Chapter 3: Gabriel’s Obedience431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwe25DPKPK
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H61cSluVl
Before long, it was time for math class.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzjy4von1M
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:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYzxfICDwB
"The beauty of mathematics lies in the fact that it leaves us utterly confused—so confused indeed."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJa9iyMGoX
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…'431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4KUsL6YSR
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:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG7vZYC060
"Don’t poke me again!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplO3G340Hh
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?'431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKqw5qLooG
"Say something. Don’t play dumb!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyX0CBIvjc
Kouya clenched his teeth. "You were talking plenty during break time. What, did you lose your voice the second class started?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJaMr3EHQE
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oO8xf8vfx
Kouya frowned. Was this sly angel actually trying to follow the rule of ‘no talking during class’? The thought made his temple twitch.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xL21LjJMc
He turned back, pulled out a sticky note, and scribbled a message in irritation:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji9ZXnOBLK
"Why won’t you talk?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B7JsXQ2Wm
He flicked the note backward. A few seconds later, he heard the faint, crisp scratching of a pen before the note came back.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fpe1Lft0p
He looked down. The reply was written in flawless, elegant handwriting:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoylWaA5jF
"The ‘Student Code of Conduct’ clearly states that students must not whisper or make loud noises during class."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8XEuxClgg
Kouya’s jaw tightened. So that really was the reason?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pHN3BDqwr
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?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbaMyqBgKD
He grabbed his pen again and wrote another note: "Then why did you poke me?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPZcRbTTuw
The reply came back quickly:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwrmLN7jVp
"Because my dream is to make everyone happy."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOgbm8ouiI
Kouya groaned. "Eh? Why are you bringing up that ridiculous dream of yours now?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AfuG6ySGs
Another note came fluttering back:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKZj2pUW9b
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDygGSVJjXX
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!431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy4zRq9RJW
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvOQ08O9ZI
Before he could respond, another sticky note landed on his desk.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPcF2I7Ktl
"And my dream isn’t ridiculous or impossible. As the top graduate of my academy, I’ll definitely make it come true!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsT8v677Kf
Kouya smirked. Top graduate? From that so-called angel academy that mass-produces rookie angels? Yeah, sure.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaeq8Q5Lc4
He scribbled back: "Hmph. That line of yours sounds exactly like a flag waiting to be raised."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mfj6Q2CxQ
Gabriel’s note came back: "Eh? A flag? What’s that supposed to mean?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GgdsIC76D
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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUecdut2Cg
Gabriel tilted her head, clearly thinking it through. After a moment, she wrote back:431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtyf3DhkE8
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIrWanl4Gv
Kouya stared at the note in silence.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0BUqHiH3K
What could he even say? There was no arguing with that level of holy delusion.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Qu3Spz46
The beautiful morning drifted away, and soon it was noon.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9QXJpe96C
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.”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL7B5RYHMd
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8nvu0YWED
"Gabi-chan, Gabi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!" Several girls swarmed Gabriel the moment class ended.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHq1kqTcg5
"Sure!" Gabriel replied sweetly, flashing her sunshine smile. The crowd around her brightened instantly.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAai4Kalws
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvYXJLRr5g
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ShupkuiFf
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXd8aVyVz8
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrbNwyO3Dk
A girl was sitting on the floor, back against the wall.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImoa5qn9rD
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmezMa4JxJ
If Kouya hadn’t been holding the same brand of bread, he might’ve thought she was eating divine ambrosia.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvTl7nVfZL
"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?'431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqc6ROfEun
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8tFuvmbsO
Kouya could barely stop himself from sighing aloud. What was with that ‘puppy guarding its food’ look? You’re a demon! Have some dignity!431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBsDxv8S1X
"Excuse me, can I pass?" he asked mildly.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6TTJ4ea4S
"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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBTlzHg0Wx
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJljz7ArKVS
Her skirt swayed higher…431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYiwfXz0GG
The moment lingered too long, crossing the line between innocent and forbidden.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxjRcXsuwI
Kouya’s eyes widened; the sight burned into his memory.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBZSAoH4FG
"Uuh~~" The red-haired demon let out a sound like a small wounded animal.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE1wuv84UD
"Y-you saw everything?!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm5QlCJL7n
Kouya scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah, yeah, I guess you could say that. The style’s a bit conservative, though..."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvmqwvspFn
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9dzqTFeqa
"A boy saw my important place with those perverted eyes—I’m going to get pregnant!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzBHisVW3s
Kouya stood still for a full five seconds, blinking.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDyXxsstWO
Did her biology teacher major in P.E. or something?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8zOYF7jJq
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.'431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSQ2liOGGn