Chapter 272: First Kiss
By the time the two stepped off the train, the sun had already dipped toward the horizon, bathing the city in golden dusk. The light scattered softly across the pavement, stretching their shadows long and faint, wrapping the world in a warm amber glow.
The lazy angel finally slipped out of Kouya's arms, her face still flushed—whether from the heat, the stuffy air, or the embarrassment, even she didn't seem sure. Her golden hair shimmered faintly in the sunset, and though her cheeks were warm and red, her half-lidded eyes carried their usual lazy indifference. At first glance, she looked no different from her usual self—yet there was a subtle tension in the air between them, like the lingering warmth of touch that refused to fade.
"I'm thirsty," Gabriel murmured, tilting her head back with an exaggerated sigh.
'If you're thirsty, go get something to drink. Why tell me like I'm your servant?'
"I want ice cream," she added, pointing lazily toward a small shop across the street, her expression as calm as if she were ordering an angelic decree.
Kouya frowned slightly. "You sure have a lot of demands."
Still, he found himself giving in. Maybe it was because of the faint amusement in her tone, or maybe because her flushed face looked oddly cute under the sunset. He bought two mochi ice creams, the fancy kind with soft rice skin and creamy filling, and followed her to a quiet bench nearby where the street was nearly empty.
The evening breeze swept gently through the trees, rustling the leaves in a rhythm that almost sounded like the soft whisper of waves. The faint scent of earth and summer air mingled together, making the quiet moment oddly peaceful.
Kouya peeled open the wrapper, feeling the coolness of the mochi through his fingers. The smooth rice skin glistened slightly, and when he bit into it, the creamy center melted instantly on his tongue. He remembered the first time he'd shared one of these with Kanna—the blue-eyed dragon girl whose smile had been as bright as the ice cream was sweet. The memory drew a faint smile from him.
Gabriel, on the other hand, looked uncertain where to start. She brought the ice cream close, then pulled back. The chill made her nose wrinkle adorably before she stuck out her pink tongue and began to lick it slowly. Her movements were careful, almost kitten-like, each soft lick leaving a glossy sheen behind. Her lashes fluttered with each motion, and for once, she looked calm and… gentle.
Kouya found himself staring before he even realized it.
"What are you looking at?" Gabriel suddenly snapped, her cheeks puffing as she glared at him.
'Hey, that's unfair! You eat like that in front of me and then act like I'm the weird one?'
Before he could reply, a stray dog came bounding over from the corner, tail wagging wildly as it stopped right in front of Gabriel, panting happily.
"Eh? What's with this dog?" Gabriel asked, tilting her head.
Kouya sighed quietly. That was the same injured stray she'd run into a few days ago—the one she'd fed sausages to while returning from that suspicious game store. Clearly, it remembered her.
'You forgot already, didn't you?' he thought. 'The poor thing probably ran all the way here just to see you.'
"Oh, it's you," Gabriel said lazily, waving a hand. "Yo, good evening."
"Woof! Woof!" The little dog barked twice and sat neatly in front of her, tail wagging with pure joy.
"Wait, is it… trying to repay me?" she asked, blinking curiously.
Kouya twitched his mouth. 'Repay you? What, you expect it to bring a diamond ring or something?'
"Hmph, even the Snail Maiden could repay kindness, so why can't a dog?" she said proudly, reaching down to stroke its head.
The dog leaned into her touch happily, its tail wagging harder. Its gaze, though, soon locked onto the ice cream in her hand. Those big brown eyes practically sparkled with pleading: I want some too!
Gabriel blinked, then looked from the ice cream to the dog and back again.
Then, without hesitation, she took a huge bite and finished it in one go.
"I heard dogs shouldn't eat ice cream. It'll make their teeth hurt," she said calmly, brushing her hands off. "So I did him a favor."
Kouya stared in disbelief. 'You just wanted to eat it all yourself!'
The little dog's ears drooped. It stared at her empty hands for a moment, then turned away sadly, tail limp as it trudged off.
Gabriel crossed her arms. "What are you looking at me for? Fine, next time I'll feed it two bags of sausages, okay?"
She pumped her fist triumphantly. "Now come on, let's go buy groceries! I'm gonna eat like a queen tonight—and then do ten gacha pulls! All night if I have to!"
A soft breeze drifted along the street, carrying a faint chill of early night. Streetlights flickered on one by one as the city's glow replaced the fading sunset.
But just then, a sharp voice broke the quiet.
"Ow! Something got in my eye!"
Gabriel winced, raising her hand instinctively to rub it—but froze halfway. She'd just petted a stray dog. Her fingers were probably covered in dust.
"Ugh, it stings," she muttered, squinting one eye shut. "Kouya, hurry up and blow it for me."
He sighed, fighting a smile. 'How does someone get so unlucky in five minutes flat?'
"Don't move," he said, sliding closer on the bench. "Look up."
Gabriel tilted her face upward obediently. Her brows pinched together, her lips pursed. "Hurry up already."
Kouya reached out, one hand gently lifting her chin while the other brushed her bangs aside and carefully opened her eyelid. In her bright blue iris, he could see his reflection crystal clear.
Their faces were close—so close their breaths mingled, the warmth of her skin brushing against his. The faint scent of her shampoo, mixed with sweetness from the ice cream, filled the space between them. Her lashes trembled, and a faint pink spread across her cheeks.
"Idiot… stop staring and blow already," she muttered softly, voice trembling just a bit.
"Don't move," he murmured back. He leaned in, his breath brushing gently across her eye until the speck lifted away.
"Ahh… finally!" Gabriel sighed with relief, pouting as she rubbed her temple. "Ugh, why'd it have to be me? So unlucky!"
But Kouya's gaze wasn't on her eye anymore.
His attention had drifted lower—to her lips.
They were thin, delicate, naturally tinted with a soft pink. Without makeup, they still glistened faintly under the dying light, as though inviting him closer. The way she pouted only made them look more tempting.
Gabriel noticed the shift in his expression, her heart skipping. "Hey… what's with that weird look? Don't you dare—"
Before she could finish, his face was already moving closer.
The space between them disappeared.
Their lips met.
The faint sound of rustling leaves seemed to stop. Even the city's noise dimmed into silence. The world shrank to the warmth where their mouths met.
Gabriel froze. Her big blue eyes widened, her breath caught mid-inhale. The soft sweetness of ice cream still lingered between their lips, cold meeting warmth. Kouya's mind went blank—his senses overwhelmed by that faint, fragile contact.
He had always thought kisses were just… lips touching. Something mechanical, meaningless, exaggerated by movies and stories. But this—this was different.
The first thing he felt was softness.
Her lips were pliant, delicate, like the smoothest candy, melting instantly against his.
The second was sweetness—a cool, creamy flavor that made his heart twist in delight. The leftover taste of vanilla mixed with her breath, and he wanted more.
And the third… was something beyond words.
His heart pounded violently, as if his body had just remembered what it meant to be alive. A quiet, electric rush spread from his chest to his fingertips. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a spark, something that left him breathless and strangely hungry for more.
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