Chapter 268: Very Well Matched
"Hurry up and get over here!" Gabriel waved her tiny fist like an impatient child trying to boss around an adult twice her size.
Buying couple outfits with this girl, then taking photos and such... it's ridiculously annoying, but what can I do? Every fiber of my being screamed resistance, yet here I was—dragged into this farce by an angel who had somehow mastered the art of manipulation through pure laziness and threats.
I'm desperate too.
Because my recent evaluations weren't great, the administrators in Heaven cut a good portion of my living allowance. Then, a few days ago, I dumped the rest of my money into a ten-pull gacha. Yeah, that shiny moment of hope vanished fast. Now, forget spending on games—I can barely afford lunch.
So yeah, making some extra cash within my ability should totally be praised as self-reliance. Anyone who dares criticize me? Beat them. Beat them without hesitation.
"Come on, hurry and pick which outfit to buy. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go home," Gabriel barked again, her tiny brow twitching with irritation.
So-called couple outfits are clothes meant for two people in love—sometimes identical, sometimes complementary—but these days, coordinated designs with shared themes are the trend.
The female sales clerk, noticing our dynamic, gave us a professional smile that was just a bit too knowing. She led us to a row of racks gleaming under soft white lights and introduced them cheerfully:
"The weather's getting hotter, so thick clothes aren't ideal. I recommend this couple's set—it's 100% cotton, won't fade, the colors are clean and bright, breathable and sweat-absorbent. The price is fair too, and it's especially popular among students."
She picked out two blue short-sleeved T-shirts and held them up for us. The hems were shaped like ocean waves, and when placed side by side, they formed a continuous crest that looked like a calm sea bursting into life.
The larger shirt had a boy stretching out his hand, while the smaller one showed a girl reaching for it. Together, they made the image of two silhouettes holding hands beneath a glowing sunset, the waves curling around them like a frame. Honestly... it wasn't bad. It even looked a little romantic.
"This one's our best-seller. Cute and symbolic, right?" the clerk added.
"As long as it's a couple outfit, I don't care how it looks," Gabriel said, waving her hand dismissively as if the concept of aesthetics was beneath her.
The sales clerk's smile faltered slightly.
Who buys clothes without caring how they look?
Are you even a girl?
Of course, she didn't dare say that. She only smiled brighter. "Understood. If you buy both together, you'll get a 10% discount—7,500 yen total."
Gabriel clearly had no interest in browsing further. "Then we'll take this one. Bag it."
The clerk blinked. That was... fast. No sizing, no checking, nothing. She didn't even hold it up to see if it fit.
Kouya tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe you should pick another one?"
"Why?" Gabriel's blue eyes narrowed.
Kouya sighed. "Because... you probably can't fill out that shirt."
The words hung in the air.
A metaphorical lightning bolt struck the store.
Gabriel froze. Total system crash.
The clerk had to bite her lip to suppress a laugh, turning a cough into a half-choked giggle.
Kouya, standing over 180 cm tall (5'11), cast a shadow over the tiny blonde girl beside him, who barely scraped 150 (4'11). Even in Japan, she was petite, almost doll-like.
The visual contrast between them was admittedly adorable—but yeah, she really wouldn't fill that shirt.
"We do have smaller sizes," the clerk said gently, trying to defuse the tension. "I'll bring one right—"
"No need!" Gabriel's voice rose an octave. She gritted her teeth. "I'm only wearing it once anyway!"
Only once? The clerk blinked.
A rich customer, perhaps? The kind who wears things once and tosses them?
Curiosity gleamed in her eyes. Just what was the relationship between these two?
A couple? Not quite. But definitely not just friends.
Either way, it was entertaining.
The lazy angel bared her small fang, glaring up at Kouya. Then she pointed toward another display with the air of a queen issuing orders.
"I want those instead!"
Kouya followed her finger—and froze.
The pair she pointed at was plain white, simple enough... but the illustrations were absurd.
The larger shirt had a cartoon dog surrounded by floating pink hearts, while the smaller one had a huge bone printed right over the chest.
You had to be kidding.
"These two!" Gabriel said with finality, crossing her arms in triumph.
Kouya exhaled slowly. "I didn't agree."
"Huh? You dare have an opinion?"
He raised an eyebrow. Oh, he dared.
"I think the first one looked way better."
"Objection overruled!" Gabriel huffed. "Appeal rights revoked for life!"
"...When did you become a judge?" Kouya muttered.
The sales clerk stood there with a frozen smile, watching the two argue like a sitcom couple. After a pause, she said, carefully, "Um... why don't you two try them on first? See if they fit?"
Gabriel nodded reluctantly. "Fine."
She snatched the clothes and vanished into the fitting room, muttering under her breath. The clerk then turned to Kouya. "This way, sir."
He followed, entering the men's fitting room with a resigned sigh. It was just a shirt. No reason to make it dramatic.
Actually, he thought as he buttoned it, he didn't have much summer wear anyway. Maybe he'd pick up an extra set or two.
A few minutes later, he stepped out. No sign of Gabriel yet.
He leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone, when he suddenly felt eyes on him.
He turned.
A few meters away stood a girl with long black hair and a neat school uniform—Machiko. She was watching him curiously, fidgeting as if torn between approaching and retreating.
Their eyes met. She quickly looked down but didn't run. That was progress. After the Old Maid game the other day, her fear of him had eased a lot.
'I ran into Kouya again,' she thought, heart fluttering. '...Is he shopping for clothes?'
Should she greet him? It would be rude not to. They were classmates, after all.
She took a deep breath and finally decided to move—just as Gabriel stepped out of the fitting room.
Machiko froze mid-step.
"G-Gabriel?" she blurted softly.
Then her eyes darted to their matching shirts.
"Wait—they're couple outfits?"
Her mind blanked. 'No wonder Kouya's here... he came to buy matching clothes with Gabriel?!'
Her heart sank. She covered her mouth in disbelief. "Oh no! Poor Vigne must still have no idea..."
"Alright, we'll take this one," Gabriel said, stepping fully into the light.
The white shirt hugged her petite frame perfectly, accentuating her fair skin and delicate features. Her golden hair glimmered beneath the store's lights, her porcelain face glowing faintly pink. The effect was almost too cute to look at directly.
The clerk's eyes lit up. She clasped her hands and said warmly, "You two look very well matched."
Gabriel's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. "W-What? How are we matched at all?!" she snapped, turning toward Kouya with indignant energy. But before she could say more, her eyes caught movement outside.
Machiko.
Standing there, pale-faced, looking like she'd seen a ghost.
"Eh? Machiko?" Gabriel blinked, surprised. Then quickly waved, forcing a smile. "Hey, Machiko! Come here!"
She definitely didn't want anyone—especially Vigne—finding out about these couple outfits.
But before she could even finish her sentence, the black-haired girl flinched, spun around, and bolted straight out the door like her life depended on it.
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