Shot down. Maou looked back to the grill, the downward flick of his eyes speaking back just as loudly. For once, the Devil King was backing down.

"That home isn't exactly the kinda place for families," he said quietly, idly turning over a piece of intestine. It sounded like an excuse, but it simply felt different there. On Earth, there was less pressure, more opportunity for that sort of closeness to grow.

When they returned, would that closeness fade?

Maou met Urushihara's eyes, expression blunt. "Did you not feel like you belonged?"