Chapter 254: Gabriel Takes the Initiative
"Tch, who cares."
The lazy angel didn't even glance over, clearly still sulking about last night's wardrobe malfunction. Her voice was drenched in pride, but her cheeks puffed slightly like a child's. She rested her chin on her palm and stared blankly out the window, pretending Kouya didn't exist.
Kouya, on the other hand, didn't refuse. It was just a few minutes of sketching—no big deal. He set his hand to paper with a casual confidence that made the others quietly watch.
Before long, Gabriel's portrait was complete. The classroom's soft chatter fell silent as Kouya lifted the sheet.
"It really looks like you," Vigne said in awe, leaning forward with wide eyes.
"Yeah, totally," Satania added, nodding enthusiastically.
"Identical," Rikka chimed in after a short pause, adjusting her eyepatch as if she were judging a masterpiece.
Gabriel blinked, intrigued. Despite her act of disinterest, curiosity began to burn behind those tired golden eyes. She hesitated for a moment, fighting the urge, but finally gave in and stepped closer. When she saw the drawing—her in a thin jacket, hair an unkempt bird's nest, face flattened against a desk, cheeks puffed from lazy sleep, eyes dead and emotionless—her entire body froze.
That expression on paper perfectly captured her soul: 'Don't talk to me. Let me decompose in peace.'
Her face twitched. "You bastard! You made me look like that!"
Kouya didn't even blink. "Ask everyone else."
Vigne nodded instantly, laughing awkwardly. "That's exactly you, Gabi-chan. I mean, he nailed it."
Rikka gave a serious nod of confirmation. "Uncannily accurate."
Satania couldn't help but cackle. "And you call me embarrassing? Gabi-chan, you're worse than me!"
BAM!
Before the words even finished, Satania was already sprawled face-down on the floor, clutching her head. Gabriel stood over her, breathing out slowly as if exorcising irritation.
...
Lunch break came, and since Kouya, Gabriel, and Raphiel hadn't brought bentos, the group decided to head for the school cafeteria. The air outside the classroom was warm, filled with the faint smell of summer grass and distant voices from the sports field.
As they walked down the hallway, they overheard two boys whispering ahead of them.
The shorter one looked miserable. "After I confessed, she's been avoiding me… you think I've got no chance left?"
The taller boy clapped him on the shoulder with mock wisdom. "Listen, I'll tell you a foolproof move. Works every time."
The short one's eyes widened hopefully. "Really? What is it?"
The tall boy cleared his throat like a sage about to reveal forbidden knowledge. "Just go up to her, grab her, and kiss her. Boom! Instant romance. If you don't have the guts to do even that, how can you say you like her?"
Silence. Even the hallway seemed to pause.
Not only the shorter boy, but even Kouya looked like he'd just heard an alien concept. His brow twitched. 'How thick do you have to be to say that out loud? That's not courage—that's assault!'
The short boy swallowed nervously. "But… what if she hates me even more after that?"
Kouya mentally groaned. 'No, dude, you should be worrying about the police, not your affection meter!'
The tall boy, undeterred, said, "Simple. If she gets mad, just kneel and apologize. Girls love sincerity. Works every time."
Another wave of silence rolled in. Even Raphiel blinked, speechless for once.
Though the two whispered quietly, everyone except Rikka and Alice could hear them loud and clear.
Raphiel's lips curved in delight. "So that's the new romance meta, huh? Force a kiss and pray for forgiveness? Risking jail time for love… how bold. What do you think, Kouya?"
Kouya's gaze flicked over the group. Vigne immediately took a cautious step back, eyes narrowing in wary suspicion, while Rikka looked confused and clutched her notebook tighter.
'Hey, what's with that look, Vigne? You think I'd actually try it?' he thought, irritated—and yet, part of him wondered… 'Would it really work?'
...
By the time they reached the cafeteria, the place was buzzing. Students lined up at the counters, laughter echoing between tables. The group gathered their trays and found a quiet corner.
Kouya didn't hold back—he'd ordered like a king: a fried chicken cutlet glistening with sauce, a bowl of tofu eel soup, three golden shrimp, a neat mound of omurice, and a chilled cola that hissed softly when opened.
Gabriel stared at his tray like a predator spotting prey.
Her own tray, on the other hand, held a lonely bowl of cheap 200-yen kitsune udon. Steam rose weakly from the broth. Her face fell into a deep pout.
After all, she hadn't gotten any freelance commissions lately, and after last night's 'trauma' with Kouya, she'd rage-rolled her remaining funds in a ten-pull gacha.
The results were catastrophic.
Now, the once-proud archangel of laziness was reduced to a literal dirt-eating peasant.
And she meant that almost literally—because somewhere out there, people did eat dirt. Kouya had once mentioned Haiti, where residents made mud cookies from soil, butter, and salt. Gabriel thought of that now with a grim little smirk. 'Maybe I'll try that next week if I keep losing pulls…'
She sighed, glaring at Kouya's luxurious plate. The scent of fried shrimp wafted over, tormenting her.
Her cheeks puffed out again. "That shrimp's mine!"
Kouya looked up mid-bite. "Huh?"
Before he could react, Gabriel's chopsticks swooped in with divine precision and snatched one.
She munched smugly. "Mmm. Perfectly fried."
He stared in disbelief. 'Only you could commit daylight robbery with that much confidence.'
Vigne hesitated, glancing between them. "Gabi-chan, if you're that hungry, you can have my bento. I don't mind."
Gabriel waved dismissively. "No need. He ordered way too much anyway. I'm helping him stay fit. It's a good deed."
Kouya groaned inwardly. 'Unbelievable. How do you even say that with a straight face?'
Vigne's expression turned serious. "Gabi, where's your allowance?"
Gabriel looked away, voice small. "…Already spent."
"Already? It's only mid-month! Don't tell me you blew it all on gacha again!"
"Hey, don't call it that," she muttered defensively. "It's not gambling—it's… devotion. Spiritual investment."
Vigne pinched the bridge of her nose. "You had enough to buy new clothes for summer, and instead you bought digital costumes."
"Fashion is eternal," Gabriel replied with mock wisdom. "Besides, this shirt still works."
Raphiel's laughter was soft but sharp. "Actually, Gabi-chan's allowance got cut this month."
Vigne blinked. "Cut? Why?"
Raphiel tapped her lips with a delicate finger. "The celestial auditor finally noticed her excessive sloth and nightly gaming marathons. Heaven decided to dock 20%."
Kouya nearly chuckled. 'So even Heaven has a payroll department. Beautiful.'
Vigne sighed deeply. "Then why not come work at the café with me? The manager's nice, the shifts are easy, and you'll earn enough to actually eat."
Gabriel shook her head lazily. "No thanks. Instant noodles are cheaper and faster."
"But instant noodles aren't healthy," Vigne protested gently. "If you keep eating that, your body will fall apart. I could make an extra bento for you. It's no trouble."
"Nah, I've got plans," Gabriel said lightly—but her eyes slid toward Kouya again.
Kouya caught the glance and sighed. 'So that's your scheme. You're planning to mooch off me again.'
'Don't think helping me wash dishes earns you infinite food privileges!' he thought silently.
But he was wrong.
Food wasn't what she was after.
No, the real concern was her gacha addiction. The next banner drop was only days away. If she didn't find a way to refill her funds, how would she survive the temptation?
She couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop.
The thrill of the spin, the golden glow, the sound of a rare pull—it was irresistible.
So, with a sly glint in her eyes, Gabriel began plotting. If she couldn't get money from Heaven, then she'd take things into her own hands. She'd earn it directly—through the terminal itself.
After all, money was hard to come by, and playing games while earning sounded like divine efficiency.
Thus, the gacha-addicted angel, ever sinking deeper into the pit of temptation, clenched her fists, eyes blazing with lazy determination.
This time, she wouldn't wait.
Gabriel, angel of procrastination and professional freeloader, had officially decided to strike first.
Wanna read ahead? Join my Patreon and support the story — up to 6 new chapters are published for you every day!: patreon.com/ArealMaster