Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 26
The rest of the evening went by with coy smiles and awkward glances between Balam and Pandora. It was pretty obvious at dinner that something had happened. The duo were being even more shy around one another than usual. Persephone sent her cousin an inquisitive look, letting her know they'd talk later. Otherwise, no one made a point to add to their delicate interactions.
After dinner, most of the household ended up playing cards. It had been Iruma's idea, an activity that everyone could do together. He was grateful to have so much support and Kalego couldn't exactly refuse. He'd been instructed to be available at all times, after all.
The boy was new to the demon world's variation of the game, but learned quickly. Sullivan grinned to himself, pleased Iruma was feeling well enough to participate. Only Nene and Persephone were missing. Nene didn't look so good and hadn't eaten much of her meal. Thus Persephone was tending to her master's darkened wings, absorbing some of the burden before she snapped.
An hour later, Kalego smirked snidely as he laid down a card in play. Iruma's determined expression turned into a nervous gape. Beside him, Opera leaned over to see what he had in his hand. Iruma touched one card and they shook their head. Anxious, Iruma selected a new card to play and Opera nodded approvingly.
"No cheating!", spat Kalego. Pandora chuckled at his tone. "I think it's okay. This is Iruma-kun's first time playing, right?", she said, grinning innocently. Shichiro added, "That's true." Kalego's eye twitched in irritation. Of course Balam would side with them. Sighing, he gave in. "Just finish your turn", he ceded.
Pandora and Shichiro had already been defeated. Opera was ruthless, of course, but Kalego knew they had gone easy on Iruma. Sullivan wasn't playing. He was just happy to spend time with his grandson.
With a solid poker face, Kalego asked, "Are you sure that's the one you want to play?". Iruma sweated nervously under his stern gaze, but Opera sent him a soft grin in reassurance. Nodding with bravado, Iruma said, "Yes!".
Kalego smirked in defeat as he laid down his hand. "Not bad." Beside him, his friends smiled happily. That was high praise from the ever gloomy Kalego-kun.
Next, Opera played their turn, decimating the entire game. Sullivan raised their arm high and declared, "Winner!". Pandora and Shichiro applauded politely while Kalego hid a grin. He knew that would happen.
Meanwhile, in another chamber, Persephone looked on grimly. Nene had coughed up a spatter of blood. "Master?", ventured her protégé in concern. Nene smiled peacefully as if nothing was wrong at all as she cleaned her hand, but Persephone wasn't buying it. She stared at her with determination.
"When did this start?", she asked carefully. Shying her gaze, Nene quietly admitted defeat. She'd known she couldn't hide it for long. "After my meeting with Sa-chan earlier. When I got back out into the hall, I felt weak. I have to admit, I was a little surprised", she ceded.
Persephone gave her master a thorough health check. Her pulse was a little weaker than usual and her breathing a bit more shallow. Her eyes seemed dim compared to their usual loving brightness. Thinking it over, no one else seemed sick; This was an isolated incident.
Easily reading her expression, Nene assured, "Your dear Mum isn't going anywhere. I'm not as young as I used to be and I've taken on a lot lately with Ai's return, but I'll be alright with some extra rest." Giving in, Persephone begrudgingly accepted those words, but she would keep a close eye on her.
Late that night, Balam walked the halls, keeping watch. He took his duty seriously, but his heart kept flooding his mind with images from earlier in the day. The thought of starting a family was both exciting and overwhelming. He blushed deeply as a puff of steam drifted off him.
Kalego smirked knowingly as he watched his best friend fret. Shichiro was so lost in his thoughts, he hadn't even noticed him there. Balam jolted in surprise as he turned, wondering how long Kalego had been near.
Kalego leaned with his back to the wall and his arms crossed as he stared. "Something on your mind?", he teased. He suppressed a chuckle as Balam went red again. Nervously scratching his head, Shichiro averted his face. "Just thinking", he mumbled.
"About Pandora", said Kalego as if finishing his sentence. Shichiro fidgeted nervously. "Is it that obvious?", he uttered. Grinning supportively, Kalego decided to cut him some slack. "Anything in particular?", he ventured. His grin faded as Shichiro suddenly took on a dark expression.
"We talked a lot today", he began. He then related Pandora's memories as they made their way around the property. Kalego didn't say much as he listened, but he was clearly tense. When the story was over, he grit his teeth in anger. "Victoria", he cursed under his breath.
He wasn't surprised by what he'd heard, but he was exasperated by the details. Trying to calm himself, he took a deep breath, knowing it wasn't easy for Shichiro to tell him such things. The image of their friend's suffering was seared painfully into both of their hearts. Still, he was thankful for the information. It renewed his need to finally stop Victoria for good.
They discussed a few parts deeper, giving Kalego a clearer picture of what might be useful in finding his target. When they had completed their rounds, it was nearing time to trade shifts. They'd spoken for hours, but Kalego didn't mind pulling a proverbial double duty. He would protect his friends this time, no matter what.
Knowing Shichiro would have trouble getting to sleep, he changed the subject to happier thoughts. "So, what exactly had you grinning like an idiot all evening?", he teased. Shichiro tensed, caught. "You know...things…", he said lamely. "Uh huh", replied Kalego flatly, well aware there was more. He tried to be patient as his friend anxiously fidgeted once more.
"Spit it out", he sighed, mildly irritated. Giving in, Shichiro coyly said, "We ended up talking about hope for the future." Kalego smiled faintly, glad they were finally moving forward. "And?", he pressed. Turning red again, Balam sighed. He wasn't going to get out of this one.
"Pan-chan said something about starting a family", he uttered shyly. Kalego grinned genuinely, impressed she had been so bold. "What's wrong with that?", he smirked, supportive of their blooming romance. Shichiro stared near breathless. He was turning colors again.
Amused, Kalego pat his shoulder to calm him. "You're overthinking it", he chided. He smiled knowingly. "You fools were meant for each other", he said, only half teasing. Balam tried to relax, knowing his friend was right, but it was still a lot for him to imagine. It wasn't that he wasn't interested; He was just too timid to initiate such things. Taking a calming breath, he turned the point of focus.
"How are things with Persephone?", he asked. He anticipated his friend to pass off the subject, but surprisingly, Kalego seemed to smile to himself as he thought it over. Caught, he quickly cleared his throat to distract from his pink cheeks. "Fine", he mumbled. Shichiro smiled at the display. Maybe there was hope for two such obstinate, dour souls after all.
The next morning, Nene did her best to behave normally. Her wings felt rather heavy despite Persephone's purge. Unlike her master, she could only destroy a little dark magic at a time. It was an innate ability for Nene, but that didn't mean it was without its risks.
Distracting herself, Nene stalked the halls, looking for the elusive Sullivan when a conversation caught her ear. Peeking around the corner, it was Kalego and Persephone. They seemed to be arguing about something.
"Absolutely not", retorted Kalego, stiffly, turning his face away in irritation. Persephone squinted at him, annoyed. Stepping close, she said, "You are infuriatingly stubborn." Looking back, he smirked as he replied, "The feeling is mutual."
They stood mere inches apart, each staring down the other as irritated sparks fizzled between their intense auras. Neither was ready to back down.
Feeling the need to meddle, Nene made herself known. Holding onto the wall as she peeked around the corner with a sneaky grin and amused twinkle in her eye, she said, "Oh my. Lover's quarrel?", knowing fully well that it would only aggravate them further. Persephone dropped her face into her hand while Kalego diverted his pink face at the interruption. Lady Nene truly was a troublesome woman.
Barely fending off an eye twitch, Persephone took a deep breath to calm herself. "Master, don't you have somewhere to be?", she ventured, trying to keep her temper under control. Nene smiled innocently. "My children are fighting. It's a mom's job to ensure they make up", she stated, matter-of-factly.
Persephone's taught expression fell, exasperated. Kalego sighed and said, "We weren't fighting. It was just a heated discussion", still avoiding her irksome grin.
Nodding, Nene stepped between them. Taking a hand from each, she asked, "And what were we 'not fighting' about?". Persephone finally gave in. She couldn't stay mad at her master for long. She really was a mother figure to her.
"Victoria", she stated bitterly. Another sneaky smile crossed Nene's face. "You're jealous. That's so cute", she taunted. "I am not jealous!", spat Persephone, annoyed and embarrassed. Watching them go back and forth, Kalego likened it to being stuck with Sullivan's whimsy, but admittedly, Persephone had to deal with such childishness much more directly.
"Mum, we'll figure it out", said Persephone, eager to be out of her master's playful sights. Nene looked at them both before joining their hands with a nod. "No more arguing?", she asked.
"No more arguing", agreed Persephone, exasperated. Kalego hid a grin at her frustration. Deciding to be the better demon, he apologized. "I'm sorry I got carried away, but your plan won't work", he said. "We'll convene later with the others and figure it out...Happy now?", she said, looking to her diminutive master.
Nene crushed them both in a group hug. "That's more like it!", she grinned, approvingly. Both avoided looking at one another as she squished them close together. Finally releasing them after an awkward silence, she grinned mischievously. "Okay, now you can go back to flirting. I'm off to find Sa-chan. Bye bye!" She ran off waving as Persephone yelled, "Master!", with pink cheeks.
Once the intruder was gone, she leaned one arm against the wall for support, holding her head in her free hand once more. "Just ignore her", she muttered. Kalego grinned faintly. "We should just tell her where the principal is. Then they'll both leave us alone", he teased.
An evil sparkle appeared in Persephone's eye, pleased with such a plan. Coughing lightly to suppress a laugh at her dark grin, he stated, "Those two deserve each other."
As if on cue, Sullivan's chibi form peeked out nervously from a nearby door. Several lip prints decorated his bald head. "Is it safe yet?", he asked meekly.
Persephone pointed down the hall. "Nene-sama went that way", she stated. With a grateful look, Sullivan quickly hurried off in the opposite direction. Once he was gone, Kalego smirked at the ploy. She'd sent him the wrong direction on purpose. "A girl has to have a little fun", she winked.
Late that morning, Iruma went to visit Pandora. He looked forward to getting to know her better, aware how important she was to his teachers. Balam watched them with a pleased grin as they talked. He hadn't told her Iruma's secret, but she had figured it out on her own. He tried to let the boy know it was a safe subject with his peaceful aura. One of his favorite students and his precious Pan-chan were finally getting to talk.
Iruma laughed politely as Pandora finished telling a story from their high-school days. "It was hysterical! You should have seen Kalego-kun's face", she chuckled. "To be fair, it was an accident", added Balam. "I know, but he looked so serious despite it all", she said, nostalgically smiling.
Iruma grinned, too. He could almost picture his feisty young sensei. "It sounds like you three had a lot of fun together", he said, thinking of his own trio. "We did", said Pandora. "Umm, if you don't mind my asking - how did you all meet?", inquired Iruma, curious. Pandora and Shichiro exchanged glances. They hadn't really thought about it in a long time.
"Well, I met Kalego-kun on our first day at Babylus", began Balam. "And senpai not long after that", added Pandora. Iruma's mind drifted as he uttered, "What was Opera-san like back then?", thinking aloud. The adults exchanged glances again with awkward smiles as they thought it over. "About the same?", ventured Balam. "Maybe a little more reckless", added Pandora, thinking of their exploits. Iruma smiled. He could picture that. "We met Pan-chan about two weeks later", stated Balam.
Babylus, the past.
Kalego hastily walked onward in annoyance. Opera had sent him to break up another fight and Shichiro was close on his heels. He knew his friend wasn't likely to need backup, but that didn't mean he wouldn't have to reign in Kalego's temper if needed.
They could hear shouting ahead. Kalego shoved his way through the crowd. Before the school's guard dog could open his mouth, a voice rang out from the other side of the gathering. A girl with long, dark hair, decorated with pink ribbons, had stepped forward. Someone nearby muttered about her being in the student council. Intrigued, Kalego paused to see what she would do.
"Please don't fight", she said with feeling, separating the attacker from their victim with her body. She held her arms out wide with a determined look on her face. Amused, a few more students stepped forward to test her conviction. Shichiro instinctively started to move in her defense, but Kalego held out his arm to stop him. The grin on his face said they were about to see something interesting.
"You dumb bitch!", said one of the ruffians. The demon who initially attacked seemed perturbed to hit a girl, but his friend wasn't so moral. With no qualms, the guy stepped up into her face. "You council brats think you can step in anytime you want. You forget we're your upperclassmen!"
The girl's resolve never wavered. Her vivid pink eyes never flinched as he hit the side of her head. Voices rang out from the crowd, some encouraging more violence and others impressed that she didn't go down from the blow.
She smiled as she lowered her arms, taking her attacker's hand. "It's alright. You don't have to be angry any more", she uttered. As she glanced up to meet his enraged glare, a warm pink light filled the hall. Shichiro stared in wonder, realizing it was coming from her. He could almost smell flower petals as a light breeze spread the emanating warmth.
At once, all hostility left the entire gathering. Everyone smiled, some blushing, at the pleasant feeling. That was his first time seeing her use her bloodline ability. Even as her ear began to bleed, she smiled warmly, spreading a sense of peace to everyone around her.
More members of the student council arrived with staff to break up the scene. A teacher gently patted her head and said, "Good job, Hekate-chan." She grinned, not at the praise, but because the violence had ended. That serene smile made the young Balam's heart skip.
Beside him, Kalego looked at him funny. "What's wrong with you?", he asked, seeing his friend start to blush as he stared in awe. Panicking, Shichiro waved his hands. "N-nothing!...That was pretty amazing is all."
As the crowd parted, Kalego approached the girl. Offering his handkerchief, he said, "You're bleeding, stupid." Shichiro gawked for a moment. When did Kalego get so fast? Catching up, he shyly asked, "Are you okay?".
Accepting the offered cloth, the girl pressed it gratefully to her bleeding ear. "I'm alright. A burst eardrum is nothing. I'll just have to play quieter at practice for a few days", she grinned. Balam glanced at his friend. He seemed intrigued by this council member, too.
"Be more careful next time. Your little trick might not work again", chided Kalego. "How did you do that?", inquired Balam. The girl smiled politely.
"My name is Hekate Pandora. My bloodline lets me project empathy, among other things", she said. Kalego smirked. "Not everyone is going to calm down just because you want them to. You could've gotten hurt a lot worse", he chided. Shichiro glanced nervously between them. Would she do it again to calm him?
Pandora blushed with an apologetic smile. "You're right...You two must be the ones I've heard about", she ventured. Kalego's ire waned, replaced with pride. Balam was impressed. Her eyes were closed when she'd said that. She wasn't projecting anything. She had somehow calmed Kalego another way, just by being herself.
"That's right. We've been taking out the trash", he grinned. The girl's smile fell sadly. "Just because someone is misguided, doesn't mean they're trash", she said evenly. Shichiro blushed faintly at her kindness. She was something else.
Sullivan's mansion, Pandora's room, the present.
"Wow...and you all became friends after that?", uttered Iruma. Pandora nodded with a pleased grin. Balam seemed to be smiling nostalgically. He'd fallen for her so quickly back then. Each day together after that only reinforced his feelings.
"It turned out we had the same lunch period. Kalego-kun wasn't exactly happy to see me at first", she explained. "But I invited her to sit with us anyway", added Balam. "To be fair, I kind of invited myself at first. I was just so curious about you two!", said Pandora.
Iruma smiled softly as he listened to them go back and forth. They got along so well. He hoped his friends would stay close like that over time, too. He was too polite to ask more about their personal relationship, but it was pretty clear they had an interest in one another early on. Iruma smiled, glad they could finally be together again.
To be continued...