Chapter Forty-Five: Dumb Crush:

-October 20th, 2011-

Kazue stood with bright red cheeks. “I hate you; you know that?”

Hotaru smiled as she patted her on the back. “No you don’t.” Kazue sneered at her. The ladies stood in front of Sota’s supposed apartment. Kazue puffed up her cheeks.

“Why are we here?” she asked.

“You know why,” Hotaru said.  Kazue gritted her teeth.

“I’ll get you for this,” she muttered.

“Nah,” the loli demon said. “You’ll thank me later.” She shoved Kazue forward. The demon stumbled but caught her balance.

“Damn it,” Kazue mumbled. “Okay, okay! Geez!” She walked up to the door. Hotaru had her eyes on her back. Kazue mumbled under her breath as she rang the bell.

“Coming!” a man said. Kazue turned to Hotaru. The loli demon grinned and held up her thumb. She glared at her.

“I’ll get you for this,” Kazue mouthed.

“Good luck,” Hotaru mouthed back. Her roommate flipped her off. That’s when the door opened behind her.

“Kazue-san?” a man asked. The demon whipped around and saw Sota standing in the doorway. She quickly dropped her middle finger.

“Oh! Uh… Hi…” Kazue said.

“Hello,” Sota said. They stood silent for a long pause.

“Did you want something?” he asked. Kazue blinked at first. Damn it. She looked over her shoulder. Hotaru was nowhere in sight. Brilliant…

Kazue turned to Sota and nervously laughed.

“Well… My friend dragged me here and now she’s gone,” she said. Awkward silence.

“Okay…” Sota said. More silence.

“Um… Can I come in?” Kazue asked at last. His smile shot an arrow through her heart.

“Sure,” he said.

“Thanks,” the demon said in one breath. She bowed and followed him into the apartment.

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The living room looked so clean. Sunlight spilled into the room. Kazue sat down on the couch. Sota sat across from her in the armchair. The ticking clock from the kitchen filled the silence.

“Well, we’re here,” Kazue said.

“Yes,” Sota said. “Welcome.”

“Thank you,” she said. Now what? Kazue looked up at the ceiling. She sighed to herself.

“Something wrong?” Sota asked. Kazue shook her head. She clinched her teeth. The demon muttered something under her breath.

“Hm?” he asked. Kazue looked him in the eye.

“I like you,” she mumbled. He narrowed his eyes.

“Excuse me?” Sota asked. She pressed her lips together. It hurt to repeat it. What was she doing? This wasn’t her. Kazue was a cold and aloof bitch. She had no time for love.

Why? Why was this happening?

“Kazue-san? Kazue-san?” Sota asked. The demon’s face turned bright red.

“I really like you!” she yelped. Too late to take it back now. Sota stared at her. Kazue felt herself panicking. Come on! Say something!

“You… like me?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, looking down.

“In what way?” Sota asked.  Kazue’s face turned redder as she pressed her lips together. He let off a low whistle.

“Wow,” was all he said. Why couldn’t Kazue get up and run away?

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Hotaru frowned as she pressed her face against the glass. She saw where this was going.

“This is not good,” the loli demon muttered to herself. Hotaru shook her head. She shouldn’t micromanage, but they were clearly stuck. Time to give this love a little push out of the mind. But first, Hotaru needed a little back-up. The loli demon pulled out her phone and made a call.