My Stepmother Is an Ex-Demon Queen-Chapter 36 - 37 – “Of Rumors, Roommates, and Rice Burners”

Chapter 36: Chapter 37 – “Of Rumors, Roommates, and Rice Burners”
🔁 Recap – Chapter 36:
Last time, the aftermath of the school play still lingered like a hormonal aftertaste in Kazuki’s mouth. Having accidentally proposed to Ayaka in front of half the student body (and a few livestreaming parents), Kazuki became the unwilling face of romance gone rogue. Ayaka, ever composed and lethal, agreed to pretend it was just "good acting" — but the blush on her cheeks told a different story.
Meanwhile, Mirelle stirred the pot with gossip so spicy it trended on the school forum, Airi tried to calm things with logic (and light emotional manipulation), and Lilith, Kazuki’s mysterious stepmother-turned-coffee-wielding-terror, continued to haunt his thoughts — and dreams.
Now, rumors are flying, emotions are high, and just when things couldn’t get worse... Kazuki’s parents drop a bombshell.
🌪️ Scene 1: One Bed. Two People. Zero Chill.
Kazuki’s mother had the worst timing.
"So, your room’s under renovation," she said casually over breakfast. "Lilith will be sleeping in your room for the week."
Kazuki nearly choked on his miso soup. "I—I’m sorry, what?"
His stepmother — tall, elegant, with sleep-tousled hair and a dangerously knowing smirk — sipped her tea without a care in the world. "Don’t worry, Kazuki-kun. I promise I don’t snore. Much."
He spun to his mother. "Can’t I sleep on the couch?"
Lilith: "We wouldn’t want your back to suffer. You’ll be staying in the guest room."
Kazuki: "But—!"
Mom: "End of discussion."
That night, Kazuki found himself staring at his old childhood guest bed, wondering if karma had a sense of humor. From the next room over, he could hear Lilith humming softly — some haunting lullaby that made him feel twelve and twenty-five at the same time.
🫧 Scene 2: At School, the Wolves Circle
By the time Kazuki arrived at school, the rumor mill had evolved into a full-blown media circus. A new post appeared on the campus gossip forum:
"KAZUKI-KUN’S MYSTERIOUS WOMAN: WHO IS SHE?"
— Possible sightings at the station!
— Hot, older, and married?!
— Ayaka seen glaring at a cloud for 15 minutes straight!
Even his homeroom teacher whispered, "Lucky boy," before handing him the attendance sheet.
Ayaka, meanwhile, was acting weirder than usual. She didn’t yell at him. She didn’t insult him. She just... handed him a canned coffee and walked off.
Kazuki stared at the can like it had a detonator attached.
"What does it mean?" he asked Airi at lunch.
Airi adjusted her glasses. "It means she’s spiraling. Congratulations."
"Shouldn’t I be worried?"
"Oh, definitely."
🧠 Scene 3: Mirelle’s Chaos Café
That afternoon, Mirelle ambushed him outside the school gates.
"You, me, coffee. You owe me gossip tax."
"What gossip tax?"
She dragged him by the sleeve. "You accidentally proposed to Ice Queen Ayaka, you might have a secret affair with your hot stepmom, and now you’re the main character of my drama fantasy. Pay. Up."
At the café, she leaned in close, twirling a strand of pink hair. "Tell me, Kazuki, who’s winning?"
He blinked. "Winning what?"
"The Harem Games, duh." She gestured theatrically. "Is it Ayaka with her tsundere rage? Airi with her ice-cold brainwashing? Or Lilith with her seductive Dommy Mommy energy?"
Kazuki sank into the chair. "Can I choose ’none of the above’ and just quietly transfer schools?"
Mirelle sipped her bubble tea. "Nope. Too late. You’re the main love interest now. You should’ve thought of that before being so accidentally hot and emotionally available."
🔥 Scene 4: Home, Sweet Emotional Turmoil
That night, Kazuki returned home mentally fried. He opened the door to find Lilith... wearing his hoodie.
She turned, one eyebrow raised. "You left this in the laundry basket. Hope you don’t mind."
It hung off her shoulders in the worst/best way possible. Kazuki short-circuited.
"C-can I have it back?"
She tilted her head. "You want to strip it off me?"
"I—I—NO—I mean—maybe—"
Lilith chuckled. "You’re blushing again. You’re cute when you panic."
He tried to escape to the kitchen. Unfortunately, she followed — barefoot, casual, like this was normal. Like he was the one being weird for not handling domestic stepmother seduction gracefully.
As she handed him a bowl of rice, she said softly, "You know... you’re not the same boy I met a year ago."
Kazuki froze. "Is that a bad thing?"
She smiled. But it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Not necessarily. But you’re starting to look at me like a man."
Silence.
Screaming.
Internal screaming.
💥 Scene 5: Emotional Cliffhanger
Later, alone in his guest bed, Kazuki stared at the ceiling.
His phone buzzed. It was Ayaka.
AYAKA: "We need to talk. Tomorrow. After school. Roof."
Kazuki’s heart thumped.
Another buzz.
LILITH: "Can’t sleep. Want tea?"
He looked at his door.
Two women. Two messages.
Two time bombs.
Kazuki buried his face in the pillow and screamed into the fabric.
🔮 Next Chapter Preview – Chapter 38: "The Rooftop Confession & the Teacup Trap"
Tomorrow isn’t just another school day. It’s the day.
Kazuki’s heart races as he climbs the rooftop stairs — a place sacred in every anime where truths are told, feelings explode, and someone’s dignity usually gets obliterated. Ayaka awaits him, arms folded, hair billowing in the wind like some goddess of passive aggression. Her tone? Unreadable. Her eyes? Dangerous. She says they need to talk — but talk about what?
The accidental proposal? The forum rumors? Or... her actual feelings?
And that’s just the start.
Back at home, Lilith isn’t done playing her mysterious midnight games. A seemingly innocent cup of tea turns into a tension-filled standoff between repressed desire and stepmotherly seduction. As the lines between playfulness and something deeper begin to blur, Kazuki finds himself cornered — again.
With Ayaka preparing to confess something that could change their dynamic forever, and Lilith setting emotional traps in soft candlelight, Kazuki is caught in a game of romantic chess... but he might just be playing checkers.
Can he survive both conversations without combusting?
Will someone finally say what they actually feel?
And most importantly... will he ever get a full night’s sleep again?
Get ready for rooftop drama, spilled tea (literally and emotionally), and a harem war that’s just heating up. 💥💖
💌 Extended Call to Action:
Kazuki’s life is a beautiful mess — and he wouldn’t survive it without you. If you’ve laughed, blushed, or screamed at your screen during this Chapter, I’d be so grateful if you could drop a Power Stone, leave a comment, or add this story to your Library.
Your support fuels every chaotic scene, every romantic near-miss, and every awkward rice-burning moment. ❤️🔥
Don’t leave Kazuki to face his harem alone — he needs back up. So do I. 😉