Chapter 6: Gabi-chan’s Tail279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9aP1Myph8
Walking out of the supermarket, the city lights had already come on, and the night sky was dotted with stars like scattered diamonds. The glow from neon signs painted the streets in shifting hues of pink and blue, and the gentle hum of life filled the air. It was the kind of evening that felt alive yet oddly peaceful.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIydUeRoSB
The evening breeze brushed gently, stirring a wind chime hanging somewhere under an eave, bringing along a crisp, pleasant ringing sound that seemed to dance with the drifting scent of blooming flowers. The sound faded, replaced by the distant laughter of pedestrians and the low purr of passing cars.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTwfrf3K6w
“Thank you so much for earlier, Kouya-kun!” Gabi-chan took the groceries from his hands and bowed again, her golden hair catching the light as she moved. Her manners were flawless—graceful, polite, almost dazzling. Truly worthy of being the top graduate of Angel School.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYZMSaIdVH
“Mm.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0zJLtuOBO
Kouya’s answer was short. He didn’t like this kind of exaggerated politeness. It felt artificial to him. He gave a faint nod and turned on his heel, walking toward his rented apartment with slow, measured steps.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeduSDoDGU
He lived nearby, in a small apartment about twenty minutes from the school. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was quiet, and that was all he wanted. Most of the residents were either students like him or tired office workers who came home too late to bother anyone.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQKtEv798C
As he left the crowded street behind, Kouya turned into a small alley lined with cherry trees. Petals drifted in the breeze like fragments of light, falling softly against his shoulders. It was almost serene—until he heard it.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI9RlsQ3X6
Footsteps. Light, hesitant, and close.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP8Q4rEozQ
The noise of cars and people faded further, but the faint sound behind him became more distinct. Under the soft streetlights, two shadows stretched across the pavement—one following closely behind the other.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn8rlUiolx
“What’s this stupid angel following me for?” Kouya thought, his brow twitching. “Did she… discover my identity?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1JirBWlHo
Then he scoffed inwardly. “No, impossible. Unless the God King himself came down to earth, there’s no way she could.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIkMVIwGOv
He shook his head and sighed. As long as she didn’t interfere with his peaceful daily life, it wasn’t worth his attention.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMUhHzDX3U
Before long, he arrived at his apartment building—a modest three-story complex with creaky stairs and a faint smell of detergent. He lived in the second-to-last room on the second floor. Not big—just thirty square meters—but enough for a quiet life.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNCNaVgiY7
Yet, the footsteps behind him didn’t fade. They followed him all the way up the stairs, right to his door.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQtcojIZwB
That was it.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2KkKNBgHZ
Kouya turned sharply, irritation flashing across his face.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkWs1yrnHz
“Hey. Why are you following me?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKAxGZhtF5
Gabi-chan blinked rapidly, her cheeks flushing pink. “N-no, you’ve got it wrong, Kouya-kun.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9buUCjZ3TN
‘Wrong, my ass! You’ve been tailing me since the supermarket!’ he screamed internally. ‘What are you, a stalker? You think I’m blind?’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nnS2hb0Dg
“Um, Kouya-kun, really, you’re misunderstanding.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfmwyOxjC7
“I believe my own eyes—”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLwJryATiN
Before he could finish, Gabi-chan reached into her wallet, took out a key, and with a soft click, unlocked the door… right next to his.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q6wQ7fqKv
Kouya stared blankly. “……”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2BNeWrCFc
‘No way… this dumb angel is my neighbor?!’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDtli7zfJQ
‘You’ve got to be kidding me. Damn it, of all people!’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGKCGRcvGu
Gabi-chan smiled warmly, pushing her door open but not stepping in yet. “I just moved in this morning. I haven’t had the chance to greet my neighbors yet. What a coincidence that you live here too, Kouya-kun.” She bowed slightly, her golden hair swaying. “Well then, Kouya-kun, I look forward to getting along with you.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcnfqGJSRl
Kouya’s expression didn’t change. He muttered something under his breath and went inside, shutting his door firmly. Just the thought of an angel living next door made him restless.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uJuh5cjjs
His apartment was simple but cozy. A small kitchen, a folding table, a bed by the window. He cooked dinner, ate quietly, cleaned up meticulously, and spent the evening at his computer, reading up on this strange, modern world. At exactly ten-thirty, he turned off the lights and lay down.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMwczlYuqx
For someone like him—someone who could go without sleep for days—choosing to rest early was more a matter of principle than need. The Demon King who wished to live in peace needed a routine, after all.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmvqiHtHkm
And so, he drifted off.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDovuVXZBW1
…279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp9B9GC64y
The night passed without incident.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd86YUNX6w
At seven sharp, his eyes opened right before the alarm went off. He got up, washed his face, ate the leftover dinner, and slung his bag over his shoulder. The air outside was crisp and clean. The faint fragrance of spring flowers mixed with the chill morning breeze, brushing against his face and waking him completely.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaSyozkhwO
The warm sunlight spilled down between buildings, soft and golden. It was almost… comfortable.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGv9gsxjRR
He glanced at the door beside his. Still closed. He wondered vaguely if the angel was awake, then shrugged it off. No reason to care.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKksEkcbKA
Walk together with her? Not a chance.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqC7yAxe87
The Demon King preferred solitude over holy company.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7gi3SaxsH
…279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPLQSVlauT
Kouya disliked buses—the exhaust fumes made his head ache. Since school wasn’t far, walking was better. The rhythmic sound of his own footsteps against the pavement was oddly soothing.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUM1rXVmk6
But halfway down a narrow street, a familiar, panicked voice broke the calm.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBs9L1lAxQ
“D-don’t come any closer!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqn5wyzlmZ
A low growl followed, echoing through the alley.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RFgu0uTOW
“I am the great demon Satania! The one destined to rule Hell itself! If you value your life, flee before my terrifying power!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkdbF5wZWO
The growl got louder.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdEauViVyV
“You still dare defy me? Then I’ll unleash my ultimate—ahhhh! No, don’t—!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViB2m9kEZr
Then came a desperate cry.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkDMOVCP1T
“No! That’s my most precious thing!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH91vAA6I1
Kouya stopped cold.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA46WmghJ9
‘What the hell is going on now?’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWQCGzIDZw
Was a demon beast attacking a girl in broad daylight?279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2aDQw0uT6
Heart heavy with suspicion, he turned the corner—and came face to face with the “beast.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvQ322F9wl
It was charging toward him, eyes round and wide, staring straight into his.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZBeODoqst
“……”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyhZLNVEpE
They locked eyes. The world went silent.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwBerE7DVQ
Kouya groaned softly and rubbed his temple. He felt a headache forming.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qrlca7NOr
“Woof! Woof!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUw5StKmin
The so-called monster barked triumphantly, tail wagging as it strutted away on short legs like a victorious general.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjVsg2mPbu
“Ugh, it stole my bread again! Why does this keep happening…?” wailed the girl’s voice, thick with tears.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g7B3k97xq
Kouya glanced at her—red hair, small horns, ridiculous expression. The self-proclaimed “Great Demon Lord Satania” sat on the ground, sniffling.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqzY2oL6sT
Well, at least the “enemy” was clear—a stray dog. White fur, sharp eyes, and a chunk of pineapple bread in its mouth. A pitifully normal thief.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0sj4uMjnG
‘You’ve embarrassed all demons everywhere. Losing your breakfast to a dog? I should exile you from Hell myself.’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVf8PVvfhJ
He approached, looking down at her with faint annoyance.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsacoctdDYn
“Get up.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVHnKrd30o
She looked up, blinking tears away. “Y-you’re helping me?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh2dJCR19D
“No.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIKdn90LOe
“Eh?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtdpPFBK6g
“You’re blocking the way.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmAEyzu9QA
Her lips trembled as she stood, muttering under her breath. “Kouya-kun, you’re so mean…”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOYKj4QKxV
“Hm? You know my name now? Yesterday you didn’t.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IIwPpAnRZ
“Ahaha…” She turned her face away, staring at the blank wall as if it were fascinating. “I-I didn’t go asking around or anything!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViiIlpuvWY
Kouya sighed inwardly. ‘If I stay here any longer, I’ll lose brain cells.’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN0gQlzyXz
…279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsodENyse9c
The morning classes passed slowly. The sunlight was warm, but Kouya couldn’t relax. Not with Gabi-chan—the perfect, rule-following angel—around.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvGnBxeCtd
In fact, she’d become something of a class mascot. Everyone adored her.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOcM4fg0xW
She smiled like she radiated light. She helped everyone. She even took orders from that red-haired idiot.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU5gLV5S5q
“Gabi-chan, I want juice.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6qM2AbWAb
“Of course. Here you go.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhSR7mF1Ix
“Gabi-chan, can I borrow your notes?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82EBBjZXkO
“Sure! I copied Satania’s handwriting for fun.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75meB5sJHx
“Gabi-chan, my shoulders hurt.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiasgvgiYAa
“Then let me massage them!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlznVPI4LQ
Kouya buried his face in his hand. ‘What a saintly idiot. They’re treating her like a servant, and she’s loving it!’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jhfCJNUZ4
Then, during class, she passed him a note.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2JBTl8f1J
“Kouya-kun, are you free tomorrow?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRrfasGY5C
He frowned, scribbling back: “Why?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HEb1Zh2aL
“I want to thank you for helping me. If you don’t mind, please come have lunch at my place tomorrow.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML7s4BsBoo
His reply was immediate: “No.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqkr4RzkLy
But Gabi-chan didn’t back down. “Kouya-kun helped me, and I can’t rest until I repay you.” She’d even drawn a little doodle of a teary angel beside it.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8JnSWvdCU
He wanted to say no again—but she lived next door. There was no escaping her persistence.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IIGRMmfkd
Skipping lunch to hide from her? Ridiculous.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlFrRrpY2w
That would look like defeat.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIAjaI0jvW
“…Fine. Just this once.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvDktZPVc2
…279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb5GDR8Ocx
By lunchtime, Kouya escaped to the rooftop again. He bought some bread and water and planned to eat in silence.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBWqH8OBIz
Of course, Satania was there too, clutching two rice balls and pretending she wasn’t looking at him.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV9xDA4Hqf
He sighed. “You always eat alone?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN53566L573
“W-what? Of course not!” She flailed, cheeks flushed. “I just prefer to dine in solitude like a true demon! Not because I’m jealous or anything!”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVedkMF1xyA
‘Yeah, right,’ Kouya thought. ‘You’re just lonely.’279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhTPbVxXiA
Still, he didn’t press. Solitude suited him fine too.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEggmWYLmU
…279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljKSCwOBwA
Days blurred together. Before long, the first week of the new semester was over.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaRkGyWkPx
After school, Kouya’s phone buzzed. Caller ID: Cousin.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGXcdv7L0B
He hesitated, then answered.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TqCL8r2Fu
A warm, slightly husky voice came through. “Hey, hey, Kouya? That you?”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg2gnHCofn
“It’s me.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVGmDsnu2t
“I’m your cousin Kobayashi,” she said with a small laugh. “I was supposed to pick you up for the opening ceremony, but something came up. I only just got some free time—sorry about that…”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbTEMNfPig
“Anyway, Kouya, come to my place for dinner tonight.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzUoxgNdT8
He instinctively said, “No need.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxXahnzreS
He didn’t like going to unfamiliar places, even family’s.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDLWd3pl4j
“You’re not still mad at me, are you?” she asked softly.279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMG7w5PEiE
“…No.”279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW686gaLC7k
“Then come over tonight! Or I’ll come find you!” she declared, her tone playful yet commanding279Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy1UBv1Sxo
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1234 copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEi9yE7MXm 尼

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