Chapter 88: Rikka’s Tears125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkx56nqRxZ
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj8oQsjdAi
"Hahahahaha!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHfvhq7vYk
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!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgSewzu5FT
"Eh? P-Pervert?" lucoa froze, her face turning red.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k8s9OytHk
"Hmph! A woman who uses her massive boobs to tempt men into sin is a pervert, obviously!" Kobayashi declared proudly, still kneading without shame.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN5iTSfNuY
Don’t say that! You, who’s fondling someone else’s chest like that, are the real pervert here!125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrGLiwF90d
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnQEq6yVgR
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuSM2s93sD
But amusement wasn’t happiness.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvB3MfkSGH
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmJCmDsUb6
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?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuryohr2Q9h
When the clock neared nine, Kouya finally stood up. "Tohru, I’m heading out."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI01rgst1mk
"Please take care, Kouya-sama." Tohru bowed politely, her tail twitching.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxzXpwCVG0
He waved her off and stepped into the night.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLVn4G3m4F
The wind outside was crisp and cool.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr8TDgdWG4
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXVTIoyutx
But as he neared his apartment complex, something caught his eye—a familiar silhouette standing beneath the glow of a streetlamp.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRFgOOoqxO
A petite girl with a single ahoge fluttering in the breeze, dressed in a gothic outfit she had clearly stitched herself—125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NbKUiIotl
Takanashi Rikka.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfJLWWZf4Q
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpYFfshCaE
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."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYUjjaToH7
"Eh?" Kouya froze. Then he immediately shook his head. Nice try.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMHP5t3UfN
You think I’d fall for that twice?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQYsxSkSQY
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmhiGeJcsO
Kouya sighed and decided to follow quietly, keeping a few steps behind.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uwWr1lUbq
She reached a narrow alleyway, stopped, and lifted her chin, smiling faintly. "Creature of darkness, are you too afraid to reveal yourself?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qXPP5Akz7
The alley was empty. Only the soft wind stirred dust and leaves.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7p86eV1t9
Of course, her dramatic lines went unanswered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjLpyteMUv
"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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0EFmHs5oq
Fight my ass! You’d just trip on your own umbrella swing!125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuqUWxRsdh
Who does this in the middle of the night? Alone, talking about ‘destiny battles’? Her chuunibyou was in full bloom tonight.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwAFYvMdz4
Expressionless, Kouya turned to leave. Following her had been a mistake.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt7iFgxZQw
Then the sharp roar of a motorcycle shattered the silence. The headlight flared, and with a screech, it stopped right in front of Rikka.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTeuga6LBr
"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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYJLSQ3Qyj
Rikka froze. Even her ahoge shot straight up, like a cat’s tail bristling in terror.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4XD5kX8Kb
Kouya stopped, frowning.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RJhSmXywS
Who the hell was this guy?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSRNweA7Ww
Had she really managed to summon some kind of “dark creature”? No—there was no magic coming from him. Just an ordinary human.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLc4UpCbbI
The scene was strange. An empty street. A quiet night. A trembling girl. A silent man on a motorcycle.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9PbNXqET9
Kouya suddenly remembered the news—stories of young girls going missing while walking home alone.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqqBR6cgce
Could this be one of those scumbags? And Rikka his next target?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxt8XdsNvE
The thought made Kouya’s blood turn cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVxMnfDPuQ
"Move," the man ordered, voice hoarse and low like an owl crying in a graveyard.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx7MwnFfpt
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBQwWg7AXD
Kouya was ready to act. His body tensed, heart steady.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDrzH7ycWu
Then—a sound broke through the night.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlNywhfZ8K
Footsteps. Fast ones. Accompanied by heavy panting.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWzLfpq3CX
Kouya turned, his face twisting into disbelief.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb3dL9aJTS
A husky came bounding out from the alley, tongue lolling, tail wagging, and without hesitation, jumped gracefully onto the motorcycle’s front pedal.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwP1NxcA5A
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo8xgjbxMP
"……"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuaLn0IblN
The air froze solid.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabgm6SXtVr
The silence was so thick it was painful.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8YSAG3Gj6
Then, the motorcycle rumbled, spewing exhaust, and vanished down the street in a blur of taillights.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMbtsRHZZB
Kouya just stood there, lips parting, words failing him entirely.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6v7KVGmjG
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4XflGYfyI
Kouya sighed deeply and walked over.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvGj507DOn
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVASzGKR2Zm
"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!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtFvUTG4iU
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7EitYJfNo
After a long pause, he asked quietly, "Why were you out here alone so late?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFOnRHLIks
"B-Because… I was searching for dark creatures…" she whispered timidly, still clutching his sleeve.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvxGHPge2g
"And your sister? Doesn’t she watch over you?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVnR9q8N3f
"My sister’s the head chef at a hotel. There’s a big banquet tonight… she’s not coming home."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qCUzWDvSw
Kouya sighed again. "Then stop wandering around at night. Come on, I’ll walk you back."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KOwnJbuwr
"Mm…" Rikka nodded, her teary eyes reflecting the streetlights, still damp but full of trust.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkilz5t3AL
They started walking slowly toward the apartments. Rikka clung to him tightly, her grip firm, as if afraid he’d vanish.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvaitisyjC
"Let go," Kouya muttered, glancing down.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFZKjkZ3SU
"N-No!" she said immediately, pressing closer. "If I let go, the hero might disappear!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNiyrlU3EZ
You think I’m some teleporting angel who just goes ‘biu’ and vanishes into thin air? Really?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy9OhcUskU
"Hero…"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1wnYT8Fti
"What now?" Kouya asked, raising a brow.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD7uNxe4qX
"Kouya-kun," she said softly, puffing her cheeks like a pouting child. "Walk me all the way home, okay?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWPYfPc6qx
"No."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI0DCmnb0I
"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!"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaayS2zxd1
Weren’t you the one challenging dark creatures ten minutes ago? Now you’re scared of walking home?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRG5AZwz6c
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qftztlGG3
As soon as he stepped into his room, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg06uVRmwo
He answered—and a frantic, panicked voice came through—125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6fwtmvduq
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