Chapter 167: Eat It All
“N-no, that’s not it!”
Startled by Kouya’s piercing stare, the twin-tailed girl flinched like a startled kitten and imdiately ducked behind Raphiel’s back. She peeked timidly over the angel’s shoulder, her twin tails trembling slightly as she stamred out her excuse. “It’s just... just a butler uniform, that’s all!” Her cheeks puffed slightly, eyes shimring with unease yet sohow radiating that irresistible, dumb kind of cuteness that made people sigh in exasperation.
“Hm?” Kouya’s brow lowered, though so of the sharpness faded from his gaze. “Butler uniform?”
“Y-yeah! Like the ones in ani—you know, Black Butler, White Butler, Light Butler...”
'Hold up. The first two I can understand, but what the hell is Light Butler supposed to be?!'
'What’s next—Holy Attribute Butler with built-in divine buffs?!'
Raphiel stepped forward with a composed smile, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “Actually, we called you here to try on the butler outfit. It takes a refined man with charm and confidence to bring out the appeal of such attire. That’s why I recomnded you, Kouya-kun.”
Alice timidly nodded from behind her, twirling a lock of her hair. “Y-yeah, exactly that...” she said in a whisper.
The scheming angel tilted her head thoughtfully, pressing a finger to her lips with a sly sparkle in her eyes. “And as a reward for helping us, I’ll persuade Vigne and Gabi-chan to act as your personal maids for one whole day. Doesn’t that sound fun?”
The imdiate response on Kouya’s tongue—“No”—was strangled halfway out. His jaw tightened, his resolve flickering.
'...Because, damn it, that idea sounded way too appealing.'
He could already picture Vigne in a maid outfit, her calm, gentle air turning alluring with that soft apron and black lace. Even that lazy angel Gabriel—if she actually bothered to put effort into sothing—might look dangerously cute.
'Wait—no! That’s not happening! Neither of them would ever agree to that!'
“Don’t worry, leave everything to ,” Raphiel said confidently, winking playfully and giving him a thumbs-up like so kind of devilish cupid.
Kouya opened his mouth again, about to refuse more firmly this ti—when he suddenly froze. He could feel two pairs of eyes watching him, sharp and unblinking.
He turned toward the window... and sure enough, there were two faces pressed against the glass.
“Stare—”
Yep. That unmistakable red-haired idiot, Satania, and next to her, the ahoge girl herself, Takanashi Rikka.
“It’s Lady Satania and Rikka-chan,” Raphiel chid cheerfully. The words had barely left her lips before her entire body blurred—vanishing from her seat like she had teleported straight outside.
Monts later, the doorbell jingled as two girls stord into the café. Satania’s crimson eyes burned with the fire of righteous betrayal. “You... you actually betrayed and Rikka...!”
'Hey hey hey, what’s with that tone?! You sound like I cheated on you! You’ve definitely got the wrong idea!'
anwhile, Rikka stood silently beside her, cheeks puffed and expression grave, like a child trying to look intimidating. She tilted her head, eyes huge with unspoken confusion. She clearly had no idea what was happening—but she demanded an explanation anyway.
“You were sneaking around eating delicious things without us! That’s totally unfair!” Satania slamd her hands on the table. “Why didn’t you call us too?! We want sweets!”
Kouya: “...”
'...I overestimated your brain cells. My mistake.'
“So what are you all doing here, anyway?” Satania asked as she sat down with dramatic flair, folding her arms.
Raphiel answered smoothly, her voice honey-sweet. “We were just discussing how stunning Kouya-kun would look in a butler uniform.”
“Eh? So the hero is changing equipnt?” Rikka’s eyes widened, her ahoge twitching like it had a life of its own. She leaned forward, both hands clasped behind her back, bending toward Kouya as if she were inspecting a rare artifact. “The hero doesn’t look too happy... which ans...”
'Oh? Are you actually defending for once?'
'Even though she’s delusional, she can be weirdly empathetic sotis...'
“So it must be because the outfit is too plain! Yes, that’s it! For a hero like you, only the legendary Dark Fla Master Set will do!”
'...I take that back completely.'
'Hoping for rationality from this girl is like expecting Gabriel to willingly clean her room.'
“Hero! Hero!” Rikka’s eyes sparkled like stars. “Please sign sothing for ! I want your autograph!”
“You want an autograph?” Kouya said with a grin. “Sure, but lean in a little closer.”
“Eh?” Rikka blinked innocently, completely oblivious to the trap. The next second—
“Waaaah! Ow ow ow! I’m sorry! Don’t pinch my cheeks! I’ll be good, I’ll be good!”
Outside, behind a nearby telephone pole, the long-haired class rep peeked in horror, her heart shattering even further.
'Oh my god... so Kouya-kun isn’t just juggling two girls... he’s handling five?! But a human only has two legs! You’ll sink the ship of friendship like this!'
“I think Lady Satania would look magnificent in a maid outfit,” Raphiel suggested sweetly, clapping her hands together.
“Eh? Really?” Satania blinked, then straightened proudly, chest puffed out. “Well, of course I would! I am the great Lady Satania, after all!”
Raphiel’s smile turned innocent—too innocent. “Then, Lady Satania, would you like to try one on here? Just for fun?”
“Uh...” Satania hesitated. Even an idiot could sense the sinister undercurrent behind that gentle tone.
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell Lady Satania is... afraid?” Raphiel asked sweetly.
Satania shot up from her chair instantly. “Hah! Who’s afraid?! I’ll wear it right now!” she barked proudly, walking straight into the trap with her head held high.
Alice imdiately brightened, shoving aside her half-finished sundae and hopping up. “I’ll take you to the dressing room in the back!” she announced.
Raphiel’s brow lifted as she glanced at the lting dessert. “Alice, you’re not going to finish that?”
“I-I’m full! Too many sweets will make fat!” Alice protested, waving her hands frantically.
'If you knew you couldn’t finish it, why order the largest size possible?!'
Raphiel’s voice softened, her tone carrying a rare note of sincerity. “You should always finish what you start, Alice. Leaving food uneaten isn’t just wasteful—it ans refusing to take responsibility for your own choices. Don’t you agree?”
“Lord Shiraha, you’re amazing...” Alice’s eyes shimred with devotion as she clasped her cheeks. “Then Alice will finish all of it!”
Kouya blinked, montarily caught off guard. He’d never seen Raphiel so serious before. Was she actually... genuine for once?
Raphiel must have noticed his stare. She turned her head slightly, smiling softly as the sunlight spilled through the window. The evening light kissed her pale face, painting her in soft gold and shadow—she looked like a figure from an old painting, beautiful and untouchable.
After finishing her sundae with renewed determination, Alice slamd her spoon down and stood tall. “All done! Let’s go! Dressing room, here we co!”
“Rikka, you’re joining too?” Raphiel asked with a playful lilt.
“Mm.” Rikka nodded gravely, her ahoge waving like a flag of conviction. “Even a servant of the Dark Fla Master must sotis assu disguise to survive in the mundane world...”
'Yeah, right. You don’t even try to blend in!'
As the three girls vanished toward the back, Raphiel stayed behind, tugging lightly at Kouya’s sleeve. Her smile turned calm, her voice dropping low enough that only he could hear. “Kouya-kun... you’ve noticed we’re being followed, right?”
'No kidding! Who else but that long-haired class rep crouching behind the telephone pole like a ninja in plain sight?!'
'She’s been tailing us since the school gate—thinking she’s invisible just because she’s hiding behind a tal pole!'
“That’s your class rep, Machiko, isn’t it?” Raphiel said with quiet amusent, raising a graceful finger to her lips. “Why don’t we... go say hello?”
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