Ex-V: Hey there guys, lovely to see you again! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long for the new chapter, I'm really enjoying this story, and I've got the next few chapters mostly finished already ~

Just let me quickly plug my youtube channel, as usual, you can find it under the name "Extra Victory", if you're interested! I've been really enjoying it a lot, and I owe so much to all of you, for helping me get up to 4.5k subs so quickly! I'm eternally grateful,

I hope to see you over there, and, most importantly, I hope you enjoy your time with me here as well!

"Bye, you two... Remember, stay safe, use protection..." Rika added one last jab, winking at the Hero, who had stepped back into the hallway, frowning; looking utterly miserable, faintly red, as she toweled off some dishes, and the Demon king, who was just shaking his head, smirking, as she stepped out... Shutting the door behind herself.

There was genuine silence, for a moment.

Emi groaned, loudly, positively inconsolable. She stared up, listlessly, into the ceiling. Maou just snickered, tense, locking the door and heading back into the living room; making straight for the couch.

They were alone together, once again, as always... At last. It felt like a long time coming.

"So..." Maou grinned, clearly distracted; still trying in vain to focus on anything but the Hero, who looked positively adorable, standing off to his side. "Anal night? What do you say..."

"You wish!" She snarled, her voice going quickly squeaky and shrill; flushed, she shifted her weight in place, cocking her hips.

Silence. They both just seemed to soak in the presence of one another.

"Tea...?" Emi offered at last, still miserable, still blushing faintly; after a few moments of unbearable quiet.

"Chai, please." He answered, smoothly, evenly; without even looking up from the TV. His eyes flickered, amused, into a far corner of the room.

"Yeah, yeah..." The Hero sighed, feeling very much like she was at the end of her rope.

More silence. The only sound to be heard, throughout the flat, for a moment, was the dull rumbling on TV and a soft rummaging from the kitchen drawers.

Emilia brought two china cups out into the living room, on a tray; with a teapot that was still steaming, and some bottles of cream and sugar.

She set them down, carefully, between herself and the King of Hell; feeling a lot like she wanted to whine and complain... But she didn't.

"You know, the evening isn't over, yet..." The Hero whispered, somberly, at last. Mumbling, and Maou glanced up from the television, peering over at her.

Memories of being touched by him, held down by him... Of feeling his lips brush against hers, they were searing.

At some level, in her heart of hearts, Emilia was longing for his attention. She knew it, and it was tormenting her.

It was like torture. She couldn't bear it, but when they were all together... When their friends were over, when it wasn't just her and Maou, and Rika was teasing them... When Maou was taunting her, or sexually harassing her for Rika's amusement...

The hero fumed. She liked it wayyyy way more than she wanted to admit. Blushing faintly, she poured herself and Maou some chai, stirring in milk and sugar with a small silver teaspoon.

The king of Hell glanced over at the wall, finding their old grandfather clock with his eyes. "Oh? It feels pretty over."

He took the cup of tea from her hands, and tried to catch her stare. Emilia glanced, hurriedly, somewhat awkwardly, away.

Maou could feel his own heartbeat accelerate, now.

It was all fun and games, when the others were there... But... When he was alone with her, with Emi, everything did feel a whole lot... More serious, somehow...

"You still have to make a New Years resolution." The hero sniffed, lightly sipping her tea. She blew on it.

Maou couldn't look away, transfixed by her, for the briefest of instants.

"Ah yes." He answered, dryly, at last, barely masking his disinterest. He glanced away from Emi, grinning faintly, and leaning casually back into the recliner. "What's yours?"

The hero stirred, fidgeting a bit in place. She blushed.

"Hmmm?" Maou sat up again, now very much interested.

Conspicuous silence.

"I didn't catch that...?"

"I... I want to lose 5 pounds!" Emilia managed, at last, sounding very squeaky and defensive. She glared away, hostile. "That's not so unusual, alright?!"

Maou cackled, snorting; He rubbed the bridge of his nose, now sensing a golden opportunity to poke fun at the Hero. "No, no... Makes perfect sense."

Emi froze; she paused, before sitting up straighter herself; eyeing him suspiciously, and growing red. "... What was that?"

"I mean, I'm just saying," He shrugged, grinning wickedly and staring, innocently, away. "I can see why that would be your resolution. That's all..."

"Are you calling me fat!?" She shrieked, alarmed; kicking at him, viciously, with one foot.

"No, no, no way-" He snickered, delighted, leaning out of her range. "It's just... Your hips and thighs... Your ass looks a little... Fuller, you know, must be all that extra chocolate-"

Emi squealed, miserable, furiously red. The hero got up and stomped on his foot, as she passed; storming off in a huff, again heading for the kitchen. Maou just laughed, holding his suddenly very sore toes in one hand.

"Back to your comfort zone, the Kitchen-?"

"Fuck yourself-!"

Emi paused, however, at the threshold. She turned back, and hesitated, briefly; watching Maou, just watching him, as he wiped his eyes, mirthful, still chuckling.

"Well... Well, what's your resolution, then?" She mumbled, at last, steaming red and staring, listlessly, away. "Asshole..."

Maou felt a fresh grin beginning to cross his features, finishing off his chai. He seemed to turn this over in his head for a moment, before setting the cup down and rising to his feet.

He stretched, very distinctly, and faced her; eyes bright and vivid, looking sly. "I'm not sure..."

She crossed her arms, cocking her hips; still fuming. "You have to pick something. You made me tell you mine."

His eyes flashed, and something unknowable passed through his expression. Maou turned away again, smiling coolly. "Alright. I guess I'd like to have sex with you, in the new year."

Emi almost dropped her china teacup.

Silence.

Almost cosmic silence.

She made a small noise, choking, at last, sounding strangled; furiously red.

The Hero turned, staring, wide eyed, at him, when he looked, grinning coolly, into her face.

He seemed to wait, patiently, for her to reply. She was frozen, just blushing, radiantly red, and simply failed to react.

Her mouth opened and closed, once or twice, impotently, as her eyes begged him to say "april fools"... Or...something...

She stammered, ineffectually. "You... You what?"

"I said my resolution is to fuck you."

He didn't hesitate. Maou just blinked, eyeing her, smoothly, and tilting his head a little. He let his glancing gaze trickle down her body, slowly, making sure she saw him look. His grin widened.

"You... You were supposed to say 'I'm kidding'..." She squeaked, flushed red and absolutely unable to maintain eye contact. She fidgeted, nervously, with her heart racing, and her thoughts swirling.

Was... Was he just messing with her? Again...? Or...

Was he… Maybe… Serious this time...?

"I'm not kidding," He answered, suave, as if reading her mind. A moment later, he chuckled again, touching the bridge of his nose. "That's my resolution... As long as you don't lose those five pounds, I like your thighs better this way-"

"How much time do you spend looking at my ass?!" She squeaked, miserable and glowing red, seething; almost managing to forget that he'd just said he wanted to put his penis in her. "You're unbelievable, you pervert-!"

"What, I didn't mock you about your resolution-" He snickered, sounding ostensibly wounded, but very satisfied with himself; dancing lithely out of her way, and grinning broadly when she made to confront him face to face.

"Yes, you did, actually!" She hissed, gritting her teeth and trying to grab his shirt on the way by. She failed.

"Oh... Yeah." He paused, and then admitted, conceding the point; looking smug, as he stepped out of her reach yet again. "No, you're right."

"It was like two minutes ago! How did you forget that fast, I can't believe I live with a simpleton like you-!" She snapped, shrilly, blushing madly; crossing her arms and glaring away, into empty space... Confounded again, as he stepped backwards, away from her, behind the couch.

Her face was hot, and her heart was hammering... Hammering Excitedly, for some reason...

Some... Some Strange, unknown feeling was burning up in her, some... Sensation, it was in her skin, in the depths of her body...

"Look, I just said it would be my resolution. It's still up to you, you don't have to let me do it, right-?" He made a smooth attempt to push her further, disregarding his own physical safety with reckless abandon. It worked.

"Unless you rape me, in my sleep, or something!" She squeaked, heatedly, miserable. Tense fantasies were playing out, behind her eyes, now, and she was utterly unhappy about it, utterly helpless to stop it. Hands on her hips, she tried to glare at him, eyes spinning, but all she could think of was him grabbing her, holding on to her... Tightly, so tightly... Whispering sweet things to her, in her ear...

Making his resolution come true...

She squealed, steaming red; covering her mouth with both hands.

"No, come now... I would never do that-" He chuckled, waving her down, dismissively, with one hand. He certainly wasn't as entirely oblivious to the things he was making her feel as he pretended to be.

The mood was getting dangerous, though. It was time for his secret weapon...

The hero waited, barely breathing at all. She just watched him, wide eyed, waiting... Just waiting, for him to make the next move.

It felt like a game of chess. The winner being determined by who kept their composure better...

Ex-V: Did you have fun?

I hope so! Let me know what you think, in a review, or leave a comment on one of my youtube videos or something, there's nothing I adore more in the world than hearing from you guys XOXOXOXO

See you in the update, I'm having such fun with this story ~