Chapter 105: Rikka Scores Two Points in Math
Vigne also noticed it and looked up—just in time to see the dragon maid Tohru flashing a mischievous grin before she quickly ducked her head back behind the balcony rail, her long tail swishing in amusement.
Hey hey, what's with that expression?! You're clearly planning something again, aren't you!
Why does this feel like a bad omen all of a sudden?!
"That was Tohru just now, wasn't it?" Vigne murmured, pressing her lips together and glancing toward the balcony. "So your cousin moved up to the top floor?"
"Because there's a big rooftop there," Kanna answered seriously, her tone matter-of-fact. "You can take a bath there."
Huh? A bath? On the rooftop? Isn't that what bathrooms are for? How does this dragon logic even work?
Vigne gave a small laugh and reached down to pinch Kanna's cheek affectionately. "See you later, Kanna-chan. I'll come play again another day, okay?"
"Bye-bye." Kanna blinked her big blue eyes and nodded, her tail lazily swaying.
Just then, Kouya's phone began to ring. When he looked down, the caller ID showed his cousin—Kobayashi.
"Hey, Kouya," came her cheerful voice the moment he answered. "It's still raining outside—why don't you bring your girlfriend up for a bit?"
There it was. That teasing tone could only mean one thing. Tohru had definitely gotten involved.
Vigne, who clearly heard every word from the speaker, froze. A deep blush spread across her face like a blooming rose. "I—I'm going home first!" she blurted out.
She shot Kouya an accusing glare—as if it were somehow his fault—then spun around, popped open her umbrella, and hurried off into the rain like a fleeing kitten.
"She could've come up for dinner at least…" Kobayashi sighed on the other end.
"She's already gone," Kouya replied flatly.
"Ah, that's too bad. Tohru told me you two were walking under one umbrella, so I figured you'd already cleared the affection route. Guess your affection points aren't high enough yet, huh?"
You've definitely been drinking again! And for heaven's sake, stop mixing up dating sim terms with real life!
...
The weekend slipped away in a blur of errands, rain, and unexpected chaos. By the time Monday arrived, it felt both too soon and not soon enough.
Kouya rose at his usual hour, brushed his teeth, washed up, and ate a slice of toast before heading out. The sky was clear for once, sunlight cutting through thin clouds, the streets still glistening from the previous night's downpour.
At the apartment gate, he spotted Takanashi Rikka already waiting. The girl had a backpack so large it looked like she was going camping, and she bounced on her heels with bright morning energy.
"Good morning, hero!" she chirped. Her ahoge bobbed up and down like a metronome.
It seemed her gloom from yesterday had vanished completely—she was once again her usual ball of chaos and optimism.
"Use my name," Kouya said dryly.
"Okay, hero."
"..."
"Uuu~ Kouya-kun's bullying me again!" she pouted, crossing her arms dramatically before laughing again two seconds later. "So! When are we going to search for the Invisible Boundary Line?"
Kouya raised a brow. "Why do you want to find it? Planning an adventure or something?"
Maybe she really did dream of another world—fragments of strange memories flickering through her mind. But those memories were faint and scattered. Whatever truth they held was buried deep under layers of imagination. What exactly was she chasing so desperately?
If he helped her find this so-called Invisible Boundary Line, maybe she'd stop following him around everywhere.
But then Rikka fell silent. Her usual cheer faded as she walked behind him quietly, her footsteps soft, her expression unreadable.
...
When they arrived at class, most students were already there. The air buzzed with chatter—girls discussing their weekends, boys laughing over games and TV shows. It was like a flock of sparrows gathered around a wire, noisy and full of life.
But the peace didn't last long.
Once class started, the teacher made an announcement—one that hit the room like a bomb.
"There will be a full-grade examination this Thursday and Friday."
For a moment, the room was silent. Then came the inevitable uproar.
"An exam?! So sudden!"
"Only three days to study? That's impossible!"
"Why do teachers live just to make us suffer?!"
Kouya, however, remained perfectly calm. Exams didn't worry him. He wasn't here to compete for grades—he was here for the quiet rhythm of student life, the calm of ordinary days. Textbooks and questions didn't intimidate him; if anything, they were child's play.
...
At lunchtime, Rikka appeared in front of him, clutching a large bento box like it was an artifact from another realm.
"Hero, hero," she whispered with a secretive grin. "My sister made this as thanks to you. It's full of energy cubes that restore magic power."
Magic your ass!
Kouya sighed. "They're just rice balls and omelets, aren't they?"
Rikka pouted dramatically. "Ehhh~ You saw through my illusion again!"
He almost smiled. It was clearly Takanashi Touka's way of expressing gratitude. Still, the scent of warm food was inviting.
"Wanna eat outside?" Rikka suggested.
"Sure," Kouya agreed.
The classroom was stuffy after hours of lectures. Fresh air and sunshine sounded like the best lunch companion.
But as they stepped into the hall, familiar voices echoed from around the corner.
"Vignette, what do I do? Math is so hard!"
That unmistakable whine belonged to Satania.
"Maybe if you actually listened during class and reviewed before bed, it wouldn't be that bad," Vigne replied patiently.
"But every night when I try, the Demon World TV channel starts airing prime-time dramas! Once I start watching, my eyes get sleepy!"
Vigne sighed, rubbing her forehead. Then, hearing approaching footsteps, she turned—and instantly froze when she saw Kouya and Rikka. Her cheeks flushed bright red before she looked away sharply.
She glared at Kouya as though this entire situation were his fault.
Hey hey! Why are you glaring at me?! Blame that maid dragon for starting all this chaos!
"Rikka, Vigne, let's all eat together!" Satania said cheerfully, waving. She and Rikka seemed oddly compatible—perhaps foolishness recognized its own kind.
"Well… alright," Vigne agreed after a pause.
The four of them found an empty bench under a tree in the courtyard and began unpacking their lunches.
Vigne's bento was tidy and healthy: vegetable tempura, a few slices of tomato, and a golden fried egg. Satania had her usual combination of pineapple buns and seaweed rice balls. Rikka's lunch looked homemade and warm. Kouya opened his box to reveal an elegant spread—beef slices, shrimp, grilled fish, and a bright salad. The aroma alone was enough to make the others stare.
He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and nodded approvingly. "Not bad."
Good cooking was part skill, part ingredient quality. Even the best chef couldn't make miracles with bad materials. Great ingredients, though—they turned ordinary food into something divine.
Take, for example, the famous Qing Dynasty dish 'Boiled Cabbage.' Despite the plain name, the 'water' was actually a top-tier broth made from chicken, duck, ham, scallops, and pork, producing a flavor that was pure, rich, and unforgettable.
A talented cook and good ingredients made every bite a quiet joy.
"By the way, Rikka," Vigne said between bites. "The exams are soon. Are you ready?"
Rikka froze mid-bite. Her eyes went wide, then distant, as though she were suddenly staring into a void.
She put her chopsticks down slowly, one hand drifting to her eyepatch. "I am the wielder of the Tyrant's Eye, master of darkness and light. Trivial exams mean nothing before my power—"
"Speak normally," Vigne interrupted, tapping her on the head with a chopstick.
"Uuuugh~ Exams… should be fine… probably…" Rikka muttered, crouching like a scolded cat.
"Really?" Vigne asked suspiciously. "You don't sound confident. What was your last language score?"
"Language? Communicating with beings from other realms is my gift!" Rikka declared proudly. "Words are my weapons!"
"And math?" Vigne asked again.
"..."
Rikka fell completely silent. Even her ahoge drooped like a wilted leaf.
After a long pause, she raised two fingers.
"Eh? Twenty points?" Vigne said. "That's… still not great, but better than I expected."
Rikka shook her head slowly.
"Not twenty?" Vigne blinked, realization dawning. Her expression froze. "Don't tell me… two points?!"
Rikka gave a tiny, embarrassed nod.
Kouya's chopsticks paused mid-air. Then he sputtered. "Pfft—"
Two points?! How do you even get two points?!
Even if you guessed every answer randomly, you'd still end up with more than two!
"Ahahaha!"