Chapter 57: Reward for Revenge

"So, why didn't you go home yet?"

Angelie looked at Akuma as she finished drinking from the water bottle.

"I-I wanted to swim some more!"

Akuma averted his gaze from Angelie.

"Eh, really now? You didn't want to see me embarrass myself on stage?"

Angelie raised her eyebrow at Akuma.

"I expected that to happen. I realize now that life doesn't go as expected."

Akuma shook his head.

"Too bad for you. I have experience in walking up on stage."

Angelie smirked at him.

"What?! How? When?"

Akuma's jaw dropped as he stared at Angelie.

"I have no obligation to tell you that. Anyway, I'll go get changed now. After all the trouble you've caused me today, you better treat me to some food on the way home."

Angelie stood up from her chair and headed toward the door.

"Huh? What makes you think I'll do that?!"

Akuma glared at Angelie as he watched her walk toward the exit.

"You want to do all the work for the swimming training session of our club? It would be too bad if word got out that the President of the Help Club wasn't prepared for an activity that he himself planned and announced."

Angelie looked back at Akuma and shook her head as she raised her hands at her sides.

"I haven't announced anything yet!"

"Yes, that's true. But I have already told some classmates and friends last week while Yuurei-chan and I were practicing."

Angelie condescendingly looked at Akuma.

"Why, you… You were that confident that you'll learn how to swim?!"

Akuma pointed at Angelie.

"Of course."

Angelie closed her eyes and flipped her hair back with her hand.

"Damn it… I won't accept this…"

Akuma clenched his fists at his sides.

"Oh, you should. Anyway, I want to eat okonomiyaki. Go get changed."

Angelie stepped outside the room and out of Akuma's view.

"Damn that extortionist! Now I know where Yuurei learned how to blackmail! Or… is it the other way around?!"

Akuma stared into his shaking palms.

---

It was almost evening and the water park was about to close. There had been a few announcements reminding the guests about the park's closing time. Angelie and Akuma finished changing into their casual clothes. Angelie quickly changed and waited for Akuma by the changing rooms. She wanted to make sure he didn't get away. Akuma hurriedly got out of the men's changing room. When he saw Angelie waiting directly outside, he let out a deep sigh. They then walked toward the exit of the water park.

"Did you really think you could run away?"

Angelie had her arms crossed as she walked beside Akuma.

"I had to try."

Akuma frowned as he had his hands inside his side pockets.

"Wait, Fukushuu-san!"

Someone called out from behind them. The two of them stopped and turned around.

"Oh, what can I do for you?"

Angelie saw that it was the female park staff earlier that recruited her to join the swimsuit competition.

"Are you already leaving, Fukushuu-san? We still have the awarding ceremony for the winner of the competition."

"Winner? I'm sure that won't be me. So, we'll have to go on our way now."

Angelie smiled and bowed at the staff.

"But YOU are the winner."

The staff smiled back at Angelie.

"What?!"

Akuma reacted first.

"What?! Me?! How?"

Angelie reacted a little later.

"Why are you so surprised? You really looked good in that swimsuit! Like a model! And when you walked and spoke on stage, everyone was captivated. You had the loudest cheers!"

The staff excitedly grabbed Angelie's hand and held it with both hands.

"I think you're exaggerating a bit… Although I'm flattered about what you said…"

Angelie blushed as she smiled at the female staff.

"It's all true. Well, anyway. Let's go to the stage area and wait for the official announcement. A lot of people are still waiting there to find out the winner. Oh, and your boyfriend will be the one to present you with the sash and flowers on stage."

The staff then shifted her gaze to Akuma, who was quietly watching the two girls. Akuma confusedly pointed at himself. Suddenly, Angelie linked her free arm with Akuma's.

"Of course, he will gladly do it."

Angelie smiled at the staff.

"W-what the hell are you doing?!"

Akuma's eyes widened as he stared at Angelie. She then looked at him and leaned closer.

"Getting my payback."

Angelie spoke softly so the staff wouldn't hear her. She then sinisterly smiled at Akuma.

---

There was still a sizeable crowd that gathered at the stage area. Some were still eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winner. Then it was finally announced that the winner was Fukushuu Angelie. Everyone clapped and cheered. Angelie walked up the stage and waved at the people who were cheering for her. She stood at the middle of the stage.

It was then announced that her boyfriend, Jizen Akuma, would present her the sash and flowers. Akuma appeared from the left side of the stage. He walked stiffly, like a robot without joints in his legs. He slowly approached Angelie. When he finally reached her, he handed her the bouquet of flowers with his shaking hands. His hands also were shaking as he put the sash on her. He then stood still beside her, looking at the audience while sweat profusely crawled down his face.

Finally, it was announced that Angelie also won a voucher she could use in a specified mall. She could buy anything or use it to dine in any restaurant inside the designated mall. Angelie and Akuma then looked at each other.

---

After the awards ceremony, Akuma and Angelie exited the water park. It was already evening when they got out. They were walking toward the train station. Angelie was reading the text written on the voucher.

"Hmm. This mall is near here. Maybe I can use it now?"

Angelie held the voucher as she looked up.

"I better have a share on that voucher."

Akuma spoke while walking ahead of Angelie.

"Why should you?"

"I was the one who entered you in that competition. And I got on stage in front of all those people!"

Akuma put his hands behind his head.

"Well… let's go now before going home."

Angelie stopped walking.

"What happened to that okonomiyaki stuff?"

Akuma looked back at Angelie.

"I'm going to use the voucher on that! I'm sure there's a restaurant there that serves okonomiyaki."

"You're going to waste the voucher on that?"

"Fine, if you don't want to go then I'll use it all up by myself."

Angelie turned around and started to walk away.

"Hey, wait! I didn't say I didn’t want to eat!"

Akuma ran after her.

---

The two of them went to the nearby mall where they could use the voucher. They looked around for an okonomiyaki restaurant. After searching for a while, they were able to find one. Angelie presented the voucher and verified if they could use it there. The manager confirmed that they could and guided the two of them to their seats.

They sat down and ordered from the menu. They got one order for each with different ingredients. Angelie wanted the meat option while Akuma had the seafood variant. Once their orders arrived, Angelie took the bowls of ingredients.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Akuma glared at Angelie.

"I'm mixing them before cooking it. What, don't you know how to make okonomiyaki?"

Angelie proceeded to mix the batter with the ingredients in both bowls.

"That's not what I'm asking. What I'm asking is why are you the one doing it?"

"I told you I know how to cook!"

Angelie glared at Akuma as she mixed the ingredients vigorously.

"I haven't seen it. I don't believe in things I haven't seen with my own two eyes."

Akuma looked away from Angelie.

"Well, now you'll see it."

"This doesn't count. Anyone can put batter on a hot griddle and make sure they don't burn. This isn't counted as cooking."

"I'm going to burn yours."

Angelie grinned as she put Akuma's batter mixture on the griddle.

"Hey, stop joking around! I'm hungry!"

---

After Angelie finished cooking the okonomiyaki, the two of them finally ate. While eating, Akuma realized something.

"After all that talk earlier that we shouldn't spend unnecessary time together, here we are now in a mall in the evening on a weekend."

Akuma chewed his food while he talked.

"I'm sure this will be the last time. We can't be controlled by Yuurei-chan again, as well."

Angelie didn't look at Akuma as she replied.

"You better make sure you do your part about that! I'm going to scold her hard once I get home—"

Akuma's phone sounded a message notification. Akuma checked the message on his phone. After reading the message, Akuma gripped his phone tightly and gritted his teeth.

"What's wrong?"

Angelie looked at Akuma.

"This! That damn Yuurei!"

Akuma showed Angelie the message on his phone. The message said that since Akuma wasn't home yet, Yuurei assumed that he was still together with Angelie. Additionally, Akuma should walk Angelie home or Yuurei would report to the authorities that Akuma abducted Angelie.