"What's this Iruma-sama?" Alice asked as they reached the gazebo only to find a romantic candlelight dinner waiting for them.
He could not wipe the wide smile off his face, not that he really wanted. He was floating in happiness, Alice had never been more content in his life, as he was then. He felt complete and at peace. How could he not when he was with Iruma-sama.
"I respect this world's traditions and will go through them... but I am also human. In my world, a couple, two people romantically interested in each other, would go on romantic dates." Explained Iruma, only getting a confused look from Alice. "Dates are outings, like dinners, coffee, lunch, picnics, concerts, any activity really. As long as you are alone with your date and have fun. Although you can do double dates, go out with another couple and have fun together. At first, they are to get to know each other and see their compatibility, then they are to show the other their care and pamper them... to have couple quality time."
"That's a wonderful tradition!" Alice exclaimed excitedly, thinking of many activities they could do together.
"So, what about we take a sit and have dinner?" Iruma offered, pulling a chair so the Omega could take a seat.
Alice could only blush happily and take a seat. He was basking in all the pampering his Alpha was giving him. What an excellent mate he had!
"Are you sure that's enough for you Iruma-sama?" Alice asked worriedly, seeing the size of the dinner. Normally it would be more than enough for a normal demon... however, with Iruma-sama's stomach, he doubted it would be enough.
"Don't worry about it, I already ate before coming. I didn't think it would look good to eat so much on our first date." Iruma chuckled nervously, Alice was touched by the gentleman's's gesture.
"I am truly liking these traditions the human world possesses." Alice commented, after taking a bite from the meat. "What else is important in a relationship?"
"Well, there are many celebrations," Iruma replied, taking a sip from his soda. "When you are dating you celebrate anniversaries. Anniversaries, as their name entitles, are a celebration of the date they became a couple. Some people only do it yearly, though some when the relationship is new, they celebrate one month, half a year and then every year. However, as we are going through the mating ceremony before the end of the month it should be the equivalent of marriage, and marriage anniversaries are only yearly. Marriage is what comes after dating if the couple decides they want to spend the rest of their lives with that person."
"So, dating is the equivalent of a courting period but laxer and a marriage ceremony is what humans do to become mates?" Alice asked, intrigued by the exotic human world his master came from.
"Yes, except humans can't become mates as we don't have a second gender. The female becomes a wife and the male becomes her husband." Iruma corrected him. "Also, it is more of a contract than an spiritual bond. A husband and wife can get divorced... divorce is when the couple splits and stops being married." Alice could only look at his Alpha in horror, mates being separated by another thing than death?! "Don't worry that's not what's going to happen to us!" Iruma rushed to reassure him.
"I am starting not to like the human world that much." Alice commented, looking disgusted. Worrying Iruma, who thought he had messed up on their first date. "But I like the idea of an anniversary. What do you do on an anniversary?"
"It depends on the couple," Iruma replied, more relaxed now that he knew he hadn't messed up completely. "Some don't really like to make a big deal out of it, but they mostly take the day to enjoy the company of the other and go out on an extra special date. The male would bring the female flowers and the two of them would exchange gifts to celebrate."
"I like that! Can we do that?" Alice was practically glowing in joy when Iruma nodded. "What other anniversaries are?!"
"Well, I don't know if you can call it anniversary but there's Valentine's Day." Iruma continued. "Valentine's Day differs depending on which part of the human world you are, but it is always known as the day of love. In Japan, females would make handmade chocolate or buy chocolate from stores and give them out to the people they love. There is two kinds of chocolate, obligatory which is given to friends and family as a sign of your love to them and then the especial chocolate you give to the person you like or love. Many girls back home use that day to confess their feelings to the guys they like or they would give chocolate to their boyfriends... the person they were courting at the moment. Then there's White Day, in which the males who received chocolates during Valentine's Day will return the gesture by giving gifts."
"So, I should give you chocolate during Valentine's Day?"
"You don't have to!" Iruma assured him rapidly. "It is a human tradition and..."
"I would love to celebrate it," interrupted Alice with a soft smile. "I love the idea of having traditions of our own that no one in the Netherworld possesses."
If Alice smiled like that how could Iruma refuse him? So, the Demi Demon only smiled at the pink-haired demon and continued telling him about the human world. In return, Alice told him about his childhood, his overwhelming mother, and his cute sisters.
"Kalego-sensei told me we should be doing the summoning ritual tomorrow, I need a familiar now that I no longer have him." Iruma informed Alice. "I would like you to be there for me."
"Of course, Iruma-sama!" Exclaimed the Omega, eyes shining brightly. "It will be an honor!"
"By the way, I was thinking of expanding our batora." Iruma commented out of the blue, taking his mate by surprise. "We now possess the Royal One, the building has three floors. One for classes, one for leisure activities, and an empty floor. Kalego-sensei told me I'm supposed to be the lieder of the misfit pack, so I don't think anyone will get angry if I claim that floor as ours."
"That's an excellent idea!" Alice was blown away by the Alpha's brilliant plan. "The Magical Tools Research Batora has been looked down long enough. Thanks to your fireworks and our work after the Batora Party, our standing increased- especially with the achievement of the Tricky Award. But we still have a lot of work ahead of us! Using the Royal One will surely make us very popular and help us recruit new members."
"Yes. kalego-sensei said that as long as someone in our class is the representative of the Batora, we can use the Royal One as our base. I'm aiming to get a brand new chamber for the batora before we graduate." Iruma confessed, feeling relieved that for once he can plan- with a future clear. "We can turn the four rooms there into offices for us to work at and the public area in the middle to hold conferences or gatherings. Also, we can unite there when we need to work together."
"Four offices?" Alice inquired. "But we are three."
"I was planning on asking Jazz-kun to join," Iruma explained.
"Andro?"
"Yes, I work on the ideas, you on the theory to make them a reality and Clara builds them. However, now that so many people want our fireworks and Ojii-san is asking us to upgrade every piece of equipment at school, we need someone good with money. Someone who knows the market and how to work it." He explained. "I believe Jazz-kun is the one."
For once, since the day they met, Alice had an unreadable expression. Iruma could not tell what the other was feeling, as he was watched closely.
"So, you are turning the batora into a business. That will be good for the batora's funds until we can get more fundings from the school itself and we will gain money out of it. The headmaster's request is a surprise, but then again you are his grandson... Andro is also good election." Alice thought out loud, his expression never changing.
Iruma panicked: "I should have consulted with you!"
"It's ok, Iruma-sama." Alice smiled gently, with no judgment or anger. It only made Iruma feel worse. "I know you did this for Andro and Shax. For Andro to complete the courting ritual he needs an income to support them. Not to mention, they need a place to stay. Andro's family... well, they aren't the safest people to leave an Omega with. But next time... I would like to be consulted. I am your mate, after all."
"You won't only be consulted, you'll have a say." Iruma assured him, holding Alice's hand over the table. "Sorry for not doing so before. I felt so guilty that they had to suspend their courting for us, that I simply wanted to help them out."
"You've got nothing to feel guilty about. Iruma-sama your only experience with mating rituals are us and Andro and Shax's, but it is not common for high-schoolers to meet the mating requirements. Even packs take years before they are stable enough to be fit safe for an Omega to mate into. Our pack did not gain so much popularity for anything. This stability and closeness we all possess are thanks to your leadership abilities and hard work. Do not try to protest and simply accept the compliment." Alice cut him off.
"You've changed," Iruma commented surprised but pleased nonetheless. Alice was no longer treating him as a master but as a partner.
"You too. You are more assertive lately." Alice praised the other boy, making him blush. "But what I was trying to say is that you speed up their courting period by a lot. Now with your business preposition, they will be mated by the end of our second year. You are amazing Iruma-sama! Never doubt that or how good you are as our pack's Alpha."
"Thank you, Alice." Iruma thanked the pink-haired demon, with a smile adorning his face. "I love you."
"I love you too."