Chapter 3: Gabriel’s Obedience427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpodtmabUD
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC0158hjvz
Before long, it was time for math class.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiast7qaKVx
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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nqmtZnr0P
"The beauty of mathematics lies in the fact that it leaves us utterly confused—so confused indeed."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqLx0hnjyG
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…'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjRaheamyV
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:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PytN7bcoW
"Don’t poke me again!"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGQr1lQwkd
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?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLDADc7LX0
"Say something. Don’t play dumb!"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQUGstwyjs
Kouya clenched his teeth. "You were talking plenty during break time. What, did you lose your voice the second class started?"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHqdv1bVJ2
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQFgGP6dhP
Kouya frowned. Was this sly angel actually trying to follow the rule of ‘no talking during class’? The thought made his temple twitch.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhyjVbP8Om
He turned back, pulled out a sticky note, and scribbled a message in irritation:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwiHOGoKkd
"Why won’t you talk?"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs59dXVQy3F
He flicked the note backward. A few seconds later, he heard the faint, crisp scratching of a pen before the note came back.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN4cp5aq0d
He looked down. The reply was written in flawless, elegant handwriting:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUhyHxlWZC
"The ‘Student Code of Conduct’ clearly states that students must not whisper or make loud noises during class."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0FnaxZoSS
Kouya’s jaw tightened. So that really was the reason?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD4dijjhkK
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?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGamL1Uktu
He grabbed his pen again and wrote another note: "Then why did you poke me?"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr2jRjtalR
The reply came back quickly:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3eGTFY8kU
"Because my dream is to make everyone happy."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajSpPHD7ds
Kouya groaned. "Eh? Why are you bringing up that ridiculous dream of yours now?"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XQh1w38qS
Another note came fluttering back:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUDLQbzWee
"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."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnwLTU4b05
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!427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8fJhIRu2o
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxB9ep2ZzW
Before he could respond, another sticky note landed on his desk.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bWHWlTYHD
"And my dream isn’t ridiculous or impossible. As the top graduate of my academy, I’ll definitely make it come true!"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZVdWDMJbH
Kouya smirked. Top graduate? From that so-called angel academy that mass-produces rookie angels? Yeah, sure.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqyQz4gByM
He scribbled back: "Hmph. That line of yours sounds exactly like a flag waiting to be raised."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj17fz4Xu9
Gabriel’s note came back: "Eh? A flag? What’s that supposed to mean?"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQb9qUxGpp
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."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMhFuWdEXK
Gabriel tilted her head, clearly thinking it through. After a moment, she wrote back:427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UaB9HLO9J
"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."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNm4KuYfft
Kouya stared at the note in silence.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhH1O9m1TO
What could he even say? There was no arguing with that level of holy delusion.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DnyUQqwye
The beautiful morning drifted away, and soon it was noon.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt79Befd6t
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.”427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLm96igcAN
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7E52H7sOH
"Gabi-chan, Gabi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!" Several girls swarmed Gabriel the moment class ended.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTVJSpyb6S
"Sure!" Gabriel replied sweetly, flashing her sunshine smile. The crowd around her brightened instantly.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y3gI0ewb8
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLLfxlFsWl
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7LwAnYZoy
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpnzW2ewrk
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbkUps4Rrk
A girl was sitting on the floor, back against the wall.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZi1xoIA2o
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRJ8BUl1d3
If Kouya hadn’t been holding the same brand of bread, he might’ve thought she was eating divine ambrosia.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dyMAhoq0v
"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?'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9qsDsGwJR
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46roT7oVhE
Kouya could barely stop himself from sighing aloud. What was with that ‘puppy guarding its food’ look? You’re a demon! Have some dignity!427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpOi6MBqVt
"Excuse me, can I pass?" he asked mildly.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmSQTkyGko
"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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUU9LZNG1u
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzirMW2p5e
Her skirt swayed higher…427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfygTFlbPC2
The moment lingered too long, crossing the line between innocent and forbidden.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4lkghXb2A
Kouya’s eyes widened; the sight burned into his memory.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMnmeLUB2W
"Uuh~~" The red-haired demon let out a sound like a small wounded animal.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHK2SJRrsX
"Y-you saw everything?!"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AtNPWPHvi
Kouya scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. The style’s a bit conservative, though..."427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxHqx9m0gL
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.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI88OT99ux5
"A boy saw my important place with those perverted eyes—I’m going to get pregnant!"427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YACGAmtDd
Kouya stood still for a full five seconds, blinking.427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbbfS4ilVw
Did her biology teacher major in P.E. or something?427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8jUKlXyzb
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.'427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlywK1a3nV