Archive of Our Own

This morning, 15-year-old Iruma Suzuki was the talk of Babylus. Honestly, that was pretty normal, but the demons seemed to be more excited than usual. There was always a specific vibe that hung around the air whenever Iruma had done something especially note-worthy, like when he accidentally summoned Professor Kalego as a familiar, or after he had tamed the Guardian of Cutthroat Valley during his first rank assessment exam. Other times, there still were many students discussing Iruma’s many feats, even though it had been a while since they’d actually happened. 

Today, however, was one of those days where it seemed like every single student in Babylus had Iruma on their mind. But something was a little different this time- not only were they thinking about Iruma, but the name Alice Asmodeus also came up quite a lot during their gossip. 

The reason? There had been rumors that Iruma and Asmodeus were courting. A second-year in the Broadcast Battler had supposedly seen the two of them kissing each other in a back corner of the library, and he had gone and told everyone he knew, and they told even more people, and… well, you know how rumors spread.

Neither Iruma nor Asmodeus had confirmed these rumors, but they didn’t seem to be making any effort to deny them, either. As per usual, the two boys, along with Clara Valac, walked to school, went to the cafeteria to eat together, and then headed over to the Royal One for homeroom.

It had seemed completely normal.

But a few demons had been observing them closely. One had said that Iruma held Asmodeus’ hand a little tighter today. Another remarked that Asmodeus was sitting closer to Iruma than he was to Clara. And a student who had been sitting close to them at breakfast told his friends that he’d seen Asmodeus gently kiss Iruma’s forehead when Iruma went to go to the bathroom, but no one really believed him.

The rumors didn’t avoid the infamous Misfit Class, either. When the Love Trio walked into the classroom that morning, they were met with greetings by all of their classmates, with a few pairs exchanging glances with each other and winking.

“Silence.” The door opened, and in walked their teacher, Professor Kalego. Unknown to any of the Misfits, Kalego had also heard a little bit of the rumors, since Professor Raim of the Seduction course just adored gossiping, especially about the young love of her precious students. 

“Morning, Professor!” the whole class chimed cheerfully.

Kalego sighed. “I trust that all of you completed your homework for your classes yesterday evening?” he asked.

Most of the class nodded. Lied and Jazz looked away pointedly (they had not done homework for most of their classes in a week or so). Kalego rolled his eyes and said, “all right then. I have nothing more to say to you all. You may have the next five minutes to relax while I do some prep work.”

Iruma and Asmodeus looked over at their soulmate, who was finishing her breakfast of a sandwich and water bottle. “Hey, Clara?”

“Wassup?” she asked, her mouth filled with food.

“Do you mind if Azz and I go to the library and then meet you in the next class we all have together…?” 

Clara’s eyebrows furrowed. “Oh… you’re leaving me alone-?”

Asmodeus rolled his eyes, holding back a smile. “Stupid Clara. You will be fine. It’s only ten minutes. And we’ll meet you in Botany.” He pat her on the head. “Is it okay if we go?”

She sighed softly, putting down her sandwich. “Okay, Azz-Azz,” she said with a soft smile. “I can wait! But promise we’ll play later.”

“...I promise.”

“Super-duper devi-swear promise?”

Asmodeus glared at her, and she giggled. Iruma laughed at his two friends and stood up. “Come on, Azz.” The two boys got up, holding hands as they left the classroom.

Clara looked back down at her sandwich. It suddenly didn’t look so appetizing. She poked at the bread, watching it spring back. She didn’t get it. Iruma and Asmodeus had been doing this a lot in the last two weeks or so. She knew that Azz liked Iruma better than her, and she didn’t think she minded that much, but Iruma had always been just as close to her as he had been to Azz, and this month, it had seemed like they were always trying to find excuses to hang out with just the two of them. She hoped she hadn’t done something wrong. Maybe she had been too clingy. Maybe they were already getting sick of her. Oh, she couldn’t handle that. These two were her first friends, her soulmates! They were… she loved them.

“Clara.?” asked a strong, deep voice. She looked up, and her friend Sabro was standing there, a concerned look on his face. “Are you all right?”

Clara looked away for a moment, then back at Sabro. “Can I talk to you?”

Sabro smiled big and nodded. “Of course, my friend!” He reached down and scooped her up, placing her firmly on his shoulders. Her favorite place to sit. “It is a Demon King’s duty to listen to the problems of his loyal subjects and solve them the best he can. Talk to me, Clara. I will do my absolute most to help!”

“Well… Azz-Azz and Iruma-chi have been hanging out a lot without me recently,” she said sadly. “They always sneak off to the boy’s bathroom or the library and they tell me that they’ll meet me later. They also keep being all lovey-dovey without me!” A pout formed on her face. “Usually we all give hugs and cuddles and stuff like that, but those two have been even more snuggly with each other, and not me, and I don’t understand why!” She kicked her legs. “I’m worried that I did something wrong and that they don’t wanna play with me anymore.”

Sabro sighed softly with a smile. “Clara, my friend, may I ask you a question? And you don’t need to answer if you don’t want to.”

“Sure!”

“Are Asmodeus and my rival… courting?”

Clara thought for a moment. It sure seemed like they were. Clara didn’t know a whole lot about courting, but she knew that when demons loved each other very much, they started courting. She knew that’s what her mommy and daddy did before they got married and had her and her siblings. That would make sense.

“I think so,” she replied. “They do act like it. But neither of them told me. I guess that’s why they’ve been leaving me out recently, since only two people can court at once…”

Sabro shook his head. “Nonsense! More than two demons can be included in a relationship,” he said happily. “You do know what polyamory is, correct?”

“Nuh-uh. It sounds tasty, though!”

“No, it’s not food. Polyamory is the term to describe when more than two demons are in a relationship with each other. Although it isn’t as common, it is one hundred percent valid and it’s still just as loving as when two demons court.” Sabro smiled brightly. “Clara, do you want to be included in their courtship?”

Included…? Clara thought about it. Courting with Azz-Azz and Iruma-chi…. Giving kisses in their free time, snuggling at night, being more romantic and intimate with each other… maybe even growing up and getting married and starting a family, just like her mommy and daddy did. A blush grew across her face. 

“Yeah, I think I’d like that a lot,” she said quietly.

“Then go for it, Clara!” cheered Sabro, putting her down from his shoulders. “If I know Asmodeus and Iruma, they will be happy to accept you into their courtship.” He patted her on the head. “You got this, my friend. I will be cheering you on from the sidelines.”

Clara beamed brightly, giving Sabro a hug around his legs. “Thank you, Sabro!” she laughed. “You know, don’t tell anyone else, but behind Iruma-chi and Azz-Azz, you’re my best friend.”

He smiled. “Hey, it is a Demon King’s duty to assist all those who come to him,” he said proudly. “I am just doing what is right.”

“Well, you’re really good at it.” Clara smiled brightly. “I’m gonna go tell them now. Okay?” She spun around for the door. “Bye-bye!”

“Good luck, my friend!” Sabro shouted after her, a big smile on his face.

---

“Azz-Azz!” Clara yelled. “Iruma-chi!” 

She ran to catch up with them as they were walking through the courtyard to their next class. 

“Oh, hi, Clara!” Iruma said with a big smile. “Are you doing okay?”

“I need to talk to you guys about something,” she said through panting breaths. “C’mere.”

She pulled the two of them to sit down on the grass in the courtyard. The two boys sat down across from her, looking confused. 

Clara took a deep breath, before popping the question. “Are you two courting?”

Both boys turned a deep shade of pink. Azz stammered, trying to think of some excuse, but Iruma just sighed and said, embarrassed, “yes, we are.”

She smiled. “I knew it,” she said teasingly. “You two can’t go running off together for too long without me noticing something’s up. So… Do you two like-like each other?”

“Yes, we do,” said Asmodeus. “We started courting a few weeks ago. We’re sorry for not telling you earlier, but you have such a blabbermouth that you’d go off telling everyone anyway.”

“Azz, be nice-!” Iruma cut in, but Clara stopped him with a smile.

“Nah, he’s right,” she laughed. “But… I have a question. How come you started courting without me…?”

The two boys exchanged glances. “What do you mean, Clara?” asked Iruma.

“I was talking to Sabro, and he said that more than two demons are allowed to court each other. So… why’d you leave me out?” She hung her head. “I’ve been feelin’ pretty lonely, y’know.”

Iruma looked away with a sigh. “Clara… to be perfectly honest, I’ve been crushing on both of you for quite some time,” he said softly. “And I wanted to ask you both if you wanted to court me, but I didn’t know how you would respond, and I really didn’t want to ruin our friendship if you ended up disliking me because of it…”

“Iruma-sama, I would rather perish in the depths of the Netherworld than dislike you!” Asmodeus said firmly. “And besides… I may have… developed a tiny, small, miniscule crush on Stupid Clara as well.”

Clara’s eyes grew wide. “You mean… you both like-like me?”

“Annoyingly, yes.” Asmodeus’ face was red with blush. “And, just like you, Master Iruma, I wanted to try courting you both, but I didn’t think you two would be okay with that.”

Iruma laughed. “I’d be more than okay with that! I’ve wanted to for a while.”

The three friends looked at each other and started laughing loudly. 

“What a silly misunderstanding,” said Iruma. “So… um… Clara. Will you try going out with Azz and I?”

Clara’s eyes lit up happily. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Super yes!” She dove and hugged them both super tight, wrapping her arms around their shoulders and tugging them all together. They stayed like that on the grass for a bit, until a teacher came out and told them to get to class.

“Well, I guess that settles it,” said Iruma. “Asmodeus, you’re my boyfriend, and Clara, you’re my girlfriend. And before you ask, boyfriends and girlfriends are… a special term for someone you’re courting.”

Asmodeus and Clara nodded happily. “Wait, I have one more question,” Clara said.

“Hm?”

“How are three people supposed to smooch?”

…

“Stupid Clara.”