Chapter 175: Even If It's an Accident
In the blink of an eye, the weekend arrived—the day of Kouya's so-called "date" with Vigne… or rather, their shopping trip. The morning sunlight spilled gently through the curtains, casting rippling shadows across his room as he stirred awake, just as he did every morning. The faint sound of birds outside mixed with the rhythmic clinking of seashells hanging by the window, a melody of calm and familiarity.
Yet something was missing—Menma's laughter. That bright, childlike voice that used to fill the air with life was gone.
The memory of last evening crept into his mind. Menma, after recalling her long-forgotten wish, had smiled softly through her tears. She'd waved goodbye and faded away under the orange twilight. Kouya could still hear her last words echoing faintly in his heart.
"We probably... won't see each other again, right?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled. The emptiness lingered, but he forced it down, moving through his morning routine with mechanical precision—washing up, changing into casual clothes, and heading out the door.
When he arrived at the small bridge they'd agreed on, the morning light reflected off the water, and there she was—Vigne. She stood with the breeze brushing her hair, her skirt rippling softly, the sunlight tracing a halo around her. It was as if she had stepped out of a painting.
She wore a white floral-patterned pleated dress, its fabric catching the light in delicate folds. White stockings wrapped around her legs, highlighting their slender curve. For a moment, Kouya simply stared, unable to look away.
"Good morning, Kouya-kun," Vigne greeted cheerfully, waving with that bright, modest smile that suited her so well.
Kouya cleared his throat and walked over. "Morning. Did you wait long?"
"Not at all. I just got here a minute ago." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Shall we take the train?"
He nodded. "Let's go."
The train was packed, every seat filled and every handrail occupied, yet somehow they managed to find two empty seats beside each other. As the train rattled forward, the rhythmic sound of the tracks filled the space between them.
At the next stop, the doors opened and a small girl boarded—no more than eight years old, with a yellow hat and a backpack that looked almost bigger than she was. She gripped the metal bar tightly, struggling to stay balanced.
Vigne stood up without hesitation. "Come sit here," she said kindly, helping the little girl into her seat before moving to stand beside Kouya.
Kouya blinked. 'Seriously? Wasn't she supposed to be a devil from hell—the kind that lives for chaos and mischief?'
'You've got to be kidding me. You're totally heaven's undercover agent.'
"Thank you, onee-chan!" the girl chirped, smiling up at her.
"You're welcome," Vigne replied with a gentle smile that made even Kouya momentarily forget his sarcastic thoughts.
Then she turned, caught his eyes, and suddenly covered her skirt with one hand, glaring playfully. "Don't look!"
'Who's looking! I was just wondering purely academically whether your stockings are whiter than your skin. It's research!'
Kouya crossed his arms, half amused, half annoyed. "Why didn't you invite Gabi-chan and the others to help you shop?"
"I did ask Gabi-chan, but she said she had an important guild mission this weekend." Vigne sighed softly, her tone helpless. "Satania-chan and Rikka-chan would just cause trouble. And Raphiel-chan's in another class—it'd be weird to drag her into this."
'So that's it. I'm the backup plan.'
Kouya's shoulders slumped. 'Great. My expectations have been crushed again.'
Half an hour later, the train rolled into the city center. As the doors slid open, the crowd surged forward. A middle-aged man near the exit stumbled deliberately, his shoulder brushing far too close to Vigne.
Kouya's instincts flared. Without thinking, he grabbed her hand and pulled her against him, glaring coldly at the man.
The stranger froze under his stare, mumbled something, and quickly fled off the train.
Vigne's face turned bright red. "W-what are you doing?!"
Kouya didn't let go immediately. "That guy was trying to touch you."
Her eyes widened. "Eh? Maybe it was just an accident..."
"Even if it's an accident, it's not okay," he said firmly, voice low.
Vigne opened her mouth but found no words. The warmth of his hand still lingered on her skin, and for a brief, dizzy moment, her heartbeat quickened. She bit her lip and turned away. "Y-you... idiot..." she muttered, pulling her hand free and rushing out of the car.
Outside, the morning sun reflected off the large glass facade of a newly built shopping mall. The plaza buzzed with families, couples, and crowds of weekend shoppers. The hum of conversation filled the air.
Inside, the cool air-conditioning brushed their faces. Vigne pointed toward a line of carts. "We're buying a lot today. Grab one."
Kouya raised a brow. "What am I, your assistant? At least pay me a service fee."
Vigne shot him a side glance. "You're tall, aren't you? Surely you can handle pushing a cart."
'Of course I can. I could push the cart with you in it if I wanted!'
He sighed but grabbed a cart anyway, muttering under his breath.
"Come on, hurry up. We've got plenty to do," she said, smiling.
They wandered through aisles for nearly an hour, checking off items from the list. When Vigne bent down to grab a pack of markers from the bottom shelf, she pressed her skirt down with one hand to keep it from riding up. The curve of her body traced elegantly beneath the fabric, and Kouya froze mid-step.
His throat felt dry. His heartbeat drummed in his chest.
Noticing the shift in atmosphere, Vigne quickly straightened, her cheeks pink. "Turn away!"
"What? I didn't even—"
"Pervert!" she snapped, though her voice trembled slightly.
'Hey, I wasn't sneaking a peek! I was being completely open about it!'
Kouya crossed his arms, defiant. "No."
She glared at him, eyes glinting. "Turn away or else..."
"Or else what?" he asked, lips curling.
Vigne puffed out her cheeks, waving her hand in mock threat. "Or else I'll hit you!"
He smirked. "Go ahead. I dare you."
After what felt like ages, their cart was finally full. Vigne exhaled, brushing her bangs aside. "Phew, finally done. You must be tired. We'll rest and grab something to eat."
She froze after realizing how natural that had sounded. Her face flushed. "D-don't get the wrong idea! I'm only treating you because you helped!"
'Who's getting the wrong idea? You're the one overexplaining!'
It was nearly eleven. After walking for so long, both their legs were sore. They stopped by a fast-food place near the exit, the smell of fries and coffee filling the air.
"One order of fries, please," Vigne said to the cashier, then looked at him. "What about you?"
"I'll order my own."
"No! It's my treat!"
He sighed. 'You've been working for like two days, and you're already trying to treat me? You'll be eating instant noodles for a week!'
But seeing the determined look in her eyes, he finally relented. "Fine. A cola, then."
Vigne nodded triumphantly. "Okay!"
They found a small round table by the window, the sunlight filtering through the glass, painting the floor with soft reflections. Outside, the plaza was alive—vendors calling out, children laughing, the hum of life all around.
Kouya frowned slightly. He preferred quiet places where thoughts could breathe rather than a noisy crowd.
Vigne noticed, hesitated for a moment, then reached into her bag. She pulled out a small white folding fan—the same one she bought at the Shigure Festival the week before, decorated with a smiling Japanese-style girl—and began gently fanning him.
A cool breeze brushed his cheek, carrying the faint scent of gardenias and the warmth of her kindness. For a fleeting moment, the world around them seemed to quiet down, and Kouya found himself staring at her again, just a little longer than he meant to.