A/N: My bad, took so long for me to update. Had some personal stuff to handle, and luckily, I found my dad's old radio. That cheered me up;0 so, I was a bit hesitant about making them live together like this, seeing as Emi cried when Alas=Ramus went 'berserk' so not ready to put that. So, so not good with that. Anyways, Lucifer and Suzuno again on this one, so enjoy the show, peeps!
Suzuno knew something was up the moment she saw the suspicious-looking Maou hopping onto his beloved bike and cycling away towards who-knows-where. She ducked in an alleyway to avoid being seen as the demon lord drove past her, and she watched him stop before a stoplight, waiting for it to turn green before taking a left.
Once he was out of sight, she popped back out to the street, wondering as to what got him so worked up that he had to leave in a flash.
She had just finished eating some grilled, marbled meat with Chiho, and after splitting up the check since she didn't want her companion to shoulder on the burden of walking home all by herself, she waved the high schooler off as she embarked on one another of this world's most complex means of transportation that she has never before witnessed when she was still in Ente Isla: the taxi.
While marveling at how unique and industrious the laid-back people of this world were, and making sure she has kept an eye out for any muggers out to steal from a well-trained killer such as herself, she wasn't all that prepared to see Maou pedaling like crazy, as if he was being chased.
She looked down the dark road he had just came into. Nope, doesn't look like it.
The last time she has seen him in a huge frantic was when he forgot to bring his cap to work, or when he learned that they ran out of toilet paper, the time when he really needed to do a number 2. You could only imagine his agony when he ran straight to the convenience store to buy some.
"What are you up to, Sadao Maou?"
Deciding that it was probably nothing for her to make a fuss about, she headed straight back home.
She thought of checking in on those two demons and ask what their 'leader' was up to. And also to check if they had eaten something and not lying dead cold on the floor from starvation.
One time, she went inside their room and saw them laying down on the floor, moaning about udon noodles being the death of them. That's how pathetic they were before. She had to loan a hungry Ashiya some cash so they could buy take-out instead.
Climbing up the stairs and into the dusty, narrow hallway, she tip-toed towards their flat. She could hear faint voices reverberating through the door, and she placed her ear against it so she could hear better.
"Worthless bum! Do some work and help me clean up this place!", Ashiya's voice was loud that she pulled away a little, and when she listened in to everything again, she heard Urushihara's lazy tone complaining back.
"Can't you see? I need a month's rest after cycling that much since that day"
"That absolutely made no sense at all"
She twisted the doorknob and stepped in, and she was greeted by two, happy demons arguing like there's no tomorrow.
Urushihara was once again in the safety of his personal sanctuary in the closet, a newspaper covering his face as his body was sprawled down on the floor, with Ashiya towering over him, pointing the end of a broom towards his useless roommate.
Laziness versus Diligence. Who will win?
She spied the unwashed bowls by the sink. They probably had udon noodles again. How did they survived eating this stuff for a long time?
They didn't seem to realize that she had just been standing there, waiting for them to take notice of her arrival.
I'll just watch them, then.
"My liege has shown you kindness by letting you live here with us-"
"Is that supposed to be a joke?"
"-so, I expect you to do your part while you are here"
She could hear him mutter underneath his breath about planning on packing his things and running away from here as far as possible, and she let a giggle escape her lips.
Ashiya must have heard her, because he turned his attention away from the NEET before his eyes landed on her.
"How was dinner with Sasaki-san?"
"It was nice, food was delicious", she fought down a yawn from emerging and made her way to the sink, proceeding on doing her daily chore of doing the dishes. She doesn't get why other people loathed doing this, but she found this rather relaxing.
"That's good to hear", he decided to let the fallen angel take this win and went back to sweeping the floor. Hikikomori-1, Demon General-0.
"You guys should keep it down sometimes. I could both hear you outside earlier"
She felt Urushihara standing up behind her and shuffled towards the fridge, and she was a bit surprised when he pulled out a milk carton and drank straight from it, although, she couldn't tell whether to be grossed out, or annoyed at his actions.
Oh, no, you don't.
She raised her foot and brought it down on his, and his body jerked up from the attack, causing some of the contents of his drink to spill on his t-shirt.
Went too far there. He groaned at her.
"That's not nice"
"That's the point"
He settled down the carton and wiped his mouth. Truth be told, this was the only way she thought she could do without feeling really awkward around him. Of course, since her in-progress plan on taking revenge on him was inevitably delayed because of what happened, now, she wasn't really all up for it.
Not since when he just blurted out that she was cute, caught her hand like it was nothing when she tried slapping him silly, and humiliate her by flicking her forehead.
Totally. Humiliating.
He was still waiting for an explanation, and to further make him understand the grave sin he has committed, she swiped away the carton from his grasp.
"Take in consideration that other people might also want to drink from this"
He huffed, as the energy he has saved up from laying down was disappearing. He should've not stood up if he knew this was going to happen.
He tried taking her by surprise and steal back his milk, but Suzuno was sharp enough to react, hiding the drink behind her back. He did another try and reached out from behind her, but she hopped away from him. Quit it, you damn assassin.
"I get it, okay, I won't do it again", he crossed his arms, leaning against the counter. Okay, she'll admit it, toying with him was kind of fun. "But, you didn't have to take it away while I'm still about to drink from it"
Fair point. But, the damage's done. So, no-go.
She sighed, before taking a little peek towards the other man still present. He skipped to grab a dustpan standing by the window, sweeping all of the dust he gathered. It didn't looked like he was paying them any attention.
Good. She's been waiting for a good opportunity like this to come up. She wanted to somehow find a way to keep Ashiya busy, but it turns out the man himself had saved her all the trouble. Now was her chance.
Urushihara noticed she had gone silent, and then, she gestured for him to lean in closer, a serious look in her eye.
Wonder what's up.
He seemed hesitant in following her command, at first, before thinking about just rolling with it and leaned in.
She looked kind of springy to him, like, she was about to share to him a dirty, little secret that she couldn't possibly keep to herself, so she let the urge to tell run her over and decided to fill him in at whatever the heck it was.
It sets him off a bit seeing this side of hers, since she was always the cool-headed one among them, so he couldn't really find any reason for her to act this way.
Well, for as long as it doesn't take too much of his time. Sleep awaits him inside the closet.
She whispered, her tiny voice sending him chills. "Something has been bothering me"
Urushihara tried playing it off as if uninterested, but if she was bringing this kind of suspense to her words, he's bound to get curious, too. Does she really have to be this vague?
"And this concerns me, how?"
"Please? This is something only you could help me with"
"Okay, okay, I get it"
She smiled, relieved, and she settled her hand on top of his shoulder. "Thank you"
He moved away from her a little, choosing to avoid her gaze, and for a moment, she thought she might've done something bad. But, then, still not facing her, she heard him say. "Thank me after I've already done something, alright?"
She nodded. Something has been bothering her. Or, to be more accurate, someone has been bothering her. Not to the point where she would slam her hammer on that certain someone like a bug out of annoyance. It's mostly because that someone confused her so much, that she's been aching to find answers.
"Shall we take this outside?"
"Take what outside, hmm?"
They both jumped up from surprise, and she turned her back towards the eavesdropper, pretending to be focused on doing the dishes even though she hadn't started yet. She picked up the sponge and poured in some dishwashing.
Just how sharp can this guy be? There's just no getting around him.
She could tell that Urushihara was starting to get nervous, because he kept on shifting in place as Ashiya stared them down, unsure of which stance he should take against this sharp-witted-slightly-scary man. This man is a force to be reckoned with.
"Well? Could you tell me about what you were just talking about awhile ago?", he said it so casually she almost turned around and give him an answer, but she knew if she did it'll be the end of them.
How to get out of this mess? It was a good thing that she wasn't facing him right now.
"Look", she heard him drop his broom on the table with a soft 'clunk', and that made her flinch a little. "I'm not that all bothered with this newfound 'friendliness' you have shown to each other, but is it not better not to hide it? Seriously, it's not like I hate seeing you act like this"
Urushihara suddenly raised his arms, looking at her, and he half-yelled to the ceiling. "My point exactly!"
Just what was he going on about?
She put down the sponge for a bit and look at the sitting form of the blonde in front of her, eyes closed and arms crossed, and if it wasn't for the subtle, twitch of the eye then she might've thought he was asleep.
"Well, I'm not going to explain of this much further, but I'm more concerned as to how Suzuki-san is fairing as of the moment"
She went on and asked him. "But, you were the one who asked to give her some time"
He rubbed the back of his neck, and there was a glint of sadness in his eyes. "I say that, but that did not put me at ease. I felt like I could have done something"
Then he smiled at them. "You guys can go have your talk outside, as proof that there is no need to be so discreet. I can handle all of the dishes"
She bowed down. Guess she really had nothing to worry about back there. "Thank you. We'll be taking our leave now"
They were both sitting down by the middle of the stairs. She was a bit cold despite wearing a kimono, and she noticed Urushihara rubbing his shoulders, shivering
"Too cold?"
"Nothing I can't handle"
"So, um, here's the thing"
He turned his attention fully on her. She already had gotten an answer from Ashiya before about this, actually, although it didn't really satisfy her enough to calm her down. Everyday, she grew restless, until she couldn't take it anymore, and while she knew Urushihara might give the same answer or something close, she still hoped that he might, at least, have a different insight about this.
"Tell me", he placed his hands inside his pockets.
"It's about Maou"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't tell me you're falling for that guy, too?"
"W-what?! No way!"
His lips pursed, and she could feel from his gaze that he was doubting her. He looked annoyed, but she decided to just brush him off about this for now.
"It's just I wanted to know why-"
Loud footsteps approached them, and when they turned around, Ashiya was there above them, holding his phone to his ear. He looked panicked.
Urushihara snickered. "What's wrong with you?"
He tried forming words out of his mouth, but the words that only came out were broken sentences.
"What is it, Ashiya-san?"
He pulled at his hair, and then suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs his voiced reached the ends of the earth.
"My liege is sleeping over at the Hero's place!"
././
Sicnarf: (Hearing noises) The hell is that?
(The gang enters)
Emi: You ready to die? (Cracks knuckles)
Suzuno: You shall know pain (whispers)
Lucifer: Oy, don't still Pein's line
Ashiya: Who's pain?
Sicnarf: A distraction! (Jumps out the window) ha!
Maou: (Was actually waiting for me to land) s'up?
(Cue stabbing sounds and a bunch of other stuff.