Chapter 286: Gabriel's Weakness
"Kou-nii, help me, please." The pervy loli clasped her hands in front of her chest, her blue eyes shimmering with a faint watery glow as she pretended to be shy. Her tone was sugary, her cheeks flushed a little as she tilted her head up, trying to look as cute as possible. "If you help me, I can even show you my panties... just a peek, okay?"
Shut up!
Who the hell wants to see your panties!? I've still got a pair of black lace panties in my pocket from this morning! Who cares about your stupid cartoon ones with rabbits printed on them!
Maybe it was because of Kouya's sharp, dangerous gaze, but the pervy loli took a timid step back, her small fingers fidgeting nervously with her skirt, her little face turning crimson as she muttered under her breath:
"Kou-nii, th-that's not okay. At least wait until I'm in high school... okay?"
What the hell!?
You're definitely imagining something perverted right now!
Just how messed up would I have to be to even think about touching this flat-chested, expressionless little gremlin of a grade-schooler!? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
He turned away, rubbing his temples, trying to calm himself down while the pervy loli peeked up at him with a sly smile, clearly pleased she got a reaction out of him.
...
Half an hour later.
The Miko-san's calm and melodic voice came from the kitchen. "Lunch is ready!"
The sound of clattering dishes followed. Moments later, the two maid lolis trotted out, their small footsteps tapping lightly on the floor as they carefully carried the meal trays.
"Wow! All my favorites!" Hinata's eyes shone like stars as she reached for a piece of food, but before her fingers could touch it, a firm flick landed on her forehead.
"Go wash your hands first," the Miko-san said with a faint smile, her eyes narrowing in mock annoyance.
Hinata pouted adorably. "But everything you make smells so good, onee-sama! I couldn't help it!"
"You still have to wash your hands first." The Miko-san gave a small huff, her expression softening as she pointed to the dishes. "Kou-kun, these were made by Ai and Natsu. Try them. They worked very hard."
Kouya glanced at the plates. Stir-fried cabbage, bamboo shoots, and shredded potatoes with green peppers... all perfectly cooked, the colors bright and balanced. But still—why all vegetarian!
Rabbits eat vegetables, sure, but a rabbit youkai doesn't have to!
You spend years cultivating spiritual energy, fighting monsters, transcending human limits—only to end up eating stir-fried vegetables every day!? That's tragic!
Still, the flavor wasn't bad. The aroma of garlic mixed with the steam, filling the small shrine with a simple warmth that made the air feel homey.
After a cozy, peaceful lunch, the two little maids began clearing the dishes in perfect coordination, humming softly as they worked.
The Miko-san picked up the tea set next, moving with grace that seemed almost divine. She began brewing tea with quiet focus.
Her red-and-white shrine maiden outfit draped elegantly, her long black hair like silk cascading over her shoulders. The light from the paper windows made her skin glow faintly, emphasizing the fine blue veins on the back of her delicate hand.
When she lifted the teapot, the scent of tea leaves drifted through the air. The clear amber liquid poured smoothly, steam curling upward in thin, beautiful wisps. It was a scene that could calm anyone's heart.
Compared to the rush of the city, the shrine felt like a world apart—quiet, slow, timeless. Even the wind outside moved gently, as if respecting the peace within.
The sky was a flawless blue, like a lake surface reflecting the world's purity. White clouds drifted, the sound of birds faintly echoing from afar.
Kouya sat with the Miko-san on the sofa, the scent of tea mingling with her faint floral perfume. They sipped slowly, each breath unhurried. The moment felt endless, as if it could last forever.
By the time he realized it, the sun had already started to set, the light spilling gold through the paper screens.
Kouya stood, gave a polite nod, and prepared to leave.
At the train station, the warm hum of the departing trains filled the air. But instead of boarding, Kouya turned around and headed in the opposite direction, following a quiet residential street lined with trees.
Soon, he stopped in front of a modest two-story house.
He glanced at the nameplate. "Izumi." Perfect.
He pressed the doorbell and waited, hands in his pockets, eyes calm.
Footsteps echoed from inside, and a boy in a white shirt opened the door. He blinked in surprise. "Uh... can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Eromanga-sensei," Kouya said evenly.
The boy's face froze for a second. "Eromanga-sensei...? Uh, may I ask what this is about?"
"Do you know Chiba Hinata?"
"Yeah, I do." The boy nodded. "She came over last week with Megumi, right? She really seemed to look up to my sister..."
His words trailed off. His face went pale. "Ah—crap, I said too much!"
Kouya raised a brow but said nothing. He handed the boy a paper bag. "She drew this manga. She's grounded by her sister and can't go out, so she asked me to deliver it to Eromanga-sensei for feedback."
The boy exhaled in relief, taking the bag with both hands. "Understood. I'll give it to her."
"Good." Kouya nodded, then turned to leave without looking back.
As he stepped off the porch, he suddenly felt eyes on him.
He looked up. The second-floor curtain trembled slightly, and a small white-haired figure darted away from the window.
That girl... so that's Eromanga-sensei?
She looked timid—almost scared—but her eyes had that faint spark of curiosity.
Anyone who draws erotic manga can't be that innocent. No way. You'd have to have a certain kind of mental fortitude to study other artists' adult works without fainting.
If she blushed and froze every time she saw something lewd, she'd never last a week in that business.
...
The way home was quiet—no run-ins with Vigne buying cat food this time. Kouya rode the train in silence, watching the reflection of the darkening sky in the window.
By the time he reached his stop, the sun had disappeared below the horizon, leaving streaks of red and violet across the clouds.
He stopped by the convenience store, browsed the shelves, and grabbed a bento. Then, after a pause, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number of the fallen angel next door.
"What?" Gabriel's irritated voice answered, followed by the rhythmic clack of a keyboard. She was clearly in the middle of gaming.
"Want me to bring you a bento?" Kouya asked casually.
"Tch, who cares? Trying to butter me up? Don't think I'll forgive you that easily..."
"Then forget it," Kouya said flatly and went to hang up.
"W-wait!" Gabriel shouted immediately. "Since you're trying to make amends, I'll give you a chance! I just ran out of instant noodles anyway... Bring me an eel bento in five minutes, and maybe I'll reduce your sentence!"
Kouya sighed and hung up, bought the eel bento, and headed home.
He knocked on her door. The sound of quick footsteps came from inside before the lock clicked open.
Gabriel stood there wearing only a loose white shirt that hung to her thighs. Whether she had shorts on was a mystery—but Kouya certainly didn't see any.
Her blonde hair was messy, a single ahoge bouncing defiantly as she moved. Her golden eyes glared up at him. "Perfect timing! Some jerk mocked my gameplay—help me kill him!"
Hey, your gameplay is trash, though!
Still, seeing her flushed cheeks and the faint puff of her breath, Kouya decided to keep that thought to himself.
"Here." He handed her the bento.
Gabriel grabbed it. "Food doesn't matter! Help me get revenge or I might just destroy the world out of frustration!"
She tugged him inside.
The room was dim, lit only by the glow of her monitor. Her character lay dead on the screen, the countdown ticking. The trash can in the corner overflowed with empty snack bags, instant noodle cups, and soda bottles. The air reeked faintly of sugar and chips.
"Hurry!" Gabriel barked, hopping onto her gaming chair.
Kouya sat down beside her and said calmly, "Turn on the light and open the window."
"Huh? You dare give me orders?" she snapped, glaring at him.
Kouya gave her a sharp look that made her twitch. "Do you want to win or not?"
"D-damn it... fine!"
Grinding her teeth, Gabriel stomped off, turned on the light, and cracked the window open. The fresh air drifted in, making the room just a bit more breathable.
By the time she returned, her character had already respawned.
She hurried to Kouya's side, eyes blazing. "Come on, kill him, kill him already! Don't let him get away!"
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