Chapter Text
Saihara met a demon last month.
As all encounters with the supernatural go, Saihara got caught up in quite a storm of bizarre and life-threatening events. He should consider himself fortunate for having survived after crossing paths with a malevolent spirit, but it's hard to appreciate the fact that he's still alive when it means that he has to deal with a demon shadowing his every move. Literally.
From Saihara's shadow splayed on the floor of his bedroom, a childlike figure jumps out.
"Saihara-chaaaaaan!"
The demon wraps his ghostly-white arms tightly around Saihara's ribcage, nuzzling his long, spiky hair into the curve of his neck.
"What is it now...?"
"I've been thinking all day about how warm and squishy and huggable you humans are! You in particular are very huggable, you know?" He squeezes harder and Saihara can feel the air being forced out of his lungs. "You should thank your parents for giving you such a huggable and sexy body."
"I'm not doing that." Saihara tries shaking the demon off to no avail. "Please let go of me, I can't breathe like this..."
"Fiiiine." The demon releases his death grip in exchange for running in circles around Saihara. "Is breathing really all that important?"
"I do enjoy being able to live, yes."
"You know what I would really enjoy right now?"
"No, what is it?"
"A bottle of grape Panta."
Saihara groans. "You just finished the last pack of them yesterday!"
"It was not enough. I must consume more. My thirst is unquenchable. You wouldn't want to anger a demon, would you?"
"If it's you, I don't care."
"S-So mean!"
Saihara isn't sure what he thought of demons before, but he definitely didn't imagine them as needy little assholes that cried about soda. Ever since he let his new companion try a bottle, he seems to have become obsessed with the sugary, man-made product. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd never gotten tangled in this mess, but now that he has, he wants to see things through. Even the little things like this. Besides, it's hard to ignore that cute, pouty face.
"Ok, let's go get some."
"Ah, I knew you'd listen! You're so nice, Saihara-chan!"
"Thanks."
"I will most certainly pay back your kindness!"
"Please don't try robbing my classmates again."
"Nevermind."
The demon sinks back into Saihara's shadow as its possessor grabs his keys and stuffs just enough change in his jean pockets to buy a 6-pack.
"By the way, Ouma-kun..." Saihara mentions as he ties the lace of his shoes. A purple-haired head pops out of his shadow once more.
"Yes, my darling?"
"Maybe it's a bit presumptuous for me to say this, but..." He starts tying the other shoe. "If you're feeling lonely and want a hug, you can just say so. As long as you don't try to crush my ribs, I don't mind."
The demon blinks his wide, glowing eyes. "What makes you think I'm feeling lonely?"
"It's just a hunch, I suppose."
"Hm..."
Saihara observes the way that his eyebrows scrunch together in thought, a slight frown tugging on the demon's pale lips. Even with an expression like that, Saihara can't tell if he's really considering a response or just playing another weird game of his. A game where he pretends to care even a bit about what another foolish human has to say.
"Hunches are ridiculous. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to operate on poorly-constructed assumptions?" He sneers. "You humans do stupid stuff like that all the time. No wonder there's so much senseless violence."
"You don't enjoy that? Watching us humans make fools of ourselves."
"Of course I do! Or maybe I don't... what does your hunch say?" The demon wears a sinister smile, equal parts mocking and encouraging.
Saihara ponders a moment, then settles on smiling back. "I'll let you figure that out on your own."
The demon hums in intrigue before disappearing back into the shadows. Saihara makes his way out to the convenience store, buying his fourth 6-pack of the week. He supposes he'll have to become very familiar with this store very soon. Pet maintainance can be a real pain for his wallet.
Saihara doesn't mind, though. An eternity with the demon known as Ouma is, at the very least, a rare opportunity. At present, it's a delightfully interesting challenge.