Chapter 3: Gabriel’s Obedience334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnjFr960HM
The break time passed amid a chorus of girls chattering away, their voices weaving through the classroom like a lively symphony. Laughter, gossip, and the rustle of snack wrappers filled the air, giving the space a warm, bustling energy that only high school girls could create. Kouya sat quietly at his desk, half-listening, half-daydreaming, as the minutes slipped by.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArb11kC3Rz
Before long, it was time for math class.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmarZ0LmU2e
The math teacher, a freshly graduated college student, stood at the front of the room. He was still burning with youthful enthusiasm, the kind of teacher who waved his arms around as if fighting invisible dragons while explaining equations. His energy was almost contagious, his voice bright and full of passion. Yet every so often, he would sigh dramatically and mutter:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxIRVmcXvU
"The beauty of mathematics lies in the fact that it leaves us utterly confused—so confused indeed."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAtDcLLz7u
His words drew a few quiet chuckles. The warm sunlight filtering through the window painted golden stripes across the desks, casting everything in a gentle, lazy glow. The warmth made eyelids heavy. The droning tone of numbers and formulas was like a lullaby. Kouya rested his chin on his hand, eyes half-closed, and thought, 'Just five minutes…'334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZvPSixcpA
He was just about to drift off when he remembered the annoying blonde rookie angel sitting behind him—the one who found endless joy in poking people. Her childish hobby had already made his mornings miserable. Turning halfway around, he whispered sharply:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPaRY35u2j
"Don’t poke me again!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiyF9ED4z0
The blonde girl, Gabi-chan, blinked her big round eyes, face full of mock innocence. Her golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her expression screamed, 'Who, me?'334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnx8j8CUzW
"Say something. Don’t play dumb!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6smCqR72b
Kouya clenched his teeth. "You were talking plenty during break time. What, did you lose your voice the second class started?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJmW31clfC
Gabriel raised one delicate finger to her lips, shook her head gently, and made a quiet shushing gesture. Her face was calm, almost saintly, as if she were a devout believer protecting some sacred law.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiJgrR6E6u
Kouya frowned. Was this sly angel actually trying to follow the rule of ‘no talking during class’? The thought made his temple twitch.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhK1W5kr2N
He turned back, pulled out a sticky note, and scribbled a message in irritation:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ6jppRmsv
"Why won’t you talk?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKynd0r6Bt
He flicked the note backward. A few seconds later, he heard the faint, crisp scratching of a pen before the note came back.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXRU0XmZqe
He looked down. The reply was written in flawless, elegant handwriting:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYpFgW8mz5
"The ‘Student Code of Conduct’ clearly states that students must not whisper or make loud noises during class."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk8lVIcvFX
Kouya’s jaw tightened. So that really was the reason?334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqNHKQb96N
This rookie angel must’ve just graduated straight from some uptight angel academy. Her brain was probably scrubbed clean by those birdbrains up there in Heaven! No sleeping, no eating, no whispering—what kind of boring student life was that?334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh8Q2V6eoS
He grabbed his pen again and wrote another note: "Then why did you poke me?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccDeP8ZlqS
The reply came back quickly:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ohUB6P8jW
"Because my dream is to make everyone happy."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FhMbvmaWE
Kouya groaned. "Eh? Why are you bringing up that ridiculous dream of yours now?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvJHqphotl
Another note came fluttering back:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlOGrBxNOd
"School is a place for learning. If Kouya-kun sleeps during class, you’ll miss out on valuable knowledge. Later, you’ll regret it. I want to stop you from sleeping so you can learn—and be happy."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX1bE3zuvo
Kouya stared blankly at the paper. Enough already! There’s no equation in existence that links ‘not sleeping’ to ‘happiness’! If there were, then insomniacs and anxious people who can’t sleep at all should be the happiest humans alive!334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi7laEsWTO
Reality said otherwise—those people lived in misery, drowning in sleeping pills and sedatives just to function. Some couldn’t even take it anymore and chose to end their lives.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDvvTTvR5m
Before he could respond, another sticky note landed on his desk.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOKsU2a4dH
"And my dream isn’t ridiculous or impossible. As the top graduate of my academy, I’ll definitely make it come true!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQP96C4bMj
Kouya smirked. Top graduate? From that so-called angel academy that mass-produces rookie angels? Yeah, sure.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw77Q2n2t9
He scribbled back: "Hmph. That line of yours sounds exactly like a flag waiting to be raised."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaPVHB2m94
Gabriel’s note came back: "Eh? A flag? What’s that supposed to mean?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRPX3u0oci
Kouya chuckled silently. "It’s a term from anime. Basically, whenever someone says, ‘Once this battle’s over, I’m going home to get married,’ they always end up dying afterward. Sounds just like what you said."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1ECAaz7WQ
Gabriel tilted her head, clearly thinking it through. After a moment, she wrote back:334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI4QodGeF6
"Even if I die, it’s fine. I’ll return to the embrace of the Holy Father—that’s the best ending I could ask for."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkwBPMqMBk
Kouya stared at the note in silence.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdmfICRTfb
What could he even say? There was no arguing with that level of holy delusion.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QjrJ5jZVD
The beautiful morning drifted away, and soon it was noon.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyvPWULqcJ
Because of that idiotic blonde angel, Kouya’s peaceful nap plan had been completely ruined. If he dared to close his eyes again, she would start poking him at perfect intervals, like a metronome set to “annoyance.”334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbDqHv96M3
If it weren’t for his desire to experience the human world like a normal person, he would’ve erased that rookie angel from existence already.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyKLX3fNux
"Gabi-chan, Gabi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!" Several girls swarmed Gabriel the moment class ended.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92tEYLqR9k
"Sure!" Gabriel replied sweetly, flashing her sunshine smile. The crowd around her brightened instantly.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcZjLJCmeB
Kouya sighed and stood. He wasn’t interested in overhearing a bunch of girls chatting about cute lunches or the latest rumors. He slipped out quietly.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirvwh8E2ys
As a single guy with no childhood friend or housework-loving little sister, Kouya didn’t bother making a bento. He settled for the convenience store downstairs instead.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7zqNceJPe
Two pieces of bread, one bottle of water—that was enough. Simple, quiet, efficient. He made his way to the rooftop. The door there was usually locked, meaning nobody ever went up. Perfect spot for some peace and solitude.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWTcGMKm25
The building was quiet. Most students were napping or chatting softly in classrooms. The hum of distant laughter faded as Kouya ascended the stairwell. Just as he turned the last corner, he froze.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdj4SP4QX5
A girl was sitting on the floor, back against the wall.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhmjfZbPtk
She looked fifteen or sixteen, with short, wine-red hair that shimmered faintly under the dim light. A red sweater hugged her frame, and a small bat-shaped hair clip glimmered atop her head. Her lips curved in satisfaction as she took a big bite of bread, humming softly between chews. A tiny fang peeked adorably at the corner of her mouth. She looked so happy it was almost contagious.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8bWG9KYbW
If Kouya hadn’t been holding the same brand of bread, he might’ve thought she was eating divine ambrosia.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOghyNlFyP4
"Hmm? That scent…" Kouya’s expression didn’t change, but his mind sharpened. 'A little demon… again? She feels familiar. Wait—she’s one of my classmates, isn’t she?'334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWObOJ8AQT
The red-haired girl spotted him and immediately froze. Her eyes widened, and she held her bread defensively to her chest like a frightened animal.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymf28INus3
Kouya could barely stop himself from sighing aloud. What was with that ‘puppy guarding its food’ look? You’re a demon! Have some dignity!334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQYisq6N9A
"Excuse me, can I pass?" he asked mildly.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKd1emaRaM
"Ah, okay!" She leapt up in panic, clutching her pineapple bun. The sudden motion made her skirt lift slightly. Kouya blinked—his gaze instinctively drawn to the flash of pale skin.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWOHJI6le2
He had to admit—this red-haired little demon radiated a kind of pure, lively energy. Her black school socks reached just below her knees, leaving a stretch of flawless, creamy white thigh between them—the legendary ‘absolute territory,’ smooth and gleaming under the light.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtaFFP1J5u
Her skirt swayed higher…334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuGNDA7KRV
The moment lingered too long, crossing the line between innocent and forbidden.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH25FaS877
Kouya’s eyes widened; the sight burned into his memory.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQYOIzbyuu
"Uuh~~" The red-haired demon let out a sound like a small wounded animal.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNKfVtDVJa
"Y-you saw everything?!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JrtGWqM7l
Kouya scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. The style’s a bit conservative, though..."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgktcrwQksW
Her face exploded in color. "Y-you’re even commenting on the style?!" she cried, eyes brimming with tears. She grabbed her skirt, trying to push it down as far as it would go, abandoned her half-eaten bun, and fled down the hall sobbing.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjxzsPgf1r
"A boy saw my important place with those perverted eyes—I’m going to get pregnant!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ9FUMS2UP
Kouya stood still for a full five seconds, blinking.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuEl2wIZUS
Did her biology teacher major in P.E. or something?334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu9JE3ipFS
He sighed, looking at the bread she’d left behind. 'All I did was see her safety shorts. What’s with that overreaction? If you’re going to make such a big deal out of it, maybe don’t wear them to school next time.'334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxp15TurOe