Chapter 278: Carnivore
"Well, Kouya-kun is a boy after all, so it's only natural he'd be curious," Raphiel said with a giggly, teasing smile, her tone light as a feather. Her fingers toyed with the hem of her shirt. "If Kouya-kun can't sleep without knowing the answer, I can show you... just a peek."
Her voice dripped with deliberate mischief, eyes shimmering with amusement. Slowly, she pinched the fabric between her fingers and began to lift it up, the motion graceful yet unbearably suggestive.
Kouya, lounging lazily on the couch, shifted his gaze sideways with a faint glance. His expression didn't budge.
'Yeah right. If you actually lift that, pigs will be flying and climbing trees next.'
Vigne's reaction was immediate. She flushed from head to toe, waving her hands frantically. "Raphiel, what are you doing!? You can't just— just— do that in front of a boy!"
Raphiel blinked, putting on her best innocent expression. "They say a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. I'm just repaying Kouya-kun for his hospitality, that's all."
Vigne nearly tripped over her own words. "You're not the snail maiden! Repaying favors with your body isn't what decent people do! Just make him lunch next time!"
Raphiel pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. "I was wrong... Promising and then not delivering—letting poor Kouya-kun get his hopes up for nothing. I'm such a bad girl."
Kouya's mouth twitched in disbelief.
'Who the hell got his hopes up? It's just underwear. If I really wanted to see, I'd lift it myself. And she calls me indecent?'
The sly angel lowered her head slightly, eyes full of mock sincerity. "I must apologize right now and beg Kouya-kun's forgiveness..."
And again, she began lifting her shirt higher.
Vigne slapped her forehead. "Raphiel! What are you doing this time!?"
Raphiel answered with the confidence of a philosopher revealing the secrets of the world. "I heard that when apologizing properly, you must expose your chest—it's part of the Apology Basic Law."
Vigne's jaw dropped. "From what depraved country is that 'basic law' from? What about flat-chested girls? Do they just lose the right to apologize?"
Raphiel smiled, tilting her head. "Maybe they can just apologize with extra effort."
Vigne's eye twitched, but before she could continue, she caught sight of Gabriel at the corner of her vision—her mouth twitching, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Vigne hurriedly added, "Gabi-chan, I wasn't talking about you—really!"
But the faint, ominous black aura rising from Gabriel's back said otherwise.
Gabriel muttered in a cold monotone, "Even if it's small... there's still something if I squeeze."
'And there it is,' Kouya thought as the fallen angel was fully engulfed by the sea of resentment.
...
Kouya sank back into the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. Vigne was busy comforting the emotionally wounded Gabriel, who sulked under a blanket like a grumpy cat, while Raphiel sat nearby, giggling behind her hand. The room was a strange blend of chaos and peace.
Still, Kouya's attention drifted. 'Man, Raphiel's chest really is huge. That shirt's about to give up at any second.'
Vigne's purple eyes snapped toward him with the accuracy of a sniper. "Kouya-kun, you're thinking something very rude again, aren't you?"
"Nope. Total illusion." He cleared his throat and tried to sound casual. "Anyway, when are you taking your shower? Remember not to use the hairdryer inside. If you slip like last time—"
Before he could finish, a sharp heel landed on his foot.
Vigne glared down, her cheeks pink. "D-don't bring that up!"
The memory hit them both—the torrential rain, the frantic run for shelter, and the only open place nearby being a love hotel. Nothing had happened, but the mere location was damning enough. If the others ever found out, Vigne would die of embarrassment on the spot.
...
Once Raphiel was done with her bath, she emerged glowing and smug, then passed the towel baton to Takanashi Rikka and Satania, who were already arguing about who should wash first. Somehow, they compromised—by going in together.
Before they disappeared inside, Vigne stopped Rikka with a raised finger. "Rikka, take off your eyepatch."
"Eh?" Rikka froze mid-step. "But if the sealed Wicked King's Eye awakens, disaster will strike!"
Vigne deadpanned. "Your Wicked King's Eye is asleep."
Rikka's mouth fell open. "It... it sleeps too?"
Vigne nodded wisely. "Of course. People sleep, so eyes rest too. Keep your voice down or you'll wake it up. Now take off the eyepatch and the contacts and go shower."
Rikka's face softened with awe. "Oh... I see! I mustn't disturb its slumber!"
Obediently, she removed her gear. Without her eyepatch and purple contacts, the fearsome chuunibyou warrior suddenly turned into a neat, soft-looking girl next door. Then she followed Satania into the bathroom.
When Raphiel showered, only the gentle sound of water could be heard. But with these two? Chaos.
Satania: "Rikka, scrub my back."
Rikka: "Mm. Okay."
Satania: "D-don't touch there, that's ticklish!"
Rikka: "But why is it so big? I didn't even know people could grow that big..."
Vigne's face turned crimson. She quickly turned the TV volume up a few notches.
Satania's muffled voice continued: "Don't worry... Gabi-chan's is smaller than yours anyway..."
A loud crack echoed through the room.
Gabriel, sitting at the desk, had almost shattered her keyboard. Her smile twitched. 'That red-haired idiot must have a death wish.'
Naturally, she restrained herself from charging into the bathroom to deliver a divine punch. Instead, she puffed her cheeks and muttered, "I'm going home."
By now, Vigne and the others were nearly done bathing and getting ready for bed—but Gabriel's night was just beginning.
Sleep? Not happening.
This was prime time for late-night gaming and 'cultivation'—the sacred duty of a fallen angel.
She stood up, snagging two bags of chips from the shelf. "Vigne, keep an eye out tonight. If anyone does something indecent, yell and I'll rush in to save you."
Then she threw Kouya a sideways glance, her eyes narrowing mischievously. "Some herbivores have been getting bold lately—almost turning into disgusting carnivores."
Kouya blinked. "..."
'Hey, don't look at me like that!'
'It was just a kiss, alright? You're the one who said that food dropped under three seconds is still clean! My lips didn't even have time to remember it—so it doesn't count!'
'And carnivores are superior anyway. You think evolution worked this hard for salad? Hell no!'
He sighed and flopped back on the couch, watching the door slam behind the fallen angel.
...
Some minutes later, the bathroom door opened and steam rolled out. Satania and Rikka stepped out together, cheeks pink, hair damp, and smiles innocent. They both wore Kouya's shirts, far too large for their petite frames. On anyone else it might've looked seductive, but on them it was just cute and awkward.
Rikka, especially, looked like a middle schooler caught playing dress-up.
Vigne checked the time—it was past ten. Rain still whispered outside, steady and rhythmic, wrapping the night in a sleepy hum.
She rose, clutching her towel and clothes. "I'll shower next..." she murmured softly.
Honestly, she would've preferred to use Gabriel's bathroom. But everyone knew cockroaches loved warm, damp places like bathrooms and kitchens. If one showed up mid-shower, she'd have a full-on meltdown.
When she disappeared inside, Satania and Rikka, bored, began rummaging around—and soon discovered a forgotten game disc. The redhead's eyes sparkled as she brought it over.
"Officer, why does this girl's face look weird?" she asked, holding up the R-18 disc.
On the cover was a blushing girl halfway between loli and teen, one hand covering her mouth, sweat trickling down her cheek. Her body language screamed tension, fear... and something else entirely.
Kouya kept a straight face. "She's just napping."
Technically true—she was napping. Things just... happened during that nap.
Satania squinted. "But there's a hand behind her."
"It's tucking her in."
'Yeah right. That hand's unbuttoning, not tucking.'
"Then why's she sweating?"
"Because it's hot."
"And why's she clenching her fists like she's scared?"
'Why are you like this? Are you trying to become the god of stupid questions?'
Kouya exhaled, patience breaking. He patted the couch. "Sit here. I'll explain everything."
"Oh, okay!" Satania sat down obediently.
A moment later—
"Owwww! It hurts!"
"Don't pinch there! My ear! It's gonna break!"
"Shut up! It's just your ear, not a glass ornament!"
Kouya held her ear between two fingers, face dark. "Still gonna keep asking?"
Satania whimpered. "N-no... no more questions..."
Her pitiful look would've fooled anyone else, but Kouya wasn't buying it.
Just then, Vigne's soft footsteps approached. She emerged from the bathroom, fresh and glistening from the shower. Gabriel's clothes were too small, so she'd borrowed one of Kouya's oversized shirts instead. It hung loosely around her body like an oversized nightdress, ending just above her knees, revealing long, pale legs that shimmered faintly in the light.
Her cheeks were flushed with warmth and shyness; one hand tugged down the hem of the shirt, the other pressed modestly against her chest. But her eyes—her violet eyes—were filled with sharp judgment.
"So this is what happens when I'm gone," she said coolly. "You bully Satania... looks like someone really is evolving from a harmless herbivore into a full-fledged carnivore."
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