Chapter 186: Yurine Wins a Big Prize Again!
Ding-a-ling! Ding-a-ling! Ding-a-ling—!
The sharp, crisp ringing of a bell echoed through the department store lobby, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
A staff member in a blue uniform was vigorously shaking a handbell, his voice full of infectious energy. "Whoa—! We have a winner! The grand prize!"
He raised his hand and pointed at Yurine. "Let's congratulate this lucky lady on winning the grand prize: 'A Day Trip to a Private Beach in Okinawa'!"
"Blue seas, blue skies, white sand, and swaying coconut trees—this will be a dreamlike and luxurious experience!"
"Ah... the grand prize is gone?" someone in the line behind them, waiting for their turn to draw, stood on their tiptoes to get a better look, their voice filled with envy.
A few girls passing by paused and looked over, their faces full of admiration. "This is the perfect time of year to go to the beach!"
"Yeah, she's so lucky!"
"..."
In front of the prize draw table, where a single draw was awarded for every 5,000 yen spent.
"Hmm—" Jashin-chan stood with one arm crossed, the other hand pinching her chin, her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she stared at Yurine. "Yurine, did you cheat?" she asked suddenly. "How else do you win the grand prize every single time?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Yurine shot Jashin-chan a sidelong glance and handed the travel voucher to Ryohei Tanaka, who was looking over with curiosity. She turned back to Jashin-chan, puffed out her chest slightly, and said in a perfectly serious tone, "Have you ever considered the possibility that I'm just lucky?"
"Tch—!"
"Dumb luck!"
Jashin-chan was incredibly envious of this luck, but she would never admit it. She made an ugly face and pouted.
Yurine's eyes narrowed, and her expression darkened. The snake-demon was instantly alarmed, the warning sirens in her head blaring—wooo, wooo, wooo—. She quickly and guiltily retreated behind Medusa, who had joined them halfway through, clasped her hands behind her head, and started whistling while looking elsewhere, as if she hadn't said a thing.
"..." Medusa could only offer Yurine an awkward but polite smile.
"Yurine's luck is indeed very good," Ryohei said gently, smoothing things over. Minos, who was carrying a large bag in each hand, nodded vigorously in agreement, adding a chorus of "Yeah, yeahs."
After speaking, Ryohei looked down at the user instructions on the voucher he hadn't finished reading. The travel voucher was valid from August 1st to August 7th. They could choose any day within that period for a one-day trip to the specified private beach.
Looking at the address, it wasn't the same private beach they had visited last time, but it was likely not far from it, in the same general area. I wonder if we'll run into the zombie sisters this time... Ryohei thought to himself.
He then smiled at the Second, who was leaning over with her hands behind her back, almost pressing against him to get a look at the voucher. "This one-day trip voucher can be used from the first to the seventh of next month... Let's all go together!" Ryohei said, looking to Yurine for confirmation.
"Mm," Yurine nodded lightly, a faint smile gracing her lips. Of course, she had no objections. They had all come shopping together, and the prize was won with their collective spending. Naturally, they should all go together.
...
By the time they left the department store, it was nearly eleven o'clock. Ryohei didn't feel like cooking lunch, so he took everyone out to eat. They had sukiyaki—the Kansai-style version, even though they were in Tokyo.
First, the beef was seared until half-cooked, then sugar and sauce were added, followed by vegetables that were left to simmer. The flavor was fantastic. Ryohei enjoyed it immensely, and everyone else ate with great delight.
...
After lunch, the group returned to the villa. Ryohei put away the groceries they had bought at the department store, along with a box of local specialties that Medusa had brought. He then asked Lucoa to open a spatial portal. After a quick word with Yurine, he took her along and stepped through to the corridor on the second floor of the old apartment building.
Returning to the old place didn't evoke any sense of nostalgia. It was scorching hot outside, and Ryohei just wanted to help the two angels move as quickly as possible so he could get back to the air-conditioned villa.
"..."
Poporon and Pekola had already received Ryohei's message and were waiting at their door. Their faces lit up when they saw them and they quickly invited them in.
Once Lucoa opened a portal to the house, the two angels began their move. The entire process took only a few short minutes.
...
"Well, we'll be going now."
In the living room of the house, Ryohei and Yurine handed the keys to Poporon and Pekola, took back the keys to the old apartment, and said their goodbyes.
"Okay~, take care~." Poporon stood in front of the standing air conditioner, waving at them with a look of pure bliss. 'Finally, I can enjoy air conditioning at home!' She was quite moved at that moment, feeling that life was looking up.
Pekola stood beside her with her hands clasped in front, giving a slight bow. "Thank you so much for all your trouble today!" she said gratefully.
"Don't mention it," Ryohei said with a casual wave of his hand, turning to step into the portal Lucoa had opened.
Yurine looked at the two angels and, as if remembering something, said, "Don't forget about the housewarming party tonight. Be sure to come early."
"Okay." Poporon gave an "OK" gesture, and Pekola also acknowledged.
After watching Ryohei and the others leave, the two angels looked at each other and began to discuss who would take which room.
On the other side—
"Mmmph—!"
Back at the villa, Ryohei raised a hand to cover his mouth as he yawned. "I'm a little sleepy..." he mumbled.
"Then you should rest. Go upstairs and take a nap," Yurine suggested, looking at him. As if sleepiness were contagious, she realized she was also feeling a bit drowsy after she spoke.
"Yeah." Ryohei nodded lightly. Ever since he started waking up early to exercise, he had gotten into the habit of taking a short nap in the afternoon. Since there was nothing else to do, he decided to take one.
"Are you going to sleep?" Ryohei asked Yurine casually as he walked towards the elevator.
"I think I will. I'm a little tired too," Yurine replied, her slender legs keeping pace with him.
"Hey, hey? Aren't you going to ask me, Ryohei-kun? Just ignoring me like that?" Lucoa chimed in, following them like a shadow, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "That's cold treatment, you know."
Ryohei was momentarily speechless. He turned to look at her and retorted, "That's cold treatment? What's the criteria for that? Isn't the bar a little low?"
"Besides, you don't need to sleep, do you?"
"No, no, I do sleep sometimes when I'm bored," Lucoa said, lifting the lid of her left eye and gently wiggling her finger.
"Is that so?" The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Ryohei stepped inside, turned around, and asked Lucoa, "Well, do you want to take a nap then?"
Lucoa, the last to enter, casually closed the elevator doors. She turned, cradled her ample bust, and lightly tapped her fair cheek with a finger, tilting her head. "I don't feel sleepy... Right now, I guess you could say that now that I have a place to stay, I'm feeling rather high-spirited."
"..." Ryohei was taken aback for a moment. At that instant, Lucoa seemed exceptionally real, exceptionally close to him.
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