Please do the poll at the end. Appreciate it!
***
Third Person
Kobeni Higashiyama stood in the hallway outside Makima's apartment.
Her hands clenched so tightly around the strap of her bag that her knuckles had gone pale. She had already walked past the door twice, no, thrice, and yet she couldn't bring herself to leave this place without doing what she was here for.
The nameplate looked normal. Even the hallway around her looked normal…well, as normal as a luxury condo could get. And for once, it felt like the world was at peace.
But to Kobeni…standing in front of that door felt like the exact opposite.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe.
"A-Alright, Kobeni… calm down," she whispered to herself.
"You j-just have to s-say it… confess… and then… run away. You run away r-really fast."
Her gaze darted to the doorbell. To Kobeni, the thought of pressing it felt like pulling a gun's trigger.
But she wasn't a coward anymore!
So she made up her mind.
She raised her trembling finger.
Paused.
Lowered it again.
Then raised it back up.
"P-please don't be home," she whispered, nervously.
And then she pressed it.
Ding Dong.
The sound of the doorbell made her freeze, and she immediately regretted all her life decisions.
She regretted even coming here, and she was already ready to ding-dong-ditch and flee…
…but then she stopped herself.
Her heart rate increases each time the sound of footsteps towards the door becomes more and more clear.
She is here! Thought Kobeni.
The door creaked open slowly. Kobeni's legs started trembling, but she forced herself to calm down.
She stared at the widening gap, and when the door finally opened fully… an extremely hot redhead stood there in casual home attire, wearing a confused expression.
"…Kobeni?" Makima said, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Kobeni flinched. All the courage she had mustered was gone, but she had to hang in there. That's what she kept telling herself.
"M-Miss Makima… I-I'm sorry to bother you. I… I came here on purpose. I have something important to tell you, and… I don't think I can say it unless I'm inside. C-Can I come in?"
Makima tilted her head in genuine confusion. She was truly puzzled. Since when did Kobeni have this much courage..enough to show up here, and say all that to her face?
As far as Makima knew, the timid girl always kept her head down in her presence and obediently carried out her orders… like a good dog.
And yet, the girl standing before her looked like Kobeni, sounded like Kobeni, and even felt like Kobeni.
Everything down to the micro-expressions matched perfectly…
…and still, Makima couldn't help but doubt the authenticity of this girl's identity.
And the fact that she was asking her permission to come in increased her suspicion even further.
So Makima decided to play along.
"…Come in."
Makima stepped inside.
The same meticulously decorated apartment lined with books and paintings came into view. Kobeni also noticed seven Siberian Huskies sprawled peacefully across the carpeted floor, sleeping.
Kobeni walked ahead with her shoes still on, while Makima closed the door behind them with a soft click.
"…Take your shoes off," Makima said simply.
Kobeni jolted. "Y-Yes! Sorry!"
She nervously took off her shoes. While removing one, she nearly tipped over, but she managed to keep her balance. Then she neatly placed her shoes together near the entrance.
Makima watched her for a moment. Then she gestured toward the couch.
"Sit there."
Kobeni followed where Makima pointed and instantly obeyed. She walked into the living room and sat on the very edge of the couch, as if the cushions were electrified.
Makima remained standing for several seconds, watching the timid girl with an unreadable expression. Then she walked over and sat across from Kobeni, her legs crossed.
Makima looked Kobeni in the eyes, causing her to flinch.
"So," Makima said. "What is it?"
Kobeni felt this was her chance. She inhaled sharply, her lips trembling, and opened her mouth…
…but nothing came out.
She was still scared, but she finally decided to go for it.
She squeezed her eyes shut and began speaking.
"I…" she began, her voice cracking from nervousness. "I-I came here because I—because I am in l-love with you! I love you, M-Miss Makima!!"
The already quiet room got quieter.
Makima blinked once, then twice hearing Kobeni's confession.
"…You love me?" she repeated, almost in disbelief.
Kobeni looked down, not having the courage left to meet her eyes. "Y-Yes. I-I know it's stupid. I know I'm stupid. B-But if I don't say it now then I'll… I'll die someday and regret it forever."
Makima's eyes narrowed slightly, out of genuine curiosity.
She had never expected Kobeni to be brave enough to confess to her. It was such a bizarre turn of events that even Makima's mind had to adjust.
"And why do you love me?" Makima continued, her voice calm, almost like an interrogation. She had to know why this timid girl loved her. It was one thing she had no empathy for… perhaps anyone… except one person.
Kobeni dug her nails into her bare knees.
"B-Because you're kind."
Makima paused.
Kind?
Kobeni rushed forward before she could lose any more momentum.
"Y-You're really kind! You… you don't look like it, b-but you are!" she insisted. "Like that time at the 100-yen store… my card got declined and the cashier was staring and I wanted to disappear and you just… paid it. Like it was nothing."
Makima's face didn't change.
But one of her brows lifted, barely.
"…Ah," Makima said quietly. "That was you."
Kobeni nodded furiously. "Y-Yes! And you didn't laugh at me. You just… did it."
Then her voice got smaller than before, as desperation took over.
"And in Kyoto… I thought I was going to die. I really did. A-and I realized… if I die without saying it then… then I'll just be another coward who never even tried."
She swallowed.
"I don't need you to love me back," Kobeni whispered, her eyes shining. "I just… I just want you to notice me."
Her hands tightened.
"Even if it's as your dog," she added quickly. "I'll be a good dog. I-I'll do anything. I just want… your attention."
For the first time, Makima was genuinely lost for words.
She stared at Kobeni in silence, without uttering a single word.
Then she smiled.
"Kobeni," Makima said, her voice gentle. "Raise your head."
Kobeni obeyed and slowly raised her head, staring into Makima's concentric ringed eyes.
Makima held her gaze for a moment before continuing.
"…You're trying very hard. I am impressed," Makima murmured.
Kobeni's breath hitched. "I-I am. I—"
"And you're very brave," Makima continued, as if praising a pet that had learned a new trick.
Kobeni looked like she might actually cry on the spot.
Makima leaned forward slightly.
"But… you're not Kobeni," she added softly.
Kobeni's whole body froze.
Makima's smile deepened by a fraction.
"Kobeni doesn't have it in her to confess to anyone," Makima said, almost fondly. "She is the type to collapse outside the door and apologize to the floor."
Kobeni's lips parted, but no sound came out.
Makima, without a word, got up from her seat and sat beside Kobeni this time.
She took Kobeni's hand affectionately, as if she were holding someone precious.
Then Makima leaned in close, whispering into "Kobeni's" ear like it was a top secret.
"So," she murmured, "stop teasing me…"
Her voice softened even more.
"…Aleks-kun."
For a moment, "Kobeni" didn't move. But then—
"Pff—"
A strangled sound escaped her throat, like she'd tried to hold it in and failed miserably.
"Hahahaahaha.."
"Kobeni" burst into laughter. She laughed like she hadn't had a genuine laugh in years. Her shoulders shook, and one of her hands flew up to cover her mouth but it only made it worse.
Makima watched without blinking.
"…Kobeni?" She called out gently.
"Pff…no way—" "Kobeni" wheezed, breaking into another laugh. "I-I can't… I-I can't do it anymore—"
Then the laughter died.
She drew a deep breath, and then the "timid" posture vanished completely.
The tension in her shoulders loosened. The trembling stopped. Her spine rolled back against the couch, and she spread her arms wide along the couch frame like she owned it.
Makima's smile deepened at the sudden shift. That casualness in her presence… only one person was ever that comfortable around her.
"Show me," she commanded.
"Kobeni" exhaled, and then the illusion peeled away.
The short brown hair bled into platinum blonde, and her eyes followed next, warm brown turning into multi-ringed blue, eerily similar to the devil sitting beside him.
Aleks was back in his true form, done pretending to be Kobeni.
He didn't turn to look at Makima. He only closed his eyes for a moment, as if savoring the silence after the joke.
Makima's gaze sharpened.
For a second, she didn't move. Not because she was shocked…
…but because her instincts were confirming something her logic hadn't caught up to yet.
That familiar presence.
The kind she only remembered from other devils, from her previous world.
It was her Aleks… and it wasn't, at the same time.
And of course, because it had to be—
He was wearing a ridiculous outfit: a Hawaiian aloha shirt and shorts, as if he'd walked out of a summer vacation brochure and into her living room.
And he was smiling.
Not his usual polite smile, but a mean one.
"You're looking different," Makima voiced out the obvious.
He grinned, then slowly turned his head and opened his eyes to look at her.
"Yeah," he said. "You could say that."
Makima, still sitting beside him, on his left, leaned in and gently placed her fingers under his chin, tilting his face just slightly toward her. Her eyes met his again, close enough to read every micro-expression.
"What happened to you in the Aging World?"
His smile twitched, as if forced to recall painful memories.
"I lived and trained for ten years."
Makima already knew the number. Still, hearing it from him made her feel..strange.
Ten years… and he came back like this.
She was glad it was him. Even if he had changed races, he was still hers.
And now, she needed to know one thing before she let herself fully relax.
"What do you think about humans?" she asked, almost casually.
But the question carried immense weight. Devils like her generally didn't have empathy for humans. She didn't care about their lives in a human sense, even if her goal aligned with ending human suffering.
It was a weird contradiction that only made sense in a Makima way.
Devils were devils at the end of the day.
Hurting humans made them feel alive.
Makima was no exception..and now neither Aleks.
Aleks's eyes glinted at her question.
"Humans?" he repeated.
"I wish I could tell you that I don't care about them."
He paused, while his expression sharpened.
"A part of me wants to see humans rise and become the best version of themselves… while a part of me wants to make them suffer until they all die and go extinct."
He leaned back again while bringing Makima closer simply because there wasn't enough space for distance on the couch.
"Though I have to admit…" he continued, voice lower, amused, "I enjoy their suffering more than wanting to see them rise."
"It seems like so much fun."
Makima didn't react right away. She only shifted, slowly, until her head rested against Aleks's chest.
She listened.
The steady thump of his heartbeat beneath that shirt.
Then Makima closed her eyes, lost in the echoes of her lover's heart.
A bright smile spread across her lips.
And tears slipped from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks. She rarely reacted like this, but everything about this felt so surreal like all her patience, all her waiting, all her wishes had finally been answered. Even if things had only turned out like this due to chance.
"This is…" she whispered.
Her voice trembled just slightly.
"…a dream come true."
For a moment, Aleks forgot to blink.
He could feel it, the warm droplets darkening the fabric of his aloha shirt, right over his chest.
He blinked and looked down.
Makima had her head resting against him, with her eyes closed and a faint smile adorning her lips.
The dampness clinging to her lashes caught the light. Aleks couldn't help but be surprised… but he didn't dwell on it any further. A small smile tugged at his mouth anyway.
Seeing her like this made him feel happy.
"To think the Control Devil herself would shed tears for someone…" Aleks murmured, his tone calm. "You've shown me a new side of you yet again, Makima."
His left hand steadied her by the shoulder, while his right gently played with a few strands of her long red hair which were loose and untied.
For a second, Makima didn't reply.
Her smile only widened.
"You should feel honored, Aleks-kun," Makima finally said.
Her eyes opened.
Then she lifted her head from his chest and looked him straight in the eyes, with her expression as gentle as ever.
"Five days," Makima said, almost tender. "That's the longest you've ever been away from me."
Her hands lightly held his, her fingers slowly tracing over the back of his hand.
"Don't do it again."
Then she tilted her head, smiling like no one in the world was capable of disagreeing with her.
"…Welcome home, Aleks-kun."
Aleks stayed silent for a second, letting Makima trace her fingers along the back of his hand.
Then he caught her delicate hands, and turned them over, reversing their positions until she was the one held.
"Makima… do you remember?" Aleks began.
"It's already been a month," he said quietly.
Makima's eyes didn't widen. They rarely ever did.
Instead, her smile curved a fraction deeper, as if she'd been waiting for him to say it.
"Of course it has," Makima replied softly. "I remember."
Then she studied his face like she always did, before continuing.
"Did you become strong… like you wanted?" she asked, even though her tone made it clear she already knew.
Aleks let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"I did," he said.
Then he tilted his head and lifted his eyes to properly meet hers.
"I'm really strong now," Aleks added, confident yet arrogant. "Although… I always have been."
For a heartbeat, Makima simply looked at him. Then she hummed in amusement.
"…Is that so?"
Aleks didn't look away. He knew this was his chance, so he couldn't back down anymore.
He squeezed her hands gently, then leaned a bit forward.
"Let's do it… Makima."
Makima's smile didn't falter. She already knew what he wanted, she just wanted to hear it from him.
"Let's do what?" she asked, sounding confused, even though her tone made it feel otherwise.
Aleks's thumb brushed over her knuckles, and his fingers laced with hers more tightly.
"…Sex," he said simply.
Makima's smile deepened in amusement. She was internally happy that this was really happening.
How long she had waited… waited for someone worthy enough for her.
And as a matter of fact, Makima didn't give herself just to anyone. Not out of petty reasons like shyness or loneliness or anything.
But because she only allowed that kind of intimacy with someone who could stand beside her, someone she could acknowledge as an equal.
And today… Aleks was her equal.
"After ten years," she murmured, almost fondly, "that's what you ask for the moment you come back?"
Aleks's smile turned faint.
"Oh, believe me… sex is a great motivation and very desirable. You have no idea how much I wanted this."
He squeezed her hands in his a little harder than usual.
"Besides, you promised so you better not go back on your word."
Makima's smile didn't change, if anything, it only softened.
"Of course I remember," she said.
Then she laced her fingers with his, their hands fitting together as her gaze stayed on him, unblinking.
"So don't keep yourself starved any longer," Makima whispered. "You have my permission."
At her words, Aleks's breath caught.
Ten years of isolation, without any human contact, without any intimacy. If he hadn't learned Senjutsu and partaken in the art of meditation… he knew he would've gone insane.
And now it was time to do what he had been waiting for.
He swallowed his lingering thoughts and leaned forward. Makima, already knowing what he wanted, brought her face closer too.
And then their lips met.
Their kiss was gentle at first, their lips interlocking with each other… but it didn't stay that way. It slowly turned wild until it fully became a lewd make-out session, with only sloppy kissing sounds echoing throughout the room.
Aleks brought his other arm around Makima to pull her closer, while his other hand remained locked with hers.
He kissed her harder, and his tongue explored every corner of her mouth while Makima let him, accepting it without pulling away as if she was almost encouraging it.
They kept kissing for a while, and Makima eventually wrapped her arms around him, hugging him like she didn't want to let go.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they separated, with their foreheads touching and their faces dangerously close, breaths tangled between them.
Aleks exhaled, still tasting her on his lips. Meanwhile, Makima didn't give him time to breathe.
Her hands slid forward and pulled him into a tight hug, and she buried her face against his neck as her arms locked around him.
For a second, Aleks went still.
Then he hugged her back.
Makima's lips brushed the shell of his ear. And then her voice lowered into a whisper, her voice as soft and warm as ever.
"Don't disappear again," she said softly. "I prefer what belongs to me to remain close."
Her fingers subtly tightened at his back, as she continued.
"From now on, you'll stay by my side..forever."
She pulled back just enough to look up at him with her golden eyes.
"You belong to me now."
Aleks didn't respond. He only looked into her eyes. He could tell… he could tell Makima was being genuine. There was no deceit, no hidden manipulation in her words.
She was showing him her true self, and this time, her face was free of the mask of stoicism she always wore.
And the woman in question just smiled.
"Let's eat a lot together," she continued. "Sleep together…"
Her hands slid up to his cheeks, while her thumbs grazed his skin with slow familiarity.
"…and have a happy life together."
For the first time in a decade… Aleks finally felt something he thought he had lost because of his devilhood—empathy.
Devils like Makima and him, embodiments of a concept, weren't built like normal supernatural beings. They didn't have "souls" in the human sense. They existed as a manifestation of their concept. And if either of them died, they would reincarnate again… but the person who came back wouldn't be them. Their memories and personality would reset like it had never happened.
It was due to his lack of soul that he naturally thought he had lost the capability of feeling empathy.
…but he was proven wrong.
Because right now, with Makima's delicate hands lovingly cupping his cheeks and her warmth against his skin, he felt like everything that had happened to him was well worth it.
Aleks smiled.
"…Makima," he said quietly.
Aleks had made up his mind. He had decided to continue his relationship with her, and it began with telling her his real name.
"There's one more thing," Aleks continued. "Aleks… isn't my real name."
Makima's expression didn't change. She knew Aleks wasn't his real name, and she never asked for his true name. She wanted him to tell her of his own will.
It wouldn't mean much to most people, but to Makima, it made her happy. She was happy he was willing to trust her.
"…Then tell me," she asked.
Aleks held her gaze.
"My real name is Rein."
For a moment, Makima simply looked at him.
Then she tilted her head, and a genuine smile spread on her face.
"…Rein," she repeated softly. "I like the sound of it."
Makima's fingers slid down from his face to his hands, threading through his as if they belonged there.
"Let's not keep each other waiting… Rein,"
***
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Author's Note:
I thought I could crunch everything down into one chapter to end this arc, but I was wrong. There is one more, probably short, chapter about Reze and Rein.
I hope I did a better job in this chapter, because writing Makima in romantic scenes is really hard. I constantly have to think like her while writing these scenes. Plus, I recently had a breakup 😞 so I really hope this turned out well.
I also saw that most of you agreed with the fact that Aleks deserves suffering. I don't mean to offend anyone when I say this but please don't compae him to Subaru. I know he may act like Subaru at times, but he's the last character I want to draw parallels to.
I personally dislike Subaru, so it upsets me when people compare my MC to him. The main reason the MC suffered is because it's my way of giving him challenges before he ascends (he's meant to be challenged).
He may be a loser, and not an aura farmer like Gojo or Sung Jinwoo, but that's exactly why I made him more realistic.
Anyway, here's the poll.
Do you think Makima X MC relationship is healthy compared to other fanfics you have read? And why?
Yes (Yeah? Nothing wrong here.)
No (It's toxic but I love it.)