Chapter 220: Wicked Game
Raphiel extended a slender finger, her expression slightly troubled as she spoke, her tone soft yet teasing—melodious and faintly provocative, the kind of casual charm that only made the scene more unbearable for the one across from her.
"As for me, it's really a headache too. I have to change my underwear again, otherwise it'll feel too tight... the size keeps getting smaller every time. Maybe I should go shopping after club activities."
Crack!
The fallen angel across from Kouya had already snapped her disposable chopsticks clean in half. The sharp sound echoed through the room like a gunshot. The black aura behind her thickened, seething and pulsing like living shadow, rolling and twisting as if reality itself strained under her wrath. This was no mere irritation—it was the kind of pressure that could crush the air from your lungs. The storm of malice coiled and surged, as if an unseen flood of doom had risen to drown the world.
Vigne didn't say a word. She simply sat there, quiet and graceful, bringing each bite of bento to her lips as though nothing were amiss. But her eyes flicked nervously from behind her lashes, betraying her awareness that she was sitting in the middle of a disaster zone.
"Attendant, attendant, let me tell you something!" Satania's bright, oblivious voice cut through the tension like a chainsaw through silk.
Completely unaware of the apocalyptic danger forming behind her, the red-haired demon leaned in toward Kouya, eyes sparkling with the thrill of gossip. "During the health check today, Gabriel's height and bust didn't change at all, but her weight went up by two—"
Before she could finish, Gabriel's chair screeched against the floor. The air itself seemed to distort. A flash of light, a burst of killing intent—then Gabriel was gone from her seat. She reappeared in front of Satania in an instant, blade shimmering with divine light. With a motion too fast for the human eye, she unleashed a Starburst Stream Slash. The air cracked apart as the dark resentment behind her condensed into a massive black dragon that roared to life and devoured Satania whole.
Boom!
Satania crashed to the ground, limbs limp, eyes spiraling like swirls in a cartoon. Her body twitched once, then went still.
Without a flicker of emotion, Gabriel grabbed Satania by the collar and lifted her off the floor like a piece of trash. "You guys eat. I'll throw this garbage out."
"Satania didn't mean it...!" Vigne stammered, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple as she rushed forward, prying Satania from Gabriel's grip like a frantic peacekeeper stopping a war crime.
Kouya rested his chin in his hand, thinking.
Height and bust stayed the same, but weight increased... so basically—you got fatter!
No wonder she was furious. The part she most wanted to grow hadn't changed, but the part she least wanted to grow had. A tragedy that could shake heaven itself.
...
After lunch, the storm finally settled. The room filled again with the gentle clinking of cups and the soft hum of conversation.
Vigne, ever composed, brewed fresh coffee for everyone. The rich aroma spread through the clubroom, blending with the golden light of the afternoon sun. She carried each cup with care, placed them on the table, then quietly took her place by the window. Her book opened with a whisper. Sunlight spilled across her hair, giving her an ethereal calm that softened the entire room.
Raphiel, in contrast, was perched near the center of the table, hanging several Fuchiko figures from the rim of her cup, arranging them like ornaments. Each tiny figure posed differently—one dangling by her knees, another balancing on her hands—and Raphiel inspected each angle until satisfied. There was almost a strange artistic focus to her movements.
Satania had already bounced back from her earlier annihilation. Hugging a small pillow, she wriggled happily on the tabletop, humming nonsense and grinning like a child who'd just been given sweets.
Across the room, Takanashi Rikka crouched over the floor, chalk in hand, muttering what sounded like incantations. A complex, spiraling summoning circle was taking shape on the tiles, filled with arcane symbols that glowed faintly under the sunlight. Her single visible eye shimmered with solemn intensity.
"It's the first day of club activities! We've got to do something fun!" Raphiel announced brightly, clapping her hands and leaning forward, her golden hair swaying. "How about we play a game? Something exciting, something wicked."
"What kind of game?" Satania perked up, her tail twitching with anticipation.
"How about Daifugō?" Raphiel raised her index finger with mock elegance. "But whoever loses has to walk barefoot on a spike mat."
A chill went through the room. Everyone froze.
Then came a synchronized chorus of refusal:
"No way!"
"I'm not playing Daifugō with that idiot Satania," Gabriel mumbled, still face-down on the table.
"I'm not an idiot!" Satania puffed her cheeks, eyes gleaming with indignation.
"Really?" Gabriel's voice was flat, her tone dripping sarcasm. She lifted her head just enough to peer at Satania. "Then answer this. What's seven times eight?"
"Th-this..."
Satania blinked, frowned, and began counting on her fingers. "Seven times one is seven, seven times two is fourteen, seven times three is twenty-eight..."
The counting went on for an awkwardly long time.
Then—her face lit up. "I know! It's forty-nine! Easy!"
The room fell silent.
You counted for a full minute... and still got it wrong?
How did she even manage ten points on that math test last time? Divine intervention?
Vigne sighed, rubbing her temples. "Satania, if a limited-edition rainbow melon bread costs 700 yen, how much would eight of them cost?"
Satania's face brightened. "That's easy! 5600 yen!"
So she could calculate—she just needed to think in terms of melon bread.
Raphiel chuckled behind her hand, eyes sparkling with amusement. "If no one wants to play Daifugō, then let's play something else." She turned to the cabinet, pulling out a brightly colored box. "I got this as a raffle prize recently. Haven't had the chance to test it yet."
Before anyone could protest, she seized both Satania and Rikka by the wrists and dragged them toward the table. Then she turned to Vigne, clasping her hands together with a pleading sparkle in her eyes. "Vigne-chan, come on, play with us! It's the first day of our club—we have to make memories!"
Vigne exhaled slowly, shaking her head in quiet resignation. "We're supposed to be the coffee club. Why does this feel like anything but coffee?" Yet a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. I'll join."
Next came Gabriel.
"Gabi-chan, come on, it'll be more fun with you." Raphiel leaned over, her voice playful.
"Nope. I'm on a diet like Alph," Gabriel replied instantly.
"If you join, I'll tell you a secret about..." Raphiel whispered into her ear. Gabriel's half-lidded eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
"Of course!" Raphiel tapped her chest proudly, grinning. "Big-boob guarantee!"
Gabriel groaned but finally relented. "Fine. Just this once."
Raphiel then turned to Kouya. "Kouya-kun? You too. It's only fun when everyone's in."
Kouya glanced at the board. It looked like a physical version of Monopoly, complete with a central spinner and event cards scattered around the board. He'd played a digital version before, so the concept wasn't new—but with Raphiel giving him that wide, innocent grin, saying no felt impossible.
"Alright, fine," he said, sighing.
The rules were simple: each player picked a character card, spun the wheel in turn, and moved the indicated number of spaces. Each square had a random event—some good, some terrible, some just bizarre.
Raphiel went first, spinning the wheel with a cheerful giggle. The pointer clicked, slowed, and stopped on three.
"That means three spaces! One, two, three... here!"
[You gain the 'Model Student' aura. Money +1000.]
She smiled triumphantly, turning to Kouya. "Your turn, Kouya-kun."
Kouya spun the wheel. The pointer clacked loudly before stopping on five.
[You encounter a girl on a rainy night. She falls for you at first sight, and you also have a childhood friend blessed with heavenly luck. Money +2000.]
Kouya arched an eyebrow. "Rainy night, huh? How romantic... and ridiculous."
Predictably, just another silly setup. Love at first sight? Fateful childhood friends? Utter fantasy.
Then came Vigne's turn. She spun delicately; the pointer landed on eight. Her fingers trembled as she moved her piece, and her cheeks flushed red.
[On a cold, rainy night, your paths cross. You've found your crush. Money +500.]
Satania blinked between the two of them. "Wait... why are both your events about rainy nights?"
Vigne's head snapped away. "W-what rainy night! Don't make it weird!"
Raphiel laced her fingers together, smiling like a cat that knew too much. "Actually, this game's events link together. As it goes on, relationships can develop—friends, rivals, couples. But remember, it's just a game, so don't get too attached."
"E-exactly!" Vigne stammered, clutching her coffee cup like a lifeline. She took a shaky sip, her ears turning red. "It doesn't mean anything anyway…"
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