The Concert
Lunchtime has come, and Azz and Clara are less than thrilled about being left out. Sorry guys, but I can't go inviting extra people out of the blue! Well, I'm sure they can manage without either Iruma or me babysitting them for one lunch.
Iruma looks nervous about this situation, which is understandable since the Student Council has quite the reputation of being ruthless and scary. I mean, I'll be there, and he already gets along with Ameri so I don't think he has anything to worry about.
We get our food and then look around for the distinct colors of the Student Council uniforms. I spot them at an isolated table across the room. When we arrive at the table, everyone else is already there and Ameri has left the two seats to her right open.
"Iruma, you can sit there and your sister can sit next to you."
Of course, this girl wants Iruma to sit next to her, and she likely left the other seat for me so he'd be more comfortable.
"Thanks, Ameri," Iruma says sweetly, giving Ameri his usual innocent smile.
"I-it's no problem!"
Sheesh, this girl's got it bad! All it took was Iruma thanking her to get her all hot and bothered!
From the perspective of someone freed from their 'carnal desires', it's quite comical to watch stuff like this.
Ameri then goes around introducing Iruma to everyone while he sits there nervously. They're rather friendly, so he starts to loosen up over a few minutes.
"You two are so different from each other!"
"Yes, their demeanors are almost complete opposites."
"They do have an equally large appetite though, that's for sure!"
"Kimaris, it's rude to comment on how much a girl eats!"
"No, it's fine. I do have a big appetite."
We all continue to chat about this and that as we eat, and the next thing I know, the bell rings to end the lunch period. I decide now's the time to make my move and I grab Iruma and Ameri's attention.
"Come with me for a minute, I got something for you two!"
Iruma looks confused and Ameri looks suspicious, but both of them follow me out into the hallway nonetheless. That's when I whip out my secret weapon(s), something I had Diablo get ahold of for me. I didn't ask the details about how he got them (I honestly don't want to know, since this is Diablo we're talking about!), since they're apparently hard to get your hands on, but I digress.
I've been thinking for a while 'shouldn't those two go on a real date?', but things have been so hectic lately that I haven't had any opportunity to do anything about it. Plus, I don't know anything about dating short of stuff from media and other second-hand sources, but I think what I chose is still a decent idea. A concert! That's something people go to on dates, right? I got my hands on some concert tickets for the two of them, along with one for me, but that's just so Iruma feels more comfortable with going. I plan on leaving the two alone soon after arriving, but I'm not gonna tell Iruma that. He would get too nervous and refuse to go if he knew I was setting up a date for him! It's the perfect plan if I do say so myself! The funny part is that the 'dem-dol' performing in this concert is none other than our classmate, Keroli Crocell, but nobody else seems to have figured out that little secret but me.
"Hold out one hand each and close your eyes!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"It's nothing malicious, I promise! It's a present for you two."
"C'mon Ameri, let's just play along."
"Fine, only since you said to, Iruma."
I stick one ticket in each of their hands.
"Alright, open your eyes!"
"Is this…a Kuromu ticket?!"
"Kuro-mu…?"
"She's an extremely popular dem-dol! Tickets to her concerts are almost impossible to obtain!"
"So, she's some kind of singer?"
"Yes, Iruma. She's essentially a pop star. I got tickets for you two, as well as one for me. We can all go together."
"How did you get your hands on these?!"
"I have my sources," I say as I grin at Ameri.
"Let's go, Ameri! I've never gone to a concert before; it'll be fun!" Iruma says excitedly.
"Yes…um…I've never been to one of these events before myself, but I agree that it will likely be an enjoyable experience. Thank you for this gift, Rimuru." Ameri says, now blushing from thinking about going to the concert with Iruma.
"Yeah, thanks! I'm so excited!" Iruma exclaims gleefully before suddenly hugging me out of excitement.
"Hahaha, I'm happy you're happy! Now, we should probably get to class, lunch already ended a few minutes ago, you know!"
This concert/date is just one more way to keep Iruma's mind off Kiriwo and to help him create some more positive memories to outweigh the negative ones. The concert's this weekend, so we just need to get through a few days of school before we can take a little break from reality.
As the week progresses, I begin to fall into the routine of working with the Student Council. Ameri's been treating me a little better ever since I gave her the concert ticket, so she must be pretty happy about it. Finally, the day of the concert arrives and Iruma and I get ready to depart, putting on street clothes instead of our uniforms.
"I can't believe I'm going to a real, live concert!"
"Don't forget that you're going with your girlfriend! That makes it even better!"
"Ameri's not my girlfriend!"
"~If you say so~!"
"You're going too, so don't try to imply this is a date!"
"You're right, I'm just teasing you. Let's just go have some fun."
"I hope Azz and Clara aren't too disappointed that I'm going without them," Iruma says sullenly, not showing the same excitement as before after thinking about his two friends being left out.
"They'll just have to suck it up, unfortunately. I was only able to get my hands on three tickets after all."
I tell Iruma a little lie. I only told Diablo to get three tickets, since having Azz and Clara around would get in the way of Iruma's 'date' with Ameri. I like those two kids, but they're awful clingy when it comes to Iruma.
"Still…I feel a little bad about this…" he says, still sounding hesitant.
"Don't be! If you feel guilty, just make sure to spend more time with them afterward. Easy peasy."
Iruma POV
Once we're ready, we head to the concert's venue; the Makubari Dome. Ameri is meeting us there outside the building. We end up arriving a bit early so that we can buy some souvenirs and stuff. I'm feeling a mix of excitement and guilt since I had to go without Azz and Clara. I do almost everything with those two, so going to an event without them feels a little weird.
The way this concert is set up is in two different sessions, with a long intermission in the middle. Some people only have tickets for one of the two showings, but Rimuru gave us tickets that allow us to see both. I still have no idea how she acquired these expensive tickets, but it's not something I need to worry about. During the intermission, you can buy snacks and merch, hang out with other fans, and a lucky few even get to meet with Kuromu herself! Through talking about this with my (jealous) classmates, she's apparently a huge star here, and everyone loves her looks and her singing ability.
Wouldn't it be crazy if I got to meet her?... Nah, that would never happen!
"Oh, look. There's Ameri!" Rimuru points behind me. I turn around and see her walking in my direction.
"Hello." She greets us.
"Hi, Ameri!" I say cheerfully. "Wow, I like your outfit!"
Ameri's wearing something more casual as well, which I've never seen on her before. She's always wearing her uniform, so seeing her in something different is nice for once.
After hearing me compliment Ameri, Rimuru gives me a knowing grin and a wink, immediately making me feel embarrassed about my comment. She must think I'm flirting with Ameri, right? I'm not though! I just like the clothes she's wearing, that's all! I don't even know how to do stuff like that!
"Oh, this? It's nothing special." Ameri responds. I notice her cheeks are a little red.
Rimuru looks like she's holding back laughter, which isn't helping my embarrassment at all. Uncomfortable with our current conversation, I change the subject.
"I think we should head inside, the concert's starting soon, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess we should. We don't wanna miss any of it."
"Yes. We should head in before too much of a crowd gathers."
We enter the huge room full of countless seats and a stage in the center.
"Whoa!" I can't help but exclaim at the insanity of the scale of the venue.
"Pretty big, huh."
Ameri doesn't say anything, but she also looks slightly amazed by the sight of the dome. After some looking around, we find our assigned seats. I'm sandwiched in between Rimuru and Ameri, which makes sense. Even though these two seem to be getting along for the most part lately, I don't think Ameri likes Rimuru too much, so them sitting next to each other is less preferable to this.
Just a short few minutes before the concert is supposed to begin, Rimuru abruptly stands up.
"I'll be right back, I need to go use the bathroom."
"But, Rimuru! It's about to start! You might miss it!"
"Nah, I'll be quick."
Rimuru runs off, leaving me alone with Ameri.
Wait…do slimes even need to use the bathroom? I don't think I've ever heard Rimuru say she needs to go…
Ameri POV
Is she…trying to set us up?!
I have a sneaking suspicion that Rimuru, that conniving girl of mystery, is trying to set me up with her fake brother! Why else would she invite me to something like this, then ditch me and leave me alone with Iruma? I mean, I'm not exactly opposed to the idea, but I don't like being manipulated!
I let my guard down…she's been doing such an exemplary job with the Student Council that I stopped reading too far into her actions, which leads to my current situation…
What could this girl be planning? Is there an underlying reason why she would be doing this? What does she get out of it? My head is swimming with questions, but dwelling on them right now will not do me any good.
I'm already here, so I might as well enjoy myself. This is my first demdol concert after all…plus, spending some time with Iruma would be nice…just the two of us…
I violently shake my head to break myself out of that train of thought.
Stop it, Ameri! That is a dangerous way of thinking! Iruma is a human, you are a demon, there is no way your father would permit such a thing!
I already had to dodge his question about where I was going by saying that I had business with one of my members. It was not a lie, but it was definitely misleading. If he knew I was at a concert with a boy he would have a fit for sure!
Iruma POV
"Ameri? Are you okay?" I ask, confused by my friend's odd behavior.
"Yes, I am fine. No need to worry about me," she replies.
"Okay," I say, relieved that nothing is bothering her. "I hope Rimuru gets back soon, the concert is gonna start any minute!"
"Yes, she was the one who acquired these tickets for us, so her missing half of the show would be unfortunate."
I'm starting to get worried since Rimuru has been gone longer than I expected. I really wanted to enjoy this concert with both her and Ameri, but if she doesn't get back soon, she'll be locked out of re-entering.
Rimuru POV
Mission complete! Now, all I have to do is watch from a distance, staying out of sight!
Everything is going smoothly. Based on Ameri's reaction, she may be suspecting something but is going along with it nonetheless. She's pretty sharp, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's caught on to part of my plan.
After another moment, the room darkens further, the only lights still on being the ones pointed at the stage. Many of the audience members are holding some kind of glowstick thing, making the sea of people almost look like a starscape in the darker areas of the dome.
Then, the star of the show emerges, walking confidently onto the stage under the watchful eyes of countless demons. The audience roars with excitement at the sight of the girl. I'm surprised how different her overall demeanor is when compared to how she is at Babyls. Keroli is extremely shy and quiet, so seeing her exuding confidence and charm is a bit offputting. It's a shame that she can't have some of this energy when not disguised, because I think it would make her life easier.
The ensuing show is impressive; this girl has some moves. Her singing is decent too, but I think her appeal is more her looks and charm. It's about what I expected from a celebrity of her 'type', based on my knowledge from my previous life.
From a distance, I can tell that Iruma and Ameri are thoroughly enjoying themselves, getting all pumped up along with the rest of the crowd. After the people begin to leave post-show, I decide to return to them.
"Hey, there you are! "
"Where were you?!"
"I couldn't find my seat back in the dark, so I just stood in one of the aisles and watched from there." I casually give them both a fake explanation.
Iruma looks skeptical, so I send him a little message that Ameri can't hear.
{{I thought you'd have more fun without me cramping your style, so I hid somewhere else and enjoyed the show there.}}
{{I wanted to watch it with both of you, though!}}
{{If that's what you want, we can enjoy the second part together.}}
{{Okay. Please don't sneak off again!}}
{{Don't worry, I won't!}}
From Ameri's perspective, it probably looked like we were having an awkward staring contest or something, because she looks confused. I just smile at her in response, not wanting to give her further explanation. I can tell that's what she wants, based on the stare she's giving me.
"So, did you two have fun?"
"Yeah, Kuromu was so cool! Thanks again for getting us those tickets!"
"Yes, I found this experience quite exciting. Thank you."
"No problem, but we're not finished yet! We still have the other half to enjoy."
"Yeah, hopefully together this time," Iruma says and gives me a slightly annoyed look. I didn't think he'd get so bent out of shape over me leaving these two lovebirds alone for a little while.
Sheesh, I'm sorry, alright!
On our way out, we spot someone selling those glowsticks I saw during the concert. Ameri's eyes light up slightly as if she got an exciting idea.
"I think I want to go but one of those glowsticks the other attendees had during the first performance. I will return shortly." Ameri says, trying to hide her childish excitement at the prospect of getting one of those toys.
I can tell by the look on Iruma's face that he would like one too but is too shy to ask her.
"Can you get us each one too, so we don't both have to stand in line? I'll give you some money."
Ameri looks hesitant, but Iruma's begging eyes, along with my offer to pay for them are enough to make her give in.
"Alright, I will get one for each of us." She responds.
"Thanks. We'll meet you outside before coming back inside after the intermission."
I quickly hand her what I think is enough for two of those things. I still haven't quite got the hang of the currency here, but if I overdid it, Ameri isn't the type of person to not return the leftovers. She quickly walks over to the back of the line.
As we exit the dome so we can enjoy some fresh air during the intermission period, someone at the door is checking the tickets of the exiting patrons. As he checks Iruma's, his eyes widen a little.
"Ah, there you are! You're our lucky winner today!"
"Lucky…winner?"
"Yes, you get to meet Kuromu! There was a drawing and your seat number was the one that was picked! Follow me, I'll take you to her dressing room!"
The man starts forcibly leading Iruma away by his hand, causing him to panic. Yeah, I'm not letting this slide. With his recent lack of trust, if I don't step in right now, I'll regret it for sure. I've already pushed things today with my little scheme to get him on a date with Ameri.
"Hey! Wait a sec!"
"What?" The man turns around and asks me.
"Can I go with him? We're twins, so we're kinda inseparable."
"No. Only the winner of the drawing can meet Kuromu."
"Pleeease?"
"No."
I walk up to the man while he gives me a stern look that screams 'don't try anything'.
"I'm friends with Kuromu, outside of her celebrity life. I'm sure she would be glad to see me."
"I don't believe you. Prove it."
"Sure. I know her real name. If I'm right, will you let me go with my brother to meet with her?"
"Pfft…sure kid." The man doesn't believe me but agrees anyway.
I lean in closer so that the man is the only one that can hear my voice.
#Keroli Crocell.#
"Tch." The man clicks his tongue in annoyance before leading us backstage. He still doesn't look thrilled about allowing me to come with them, but I satisfied his requirement.
We continue down the hallway until we're led into Kuromu's room. The man knocks on the door, and a voice from inside says. "Come in!"
Keroli/Kuromu POV
After successfully completing the first part of my performance, I'm trying to calm my nerves. I don't think I'll ever get completely used to stuff like this! But I don't have a choice! This is the only thing I'm truly talented at, the only thing that I can do better than my siblings!
But, looking at myself in my dressing room mirror, I can't help but feel embarrassed.
My tummy! It's exposed! I scramble to cover myself with a blanket.
I'm not wearing my wig right now and have my glasses on, making me look like my everyday self, but in a horrifyingly revealing outfit. It's not scandalous or anything, just showing my shoulders and stomach, but that's enough to make me feel self-conscious.
The outfit I'm wearing as 'Kuromu' is much different than anything I would wear when not embodying that persona. When I'm playing a character, I can act confident and charismatic, despite being extremely shy when I'm myself. When I'm disguised, I feel like I can do anything! I sorta become a completely different person, in a way. I really do wish some of that confidence would stick around when I'm not performing, but that's not the case.
I can't help but be jealous of others in that respect, going about their lives without the same crippling anxieties, even when they're getting a lot of attention. Like that Rimuru girl for example. She's consistently the talk of the first-year class, drawing constant attention, yet she seems so confident most of the time! I have no idea how she can do that! At least her brother is a bit more normal in his reaction. He grabs almost the same amount of attention, but I've seen him visibly uncomfortable with it sometimes. Not enough to stop him from outshining me in the school paper, though! You'd think if he really didn't like all that notoriety, he'd change his behavior, but ~no~! If anything, he's gotten worse over time!
Maybe that discomfort is just an act…yeah, he can't possibly not want all that attention! I have to try extremely hard to stand out as Kuromu, for my career's sake, so there's no chance in hell that Iruma isn't striving to be in the spotlight!
I tell myself that since the alternative would completely shatter my self-confidence. It's a reality that I couldn't accept, so I toss it out. I quickly realize that I'm getting too worked up when the temperature in the room starts to drop.
Crap! Keroli! Pull yourself together!
I take a few deep breaths to calm myself so that my magic doesn't go out of control. My family, including myself, of course, can change the temperature of the water with our bloodline magic, specifically towards the colder side. Ice magic, that's our specialty, but it comes with a catch! If we get too emotional, it tends to activate all on its own, lowering the ambient temperature surrounding us and freezing nearby objects. If the emotions are extreme enough, the amount of magic released causes our bodies to overheat, requiring special treatment. I can't let myself reach that point; today's performance is much too important!
Suddenly, I hear a knock on my door. I scramble to take my glasses off and slap my sparkly purple wig on my head so that my identity isn't revealed. I know that my staff is bringing a lucky fan to come to meet me, as part of the event. I quickly compose myself and fall into my role as one of the most popular demdols, ready to meet with the winner.
"Come in!" I say cheerfully.
When the door opens, my well-crafted façade almost shatters. It's the Sullivan Twins, Iruma and Rimuru. They won the drawing, apparently.
Out of the thousands of audience members, why did it have to be those two?!
Literally, the last people I want to see right now, considering just thinking about them got me all worked up a short moment ago. The two walk inside and sit down at the table across from me.
Whatever I do, I can't let them find out that I'm their classmate!
"Hello!" I greet them with a friendly tone, hiding my irritation and anxiety.
"Hi, Kuromu! It's so cool that I get to meet you! I'm so nervous…I don't even know what to say… Oh, I know! I loved your performance earlier!" Iruma says excitedly, talking faster than normal. Rimuru seems to think his nervous excitement is funny since she's quietly snickering to herself.
"Yeah, that show you put on was pretty impressive. I enjoyed it for sure." Rimuru says nicely, but with a lot less excitement than her brother showed.
"Well, I'm glad you both enjoyed it! I work very hard to please my fans!"
"Yeah, being a demdol must be a hard job! You're about the same age as us, so that means you have school too, right?" Iruma asks.
I pull out my planner that's full of all the things I have to do, which is a lot!
"Yes, I do have school on top of my work. I also have dance lessons, singing lessons, tv and magazine interviews before and after school, and concert rehearsals! In my spare time, I practice my autographs and respond to fan letters. I'm a very busy demon!" I say, pointing out everything written out.
"Wow! That's incredible!" Iruma exclaims, seemingly genuinely impressed by my rigorous schedule. He's now holding my planner and reading its contents.
"Yeah, that's what us pros do!" I say confidently, but quickly realize my mistake! If Iruma looks too closely, he might realize that the 'school' portion lines up with the Misfit Class' schedule! I swiftly rip it out of his hands, praying that he hasn't figured it out.
Iruma looks surprised by my frantic action but doesn't say anything, causing an awkward silence as we just stare at each other.
"Soooo…Kero-…*cough* um, excuse me…Kuromu. This is your biggest performance yet, right?" Rimuru says, breaking the silence.
Did she almost call me Keroli a moment ago?! That's what I heard, right? RIGHT?! She knows! She actually knows!
I start to panic a little, but something about the way she said that strikes me as odd. I don't think it was a slip of the tongue, but a calculated move on her part since she was staring me directly in the eyes the entire time, not showing even a wisp of embarrassment at her 'mistake'. She's trying to get a rise out of me, just like that one time after class!
"Y-yes, it is," I say, trying my best to hide how troubled I'm feeling. Even Iruma has noticed my change in demeanor and is looking at me curiously. He must not know that I'm Keroli, which means it's unlikely Rimuru has told anyone. Thank goodness!
At this point, I can feel that I'm starting to lose control again since the room's ambient temperature has dropped a noticeable amount. Ice has also started creeping across the table in front of me.
"S-so c-cold…" Iruma says, shivering and hugging himself.
Iruma looks like he's getting too cold, even while wearing a long-sleeved shirt, but Rimuru, strangely, is showing no reaction. She's a lot less 'covered' than her brother, but she's acting as if everything is still normal.
"Sorry! The thermostat is broken in here! Hahaha…" I try to laugh it off so they don't get suspicious.
While trying to calm down again, I spot another problem. My glasses are sitting on my vanity in plain view! I run over and snatch them up, now hiding them behind my back.
"Is everything alright, Kuromu?" Rimuru asks, emphasizing my alias. "Why are you hiding those glasses from us?"
Then it dawns on me; her true motivation in this conversation. To Rimuru, this whole interaction is a game! A challenge for her brother! She's not-so-subtly leading him in the direction of putting the pieces together and figuring out I'm Keroli! Rimuru wants to see if he can do it, or whether I can stop him from learning my secret.
I conclude that even if Iruma doesn't figure it out himself, she's probably going to tell him anyway so I might as well tell him myself on my own terms, putting an end to Rimuru's little game. That's the only way I can win in this situation. Iruma seems to be a nice boy, too, so I don't think he'll spread my secret if I ask him not to.
*sigh* "Alright. You've got me. You know, don't you?" I ask Rimuru.
"Know what?" she asks, feigning innocence.
"Who I am," I respond.
"You're Kuromu. Duh!" Rimuru says sardonically.
"Stop! Just spit it out already!" I demand, out of patience.
Rimuru just laughs at me.
"Rimuru, does she mean her real name?" Iruma asks.
"Yeah, did you figure it out yourself?" she asks back.
"She's Keroli, right? Our classmate?" he responds, sounding not completely sure, but guessing correctly.
So they both knew…
I sigh and then remove my wig and put my glasses back on.
"So you did! Good job! What tipped you off?" Rimuru says, sounding delighted with her brother.
"Her hands…" he says, sounding a bit awkward.
"W-what?" I ask, confused by his words.
My…hands? What about my hands?!
I wrack my brain for what he could possibly be referring to but come up with nothing.
"Yeah, the way you tuck your thumbs in when balling your hands into fists. I saw you do it on stage today, just like in school when you get nervous. The planner, the ice magic, and your glasses just helped seal the deal."
I'm shocked. I didn't even notice that little behavior in myself, since I was doing it without thinking. To think he would notice something so subtle…
"Wow! I wasn't expecting that! I didn't even notice that thumb thing, Iruma! You must really like this girl if you're paying that close attention to her!" Rimuru says amusedly, teasing both of us.
I feel my face turn hot and see Iruma blush as well. We're both clearly embarrassed.
"N-no! I-it's not that! I…I…just…I'm just…really j-jealous of you…" Iruma says sheepishly, trying to deny what Rimuru was implying.
What did he just say? Jealous of me?
"Huh?" I ask, confused.
"You don't stand out one bit…which is completely amazing!" he declares. "Me, I always stand out without meaning to…so I…I wanna be like you! Someone who can fade into the background and vanish!"
Rimuru POV
Oh shit…now he's done it!
As soon as Iruma spat out those words, the room fills with a blizzard, created by Keroli losing control of her magic. Through analysis, Ciel has determined that this girl's bloodline magic is strongly connected with her emotional state, growing unstable when upset or over-excited. I wanted to tease her a bit, maybe rile her up some, but keep it at that. I know what's too far (I think) so I would've stopped before this happened, but Iruma's gone and pissed her off enough to send her into a full-blown rage.
I create a barrier bubble around Iruma and myself to keep out the ice and snow that is randomly flying through the air in the room. He's just standing there, shocked and speechless. He can be so clueless sometimes, especially when it comes to girls, so I bet he doesn't even fully understand why she's so mad yet.
#Without…meaning to…?# she asks coldly and quietly. "So you're standing out…without trying!?" she asks Iruma angrily. Her face is noticeably turning a purplish red, which is a bad sign if I were to guess.
"Hey, Keroli! Calm down, this isn't that big of a deal! You're gonna hurt yourself if you keep this up!" I warn her, knowing that if she continues this, she'll likely pass out from exhaustion. This is all based on Ciel's observations, of course.
"No! This is a big deal! He's trouncing my desperate need to stand out…and he doesn't even want the limelight he's been given?! No…no way!"
"KEROLI!" I shout at her. The blizzard is becoming progressively stronger as she gets angrier, to the point where the entire room is a sea of white.
"I CANNOT ACCEPT THAT!" she screams, not listening to me at all as she goes on her furious rant. There is a burst of energy, causing a large amount of ice to manifest behind her, almost reaching from ceiling to floor.
"IF THAT'S TRUE, WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I?!" she screeches. Her face is a dark purplish-red and her eyes look unfocused and glazed. I can tell she's not doing so hot (or I guess she is hot since she's overheating) right now. "This isn't real…it's not!" she cries, shaking her head.
"Please calm down!" Iruma says, finally snapping out of his silence.
"I will never…admit…defeat…" Keroli says, now swaying back and forth on her feet. "…not nooow…ooor…everrrr…."
Keroli then falls forward, finally losing consciousness after overusing her ice magic.
