied "Not necessarily, Iruma-sama. Marriages for convenience, to increase one's noble lineage, for political reasons, are all valid forms of marriage in the Netherworld. Many Devilum are arranged precisely with a view to a future marriage and the search for a suitable partner. Demons are obedient to their own desires. And it is not uncommon to marry young. While there are some marriages that take place within the school, most marriages are rushed due to the desire for magical power from the family, or marriages between demons who are already close. We demons also choose our partners based on their family background and Bloodline ability. We think selfishly and only marry if there is an advantage to marrying that demon. Be honest about your desire and be greedy: this is considered a righteous effort among the demons. But! That doesn't mean you should relate to this brute! You will become Demon King and he will only be able to gnaw his liver from the burning defeat you will inflict on him!"
Iruma looked at the two classmates with an expression more confused than convinced. Sabnock waved his left hand over the flames of the pink haired boy, as if they were a warm fire instead of a wall of burning flames. "My rival, you have no reason not to consider my proposal" he stated confidently, looking the blue haired boy straight in the eyes "I am a demon of value and I like you, you are my rival and this alone gives you a title superior to those present in this class. What is your answer?”
Iruma blushed at the frankness and naturalness of the declaration just made. He clenched his fists, ready to politely refuse that strange proposal of engagement, when he froze. Not only did he still have great difficulty saying no after a life as a pushover and people pleaser in which he had always agreed to any request made of him, but it was the first time that someone had declared their love to him- sure, for rather absurd reasons, but it was still a declaration of affection. 'Do I really have the right to refuse so immediately?' he asked himself, doubtful. Iruma opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"Silence!" exclaimed a hoarse and heavy voice coming from the door of the classroom. Kalego entered, glared at the students and ordered again "Sit down, class is about to start!"
Iruma sighed with relief at having been saved in the corner from that situation. The students took their seats, annoyed by that interference. Asmodeus muttered insults at Sabnock the whole time, while Clara had lost interest and was letting her imagination run wild by curling some of Iruma's locks. The blue haired boy turned to the blond demon and saw him looking back at him. He flinched and rolled over, trying to focus on Kalego and the lesson. He felt Sabnock's gaze on his back the whole time.
…
When class ended, Sabnock wasted no time. He quickly approached the seat where Iruma and his small army sat, hands resting on his hips. "So, my rival! What is your answer?" he asked in a loud voice, drawing the attention of the other Misfits again. Asmodeus jumped up and conjured a fireball in his left hand. "You ape-like brute, how dare you bring this up again! Escape into your foolish fantasies and leave Iruma-sama alone!" he exclaimed angrily, ready to unleash scorching flames on the taller demon's well-exposed muscles. Iruma stood up as well, not knowing what to do to avoid an escalation. Clara stood up as well, imitating a kung-fu pose after climbing onto the desk.
Sabnock grunted and said "Asmodeus, you leave my rival alone. Iruma is perfectly capable of answering himself, he doesn't need you to speak for him. So? Do you accept it?" Iruma was in a state of confusion, he didn't know what to do. He knew he had to refuse, but he didn't know how. With Bachiko he had trained hard to learn archery, with Opera he had trained to learn how to catch the ball for the Cannonball Execution matches, but no one had taught him how to refuse a proposal of engagement.
"Accept what, Sabnock-kun?" he asked, trying to waste time. Sabnock did not seem to be impatient, on the contrary. Uncharacteristically calm, he explained further "My proposal of courtship. If you accept, Iruma, I can proceed according to the ways of us demons to ensure your favor towards me. And when that happens, because One such as I knows it will happen without a shadow of a doubt, I can propose to you an engagement. As Chrocell said it will not be easy to obtain the Chair-demon's permission given his deep attachment to you as his grandson, but I trust that I have your cooperation in this matter and that will speed things up. Of course, being in courtship must not be a deterrent for either of us, we will continue to be rivals for the role of Demon King. With the engagement there will be no losers, we will both come out winners"
Iruma was surprised by those words. "Sabnock-kun, you... you've thought about it seriously, right?" he asked, surprised by the accuracy of that program that seemed to be just a joke in bad taste. Sabnock tilted his head slightly, surprised in turn "Of course. Why shouldn't I? As the future Demon King, every matter I take on I take seriously, I don't joke around. Your answer?" he said.
Iruma was taken aback, not knowing how to respond to those sincere and well-meaning words. He didn't know much about marriage, he had seen various types of married couples in the Human Realm. Same-sex couples, different-sex couples, young couples, old couples. Not all of them were happy, he had often seen during his low-paid jobs couples arguing, sometimes even couples breaking up in restaurants where he was hired as a dishwasher or for other unqualified tasks. As Asmodeus had explained to him before, marriage in the Netherworld was not necessarily tied to mutual affection, one could get married for many reasons.
'But is this what I want for Sabnock-kun?' he asked himself, starting to feel a vague sense of anguish in his chest. Apart from the whole Demon King issue, which still seemed very abstract to him, he was sure that he respected his classmate, as a friend and as a demon. Precisely for this reason, he didn't want him to-
"Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom!" he exclaimed, and then ran away from the Royal One. Sabnock, Asmodeus, Clara and the other Misfits were left speechless, seeing him run so fast for the first time.
…
From that day on, Sabnock took every opportunity to renew his proposal. Iruma had not yet given him a definitive answer, so he continued to search for one with his usual stubborn insistence. With the help of Asmodeus and Clara, Iruma managed to avoid the subject for another couple of days. He had hoped in vain that as time passed Sabnock would lose interest in the matter. On the contrary, the blond demon was more insistent than ever. Iruma had tried to practice with Alikred on how to refuse his proposal, but each attempt, instead of ending with a clear and definitive "no", ended with a request for more time or a half-hearted "yes". Alikred had laughed, had teased him, had scolded him, but each attempt led to another miserable failure. Iruma was incapable of saying no, but he knew well that an engagement was not a request like any other.
"If you can't say no, but you can't bring yourself to say yes, why don't you think about it seriously? Iru-boy, your answer is half-hearted because it's not an answer that comes from the heart" Alikred said mercifully, after watching him roll all over the floor of the room in a panic. Iruma sat up and thought about the one-eyed being's words.
'But is it right for me to think about it?' he wondered, hugging his knees. 'Besides, I…’
…
Sabnock had no other ideas in mind, after planning every single move to be able to talk face to face with Iruma, failing every time due to continuous interruptions. As he sat in the Netherworld History prep room with Balam, he wondered once again if it was the right choice to talk about that kind of personal topic with a teacher.
"So, Sabro-kun" Balam asked, after handing him his cup of helltea, "What did you want to talk to me about?" Sabnock began to think quickly. It was a private topic, but the teacher was in fact one of the few demons very close to Iruma, so he was an excellent teacher even in that context.
"Master, I have a problem... of approach" he replied, trying to weigh the words used carefully. Balam nodded, so the blond demon continued, the boiling cup held in his hands. "It is my intention to get closer to him, but he is constantly on high guard. My intentions are sincere. I want to take him with me, I have always appreciated his presence. I like him and I want to keep him in my life even in the future, when I become Demon King. I want to make contact with him. But every time I try to get closer, he trembles and runs away, or there are... obstacles. Master, what do you think I should do?”
Balam paused to think, blowing on his own cup of helltea despite not drinking it right away because he kept his iron mask on his face and wanted to keep the students from seeing his misaligned fangs. Sabnock gulped, feeling the weight of the ensuing silence on his shoulders. Balam gave his verdict, his tone calm. “I completely understand your dilemma, Sabro-kun. I’ve been in your situation many times myself”. The blond demon looked hopeful. Balam nodded at something he’d thought of, then asked rhetorically, “It’s always hard to get close to a small demonic beast, isn’t it?”
Sabnock's hopeful expression instantly turned to a frozen expression as the teacher continued speaking. "They are naturally predisposed to be prey for larger demonic beasts, so they are always very wary. To small demonic beasts, demons are just another type of predator, and cubs are even more wary. If you approach them too quickly or with a trusting attitude, they consider you a danger and run away. I can give you some tips on how to approach this little beast that has captured your interest. I am very pleased to have a passion in common with a student. Come on, I will explain what to correct in your approach”
Sabnock had a strong suspicion that he had been too vague about the presentation of his problem, but the damage was done. With a certain unexpected curiosity, he listened and mentally noted down the advice given by the gargoyle, concluding that brief counseling session with the promise to keep him updated on the developments of his approach with the small demonic beast.
…
Sabnock decided to put those precious tips into practice that same day. He returned to the Royal One and, as usual, immediately spotted Iruma. Sabnock headed towards him, attracting the angry gaze of Asmodeus, who immediately stood up to act as a wall between him and Iruma. The blue haired boy had a worried and uncertain expression on his face, one more reason to implement the first move.
"Welcome back, my rival. How was lunch?" he asked, keeping a few steps away and being careful to keep his arms at his sides. As Balam had explained, in fact, the small demonic beasts feared too close contacts, even more so arms stretched out in their direction. They could mistake them for direct attacks, deciding to reciprocate by running away or attacking in turn. And Sabnock absolutely wanted to avoid Iruma becoming even more defensive towards him and running away. Although he wouldn't have minded a bit of sparring with him, but certainly on occasions other than his current purpose.
Iruma didn't flinch, which was already a great first result. Confused but visibly happy not to be bombarded with the question of the proposal right away, he replied "Everything was delicious as always. Today I tried a new menu and it was really good, I recommend it. It's..." and from there, a quiet chat began. Asmodeus was forced to remain silent, since Sabnock was not really bothering the blue haired boy. The other Misfits soon lost interest, seeing nothing exciting on the horizon. Sabnock welcomed that first positive result with unexpressed joy.
The second step, still following Balam's instructions, was the way of speaking. Sabnock made an effort to lower the volume of his voice, even when talking to the other classmates. In this way, he noted with satisfaction, Iruma stopped flinching whenever he heard his voice. However, the results of that day were not destined to last. When Iruma approached to greet him, the school day being over, Sabnock felt confident enough to resume the conversation "My rival, do you have an answer for me?"
Iruma stepped back and lowered his gaze, muttering something slurred that the blond demon did not understand. He stood up to hear better, but the movement must have alarmed Iruma, because the latter greeted him hastily and ran away. Asmodeus did not spare him a malevolent look before setting off in pursuit of the blue haired boy, accompanied as always by Clara.
Sabnock regretted that the result was different from the expected one. But he was a demon who persevered in achieving his goals, so he did not give up. The next day he repeated Balam's teachings, but he knew how to use the experience gained from the mistake he had made well. He did not mention the proposal... for two consecutive days, which was in itself a good record. Insisting and conquering was the winning move according to the blond demon, who was unaware of the unpredictability of life. Sabnock followed all of Balam's advice to approach a small demonic beast, a being to whom Iruma was quite close in character.
Sabnock, who had observed and studied the blue haired boy since their first meeting, began to observe him with new eyes over time. Sides that he had taken for granted in the character of the kind young boy were replaced by totally unexpected sides. That smile that he could not help but appreciate, those values so simple for any demon but that in him encouraged intelligent growth, that hair so soft to the touch, not to mention that spirit that Sabnock himself admired and kept pace with in the race to become Demon King... he wanted to have all these sides of Iruma for himself. And he would do anything to achieve him.
In order to try to gain his favor, Sabnock began to study a field in which he was good but in which he had never had reason to exceed. At least, until then.
"My rival, tell me what you think" she said, offering him some sweets that she had cooked the day before with Sylvia to explain the basics. Iruma's cheeks turned pink, while an ecstatic smile appeared on his face. "They are really good, Sabnock-kun! Did you make them?" the blue haired boy asked, while the ahoge on his head was spinning with happiness. Sabnock nodded and said, pointing his left thumb to his chest, while holding the container with the remaining sweets in the palm of his right hand, "Of course! One such as I am must know how to cook, a Demon King must be able to recognize the eaten dishes from the crumbs! As you can see, my rival, one such as I can satisfy your palate. When you are by my side, you will never have to fear a skipped meal or a tasteless snack”
For the first time, Iruma didn't seem intimidated by that obvious reference to his courtship proposal. Under the astonished gaze of Asmodeus and the curious gaze of Clara who in the meantime had helped herself to some sweets, Iruma didn't seem to be displeased by the prospect. "Iruma-sama, don't let his cooking skills fool you! Stupid Clara and I can cook much better! We'll prove it to you right away!" he exclaimed, determined. Clara accepted the challenge with joy and took out everything she needed from Toy-Toy, including the kitchen.
The Misfits, with Iruma sitting in the center in the place of honor, witnessed the first culinary competition between them. On one side, Sabnock, who was already ready with another idea for a sweet. On the other, Asmodeus and Clara, determined not to be beaten by Sabnock. It was a culinary challenge with spatulas and sugar everywhere, but in the end both sides brought sweets that looked inviting and smelled like they would taste sublime. The Misfits were happy to have invited themselves to this challenge as judges, because they were able to enjoy a great snack at no cost and zero effort.
"Delicious!" was the final verdict of Iruma, the judge whose judgment was the most important for the challenge. Iruma had not grown up fussy about food at all, any edible food was okay for him. Both sides were declared winners, much to the dissatisfaction of the wannabe chefs. Momonoki, who in the meantime had entered the Royal One and was ready to start the lesson, politely refused the sweets left over from the challenge and ordered everything to go back to their place.
The attempts to approach and get to know Iruma further continued, much to Asmodeus's displeasure and Sabnock's own surprise. He didn't realize it until the moment of rupture, but his insistence had changed direction from the initial one. He began to consider the same proposal he was so stubbornly pursuing from a different perspective. His "I like you" took on a different meaning than the one he had initially uttered. Sabnock didn't realize it until he was finally alone with Iruma.
Nothing special had happened. The lessons had taken their natural course, Iruma had eaten a lot and often hidden from the Food Police, Sabnock had interacted with him a lot in a completely natural way, Clara was happy and very Clara.
Precisely because everything seemed to be going well, Sabnock did not understand what had gone wrong.
Asmodeus, always at Iruma's right side, acted as a demonic barrier between him and the blue haired boy, while the quartet was heading towards the classroom where Furcas would be holding her lesson. Iruma had just commented on how well the lesson on familiars had gone and how obedient Sabnock's Kelpie and Asmodeus' Gorgon snake had become.
It was almost instinctive for the blond demon to reach out and caress Iruma's head. However, his gesture was abruptly interrupted by the pink haired boy's right arm. Asmodeus first stretched out his arm to physically interrupt the near contact and gave life to a flame to further discourage the demon. "Stop bothering Iruma-sama, you scoundrel!" the pink haired boy ordered angrily. "Hah? And who are you, his mother? Stop being so apprehensive" Sabnock replied annoyed, ready to start a fight if necessary.
The behavior of the pink haired boy was becoming more unbearable to him every day. The constant presence of the pink haired demon at Iruma's side was becoming something that made him nervous and in a bad mood every day.
"Come on, come on, don't fight. Nothing happened..." Iruma tried to intervene, an unaware fuse of that fight. Asmodeus shook his head and said to him in a serious tone "Iruma-sama, this ape is trying to seduce you. The constant chatter, the constant being around you, involving you in his interests, cooking for you... he is clearly trying to extort a positive response from you to his crazy proposal of courtship!"
Clara looked amazed, while Iruma showed concern. Sabnock made an irritated noise and replied "What's your problem? It's normal for me to show my future mate my qualities and make myself known to him. You, on the other hand, always intervene where your presence is not required. You are a hindrance and unnerving, with your constant watching over my rival. Give him space to make a choice, just like I’m doing"
Iruma gulped, clutching a hand at his chest. "Sabnock-kun, are you still going to ask me about my answer?" he asked, fervently hoping for a negative answer. Sabnock looked him straight in the eyes. A clear determination shone in it. "Iruma, you know I'm not a demon prone to defeat or surrender. I respect your time, but I expect an answer" he declared decisively. Iruma looked down at his shoes, unable to stand the sight of those sincere and determined eyes any longer.
Asmodeus replied scornfully, and Sabnock replied harshly. Their bickering reached Iruma's ears as a muffled and confused sound. He began to feel a pain in his stomach, the same one he had developed and felt every time Sabnock returned to the subject of the proposal. Something was wrong. The pain in his stomach was different, worse than usual. A burning sensation started from the lower part of his stomach, quickly developing up to his chest. Iruma tightened both hands on the area of his stomach, as if the touch could be enough to make the burning go away. A vain hope, because it spread further, making him feel even worse.
A strong nausea appeared on his tongue, while cramps in his stomach sped up the burning sensation. Iruma felt it almost in his throat. 'I wonder if this is how dragons feel?' he wondered sarcastically, trying to distract himself from the increasingly acute pain. A general feeling of unease made him sway slightly on his legs, while his torso bent slightly forward. Iruma now had both arms on his stomach, tightened in a vain attempt to calm the burning sensation he felt.
Clara noticed everything. With a gentle, low voice, she leaned over him and took his shoulders in her hands "Irumacchi, are you feeling ill? Should we go to the infirmary?" she asked, worried. Iruma wanted to reassure her and tell her that he was fine, but the pain in his stomach was of a completely different opinion. Iruma felt his heart beating fast, fearing at the same time that it would be clear on his face how bad he was. He knew Clara and knew well that you couldn't lie to her. She was a good older sister with that type of instinct after all.
Iruma nodded, not feeling confident enough to open his mouth, the nausea was becoming so strong. Clara understood and pushed him encouragingly in the direction of the infirmary, away from the three of them. Iruma gave her a dubious look, then thanked her in a low voice and walked away slowly.
Clara watched him carefully until she saw him disappear around the first bend in the corridor. She put her hands on her Toy-Toy pockets and pulled out the object that had come to mind. She took a deep breath and then made a long leap upwards, hitting the small space that separated the two angry demons with the spiked club with the green ribbon she had just summoned. Sabnock and Asmodeus were taken by surprise and stepped back.
"Stupid Clara, what are you doing?!" Asmodeus asked, shocked and worried for the girl at the same time. Clara raised her spiked club and used it to point at the two boys in turn. “You! What are you doing? Stop arguing like children! Even Konchie and Keebow know when to stop! You’re making Irumacchi feel bad with your tantrums!” she exclaimed sternly, in full big sister mode.
Sabnock and Asmodeus blinked, surprised by the reprimand. They looked around and saw that Iruma wasn’t there.
…
Upon his arrival, Iruma found the infirmary empty. He asked permission from no one in particular to enter, bowed briefly, and closed the door behind him. He walked over to one of the many empty beds, took off his shoes, and lay down on it. He pulled the white sheet over his head, huddling against the pain in his stomach.
'It's going away, thank goodness...' he thought, taking deep breaths through his half-open mouth. From the moment he stopped hearing the arguing voices of Sabnock and Asmodeus, he had started to feel better, but the pain in his stomach remained. Iruma wondered if demon gastro protectors also worked on a human like him. He didn't realize he had slipped into a brief, restful sleep until he felt a weight at the foot of the bed.
"Hmm?" Iruma woke slowly, uncovering his head from the sheets to see what had caused the movement at the foot of the bed. With his arms resting on his muscular thighs, he saw Sabnock watching him apprehensively.
"S-Sabnock-kun?" Iruma asked doubtfully, not knowing if he was actually awake. He sat up, still holding the sheet over himself, from his shoulders down. "How do you feel?" the blond demon asked, calmly. Iruma answered positively, after which a strange silence fell over them.
Iruma felt a little uncomfortable because of that abnormal situation. Before he could say anything, Sabnock intervened, asking "Iruma. Does being courted by me... make you uncomfortable?" Iruma looked down, trying to prepare himself for the conversation he had been avoiding until that moment. "I don't know, to be honest" he said, before looking up again. He tightened his hands around the sheet, unseen by the demon. "Sabnock-kun, why are you so hung up on this whole courtship thing? And m-marriage? I'm really sorry, but I just don't get it. Azz-kun explained it to me really well, but... I still don't get it. Why do you want me as your mate? Shouldn't you want someone you really like? Don't you think you might regret it?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Sabnock did not waver, did not ramble, did not beat around the bush. "I've told you before, my rival" he explained, serious and calm. "I like you. You're not a demon I'd find easily. Soft on the outside, a sincere kind soul, but strong on the inside. You're easy-going and go with the flow, but you hold firm to some of your beliefs. Once you have something you really care about, you care like no one else. You have an ambitious side that many underestimate. But not one such as I am"
Iruma's eyes slowly widened in surprise, as the blond demon continued, "You're a pushover, so you don't give anyone a sense of desire to conquer you. But I'm feeling it. I want to conquer you, but not for frivolous or flimsy reasons. I didn't know I was looking for it with such desire, but I found it in you: a rival, someone interested in the Demon Kings like me, a demon that I can truly consider my equal. What I was looking for during my journey to become the Demon King was someone who could understand me. And I found it in you, Iruma"
The blue haired boy parted his lips, but no sound came out. Sabnock leaned slightly towards the blue haired boy. Iruma didn't flinch. The blond demon welcomed this small change as a long step forward, and continued his speech "Just doing this isn't enough for me. We demons are greedy, bringing you to always seek more and satisfy as many of our desires as possible. That's why I want you by my side as a mate too. Having you near me only as a classmate and "friend" is not enough for me. We are demons, greed runs through our veins. What doesn't persuade you to give me a chance to court you? I am strong. I can help and protect you during your journey to acquire greater strength, because I recognize your value and I know that you are not as weak as you may appear to inexperienced eyes. I can support you physically, in training, in studying, emotionally and-"
Sabnock stopped abruptly. His gaze fell on his legs covered by the sheet, but whose outlines could be seen clearly. "You can be my mate, and..." he tried to continue the conversation, but stopped again. Sabnock raised his right hand above Iruma's thighs, holding it open and with his fingers straight. He blinked repeatedly, shocked. A bright pink color appeared on his face and extended to his neck, while the blond demon turned his head away and covered his eyes with his left hand.
'No, absolutely not. My... is the size of one of my rival's thighs' he mentally noted, feeling further embarrassed. "Nevermind. There is no need to touch on that subject. Not happening. Never” he stated, earning a confused expression from Iruma, who hadn’t understood that last part of the speech.
Sabnock shook his head to clear his mind of those thoughts and took a deep breath to try to calm himself. As his face returned to its usual temperature, Sabnock turned back to Iruma and said, “I want you by my side. With me, on the throne. My blessings and my security will be yours. So tell me, Iruma: what keeps you from giving me an answer?”
Iruma looked away, looking around. He focused on the door, afraid that some other student or the nurses might come in before he could finish explaining. "Sabnock-kun, you're not making me uncomfortable" he said, looking at the demon sitting in front of him. "On the contrary, when you're nice to me, I feel all warm inside. It's true that I wanted to make sure and confirm that these feelings you have for me are real, but... I want to tell you the truth, there's something else"
The young human lowered his gaze, his hands starting to shake slightly. Iruma continued, under Sabnock's patient and attentive gaze "I... I've never thought much about the future. Let's say I lived day by day, the next day was something I... earned, I often feared I wouldn't make it. That's why, thinking about a future with someone makes me think. Since I started going to Babyls, I haven't stopped to think about my future here, I've tried to give the best of myself every day. But, a precise and determined future with someone... marriage is not something to be taken lightly, for me. I don't want you to regret having made this choice in the future"
Sabnock shook his head and replied "I don't understand, my rival. Why should I regret it? Is there something I should know?" Iruma bit his lower lip, uncomfortable. Yes, there was something. "It's something I can’t tell freely" he said, doubtful, hesitant. "Someday, when I feel ready, I would like to tell Asmodeus and Clara. Up until now, I've never thought about telling anyone else. I don't know when I will, so I don't want you to make any rash decisions. If you regret it..."
Sabnock gently grabbed Iruma's right hand, pulling it out from under the sheet and encircling it with his left hand. "Iruma, my decision is not rash. I'm not acting on impulse. And I don't believe there's anything in the Netherworld that can make me change"
Iruma's eyes sparkled as he fought to hold back tears. 'Not in the Netherworld... you're right, Sabnock-kun,' the blue haired boy thought, sorrowfully. 'Because I'm not from the Netherworld. And I'm not a demon. I'm not worthy of your feelings'
Sabnock bent his torso slightly forward and brought Iruma's hand close to his left cheek. "As for your answer now, I can wait" he declared, moved by an unshakable trust. "One day, if you'll come to truly trust me, you'll be able to tell me about yourself on your own. Whatever it is you're hiding, I'll listen to it. I'm confident that it will eventually happen. So, one such as I will wait"
Iruma held back a sob, caught by the determined look of the golden eyes staring at him. "I knew from the start that it wouldn't be easy to get a positive answer from you. Is that a reason to give up? I like you, so I'll insist until you tell me clearly that I bother you. So, if you don't want to tell me “no” right now, then prepare yourself. Even if I have to chase you all over Babyls from now until graduation, I will do it without hesitation. Because you are worthy of the attention of the future Demon King such as I am. I'm going to hold you tight and I won't let you go until you give me an answer"
Sabnock turned his face to Iruma's right hand. Maintaining eye contact, he gently kissed the inside of Iruma's wrist. Iruma wasn't yet very knowledgeable about the ways and customs of demons, but the gesture felt very intimate. And Sabnock's gaze suggested his iron will.
Iruma felt his cheeks grow hot, the sound of his heartbeat increasing. 'No, stop' he mentally pleaded with his heart. 'Sabnock-kun will hear my heartbeat. Calm down, please...!' He felt unable to move. His brain started to feel like it was surrounded by the marshmallows that Clara loved to eat for a snack.
"S-Sabnock-kun, what does this mean...?" the blue haired boy asked, almost whispering. Sabnock smirked and answered, giving another light kiss on the inside of Iruma's wrist, then slowly released his hold "Check this out for yourself, I think I made myself clear enough" he replied, visibly satisfied with his reaction. Iruma brought his arm tightly to his chest, his gaze on the bed in embarrassment.
"I... I'll give you an answer, don't worry. I just have to think about it, I don't want to give you a half-hearted answer" The blond demon nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's fine. I'll wait" he said, with a convincing voice. Iruma raised his face and smiled heartily at him, thanking him.
"... Are you done, my rival?" Sabnock asked as Iruma got up from the bed, feeling much better. Iruma froze, shocked "Sabnock-kun, it hasn't even been ten seconds..." Sabnock walked towards the door and said "I tried"
The two left the infirmary, chatting about other things. That afternoon, at home, Iruma asked as he finished his thirteenth dessert after dinner "Grandpa, Opera-san, what does a kiss on the inside of the wrist mean?"
The two demons froze. Sullivan's silverware fell from his hand and slid from the tablecloth to the floor with a clatter, but neither he nor Opera moved to retrieve it. The cat demon, shaking in shock, approached the blue haired boy and replied "Kissing the outside of the wrist is desire, but kissing the inside of the wrist is a declaration of love. Iruma-sama, was there any demon who...?"
The question was left unfinished due to Sullivan's overreaction, who took the form of an egg with small limbs and glasses and started to whine while rolling on the floor that his grandson was too young for such a declaration of deep affection. Iruma was on the verge of fainting from shock and late embarrassment. When, a few days later, Sabnock's advances became so frequent and famous that they were crawling on the tongues of students and teachers, the blond demon discovered that Asmodeus was the last of the obstacles. The summons to the principal's lounge had been announced not by a member of Radio Battle, but by Sullivan's Security Devil.
Sabnock would spend time and energy tackling those two new walls.
THE END?
Iruma had slept soundly that night. The Demon King's mattress was even softer than the first mattress Sullivan had given him, so he fell asleep as soon as he touched the soft surface covered with blankets and sheets of the highest quality. The mattress was comparable to Master, the cloud of Agares, in softness and fluffiness. When he woke up, however, he felt as if hot but not rough rocks were crushing him. The contrast between the soft mattress and the cool sheets was all too obvious.
"So hot..." Iruma groaned, slowly opening his eyes. The room was still dimly lit, but Iruma imagined that the servants or Asmodeus himself would soon come to wake him. He had duties to attend to, he couldn't spend the day lounging around like he did when he didn't have classes. A heavy laugh came from above his head. "Thank you" said a voice he hadn't heard for weeks. Iruma squirmed and tried to wriggle free, his arms and legs stretching out towards the edge of the bed he was supposed to get up from.
“Sabro, that wasn’t a compliment! Come on, I have to get up!” he whined, getting an even tighter hug around his arms and chest in return. Long, straight blonde hair fell onto Iruma’s face, as a breath lightly swept his bangs aside. The heat from Sabnock’s high lean muscle mass made him feel as hot as a furnace. The thought of a furnace caused associations to play in the human’s mind, an endless list of oven-baked foods coming to mind. The memory of the smell of hot food fresh out of the oven made his mouth water. Iruma’s stomach growled loudly, causing the demon who was hugging him to laugh in disarray. Iruma blushed, embarrassed.
“C-Come on, Sabro! I have to get up! I mean it!” he insisted, wriggling even more. "Yes, yes, every wish from the Demon King is a command" Sabnock replied, releasing the embrace. Iruma sat up, the air almost cool compared to the demon's body heat.
Iruma turned around and ran his right hand through the demon's blond hair, while the latter took advantage of that moment to hug him around the waist and rest his head on one of the human's thighs. He wasn't snoring, so he wasn't really asleep. 'He's so tired, he should just think about resting...' Iruma thought, lost in his thoughts.
Years had passed since the days of Babyls. Things had happened, both good and bad. He had become the Demon King, something that not many could have predicted. As well as his choice of mate. Iruma leaned down and kissed Sabnock on the forehead, who tightened his grip around his hips. Iruma straightened, thinking about the events of the previous evening.
Another day as the Demon King had ended, meaning hours and hours of commitments and meetings to fix what was wrong in the Netherworld. He wasn't alone on that mission, as the Misfits had become Thirteen Crowns. Some of them went, spontaneously or after long discussions around the table of the Thirteen, to carry out missions of varying importance and secrecy in the various areas of the Netherworld. Sabnock had left weeks before, the area where he had voluntarily proposed to go was very dangerous and gripped by small but numerous wars between demon clans. There was no news of him until the previous evening.
"One such as I is here!" he roared at the top of his lungs as he flew from outside Babel, badly followed by the army he had brought with him. Iruma, with Asmodeus, Clara and Purson at his side, looked out towards the internal garden of the 664th floor. The human Demon King was relieved and happy at the sight of his mate, back in one piece and energetic as ever.
Sabnock dove into the giant fountain in the center of the garden, under the astonished gaze of the four spectators. He came out triumphant, shook off the water and made a quick sprint to fly to the balcony where Iruma and the other Crowns were watching him. "I have no intention of dirtying my mate with the blood of his enemies" he explained, stretching out his arms towards the Demon King. Iruma sighed in relief and let himself be hugged. He reciprocated, his human arms tightening around the back of the demon who didn't seem hurt.
Asmodeus had already started to scold him for his terrible barbarian attitude, Clara was asking how it went with her eyes shining with curiosity, while Purson was muttering something annoyed about the fact that it was really time for him to find a girlfriend.
As unpredictable as he had been since the days of Babyls, Sabnock slung Iruma over his left shoulder and set off on foot toward the upper floors. "I'm tired, I'll report tomorrow. Good night, everyone!" he said, purposely ignoring the various surprised or angry retorts.
Iruma stretched his arms upwards, aching from the tightness of the blond demon's arms. He was really tired. He dragged him to the bed and lay down on it with him in his arms, who could do nothing but give in and sleep.
Iruma managed with no small amount of difficulty to free himself from the grip of Sabnock's muscular arms. He still had on one of the Demon King clothes that he used for formal and official occasions. The previous night he had not been able to take a bath, so he decided to make up for it. When he returned to the room, he saw that Sabnock was still sleeping, his arms in a circle where he had been holding him earlier.
Iruma smiled at the sight. Not everyone could say they could see one of the strongest Crowns like that. In fact, it was a sight that only he enjoyed exclusively and that he could boast about if he wanted to.
Iruma walked to the closet and pulled out the robe that Asmodeus had shown him the day before for his daily duties. "Why are demons obsessed with corsets?" he muttered to himself, starting to get dressed. He took off his bathrobe and put on the dress from the bottom up. Underwear, socks, pants, boots, everything was regular. There was only one problem, and it wasn't yet another dark cloak that, according to Asmodeus, gave him the aura of a fearsome Demon King.
Iruma sighed heavily, trying to figure out how to put it on. He somewhat missed the days when Opera helped him put on the more complex outfits. Usually Sabnock helped him or when he wasn't there Asmodeus, but it was never nice when he ran into Sabnock in his rooms. Arguments started and ended after a long time. But he couldn't even ask the servants, because they shouldn't have had the chance to see her bare back. His nature was still a secret kept by few. A rustling and a croaking noise reached his ears.
Two large, heavy hands rested on Iruma's bare shoulders, while a gentle kiss rested on his nape. "Do you need a hand, Iruma?" the blond demon asked sleepily, closing the distance between their bodies. "Don't worry, you're already tired. Think about resting, I'll use some spells" the young ruler replied, raising his head. Sabnock didn't agree. He took the corset from his hands and began to put it on him with a skill that suggested experience.
"Let me help you" said the blond demon, less sleepy. He placed his left hand on Iruma's left hip, while his right hand began to lift the zipper. Luckily, it wasn't the lace-up model, because Iruma couldn't stand it but couldn't say it out loud yet. Even as a Demon King, he remained a bit of a pushover like when he was a boy.
The zipper stopped at some point. "Wait. I think it's stuck" Sabnock noted, slightly tightening his grip. "I-I haven't gained weight! I swear!" Iruma replied embarrassed, holding himself up with his hands on the furniture in front of him. Sabnock chuckled, his mouth close to Iruma's left ear. "I know, you're not very squishy... here" he stated, gently tightening his grip on the sovereign's left hip. Iruma blushed, both at the sentence and at the contact there. The demon's left hand held him well by the hip, despite the fabric of the corset he could feel the hard fingers and a little rough from years of handling weapons. Iruma flinched, more and more embarrassed. "Is it still not done...?" he asked breathlessly. Sabnock zipped up his zipper a little more and replied, satisfied, “Done”
Iruma nodded and thanked him, then turned away. Sabnock was still standing there, his eyes fixed on him. "I need to cool down" the demon said out loud, as if talking to himself. Iruma tilted his head slightly, confused. Sabnock stroked his head with his left hand, while he placed his right hand on his forehead "You're so small and adorable, I feel like I'm going to crush you with too much force. Why are humans so small and frail?"
Iruma puffed out his cheeks, offended "I'm not small!" he replied. Sabnock laughed heartily, continuing to stroke his head. He took his left wrist with his right hand and stroked the inside of his wrist with his thumb "I know how strong you are. But your body doesn't show it at all. You've gotten a little taller, but that's all" Iruma was about to retort about the height issue, since he had gained a good six inches since Babyls' time, when the demon hugged him with his left arm.
With his mouth on the human's right ear, Sabnock stated "A wrist so frail, it could break..." He moved his right hand to Iruma's neck, sliding his fingertips from the neck to the crook of the neck, stopping at the collar bone "What a thin neck, for the Demon King..." he added, almost absentmindedly. Iruma placed both hands on the demon's arms "Sabro, please, don't let me get any more bites. I have official business today" he warned, serious but not stern. Sabnock raised his head and rested his forehead against the human's, his large hands cupping his face gently.
"When you have free time, would you like to tell me something about the Human Realm again? I really love your vast knowledge of that unknown world" the demon proposed. Iruma agreed. "Alright… but really, I don't have much else to say. I've traveled here and there, but I don't have any real historical knowledge or anything, just episodes from my old life" he explained, hoping not to disappoint his mate. Sabnock smiled affectionately "Don't worry, every piece of information you reveal is sensational for us demons. After all, your knowledge has brought about many changes in the lives of those who have known you. And you’ll tell me what kind of life you had in the human world, and what kind of humans you have known before us. I still want to know more about you"
Sabnock kissed Iruma on the lips, leaving him in surprise "I missed you. You, with your admirable charm and your bashful nature. Your kindness and thoughtfulness for the feelings of all demons, since long before you became Demon King. I love every part of you, and I've missed every part of you"
Iruma blushed and looked down in embarrassment, like in the old days. "Okay, when I’ll have a free moment" he promised, feeling his face heat up. The smile on Sabnock's lips grew longer. He gave the human another kiss, deeper this time. He pressed their lips together again, then he parted Iruma’s lips with his own, expertly capturing his tongue with his own. Iruma clung even tighter to the demon's arms, enjoying the sensations of the kiss but keeping his duties in mind
"S-Sabro, really... are you going to kiss me all day?" the young human asked, receiving a sly look in return. "Is that my king’s wish? One such as I will obey right away" he replied, approaching Iruma's mouth again to kiss him. The latter was unable to keep an ounce of distance. Iruma's face blushed even more at the mate's intentions and the constant grabbing of his lips with his own.
Iruma's eyes widened in surprise when he felt himself lifted by the hips and legs, to be carried back to the bed. Sabnock finally broke the kiss and held the Demon King to his chest, a grip impossible to break.
"I'm really tired. Asmodeus won't be here any time soon. Let's sleep a little longer. If you need to go to the bathroom, just tap my shoulder six times" he said, then closed his eyes and rested his chin on top of Iruma's head.
"Wha- Wait, wait! Sabro! Sabro!" the young human whined, in shock. When he heard Sabnock snore lightly, Iruma realized that he had truly fallen asleep. Iruma tried to protest and squirm, but to no avail.
Asmodeus was not at all happy to enter the room and find the Demon King and his mate deeply asleep.
THE END