Chapter 63: Tiny Punches on the Chest
"You're still laughing!" Vigne snapped, glaring at Kouya with cheeks that burned a bright pink. Her voice trembled between embarrassment and indignation, her eyes sharp like a cornered cat.
This guy was utterly unbearable! Always smirking, always teasing—why did he find her frustration so amusing?
Kouya coughed lightly, trying to suppress another grin. "How about one more try?"
"I think I'll stop here…" Vigne mumbled, brushing her hair behind her ear in a nervous motion. Her tone softened into resignation. "Maybe I'm just not suited for this kind of game."
Kouya shook his head immediately. "Come on. Try again. You'll feel worse if you quit now."
Vigne hesitated, biting her lip, her pride and shyness warring within her. Finally, she sighed in defeat. "F-fine then. But you—" she jabbed a finger toward him, eyes narrowing. "You are not allowed to laugh this time!"
Kouya raised a hand as if taking an oath. "I won't laugh secretly. If I laugh, it'll be proudly."
"You—! Ugh, fine!" she huffed, tossing another coin into the slot.
The machine blinked to life again. Lights flashed. The claw descended.
And then…
Absolutely nothing.
Once again, the plush fell just short of the chute.
Vigne's shoulders drooped, her mouth tightened, and her cheeks puffed so full that Kouya wondered if she'd explode. Her lips pressed into a tiny pout that screamed, 'don't you dare laugh.'
"Haha—"
"You're laughing again!" she shouted, spinning toward him, her fists balled up as if she might actually hit him this time.
Hey, that wasn't even me!
That stupid laugh clearly came from—
"Ahahaha! Gabriel! Let's settle this once and for all!" Satania's loud, triumphant voice boomed from the next row of claw machines.
Vigne and Kouya turned their heads, blinking at the absurd sight.
Gabriel and Satania had occupied a massive two-player claw machine. One on each side, eyes locked, the air thick with imaginary tension, as though they were dueling swordsmen atop a mountain at sunset.
Yeah, right. The only thing epic here was how delusional Satania looked.
Gabriel looked as unmotivated as ever—slouching, half-asleep, radiating pure laziness. The only thing that could rival her lethargy was Satania's unmatched idiocy.
"Tch, I'm just doing this for fun," Gabriel said, yawning. "I'm not gonna waste energy competing with a clown."
"Hah! You're afraid!" Satania crowed proudly, jabbing a finger toward her. "You've realized you can't defeat the great demon lord Satania!"
Gabriel rolled her eyes. "You sure talk big for someone who always trips over her own plans."
"Silence, foolish angel! Watch closely and witness true demonic might!" Satania slammed a coin into the slot like she was activating a weapon of mass destruction.
The claw descended dramatically.
Then missed.
"T-that doesn't count! My hand slipped!" Satania barked.
Another try.
Missed again.
"It's rigged! I demand a rematch!"
Raphael clapped delicately, her mischievous smile glowing. "Wow, amazing! As expected of the great demon lord. Such bravery in failure!"
"Foolish angel! Stop mocking me!" Satania fumed, her tail twitching in rage.
Finally, after endless bluster, she caught something—a green frog plush, its eyes wide and empty.
"Behold my power!" Satania raised it like a trophy, only to freeze when she saw Gabriel already holding three soft plushies in her arms.
Gabriel smirked. "Oh? You caught one. Cute. The dumb face suits you."
"I—I hate green!" Satania screamed, hurling the frog away dramatically as Raphael giggled mercilessly.
Meanwhile—
Before Kouya could even reach for the joystick, Kanna puffed up her cheeks and stared at him silently. Her large blue eyes gleamed as she raised her small arms toward him.
Uh… what's going on here?
That pose looked suspiciously familiar… like he'd seen it before somewhere.
"Hug," Kanna said, her voice sweet, soft, and so innocent it melted the air around her.
Wait, what?
Did she just say… hug?
Kouya blinked twice, sure he'd misheard.
"Hug hug," she repeated, tilting her head.
WHAT THE HELL.
The blue-eyed dragon—the stoic, distant, 'I'll-fry-you-if-you-touch-me' dragon—was asking for a hug?!
Where had her fearsome pride gone? How had she turned into this adorable, squishy creature in less than a minute?!
Then, as if to clarify, she said, "I want to play the claw machine myself."
Ah. So that's it.
Kouya looked down and realized—yeah, she barely reached the controls. For a dragon in a child's body, the machine was just too tall. Okay, that made sense. Still, why ask him?
He glanced around. "Where's Tohru—?"
Gone.
Not a trace.
Did she wander off somewhere to sulk after losing to that husky plush? Maybe she was in a corner crying over it.
Kouya sighed. "How about Vigne holds you instead?"
Because honestly, if he did it, that would just feel awkward.
"Eh? M-me?" Vigne froze mid-step, then her eyes sparkled with excitement. She immediately tried to flex her arms—though her effort barely moved a muscle. "Don't worry, Kanna-chan! I'll hold you steady as a rock!"
Kanna stared for a moment, then nodded solemnly.
"Th-thank you!" Vigne blurted, cheeks glowing as she rushed forward.
Seriously, what's with that expression? You look like you just received a divine blessing! You're supposed to be a demon, not a worshipper!
Vigne inhaled deeply, pressing a hand over her heart as if to contain her excitement. Then, moving with delicate reverence, she lifted Kanna into her arms.
A soft breeze fluttered through the plaza. Her skirt lifted slightly, revealing smooth thighs above white knee-high socks—
Wait.
Those legs were… thicker than expected.
How did I never notice that before?! She looked slim from afar, but those thighs—what the hell!
"So soft…" Vigne whispered dreamily, her cheeks turning pink as she hugged the little dragon tighter.
Kanna, completely unfazed, focused intently on the joystick in front of her.
And then… failure. Twice in a row.
Even dragons couldn't defy the cruelty of chance.
Kouya chuckled quietly.
Kanna immediately puffed up, glaring. Then she lifted her tiny fists and began punching his stomach again and again.
Since she couldn't reach his chest, the stomach would do.
"Alright, alright. I give up!" Kouya laughed, catching her small hands gently. "Let me try."
He inserted a coin, took a breath, and moved the claw with full concentration.
The claw descended, caught the green pig… and then, at the very last moment, dropped it. The plush rolled lazily back into the pile, its stitched eyes mocking him mercilessly.
Vigne tried not to laugh. Tried.
"Pfft—" Her giggle slipped out, light and musical like a bell.
Oh, great. Even she's laughing now!
Kouya narrowed his eyes. "That was just practice. First attempt doesn't count."
He exhaled sharply, focusing again. His fingers tightened on the controls.
The claw moved once more, glinting in the machine's lights. This time, his aim was perfect—the claw gripped tight, lifted the green pig, and dropped it cleanly into the chute.
The little dragon and the demon girl both gasped in sync.
"Eh?! You actually caught it?!" Vigne said, eyes wide.
Kouya didn't say a word. He simply inserted another coin, calmly operated the next machine, and snagged a round white cat plush with practiced ease. He held it out toward her. "Here."
Vigne blinked, stunned. "F-for me? Why…?"
"You liked it, didn't you?" Kouya said casually.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. He'd noticed. She had been staring at it earlier.
Her fingers brushed the soft fabric as she accepted it, holding the plush close to her chest. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Thank you… really."
Kouya waved it off, pretending not to care, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Then a small tug on his sleeve drew his attention.
Kanna was staring up at him again, clutching her green pig tightly. Her eyes gleamed like polished gems. "I want more."
Kouya sighed, amused. "Alright, alright. Which one this time?"
Kanna turned slowly, pointing at another claw machine a few meters away, her expression dead serious.
"That one," she said simply, her voice as firm as her little fists still balled in determination.