Iruma splashed his face with water to cool down his heated skin then looked up in the mirror. There were bags under his eyes and his complexion was unhealthily pale.
"Oh man, I can't be sick. Not here of all places." Iruma said to himself as he held onto the sink to steady himself. He rubbed his eyes to clear up his vision, but that only worked slightly.
After living in the Netherworld for approximately five months, this is the first time Iruma felt sick. He only had a little bit of breakfast that morning due to a loss of appetite but didn't think he caught anything. Recently however, he was struggling to maintain his focus in class when the room began to spin. When class ended, he went straight to the restroom, telling Clara and Asmodeus to go on ahead without him.
'Crap, I haven't felt this sick since before I got on that fishing boat that day. I can't go to the nurse. What if the medicine for demons doesn't work on me?' He turned off the faucet and breathed steadily in an effort to calm himself down. 'I just need to stick it out until the end of the day. Hopefully I'll be better tomorrow.'
He left the restroom and made his way to the cafeteria where his two best friends were waiting for him. However, he accidentally turned in the opposite direction away from the cafeteria. The hallways began to blur, he couldn't tell where he is or where he was going. He held onto the wall as he stumbled in a random direction.
'This is bad. Nothing seems right.' Iruma thought in panic when he realized he was lost as he felt nauseous and sleepy.
"Iruma."
The human turned to the voice that called him and saw it was his homeroom teacher, Professor Kalego with his ever-stern expression.
"Oh, hi Professor." Iruma greeted, his voice cracked a little as his throat itched uncomfortably.
"Why are you at the teachers' offices?" Kalego asked, wondering why his most peculiar student was in this part of the school instead of at the cafeteria with his classmates.
"Um, I didn't realize I was at the offices. Guess I got lost, sorry." Iruma sheepishly apologized as he stared up at his teacher, but his vision of Kalego became fuzzy.
Kalego took in his student's pale skin and noted the bags under his bleary blue eyes. In the time he began teaching Iruma, he has never seen the boy out of sorts before. This raised alarm bells in his head telling him that something was not right.
"Iruma, are you feeling alright?" Kalego asked, but Iruma didn't hear him, he couldn't, not with how garbled the speech sounded or how his vision blurred as he felt himself sway on his feet.
Kalego's eyes widened when he saw Iruma about to collapse. "Iruma!" He caught him just in time before the boy hit the ground. Kalego turned him over and realized the boy passed out and was breathing unsteadily. He gasped when he felt the searing hot temperature coming off him through his uniform. "You've got a fever." He gritted his teeth as he picked the boy up and carried him to his office.
Kalego laid the boy on one of the couches and propped a pillow under his head. "Honestly, what am I going to do with you?" He sighed as he scratched his head. He noticed how sweat perspired all over his student's face and decided to remove the outer layer of his uniform to help him breathe better. He sat Iruma up, making the boy lean against him as he took off the boy's jacket. As he pulled the blue uniform down his back, he paused his fingers brushed the middle of his spine. His hands skimmed between the shoulder blades and felt nothing. His eyes widened as he pulled up the inner layer of Iruma's uniform and felt everything around him shatter into a million pieces.
"No." Kalego whispered as he stared at Iruma's back, his pale, bare, wingless back. Only one species known to demons everywhere could not have wings, and they were thought to be myths to tell their children.
"Human." Kalego mouthed the one word, the one logical yet impossible answer to this discovery.
Slowly, he pulled down the boy's shirt, making sure his back was completely covered before he laid Iruma back down into the cushions. He placed the jacket over the boy like a blanket then stood up and stared down at him.
Kalego made his way to the door and locked it, so no one would barge in and discover the boy's secret.
'Human.' The word echoed in his mind, as though mocking him.
He pulled out his phone and dialed the number of the one demon he despises the most.
"Hello Kalego, what can I do for you?" The cheerful voice of the Chairdemon would normally grate his nerves, but he had bigger problems to deal with.
"Chairdemon, it's Iruma, he has a fever." Kalego began, watching the rise and fall of his student's chest.
As expected, the Chairdemon began to get hysterical and dramatic over the well-being of his precious Grandson. "Oh, is he okay? Where is he right now?! He's not hurt, is he?! What's his temperature, has he eaten anything yet?!"
"He's alright, he just fainted, that's all." Kalego answered calmly, "He's in my office right now." He paused then took a deep breath. "Also...I know."
"Hm, know what?"
Kalego clenched his hand into a fist, "Chairdemon, I saw it...his back."
It became eerily silent on the other end, no doubt shocking the principle of Babylus. Normally, he'd have patted himself on the back for this accomplishment, but he couldn't.
"I see..." Was all the Chairdemon said, frighteningly calm upon hearing that.
Kalego pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, I want an explanation, but not here over the phone."
"I understand. I just sent Opera to you; he'll take Iruma home. When school is over today, come to the mansion."
"Very well. It's probably the safest place to discuss this matter."
"We'll see you then. And Kalego, thank you." Sullivan said, giving the demon his gratitude for taking care of his grandson.
Kalego clicked his phone shut and sat down on the opposite couch as he waited for Opera to arrive. He sighed as he rested his forehead in his palm. A million thoughts ran through his head, but the word 'human' kept bouncing off the walls inside his mind. How could he not have known? How could anyone not realize it? What was he saying? This is the first live human ever found in the Netherworld, so it was impossible for demons to ever fathom the very mythological creature they grew up hearing about was actually here.
He lifted his head to get a good look at Iruma and noted the lack of similarities he had to demons. His ears weren't pointed, he had no horns, tails, or even claws. How could a human, let alone a human child, survive this world? It's just impossible. But then again, when it comes to Iruma, the impossible becomes possible.
A knock brought him out of his musings. He quickly stood up and listened through the door. "Kalego, it's me." The calm voice of his former upperclassman would normally make his hair stand up on end, however, Opera is one of two demons who are aware of Iruma's secret. Swiftly unlocking the door, he was greeted by the stoic face of Opera. He made sure to check the hallways before addressing the hell cat, "Were you followed?"
"No, it's just me." Opera said, their usually calm voice held a hint of worry as Kalego allowed them inside his office before locking the door.
Upon spotting their charge, they crouched down to Iruma's level and felt his forehead, hissing quietly at the scorching hot temperature that came off his skin.
"I couldn't take him to the infirmary without running the risk of exposing him." Kalego informed Opera who hummed in agreement. "You did the right thing bringing him here."
They scooped Iruma in their arms then turned to Kalego. After a moment, they bowed their head to the hellhound demon. "We cannot thank you enough Kalego."
Kalego nodded, "Just make sure he's better. I can't have any student fall behind because of this mishap."
Opera smiled slightly at Kalego. "We'll see you at the mansion." They said as they left Kalego's office.
Kalego shut the door again and leaned his forehead against the wood and groaned in stress and agony over yet another hiccup he has to deal with.
School went by slower than he preferred, but he persevered by being the ruthless educator he is and continued his work relentlessly until the school ended for the day.
Now, as he stood before the mansion, he took a deep breath and knocked on the massive doors. A moment later, Opera opened the door and greeted him, "Good evening Kalego."
"Hello Opera." Kalego greeted as the hell cat moved aside for him to enter before shutting the door.
"Lord Sullivan is waiting for you in the parlor." Opera informed him as they led the teacher towards the location.
"And Iruma?"
"He's still sleeping. Shichirou is watching over him." Opera added as Kalego stopped in surprise.
"What's Shichirou doing here?" Kalego asked, shocked to know his best friend is here.
"Professor Balam already knows about Iruma being human. He's known since the end of terminus exam."
"Let me guess, Iruma blurted it out." Kalego said as he crossed his arms with his scowl.
"That's right."
Kalego facepalmed, "How this kid is still alive I'll never know. He's just lucky Shichirou is an extraordinarily nice guy."
Opera nodded, "Indeed. We asked him to come here because we weren't sure how our medicine would affect Iruma."
"Good call." Kalego said as they arrived at the parlor where Sullivan sat waiting for them.
"Chairdemon." Kalego greeted as he sat opposite from the principle.
"Ah, Kalego, so glad you could come." Sullivan greeted as Kalego got comfortable.
"This was an important matter, one that needs to be resolved before anything happens." Kalego stated with his arms crossed as he locked eyes with his superior. "Now then, I believe you owe me an explanation as to why there is a human living in the Netherworld. Start from the beginning if you will."
Sullivan sighed quietly as Opera stood dutifully behind him. "Very well..."
For the next half-hour, Sullivan told Kalego about Iruma's life and how his parent sold their only son to him in exchange for money. Throughout the story, Kalego was outraged and beyond pissed at how poorly these so-called parents treated their own flesh and blood. He knew humans were considered greedy, but this goes far beyond what he could comprehend.
"Let me see if I have this correct." Kalego began after a long pause. "His parents, his human parents, up and sold their only child's soul to a demon just for quick cash. And you spontaneously decided to adopt him as your grandson on the spot. All this, right before the day school year started." He summed it up for clarification as he glared at the Charidemon.
"That is correct." Sullivan calmly said as he waited for the explosion to happen.
A fist slammed against the coffee table. "Just what in the Netherworld were you thinking?!" Kalego screamed at Sullivan. He sighed in exasperation, "Of all the insane and irresponsible things you've done since I've known you..." Kalego growled in frustration. "Did you even stop and think of the danger you put the boy in by placing him in a demon school?"
"I did, and I took extra precaution by masking his scent, so it doesn't attract other demons." Sullivan explained, but that didn't calm Kalego one bit.
"Covering his human smell alone isn't enough to protect him." Kalego sighed, "Given how often you make the boy the center of attention and brag about him, it's a miracle no one has figured out his heritage. But all I did was touch his back and that was it. Had I been any other demon, I'd have devoured him on the spot."
"But you didn't. You called me right away." Sullivan said with a smile.
"I make a point not to eat my students." Kalego pinched the bridge of his nose, "This is no wonder he got sick. Between worrying about school and making sure no one knows what he truly is, his body just couldn't hold up under the stress any longer."
"Yes, we should've noticed it right away." Opera said with a guilty expression and their ears down.
"This isn't anyone's fault. Most students would fake being sick to get out of school, but Iruma chose to attend despite feeling unwell." Kalego stated then sighed, "I'm not sure whether to praise his commitment to education or lecture him for not taking better care of himself."
"Leave the lecture to us, I'm sure he'll feel even better if you praise him." Opera said as his ears twitched.
"So, what will you do now that you know everything?" Sullivan asked, worried that Kalego will treat Iruma worse and not accept him for who he is.
Kalego raised an eyebrow. "What do you think I'll do? Continue my job as his educator of course. Look, as shocking as this is, it doesn't change my position as his teacher, though it does explain why I became his familiar." He grumbled under his breath. "Whether he's demon or not, he's still the same reckless danger seeking brat. I'll just have to keep a closer eye on him that's all."
Sullivan smiled, relief and joy filled him upon hearing his grandson's teacher say those words. "Thank you that means a lot. Balam, why don't you join us?" He said as the gargoyle peeked his heads in, looking sheepish.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I could hear you from the top of the stairs." Balam said as he scratched the back of his head.
"Hello Shichirou." Kalego greeted as his friend entered the room and sat down beside him.
"Hey Kalego. I'm sorry for keeping this from you. But Iruma-"
"His safety was more important. I'll forgive you for that." Kalego quickly cut him off, already accepting the fact that his friend kept this crucial secret from him to protect his student.
Balam sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"How is Iruma?" Sullivan asked the biology teacher.
Balam explained, "I got his fever down, his body needs to rest. It was just a case of the flu. He had them from time to time when he lived in the human world."
"He was on his own before. No wonder he doesn't ask for help." Kalego said, remembering how the boy put himself in danger constantly even when there were reliable adults present.
"Yes. But things are different for him now. He has family, and friends he can rely on. He just needs to remember that he doesn't have to shoulder the burden on his own anymore." Sullivan said in a tender and gentle voice.
"Which reminds me, Iruma was asking about you?" Balam informed a surprised Kalego.
"What?"
"He was worried you caught his sickness, but I assured him that you never get sick." Balam frowned behind his mask. "Then I told him about how you found out about his secret."
"How did he react?"
Balam sighed as he hunched forward, "He didn't say a word. He wasn't afraid. He turned sad, but more than that, he looked resigned."
Kalego's eyes raised at the description. "What do you mean? Normally humans would be terrified. But sad?"
"I think it's best that you talk to him yourself. Tonight, preferably." Balam added which drew a 'Huh?' from his best friend.
"He's right Kalego." Sullivan nodded, "It's better for you two talk this out before he goes back to school. Can you do this for your student?"
Kalego was silent before he sighed, "Very well." It's not like he can avoid this subject with Iruma forever.
With a please smile, Sullivan stood up and led Kalego to his grandson's room. He opened the door to see Iruma sitting up with a book in his lap. Though his eyes were on the pages, he wasn't reading the words in front of him. His blue eyes looked up to see his grandfather and teacher standing outside.
"Iruma, Professor Kalego is here to talk to you." Sullivan said in a gentle tone as he watched his grandson with affection.
Kalego's voice caught in his throat at how Iruma looked. His normally bright blue eyes lost some of its shine and his smile looked sad and hesitant as he looked at his teacher.
Kalego took a couple steps into the room as Sullivan patted him on the shoulder. "Take as much time as you need." He said before he closed the door, leaving grandson and teacher alone together.
The stern teacher turned to his student who watched him as though he was ready to attack. Taking a deep breath, he slowly made his way over to the chair beside the bed then sat down. A silence fell between them as they stared at their laps, unsure how either of them can address the elephant in the room.
"Um..." Iruma hesitated, "...I'm sorry...you found out this way."
Kalego sighed as he crossed his arms. "You should be, if I had been any other teacher, you'd have been devoured."
Iruma gulped, "Right. Are you still mad?"
Kalego opened his eyes to glare at the ground. "I'm mad over a lot of reasons, but not at you." Iruma turned to him in surprise. "Your grandfather told me everything, your parents, your life, and what they did that brought you here. If anything, I'm furious at them for treating you like that, and at Sullivan for tossing into this environment without considering what would happen to you." He turned his stern gaze to his student. "It's no wonder you got sick. You should've stayed home if you weren't feeling well. Fool."
Iruma looked down, feeling guilty. "I'm really sorry. I didn't think it would get that bad."
Kalego sighed, "Well, take this as a lesson. Next time you're not feeling well, you tell your grandfather, Opera, Balam or me. After what happened today, we can't have a repeat of someone discovering your secret. Understand?" He strictly said to his student, his worry turning into barely suppressed anger at how reckless the boy has become.
Iruma's eyes widened. "You're not mad at me being human?"
"Why would I?" Kalego scratched his head, "First of all, I never eat my students, who knows where they've been. Second, you're too scrawny for me to eat." Kalego paused to sigh, "Third, it doesn't matter if you're human or demon, you're still my student. Albeit a reckless one, but my student all the same. I'll still be your teacher, but from now on, if something like this happens you come to me immediately. It's my job to make sure you get a proper education and learn how to survive the Netherworld."
Kalego turned to his student to see him hunched over and shaking. At first, he thought he was shaking from fear or from being scolded, but then he heard a sniffle. "You...accept my humanity?"
Kalego raised his eyebrows. "Of course, I do."
Kalego didn't see it coming, it happened so fast. One moment Iruma was sitting in his bed, the next, Kalego was knocked off his chair with a small human hugging his front. Thankfully he caught himself in time before his head could hit the ground.
"Iruma!" Kalego exclaimed as the boy buried his face in the teacher's uniform as he cried tears of relief and joy. Iruma lifted his head to wipe the tears away with his sleeve. "I'm sorry, it's just... " Iruma sniffed as a smile came onto his face. "I've been holding onto this secret for so long. I was always so afraid that the moment anyone found out, they'd reject me like my parents did."
Kalego sat up with one hand holding him up and the other wrapped loosely around the boy. "Iruma, the Netherworld is a dangerous place. Demons eat humans, you know that." He said in a calm and logical tone as Iruma's tears stained his uniform.
Iruma had a sad smile and said, "I know. To be honest, getting eaten doesn't scare me so much anymore. If anything, I'd rather be eaten than be sent back to the human world." He confessed, "Being alone among my own kind is more terrifying actually. My parents..." He let out a shuddering breath as new fresh tears came forth, "...for all the horrible stuff they've done to me, selling me to Grandpa was the best thing that's ever happened to me. For the first time, I feel I have a place to belong." He smiled and sniffed as he remembered how alone he felt in the human world and how nobody saw how much pain he was in.
Kalego watched the boy on top of him as he poured out all his bottled-up feelings he kept inside. "I know this world is dangerous, and I accept that. But I love it here." He cried, "I... I wanna stay here. I wanna stay with Grandpa and Opera and keep going to school and learn with my friends because it's the best I've ever had. I don't wanna lose any of that because of what I am." He cried as the overwhelming fear of being uprooted to the real home he's ever had finally spilled out of him.
Arms wrapped around the poor boy as Iruma continued to cry in the demon teacher's chest. Kalego finally understand why this boy was always on edge, not because of the fear of getting eaten, but from the painful loneliness he'd face if he's taken back to the human world. If the boy's traumatic experience left him with no desire to return to his kind, he can see why he would never want to go back. He cradled the boy in his arms securely as Iruma held his shirt, afraid to let go of one of the most important people in his life.
"You're not going anywhere Iruma." Kalego whispered as he tucked the boy's head under his chin, holding him protectively as though he was still a baby. "Your grandfather won't let that happen. I won't let that happen. Those human parents of yours, you never belonged to them in the first place. Humanity lost their claim on you long before you were sold to Sullivan. If staying here is what you want, we'll make sure you stay." Kalego vowed as she felt Iruma relax against him.
"Thank you, Professor." Iruma whispered as he felt the weight lift off his shoulders, feeling safe after being on guard for so long.
He wasn't sure how long he held the boy, but when he felt the boy completely limp in his arms, he realized his student fell asleep. Not that it came as a surprise, combined with his flu, the boy was emotionally drained after confessing all his fear and insecurities to his teacher. With careful ease, he lifted the boy in his arms as he stood up then laid him down on the soft mattress of the massive bed. When he tucked the boy securely under the covers, he quietly slipped out of the room and shut the door silently.
Kalego let out a long sigh as he looked down at the tear stains soaking his uniform. Oh well, he needed to change his uniform anyway. He made his way back down to the parlor to see all three demons present.
"How'd it go?" Sullivan asked as he caught sight of the tear stains.
"I told him I would continue teaching him and help him keep his secret. I believe we're fine." Kalego summarized, not wanting to go into too much detail over the emotional episode Iruma had.
"I see, that's good. I'm glad we got that out of the way." Sullivan said with relief.
"Yeah, that reminds me." Kalego brought out his bag and pulled out a folder then handed it to Opera. "These are the classes he missed today and the lessons he needs to go over in his spare time while he recovers. Do not let him return to school until he is 100% better. Any homework he misses I'll have either Asmodeus or Valac send over."
Opera took the folder and nodded, "Thank you."
"Yes, thank you Kalego." Sullivan said, grateful to the demon he was glad to make his grandson's teacher. He made a mental note to raise his salary.
Kalego nodded as he turned to exit the mansion. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Balam followed as he waved goodbye to his Senpai and Chairdemon. The two demons flew away from the mansion where Kalego could sense his best friend smiling. "What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing. Just that...Well..." Balam was hesitant to speak as Kalego narrowed his eyes at him. "We all heard you and Iruma." He confessed as Kalego almost fell from the sky as a blush dusted his cheeks.
"How much did you hear?" Kalego asked through clenched teeth as he fought his embarrassment.
"We heard everything." Balam said, feeling guilty for listening in with Opera and Sullivan as they pressed their ears on Iruma's door. "But you know Kalego, I think Iruma is much happier now that you're in on the secret." He smiled softly behind his mask. "Believe it or not, out of all the teachers in Babylus, he looks up to you and values your lessons the most. I think I understand why he looks to you for guidance."
"Really, how?" Kalego asked as he watched his friend's expression through his eyes.
"He never says this out loud, but I can tell by how he talks to you. You're not just his teacher Kalego, you're the father-figure he needs in his life."
Kalego's eyes widened by what Balam just said to him and how Iruma views him. After learning about what his so-called parent put him through, he shouldn't be surprised by the boy's unconscious desire for a father-figure. He felt something warm flutter inside him, a feeling that made him want to smile, but he willed his facial muscles from doing so as he looked ahead. Inwardly, he felt extremely happy at the idea of being considered a parental figure by that honest, clumsy, kind-hearted, resilient boy. Looking back on his odd moments with Iruma, from small mishaps to teachable moments, he realized that, in his own way, he favored the boy over most of the student body.
"I see." Was all Kalego said as he and Balam flew closer to the teachers' dormitory.
So, what do you think? Did I deliver or what? This is my favorite Iruma fic I've written so far. I just love the dynamics between Iruma and Kalego. To be honest, I really want Kalego to find out his secret in the manga. Even if it's not possible, an author can dream. Be sure to like and review. Thanks.