It was morning. The sun was shining over the dark forest and Iruma's home, more of a castle really, loomed over the path. Asmodeus waited excitedly outside the gate for Iruma. It was the first day of the new term, and they would be second-years! Still, Azz was still more focused on how Iruma was doing. It only took a few minutes for Opera to come out with Iruma and open the gate for him. When Iruma stepped out, smiling, Opera closed the gate behind him and bowed to him before calmly walking back to the doors. Asmodeus couldn't help but smile at the sight of Iruma. Iruma was always one of, if not, the only thing that could make Azz smile like that.
"Iruma-sama! Good morning! Can I carry your bag?"
Iruma smiled. "No, no, it's okay, really!" He gestured with his left hand.
"Please? I'd love to make your walk easier on you," Asmodeus insisted, putting a hand over his heart in passion.
The world "please" echoed in Iruma's mind and he found himself giving the bag to Asmodeus without a second thought. "Of course!"
Asmodeus beamed and eagerly took the bag from Iruma with a big smile. "Thank you, Iruma-sama! Well, shall we go?"
Iruma nodded and they started walking on the narrow path that led to Babyls. Asmodeus chattered to Iruma about how Balam-sensei was teaching him magic and then how he knew Iruma would become a Yodh.
Soon enough, they reached the school gates. Several student council members stood in a line on the right, saying "good morning" to every student that passed by. As they walked through the school, Iruma was thinking about how he didn't want to stand out. See, during End of Terminus, Iruma played a huge role in defeating a magical beast that was destroying Walter Park. And apparently, everyone in school had heard. People were crowding Iruma, their voices overlapping. They also crowded Asmodeus, because he was there too and was pretty popular among students despite not interacting with many.
"Iruma-sama! To the classroom, quickly!" urged Azzy, and he gently took Iruma's wrist and weaved out of the crowd. They eventually reached the Royal One and walked inside. When everyone was seated, Kalego-sensei, who was in the front, spoke.
"Today is the first day of your new term. A lot happened during your End of Terminus, so get over your lax attitudes from break and prepare for your studies," Kalego-sensei said as he sat on his chair, arms and legs crossed in an almost disdainful way.
"Yes, sir," the class responded in sync.
Kalego-sensei continued. "The new term will bring the Harvest Festival, the Music Festival... There are many events this term. And you will also take the rank advancement exams."
Asmodeus turned to Iruma. "Iruma-sama, it sounds like there will be many opportunities to rise in the ranks!" he said quietly.
"Y-Yeah! Let's do our best!" responded Iruma.
"But..." Kalego-sensei continued. There was a pause, and everyone stared at him. There was a but? He held up a small scroll between his pointer finger and thumb, and he smirked.
"That would be the case if you were normal first years. Listen well, Misfit Class." He put on what looked like some kind of headset. "You are all 'special.'"
"Headphones?" Iruma murmured, mostly to himself.
"No, I believe they are ear protectors," Azzy observed.
Suddenly, the scroll that Kalego-sensei had been holding poofed and it was much bigger, with eyes. It was bent forward as if the top end was a mouth.
"Being in the King's Classroom, the Royal One, also entails taking classes worthy of this classroom," Kalego-sensei said. The eyes on the big scroll suddenly opened.
"BABYLS SPECIAL CLASS ORDER!!!" it practically screamed, causing everyone in class to cover their ears, "THE MISFIT CLASS MUST ALL REACH DALETH RANK BEFORE BECOMING SECOND-YEARS!"
The class expressed shock. Daleth was the borderline rank right before graduation. To require first-years to achieve that rank was not just abnormal, it was unheard of.
"IF YOU FAIL THIS ORDER, YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY BE EJECTED FROM THE ROYAL ONE!"
More shocked noises escaped the mouths of the Misfit Class students.
Kalego-sensei was grinning deviously. "A class of first-years all achieving Daleth rank... That will be quite the feat." His face turned irritated, as it usually was. "Hey, are any of you listening?!"
"No!" Elizabetta shouted.
"No, no!" Lied yelled, even louder.
"This is too cruel after experiencing how fun this classroom is..." Garp muttered, burying his face in his hands.
"Anguish," Allocer mumbled.
They all thought of their old classroom- cracked, clad in graffiti, a draft breezing through the broken windows. Trash being dumped right outside, the horrid smell it created. Everyone shuddered.
"However, this is just a part of your classes," Kalego-sensei continued. "You will not be given impossible tasks." He snapped his fingers, and in came a flock of unique adults they had never seen before. "In order to help you all advance to Daleth, our school has prepared special tutors for all of you."
There was a certainly exotic assortment of mentors in the group. A lady with long blue hair, a blue dress, and a beak was crying in the front next to a way taller, more muscular guy with entirely red skin and white hair. Behind them was Raim-sensei, in her usual revealing purple attire and violet hair. Even further behind her was Balam-sensei and a full suit of cheetah print clothing, including the top hat he wore.
"Sergeant Furfur will be with Jazz and Allocer," Kalego-sensei said, gesturing to the red-skinned guy with white hair. He pointed to the beaked lady. "Lady Vepar will be with Garp and Agares. Raim-sensei will be with Elizabetta and Clara. Mr. Hat," he said, pointing to the cheetah-print man, "will be with Keroli and Camui. Sabnock and Asmodeus, you'll be with Balam-sensei."
Asmodeus was heartbroken, because he would not be training with Master Iruma, but he did not let it show on his face.
Iruma and Lied noticed that their names weren't called. "Who's our tutor going to be?" Iruma asked.
"What? He's right there," Kalego-sensei said, and pointed a ways in front of them at...
Robin-sensei?!
"Aw, shucks! I'm still a newbie, and now I'm being trusted to mentor them? But don't worry! If you leave everything to me, your rank will go up in no time! In the meantime, you can call me Master!" Robin-sensei said, a bit too enthusiastically.
Iruma and Lied knew they were done for.
[After school]
Clara was outside with Iruma and Asmodeus. Iruma seemed deep in thought.
"You okay, Iruma-chi? You lonesome? You want some gum, chum?" Clara asked.
"I'm alright. Let's all do our best," Iruma responded, a look of positive determination on his face.
Asmodeus took Iruma's hand in his in passion. "I, Asmodeus Alice, swear that my loyalty to you will never wane, Iruma-sama."
"I'm gonna grow lots by the next time we see each other!" Clara said.
"Clara! Azz-kun!" Iruma said, looking between the two gratefully.
"Hey! Honor Student! You done with your tearful goodbyes yet?" Sabnock yelled over to Asmodeus from afar.
"See you tomorrow, Iruma-chi!" Clara said, waving to Iruma. She recognized that it was time for the three of them to go.
"I will be going now, Iruma-sama," Asmodeus said.
With that, they went on their separate ways. For now, of course.
[A while later]
Asmodeus found himself face-down on the ground next to Sabnock, roughed up and struggling to stand. Balam-sensei stood several feet away in front of them, looking at their heads.
"With the strength you two have, you should be able to stand up," Balam said. "Today's only the first day, and you're still so full of energy, so you'll have to meet your quotas."
Asmodeus and Sabnock turned their faces up off the ground and looked up at Balam with strained expressions.
"Each of us tutors has a unique plan for each of you, to help you awaken your true powers," explained Balam. "As for me... among all of the first-years at Babyls... I will make you the most powerful first-year fighters."
[Meanwhile]
Iruma and Lied were running along behind Robin.
"Yes, and... The rank-advancement plan I've come up with for you two is... It is..."
They all stopped and Robin turned around to face the two students. "ALL ABOUT FIGHTING SPIRIT! ALL TOGETHER NOW! YAH! YAH! EVEN LOUDER! YAH! Very good!"
I have my doubts... Lied and Iruma both thought.
"I'm not sure why, but even though we haven't seen everyone else's training, I feel like we're way behind..." Lied said, expressing his uncertainty.
Later, they were running again, towards the Royal One.
"Come on, come on! We don't want to keep Nee-chan waiting," Robin said as they ran towards the doors.
"Nee-chan?!" Lied and Iruma exclaimed in sync.
"I was a little uneasy about the thought of having to train you two, so I called up one of my relatives to help," explained Robin as they entered the Royal One. "She's really amazing!"
They continued walking through the beautiful gold-trimmed halls of the building before reaching the room Robin's older sister was in.
"I mean, she's super strong and reliable-" Robin began, and then was cut off by a harsh smack by said sister, launching him all the way across the room. Iruma swore he could see little birds flying around Robin's head.
Iruma and Lead both looked at who had hit Robin that hard and saw a girl with hot pink hair styled in two pigtails, pink eyes, and a pink dress with a sweet vibe to it. The girl was definitely not as sweet.
"How long were you bastards gonna keep me waiting? Looks like you need to work on that fighting spirit!" she spat. "I can't believe you had the nerve... to make me wait five minutes. Man, talk about a total bummer. Just so you know, I only came here because Sullivan-sama asked me to. I haven't agreed to be your mentor. Honestly, I can't wait to go home right now."
"No, wait!" Iruma protested. Lied followed. "We can't rely on Robin-sensei alone!"
"Man, they clearly don't trust you, Robi," the pink girl said, turning her head to look at Robin. He was swaying back in forth on his feet, mumbling something in slurred speech about how pretty the Royal One was.
"Though, I can't say I blame 'em," she added. She turned back to Lied and Iruma. "So, hey... If you want me to be your mentor, you're gonna have to treat me like one. Make me feel like I'm a mentor."
Iruma and Lied found themselves carrying a throne of purple and pink plush with Bachiko (the name of the pink girl, apparently) sitting on it like a damned queen.
"You're too damn slow. Get them legs movin'," she demanded. "Now to the garden out back! Oh, and go buy me a drink... and some sweets!"
The entire day ended up just doing things for Bachiko. Making things look cute, being forced to dress cutely. It was hell. Real hell.