The crowd of girls surrounding Izumi scattered instantly, as if a divine beast had appeared.
Izumi stared at the scene, the corner of his lips twitching.
…I still don't get it. Why the heck is everyone afraid of Koneko?She was clearly just a mascot-type girl. And even when she acted tough, it was more like an angry kitten—hardly terrifying.
Of course, for the rest of the class, it wasn't so simple.
First of all, Koneko was a yōkai—specifically, a nekomata.Add on the fact that she was also a reincarnated devil under the Gremory peerage…
Her background alone was enough to make your average high-school student tremble.
She never bullied anyone, but the quiet aura she carried—and the fact that she could literally fold a vending machine with her bare hands—created a certain… respect.
Once she chased off the girls crowding Izumi, Koneko turned around calmly and took out her usual lunch.
Yet again… bread.
Izumi stared at her "meal" with tired eyes.
He silently opened his own bento, and beside him, Asia did the same—since she was now in charge of helping Izumi carry his extra lunch.
And so the four of them—Izumi, Kato Megumi, Asia, and Koneko—sat together as always, quietly eating.
The class had long grown used to this arrangement.Well, minus Asia, who was a recent addition.
As the four were eating, someone finally approached—tentatively, nervously.
Eriri.
She hesitated, fidgeted, then spoke in a small voice:
"Um… c-can I sit here?"
Four sets of eyes turned toward her at once.
Eriri nearly jumped.
Izumi blinked, then smiled.
"Sit down, Sawamura Spencer Eriri."
——————
HER SOUL LEFT HER BODY.
Eriri froze.Then—
"Y-y-you—h-how do you know that name!?""A-and it's not—I mean—I'm not—!!"
Koneko raised her brows in mild surprise.So Eriri was that Sawamura Spencer Eriri…?
Even she, a closet otaku, knew the name.As someone who played games, browsed forums, and occasionally chatted with Izumi online, she had of course encountered the legendary name tied to a certain category of artwork.
The, uh… doujinshi category.
Izumi had even recommended some to her once—though she never actually looked.But she did remember the pen name.
Eriri, the illustrious LR-type doujin artist, was their classmate all along.
Thankfully Izumi hadn't said it loudly.Only the four of them heard.
Megumi blinked, momentarily surprised, but didn't pry.Instead she simply smiled and gestured:
"Eriri-san, have a seat."
If Izumi knew her, then there was no problem.
And Eriri wanted to thank him anyway.
Still embarrassed, Eriri sat, cheeks burning.
"Um… thank you. For… before. You saved me."
Izumi shook his head casually.
"No need for thanks. But if you insist… just let me see your new releases first."
He paused.His expression became… complex.
"I really like your work."
Eriri's soul died a second time.
He knows… he really knows… and he even likes that type…!?
With the fifth person joining, the table suddenly felt more lively.Asia got along surprisingly well with Eriri—maybe it was the blonde hair, or maybe their personalities simply matched.
Megumi would occasionally join the conversation with perfectly timed comments, and soon the three girls were chatting as if they had always been friends.
Izumi stared blankly.
Women… truly unfathomable beings.
Koneko, meanwhile, munched on her bread in silence, uninterested.
Once lunch neared its end, Eriri turned toward Izumi again.
"Um… Izumi-kun. Do you have time after school? I'd like to treat you to dinner."
Before Izumi could reply, he glanced sideways at Koneko.
"Nope. We have training."
"Dinner some other time."
Then he added, mercilessly:
"And Eriri, you can stop using polite speech. I know exactly what kind of person you are. No need to pretend in front of us."
Eriri twitched violently.
Pretend? You think I WANT to speak politely!? I'd switch to tsun-mode right now if I could!!
She glared at Izumi, feeling wronged.
Why did it feel like she had NO secrets around this guy!?
Still, she hesitated for only a moment before asking softly:
"T-then… c-can I join your training? I… I want to get stronger too."
After the incident with Kokabiel, the fear had stuck with her.She hated that helplessness.
Izumi blinked.Ah. So that's why.
He nodded.
"No problem. By the way, Eriri—do you have a team for the future? Want to join mine?"
His eyes gleamed mischievously.
If Eriri joined, he'd already have four members.
Eriri blinked in confusion.
"Team? For the upcoming school trial, right?"
Izumi stared.
"…The what?"
Eriri tilted her head.
"You know… the first-year trial? The big assessment next week?"
Izumi, eyes wide:
"WE HAVE A TRIAL!?"
Koneko sighed deeply.
"…Yes, we do. You really don't listen to announcements, do you…?"
Eriri, hearing Izumi meant something completely different, panicked a little.
"So you weren't talking about the school trial… you meant a future combat squad?"
Izumi nodded.
"Yeah. A mercenary team. For when we eventually get deployed to the frontlines against monsters."
Eriri's face stiffened.
"T-that… I need to think about."
Her family still had ties with the Church.Her father was even hoping to introduce her to certain angelic connections, maybe let her undergo the ritual to become a reincarnated angel.
If that happened, joining Izumi's squad wouldn't be allowed.
Izumi waved it off.
"Think it over. Take your time. If you join my team, I'll teach you magic, combat skills—whatever you need."