She couldn't believe it, she was wearing something so, so, provocative! This is what she usually wore of course, but it still felt wrong! How many eyes laid on her bare skin! Her Izzy-kun must've thought she was some sort of harlot for letting herself be this exposed.
Although, from his breathless expression, maybe it was a good thing? If it was for him, then maybe it would be worth it. "Ameri, you're in your uniform again!"
"Yes, I am. In uniform, um, very much so." She was blushing hard. "This old uniform, which is mine." Her legs were becoming jelly. "I'm the Student Council Presi..oh I can't do this! This is horrible!" She sank to her feet, curing herself up in a ball. "I don't know how I did that all the time. It's so exhausting and stressful!"
There was a sigh, as a blazer was handed over to her. "Absolutely, public speaking sucks in all honesty." She could hear Izzy-kun say to her. "But you're amazing because you can do it."
Oh, her Izzy-kun was always so thoughtful, even when she knew he was lying. "T-thanks for the compliment, but there's no need to fib." She wrapped herself in his blazer. It smelled like fresh Hellgrey tea..her favorite. "I know I'm a wreck just getting in everyone's way. I'd be better if I just crawl into a ditch and die.."
Izzy-kun placed his hand on her twitching hand. W-what!? Was Izzy-kun actually going to confess today? "How you feel Ameri is how I felt for almost all my life. Unlike you though, I didn't work as hard as you did. I got told I was useless, then I believed it. I never tried because I truly believed it was that way. I felt so pathetic that I once thought of taking a suicide taunt seriously."
W-what!? "Who told you that Izzy-kun!? Who told you to kill yourself?! I will wring their necks on a meat hook and drag them across pools of lava and.." She was shaking him violently, oh dear, she was too forward. "I'm sorry Izzy-kun!" She cried holding him close to her. "You've suffered all your life and here I am complaining about the little problems I have!"
"No, get frustrated, come back-dang it …" He sighed, switching topics. "Don't downplay your worries, Ameri. It doesn't matter if it's big or small. If something bothers you, you don't have to pretend to be strong. I'm here for you. We all are."
"I, I don't know how you do it, Izzy-kun." How was it that out of everyone, it was the cute little human, a creature that should've been rightfully terrified of her, that IS terrified of her, gave her the most reassurance? "I don't know how you stay so positive with such bad things happening to you." She clasped his hands, ignoring his blush. "So why don't we stop it? The bad things? We can just step down and enjoy school life together."
"Ameri.."
"No more Student Council, no more needless responsibility, we don't even have to care about ranks anymore. If you're right there beside me.." She leaned a little forward, feeling his breath. "..then I know everything will be okay."
"Is that what you're willing to settle for?" Ameri paused, stopping herself as Izzy-kun stood up. "If I stop now, all the love, time, and support people gave me will all be for nothing. I..a few months ago, I would've given anything for a life without stress, without hardship, without having to try so hard just to live."
She listened silently, he now took her hands instead. She watched intently as he went on. "But because I tried and went through them, I became better and stronger than I was before. I know that rushing into danger all the time isn't the smartest thing to do, but I don't want to live a life where I don't give more than what I have. I'll always give everything that I am, even if there's nothing left to give. That's what going beyond means to me."
She sat in awe at his speech, taking in his words like water. "Going beyond … Do you really think I can do something like that, even if I'm stuck like this?"
"It's just your personality that's changed Ameri, you're still the Student Council President everyone loves." Love? Izzy-kun..loved..her?
"Y-yeah. I-I-l lo-lov.." She was slipping! Damn it! WHY WAS THIS SO DAMN HAR..
Izzy-kun brought her back into his embrace. "I'll be there for you. I promise."
"Yeah." She responded, returning the hug. "I promise too."
Smoke barged in. "President, we lost track of time, the debate is about to beg-" She noticed the pair hugging, body twitching violently. "You found a real keeper. I'll leave you to your business. Please, take your time." It sounded too bitter for it to be actual support, but that wasn't the pressing issue.
"NONONONO!" They both shouted at the same time, trying and failing to correct their mistake-not that she felt like it was one. "I-it wasn't like that..!" At least Izzy-kun and her were more in sync with her new personality. There could be a silver lining to this after all!
Ronove looked over at the mixed crowd. The lies from everyone have Ronove boiling in anger, but Ronove was better. Ronove was above scrutiny. Ronove was above the jeering and the accusation of eating puppies and babies! Now people assume Ronove was some kind of cannibalistic monster! You couldn't get more un-Ronove than that!
"Here we go everyone. Each president shall give their debate, and then everyone gets to vote!" The crowd roared in excitement as the announcer yelled in a mic, standing in between the two of them, as Ronove and Miss Ameri were placed between two rising podiums. "You both have three minutes to say your piece. Good luck!"
Ronove cracked Ronove's neck. The first move was Ronove's, the challenger. Ronove placed a hand on his face to prevent any leaking Charisma. He had to build it up properly, release it into the audience all at once and force their attention all on him! "Greetings, my beloved Bablys! Ronove will save you all from the dread and dull curriculum that those pesky Student Council Members have forced you to live by! Just know, with Ronove in charge, above all else, it'll be nothing but pleasure all the time!" Ronove released his magic as Ronove's lovely assistants unleashed petals! Hah, works every time!
"Does that mean you'll be serving puppies in the cafeteria from now on?" A completely un-Ronove bird demon opened his trap. "Ladies don't like it when we kill cute things."
"And are the allegations that you're a womanizer completely true? Like how you only date people if they have a slight resemblance to you?" A blonde succubus asked. "That's not charming at all."
"And are you aware that you come off like a total douche?" A white haired demoness indignantly asked. Hm, how dare she mock Ronove! She should be glad Ronove actually managed to spot her in a crowd, she was so un-Ronove!
"Have you all forgotten? Ronove is a demon. Ronove's lovely assistants are demons! Ronove's amazing classmates are demons!" He shouted, Charisma on full flare as everything paid attention. "Demons should be free to do as they want! Haven't you been told no by the student council before? Hasn't Ronove said Ronove would do his best to provide a more fun time!"
"Yeah, but what're you going to do if someone's about to die from an evil cycle assault?" A green haired-damn it! Little Ronove was making it hard for Ronove to free him of his burdens! "Will you actually step in and save them? Or are you just a gloryhound wannabe demdol out for his next photo album?"
"Damn, the honor student is savage!" The crowd slowly started to acknowledge little Ronove more! No, not possible! Ronove's Ronovoice was supposed to be Rono-perfect!
"Actually." He blinked in surprise, turning himself and everyone to one of his lovely assistants. It was especially surprising because Ronove has never heard them speak before, well besides Ronove. But all living things know the glorious name of Ronove. "I did some digging into the girl who slapped Ronove, who turned out to be in a relationship with the one known as Quichelight, a Student Council member. Curious, no?"
"No." Little Ronove asked. "Quichelight, you didn't?" Turning to the dirty blonde
"You said to make him look bad." The demon in question shrugged.
"I said point out his bad qualities, not make them up!"
"What's the difference?"
"See, see!?" Ronove cheered, haha, victory was assured now! "If the oh-so-special Student Council isn't above doing whatever they want for what they desire, then why should any of us be restrained?!"
Ronove went on, even as the student council members, barring little Ronove, stomped the shit out of the dirty blond haired one. "Damn it! DAMN IT!" It looked like little Ronove was about to burst into flames. Maybe he'll set off some fire-flowers for his celebration party!
"Let our shackles break apart into an unrestricted paradise for demon students all over!" The crowd returned, the audience's applause was like soothing nectar on Ronove's face. "A new era for demon-kind can begin, but only if you put your future in Ronove's hands!"
"Ronove! Ronove! Ronove!" Ah, what a magical melody they played out.
"Now then, it's time for Ameri Azazel! You have three minutes!"
"This week has been beautiful!" Schnare shouted in his cave, laughing to himself. "All my planning, all that scheming, it has finally paid off." Eligos knew what he wanted in life. Some called him insane, degenerative, perverted, but he achieved his ambitions! He was having the last laugh!
"With the items I liberated from the Gaming, New Magic, and Photography Battler, I've created the ultimate mind magic curse! I can turn the most dignified, beautiful, and confident of ladies into a dainty school girl!"
"Oh really? How'd you accomplish that? The Magic Apparatus Battler is always interested in innovative magic." A refined voice spoke from behind.
"Oh, that's easy, I just..ASMODEUS!" He turned, seeing four of the five members of the Calamity Cult. "W-what are you doing here?!"
"Oh, don't mind us, continue with your evil plan ranting, we'll just be here recording your crimes." The dragon demon smirked.
"And didn't you know? Izuku Midoriya is a member of the student council now. He takes offense to people attacking his friends with strange and dangerous magic." The blonde demon fumed. "And I don't take kindly to people stealing my precious photos of Ameri-chan!"
Confidence, he needed confidence. "Do you really think you can stop me? I'm a third year inventor. I've created chemicals and gadgets you could never conceive! I shall take you down with my latest creation, behold!" He gestured to a direction, running the moment everyone turned.
Well, almost everyone. "I didn't look, I won!" Shouted the Valac girl with a lasso around his body.
"I honestly can't believe I fell for that." Asmodeus muttered, glaring as fire rolled off his body.
"Yes, you won Clara-chan. You get the prize of dragging him back while I collect the photos-I mean evidence." The blonde took his precious treasures away. "Oh, I can't wait to tell Izu! Wait, I can take pictures of all of this! Finally, my personal hell has ended!"
"I had to deal with a man thirsty for my fire, you don't get to talk about hell." Asmodeus muttered. "How is it that Gaako is the only one to not have suffered?"
"What can I say, Black Magic Battler sticks together." She smugly confirmed. "Boy, can't imagine what Izuku had to go through to actually get involved with a conspiracy."
"He would've gotten involved even if he wasn't a member. That's just who he is." Asmodeus responded. "Hopefully, this'll help him and Ameri out of whatever trouble they're in."
"You mean the vote?" The gang turned to the dragon in question. "... Did no one get told about the Battler Dissolution between the Student Council Battler and the Disciplinary Battler? Kerori told me that everyone was involved, and one dude ate a puppy."
"THAT BASTARD!" Valac screamed, pulling out the most complicated looking handgun he's ever seen. What was with all the quills? "LETS KILL THAT SON OF A.."
"LANGUAGE!" Schnare screamed out loud, making everyone look at him confused. "... Sorry, force of habit. Don't like innocence being compromised."
"You're the last person who should ever say that." The dragon girl kicked him in the head.
"Regardless, I need to vote for Ameri. If there is going to be someone in charge, let them be sensible, powerful, and reasonable." Asmdoeus spoke.
This was not sane, and she was weak! She didn't know why she thought for a second she could pull this off. "I, uh, I, Ameri Azazel.." Her meek and quiet voice disappeared amongst Ronove's fans chanting his praise. Even if she could have her voice heard, she doubted anybody at Bablys would be willing to listen to her by now.
Her voice disappeared as her ears flopped. 'I'm not strong enough to reach them. I, it's too late. I'm sorry, Quichelight, Smoke, Johnny, Grave, Izzy-kun.' It wouldn't be all bad. Everyone else would have more fun with Ronove in charge, and Izzy-kun would still be there for her. And, maybe, when she is ready for it, she'll be able to lift the sadness from his heart.
"I want to, to say to the students." She was drowned out by the sounds and cheers of everyone, unable to even hear her own thoughts. She would lose, and that was fine, she had no … ambition …
"That's an ideal, not an ambition."
"Thank you, Ameri-san!"
Huh?
"Is that what you're willing to settle for?"
"If I stop now, all the love, time, and support people gave me will all be for nothing."
Why was she remembering those words now?
"I'll always give everything that I am, even if there's nothing left to give. That's what going beyond means to me."
Going beyond, going to improve day after day. She could see him, looking at her in righteous fury.
Fury on her behalf.
He looked like he was minutes away from causing a scene just to get the crowd to shut the hell up! He couldn't do that. He would ruin himself. He would be dragged down!
Why did he always have everyone's burden on his shoulders! Why wasn't there anybody willing to help him!?
There wasn't anyone. He didn't have his father even at a young age, he didn't have friends other than the ones she separated him from, he didn't have family other than the ones she barred him from. Because she wanted to spend time with him.
This was her fault …
Tear
It was her fault he was alone … that he had no support at this very moment …
Tear
It was time to stop whining, holding back.
Tear
It was time to take on the rest of the pressure she's been putting onto her Kohai's.
SNAP!
And the first stop to doing that was to tear off this ridiculously constrictive dress!
"ARE YOU ALL….!?" She shouted, grabbing her tie as everyone stopped shouting. "...SATISFIED WITH SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS FUN!?" She, Ameri Azazel, shouted as she ripped off that bow. "ARE YOU ALL SO UNMOTIVATED, SO LAZY, SO PATHETIC, THAT YOUR WILLING TO COAST ON BY WITH SIMPLE PLEASURES!? WHERE IS THE DRIVE? WHERE'S THE PASSION!? WHERE ARE THE EXCEPTIONAL DEMONS I KNOW YOU ALL ARE!?"
Everyone stopped chanting. Even Ronove stopped his annoying singing for once to listen to what she had to freaking say. "The phrase from a forign land, PLUS ULTRA! Have you heard of it!? It means to go beyond one's limits, and then some more! With this one phrase the impossible becomes possible! Haven't you the slightest idea what this could do for you, to reach forward to your ambition, OR DID YOU FORGET YOU EVEN HAD THOSE YOU MISERABLE BASTARDS!?"
Everyone still stayed silent, either keeping their eyes on her, or on Izuku for those that recalled his earlier speech. Izuku himself slowly lifted the seething anger from his face, and something more hopeful appeared in its place.
"The kindest, most caring demon I know lives by these words everyday! He's been beaten, ostracized, bullied, and called insane on multiple occasions, and yet he's the strongest student in Bablys because he lives for his ambitions! He goes beyond no matter what anyone has to say about it! He NEVER SETTLES FOR LESS! What about you? Toiling away with your fun and lounging in pleasure!? Do you not seek to become stronger, to follow through on your ambition, for something as simple as this mediocrity!?" She gestured to all of Ronove.
"Hey!"
"So follow through, become the better and more exceptional demons I know you can be, that you know I can help you be!" She pounded her fists on the podium. "Because I know that from here on out, I will always Go Beyond!PLUS! ULTRA!"
"Plus Ultra! Plus Ultra! Plus Ultra!" The student body shouted, as they should. She looked at them, one cheering the brightest in her eyes. The green head of hair that shouted with kind eyes and a smile, that pushed her as she pushed him. The face of someone she … someone she loved.
"That went well." Izuku spoke, and it was true. They only had one casualty, the complete and utter body cast that now forced Quichelight to be bedridden. Otherwise, no one got hurt, and they won by a landslide too. "You were able to reach their hearts, Ameri. I knew you could do it."
"You really have a habit of selling yourself short, danger-junkie." Smoke swung her arm around his neck. "They wouldn't have listened to us if you didn't grab their attention first."
"Even if Quichelight was a moron, your ideas did hold merit, and we ran fast with them too." Johnny complemented with a smile. "It's our fault for our ignorance in your planning."
"We should celebrate tonight. Two beans and juice in the house." Grave smiled. YES! More sustenance!
"Hurrayyyyy." Quichelight spoke from his full body cast. It was a bit much, but who was he to argue with the guys that could snap his spine in half with one hand alone?
Ameri nodded at the group. "You all truly did splendid work, I'm proud of you all." The president's smile was worth more than anything. It even looked intimidating enough to be reassuring in all honesty, anything was better than worrying about being Kakeru.
"Ronove lost. Ronove must disband." Spoke the pile of petals on the couch. "Ronove went through with it all, only to truly lose everything in the end."
"Now then, confess your crimes!" Johnny shouted at the man in question.
"Fine, Ronove did eat a puppy. But it was only one, and it was out of survival desperation in a locked room." Holy shit, he thought that was one of the made up ones.
"You fucking monster." Smoke reads everyone's minds. "But we were referring to what bullshit spell you put on our President!"
"What!" He shouted, jumping up. "Ronove may strike when the opponent is weak, but Ronove will not resort to underhanded tactics, Ronove!"
"He's right, you know." Izuuk had called the attention to him once more. "Again, Ronove's not the kind of person to plan this far ahead. He's too egocentric to think about anything like his future."
"Ronove!" The man treated that like a compliment and beamed. He didn't have the energy to argue after today.
"Anyway, I got an investigation, they found the guy, and they should be here riiight….." Izuku turned expectantly to the door, only to hear the shattering of glass as Clara came flying in on a rocket with the Magical Apparatus Battler and a tied up man. "We really should reinforce-" He was cut off by the group hitting him head on.
"You moron, could you have said how urgent it was!? We would've joined you had you fully informed us!" Azz admonished him. "I missed the Ballot because of that!"
"Seriously Izuku, you got to give full context next time. You're lucky Kerori texted me everything that was going on." Gaako rubbed her forehead. "My vacation was way too short."
"Yeah, I could have taken so many blackmail pics and sent them to the Photography Battler in order to discredit Ronove!" Eiko shouted, offended.
"Hey!" Ronove shouted indignantly, which was ignored again.
"Izuku-kins, it was so much fun! Old man-senpai kept wiggling and squirming around when I pointed my water pistol at him! It's like he thought it was real or something! So imaginative, even if he's a creep!" Clara was Clara as usual.
"I missed you all so much!" He couldn't help but wrap his arms around them. Eiko and Clara were the closest while Azz and Gaako joined in after a moment of hesitation.
"So, sorry to interrupt, but you said you had the culprit?" Smoke asked.
"Oh yeah. The creep here had a bunch of photos and chemicals stored up. Obsessive I say." Gaako grumbled.
"Seriously!?" Johnny grabbed the man. "Who was it? Which Battler did we take down to get this kind of revenge?"
"None! My motivations are far more complex for the likes of you to understand." The culprit walked up to the Battler room, tied up in Clara's lasso. "My love for Ameri Azazel burns like no other! I admire her confidence and ambitions, but I never got to see it bloom into origin! I never saw who she was as an innocent, dainty school girl! Laugh, laugh all you want, but my ambitions have sowed fruit!"
"… In all honesty, after Kiriwo, that was kind of underwhelming." Izuku felt the need to mutter.
"I pity this man." Azz said. "So much talent wasted on a stupid fantasy."
"Just because you had a lovely dream, doesn't mean you can cross the line you monster!" Wow, Eiko seemed to take this personally.
"You can keep Lady Red Hair, just don't get Izuku-kins in trouble because of it!" He really needed to get to the bottom of Clara's dislike for Ameri.
"When's the legal drinking age around here again?" Note to self, keep Gaako away from any vices.
"Too young for anyone to enjoy it." Azz agreed.
"Damn it."
"So it really was an over obsessed fan." Johnny muttered. "Son of a bitch, Midoriya was spot on!"
"You should have bet on it." Clara pointed out. Great, the one bet he could have won! Well, at least until the evil cycle one ran its course. He was human after all!
"So then." A cold chill ran over the room. "You wanted a look at me right?" He could feel the gates of hell open themselves. "Then how about I give you a front row seat." Ameri gave a wicked smile. "Let's give him the training regimen, times fifty!"
"NO! MY AMBITIONS!" Grave, Johnny, and Smoke dragged him out of the room, and not a single soul felt sorry for the man.
"I'm glad it's finally all over." Izuku found a seat to rest on. "You really do all this everyday? You were going Plus Ultra long before you met me."
"Izz-Izuku." Guess the spell lingered a little. "I can't express how grateful I truly am to you. If it wasn't for you, I would've given up on my own dreams so easily. You could probably run the Council yourself if you gave it enough time."
"Dear Devi no. If I ever talk that scary again, I want everyone in this room to either hit me as hard as possible or murder me." Izuku spoke with absolute sincerity
"Done." Azz spoke without hesitation. Truly a man he could count on.
"Regardless, I will offer to join you permanently, if you wish." So he was also right about that. Damn it again! He needed to get in on more betting pools. "The council is full of passionate, driven, and caring demons like you. You'd fit right in."
"Don't do it Izuku-kins! She's trying to seduce you again!"
"No I'm not!" Ameri shouted with a blush.
"Oh, why does this have to be so hard?! I want to be around Izu, but his uniform is so handsome! But I wont get to talk to him, but I'll gather more pictures of him and Ameri together! What do I choose!?"
"So in the case he doesn't choose to come back, is the spot at the Black Magic Battler open?" Gaako asked. "Asking for a friend here, obviously."
"Quiet everyone, let Izuku actually make his choice." Azz silenced the room. "I hope we can still be friends if you choose to stay."
"Thanks Azz. It's actually harder to make than I expected it to be." Izuku looked at his right palm. "For years, the only thing I ever had to live for was a shallow hope of a dream, but being here at Bablys has changed so much in so little time. And if I joined the student Council, I could only become a hero faster."
Everyone stayed silent, no one uttering a sound.
"..But I keep going back to what you told me, Ameri, about the difference between having ambition and having ideals. Since living here, I finally realized I don't just have to live for my ambition, I can live for my ideals too. I can choose the things that make me happy in life, I can choose to have friends that care about me as much as I care about them." He bowed his head respectfully. "I respectfully decline your offer, Ameri. I'd like to go back to the Magical Apparatus Battler."
She stared at him with an unreadable expression, before giving him a warm smile. "If that's what you wish, then who am I to say no." She went over the binder with their files. "And after successfully completing your trial periods, as well as helping multiple Battler's at once with numerous cases, I see no reason why not to reinstate the Magical Apparatus Battler." She placed a stamp on it. "With President Izuku Midoriya in charge."
Wait, president? "I could just be the vice president or something." He tried to reason.
"Well, it's that or we let Eligos actually be in charge. He needs to stay somewhere, and you still need a third year."
"I'll take the presidency, please."
"I told you guys Izu was our leader! And you thought I was exaggerating!"
"We get it, he's the friendship master. No need to rub it in." Azz groaned. "My past self would mock who I am now."
"Your past self was a butt-monkey jerk." Clara happily cleared up for him.
"Seriously, can I stay in the Black Magic Battler?"
"So much chaos in a single group, and yet you and friends might be the best examples of exceptional demons I've ever encountered." Ameri spoke, a smile on her face.
"Don't count yourself out, Ameri. You're my friend too, so you're a part of the Calamity Cult no matter what." Izuku shrugged sheepishly. "I hope you don't mind." The group started to make their leave.
"Not at all, Izzy-kun." The others stopped and turned with wide eyes, gapping. "Izuku-kun-damn it, that better leave soon or I'm pulling out the spike on that Eligos bastard ass!"
"Alright then, I believe it's best to head out. School is almost over after all." Izuku said, noticing the time.
"Whatever you say, Izzy-kun." Azz teased as he left.
"I will call you Alice if you keep that up."
"And I'll roast you alive."
"And I'll steal your magic so you won't be able to."
"Hehehe, Izuku-KINS.." Clara loudly said. "...is so much funnier now."
"Izzy-kun, really?" Gaako rolled her eyes. "Now it's just getting ridiculous."
"She just really appreciates him, as we all should!" Eiko blushed. Was she catching something? She always seemed to have some sort of fever. "Maybe a threesome isn't impossible after all!" HUH?
"Izuku." Ameri stopped him. "I'll see you around lunch tomorrow, right?" She asked with a warm smile, which he returned.
"Of course." It was nice to see everything go back to normal.
