Makima turned leisurely, slowly scanning Denji, Power, and Aki. Her gaze was gentle, yet the weight within it quietly pressed down on the air.
Then, as if speaking of something trivial, she spoke softly.
"Oh, by the way. Aki, Denji, and Power will be living with me too. Pack your bags by tomorrow, okay?"
The moment she finished speaking, something snapped in the atmosphere.
"Huh!?"
Denji and Power shouted at the same time. Beside them, Aki, frozen stiff, whipped his head around. Even his usually cool and composed expression cracked as his eyes widened.
Makima briefly observed their reactions, clearly enjoying them, before slightly lifting the corners of her lips.
Nayuta, watching from within, smirked inwardly.
"…Aki-san's surprised face is unexpectedly cute."
[I know what you're thinking, but I don't get it.]
"I'm not asking you to understand, Makima-san. If you like humans so much, why do you live alone?"
[That's…]
Makima fell silent for a brief moment.
Something flickered through her eyes. A tiny fracture. Perhaps something that could be called loneliness.
But it vanished quickly.
She shrugged lightly and returned to her usual blank smile.
[Now that you mention it, that's true. I never even thought about living together.]
Nayuta felt it.
Makima's heart was coldly calm. Yet beneath that calm, a faint human emptiness seeped through.
Through that crack, Nayuta felt both pity and jealousy, without realizing it.
Then Makima's lips slowly curved upward, and a beautiful, distorted smile bloomed within her.
[Living together… might be okay.]
"…"
Nayuta said nothing. Her heart simply began to beat strangely fast.
Inside her, Makima laughed.
That laugh was unhurried, and cruel.
Makima slowly brushed her fingertips over her chest. When their fingers lightly touched, the sensation echoed through both of them at once.
And Makima whispered,
[Nayuta. I can hear your thoughts too. So why don't you stop getting horny when you look at yourself?]
Furious.
"I told you! I'm just a normal girl who likes women!"
[Hehe. That virginal reaction is cute too.]
"I'm not a virgin!"
Makima remained calm even after hearing that. No, her eyes brightened as if she found it amusing. Like a cat tapping a toy and observing it, she treated Nayuta's embarrassment as entertainment.
[Anyway, if we're going to live together, let's start today. Why wait until tomorrow?]
"We should be looking for a house right away. Since you've been living alone, there probably won't be many rooms…"
[You're quick witted. Considering the woman who'll be coming later, we'll need about five or six rooms. I'll have more than enough.]
"No. I'm not looking for a house that big. Four rooms will be fine."
[Why?]
The question was short, but it carried a strange weight, as if Makima already knew the answer.
Nayuta fell silent.
She knew instinctively that her thoughts had already been read.
Makima laughed softly without another word. The sound lingered unpleasantly despite its quietness.
Her red lips parted, releasing a short, mixed breath.
[Hehe…]
It was a laugh, and a warning.
In this house, who would be the owner, and who would be the guest?
She knew the answer without it being said.
Makima followed the real estate agent as planned, walking quietly behind him.
Under the white, shimmering afternoon sunlight, her red hair fluttered in the wind. Her steps were calm, yet with each one, the air subtly vibrated. Her very presence seemed to exert a quiet control over reality itself.
After viewing several houses, she finally stopped.
A quiet residential area. A two story home with a single maple tree in the garden. Neither old nor new, yet filled with the unmistakable scent of life.
The living room was warm, and the wooden floors gleamed as if melting under the sunlight.
"This would be nice."
[Right. The women can take the second floor, and the men the first.]
Makima's lips twitched faintly at Nayuta's thoughts. She nodded slowly, tracing the window frame with her fingertips.
"It's a sunny house. And the smell isn't bad either."
Her voice was calm, like a superior making an assessment, yet something emotional clung to it.
Nayuta couldn't tell if that feeling was anticipation or satisfaction.
The contract was signed instantly.
When the moving truck arrived, boxes piled up, and the move was completed in a single day.
The reason was simple.
Makima's ability.
She issued instructions to the staff, and furniture shifted with her gaze. Boxes found their places without hesitation. With a single flick of her finger, even the dust vanished.
It was as natural as the hand of God, and just as unsettling.
"This ability is really convenient. Even high ranking executives seem to be under your control. So why do you keep acting like an ordinary person? Is it because you like humans? Or because you like Denji?"
[I thought you wouldn't need to ask if you'd seen my memories.]
"Oh, sorry. If I see them again, I think I'll actually throw up, so I'll pass."
Makima smiled faintly.
[You're more delicate than I thought. Still, I've killed fewer humans than you'd expect. I don't kill needlessly. And I don't want humans to die.]
"I know that, but…"
[Well, you like my appearance, don't you? You hate demons, so I won't push. Domination doesn't work on you anyway.]
"…"
Nayuta said nothing.
Makima smiled.
"You really are interesting. Normally, people are afraid of demons like me."
Nayuta held her breath.
Domination doesn't work on me.
That was the first exception Makima had ever acknowledged.
"You didn't become a demon by choice, did you?"
Makima did not answer. She turned her gaze toward the window.
The crimson sunset dyed the house red. Her hair and eyes seemed to burn in that light.
"…I wonder what it would've been like if I were human. It's not a bad thought."
She paused.
"But because I'm the Demon of Domination, meeting the current Denji…"
"I think I met you."
Her whisper flowed directly into Nayuta's mind. Gentle, yet heavy enough to crush her heart.
Nayuta lowered her head. Her cheeks flushed, her ears burned.
"…Don't say that."
She muttered softly and buried herself beneath the blanket.
Her heart raced wildly. She couldn't tell whether the pounding belonged to her, or to Makima.
Inside her, Makima smiled quietly.
"Hehe. How cute."
That smile was soft, dazzling, and deeply unsettling.
After sweet whispers, there was always the lingering scent of domination.
Night fell.
The living room lights went out, and in the silence, Makima whispered one final time.
"Good night, Nayuta."
"…Good night, Makima-san."
Just before sleep claimed her, Nayuta realized something.
The most frightening thing in this house was not devils, blood, or the darkness of night.
It was her gentle smile.