If you survived the Chiho chapter, this chapter is all about Maou's Pov and flashbacks.
A very busy day at the Oyako café. All the staff has been working tirelessly since the past few weeks.
Maou and Emi had been equally busy with the management especially since they were still on a learning curve. He was highly exhausted and the hard work he has been putting in is not the only thing to blame. Ever since Chiho returned for the holidays, he did not really make much time for her. And involuntarily he had been spending more and more time with Emi for the café and Alas Ramus.
The past few weeks were especially hectic for Maou in many ways. His mind was always preoccupied with events that happened.
"Good afternoon Maou-san!", Kaori Shouji, the intern who started working at the café wished Maou as soon as she checked in.
"Hey there Shouji", Maou replied after a whole 10 seconds, without even looking, working at his desk.
"Hmph, this kind of indifferent attitude must have irritated Chiho. Seriously Maou-san, you are so selfish! All work and no play doesn't work for anyone.", Kaori spoke as she prepared things for her shift.
"Hey, why do you talk like you know what happened? Don't you have work to do", an irritated Maou replied.
"Oh come on Maou-san. Chiho and I are besties and we still talk about everything. I am so angry with you but I am glad Chiho is moving on now. Hmph!", Kaori left for the counter saying that.
Maou did not get a chance to respond, but sat back instead recollecting his conversation with Chiho.
It happened two days after Chiho felt uncomfortable watching Maou and Emi work together.
"I cannot believe how delusional I was, thinking I was the only woman in your eyes. It's been 2 years and I am still jealous of Yusa-san – even though she's moving out from here. Maou-san, if you don't give me proper attention, others will.", Chiho spoke to Maou in an agitated manner.
"Chiho- I'm sorry I made you feel that way.. I've only been busy with the café stuff and Alas Ramus' school and-"
"And? And where do I fit in Maou-san?", Chiho let her tears come out.
Maou did not know how to respond, and there was a moment of awkward silence.
"Alex asked me out.", Chiho spoke first without waiting for Maou to say anything. "I'm leaving for England early this break….I want us to take a good break from each other while you sort out your feelings"
Beep beep.
The sound of the alarm brought Maou out of his thoughts. "I must focus on my work for now."
He logged into his laptop and started to work in a more focused way.
"I don't know if it can be confirmed but Maou-san, in case you haven't realized it yet, Yusa-san has been in love with you since a long time…"
That evening, Chiho had revealed to Maou that Emi has been secretly in love with him the whole while and that she was jealous of their relationship. Maou hadn't been able to make stable eye contact with Emi ever since. He felt annoyed and restless knowing this.
Why tell me now?
He could not stop thinking about the kiss he and Emi shared, that shook him up for weeks, 3 years back. Back then, he had always expected things between him and Emi could go further, but Emi kept shutting the idea down. That eventually led him to accept Chiho's proposal, as he tried his best to move on.
Even though the two of them agreed, upon Emi's request, to forget about what happened that night, finding out about Emi's feelings now has been really bugging Maou.
That idiot. What was she thinking? Now things are more complicated than ever.
He had always been drawn to Emi, right from when they first met in Japan, and expected it to develop into something more… but was shot down by Emi who did not want to let it progress.
And now this.
To think she planned moving out since almost a couple of years back and never told me.. Oh!
He realized it could be around the time of Kisaki and Sariel's wedding approximately.
Oh no, could what had happened at the wedding reception have triggered this idea?
He could still remember the events like it was yesterday.
It was a fall wedding; after the nuptials and formalities, everyone gathered at the evening reception for the dance. Everyone who worked at MgR and Sentucky was present at the wedding except for Chiho, who had to stay back in England as her course had just started. Maou leaned back against the wall watching all the wedding guests dance in pairs with the newlyweds in the middle of the hall.
"Aren't you going to join us Ma-kun?", Akiko called out to him, joining the dance party with Kawada.
Maou smiled back at them saying "Ah you two go have fun, I'm only waiting for..", and he stopped mid-sentence as his gaze found someone leaning onto the gazebo in the background.
"Yeah nevermind, I'll go get some fresh air", he waved at them and walked out.
"You seem distracted today?", Maou called out to the red-haired girl in the gazebo, all dressed up, and seemed to be staring distantly at the party lights.
"You almost startled me there!", Emi turned around and smiled at him. "It's drizzling now, come on in"
Maou kept her company and they chatted about their Hero and Demon King days, enjoying the ambient music and lights in the background. He felt it was funny how things have gradually changed between them ever since Emi realized the truth about him, and especially since the time Maou spoke to her in the demon realms, there was no animosity anymore. They were finally able to put their Demon-King and Hero roles aside.
"Oh I love this song!", Emi said and started humming it. Maou joined her to her surprise and stood up.
"The peppy song calls for a dance, come on..", Maou said extending his hand to her.
Emi agreed and after the two of them gave a quick glance around, they giggled and danced for this song.. and the next one. And then began the slow dance song. Maou could clearly see the blush on Emi's face as they closed in the gap a little bit. Both were blushing, smiling and pretending it was silly. Maou then got a teeny bit carried away in the moment, as he tucked Emi's hair behind her ear and leaned in towards her lips.
"Maou-sama, I lost the keys to my apartment, do you ha-ave them?", Ashiya called out from a distance and lowered his voice as he got closer, not sure what to interpret.
Emi sprang back and gently nudged Maou, stepping back as soon as they heard Ashiya. "Ah-uhm yes let me go check", Maou quickly replied as he and Emi left the gazebo and hurried back to the hall.
He tried to sort his thoughts and talk to Emi the next time they met, but Emi acted like it never happened and asked him to forget it as well. This was a couple of years back, but clearly remembered Emi's blush.
"Damnit!", Maou shouted out banging his head at the desk, while reminiscing the past events.
"I need a day off", he said weakly laying down his head on his laptop.
Promise, it gets better in the next chapter, which is also going to be the last part..