Night fell, cool and serene. Leaning on their respective windowsills, chins resting on their hands, Sora and Mikan were chatting idly.
"Sora-san, I heard from Rito that you're going to another planet to train Lala-san during the vacation. Is that true?" Mikan asked, her hair tied in its usual cute bun style as she tilted her head.
"Yeah… What's wrong? Are you going to miss me while I'm gone, Mikan-chan?" Sora teased with a smile, looking at the gentle and adorable girl across from him.
"Of course. If Sora-san is gone, there won't be anyone to chat with me like this every day. I'll miss you a lot," the girl replied with a playful wink, showing no signs of embarrassment.
Chatting by their windows in the morning and evening had become a tacit understanding, a habit for the two of them. Mikan would never say something like this to any other boy, but Sora was clearly an exception in her heart.
"To be missed by the beautiful and lovely Mikan-chan, I'm truly honored. In that case, if I were to invite you to come with us, would you say yes?" Sora asked, his expression one of feigned honor.
"Hehehe… Sora-san, is this how you charm all the other girls at school? Rito told me you're very popular with them."
"I think I'll pass. If I left, that brother of mine would probably starve to death at home," Mikan giggled, then shook her head. Though the idea of traveling to a mysterious alien planet was tempting, she ultimately declined.
Her useless big brother still didn't even know how to cook for himself. If she left, she couldn't imagine what a pathetic state he would end up in.
"That's a shame… But I don't usually go out of my way to charm girls. Except for you, of course, Mikan-chan," Sora said with a regretful look, followed by a mischievous grin.
"As if I'd believe that," Mikan rolled her eyes, but a clear look of happiness appeared on her face.
"By the way, where's Lala-san? I don't see her," Mikan asked, changing the subject.
"Ahem!"
Sora nearly choked on his own saliva. He had heard that young girls' thoughts jumped around a lot, and now he was experiencing it firsthand. One moment they were talking about going to another planet, and the next she was asking about Lala.
At that moment, Lala was kneeling beneath him, servicing him. Hearing Mikan ask about her from across the way, she made a muffled sound and started to get up to answer. Sora, terrified, quickly pushed her head back down.
"Lala went to take a bath. She should be out soon," he replied, using every ounce of his willpower to maintain a normal smile, feeling like he'd just narrowly avoided a disaster.
"Really? I thought I just heard Lala-san's voice…" Mikan tilted her head, looking suspicious. But seeing Sora's smiling face, which didn't seem like he was lying, she started to doubt herself. Had she just misheard?
Well, whatever. She couldn't figure it out and didn't bother thinking about it anymore. It wasn't important; she had only asked casually.
Seeing that Mikan didn't press the issue, Sora let out a small sigh of relief, feeling the adrenaline from the close call. He glanced down and gave Lala an encouraging and approving look, motioning for her to continue.
"By the way, Mikan-chan, catch."
As if suddenly remembering something, Sora pulled an object from his pocket and tossed it towards Mikan.
"Whoa!"
Surprised by the sudden toss, Mikan fumbled with it a bit before finally catching it. She looked at it closely.
It was a bracelet, a very exquisite and beautiful one. Her eyes lit up, and she fell in love with it at first sight.
"My, my, Sora-san. Giving gifts to girls so casually can easily lead to misunderstandings, you know!"
"Or are you like those creepy old men on the street, trying to lure me away with a pretty bracelet so you can sell me? If that's the case, I'll have to call the police."
She held up the bracelet and smiled at him like a cunning little fox.
"Alright, I confess! I surrender! Please, kind and lovely Mikan-chan, don't call the police. I'm terrified of them."
"I just wanted to express my feelings for you, Mikan-chan. Please accept it," Sora said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender before speaking with feigned sincerity.
"You already have Lala-san, yet you're still hitting on me. You really are a philandering jerk, Sora-san. I refuse!"
Her expression turned cold. She looked away with disdain and rejected him without a moment's hesitation.
The scene fell silent. After a long moment—
"Hehehehe…"
Sora and Mikan broke the silence with simultaneous laughter.
"So, Mr. Playboy Jerk, are you going to explain now?"
"If you don't have a reason that can move me, I won't accept it so easily, even if it's a gift from you, Sora-san," Mikan said, smiling at him with a look of playful anticipation.
"Alright, this bracelet is a transformation bracelet modeled after Lala's Peke. But besides changing into normal clothes, it can also transform into weapons. With this, Mikan-chan won't have to worry about being kidnapped by creepy old men on the street. If anyone tries to grab you, you can just transform a gun or a cannon and blast them!" Sora said, making a fist with a fierce expression.
"Mmm, that's a decent reason, I guess. But it's not enough."
A flash of interest crossed her face, but she feigned indifference, tilting her head up haughtily.
Seeing her deliberately coy act, the corner of Sora's mouth twitched. Give this girl an inch and she'll take a mile!
But—
Tsk, tsk… He liked it.
"I have a disease where if Mikan-chan doesn't accept this bracelet, I'll die. Please, I beg you, take it! Have pity on this poor soul!"
The great demon king clasped his hands together, putting on such a pitiful act that he nearly made himself sick.
I'm really failing as a demon king, he thought. Having to beg a little girl to accept a gift…
"Well, since Sora-san is being so sincere, I suppose I'll make an exception and reluctantly accept it this time."
"Mmm, it's getting late. That's all for tonight."
Putting on a show of reluctance herself, she quickly closed her window without waiting for a reply.
"Just reluctant, is it? My dear Mikan-chan…"
His pitiful expression vanished. Looking at the now-closed window, Sora's lips curved into an endlessly charming smile.
"Sora-san…"
Meanwhile, inside her room, Mikan was leaning against the window, treasuring the transformation bracelet. Her face was filled with a deep blush, and—
Emotion…