Chapter Text
During recess on a certain Friday in the Royal One, the ten boys of the Misfit Class relaxed in the napping room, filled with pillows, snacks, and chatter. They talked about various things. Debates about snacks, movies, and sometimes maybe even pretty girls.
Iruma and Azz were talking about their plans to go to the movies with Clara, Kamui and Gaap talked about hanging out with a few girls from the next class at a karaoke bar the weekend before while Jazz, Soi and Sabro were looking into the newest releases in the music industry, while both Schenider and Agares quietly had their own time both reading a book and taking a necessary beauty sleep respectively.
While all of this was happening, Clara, Elizabetta and Kerori went on a hangout, having tea together while bringing Ameri with them, of course alongside a batch of cookies as they talked about…personal stuff! Stuff that no boy should ever hear.
And then there was Shax Lied.
Lied bloomed with a wide grin on his face, a vibe that confused the other guys in his class. He looked at his phone as if he had just won the lottery, as if he won a sports betting competition. You just know something is up.
“What’s going on with him?” Azz asked sarcastically while being with Iruma, as Lied hummed a playful tune. Sure, the humming was cute, but his chirpiness may seem that he has something diabolical up his own sleeve.
“Ah,” Jazz stepped in. “He’s probably thinking about Nee-san again. A ‘hello’ from her is enough for him to go wild. You know how he is.”
Azz scoffed and rolled his eyes, seeing how downright bad the blonde-haired demon was for Elizabetta. “Shouldn’t have asked.”
Iruma, not wanting to assume, went up to Lied to see if what Jazz was saying was true. Jazz knew that it was going to be Elizabetta again, as he had heard enough about her from him in the past week.
“L-Lied-kun…” Iruma quietly went up to his friend, a bit curious about what's been going on with him. “You seem to be in a really good mood today! What’s the news?”
“Hm?” Lied looked up to see the curious bluenette, and all he could do is share a smug grin on his face. “Well…” Lied began as his grin grew wider, “Nee-san and I have been sharing pictures of desserts lately!” He yelled out, with much excitement from his tone as he blushed.
Iruma and the guys caught on, and it got a bit too awkward. Awkward in the sense where they thought: ‘Ugh, this again.’ Meanwhile, all Agares could do was just tell the guys to keep quiet. After all, he was taking his necessary beauty sleep.
“Look!” Lied excitedly as he showed Iruma his phone. “This was just sent five minutes ago! She sent me a picture of this delicious blueberry cupcake she’s having with the girls! And she even greeted me warmly today! Gosh, today’s been super devi-amazing so far!”
Awkward silence piled up, followed by Iruma who necessarily broke the ice.
“So…you two have been texting recently?” Iruma questioned his friend.
“Yessiree!” Lied jumped out of his seating position as he hugged the closest pillow he could find, twirling around in joy. “And warm greetings too!”, he continued as he hugged the pillow even tighter.
“Trust me guys, I’m getting closer. I’m on my way to becoming the one for her. Everything’s going according to plan. NEE-SAN IS THE GREATEST OF ‘EM ALL!!!”
Lied suddenly had a smug grin on his face as he crossed his arms in a feeling of victory, truly believing he had a chance against the one, the only, Ix Elizabetta. A girl so divine that she can charm any man she wants. Her kindness, maturity, and soft-spoken nature charmed Lied in ways he cannot explain. They had been texting as of late, but a lot of it was just surface level. Pictures of sweets, asking each other how their day has been, and sometimes even homework. But it was enough for Lied to think that he was gonna become her boyfriend. A chance. Azz stood there, unable to cope with the sheer delusion that his friend was experiencing, thinking it was a lost cause. Truth be told, he would’ve folded if Iruma told him that he liked somebody. He would’ve been his biggest supporter and encouraged him as much as he could.
Lied WORSHIPPED Elizabetta, to a point where he got on his knees to apologize to a picture of her. Anything Elizabetta related he would fold, no matter what, even at the time where he got invited by her to watch a musical choir at the Battler Party, he got mad at Soi and Jazz for stopping him from hanging out with her. He would brag about talking to her as well, and if they do talk, it's apparently a sign that today was going to be a good day.
“See? Told ya. He was gonna let everybody know eventually.” Jazz nonchalantly replied as he chuckled. But he had been on the receiving end of this for a while now, and it was grinding his gears. Azz sighed and slowly facepalmed, before turning to Iruma, who did appreciate Lied’s burst of motivation, but he is taking it to a higher level.
“Come on, Iruma-sama. Let’s go before his grandiose delusion spills on us. Especially on you!”
“A-Azz-kun!” A shocked Iruma began. “It won’t spill on me!”
Lied crossed his arms once again and chuckled, feeling like none of the guys knew how he truly felt. After all, everyone’s brain is unique here in Babyls, certain goals can motivate anyone. Like Sabro wanting to be the Demon King when he first got to this school.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You guys don’t believe in destiny, do ya?” Lied began as his purple eyes showed grit and determination. “To be a winner, you gotta fight! Fight for what and who you love! Nee-san may be untouchable, yes. But with good looks, gentlemanliness, and kindness, these can take you anywhere. And it will take me to her heart!”
“How splendid of you, Mr. Lied!” The Misfit owl Kamui unexpectedly steps in to support Lied’s ramblings. “A true gentleman is a fighter for the one he loves! Truly an acceptable response!”
“Kamui! Of course you get me!” Lied turned to the owl, where they both fist-bumped each other in delight, confusing the guys even more. Most of them knew it was a lost cause by the end of the day. Azz facepalmed, Iruma awkwardly chuckled and Jazz just chuckled as he looked at his phone, but internally he was losing his mind over his friend who was clearly losing his mind as well. Gaap, Sabro and Soi all just looked at each other while Schneider continued reading his book. Oh and Agares quietly told everyone to shut up once more.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, Soi stepped up, and calmly tapped Lied’s shoulder behind.
“Lied.”
Lied turned around to see the mysterious but talkative demon as he was looking at his phone. “Hmm? Soi-soi?”
“You’re down bad. Like horrendously down bad. This is a level of down bad that is deeper than the depths of Hell. And there are only nine layers of it. Yours is the tenth. No, not even the tenth. The thirteenth. That’s how bad it is. As I’ve listened to your ramblings about her in the past few days, you’re just straight up worshipping Elizabetta-san. At this point, Kamui-kun isn’t even as crazy as you right now when it comes to girls or Asmodeus-kun when it comes to Iruma-kun. You’re even as down bad as my own mother, who couldn’t stop noticing every little detail about my father, her husband. A man she married. You’re more likely to create a shrine tribute for her out of everyone who is coming from Babyls. Out of everyone who admires Elizabetta-san, you take it to unimaginable ways.. Not every conversation means you have a chance with her, and you’re living in delusion. Yes, she is gorgeous. Divine to be honest, but she likes everyone and I understand that because of her abilities you may feel that she likes you too. Many do. And don’t let me forget about the times that you talked like a middle-schooler when you talk to her. The way you stutter up like it’s your first job interview. You’re obsessed, Lied. Really obsessed. And some of your comments are pervy as devi looking back. Not to mention the fact that you wag your tail like a pet whenever she greets you or how you probably have a folder of her on your pho-”
“WHOA WHOA WHOA! THAT’S ENOUGH, SOI-SOI!” Lied immediately stepped up, covering Soi’s mouth with his own bare hands. But Soi said enough to validate what almost everyone in the room was thinking.
“But I wasn’t fini-” Soi stepped back, but not before Lied took another step forward to close his mouth again.
“NUH UH! NOT ANOTHER WORD OF THIS!” Lied yelled out as he pressed his hands on Soi’s mouth to keep him shut.
“I don’t know, dude. Soi’s kind of right.” Jazz stepped in as he scratched his head, making Lied turn to his direction. “Nee-san likes everybody. She likes all of us. But that doesn’t mean we feel the same way you do. You gotta relax on that, buddy.”
“Jazz-dono’s right.” Gaap chimed in more gently to fill his thoughts onto the situation. “It is nice that you are able to truly express how you feel for Nee-san, but it is kind of unhealthy, Lied-dono. It’s only going to hurt you in the long run.”
“Exactly.” Sabro’s voice made wavelengths as Lied turned to him as the giant sat in the corner of the napping room. “You’re being controlled by lust, Lied. Lust is normal, since it’s her ability. And from what I know, lust is an ultimate distraction from your true priorities. Demon King aside.”
A few nodded. Sabro crossed his arms, Jazz sighed, Azz looked personally offended by reality and Iruma was unsure of the situation.
Meanwhile, Agares quietly opened his sleeping mask to tell Lied the following words:
“Dude…you’re just weird.” Immediately after, Agares went back to sleep on his little cloud, adding more comedic timing.
“AGARES? GO TO SLEEP, BRO?” Lied yelled out to the sleeping beauty.
“Right. Just shut your mouth.” Agares bit back, before going back to bed once more.
“U-Um…” Iruma stepped in to give Lied his thoughts. “I guess they’re all right, Lied-kun. J-Just know that we wouldn’t want you to feed into these kinds of delusions! It’s okay to like Nee-san! But if what they’re saying is true, that it’s getting out of hand, please take a step back!”
Everyone nodded, especially Azz, the biggest Iruma supporter, probably after Clara.
“Amazing words, Iruma-sama! Give him a piece of your mind!”
Iruma awkwardly smiled at the passive aggression from Azz. “Haha, Azz-kun, that’s enough.”
Lied felt cornered, as he was facing a touch of reality in their voices pressing on him. Of course he liked Elizabetta, but he didn’t wanna lose the grasp of hope that he had. That he could be Elizabetta’s one true love. Of course, we can’t help but feel it, but sometimes it gets too much.
“B-But-” Lied stuttered, but not before Schneider closed his book and called out his name. Those words were kept shut the moment Schneider stepped up.
“Lied.” Schneider began as Lied turned to his direction. “Listen to them. Sometimes, we can’t really be the one for the girl we like. And what Sabro said is true. You’re feeling lust, not love. You’re just simply getting charmed by Nee-san like everybody does.”
“But she is charming! Like she’s literally so beautiful! The most charming of them all-” Lied interrupted Schneider.
“Yes, of course. Everybody likes her. We as a group of guys could write many things about what we like about Nee-san.” Schneider continued where he left off. “But you should go for somebody who actually likes you back. Who you could be yourself around, because most of us can agree here that you mostly put up a mask when you’re with Nee-san.”
“Right.” Soi stepped up. “No one’s really hiding themselves in plain sight when they were talking to her after all.”
Lied stood still, as the boys around him secretly agreed that maybe Lied was being a different demon whenever Elizabetta was around. Everyone was able to be themselves when talking to each other, and Elizabetta was the only one where Lied felt the need to put up a mask in a secret desire to impress her.
“Like, it is difficult to find someone new, don’t get me wrong, and I appreciate your ‘never give up’ attitude.” Schneider continued. “But you can’t force it. The thing with Nee-san is that she would probably go for a man who isn’t truly charmed by her abilities. Honestly, I’ve seen you and Nee-san talk, but is it really going anywhere? I mean, beyond desserts and greetings…”
Lied couldn’t answer. He tried opening his mouth, but nothing came out. The words just weren’t there. He found it hard to grasp the right words to answer Schneider’s question. He laughed, but it came out quieter than he expected. Something about the way Schneider said it didn’t really sit right. Or maybe it sat too right. He’s liked Elizabetta for the longest time, about over two years. And realistically, more than just getting her number, it never went anywhere. The more he thought about it.. He looked down in the dumps. He didn’t want to give up his pursuit in Elizabetta, but Schneider stood up and put his hand on Lied’s shoulder.
“Listen, Lied. You’ll find someone eventually. Who knows where love will take you. Maybe in the school, maybe in the woods, or maybe somewhere in the Commodity Centre or a Sabbath. It will take time, but never rush it, Lied. At all. Love takes time, and lust rushes.”
Lied chuckled, but still down in the dumps. “Was this your approach when you got with Furcas-sensei’s daughter?”
“Hey.” Schneider pressed Lied's shoulder more intensely than ever. “We’re not a thing. She’s just fooling around.”
“Psh, whatever.” Lied rolled his eyes. He planned to argue once more, but he decided to calm down. He looked around, scratched the back of his head, before letting out a small smile as he sighed. “I uh…thanks, guys! But I just thought that I meant something to Nee-san after all.”
Denial. He looked around to see if anyone validated his feelings. No one did. Everyone had a disappointed look on their faces. His pride couldn’t let it go. His confidence started dripping down by the minute. And as he looked down, he looked at his palms.
“I just thought…that I had a chance…”
Lied bent down, before chuckling away at his own expense.
“Hah…when you guys make it sound that way it makes me feel…pathetic!”
No one responded for a good six seconds, until Jazz went up.
“Dude. You’re not pathetic.” Jazz began. “You just got too deep into it. It’s normal. Schneider’s right, you will find someone eventually. Maybe not Nee-san, maybe not someone from this school. But don’t fall apart in our eyes! It’d be a pain in the tail if you do.”
Lied chuckled as Jazz jokingly teased him, like he always did when things went south. He got up, shook his head and let out a sigh of relief.
“I guess I got too carried away with what I feel, didn’t I? Thanks guys…”
Schneider chuckled, before smiling at his fellow classmate. “Anytime, partner.”
Sabro and Soi stepped in to pat Lied, while they both encouraged him that it would be okay. Demons are supposed to be resilient after all, and it was much needed. Gaap, Kamui and Iruma gave him looks of approval, assuring him that it’ll be alright eventually. Even Agares bumped him with his cloud. He did listen, he just didn’t show it. All of a sudden, the bell rang. It was time for class again, just the final stretch before the day was over as always.
“Well, I guess that’s that.” Jazz chimed in, before quickly walking away but tapping Lied’s shoulder as a sign of respect, hoping that what Schneider said will get to his head.
“Come on, Iruma-sama, we have class. We have Momonoki-sensei next.” Azz chirped as he let his ‘master’ know about the schedule as he replied with enthusiasm. “Okay, Azz-kun! Sure, let’s get going.” Iruma replied with a smile, as he and Azz slowly walked out, before they both talked about the movies. Kamui meanwhile, gave Lied a high five, and let him know that he still agrees with what he had said earlier.
As all of the guys left the napping room, Lied quietly stood still, thinking about what Schneider said to him. Which was an ultimate eye-opener.
“Who knows where love will take you. Maybe in the school, maybe in the woods, or maybe somewhere in the Commodity Centre or a Sabbath. It will take time, but never rush it, Lied. At all. Love takes time, and lust rushes.”
He remembered his tone. Schneider definitely wanted the best for him after all. All of them do, since Lied is a dear friend to them in the long run. Suddenly, a little adorable head popped out, once he realized Lied hadn’t left the room yet. It was Iruma, who went on to check on it.
“L-Lied-kun? Are you gonna join us for Momonoki-sensei’s class?”
“Hm? Oh yeah! Sorry ‘bout that. Just a second, Iruma-kun!” Lied smiled, but not as wide as usual. As Iruma nodded and left the napping room, he took a deep breath and sighed, before heading out the room himself.
‘Okay, let’s get out of here.’ He thought, as he closed the lights to the napping room and closed the door, as a new period in class began. He didn’t feel exactly fine, but he kept moving anyway. Schneider’s words stuck with him. In a way he understood, not in a way where he felt like he was getting mocked, whether he liked it or not.
The guys reached Momonoki’s classroom where they met with the girls, while acting like none of the stuff they said and heard in the napping room happened. Lied sat with Jazz and Gaap, and soon after, Elizabetta sat ahead of the three, while she was with Kerori. She waved at the three, greeting them. “Hello, you three!” Elizabetta greeted with a bright-like aura circling around her. She truly was the most beautiful girl after all, and everybody knew that.
But the burden of giving up on her made Lied feel a bit…sad.
“Hey Nee-san!” Gaap and Jazz both greeted her in unison, while Lied, still reeling from the effects of that talk earlier, only waved with a slight smile. Didn’t say a single word to her, and it made Elizabetta catch on. But she didn’t budge.
For the rest of the lecture as Momonoki-sensei taught the Misfit Class, Lied was just silent. Zoned out to be exact. He was still pondering about what Schneider told him. What Soi told him. What everybody in the napping room told him, as he suddenly began to remember all of the laughs he shared with Elizabetta. The time she gave him his number, the time they shared jokes together. That moment at the Harvest Festival. That time they danced together at the Music Festival. Every moment seemed special, but as the lecture went on, he started connecting the dots.
Maybe she just didn’t feel the same way he did after all…
Lied looked down at his desk. Did he really just read too much into everything at this point?
He blinked slowly. The way she smiled, the way she talked, he realized that that's just how Elizabetta was. She treated everybody the same, both guys and the girls. It was his own fault for getting his hopes up.
His chest tightened, only slightly. It was never special in the first place.
Lied swallowed up. His overthinking didn't end there. It looped over and over again. Eventually, he let out a deep breath and laid his head down on the desk during the lecture. Gaap and Jazz noticed, but they decided to just leave him be, assuming that he was thinking about the talk earlier.
As time passed, Momonoki dismissed the class. As she left the room, so did the students, who were moving on to the last class before homeroom, which was Dali’s.
As everybody left, Lied took a deep sigh before slowly getting up to get out of the classroom, but not before Elizabetta stepped in.
“Lied-kun.”