Chapter 151: Feeding Vigne
Kouya returned upstairs, his face dark with exasperation, still muttering under his breath about the absurdity of everything that had just happened. The faint sound of rain continued outside the window, tapping rhythmically against the glass, blending with the soft hum of the air conditioner. The atmosphere of the room felt strangely serene compared to the chaos he had just endured downstairs.
When he opened the door, he was greeted by a quiet and warm scene. Vigne was sitting gracefully at the edge of the bed, her long, silky hair cascading over her shoulders like flowing silk. It glistened faintly under the soft light, still damp from her recent shower, a few strands sticking lightly to her neck. The delicate scent of her shampoo—floral with a trace of vanilla—lingered faintly in the air.
The folded-ear cat rested lazily on her lap, completely content. It purred softly, eyes half-closed in bliss as Vigne stroked its fur with gentle, rhythmic motions. When Kouya stepped inside, the cat didn't even twitch its tail. It simply continued to bask in comfort, as if declaring that he was the intruder here.
Vigne lifted her gaze toward him, her deep eyes sparkling with warmth. A tender smile bloomed across her face, one that made the room feel brighter. She tapped the cat's paw with her finger and said softly, "Kouya-kun, you're back?"
"Yeah." Kouya raised the small bottle of medical alcohol and cotton swabs. "The front desk had spares. Let's treat your wound before it gets worse."
"I-I can do it myself," Vigne said in a quiet, flustered tone, her voice as soft as the falling rain.
Since she insisted, Kouya didn't argue. He simply placed the items on the nearby table and folded his arms.
Her knee was the problem. To tend to it, she'd need to bend forward, and the loose robe she wore wasn't helping. The neckline would fall open if she leaned too far. Noticing this, she immediately raised a hand to cover her chest, her cheeks burning crimson as she stammered, "Y-you don't stand there! Go, um... watch TV or something!"
Kouya chuckled under his breath, shrugged, and walked to the television. The screen reflected dim colors from the rainy night, flickering with channel after channel of dull programming. The hotel's system had everything—from normal shows to adult films, even a karaoke function—but none of it really caught his interest.
Behind him, he could hear Vigne shuffling uncertainly. A quiet sigh escaped her lips, followed by the faint sound of her fingernails brushing through the cat's fur. It was clear she was hesitating. Finally, her soft voice broke the silence. "Kouya-kun... maybe you should help instead..."
He turned slowly, raising an eyebrow. "Really? You give up that easily?"
She bit her lip and nodded ever so slightly. The cat meowed faintly, as if agreeing.
Kouya sighed, pulling a chair closer until he was seated right in front of her. "Stretch your leg out."
Vigne hesitated again, looking uncertain, her fingers twitching nervously on the edge of the bed. "Mm..."
Kouya simply reached forward, his expression calm. Without another word, he gently held her leg in place.
"W-what are you doing!" she gasped, cheeks flushed, voice trembling between shyness and surprise.
"Cleaning your wound," Kouya said evenly. "Stop squirming, or it'll hurt more."
She puffed up her cheeks, clearly embarrassed but unable to argue. With one hand she pressed down the hem of her robe, with the other she scratched the cat's chin, pretending to be calm even though her entire face was red.
Up close, her skin looked impossibly soft. The smooth curve of her calf caught the light; her skin had that pearly glow that seemed to reflect even the faintest touch. Each toe was small and round, delicate like porcelain. Kouya found himself thinking absently that this must be what people meant when they said "legs to die for."
He quickly pushed those thoughts away. He wasn't the kind to lose his cool over a girl's legs. There were plenty of girls in school uniforms back at campus—most just didn't have this kind of quiet elegance.
He focused on his task, pouring the alcohol over a cotton pad and cleaning the wound carefully. The sharp sting made Vigne flinch, a faint sound escaping her lips, half sigh and half whimper.
To distract herself, she continued petting the cat and asked softly, "Is it still raining outside?"
"Yeah," Kouya said, not looking up. "Still coming down pretty hard."
The cat purred louder, obviously loving the attention. The rhythmic vibration of its throat filled the quiet room, oddly soothing.
After a few minutes, the wound was clean. Kouya took out the ointment, dabbing it gently against the red skin. The cool sensation spread through her knee, and Vigne's brow softened as she let out a faint breath of relief.
"Don't move yet. Let it dry," he said calmly.
"Okay..." she murmured.
Then—gurgle.
The sound came from her stomach, soft but unmistakable. The cat blinked lazily, while Vigne's entire face turned scarlet.
Kouya looked at her, amused. "Hungry?"
Her head snapped up. "Y-you don't have to say it!" she whined, puffing her cheeks in embarrassment.
He chuckled. "Let's eat something. There's stuff in the fridge anyway."
The room had two vending machines—one filled with snacks and drinks, the other filled with... less wholesome items. The colorful labels and adult-themed packaging gleamed faintly under the dim light.
Kouya's eyes lingered for a moment, and a wicked thought crossed his mind. What would happen if I grabbed one of those condom boxes and asked her, 'Want a big banana?'... probably instant death.
He shook his head. "So, what do you want? There's milk, bread, cola, small cakes, and chocolate candies."
Vigne rested a hand on her stomach, thinking for a moment before answering shyly, "Maybe... a small cake and some chocolate, please."
Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. Normally, she would've been asleep hours ago, but chasing after that spoiled cat had left her exhausted—and hungry.
"Got it." Kouya picked out the snacks and brought them over, tearing open the packaging with practiced ease. He handed her a cake.
Just as she reached to take it, the cat stretched lazily and—swat!—pressed her hand back down with its paw.
Vigne froze. The cat purred again, entirely pleased with itself.
Kouya blinked, expression flat. "Are you kidding me? You're letting a cat boss you around now?"
She looked torn, eyes flicking between the food and the fluffy tyrant in her lap. Finally, her shoulders slumped. "C-could you... unwrap a chocolate for me?" she whispered, face redder than ever.
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable. The demon herself—reduced to a cat's servant."
Still, he obliged, peeling the wrapper and holding out the chocolate.
Vigne leaned forward, taking it gently between her lips. The sweet aroma filled the room—but a moment later, a faint hint of alcohol rose with it.
Kouya sniffed the air, confused. "Wait... is that—?" He looked at the wrapper in his hand and groaned. "Oh great. That's liquor chocolate."
"W-what did you just give me...?" Vigne stammered, blinking up at him, her face already flushed with a rosy tint.
"Plum wine chocolate," he said. "Pretty mild. You won't get drunk."
But the faint blush on her cheeks deepened, her eyes growing glossy and unfocused. The alcohol, however mild, seemed to soften her tone and melt her composure.
Her voice came out small and unsteady. "I... don't like alcohol... y-you feed me the cake instead."