My Stepmother Is an Ex-Demon Queen

🔁 Recap – Chapter 37: Rehearsals and Jealousy Sparks

Previously in Chapter 37, chaos took center stage — literally — as Kazuki was dragged into rehearsals for The Bride of Cherry Blossoms, the school’s upcoming romance play. Ayaka and Kazuki, forced to play romantic leads, fumbled through overly intimate stage directions that made the entire class whisper with glee. Their fake marriage proposal scene almost turned real when Ayaka, thrown off by Kazuki’s genuine delivery, stormed off mid-rehearsal.

Meanwhile, Mirelle and Airi launched a sabotage campaign... through method acting. Mirelle insisted on "improvising" her side character into a love rival and made every line a flirty innuendo aimed at Kazuki. Airi, in full analytical chaos mode, rewrote her script with monologues that exposed Ayaka’s jealousy like an essay thesis.

By the end of the Chapter, Ayaka pulled Kazuki aside and said five chilling words: "Meet me on the rooftop."

Kazuki, dazed, confused, and definitely in over his head, climbed the stairs... and Chapter 37 ended on a massive cliffhanger.

📖 Main Story – The Rooftop Confession & the Teacup Trap

Kazuki’s shoes squeaked against the empty stairwell tiles. Each step up toward the rooftop felt like a countdown. Not to a bomb—but to a confession, or worse... a rejection.

He didn’t even do anything wrong. Well, not anything recent. Unless existing while three girls fought over him counted as a felony now.

When he reached the final door, he paused. The breeze whistled through the crack in the metal. Beyond that door was Ayaka—and the potential end of his already unstable sanity.

"Just breathe," he muttered, pushing the door open.

The rooftop was empty except for one figure standing by the fence.

Ayaka.

Her long hair blew behind her, loose today, cascading over her shoulders like liquid fire. Her arms were crossed, face turned away, but he could tell she knew he was there.

He approached cautiously, like she was a lioness who might bite if startled.

"You came," she said without turning.

"Yeah. You kind of threatened me with your eyes earlier," Kazuki muttered, scratching the back of his head.

"Shut up. This is hard enough already."

Silence.

A seagull flew by.

Then...

"Kazuki... do you like me?"

His brain exploded.

"Wha—LIKE like you? Or like—’I think you’re fun to yell at me every day’—like you?"

"Answer the question."

His mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. Why did this feel like a final exam he never studied for?

"I mean..." he started. "You’re bossy. And scary. And you hate when I breathe too loud in your direction."

"Kazuki."

"But I also think... you’re amazing. Strong. Honest. Even when you’re mean, it’s the kind of mean that makes me want to get better."

She blinked.

His cheeks burned.

She looked away.

And then she muttered—quietly.

"Stupid. That’s not fair."

Kazuki’s heart did a triple flip. Wait. Did she just—?

"You didn’t deny it," he said, suddenly grinning.

"Shut up. I wasn’t finished!"

Ayaka turned to face him fully now, and her eyes—usually sharp and piercing—were soft. Unsteady. Scared.

"I don’t know what I feel exactly. But when I saw that letter... I hated the idea of you giving your heart to someone else. Even if it wasn’t real. Even if it was a prank. It made me feel like... like maybe I already gave you mine without noticing."

"Ayaka..."

She stepped closer. They were only inches apart now. The wind danced between them.

"Don’t make me say it again."

And then, just as their eyes locked—

"KAZUKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

Mirelle burst through the rooftop door like a wrecking ball in lip gloss.

"We’ve got a problem!"

Ayaka spun around, face flushed with fury. "What now?!"

"The teacup. Lilith’s teacup. It’s cursed!"

"What?!" Kazuki and Ayaka said in unison.

Kazuki stared at the sky after Ayaka left him alone on the rooftop. The clouds drifted lazily, painted orange by the setting sun. He touched his chest, right over his heart. It was still thumping like a war drum. Was this... love? Or just panic from nearly being murdered with a glare? Either way, something inside him had shifted. Ayaka had opened a door in his heart—and now, behind that door, chaos, butterflies, and maybe... a hint of happiness swirled. He sighed, dramatically.

"Why can’t this just be a normal school life?"

The wind didn’t answer. It never did.

CUT TO: THE APARTMENT – 1 HOUR LATER

Kazuki sat at the dinner table, trembling.

Lilith placed a porcelain teacup in front of him.

"Here. Drink this."

"You’re not gonna tell me what’s in it?"

"No." She smiled sweetly. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Ayaka was pacing behind him like a bodyguard. Mirelle had barricaded the door. Airi was livestreaming it "for data collection."

Kazuki picked up the teacup.

It smelled like jasmine... and danger.

"What happens if I drink this?"

Lilith leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear.

"You’ll see your true desire."

"And if I don’t drink it?"

"I’ll drink it. And then you’ll see my true desire."

"...I’ll drink it."

He sipped.

Everything went black.

🔮 Next Chapter Preview – Chapter 39: Dreamscape Dilemma

Kazuki wakes up inside his own subconscious — a dream realm shaped by his unspoken desires and suppressed fears.

In this dream world, every girl in his life wears an exaggerated version of her personality. Ayaka is a tsundere empress with her own throne room. Mirelle runs a dating game café where Kazuki is the prize. Airi is an overpowered AI controlling the laws of physics, and Lilith... well, she’s the queen of the realm, sitting on a heart-shaped bed, holding the key to his freedom.

But this isn’t just a fantasy—it’s a test. To wake up, Kazuki must answer a single question:

ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NovᴇlFire(.)nᴇt

"Who do you love the most?"

And if he answers wrong...

He might not wake up at all.

📣 Call to Action – Don’t Just Watch the Drama... Join It!

💥 Things are heating up faster than Kazuki’s heartbeat in a crowded harem argument!

👑 Who do you think he truly loves? Drop your guesses in the comments!

📌 Add this book to your Library so you don’t miss a single sip of cursed tea or rooftop confession!

🔥 If you laughed, blushed, or facepalmed during this Chapter, please leave a Power Stone to help this chaotic love story rise through the ranks!

❤️ More Chapters = more madness, so support and I’ll keep writing!