The demon lord is my girlfriend

Tokyo, Summer 2016

Naomi Fudokawa slumped into his usual seat at Café La Bomme, the scent of burnt coffee and sugar clinging to his hoodie like a second skin. The café was a cozy, dimly lit space with mismatched wooden chairs and tables, the walls adorned with vintage posters of Parisian streets. A faint hum of jazz music played in the background, blending with the murmur of conversations and the occasional clink of porcelain. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted beans and freshly baked pastries, but Naomi barely noticed. His silver eyes, usually dull and distant, flickered with a rare spark as he watched Aiko across the table.

She twirled a spoon in her latte, her pink hair catching the afternoon light streaming through the café's large windows. Her scarlet eyes glinted with mischief, and her lips curved into a playful smile. Today's "first meeting" theme: time travelers.

"Greetings, mortal!" she declared, slamming her cup down with a grin sharp enough to cut glass. "I've journeyed from the year 3023 to study your primitive caffeine rituals."

Naomi's lips twitched. After months of her games, he'd learned to play along.

"Uh… welcome?" He adjusted imaginary futuristic goggles, his voice tinged with mock seriousness. "I'm Captain Naomi, Defender of Coffee Beans."

Aiko snorted, nearly spilling her drink. "Terrible acting. You're lucky I'm here to save humanity from bad improv."

He grinned, but his mind drifted to the real first time they'd met—a memory surfacing like a scene from one of his manga.

---

Flashback: Three Months Earlier

Manga Haven, Shibuya

Manga Haven was a cramped, bustling store tucked into a narrow alley in Shibuya. Shelves overflowed with colorful volumes, and the air smelled of ink and paper. Neon lights from the street outside cast a faint glow through the store's windows, giving the space a surreal, otherworldly feel.

Naomi had been crouched in the horror section, debating whether to splurge on Junji Ito's latest, when a voice cut through the silence.

"You're blocking the Tokyo Ghoul shelf."

He turned to find a girl with cotton-candy pink hair glaring at him, arms stacked with Death Note volumes. Her scarlet eyes were sharp, but her lips quirked with suppressed laughter. She wore a black leather jacket over a white tank top, paired with ripped jeans and combat boots. Her nails were painted black, and a silver chain glinted around her neck.

"S-Sorry!" He scrambled back, knocking over a My Hero Academia display. Manga skidded across the floor.

Instead of scolding him, she crouched to help. "Relax. I'm Aiko. You into villains or something?" She held up a Hell's Paradise manga, her voice teasing.

"Villains… have better character development?" he mumbled, his face burning as he gathered fallen books.

Aiko's laugh rang out, bright and unapologetic. "Exactly. Heroes are boring." She tossed a Chainsaw Man volume at him. "This one's got a demon protagonist. You'd like it."

Naomi stared at the cover—a snarling figure with a chainsaw head. "Why?"

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Because demons don't pretend to be something they're not."

---

Present Day

"Earth to Naomi!" Aiko waved a sugar packet in his face, snapping him back. "You're spacing out worse than that time we pretended to be ghosts in Ueno Park."

He blinked. Ueno Park. Another memory flickered—rain-soaked laughter, Aiko's hair plastered to her cheeks as they sprinted for shelter, inventing a backstory about "phantom lovers separated by time."

"Sorry," he muttered, stirring his coffee into a whirlpool. "Just… thinking about your terrible taste in villains."

"Excuse you!" She leaned forward, eyes glinting like broken glass. "Remember our yōkai date? You said my 'evil spirit' act was inspired."

How could he forget?

---

Flashback: One Month Earlier

Neon-Lit Shrine, Asakusa

The shrine was nestled in a quiet corner of Asakusa, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and neon signs. Lanterns hung from the trees, casting a warm glow on the stone path leading to the main hall. The air was thick with the scent of incense and blooming cherry blossoms.

Aiko had shown up in a moth-eaten kimono, fake fangs peeking over her lip. "I'm a yōkai here to steal your soul," she'd hissed, clawed hands raised.

Naomi, in thrift-store samurai robes, brandished a rolled-up map. "Begone, demon! I've… uh… got a really sharp sword!"

They'd chased each other around the shrine until Aiko tripped over her hem, collapsing into giggles. Later, licking matcha ice cream under a streetlamp, she'd asked, "You'd really fight a monster for me?"

"Depends," he'd said, avoiding her gaze. "Do monsters like Dragon Quest?"

She'd smiled, but her eyes drifted to the moon. "Some monsters don't get choices."

---

Present Day

Aiko's voice softened, pulling him back to the café. "Hey. You okay?"

Naomi hesitated. The room hummed with clattering dishes and student chatter, but it all felt fragile—like a spell about to break.

"Yeah," he lied. "Just… tired of pretending."

Her smile faltered. "Pretending?"

Pretending you're human. Pretending this is just a game.

Before he could speak, the café door slammed open.

---

The Stranger

A man with blue hair sauntered in, a bat perched on his shoulder like a twisted parody of a pirate's parrot. His eyes—gold and slit-pupiled—locked onto Aiko. He wore a long black coat that seemed to ripple like liquid shadow, and his presence sent a chill through the room.

She froze, her teacup clattering against its saucer. "Naomi," she whispered, already standing. "I have to go."

He followed her into the alley, the cold air biting his lungs. The stranger—Komori—leaned against a graffiti-strewn wall, shadows pooling at his feet.

"Time's up," he drawled, snapping his fingers. Three bats erupted from his coat, morphing into snarling men with jagged claws.

Naomi lunged, fists flying. He didn't care about secrets or underworlds—only the girl who'd turned his gray world into something vibrant.

---

The Fight

The alley was narrow, its walls streaked with graffiti and grime. A single flickering streetlamp cast long shadows, and the air was thick with the stench of rotting garbage and damp concrete. Naomi's heart pounded as he stepped between Aiko and Komori, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.

"Stay back," he muttered to Aiko, his voice trembling but firm. "I'll handle this."

Aiko grabbed his arm, her scarlet eyes wide with panic. "Naomi, no! You don't understand what he is—"

"I don't care what he is," Naomi snapped, shaking her off. "I'm not letting him take you."

Komori chuckled, a low, menacing sound that echoed off the alley walls. He stroked the bat on his shoulder, its beady eyes glowing red. "Brave words for a human. But bravery won't save you."

With a snap of his fingers, the bat screeched, and three more materialized from the shadows. They swirled in the air for a moment before transforming into hulking figures with jagged claws and glowing red eyes. Their breath came in ragged growls, and their movements were unnaturally fluid, like predators stalking prey.

Naomi's stomach churned, but he didn't back down. He grabbed a loose brick from the ground, its rough edges biting into his palm. "Come on, then!" he shouted, his voice cracking with fear and defiance.

The first creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Naomi ducked, swinging the brick with all his strength. It connected with the creature's jaw, sending it stumbling back with a guttural snarl. The second creature came at him from the side, but Naomi sidestepped, slamming the brick into its ribs. The impact sent a jolt of pain up his arm, but he gritted his teeth and swung again.

"Naomi, stop!" Aiko's voice was desperate, but he couldn't listen. Not now.

The third creature lunged at Aiko, its claws outstretched. Naomi's heart leaped into his throat. "Aiko!" He threw the brick with all his might, hitting the creature square in the head. It let out a shriek and dissolved into smoke.

Komori's grin faltered. "Impressive," he sneered. "But you're out of your depth, boy."

Naomi panted, his chest heaving. "I don't care. I'm not letting you take her."

Komori's eyes narrowed. "Then you'll die with her."

He raised his hand, and the remaining creatures lunged. Naomi braced himself, but before they could reach him, Aiko stepped forward, her hands glowing with a faint purple light.

"Enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing with an otherworldly power. The creatures froze mid-air, their forms dissolving into smoke. Aiko's scarlet eyes burned with intensity, and her pink hair seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

Komori's smirk returned. "Finally showing your true colors?"

Aiko's hands trembled as she turned to Naomi, her expression a mix of sorrow and resolve. "I'm sorry, Naomi. I didn't want you to see this."

Naomi stared at her, his mind racing. "Aiko… what are you?"

Before she could answer, Komori lunged, his movements impossibly fast. He grabbed Naomi by the throat, lifting him off the ground. Naomi gasped, clawing at Komori's iron grip, but it was no use. The man's golden eyes glinted with malice.

"Let him go!" Aiko screamed, her voice cracking.

Komori chuckled. "Or what? You'll kill me? You know the rules. You can't interfere."

Aiko's hands glowed brighter, but she hesitated, her eyes darting between Naomi and Komori. "Please… I'll go with you. Just let him go."

Naomi's vision blurred, but he managed to choke out, "Aiko… don't…"

Komori's grip tightened. "Too late for that."

A bat swooped down from above, sinking its fangs into Naomi's neck. Pain shot through him, and his body went limp. He crumpled to the ground, his vision fading as Aiko's screams echoed in his ears.

"Naomi!" She dropped to her knees beside him, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry… I never wanted this…"

Naomi reached up, his hand trembling as he brushed a tear from her cheek. "I… don't care… what you are…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I love you…"

Aiko's breath hitched, and her form began to change. Her white sundress darkened to black, and obsidian wings burst from her back, their edges shimmering with purple light. A long, sinuous tail coiled around her legs, and her scarlet eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity.

Komori smirked. "There she is. The Demon Lord."

Aiko stood, her wings spreading wide. "Let him go, Komori. Or I'll make you regret it."

Komori chuckled. "You know the rules. You can't harm me. But him?" He gestured to Naomi, who lay motionless on the ground. "He's already dead."

Aiko's wings drooped, and her shoulders slumped. "Please… I'll do anything. Just let him live."

Komori considered her for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine. But you're coming with me. No more games."

Aiko nodded, her tears falling onto Naomi's face. "Goodbye, Naomi," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank you… for everything."

A portal opened behind her, its edges crackling with energy. Komori stepped through, and Aiko followed, casting one last glance at Naomi before disappearing into the void.

---

The Underworld

Naomi awoke on a crimson hill, the sky a weeping scarlet wound. Demons circled above, their shrieks harmonizing into a macabre symphony. Among them flew Aiko, her wings cutting through the haze like knives.

Naomi staggered to his feet, clutching the crumpled sugar packet from Café La Bomme. I'll find you. Even here.

---

Epilogue: The Human

Hours earlier, Naomi had stood at his bedroom window, staring at the city's endless gray. Lonely. Useless. A waste of space.

Now, in a world of blood and wings, he smiled. I finally have something to fight for.