Chapter 6: Gabi-chan’s Tail207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkw2VPof3I
Walking out of the supermarket, the city lights had already come on, and the night sky was dotted with stars like scattered diamonds. The glow from neon signs painted the streets in shifting hues of pink and blue, and the gentle hum of life filled the air. It was the kind of evening that felt alive yet oddly peaceful.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iU6mVCqfr
The evening breeze brushed gently, stirring a wind chime hanging somewhere under an eave, bringing along a crisp, pleasant ringing sound that seemed to dance with the drifting scent of blooming flowers. The sound faded, replaced by the distant laughter of pedestrians and the low purr of passing cars.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2K16Ou4gB
“Thank you so much for earlier, Kouya-kun!” Gabi-chan took the groceries from his hands and bowed again, her golden hair catching the light as she moved. Her manners were flawless—graceful, polite, almost dazzling. Truly worthy of being the top graduate of Angel School.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23vYOD1ZNi
“Mm.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEITMMqeiQX
Kouya’s answer was short. He didn’t like this kind of exaggerated politeness. It felt artificial to him. He gave a faint nod and turned on his heel, walking toward his rented apartment with slow, measured steps.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk5HeYu6cS
He lived nearby, in a small apartment about twenty minutes from the school. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was quiet, and that was all he wanted. Most of the residents were either students like him or tired office workers who came home too late to bother anyone.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRERbg8mGS2
As he left the crowded street behind, Kouya turned into a small alley lined with cherry trees. Petals drifted in the breeze like fragments of light, falling softly against his shoulders. It was almost serene—until he heard it.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9s5BFI0iS
Footsteps. Light, hesitant, and close.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmUiYj6RXF
The noise of cars and people faded further, but the faint sound behind him became more distinct. Under the soft streetlights, two shadows stretched across the pavement—one following closely behind the other.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCxw2DaQmO
“What’s this stupid angel following me for?” Kouya thought, his brow twitching. “Did she… discover my identity?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhfl802jt5
Then he scoffed inwardly. “No, impossible. Unless the God King himself came down to earth, there’s no way she could.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDerTAW3YbU
He shook his head and sighed. As long as she didn’t interfere with his peaceful daily life, it wasn’t worth his attention.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc70WCHmrB
Before long, he arrived at his apartment building—a modest three-story complex with creaky stairs and a faint smell of detergent. He lived in the second-to-last room on the second floor. Not big—just thirty square meters—but enough for a quiet life.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrwPjTBCME
Yet, the footsteps behind him didn’t fade. They followed him all the way up the stairs, right to his door.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK1ZufRi2V
That was it.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFfC62LWsr
Kouya turned sharply, irritation flashing across his face.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveMxfjf4BS
“Hey. Why are you following me?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMROAax1eI
Gabi-chan blinked rapidly, her cheeks flushing pink. “N-no, you’ve got it wrong, Kouya-kun.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSUWObfr9A
‘Wrong, my ass! You’ve been tailing me since the supermarket!’ he screamed internally. ‘What are you, a stalker? You think I’m blind?’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNPVMPpHeZ
“Um, Kouya-kun, really, you’re misunderstanding.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTcKpBWomj
“I believe my own eyes—”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4thT6BmYkz
Before he could finish, Gabi-chan reached into her wallet, took out a key, and with a soft click, unlocked the door… right next to his.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBSepQhYoJ
Kouya stared blankly. “……”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZk0oLekH9
‘No way… this dumb angel is my neighbor?!’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNgEbyaFV3
‘You’ve got to be kidding me. Damn it, of all people!’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACDHpigqcS
Gabi-chan smiled warmly, pushing her door open but not stepping in yet. “I just moved in this morning. I haven’t had the chance to greet my neighbors yet. What a coincidence that you live here too, Kouya-kun.” She bowed slightly, her golden hair swaying. “Well then, Kouya-kun, I look forward to getting along with you.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJd1r90075
Kouya’s expression didn’t change. He muttered something under his breath and went inside, shutting his door firmly. Just the thought of an angel living next door made him restless.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z6pGNCZFO
His apartment was simple but cozy. A small kitchen, a folding table, a bed by the window. He cooked dinner, ate quietly, cleaned up meticulously, and spent the evening at his computer, reading up on this strange, modern world. At exactly ten-thirty, he turned off the lights and lay down.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkvxUFp62T
For someone like him—someone who could go without sleep for days—choosing to rest early was more a matter of principle than need. The Demon King who wished to live in peace needed a routine, after all.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVJXaNUyLa
And so, he drifted off.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXiAzaCeuK
…207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEvkn4llCw
The night passed without incident.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrPFUSa0Yt
At seven sharp, his eyes opened right before the alarm went off. He got up, washed his face, ate the leftover dinner, and slung his bag over his shoulder. The air outside was crisp and clean. The faint fragrance of spring flowers mixed with the chill morning breeze, brushing against his face and waking him completely.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTyrnK3SEz
The warm sunlight spilled down between buildings, soft and golden. It was almost… comfortable.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxlKAUCWW4
He glanced at the door beside his. Still closed. He wondered vaguely if the angel was awake, then shrugged it off. No reason to care.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QWXyde5AA
Walk together with her? Not a chance.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkxwf0WiSL
The Demon King preferred solitude over holy company.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x4QL5W6Bc
…207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgU6ky2CA4
Kouya disliked buses—the exhaust fumes made his head ache. Since school wasn’t far, walking was better. The rhythmic sound of his own footsteps against the pavement was oddly soothing.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Cqet0GJF
But halfway down a narrow street, a familiar, panicked voice broke the calm.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UYOrghhey
“D-don’t come any closer!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWwMXGIoeL
A low growl followed, echoing through the alley.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF84kKcvLBE
“I am the great demon Satania! The one destined to rule Hell itself! If you value your life, flee before my terrifying power!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnj9OtEw4K
The growl got louder.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoiXqaPcPf
“You still dare defy me? Then I’ll unleash my ultimate—ahhhh! No, don’t—!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdc3qvpsuX
Then came a desperate cry.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQoOxcW8P9
“No! That’s my most precious thing!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKV50XSRNx
Kouya stopped cold.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbKK71yneh
‘What the hell is going on now?’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDZBxZ3niO
Was a demon beast attacking a girl in broad daylight?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcyleLd7lx
Heart heavy with suspicion, he turned the corner—and came face to face with the “beast.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6APAfy7Emo
It was charging toward him, eyes round and wide, staring straight into his.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iBPTUKQYM
“……”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK4CS1FWmb
They locked eyes. The world went silent.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWFK23HVG4
Kouya groaned softly and rubbed his temple. He felt a headache forming.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiv5aHNkHR
“Woof! Woof!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDzIOGH1BJ
The so-called monster barked triumphantly, tail wagging as it strutted away on short legs like a victorious general.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UWJr27oQv
“Ugh, it stole my bread again! Why does this keep happening…?” wailed the girl’s voice, thick with tears.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4T09yz256
Kouya glanced at her—red hair, small horns, ridiculous expression. The self-proclaimed “Great Demon Lord Satania” sat on the ground, sniffling.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yj1c72OqV
Well, at least the “enemy” was clear—a stray dog. White fur, sharp eyes, and a chunk of pineapple bread in its mouth. A pitifully normal thief.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02B6jA5j18
‘You’ve embarrassed all demons everywhere. Losing your breakfast to a dog? I should exile you from Hell myself.’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sdzDFgfJC
He approached, looking down at her with faint annoyance.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOgqoSGPW4
“Get up.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUVnpHAfGr
She looked up, blinking tears away. “Y-you’re helping me?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUi0XAzjHG
“No.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCfj8PhDOH
“Eh?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc18j7apBj1
“You’re blocking the way.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3uumA7p2C
Her lips trembled as she stood, muttering under her breath. “Kouya-kun, you’re so mean…”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdtpGysfdM
“Hm? You know my name now? Yesterday you didn’t.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQJ8udVFgW
“Ahaha…” She turned her face away, staring at the blank wall as if it were fascinating. “I-I didn’t go asking around or anything!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvVrtyLome
Kouya sighed inwardly. ‘If I stay here any longer, I’ll lose brain cells.’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUfR9gf1hO
…207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiwnL5uybe
The morning classes passed slowly. The sunlight was warm, but Kouya couldn’t relax. Not with Gabi-chan—the perfect, rule-following angel—around.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4seWg4K4X
In fact, she’d become something of a class mascot. Everyone adored her.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASP5nTB3Tn
She smiled like she radiated light. She helped everyone. She even took orders from that red-haired idiot.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pUbNiHvCD
“Gabi-chan, I want juice.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsShGWx681w
“Of course. Here you go.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod3THoDnnj
“Gabi-chan, can I borrow your notes?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm1afnFgBC
“Sure! I copied Satania’s handwriting for fun.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eOxxGIdAb
“Gabi-chan, my shoulders hurt.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjQjDIM4Cq
“Then let me massage them!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8RfIxJncm
Kouya buried his face in his hand. ‘What a saintly idiot. They’re treating her like a servant, and she’s loving it!’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W02weoE8s
Then, during class, she passed him a note.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqjXqJHxqA
“Kouya-kun, are you free tomorrow?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpYboO2s5B
He frowned, scribbling back: “Why?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJxl5HMxq6
“I want to thank you for helping me. If you don’t mind, please come have lunch at my place tomorrow.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9TDtWYp8y
His reply was immediate: “No.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdOu3VGQXf
But Gabi-chan didn’t back down. “Kouya-kun helped me, and I can’t rest until I repay you.” She’d even drawn a little doodle of a teary angel beside it.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qtDzs52GM
He wanted to say no again—but she lived next door. There was no escaping her persistence.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP8LXa5dRn
Skipping lunch to hide from her? Ridiculous.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVWXFC7BtD
That would look like defeat.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8m2sWsAyM
“…Fine. Just this once.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cspwGcvSx
…207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW5lc8N1Y2
By lunchtime, Kouya escaped to the rooftop again. He bought some bread and water and planned to eat in silence.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2AJ3hydBo
Of course, Satania was there too, clutching two rice balls and pretending she wasn’t looking at him.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqiZLfVlZi
He sighed. “You always eat alone?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnhakhZ6FN
“W-what? Of course not!” She flailed, cheeks flushed. “I just prefer to dine in solitude like a true demon! Not because I’m jealous or anything!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJoNWhJfr1
‘Yeah, right,’ Kouya thought. ‘You’re just lonely.’207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXxUfmTIXl
Still, he didn’t press. Solitude suited him fine too.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaCP2n8g6e
…207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEKSj3Tc8o
Days blurred together. Before long, the first week of the new semester was over.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEpoQeZFBy
After school, Kouya’s phone buzzed. Caller ID: Cousin.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdbjHbnnIu
He hesitated, then answered.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjffltvXVzF
A warm, slightly husky voice came through. “Hey, hey, Kouya? That you?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyxSTzUdGp
“It’s me.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULJEueQUvk
“I’m your cousin Kobayashi,” she said with a small laugh. “I was supposed to pick you up for the opening ceremony, but something came up. I only just got some free time—sorry about that…”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI6luZ1Ay5
“Anyway, Kouya, come to my place for dinner tonight.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGioVgJXxf9
He instinctively said, “No need.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzREM7dGW02
He didn’t like going to unfamiliar places, even family’s.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYSmTOFkTW
“You’re not still mad at me, are you?” she asked softly.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUuzrkDxKE
“…No.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsbBClsCUT
“Then come over tonight! Or I’ll come find you!” she declared, her tone playful yet commanding207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3IvEUQRis
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RKp7w3slU
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