"Cheers~"
At night, in a cozy little shop somewhere in Tokyo, soft lights illuminated everyone's faces. Everyone raised their glasses, and with a crisp clinking sound, beer foam spilled out, splashing onto the various dishes on the dining table.
Renji Kuroda took a sip, looking uncomfortable. He wasn't used to drinking beer, so he chose a glass of freshly squeezed juice as a substitute.This small shop was a typical Japanese style, with no chairs; everyone sat cross-legged on the tatami mats to eat.
Renji changed his posture, his gaze sweeping over the array of delicious food on the table, finally settling on the plate of tuna sushi.He reached out his chopsticks, about to pick up a piece of sushi, when an arm suddenly stretched out, knocked his chopsticks away, and blocked between Renji and the food.Power pulled the entire plate of tuna sushi towards her, hugged it in her arms, and stared at Renji with a vigilant expression."Don't eat! All this food is mine!"
Renji's eyelids twitched slightly, a bit annoyed, but he didn't bother to argue, instead turning his attention to the sashimi on the other side."Has Miss Makima not arrived yet?"Renji asked Hayakawa Aki, who was diagonally opposite him, while tasting the sashimi. Aki was chatting with another member of the Special Division Against Devils."Miss Makima hasn't arrived yet, she said on the phone she's about five minutes away."
"Ding~ Detected Himeno's curious emotion, system rewards 10 points."
At this moment, Himeno, who was beside him, suddenly leaned over, looking drunk, her movements bold, and she threw an arm around Renji Kuroda's neck.
"What, what, what happened to Miss Makima? Why are you asking about Miss Makima, Renji? Are you interested in Miss Makima? Are you that kind of person? One of those rare people with sexual urges towards the same gender?"
Her words carried a teasing tone, and as she spoke, she gulped down a large glass of beer in her hand."Oh my~ That's refreshing! But I'll tell you, Renji, putting aside whether Miss Makima is interested in you in that way, in this world, relationships between leaders and subordinates don't end well. I advise you to give up early."
"No, I was just asking. Isn't she a leader?"
"True, setting aside everything else, Miss Makima is a leader, you know. Come, drink, drink, the alcohol at this place is quite good."Himeno picked up a glass of beer and shoved it into Renji's arms. Renji couldn't refuse and had to drink it all in one gulp, his expression turning red and then pale.
Himeno first asked Renji's age, and upon learning he was an adult, she laughed heartily, mocking Renji's naive expression, then let go of him and went to talk to other squad members on the other side.
Just then, the shop door was gently pushed open, and Kobeni, having changed her shoes, ran in with an apologetic expression. She was late because she got lost.As soon as Renji Kuroda saw Kobeni, a brilliant smile instantly bloomed on his face, and he quickly waved, calling out,"Hey! Kobeni-senpai! Over here! I still have a spot here!"
"Ding~ Detected Higashiyama Kobeni's nervous emotion, system rewards 20 points."
As soon as Kobeni saw Renji, her expression instantly became nervous. She was a bit flustered, her voice trembling slightly, and she pointed to an empty seat on the other side."Eh...? That... that, I'll still sit..."
"Kobeni, you should still sit with Renji. He's so enthusiastic, and you're both new. It's better to foster some camaraderie in this kind of setting." Hayakawa Aki interjected at the right time, encouraging Kobeni.
Kobeni looked at Aki, then at the happy Renji, and suddenly felt a renewed urge to cry. Finally, she bit her lip, nodded, and obediently sat down next to Renji.Her movements were stiff and cautious, as if afraid of attracting Renji's attention.
However, Renji's attitude was beyond her expectation. Renji picked up a piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks and placed it on the plate in front of Kobeni.He said enthusiastically, "Here, try this fried chicken. I just had one, and it tastes really good!"
Renji's enthusiastic attitude and happy expression slightly eased Kobeni's nervousness. She looked at the golden fried chicken on the plate, and her attention was quickly drawn to it.She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite, a happy smile blooming on her face:"So... delicious! This is the first time I've eaten such delicious food!"
"Ding~ Detected Higashiyama Kobeni's happy emotion, system rewards 5 points."
"Right, right! And we don't even have to pay! Just thinking about that makes the food taste even better!"
These words resonated with Kobeni, and she nodded continuously, unconsciously developing a slight fondness for Renji Kuroda.
"Ding~ Detected Higashiyama Kobeni's guilty emotion, system rewards 20 points."
She suddenly felt that Renji Kuroda might not be a bad person after all.Perhaps the previous bullying—where he made her take off her clothes and dance—actually had a purpose, especially since the price of Renji's devil contract was so strange.
Kobeni held her chopsticks, reaching for another piece of fried chicken on the plate, when an arm suddenly came across, pushing her chopsticks aside."Thief! Don't you dare steal! All this fried chicken is mine too!"
Kobeni was startled by the sudden turn of events, her chopsticks falling onto the table. She nervously looked at Power opposite her, at a loss."Eh...? Th-that...""Hey, Power, aren't you going too far! Stealing one plate is enough! But two plates! Can you really eat that much?!"
Kobeni quickly blocked Renji's front, shielding his gaze, then turned to Power, hastily explaining between the two."It's okay, both of you, don't fight, don't fight. It's fine if I don't eat."
Renji was already poised to snatch back the fried chicken.
But Power's reaction was somewhat unexpected. Although she looked unhappy, she actually returned the fried chicken, pouting and grumbling."I know, I know, really, I'm taking pity on you, I won't fight you for it, so be grateful, human."
Ding~ Detected Power's doting emotion, system rewards 20 points.
Upon hearing this system prompt, Renji was stunned.Doting? What the heck?He noticed that although Power was grumbling, there was indeed a hint of doting on her face—exactly the same expression she had when feeding Meowy at home.
Renji wondered, Does she see me as a pet cat now?
At this moment, Renji suddenly recalled the incident of someone peeking in the bathroom when he was trapped by the Eternal Devil, and a premonition of ill omen surged in his heart:Could that peeping person have been Power…?
Logically speaking, in Power's perception, in a world with only females, for a male like him to appear, her simple mind and heartless personality really might lead her to treat him as a protected animal.No way?
Just as Renji was thinking about this, Kobeni's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Ding~ Detected Kobeni's grateful emotion, system rewards 5 points.
"That... Th-thank you, Renji. It turns out you're not a bad person, you're a good person. I misunderstood you before, I'm really sorry."
Renji snapped back to reality and shook his head:"Hmm? Ah, it's nothing, it was Power's fault to begin with."
"Hey! You bastard! Why did you snatch all the plates?! Do you think you're the only one eating?! I finally get to have a big meal! I want to eat too!"
"So noisy! First come, first served! All this tempura is mine too!"
At this moment, Denji and Power's quarrel erupted. They started fighting over the tempura, and the atmosphere at the dining table instantly ignited. Some people at the table pointed at the two rolling and wrestling on the tatami, embracing each other, and burst into laughter.
Himeno finished another glass of beer. She turned around, her face flushed, and suddenly leaned against Renji, her breathing heavy, reeking of alcohol.
Ding~ Detected Himeno's longing emotion, system rewards 20 points.