Chapter 67: Kiss!
Seeing everyone staring at her in shock, Gabriel blinked rapidly, confusion flashing in her golden eyes before she finally snapped back to her senses and shouted:
"What are you all looking at!"
The lazy angel hopped backward four or five meters like a startled rabbit, instinctively tried to put distance between herself and Kouya, as though physical space could erase whatever just happened.
Everyone's eyes followed her. Vigne bit her lip, clearly torn between amusement and exasperation. She hesitated a long moment before finally scolding softly, "Gabi-chan, that's not right! Even if it's for the prize, you shouldn't... you really shouldn't do that in public."
"You've got it all wrong!" Gabriel's voice cracked slightly as she waved her hands, cheeks flaring red.
"Then just now you were..." Vigne trailed off, her voice unsure.
"I-I just let him touch my clothes!" Gabriel blurted out in panic, her face practically glowing. "A guy who doesn't even have a girlfriend should be thankful just to touch a girl's clothes, right?!"
Shut up!
Don't make it sound like I'm some desperate creep!
It's not like it was her freshly taken-off, still-warm underwear—no sane man would be into that anyway!
Kouya sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "These days, girls can date each other too. Why don't you try that instead?"
"How can girls be together!" Gabriel protested, stamping her foot. "Everyone else is in male-female pairs!" Still, despite her bluster, she peeked hopefully at the other girls around them.
"I belong to Kobayashi-sama!" Tohru declared proudly, tail swishing behind her as if that ended the discussion. Her tone was so loyal it could have been carved in stone.
Gabriel turned to Vigne, eyes shining in mock pleading.
Vigne crossed her arms. "Gabi-chan, stop joking around."
Raphael chuckled softly but shook her head. "Sorry, I can't help you this time."
Then all eyes turned toward Kanna.
The small dragon looked up at Gabriel, face completely blank, eyes empty of emotion.
Gabriel slumped. "Knew it wouldn't work!" she muttered, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.
From the side, Satania dramatically pointed at herself. "Hey! You forgot to ask me!" She'd been posing for nearly thirty seconds already, and when no one noticed, her grin faltered. "Beg me! Just beg me, and maybe I'll be generous enough to say yes!"
"Nope." Gabriel refused immediately.
"Why not?!"
"Rejected." Gabriel lifted her hand like a traffic officer, her face full of disdain. "You'd just drag me down."
"Baka!!" Satania's scream echoed.
"kouya-Sama, go ahead! It looks really fun," Tohru urged eagerly, tail wagging like an excited puppy. "And I want to see how human couples interact in real life!"
I told you we're not a couple!
If you want to see couples, there are plenty walking around right here—those lovebirds holding hands, radiating their suffocating romance everywhere. Take your pick!
In the end, overwhelmed by their chatter, Kouya could only sigh and agree to check what kind of contest it was. If it was something too indecent, he'd refuse outright.
After asking around, he discovered the rules were absurdly simple—
Each couple would go on stage and receive ten chocolate candies, each slightly bigger than a soybean. They'd stand several meters apart: one person would toss, and the other would have to catch with their mouth. The pair that caught the most would win.
"It's almost time for sign-ups to close, hurry!" Gabriel tugged at Kouya's sleeve, excitement flashing in her eyes.
"Fine," Kouya said with a small smirk. He knew she was dying to get that limited-edition console.
They walked to the registration table together. A staff member smiled at them. "You're entering the contest? Please fill this out first."
After the quick registration, they were handed a numbered badge. Soon, the emcee announced the start of the competition, and laughter and cheers filled the venue.
On stage, one couple after another made a mess of things—chocolates bouncing off noses, rolling on the floor, or missing completely. Watching the chaos, Kouya turned to Gabriel. "I'll throw, you catch."
"Eh? Why me?" Gabriel's eyes went wide. "Why should the girl do that kind of thing!"
So according to her logic, the guy was automatically responsible for everything?
Everyone talks about equality, but reality's full of double standards! Even in school, it's always the boys doing the heavy work!
"You don't agree?" Kouya shrugged nonchalantly. "Then I'll just leave."
Gabriel gasped. "Y-you jerk! Are you threatening me?! You awful human!"
Kouya turned away silently.
After just three steps, he felt a desperate tug on his shirt. Gabriel's voice was small. "Fine, I'll do it!"
Her face was flushed, her pride wounded. "It's just eating, right... Besides, you're so clumsy you'll probably miss half anyway!"
Moments later, they were called to the stage.
The host—an attractive woman with a dazzling smile—offered Gabriel the bag of chocolates. But before she could finish, Kouya reached out and snatched it smoothly. "I'll throw. She eats."
The host blinked, then recovered with professional speed. "Oh my, confident, aren't we? Let's give a warm welcome to this lovely couple!"
The audience cheered, whistling teasingly.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Ready," Kouya replied calmly.
He held up a single chocolate bean, eyeing Gabriel across the stage. Because they couldn't use their hands, Gabriel had no choice but to puff up her cheeks, tilting her head up like an obedient pet awaiting a treat.
"Biu." Kouya flicked his finger sharply, the chocolate slicing through the air.
"Ah woo!" Gabriel reacted instantly, opening her mouth wide and catching it perfectly between her teeth.
The crowd erupted into laughter and applause.
"Excellent! One point for the couple—" the host began, but Kouya didn't stop. He kept flicking chocolates one after another with relentless precision.
"Wait—!" Gabriel squealed, still chewing. The next one came. "Ah woo!"
Another. "Ah woo!"
And another. "Ah woo!"
The rhythm became so fast that the spectators could barely keep up. People were standing now, laughing and cheering, watching the angel struggle heroically.
Kouya's throws became faster, trickier, bouncing off angles, forcing her to lean, twist, and even lunge forward. Gabriel's face grew redder, but she refused to give up—no way she was losing that game console.
By the last few throws, she was panting, hair slightly messy, sweat glistening at her temples. Finally, she dropped to one knee, pounced forward, and caught the last chocolate like a dog chasing a treat.
There she was—Gabriel, the once-diligent angel, half-kneeling with puffed cheeks and a mouth stuffed full of chocolates, glaring up at Kouya. Her voice came out muffled and furious:
"You... big jerk! I'm stuffed already!!!"
The crowd burst into laughter and applause again.
When all pairs finished, it was obvious—Kouya and Gabriel had dominated completely.
"And the winners are Kouya and Gabriel!" the emcee announced. The audience clapped and whistled loudly.
Their prize: the coveted limited-edition game console.
As they climbed back onto the platform, the host greeted them with a bright smile, microphone in hand. "Congratulations! Tell us, how did you two meet? You must be such a loving couple to have such perfect coordination!"
Which part looked perfectly coordinated?! I was clearly bullying her!
Gabriel puffed her cheeks again and glared daggers at Kouya. "Aren't you supposed to just give us the prize? Why all the nosy questions!"
The host laughed awkwardly. She couldn't exactly just hand it over in silence—her job was to entertain!
A host who can't liven up the crowd might as well quit and sell fish!
"Well, since this is a couple-themed event, could you two act a little more... affectionate?" she suggested cautiously.
"Hmph!" Gabriel snorted, taking two quick steps closer.
"Closer..."
She hesitated, then reluctantly reached out and grabbed the corner of Kouya's shirt.
The host smiled nervously and wiped sweat from her forehead. "Um, could you two maybe be... a bit more romantic?"
Gabriel's pout deepened until it looked like she could hang a soy sauce bottle from her lips. "Then what do you want us to do exactly?"
Kouya stood straight, looking calm and smug. Serves you right for teasing me all the time—now it's my turn to enjoy the show.
But before he could savor the moment, the host—perhaps in a rush of desperation—suddenly shouted into the mic:
"Kiss!"