"You've both have finally been pushed to the brink, well done." Kalego spoke, tapping the moron's heads gently with his whip.
"This is the closest he's given us to genuine praise." Purson muttered with wider eyes than usual.
"I'll take it. Teachers never gave me this kind of dedication before." Izuku slowly picked himself up from the ground, his fingers making all sorts of cracking sounds.
"Then they're morons." Kalego spoke, still not believing what Inko told him before. He really needed to find that school and turn its teachers into ash. "Now then, let's get the song itself ingrained into you. Start visualizing like I told you and play." He slapped Izuku on the head again. "And don't copy what I did. The world you make should be different from what I made."
"The world I can make." Izuku looked at his fingers, and that dedicated smile that's become somewhat less annoying made its way to the boy's face. The boy placed his fingers on the piano, and fortunately it stopped trying to kill him, so he was to make it past the third note at least.
The boy began playing a sweet and gentle tune. No, that wouldn't do, this was a sensual song, it needed more of an impact if it was to-
DUM DUM DUM
Or it starts getting worse. The piano and its notes quickly began coalescing into something you'd hear in a horror movie before murder.
"What the-Midoriya! What the heck kind of world are you imagining!?" He shoved the boy off his seat. "Lilith is supposed to seduce and leave you behind, not kill you!"
The boy blinked in confusion, tilting his head. "I was imagining love." … That was a bottle of issues he had no desire to open. "Was there something wrong?"
"I never imagined you were into necrophilia, Midoriya." Purson spoke out of nowhere.
"Don't start with those rumors! I have enough time dealing with being called a love bunny!" Izuku pulled on his head. "I was just picturing what I remembered from my old school, how all the girls treated me kindly, before ditching me in an empty alley to be chased by dogs."
"I don't care about your backstory." Kalego spoke. "The song won't work until you picture love properly enough to comprehend what you're playing … a genuine love, not whatever crap you just pulled from a slasher film."
"I've never watched a slasher film before." That sentence should've been reassuring, but it somehow made him even more concerned.
"Midoriya, everyone dies from a psychopath in a slasher film." Purson spoke out. "You should talk with someone and try to get an idea about love." The boy turned to him as if he had some sort of answer.
"You're not getting any romantic advice from me. I'm here to teach practical skills, not help you kids go bump in the night." He rolled his eyes. It was pain enough dealing with Ix and Caim.
"Alright, then there's only two options I have, and the first is in the same boat I am about it." Izuku pondered, before heading out the door. "Fortunately the second option happens to be in the same class as me."
"Hey Elizabetta, can I ask you a question?" Elizabetta watched as PH4 came closer to her, both of them on break apparently. Everyone else was either laying down or getting hydrated.
"Sure thing, what do you wish to ask?" She smiled.
"How do you know if you're in love?" That question got PH3 to spit take with wide eyes. "How exactly do you define it?" Valac looked at the boy in legitimate confusion.
"Do you … I never thought it possible." PH3 spoke. "Izuku, did you finally realize it?"
"Realize what?" The boy remained as clueless as ever. "I need some inspiration for the song, since the whole theme is about love, and I thought Elzabetta would be the best option since she's at the top of the seduction Battler."
Well that was true at the very least. "Love is all about having fun with people you like!" Valac shouted, ruining everything like always.
"Alright, let's start with your values first." Elizabetta spoke. "What does your mother's love life look like? As far as I'm aware no one has heard of Mr Midoriya after all."
"My dad only ever married my mother for the money, and he left for an overseas job the moment he found out I was magicless. The last I've heard of him, he arranged a deal to sell me to some random demon." ….
"Elizabetta, are you okay? You look very pale?" H1 spoke out concerned, but she couldn't focus on the adorable doting at the moment.
"He … didn't leave for another woman?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope, it was just a hate thing, I guess." That … holy fuck what was wrong with PH4's father! Nobody marries without some form of spark, the horrible bastard will be flayed on a stake!
"Of course, let's talk about you then, what do you have in terms of past relationships or crushes." She decided to change the topic.
"None. I've run into a few girls who said they found me cute, but it always ended up being some sort of prank that either ended with a literal egg in my face or me waiting in a parking lot for hours on end. After that, any time a girl came up to me with the intention of anything more than companionship level niceness, I ran the other way to avoid the pain."
How could PH4… no how could Izuku Midoriya exist! He was horrible husband material that didn't comprehend what romance was in the slightest! His life was nothing but bad examples filled to the brim. "You fiend!" PH 8 asked. "You killed Elizabetta, look how pale she is! Her blood is gone from her body to the point she's see-through!"
"No-no! I'm fine! I'm fine!" She shouted out. "I, surely there has to have been ONE decent relationship you've seen in your life! It doesn't have to involve you, you just, please tell me you know of at least ONE healthy romance!?"
"The only one that comes to mind is Aunty Mitsuki. She was always nice to me when I came over." Phew, for a second she was worried!
"You have an aunty? How come we haven't met!?" Clara asked with a sing-song voice, a little concerned at the conversation, probably because of what he's been saying.
"She wasn't related by blood. She was Kachan's-ah, Bakugo's mother." THE SAME BULLY WHERE ALL NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES ORIGINATE FROM!?
"Don't worry Izuku, big sis Ix will take care of you now." She hugged him, purely platonically. PCA had the right idea.
"... Does that make Jazz and Elizabetta family?" …...Okay, Valac, you win. Izuku is all yours.
Ameri was working hard, getting document after document done. Each of these were very important and delicate work that couldn't be overlooked for anything! "Ameri, can I come in?" 'Except that.' She thought as the President shoved the papers off her desk table.
"Of course Izzy, what do you need?" It was sad, the Music Festival made them both so busy. Apparently Izzy decided to set time aside to see her! Aha, take that Valac! In your face Oni! You'll never touch him, Nafra! "I have all the time in the world for you."
"Okay, so we're doing a Hell's Dance for the Music Festival." Izzy spoke as they closed the door. A hell's dance, how interesting. "The song is Lilith's Red Carpet."
"Seems a little much for you, the Misfits are usually the innocent ones … maturity wise at the very least." A seduction song!? Why the fuck did they approve such a crass piece of music for them!? Her Izzy-kun has been tainted enough with all those rumors, give the boy a break!
"Yeah, it's a bit weird, but I can finally play the piano now, so there are pros and cons." His smile made it worth it. It was all worth it to see him smile. "I'm playing the song, but I can't imagine playing it without thinking Lilith is going to kill me, so I need some relationship advice, if you have any."
"Why do you think Lilith is going to kill you?" Seemed a bit dramatic, violence was never a part of the old song.
"Bad experiences in the human world, quirkless kid and bad dad, no real positive role models. I asked Elizabetta about it." He asked the whore!? "And then she called herself 'big sis Ix', sat me down, and gave me a lecture on the fundamentals of a healthy relationship." Elizabetta, you are a saint! If only the others were that easy to get rid of.
"Well, why don't we just consult the forbidden..I mean First Love Memories? Isn't that an entire series based around romance? Why not just imagine that?"
"Ameri, despite everything it's a fictional story. No sane person would fall in love with someone on the first day they met." … she had no idea if he was being serious or not, and that made her very concerned about herself….nah she was fine. "Haven't you ever been in a relationship before? You're the most popular student in Bablys after all."
"Don't keep yourself out of the picture, Izzy-kun. I'm sure you have more followers than I have fans now." She chuckled.
"Yeah but that's … shallow. It's not real romance." Oh, well there's something.
"Isn't that what the song is about?" The boy paused at that, actually considering.
"Right … I'm not the guy proposing … I'm the woman rejecting him!" Ah...okay, that was a better image in her head than she had a minute ago, but she felt like he was still off.
"Ah, I think you're still not getting the full picture, Izzy-kun. You need to be imagining the entire world, so you should at least visualize what the proposal is like before you change perspectives. Here, let's practice." She got up. "Pretend you're proposing to me."
The boy blushed hard enough to generate steam. "Wh-wh-what?" He asked, shaking in place.
"Don't take it too seriously, Izzy, you don't have to mean it, just, think of it as talking up a friend. Just name a few qualities of mine and go from there."
"A few qualities, got it." He nodded.
"Make sure to do it kneeling." That was VERY essential.
He blushed, but complied. Oh, now she was getting embarrassed, maybe this was too far. "Ameri … you're an amazing president. You're strong, intelligent, unwavering." She could feel everything light up! "Ever since I've come to Bablys, I've always had this fear I would be the same, that I would've just been forgotten. You've pushed me farther than anyone ever has, and I only have the drive and dedication I have now because of you."
BADUMP...BADUMP….BADUMP!
She could feel her heart leaping out of her chest, lowering her hand out, which Izuku grasped. This was going so fast, she wasn't ready, she was still in high school!
"You're my rock Ameri Azazel. I can't imagine what kind of life I could've had if I didn't have you in it. I'm lucky to know someone as kind, caring, and beautiful as you."
'Yes, yes, yes! Say it Izzy-kun! We'll run off together! Have our honeymoon by a beach and come back ruling Bablys together! I'll be your Demon Queen!'
"I-I just want to say that-" They were cut off by the door opening.
"Madame President, Ronove is causing more chaos and- '' Smoke paused, taking a look at the kneeling Izuku holding the now lowered Ameri's hand with blushes on their faces. "... I'll leave you both to it." She spoke with a bit of bitterness before she shut the door. Come on, first Nafra, now Smoke!? She even idly remembered the girl walking in on their private moment last time!
"I should run after her, right?"
"NO!" She grabbed the boy, her love, her soon to be fiance! "Ah, where were we?" Finish the line, finish the line! FINISH THE DAMN LINE!
"Right. Um, I just want to say that-" Ronove jumped into the room like a bastard!
"Ronove has dazzled Babyls with Ronove's…" He took a good look at them. "Ah! Ronove's sorry! Ronove interrupted something so beautiful in the making! Ronove shall flee! Ronove's presence is not needed here!" At least the prick knew how to read the room for once.
"Izzy-kun, please, continue."
"I don't think I'll be able.."
"Izzy-kun, I insist." Izzy grabbed her hand. Finally! She'll hear the words from his own mouth.
He seemed to eye the door. "… I … just … wanted … to say … that-" The door opened once again, this time it was someone she didn't recognize.
"We're needed again Midoriya, break is over." The demon didn't even have the courtesy to talk to them face-to-face! "Oh. This is why you hate the Love Bunny Rumors so much. I'll get going. Want me to tell everyone about it?"
"… I'd rather you not but I know you're going to anyway." He muttered.
"You really do know me so well. Is this what having friends is like?"
Ameri actually let go of the boy's hand, grabbing a bookcase out of sheer rage, and placing it in front of the door. She walked back and resumed the position. "There, unless someone uses a devi-damned rocket, we won't be interrupted."
"You remember who's in the Magical Apparatus Batter with me, right?"
"Izzy, say the words right now." If she didn't hear the words in the next three seconds, she was going to murder half the school.
"..." Izzy took a deep breath, looking blood red in the face before letting it out. "Ameriwillyoumarrryme!" Ameri's heart stopped beating. Those words were repeating over and over in her head like a record. "Ah, Ameri…"
"YESYESYESYESYESYES!" She scooped him in her arms and danced all over the office within him cradled so close. "You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear those words, Izzy-kun! Far, far too long!" She needed to make it last forever. His lips were in sight! Cement this moment forever with their first…
"You're really getting into the role, aren't you?" Role...right, it was pretend...all...pretend…
"Y-yes, I, sorry, I got carried away." She placed him down. "I hope I did adequately on my part."
"Yeah, Yeah! You've really put the image in my head. I think I can play it now." Good, she helped him succeed, that was her role.
"Very well. I'll let you return to practice." She threw the bookshelf out of the way. "Nice to hear all the flattery, even if you were making it up."
"I wasn't making it up." What? "You said to point out your best qualities, and that's what I was doing. I know you'll make someone special really happy one day." … The moment he realized that women actually like him, she was going to scoop him up and never let him leave her side.
Asmodeus sat with Izuku, drinking a large bottle of water. He never felt so dehydrated in his life, even against Balam. "So, you finally got the piano down?" Took Asmodeus a couple years to master that himself. And apparently Sabro too. The man's drive to be a 'perfect king' could really make the best out of a beast.
"Maybe not perfected, but I can play the song confidently without fear of death now, so a few more tries and I'll be ready for the festival."
"How does a piano instill a fear of death?" Asmodeus had to ask. "Don't tell me Sullivan was so bad he made Piano's a traumatizing experience for you?"
"No, the piano literally grew teeth and tried to eat me."
"... You didn't bow first, did you?" Him and Sabro spoke in usion, it felt weird.
"How is that a common factor among players! Where I come from, instruments aren't sentient." Asmodeus idly saw Puson look at Midoriya, patting his trumpet. "Ah, uh, this world doesn't make any sense!" There's the madness he was accustomed to. By devi he's missed the madness. Gaako was right, it was oddly comforting.
"While that's true, that won't matter until we hear you play, Izuku." Kerori walked up to them. "Everything is riding on you and Purson knowing this song by heart. If you can't do that, there's no music, no Lilith, and no performing. I am literally trusting the world of Lilith in your hands."
"Izuku-kins can do it, he can do anything with the power of Plus Ultra!" Clara cheered around, rolling on the ground. "He can make pretty music we can dance to and then we party all day long!"
"Well, at the very least I have a hobby outside of analysis now." Izuku shrugged, before getting his determined face ready. "Alright, let's get this over with. Lilith, I now create your world." He played the song, and it was surprisingly good. Izuku really was downplaying how much he got down in a short amount of time.
But something..something wasn't...the song wasn't off, not by a long shot, but the images were coming in a little differently. "That's weird." Kerori muttered. "He's playing the men's advances more quietly." Right, the visual wasn't showing off the men, not as much as it was showing off Lilith herself!
"It's a song about Lilith." Izuku spoke. "Nobody can compare, so the advances are all weak when put next to her grace." Well in that way it made some form of sense.
"Lilith is a harpy, I'll beat her up!" Clara yelled out … not even going to point out the woman was dead, the girl could go for it for all he cared.
"Hey everyone, costumes are in!" Lied shouted out. The song stopped as everyone quickly gathered, took them out, and started to move to other rooms to put them on.
Asmodeus himself wore a suit that was exactly the same as Jazz's, except for an inverse of white on black. He found it quite dazzling, the beauty it displayed. "So this is Gimel, beauty so great it couldn't be spoiled by determination."
"Azz-Azz always chooses white, super lame." Oh like she had room to talk, it was just a red dress for her.
"At the very least the suits look normal." Izuku observed. "All black with hats."
"Maybe a little too much black." They all turned to Purson, who looked more like he was wearing bedsheets with a veil over his face. "Why am I wearing this?"
"Oh, the Veil is made of the same stuff anti detection glasses are." Kerori spoke up. "That was the deal right, no one knowing who you are?"
"...Right...I can perform with you guys...I can stand out and blend in at the same time." For a moment, Asmodeus thought he saw the whispers of a smile on his face. "Thanks….I don't know what to say…"
"Think nothing of it. It's not like it's anything special." Kerori sent a cute wink to everyone. "I'm just reaping what I've sowed." For some reason, Izuku returned a knowing nod to her.
Speaking of which, Izuku, in his own suit, looked in the mirror, turning around. "You think if I add the word 'suit' on the back I can get it noticed on stage?" The class stared at him in silence.
"I don't even need to say anything, the entire class is about to attack you for it." Purson was right, the abomination known as Izuku's Fashion sense was going to die tonight!
"Guys, it's not that bad! It's supposed to be funny!"
"We'll save you, Izuku! We'll save you from your horrible taste in fashion!" Lied tacked the boy by the neck.
"Your big bro and bis sis are on the case!" Jazz shouted, holding down Izuku's arms with Elizabetta.
"Quick, tie up his hands so he won't be tempted to write something down!" Kerori ordered.
"I won't let you suffer any more cruelty, little brother! I won't let you carry this burden anymore!" Elzabetta squeezed down tightly as Clara created some rope.
"What burden? I like joke shirts!"
"That's the problem Izuku, now you must be free of this suffering!" Asmodeus joined in … wow, tackling Izuku was surprisingly therapeutic.
Soi fiddled with his fingers, unable to stop them from memory. It was fine. People stared at him like he was a weirdo. It was fine. He was going to be up on stage soon in front of hundreds of people. It was fine.
The misfits were still a bit rowdy and invasive, but it...it was okay. Shax could bring surprisingly good snacks for the class and Jazz could be pretty chill when he wasn't pushing the big brother title he gave himself. It...It was okay.
Valac was still very nosey. She still called him a statue, but it was fine. Ix might have placed him on that creepy list of people she wanted to marry, but she kept her space and was really kind, it was fine.
Sabnock was very determined and made sure to keep up the momentum, it was fine. Asmodeus was less of a douche once he was familiar enough with you, it was fine.
Kaumi was still a creep, but he could be professional when motivated, so it was fine. Angres actually was wide awake for once, and seeing him do anything other than sleep was a sight to behold...so it was okay. Garp was still weird with trying to hold onto old traditions, but he was friendly enough, and asked him to be an ally, so it...it was okay.
Allcor didn't make a single reference to his intellect the entire time, so he had made progress. The cursing was a bit much, but it was fine. Kerori was a bit of a madwoman, acting all general with the others, but she went out of her way to keep the conditions he set out, so it was...okay.
Midoriya … helped him, talked with the boy, said everything that drove Soi into wanting to play, and was willing to help keep him hidden from sight. He still held the belief the boy was more selfish than Izuku was probably aware, but that didn't seem to matter as much the longer the two of them practiced together. Making music along with someone else. It was … fine? It was better than his usual fine at the very least. "Soi Purson, please report to the teachers lounge." … It was fine.
"It's probably something about the festival that came up last minute." It was fine. "They probably want me to tell the rest of the class." It was fine. "Maybe it's because it's the first event I'm actively participating in." It will be fine.
He arrived and opened the door, finding Dalton-sensei looking very worried. It was fine. Kalego-sensei looked very pissed. It was fine. "Your father would like to talk to you." It will be fine, it will be fine.
Soi grabbed the phone, putting it to his ear. It will be fine.
"Yes." It's going to be fine.
"~~~~~~"
"Yes." It had to be fine.
"~~~~~~~~~~"
"I understand sir." … He had to leave school … It was … fine ...
It was fine it was fine it was fine it was fine. It was fine it was fine it was fine it was fine. It was fine it was fine it was fine it was fine. It was fine it was fine it was fine it was fine.
i̶̤̐̂̀̌͠t̷̰̜̫̐̚ ̸͖̈̀͒w̷̧̡͖̪̣̔̉o̶̢͍͛̿u̸͎͇͔͝l̷̻̼̥̫̋̋d̸̤̻̦͍̄̈̃ ̷͖̟͗̀̃̿n̵̺͓̬̾̅̾ȩ̵̬̞͐͊̽̎̀v̷͚͑̓́ȅ̴̢̹̻̮̥r̶̢͓̰͝ ̶̺̯̝̌̀͑̒b̵̩̓̉̅͝͝e̴͇̚͜ͅ ̴͎̅̈́̔͛ͅf̴̢̭͕̺̋͗i̷̫̲̦͒͋̕ͅn̸̬̪̘͝ẻ̴̖̀̀͌! Soi Purson vanished from the world.
