After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 30

After returning from work, Yuichi took a shower, changed into comfortable clothes, and collapsed onto his bed.

With nothing else to do, he lazily unlocked his phone.

Just then, a news notification appeared at the top of the screen.

Curious, he tapped it.

The headline read:

“Missing Teenage Girl Suspected of Being Kidnapped in XX Residential Area. Police Investigation Underway.”

“…”

Yuichi stared at the screen.

For some reason…

His heart skipped a beat.

…Wait.

Could they be talking about me?

A terrifying thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Thinking back, although nothing inappropriate had ever happened while Chiba was living with him…

From an outsider’s perspective, the situation certainly looked suspicious.

After all…

Chiba looked like a teenage girl.

Sure, she was actually a demon who had lived for centuries in Anstertandin…

But if he tried explaining that to the police…

Would anyone actually believe him?

“…No.”

“No matter how I think about it…”

“…I’m definitely getting arrested.”

Cold sweat ran down his forehead.

Just as he was beginning to panic—

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang.

Yuichi froze.

…No way.

Already?

Did the police really come?

His imagination immediately spiraled out of control.

I’m too young to go to prison!

After standing there for nearly a minute, he finally gathered enough courage to open the door.

The moment he saw who was standing outside…

He let out a huge sigh of relief.

“…Chiba.”

“You scared me.”

“It isn’t the police.”

Chiba looked at him strangely.

“…Police?”

Ignoring that comment, Yuichi smiled awkwardly.

“So…”

“What brings you here this late?”

Without saying much, Chiba held out a stack of books.

“I forgot to return these.”

“…Sorry.”

“…That’s all?”

Yuichi blinked.

He had expected something much more dramatic.

“I mean…”

“You didn’t have to rush.”

“I wasn’t in a hurry to get them back.”

As he accepted the books, something caught his eye.

Mixed in with the novels…

Were two rather embarrassing magazines he had accidentally left under his bed.

“…”

“…Wait.”

His face instantly turned pale.

Those books…

Why are they here?!

Without another word, Yuichi hurriedly snatched the stack from Chiba’s hands.

Trying to remain calm, he forced a smile.

“…By the way.”

“Did you read all of these?”

“I did.”

Chiba answered honestly.

“…”

Yuichi’s soul nearly left his body.

I’m finished.

How is she going to look at me from now on…?

Taking advantage of the moment Chiba looked away, Yuichi quietly slipped the embarrassing magazines behind a cabinet.

Only after making absolutely certain they were hidden did he finally relax.

That was close…

He still had no idea how Chiba had found them in the first place.

But one thing was certain.

He couldn’t let anyone else discover them.

Wanting to change the subject as quickly as possible, Yuichi suddenly spoke.

“By the way…”

“We’re going to the haunted house tomorrow.”

“I heard it’s a brand-new attraction just outside town.”

“Did Lucifer tell you about it?”

“…Mm.”

Chiba simply nodded.

Then…

Silence.

The room immediately became awkward.

Chiba didn’t seem bothered by it at all.

Yuichi, on the other hand, desperately searched for something else to say.

Nothing came to mind.

After a while, Chiba glanced out the window.

“…It’s getting late.”

She stood up.

“I’m going home.”

The moment she turned toward the door, Yuichi’s heart began racing.

No.

I don’t want her to leave already.

Before he could stop himself—

He reached out and gently grabbed her wrist.

Chiba turned around in surprise.

“…Is something wrong?”

Yuichi took a deep breath.

“It’s already late.”

“Walking home alone isn’t very safe.”

“So…”

“…Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

Chiba blinked.

Then looked at him as though he had said something utterly ridiculous.

“…Danger?”

“Yuichi.”

“Have you forgotten?”

“I’m a demon.”

“If anyone should be worried…”

“It’s humans.”

“…”

That argument was impossible to refute.

Even so…

Yuichi refused to give up.

He quickly searched for another excuse.

“But tomorrow…”

“We’re going to the haunted house together, right?”

“If you stay here tonight…”

“We can leave together first thing in the morning.”

“It’ll save us both time.”

Chiba quietly considered his suggestion.

At first glance…

It actually sounded perfectly reasonable.

After thinking for a few moments, she finally gave a small nod.

“…Alright.”

“I’ll stay.”

Yuichi secretly clenched his fist.

Success.

His carefully improvised plan had worked perfectly.