Infernal Academia

Chapter 37 - The Psychotic Housewife of Brimstone

"AH-CHOO~!"

Cobalt looked up from the tissue in his hands, grimacing at the ungodly amount of snot that he had just expelled into it.  Groaning, he clutched his head and staggered into the kitchenette, where he dumped it into the bin.

A headache, a cold, aches and pains... He should have known that diving into water that cold would have consequences...

"Ugh, this is not what I need right now..." guttered the Incubus, wiping his nose.

He heard a tentative knock at the window.  Swallowing the mass of phlegm forming in his throat, he wrapped his dressing gown tighter around himself and shuffled into the main room.  Karazelle - already dressed in her uniform - was kneeling on the sill, wearing a concerned expression.  

"You okay, sugar?" she asked, cocking her head.

He sniffled and nodded his head.

"J- Just a little cold, is all.  Maybe just hang back; I don't want to give it you," he warned, gesturing for her to stay back.

The Succubus nodded understandingly.

"Yeah, I won't sugarcoat it for you; you look like shit.  You should probably take the day off."

Though he really didn't want to wind up missing any days, Cobalt had to concede that he was simply in no shape or form to be teaching at the moment.  To attempt to do so wouldn't be fair on his students, and besides; turning up at class looking like he did wouldn't do much for his image.

"I'll need to message your mother and ask for a supply teacher..." he murmured, reaching for his phone.

"Ooh, a substitute!  I hope it's Madam Pudon!  She's fun!" laughed the Succubus in his window, cracking a smile.

"Right... fun..."

"Oh come on!  I love her AD classes!  Didn't you?"

"Love" wasn't quite the word that described how Cobalt used to feel about his Applied Demonics classes, back when he was a student.  Now, Madam Pudon was an expert in her field - she commanded mastery of the Lust demons arts that was impressive for a non-Fesserite - but her quirks of personality often made her classes unbearable for the Incubus.  The woman took great delight in singling him out for various practical demonstrations, and her aversion to sensible clothing meant that he wound up spending most lessons staring at the floor, which didn't help when you were often the target of teasing from other classmates.

"R- Regardless of how I feel, you ought to get ready for classes.  Just make sure everybody at least tries to get some work done, okay?" he asked, typing out a sick leave message to Mistress Viola.

Karazelle nodded and patted her chest.

"You can count on me, sugar!  Hey, Jelli said she was gonna bring some candied fruits she made into class today.  Want me to grab you some?"

The Glutton had a strange habit of making pastries and confectionary whenever she was stressed, which was all the time, if the rate at which she was producing them was anything to go by.  He appreciated her kindness, but he was beginning to worry that she was wearing herself out.

"Of course.  It would be remiss of me to refuse," sighed Cobalt, sending the message.

"Any particular flavour?  Orange?  Lemon?  Cherry?"

"Absolutely not cherry!"

Karazelle recoiled, a little taken-aback by his sudden outburst.  After a moment, however, she played it off with a laugh and gave her teacher a smile.