[Babyls Academy – Outer Walkway Garden, Late Evening]
The setting sun cast a golden hue across the academy grounds, illuminating the carefully tended flowerbeds nestled between towering spires. A pair of janitors gently watered a patch of blooming flowers—sakura-colored and out of season. The students said Iruma Suzuki had planted them.
Not far from the garden path, Robin, Dali, and Kalego strode down the stone walkway.
Robin bounced slightly with each step, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses. "They really did it, huh? The Misfit Class. Thirty-five seals of approval. Just one left—yours, Kalego!"
Kalego did not respond. His face was stony as ever, his black coat fluttering behind him with each sharp step.
Robin leaned in closer. "So, what're you gonna do? Are you going to approve it? Huh? Huh? Did you already write your name but you're waiting to be dramatic about it?"
Without breaking stride, Kalego raised a hand and blasted Robin into a nearby bush with a muffled BOOM.
"Silence."
Robin's limbs stuck out awkwardly from the shrubbery, a weak groan echoing from within. "W-worth it…"
Dali, sipping from his ever-present tea cup, looked on with mild amusement. "You know, Kalego, this would be a perfect moment for a classic dramatic turn—where the stern teacher finally grants his troublesome class the approval they've worked so hard for."
Kalego scoffed, the edge of his cape flicking out.
"Romantic delusions. If anything, the fact they nearly got every seal is precisely why I won't approve it."
Dali raised an eyebrow. "Even after everything they've accomplished?"
"They've caused chaos across the academy, manipulated faculty, and undermined school procedure. Even if it was to prove their worth, such methods can't be rewarded blindly."
"But they've also shown initiative, unity, and cunning," Dali countered, smiling slightly. "Qualities not far off from true demon royalty."
Kalego paused. He glanced toward the flowerbed, eyes narrowing on the sakura petals swaying in the breeze, the impossible color fluttering amid the dark soil of the Netherworld.
A faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaped him.
"Let them come," Kalego said, finally. "But they'll receive no handouts. If they want my approval, they must earn it under my conditions. Completely."
From the bush, Robin's muffled voice groaned again, "That's practically a yes…"
Kalego didn't reply. He turned on his heel and walked away, his silhouette darkening as the sun dipped past the spires.
Nearby, one of the janitors looked up from his watering can, watching Kalego depart. He tapped his coworker on the shoulder.
"That kid who planted these... he's something else, huh?"
"Yeah," the other janitor said softly. "He's changing this place... one flower at a time."
---
[Faculty Room – Babyls Academy, Morning]
The faculty room buzzed with murmurs as the Misfit Class stood at the center, facing down Kalego Naberius. Behind the tall windows, dozens of students crowded outside, whispering excitedly about the commotion inside. The tension was thick.
At the front of the group stood Iruma, flanked by Alice, Sabro, Jazz, and the rest of the class. A stack of approval slips rested neatly on the table between them and Kalego.
"We've done it," Iruma declared calmly. "We've collected stamps from all thirty-five faculty members."
The Misfits all straightened with pride—some smug, some beaming, some just visibly tired.
Kalego didn't even look at the stack. He closed the file he was grading and rose slowly, arms crossed.
"Have you?" he asked coldly.
The smiles faded.
"Do you truly believe these are the only people whose approval matters in running this academy?"
A beat of silence.
"You were told to get approval from everyone," he continued. "Yet you've ignored the cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, librarians, the school store owner, the medical staff, the mail handlers, and many more."
"Wh—what?!" Clara gasped. "That's not fair!"
"We didn't know!" Lied exclaimed.
Kalego held up a hand.
"Misunderstanding instructions is not an excuse. It is your responsibility as demons seeking authority to anticipate and prepare for every detail. You pride yourselves on being 'Misfits'—that pride led you to ignore those beneath your notice."
Iruma stepped forward, clearly about to argue.
"Kalego-sensei, we—"
"Enough."
"tch."
Kalego's voice dropped to a deadly quiet, silencing the entire room.
"You were so obsessed with reaching the Royal One that you failed to look around you. You assumed only teachers mattered. How foolish."
The students stood in silence, some staring at the floor.
But then, Kalego exhaled.
"…However."
The Misfits looked up.
"Your efforts are… worthy of acknowledgment." He turned slightly. "Therefore, I will grant you access to any classroom in the academy—except the Royal One."
"WHAT?!" Clara and Caim wailed in sync.
"You can't do this now!" Sabro growled. **"We worked too hard!"
"No way we're turning back after all that!" Shax shouted.
But before anyone could argue further, the faculty door creaked open.
A humble janitor stepped into the room, carrying a single approval slip.
"Iruma-kun," he said, stepping forward. "Here."
He handed Iruma the slip.
Kalego narrowed his eyes.
"That still only makes thirty-six."
The janitor smiled, stepping aside.
And then…
The door opened again.
One by one, the non-teaching staff entered the faculty room:
– The cafeteria ladies.
– The librarians.
– The school nurse.
– The school store demon.
– The postmaster.
– Even the groundskeepers.
Each of them walked over to Iruma and placed a stamped slip into his hands.
"He helped me fix the cart when it broke."
"He carried books for me when my back hurt."
"He made my kid laugh when she was sick."
Voice by voice, approval by approval, the pile of papers grew.
Even Opera peeked in, arms crossed but a proud look on their face, while Sullivan waved through the window like an overgrown child.
Kalego looked over the now complete collection—more than complete. His brow twitched.
The Misfits stood united, quiet now, letting the room speak for itself.
At the center of it all, Iruma bowed deeply, both hands holding the final collection of stamped slips.
"Please, Kalego-sensei. We humbly ask for your final approval."
Kalego's eyes met Iruma's—steady, respectful, different. Not the terrified boy from a year ago.
Slowly, reluctantly, Kalego reached into his coat, pulled out his personal stamp, and—
SLAM.
The final stamp landed.
"Fine. You may have the Royal One."
The room exploded with cheers. Clara tackled Iruma in a hug. Alice and Sabro high-fived. Shax did a backflip. Gaap, Ix, Jazz, and even Agares cracked relieved smiles.
Kalego turned his back to them all.
"…This is going to be a paperwork nightmare," he muttered under his breath, walking away.
Outside, the crowd of students watching the windows cheered as word spread—the Misfit Class had done it. They were moving into the Royal One.