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While it wasn't unheard of for a demon to catch a cold, it wasn't the most common occurrence either. Most demons were able to cure any minor ailments with their own mana, making it a rare instance for a demon to miss school or work for such an inconvenience.
Iruma, however, was not a demon. He didn't generate his own mana, meaning he couldn't cure his sickness on his own. He could ask Alikred, the physical manifestation of his ring, to cure him. Then again, asking the tiny being to treat his silly cold with his mana didn't feel right. Iruma would feel guilty asking for a silly favor like that, especially with the way he always used Ali's mana in such rapid bursts. Ali still hasn't let him hear the end of it after his stunts at the Battler's Party and Walter Park. Iruma had vowed to be more mindful of his mana usage since then.
It seemed to be a normal morning. That is until Opera came to the realization that Iruma wasn't up yet. The teenage human was always up the moment his hellraiser clock began to screech. By now he should be walking out of his bedroom to join Sullivan for breakfast.
The security demon gently knocked on the door to Iruma's bedroom, "Iruma-sama?" they called out, knocking once again when there was no reply. After waiting a few short moments he gently pushed the door open, one again calling the young master's name, "Iruma-sama? It's time for school," He called again.
The hellraiser clock was screeching loudly, indicating that it wasn't a case of his alarm not going off. Opera approached the large bed, noticing Iruma was still asleep. The human's face was a deep shade of red, the color rivaling Opera's hair.
Opera gently reached their hand down to feel Iruma's forehead, making the human whimper softly and nuzzle into their cold knuckles. Opera's eyes widened a little as they came to the quick realization that Iruma had a fever. The security demon reached over to silence the alarm before swiftly leaving the room to gather essential items to assist Iruma through his cold.
Opera gently placed a cold cloth on Iruma's forehead after pushing his bangs back. They hummed softly before going to crack the window, allowing some fresh air to enter the bedroom.
Then, the most dreaded step of all. They had to inform Master Sullivan of the tragedy before them. Opera tried to break the news gently, but the moment, 'Iruma' and 'sick' left their lips, the chairdemon burst into tears and rushed to his grandson's side. He began blubbering the moment he was Iruma shifting uncomfortably in his bed.
Iruma whined softly as he finally opened his eyes, blearily looking at the two figures standing above his bed, "Grandpa?...Opera-san?" he whispered, his voice slightly rough from how dry his throat was. He quickly began to cough, his body curling into a ball as he shook with each harsh cough.
Sullivan's sobs only got heavier and he hugged Iruma within an inch of his life, "Oh, my darling Iruma!" He sobbed loudly, "How could my precious grandson catch such a vile cold?" He wailed.
Iruma let out a sweet giggle as he was hugged and shook around, "Grandpa, I'm fine," He whispered. He didn't want to worry anyone over a silly cold.
Opera rested a hand on Sullivan's shoulder, "Sir, you need to get going soon," They said, reminding the chairdemon of the importance of his job. Despite all his whining and crying, Sullivan knew he couldn't stay at Iruma's side, "Fear not, Sullivan-sama. I will stand by Iruma-sama's side until you return,"
The promise to look after his darling grandson put Sullivan's mind at ease. Opera's words were the only thing that convinced him to leave Iruma's side. He gently pet the teenager's head with a smile, "Get some rest, my dear Iruma-kun," He whispered, "If you need me, you can call me at any time," He assured, making Iruma smile warmly.
"Thank you, Grandpa," He whispered, leaning into Sullivan's hand as his head was pat. He was quick to slip off into dreamland once again, too sleepy to stay awake long enough for breakfast.
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Word of Iruma's cold was quick to spread throughout the Royal One. His absence was noted first by Asmodeus. He had come to school on his own today as he needed to meet with Kalego-sensei early to discuss a grade.
The second to notice his absence was Clara, who coincidentally had also come to school alone. She was up late helping one of her little siblings through a nightmare, which caused her to oversleep. In order to not be late, she regrettably had to pass on walking to school with Iruma and Asmodeus.
Their classmates were theorizing how intense the cold must be if he wasn't able to cure it with a bit of magic. Of course, they didn't know the truth about Iruma being a human being. Their gossip and theorizing quickly agitated Asmodeus, who abruptly stood from his seat. He turned to rush out of the classroom, only to be stopped by their teacher.
"Silence," Kalego commanded, making his student's chattering come to a halt. He made his way to his chair, huffing softly as he sat, "All of you, in your seats. As you've already noticed, Iruma will not be attending class today. Despite his absence, we will continue with our lessons. That includes you, Asmodeus," he said, saying direct eye-contact with the pink-haired student. He then turned his focus back to the class as a whole, "Now sit down, all of you," He commanded. With that, their lessons began.
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Asmodeus' agitation grew rapidly throughout the school day. He was cold to anyone that dared to speak to him, feeling quite agitated without his master at his side. Iruma was his ambition, and being apart from the human was utter torture.
Clara was also acting uncharacteristically. She had tried to cheer Asmodeus up, but she was just as worried as he was. When their final class ended, she immediately wrapped her arms around Asmodeus', "Azz-Azz, do you think Iruma-chi is okay?" She asked worriedly, pressing her cheek against his bicep.
Admodeus blushed a bit as he looked down at Clara. He huffed and gently flicked her forehead as he avoided eye contact, "Stupid Clara, of course he's okay! He's the strongest demon in our class!" He proudly announced before he faltered. What if Iruma wasn't okay? What if he needed them, and they weren't there?
Clara noticed the worry in his expression and smiled, hugging his arm tighter, "Let's surprise him!" She cheered before letting go of his arm. She took a step back before patting her pocket, creating a basket. She pushed it into Asmodeus' arms before beginning to rapidly pat her pockets. All kinds of snacks, drinks, and trinkets were flying out of her pockets, messily dropping into the basket.
Asmodeus raised an eyebrow as the basket was shoved into his arms before his eyes widened as he did his best to catch every item she hurled at him. He quickly caught on to her idea of giving Iruma a gift basket. He huffed and set the basket on one of the desks in the Royal One, "Stupid Clara! We can't give him such a messy gift!" He said, removing all the contents of the basket, "We need to arrange it nicely! He needs to know how much we appreciate him!"
Clara giggled happily as she moved to stand beside Asmodeus, pressing her body against his as she helped him sort through all the goodies she created. The two of them took their time assembling the gift basket, perfectly arranging all the little gifts.
Once Asmodeus was satisfied with the presentation of their gift, he lifted it into his arms, "Now, let us make haste!" He said, practically sprinting out the door, "We must get to Iruma-sama!" He cheered, making Clara giggle as she chased after him.
"Iruma-chi! Iruma-chi!" She cheered, linking her arm with Asmodeus' as they made their way to their best friend's home.
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Opera was quick to answer the door as frantic pounding could be heard on the other side. They cracked the tiniest smile when they saw Asmodeus and Clara panting softly, faces flushed and hair tousled as they stood outside the door. It was clear from their appearances that they had flown as fast as they could to get to Iruma's side.
Opera placed a finger to their lips to shush the two teenagers. They then stepped aside, silently inviting them inside, "Iruma-sama is asleep in his bedroom. Please do your best not to wake him,"
Asmodeus nodded, quickly removing his shoes at the door before lighting scolding Clara to do the same with her slippers. The two then rushed to Iruma's bedroom, being as silent as possible.
The evening sun was gently cascading across Iruma's face as he slept in his oversized bed. His breathing was slow and rhythmic, showing pure tranquility.
Seeing his master made Asmodeus perk up. All his worries washed away seeing Iruma sleeping so peacefully. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, gently pushing Iruma's hair out of his face.
Clara quickly followed, setting the gift basket on Iruma's nightstand before sitting beside Asmodeus. She gently grabbed Iruma's hand in her own, giving a light squeeze as she admired his sleeping face. She smiled softly, "Iruma-chi is so beautiful," She commented with a light blush.
Asmodeus blinked a bit as he looked down at the girl before humming, "I agree. He is as radiant as the morning sun," He whispered, a proud smile on his face. He was honored to serve such a magnificent being.
The two continued to whisper their praises until Iruma began to stir. The human boy hummed softly as he heard two new voices in the room. He had only had Opera's company all day. Who was he hearing now?
He sleepily opened his eyes, tilting his head a bit to take in the view before him. Asmodeus and Clara were both sitting on the edge of the bed, whispering to each other with soft smiles as they held Iruma's hands. They both looked so breathtaking as the warm afternoon sun began to dip, coating his friends in warm shades of pink and orange.
Iruma slowly pushed himself to sit up, catching the attention of the two demons at his bedside. Clara was the first to react, tackling Iruma in a bone-crushing hug.
"Iruma-chi!" She squealed, burying her face in his warm neck as she embraced him tightly. He laughed softly and turned the gesture, squeezing Clara gently as he nuzzled his face into her soft hair. He held back a harsh cough, not wanting his cold to get transferred to Clara.
After a few moments, Clara pulled away with a big toothy smile. Asmodeus smiled and cupped Iruma's cheek, making the smaller male blush, "Iruma-sama," He whispered, "I apologize for not realizing sooner of your ailment. I would have spent every moment of today at your side if it weren't for Kalego-sensei,"
Iruma blushed as his face was held so gently by Asmodeus. He nuzzled into the warmth of the demon's palm and sighed happily, "Don't apologize, Azz-kun," He whispered with a smile, "It would have been boring anyway. I did nothing but sleep all day,"
"Iruma-sama, it is my duty to serve you, especially when you're in a weakened state," Asmodeus argued.
Clara smiled and put her finger to his lips, "No bad talk! It's time to celebrate Iruma-chi waking up!" She cheered before grabbing the gift basket, plopping it onto Iruma's lap.
Iruma let out a soft, 'Oomph' as the weight of the hefty basket collided with his lap before going into a small coughing fit. He blushed as he realized the basket was for him. Clara's excited babbling and Asmodeus' annoyed scolding became background noise as Iruma stared at the gift before him. Without realizing it, his eyes flooded with tears.
He didn't even realize he was crying until Asmodeus' hand returned to its position on his cheek, gently wiping away the tears with his thumb. Iruma was surprised Asmodeus didn't scratch him with his long nails.
"Iruma-sama?" Asmodeus whispered as he wiped away the tears, "Is the gift not to your liking?" He asked worried.
Iruma quickly shook his head, rubbing at his eyes with a soft sniffle, "N-no, it's not that!" He squeaked as his heart began to race, "I just...I've never been given a gift like this before,"
Iruma had spent his entire childhood fending for himself. His parents never bought him presents or cared for him while he was sick. His only use was physical labor for their get-rich-quick schemes.
Iruma gently put his hand over Asmodeus', leaning into his warm palm, "Thank you very much," He said, a big smile gracing his lips.
"Open it, open it!" Clara cheered, jumping onto the bed before settling herself on Iruma's lap. The human blushed a deep red before timidly nodding and beginning to dig through the basket, his expression only getting more and more excited with each item he pulled out.
Asmodeus was quick to scold Clara for allowing herself to sit on Iruma's lap without permission but eventually gave up on disciplining her as he became transfixed by Iruma's warm smile and bubbly laughter.
The two demons went scarily silent as they soaked up every happy laugh and smile that Iruma let out, even as they were interrupted by coughs. Their hearts began to race as they both rapidly came to the same conclusion. They were in love with Iruma.
Asmodeus and Clara looked at each other in unison, their eyes wide with the realization of their true feelings for their best friend. They gazed into each other's eyes before blushing more and quickly looking away from each other as they reached another truth. They were in love with each other.
Iruma noticed the sudden silence between his friends, looking up from the bag of chips in his hands to see Asmodeus and Clara looking in completely opposite directions, their faces red and their hands clutches tightly to their chests.
Iruma was silent for a moment before speaking, "Azz-kun? Clara?"
The two turned to look at Iruma with wide eyes before looking at each other again. Their hearts began to race as they looked away again. This silent exchange of looks only made Iruma more worried, "Is...Is something the matter?" He asked, reaching out to put a hand on each of their knees.
Clara shivered as she felt the coldness of Iruma's ring against her knee before peeking at Asmodeus again. She slowly snaked her hand over, slipping it into his warm palm. She smiled when he gently squeezed her hand in return.
The taller demon looked at her before taking a deep breath and looking at Iruma, "It appears Valac and I have come to recognize some feelings..." He whispered before resting his free hand on top of Iruma's.
Iruma's already flushed face got redder as Asmodeus held his hand, quickly followed by Clara doing the same, "S-some feelings?" He asked, making Asmodeus and Clara nod.
"Correct..." Asmodeus whispered before looking into Iruma's eyes. He cupped the human's cheek, leaning in until their noses brushed, "Master...May I caress you with my lips?" He asked, his voice low and serious.
Iruma flushed an even deeper red as Asmodeus got so close, requesting a kiss. He slowly nodded, "B-but what abou-"
Before he could finish his words, Asmodeus' lips were on his. Iruma didn't dare to push him away, instead wrapping his arms around Asmodeus' neck to pull him closer. The two shared a brief but passionate kiss before Clara yanked Asmodeus back, "My turn, my turn!"
She pulled Iruma into a much more enthusiastic kiss. Their kisses really showed their personalities, with Asmodeus' being gentle and precise while Clara's was rough and chaotic.
Despite the stark differences in their kisses, they both felt perfect against Iruma's lips.
After a few moments, Asmodeus tugged Clara back from her kiss with Iruma before blushing and leaning in to kiss her as well. Iruma sat in stunned silence as he admired the scene before him. His heart was racing in his chest as his face only got redder.
The two demons pulled away after a brief kiss before they blushed and looked away from each other once again. Asmodeus was first to break the tension by clearing his throat, "I...I suppose we're all courting each other, yes?" He whispered, looking over at Iruma and Clara.
Clara enthusiastically nodded, wrapping her arms around Iruma's neck to hug him tightly, "You're both mine!" She cheered with a cackle.
Iruma laughed happily as he hugged her in return before opening an arm for Asmodeus, "This is nice," He whispered, his smile growing as Asmodeus happily buried himself in Iruma's warm embrace.
Iruma held them silently for a few minutes before he began to cough again. His eyes widened as his cut-off concern returned, "W-wait, what about my cold? You guys are going to catch it from kissing me!" He squeaked. The last thing he wanted was to get either of them sick.
Asmodeus tilted his head, "It would just be a cold. A little magic will clear it up in no time," He said before frowning, "Speaking of, why didn't you heal your cold with magic? It doesn't seem to be a particularly bad cold,"
Iruma paled a little as Asmodeus questioned him, "I-I...Well, you see..." He nervously twirled his thumbs, frantically searching for an excuse.
Thankfully, Asmodeus filled in the blanks himself, "Ah, I see!" He cheered like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "This is a new training regiment! You wanted to test your strength and endurance while your body was weakened!"
Irumi blinked before quickly jumping on board with that idea, "Y-yes, exactly!" He squeaked, relieved he didn't have to explain his situation.
Asmodeus smiled proudly as he so easily read his master's intentions. He cupped Iruma's cheeks and kissed him again, making the human blush a deep red.
Clara giggled and tackled them both in a big hug, forcing them all to lie down side-by-side. Iruma in the middle, Asmodeus on his right, and Clara on his left.
Iruma smiled and hugged them both tightly, his face only getting redder as they fought for his affection.
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As the sun finally set, Opera gently knocked on the door to Iruma's bedroom. They waited a few moments before knocking a second time, once again met with silence. They pushed the door open and stepped inside, followed closely by Sullivan.
A gentle smile graced Opera's lips at the sight before them. Iruma was fast asleep with Asmodeus and Clara on either side of him. They were all holding hands with each other. Clara was sprawled out sporadically while Asmodeus was loyally curled up against Iruma's side.
They all had gentle smiles on their sleeping faces, happy to have reached a mutual understanding of their feelings for each other.
Opera gently pulled the blanket over the three sleeping students before reaching over to pet Iruma's head. A soft purr escaped their throat as they admired Iruma and his friends.
"Sleep well, children," Opera cooed as they silently shooed Sullivan out of the room. Not before allowing the chairdemon to snap some photos for the scrapbook, of course.