Chapter Text
Sometimes a person has such a small goal that when they achieve it and wonder what comes next, they run out of ideas because they never thought they would get that far.
“How did I end up here?”
Eiko always hoped to talk to Iruma. Ever since he saved her, she sought every opportunity to interact with him directly, but without success. For years, she looked for the right moments to talk about classes and even thank him for saving her on her first day of school.
But fate seemed to have a little conspiracy against her. However, for her, it was only on a small level, because at least she could interact with her friend Alice to talk only about Iruma. Thanks to him, she learned that she was able to help Iruma study thanks to the guide she made for his final exams. Sometimes she felt that the Netherworld gave her small doors, but that it was possible to go through them in creative ways.
By her third year, Eiko realized that she had to find more direct ways to get Iruma to listen to her. A few weeks ago, she had managed to get close to Ameri after much effort and different strategies, and the results were incredible. Even after being blacklisted by the student council, she was able to fulfill one of her dreams of meeting the president and telling her how wonderful she was.
But that wasn't enough. Her main dream was to be able to talk to Iruma. And if her brother Eita had managed to talk to him, she should have been able to do it too. But she needed to think outside the box, to be creative, just like Alice.
She thought about it for a few days, until she had her next clear idea. She was going to ask Iruma out on a date. But this time, without her comrade's help. She would give him the invitation herself and wait for his response. That way, it would be Iruma who had to approach her.
At least from what she understood from Ameri, a date was a time when a boy and a girl went out together. It was something intimate at first glance and a somewhat suicidal idea for her due to her shyness. Because of this, she decided not to go directly to him to tell him she wanted to go out with him and instead went with the idea of writing him a little note and leaving it somewhere simple for him to find.
The situation wasn’t the best for Eiko. Her fears made her body tremble, knowing that there was a chance that Iruma might laugh at her for making such an invitation. And to top it all off? She was going to ask Iruma out while he was in his evil cycle. Stress seemed to have taken hold of the boy, and he didn't seem like someone who was eager to go out with a demon.
Eiko had known him indirectly for years, and although she knew that Iruma wasn't an aggressive person, his evil cycle could hide a side that she perhaps didn't know in depth. And it was ironic that she thought that, even though she was one of his number one fans.
But even so, she took the first step. She wrote a short note and, with some stealth, managed to sneak into the classroom of the Misfits Class and placed the piece of paper on Iruma's seat. She wrote only one sentence, which was clear and concise.
“I want to go on a date with you. Please, you're amazing, I'd love to get to know you. Eiko Oni.”
At the bottom of the paper, she left her number for Iruma to send her a message. After that, she left his classroom and waited for a response.
She wanted to send him a longer note, but nerves and anxiety overwhelmed her at the first word she put on the paper. Therefore, after two hours of hard work and a firm grip on her pencil, she wrote only those words. She thought that Iruma would simply look at the paper and walk away or even make fun of her. But even that would be a victory for Eiko. At least he would realize that she existed.
She had only considered scenarios where he would ignore or reject her request. However, she didn’t anticipate that Iruma would text her and agree to accompany her anywhere she chose.
And now she was on a date with him. The two of them were alone in Iruma's carriage on their way to the shopping mall to enjoy their time together.
Eiko had decided to go there because she had no idea what to do on a date. Iruma agreed without any problems, picking her up at her house and making sure she was always comfortable. The boy asked her why she didn't just tell him directly that she wanted to go on a date, and Eiko replied that she didn't know how to approach him.
She didn't want to say that; it sounded so silly, but Iruma didn't seem to mind.
“Well, I don't think there should be a problem now. I have your number on my phone. So next time, I'll be the one to ask you out.”
That answer alone was enough to make Eiko's face turn tomato red again.
While Iruma remained incredibly calm and smiled from time to time, Eiko was swimming in a sea of emotions. Iruma looked charismatic while maintaining the kindness that represented him, and on the other hand, Eiko tried from time to time to catch her breath to avoid fainting. She didn't think she was having a moment alone with the director's grandson.
Just from those moments, she knew she had gone further than Eita in her interactions with Iruma.
They arrived at the mall after a while. Iruma opened the door for her and helped her out. Wearing a simple yellow dress and sunglasses, she was ready to walk with her date. Around her neck, she wore her camera. She wasn't going to miss the opportunity to take special photos with the boy of her dreams, so she made sure she had enough memory available for every moment.
The first thing Iruma had in mind was to invite her to a luxurious restaurant. Four stars but known for having one of the best yakisoba in the Netherworld. She accepted, and the two headed to the restaurant to share a nice lunch together.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Iruma's appearance and demeanor were very noticeable to everyone present. He was dressed in a somewhat rumpled purple suit, but his confidence and aura were enough to let people know that they were in the presence of someone important in the Netherworld.
The waiters quickly recognized Sullivan's grandson and quickly arranged a table. For the chefs and waiters, having Iruma there was a great privilege because he wasn’t only someone connected to the Three Greats, but he was also known for having an unmatched appetite. It even seemed that he had come with someone special, so the staff focused on giving Eiko and him the best attention.
However, not all eyes were positive toward the couple. Some diners stared at Eiko, wondering why she was in that place, being significantly lower in rank than everyone else. The girl could feel certain stares piercing her soul, which was noticed by Iruma. He grabbed her hand to give her some security, assuring her that there was nothing wrong with her presence in the restaurant.
He wasn't going to let anyone treat Eiko badly, so after giving the diners who were criticizing them a piercing look, they stopped staring at the couple. Iruma even noticed that they fell silent for a moment when he turned his gaze to them.
“Don't be afraid. They're just demons who like to criticize others, but they're more insecure than an Aleph. They're foolish to think they'll be sitting here forever, because in the end, they're the ones who can most easily fall in rank.”
With those words, Eiko felt calm being by his side. Although it took her a while to realize that Iruma had taken her hand. It was soft and warm, enough to make her want to faint right there in the restaurant. But she had to be strong; she couldn't ruin her chance with Iruma.
The chefs made sure to put some extra food on both of their plates. Eiko managed to eat a medium-sized plate of yakisoba, but Iruma turned out to be hungrier and managed to finish five whole plates from the daily menu. Even in his evil cycle, his appetite didn’t diminish.
Just like in the school cafeteria, Eiko could tell that some things about him hadn't changed. He was still the same incredible boy she knew.
“H-how's school going, Iruma?”
“Everything's fine, same old heavy routine, but I'm putting in the effort to fulfill my ambitions. How about you, Eiko?”
“Oh, uh, yeah, yeah, everything's fine. I have exams coming up, but they shouldn't be a problem.”
They started talking about classes, and she asked him what it was like to be in a different classroom from the rest. Iruma told her that he felt more comfortable, although sometimes he wished Kalego wasn't so grumpy. Eiko agreed with him; even though she didn't have him as a teacher, she could tell from his appearance that he was a difficult teacher to deal with.
They laughed as they talked about each of their teachers and even commented on the exams they had. It was there that Iruma thanked her for her notebook for his classes. He always wondered who was the demon that helped him, but the notebook only had two initials: E.O.
But now that he had connected certain dots, he realized that Eiko was the one who gave him a hand. He thanked her with a smile on his face, and she responded with a simple ‘thank you’. She didn't know what else to say, but she was happy to know that Iruma had made progress in his classes thanks to her.
After finishing lunch, they both went to see some stores to buy something. Iruma offered to buy her new clothes or anything she wanted. Eiko told him that it wasn't necessary to buy expensive things, but Iruma told her that she didn't have to feel bad. What mattered at that moment was that they both had fun and enjoyed themselves.
“Besides, don't you want us to have a souvenir of this date?”
Eiko couldn't deny that she wanted this to be a special date, one that would stay in her mind forever, so she gave in to his words and accompanied him to buy a few things for both. Even so, Eiko knew she couldn't take advantage of Iruma's kind gestures. She accepted his offer but decided to buy only a bracelet and a green hair bow for herself.
As they wandered around certain parts of the mall, Eiko was surprised at how pretty she looked in what she had bought. She didn't consider herself a sexy girl, even though she had managed to enhance her beauty after taking Raim's classes. But somehow, that day she felt very different. The yellow dress matched perfectly with the bow she bought, and Iruma gave her sincere compliments that made her feel better about herself.
Still, she felt she didn't deserve to be with Iruma at that moment. She felt out of place. He and she were from different ranks, different realities, and it couldn't be possible that Iruma was so kind to her even though they had only recently met. Especially when he was in his evil cycle.
Iruma noticed this from Eiko's downward gaze, so he decided to assure her that the purchase wasn’t in vain and that he was having a good time with her. The last thing he wanted was for someone to feel sad around him.
“Money is meant to be spent, Eiko. Don't feel uncomfortable asking for anything; what matters is that we have fun.”
In his evil cycle, he retained his good manners and characteristic kindness. He could appear hostile with his dark gaze and aggressiveness in his interactions, but he was still the same Iruma in one way or another. His words sounded a little cold, but Eiko understood that Iruma was saying them with complete sincerity. She appreciated his compliments and the gifts he bought her.
But she knew that he couldn't carry the burden of the entire date. Eiko was the one who had invited him, so it didn't make sense for Iruma to choose all the places they went. But that was when she remembered something she had wanted to do with him since her first year at Babyls.
After a few hours at the mall, they both decided to take a tour of the Netherworld in Iruma's carriage. It was still a little early to go home, so they decided to take a walk while breathing in the fresh air. At a slow pace, they were witnessing the beauty of the Netherworld.
Iruma asked her if she wanted to go to a specific place to watch the sunset. It was just the question she wanted to hear.
“I-I would like to... go to the cherry blossom tree at school… if you don't mind.”
One of her biggest dreams was to see with Iruma the plant that he himself had grown in his first year. It was very beautiful and perfect for a romantic moment as a couple, and she always imagined him comparing her to the color and beauty of flowers. When he asked the question, she already knew what to say. She even had a plan that she had put together with Gaako in case she was alone with Iruma. Everything seemed to be fine, but for a few moments, she was detached from reality.
“But it's Sunday. Babyls isn't open today.”
Those words quickly brought Eiko down from her clouds. She had forgotten the notion of time and had said something silly. However, he told her that he could take her to see a small garden that he knew about thanks to Balam. Eiko accepted without hesitation, though internally she wanted to hit herself for her idiocy. She had asked for something impossible on a weekend, and in the end, it was Iruma who had to lead the entire date when she was the one who had taken the initiative.
Still, she wanted to stay calm. She couldn't faint or hurt herself when the date was about to end.
She was distracted for a while, until they finally arrived at the garden that Iruma had offered to show her. The boy opened the carriage windows and presented Eiko with a unique scene. A landscape of flowers forming different patterns of colors, and behind them, demons returning home as they flew over the gardens. The sun of the Netherworld was setting, and they could both see it in all its glory thanks to Iruma having steered the carriage toward an area almost clear of mountains and buildings.
Eiko had seen beautiful places in her life, but that sunset view was something special. The reason was simple: Iruma was with her.
She thought about everything that had happened that day. This time she wasn't imagining scenarios with Iruma, she wasn't even drawing pictures of Iruma with her. She was going on a date with him, a real date where they were genuinely getting to know each other after three years of studying in different classrooms.
For a moment, she felt like a high-ranking demon by his side. Someone special, someone of great value.
“Iruma... can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“I haven't made you uncomfortable with all this date stuff, have I? I mean, in the end, you were the one who arranged all this.”
She felt that there were some things that could have caused problems with Iruma, such as the situation she had with the restaurant customers, or the fact that she had no idea what to do on the date after giving him the idea of the shopping mall, but Iruma didn't seem angry.
“Oh, not at all, Eiko. I've enjoyed my day with you. In fact, I always enjoy meeting new friends.”
Those words calmed Eiko's insecurities. At least Iruma didn't hate her, and that was a good step.
“I'm glad you enjoyed the date, Iruma. Although I admit I didn't know where to go. I just let you take me wherever you wanted to go.”
"I know, but it wouldn't be bad if we went somewhere you had in mind. In fact, how about we go to the cherry blossom tree at school next time?"
Those words immediately surprised Eiko. Normally, she would be the one to keep inviting him on other dates to get to know him better, but this time, it was Iruma who was opening the doors of friendship to her.
“W-would you mind going on another date?” she asked.
“Not at all. Besides, I'd love to get to know you better, Eiko. I can finally talk to someone who's been with me since I entered Babyls, and it wouldn't be right if this was the only time we saw each other. Especially after you helped me with the exams.”
The beginning of her adventure with Iruma was completely assured. Eiko's heart was beating rapidly, happy with what she had heard from Iruma. He was known to be very kind, but it was one thing to see those gestures and another to receive them.
Eiko couldn't help but blush, but this time she didn't hide her face.
“Are you ok? Your cheeks are red.”
"Y-yes, I'm fine. And of course, I'd love to go with you to the cherry blossom tree. B-but only when you're free!"
Those words were enough for Eiko to know that Iruma wanted to spend more time with her. She didn't care if they started out as friends; at least she had already taken the first step toward being with him.
The setting was perfect for her. And that's when she decided to do something she had wanted to do for a long time.
“Iruma.”
“Yes?”
“Do you think we could... could we take a photo together, please?”
Although she was already becoming comfortable with Iruma, she was still somewhat afraid to ask him certain things. However, he didn't seem uncomfortable with her requests.
“Sure”, he said without hesitation.
Iruma approached her, looking for the best position for the lighting to be just right for the photo. Once they were ready, Iruma grabbed Eiko's camera. The camera captured a shared, natural smile, a photo that, in the girl's eyes, was wonderful. But Eiko wanted another photo from a different perspective, so she told him she wanted to take another photo with him, but with her taking the selfie. Iruma agreed without any problems, and they both took another photo.
The two photos had turned out amazing. Eiko never thought that the day would come when she took photos with the director's grandson.
“They're perfect,” she thought.
Eiko stared at the photos for a long time. Iruma, for his part, was surprised at how fixed Eiko's gaze was on her camera.
“Is the photo fine? If you want, we can take another one...”
“It's wonderful! Thank you, Iruma!”
Eiko shouted excitedly, which slightly startled the horse, causing the carriage to jolt for a few seconds. Iruma managed to calm his traveling companion, and luckily, neither of them was injured.
“Oh, uh, I'm sorry, Iruma. I didn't mean to scare your horse.”
“Don't worry, Eiko.”
The view of the garden was beautiful, but the end of the sunset was a sign that they both needed to go home. The walk back to Eiko's home was somewhat slow, but they were in no hurry to arrive. Eiko enjoyed those last moments with Iruma, at least for today. She knew that after that, she was certain she would be able to meet the boy of her dreams without any problems.
It seemed that fate had decided it was time for her to have her chance.
Once they arrived at her house, she carefully got out with Iruma's help. Once they both walked to the apartment door, Eiko told him that she would go on her own because she had the key to her home. Iruma agreed to leave her there but told her to be careful. Once they checked their phones to make sure they had each other's contact information, it was time for them to say goodbye.
Eiko expected a simple smile from Iruma to say goodbye, but she forgot that, in his evil cycle, he was another demon. His last gesture was to lightly grab her hand and give her a small kiss, a gesture that, according to “First Love Memories,” was a good ending to a date.
“I'll see you at school, Eiko. Don't forget that I'll be waiting for you under the cherry blossom tree.”
The boy returned to his carriage and left, allowing Eiko to enter her home. Once he was gone, Eiko couldn't take it anymore and fell to her knees.
It didn't seem real to her. It was a kiss from Iruma, a kiss from the boy she admired and loved with all her heart.
She didn't know if she should start by being his friend. She didn't know if she should express her love quickly. She couldn't even decide who had made her happier: Iruma or Ameri.
She had no idea how to express all her happiness, or how she was going to tell Gaako that she had had the perfect date with Iruma. But that was a problem she would fix later. She opened her camera and started looking at the photos she took with Iruma, thinking of ways to hang them in her room.
“He's amazing,” Eiko said through tears of joy. There was no doubt that this had been the best day of her life.