Chapter 155: Couple's Set Meal
Not long after the two entered the store, a girl with long, silky black hair slipped in after them, quietly keeping her distance. Her heart was pounding faster than she wanted to admit.
"Eh? Gabriel and Kouya went into a merchandise shop, not a hospital? Did I misunderstand the whole thing?" Machiko whispered to herself, blinking in disbelief. After a moment of hesitation, she clenched her fists tight and took a deep breath, psyching herself up. "E-Even if it's this kind of place, I won't back down! I must see the truth with my own eyes!"
She crept forward, moving between aisles like a secret agent on a mission, her eyes darting nervously toward the blonde angel and the boy ahead.
...
When they reached the game section, shelves upon shelves of eroge gleamed under the bright fluorescent lights. The covers showcased every imaginable type of heroine—shy childhood friends, tsundere classmates, mysterious seniors, and overly affectionate little sisters. The overwhelming scent of fresh packaging and plastic filled the air.
Kouya casually reached for one of the games, studying the cover art. "The artwork's not bad," he muttered, nodding slightly.
He wasn't wrong—most eroge relied heavily on their art quality. The storylines might have been predictable, but when the character designs hit the right balance of beauty and innocence, they sold like crazy. Just like light novels with average writing could skyrocket thanks to a single talented illustrator.
"Ehh, hentai!" Gabriel's sharp voice pierced the air. The lazy angel crossed her arms, glaring down her nose at him with pure disdain. "I can't believe you're into those disgusting games! I've totally misjudged you!"
'You were the one who dragged me here to buy eroge, you hypocrite!' Kouya nearly snapped out loud. 'And seriously, what's disgusting about it? It's just a harmless story about a brother and his younger sister—it's practically wholesome compared to some of the insane tentacle titles out there!' He mentally sighed. 'At least appreciate the artists' effort, you ungrateful angel.'
"Hmph, you must have pervy thoughts about Kanna too, huh?" Gabriel accused, puffing her cheeks in mock anger.
'Excuse me?!' Kouya almost dropped the box. 'That blue-eyed dragon might look small, but she's ancient compared to you! Anyone dumb enough to touch her would get swallowed by Tohru in one bite—or sliced in half by some flying kitchen knife!' He shuddered at the mental image.
Suddenly, he felt a strange prickling sensation—like someone's eyes were burning holes into his back.
He turned slightly and spotted a familiar figure across the aisle. A girl with long black hair, holding a manga suspiciously high to cover her face.
"Hm? Machiko?" Kouya blinked. He'd seen her earlier on the train. 'Wait... she followed us here? Is she seriously here to buy eroge too?'
He couldn't help but smirk slightly at the thought. The strict, serious class rep, standing frozen in the adult section, pretending to read a manga—it was too surreal. Still, he wasn't the type to tease her. Not yet, anyway.
Meanwhile, Machiko was sweating bullets. "Phew... thank goodness he didn't notice me," she muttered, lowering the manga a little.
Then she saw the cover properly—and froze like a statue.
The illustration depicted a black-haired girl, face flushed, biting her lip as she looked away in embarrassment. Her delicate arms pressed against her chest, emphasizing her trembling form. It wasn't obscene, but somehow, that subtle restraint made it far more sensual.
And then she read the title: 'After School Secrets: The Black-Haired Beauty's Shame.'
Her entire face turned crimson.
Her imagination betrayed her instantly. She saw herself in the girl's place—following Kouya after class, getting caught, dragged into the storage room... his voice whispering in her ear... her breath quickening in panic and confusion—
"Ahhh! S-So scary~~!" she squeaked, hugging the book to her chest, trembling like a frightened rabbit.
...
"What do you want to buy?" Kouya asked, trying to sound casual as he flipped through the selection.
"You pick for me... anything's fine," Gabriel mumbled, fidgeting slightly, clearly embarrassed to be seen choosing one herself.
Kouya smirked. "Sure thing." He grabbed a few less provocative boxes, though that didn't make the situation any less awkward.
One was a typical oppai-themed game—win affection points and unlock date routes with a childhood friend, a cold senior, a clumsy underclassman, or even a gorgeous but lonely teacher. With enough effort, you could 'legally' enjoy her impressive curves.
"Eww, gross!" Gabriel said immediately, hugging her arms over her chest as if to shield herself from the box art.
'Hey, give the poor protagonist some credit!' Kouya thought. 'He's working hard for love here!' He ignored her protests and tossed it into the basket, adding a few more titles, including the recently released Bishoujo Mangekyou 4—rumored to have breathtaking visuals and a haunting story.
"Okay, we're done. Let's go already!" Gabriel hissed, tugging at his sleeve, cheeks burning as they made their way to the counter.
At the register, the cashier smiled politely. "Your total comes to 6,500 yen. You've earned a free lottery draw!"
"Eh? For real?" Gabriel's eyes lit up with excitement as she leaned forward.
"Yes," the cashier said cheerfully. "First prize is a limited Misaka Imouto figure."
"I'll do it!" Gabriel exclaimed, hand shooting up. "I pulled an SSR this morning—I'm on fire today!"
Kouya sighed inwardly. 'Your luck's probably used up already.'
But the cashier's next words made his jaw drop. "Congratulations! You've won second prize!"
"Eh?! Really?!" Gabriel gasped, eyes sparkling.
"Yes," the woman said with a grin, handing over a coupon. "You've won a free couple's set meal at Corner Café, valid today only."
Kouya glanced at Gabriel with a raised brow. 'This useless angel's luck is terrifying.'
Gabriel puffed her chest out proudly, spinning the coupon between her fingers. "See? Told you! Today's totally my lucky day! ╰(*°▽°)╯"
...
By the time they stepped out of the store, the orange glow of the setting sun bathed the streets in soft light. The city buzzed gently around them, and a breeze rustled through Gabriel's golden hair.
She waved the coupon like a banner of victory. "Let's go, I'm treating you!"
Using a free voucher to "treat" someone—how generous. Still, Kouya decided not to refuse; a proper meal beat another lonely bento night.
The restaurant, Corner Café, was a cozy little place with warm lighting, elegant wood furnishings, and soft jazz playing faintly in the background. Only a handful of customers sat chatting quietly, the air filled with the aroma of sizzling steak and buttered bread.
They handed their voucher to the smiling waitress and took a window seat.
Kouya barely had time to check his phone before Gabriel suddenly pointed out the window and growled, "Ugh! That restaurant across the street pisses me off!"
He looked up. Across the road, another diner had a massive banner plastered on its entrance: 'Bust Discount Week! A-cups 5% off, B-cups 15% off, the bigger, the better!'
Kouya blinked. 'If Lucoa ever walked in there, the restaurant would owe her money.'
Gabriel slammed her palms on the table, face red. "That's outrageous! That's sexist! Using women's bodies as a discount system—how dare they! Every one of them should explode!"
Kouya hid a smirk. 'Right. Totally not because your flat little chest doesn't qualify for the discount, huh?'
"Hey! What's with that look?!" Gabriel snapped instantly, glaring at him. "You're totally thinking something rude again!"
"Nope."
"Really?"
"Lying."
"You absolute bastard!!!" she shouted, smacking the table hard enough to rattle the utensils.
...
Their couple's meal arrived shortly after—a beautiful arrangement of dishes: a sashimi platter glistening on crushed ice, a whitefish salad sprinkled with citrus dressing, tender grilled steak topped with garlic butter, roasted sweetfish, and simmered vegetables bursting with flavor. Every dish looked like it belonged in a high-end restaurant.
And finally, there was the tall glass of iced lemon drink, two straws twisted into the shape of a heart—clearly meant for sharing.
Kouya picked up a slice of garlic bread first. The crisp, golden crust gave way to soft, buttery warmth that melted on his tongue. The faint aroma of roasted garlic filled the air. He nodded in approval, then sampled the sashimi—fresh, tender, and lightly sweet.
Gabriel, meanwhile, reached for the white shrimp sushi. One bite, and her eyes went wide. "This is amazing! Your shrimp—I'm taking it!"
The shrimp glistened like a gem, each piece perfectly shaped. There were only a few, but the flavor was delicate and pure.
Kouya chuckled. He wasn't a seafood fan, so he gestured silently for her to go ahead.
"Eh?" Gabriel blinked, half surprised. When he didn't react, she frowned. "If you don't say anything, I'll eat it all!"
Kouya smirked. "Eat too much and you'll get fat."
"Ha! As if! I have a body that doesn't gain weight no matter what I eat!" she bragged proudly, cheeks puffed, a few crumbs clinging adorably to her lips.