Chapter 255: Didn't Expect You'd Be Like This…
"If that guy hadn't bullied me on purpose last night, I wouldn't have opened that many loot boxes in a fit of rage!" Gabriel complained, stabbing her chopsticks into her noodles like a martyr of circumstance.
"So, obviously, me going broke is his fault!"
She crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks, the indignation practically glowing around her. "He's responsible for feeding me—pft, no wait! That came out wrong!"
Her mind wandered as she continued grumbling, voice rising dramatically as though reading from a script. "Anyway, cats howling at night, mooncakes with winter melon filling, grilled sausage only costing twenty yen a stick—it's all his fault!"
The lazy angel's logic was incomprehensible, but in her mind, it made perfect sense. With that twisted justification, her conscience lightened. She reached over without hesitation, snatched another shrimp from Kouya's plate, and gave him a smug, sidelong glance that screamed 'what are you gonna do about it?'
Kouya narrowed his eyes. "I get the feeling you're thinking something awful right now…"
"Tch." Gabriel snorted softly. "What are you staring at? You can have some of my noodles if you want."
Who the hell would want your noodles? You've eaten most of that kitsune udon already—am I supposed to drink your leftover broth like a beggar?
Kouya sighed in defeat. To keep her from stealing again, he split half of his meal and pushed it toward her tray. When he looked up, however, he froze. Everyone else around the table was staring at him—eyes shining, chopsticks hovering midair, expressions like hungry wolves smelling fresh meat.
Staaare—
Hey, what's with those stares? You all planning a mutiny or what?
"I want some too!" Satania shouted suddenly, puffing her chest. "No way I'm letting Gabriel eat everything!"
You're seriously competing with her over this? You can't even taste food properly, you flavor-impaired demon!
Kouya rubbed his temples and sighed, ultimately dropping a shrimp into Satania's bowl just to shut her up.
Then—
"My turn!" Raphiel leaned forward with an expectant smile that glittered with mischief.
Kouya gave her a wary look just in time to see the scheming angel tilt her head, part her lips slightly, and utter in a sweet tone, "Ah—"
He froze.
Was she seriously doing the feed me routine right now?
"…Are you a baby bird? Feed yourself," he said, deadpan, dumping the shrimp onto her plate without another glance.
"Shiraha-sama, I'll feed you!" Alice exclaimed suddenly, holding out a piece of beef from her lunch with both hands. The earnest sparkle in her eyes made Raphiel pout, clearly disappointed her little performance failed.
Meanwhile, Rikka, with rice stuck to her cheek, lifted her head. Her ahoge wiggled like an antenna as she copied Raphiel's pose. "Ah— I want to eat the Hero's sacred relic!"
Kouya's face went blank. A shrimp is now a sacred relic? What's next, the divine tuna of prophecy?
He dealt with the chaos as calmly as he could, but then he noticed Vigne watching him from across the table. Her gaze flicked sideways, subtle but deliberate.
He raised an eyebrow. "Pass me your bento."
"It's fine—really—"
Before she could protest, Kouya had already dropped the remaining shrimp into her lunchbox.
Her shoulders tensed. A faint pink spread across her cheeks. "Th-thank you…"
Raphiel, ever the opportunist, chuckled. "Oh my, Vigne-chan, does this mean you'll be making him a love bento to return the favor?"
"A l-love bento?!" Vigne jumped, waving her hands. "W-why would I make something like that?!"
"Because he gave you the most food," Raphiel teased, feigning innocence.
Vigne's voice cracked. "Gabi got more!"
Raphiel just smiled, savoring the awkward tension thickening in the air. Everyone quietly ate after that, though Kouya couldn't shake the strange atmosphere creeping between them.
Moments later, something brushed his shoe under the table. He flinched, glancing down, then up—meeting Vigne's steady gaze.
He frowned slightly, mouthing, What?
Vigne subtly tilted her chin toward Alice.
Kouya followed her line of sight. The blonde sat silently, poking at her food, lips pursed. It hit him instantly. He'd shared food with everyone except her.
Even if she didn't say anything, she must've felt left out.
With an inward sigh, Kouya picked up a piece of chicken cutlet and held it toward her. "Here."
Alice jumped in surprise. "I-I don't want it!"
Kouya began pulling the chopsticks back, but she blurted, "W-wait!" Her face went red. "I mean—I'll try it, just once. Not like I care or anything! So… hurry up already!"
Her hand darted forward to snatch the food, her expression flustered but secretly pleased.
…
After lunch, the group retreated to the clubroom. The afternoon sunlight poured through the windows, warm and drowsy. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, glinting in the golden beams. The faint jingling of wind chimes mixed with the soft hum of summer air.
Satania was already up to her usual antics, waving her sketchbook proudly. "Behold! My masterpiece!"
Raphiel peeked over and almost snorted. Whatever that was, it looked like an eldritch creature rather than art. But her eyes sparkled anyway as she turned to Kouya. "Kouya, draw me too!"
"No."
Her lower lip jutted out. "Unfair! Everyone else got one!"
'Because they're my classmates, not freeloading stalkers,' he thought grimly but stayed silent.
"Pleaseee, just one!" she pleaded, clasping her hands together, batting her lashes dramatically. Even Gabriel looked away in disbelief.
Kouya sighed. "You sure about this?"
"Absolutely," she said sweetly.
"Fine."
Raphiel dragged a chair and sat with exaggerated grace. "Should I stay like this?"
"No need. I already know what to draw." His pencil danced over the paper.
The scratching sounds filled the air. Within minutes, he stopped and turned the sketch around.
Everyone stared.
The Raphiel in the drawing wore cat ears, a maid outfit, and a collar. She knelt on a bed, eyes shimmering with fake tears, the caption beneath reading: 'I have become a…'
Utter silence.
Raphiel blinked, then smiled faintly, cheeks flushing. "I didn't think you were that kind of person, Kouya…"
Vigne's face went crimson. "Wh-what are you even drawing?!"
Satania tilted her head. "Hmm?"
Rikka blurted, "Hero! You've fallen into depravity!"
Gabriel groaned. "Knew it. Total hentai. Execute him at dawn."
Alice slammed her palms on the table. "Shiraha-sama would never wear something like that! You monster! You forced her, didn't you?! Let her go—take me instead!"
Kouya stared at her quietly. Then, without a word, he made a few swift strokes.
Now, the drawing had Alice added beside Raphiel—equally indecent.
The girls screamed in unison.
…
Meanwhile—
Deep underground, in a sprawling metallic facility filled with glowing consoles and humming machinery, a gothic girl with long black hair and a pink umbrella marched into a circular conference room. The polished floor reflected her every step. Around an oval table sat a dozen figures in uniform, their faces hidden in the sterile light.
An elderly man spoke gravely. "Igarashi Ai, report your findings."
Ai yawned. "Nope. Said it already. You people need hearing aids?"
Several of them stiffened but held their tongues. Everyone in the room knew she was toxic to argue with.
A man cleared his throat. "Igarashi, is it possible your ability gave a false reading?"
Ai's lips curled. "False reading? My power doesn't fail. Maybe it's your ears that need calibration. Want me to fix them—with my fist?"
A tense silence followed. Chairs creaked. No one dared respond.
Finally, another voice cut through. "If what you say is accurate—if that being's life force exceeds all measurable levels—then who is he? Why disguise himself as a student? What's his purpose? Can we recruit him to the Order of Truth? Or worse… what if provoked, he destroys everything?"
Ai blinked. "Hold on—what are you people implying?"
The man at the head of the table folded his hands solemnly. "We need more data. Igarashi, the fate of the world rests in your hands. The mission to save humanity is yours."
Ai froze. Then she exploded. "What?! Are you people brain-dead?! We're the villains!"
The old man adjusted his glasses. "No. We are pioneers. Seekers of ultimate truth."
Ai groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Pioneers, huh? You mean 'villains with delusions of grandeur.'"
The old man's vein popped. "Stop calling us villains!"
"Fine, fine," Ai said, smirking. She tapped her umbrella against the floor dramatically. "We're not villains… we're visionaries. With style. So yeah—supervillains with flair."
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