[ Sullivan Mansion – Upstairs, Dining Room]
Back upstairs, the soft clinking of forks against plates fills the room as Iruma and his friends eat the fruit tart together. The sweetness lingers in the air, blending with soft chuckles and idle conversation.
Sullivan, off to the side, slumps dramatically in his chair.
"Even my masterpiece moment got hijacked…" he sniffled, poking at his empty plate.
Iruma, sitting silently across from Azz and Clara, gazed down at his slice, his expression unreadable. The joy on his face was faint, present, but clearly distant, like a smile built from memory rather than the moment.
He glanced up.
"It's getting late. If you want to stay over, you can."
Clara lit up instantly.
"Yay! A sleepover!"
Alice nodded with a proud grin.
"An honor as always, Iruma-sama."
[ Iruma's Bedroom]
They soon gathered in Iruma's room, which was—much to Azz's surprise—immaculate.
"Your room is pristine… That's a good-looking clock, too."
Iruma offered a vague nod, arms crossed as he leaned by the window, observing the moonlight filtering in. His reflection in the glass flickered—eyes darker than usual, colder.
Clara flopped on the bed with a big grin.
"Oof! Your bed's sooo soft, Iruma-chi!"
The other two soon followed, bouncing playfully.
Even Iruma allowed himself a small smirk, watching them. But the joy didn't quite reach his eyes.
Eventually, David arrived for Alice, and Clara's parents came for her as well. As they stood at the doorway, Iruma kept his posture relaxed—hands in pockets, expression calm and composed.
"Come by again. If you're free."
They both beamed.
"Of course!" Clara waved.
"Count on it," Alice said with a respectful bow.
As the door shut and silence returned, Iruma remained still.
[ Night – Iruma's Room]
Before bed, Iruma stood before the fireplace, staring into the low embers. Sullivan and Opera appeared behind him.
"Iruma, dear," Sullivan said with a warm smile, "thank you for today. It made me very happy."
Opera nodded in agreement, subtle but sincere.
Iruma turned to them slowly.
"…I'm the one who should thank you."
His voice was even—measured. Too measured.
Opera narrowed their eyes ever so slightly.
Later, lying in bed, Iruma stared at the ceiling. The moonlight painted harsh lines across his features, giving him a shadowed, grim silhouette.
Ali emerged from the ring with a low hum.
"So... How're you enjoying your demon life, Lil-Iru~?"
Iruma didn't answer immediately. His eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"It's... strange. The more I belong here... the less I remember how it felt to be weak."
Ali hovered silently, sensing the change.
"Want to know what the Evil Cycle feels like?"
Iruma didn't flinch.
"What's that?"
Ali grinned and snapped their fingers.
And Iruma fell asleep.
[ The Next Morning]
Sullivan and Opera arrived to wake Iruma.
"Iruma! Good morning, sweetheart!"
The door creaked open.
Inside the dim room, Iruma stood before the window. His back is to them. His uniform slightly disheveled. The ring on his finger emitted a faint black aura, and the air itself felt… heavier.
He turned.
His eyes had changed—red, sharp, and full of something dark and unfathomable. Not rage. Not sorrow. Just cold clarity.
"…Good morning," he said, voice low and smooth, but detached—like a storm held behind glass.
Sullivan froze.
Opera instinctively stepped forward.
"Iruma?" they said in tandem.
He tilted his head slightly.
"Something wrong?"
The smile he wore was calm. Empty. Dangerous. So cooool.
---
[ Sullivan's Mansion – Morning, Dining Room]
The light filtering through the window of the grand dining room did little to warm the heavy atmosphere.
Lord Sullivan sat hunched at the table, nervously twiddling his fingers, eyes flicking back and forth to steal glances at Iruma.
Opera, composed as always, quietly sipped their tea, but even they watched the boy with wary, analytical eyes.
Iruma sat at the head of the table. Straight-backed. Calm. Cold.
He read the morning paper with one leg crossed over the other. The usual spark of innocence in his eyes had vanished. In its place was something sharper, calculated and unreadable.
The ring on his hand glowed faintly.
Opera leaned closer to Sullivan and whispered without looking away, "He's composed. Too composed. His demeanour is Darken."
Sullivan trembled, clutching his face.
"W-what did they do to my sweet Iruma-KUNNNN?! It was those guys in the Student Council, wasn't it?! They overworked him! They corrupted him! I knew that Ronove was trouble from the beginning!"
"I know it was that girl. First, you went out with her to the park. And then you join the student council because of her ?"
Opera remained impassive. "This is beyond fatigue. Something's shifted in his core."
[A sudden knock echoes through the hall.]
The butler announces the arrival of Azz and Clara.
Iruma lowers the paper and rises fluidly, movements refined yet almost clinical. He steps toward the door before Sullivan can rise.
Azz opens the door with a glowing smile.
"Iruma-sama!"
"Valac's here too!" Clara waves excitedly, nearly bouncing off the walls.
Iruma meets them with an expression of soft, detached warmth—a look that would make most people shiver from how little it reached his eyes.
"Azz… Clara. You're early. Good."
He holds out his bag toward Alice.
"Carry this."
Azz gasps like he'd just been handed the Netherworld's crown.
"A-ah! Of course, Iruma-sama! I—I shall treasure it with my life!" He clutches the bag with reverence.
Iruma turns to Clara and, surprisingly, bends forward slightly.
"Your hair… suits you, Clara."
Clara stops mid-bounce. "…Eh?"
Her cheeks flush pink as steam practically pours from her ears.
"T-thank you~! No one ever says that to me!"
She squeals and spins like a top.
Opera, watching from the hallway, raises an eyebrow.
Sullivan whispers, "He's giving compliments now?! Where is my sweet shy Iruma?!"
[Carriage Departure]
Iruma steps toward the front entrance and glances back at Sullivan.
"The carriage."
Sullivan snaps out of his panic and nods quickly.
"O-of course! It's ready and waiting, Iruma-chan! I had the seats warmed—just in case it was chilly this morning! Grandpa's got your back!"
Iruma doesn't smile. He gives a respectful nod.
"As expected of you, Lord Sullivan."
Sullivan lights up at the praise, but then freezes again.
He called me "Lord" Sullivan…? Not "Grandpa"?
Azz and Clara fall into step behind Iruma as he strides ahead.
Clara whispers to Azz as they approach the carriage.
"He's acting all princely today, huh?"
"Watch your tone, Valac," Azz whispers sharply, eyes firm. "Iruma-sama is simply… evolving. This is the next stage of his greatness."
"Ooooh, evolving like a super-cool dragon?" Clara twirls. "I wanna evolve too! Raaaar!"
Iruma turns back slightly, his gaze narrowing.
"Let's go. We'll be late."
His tone isn't angry. It's smooth. Controlled. Yet something in it makes them fall silent and obedient.
[Inside the Carriage]
As they settle into the warm seats, the quiet is almost unnatural. Clara hums softly, leaning against the window, while Azz sits straight, clutching Iruma's bag like a sacred relic.
Iruma looks out the opposite window, lost in thought. His reflection in the glass shows the faint red glint of the Sharingan forming briefly in his eyes before vanishing.
Ali's voice echoes quietly from the ring on his hand, only audible to Iruma.
"So? How's the new you treating the world, Lil-Iru?"
Iruma doesn't answer at first. His fingers tap the window rhythmically.
"…It's quiet," he mutters inwardly. "Clear. Everything feels more… under control."
"But I want my old self back"
"Well, it will take 3 days, so please bear with me"
"Uggg"