Succubi Chapter 103. The Hatred Parade
The morning fog had already lifted. Sunlight filtered through the magic-warded trees that lined the academy district path, casting soft golden rays over the cobbled walkways. Birds chirped like nothing demonic ever happened around here.
I saw a squirrel leap past a mana lamppost, land on a mushroom, and immediately scurry away like it remembered student debt was due.
We walked. Some more gracefully than others.
Evelyn walked like a model on a runway made of pride and caffeine.
Rivy stomped like she wanted to punch the sidewalk into submission.
Gladia floated somewhere between skipping and hunting.
Val? Val carried her box like it owed her something and muttered curses at the stock market or whatever rich demons thought about in the morning.
Sera though… she lagged behind for a while.
Then caught up.
And then, right before we got to the main entrance of the academy gates, she stopped me.
"Hmm?" I blinked.
She leaned in.
Quick.
Soft.
Smiling.
And kissed me.
A small smooch. Barely two seconds. A gentle press on the cheek, but it lingered. Just enough to sear itself into my nerves. Just enough to mark me like a proud cat showing off her favorite toy.
"See ya later, Evan~" she chirped, spinning on her heel with all the grace of a lazy ballerina who just drank three espresso shots.
And just like that, Sloth was gone.
Skipping.
Actually skipping into her class with energy that shouldn't belong to someone literally cursed with inertia. She twirled her lunch box, waved at no one in particular, and vanished into the Saint Hall corridor.
I blinked after her, still frozen.
Then I heard it.
The murmurs.
The whispers.
The curses being muttered just barely beneath the range of "school-appropriate language."
I turned my head, slow as doom itself.
Yup.
There they were.
The Hatred Parade.
Mostly upperclassmen. Mostly Titan and Valor dudes. Mostly scowling. Like I'd just walked into a sacred temple, pissed on the altar, and kissed their goddess in front of it.
Because Sera wasn't just anyone.
She was a saint. Third semester. Popular. Powerful. One of the few high-grade healers with a powerful affinity in the entire academy. Everyone loved her.
And she just kissed me like it was casual.
No wonder they looked ready to light me on fire with their eyes.
I exhaled.
"Here we go…"
Evelyn appeared beside me like an emotionally repressed ninja. She didn't say a word. Just patted my shoulder once. Dry. Firm. Like someone offering silent condolences.
Her face didn't change, but her eyes said, "You will live. Not peacefully. But live."
"Thanks," I muttered. "Really comforting."
Then came Leon.
"Yo," he grinned, teeth sharp like always. "I could see the hatred from here. That smooch? Damn, man. Bold."
I gave him a deadpan stare. "You're really not helping."
He shrugged. "Just stating the facts."
"I know," I said, walking forward again. "You don't need to rub salt into the wound."
"Oh, I could make it worse," Evelyn said suddenly.
I turned toward her—and that was when she grabbed my hand.
And.
Shoved it.
Straight between her boobs.
Like it was the most logical follow-up to this entire conversation.
My brain fried.
My spine froze.
Her chest was soft, warm, plush and she was staring at me like I was the one being inappropriate.
But her lips?
Pouted.
The ever-cold Evelyn. The walking embodiment of Envy and emotional constipation. Was pouting.
She looked... cute?
No, adorable.
It was so unexpected that my whole system collapsed. I didn't know if I was supposed to get horny or die from secondhand fluster. Like my brain was split between "oh no, boobs" and "oh no, feelings."
Leon, of course, snorted.
"Tsk. All lovey-dovey in front of me? This is harassment."
"You're just jealous," I said, but I didn't move. I mean… why would I?
Evelyn was still holding my hand. Or more accurately, hugging it. Right there between her boobs. Like she was daring me to say something, daring me to act shy, knowing damn well I wouldn't.
And yeah. I didn't pull away.
Because come on. I'm a man. Why would I reject that?
She didn't let go immediately either. Just stood there with that smug little smile, chest pressed close, eyes watching my face like she was measuring how flustered she could get me before the bell rang.
Eventually… eventually, she released me, slow and casual, like nothing even happened.
"I demand compensation," Leon declared.
I blinked. "What now?"
"Your food," he said, pointing. "Mine."
"Over my dead body."
"So you choose food over friendship?" He put a hand over his heart, mock-offended.
"I choose food," I replied instantly. "Because I know you'd do the same."
He grinned. "Ha! Of course I would. There's no loyalty when garlic rice is involved—"
Evelyn cleared her throat.
Both of us stopped.
Turned.
She deadpanned. "Can we go to class now? You guys are embarrassing me."
I blinked.
Leon blinked.
"…Yeah," I said, smoothing my jacket like I didn't just grope my dormmate in public. "Cool. Totally cool."
We started walking again. Leon still grinning. Evelyn casually brushing her hair back like nothing happened, though I saw the faint flush on her cheeks if I looked from the right angle.
The courtyard buzzed with life as students shuffled into their respective wings.
Titan Hall stood like a fortress, thick walls, combat-scarred practice dummies out front, the scent of iron and mana-heavy sweat lingering around the entrance. Valor Hall gleamed like a proud military outpost. The Saint Hall shimmered with blessing runes etched into the walls, glowing faintly with every student who passed through.
Arcana Hall, my destination, looked… weirdly whimsical in comparison. Floating crystals, soft hums of enchantment, and one of the doors was shaped like a puzzle box that only opened when you touched it with mana.
We reached the fork in the road.
Leon peeled off toward Valor Hall, tossing me a lazy salute. "Don't die today."
"Don't eat someone else's food again, or you will die," I shot back.
He laughed, waving over his shoulder.
Evelyn looked at me, then toward her hall.
She hesitated.
Then leaned in and whispered, "Thanks for not pulling your hand away."
And just like that, she turned and walked away.
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