Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Bread Winner
Angelie failed to talk to the purple haired male student that morning. Then it was already lunch break. Everyone was at the corner of the school building rooftop. This included Sanaka as she was invited, or dragged, by Angelie. Some other students were also eating their lunch there. The three girls were seated on the floor facing each other in a circular position.
Akuma, on the other hand, was standing beside them and had his arms resting on the railing. He was looking out at the view and eating the yakisoba bread he bought from the school cafeteria. His eyes were unconsciously being drawn to the lunches the girls brought with them. Angelie had a small bento with rice, fish and some vegetable side dish. Sanaka had some rice and boneless fried chicken with her. But what really caught his attention was Mimi's three-layered giant bento boxes. Expensive looking meat dishes with a variety of side dishes were overflowing. His drool was starting to flow.
"Wow, Mimi-san, you brought a lot of food. Mine is just fish. I feel somewhat ashamed."
Angelie giggled while praising the impressive sight.
"It's just that I prepare the food for my siblings, as well. These are just left-overs. Please, help yourselves. I hope you find it palatable to your tastes."
Akuma motioned to grab some food from Mimi's bento boxes that were now placed on the floor for everyone to partake.
"Then, don't mind if I do—"
"That invitation didn't extend to your evil realm, Demon Lord."
Both Mimi and Angelie laughed. Sanaka was being unusually quiet. She then held out her bento toward Akuma.
"H-here, it's just fried chicken. Just don't complain if it tastes bad—"
"Wow, these are good. You're not just cute but can cook as well. I wish everyone is as useful as you, Sanaka."
He was already munching on the fried chicken.
"You should really work on your compliments, you know? But as long as you like it, then it's fine."
She was still slightly smiling as she was complaining to him.
As they were enjoying their lunch, there was a commotion brewing on the other side of the rooftop. There was a group of boys that looked like they were having an argument with a single male student.
Mimi noticed what was happening as it was directly in her line of sight. She pointed at it, then Angelie and Sanaka looked at the commotion as well. Akuma was disinterested, as he saw an opportunity to grab some food from Mimi's bento while she wasn't looking.
Some of the other students were starting to notice and looked at the direction of the scene. When the lone student was pushed down to the floor, Angelie immediately stood up and went over there.
"Hey, are you bullying this student? I would like to nicely ask you to stop. Or I will have to report this to a teacher."
Angelie stood in front of the group of boys, while the male student who was pushed down was beside her.
"Tsk. Mind your own business. Let's get out of here, guys."
The group of male students left the rooftop. Angelie crouched down and faced the boy who was on the floor.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, thanks for that. Though it was my fault, anyway."
He had his hand behind his head and laughed slightly. He stood up while dusting himself, then made sure the contents of his large paper bag were safe. Angelie then stood up, as well.
"Um, have I seen you somewhere… Oh! You're that student earlier who ran away because of my elbow attack!"
"I didn't actually run away. But it was scary, alright—"
"I'm sorry! I swear we aren't an awful club!"
Angelie bowed down from her head to waist.
"Hey, don't worry about it! Just remind me not to be on your bad side."
He laughed genuinely.
"So, do you mind telling us what happened?"
Angelie pointed toward Mimi and the others. She then saw Akuma getting food from Mimi's bento. She rushed back to smack him down. The male student exhaled and grinned.
---
He sat with Angelie and the others, clutching his paper bag at his side.
"By the way, I'm Ketsueki Kiba, from 2-D. Again, thanks for back there. But as I also said, it was my fault that happened."
"So, what exactly happened?"
Angelie asked him while continuing to eat from her bento.
"Well, you see, my dad runs a small bakery in town. But this morning he collapsed from overworking. He couldn't open the shop, and I couldn't let the bread he already made go to waste. We aren't that well off or anything. So, I tried to sell it today to some students. I guess I was being a bit pushy back there, and they got pissed off."
He laughed but he couldn't hide the sad expression on his face.
"I see. That seems rough…"
Angelie put down the bento she was eating and put her hand on her chin.
"Oh, I have an idea! We can help you sell—"
"I'll buy them all."
Everyone looked at Akuma who was still busy eating.
"Hey, do you understand what you're saying, you Idiot Demon Lord? This is a serious matter."
Angelie slammed the floor with her hand. She leaned closer to glare at him.
"I'm serious. Our family likes bread, apparently. I can afford it, my dad's loaded."
Akuma wasn't looking at Kiba as he was still busy stuffing his mouth with food from Mimi's bento.
"You still do things with force, huh? As long as it gets the job done, I guess I won't complain."
Kiba whispered to himself and smirked. Angelie looked at him but wasn't sure she heard him correctly.
"By the way, you're also good at cooking, long ears."
Akuma had almost completely finished the food from Mimi's bento.
"Well, since you've been somewhat helpful, I'll allow your pillaging just this once."
It was VERY subtle, but Mimi smiled.
"At least you and Sanaka are somehow useful for cooking. Unlike someone else."
"Hey! You haven't had a taste of my food! Don't belittle my cooking skills."
"I'd rather die than taste your cooking."
"Then DIE—"
Kiba laughed out loudly, grabbing his stomach with his hands.
"You turn into a different person when talking to him, huh?"
Kiba wiped a tear from his eye using his finger. He started to calm down after laughing so hard.
"I don't. Please stop insinuating I treat him in a special way, Ketsueki-kun."
Kiba, Mimi and Sanaka all looked doubtfully at Angelie. She turned red and screamed.
"I DON'T!!!"