The Incubus System Chapter 1155. Pink And Sugary

The Incubus System Chapter 1155. Pink And Sugary

A soft, comfortable silence settled over our table, the kind that don’t rush to fill with pointless chatter. Tiffany seemed satisfied with my promise, leaning back into the booth. My half-eaten burger lay forgotten, the appetite replaced by a strange fluttering tension in my gut.

I stole a glance at Tiffany, who was lost in thought, staring absently at the diner window. She looked calm again, her skepticism easing into something more thoughtful. And honestly? It kinda freaked me out how understanding she was. Most people would’ve pushed harder, demanded answers. But not her.

“Hey,” I finally said, breaking the quiet. Tiffany’s eyes snapped to mine instantly, a curious spark flaring back to life. “I uh… need to pick up some sweets for Celia before I head home. Otherwise, she'll throw a tantrum again.”

Tiffany chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You spoil that little sister of yours rotten, Ethan.”

I laughed, a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well. You try living with her pouting. I swear it could shatter glass.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled warmly. “Fair enough. I actually know a place that has amazing desserts. It's close. We can swing by after we pay.”

Before I even got a chance to agree, Tiffany was already on her feet, tugging lightly at my sleeve. "C’mon, slowpoke."

"Hold on," I laughed, quickly fishing my wallet from my pocket. I dropped some bills onto the table, not bothering to wait for change as Tiffany practically dragged me out of the booth.

As we made our way toward the exit, I couldn’t help glancing at Miranda’s table. Her friends were giggling and chatting animatedly, seemingly oblivious to the awkward storm that had blown over moments before. Miranda noticed my gaze and met my eyes for a brief moment, offering a subtle, almost shy smile.

Seeing her relaxed like this—normal clothes, normal friends, a normal diner—felt alien but… nice. With me, Miranda always wore a mask of perfect obedience and polished charm, always careful not to cross boundaries or break protocol. But here, she seemed so… human.

It stirred something inside me I wasn’t expecting. Maybe, just maybe, she finally saw something different in me too. After all, she'd always treated me formally, as a servant should a master. Perhaps today, watching me awkwardly stumble through a lunch date—well, a “non-date” date—with Tiffany, showed her I wasn't always the great demon lord. Sometimes I was just Ethan. Just a guy fumbling through relationships like any other human idiot.

Tiffany gave my sleeve another impatient tug. “Earth to Ethan! Quit spacing out.”

I snapped back to reality, sheepishly turning my attention to her. "Sorry. Got lost in thought again."

Her eyes flicked briefly to Miranda’s booth before returning to mine, a small, knowing smirk tugging at her lips. “Yeah, I noticed.”

We reached the cashier, and I handed over a few more bills to settle our bill. The cashier gave us an overly cheerful “Thanks, come again!” as we turned to leave.

Right before we stepped outside, Tiffany paused, glancing back at Miranda again. I followed her gaze. Miranda quickly averted her eyes, turning back toward her friends. Tiffany's lips pursed, clearly trying to analyze the situation. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then apparently changed her mind, shaking her head slightly.

"Something wrong?" I asked, feigning innocence.

Tiffany sighed dramatically. “Nope. Not at all.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but she didn’t push further.

We stepped outside into the late-afternoon sunlight as we stood on the busy sidewalk. Cars zoomed past, their engines humming softly, mingling with faint chatter from pedestrians around us. A cool breeze rustled Tiffany’s hair, blowing strands across her face. Without thinking, I reached out to brush it behind her ear.

Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink, and she quickly grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers firmly as if she’d planned it all along. “Let’s go,” she said quickly, tugging me gently down the street. “It's not far.”

As we walked, my mind replayed the awkward interaction with Miranda. Tiffany nudged me playfully, sensing my mood. “Relax. You're thinking too much again.”

I sighed, squeezing her hand gently. “Yeah, I know. Bad habit.”

She smirked up at me. “Very bad. Stop it.”

I chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

We turned a corner, and suddenly Tiffany stopped, pointing excitedly at a cute little bakery nestled snugly between two taller buildings. Its bright pink awning and elaborate display of pastries and cakes practically screamed sugary heaven.

“There,” Tiffany declared triumphantly. “You’ll find something perfect for Celia here. She'll love it.”

“You seem very confident in Celia’s tastes,” I teased, following her inside. The sweet scent of sugar and freshly baked goods hit me immediately.

“I've spent enough time babysitting her with you,” Tiffany said lightly. “Besides, she's easy to please. Anything pink and ridiculously sugary will do.”

I laughed again.

The woman behind the counter greeted us warmly. “Good afternoon! Anything in particular you're looking for today?”

Tiffany turned to me expectantly, eyes sparkling. “Well? You wanna choose, or should I?”

I shrugged helplessly. “You know Celia. Pick whatever you think will keep her from pouting.”

Tiffany giggled, scanning the glass cases enthusiastically. She pointed excitedly at a set of perfectly decorated cupcakes topped with glittery pink frosting and candy stars. “Those. Definitely those.”

“Perfect,” I said, relieved I didn’t have to choose. “We'll take half a dozen.”

The woman quickly boxed them up. “Anything else for your girlfriend?” she asked with a knowing smile.

My face heated immediately. “Oh, we're not—”

“Not his girlfriend,” Tiffany cut in smoothly, eyes glinting mischievously. “Yet.”

I nearly choked on air, staring at Tiffany incredulously. “Tiff?”

She shot me an innocent look. “What? It’s the truth, isn't it?”

The cashier laughed warmly, handing me the box. “Well, good luck. Seems like you'll need it.”

Tiffany flashed a triumphant grin, pulling me quickly back outside before I could even formulate a response. Once outside, I finally managed to sputter, “What the hell was that?”

She shrugged casually, a smug smile firmly in place. “Just being honest.”