Chapter 23: Chapter 22
The atmosphere in the dining room grew incredibly awkward, where Isamu, who was usually cheerful and full of adventurous stories, suddenly fell silent. Even Maria, who was always enthusiastic and cheerful, now hung her head with a blushing face. Mio sensed that something was amiss between the two of them and began to grow suspicious.
Mio picked up a piece of karaage from her plate and then asked, "What's going on with you two? It's unusual to see you so awkward," she said.
Mio's question startled them both at the same time. Isamu turned his face away in embarrassment, while Maria forced a hesitant smile. "Uh--... It's just your imagination, Mio-sama. Isn't that right, Isamu-san?" she asked Isamu.
Isamu's head moved awkwardly as he turned his face forward. "Uh, yeah..." he mumbled. At that moment, the gazes of Isamu and Maria met, causing both of them to blush like tomatoes.
Mio still felt that there was something they were hiding from her as she observed Isamu and Maria's awkward behavior. However, in her mind, she decided to overlook it for now. Perhaps they were just having an unusual day, or something had happened that she wasn't aware of. Mio decided not to pursue further questions and continued breakfast in the slightly awkward atmosphere at their table.
As they were about to leave, Isamu allowed Mio to go first, leaving the two of them alone in the apartment. This action only heightened Mio's suspicion of Isamu and Maria. Isamu mentioned that there was something he needed to discuss with Maria, so he invited Mio to leave first.
Mio looked at them both suspiciously but decided not to dwell on it. She left their apartment. After Mio left, Isamu finally broke the awkwardness that had settled between them.
"D-did... I do it last night?" Isamu asked with a hesitant tone, addressing Maria, who was washing dishes. Isamu was still sitting at the dining table, and the distance between the kitchen and the table was close enough for Maria to hear him, even though he spoke softly.
Maria's movements stopped, and silence hung in the air. She decided to set aside her dishwashing and sat down next to Isamu.
"I'm sorry... I really..." Maria spoke with a guilty tone, and Isamu could hear the tremor in her voice. Isamu looked at her intently as she sat beside him.
"I-I just couldn't... You know, my race is Succubus, and we feed on the vitality of men to survive. But that's an ancient way. Nowadays, we have other means of obtaining a man's vitality without engaging in sexual activity for the sake of our survival. However, even though we've long abandoned that old way, the Succubus instinct for a man's vitality is still very strong. So, last night, I just intended to hug you, but..." Maria rubbed her small hands together a bit forcefully, and something fell onto her hand, wetting it. It was her tears. She covered her face, feeling guilty for making Isamu engage in a sexual act with her.
Isamu listened, sighing deeply. He should have remembered what happened last night, but when he woke up, he didn't even know if he had engaged in a sexual act. Therefore, Isamu's assumption was that his alter ego had taken over his body due to the strong Succubus aroma emitted by Maria accidentally last night, which triggered his alter ego.
"Haah... It's all done now," Isamu thought resignedly, accepting what had occurred.
Isamu then gently wiped away the tears on Maria's cheek using his finger, and Maria's face was revealed beneath the tears that had blurred it. Honestly, Isamu found Maria to be very beautiful in his eyes, even though she had a petite body and the appearance of a child. However, Isamu knew that Maria was actually hundreds of years old, and her current petite form was her own choice; she could transform into an adult form if she wished.
"Hmm...?" Maria was confused by Isamu's actions. Instead of getting angry, he was gently wiping away her tears and smiling kindly at her.
"Maria... Do you love me?" Isamu asked seriously, startling Maria. Isamu's face looked genuinely serious.
"T-that..." Maria was unsure of how to respond to Isamu's question. She pondered on how Isamu appeared to her. Of course, she saw Isamu as a charming, masculine, and handsome man. She also viewed him as a kind and good-hearted man. Despite being a demon, Isamu had never discriminated against or judged her like others had.
Isamu's declaration of love surprised Maria even more, but then she felt warmth inside. She looked into Isamu's sincere eyes and felt that his feelings for her were something real and genuine. Hesitantly, she answered, "I... I love you, Isamu-san."
Isamu smiled broadly, and without any further hesitation, he pulled Maria into his embrace. Their lips met in a gentle kiss filled with deep feelings of love. They felt each other's heartbeats, and in that moment, the world around them seemed to fade away.
The kiss signaled the beginning of something deeper, more precious, and more beautiful between the two of them.
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CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Poponioko
Poponioko I apologise for any delays, as this week my college work has been piling up with short deadlines. In the future, it will be back to normal again.
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Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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