Chapter 3: Gabriel’s Obedience9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu3wwleJxE
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyyeNzXWP2
Before long, it was time for math class.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRNj82JJFx
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:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wmn0UpTXG
"The beauty of mathematics lies in the fact that it leaves us utterly confused—so confused indeed."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAB8ZFMkBH
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…'9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NKaveRV0e
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:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92uj2sXOYn
"Don’t poke me again!"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhLQlDnQsn
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?'9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxfuxdHtTL
"Say something. Don’t play dumb!"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnunBJQd7Z
Kouya clenched his teeth. "You were talking plenty during break time. What, did you lose your voice the second class started?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV5QB80kXC
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVcIhOchv9
Kouya frowned. Was this sly angel actually trying to follow the rule of ‘no talking during class’? The thought made his temple twitch.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTNK66e6aL
He turned back, pulled out a sticky note, and scribbled a message in irritation:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAFnW5U2w4
"Why won’t you talk?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zpZaY0Kz1
He flicked the note backward. A few seconds later, he heard the faint, crisp scratching of a pen before the note came back.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJWeGMnxtH
He looked down. The reply was written in flawless, elegant handwriting:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfK7WFgqCn
"The ‘Student Code of Conduct’ clearly states that students must not whisper or make loud noises during class."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH0DRW4FOs
Kouya’s jaw tightened. So that really was the reason?9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07zjLLota3
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?9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM5SW1CbkW
He grabbed his pen again and wrote another note: "Then why did you poke me?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLjBOw9oGp
The reply came back quickly:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOkSeSoh73
"Because my dream is to make everyone happy."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0RGoCxdAo
Kouya groaned. "Eh? Why are you bringing up that ridiculous dream of yours now?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSYX34OMT7
Another note came fluttering back:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzWv5ssGGh
"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."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuYDIXz7dE
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!9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhr35JyJbQ
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ5mGZqb2g
Before he could respond, another sticky note landed on his desk.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68kw6AQiAw
"And my dream isn’t ridiculous or impossible. As the top graduate of my academy, I’ll definitely make it come true!"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZcopGcsP6
Kouya smirked. Top graduate? From that so-called angel academy that mass-produces rookie angels? Yeah, sure.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiLEyfhaJK
He scribbled back: "Hmph. That line of yours sounds exactly like a flag waiting to be raised."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUL6yJ281m
Gabriel’s note came back: "Eh? A flag? What’s that supposed to mean?"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmYzdyjOEG
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."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fUyBso4Zk
Gabriel tilted her head, clearly thinking it through. After a moment, she wrote back:9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZRJFU5EuL
"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."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Oq8rhLSLc
Kouya stared at the note in silence.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s0pOw5VTY
What could he even say? There was no arguing with that level of holy delusion.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJvwYAdtX3
The beautiful morning drifted away, and soon it was noon.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOMKocaQnW
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.”9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpyB1FXx3Q
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDommJ5dye
"Gabi-chan, Gabi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!" Several girls swarmed Gabriel the moment class ended.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZSTQd2g1h
"Sure!" Gabriel replied sweetly, flashing her sunshine smile. The crowd around her brightened instantly.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgPfpnvju4
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yqcPEH7k9
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nDLul4KdK
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41ATkmX4oj
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEfCAz9fIe
A girl was sitting on the floor, back against the wall.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5AYpwUIeM
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zX1QjaROx
If Kouya hadn’t been holding the same brand of bread, he might’ve thought she was eating divine ambrosia.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuKDI86SyW
"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?'9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIYRmmAbNv
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwyIHQQqLv
Kouya could barely stop himself from sighing aloud. What was with that ‘puppy guarding its food’ look? You’re a demon! Have some dignity!9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9bMb2IizY
"Excuse me, can I pass?" he asked mildly.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy95oKKbjz
"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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xgYEKgTyS
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFyqsfTSr5
Her skirt swayed higher…9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HA4GVQJvl
The moment lingered too long, crossing the line between innocent and forbidden.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF0N4wlHVS
Kouya’s eyes widened; the sight burned into his memory.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtkRuFLJRe
"Uuh~~" The red-haired demon let out a sound like a small wounded animal.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7dbTQhmur
"Y-you saw everything?!"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQqZFE9u5s
Kouya scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. The style’s a bit conservative, though..."9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadLE4IXYaB
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.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1QH6gixT9
"A boy saw my important place with those perverted eyes—I’m going to get pregnant!"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYQyXr3dZp
Kouya stood still for a full five seconds, blinking.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHja7mSjuZj
Did her biology teacher major in P.E. or something?9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqnRCI9YWc
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.'9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzqVEK0bnK