Sweet Like Candy

Sacrificial First Kiss

"It’s been three days since our last session. I’m sorry that we had to close Cram School and for having class at such a late hour." Yukio apologized to them, pushing his glasses up. 'Late' was an understatement–It was 11 at night! "I’d like to start a special extra-curricular lesson now."

“Special?” Suguro repeated. He looked like he wanted to fall asleep on his desk and Rin wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment.

“This lesson also carries out an order that was given directly from Sir Pheles. Please follow me.” Yukio said. Tired and annoyed, the high schoolers obeyed and followed their teenaged teacher.

“Rin, who did your hair? There's no way Kamiki has that much talent.” Suguro noticed. "And is that makeup?"

"They're from dinner at Mephisto’s. I was gonna take the makeup off once I was done with my homework, but I ran out of time because I had to come to class in the middle of the night." She glared at her brother's back, who sighed.

"Rin, you wake up at three in the morning and do homework or train and you're just fine all day. Stop complaining." Yukio commented.

"Not by choice! I can't sleep well anymore because he's always there, you know that! You try sleeping with a creep invading your dreams and trying to drag you to hell with him!" Rin defended.

"Wait, who?" Shima asked, suddenly concerned at the dark turn of topic.

"Ugh, my dad! Ever since that night, he's been creeping around in my dreams trying to convince me to go be with him in Gehenna, to destroy this school, to give up on humans because they'll never love me, to claim my titles in Gehenna and sit by his side to rule over demons." Rin groaned.

"He never even sees me though–he always sees me as my mother and it's disgusting! I can just tell by the way he looks at me what he's thinking. I look just like her, but I'm stronger and therefore better than she was, in his eyes. I can be his weapon and Power Partner and anything else he needs. I hate it." She wrapped her arms around herself with a shiver.

A warm presence beside her wrapped an arm around her and she glanced up at Suguro. He gave a her a small smile in reassurance. "You'll never go to your dad. You can't stand assholes." He reminded her.

"Yeah, you know that because you were one in the beginning of the year." Shima snorted. Suguro threw a glare at his childhood friend and snickered at the smack Konekomeru delivered to the back of his friend's head before turning back to Rin.

"So, how was the dinner? Was it at least fancy rich food that us poor folk never get to eat?" He wondered sarcastically, changing the subject to get Rin's mind off her nightmares.

"Nope! I got to eat fucking Instant Noodles! The guy is a millionaire and he won't even spare a lady some good food!" She complained. "If he's gonna make me wear a fancy dress and heels and look like a princess, he could've at least given me an actual dinner, because that wasn't filling in the least and I'm starving and now that means I have to stay up after this making myself food before sleeping because I can't sleep on an empty stomach!"

"Yeah, she's definitely hangry. Teach, you picked the wrong night to resume class." Shima informed their teacher.

Suguro's arm tightened around her. "I'll stay up with you so you don't fall asleep while cooking." He promised.

"Alright everyone," Yukio called their attention. "Have you heard of all the recent gossip about the Seven Mysteries of True Cross Academy?"

Various noises of agreement.