What If Asmodeous had Thrown the Game
Iruma watched the ball bounce across the line and roll to stop at his feet and stared at it for a moment before looking back at Asmodeous,
At first, Iruma was confused, so focused in the game and not comprehending what was happening. Then he saw the same loyalty in Asmodeous's eyes he'd always had and it felt like he finally woke up. In that moment, he was overwhelmed by a well of guilt.
Something must have shown on Iruma's face, for in that moment, he could see the Azz's realization that he had made a terrible mistake.
But was it really just Azz who'd messed up?
The demon before him was viewed by everyone as the one with the most potential the day Iruma came into the picture. Then when Iruma had been thrown into the Honor Student position by his Grandfather and then had beaten the other boy because of a spell preventing him from tripping, Asmodeous had come to him to swear fealty.
Iruma had wanted to turn the other down, both out of fear and out of the discomfort at the idea of having someone view themselves as his servant.
But, as always, he'd been incapable of saying no.
And now Azz was throwing his reputation away on a game. To help Iruma change an a tiny little pin with a symbol on it.
Iruma looked over to their sensei, who was glaring at him and knew instantly that his teacher wasn't impressed either.
Strangley enough, rather than feel cowed by the look, it gave Iruma the confidence he needed. "Time out," he called, instinctively stressing the point by raising his hands to make a capital T. It was only in the middle of doing it that he realized; while a relatively universal gesture back on earth, it probably meant nothing here.
Still, that wasn't important compared to talking to Azz. Nor did it matter if Kalego accepted his pausing the game. At this point, he didn't care if he'd get disqualified. Azz needed help and Iruma had to be the one to give it. Not just as a friend but also as the person Azz had chosen to serve. Something Iruma now had to come to terms with, no matter how uncomfortable that left him.
So Iruma crossed the line to a now terrified looking Asmodeous.
"Azz," Iruma began.
"Iruma sir…I'm sorry, I…"
"No," Iruma said, placing a hand on Azz's chest, "I'm the one who's sorry. When you swore f…after our fight that first day, when you came to me, when I didn't turn you down from the position you wanted, it meant that you would view your success in relation to me. But it goes both ways. You were the first person to ever choose to follow me and I didn't know how to deal with that." He paused and said, "I still don't, really…but I know that for you to think, even for a moment, that you needed to do this, I messed up." He let his hand fall back to his side. "I want to climb the ranks but not badly enough to tear you down in the process. I want you to do your best, even…especially if you think you'll beat me at something."
"But Iruma, sir…if I beat you…"
"It's not a bad thing. I'd much rather lose because everyone else tried their best than win because I'm being handed the victory. I want you to do your best, no matter what. And even if you were to declare you wanted to compete with me instead of serve me, I'd be happy for you."
"I would never…"
"I know," Iruma replied. After a moment, he added, "Although I didn't when you came back after you woke up in the infirmary. Honestly, it's what I thought you were coming for that day…to challenge me as a rival." With a smile, he continued, "it isn't uncommon where I'm from for someone to take a major defeat as a reason to start a rivalry."
"How is that possible? A rival born of a terrible defeat! And for rivals to be friends as well."
"Well, sometimes, a bad loss can drive some people to push themselves harder than ever and they can prove themselves by doing better in a rematch."
"Rematch?" Azz repeated, as if the concept was hard to wrap his mind around.
"Yeah, Just because someone comes out on top in one fight doesn't mean they would in the next, especially if the other trained really hard for it." Iruma said, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Not that I'm asking for a rematch or anything. You don't have to if you don't want to. It's just something where I'm from." Iruma frowned and added, "as for the second part, Sabnock considers me a rival and he doesn't," Iruma pointed out. "You saw us playing together earlier, right?"
"Playing?"
Right, this was being done for rank, so they didn't look at it as a game. That was too bad.
Realizing he was kind of getting off topic and definitely starting to confuse Azz, Iruma stated, "Look, the thing I'm trying to say is that, as your friend, I'd much rather lose fairly than win because you didn't try."
"…but what about your rank?"
"I don't want it if I don't deserve it. Look, it would be one thing if my life was on the line but it's not. If I lose today, nothing'll change. There'll be other times I can try to get to Bet, right."
"I guess…" Azz said uncertainly, "but you worked so hard "
Iruma nodded. "Yeah, and I really want to find out if I did enough to earn changing this badge out for the next one up." He pointed to his badge, "Can you help me find out if I do?"
"I…"
"Times up!" Kalego's voice sliced through their conversation. "Iruma, get back over the line or you're disqualified and the victory will go to Asmodeous."
Iruma looked over to their teacher and wonder how much their teacher had heard before stating, "I think I've said all I needed to, anyway."
Before the teacher officially timed them back in, Iruma picked up the ball and rolled it back across the line and smiled at Azz. "Throw it again, and this time give me everything you've got."
Alice stared at Master Iruma as he picked up the ball. He had never thought of swearing his loyalty to Iruma as a two-way bond. Only that he would swear himself to the other.
The idea that Iruma would assume allowing Alice to serve him meant that the blue haired demon would be also obligated to help him too had never crossed his mind. And the idea of an undeniable defeat being the grounds to declare a long term rivalry was bizarre, too. That when Alice showed up afterward, it might have been to challenge Iruma. Such a thing had never even crossed his mind.
No wonder Iruma's been so hesitant to allow Alice to serve him to his fullest extent.
Alice had also learned more about Iruma's past. And more of his unique gestures, like the one he used to hault the game and the word, "people," which seemed like another way to refer to multiple demons.
Wherever Sullivan had Iruma living before he came here, it wasn't in the territories of Barbarus. As if his idea of friendship hadn't been hint enough, so many of his other ideas and actions seemed foreign, too. And there were so many things that most children of Barbarus knew from a young age which Iruma was clueless to.
Master Iruma must have grown up in some strange country beyond the boarder before Sullivan brought him here. Perhaps somewhere where the old demon wasn't immediately recognized, judging by the way Iruma reacted to the attention he got here.
And now, Iruma had clarified, he didn't just want to rise in rank, he wanted to prove his worthiness of it. That's why he had worked so hard. He had just asked Alice to help him prove it.
What type of servant would Alice be if he didn't oblige?
Still impressed with Iruma's catch and return of the ball to Asmodeous, Kalego walked over to the celebrating team. As Iruma looked up at him, he declared, "When Asmodeous passed you that ball, I was ready to declare that I would not raise your rank. Ever."
Kalego glanced over at Asmodeous and added, "furthermore, I was considering lowering your rank for your actions." At this declaration, both boys looked like they were in a competition for who could look the most mortified.
A mix of embarrassment and shame crossed Iruma's features. Even if it was infuriating that the boy should be so easy to read, he was glad to see that he knew what had happened out there was wrong. "I don't what you said but you clearly corrected the mindset you inspired to cause Asmodeous to so blatantly try to help you cheat your way to Bet." As the two opened their mouths, he raised his hand, "whatever it was, it's between the two of you. That being said," with a wave of his hand, he cast the spell that allowed Iruma to rise from Alef to Bet, "you've earned your new rank. But remember aware that you can always lose it too."
Iruma nodded, but it went mostly unnoticed, The other brats on his team tried to argue for getting their own ranks raised, which Kalego most certainly wasn't going to do for them.
This is actually one of the first ideas I had that led to this series of one shots. I hoped that you enjoyed it.
