Chapter 280: Morning News
Kouya turned and went back to the living room, his steps quiet in the dim light.
The sofa wasn't big—barely enough for one person to stretch out—but it would do. He pulled up the thin blanket and lay down, staring at the ceiling above. The faint ticking of a wall clock filled the silence, yet sleep refused to come.
He had thought today would be another calm, ordinary day. But after school, everything had turned out differently. He'd gone to the mall with the lazy angel next door, bought matching outfits—couple's outfits, of all things—and on the way back, he'd kissed her for the very first time…
Now, as he remembered that fleeting moment, his heart began to beat faster again. The softness of her lips still lingered in his mind. 'A girl's lips are really soft,' he thought, unable to help himself. 'Just like those jelly candies from the supermarket—springy and sweet. You kiss them once, and you just want to kiss them again…'
He rolled over, pulling the blanket closer, then reached for his phone. The screen lit up—already past eleven. He hesitated for a moment before unlocking it and opening the chat with the lazy angel.
"Still playing games?" he typed.
A few seconds passed. Then came the reply—short, sharp, and full of irritation.
"Don't talk to me. You disgust me!"
Kouya couldn't help but smile faintly. That tone—it was so typical of her. If Gabriel were truly mad, she wouldn't even reply. This was her way of pretending not to care while clearly caring too much.
Still, her words stung a little. Was kissing him really that disgusting to her? He remembered she had just eaten ice cream before that kiss, and she hadn't even wiped her mouth. If anything, he should've been the one complaining.
He chuckled under his breath and replied:
"Two negatives make a positive. Next time I kiss you, you'll enjoy it."
From the next apartment, a faint thump echoed—probably her slamming the desk or hitting her keyboard in outrage.
"You dare think there'll be a next time?! I'll blow your head off!"
The angry reply came quickly, followed by an emoji of a bloody dagger. Kouya could almost imagine her face—flushed red, wings twitching, tail bristling like an angry cat.
He leaned back on the sofa, smiling softly. Despite all her complaints, all her lazy habits, her horrible gaming skills, and her constant mooching of snacks, he couldn't bring himself to dislike her. If anything, he'd grown used to her. Maybe even too used to her.
If one day she stopped coming over for snacks, stopped shouting in frustration while playing games, stopped invading his space entirely… he wasn't sure he'd know what to do with himself.
A sudden warmth stirred in his chest. He wanted to be closer to her—to that lazy, mischievous angel who annoyed him more than anyone else yet somehow made his days feel less empty.
"Wanna go see a movie on Sunday?" he sent.
The reply came almost instantly.
"No!"
"There are still so many games to play, so many bosses to defeat, so many guild quests to clear! Who has time to waste watching movies with you?"
So much for that. Another plan shot down in flames.
He sighed and tried again. "Want some snacks?"
This time, she paused before replying: "…Are you sick?"
Kouya frowned. "No."
"Then your head must've been caught in a door."
"…You can't be serious."
He rubbed his temple. "What do you want to eat? I'll buy some tomorrow."
"Don't think you can bribe me with snacks, skins, or in-game items! The sin you committed today deserves at least a hundred years of repentance in hell!"
He sighed. "Forget it, then."
"...Go to hell anyway!" she snapped back.
His expression darkened. "Everything's my fault now? Keep talking like that and I'll kiss you again."
"Bastard!" came her furious response. "Don't think you can sneak attack me twice! From now on, stay three meters away from me, or you're dead!"
"I don't believe you," he replied calmly.
"...Just you wait! Tomorrow, I'll make you regret it!"
Then the chat went silent. She'd probably gone back to her game.
Kouya locked his phone and finally closed his eyes.
Sleep wasn't something he truly needed, but he could rest if he wanted to. Even so, his senses stayed alert, tuned to every sound in the apartment.
He wasn't sure how long it had been when he felt it—a faint presence approaching him, soft footsteps, a hand reaching toward his chest.
His eyes snapped open, and his hand shot out, gripping the intruder's wrist.
"Ah!"
A startled gasp—it was Vigne's voice.
"What are you doing?" Kouya asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sneaking up on me in the middle of the night… were you planning to attack me?"
"Kouya-kun," she said with a sigh, "you're thinking something inappropriate, aren't you?" Her bright eyes narrowed in disapproval.
"That's your imagination." He sat up, expression calm.
Vigne puffed her cheeks slightly. "I just got up to use the bathroom. When I passed by, I saw your blanket had fallen off. I was just trying to pull it back up. Now, let go."
"No," he said simply.
"Eh?"
"Your hand feels nice."
It really did—soft, warm, and silky, like holding a piece of smooth jade. There was even a faint fragrance that made him reluctant to release her.
"Let go!" she hissed, blushing hard. "Or I'll—I'll kick you!"
He stayed silent, his expression saying plainly that he didn't believe her threat.
"Are you going to let go or not?" she pressed.
"Not."
She huffed, cheeks puffed out. "Fine. Then I'll ignore you from now on."
"..."
At that, Kouya quickly released her wrist. She smiled faintly—just for a second—before her face turned serious again.
"I'm going to the bathroom. Go to sleep, okay? …Good night."
The night passed quietly after that.
By seven the next morning, sunlight was spilling over the balcony, painting the room in gold. Vigne was already dressed and out buying ingredients for breakfast at the convenience store. Satania and Rikka were still fast asleep, tangled in their blankets.
Kouya had finished washing up and was watching the morning news when the doorbell suddenly rang.
He opened the door to see a delivery man standing there, holding a small cardboard box.
"Hello, your package."
"A package?" Kouya frowned. "I didn't order anything."
"Check the address," the courier said, scratching his head. "Seems correct, right?"
Kouya glanced down—it was his address indeed. "Yeah… all right." He signed for it anyway.
"Maybe it's something from Chiba Ruri," he murmured to himself on the way back in. "Maybe some sweets again."
He placed the box on the table and opened it carefully. Inside was a beautifully wrapped smaller box. He lifted the lid—and froze.
A piece of translucent black fabric rested inside. Soft, smooth, laced, and faintly warm to the touch. There was even a hint of perfume.
"This… these are panties!"
Who on earth sends panties first thing in the morning?!
What was he supposed to do with them—wear them on his head and transform into some perverted superhero, smashing villains' balls to save the world?!
Yeah, right. That'd just make everyone vomit.
He sighed, massaging his forehead. "Who could've sent these?"
The Miko? Impossible. She'd send sweets or cookies, not… this.
He mentally ran through the people he knew, face twisting with disbelief until a thought struck him.
That loli from the lingerie store yesterday. The one who stared at him weirdly while he was helping Machiko pick out underwear. Her expression had been… off. Suspicious. Very suspicious.
He didn't have proof yet, but she was definitely suspect number one.
He was just about to throw the panties away when the bedroom door creaked open. A sleepy Satania stumbled out, hair messy, rubbing her eyes.
"Servant," she mumbled, blinking, "what's that you're holding?"
"..."
Kouya froze, then said calmly, "Nothing. Just a handkerchief."
He turned aside quickly, slipping the panties into his pocket.
She was half-asleep—surely she hadn't seen clearly.
"Oh." She nodded absently, then turned toward the kitchen. "Vigne! Vigne! The servant just put a girl's panties in his pocket!"
"Pfft—"
Kouya almost choked.
'Are you serious?! You did see!'
He was about to shut her up when she continued, voice cheerful and loud enough for the entire apartment to hear.
"And he said he was gonna use them as a handkerchief to wipe his mouth!"
"..."
Kouya felt his soul leave his body.
You've got to be kidding me. There's no way she's not doing this on purpose.
How much of a pervert did she think he was?! Who in their right mind would use that to wipe their mouth?!
From the kitchen, Vigne peeked out, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Kouya-kun, you…"
"You heard wrong," he said flatly.
"Eh? But Satania just said—"
"She was talking in her sleep," Kouya interrupted with a dark expression. "If you don't believe me, check my pocket. There's nothing there."
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