There are exactly three reasons why I hate Tuesdays.
First-period calculus with Mr. Sato's voice that sounds like someone boiling socks in a rice cooker.
The cafeteria serves something called "Mystery Egg Surprise" which should be a felony.
My dad got remarried… to a woman who may or may not be the Queen of Hell.
Let's start with number three.
[Scene: Kitchen – Present Day – 6:32 a.m.]
The morning was quiet. Too quiet. Like that creepy stillness before a horror movie jump scare, or when your mom checks your browser history.
I shuffled into the kitchen, half-asleep and fully regretting my existence.
Then I saw her.
Lilith.
My new stepmother.
Standing barefoot in the middle of our cramped Tokyo apartment kitchen, wearing one of Dad's button-down shirts. White. Oversized. Just barely long enough to be legal.
Her skin practically glowed, like it had its own soft light filter. Long black hair curled down her back like a villainess from an anime. And she was staring at the toaster.
"Is it dead?" she asked softly.
"Huh?" I blinked. "It's… a toaster?"
"It offended me," she said flatly. "It dared to insult my eggs."
"What—"
Before I could blink, she raised her hand. Her fingernails shimmered like obsidian. A tiny flame flicked to life on her fingertip.
FWOOOOOSH.
Our toaster exploded into a ball of magical fire. Crumbs rained down like demonic ash. The smoke alarm screamed in terror.
Lilith didn't flinch. She smirked, then casually sipped from a teacup.
I stared at the smoldering ruins of our once-loyal kitchen appliance. "That was… excessive."
"Your mortal technology is insolent," she said with a shrug. "And those eggs were disrespectfully undercooked."
That's when I remembered.
I live with her now.
The woman my dad married last week. The one he met on an "international dating site" that looked suspiciously like it was run by warlocks. She was gorgeous. She was charming. She smelled like lavender and doom.
And—small detail—I'm pretty sure she's a demon.
[Flashback: One Week Ago – The Wedding]
"Dad, are you seriously marrying someone you've known for three weeks?" I whispered.
My father, the ever-optimistic engineer, beamed like he just invented microwaved sushi.
"Son, when you know, you know! Plus, she makes amazing spicy pancakes."
That didn't explain the way birds dropped dead when she walked past them, or how her shadow sometimes had horns.
She wore a black wedding dress that sparkled like a dying star. When she kissed him, I swear I heard Gregorian chanting and a goat scream in the distance.
[Back to Present – Kitchen]
"You can't just incinerate appliances," I muttered, pouring myself cereal. "This is a rental. The landlord's already suspicious about the glowing pentagram in the hallway."
"I was cleansing the threshold," she said sweetly. "So many human germs. And curses. And unpaid Netflix bills."
I sat down, mentally preparing myself for another normal, definitely-not-magical breakfast. Lilith placed a new plate in front of me—perfect sunny-side-up eggs shaped like a smiley face.
"Here, Kazuki. Eat. You'll need strength."
"Strength… for what?"
She leaned in close, red eyes glowing faintly. Her voice dropped to a whisper:
"School."
I nearly choked on my milk.
[Scene: Kazuki's Internal Monologue – On the Way to School]
Okay. Let's summarize.
My dad is blissfully unaware he married a magical being.
My new stepmom is either a demon, an ancient sorceress, or a very committed cosplayer.
She keeps calling me "beloved son," but she says it like she's mocking me in Latin.
And worst of all?
I think she's trying to help.
Yesterday she summoned a floating eyeball to "watch over me" at school. I spent thirty minutes trying to convince my classmates it was a new model of drone. One girl screamed and dropped her bubble tea.
The worst part?
She's hot.
Like, villainess-who-definitely-steps-on-people kind of hot.
And when she calls me "darling," I forget basic math.
[Scene: Later That Night – Kazuki's Bedroom]
KNOCK KNOCK.
"…Who is it?"
"Your loving mother."
I opened the door a crack.
She was standing there in a satin robe, holding a cup of something glowing purple.
"I brewed you a sleep potion. It'll help with your nightmares about the flaming raccoon from last night."
That wasn't a nightmare. That actually happened.
"I'm good, thanks," I said quickly, avoiding eye contact.
She leaned in, whispering just loud enough for me to hear.
"If any imp tries to haunt you, tell them you're under my protection. That should scare them off."
"Imps?"
"Yes. Your school is infested. Honestly, I should come with you tomorrow."
I slammed the door gently but firmly.
Then locked it. Twice.
[Scene: Lilith's POV – Outside the Room]
Lilith smiled to herself.
"He's blushing. That's progress."
She turned and vanished into the hallway, the shadows curling behind her like smoke.
[Scene: Kazuki Lying Awake]
My life used to be normal.
Wake up. Go to school. Pretend to study. Avoid embarrassing nosebleeds when cute girls sat too close.
Now?
Now I live with a former demon queen who thinks school cafeterias are "feeding pits for low-tier goblins."
I have no idea what tomorrow holds.
But something tells me… this is just the beginning.
📢 End of Chapter 1
✅ Call to Action (CTA)
Kazuki's new stepmom just torched their toaster and is casually threatening imps… Should he be worried? Or is he secretly enjoying this chaotic domestic life?
👉 Tap COLLECT and add to your library so you don't miss Chapter 2: "The Demon Queen Enrolls in Parent-Teacher Night."
💬 Leave a comment below: Should Kazuki tell his dad the truth, or enjoy the madness while it lasts?