After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 38

It was evening.

Yuichi lay on his hospital bed, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone.

Suddenly, an unread message pinned to the top of the screen caught his attention.

…A message from his boss.

What’s wrong this late at night? Don’t tell me he’s asking me to work overtime already…

Yuichi stared at the notification for a moment.

It wasn’t that he was trying to slack off.

The problem was that, in his current condition, there was no way he could even return to work.

He opened the message.

It was about what had happened that afternoon.

The haunted house owner had apologized for the accident, claiming the escape room’s machinery had malfunctioned and expressing deep remorse for Yuichi’s injury.

“…Remorse?”

Yuichi let out a dry laugh.

He’s only saying that because he’s afraid I’ll file a complaint and affect his business.

Still…

The explanation felt strange.

The so-called mechanical malfunction…

Lucifer had probably already taken care of everything.

Yuichi had been worried about how to explain his injuries to both his boss and coworkers, but it seemed Lucifer had already solved that problem for him.

I should thank him tomorrow.

Just then another message arrived.

This one was about his leave.

Because his injury qualified as sick leave…

He had been given seven full days off.

“…Seven days.”

Yuichi stared at the screen.

That’s a surprisingly long vacation…

Where should I go?

His family’s phone call from a few days ago suddenly came to mind.

As usual, they had mostly reminded him to dress warmly and not overwork himself.

But hidden beneath those ordinary words…

Was a simple wish.

They wanted him to come home.

To be honest…

Yuichi hadn’t gone back in almost a year.

Work had kept him too busy.

Even during last year’s visit, he had only stayed for a single day before rushing back.

“…Maybe it’s finally time.”

He quietly made up his mind.

I’ll go home.

Only then did he notice the time.

“…What?”

It was already midnight.

“Oh no…”

“I didn’t even realize it got this late.”

“If I don’t sleep now, I really might die from overwork…”

Muttering to himself, Yuichi put away his phone and prepared to sleep.

Just then—

Knock.

Knock.

A gentle knock came from the door.

Not Alice…

She had already visited earlier.

And it couldn’t be Lucifer either.

Lucifer never knocked politely.

He usually barged straight in.

Which meant…

“…Chiba?”

A quiet voice answered from outside.

“Yes.”

Yuichi smiled.

“I knew it.”

“Come in.”

“The door’s unlocked.”

As Chiba stepped into the room, the first thing she asked was,

“…Did I wake you?”

Considering how late it was, the question was perfectly reasonable.

But it only made Yuichi panic.

“N-Not at all!”

“I just wasn’t expecting you to come this late.”

However…

What Chiba said next completely surprised him.

“Lucifer had to go back first.”

“But…”

“I wanted to see you.”

Yuichi blinked.

Then he grinned.

“Oh?”

“So…”

“Does that mean you’ve started liking me?”

Chiba let out a long sigh.

Even now… he’s still joking.

She had reminded him countless times that she was a demon.

Yet he never seemed to take it seriously.

If anything…

His teasing had only become bolder.

“Keep dreaming.”

“Even if the sky falls…”

“I will never like you.”

“Never.”

“Absolutely never.”

Yuichi laughed.

“Really?”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Maybe you’re just too embarrassed to admit it.”

Chiba glared at him.

“You’re only saying that because you’re lying in bed injured.”

“Otherwise…”

“I wouldn’t mind letting you experience another electric shock.”

Yuichi smiled shamelessly.

“Honestly…”

“I’m getting used to being electrocuted.”

“When I recover…”

“Please zap me again.”

“…Ouch! Stop pulling my wound!”

Watching him yelp in pain, Chiba finally realized something.

She had spent all this time worrying about him…

For nothing.

After a brief silence, she quietly asked,

“…Why did you save me?”

Yuichi answered without hesitation.

“What else?”

“I simply wanted to.”

“I couldn’t just stand there and watch someone die.”

Chiba puffed out her cheeks.

She was clearly dissatisfied.

“…But I’m a demon.”

“I might someday do terrible things to humanity.”

“Won’t you regret saving me?”

Yuichi smiled gently.

“I already told you.”

“I don’t care who you are.”

“To me…”

“You’re just Chiba.”

“A beautiful girl.”

“And I believe you wouldn’t do something like that.”

“That’s enough for me.”

Chiba could only sigh.

“…Believing in a demon only leads to trouble.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Yuichi looked quietly at Chiba before speaking again.

“…My boss gave me a week off.”

“I’m planning to go back to my hometown.”

“Oh.”

“That’s nice.”

Chiba answered calmly.

After a short silence…

Yuichi scratched his cheek.

“…Would you come with me?”

“…Huh?”

Chiba blinked.

“Why?”

Yuichi hurriedly explained.

“My injuries haven’t completely healed.”

“It’d be troublesome if no one looked after me.”

Chiba looked unconvinced.

“…Then take Lucifer.”

“He has work.”

“He can’t get time off.”

“Then bring those hero companions of yours.”

Yuichi shook his head.

“They’d never agree to travel with you.”

“Especially after everything that happened at the haunted house.”

Every suggestion Chiba made…

Yuichi immediately refuted.

Eventually…

She ran out of arguments.

After a long silence, she sighed.

“…I really can’t do anything with you.”

Yuichi’s eyes immediately lit up.

“So…”

“Does that mean you’ll come?”

Chiba nodded helplessly.

“…Fine.”

“Since your injury happened because of me…”

“I’ll go.”

“I have no objections.”

Yuichi couldn’t hide the huge smile spreading across his face.

Watching his delighted expression…

Chiba suddenly felt strangely uneasy.

…I wonder…

What kind of future will this decision bring?