Chapter 68: Kiss, Kiss Me!
"K-k-kiss?!" Satania was the first to scream from below, her twin tails springing up as her face turned crimson. Steam seemed to pour from her head like a kettle boiling over, her mind clearly spinning wild fantasies far beyond reality.
Gabriel froze like a statue, her golden eyes widening before color flooded her cheeks. "There's no way I'm doing that!" she squeaked, trembling faintly from the embarrassment.
The host blinked in surprise. "Aren't you two a couple?"
"Y-yes, we are!" Gabriel blurted, her voice cracking halfway.
"Then isn't kissing normal for a couple?"
"..."
Gabriel's lips parted, but no words came out. Her head felt like it was overheating.
Of course kissing was normal between couples. Even she knew that. The more she thought about it, the more her face burned. Normal, yes—but not this kind of public humiliation! In her mind, images of romantic scenes from the dramas Vigne liked flashed by, and she almost screamed.
Meanwhile, Kouya crossed his arms and sighed. This was turning into a circus.
"So kissing between couples is common sense?" Tohru leaned forward, curious, and somehow pulled a notebook and pen out of nowhere. She bit the pen, her tail swishing as she started taking notes. "I've heard kissing feels really nice... the texture... the warmth... fascinating!"
Gabriel's face went even redder. "Stop writing that down!"
"Wait, could it be that you two aren't really—" The host squinted suspiciously, her professional smile faltering.
"N-no! That's not it!" Gabriel panicked, grabbing Kouya's arm and pressing it against her chest in desperation, her voice rising in pitch. "We really are a couple!"
Kouya blinked, feeling his arm sink into something soft and warm. His brain stopped working for half a second. Then a sharp pain shot up his arm—Gabriel had pinched him hard. Her eyes screamed:
"Say something, idiot!"
"Say what?"
"Anything! Just help me out here! We have to get that prize!"
The host looked between them, both amused and uncertain. "We need a photo for the sponsor's documentation. Since you're the winners, could you two stand closer? Maybe smile more naturally? Don't be shy! There are still couples waiting behind you."
Gabriel bit her lip, clearly torn, but tightened her hold on Kouya's arm. Her heartbeat felt like a drum.
"Isn't that close enough already?" she muttered.
"Not even close!" The host shook her head with the seriousness of a judge. "You don't look like a pair that's just shared victory and love. There's no joy, no spark!"
You're just a host! When did this turn into a romance masterclass?! Kouya thought, speechless.
And what 'shared victory'? It was literally me teasing this lazy angel into obedience!
Gabriel puffed her cheeks and whispered nervously, "What do we do now?"
Kouya shrugged with a smirk. "Up to you."
Gabriel glared at him. That calm face only made her more flustered.
The sun dipped lower, washing the stage in shades of orange and gold. Warm light wrapped around her, softening the lines of her face and hair. Even the audience went quiet for a moment, struck by the sight of the blushing angel glowing in sunset light.
Her small hands tightened around Kouya's arm. Inside, a fierce argument raged between her pride and her greed for that limited-edition console.
She bit her lip. Her voice trembled. "K-kissing isn't even that big of a deal! It's just—just two mouths touching! Like sharing a bottle or... drinking from the same straw! We even did that before with soda in the cafeteria! So it's fine! Totally fine!"
She inhaled sharply, cheeks flushed all the way to her ears. Then she raised her chin, lashes quivering as she rose on her toes and shouted in a tiny but determined voice:
"K-kiss me! All for the sake of cultivation!"
The crowd gasped. Even the host froze mid-smile.
Kouya nearly tripped. For cultivation?! Are you kidding me?! For a game console you're sacrificing your angelic dignity like this?! God's definitely sobbing into his hands right now.
And you just commanded me to kiss you? What am I supposed to be, your servant?!
"I refuse," Kouya said simply.
"Eh?!" The host blinked, stunned. "But—but—"
"We won, right?" Kouya asked calmly.
"Y-yes, you did..."
"And there's no rule saying we have to kiss to claim the prize, is there?"
"N-no, but still—"
Before she could finish, Kouya reached out and snatched the game console from her hands. "Then this is ours, right?"
The host just stared, speechless.
Then laughter exploded from the crowd. Whistles, claps, cheers—it all mixed into one wave of amusement. The tension instantly shattered.
The event's 'couples only' rule was more of a gimmick anyway. Everyone knew people joined as friends, classmates, or random pairs. As long as they didn't announce otherwise, no one cared.
It was an outdoor festival. The atmosphere was lighthearted and forgiving.
"Come on, let's go!" Kouya grabbed Gabriel's hand and pulled her toward the stairs.
She stumbled at first, clutching the console against her chest, before breaking into a grin. The two darted off the stage as the security guards watched them with exasperated smiles. One older guard sighed fondly. "Ah, young love... brings back memories."
...
"We actually got it!" Gabriel gasped, panting slightly. Her face was bright pink from running, but her eyes sparkled with triumph as she hugged the console like a treasure.
"kouya-Sama, why didn't you kiss her?!" Tohru appeared from behind a booth like a ghostly apparition, notebook in hand, eyes shining with disappointment. "I even prepared a section labeled 'human lip-contact rituals' to record every detail!"
Record what, exactly?!
You're an ancient dragon who's lived for centuries—don't tell me you've never seen people kiss before!
If you wanted, your draconic sight could pierce walls! Forget kissing—you could watch live adult content from five buildings away!
Tohru pouted. "I've never really observed it. Besides, aside from Kobayashi-sama, all other humans just look ugly to me."
Shut up!
So in your world, humans come in only two categories—beautiful Kobayashi and everyone else, worthless trash?!
Apologize to the entire human race!
"kouya-Sama." Kanna tugged at his sleeve. The tiny dragon looked up at him, her blue eyes wide and calm. "I want one too."
"Huh? Want what?"
"A kiss."
Kouya almost coughed up blood.
"You're kidding me! You're supposed to care only about snacks, not this! Don't tell me hanging out here's corrupting you!"
Kanna blinked. "Tohru said kissing feels good. I want to know if it's true."
So you want to taste-test kissing now?!
Stop learning about human customs from Tohru! That woman's a walking disaster of half-baked knowledge!
And stop using the word 'feel' when talking about kissing! You're a literal child! If I kissed you, I'd get arrested on the spot!
"Kanna-chan, any boy who tries to kiss you is a pervert," Vigne warned, holding Kanna's hand protectively. Her tone was calm, but her gaze on Kouya could've frozen lava. One wrong move, and she'd probably throw him straight into jail herself.
"As expected of you, Scumbag-kun. You really don't spare even little girls. Truly disgusting," Raphael added smoothly, eyes glinting as she fanned the flames.
Shut it, you devilish sadist!
You're enjoying this way too much!
I'll get you back for this someday!
"Excellent work, my squire!" Satania suddenly cut in, hands on her hips, laughing with self-satisfaction. "That Gabriel was totally humiliated today! As your master, I shall reward you!"
Kouya turned to her slowly, his face unreadable.
Instantly, Satania's smugness cracked. Her face turned crimson as she tried to keep her prideful stance. "W-what are you staring at? I'll give you your reward later!"
"Any reward I want?" Kouya asked dryly. "Then I want you to—"
"Y-you what?!" Satania stammered, tail puffing up. "How dare you speak to your superior like that! I absolutely forbid such insolence!"
"Relax," Kouya said flatly. "All I want is for you to stay far away from me. Spending too much time near idiots is bad for my brain."
Satania froze, then stomped her foot. "BAKAAA!!!"
The others laughed. Even Gabriel cracked a smile, clutching her hard-earned console like a lifeline.
...
Elsewhere, hidden among the crowd, a plain-looking young man lifted his phone to his ear. His tone was calm, but his eyes gleamed coldly.
"Master, I have something to report."
A low voice answered on the other end. "Speak."
The young man quickly explained everything he'd seen.
After a short pause, the voice replied, quiet and firm:
"Well done. Continue your observation."
The man bowed slightly, even though the other couldn't see it. "Understood, sir."