2 Chapter 2 | Mao, the Demon Queen?

Hoji stood at his door, slightly aloof at what had just happened.

"M-Mao?" he replied as she pushed her way past him, walking into his home.

She made her way to his couch and sank into it, getting comfy. Hoji closed the door slowly and turned around, staring at her. It was definitely the same woman, but she was different somehow. He walked over to the opposite of the room from her and stared, not knowing why this woman was in his home all of a sudden.

"So what's it like being God now?" she asked, startling Hoji, "I can't believe that bastard just up and ran away like that."

She folded her arms and sighed, looking back at Hoji, unimpressed with everything about him.

"God?" he finally spoke, "I'm not God."

"I don't have time for two idiots playing games with me Hoji," she snapped.

He took a step back, confused, "How do you know my name?"

"What kind of Demon Lord would I be if I didn't know God's name?" she stood up and walked over to the box on his table.

Nothing was making any sense, God and Demon Lord, it was all non-sense.

"Demon, Lord?" he repeated.

She turned her nose up to him and sighed once more, "Are you a parrot?"

She opened the box, revealing a book that had been inside, tossing it to him. Hoji stared at the cover for a moment and looked back up at her confused.

"Beginner Guide to Being God?" he read.

"That's all the proof you need right there," she said.

He began to thumb through the pages, reading small excerpts from each section randomly. Even more confused as to why she knew all of this.

"Why are you here..." Hoji asked slowly, still very lost on what was happening.

"You're God, I'm the Demon Lord, isn't it obvious?" Mao replied.

There was a long pause and Hoji turned around to walk out of his apartment but was stopped by her.

"You're not already trying to run away from your girlfriend now, are you?" she asked, annoyed already.

"My what?" his voice rose, coming to a full stop.

"Look, he left me high and dry, not even a goodbye," she began to pout, "Leaving me you if he's really gone and handed you everything, that also means that you and I are dating."

"That's...not how this works," Hoji said, wide-eyed and nervous, "Besides I already have a girlfriend, and I don't plan on leaving her."

Mao looked him square in the eyes and stood in silence. It was making him feel uncomfortable, but he couldn't help but continue to stare back at her. She was indeed cute, a lot less intimidating than how she had looked earlier. He also found it very hard to looks away from her, but he kept trying, it was like she was commanding his attention the longer she stared at him.

She pouted once more and folded her arms again, "See, I knew you were god, you aren't even charmed by me! The Demon Lord of all people, any mortal would be entranced by now, but you are standing there looking so stupid!"

"Why were you trying to charm me!" he exclaimed, "I said I am dating someone already!"

Mao scoffed and looked up keeping his eyes closed, "That's fine, I don't mind competition. She's just a mortal, that means nothing."

Hoji began to back up and went to go sit down on his couch. Mao followed after him and sat down as well.

"Look, you're a nice girl and all, but I firstly only met you this morning and I cannot cheat on my girlfriend, much less have you in my apartment still," he said as calmly as possible, "I have work tomorrow morning, so you'll need to leave."

She didn't move at all and stared blankly at him. Hoji moved away from her and she stayed where she sat still, watching him get up and walk toward the door.

"I have nowhere to go," she said.

He hung his head and turned away from the door, "Why? Aren't you a Demon Lord or whatever, do you have some palace?"

She rolled her eyes and turned her back toward him, "That's mighty stereotypical of you to say, but I was staying at the previous God's place, and as I've said multiple times already, he is gone. So all I have is you now."

This was his worst nightmare, having another female in his place that wasn't Kamei. Much worse, another girl who was claiming to be his girlfriend as well and be attractive as well. He leaned his head back and rubbed his neck out of frustration and walked to his room to grab extra blankets and pillows for her.

"Here," he said, "Just for the night, tomorrow you need to find your own place."

She turned around with a big smile and nodded, taking the blankets from Hoji and brought them to the couch. Hoji looked outside, exhausted at the sight of it already being late evening and being so tired from dealing with Mao.

"I'm...gonna go to bed," Hoji said, "grabbing the book that had been in the package and walked to his room, closing the door.

He didn't even wait to hear a response from Mao, he was beyond mentally exhausted and wanted a break from the now ticking time bomb in his living room. He sat in his bed, opening the book again and slowly turned the pages, reading a bit more of what was in the book. It had all kinds of random bits of info, going over what it meant to be god, guiding humanity towards the path of free will, and a little on listening to prayers.

"Hm, nothing really on Mao and Demon Lords," he said to himself, thumbing through more pages, "But this thing is so long, I can't read this tonight.

He closed the book and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, he felt that something was on him. He could still move, but it took a little effort to move his arm and attempt to sit up. He opened his eyes and looked down at his side to find Mao in his bed, only wearing his shirt. He looked at himself and somehow was wearing hers.