Chapter 248: Vigne Trembles
The sly angel clasped her hands behind her back and skipped lightly over beside Satania, her silver hair bouncing with each step. With a sweet smile and curious tilt of her head, she asked in an almost sing-song tone:
"Kouya-kun, did you come here to take Lady Satania to a love hotel for... punishment?"
The entire question hung in the air like a bomb.
'Who the hell would take her to a love hotel?! What kind of logic even was that?!'
'Was this angel out of her mind?'
Besides, opening a hotel room wasn't free! If he really wanted to do something to this idiotic redhead, bringing her home would be cheaper, more private, and honestly—bigger.
Of course, that was only a figure of speech. Kouya wasn't the kind of person who'd actually do something like that. He had no intention of taking Satania home for any kind of "punishment."
"Please, let me assist," Raphiel continued with her serene, honeyed tone, pressing her palms together like she was offering to help bake cookies instead of suggesting something unholy. "I'm quite experienced in the art of... discipline."
There it was. That smile.
Behind her refined, angelic grace hid something far darker. A smile that was gentle on the surface but dripping with mischief underneath.
Where the hell did she even get "experience" in that? What exactly had she been doing when no one was looking?
"We're not going anywhere. We're staying right here," Kouya said, exasperated.
"You're not going to a hotel?" Raphiel gasped dramatically, covering her mouth. Her bright eyes sparkled like she had just uncovered the world's biggest scandal. "C-could it be that Kouya-kun plans to do that sort of thing here? In the park? But... there are people around! Everyone will see!"
"What kind of thing are you even talking about?!" Kouya barked, veins standing out on his forehead. "Don't say something that filthy while pretending to be an innocent angel!"
Raphiel blinked innocently, her tone dripping with playful curiosity. "Eh? I just heard naughty kids get spanked as punishment. What were you thinking, Kouya-kun?"
Kouya: "..."
He wasn't thinking anything. Not before, anyway.
Now? Now he was thinking about spanking her. Just once. To show her what true cosmic justice looked like.
...
"N-no, Kouya-kun... it's too much..." Raphiel's muffled voice trembled, full of mock distress. "My mouth can't take it all..."
Kouya exhaled through his nose, trying to stay calm. "Then swallow it."
"B-but there's so much...!"
"You knew that before you started. Now finish it. Every. Last. Bit."
"Uu... Kouya-kun, you're so cruel..."
The stares from nearby pedestrians were starting to gather, making the situation look way worse than it was. Kouya resisted the urge to throw his drink at her.
Between her teasing antics and his growing irritation, his original punishment plan was quickly abandoned. Raphiel, the eternal trickster, giggled and suggested brightly that they go eat something instead—naturally at Satania's expense.
A few minutes later, they were seated at a nearby bubble tea shop. The angel ordered the largest cup available—topped with pearls, cream, and syrup—then stole a spoonful of Kouya's molten chocolate, mumbling about how "other people's food always tastes better." Predictably, she couldn't finish it, now staring at him with pleading, watery eyes.
Kouya sighed heavily and turned toward Satania, sitting opposite him.
The red-haired little demon had long since recovered from her earlier humiliation. She was back to her usual bubbly, idiotic self, munching gleefully on a warm pineapple bun she had just bought from the bakery next door. Her eyes curved into half-moons, cheeks puffed like a squirrel, pure joy written all over her face.
When Kouya glared at her, she froze mid-bite. Then, after a moment of nervous thinking, she slowly offered her half-eaten bun, her voice trembling with mock generosity:
"A-attendant, do you want some too? I'll share half..."
Kouya twitched.
'Shut up!'
'You've literally got a full bag of untouched ones right there, and you offer me the one you've been drooling on?!'
'What, do you want me to eat your saliva or something?! Absolutely not!'
He was about to say something scathing when Raphiel suddenly perked up, her eyes sparkling. "Oh! It's Vigne-chan!"
Before anyone could react, she disappeared in a flash and reappeared outside the window.
Kouya followed her gaze, spotting Vigne walking by. A second later, Raphiel reappeared—dragging the poor girl inside the shop.
Vigne blinked, startled by the sudden chaos, her golden-brown hair swaying as she looked around. Then her expression hardened as she fixed Kouya with a disapproving stare.
"Kouya-kun, what are you doing here?"
"Eating," he said simply.
Technically true... even if food wasn't the main reason he'd come.
"Is that so?" Vigne asked skeptically, crossing her arms. "Strange choice. Isn't this neighborhood near Satania's place?"
Her tone sharpened. "Don't tell me you—"
"Actually, Kouya-kun was going to invite Satania and me to see a movie!" Raphiel chimed in with a sunny grin, cutting her off.
'What?! Who said anything about a movie? I came here to teach this fool a lesson, not go sightseeing!'
"A movie? Really?" Vigne's eyebrows rose. Kouya didn't seem like the type to invite people out. Especially these people.
Kouya opened his mouth to correct her—but then felt a sharp kick under the table. Raphiel's smile remained angelic, but her eyes told him everything.
"If you tell her the truth, Vigne-chan will be disappointed, you know."
He clenched his jaw.
Yeah... if he told her he was here to scold Satania, Vigne would definitely be upset. So...
"Yeah. A movie," he said at last.
"A movie? All of a sudden?" Vigne tilted her head.
Raphiel leaned forward mischievously. "Because Lady Satania treated him to milk tea, of course! And Kouya-kun isn't that petty, right? He wouldn't hold a grudge~."
Vigne smiled faintly, visibly relieved. "I see..."
Her warm gaze made Kouya sigh. "Right."
"I told you so!" Raphiel giggled and turned to Vigne again. "Come with us, Vigne-chan! It'll be fun!"
"Eh? But I have work later..." Vigne hesitated.
"There's no club today! You can still make it afterward!" Raphiel pressed her palms together, eyes shining innocently. "Besides, it's been forever since the four of us hung out together."
Vigne sighed in defeat. "F-fine... just for a while."
The movie theater wasn't far—just a short train ride away. The group chatted idly along the way: Satania loudly boasting about her "evil schemes," Raphiel laughing quietly, and Vigne occasionally scolding them both while Kouya just stared out the window, regretting every decision that led to this.
When they arrived, they hadn't decided what to watch yet. As Vigne approached the counter, Raphiel's eyes lit up. "Let's watch a horror movie!"
"A horror movie?!" Vigne paled instantly.
Raphiel clasped her hands together in glee. "There's one that's gotten rave reviews! It's supposed to be really scary."
"W-what's wrong? Scared, Vigne?" Raphiel teased, her smile wicked.
"N-no, of course not," Vigne said quickly, forcing an awkward laugh. "Last time at Kouya-kun's place, I didn't scream once..."
Last time, the entire group had been there—Satania's endless chatter completely destroyed the mood. Fear had zero chance.
"Then it's settled!" Raphiel declared, clapping her hands. "Horror movies feel so much scarier in a theater, don't you think?"
Satania nodded enthusiastically—she didn't care what they watched, as long as she had snacks.
They bought four tickets, a mountain of popcorn, and sodas, then found their seats. The theater was packed despite it being a weekday. The only open row was near the back corner.
As the lights dimmed, Vigne insisted everyone sit in their proper spots: she on the far inside, followed by Kouya, then Raphiel, and finally Satania on the aisle.
"Here, Kouya-kun," Raphiel whispered, handing him the popcorn bucket.
He frowned. "I don't want any."
Raphiel grinned, tapping her lip. "Who said it's for eating? Just hold it for me~."
"..."
'Great. Human popcorn stand, that's what I've become.'
...
The haunting music began, soft at first, then rising in eerie tones. On-screen, a small family moved into an old countryside mansion. The early scenes were calm—sunlit fields, happy laughter, quiet dinners. Even Vigne relaxed, smiling faintly as she watched.
But then came the night.
The cheerful daylight faded. The house grew darker, colder, the wind outside howling through broken shutters. The lights flickered without cause.
Vigne's shoulders tensed.
A faint tapping echoed from the on-screen hallway. The camera followed slowly, every step stretching into unbearable tension. Then—a pale figure flashed by. A thin, gray arm pressed against the wall, dragging long streaks of blackened blood.
Vigne gasped softly, gripping her seat.
The next moment, a twisted face filled the screen in a jump scare so sudden that half the audience screamed.
Vigne let out a tiny yelp, hands flying to her mouth. The cold air from the theater's vents brushed her neck, making her shiver even more.
The haunting music grew louder, each note pressing into her chest like icy fingers. Her legs drew together, her hands trembling.
Vigne was shaking like a leaf.
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