Chapter 140: He's Not My Boyfriend!
"Stare——"
The blue-eyed baby dragon tilted her head back, her round sapphire eyes blinking slowly as she gazed up at him with that unreadable, innocent expression.
Kouya let out a resigned sigh. "I get it already, alright?"
By now, he'd developed a frighteningly high level of synchronization with her—just one look from Kanna, and he knew exactly what she wanted. It was both convenient and terrifying.
Wait a second… since when did he start feeling like she was the one training him?
No way. Impossible. That had to be an illusion. He was the caretaker here! Right?
Before heading out, Kanna had changed into the yukata she rented yesterday—a pale lavender one with white cloud patterns. She held a tiny paper parasol that matched the color of her eyes. Every step she took made the wooden clogs clack softly on the pavement, and the sight of her small figure with such serious poise made hearts melt on the spot.
She was simply too cute.
"So cute!" Vigne gasped, her eyes practically turning into red hearts as she pinched Kanna's soft cheeks.
Kanna squinted at her, unimpressed. "Annoying."
Vigne froze mid-pinch. "T-that's not very nice, you know..."
Meanwhile—
"Gabriel! Let's settle things once and for all with the claw machine!" Satania puffed out her chest, her fiery red hair shining under the sunlight, full of confidence as usual.
Gabriel didn't even look up from her drink. "Are you a goldfish?"
Satania blinked. "Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"You've got a seven-second memory span. Yesterday you lost miserably and almost cried, remember?"
Satania's face turned crimson. "T-that was different! The claw was rigged! Toy unfair!"
Raphiel chuckled behind her hand. "Oh, of course. The world simply conspired against Lady Satania's greatness."
Satania puffed up proudly. "Exactly! Finally, someone who understands!"
"Still an idiot, though."
"B-baka!"
The morning air was warm and lively. Sunshine poured down on the streets like liquid gold, and the sound of distant chatter blended with the rhythmic clip-clop of wooden sandals. The smell of grilled food and freshly brewed tea drifted from the nearby market stalls.
Because it was the weekend, the small hot spring town was bustling with people—families, couples, and students, all enjoying a peaceful break.
Gabriel was being dragged off by Satania to begin another 'battle of destiny.' Meanwhile, Kouya wandered along a nearby food street with Kanna trotting beside him. Compared to most towns, the stalls here had a traditional charm—hand-painted signs, sizzling steamers, and vendors shouting cheerfully. One particular stall had a small crowd gathered: a man pounding mochi the old-fashioned way, each strike echoing with a satisfying thud.
Even the blue-eyed dragon's attention was captured. Her little hands pressed against her cheeks as her eyes sparkled. "Wow! Majimabakunai!"
Kouya smirked. "You mean 'amazing,' right?"
Kanna pointed toward the counter where neat rows of freshly made mochi rested, still steaming. "That one."
Mochi—sweet, chewy, soft. A deceptively simple treat that could make even gods crave another bite.
Speaking of mochi, Kouya suddenly remembered an old anime trivia—why was that ten-year-old bully Gian so freakishly strong compared to his classmates? Sure, genetics helped, but mostly, it was because his mom ran a mochi shop. After years of pounding mochi daily, she had arms of steel—and Gian inherited that power.
Mess with me, and I'll pound you into mochi!
A cheerful girl in a uniform approached. "Welcome! What can I get you all?"
Immediately, Kouya felt a dozen eyes on him.
"Stare——"
He forced an awkward smile. So much for "free activity" time. Why were all of them tagging along again?
He sighed and ordered enough for everyone. Soon, they were wandering the street with skewers of fresh mochi, chatting and nibbling contentedly as the sweetness melted in their mouths.
A few minutes later, they reached a small building that was part pet shop, part mini zoo. Inside were rabbits, puppies, and even a few ponies and alpacas. The place was buzzing with families and couples taking pictures.
For a rather ridiculous fee, you could even ride an alpaca around the yard for five minutes.
Kouya couldn't help but admire the owner's business sense.
"Onee-sama! I wanna ride the alpaca!" Hinata's face lit up.
"Me too!" Rikka chimed in, her ahoge bouncing with excitement. "That majestic creature traverses both the real world and the hidden dimension beyond!"
Kouya sighed. "It's literally just an alpaca, Rikka."
Still, he couldn't deny it was kind of cute seeing her so serious.
Meanwhile, Ai and Natsu crouched by a cage of rabbits, whispering to each other like secret agents. Judging by their mischievous smiles, whatever plan they were hatching probably wasn't good news for anyone.
Kanna tugged on Kouya's sleeve again, her gaze drawn toward another cage.
Inside sat a kangaroo, staring off into space with a weirdly solemn, philosophical expression—as if contemplating the meaning of life.
"What's that?" Kanna asked curiously.
"A kangaroo," Kouya said. "They're like natural-born boxers."
Kanna tilted her head. "Dumb."
The kangaroo turned its head sharply and glared at her, raising its fists in challenge.
Kouya blinked. "Did… did it just understand you?"
He chuckled, recalling a post he'd seen online. If you ever encounter a kangaroo in the wild, rule number one: don't panic. They throw straight punches—just dodge, grab the waist, and sweep sideways since they balance with their tails. Then go for a neck lock—victory achieved.
As he thought that, Kanna raised her tiny fists and made an adorable growling sound. "Rawr!"
The kangaroo froze. Its ears twitched. Then, visibly trembling, it retreated to a corner of the cage and crouched down in terror.
Kouya blinked. "Well, I guess even wild instincts know when to surrender."
The pet shop wasn't large, and after a short stroll, Kouya lost interest. Hinata and Rikka were still lining up for the alpaca ride, giggling nonstop.
Not wanting to disturb them, he took Kanna by the hand and walked toward the lakeside.
A short walk later, the noise of the market faded, replaced by the soft lapping of water. Before them stretched an artificial lake filled with lotus leaves—tiny buds poking above the surface, not yet in bloom. The air smelled faintly of fresh grass and sunlight. Willow trees swayed gently on both banks, their reflections dancing in the rippling water.
A splash broke the silence—a red koi fish leapt from the water, twisting in midair before falling back with a flick of its tail.
Kanna's eyes gleamed. Her stomach might have, too.
"You want to fish, Kanna?" Vigne asked, smiling kindly.
Kouya thought, 'You mean eat fish.'
Vigne brushed her hair behind her ear. "Back home, I used to love fishing. I was pretty good at it, too. Kouya-kun, wanna have a friendly match?"
"Sure," he said. "But don't cry when I win."
They rented fishing rods from a nearby stand. Just as they were setting up, two little kids came running past, laughing and chasing each other. Vigne stepped aside instinctively, but her foot caught on a loose stone, and she stumbled forward—straight toward the lake.
Kouya reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back. The motion sent both of them off balance, and before he realized it, she had fallen right into his arms.
From afar, it looked… intimate.
Vigne froze. Her heart thudded wildly. The scent of water and sunlight mixed with Kouya's warmth, and for a dizzy moment, she couldn't breathe.
Her face turned crimson from ear to neck. She quickly pushed away, voice trembling. "Th-thank you... for saving me."
"Don't mention it." Kouya smiled faintly, his heart still racing. A trace of her fragrance lingered near him, faint and sweet. He looked at her for a second too long.
Of course, she noticed. Her eyes flicked up, and her cheeks deepened in color. She grabbed his sleeve and hissed, "Don't. Say. Anything."
"I didn't say anything!" he said defensively.
"You were thinking it!"
Kouya chuckled under his breath. "You read minds now?"
"Ugh!" She puffed her cheeks and turned away, face steaming.
Just then, the two kids returned, looking sheepish. "We're really sorry, miss! We didn't mean to bump into you!"
Vigne sighed, her irritation melting at their genuine apology. "It's alright. Just be more careful next time."
"We will!" one of them said brightly. Then, grinning, added, "Good thing your boyfriend was here to save you!"
"Wh-what did you just say?!" Vigne's eyes widened.
"Your boyfriend!" the kid repeated innocently, pointing at Kouya. "He was super cool just now!"
Vigne's entire face turned scarlet. Her head almost steamed. "B-boyfriend?! W-we're not—! He's not my—my boyfriend!" she stammered, flailing her hands as if trying to physically swat away the misunderstanding.