Chapter 177: A Visit to Her Home
"Y-you—you—" Vigne's voice trembled as her face turned a deep crimson, her wide eyes flickering between outrage and pure embarrassment. Her lips quivered, and her voice rose an octave. "What on earth are you doing?!"
Kouya tilted his head slightly, completely calm despite her outburst. "Your hair got messy from the wind. I was just fixing it."
'I know that!' Vigne screamed inside her head. 'But who does that so naturally, like it's no big deal?!' Any normal person would have offered to help carry her bags, not reach out and brush her hair aside so casually! And why did it feel like he'd done this a hundred times before—like it was muscle memory? Her heart thudded in her chest as she glared at him, words caught somewhere between indignation and confusion.
Her lips tightened into a pout, the blush still burning across her cheeks. With a sharp huff, she spun on her heel, muttering something unintelligible as she marched away. The soft swish of her skirt and the flick of her ponytail betrayed her agitation.
Kouya followed behind her, carrying both of their shopping bags with one hand as if they weighed nothing. "Let me carry the rest," he said simply.
Vigne turned slightly, her instinct to refuse immediate, but before she could speak, another cool breeze rolled through the evening air, brushing against her neck and sending another lock of hair across her cheek. She froze. With a quiet sigh, she relented and let him take the bags. Her shoulders loosened a little, though her flushed cheeks still betrayed her mood.
The sun was setting now, the sky glowing in layers of orange, red, and violet. The clouds were painted in soft streaks, golden at the edges like scattered embers. Their shadows stretched long across the pavement—two figures walking in slow rhythm, perfectly in sync even as they said nothing.
The world around them felt peaceful. A gentle hum of cicadas echoed from the trees, mingling with the faint laughter of children in the distance. Somewhere, wind chimes jingled softly from a nearby balcony. It was the kind of evening that made the heart feel oddly still.
Vigne kept her gaze ahead, her hands clasped lightly before her, still a little flustered from the earlier moment. Kouya followed quietly, glancing occasionally at her from behind, his expression unreadable.
When they reached the park entrance, Vigne finally slowed and said softly, "Wait a moment. Let's rest here for a bit."
Kouya nodded. "Sure."
The park was an old one—small, but filled with life. The trees had thick trunks and gnarled roots that broke through the cobblestone paths. The air smelled faintly of grass and warm earth. Fireflies had begun to flicker in the shaded areas, their faint light glowing like drifting stars.
Vigne led him to a quiet area near a small plaza. There was a single empty bench under a maple tree, its leaves rustling lightly in the wind. She gestured toward it, then sat down, smoothing her skirt and folding her hands neatly in her lap. Her eyes softened as she spoke. "I come here sometimes after school. When there's nothing urgent, I'll sit here and read for a while. It's… relaxing."
Kouya leaned against the backrest. "So you come here a lot."
She nodded. "Mm. It feels peaceful. Like the world slows down for a little while."
He tilted his head, smirking faintly. "So you're tense now, huh?"
Vigne's head snapped toward him. "N-no! Of course not!" she said too quickly, her ears turning pink. She looked away again, pretending to focus on the plaza.
A group of pigeons had gathered nearby, pecking at the ground in search of crumbs. When they noticed Vigne, they hopped closer without hesitation. She smiled faintly, pulling a small pack of bread from her bag, tearing it open, and tossing a few crumbs toward them. The birds cooed happily as they crowded closer.
Kouya watched her with mild amusement. "Pigeons sure have it easy. They eat for free, live in cities, and still somehow became symbols of peace."
Vigne giggled quietly, a sound like soft bells. "That's because of Noah's Ark, isn't it? The dove that brought back the olive branch after the flood—it became a symbol of hope."
Kouya shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe people just like cute things better. Crows are smarter, but no one makes them the symbol of anything."
Vigne laughed again. "That's true. Crows are actually great parents. They take care of each other."
"Right? And yet everyone calls them unlucky because they're black and loud. It's unfair."
He paused for a moment, eyes narrowing in thought. "Yesterday, I saw this illustration online—two lions boarding Noah's Ark. Both had manes. Makes you wonder if it was really about saving animals, or... something else."
Vigne blinked, torn between laughter and disbelief. "You think about the strangest things, Kouya-kun."
He smirked. "Someone has to question divine logistics."
Before she could reply, a wailing voice broke the calm of the park. "Uwaaaah—it hurts so much!"
Both turned toward the sound just in time to see a familiar red-haired figure stumbling toward them, clutching her head dramatically.
Vigne's eyes widened. "Satania?"
Satania spotted them and froze, her cheeks puffing out instantly. A giant bump stood on her forehead like a trophy of shame. "W-why are you two here?!"
Vigne frowned. "That's my line! Don't tell me you lost another fight over bread."
Satania gasped indignantly. "I didn't! I was challenging Gabi-chan to a duel—again! But she ignored me and then hit me! It's tyranny!"
Vigne crossed her arms. "Gabi-chan wouldn't hit you without a reason. What did you do this time?"
Satania averted her gaze. "I might've unplugged her internet cable... by accident."
Kouya exhaled through his nose. 'That's not an accident. That's suicide.' He could almost picture Gabriel's dead-eyed stare as she dealt her divine retribution.
Vigne sighed, rubbing her temples. "Honestly…" She broke off a chunk of bread and handed it to Satania. "Here. Share it with the pigeons. Don't eat it."
Satania brightened immediately—then took a huge bite. "Bleh! It's so plain! Melon bread is way better!"
"You're supposed to feed the birds!" Vigne snapped.
Satania blinked. "Eh? You weren't feeding me?"
"Why would I—never mind!" Vigne groaned.
The pigeons fluttered around them, cooing softly as Satania tossed crumbs at random. Every time she tried to pet one, though, they hopped away. "Hey! Come back! I gave you food! That's betrayal!"
Kouya watched, deadpan. "She's hopeless."
Vigne covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Let her be. At least she's not breaking anything."
That peace didn't last. Satania lunged forward, determined to grab a pigeon. The entire flock scattered in a burst of flapping wings. She stumbled and fell face-first into the grass.
"Owww! You traitors! You'll regret this!" she yelled dramatically. "I'll make pigeon soup next time!"
Vigne immediately swatted her lightly on the head. "Satania! Don't say things like that!"
Satania rubbed her new bump with teary eyes. "You hit me too! You're just like Gabi-chan!"
Vigne sighed and smiled faintly. "Fine, fine. I'll get you melon bread tomorrow."
Satania's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?! Can I have one now, though?"
Vigne blinked, then turned to Kouya. Her tone softened. "Kouya-kun... would you like to come to my house for a bit?"
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "Your house?"
She hesitated, twirling a strand of her hair nervously. "It's nearby, and we still have a few things to sort out. Plus, it's getting late. You can rest a little before heading back."
He smirked slightly. 'If that idiot Satania weren't here, you definitely wouldn't be asking me this.' Still, he nodded. "Alright. Lead the way."