Archive of Our Own ^beta

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The first time Opera cooked for Iruma, they were... surprised to say the least, at the sheer amount of food one little human could eat. Opera isn't one to get flustered or fazed by the unexpected (given who their main charge is) so it was definitely strange. As always, their face remained neutral but there's always at least one sure fire way to tell how the cat demon is feeling.  

Their tail and horns... damn traitors . Still, they made sure to cook feast after feast for their new charge. Iruma was a growing boy, he needed his nutrients. While the praises they would get from the ever-infectious human would settle their worries in the moment, it was always there. A beast , small at first, like a baby, but growing ever rapidly undercover. It waits, stalking its prey , looking for the right time to strike. And strike it did.  

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Iruma had been acting strange as of late. He would try to sneak snacks more and more often during class. This was especially since Az and Clara had designated themselves to be Iruma's ‘snack police’. Making sure he would eat properly at appropriate times.  

It got so bad that the teachers (with the help of Az and Clara and even the rest of Misfits at times) had to thoroughly search him. They'd inspect his pockets, school bag, desks, basically anywhere and everywhere. Then, they’d confiscate any snacks he had. He was eventually mandated to come to class at least ten minutes earlier than the rest (if it was outside the Royal One that is) so that the inspection wouldn't cut into class time.  

Everyone knew that Iruma was a big eater, especially after that first school lunch when they all started at Babirus. Sabnock and a few others thought Iruma was trying to bulk up, you know since he's so small and scrawny looking. Others thought that, “maybe since he's the principal's grandson,” he needed a special diet. One where he needs to eat as much as he does. And a few (mainly Clara and Balam sensei) thought there was more to it than just a simple lack in nutrition or gaining muscle and weight. That there was something going on with the poor demon (human), mentally.  

Still, after two weeks of having to go through these inspections, Kalego thought enough was enough. Something had to be done about Iruma's eating habits. And if he really did need nutritional accommodations, that it’d be properly provided.  

It wasn't usual for there to be a demon here and there that needed to constantly hydrate or eat a snack, maybe even excuse themselves to the nurse for a medication reapplication. But behavior like this is unacceptable and extremely distracting for the entire class and staff. And besides, if it turns out that there is something wrong with his student, he did not want to be the one to get in trouble due to negligence .  

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The first few days of having the mandatory snack inspection were... fine. Iruma would complain and try to hide everything (somehow still managed to sneak at least one in), and that was all. He eventually gave in and handed over the contraband. By the fourth day, Iruma was... a bit more aggressive about having his snacks with him. Not quite the level seen when he'd gone into his evil cycle but edging in that direction.  

Suzy had given in a bit and allowed him to have a snack that didn't crunch and fruit flavored milk. A small compromise that sedated the young demon for a bit (she later regrets doing so as it suddenly became an expectation on her part to allow this). As the days went by, Iruma would get more and more adamant about having, "just one, just one , please ." And when pleading didn't work, he gets huffy, frustrated and clearly doing everything he can to hold himself back from unintentionally lashing out.  

It was the second to last day of the two-week period of the ongoing snack detention, when something had broken in him.  

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Kalego was pissed. TWO WEEKS of doing the same damn thing again and again. Everyone was either getting fed up (though not as much as Kalego), weary (more willing to give in with Iruma's requests), or at a total loss. The Misfit class was riddled with worry and concern over their dear friend. They just didn't know what to do or how to help or anything. Some would sneak a small granola bar to him in the halls. Others would avoid Iruma to not let themselves fall into his puppy dog eyes (Lied was a common victim of those eyes). Oh, and Az and Clara... yeah no, it's no bueno on their end.  

Sleep? What is this sleep you talk of? Az is certainly not aware of what it might be (thankfully Balam's training has helped him with being able to stay awake for a long time). Clara is not better off either, she's... placated. It's rare nowadays to see her bubbling around or without a faraway yet razor sharp focus look in her eyes (always trained on Iruma anytime he made a move). It's rough, but that's why Kalego is going to put a stop to this.  

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" THAT'S IT! " Kalego yells out as he slams the door of the principal's office open. " I apologize for my rude behavior just now, but I and the others are at our limit. "  

Opera's tail had swished in alarmed agitation when Kalego had entered so aggressively. Their horns high up in alert, eventually lowered ever so slightly after listening to what his kohai said. They set down the tea they were previously going to serve to Sullivan but would have to make again later when this was settled.  

" Kalego. You know better than to act that way. " Opera reprimanded.  

" Ghuh! Haah, please forgive me. I am sorry. " Kalego gave in, taking this time to calm himself down. Sullivan watched it all happen with his hands together on the desk.  

" Kalego, why don't you elaborate on what you are talking about. " The principal inquired.  

" It's about your damn brat. He's been causing a lot trouble lately and it's getting out of control. "  

Sullivan's mouth twitched at hearing Kalego call his precious grandson a 'damn brat', but lets it go... for now (someone's getting their paycheck cut).  

" Whatever do you mean? " Sullivan questions in that innocent voice that Kalego despises so much.  

" I mean that Iruma's diet is getting the way of everything, and the class and staff are wearing thin. " Kalego responds annoyed but keeping himself in check.  

" His diet ? " Opera speaks out, that hidden beast inching forward oh so carefully.  

" Yeah, his diet. He's been sneaking in snacks all year and it's been getting worse. It’s gotten to the point that we all have to inspect his pockets, bag, and the classrooms themselves for any snacks. "  

" He eats just fine at home and gets the lunch provided at school. Are you sure you and the others are not exaggerating just how much he's snacking during class? " Opera grills out, miffed at what they were hearing. I mean, a lot of demons sneak in snacks every now and then. What's the big deal?  

" HAAAAHHH. Look, this here was from this morning. " Kalego then pulls out a LEVIATHAN sized trash bag of snacks that were a combination of hidden on Iruma’s person and the Royal One classroom. How did he manage to get so much hidden (in plain sight I might add) even though the day had JUST started? It's IMPOSSIBLE DAMN IT!  

" Ok ... there might be a problem. " Opera and Sullivan both said in unison after seeing just how far this had really gotten. I mean, it's not like Iruma would be able to eat all of that within the class time, it had to be just snacks hidden to be eaten throughout the day! Right?  

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Ok, let's roll it back a bit to that morning. Iruma had woken up, pissy. Not like he had when he was in his evil cycle but similar to it. He greeted Opera and his grandpa as usual (though with less energy than usual). Opera noticed but chalked it up to Iruma staying up past his bedtime. Got dressed, ate breakfast, and was finally on his way to school.  

Az and Clara were there, waiting for him as always but there was practically no life to speak of in their cheerful greetings. Az's eye bags have gotten worse and Clara, while also sporting some rather wicked eye bags herself, spoke in a volume that most others would speak in. Overall, the love trio were strained, not necessarily in that they were going to 'breakup' but something needed to be done before they were all pushed over the edge.  

No one mentioned the things they were doing to try to get Iruma on a healthy eating diet. Instead, they talked about home, what things they're gonna learn today, battler stuff, you know ignoring how badly this all was affecting them. Iruma hated what was happening to his friends- his soulmates. It’s just... when it came to food, it was a war he couldn't win against or for. Conflicting between listening to his, "it's ok, we have had enough," to his, "IT'S NOT ENOUGH! WE NEED MORE! MORE! MORE! " He doesn't want this to lead to him having to separate from Az and Clara but recognizes that just might be what's called for.  

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They're in the Royal One classroom and have started the first of the many daily rituals of checking Iruma for snacks. Every time, Iruma gets better and better at hiding his contraband. When he's caught during class, either Az or Clara immediately swipes it without so much as a blink . It's become second nature to them. Iruma doesn't fight them, just lowers his eyes down and breathes out... silently. As they're going through the motions, Kalego comes in with a ridiculously large trash bag. Iruma is the first to notice and... stiffens .  

' What's Kalego sensei doing with that ? ' Is all he thinks when Az moves into view, effectively blocking his sight from Kalego and the oversized bag.  

He hears ruffling, that familiar plastic sound. Then, the sound of things being put into that plastic sounding object. There are more sounds, different yet the same. Iruma's sense of hearing hyper focuses on these sounds.  

Az and Clara have finished searching him and have started to talk to him. He doesn’t listen nor hear what’s coming out of their mouths. Eyes unfocusing, heartbeat slowing down, allowing for him to better hear what he’s listening for. Then the realization hits him. That moment would come to outshine the moment when the Trauma spell was placed on him.  

‘Kalego is throwing away all the snacks I had hidden away the day before after school and battler activities were done.’  

"Ka-Kalego. Ka-Ka-le-go. Ka-KALEGO SENSEI! " Iruma stutters out increasing in volume. His breaths start to come in short. Paralyzed in place, his vision starts to blur. Kalego pays him no mind and just continues to throw away whatever he finds.  

'No. No. Stop. Don't do that. Don't throw it away! Don't throw it away! DO NOT THROW MY FOOD AWAY! ' Iruma panics, hyperventilating, shaking, trembling. It hurts . His chest hurts . His brain hurts . He can't breathe .  

What happens next ends up with Iruma falling unconscious, hitting his head on the edge of a desk on his way down. But not before he lets out a cry of pure and utter anguish . Az and Clara follow suit with him not long after. This time however, Kalego was able to catch them before they hit their heads on anything. He calls for Balam and Buer to come in and take care of the three unconscious demons aggressively making his towards the principal's office.  

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When the chairdemon and his security devil finally metaphorically picked up their dropped jaws (well, not so metaphorical on the chairdemons part), Kalego mentions that Iruma along with Asmodeus and Valac had collapsed. 

“And you only thought to tell us this now Kalego?!” Opera spoke, their neutral face barely expressing the anger they felt. 

“I was always going to tell-” 

“Kalego~ you kept that information a secret you know~” Sullivan said in a sing song voice, eyes squinted in rage. It made the guard dog flinch back, however he held his ground. 

“If I told you from the start, you would’ve never been made aware of the full situation at hand. The two of you wouldn’t listen to what anyone would say and we’d just end up in this situation again.” Kalego was upset. These two demons would go off into la la land and end up never addressing the issues and concerns of Iruma. Not unless it was right in their face screaming for attention.

Opera was already heading out the door but stopped when Kalego said that. Unfortunately, there was some truth to their Kohai’s words. As much as they tried to not get swept by the whims and whimsical nature of their charge, when it came to Iruma, they became a love-struck fool (platonically of course). After that brief pause, they proceeded to the medical center the school had. Sullivan not far behind. 

“Dear Derkila... I’m gonna end up centuries older than what I am.” 

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In the medical center layed three young demons, Asmodeus Alice, Valac Clara, and Suzuki Iruma. Buer and Balam had rushed to the Royal One when Kalego had called upon them suddenly. It must have been serious if he couldn’t handle the situation on his own. To say Balam was alarmed about the situation would be the understatement of the millennia. 

First, he finds Iruma with a gash on his forehead, bleeding. He quickly covers his nose, it’s not much but the smell was so potent. He makes quick work to clean and wrap up his wound to prevent anymore demons from smelling his blood. It was... disturbingly sweet. Meanwhile, Buer takes care of the other two demons that lie unconscious not far from the human boy. 

It’s at that moment when the rest of the Misfit class comes in and sees that the core three members of their family class have had something happen to them. This causes an uproar amongst them that goes ignored in favor of ensuring that it would be ok to move the trio to the medical center. Sabro approaches saying it would be better and easier if he helped with carrying Asmodeus since Balam already has Iruma, and Buer sensei should handle Clara. 

Balam informs the rest of the class to wait in the Royal One and will be able to visit after they gain consciousness. The two teachers and Sabro make way to the medical center in hurried steps. Everyone was shocked with what they saw. They knew things were bad, but... not this bad. 

They knew Asmodeus wasn’t sleeping well, often taking naps in between classes. They knew Clara was sensitive to others' emotions and wellbeing, oftentimes knowing when someone was feeling down long before the demon themselves knew. And no matter how much Elizabetta, Kerori, or Sabro would try to cheer her up, to get her to smile, it fell short. 

And Iruma, he’s tried to stop being this way (Purson would know). He’s stopped resisting the inspections even though he continues to bring in and hide away his stash. His complexion continued to pale every day; his stomach would growl like a beast that hadn’t eaten for weeks. 

Today, it all finally came to a distressing climax. Still, despite wanting to follow after them, the class stayed behind. Restless for good news, anxious for bad, they settled into their seats. As they were heading to their seats, Jazz noticed something on the edge of the trio's usual desk.

There was a smell, faint yet sweet. Upon further inspection he saw the blood. He knew if the rest of class were to see this, it would only add to monumental amount of worry. Discreetly, Jazz cleans up the remaining blood with a handkerchief he carries in his pocket. It’s disturbing... how sweet it smells. 

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Sullivan and Opera have arrived at the medical center. Balam just finished properly treating Iruma’s head wound, the prior bandage was such a rush job (not to mention the disturbingly sweet aroma comming from the wound). Sabro was dismissed as soon as his job was done, told to head back and wait with the rest of his class.

All three of them were running high fevers so Buer was using his ability to aid in the healing process as well as setting IV drips to help cool them down. Opera takes over Iruma’s care while Sullivan informs the Asmodeus and Valac families about their children. 

“ How did this happen? Without notice. ” Opera questions quietly to themselves, a slight tremble perceptible only to Sullivan and Balam. 

“ Opera, Sullivan, I think we should speak privately. ” Balam suggested. The two demons hesitated, not wanting to leave Iruma’s side as well as looking over his friends’ wellbeing. 

“ Do not worry chairdemon Sullivan and Opera, I will look over the children. It seems like the past few weeks have finally caught up to them. They will be fine, I assure you. ” Bulshenko Buer speaks up when he notices their hesitancy. 

“ Thank you Bulshenko. Your aid is very much appreciated. ” Sullivan responds in kind. 

With that Balam, Opera, and Sullivan go to Balam’s office, it not being far from the medical center. Balam goes to make tea, gathering papers on notes he has taken about Iruma and humans. 

“Balam. Do you have any idea on what is going on?” Opera begins once they settle in the cramped plantae and research filled room. 

“I... have a few things that I think might be worth looking into.” Balam answers, shuffling papers in place as he looks them over and making more notes on things, he finds important. 

“And what are those things?” Sullivan inquires.

“Well, when Iruma and I first started having conversations about the human world and himself, food was one of the first topics.” Sullivan and Opera nod along to Balam’s words. 

“One of those conversations, I had asked about his eating habits. As you all know, the sheer amount is much greater than most demons his age and rank. At first, I thought it was just a human thing, but it might just be an Iruma thing instead.” 

That beast that had been lurking in Opera’s heart lurches its horrendous head and swipes at them. Kalego’s word echo in their head and they’re reminded of how blind they’ve been to Iruma’s condition.

Of course, it’s not normal for Iruma to be able to eat as much as he can. Of course, of course, of course! Opera has failed as a security devil. The fact burns them with self-loathing and it takes everything in them to not send their cup of tea to pits of the Netherworld. 

“Please Balam, go on. I want to know how to help Iruma.” Sullivan speaks up, softly and parental. 

“Yes, chairdemon Sullivan. When I had asked Iruma if the amount he eats was normal for humans, he said no. That humans usually eat about the same amount of food as most demons from what he has seen.” 

“I see.” Opera and Sullivan spoke in unison.

“I asked him why he ate so much and he replied that maybe it was due to missing out on so much growing up. That it was probably his body’s way on catching up all its needs. Buzzer wasn’t triggered so I took it as the truth.” 

Opera and Sullivan continue looking on, poor Iruma. They knew somewhat of the life Iruma had lived but it was still shrouded in mystery. Iruma was not one to speak about it and neither of them ever pushed him to speak upon it. They knew he would if they used the please and beg tactics but that was too far for them. They wanted Iruma to be comfortable enough to open up about it on his own. 

“Considering when there are orphan demon children who have gone long periods of time without sufficient nutrients, this is normal behavior. To catch up by eating an immense amount of food once they have steady access to it.” 

It was rare but not exactly unheard of for there to be demon children without a family to look after them. If a child was an orphan, there were really only two explanations, one more readily accepted than the other. One the child’s family has died or otherwise not available to care for their young.

Or two, the family had abandoned their offspring. That one being so rare it was nearly unheard of, but if and when a child has said that they were abandoned, it was taken as the truth.There is absolutely no reason for an orphaned demon to lie about such a thing.

Demon children are the Netherworld’s most cherished treasure. This being that conceiving and ensuring they reach adulthood was extremely difficult. The Netherworld was cruel and unforgiving place for the weak. 

“But after seeing that his appetite never went down after all these months of having full access to food, I thought maybe there’s was more to it than not being able to eat enough before.” 

And again, that makes sense. Sullivan, as carefree and spirited as he was, always knew when it was time to be serious. Thinking about it, when has he really ever taken the time to really listen to Iruma’s needs? He gave him a place to live, enough food to feed an army several times over, clothes, toys, an education, and... love... right? It’s not enough though. He hasn’t done enough. Sullivan should have realized sooner, if only he weren’t so blind. 

“So then what other reason is there for Iruma’s behavior?” Opera continues when they see Balam retreating into his mind. Ideas and theories rolling around and around each bringing on more possibilities as the answer of Iruma's behavior.

“Well, I believe it’s more than possible that there are mental issues involved. From what I could gather about Iruma and the life of humans, it seems he has lived his entire life in survival mode. This could have led him to develop a complex of him constantly needing to eat in the case that he will lose access to it later. Binge eating if you will.” 

A tear could be seen falling from Sullivan face while Opera’s eyes begin to glisten. Balam notes this but decides against pointing it out. 

“Iruma...” Spoken out like whispering the name of the dead. Who it came from? No one knows or cares to know.

“While these two are very important to note and needs to be looked into, especially Iruma’s mental state, I think my last concern is more pressing.” 

“Please tell us Balam.” 
                                  Opera and Sullivan spoke out at the same time. 
“I need to know now.” 

“There’s a chance that... the food the Netherworld grows is lacking in nutrients vital to human consumption. Perhaps, it isn’t as filling as it’s supposed to be.” Balam admits, a solemn look overcoming his features. 

Opera and Sullivan stiffen in shock and realization. Iruma is a human. He is accustomed to human world food. And while the taste of the Netherworld food has always been praised by him, no one considered just how drastically different it would be.

The two worlds are fundamentally different from each other. The human world didn’t have any plants or animals like the ones here in the Netherworld and vice versa. In comparison, the Netherworld was a lot more dangerous than the human world when it came to his flora and fauna. This is no way to downplay the natural dangers of the human world, just that a human would sooner die in the Netherworld than a demon die in the human world on that fact alone.

However, what really sets the two apart is the ability to utilize mana to then use magic. Humans (most humans anyways) are unable to utilize the mana they naturally hold. So, it’s safe to say the same goes for their flora and fauna. So how was it that they were able to get the nutrients they needed in order to survive? 

It’s a well-known fact that the mana in organisms is the most important nutrient for demons. So, the rarer the ingredient, the more it was able to utilize the mana it naturally possesses and therefore more filling for demons. But, that’s not the case for humans and other earth creatures. 

Iruma’s diet is lacking, not in terms of amount, but in its nutritional value. And that means, Iruma was slowly starving to death. And that thought, stunned them to complete and utter silence.