Chapter 275: Head of the Household
Gabriel was about to refuse, her mouth opening for a sharp retort—but then she froze, a slow realization dawning on her. Wait a second. Why should he get to kiss me, sit there calm and smug, eating melon like nothing ever happened, while I'm left in my room fuming like an idiot? That's just unfair!
The more she thought about it, the more the anger bubbled up inside her chest like a kettle ready to boil over. Her wings twitched slightly from irritation.
Hmph. If he could act like nothing happened, then so could she.
So the lazy angel puffed up her pink cheeks in defiance, slipped into her slippers with an indignant stomp, and marched across the hallway, each step making a sharp slap-slap-slap sound on the floor.
She had changed into an oversized white shirt—clearly not meant for outside wear. The loose fabric swayed slightly as she moved, the hem brushing against her thighs, just long enough to count as a makeshift dress. Her smooth, pale legs gleamed under the light, slender yet soft-looking. With the shirt covering her from above, one couldn't tell if she was wearing shorts or not, and that sense of mystery only made the scene more dangerous.
Once she entered the room, Gabriel didn't hesitate. She went straight for the fridge like it was her own, yanked it open, and took out a bottle of juice. Then she casually opened a drawer, grabbed several snacks, tossed them on the coffee table, and flopped down on the sofa like she owned the place. The next second, the TV clicked on. Cross-legged, controller in hand, she started eating chips while scrolling channels.
Perfect. Step one: empty his snacks. Step two: glare him into submission. Step three: maybe, forgive him later. She nodded inwardly. The most effective punishment was silent domination.
"Gabi-chan, this is… a bit much, isn't it?" Vigne said awkwardly, sweatdrop practically forming on her forehead. Her polite smile trembled.
Watching Gabriel sit there in just an oversized shirt, munching snacks like a queen, Vigne couldn't help but worry. Why did it feel like Gabi-chan had completely claimed Kouya's apartment as her personal lounge? And that outfit—on a girl, in a boy's room, at night? Her heart nearly stopped.
"It's fine. He won't complain," Gabriel said between crunches of chips. Her tone was casual, but her glare wasn't. She turned her golden eyes toward Kouya with a flash of dominance. "Right, Kouya? Say one word and you're dead."
Kouya stared at her, completely done. He wanted to complain—oh, he wanted to—but the look she gave him shut his mouth instantly. He sighed, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "…Eat if you want. I don't eat those anyway."
The faint curl of Gabriel's lips said it all. Victory.
…
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang, echoing through the quiet apartment.
Vigne went to open the door, and standing there was Takanashi Rikka, clutching a food box with both hands like it was a treasure.
"Rikka, good evening," Vigne greeted warmly.
"Good evening," Rikka replied softly, her single visible eye darting past Vigne's shoulder to peek curiously into the room. She immediately spotted Gabriel sprawled out like royalty and blinked twice.
"Come on in," Vigne said with a gentle smile. "Slippers are in the cabinet—take the blue pair, they're clean."
"Oh, okay!" Rikka chirped, quickly slipping off her shoes and switching to the slippers before handing over the food box. "This is from the Saint Chef. He told me to bring it."
Kouya blinked. 'Excuse me?' He was utterly speechless.
'I'm the head of the household here, aren't I? The gift should go to me! Why's she giving it to Vigne?' His internal voice screamed in protest. 'Don't tell me in their eyes Vigne's the real head of the house?!'
Vigne, meanwhile, smiled as she accepted it and carefully opened the lid. The rich scent of sweet beans filled the air. Her eyes brightened. "Dorayaki!"
Dorayaki—two soft, golden pancakes pressed together with smooth, fragrant red bean paste inside. A classic Japanese treat, fluffy and sweet, famous worldwide thanks to a certain blue robotic cat.
"Let's eat them later," Vigne said, setting the box aside with a soft smile. Then she turned to Kouya like she was the boss giving orders. "Since Rikka's here, go grab the watermelon from the fridge."
Kouya sighed inwardly, his title as head of the house dropping another level. 'Why does everyone keep giving her the authority here?'
"Gabi-chan, stop snacking and come eat some melon," Vigne called out. She took a kitchen knife and began slicing the watermelon with smooth, practiced motions. The sound of the blade cutting through the rind filled the air with a refreshing scent.
As she cut, she mused aloud, "By the way, I think watermelon and mantis shrimp can't be eaten together. They can cause stomach pain, right?"
She wasn't wrong. Mixing watermelon with mantis shrimp could lead to digestive problems—stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea. A strange yet true fact. You could ride mantis shrimp into battle, sure, but never eat them with melon.
"And don't even get me started on crabs and persimmons," she added casually. "That combination could actually be fatal."
Rikka tilted her head, watching curiously. "I don't really like watermelon anyway."
"Huh? Why not?" Vigne asked, genuinely surprised. "It's delicious."
Rikka's tone dropped to a soft, almost eerie whisper. "When I was little, I swallowed a watermelon seed by accident. My sister told me it would grow into a little watermelon in my stomach…"
Kouya nearly dropped the plate he was holding. 'Seriously?!'
Even Darwin would be rolling in his grave by now! What kind of logic was that?! What next—plant one in spring, harvest in autumn, like she's a walking melon farm?
Rikka sighed dramatically. "I was terrified for weeks. I wasn't ready to take care of a baby melon. That's why I don't like them anymore."
Vigne pressed a hand to her forehead, at a loss for words. There were so many wrong things with that statement that she didn't even know where to start. She silently took a slice and began eating instead.
"Alright, enough melon. We still have dinner later, so save some room," she finally said, wiping her hands neatly with a napkin.
"Should we invite Satania too?" Rikka asked suddenly, her tone brightening.
"Satania? Hmm, maybe. Not sure if she's eaten yet," Vigne said thoughtfully. "Give her a call, ask if she wants to join. If she does, all the better—I've got something to discuss with her."
After they finished the melon, Vigne turned toward Kouya again. "Come on, time to cook. Didn't you say you're good at it? Perfect chance to prove it."
Kouya rubbed the back of his neck. He was about to mumble that he'd rather just eat, but Gabriel suddenly raised her hand like a student volunteering in class.
"I'll help," she said sweetly.
Vigne blinked. "Wow, Gabi-chan's unusually motivated today."
Kouya's expression twitched. Oh, he knew that tone. He could practically feel the malice under her fake smile.
Help, my foot. She was going to sabotage the kitchen the moment he turned his back. Probably swap sugar and salt, maybe even pour soy sauce into the dessert for laughs. The picture of Gabriel's devilish grin flashed vividly in his mind.
"I'll handle it myself," he said firmly, stepping forward before she could move.
…
Vigne took out an apron, tying it smoothly around her waist. "So, what can you make? Omurice?"
Kouya's eyebrow twitched. 'Really?' The distrust in her tone was loud enough to echo. "Hey, what's with that look? You think that's all I can do?"
"Well, most boys can't cook these days," Vigne teased, giving him a playful glance. "In home ec class, the simplest dish is omurice, after all."
Kouya sighed. "You do realize most top chefs are men, right?" He cleared his throat dramatically. "I can cook just fine, thank you."
At that moment, Rikka peeked through the kitchen door and added innocently, "The hero's noodles are delicious. I've had them before."
Vigne froze mid-motion. "W-What? Noodles… down there?" Her face reddened instantly.
Rikka nodded with a shy look. "Once when my sister wasn't home, I got scared watching a horror movie, so I went to the hero. He made noodles for me."
Kouya almost choked on air. 'Please, for the love of everything holy, explain yourself properly!'
He waved his hands frantically. "It was last Sunday! She came over hungry, so I made soba. Just noodles, nothing weird!"
Rikka nodded solemnly. "They were good… but he added something scary. I thought I was going to die."
Kouya groaned. "It was just tomatoes. You're dramatic."
Vigne's expression turned cloudy again, her suspicion rising like storm clouds.
Desperate to change the subject, Kouya said quickly, "Anyway! Let's cook already. I can make braised pork, mapo tofu, stir-fried vegetables—you name it."
Vigne raised an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine curiosity on her face. "Oh? Impressive."
He grinned and gave her a thumbs up. "There's this thing called YouTube, you know. You watch enough cooking tutorials, and you're basically a chef."
Vigne laughed softly. "Alright, then start by washing the green peppers."
Kouya washed them dutifully. 'Daily quest complete. EXP +10.'
"Now peel the potatoes."
He peeled them.
"And don't forget to pluck the celery leaves."
He sighed. 'I'm supposed to be the head of the household. Why do I feel like an intern? Or worse—the maid!'
…
A little while later, the doorbell rang again.
Satania's energetic voice boomed through the hallway. "Open up! Open up! The Great Satania has arrived!"
Rikka skipped over and opened the door.
There she was—the red-haired idiot herself—wearing a crimson shirt, her hair tied into two playful braids, and shorts that showed off her long, pale legs. Her grin was as big as ever.
She marched in like she owned the world, striking a pose. "Foolish Gabriel! Bow before the might of Satania!"
Gabriel turned her head lazily, gave her a deadpan look, and then turned back to her melon slice in silence.
Satania's smile twitched. She was about to leap into battle when Vigne's calm yet firm voice came from the kitchen:
"Satania, change your shoes first before you step inside."
The would-be demon queen deflated instantly. "Oh… right."
And just as she obeyed, a familiar, cheerful voice floated in from the doorway.
"I'm here too~" Raphael sang with her usual teasing lilt. The black-bellied angel's eyes sparkled with amusement. "My, my, everyone's gathered already. How lovely （*^▽^*)."
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