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Chapter 56: Appreciating Beauty

Angelie caught up with Akuma and they walked side by side toward the changing rooms. Suddenly, a female staff of the water park approached the two of them. She was wearing a t-shirt with the water park's logo.

"Hi, excuse me, Miss. Do you have a moment?"

The female staff directed her gaze at Angelie.

"Um, sure. What can I help you with?"

Angelie was surprised but composed herself and smiled at the staff.

"You see, I've been going around the park all morning. I happened to see you walking around earlier but you disappeared for a while. I'm glad I found you again. Well, the reason I was looking around for you is that we're going to have a swimsuit competition this afternoon. And you just look absolutely gorgeous in that yellow bikini of yours! Please join our competition."

The female staff bent over to bow at Angelie.

"W-what?! A s-swimsuit competition? And you want m-me to join?!"

Angelie took a step back from the female staff.

"That is if your boyfriend is okay with it…?"

The female staff looked up at Akuma while still bending over.

"Oh, sure. I'd be really honored if she joined."

Akuma smiled at the staff and then slowly turned at Angelie and grinned at her.

"Hey, you! What are you doing? And why are you not disputing being my boyfriend?! We're not a couple!"

Angelie's face became so flushed.

"Oh, you're hurting my feelings. Don't worry, I'd be waiting here until you finish the competition. Just go with the kind staff."

Akuma smiled throughout at Angelie.

"You're not going to get away with this—"

"Well, then. Since we have your boyfriend's approval, let's go to the waiting area for contestants."

The female staff dragged away Angelie by her harm.

(Ha! I can at least get even with that crazy Saint for beating me in swimming. Have a good time!)

Akuma smirked as he watched Angelie resist in futility.

---

Angelie was dragged inside an office of the water park staff. There were already several ladies in their swimsuits inside the room. Most of them were sitting and talking with each other. Angelie sat down on a vacant chair and looked around. After a few moments, another girl came into the room and then sat down beside the lonesome Angelie.

"Hi there. You don't seem to be talking to the other girls?"

A girl in a tankini, which was a combination of a tight tank top and bikini bottom, talked to Angelie.

"Hi. Well, I was just dragged in here, so…"

Angelie awkwardly smiled at the girl.

"Really? I joined up immediately when I was approached by a staff. I was pissed at my boyfriend!"

The girl clenched her fist as she shared her story with Angelie.

"If it's not shameful to ask, but why did you join if you were mad at your boyfriend?"

Angelie confusedly stared at the girl.

"Well, he was angry that I wore this swimsuit! That a lot of guys were looking at me! Like I care about that! I did this for him! I wanted to look good for him…"

The girl looked down at her lap.

"I'm sorry… I guess I don't understand that feeling."

Angelie looked away from the girl.

"Really? But I just saw you and your boyfriend outside when he protected you from those lecherous jerks. I honestly thought you were joining with the same reason as me."

The girl stuck her tongue out at Angelie.

"Oh, no! That guy's not my boyfriend or anything! Never in this lifetime. Not before or after, either."

Angelie waved her hands in front of the girl. Angelie also glared at the girl.

"Is that so? I really thought you were his girlfriend…"

The girl looked up but then giggled.

"May I ask what is funny?"

Angelie tilted her head as she watched the other girl.

"With the way you just denied it, I feel like you really meant the opposite."

The girl smiled at Angelie.

"I'm sure you're just imagining it."

Angelie smiled back but there was a visible blood vessel on her forehead that was twitching.

"By the way, my name is Satsuka Kimiko. It was nice talking to you."

"I'm Fukushuu Angelie. It was a pleasure meeting you, Satsuka-san."

The two of them laughed and continued to talk some more after that.

---

Akuma, who initially planned to get changed and leave when Angelie got dragged away, stayed around the water park. He went to a food kiosk selling hot dog sandwiches and bought one for himself. He sat down on a vacant seat with a small table. After eating the hot dog and sitting for a while, he decided to walk around again.

"What the heck am I doing? I should just be on my way home now—"

Akuma then saw the poster for the swimsuit competition that would start in the afternoon. He read it for a moment and then smirked.

"I see. I was still waiting for the result of my retribution. That violent Saint may think she has won over me, but this swimsuit competition isn't something she is prepared for. There is no way she won't embarrass herself on the stage. And I just have to see it for myself!"

Akuma laughed sinisterly aloud by himself. Other guests of the water park were looking at him as they passed by.

---

The swimsuit competition was about to start. The public announcement system of the water park broadcasted throughout the park that the competition would be held at the stage area. The said stage area was surrounded by the different pools and water slides. The stage was located in the middle of the whole park. After the announcement was made, most of the water park visitors made their way to the stage area.

The swimsuit competition contestants were briefed on what they would be doing. Their numbers would be called and they would walk into the stage from the left side and then stay in the middle in front of a microphone on a stand. The contestants would say their name and the reason they joined the competition. They would then exit at the right side of the stage. Once every contestant had been introduced, everyone would line up on the stage. The audience would be the ones to decide the winner. They could cast their votes with their phone through a special app.

As the people flocked to the stage area, Akuma also went there. He just stood at the back part of the crowd. And then the competition finally started. One by one, ladies in their swimsuits went onto the stage and introduced their names and stated motivations for joining. Most of the girls' reasons were either they were just asked to join or that they wanted to look good for their boyfriends. They were mostly met with cheers from the crowd.

Finally, it was Angelie who walked onto the stage. As she gracefully walked and stopped in front of the mic, the crowd was somewhat silent. Then, as she talked, everyone had their eyes locked onto her.

"Hi, everyone. My name is Fukushuu Angelie. At first, I was embarrassed to wear such a revealing swimsuit. But then someone said to just enjoy the stares. I honestly couldn't imagine myself doing that. But when I was asked to join this competition, I realized that I can prove to that person that I can confidently walk in front of this crowd and not be flustered, unlike what that person expected."

Angelie then glared at everyone. Especially at the back of the crowd. She saw Akuma even from a distance. Akuma was not sure if she was directly looking at him but he still was taken aback. The crowd then roared and cheered and clapped hard for Angelie.

After all the other contestants finished, everyone lined up on top of the stage. They then exited the stage in an orderly fashion. The announcer then said that the voting was now open. They would announce the winner before the closing of the water park.

---

All the other girls exited the office they used as a waiting room. The door of the room remained open. Angelie was left alone inside, sitting up straight silently on her chair. After she checked that all the other girls were gone, she then slumped down and released all tension from her body. Angelie closed her eyes as she loosened up. She had her head resting on the back rest of the chair and her arms hanging beside her.

"What happened to all that bravado earlier? You look like your soul left your body. Here."

Akuma entered the room and stood in front of Angelie. He threw her a water bottle which was cold. She barely caught it.

"Hey, can't you see I have no energy left?"

Angelie slightly lifted her head to glare at Akuma.

"How about thanking me for the water?"

"Why should I thank you when you were the one who put me through that?!"

Angelie opened the water bottle and drank from it. All the while, she was glaring at Akuma.