Satania stared at them in disbelief.
“Y-You actually lent Gabriel money?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Of course there is!” She rushed over and thrust out her hand. “I want some too!”
“Want what?”
“Money—no, an offering!” Satania puffed out her chest. “It’s only natural for a Great Archdemon to accept tribute from mortals!”
Natsuki put his wallet away.
“I’m out of money.”
“You clearly aren’t!”
“It’s still my money.”
Satania fell speechless with frustration.
Vignette gently tugged on her sleeve.
“Satania, don’t act like that…”
“But…” Satania’s eyes began to water. “Why does Gabriel get something when I don’t…?”
Her voice gradually faded until she sounded like a child who had been denied a piece of candy.
Natsuki paused, then reached into his schoolbag and took out a melon bread he had bought as a backup breakfast.
“Here.”
Satania froze.
“Th-That’s…”
“An offering.” Natsuki pressed the melon bread into her hands. “Please accept it, Great Satania-sama.”
She stared blankly at the bread for several seconds before her face suddenly turned bright red.
“H-Hmph! At least you understand your place!”
Clutching the melon bread to her chest, she spun around and ran off.
After only a few steps, however, she stopped and shouted back over her shoulder.
“T-Today’s conquest ends here! I’ll continue tomorrow!”
With that, she disappeared down the hallway.
Vignette released a relieved breath.
“Thank you, Natsuki-kun.”
“You’re welcome.”
Gabriel narrowed her eyes with an amused smile.
“I didn’t know you were so good at handling children, Amamiya-kun.”
“She acts more like a child than you do.”
“Hey!”
The bell rang again, sending everyone back to class.
…
At lunchtime, Natsuki had just opened his bento on the rooftop when footsteps came rushing up the stairs.
“Found you!”
Satania appeared carrying a tray of cafeteria curry and sat directly across from him.
“How did you know I was here?” Natsuki asked.
“Vignette told me.” Satania looked extremely pleased with herself. “She said you often eat on the rooftop.”
She shoveled a spoonful of curry into her mouth before declaring through the food, “As repayment for this morning, I shall permit you to share lunch with me.”
“What an honor.”
Satania’s face reddened again, and she immediately lowered her head to focus on eating.
Several quiet minutes passed before she suddenly asked, “Do you… really think I’m a Great Archdemon?”
Natsuki glanced at her.
“If you believe you are, then you are.”
“But Vignette and Gabriel always call me a chuuni…” Satania’s voice became subdued. “My grades in Hell are almost at the very bottom too…”
“Scores aren’t that important.”
“Then what is?”
“Being yourself.” Natsuki continued eating as he spoke. “Be a Great Archdemon if that’s what you want. Do whatever makes you happy.”
Satania went still.
She lowered her spoon and stared at him seriously.
“You… don’t think I’m an idiot?”
“A little.”
“Hey!”
“But you’re a cute idiot.”
Satania opened her mouth, but no words came out as the blush spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
She abruptly jumped to her feet.
“I-I’m finished eating! I’m leaving!”
She grabbed her tray and hurried down the stairs, nearly tripping at the entrance.
Natsuki chuckled.
‘She really is just a kid.’
…
The afternoon passed peacefully, and Satania did not return to bother him.
When school ended, however, Natsuki stepped out of the classroom and found her waiting in the hallway with a bag in her hands.
“H-Here!”
She shoved it into his arms.
Inside were several snacks and canned drinks.
“What’s this?”
“A return gift!” Satania turned her face away. “The great Satania never leaves a debt unpaid.”
Before Natsuki could respond, she fled down the corridor and vanished around the corner.
Eriri approached from behind and looked curiously at the bag.
“She gave you that?”
“Yeah.”
“You two seem to be getting along.”
“Maybe.”
They headed downstairs together and separated at the school entrance.
Natsuki continued toward the station alone, but as he passed a nearby park, he spotted Satania again.
She was crouched beside a bench, facing the same white dog from that morning. The dog held the melon bread Natsuki had given her between its teeth.
“Give it back!”
Satania lunged for the bread, only for the dog to dodge nimbly aside and wag its tail in open provocation.
“You wretched minion of Heaven!”
She threw herself forward again, and the white dog turned and ran, beginning another chase around the park.
Natsuki watched for a moment before walking over.
The stray dog stopped when it noticed him, giving Satania the chance to snatch back the melon bread, though one corner had already been bitten off.
“Ha! Victory belongs to the great Satania!”
She raised the bread triumphantly.
The dog barked once and ran away.
Only then did Satania notice Natsuki standing nearby.
“W-Why are you here?”
“Passing by.” Natsuki looked at the bread in her hand. “You’re still going to eat that?”
“Of course!”
Satania tore off the bitten section and stuffed the rest into her mouth.
“Wasting food is unforgivable.”
Her cheeks puffed out as she chewed, making her resemble a hamster.
Natsuki took a can of juice from the bag she had given him and held it out.
Satania accepted it and quietly murmured, “Thank you.”
They sat together on the bench while the setting sun dyed the sky a deep orange.
“Natsuki,” Satania began after a while.
“Mm?”
“You really don’t hate me?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because…” She lowered her gaze to her shoes. “Everyone thinks I’m annoying…”
Her voice grew softer with every word.
Natsuki took a sip from his drink.
“Well, you are a little loud.”
Satania’s body stiffened.
“But not enough for me to dislike you.”
She looked up immediately, her eyes shining.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Satania broke into a delighted grin, revealing her two small fangs.
“Then the conquest plan continues!”
“Please spare me.”
“No!” She stood and planted her hands on her hips. “I refuse to give up until you acknowledge my greatness!”
She waved before skipping away, then turned around again at the park entrance.
“See you tomorrow!”
The sunset stretched her shadow far across the ground.
Natsuki leaned back against the bench, a faint smile touching his lips.
‘A Great Archdemon, huh?’
‘She’s pretty entertaining.’
…
Night had fallen by the time Natsuki returned to his apartment.
His phone vibrated with a new message.
[Satania: The melon bread was delicious. Thank you. (￣▽￣)]
She had attached a selfie in which she held up half the melon bread and smiled like a complete fool.
[Natsuki: You’re welcome.]
Her reply came instantly.
[Satania: I’ll bring you strawberry daifuku tomorrow! It’s tribute, okay? Tribute!]
[Natsuki: Sure.]
Natsuki put down his phone and walked over to the window.
Tokyo remained as noisy and vibrant as ever beneath the night sky, yet hidden beneath that ordinary bustle were angels, demons, jujutsu sorcerers, curse users, and countless other strange beings.
“This world…”
He murmured softly.
“Really is lively.”