Chapter 192: The Fallen Angel Who Slept in the Wrong Bed
The night breeze brushed gently against the curtains, lifting their edge and letting the soft moonlight spill into the room. The silver light pooled on the floor, painting the walls with a tranquil shimmer that danced faintly with the movement of air. The soft hum of a distant streetlamp blended with the rhythmic clicking of keyboard keys, creating a strange, quiet harmony.
Kouya leaned against the wall, watching the lazy fallen angel sitting cross-legged in front of his computer. He had originally planned to make her pay for all her freeloading habits, to teach her that greed had a price. But then he remembered that post he'd read online not long ago—"How to Build Positive Interactions with Girls." A silly guide, maybe, but it had been surprisingly detailed. It advised things like: 'Don't start fights over small things', 'keep calm when teased', and 'sometimes, giving in earns trust.'
After thinking about it for a moment, he swallowed the sarcastic retort that had been perched on his tongue. Instead, he crossed his arms and said curtly, "If you want snacks, get them yourself."
Gabriel didn't even glance away from the monitor. "But I can't move right now," she said, her voice syrupy-sweet, eyes glued to the game. "Be a dear and bring them here for me."
'You've got to be kidding me. Do I look like your servant? What's next—you want me to peel the wrappers for you too? You're not a national treasure; stop acting like one!'
He sighed through his nose, fighting the growing urge to knock some sense into her. "Fine. I'll just put them beside you," he muttered.
Gabriel didn't protest this time—probably still traumatized by the last time she'd 'accidentally' bitten his finger when he'd tried to feed her. He set the bag next to her keyboard, then stood back and watched her finish her raid. The moment her party cleared the boss, she ripped the packaging open and began munching away, cheeks puffing up like a hamster. The sight was annoyingly cute.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
She swallowed, then called out again, "I'm thirsty. Bring me a drink. Not cola—juice. If there's orange juice, that's perfect."
'Oh, for crying out loud! I'm not a vending machine!' He felt a vein pop at his temple. "If you keep this up," he warned, his voice dangerously calm, "I'll kiss you again."
That did the trick.
Gabriel froze, her face flushing scarlet. "B-baka! Hentai! Urusai!" she shouted, delivering the holy trinity of anime insults with perfect pronunciation.
Still, the threat had its effect. Huffing, she stood up, wobbling slightly as she trudged over to the fridge in her oversized green dinosaur onesie. The tail swayed behind her as she grabbed a juice bottle, muttering under her breath like a sulking child. She returned to her seat, determination flashing in her golden eyes—the kind that only appeared when she was about to spend an entire night grinding XP.
"When are you going back to your own room?" Kouya asked dryly, leaning on the wall again.
"Eh?" she said innocently, pretending not to notice the irritation in his tone. "When... my computer's fixed?"
He gave her a look. "Right. So never, then."
She puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms. "Hey, tomorrow's the weekend! My guild and I are joining forces to save the world. You wouldn't want to get in the way of that, would you?"
'Translation: She was planning to stay up all night again.'
Kouya sighed. "Fine, whatever."
Gabriel perked up instantly. "You could sleep in my room if you want!" she said, flashing a teasing grin.
He stared at her flatly. 'Oh, wonderful.' She'd officially taken over his room, eaten his snacks, hijacked his computer, and now she was evicting him from his own bed. Truly a menace in angelic form.
"Not happening," he said firmly.
By ten o'clock, she was still glued to the screen, clicking and shouting at her teammates through the headset. Kouya decided there was no point staying awake to babysit her. He switched off the lamp on his side of the room, lay down, and closed his eyes.
...
The night passed quietly, though the faint sound of clicking keys echoed for hours.
When the sun rose, soft golden light slipped through the curtains. Kouya stirred, stretching—and froze halfway. Something warm and soft pressed against him, accompanied by the faint scent of fruit shampoo.
He looked down.
Gabriel.
The fallen angel was nestled right beside him, her dinosaur hood drooping over one eye. Her expression was peaceful, almost angelic—a cruel irony, given how much chaos she usually caused. One slender strand of hair brushed across her lips. Her breathing was steady, and the sunlight seemed to paint her cheeks with a gentle glow.
He blinked. What the hell? When did she—?
It clicked. She must've played until dawn, then stumbled onto the bed half-asleep. Since she hadn't been thinking about anything—no intent, no emotion—he hadn't sensed her presence.
But now his right arm was completely pinned between her arms and chest.
'Fantastic.'
He tried to move it.
Nothing.
He tried again, slower this time.
Gabriel made a small sound in her sleep, a pout forming on her lips. "Mmm... stop moving..." she mumbled, hugging his arm tighter. Her warmth pressed closer against him.
'You've got to be kidding me! First my snacks, then my computer, now my arm too? Unbelievable!'
Kouya exhaled slowly. Fine. Enough was enough. He reached out to pry her arms off.
"Mmm..." Gabriel's eyelashes fluttered. Her golden eyes opened halfway, hazy with sleep. "Is it... an earthquake?" she murmured softly.
'Earthquake, my ass. If anything, it's a bedquake.'
When she finally focused, her eyes widened in horror. "Y-you—you—why are you in my room?!"
"That's my line!" Kouya snapped. "You're the one who sleepwalked into my bed!"
"Eh?" She blinked rapidly, her memory slowly rebooting. Images of last night flashed before her—grinding till four in the morning, her eyelids drooping, turning off the screen, stumbling toward what she thought was her own bed...
Oh.
Her gaze dropped. She realized she was still clinging to his arm, practically wrapped around him like a koala. "H-HENTAI!!" she screamed, flinging herself back, her face redder than her onesie's hood lining.
Kouya glared at her. "I've tolerated you all night, and I'm the pervert?!"
Before she could answer, he moved—rolling over and pinning her to the bed with ease. Their eyes locked. The air between them tightened.
The morning breeze swept through the curtains, letting the sunlight pour over their tangled forms.
Gabriel's breath hitched. "G-get off! Idiot! Move or I'll blast you to heaven myself!"
Kouya smirked faintly. "Still mouthing off? Guess I'll have to teach you some manners."
He leaned closer. The distance between them shrank until he could feel her breath on his lips. Her heartbeat echoed faintly in his ears.
Gabriel froze. Her mind blanked, her face burning bright red. "If you... if you dare kiss me, I'll—!"
But no kiss came. Instead, she felt a sharp pinch on her cheek.
"Ow! What the hell?!" she cried, eyes snapping open to see him smirking down at her.
"What? You were being noisy," he said simply.
"I'll bite you, you jerk!" she shouted.
And she did—lunging forward, teeth bared like an angry kitten.
Their scuffle sent the blankets sliding off the bed. As they struggled, the zipper of her onesie slipped slightly, revealing a flash of pale skin—the soft curve of her collarbone and the faint rise of her chest beneath the loose fabric. The sunlight glimmered faintly on her skin.
Kouya's breath caught. His heart began to race, thudding in his chest. Something stirred inside him again—faint but undeniable.
That fluttering warmth, that rush of pulse and heat.
The unmistakable feeling of 'heart-throbbing.'