Chapter 236: Unequal Treatment
The rain began without warning, cascading down in shimmering threads that struck the umbrella with a crisp, rhythmic melody. It was the kind of sudden downpour that seemed to silence everything else—the city noise fading into the soft roar of falling water.
A moment ago, the street had been alive with voices, laughter, and the buzz of engines. Now, it was deserted. The neon lights reflected in puddles, rippling faintly as droplets splashed the surface. It was as though the whole world had retreated, leaving only Kouya and Vigne standing beneath the rain-soaked sky.
Vigne instinctively stepped closer to him, drawn by the steady sound of his breathing. The faint warmth from his body seemed to cut through the chill in the air, and without realizing it, she relaxed.
They hurried under the nearest awning, but the narrow space offered little protection. A few cold drops slipped past the umbrella, landing on their shoulders and hair.
When she had left home earlier, the weather had been sweltering, so she'd only worn a thin, sky-blue long-sleeved shirt and a light skirt. Now, as the temperature dropped sharply, the damp fabric clung to her skin, sending a shiver up her spine. She hugged her arms and exhaled a misty breath.
Kouya noticed. For someone with demonic blood, rain and cold meant little. Still, he hesitated for a moment—then began taking off his jacket. It wasn't something he normally would've done, but he remembered reading once: "When a girl's cold, offer your coat—points plus ten."
"W-What are you doing?" Vigne's eyes widened as she took a cautious step back.
"You look cold. Take it." Kouya's tone was simple, calm.
"I said I'm fine!" she snapped, turning her head away as her cheeks pinkened. "Put it back on… and just walk ahead already."
"Fine, fine."
Kouya sighed lightly but didn't argue. He adjusted the umbrella to cover her more fully, holding it so that the rain hit his shoulder instead. They walked side by side—him on the outer edge near the street, her on the inside, one hand holding her skirt down, the other gripping her small bag. The faint scent of rain and detergent drifted in the air.
The rain blurred the outlines of the buildings, softening the city lights into hazy halos. Water streamed down the gutter, and the road shone like liquid glass.
A flicker of pink neon caught Kouya's eye ahead—a love hotel sign blinking lazily through the mist. He coughed into his hand, trying to ignore it, but before he could say anything, Vigne shot him a sharp, suspicious glance.
"...Never mind," he muttered.
They both looked away, pretending not to notice, and kept walking.
There weren't any cafés or restaurants nearby—just the dim light of a convenience store at the next corner. Its automatic doors opened and closed as people dashed in from the rain.
"Let's go in there and wait it out?" Vigne suggested.
"Good idea."
They crossed the slick street carefully. Vigne folded her umbrella with practiced precision, shook off the droplets, and wiped her shoes thoroughly on the mat before stepping inside. Even in small details like that, she was meticulous.
"Welcome!" the clerk greeted politely.
Vigne nodded back, her gaze flicking toward the windows. "Looks like the rain's calming down a bit," she murmured. "It probably won't last long."
"Good timing," Kouya said, stretching his shoulders. "I need to pick up some ingredients anyway."
"You cook?" Vigne turned to him, clearly surprised.
Kouya gave her a faint look. "Of course. I'm not completely useless."
He could almost hear her silent doubt. 'What, do I look like someone who survives on instant noodles?'
He smirked. "Gabi-chan said my cooking's great."
Vigne blinked. "Gabriel eats your cooking?" she asked, her tone casual—but her lips pressed together ever so slightly.
"Yeah. She got tired of the same old lunchboxes," Kouya said. "Since she agreed to wash the dishes, I don't mind cooking for her once in a while."
"I see," Vigne said softly. Her shoulders lowered a little, and the brightness in her voice dimmed. "Let's just buy what we need, then."
Kouya tilted his head, watching her. She'd been cheerful just a minute ago—what changed? Did mentioning Gabriel hit a nerve?
As they walked through the aisles, she suddenly said, "Gabriel likes seafood, right? Let's get some fish for her. As for you, some greens will do."
He froze. "...Wait. Why am I getting the vegetarian treatment here?"
Vigne ignored him, focusing on comparing prices between brands. "You need to eat healthy."
"I'm not a rabbit," he muttered under his breath. "What's with this discrimination?"
Between two pampered cats and a lazy angel, apparently he ranked dead last. Unbelievable.
"Let's just eat together tonight," he suggested finally. "It's been a long day. I don't feel like cooking."
"I can't," she said, shaking her head. "If I promised to do something, I'll finish it. Besides, I have work tonight." Her tone was soft but firm—unshakable as always.
After they finished shopping, Kouya added a few extra snacks and sweets to the basket. He skipped drinks—thanks to Gabriel's 'lucky draw' spree last week, the fridge was overflowing with soda and juice.
When they reached the counter, the cashier tallied the total. "That'll be 2,700 yen (17.5$). Oh, and if you spend 300 yen (1,95$) more, you'll qualify for our prize draw."
Kouya almost waved it off. Lotteries were a scam—he'd tried dozens and never won anything better than a plastic keychain. His luck was terrible.
But when he glanced at Vigne, her eyes sparkled with anticipation. She'd always loved those things. Even when the prizes were small, the excitement of winning lit up her face.
"Fine," he said. He grabbed two extra snack bags and dropped them on the counter. "That should do it. You draw."
"Eh? Me?" she said, surprised.
"Yeah. I've got zero luck. You're up."
She hesitated. "But what if I don't win?"
"Then you make me two bentos," he said, grinning.
Her expression hardened immediately. "One. Only one."
The cashier giggled, glancing between them with a knowing smile. The air between the two of them felt less like casual friends and more like something quietly, slowly shifting.
Flustered, Vigne grabbed the lottery box. Inside were dozens of colored balls—gold for first prize, silver for second, red for consolation, and white for 'thank you for trying.' The transparent container glimmered under the fluorescent light.
She turned the handle. The balls rattled inside with a soft clack-clack-clack.
Then—clink.
A silver ball rolled out.
"Congratulations! You won second prize!" the clerk said with a bright smile.
"Really?!" Vigne's eyes widened in delight. "Wow, I actually did it! Looks like my luck's not so bad today."
Kouya couldn't help but smile faintly. Watching her grin like that—eyes sparkling, cheeks pink with excitement—was far more rewarding than any prize could be.
After paying, they lingered by the door for a while. The rain had stopped, leaving behind a faint mist that shimmered under the afternoon sun. The clouds parted, revealing a sky so blue it almost hurt to look at.
"The weather cleared up fast," Vigne said softly, brushing a few damp strands of hair from her cheek. Her smile was gentle, almost radiant. "Kouya-kun, I'll head home first."
"Wait a sec." Kouya reached into his pocket, pulling out a small cat-shaped hairpin. "Here. This is for you."
"Huh?"
Vigne blinked, startled. She opened her mouth, ready to refuse—but a memory flashed through her mind: "If you don't act first, someone else will take him!"
Her heartbeat quickened. She bit her lip, looked away, and snatched the hairpin from his hand in one swift motion.
"I'm going home!" she blurted, face burning red. Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and hurried down the street.
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