Archive of Our Own ^beta

8:45 pm. A pretty cloudy night, accented with a full moon. A perfect night to get moody with that special someone, anyone would say. Others would rather do it in a different weather.
Mao and Beryl decided to visit Primp through the dimensional gate to do research about that world, which was brand new to them.

After finding a place to stay it was dinnertime, Beryl was about to show up at the dining room, while Mao insisted on staying.

B: "Mao....Mao! Are you listening to me? It's dinnertime!"

M:"Ugh...shut up already, Beryl! Can't you see I'm busy here?" Mao replied with annoyance.

B:"You're just playing on your Printendo Switch! Can't you just pause the game?" Beryl groaned.

M:"IT'S AN ONLINE GAME!! You can't do something like pausing it, idiot!"

B:"Who cares? Can we please go to the dining room? The food is getting cold and we're making the others wait!"

M:"And? None of my business. I can just snatch some food later anyways."

B:"...Geez Mao, you're hopeless." Beryl sighed.

M:"Well? Go down there and, I don't know, do whatever a delinquent does or something. Don't bother me."

She sighed. B:"...Fine. But don't get mad when I eat your dinner. Ooh, that roasted meat must taste so good...!" She said while smiling, before quickly heading downstairs.

M:"Yeah whatever. O-oh! A rare item."

After Beryl left, Mao just kept playing. After hours and hours went on he started to get hungry, like, very. His stomach was growling quite loudly and grew fatigued.

M:"Beryl....Beryl!!! Ugh...so hungry... where is Beryl when I need her? Ugh...I'd call Geoffrey, but he's at the academy making sure no idiot gets their claws on my stuff. Nnngh...do I really have to do this myself? Hmph. Nah, I can handle it."

He only lasted a few seconds before he had no other option than going outside and getting dinner by himself.

M:"Damnit...nevermind, I feel like I'm gonna die..." The dean whined.

He got up and headed downstairs in search of food. However, this was without success, as there was no one in the dining room. The lights were off, giving the room an eerie feeling of something staring at him from the darkness.

M:"Beryl? Beryl, where the hell are you!? ...And why the hell did you eat my food without my permission!? Is anyone even here!?" His stomach growled even louder, paired with a heavier feeling of fatigue.

M:"I knew this was a mistake....why didn't anyone tell me I'd feel this way?" He didn't feel like searching other places, and went upstairs again. Talk about lazy! At least I can make myself some food.

M:"Ghh...taking a rest would probably cease the fatigue until someone brings me something..."

But! He heard a voice all of a sudden...It sounded, very familiar.

A:"Cranky because you got told to not skip dinner and you did anyways, are you?"

Mao gasped in surprise and turned around. His hair puffed up a little.

M:"What-? WHO THE HELL IS IN THERE-!?"

A:"Very, I see."

M:"...Y-you're...!"

He turned around, seeing it was him-The book demon, Ayashii, giving the dean a cold stare.

Mao's heart skipped a beat. His sudden appearance made him go weak. He could feel his heart beating faster and faster, and his face seemed to flush quite a little.

A:"So we meet once again, dean."

M:"Ghh...who cares? What the hell are you doing in my room!?"

Aya lifted the flap of his cape, revealing what seems to be food underneath.

A:"Couldn't stand your whining of hunger. Now quit whining, you're stressing me out."

Mao felt his face flush even more. Well, someone did bring him food just like he wanted, but him specifically? The dean put a hand on his face, which was warm.

M:"A-ah...uhm...oh hoh! Someone did bring me a snack, just as I expected. Very well, book demon."

A:"...Eh, whatever. Just take it before I gulp down both meals, I'm pretty hungry as well." Aya sighed, as he handed the dean his part.

Both demons sat at a small table in the room and began to eat. Since it was pretty late, a little past midnight, the snacks were just something light, such as tea and salt crackers.

A:"Didn't expect to see the Evil Academy dean again, and especially in Primp. What is he doing here? He must want something to dissect, I suppose." Aya thought, just a little before giving the word to the dean.

A:"So, what brings you here this time, dean?" Aya asked.

M:"A-ah! Uhm...y-you know, the usual. I'm looking for new specimens to do research on! Oh, and Beryl came too I guess. Hmph, that damn delinquent... Whatever, these "puyos" of your world have caught my interest. What are they made of? Are they acidic? Basic? Is it possible to eat them? What about the fact you can teleport by popping them!" The dean rambled and rambled. He seemed to be very enthusiastic about the subject. Aya only pretended to listen, as he wasn't paying attention to Mao's words in the slightest.

M:"Hah...haaah...just thinking about it makes me so excited!" He slurped.

A:"...Dean." Aya blurted, interrupting Mao's rambling.

M:"...What."

A:"I noticed you have been keeping a hand on your face. Also your cheeks are somewhat flushed. Why is that?"

Mao froze.

A:"I have been seeing you gesture in a strange way and you keep hiding your face a little."

The dean's face went completely red. He couldn't hide it anymore, his heartbeat speeding up.

M:"N-nh...N-NO I'M NOT HIDING MY FACE!!" He yelled, startling Aya.

A:"Damn, don't yell at me!"

M:"Ghh...grrr...just focus on your snacks or get the fuck out of here!"

Aya shushed him, he was getting way too loud.

M:"DON'T SHUSH ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!"

A:"I don't need your permission for what I'm going to say."

M:"W-w-what are you going to say..."

A:"...Your thoughts. I can hear them."

M:"What!?"

Aya's face flushed, and he started gesturing nervously.

M:" What the hell does that mean!? ALSO DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT I'M THINKING WITHOUT MY-!"

A:"Don't yell."

Mao paused, and his heartbeat was racing like crazy. His face was getting sweaty from the tension.

A:"Ahem, dean..." He's making the point left-point right nervous gesture.

M:"What. What the hell is it!? Don't leave me ha-"

A:"I-I'm so glad you feel the same way."

M:"What?"

A:"...I well, have grown feelings for you too."

What was that? Mao never wanted to get swallowed by the ground so bad before. The other demon? Saying he had the same feelings for him? This can't be real, right? This felt like getting pierced in the heart. He fell on his knees, his face redder than a tomato.

M:"......"

A:"...Mao?"

M:"...You're kidding. Y-you're kidding...."

>
A:"What?"

M:"Heheheh...you're kidding. YOU'RE KIDDING RIGHT?"

A:"N-no I'm not...?"

The dean was shaking uncontrollably, getting teary even, his body temperature rising.

A:"Mao are you alright?"

M:".........."

Aya slapped him. He had to go back to his senses, right? We can't have a mao machine breaking in the middle of the fic. (lol)

A:"Snap out of it!"

M:"OW-!"

A:"Sigh...I am not kidding, dean. I-I genuinely like you, like....a-as a partner!"

M:"Nononono you're just trying to fool me, book demon. This isn't like you at all. D-don't think I'm that much of an idiot to fall for it."

A:"...Mao...I-I know this isn't like me but- Ugh...this feeling has been bothering me for a long time!"

Mao hid his face in embarrassment.

A:"Listen, I- E-ever since I met you I saw something particular about you and...I just can't stop thinking about it! A-and I'd like some company after being sealed for so long...B-but don't get the wrong idea, I-!"

M:"Damnit! Now what will everyone think about me?"

A:"Huh?"

M:"How would the others feel about the fact that the dean of Evil Academy has fallen in love with another demon that's not even part of the same universe!?"

A:"T-that's not their problem? We can just keep it secret!"

M:"This isn't right. I-I can't fall in love, I'm one of the purest manifestations of evil!"

A:"You're overthinking it!"

M:"...This is your fault."

A:"What?"

Uh oh. Now both of them were arguing.

M:"This is your fault, damnit!" Mao blurted in distress.

A:"MY fault!? Oh now you're blaming me!?"

M:"If I never met you this wouldn't have happened! It's your fault for getting in my way!"

A:"Well oh I'm sorry Mr. I'm too insecure to confess my feelings, so I act cool to hide it and blame others for my own problems?"

M:"Ghh...s-shut up!!"

A:"..."

M:"J-just shut it fuckface!!!"

A:"So it's gonna be like that, huh. Oh well, too bad. And I thought you were worth something."

M:"...Huh?"
A:"I guess it's my fault for having feelings for someone that is such a weak piece of crap."

M:"What did you just call me."

A:"Sorry, I don't talk to the weak."

Mao was visibly offended by Aya's comment. He didn't hesitate to pull out his weapon in a moment of rage. He couldn't stand it, being called weak? Yikes, what an insult!

M:"You're done for, book demon." The dean quickly ran towards the book demon, swinging the weapon harshly.

M:"AAAAAGHHHH!!!"

The moment he tried to slice the book demon's head off, something suddenly stopped the weapon from doing so. ...It seems to be, his cape? What?

M:"W-what!?"

A:"Better yet, you're the one who's done for." Mao lost grip of his weapon, Aya throwing it across to the other side of the room.

M:"My weapon- ugh!"

He proceeded to approach the dean, but he looked different? You could only see his round glasses all fogged-up, nothing else? What is going on? And...WHY DOES IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A DAMN MONSTER HANGING FROM HIS BACK?

M:"HOW THE HELL!? WHAT'S UP WITH YOU!?"

A:"Wakey wakey, Mao-chaaaaaaan~!" The giant maw behind the book demon charged towards Mao, swallowing him in an instant.

M:"GUWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"

The dean screamed in despair.

................

A:"O-Oh hey, you're awake."

M:"M-mhhhh...H-HUH!? I'M STILL ALIVE!!!"

A:"Of course you're alive, you dummy. You just were dreaming."

M:"Yeah yeah whatev- wait, dreaming!? Since when!? And I- ...When did you turn back to normal?"

A:"Heh...heheh..."

M:"What? What is so damn funny!?"

A:"Hah...hahahahaha!!!" Aya burst out laughing mischievously.

M:"W-WHAT!?"
A:"You should've seen your face in terror!!!! Gahahahaha!!!"

M:"DON'T LAUGH, I ALMOST DIED!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"

A:"Ahahah...ah...stars above that was so damn funny!"

M:"IT WASN'T. YOU WERE THE ONE THAT ATE ME ALIVE!"

A:"There there, now that you're awake, it's over!"

M:"Awake!? Did you drug me or something!? Or are you the one who's drugged!?"

A:"Well...perhaps?" The book demon smirked at him.

M:"WHAT!?"

A:"I have trouble sleeping, so I poured some sleeping powder on my food...and swapped it with yours, on purpose."

M:"You. What."

A:"You know how hard was it to keep myself serious? I just wanted to mess with you. And it worked, hahaha!"

M:"And you were the one who..."

A:"I did mess with your dream! There's no such thing as a monster on my back!"

The dean was pissed. First being called weak, now getting laughed at because of some overboard prank!?

M:"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS YOU BASTA- ...W-wait, where's my weapon."

A:"Oh that? I tripped over it while trying to get here."

M:"A-ah right. I left it in the living room....w-wait, if I know that, how was it on my back a minute ago?"

A:"Didn't want to leave you defenseless. Everything is possible in a dream!"

M:"...You're despicable, book demon."

A:"Thanks, I love you too." Aya flushed and covered his face slightly.

M:"E-eh!?" Mao's face turned red.

"You're still going on with that...having feelings thing?"

A:"You already vented. I'm waiting for an answer, please?" He's once again doing the point-left, point-right gesture.

M:"N-nnghhh...I-I don't know I should say after getting pranked."

A:"Ah well, more crackers~?"

M:"N-N-N-N-NO THANKS. ...Ugh....fine."

Mao got up and walked towards Aya, still feeling a little cranky. This was the moment of truth.

A:"Mao...I-I'm sorry if I went too overboard with that prank."

M:"You better be sorry. Hmph."

A:"Heh, but in all honesty...after being sealed for so long...I've been wanting some company, and ever since I met you I...can't help but feel my heart go round and round when I'm near you...and I wanted to ask if..." Aya's face was beyond flushed, he was hiding his face.

Mao gulped, is he gonna...?

A:"Do you...nnn...d-do you...do you wanna be...ghh..-!"

M:"N-nnngh...Nnnh J-just say it before I force your words out of your mouth!"

A:"D-do you wanna be...my boyfriend?"

Mao didn't know what to say. He finally asked, yes, say yes...his heart said...it's your chance, say yes!

M:"A-ayashii."

A:"Uhm, what is it..."

Mao got closer and held his hands, looking away to avoid any eye contact.

M:"You know what, let's do it. Yes I do want to be your...partner or something just, don't tell anyone. Or look at me. T-this is awkward." Aww, his whole face was so red! ^_^

The book demon's face lightened up. He did it. He accepted. What other thing would you want than your crush accepting you as a partner? This feels like a dream.

A:"T-th...thank you, dean. It means a lot to me that you finally confessed your feelings."

M:"...Whatever, don't get all lovey-dovey now."

Aya chuckled. "Heh...I won't."

It was now around 3am. After finally confessing and all of that mischief, of course they were both worn out. Mao was falling asleep on Aya's shoulder.

A:"Tired now?"

M:"...Ghh...n-no..."

A:"Hm...you don't mind if we sleep together, right?"

M:"Zzz...." No answer whatsoever. The dean is now fully asleep. Hopefully he doesn't have nightmares!

A:"Heh...don't worry, this time I won't mess up with your dreams...I think." He smirked.

Aya proceeded to tuck Mao in his bed, laying down and spooning. He felt so warm...

A:"I never want to let you go...dean." He said as he fell asleep.

Minutes later Beryl entered the room, looking for Mao.

B:"Mao? Are you still awake? Sorry if I took too long, we had a fun game night and-" The delinquent noticed the book demon hugging her rival and smirked. "What is this? I better not interrupt their personal moment." She thought and giggled.

B:"Sig? Can I sleep with you? Mao and his friend are having a moment and I don't wanna interrupt them."

End.