Chapter 277: Warming the Bed
"Hey! Out of the way, let me handle this!"
Satania's fiery voice rang out, filled with the vigor of someone who'd found her moment of glory.
A series of loud bangs and clattering noises followed—thumps, crashes, and a squeaky yelp—until the commotion finally died down. The silence that followed felt almost eerie.
Then Vigne came back, arms crossed over her chest, her face pale as she muttered to herself, "So scary... I almost died..."
Why did such horrifying creatures even exist in this world? Just the moment that cockroach darted out from under the trash, her scalp went numb, her heart nearly stopped, and every cell in her body screamed for escape.
If Satania hadn't heroically slapped it to death with her shoe, Vigne honestly suspected she might've lost her mind entirely—maybe even unleashed a full-blown demonic explosion to level the entire building.
Once she regained her composure, she hurried out of Gabriel's room. Because everyone knew the rule: if you saw one cockroach, there were always more hidden in the shadows. Just imagining one crawling across her body while she slept made her tremble uncontrollably. No way. Never. She'd rather sleep outside on the pavement than risk that nightmare.
By comparison, crashing in Kouya's room suddenly seemed like a perfectly rational and safe choice.
"Ahahaha—"
Satania strutted in behind her, one hand dramatically resting on her forehead, the other on her hip. Her tone dripped with ridiculous pride as she declared:
"Tsk tsk, to personally end the life of such a weak creature... I truly am a woman burdened with sin."
Her smug expression radiated satisfaction, her lips curved into the kind of grin that practically shouted: 'Come on, praise me already! Tell me I'm amazing!'
"Kouya-kun, looks like we'll have to stay in your room tonight. Gabi-chan's room is way too scary," Vigne said, still clutching her chest to calm her pounding heart. "...We should send Rikka home, though? It's getting late."
"Not going." Rikka waved her phone in triumph, her little ahoge bouncing proudly. "I already texted Saint Chef. My sister said it's fine if I stay, since you'll be keeping watch all night to stop Kouya-kun from attacking me."
Kouya: "..."
Even if Vigne didn't keep watch, I still wouldn't attack anyone. What kind of monster do you people think I am?
And seriously, what's supposed to be the thrill in 'sneaking attacks' anyway?
Vigne threw him a sideways glance. "Then you're sleeping on the couch."
"Huh? The couch?!"
It's my room—why am I being kicked to the couch while you all take the bed? Where's the justice in that?!
"You have a problem with that?" Vigne asked sweetly, but her tone carried the authority of divine judgment.
"Of course I do—"
Her cute expression turned deadly serious. "Objection overruled."
At least let me finish my sentence before overruling me!
...
"Well, I don't mind sharing a bed with Kouya-kun," Raphiel chimed in, a teasing smile dancing across her lips. Her tone was innocent, but her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Even if Kouya-kun wants to do... certain things, I guess I could accept that. After all, I did eat his cooking tonight. It's only right to repay kindness with warmth... of the bed kind."
"Pfft—"
What kind of prehistoric logic is that?! Repaying favors by warming beds? And it's summer! Who even needs bed-warming services?!
Raphiel gasped theatrically. "Kouya-kun's gaze is scary... You're not actually planning to sneak into our beds while we're asleep, are you?"
"Death penalty," Vigne declared coldly, eyes narrowing into icy slits.
Kouya's mouth twitched. Abuse of power! Overly harsh sentencing!
Unless someone died from the 'pushing down,' it's not even a capital offense! He'd done his research!
...
Then came the real crisis.
No pajamas.
Gabriel's sleepwear could only fit her. Rikka could barely squeeze into it, but when Raphiel tried, she huffed and groaned in frustration.
"Ugh... too tight around the chest, I can't even breathe..."
The beige Squirtle-print shirt she wore stopped halfway down her torso. The hem failed to cover her belly button, and the Squirtle on her chest looked like it was seconds away from bursting off the fabric.
Gabriel's eye twitched as her angelic patience snapped. "Take. It. Off! Right now!"
Vigne sighed softly. "Maybe we should just sleep in our clothes."
"No way," Satania refused instantly. "Sleeping in day clothes feels gross. It's against bedtime justice!"
Raphiel tapped her chin, then smiled slyly. "Then let's borrow Kouya-kun's shirts. They'll be big enough for us."
"Eh? But... those are boy's clothes..."
"Vigne-chan, you're mistaken!" Raphiel raised one elegant finger like a philosopher unveiling truth.
"In the face of crisis, there is no man or woman—only fabric! Clothes are just threads of cotton or polyester woven by fate. If small, they become women's shirts. If large, men's. Discriminating by size is an insult to textiles everywhere!"
Vigne blinked. "You... actually make that sound logical... but I'm still not listening."
"..."
While the two argued, Satania and Rikka were already rummaging through Kouya's wardrobe like professional thieves.
"As your superior officer, all your possessions are mine!" Satania declared triumphantly.
"Uh-huh!" Rikka nodded enthusiastically.
Watching them pull out neatly folded shirts, Vigne bit her lip. The heat was unbearable tonight, and after all that cleaning and screaming, her clothes were sticking to her skin. Putting the same sweaty outfit back on after bathing would be torture.
She sighed. "Fine. We'll borrow Kouya-kun's shirts. As for underwear, I'll wash mine in Gabi-chan's room and dry it with the hairdryer."
Just then, Satania yelped. "Eh? Why's this shirt shoved all the way in the back?"
Kouya froze. That was the shirt he'd bought earlier today—the couple's shirt he and the fallen angel picked out together.
Gabriel's cheeks flushed pink. She quickly glared at Kouya, her expression screaming: "Say a single word and I'll kill you."
Thankfully, no one asked. They just found it odd that the shirt was hidden away like that.
After everyone picked out their clothes, Raphiel volunteered to shower first.
The bathroom door was half plastic, half frosted glass. You couldn't see clearly inside, but silhouettes—soft and hazy—were visible through the steam.
"No peeking!" Vigne barked, sitting upright across from Kouya, her eyes sharp as a hawk's.
Kouya sighed. "The glass is so thick you can't see a thing."
"Still not allowed! Watch TV instead."
A few minutes later, Raphiel emerged, drying her hair with a towel. She couldn't stay long—others were waiting.
Her damp hair clung to her neck; her porcelain skin glowed faintly pink; faint wisps of steam rose from her shoulders. The oversized shirt she wore, simple as it was, draped over her curves in a dangerously alluring way. The dumpling-print on her chest was stretched to its limits, as if two soft buns were pressing from underneath.
Technically accurate.
The mischievous angel's smile curved gently, her usual composure melting into playful charm.
"I'm done," she sang softly. "If Kouya-kun wants to do this or that as thanks, I won't mind~"
You'd only dare say that now. Try saying it when we're alone and see what happens.
Kouya scoffed. "Next time, come by yourself."
"Hm?" Vigne's head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Kouya immediately looked away, pretending to focus on the TV.
Raphiel stepped near the balcony, switching on the hairdryer. Her long legs gleamed faintly under the light—smooth, slender, and deceptively long. Easily over a meter.
Catching Kouya's gaze, she turned slightly, one hand brushing her damp hair aside, her lips curling into a sly grin.
"Ne, Kouya-kun..." she murmured softly, voice dripping with honeyed mischief. "Are you wondering... whether I'm wearing panties or not?"
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