The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

This girl might actually be a good person, Denji thought, trailing behind Shoko, clutching the bagged Happy Meal.

She'd treated him and Pochita to burgers, bought him medicine and bandages, and was now taking him clothes shopping.

Nobody had been this kind to him since his mother died.

But even Denji knew nobody did something for nothing. This girl must have an ulterior motive.

After deep contemplation, Denji's Nobel-Prize-worthy intellect deduced her motive:

She's fallen for me. No doubt about it!

[Target Denji's favorability increased. Current favorability: 5]

[Current target energy charge efficiency: 500%]

Heh heh, another increase. My charm is irresistible.

Shoko stopped, turning to Denji. "Why are you walking so far behind? Come here."

"Oh..." Denji obediently walked beside her.

Shoko was short, barely five feet tall. Even the malnourished Denji towered over her.

But her elegant dress and refined demeanor made them look less like a couple and more like a rich girl who'd picked up a stray dog. Especially with Denji's tattered tank top and slouching posture.

"This store will do." Shoko stopped at a clothing store, walked in with Pochita, and left Denji standing outside, dumbfounded.

Should I follow her in? Wait here? I've never been in a store like this. What do I do…?

He wasn't left wondering for long. Minutes later, Shoko emerged with a bag.

"Put this on." She tossed a shirt at Denji and continued walking without looking back. "Throw that filthy tank top away. It's an eyesore."

"What is this? It looks awful…"

"You wouldn't understand. It's the latest fashion."

Denji examined the pink bunny-printed plaid shirt with distaste, but dutifully replaced his grimy tank top with it.

So soft, so smooth. This is what new clothes feel like? Way better than dumpster finds.

"What are you standing around for? Keep up." Shoko's voice called from ahead. While he'd been dawdling, she had walked quite a distance. Denji hurried after her.

New clothes were nice, but losing Pochita would be a disaster.

...

"This rain isn't letting up anytime soon," Shoko said, holding out her hand to catch the drizzle. "We'll have to find shelter."

"Oh..." Denji felt a lot of disappointment. It felt like a date, but he hadn't spoken to the girl who clearly liked him.

He didn't know what to say. He'd read pick-up lines in discarded magazines, but now, faced with the real thing, he was drawing a blank.

"Here's Pochita." Taking the Devil from Shoko, Denji watched her turn to leave. He suddenly realized he didn't know her name.

"Um, what's your name? I'm Denji!"

"My name..." Shoko stopped and turned, a playful glint in her eyes. She leaned in close to Denji's face. "Are you interested in little old me?"

A mysterious, red-eyed, busty beauty suddenly invading his personal space was overwhelming for any teenage boy, let alone someone as affection-starved as Denji.

So pale, so big, so fragrant… Denji's mind went blank.

[Target Denji's favorability increased. Current favorability: 6]

[Current target energy charge efficiency: 600%]

Nice~

Shoko smirked. Unlike Lihua, who befriended Otto and Kallen, Shoko was determined to be a properly intelligent, manipulative bad girl.

Toying with a naive boy's emotions was par for the course.

As long as it efficiently generated energy, she'd do anything, even call Denji "daddy."

Dignity and self-respect meant nothing to Shoko—unless you called her ugly.

Seeing Denji mesmerized, she stepped back with a mischievous grin. "Shoko. That's my name."

"Shoko..." Denji stared blankly.

No doubt about it. She told me her name. She's definitely into me.

"So, what do you want, now that you know my name?"

"I, I—" Crap, my mind's full of dirty thoughts! I can't speak!

Pochita stirred in his arms. Looking down at the Devil, inspiration struck. A pick-up line from a discarded magazine surfaced in his memory.

"My Pochita can do a backflip. Wanna come over and see?"

"Woof?!" Pochita looked up, bewildered. Since when could I do a backflip?

"But you have Pochita right there. Why not have him do it now?"

Damn it!

Seeing Denji freeze again, Shoko burst out laughing.

"You're really funny, Denji-kun~"

"But if you insist on inviting me over..." Her red eyes narrowed, her voice like a soft purr. "I suppose I could."