Chapter 218: Kanna's Parent Meeting
On the walk home, the cool evening air brushed against Kouya's face, carrying the scent of the city and a faint tang of iron from distant construction. The soft chatter of the girls filled the quiet streets, but his attention suddenly snapped to a figure flickering at the edge of his vision—a shadow darting between buildings.
His brow furrowed deeply.
Even from that brief glance, he knew. The stance, the energy, the faint trace of spiritual pressure—it was the same man from last night.
What was that guy doing here again? Watching? Following? Planning something?
Was he really bold enough to think he could threaten him by targeting those around him?
Kouya's eyes shifted sideways, landing on Gabriel first.
Gabriel and Vigne might appear like normal teenage girls to anyone else—one lazy, one gentle—but Kouya knew the truth. They were an angel and a demon. Even though Heaven and Hell had strict rules about revealing their powers to humans, those rules meant nothing when survival was on the line. If anyone dared touch them, the city would probably light up like a battlefield before the attacker could blink.
No, those two were the last people anyone should mess with.
Then there was Rikka. The chuunibyou girl next door. Harmless, eccentric, always muttering about dark forces. They weren't particularly close, and no one would use her as leverage anyway. Too random. Too detached.
His gaze finally settled on the smallest one in their group—Kanna Kamui.
Her tiny body, round cheeks, and soft blue eyes gave off pure innocence. From the outside, she looked completely defenseless. A perfect target if someone wanted to hurt him indirectly.
Technically, she was his cousin's child, which made the connection even more dangerous.
Kouya's thoughts darkened, tension building in his shoulders—until Kanna suddenly looked up at him. Her big, ocean-blue eyes blinked once, twice, then she tilted her head like a curious kitten.
Right. False alarm.
Anyone stupid enough to touch this little dragon would be lucky to die before being bitten in half.
…
"Kouya, see you tomorrow!" Vigne's gentle voice broke his thoughts.
"Yeah. Tomorrow."
After saying their goodbyes, Kouya walked Kanna back home, her small hand occasionally tugging at his sleeve as she kicked at pebbles along the sidewalk. When they reached the apartment building, he felt it instantly—a gaze from above.
He looked up. On the top-floor balcony stood a familiar figure with golden eyes and massive assets barely restrained by her maid outfit.
Before he could even sigh, Tohru launched herself off the balcony with draconic speed, landing right in front of him. "Kouya-sama! Good afternoon!" she said cheerily.
"Good what? And put away those horns and that tail when you talk to me," he muttered. "You're not fooling anyone."
Sniff, sniff.
Tohru leaned closer, sniffing like an overexcited puppy. After a few seconds, her expression softened into satisfaction. "Ah~ I can smell the scent of girls on you. The ones from the amusement park, right?" She flashed a thumbs-up, fangs glinting in the sunlight. "Well done!"
"Well done, my ass!" Kouya snapped. "That's not what happened!"
Seriously, was she a maid dragon or just a degenerate one?
"Kobayashi will be home soon," Tohru continued, unbothered. "Why not come up for dinner? We're having meat tonight!"
"No thanks." Kouya tried to decline politely, but before he knew it, Tohru had already latched onto his wrist with an unyielding smile.
"Come on, come on! Kobayashi will be thrilled to see you!"
…
The clock's hands crept toward seven when Kobayashi finally returned home, looking exhausted but composed.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back!" Tohru beamed, sprinting to the door. She knelt down, offering slippers like a perfect maid, her tail flicking back and forth with joy. "Here! Slippers!"
"Thanks," Kobayashi murmured with a tired smile.
Tohru swiftly hung up her coat, pulled a warm towel seemingly from nowhere, and presented it with both hands. "You must be tired, Kobayashi. Please, wipe your face!"
Kobayashi accepted it, chuckling. "Thanks, Tohru. You're always so reliable."
"Hehehe~ It's my duty!" Tohru's face glowed with pride, tail wagging faster than ever.
Meanwhile, Kouya sat silently on the couch beside Kanna, flipping through TV channels. The whole display in front of him made him twitch.
When he came in, he had to take off his own shoes. Where was his warm towel treatment?
"Oh, Kouya's here," Kobayashi said once she noticed him.
"He brought Kanna home," Tohru said proudly. "Then I invited him for dinner! He tried to refuse, but I dragged him up here."
"Nice job," Kobayashi replied offhandedly, making Tohru's grin widen even more.
Kobayashi sat beside Kanna, loosening her tie. "She hasn't caused you too much trouble, has she?"
"Not really." Kouya shrugged. "As long as she's fed, she's perfectly manageable."
That earned a quiet laugh from Kobayashi. "Sounds like she's been behaving."
Tohru suddenly raised her hand like a kid in class. "I know, I know! Kouya-sama's been surrounded by girls lately. I can smell so many scents on him!"
Kouya nearly choked. "Would you shut up already?!"
Why did she have to say that so loud?!
Kobayashi chuckled behind her hand, while Kanna's expression remained as blank as ever. "Smells normal to me," she mumbled.
Desperate to shift attention, Kouya asked, "Why're you home so late, Kobayashi?"
"This is actually early," Tohru answered, puffing her cheeks. "Last week she came home at eleven!"
"That was overtime," Kobayashi admitted, massaging her temples. "We've got a new client at work. I can't just slack off. Still, I'll survive."
Then she looked at him more seriously. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something, Kouya."
"What's that?"
"It's about Kanna. Her teacher's hosting a parent meeting this Friday to check in about her life and studies. I really want to go, but work's too busy." She sighed. "And sending Tohru would probably end up… catastrophic."
"Hey!" Tohru pouted, fake tears glimmering. "That's mean!"
"When is it again?" Kouya asked calmly.
"This Friday afternoon."
"Got it. I'll go."
Kobayashi blinked in surprise, then smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Kouya. That really helps."
He nodded once. If Vigne heard about this, she'd probably think it was cute.
Dinner was lively—Kanna quietly munching, Tohru doting on Kobayashi nonstop, and Kouya occasionally stepping in before the dragon burned something. The laughter, the warmth, the faint sizzle of oil—all of it gave the small apartment a peaceful, homely glow.
By the time dishes were cleared, the night sky outside had turned deep indigo. City lights shimmered like constellations reflected upside-down.
Kouya stood and stretched. "I should get going."
"Leaving already?" Kobayashi asked. "Stay a bit longer if you want."
He slipped on his shoes, shaking his head. "It's late. I'll go home, take a bath, and rest."
"Alright then."
Tohru followed him to the door, bowing deeply. "Take care, Kouya-sama!" she said sweetly.
Her chest bounced with the motion, jiggling three times in rhythm, and for a second Kouya honestly feared the buttons on her blouse might explode.
Waving awkwardly, he left and walked into the cool night. The air outside was quieter—just the sound of wind through leaves and the distant hum of passing cars. He crossed into a nearby park, where the glow from streetlamps painted pools of light on the path.
He stopped, his voice cold and even. "This is your last warning."
Being followed irritated him to no end. Especially when it was by someone with a hidden agenda.
He only spoke once. That was his rule. One warning. One chance.
The silence that followed was heavy enough to suffocate.
Kouya's calm tone carried a weight that made Ishida Ryuji's heart seize. For a heartbeat, it felt like an unseen force was gripping his throat, pressing down until air barely passed through.
The tall man stepped forward slowly, stopping five meters away, then bowed so deeply his head nearly touched the ground. "Forgive me for following you, sir," he said firmly.
He didn't dare look up. Facing Kouya directly was like standing before a storm that could swallow the world.
"I had to meet you. Please—help me. I need you to kill a monster."
Kouya's eyes narrowed. "Why should I?"
"I can pay," Ishida said quickly. "Properties, cash—over a hundred million yen (around 650,000$). All of it, if you'll take the job."
"Not interested."
Kouya turned, hands in his pockets, and began walking away without looking back.
Money had never meant anything to him. He could pluck a single artifact from his own treasury and it'd be worth more than the man's entire fortune.
As his figure vanished into the dark, Ishida remained still, head bowed, disappointment and desperation mixing in his eyes.
But even then—he hadn't given up.
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