“Excuse me. Oops, sorry. Excuse me. Thanks.” Kyle wove his way through the crowded halls, trying his best to avoid bumping into anyone. But given how tightly packed the corridors were between classes, it was a truly Sysiphian task. “Ooph.” Oblivious to his presence - or anyone else’s - a freshman shouldered his textbook-laden backpack, catching Kyle in the side with it in the process. 

If that leaves a bruise, I’m gonna find that fucking brat and shove those books so far up his -

Luckily for Kyle, the warning bell rang, censoring Ryka’s threat. Somehow, he needed it to make it to his room in time for his own class. He sighed. From where he stood, barely moving in the shifting mass of bodies, he could see it. But making it there in less than a minute would take a miracle. And he knew he wasn’t going to experience any of those in his lifetime.

The best he could do was to continue to pick his way through the crowd. A sophomore girl bumped into him, looking away and blushing as she apologized.

If only she knew. She wouldn’t think you were so cute then.

And you’re not cute at all, he thought, hoping that Ryka heard him loud and clear.

Ryka laughed. You wouldn’t have agreed to this if I hadn’t been. 

Kyle regretted his recent wish. Because now he couldn’t deny Ryka’s words. But at least in the busy hall, he didn’t have to admit to anything out loud. Shaking his head, Kyle pressed on. 

“Hey, Mr. Saunders!” He glanced to his left. A group of boys from one of his classes was gathered near their lockers.

“Hi, guys. That was the one-minute bell, you know.”

“Yeah, we’re going.” The boy who spoke crammed a notebook into his already overstuffed backpack. He waved at his teacher once more, then started in the opposite direction Kyle was headed.

Since traffic in the corridor was at a stand-still, Kyle watched him go. Another regret. Because now the boys were too far away to call back, and he knew he wouldn’t see any of them in class.

You chasing after little boys now?

“Shut up,” Kyle warned through clenched teeth. “They’re violating dress code.”

Yeah, they’ll definitely fry for that. 

“Again: shut up.” He wanted to kick himself for not noticing sooner. The school had been trying to crack down on dress code violations, and those boys had been sporting the exact look that had triggered the renewed enforcement of generally disregarded school rules. And he had no idea why the boys thought this look was so amazing.

Somehow, wearing their pants with the waistband somewhere near their knees, and most of their underwear exposed, had become fashionable. “I really don’t get it,” he mumbled, finally closing in on his classroom. 

Don’t ask me. I just know that you do basically the same thing at home.

“Well, I have a good reason,” he responded quietly, trying to cover his mouth while he spoke. 

He did indeed have a good reason for not dressing properly at home. A quick-tempered, incredibly impatient reason, who didn’t always give him enough time to get undressed. So, to prevent Ryka from hurting himself during the transformation, he wore his pants low. It was easier than listening to the demon whine about getting kinks in his tail.

It’s not just that. They’re so much closer to being off that way.

The crowd was finally thinning out, and Kyle reached the door just as the bell rang. He stepped aside, letting a few stragglers in ahead of him. “Ryka ….”

Stop acting so shy. Man, I’m getting all worked up just thinking about the way you were moaning. You really got into it, too. I thought I was going to lose a finger, you were so -

“Ryka!” Kyle hissed, feeling himself flush crimson. Before his students could notice, he darted back into the hall and around the nearest corner. “Stop it. Now.”

Yeah, yeah. You’re no fun. Maybe you need -

“What I need is to get back to work. Please, Ryka.”

Just when it seemed Ryka was going to continue to harass him, he gave in. Fine. Kyle should have known better, though. He was just walking into his room when Ryka spoke again. Anyhow, the point was, you’re a tight-ass.