Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Iruma no longer lived on Earth, but that didn't mean he had to leave his entire human culture behind.

Sullivan told him that even though he was adapting to the Netherworld, that didn't mean he had to forget everything about being human. In one way or another, those beings had a role to play in the world where he now lived, so he had to strike a balance in his education between demonic and human knowledge. And his grandpa had a point; Balam's classes explained in one way or another the importance of humans, even though they were mostly seen as food.

Therefore, he had to continue to gain knowledge of the human world. However, he couldn't assign that task to just any teacher, knowing that his identity was a mystery to Babyls. So, Sullivan assigned that task to Opera, knowing that they were one of the very few demons who knew that Iruma was human. They were someone he could trust, and although they had had a rebellious past, they were now a demon capable of teaching Iruma a variety of things.

Their classes were varied, based on a schedule they organized each day. On certain days, they asked him to read books on human language that they obtained illegally, on others they reinforced his survival skills, even though he could adapt to the dangers of each hostile environment he encountered. They even began to teach him psychology and social sciences, areas that they adapted to the society of the Netherworld while maintaining his human essence.

Opera might have been a rebel in their school days, but with Iruma, they did everything they could to make sure he understood the class to the fullest. They even got to the point of learning from each other what it was like to be human, so it was a time they made the most of.

This time, the boy had been assigned a special class in Latin and Law. The Netherworld was mostly based on customs and few written rules, but in one way or another, it followed the same rules as the earth: rules to regulate the behavior of demons and ranks.

Iruma went so far as to learn certain principles of law such as “Iura Novit Curia” and “Alterum non laedere,” principles that, although they could not be fully applied in the Netherworld, had another somewhat special form of application. A more demonic application, with little in common with the human world.

They continued until they reached a somewhat special principle. The “Pacta Sunt Servanda,” translated as “agreements must be kept.” According to Opera, this was a principle that mentioned how important it was to comply with the terms of a contract, regardless of whether it was oral or written. And in the Netherworld, it had even more value. Breaching a contract could cause a demon to pay the consequences not only financially, but also with their own life and integrity.

Iruma asked them what consequences breaking such a contract could bring. Opera began to list everything that could happen to a demon: curses with inexplicable pain, endless torture, slavery until the end of their life, even their worst nightmares coming true. Although this applied mostly to high-ranking contracts, Opera mentioned it as if it were applicable to every existing contract.

Their tone was somewhat sinister, and they stopped when they saw Iruma tremble a little. They apologized for being too direct, but sometimes they had to be specific with what they taught Iruma.

However, that fear lingered in Iruma's mind throughout the week. He wanted to make sure he hadn't broken any promises, afraid that one of his friends would hate him for not being a man of his word. Or worse, that they would abandon him, knowing that this was his greatest fear and the worst punishment he could receive.

He wrote a list of the names of his friends and family, beginning to remember all the moments he had spent with each of them. Alice, Clara, Lied, Opera, Sullivan. He was very careful with each of his memories, but little by little his fear eased as he realized that there were no promises he had broken.

Until he got to Ameri's name and his mind remembered something they had never done together. Watching fireworks together.

It was a promise he had made after the incident at the batra festival in his first year. It was very clear that she wanted to watch the fireworks he had made in his batra by his side, but that time he was unable to attend because he was trying to prevent Kirio's destructive plan. Sometime later, he promised her that they would watch other fireworks together that he would prepare with his own efforts. Ameri accepted Iruma's offer, and they made a verbal agreement.

Three years later, he had completely forgotten about it. And he knew that at some point, the punishment for his failure to fulfill his promise would cost him dearly. Therefore, he had to tie up loose ends. So as not to jeopardize his friendship with her.

More than the fear of the punishment that the Netherworld could bring him, he didn't want his relationship with her to be jeopardized by forgetting something as important as that promise. Sure, they had been through a lot together, including some embarrassing and very intimate situations, but that would mean nothing if Ameri didn't get to fulfill her dream of watching the fireworks by his side.

Iruma felt a sense of panic at the response Ameri might give him after three years of not keeping his word. She would probably get angry and stop talking to him forever.

Or worse, she might be able to accuse him to her father that he was human, and his life in the Netherworld would end up as nothing more than a vague memory. If Opera said that breaking a contract would make his worst nightmares come true, then he had to do everything he could to prevent that from happening and end up in a sea of tears.

However, there was only one way to know if his contract could still be fulfilled or if it had already expired. He sent Ameri a message with something specific: In three days, she was invited to come to his house in the evening for dinner and a special surprise. He didn't want to be direct about the fireworks, so he didn't mention this and offered her something that, according to him, would surprise her to the max.

Ameri accepted the minute he sent the message. Iruma thought it would be more difficult to convince her, but for now, he was on the right track.

All that time, he was preparing for that special night. A date that would determine whether Ameri would continue to be his friend or not. He asked Opera to cook their best recipes, asked Sullivan to give him fireworks, and asked them both to give them a little space on a balcony in the mansion.

Iruma remained calm, trying not to worry his grandfather or Opera. But inside, he wanted to explode. If contracts were as important in the Netherworld as Opera had said, then the punishment for being forgetful could cost him dearly.

And he knew his greatest weakness. Being alone. Losing Ameri was something he would never forgive himself for.

He slept with insecurities throughout that time, but he arrived with energy and a nice suit for the night that would determine whether or not his friendship with Ameri would continue. He wanted to be optimistic; he wanted to think that everything would turn out fine and he would keep her friendship. 

There at the door, punctual and ready for her date, was Ameri. She was wearing a purple dress and shiny heels, as well as a unique perfume that she had just started wearing. Iruma knew this because it wasn't the same perfume she wore when she went to Babyls. It was a totally new one.

She looked fantastic in Iruma's eyes. Every day he saw her more beautiful than usual, and this time she looked like a princess.

"Ameri! You made it!"

“Of course I was going to come, Iruma. I wasn't going to break the promise I made to you.”

Those first words were enough to make the young man nervous again. Even Ameri was reminding him of the contracts, even though she didn't realize it.

However, she didn't look angry or uncomfortable. Iruma took that as a good sign.

Iruma led his friend to the main table in the mansion. Once there, Ameri sat down next to her friend. They started talking about how they had been doing lately and whether the stress of school had caught up with them unexpectedly. Ameri looked calm and happy, maintaining the firm posture that characterized her perfectly.

But internally she was nervous, just like Iruma, although for different reasons. It was a date with the human of her dreams, a moment alone with Iruma. Sure, they could spend time together at school and at various attractions in the Netherworld, but there were always crowds or people around who interrupted their atmosphere.

This time they were alone. Opera and Sullivan were practically like shadows. Iruma and Ameri had the space all to themselves, so Ameri had to make the most of that time with him. Besides, when he told her he was going to give her a surprise, she imagined many things. A chat about their past lives, a date with balloons, a gift from him, lots of hugs until the end of the night.

Or a kiss.

She couldn't let her mind betray her that night, so she remained calm and let the date unfold slowly.

They both had a huge feast. It was a huge variety of luxurious dinners, desserts, and drinks suitable for their age. Iruma usually chose the food, but this time he focused on giving Ameri her favorite dishes because she was the special guest. Ameri couldn't eat as much as the boy but knowing that he had made an effort to learn about her food preferences, she was motivated to eat everything on the table with him.

They laughed and smiled nonstop. And even though Sullivan and Opera were in the house, they let the couple have their moment alone, only appearing when they needed small things like new napkins or something for comfort. Ameri was delighted to have that dinner with Iruma, this time with no schoolwork or disasters around them. It was quality time with the boy of her dreams.

Iruma was happy that Ameri was enjoying their little dinner, even though he knew that their entire friendship depended on what was to come. That meal wasn't going to be enough; he knew that the contract would define his future with her.

Once they were finished, Opera appeared to clear away the dishes. He was satisfied to know that the couple had enjoyed their meal. The two young people sat for a few minutes, and then Iruma asked Ameri to follow him. She stood up and began walking behind him, thinking they were heading to the main hall or the mansion's garden.

But they began climbing stairs until they reached the top floor of the mansion. Iruma opened a door, which had two chairs of different sizes for both. They were on the balcony.

“Why are we here?”

“Because you need a good view for what I have to show you.”

That's when she realized it was time for Iruma to show her his special surprise. Her mind quickly filled with moments of love between Rin and Kakeru: a declaration of love, a slow dance, even a kiss.

She was eager to see what Iruma had prepared. She settled into the chair Iruma offered her, and once she was ready, Iruma sat down next to her.

He asked her if she was ready to see his surprise. With great excitement, she nodded her head.

“Look up at the sky, please.”

Ameri looked up as Iruma used some magic from his ring. For a moment, she was witnessing the stars and moons that covered the night sky. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but she knew that something was going to happen that would exceed her expectations of Iruma once again.

Iruma shot a small light into the sky with his magic, as if he were signaling something. Ameri wondered why he had done that, but suddenly, she began to see flashes of light directed toward the sky. And when they reached a significant altitude, they exploded like sparklers, lighting up the sky as if it was the human New Year.

In the distance, Opera was setting off fireworks with a mortar. And unlike the batra festival, these were exclusively for Ameri.

“I hope you like this,” he said as he approached her to hug her.

Ameri couldn't hide her surprise. In fact, the situation was much better with Iruma by her side. She did nothing to stop him from approaching her, simply letting him hug her without any problem. She didn't know how to express what was on her mind. Both the sky and the earth were giving her the greatest happiness of her life.

In the sky, fireworks flew in sync and in short bursts so that Ameri could enjoy the scene to the fullest. A variety of colors covered the girl's eyes: purple, blue, red. And with the combination of the moons of the Netherworld, it made for an enchanting landscape for Ameri.

“This is incredible!”

And on earth, Iruma's company was the cherry on the cake. Her Iruma was by her side, having done something he wanted only her to witness. It was something that few could see as it was a human event; no one had the privilege of seeing fireworks at that moment other than Ameri.

It was like the gift Kakeru gave Rin in one chapter of her manga. A night of fireworks that he made for her on her birthday, in the middle of a full moon night and under a tree. She was excited when she read that chapter with Iruma at school, but now that she was experiencing that moment in real life, she had new feelings she didn't know she had.

Iruma was amazing. Every day she was sure of it.

The setting was perfect for Ameri. An exclusive night with Iruma watching fireworks, with nothing to interrupt them and hugging like a real couple. It was the romantic setting she had seen many times in her manga, and although she still had her feelings saved for when Iruma reached her rank, she considered this a special moment of love. 

But there came a point where his embrace felt more like an attempt to suffocate her.

Ameri was surprised at how tightly Iruma was hugging her. She looked down and realized that he had started to cry.

“Iruma, why are you crying?”

“Y-you don't hate me, do you?”

“W-why would I hate you?”

“For forgetting my promise... For doing this when three years have already passed...”

Ameri was surprised by her friend's words. She didn't know what she had done wrong that night.

“W-what?! I-Iruma, what promise are you talking about?”

Iruma didn't know how to respond. He felt pressure in his chest, thinking that after that hug she would leave him forever. He didn't have the courage to look up, he just wanted that moment to last forever.

But Ameri wasn't going to let her date be ruined by some misunderstanding. She grabbed Iruma by the shoulders, trying to get him to look at her.

“Tell me, what happened? What made you think I would hate you?”

The boy tried to lift his gaze and hold her look, but he was afraid to show her his tears. But he had told himself that he had to be brave to see if their contract would be fulfilled or not.

“I promised to take you to see fireworks, remember? In our first year?”

“But Iruma... we're watching fireworks together... What's wrong with it being today?”

“That was a promise I should have fulfilled at the time... B-but now, I-I don't want this to be our last day together.”

“Last day? Iruma, do you really think I was going to get angry because we didn't see fireworks together since that time?”

Iruma just nodded. He didn't want to talk much.

“I mean, o-obviously I wanted to see fireworks with you, Iruma. But I also understand that you have your own goals. I don't want to get in the way of everything you have planned. I didn't want to ruin your plans just because of a whim of mine.”

She didn't seem upset that he had broken his promise. It didn't seem like his deep fears were going to come out that night. She wasn't grabbing his shoulders with the urge to attack him. He could tell she was controlling her strength.

Iruma felt like a fool. And Ameri looked worried about how he was reacting.

“Forgive me for breaking my promise. Forgive me for being a bad friend.”

“Don't you dare say that.” Ameri let go of his shoulders and grabbed his face. "Look at me in the eyes. Can you see me angry? Can you see me wanting to kill you? Because everything I've experienced tonight has been phenomenal. I don't know who gave you the idea that my promise was to cut you out of my life. Iruma... I'm not going to leave you alone because of a little incident like that."

Reality was hitting him hard. Ameri wasn't acting the way he had imagined all these days.

“Y-you don't want to... leave me alone?”

“Never. Iruma, we've been through so many adventures together, we've bled and sweated to fulfill our ambitions. I'm not going to let a misunderstanding ruin what we have; do you understand me?”

Iruma's heart ached at Ameri's words. He could see that she wanted to cry too, but the last thing he wanted was for her to suffer because of him. He gathered his inner strength and fought hard to hold back his tears.

“I will always be with you, Iruma. Please don't ever think that forgetting a past promise will make me walk away from you.”

Ameri's sincere words made his insecurities vanish. He was happy to know that she didn't hate him.

“Besides, I loved everything you did for me. Thank you. But please, I don't want you to ever think that I will abandon you. You are always in my mind, and I want you to have me in yours too, ok?”

“O-ok,” said Iruma, smiling through his tears.

Ameri let go of his face and hugged Iruma again. She didn't understand what had happened during those days when she wasn't with him, but she wasn't going to let her love story with Iruma be ruined by some misunderstanding. She had once heard that love is always seen in bad times, and although technically they had both had a small incident, they were both able to calm down with a good conversation.

The two remained embraced as they continued to watch the burst of fireworks in the sky. This time, Iruma felt more comfortable next to Ameri. Without any more fears, he was confident that she would not leave him alone.

At least everything had turned out well. His breach of contract had not punished him in the worst possible ways. And that was because their love for each other overcame all the barriers of insecurity they had.

Iruma let himself be carried away by the warmth of the embrace as he continued to watch the fireworks with her. After so much time in the shadows, he was no longer afraid of being alone.

Chapter Text

“First impressions are the hardest ones to erase.”

Normally, you could figure out what a person was like after your first direct interaction with them. Within a few minutes, you could tell if someone had good manners, used appropriate language, or took care of their personal hygiene. 

If someone made a bad impression in those moments, that image would probably remain in the other person's mind forever. And changing that perspective was very difficult. A poorly chosen phrase, an unpleasant appearance, or a gesture of bad faith could cause someone to form a negative opinion about that other person's character.

Appearances can be deceiving, but there are times when they can tell the truth instantly. Fixing that is difficult, especially in a world where mistrust is rampant and betrayal is something many already expect in advance. 

But Ameri turned out to be a special exception.

She never thought she would fall in love with Iruma. She never thought that the “dangerous” boy she wanted to report to the authorities would be the person who would captivate her heart.

Ever since she learned how to read, she always wanted to live out the love story she read in “First Love Memories.” She couldn't understand what the dialogue said at the beginning, but it was easy to tell that Rin had some memorable moments with Kakeru just by looking at the pictures. When Iruma arrived, he confirmed her thoughts; they were a happy couple.

In the manga, Rin met Kakeru as an angel who came down from heaven for her. Someone who, with his words and kindness in helping her after her fall, made her heart fall for him. With just those gestures, he won her trust.

Ameri met Iruma in almost the same way as Rin, but with the difference that this time it was a human who bumped into her. A human; a threat for the Netherworld at first glance. And he didn't seem like someone friendly, given that he had fought against that year's star student and turned his teacher into a familiar.

“Iruma is taking a long time,” she said.

It was time to leave, which meant it was time for her and Iruma to read manga like they did every afternoon. While Ameri waited for Iruma to arrive from his classes, she began to check her notebook. She had a few things left to do, but luckily, it wasn't anything that was pressing. For now, she could enjoy her free time with her friend.

She looked at each of her notes and assignments, but she focused especially on the things she wrote down about Iruma every day. She always did this while looking at the picture she had saved of him; seeing him there was a way to inspire herself and bring out his most honest and wonderful qualities. On most of the pages, one could see how impressed she was by his personality. Anyone who saw them would think they had been friends from the very beginning.

But there were words in her notebook that highlighted those early days when she first met him. Ameri laughed at the thought that she once saw Iruma as a threat.

From his first day at Babyls, Iruma began to experience a significant increase in his fame. He stood out on the front pages of school newspapers, his arrival was striking when he rode in his carriage, and he even grew a plant exclusive to the human world. Her theory was that Iruma was human, but some of her friends on the student council told her that couldn't be true.

She continued at her own pace, pursuing her own ambitions. In this case, she wanted to discover the secret of the new freshman.

With her notebook in hand, she remembered to write down everything about Iruma since his arrival at Babyls. And she was surprised when, in a few days, she confirmed that she was right.

That first encounter with Iruma was enough to prove that he was human. He had the same charm as Kakeru, he could read her family's forbidden texts, and he could even perform incredible feats for someone with indeterminate rank at that time.

Ameri turned the pages and came to the moment where she wrote down everything that happened that time when she arrived home after her first interaction with Iruma.

“I knew he was human! He tried to make me fall in love with him with his charm! I must tell my father, but I need stronger evidence... Idea: Make him read more of the forbidden books and record it... Videos = Strong evidence.”

“No! You would be admitting that Suzuki Iruma looked at the forbidden books. Don't use videos.”

“Ideas: Follow him and write more about him. Research more about humans to send him back to his world.”

With her suspicions confirmed, she thought about handing Iruma over to her father so he could send him back to the human dimension. She had no doubt that he could affect the integrity of the school. But she decided, according to her, to get more evidence and see if he was dangerous. To do this, she kept a close eye on him during each of their daily readings and at every school event.

She had a somewhat dubious image of him but decided to give him a chance to see if he was a calm human being, even though he tried to seduce her with that crash on their first encounter. But little by little, her investigation to accuse him began to fade away and her investigation took another turn.

This time, she was investigating how to reach Iruma's heart.

It made her laugh to think about her first impression of Iruma. She believed him to be a human who sought to corrupt Babyls, someone who wanted to hurt her with his charms, even someone who tried to hide his evil intentions with his cute and tender appearance.

She was wrong. He was a human, but he was someone who quickly won her trust and her heart with his kindness and his strength to fulfill his ambitions. Her fears and insecurities about him faded as she got to know him; she saw someone who was always looking to move forward in his life. She witnessed this at the Harvest Festival, at the Music Festival, even in each of his trials to rise in rank.

All that hostile image of him had disappeared from her mind. There was only a human being she wanted to have until the end of her days. She understood well if Iruma wanted to keep his secret; but if at any moment he revealed it to her, she would be ready to welcome the true being she had fallen in love with.

And when he did, she would show Iruma her notes. All those memories from those early days were in her notebook. And all those memories made her face flush every time they came to her mind. She touched her face, thinking again how silly she had been. Iruma went from being a threat to being a source of inspiration.

She was sure that they would both laugh when they remembered those days. That's why her notebook was valuable; because it didn't just hold her own goals and life experiences.

It also held her love story, as well as Rin's.

“You really are amazing, aren't you, Iruma?”

The girl heard someone knock on the door, which made her quickly close her notebook and put it in her pocket to show her usual elegant image. She adjusted her chair and turned her gaze to the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened slowly. Iruma peeked in slowly to see if he was interrupting his friend.

“Ameri?”

“Come in, Iruma.”

She could tell that Iruma had rushed to their reading session. She knew that student responsibilities increased as the years went by, so she didn't reprimand him for being late. After all, he was there to read with her, and they had plenty of time to enjoy the manga.

“Sorry for being late. Professor Balam wanted to talk to me about some extra class stuff.”

“Oh, did he give you more homework?”

“No, it's just a little research I'm helping him with.”

Although Ameri wanted to know more, she didn't want to waste any more time. She wanted to read the new chapter with Iruma, knowing that they weren't even close to finishing half of all the volumes she had. So, she said nothing more and began to help him set up the room to start their daily session.

Iruma began to move the table to his side, while Ameri took care of serving the tea and cookies. Once everything was in place, Iruma went to his usual spot, cleared his throat, and asked Ameri if she was ready for a new chapter.

Those moments with him were her happy place. He was a human, there was no doubt about that, but he was her human. And no matter the differences or that embarrassing start with him, she was happy to form a beautiful story with him.

She nodded her head. They were ready to read.

“You can begin.”

Chapter Text

Smoke was Ameri's first friend to suspect her feelings of love for Iruma. She was also the first to hear from her friend that those feelings were real.

She knew that Ameri could admire students for their bravery and courage in pursuing their ambitions. However, with Iruma, it was somewhat different. At first, it was normal for her to have witnessed his rise to Bet rank and to have given him special congratulations after seeing the prize his batra received at its first festival. 

But then her admiration for him began to deepen over the following months. He was unpredictable, someone who exceeded her expectations, charming, even someone she could welcome to the student council just by asking him.

The president hid her romance very well behind her strength and charisma, and only a few demons could see that she was in love with Iruma. Smoke was one of those demons. At the Harvest Festival, Ameri was able to tell her that she loved “her Iruma” in a charming way and that she had faith that he would win; in the preparations for the Music Festival, Smoke heard and saw Ameri's admiration for Iruma firsthand when he participated as a pianist.

Only she was able to piece together the clues to learn about her friend's romance. Her words simply tied up the loose ends, and for the second year, she made sure to keep her secret. But there were already certain things that were slowly bringing her feelings to light.

That morning at the student council, they went through the same routine as always. Dates to monitor the school environment, organizing applications, and a meeting with the president. The student council had more members, just as there were more students at Babyls, so the work had to be harder for everyone, even though they followed a monotonous routine.

They had decided, just for that one time, to hold the meeting an hour earlier than usual. The meeting covered the same topics, with Ameri at the helm, reminding each member of the importance of their role on the council. She knew that all her friends could perform their duties, but it was always good to remind them of their responsibility to maintain peace and order in Babyls. 

“Hey Ameri! It's me! Hey Ameri! It's me!”

That's when Ameri's phone started ringing. Iruma's voice filled the room, and Ameri's face turned completely red.

“What's that?” asked Kimaris.

“N-nothing! Just give me a moment!” Ameri said quickly.

She got up from her seat and ran outside the room to answer the call. The rest of the council remained in their seats, intrigued by how rushed Ameri was with that call on her phone.

Smoke didn't need to be an analyst to know that the call was from Iruma.

“That was Iruma's voice, right?” asked Johnny.

“I think the answer is obvious, Johnny,” said Smoke teasingly.

“Damn, doesn't that guy know we're busy?”

“Relax, Johnny. We're having a meeting earlier. Maybe he doesn't know about the changes we've made internally,” Sunny replied, maintaining his smile and good vibes.

“Alright, Sunny. But that doesn't change the fact that Iruma has wasted our time,” Johnny said, adjusting his glasses as he waited for the president to return.

Ronove and Nafra wondered why Iruma wanted to talk to the president, theorizing that maybe he wanted to take her out to eat or just wanted to make a request about his batra. Zepar and Vine just focused on their own business while Ameri's inner circle waited patiently for the president to continue the meeting.

In Smoke's mind, she already had her suspicions about what the conversation might be about. Maybe it could be about the meetings they had after school, or even another outing to a place that Iruma had exclusive access to. But she was sure of one thing; Ameri didn't expect Iruma to call her in the middle of a meeting, and now she was probably embarrassed that everyone on the council knew she had an exclusive ringtone for him.

She wasn't wrong.

On the other side of the door, Ameri wanted to die of embarrassment. She usually had a special time to talk to Iruma on the phone, but that day she hadn't told him she was going to have a student council meeting an hour earlier than usual. That schedule conflicted with her daily call, and the result was that Iruma called at a bad time.

There was no doubt about it, everyone had heard the ringtone she had set when Iruma tried to contact her.

Ameri felt she had progressed far enough in her relationship with Iruma to give him an exclusive ringtone. He was a frequent contact of hers, and she needed to know when he was reaching out. She had a ringtone for her father, so she should have one for Iruma too.

She thought of many ringtones but couldn't find the right one. She searched through her music collection, but nothing matched the vibes and charm that the boy exuded. So, she had a better idea: she would set a ringtone with Iruma's voice.

She had videos with him, but the audio from them wouldn't be appropriate to put on her phone. So, she had a little idea. She asked Iruma to send her an audio file saying certain words in their private chat. Ameri told him it was to check that the audio on her phone was working. Iruma innocently said those lines and made that audio file for her, though he never thought Ameri would use it for her ringtone.

It was the perfect ringtone. With that, she would know exactly when Iruma was calling her and when she had to be ready at a moment's notice. What she didn't expect was that it would be heard at the worst possible moment: with all her friends from the council and in the middle of her duties.

She couldn't hang up on him right away; that would be very rude. So, the quickest option she had was to leave the room and reply with a few words that she couldn't talk at the moment. Iruma asked her what had happened, and she had to reply that she had had a meeting an hour earlier than usual.

She could sense that Iruma felt bad for calling her at the wrong time, but she assured him that he hadn't done anything wrong. It was a misunderstanding that they quickly cleared up, although both were embarrassed by the incident. They were lucky that they were on the phone, because it would have been impossible for them to look at each other. 

But at least they were talking at the usual time, just as they had agreed. Ameri was able to take something positive from that moment.

When she ended the call and said goodbye to Iruma, she took a deep breath and tried to relax. She couldn't go in to see the student council looking like a nervous and clumsy girl. It was time to work, and she had to maintain her strong image. She opened the door, and the council greeted her with the respect she always received.

As they talked, Ameri was anxious inside. It couldn't be seen in her gestures, but her mind was in chaos. She was thinking about many things.

Could her friends draw quick conclusions from just that call? Was her secret about her love for Iruma finally known to the rest of the council?

She could trust Smoke to tell her about her adventures with Iruma, but she still couldn't bring herself to tell everyone that she loved him. She could only hope that no one would quickly figure out that she was in love with Iruma. 

Luckily, the rest of the meeting went on without any more interruptions or questions about the unexpected call she had received. It seemed that, for now, her secret remained known only to Smoke, and no one else was trying to find out why Iruma had called. Everyone paid attention to Ameri's orders and focused on preparing the batra reports as part of their daily audit.

The meeting took the same amount of time as usual, so the entire student council was still on schedule. Once the talk was over, everyone went to patrol the hallways and take care of the rest of the council's duties.

Smoke stayed behind with the president for a moment. Ameri could guess why she was the last to leave, so she prepared herself to hear what she had to say.

“President?”

“Yes?”

“How is Iruma? Did he know you had a meeting with the council?”

Ameri's voice trembled slightly when she heard her friend's question. It was to be expected. Smoke expected her to react with denial or avoid the question, but she was always honest about her feelings for him.

“H-he's fine... He just called me to tell me he has new cookies for me to try... I should have told him I had a meeting earlier.”

Smoke laughed at her friend's response. There was no doubt that she was in love with him, but at least Ameri could feel confident that the rest of the council wasn't doing any in-depth investigation into her interactions with Iruma.

Her secret was still safe.

“Well, it seems that at least the rest of the council only has suspicions. Nothing clear, but you must be careful, you know?”

“I know... But I'm not going to change this ringtone on my phone. I just have to coordinate the call times with him better.”

“Whatever you say, president. You know I've got your back when you need it.”

The loyalty of her friends was remarkable. Iruma hadn't lied to her that her friends didn't just follow the president, but also the great Ameri they saw every day. Smoke was the best example.

She wasn't mocking her or trying to use her secret against her. She wanted to help her with her personal adventure, and she could trust her to keep her secret safe.

“Alright president. If you want to meet up with him, let's finish our duties on time. You don't want to miss out on your free time, do you?”

“You're right. Duty first, then fun.”

Both students left the room to focus on their duties. As they walked, Ameri remembered that incident with the phone call again. She had to find ways to prevent her secret from coming out so suddenly. Although she could trust her friends, she knew she wouldn't be so lucky with other demons like her father.

Ameri now had to be careful. At least until Iruma or she took the first step. And when that day came, she would proudly say that she was his girlfriend.

Chapter Text

Rising above Hé was a huge achievement, especially when the school set conditions that were not so favorable for the student.

But even against all odds and knowing his condition as a human, Iruma achieved the impossible. He reached Zayin rank in his fourth year at Babyls. It took him several years, but his resilience and skill made it possible for him to achieve such a feat at such a young age.

Congratulations quickly poured in. Azz and Clara threw a party for him, showing the school how magnificent he was, even though Iruma trembled at being the center of attention. Lied and Purson gave him a variety of games and spent an entire night at Iruma's mansion celebrating the achievement of someone from the Boku trio. Everyone in the classroom gave him something that made Iruma's effort worthwhile.

Everyone congratulated Iruma in their own way. And although the boy appreciated his friends' gestures, he was always supportive of anyone who had made an effort to give him a gift and a great time. He thought it would be nice to do something for everyone because they gave him fantastic joy for his new rank.

For everyone, he already had some special cookies and candies that his grandfather bought exclusively for him. They were small gifts but knowing that they came from companies that made these desserts with the sweetest and most delicious ingredients in the Netherworld, they were very special to receive.

But among all his friends, there was someone who deserved something more exclusive. Ameri.

There was no doubt that everyone had been important to Iruma's progress. But from the beginning, it was Ameri who enabled him to achieve so much. Always inspiring, always encouraging him to be ambitious with his goals, and even sharing intimate secrets so that he wouldn't give up at any moment. From the first year, she was the one who accompanied him in his quest to rise in rank at school.

He felt that cookies and candy were not enough to thank her. Especially when she had already reached Khet rank and had not received as many things as he had.

He felt bad that she didn't receive the same level of congratulations that he had when he got his promotion. Although Ameri had clearly made a great effort to reach that rank, many simply saw it as something normal; something that was just an everyday occurrence. Iruma didn't share that perspective; she had worked hard to get where she was and deserved something special to make her happy.

He always loved hearing her words and messages for every achievement he had. That's why he had to congratulate her in the same way, with his sincerity and the joy of seeing her progress day by day.

So, he decided to do more than just give her cookies and candy. He was also going to add a letter for her. She was still one rank higher than him, so she deserved the most incredible words with the greatest sincerity possible and with the best language he had in his mind.

Throughout that weekend, he locked himself in his room and focused solely on writing. Ali supported him with lighting and inspiration, and little by little, Iruma was forming his letter to give to his friend. A letter of thanks and appreciation.

“Dear Ameri. First of all, thank you so much for the gift you gave me for my promotion. It's very nice, in fact, even my grandpa asked me where I got it. I told him you gave it to me, and I'm even wearing it now to go to school. You may not see it because it's covered by my uniform, but when we have our next reading session, you'll be able to see it more clearly.”

Ameri had given him a small necklace so that, according to her, he would not forget that she would always be by his side. And from that moment on, he wore that gift every time he went to school.

“However, I'm not just writing to thank you for what you gave me. I'm also writing to congratulate you on your promotion. I heard that a few days ago you were also promoted to Khet, and it's amazing that we were both promoted at the same time. Although it must be more impressive in your case, because you're close to matching teachers like Kalego or Momonoki.”

Unlike the early years when they had first met, Ameri had reached a level where, in a magical battle with certain teachers, she was able to resist and even put her opponent at a disadvantage. Beating them was still a challenge, but unlike the rest of the school, she was making giant strides. Iruma was a witness to this.

His mind kept recalling all the memories he had with Ameri, while the image of her smile was what his brain prioritized.

"I will never stop telling you that you are incredible. I still remember when we first met. I won't lie, you scared me, and I thought you were going to destroy me. But now that I'm by your side, I feel safe and calm knowing that I'm with the strongest demon I know in all of Babyls."

He knew that they hadn't started school at the same time and would finish at different times, but all their adventures gave him the assurance that she would be by his side forever. With Ameri, he felt confident and calm. A beautiful woman who eased his pain and inspired him to stand up to all adversity.

"Your achievements are something I want to highlight in this letter. It was wonderful to think that you made it to Vav for your second year, but now that you're about to finish school, I can't help but mention how far you've come since I met you. You once said that I exceeded your expectations. But, on the contrary, you are the one who surprises me every day with your achievements, and when I saw that you had reached Khet rank, I couldn't help but feel happy to know how my friend is becoming an exemplary demon for the school and the Netherworld."

No matter how much time passed, Iruma's eyes remained captivated by the powerful image of the red-haired girl. His ambition was to get to know her better as the years went by, and he was doing very well in achieving that goal. Although now his mind couldn't stop thinking about her in somewhat... exclusive ways. Even every word she said began to be etched into his mind as if they were carved in stone.

"I feel a little sorry that I didn't celebrate your promotion with you in the best possible way. I would have liked us to have had a party at the council or for the school to have given you the great recognition you deserve, just like in previous years. I feel like you deserved more, so I also want to write to you so we can plan whatever you want to do to celebrate your triumph. Just as you made me a special necklace, I also want to make something unique for you. Something you want from the bottom of your heart."

As he wrote the letter, Iruma grabbed the necklace, thinking of Ameri again. His heart was beating fast as he wrote each word, and his face even turned a little red when he invited her to do something when she was free. He was a little nervous, which could be seen in the trembling movement of his pen, but that was a small thing that wasn't going to interrupt his writing.

Little by little, he was more aware of the progress of his relationship with Ameri.

“I will always be happy to follow that amazing Ameri. That Ameri who inspires confidence, who overcomes any obstacle in her path. Never forget that your ambition is much greater than the problems you face. And if you ever need a hand, I'll be happy to give it to you.”

Iruma shed a small tear. That mutual support and affection he gained with Ameri were things he would never forget. And he would be helping her despite his limitations as a human.

“Congratulations, President. I hope to catch up with you soon and walk together wherever the Netherworld takes us in the future.”

With those last words, Iruma checked his letter once more. There didn't seem to be any inconsistencies in the sentences, and it was written with the purest sincerity within him.

“I'm done!” he shouted with joy.

Ali congratulated Iruma for having finished unleashing his imagination in that letter, although he was still surprised that he didn't admit that he was in love with her. He had had so many intimate moments and incidents with Ameri that could have led to a kiss, but Iruma was either very innocent or simply didn't want to accept the truth.

Still, at least he expressed his love for Ameri even if he wasn't 100% aware of it.

With the letter finished, it was now time to prepare the rest of the gifts to give to the president. He was going to give her cookies and candies when they read the manga, so the letter was the priority. It had to be received before their reading session so that she would know what he wanted to do with her.

He asked Opera for some materials to store the letter, as well as asking them to go to school early on Monday so he could leave the letter on the student council table for Ameri to read. Opera agreed, and with that, Iruma was ready.

He was excited to see her reaction.

“What's this?”

Ameri didn't expect to see a letter on her desk first thing in the morning. Normally, notifications from the batras and other notices from teachers came a few hours after class, but this time it seemed that something important had come into her hands.

She picked up the letter from the table and realized it wasn't one of the formal letters she saw at school. It was a letter handwritten by someone; she could tell just by the way it was delivered. She thought it might be from her father congratulating her on her promotion or inviting her to a family dinner, but this was quickly ruled out by the faint scent of perfume she recognized instantly.

She didn't want to jump to conclusions, so she carefully picked up the envelope. It contained a note accompanied by a tea bag.

“Hi, Ameri. I wanted to give you this letter to congratulate you on your promotion to Khet. You have to tell me all about it when we get around to reading the manga. See you later.”

Her mind wasn't deceiving her; the letter was from Iruma. It was a letter congratulating her on her promotion. She didn't know what the content was, but she was sure it was a very meaningful letter written with the utmost sincerity.

Just the note and the bag of tea were enough to make her almost lose her breath with excitement. Those words were enough to make her ears burn and her heart almost leap out of her chest.

The door opened again, causing Ameri to jump in fright. She turned around quickly, surprised by Smoke. She was intrigued by the president's reaction.

“President? Are you ok?” Smoke asked.

“Y-yes! I'm fine! You have nothing to worry about!”

“Well, President... I came to talk about the supervision of the new batras to be created and...”

“We'll see about that later! I have to go! Tell everyone they have this first hour off!”

Ameri couldn't stay in the council room any longer and quickly left to head for the school's open field. Smoke did nothing to stop her.

The president wasn't going to put off reading that letter; if she had learned anything from Rin in her books, it was that golden opportunities in love could be lost in an instant if you didn't seize them, so, knowing that she was going to be in a stressful situation in a few hours, she decided to go somewhere where no one could see her to read what Iruma had sent her.

Once she felt safe and no one could see her, she prepared to see what was in the letter. She opened the envelope and saw the words written in the handwriting of the boy who had captured her heart...

Chapter Text

“Dad, don't eat the ice cream in the fridge.”

It was only those words that gave away Iruma's crime. They didn't know if it was a coincidence, but the moment Iruma appeared in the kitchen to greet his wife, his daughter said those words while sleeping in her mother's arms.

Ameri looked intently at Iruma, making him blush a little. They both knew that Irina had a slight case of somniloquy, and one would think that she said random things like any other little girl. However, everything she said in her sleep turned out to be true. Her conscience made her say things she had seen in her daily life. Once was normal, twice was a coincidence. But three times was already a pattern.

She had revealed where Henri had hidden new volumes of Ameri's manga, and she had also revealed that her mother wrote new ideas for romantic dates in her notebook while her father was away. There were many things that, with a little research and curiosity, turned out to be true. All she had to do was talk in her sleep to find out that something was true.

And now, Irina had ratted out her father after seeing him finish the bowl of ice cream before leaving for his meeting.

Iruma finally told the truth, admitting that he ate all the ice cream because he wanted something to eat before going to see the 13 Crowns. He expected his wife to get angry, but Ameri just laughed. She knew her husband loved food, and she couldn't blame him after learning that he had lived 14 years without knowing what a decent meal was. They just had to buy more ice cream, and of course, make sure the snack police were more vigilant so that the whole family would have some leftovers.

It had been a long day for the Suzuki family. On the one hand, Iruma had a huge role as the new demon king in the Netherworld and as a father, having to look after both the order in his home and the things his daughter needed.

On the other hand, Ameri had to juggle two roles as the leader of a new generation in Babyls and as the mother of a little girl she had with her husband, dealing with school matters as a teacher and at the same time making sure her daughter didn't cause any disasters at home.

Irina Suzuki. She was only 5 years old, but she had inherited her mother's charisma and strength. Even at that young age, she was always ready for action. She had inherited her mother's bloodline magic, which made her very hyperactive at a young age. Her parents were proud to have such a beautiful girl in their care, as well as someone who was strong and had a bright future ahead of her. She was someone with a lot of energy and was always happy to be with her parents at every moment.

But that amount of energy was also a double-edged sword. Unable to tire herself out so quickly, there were times when she didn't sleep at the right times. Of course, she didn't sleep four or five hours like an adult, but that slight change in sleep was enough for her sleep talking to appear. However, it wasn't a serious problem. They just needed to make sure Irina was tired enough for the night, and then in bed they gave her the greatest comforts so she could close her eyes and rest peacefully.

That night, Irina was sleeping in her mother's arms after a long day of playing with her. Ameri didn't have any classes to teach at Babyls that day, so she spent her free time with her daughter playing and telling her stories about Henri and Iruma. She cherished that quality time with all her heart; seeing Irina's smile was enough to make Ameri feel like she was in heaven.

Throughout the afternoon, Ameri took care of feeding her daughter and making sure she got tired so she could sleep on time. Her responsibility for her was so big that she even ignored some calls on her phone, except for those from Iruma, which she answered instantly thanks to the personalized ringtone she set for him.

Now Ameri was alone with Iruma in her mansion. It was 9 p.m., time for a special dinner for the two of them after settling her daughter down. There was no ice cream, but Opera and Sullivan were at the main table arranging some luxurious dishes to share with the family, while Ameri and Iruma were chatting about how the new demon king's day had gone.

“Did the meeting with the crowns go well?”

“Yeah. There were no problems at the meeting, it was a quiet lunch, and we didn't destroy another table. In fact, your dad was asking about you. He wants to know if you're fine. He told me you weren't answering your phone all day.”

“Believe me, taking care of Irina is a huge challenge, and I couldn't see his calls. I'll try to call him early tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear that I'm fine.”

Even though time passed, Henri remained just as attentive to Ameri, always asking if she needed anything. He still had to come to terms with the fact that she had started a family with Iruma, but at least he was sure that the boy was a decent match for his daughter. What's more, he had the opportunity to return to his old caregiving techniques, taking advantage of the fact that Irina was still small.

Irina was surrounded by a wonderful family. Sullivan and Henri were doting grandparents, Opera oversaw her nutrition and personal activities, and Iruma and Ameri were the best parents for her upbringing.

“Grandpa wants to buy clothes for Mom.”

Irina's voice filled the small room where the couple were sitting. It seemed that she had revealed something that Henri had been keeping to himself, and it was something they were sure was true. Their daughter never lied in those sleepy words, so they understood why Henri had been so insistent that day.

Ameri and Iruma laughed at what Irina said. There was no doubt that they had the most perfect girl in their home. 

“Enjoy the day with him tomorrow, ok? I'll take care of her,” Iruma said as he kissed Ameri on the forehead.

“Alright, but if you need me to keep an eye on her, just let me know,” she replied.

At that moment, Opera and Sullivan called the couple to come and have dinner with them. The couple made their way to the main table, taking care not to wake their daughter. Once they arrived, they saw everything Opera had prepared for the whole family. There was a huge turkey, as well as a variety of sauces and vegetables to balance their diets.

Irina had already eaten her dinner, so they just had to get her ready for bed before enjoying some adult time. Sullivan looked at Irina once more; she looked adorable. He touched her cheek lightly, happy to know that his family was growing day by day. Ameri loved knowing that Irina was surrounded by people who genuinely loved her.

Opera let Sullivan know that it was time to take Irina to bed, so she convinced him to sit down at the table while Ameri and Iruma took care of their daughter.

The royal couple then headed to Irina's room. They walked slowly, talking about how beautiful their lives had been since Irina came into their world, with Iruma playing with his wife's and daughter's hair. It was already beautiful for both that they had become a true and loving couple, but they never thought their lives would improve with the arrival of this little girl.

Iruma always liked to tell Ameri how incredible she looked with their daughter. He even brought up old memories they had shared at school, highlighting aspects that sometimes made his wife blush. She told him they were things of the past, but Iruma mentioned that they were golden memories for him. Being with the girl of his dreams was something he would never consider insignificant, especially when she was the mother of his daughter.

It seemed that Irina had heard everything, because soft words came out of her mouth.

“Daddy is nice to Mommy.”

She was still asleep, whispering and saying short sentences. The couple knew how sincere Irina was when she was sleep-talking, and although there might come a point where this would stop, at least what she was saying was a sign that she was happy with her life.

Iruma and Ameri arrived at Irina's room. They turned on the main light, and Iruma began to pick up the toys and clean up the small mess his daughter had made while playing with her mother. Ameri, for her part, took care of making her daughter's bed, making sure she had a comfortable place to sleep peacefully and without nightmares.

She was careful not to wake her up, so she made sure to lay her down slowly in her bed and arrange her pillows so that they wouldn't suffocate her while she slept.

“I love Mommy.”

Ameri's gentle touches and the love she expressed in each of her gestures had been something that Irina's mind had captured in her subconscious, causing her to say those few words. Ameri couldn't help but shed a tear of happiness when she saw her daughter's radiant sweetness.

Iruma finished arranging his daughter's room and went to where his wife was, lightly brushing her hand. They both watched the little bundle of tenderness that was Irina, who smiled in her deep sleep and looked cute with her purple hair. There was no doubt that she had inherited her mother's beauty.

“I have the best family in the Netherworld.”

With those last words, Irina was tucked in by her mother, who was careful not to wake her. Iruma assured her that wouldn't happen, but that she should get ready because his daughter would be with him all day tomorrow. Ameri deserved to spend time with her father, especially now that they knew about Henri's plans thanks to Irina.

Both parents leaned over their daughter's forehead and kissed her goodnight before leaving. They both left with smiles on their faces, turning off the light in the room and letting their daughter sleep undisturbed.

They left with the joy that Irina was growing up in the best possible environment, and that could be seen in her sincerity and words.

Chapter Text

Iruma woke up immediately after having that same dream again. It wasn't a nightmare, nor was it something that made his body sweat with fear. It was a dream about Ameri, a dream that might have been normal if it had been in his head for a day or two.

But he had been having that same dream for two weeks straight.

The image in his head was clear. He was standing in front of an altar, surrounded by unrecognizable demon faces, but without any hostility from them. It looked like he was in some kind of church, something that wasn’t at all like the ones in the human world.

And in front of him was Ameri. She was wearing a wedding dress, with flowers in her hair and a charming look that captivated his eyes. There, he was putting a ring on her finger while he heard the most beautiful words he never thought he would hear at any time.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Once he finished putting the ring on, Iruma woke up immediately, but not with heavy breathing and panic, but with a flushed face and his mind totally focused on the image of his girlfriend.

He grabbed his phone from his nightstand and searched for Ameri's contact. He saw her online, at the perfect time of three in the morning. He started writing to her without hesitation.

“Are you there?”

“Yes, I just woke up.”

Luckily, she understood what he was experiencing, and not just out of empathy. Ameri was also having the same dream as her boyfriend, but in her case, Ameri's perspective was that of a little boy in a white suit carefully placing the ring that represented the true union between a human and a demon.

“You kept dreaming the same thing, right, Iruma?”

“Yeah.”

“Don't worry. I dreamed the same thing too.”

These weren't dreams that were torturing her or driving her crazy. But she didn't know she was so in love with him that she would dream about a wedding with Iruma for two weeks in a row.

She was very excited when Iruma declared his love to her. After two years in Babyls, he was able to tell her what he truly felt in his heart. Ameri couldn't help but blush that day, impressed to know that her charms had borne fruit. Of course, she would have liked to take the first step, but because Iruma was one rank behind her, it didn't work out the way she wanted.

Still, they were now an official couple. But then they realized that love wasn't quite like the stories of Rin and Kakeru.

“This is weird,” Iruma wrote as he still remembered his dream.

“Hey, it's not weird. We're supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. We should take things step by step. Even so, doesn't this make you uncomfortable, Iruma?” Ameri replied, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed.

Iruma felt uneasy after reading Ameri's question. He wasn't upset about having his girlfriend in his dreams, but he didn't want to express himself in a way that would make her feel bad for ruining his dream.

“N-no! I don't feel uncomfortable! I-it's just, I mean, it's a little fast to go to those extremes! I mean, first it's holding hands, then kissing, then going out, or was it the other way around?”

Iruma talked to himself, trying to justify himself while Ali listened to the boy who had woken him up. He had been proud that he finally knew he was in love, but he couldn't believe that he was as innocent in matters of love as Ameri. He told him that there was nothing wrong with thinking about her or imagining a future with his soul mate.

Ali was surprised at how difficult it was for Iruma, but it was because he was unaware of the lack of love he had experienced in his childhood. That made it difficult for him to pick up on the signs of what a real couple did.

But even so, it was incredible that, even with almost no knowledge of love, he had taken the first step toward becoming a couple. But he soon learned that it wasn't just about becoming a couple and life going on.

Being in a relationship was a big responsibility. Meaningful moments of closeness, loyalty at all times, future plans to make. Rin and Kakeru made romance seem like something beautiful, but it seemed like they were good at hiding their secrets to deal with any problems that might come their way.

Ameri could tell that her boyfriend was lacking in matters of love. But his innocence made him seem even more endearing than usual. Besides, she was slightly on the same level as him. Of course, Elizabetta taught her certain things about romance along with other friends like Clara and Kerori. Even Momonoki was able to give her some love advice.

But in the end, romance in practice was more difficult to have. Ameri and Iruma were learning that the hard way, even though they were in no danger of breaking up or anything like that.

Iruma took a deep breath and started typing on his phone again.

“You don't bother me. Don't ever think that.”

Iruma's kind heart made his words feel genuine, regardless of whether they were expressed behind a screen. Sure, it was strange to dream about a wedding with Ameri for two weeks in a row, but it wasn't something to try to separate from her or want answers about some kind of curse.

He loved that she was on his mind, and it seemed that she also loved having his presence in her dreams.

“I'm happy to have you,” Ameri replied in her message.

“Me too, Ameri. In fact, when I dream about you, at least I feel like you're right here beside me.”

Iruma said the most beautiful things from the bottom of his heart and made Ameri blush. He wasn't seeing his girlfriend's reaction, but it seemed like something had happened to make her ignore him for five minutes.

He thought he had said something wrong, but he calmed down when he saw a message from her arrive a few minutes later.

“Me too. I'm happy to dream about you, my Iruma.”

Ali could tell that Iruma was happy to read Ameri's words. He could hear his heart beating fast and even see his body trembling slightly as he looked at his girlfriend's expressions of affection.

He loved her, there was no doubt about that.

They still had one more day of school, so it wasn't plausible to keep talking late into the night, knowing that tomorrow they might fall asleep in class. And that would be very embarrassing for both.

Iruma and Ameri said goodbye and went back to sleep. And once in bed, Iruma thought again about that vision that had accompanied him for a long time. Ali asked him if, despite that, he felt calm.

Iruma replied that he did.

He didn't know when that dream would end, but at least he was happy to be able to experience that scenario with his girlfriend in his mind. The conversation with Ali ended, and they both went back to sleep under the cover of night.

“This isn't a dream, is it?”

Iruma's excitement could be heard in his voice and felt in his nervous body. There in his carriage, Opera was making sure that Iruma arrived clean and tidy for the most important day of his life.

His wedding.

“It isn’t. Get ready master Iruma, we are almost there.”

He never thought there would come a time when adrenaline would consume his entire body. Not even when he was chased by the yakuza did he feel as nervous as he did at that moment. He was going to marry Ameri Azazel, his girlfriend since Babyls and now his future wife.

When he told his grandpa that they were getting married, he exploded with joy. He organized the best venue to make the wedding a success, spent a fortune on food and luxuries for the day, and made sure Opera helped Iruma choose a good suit to wear with Ameri.

And now, he was ready. He was just minutes away from making history. After years, the day had finally come when his vision of the past would become a real promise.

Opera stopped the carriage at the main entrance of the wedding venue. He opened the door for Iruma to make his entrance, and instantly, he became the center of attention. And unlike in previous years, this time he wanted everyone to have their eyes fixed on him.

He wanted everyone to know how much he loved Ameri.

Upon entering the place, he couldn't help but remember the dreams he had had years ago. He remembered when, for an entire month, Ameri and he had dreamed of a scenario in which they were getting married. For a long time, he thought that perhaps it was just a sign of insecurity, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

It seemed that it had been a premonition. That dream came once again the day before their wedding. And the scenario was exactly the same as what was happening at that moment.

Friendly demons, friends everywhere, an altar in front of them, white and red flower decorations around them. No details had been omitted. What he had dreamed of since school was perfectly represented in reality.

And there in front of him at the end of the aisle was the girl of his dreams. His guardian demon. Wearing a beautiful white dress like a swan and a veil covering all her hair. At her side was Henri, who had accompanied her to that moment. When he saw Iruma, he realized it was time to let his daughter take the next step in her life and sit down on one of the benches.

Yes, there was no hostility in him. He no longer wanted to kill Iruma, but he kept an eye on him in case he did something bad to his daughter. 

Sullivan was already in the front seat of the venue, and Opera went to his area once they saw that Iruma had entered safely. The boy began to walk slowly, as memories of those dreams from years ago made him experience déjà vu.

He felt like he was in heaven despite being in a dimension like hell. After all, the saying goes that one should fear humans more than demons themselves. He was comfortable with having a family of demons, and now he was going to be even happier forming another family of that kind with his friend.

He reached the end of the hallway, greeted by Ameri's sweet gaze. The same gaze he always saw in his dream. And he was sure Ameri had that same vision too. They were both living a dream come true, something they never expected to happen so quickly.

The wedding protocols continued as usual, with a few words from the demon in charge of bringing the couple together and Iruma putting the ring on his future wife's finger. In his dreams, that was the final scene before he woke up in confusion with a tomato-like face.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

This time, there was nothing to interrupt him. Once they heard the signal for the kiss, Iruma and Ameri brought their lips together with great excitement, thus forming one of the future powerful couples of the Netherworld. Their joy was incomparable, their kiss so enchanting that fireworks even flew into the air. It was a perfect day for both.

While all this was happening, Iruma had one last memory of his wedding dream. Perhaps that dream from years ago had been a premonition, perhaps that was why it had lasted a whole month in his head. He would never know.

But what he was sure of was that Ameri was now his forever. He had finally managed to make his dream come true. And he was sure that she was also happy to share that moment with him.

Chapter Text

"Good times and bad times are different in essence, but they will never be permanent."

In this life, memories can always be positive or negative. They may be neutral, but the balance always tips to one side. And this applies not only to humans, but also to any living being we can think of: plants, animals, even demons.

Ameri was living the greatest time of her life with her family and as the queen of the Netherworld. She had a family, genuine love, and guidance for future generations of her native home. She couldn't deny that since meeting Iruma, her life had improved at 100%.

Every year was a year where she celebrated the joy of having a wonderful man like him. On his birthdays, she was always the first to greet him with a kiss, looking into those cute blue eyes that captivated her. She wanted that journey with him to always have great memories, feeling his caresses and creating a book of adventures that would let many people in the Netherworld know about the love they both had.

But she didn't expect that journey with Iruma to be so short.

It all started when he fainted on one of their dates. They thought it was because Iruma had the flu or was having a bad dream. He told them he would be fine, that it was nothing serious. But that situation repeated itself a few days later, and then spread over weeks, even at one of the meetings for the 13 crowns.

Sullivan and Opera immediately took care of the demon king, as well as taking him to certain local doctors. They all recommended the best medicines the Netherworld had to offer, plants and potions that were effective against most of the diseases known in that place, but no matter what it was, Iruma kept fainting and feeling short of breath all the time.

It was then that they realized that what Iruma had was more than just a minor illness. Ameri and Alice decided to take Iruma to Balam for a medical examination, knowing that he knew more about Iruma's human condition when they were in school.

He didn't plan on treating Iruma, but knowing that many doctors had failed to give him a correct diagnosis, he realized that he was the only one who could do something for him. He spent three days with Iruma, testing him with all the knowledge he had, taking care that nothing happened to him. He didn't want the boy to suffer, not after being the first student to trust his studies on humans.

But as he progressed in his research, the conclusions gave him results that discouraged him day by day. Until, on his last day of research, he opened a book and asked the following question.

"How old are you, Iruma?"

"94 years old."

That answer was enough to confirm his fears. Balam met with Ameri and Alice, telling them that it was not a disease of the Netherworld, but a human condition. It was not a curse; it was a natural problem with his heart.

He reminded them that Iruma was not a demon, he was a human. Therefore, his lifespan was not the same as theirs. His heart was failing, and he realized that his condition went beyond the traditional medicines of the Netherworld. It was as if death was stalking him day after day.

Balam cried a little, but he was direct: Iruma was going to die before Sullivan, even before many elders in the Netherworld.

The demon told them that, with luck, his body would be able to breathe for a few more months, because his heart had flaws that he was unaware of. Furthermore, according to his studies, humans could only live up to 80 years. Iruma should have been dead by then, but it seemed that his will to live had been stronger than death. At least until now; it seemed that death had finally found a way to attack the human.

Any attempt to save his life could make it worse, so all that was left was to wait for something miraculous to happen so that the Netherworld would spare his life.

That was when Ameri's love story began to fade. The world she had built with Iruma began to crumble. She knew he was human. The entire Netherworld knew that Iruma was not a demon. But not everyone knew that humans had a short lifespan, not even her.

Iruma looked young despite his age. Except for the small beard he had, he looked healthy and confident to everyone. He had no gray hair or stooped posture, but inside, the damage to his body was increasing. Perhaps it was because the Netherworld physically affected his body, or maybe it was Derkila's power. But in the end, he was human. And his heart didn’t have the same rhythm of life as a demon's.

She thought they were going to live hundreds of years together, reading manga every night and taking care of their daughter until she became the future queen of the Netherworld. All those beautiful moments that had cost nothing were going to end up being just memories. She didn't want to think that she was going to be without Iruma, none of her friends wanted to think that Iruma was no longer going to be with them. Alice and Clara cried, Sullivan and Opera were depressed by the news. Even the whole Misfit class couldn't say anything because their friend wasn't going to be able to see the future of his new home.

The days passed and Iruma's condition worsened. Many wondered what would happen to the Netherworld if Iruma died. Others were doing everything they could to find ways to prolong his life, but for some strange reason, they didn't work on him. It was as if his body didn't want to accept those spells and potions, as if he were cursed in such a way that all efforts to save him were in vain.

And throughout those days of agony, Ameri was by his side. She took care of her husband while reassuring her daughter that he would be fine, that he had only had a minor accident and was recovering. Irina innocently believed her mother's words, unaware that her father was about to die and that she would likely face a difficult future as the successor to the Demon King.

Ameri made sure he was safe. She protected him from all danger around the mansion, as well as making sure he had happy moments with everyone around him, even though she sometimes wanted him to prioritize his time with her. But Iruma knew how to organize himself, and in the end, she knew that the boy had her in his priorities. Sleeping with her every night, sharing kisses, was the best example of this.

She had always been an ambitious woman, trying to find a solution to every problem she encountered and capable of achieving the goals she set for herself. But there was no solution for death. It was something she didn't want to accept, something that affected her pride and not only made her feel bad. She could sense that the Netherworld was depressed knowing that one of the greatest demon kings in its history was going to die soon.

She wasn't ready to say goodbye. No one was. All that was left was to hope for a miracle.

That night, they both decided to spend their time reading their favorite manga. Several years had passed, but they read "First Love Memories" as if it were the first time. They always laughed at the adventures of Rin and Kakeru, accompanied by tea and cookies, and sharing the love that had defined them since their days in Babyls.

But this time, they were both reading in bed. Sharing caresses and laughter, the royal couple enjoyed that precious time with the flashlight as their only source of light, taking advantage of the fact that their daughter was already asleep so they could calmly read the new volume Ameri had in her hands. They tried to cover up their fear of death with the joy of manga.

The chapter was a simple one: Kakeru asking Rin to marry him, causing her to explode with joy and imagine many things with him. The story was short, but very meaningful because of the final panel of the two of them surrounded by flowers and red hearts.

"They're going to be together forever, right?"

Iruma wanted to nod his head, but when he turned his gaze to Ameri, he saw her face with a few tears. He could see that she was crying. He could sense that she felt useless. In the manga, the two young people were going to live together and die together. They had the same love and future that Ameri had with Iruma, but the key difference was that they had the same pace of life.

Ameri was going to be alone for many years. Carrying the burden of not being able to save her husband and the idea that Irina was going to grow up without a father. She couldn't read those stories again without thinking that her Kakeru was no longer going to be with her.

"I'll be fine, honey. I'll be fine." Iruma approached her, kissing her on the forehead and wiping away her tears. He put the manga aside, making sure it didn't get damaged either.

He didn't want that ambitious and wonderful girl to end up depressed because of his health.

Ameri was always a strong girl, but inside she was sweet and charming. Iruma had always witnessed how brave she was, and he didn't want what was happening to him to affect her.

"Ameri, listen to me." His hand began to caress his wife's face. "I've known you perfectly since we were teenagers. We've overcome great tragedies and difficult challenges... Believe me, this hurts me too, but I couldn't bear to think that I would end up hurting you... Kakeru could always be far away from Rin, but he gave her all his love in different ways so she wouldn't feel lonely..."

"Please... don't think you're going to die." Ameri grabbed her husband's clothes tightly, clinging to the idea that he would be fine.

"I don't want to die, believe me. I'm scared; I'm scared just like you... But I know what there may be on the other side of this world, I am certain that life always gets better... You have taken me out of the hell I lived in in my previous world... Alice, Clara, Grandpa, you... all of you are proof that bad times are only temporary... What I will going through will be short-lived, I assure you."

The girl lifted her gaze slightly, noticing that Iruma was also crying. They shared the same feelings and pain, but at that moment, Iruma was stronger than her.

"I promise you that, no matter the distance, we will meet again. I was able to fall in love with a girl from another dimension, a girl who still enchants my heart to this day. This death will only be temporary... I assure you that no matter what, we will see each other again and live happily ever after... Rin and Kakeru are human, but they will live happily after growing old... I promise you that we will live like that... taking care of our plants and watching our daughter grow up without tears..."

Only a few people could see that sweet and delicate Ameri. Iruma was one of those people who had that privilege.

"Do... do you promise?" Ameri said, staring intently into his eyes.

Iruma leaned in close to her lips, giving her a soft kiss that stopped her crying.

"I promise you, my Ameri."

The demon king knew that this would not take away Ameri's sadness, but he was able to calm her down. The two continued to share kisses and caresses that demonstrated the purest love of the Netherworld.

Ameri didn’t regret falling in love with a human. He was the reason for her happiness and the spark of inspiration that drove her ambitions for many years. Iruma would always be in her heart, and she trusted that there would be another world where they would live happily ever after.

Iruma also had no regrets about falling in love with a demon. Ameri was the girl who taught him what love and intimacy were, and she was the reason he excelled in Babyls. He was happy that she had been his queen and that they had Irina as their daughter.

At that moment, he had the most beautiful demon in his arms. That was proof enough that he had had a wonderful life.

The hours passed, and after laughter and kind words, Ameri fell asleep. Iruma stayed awake a little longer, caressing his wife's ears and hair. He was about to fall asleep, but before doing so, he wanted to clear his mind of something that had been bothering him for quite some time.

His gaze turned to the window of his room. And it was there that he finally saw a pair of dark eyes staring intently at him. He may have been weak, but his ring's detection magic still worked somehow. He had noticed from the beginning that someone was watching him, and only when he finished that moment of affection with his wife, he was able to focus on the person spying on him.

He was dressed in an elegant suit from the world he had left behind 80 years ago, wearing a top hat and sporting a small moustache that characterized him. He wasn’t a demon, but Iruma knew he wasn’t human either. The figure sat on a rock, watching the entire scene that Ameri and Iruma had that night. He smiled without saying a word. He could sense that Iruma could see him, but he did nothing to move from his spot. He just enjoyed the view of the demon king's mansion.

Iruma just smiled, knowing what that meant after that night with Ameri. He didn't need to think too hard to know who that being was.

He closed his eyes and hugged his wife, who was already fast asleep. And like every night, he kissed her on the forehead so she would have a perfect dream.

"Rest well, my dear Ameri."

The alarm sounded punctually at seven in the morning. The first thing Ameri saw was her husband's face. He still had his eyes closed and was wearing his characteristic smile.

"Good morning Iruma."

Ameri was thinking about what to do with her husband that day. She thought about going out with him and Irina to the cherry blossom tree at the school, or even just reading manga all day at the mansion. Her mind was so distracted that she didn't realize Iruma was still asleep.

It seemed strange to her that he still had his eyes closed. It was as if he hadn't heard the alarm or her voice.

"Iruma?"

For a moment, she wondered if he was having a good dream. But when she approached him, she realized he wasn't breathing.

That's when she started to shake him gently, and suddenly, she was using all her strength to get him to open his eyes. She shouted his name repeatedly, waiting for a response from her husband.

She wanted to see him again with those cute little eyes of his. She wanted it all to be a prank and for everything to be ok for both.

But he didn't wake up.