Disclaimer: I repurposed a couple of lines from the official LN but it's only in an attempt to make it sound closer to the original story.
It has been two days since the Hero and the Demon King's team arrived onto the demon realms, aka the red moon. The devil's castle has been equipped with everything needed to launch it to the Heaven, all thanks to Lucifer, who has been surprisingly dedicated in the entire project. All they needed now to launch, was the right timing. The two moons were expected to be in the highest proximity by end of that week.
With the non-stop banter and chatter going on in the background between Acieth and Laila, Emi craved for some peace and quiet.
"Sigh.. I need a breather!"
In an attempt to escape from the chaos, she decided to go out and explore what looked like rock formations nearby.
"This isn't as far as I thought it was". The Hero took a light stroll while looking at the unfamiliar landscape.
"This place does have a certain appeal to it", she noticed there was a very little bit of water dripping down one of the cavern-like rock structures. "If only the demons did not have the tendency to destroy each others' clans." , she pondered, "But thinking about it, angels or humans are no different..- WHAa!"
She realized she stepped on some loose stones and felt the pull of gravity.
"What are you doing spacing out here!", she heard a familiar voice of the person that just grabbed and pulled her back from slipping down the rock formations.
"Maou! Why are you here-"
"Shouldn't I be the one to be asking that? Alas Ramus said you wanted to take a walk, and I could sense you wandered off to this deserted place", Maou said. "Well, I cannot blame you for trying to escape that circus back in the castle."
Emi agreed and said, "Honestly, since the castle launch and the battle are only in a few more days, and I kind of wanted to explore this place for a bit before we left, plus this place felt more breathable"
"You know what, you really need to watch your step and learn how to walk down staircases", he smirked at her, as he guided her down the trail.
"Hey! This is not a staircase and you all really need to fix that old staircase back home!", Emi snapped back with an annoyed face.
Maou grinned back and chuckled as they reached a more walkable trail.
"You know what Emi, I missed this side of you, it's been a really long journey together, hasn't it?"
"Yes...", Emi was slightly annoyed but enjoyed this part of the trail. "I-uh hope we haven't wandered off track.. we should head back before it's sunset?"
Maou continued, "I guess so, but since we are here and it's a long walk back...", he gently held her hand and sat down on a rock and gestured for her to sit.
She was surprised at first but then felt her feet wanted to rest. So, she sat down on the rock next to him.
She was a bit exhausted but not too tired as one would feel at the end of a rewarding trail. It was a little cooler and much more peaceful than going back.
"I did not expect the demon realms to actually have places like this, makes me feel that there is much more to what I grew up learning about it", Emi said, her eyes wandering around like a tourist's visiting an exotic location.
"Well, what do you feel about it, Emi? I would say I never thought I would find myself in a situation like this", Maou said, watching her.
"What's so strange about it?", Emi side glanced.
"Only a few more days to the battle with Ignora, the odds seem to be in favor, but you never know what she might have up her sleeve.", Maou continued to speak, ignoring her question. "The battle could take weeks, months or years, and who knows how things would end up."
"I do think about it, but the good part is that it reminds me how precious the time I spend with my friends and family is.", Emi replied.
"I do not like to have any regrets before I head out to war, you never know if you come alive out of it and regret not doing some things.", Maou continued, "Alright, I will get straight to the topic.. well, I uhm, you know, that night when you helped me recover?"
Emi almost shrieked, "Maou! We agreed not to bring that up again ever, haven't we?"
"Emi! I know, just hear me out, okay?", Maou tried to calm her down and continued. "I really don't want to keep it to myself and die without honest to you about it, so please just for this one time!"
Emi replied, "Alright alright, go on..", she felt a slight blush on her face whenever she was reminded of that night.
"I uhm, I never wanted you to ever know.. but that night, I was very shook. I am aware of how you feel about me, but that night.. that kiss made me think otherwise."
"Th-that - you got it all wrong, I was only trying to help out! What makes you think -", Emi is flustered and started pushing back.
"Look, I know we fought as enemies in the beginning in Ente Isla, but I guess the very first time we met on Earth, back when we did not see each other as Demon King and Hero, at the crossroads in the rain, I was attracted to this beautiful girl in a floral-print, tunic-length top and tight, skinny jeans. The rain in her long hair, slightly curled at the ends, gave it a sheen that made it all the more attractive. My heart skipped a beat when she smiled back. It was like a beautiful ray of sunshine peeking through the distressing rainclouds of my heart. Sorry for being too cheesy! It's embarrassing thinking back about how I flirted with you, haha"
"What?", Emi's eyes opened wide, and she could only whisper in disbelief. She quickly looked away and found herself suddenly avoiding eye contact.
"H-h-how.. is this a prank?... since when~?"
"Emi.. I guess you haven't noticed but I've been in love with you for quite a while", he finally mustered up the courage to say it.
"When Alas Ramus came into picture, we got undeniably so close that I cannot imagine a life without the two of you. It was like the perfect family that I always wanted. I tried to prove myself as a good person, so we could start over."
Emi froze listening to him speak. The first time they met on Earth, she was feeling lonely, desperate and looking for someone she could be with, without having to hide her origins and her true self. She wanted that so much—someone she didn't have to hide things from, someone who knew about her past, someone who could bury all the solitude.
Things would have been so different had they not found out each other's identities. She felt the same way about him but can never admit it, especially with how things are with Chiho, so she chose to just remain silent and listen.
Then Maou gently took her hand in his and continued -
"But I am very well aware that the damage I caused to you by ruining your entire childhood and your home cannot be reversed. I acknowledge and repent that, actually confessed to Suzuno too.. Even though you clarified that you don't have any feelings for me, I uh I somehow felt there was something.. I could be imagining things, but the kiss we shared that night after I spoke to Sariel, made me decide that I cannot keep hiding my feelings forever."
Emi's face turned beet red. The Demon King and the Hero have truly fallen in love with each other!
She could never let him know her true feelings, more so with her dear friends involved. She knows in her heart that she has forgiven him completely, but there was just one more thing left to do.
Then it occurred to her, and she softly said with a content smile - "So you have made your decision, haven't you?"
Maou understood exactly what she was talking about. "More than giving my answer to her, I decided that it is the best way for me to move on and so I won't bother you this again."
Saying that, he gave her a genuine smile.
Emi was very heavily blushing to respond.
"Alright then, it feels great to have that off my chest before heading to the war, thanks for hearing me out", he said with a wide grin, getting up from the rock and dusting himself.
She smiled to herself as she stood up and followed him back to the castle, with complicated feelings in her heart.
Just as I thought he could get any more annoying~