I Took A Succubus's First Time-Chapter 42: Declaration

Kozue was fuming that morning. Her cheeks were flushed, her expression a mix of fury and embarrassment. She had walked in on something she absolutely wished she hadn't—an image now burned into her mind. It was maddening, humiliating, and she couldn't shake it.

Granted, it was her fault for barging into a guy's room without so much as a knock. But still, Kouhei hadn't locked the door, which, in her mind, meant he shared some of the blame.

"So, you saw it? How big was it, Kozue?" Nagisa teased, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"I don't want to remember any of it," Kozue shot back, crossing her arms and scowling. If she could erase that mental snapshot, she would.

Kouhei, meanwhile, was also flustered, though he tried not to let it show. He'd already been exposed twice now; embarrassment was pointless at this stage. He mostly felt bad that Kozue had seen something she shouldn't have. But they were both trying to move past it as they walked to school.

The morning was calm, but the path they took was deliberate. Walking through this neighborhood meant blending in, a sort of camouflage. The area was filled with demons loyal to the Sarushima Clan, and the atmosphere felt safe in an almost ironic way. But Kouhei's focus shifted as they approached the school grounds.

"What's going on here?"

"I have no idea, but… isn't this kind of a big deal?"

Whispers started rippling through the students gathered in the front yard. Eyes widened and voices hushed as Kouhei entered with some of the most popular girls in school—the revered "goddesses" of the student council. His presence among them drew a mix of jealousy and confusion, and the shocked faces in every direction made the attention feel like it had weight.

"Why's an otaku like him showing up to school with the goddesses?"

"Man, I'm so jealous!"

"Why are they even with a creep like him?"

The murmurs grew louder, a few students even fainting in exaggerated disbelief. Kouhei could feel their stares, judgmental and bewildered, directed solely at him. But he understood why—he was walking beside the idols of the school, like he somehow belonged there. They continued through the front gate, parting ways at the main building entrance.

"Hina, take good care of Okumura-kun. Even in our territory, there's no guarantee of safety," Yuuna said, her gaze steely.

Hina nodded, accepting the responsibility. Yuuna and the others turned to go, Kozue giving Kouhei one last look of disdain before joining them.

Kouhei and Hina made their way to the classroom, the air between them calmer now. Hina reached out, gently taking his hand. Kouhei shivered at the unexpected warmth of her touch and looked over at her. She didn't say a word, simply held his hand, her expression softened in a way that felt private.

He didn't entirely understand her intent, but he realized Hina craved a connection—a sense of warmth and reassurance she rarely allowed herself. She usually kept her distance, unable to touch anyone, but here she was, holding his hand.

Kouhei's heart pounded at the thought. For now, he'd stay by her side, hoping that one day, she'd come to love him the way he already felt himself drawn to her.

As Kouhei and Hina entered the classroom, a wave of stares immediately swept over them. Kouhei felt the intensity of every gaze, and after a beat, he let go of Hina's hand. Flushed with awkwardness, he made his way to his seat, but barely had he sat down when a hand seized his arm, yanking him up roughly.

"You shithead," sneered Sotomura, a glare in his eyes as he loomed over Kouhei. "Didn't I tell you that if you lied about being with Saonji, I'd smash that lame-ass face of yours?"

"I'm not lying," Kouhei replied, meeting Sotomura's stare without a hint of fear. Now that he thought about it, he'd faced far scarier situations than this. This was nothing. Why had he ever felt intimidated by a bully like Sotomura?

"Oh, still got something to say, huh?" Sotomura's expression twisted, and he practically growled. "I saw you holding hands. Do you need me to explain what holding hands means between a guy and a girl?"

Sotomura's goons smirked, watching Kouhei like he was beneath them. Kouhei held back a scoff. These guys were the real trash, he thought. "Is holding hands really that shocking?" he asked, his voice cool and steady.

Sotomura's eyes widened at the question, clearly not expecting Kouhei to talk back. "Of course it is!" he spat. "Doesn't holding hands mean you two are, like… going out or something?"

"Are we, though?" Kouhei replied, tilting his head. "I think you're misunderstanding something, Sotomura-kun."

A vein bulged on Sotomura's forehead. Rage flashed in his eyes as he drew back his fist and slammed it into Kouhei's face. The punch connected hard, throwing Kouhei back against the wall. The impact was sharp, but Kouhei barely flinched, his expression unbothered. He could barely feel it.

"You asshole," Sotomura sneered, stepping closer. "I'm going to mess your face up so bad you'll regret even looking at me!"

He reached for Kouhei again, hand clenched around his shirt, ready to strike again. But before he could make a move, a chair came flying across the room, slamming into Sotomura with a heavy thud.

"W-What…?" Sotomura stumbled, a cut opening up on his forehead. He reached up, shocked to see blood on his hand. "W-What the hell…?"

He looked in the direction of the thrown chair, his gaze meeting Hina's. She stood there, her eyes cold and hard, staring down at him as if he were something disgusting she'd scraped off her shoe.

"Anything you try to do to Okumura Kouhei, I'll do right back to you," she said, her voice icy. "And that goes for all of you."

She looked around the classroom, her gaze a silent challenge. Shock rippled through the room. Saonji Hina, known for her detached, emotionless demeanor, had just made it clear: harm Kouhei, and she would make them pay. Her piercing eyes and the fierce protectiveness in her words sent a chill through the room, leaving the class dead silent as they took in the terrifying calm of her promise.

***

During lunch break, talk buzzed through the hallways about Hina's dramatic act that morning—the flying chair that had taken Sotomura by surprise, and her bold declaration that Kouhei was under her protection. Her cool, unflinching demeanor had made it clear to everyone that she meant business. Even Sotomura, the injured party, hadn't uttered a single complaint. The only thing that seemed to bother people was why it was Kouhei of all people. Why had Hina thrown a chair for him, of all people?

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Jealousy simmered across the cafeteria. The fact that no one could do anything about it only seemed to irritate them more.

Now, Hina and Kouhei were in the bustling cafeteria, and it felt like every single pair of eyes was on them. Kouhei shifted uncomfortably, forcing a tense smile. It was the first time he'd ever felt this much attention, and though he didn't like it, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a bit thrilled that Hina had defended him so openly.

"Um, you didn't have to do that earlier, Saonji-san," he said, glancing around at the curious stares. "Looks like you're getting more attention than usual, though I guess you don't really care about that."

Hina's eyes stayed impassive. "Yuuna-sama told me to protect you, Okumura Kouhei," she replied, her voice as cold and steady as ever. "So I did what was necessary."

"Didn't she say to protect me only if a real threat showed up? Like… a demon hunter or an angel?" Kouhei asked, feeling a bit sheepish.

"Danger is danger," she replied flatly. "Yuuna-sama said you're our hope, so naturally, I'll protect you."

Kouhei shifted, feeling the pressure of the staring eyes on them again. "Um, is that why you're holding my hand even right now?"

"Yes. That's right."

He looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling a mix of confusion and the slightest tinge of warmth, though the stares from the rest of the cafeteria were starting to get to him. He hoped she'd ease up on the hand-holding soon, or at least do it somewhere a little less… visible.

In the midst of their conversation, Kozue suddenly appeared, her presence cutting through the chatter around them.

"May I join you both for lunch?" she asked. Though a polite smile graced her lips, her eyes held a piercing intensity that was focused squarely on Kouhei. It made his blood run cold.

"S-Sure," he replied hastily.

That smile that didn't quite reach her eyes was far too unnerving, and he didn't dare refuse.

With that, the three of them sat down together for lunch.

With Kozue's arrival, the atmosphere grew even heavier. Kozue was another of the school's "goddesses," renowned for her beauty, nearly as admired as Hina herself. Many boys had tried to win her heart, only to be turned down. Kozue's rejection count was second only to Nagisa, who had probably broken every guy's heart in school at least once.