Chapter 291: Kanna's Exclusive Skill
In the blink of an eye, Sunday arrived, bringing with it the warmth and brightness of early summer.
Outside, the sky stretched endlessly—pure azure, without even a wisp of cloud to mar its perfection. The faint scent of morning dew drifted through the open window, blending with the distant chirps of sparrows perched on power lines.
Kouya opened his eyes slowly. The room was quiet, filled with the gentle hum of the air conditioner and the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains. He sat up, combed a hand through his dark hair, and got out of bed with his usual calm composure.
He watered the nameless little flowers that had bloomed stubbornly on the windowsill. Their petals sparkled faintly under the sunlight. Then, with mechanical precision, he gathered his laundry, stepped onto the balcony, and hung it neatly along the railing. After a quick breakfast—just a slice of bread and a cup of lukewarm tea—he checked the clock. Nine o'clock sharp. Time to head out.
As he walked down the hall, he passed Gabriel's door. It was completely silent inside—no rustle, no movement, not even the sound of breathing. He sighed. That useless angel had clearly spent the night 'cultivating' again, which of course meant binging games or watching anime until dawn. She'd probably stay unconscious till noon.
Downstairs, the air was warm and pleasant. As he reached the front of the apartment complex, a familiar sight greeted him.
Takanashi Rikka was standing at the corner of the street on tiptoe, scanning the area with sparkling excitement. The morning sun caught in her hair, the eyepatch covering her right eye glinting faintly.
Today she wore a white short-sleeved shirt covered in tiny blue stars, the simple outfit somehow glowing with her boundless energy. Her fair arms gleamed under the sun, her ahoge danced lightly in the wind, and though her eyepatch should've looked strange, on her it was oddly endearing.
"Hero, hero! Good morning!" she called out, her voice bright and full of life.
"Morning," Kouya replied, the corners of his lips twitching faintly. "So, where are we looking today?"
They had made a promise yesterday evening to go searching for the legendary 'Unseen Boundary Line,' and Kouya was a man of his word. Whether or not they would actually find anything was an entirely different story.
Rikka tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… maybe the park! There are lots of mysterious places there!"
He gave a quiet nod. "Lead the way."
...
They had barely reached the street near the park when a loud, exuberant voice shattered the calm morning air.
"Attendant! Rikka! Over here, over here!"
Kouya looked toward the source and instantly regretted it. There, waving her arms like an overexcited child, was Satania. The little red-headed demon was dressed in a beige shirt and denim shorts, her crimson eyes shining with mischief as she ran toward them.
The sunlight dappled her face through the leaves, making her small fangs glint. Her cheeks were flushed with energy, her messy hair bouncing as she approached.
"What are you doing here?" Kouya asked, though he already had a sinking suspicion.
"Rikka said she was going to find the Unseen Boundary Line, so of course I came too!" Satania announced proudly, placing her hands on her hips. "You two would definitely get lost without a capable leader like me!"
'You're the last person qualified to say that,' Kouya thought bitterly. 'You were the one who got lost in a movie theater that only had four screens!'
"Good morning, Kouya-kun~" came another voice, soft and sing-song, from behind Satania.
And just like that, his day officially took a turn for the worse.
Raphiel appeared, her long silver hair catching the light as she leaned playfully to the side, winking and sticking out her tongue. "Hehe~ wherever Satania-sama goes, I'll be right there too."
'You're her guardian shadow now? Stop spawning in random locations!'
She was wearing a pale pink summer blouse that accentuated her curves, her every movement graceful and teasing. Pedestrians passing by couldn't help but stare, whispering among themselves. Several male onlookers even shot Kouya daggered looks of envy.
"Unbelievable! That guy's surrounded by girls again!"
"Normies like him should just explode already!"
Kouya pretended not to hear any of it.
...
Calling it a "search" was generous. In reality, Rikka and Satania had absolutely no clue where to start. Within minutes, their 'mission' had devolved into the two of them walking ahead, chattering endlessly, while Kouya followed behind like a silent babysitter. Raphiel, as usual, drifted lazily alongside, occasionally laughing behind her hand.
By ten o'clock, the morning sun had turned harsh. The cicadas were singing, and the air shimmered with heat.
They arrived at a park filled with trees and greenery, the smell of freshly cut grass thick in the air. Even here, the summer heat pressed down mercilessly. Most people had switched to light clothing, though the occasional businessman in a suit trudged past, sweating miserably.
Rikka wiped her forehead. "It's so hot… Let's get some ice drinks!"
"Yeah, yeah! I'm thirsty too!" Satania agreed immediately.
Kouya sighed and was about to follow when something caught his eye—a small silhouette near the trees.
A familiar one.
He turned, moving closer, and spotted her: a petite girl with long silver hair and brilliant blue eyes. Under the shade of a tree, Kanna stood quietly, holding a bug-catching net. She was staring so intently at the branches above that she didn't even notice him.
Kouya followed her gaze. There, clinging to the trunk, was a cicada—the very symbol of summer.
The little dragon's gaze sharpened. She crouched, slowly approaching her target with the seriousness of a hunter. Kouya almost chuckled—until the moment she suddenly opened her mouth wide and chomped the cicada down whole.
He froze.
'You've got to be kidding me! If you were planning to eat it, why bring a net?!' .
Kanna chewed thoughtfully, her small cheeks puffed out. Then she swallowed, frowned, and muttered, "Not tasty."
'Apologize to that cicada, you tiny menace! It spent years underground just for this!'
'And if you're going to eat bugs, at least fry them properly first! Salt, heat, seasoning—there's an art to it!'
His mind drifted briefly to his own strange knowledge about insects. Cicadas, he mused, lived underground for three to five years, sometimes longer. Seventeen-year cicadas only appeared in North America. He shook his head. 'Why am I even thinking about this?'
Meanwhile, Kanna dusted her hands, as if checking another entry off her "All-World Gourmet Encyclopedia." Then her nose twitched, and she turned her head. Her blue eyes lit up when she spotted him.
She broke into a run—tiny legs pattering against the ground—until she skidded to a stop before him.
Without saying a word, she tilted up her head and locked eyes with him. Those huge blue orbs shimmered like a clear lake, bright enough to melt the hardest heart.
"Stare——"
Kouya-exclusive skill: If You Don't Feed Me, I'll Keep Staring.
Description: Fix Kouya with a soulful gaze until he caves and asks what she wants to eat.
Success Rate: Practically 100%, unless interrupted by divine intervention.
Warning: Beware the purple-haired girl nearby—interference may result in prolonged cheek-pinching punishment.
Kouya sighed in defeat. "…What do you want to eat?"
Ding! Skill activation successful.
Kanna blinked, smiling faintly. "Baumkuchen."
Her voice was soft, sticky-sweet, like a piece of candy melting on the tongue.
Today, the blue-eyed little dragon wore a white floral princess dress. Her horns and tail were neatly hidden away. The sunlight painted her cheeks pink, and her baby-faced expression was so innocent it could melt steel.
Kouya couldn't help but smile faintly. "Are you here alone?"
Kanna shook her head. "Saikawa's here too."
Right on cue, the bushes rustled, and Saikawa came dashing out, her short hair bouncing. She was panting lightly, her face red from running, a matching bug net clutched in her small hands.
"Good afternoon, Kou-nii!" she greeted brightly, smiling from ear to ear.
He gave a nod. "Afternoon."
"Are you catching cicadas too?" she asked curiously.
'No, and for the last time, those things are only edible when they're still nymphs!' Kouya thought grimly.
"I just happened to be passing by," he replied, keeping his tone mild. "What are you two doing?"
Saikawa lifted her net proudly. "Our teacher told us to write an observation diary about cicadas! So we came to study them!"
Kouya blinked. "Observation diary, huh…"
'Why did it become a tasting diary for this blue-eyed little dragon? Listen to the teacher!'
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