Chapter 88: Rikka’s Tears124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiZgHDVoDR
The dinner lasted well over an hour, filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional roar of drunken nonsense. During it, Kobayashi finally gave in to temptation and drank with Takiya, transforming from a calm, emotionless woman into a full-blown, chaotic Lich King.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHCTLlULdG
"Hahahahaha!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf4hidtRrx
Her cheeks were flushed, her glasses slightly crooked, and a mischievous grin stretched across her face. Sitting beside lucoa, she reached out, shamelessly cupping lucoa’s enormous chest with both hands. Her voice was filled with drunken envy and disbelief. "Unbelievable! They’re huge! So heavy too! How do you even walk around like this without toppling over? People on the street must think you’re some kind of pervert dressed like that!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc51hoDrjT
"Eh? P-Pervert?" lucoa froze, her face turning red.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvqSLbNodT
"Hmph! A woman who uses her massive boobs to tempt men into sin is a pervert, obviously!" Kobayashi declared proudly, still kneading without shame.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3216U2VStk
Don’t say that! You, who’s fondling someone else’s chest like that, are the real pervert here!124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwV6gWMLFe
Meanwhile, Takiya, his glasses now askew, leaned against the wall with a goofy smile, mumbling drunkenly into Fafnir’s ear about nonsense that made absolutely no sense.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpqo1NCWB9
The room was pure chaos. Laughter, slurred voices, and random drunken phrases overlapped into a mad orchestra of noise. Even Kouya couldn’t help but be amused watching the entire scene unfold—it was messy, human, and oddly warm.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6CA8hXb3U
But amusement wasn’t happiness.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndtwSdGFfp
That maid dragon, Tohru, had used distortion magic on him earlier, supposedly to “protect his worldview from corruption.” The spell did nothing—except irritate him. His mood soured every time he thought about it.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpty6kw6dxT
They were dragons. What was there to hide? As if he didn’t already know what they were. If they wanted to pass as humans, at least teach that blue-eyed baby dragon some basic manners! What kind of kid eats snacks nonstop all afternoon and still asks for more?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd35BCO5mw
When the clock neared nine, Kouya finally stood up. "Tohru, I’m heading out."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8mdoE4qzz
"Please take care, Kouya-sama." Tohru bowed politely, her tail twitching.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOWpD3tkjt
He waved her off and stepped into the night.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXDuaTf9Zx
The wind outside was crisp and cool.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9fEKQXAeT
The streets were quiet, painted silver under the streetlights. Kouya walked alone, his steps echoing faintly, savoring the quiet calm and the taste of solitude.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmAr4AtMxo
But as he neared his apartment complex, something caught his eye—a familiar silhouette standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK7i8qxbxF
A petite girl with a single ahoge fluttering in the breeze, dressed in a gothic outfit she had clearly stitched herself—124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOsIzFb1c0
Takanashi Rikka.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ42YZeEldo
Kouya blinked, frowning slightly. "What’s she doing out here at this hour?" He considered calling out, but changed his mind, deciding to take a detour instead.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8XsiNDYdP
Before he could, Rikka turned her head sharply, her heterochromatic eyes scanning the surroundings. Then she spoke in a solemn, cold voice: "Come out. I already know you’re there."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p2xMQCLZK
"Eh?" Kouya froze. Then he immediately shook his head. Nice try.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzuaQMVCIE
You think I’d fall for that twice?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvjo6vYixq
Rikka sniffed the air like a small animal, gripping her black automatic umbrella like a weapon, and began walking forward with an air of confidence that only made her look more ridiculous.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbUV0ljIRx
Kouya sighed and decided to follow quietly, keeping a few steps behind.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rhvq6r3B7
She reached a narrow alleyway, stopped, and lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "Creature of darkness, are you too afraid to reveal yourself?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWQtTT0sTi
The alley was empty. Only the soft wind stirred dust and leaves.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDJQwv0pM8
Of course, her dramatic lines went unanswered.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAThRqGNUIG
"I am the agent of the Wicked Eye! I have traversed countless worlds to find you, destined one! Our battle shall shake the stars!" she declared grandly.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB3co1MRry
Fight my ass! You’d just trip on your own umbrella swing!124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxndgQUsGN
Who does this in the middle of the night? Alone, talking about ‘destiny battles’? Her chuunibyou was in full bloom tonight.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREQ9qW8kkA
Expressionless, Kouya turned to leave. Following her had been a mistake.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aveB9gPCc
Then the sharp roar of a motorcycle shattered the silence. The headlight flared, and with a screech, it stopped right in front of Rikka.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphtfM1UdUR
"Get on," a deep, cold voice commanded. The rider was tall, muscular, helmeted—his face hidden. His tone was that of someone used to being obeyed.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD6x4EN4LF
Rikka froze. Even her ahoge shot straight up, like a cat’s tail bristling in terror.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboD0uyyjtG
Kouya stopped, frowning.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneDUSgMbP9
Who the hell was this guy?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6MnIz9vzS
Had she really managed to summon some kind of “dark creature”? No—there was no magic coming from him. Just an ordinary human.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MW4BtyyIB
The scene was strange. An empty street. A quiet night. A trembling girl. A silent man on a motorcycle.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU01aJiRo9
Kouya suddenly remembered the news—stories of young girls going missing while walking home alone.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n7sgF1a2m
Could this be one of those scumbags? And Rikka his next target?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8BMoDvkg5
The thought made Kouya’s blood turn cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5OPsGNwqq
"Move," the man ordered, voice hoarse and low like an owl crying in a graveyard.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPRaYwJUq5
Rikka shook, clinging to her umbrella. With a trembling hand, she pressed the button—“puff!”—the umbrella opened wide, a flimsy barrier between her and danger.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGzNvonZj6
Kouya was ready to act. His body tensed, heart steady.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3sOcQK0fB
Then—a sound broke through the night.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCctzdpX5BQ
Footsteps. Fast ones. Accompanied by heavy panting.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7kLgcbuL7
Kouya turned, his face twisting into disbelief.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8rEgXd4bF
A husky came bounding out from the alley, tongue lolling, tail wagging, and without hesitation, jumped gracefully onto the motorcycle’s front pedal.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9yV9fn2Oz
The rider looked down at it. Then both man and dog turned their heads at the same time to stare at Rikka, their gazes eerily synchronized.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNnySctHtr
"……"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K2W1qGHny
The air froze solid.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP6wyaSo9A
The silence was so thick it was painful.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44MIMxt2Vg
Then, the motorcycle rumbled, spewing exhaust, and vanished down the street in a blur of taillights.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFoMCdfflR
Kouya just stood there, lips parting, words failing him entirely.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHJYaegoiN
When the sound finally faded, Rikka collapsed into a crouch, clutching her head, her shoulders trembling violently. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Fear still lingered in every shiver.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrC4BihSxR
Kouya sighed deeply and walked over.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YsIHIRTLW
Hearing footsteps, Rikka looked up instinctively. The moment she saw Kouya’s face, her fear melted into relief, and the tears she’d held back finally spilled over.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KPSodhjI8
"Hero!" she cried, throwing herself against his chest, her small frame shaking. "I knew it! I knew the hero would come! You’d never leave me!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoUPCl59oa
Kouya stiffened, instinctively wanting to push her away. But seeing how fragile she looked, trembling like a scared kitten, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgkE12skbi
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why were you out here alone so late?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKAmoA55Zf
"B-Because… I was searching for dark creatures…" she whispered timidly, still clutching his sleeve.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdxlQ5cAUf
"And your sister? Doesn’t she watch over you?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSycA87dz1y
"My sister’s the head chef at a hotel. There’s a big banquet tonight… she’s not coming home."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAk6VioA7q
Kouya sighed again. "Then stop wandering around at night. Come on, I’ll walk you back."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZd6QUftLb
"Mm…" Rikka nodded, her teary eyes reflecting the streetlights, still damp but full of trust.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiZxqNuwW4
They started walking slowly toward the apartments. Rikka clung to him tightly, her grip firm, as if afraid he’d vanish.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcla0w9TdK1
"Let go," Kouya muttered, glancing down.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYYqHR016W
"N-No!" she said immediately, pressing closer. "If I let go, the hero might disappear!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI9vqZpCPq
You think I’m some teleporting angel who just goes ‘biu’ and vanishes into thin air? Really?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaiw7gs2Zd
"Hero…"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8OwtNCQtb
"What now?" Kouya asked, raising a brow.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj4bfqiIB7
"Kouya-kun," she said softly, puffing her cheeks like a pouting child. "Walk me all the way home, okay?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8RjcXClLF
"No."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpejguHSpBs
"Kouya-kun, you’re so mean!" she whined, tears threatening again. "What if a monster grabs me on the way? Then what? You’d regret it forever!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5V1j8ex4f
Weren’t you the one challenging dark creatures ten minutes ago? Now you’re scared of walking home?124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LVz85eTCG
With a helpless sigh, Kouya finally escorted her to her building. Only after watching her go inside safely did he turn back toward his apartment.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXsZXGq5H1
As soon as he stepped into his room, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWBNbL5jyh
He answered—and a frantic, panicked voice came through—124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqlF2vRurZ
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