Lord Sullivan strolled into the living room to greet the guests in his home. Iruma found himself enveloped in a group embrace. Alice's lengthy arms encircled Iruma, while Clara's petite yet strong form clung to him, also grasping Alice's arms.
"You kids are so cute!" Lord Sullivan cooed.
Alice unraveled from his friend to bow low to the master of the house. "-" Just as Alice was going to go through polite greetings and show appreciation when Clara hug slammed him to the ground. "Get off me stupid Clara!" he shouted still on the ground.
"See? It's that simple!" Clara stood up beaming as she faced Iruma. Hands proudly on hips.
"Oh my, what's going on?" Lord Sullivan asked as he helped Alice up.
"Thank you, sir!" Alice beamed to have the aid and attention of the powerful demon lord.
Clara giggled "Iruma said he wants a hug but can't just have it whenever he wants. But it's easy!"
Lord Sullivan wrapped his arms around Iruma, saying softly, "Oh, my precious boy, remember you can always turn to Grandpa for a hug!" He nuzzled Iruma's face with warmth.
Iruma quietly said, "I love you, Grandpa," as he leaned in, cherishing their affection.
Lord Sullivan danced in place and kissed the top of Iruma's head. "My sweet boy" he gently set his darling boy on his feet.
Iruma had a shy pleased smile. "Grandpa, my friends want to hang out today. Is that okay?"
"How about they join us?" Lord Sullivan offered with an easy smile.
"I'll ask Mommy!"
"As will I!"
The teens texted at lightning speed.
"Have you already had breakfast? I can't let young ones go hungry" said Lord Sullivan guested to the dining room "Have a bite"
Alice bowed "You honor us; thank you, Lord Sullivan"
Clara took his hand as they walked "Thanks!" she said with a toothy grin.
"Don't touch him!" Alice called out.
But Lord Sullivan merely chuckled "It's all right"
Professor Balam and Opera sat across from each other, mid-chat. Opera's tail was very expressive, displaying the excitement their face did not. "I'll be right back" they promised Professor Balam to attend to the new guests.
Alice only had tea and toast as he ate a good meal at home. Clara pulled many prepackaged snacks and drinks and was served with a small plate of eggs and toast. They both got permission from their mothers to shop with Iruma in the city under the watch of Lord Sullivan.
Lord Sullivan went over the plan. "While shopping Iruma will wear Detection-Warding Glasses-"
At this, Clara grabbed and put on the table a large variety of Detection-Warding Glasses "There, plenty for everyone!"
Lord Sullivan chuckled "Thank you for your contribution and consideration. Now there's enough for everyone. The plan is as follows: two hours of shopping, lunch, and a live performance! Professor Balam has agreed to be Iruma's private tutor and thus will join us as a reward" He concluded with a smile.
Iruma gasped "I had no idea; thank you Proffessor Balam!"
"Oh no trouble at all!" said Professor Balam. He was thankful not to be trembling just at the sight of him, but it was taking all his strength to be composed in the presence of a real human.
Lord Sullivan nodded with a smile. "The touring will be here for privacy, and I'm afraid I must instant on no visitors at those times. Iruma will text you the schedule. With that out of the way, let's get going. "
Alice and Clara looked sad when told to they would have to schedule hangouts but brightened up that the fun day was about to begin.
Professor Balam had the sense to not mention home visits were not mentioned as he could not refuse a request by the Chairdemon, and although more comfortable at this lab, he did see the priority of Iruma's comfort and safety. The Sullivan mansion is certainly the safest place to talk about human things.
"Yay, yay,yay, going to to play!" Clara cheered as she linked arms with Iruma and Alice, beaming up at both her friends.
Iruma smiled "Yeah, it's going to be a great day!"
Alice looked bewildered for just a second when Clara gave him gentle, non-chotic attention. He smiled down at her and tightened the arm link between them.
Opera took half a dozen photos before everyone walked out the door. They lead the extra large coach drawn by four hellhorses. On Magical Street it took only a moment for Lord Sullivan, and by extension his group to be crowded by those wanting a amount of his time, a fraction of his attention.
The crowd shouted praise and adoration. Lord Sullivan smiled and waved at the adoring mass of people. Opera and Professor Balam used the crowd's distraction to usher their young charges into a store.
"Brosw at your leisure," Opera said and turned their sights on Professor Balam. "Over here. It's about time you change some things"
Due to his meek personality and the pecking order of demon society, Professor Balam allowed himself to be dragged around by Opera, who had a plan and a feisty glint in their eyes.
Alice in his own way, took charge too. He put a firm hand on Iruma's shoulder and led him to a particular nook in the store. It caught his eye as soon as they walked in. Iruma tried on a soft lavender jumpsuit.
"Stunting Lord Iruma!" Alice praised, secretly pleased with how good his best friend looked in his selection.
"Good, but could be better!" Clara said running with a bundle of clothes and tossing them on Iruma. "Try that!"
Iruma smiled under the ton of fabric. "Okay!"
Clara smirked triumphantly at Alice "My pick will look better cause he's my bestie and I'm his!"
Alice clenched his fist, and lowered himself to her level "Fat chance! You can't be trusted to dress yourself!"
Clara's only answer was a wet raspberry.
Alice snorted "You know I'm right" he folded his arms with self-satisfaction.
"Game on! I'll dress all of us the best! You'll see!"
"No, you'll see and Lord Sullivan will be the judge!"
"You're on!"
For an hour Clara and Alice had Iruma try on clothes. Opera had a camera, they had used it on their fashion victim Professor Balam. Another thirty minutes were devoted to Alice and Clara trying on clothes the other selected. Lord Sullivan had watched quilty on the sideline, he had enormous plastic purple Detection-Warding Glasses over his regular glasses.
Alice trash-talked most of what Clara selected, but he found he liked the image in the mirror when he put on slacks of strong but soft martial, a vivid shade of pink somewhere in between fuschia and magenta. The top she selected had a subtle gradient of pink, purple, and blue. She even slapped a purple bangle on his wrist before he shut the changing room door.
Clara was in a changing room of her own, having a similar moment. She had scoffed at all of Alice's picks until that moment. He picked a dress that went just passed her knees. The skirt flared out like a tutu, with scalloped sleeves, and the skirt to midriff the same green as her hair, suddenly changing to yellow and changed again at the shoulders to red. He told her to match it with a crochet shawl that started as orange and tapered into yellow. She wrapped the shawl over her to complete the look he had in mind. She grabbed a pair of discarded red tights and put them on. It just clicked the outfit was complete.
They each emerged from the changing rooms to the corner their group awaited.
...
Iruma watched as Opera tossed another tweety pieces of clothing at Professor Balam, who then took it to a changing room. He also watched as Alice held up a blue blouse for scrutiny but ultimately disregarded it. Finally, he watched as Clara scanned a case of accessories. He heard plastic click together, and from his perspective, his grandfather materialized from nowhere.
"Didn't mean to startle you" Lord Sullivan said although he chuckled. He banished the Detection-Warding Glasses in a puff of smoke.
"Did you find anything you want Grandpa?" Iruma asked. He was unaware his voice was small almost as if frightened.
"This trip is more for you. I'll probably pick up a few things in the shop next door" He said mildly. He looked past his spectacles down at his beloved boy."Is something the matter?"
Iruma shook his head "I'm just happy to watch. My friends picked out so many things and I don't see anything else that I want" He was still unaware his voice had a hint of timid tones.
"We'll wrap things up here soon if nothing else interests you. Gather up what you want and your friends and we shall move on" said Lord Sullivan as he gently ruffed Iruma's hair.
...
"You both look fantastic!" Iruma said when his friends emerged.
"You flatter me!" Alice cheered.
"Azz-Azz looks best, so I win!" Clara declared proudly, hands on hips, wide grin.
"The challenge was who can dress Master Iruma!" Alice shouted, going red in the face.
"Actually, it was who could dress the three of us best. It doesn't matter! Everyone did a great job and it shows are close friendship!" Iruma the people-pleaser tried to smooth things over.
His friends looked awestruck, eyes wide but gleeful.
"We are the best at being best friends!" cheered Clara.
"Being Master Iruma's friend is fun and easy!" declared Alice.
Lord Sullivan strolled causally "Collect what you want and I'll pay for it!"
"So generous!" said Alice as he bowed low.
"Thank you! Thanks so, so, so, much!" Clara wrapped herself around Lord Sullivan's thin frame.
Lord Sulivan for his part chucked and ruffled her hair.
"Such good children! I'm pleased Iruma has sweet children as his friends! Oh, we must get a group photo, everyone say 'devi' and smile!" He held up his hands in a 666 gesture.
Professor Balam only waved at the camera, Clara also used both hands for the 666 pose, Iruma gave a thumbs up and Alice leaned into Iruma.
Opera took serval photos from several angles and bowed when they concluded the task.
...
Next, the group went to a home furnishing store. Lord Sullivan selected several furs and skulls. Professor Balam requested to spend time outside the shop, Lord Sullivan granted if he took the kids for lunch. Professor Balam readily agreed and received a spare credit card.
"Thank you for the trust, Lord Sullivan!"
Lord Sullivan smiled as he waved them away. "He's in for a surprise"
Opera's tail swished demonstrating their amusement.
...
Professor Balam took a hands-off approach and allowed the kids to make where they ate. He was happy to have the opportunity to observe them. As usual, Alice and Clara bickered, and Iruma only occasionally commented.
"Is there a buffet?" Iruma asked. For the first time asking for something specific.
His friends and teacher stopped in their tracks.
Iruma realized he said something weird again and hoped he could talk himself out of this. "It's like a cafeteria" he explained hoping that would be enough to distract.
"Oh, okay! Why didn't you just say 'cafeteria'?" Clara asked.
"A buffet is completely self-serve instead of a tray or plate filled by a worker" Iruma explained. From the corner of his eye, he could see Professor Balam whose body held a lot of tension and had a glint in his eye that made Iruma shuffle away from him. "I'm sure we can find something good!" he walked away hoping it looked casual. His friends returned to his side.
...
Professor Balam realized he had startled the human boy. Although he felt bad, his mind couldn't wonder if all humans were skittish. His heart was racing, wishing he had a pen and notebook. He followed at a distance so Iruma would return to his normal behavior with his friends. He envied the students, that they could be friends, while his role would only be a teacher and trusted adult at best. His mind went back to the definition of friend given by Alice and Clara themselves.
"You know super secret stuff!" was Clara's input.
"Friends have insight and wisdom-"Alice had started before Kalego interputed.
They surely didn't know Iruma is human. Did that mean they weren't really friends if they didn't know his secret or have insight?
He was burning to ask questions. But he was grateful to see a human in a public setting and was about to watch their eating habits. He moved faster although he still had the trio insight. The kids entered a building and he followed.
...