One might assume that Henri Azazel, co-Security Chief of the Demon Border Control, led a good life. He was one of the esteemed 13 Crowns, held a stable—if stressful—yet vital job, and had a comfortable home. That was why he always wore a smile when returning after a long day's work, knowing he would soon be reunited with his beloved wife and daughters.
But not today.
Today, his expression was rigid, his barely contained fury simmering beneath the surface as he stared down the green-haired menace who had somehow wormed his way into his eldest daughter's heart. To make matters worse, the boy was sitting between both of his daughters—his eldest sneaking shy, almost reverent glances at him, while his youngest had all but draped herself over him, contentedly nibbling on a chocolate bar that she had received from him.
Henri cleared his throat, carefully masking his irritation behind a neutral tone. "Girls, I think Midoriya could use a little space." His gaze flicked to his youngest. "And Katsumi, you know we have strict rules against having snacks before dinner."
"It's all right, sir, I don't mi—" Izuku began, only to be cut off.
"I insist!" Henri snapped, his voice rising slightly despite himself.
'He doesn't seem too thrilled about you being here...' Nana's amused voice echoed in Izuku's mind.
'You think?' Izuku replied dryly, keeping his expression neutral as he ignored Henri's frosty glare.
"Henri, let the boy be," Kumara interjected, giving her husband a pointed look. "You know that he's been helping our daughter through all of this mess. Not just personally, but with her duties as well."
"Hmph! I told you, she could just stay home until she's cured," Henri muttered, adjusting his glasses with a huff. "But no, you were the one who insisted she keep attending school."
"Of course she's not staying home! I won't have my daughter hiding behind us when none of this is her fault," Kumara countered, arms crossing in defiance. Then, turning toward Izuku, her expression softened, though her words held an edge of exasperation. "And stop giving our little germline chocolates. Her sweet tooth is already bad enough as it is."
"I'm sorry, but she looked so pitiful when she asked if I had any," Izuku admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I couldn't say no to that face."
"That's right! I am most pitiful! Please keep giving me treats, big brother!" Katsumi declared dramatically, flashing a messy, sweet-coated grin as she wrapped one of her tails around Izuku's hand, making Henri's eye twitch.
Kumara chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, looks like someone has you wrapped around their little tail."
Henri cleared his throat, his patience already wearing thin, and shot an irritated look at Izuku. "Shall we get back to the topic at hand?" His gaze shifted to Yelan, who had also been present at Azazel estate, silently observing the exchange with an amused smile. "So, Ms. Yelan," he continued, adjusting his glasses with a sharp flick, "any progress on finding out who did this to our daughter?"
At the question, Yelan immediately straightened, slipping into her well-practiced professional demeanor. "Yes, Mr. Azazel, I've identified a few suspects," she said, sliding her notepad across the table toward him. "Honestly, even narrowing it down this far was a challenge, considering how many people hold grudges against Miss President." She cast a brief glance at Ameri. "Not just students in our year, but juniors and seniors as well."
"I'm sorry," Ameri murmured, ducking her head slightly.
"Don't be," Izuku reassured her with a gentle smile. "You were just doing your duty as Student Council President. There's nothing to apologize for."
His words brought a bashful smile to Ameri's face, and she glanced at Izuku with gratitude. However, their moment was abruptly cut short when Henri coughed loudly for the third time, making Kumara roll her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Still, that's quite a few names," Kumara noted, taking the list from her husband's hands before he could start another passive-aggressive tirade.
"Yes, ma'am. These individuals are the ones most likely to have the audacity to target Miss President—despite knowing exactly who she is and the family she comes from," Yelan explained. "I still need to narrow it down further, but I'll get it done as soon as possible."
"There's no need to rush. You're doing excellent work," Henri admitted, begrudgingly impressed. "Gathering this much information in just two days speaks volumes about your skills as an investigator."
"Henri's right—you're doing a wonderful job," Kumara added with a warm smile. "If I had the chance, I'd already have recruited you to work under me." Then, she turned toward her Security Demon, Moana, her expression shifting slightly. "It's a shame we had to hear about your skills from Midoriya instead of your own cousin."
Moana, who had been silently standing guard until now, shifted uncomfortably. "I apologize, Lady Kumara. I wasn't aware my cousin possessed a talent for investigative work, nor that she was acquainted with Midoriya-sama," she said, glancing at Yelan, who looked equally uneasy under her cousin's sudden scrutiny. "I only learned of this at the same time as you, my Lady."
Yelan cleared her throat, pushing back a loose strand of hair. "Well... it's getting late. I should be heading out." She stood from the couch, smoothing out her jacket.
"Very well. Thank you for your hard work," Kumara said before turning to Izuku. "Would you like to stay for dinner? I can have the chef prepare something to your liking," she offered with a smile.
Henri's expression immediately darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. It was clear he had something to say, but a sharp glare from his wife made him think better of it.
"Sorry, but I have to decline today as well," Izuku replied with an apologetic smile. "I need to drop Yelan-senpai home first, and if I skip dinner with Grandpa without telling him, he gets really grumpy," he admitted with a sheepish chuckle. "But next time, for sure."
"I suppose it can't be helped," Kumara sighed in disappointment before flashing him a teasing smile. "But this is the second time you've turned down my invitation. You do realize that most people don't get the chance to refuse me twice, right?" she added, her tone laced with playful severity.
Izuku chuckled, catching onto her teasing. "Of course, and I consider myself quite fortunate."
Then, turning to Ameri, he offered her another reassuring smile. "See you at school." Ameri nodded shyly, her cheeks tinged pink.
Finally, Izuku shifted his gaze to Katsumi and smirked. "And Katsumi, I won't be bringing any chocolate for you next time." He winked at her.
"Yep! No more chocolates for me!" Katsumi giggled mightily, her three tails swishing back and forth in excitement.
With that, Izuku and Yelan stepped out of the Azazel estate and boarded a carriage taxi, heading toward Yelan's home.
******
"Wow, this place is huge," Izuku said, taking a moment to admire the sprawling traditional Japanese estate before him. The carefully manicured gardens, elegant tiled roofs, and imposing gates gave it the air of quiet power and old money. "And you call me the rich kid?" he added, shooting Yelan a teasing glance.
"This estate belongs to my entire clan," Yelan replied with a scoff, folding her arms. "Meanwhile, you live in a literal mansion with only two other people. Who's the spoiled one again?"
Izuku laughed under his breath but said nothing as they approached the front gate. "Anyway," Yelan continued, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, "I think I can head in on my ow—"
Before she could finish, the tall wooden gates creaked open, and a poised woman stepped out. Her features bore a strong resemblance to Yelan's, only she looked like a slightly older, more refined version of her.
"Yelan, you're back already?" the woman asked, her tone curious but warm. Then her eyes shifted to Izuku. "And who's this young man with you?"
"Hey, Mom," Yelan said casually. "This is Izuku—my junior at the battler. Probably our actual leader, too, if not for the whole 'third-year gets the title' formality."
Izuku resisted the urge to sigh at her phrasing. Taking a step forward, he bowed slightly out of respect. "Hello, I'm Izuku Midoriya. It's a pleasure to meet you. And please don't take Yelan-senpai too seriously—Leila-senpai is incredible, and she's clearly the real leader of our battler."
There was a brief pause as Yelan's mother blinked at him, seeming to process his presence—and perhaps his politeness—before her expression softened into a smile.
"It's nice to meet you, young man. I'm Elise Rivière, Yelan's mother," she said with graceful composure. "Thank you for looking out for my daughter." Turning back to Yelan, Elise's tone became subtly more commanding. "Yelan, bring him inside. We can talk properly over some tea."
With that, Elise turned and strode elegantly back through the gates, leaving the two teens standing at the threshold.
"Well," Yelan said with a resigned sigh, nodding toward the now-open path. "She invited you, so you might as well come in. No backing out now."
Izuku glanced at his phone and checked the time before typing a message to Opera. After a beat, he slipped it back into his pocket and smiled. "I guess I can spare a few minutes before I have to head home. Gramps might grumble a bit, but he'll survive," he said as two of them stepped through the gates and into the estate.
As he stepped further into the estate, Izuku took in the grand scenery around him. At the center stood a large, elegant house, surrounded by a sprawling, immaculately maintained garden. He assumed they were heading there, but to his surprise, Yelan turned and led him in a completely different direction.
They walked along a winding path flanked by tall hedges and stone lanterns until they reached a quieter part of the estate. Here, a long row of modest, nearly identical homes stretched out before them. The area had a calm, understated atmosphere, lacking the grandeur of the central mansion. Something about the neat repetition and humble charm of the houses reminded Izuku of suburban neighborhoods from his past life.
Eventually, they stopped in front of one such house. It was small, but well-kept, with ivy climbing along the porch railings and the faint scent of tea drifting through the open windows. "Here we are," Yelan said simply, pushing open the door and motioning for him to follow.
Inside, the house had a cozy warmth to it. The floors were a polished wood, and the furniture was minimal but clearly chosen with care. She led him through a narrow hallway and into the living room, where Elise was already waiting for them.
"Welcome, Midoriya," Elise said with a polite smile. "Please, have a seat."
Izuku and Yelan both sat down, and after a brief moment of assessing them, Elise stood. "I'll be back in a moment," she added before gliding gracefully out of the room.
An awkward silence followed, the only sound being the faint ticking of a nearby clock. Then, Yelan broke it with a grin tugging at her lips. "So," she said, leaning forward slightly, "what do you think of my place? A little smaller than your fancy mansion, huh?"
"A little," Izuku said, playing along with a mock sigh, "but I think I'll manage." They both chuckled, the tension easing slightly. He then glanced around the room again, taking in the details more thoughtfully. "Jokes aside... I like it. It feels lived-in. Warm. Like a real home."
Yelan looked at him for a second, then nodded appreciatively. "Yeah. Mom worked hard to make it that way."
Izuku's expression turned more thoughtful as his eyes shifted toward the window, where the distant silhouette of the central mansion still loomed. "That said... the estate's layout feels a bit strange to me. The main mansion's way over there, and all the smaller homes are tucked way out here. I don't know. It feels... distant."
"What's so strange about it?" Yelan asked, tilting her head. "That's just how traditional clans work, isn't it? The main house is for the head family. Everyone else—the branch families, the cousins, the people lower on the totem pole—we get assigned housing based on our lineage. The farther your house is from the main building, the more distant your bloodline is from the main family."
She paused, her expression darkening slightly as her eyes dropped to the table.
"And, well... based on where our house is, I'm sure you've figured out by now that we're not exactly close to the main family."
Just then, Elise returned, a porcelain teapot in her hands. Steam curled from the spout as she entered, but her attention wasn't on the tea. Her gaze was locked squarely on Yelan. "Does being born into a branch family still bother you that much?" she asked coolly, her voice laced with disappointment as she set the teapot down on the table with deliberate care.
"I didn't mean it like that—" Yelan began to explain, but Elise raised a hand, cutting her off. Without glancing at her daughter again, she poured a cup of tea with practiced grace and placed it gently in front of Izuku, offering him a polite nod.
Only then did she sit down herself. "Don't think I didn't recognize that tone in your voice," she said, her own teacup poised delicately between her fingers. "I've heard it before—more times than I can count. How many times do I have to tell you to let go of that bitterness? How many times must I remind you that being born into a branch family doesn't make you any less valuable than the children of the main house?"
Yelan's mouth tightened. Her eyes flicked away, but the words escaped anyway—quiet, bitter, and heavy with years of frustration. "Then why do they get all the resources they want from the treasury while we have to scrape together what we can?"
Elise froze for a moment. The cup hovered mid-air before she placed it down with a soft, decisive clink. Her voice, when it returned, was no longer cold—it was sharp, rising with an edge of pain.
"Did we not give you enough? Was it never enough for you?" she demanded, her voice wavering just slightly. "When you said you wanted to attend Babyls instead of Levilon Academy like the rest of the clan, who stood beside you? Your father and I—we fought the elders. We put ourselves on the line, strained ties we spent years building. And we did it all for you." She leaned forward slightly, her tone growing more intense. "But even then, even after all that, it still wasn't enough for you, was it?"
"If you're so dissatisfied with your position in the clan," Elise went on, voice rising, "then do something about it! Change it! Moana did, didn't she? She clawed her way up. She earned the respect of the Main house by not only raising her rank, but also by tying herself to one of the 13 Crowns. She didn't sit around stewing in resentment. She acted."
Tears welled in the corners of Yelan's eyes. Without a word, she slammed her own cup down—louder than her mother had—and ran out of the room.
'You know,' Nana's voice echoed in his mind with dry amusement, 'if I got a candy every time you visited a friend's house and their family launched into personal drama, I'd have two candies. Which isn't a lot… but it's weird that it's happened twice.'
Izuku stiffened, trying to keep his face neutral. 'Nana, please stop memeing,' he hissed internally, his eyes fixed on the doorway Yelan had just fled through. 'If I laugh right now, I'm going to die of embarrassment.'
A moment later, Elise lowered her gaze, staring at the table as she took a few deep, steadying breaths. Her fingers trembled slightly as they rested against the porcelain teacup, betraying the storm of emotions still lingering beneath her composed exterior.
Eventually, she managed to collect herself, and when she looked up again, there was an apologetic smile on her face—faint, but sincere. "I'm sorry you had to see that," she said, her voice gentler now, stripped of its earlier edge. A brief silence settled between them before she continued, "Please don't take this as a reflection of how things usually are. We don't always fight like that. It's just… whenever she brings up the main house, the conversation tends to go downhill fast."
Her gaze turned distant, as if reaching back into memories she had long tried to shelve away. "Moana was the eldest girl of her generation—an extraordinary demon from the very start. Even as a child, it was obvious she was destined for greatness. But despite her talent, she came from one of the lesser branch families, just like us. That meant she was overlooked, denied the attention and resources others received simply because of their lineage." She sighed. "Even children younger than her from more prestigious bloodlines were given priority over her."
"But all of that changed when she enrolled at Levilon Academy," Elise continued, her voice laced with both pride and pain. "She shattered expectations—climbed ranks so fast the elders had no choice but to acknowledge her. Eventually, she even caught the eye of Lady Kumara herself—wife of Lord Henri Azazel, one of the 13 Crowns. That connection led her to where she is now: the Azazel family's Security Demon, one of the most respected roles in the estate. And all of this… before Yelan had even learned to walk."
She paused, folding her hands in her lap as she stared into the cooling tea. "Don't misunderstand me—I'm not comparing Yelan to Moana. I would never pit them against each other. I love my daughter far too deeply for that," she said, her voice dropping lower, more fragile. "It's just… I see how much she holds in. The frustration. The resentment. The way she forces herself to smile through it all. I'm scared that, one day, it'll devour her from the inside out. That she'll burn herself out chasing recognition she shouldn't have to earn. That she will become one of those..."
Her expression darkened, her shoulders sagging slightly as she looked away. "I don't want her to become like me. Someone who lost sight of her own dreams a long time ago. Someone who let the her resentment and helplessness beat her down until all that was left was a husk of her former self, serving the clan and house day in and out."
"No, Yelan-senpai would never end up like that," Izuku blurted out, his voice a little louder than he intended. Realizing Elise was now staring directly at him, he quickly turned his head, his ears tinged pink in embarrassment. "S-Sorry. I didn't mean to overstep. But I really don't think you need to worry about her."
He took a moment to compose himself, inhaling deeply before continuing with a more measured tone. "I'll be honest—I haven't known Yelan-senpai for very long. But in the short time that I've spent around her, it's already obvious how capable she is. She's sharp, quick on her feet, and whenever we face a challenge in our battler, she always seems to know the right person to ask or the best angle to approach the problem."
"But more than that," he added, a fond smile tugging at his lips, "she knows exactly what her true ambition is, and she's smart enough to seize opportunities when they come her way. I still remember the first time I met her—she laid out my entire school life up to that point laid before me and I was so freaked out and impressed that I couldn't help but ask her to join our battler."
He chuckled at the memory before continuing, "In short, you really don't need to worry about her. She's strong, focused, and honestly kind of terrifying in the best way. And even if she does stumble, I promise I'll be there to support her—as long as she still wants me around," he added with a sheepish chuckle, helping to lighten the mood.
Elise stared at him for a moment, then let out a small laugh—quiet, but warm. She reached up and gently wiped the corner of her eye. "Thank you, Midoriya. You really are a sweet boy." Her smile deepened, more genuine now. "And here I was, thinking I'd scared you off for good by unloading all of that on your very first visit."
"No, no, really, it's fine," Izuku shook his head, waving both hands quickly in front of him. "Weirdly enough, it kind of happens a lot. And I've got a feeling this won't be the last time either," he said with a distant look in his eyes.
Just then, Izuku's phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked the screen and blinked. "Ah, looks like my ride's here."
He stood up, quickly draining the last sip of tea from his cup and placing it carefully back on the table. "It was really nice meeting you, ma'am. Thank you for the tea. And please let Yelan-senpai know I'll see her at school."
With that, Izuku stepped out of the front door, offering one last polite nod before making his way down the path. Elise followed him into the hallway, watching until he disappeared around the corner. Just as she was about to return to the living room, she paused mid-step. Her gaze narrowed slightly, and she turned back toward the corridor.
"You know," she said aloud, her voice casual but pointed, "it's generally considered bad manners to eavesdrop in your own home."
The air shimmered faintly, like sunlight rippling over water, and the illusion fell away. Yelan stood revealed in the hallway, arms stiff at her sides, tears still glistening in her eyes.
"Sorry," Yelan mumbled, hastily brushing her sleeve across her face. "Didn't want him to see me like this. Gotta maintain the image, right? Cool, mysterious upperclassman and all that."
"Of course…" Elise said dryly, clearly not buying it but mercifully choosing not to push the point. Her expression softened as she stepped closer, her voice taking on a more serious edge. "He's a good kid. Earnest, sharp, surprisingly grounded for someone his age, and seems like a trustworthy connection. That kind of demon doesn't come around often. Don't take that for granted, Yelan. Don't push him away."
Yelan's eyes flicked to her mother's, then away again. "I know," she said flatly. "But not because you told me to. I know because he deserves someone to trust him… someone to watch his back." Her voice grew quiet, then dipped into something harsher. "He's too good for his own damn good. If someone doesn't look out for him, someone will take advantage of it."
For a moment, Elise said nothing. Then she stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her daughter's head, brushing a few stray strands of hair aside.
"Good," she murmured. "As long as you understand that much." She hesitated, then added more softly, "And I'm sorry… for snapping at you earlier."
Just then, they heard a commotion rising outside their house. Wondering what was going on, the mother and daughter exchanged a look before heading outside.
******
As they stepped out of the house, Yelan and Elise quickly made their way toward the source of the commotion. The noise grew louder with each step until they arrived at the main gate, only to find nearly the entire clan gathered there. Elders, younger members, servants—everyone had come out to see what was happening. But the real shock wasn't the size of the crowd—it was the man standing confidently at the center of it all.
"Hohoho! What a warm welcome!" boomed a familiar, jovial voice. "I'm flattered, truly, but I'm actually here to see someone else!" said Lord Sullivan, one of the Three Heroes and principal of the Babyls Academy.
In a flash of magic and sparkles, he suddenly transformed into a chibi version of himself, arms outstretched like a child playing hide-and-seek. "Where aaare you, Izuku-kun? My dear grandson, where are you~?"
Pushing his way to the front, looking a little overwhelmed, Izuku finally appeared. "Grandpa?! What are you doing here? I thought Opera was coming to pick me up!"
Lord Sullivan let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, I had a bit of free time today, so I thought—why not fetch my adorable grandson myself?" He struck a ridiculous, sparkly pose, hands on hips and one leg lifted dramatically. "Besides, it's been far too long since I've seen you!"
Izuku scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "You saw me this morning…"
"That's too long!" Sullivan declared, entirely serious.
From a short distance away, Elise stood frozen, her eyes wide as the pieces slowly clicked into place. 'That Izuku?' she thought in disbelief. 'The same Izuku who was just sitting in my living room? That Izuku is Lord Sullivan's grandson?' A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind, from the implications of Yelan's connection to him to what the rest of the clan would make of it.
But something else caught her attention—something much more immediate.
Turning her head towards her daughter, she felt a shiver down her spine when she saw a dangerous look in Yelna's eyes, immediately signaling to her that Yelna was about to do something either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish. However, before she could stop her, Yelna was already moving, and in a matter of seconds, whispers rippled through the group as she approached Izuku and Lord Sullivan at the center of it all.
"Oh hey, Yelan-senpai!" Izuku greeted, his face lighting up as she approached. He turned to Sullivan with a smile. "Grandpa, this is Yelan-senpai! She's a senior from my battler!"
"I see," Sullivan said, his tone shifting effortlessly from playful to composed. His posture straightened, and his chibi form faded, restoring his more regal presence. "Yelan Rivière. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you for looking after my grandson."
Yelan dipped her head politely, her expression calm and respectful. "The pleasure is mine, Lord Sullivan. And truth be told, it's no trouble at all. He takes care of me and the rest of the battler just as much. In fact, sometimes I feel like he's the real upperclassman," she added with a quiet chuckle.
Sullivan laughed warmly, clearly delighted. "That sounds just like him. Always eager to help others, even when no one asks. It's a trait I'm very proud of." He placed a firm, affectionate hand on Izuku's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Now then, we shouldn't keep dinner waiting. Let's head home."
Yelan gave a deeper bow this time, her tone formal but sincere. "Of course. It was truly an honor to meet you, Lord Sullivan."
Just as Izuku turned to follow his grandfather, he felt arms suddenly wrap around him. He froze in place, caught completely off guard by the unexpected hug. Yelan leaned in, her voice a soft whisper against his ear. "Don't say anything. Just hug me back." Still dazed, Izuku did as she asked, gently returning the embrace. "Let's just say... I owe you one," she murmured, before pulling back while smiling at him.
With a brief glance back at him, Yelan walked with them to the waiting carriage. Once it pulled away and disappeared beyond the estate gates, she turned back toward the crowd. Dozens of clan members were still standing in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of disbelief, confusion, and awe.
Unfazed, Yelan walked straight through their midst, chin held high. As she passed her mother, she offered a cheeky wink—casual, confident, and utterly unbothered by the attention. Elise raised an eyebrow, half in exasperation, half in amusement, but said nothing as her daughter strode past with a satisfied smirk and disappeared into the estate grounds, leaving her to take care of the fallout.
To be continued...
******
A/N: I know chapters like this one—where not much "big" happens—aren't everyone's cup of tea. But they will pop up now and then, so I just wanted to give a heads-up in advance. Please don't feel the need to leave comments about me "wasting" chapters on OC development or not pushing the main plot.
Character moments like these are important to me, and I hope some of you enjoy the slower pace when it comes around.
Thank you for reading! :)