A/N: I enjoyed writing this one. Told myself a hundred times to stop writing and just continue it tomorrow. Made me feel giddy hehe. Rolled around the bed after finishing this. Sounds creepy, but just pardon my weirdness. Enjoy this chapter, folks. Drama, drama, drama.
She just never cease to surprise him. It's like, after uncovering some new information about herself, learning so much of her softer side after getting to know her, for one, another unexpected surprise would come falling from the sky, crashing them in the process.
He thought nothing could top off the time when they just kissed right out of the blue, or, when she agreed to form a quick truce with him for a day out in an amusement park.
He was actually half-expecting to receive a massive beat-down from, at least, one of those little incidents, and, though, he could finally breathe easy when she didn't raise her fist on him, it still made him wonder what exactly was going on in her head.
Emi just stood there, fighting an intense, staring contest with the floor, and when her words finally sunk in, he shrieked out a loud 'eeeehhhhhhh!?', causing her to cover her ears as he clamped his mouth shut.
"Just what's gotten into you?", he should be the one asking that. "I know it's crazy. Can't really say that I wasn't expecting this kind of reaction. It's a huge relief to know that I'm not the only one who thinks this is mind-blowing"
"No, I think I get it", he stood up as well, but her earlier statement left his movements all stiff and awkward, and he forced out a chuckle as he played with the side of his hair. "So, this isn't a kind of prank you're pulling off?"
She frowned. "Do you think I'd really do something like that at a time like this?"
"I know, I know. It's just,",
Considering that what he had just heard her say about 'living together' wasn't a joke and she was really serious, then that only means that the Hero has completely lost her marbles.
He did an experimental pinch on his thigh, and after deducing that this wasn't another nightmare he's having, he asked again.
"You saying it so calmly made me doubt if you were really serious"
To prove his unnecessary point, he made a show of putting the back of his hand on her forehead, checking to see if she caught some sort of cold from the run this morning, and she jolted up from the touch.
"Wh-what-"
"Doesn't look like you're sick. Are you sure you're still thinking straight? This is so unlike you"
So, he's not dreaming, and, she's not sick either. Definitely a nightmare then.
He wasn't really opposed to this insane idea. He knew deep down that as the greatest father in the whole universe, he'll always have a weak spot for his daughter, so he's alright if all he has to do was man up and move over to her place.
He trust everything she said, but since the idea itself came from her, it still feels so surreal that he was having a hard time believing her.
There's just one, obvious factor that Emi missed while she thought of this.
Devil King plus the Hero, is equals to a massive disaster.
She didn't say anything else, and he wondered why she was so quiet all of a sudden. Her cheeks were tinted red, and then, he realized where his hand was still at.
The image of her placing his hand on her neck so he could feel her rapid pulse flew back in his head, and he retracted his hand away, embarrassed.
He cleared his throat in a weak attempt on bringing them back on topic, and Emi looked around at anything other than him. He hated awkward silences.
"I'm not against this, if that's what you think", hope filled her eyes, surprised. "But, are you sure you're not forcing yourself to do this? You don't look exactly up for this, to be honest"
She looked kind of irritated at his words, but then she calmed herself down. "You're not the only one who's willing to do everything for Alas=Ramus"
She gave him a determined look as she placed a brave fist to her heart, and Maou found the simple action to be a little charming. Telling her that would lead to his untimely death, so he should keep this thought to himself.
"I care for her just as much as you do. I wouldn't be proposing this if I didn't"
He let out a breath he was holding, and he reached out his hand. If she was really this serious, then she must have really thought hard before calling him.
Saying no was not an option, but with the things running around his head about his unresolved feelings for the tough and scary girl in front of him, staying in the same place as her.
At the end of the day, maybe he was going to be the one not thinking straight. But overall, he's not that worried. What's the worse that could happen?
"I, Sadao Maou, do here by pledge to be in my best behavior while in the care of Emi Yusa. Thank you for having me"
"Why do you sound like you're stepping into heaven? I can't tell if you're being playful or sarcastic"
"Beats me"
Then, a pair of arms wrapped itself around his neck, enveloping him in a grateful hug as she buried her head on his chest.
He jumped up, shocked.
He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. The Hero, of all people, was giving her a hug, but that wasn't the crazy part. The crazy part was that he was enjoying it.
As much as he wanted to make a snarky comment of her sudden display of affection to her own nemesis, he felt like now wasn't really the right time. Don't want to ruin the mood now.
The smell of roses wafted through his nostrils, and it made him curious about which brand of shampoo she has been using. No doubt something expensive that he'll most likely never find the opportunity to afford in a million years.
It's like she was finally managed to put a little trust in him. That made him feel warm all of a sudden, and he was glad that she wasn't looking at his face, otherwise she would've caught him smiling. He'll never hear the end of it if she was.
He wasn't so sure of returning the hug, since his nerves were flying around and his whole brain was a mess, so he let his mouth do the work for him.
"Something is definitely wrong with you today. Who are you and what have you done to Emi? It's like you're malfunctioning, or whatevs"
Her voice was all muffled when she spoke, but he heard her loud and clear.
"Thank you"
It was just a simple sentence, but it had so many meanings. Her hold on him grew tighter, and abandoning all sense of thinking and setting aside nervousness, he hugged her back, rubbing soothing circles around her shoulder.
The first thing that comes to his mind, was that Emi was 'soft'. The second thing was, hugs are nice.
He zoned out everything around them, and for a moment, it was just them, in their own personal world. No distractions. No unfashionable terrorists. No man-moms, hikikomori, or udon queens.
It's just them, enjoying each other's body warmth.
She must've grown self-conscious, because she lightly pushed him away, face flushed, and Maou thought she looked cute.
She fumbled a bit with her words, before she managed to say.
"This is just something to express my thanks. I owe you big time for this, so you better not look in too much on this", she jabbed an embarrassed finger on his chest, eyes focused on her feet. "Also, don't tell anyone about this, or I'll-"
"'kill you, put you on a body bag and throw you out into the ocean', I get it. Your secret's safe with me", he made a zipping motion on his lips.
Real smooth, you idiot. Tip her off, and she might do just that. Real smooth.
She fiddled with the hem of her blouse, and she asked for one, last confirmation. "So, you'll really stay?"
He grinned at her, showing off his responsible side. "Are you kidding me? And, leave my own daughter to cry, when she oh so desperately misses her precious father?"
"Don't make me gag"
"Was I supposed to object?"
She smiled, and his eyes widened. "I know you wouldn't"
Something about her smile mesmerized him. He has seen her smile a couple of times before. The way the end of her lips would tug upwards, creating a small dimple on her right cheek, which really goes well with her looks.
Her eyes would squint a little, and he'd find himself drowning in her gaze sometimes.
As if he wanted to protect that smile.
No. This was no good. He needed to get a hold of himself.
He skipped past her and made his way to the door, and Emi stared at him, confused. They were just having a moment there, but since she was the who called him here, she didn't object, thinking he just wanted to go home as quickly as possible.
"Um, so, uh", she followed him and opened the door for him. "Thanks for coming over. And, sorry for calling you out here"
He shook his head as he took a step outside, but even he could tell that Emi knew he's been aching to leave already.
"You're welcome. My services aren't for free, though, so I expect payment by-"
"Have a safe trip"
She closed the door on him, and he was left all alone in the hallway.
He trudged down the stairs, thinking about how he was going to explain to Ashiya about his plans. How about if he could try sleeping outside by the dumpster so he wouldn't have to face him? He could just try sneaking back inside and shower, then head straight to work.
He made it down back to the parking lot. Suzuno might also end up disagreeing about this, but he wasn't really sure about that. Chiho would throw a fit and demand he change his mind, and he has no idea how he was supposed to deal with all of that.
Maou's guessing she might end up spying on them 24/7 as soon as he started living with her.
Urushihara, well… he'd probably be dancing in joy now that there's one less tormentor left for him to deal with. Makes him want to stay just a little bit longer, just to annoy him a bit.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he took it out the device, and upon seeing that Chiho has left him a message, he panicked a bit.
They had a nice chat earlier, but it was mostly about whether he was feeling strong enough to go back to work. Miss Kisaki needs her number 1 employee, after all, so no matter how many times his kouhai would plead for him to take a rest, he'll never listen. That employee of the month award is in the bag.
He went behind a black van, where he left his bike.
Now, imagine buying a donut and leaving it alone on the table to go grab some coffee. Next, think of your reaction when that donut was just gone, like 'bam!', gone, totally nonexistent.
Maou's reaction when he couldn't find his bike would be ten times more horrified.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait", he swiped at the spot where his bike had just been, and after realizing thst ot was really gone, no doubt, stolen, he spent the next twenty minutes sparring with a streetlight, angry at himself for not chaining it at the first place, and at whoever thought that stealing Dullahan was a great idea.
He stomped back up towards her flat, exhausted, and when she answered the door for him, now wearing her night gown, he let it all out in one-go.
"You know that feeling when you realized you've just done something incredibly stupid, and now you're regretting it?"
She cocked an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Dullahan's gone"
"Surprised you remembered"
She stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. "Guess we're even"
././
Maou: (angry) I don't get this…
Emi: (chewing at her nails) we buried him…
Ashiya: Is this sorcery?
Chiho: (scared shitless) h-how!?
Suzuno: wait…
Urushihara: What?
Suzuno: Didn't someone put in his laptop while we buried him?
Urushihara:…
Suzuno:…
Emi:…
Chiho:…
Urushihara: I swear, I wouldn't have done that if I knew he'll live
Maou: Just how is this possible
Meanwhile:
Sicnarf: Hello from the other side~