Chapter 3: Gabriel’s Obedience430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCUyUIcsH4
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiJqU9eYlx
Before long, it was time for math class.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58oxpcPBgJ
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:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr86axG4ug
"The beauty of mathematics lies in the fact that it leaves us utterly confused—so confused indeed."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdKDZR11oi
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…'430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jhYkrUVpK
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:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wc1eztUxh
"Don’t poke me again!"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjaNJYjXLS
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?'430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SHnbVpfTr
"Say something. Don’t play dumb!"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPL9zu4lV1
Kouya clenched his teeth. "You were talking plenty during break time. What, did you lose your voice the second class started?"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII3ibiuE0P
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDArbs8YlG
Kouya frowned. Was this sly angel actually trying to follow the rule of ‘no talking during class’? The thought made his temple twitch.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSpk3snAMt
He turned back, pulled out a sticky note, and scribbled a message in irritation:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtOtlLHXBa
"Why won’t you talk?"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosVWJQmiWF
He flicked the note backward. A few seconds later, he heard the faint, crisp scratching of a pen before the note came back.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WeLqPnWJP
He looked down. The reply was written in flawless, elegant handwriting:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67AekEWcal
"The ‘Student Code of Conduct’ clearly states that students must not whisper or make loud noises during class."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmsl67YGOS
Kouya’s jaw tightened. So that really was the reason?430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxERvuSX9e9
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?430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgx5wrMEh3
He grabbed his pen again and wrote another note: "Then why did you poke me?"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIbVABgI9M
The reply came back quickly:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oOm0aDxaR
"Because my dream is to make everyone happy."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jjuWKJGlF
Kouya groaned. "Eh? Why are you bringing up that ridiculous dream of yours now?"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8MvihFSBO
Another note came fluttering back:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnQRxKCS6d
"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."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0ujLblihN
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!430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6zsgUGHee
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOMgxeHjrh
Before he could respond, another sticky note landed on his desk.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXaO2M8GXP
"And my dream isn’t ridiculous or impossible. As the top graduate of my academy, I’ll definitely make it come true!"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXlJxq13rg
Kouya smirked. Top graduate? From that so-called angel academy that mass-produces rookie angels? Yeah, sure.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNqB3hiCx7
He scribbled back: "Hmph. That line of yours sounds exactly like a flag waiting to be raised."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cotqdG0Bk
Gabriel’s note came back: "Eh? A flag? What’s that supposed to mean?"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1nTMU5fvN
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."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkZGNy7HDU
Gabriel tilted her head, clearly thinking it through. After a moment, she wrote back:430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVxoeA7fhN
"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."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh5Az59ysT
Kouya stared at the note in silence.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Awusq1ldE
What could he even say? There was no arguing with that level of holy delusion.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvYKfzwjkx
The beautiful morning drifted away, and soon it was noon.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VefqULMT4
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.”430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3teWFomen
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsGFWydRoQ
"Gabi-chan, Gabi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!" Several girls swarmed Gabriel the moment class ended.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KMN8eMg2i
"Sure!" Gabriel replied sweetly, flashing her sunshine smile. The crowd around her brightened instantly.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe9XidRWne
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWsc0uTax5
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc4FkdYDry
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMt77MiSBi
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaODOapBYvb
A girl was sitting on the floor, back against the wall.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFAjYfdBIo
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZHZ5rSQAX
If Kouya hadn’t been holding the same brand of bread, he might’ve thought she was eating divine ambrosia.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFgPrLvO4F
"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?'430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj8bgYK2Kw
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3MrN75MoZ
Kouya could barely stop himself from sighing aloud. What was with that ‘puppy guarding its food’ look? You’re a demon! Have some dignity!430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C2BRsJX7u
"Excuse me, can I pass?" he asked mildly.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMr2JCdyFL
"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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMqmSPW3Wr
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYHo8knOom
Her skirt swayed higher…430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijagc3a4Cm
The moment lingered too long, crossing the line between innocent and forbidden.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpbd2DKsFx
Kouya’s eyes widened; the sight burned into his memory.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji1h0O2mOT
"Uuh~~" The red-haired demon let out a sound like a small wounded animal.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlElSTb2jSS
"Y-you saw everything?!"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wVR7OUpZf
Kouya scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. The style’s a bit conservative, though..."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0JSgQEHHl
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.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd39aqcQND
"A boy saw my important place with those perverted eyes—I’m going to get pregnant!"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUeg5Q54Gw
Kouya stood still for a full five seconds, blinking.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IuRH9uiIn
Did her biology teacher major in P.E. or something?430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6Sz3DXw1T
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.'430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgZhb7uaY8