After delivering a high-tech shock to the girls of Kessoku Band, Jhin didn't stop for a moment, rushing back to his rental apartment to find Gabriel. To be honest, he couldn't guarantee one hundred percent that Gabriel and the others would be able to join the Antarctica trip. Who knew if Heaven or the Demon Realm had some strange restrictions?
Because he had notified them in advance via phone, everyone was already present when Jhin arrived at Gabriel's home. Only Gabriel wore a face full of resentment; the moment she saw him walk into the room, she unleashed a flying kick without a word.
"You jerk! You actually hijacked an angel's gaming time and made them gather at my house. Divine punishment!"
Jhin deftly sidestepped the flying kick, ignoring the resentful glare behind him as he greeted the other three. "Vignette, Satania, Raphiel—you guys got here pretty fast."
"It's only because you said there was something fun going on that we hurried over." Satania had just finished the melon bread in her hand. Seeing she was still in her school uniform, she must have rushed over immediately after receiving the message.
"I guarantee I won't let you down."
Jhin explained the Antarctica trip to them. Upon hearing she could stay away from school for three whole months, Gabriel almost sang a hymn to praise him. Unfortunately, Raphiel poured a bucket of cold water on her enthusiasm.
"Gab-chan, we have to submit an application to Heaven for this kind of thing. It's hard to say if it will be approved."
Gabriel instantly wilted. "What a hassle. Applications for this, applications for that. Why didn't they submit an application to ask for my consent when they lowered my living expenses?"
Vignette raised her hand in distress. "Um, we also need to submit an application to the Demon Realm."
Seeing others share her misfortune made Gabriel feel slightly better, though she still held onto a sliver of hope and said to Raphiel, "Raphiel, let's try submitting the application. What if Heaven agrees?"
"Since Gab-chan says so..." Raphiel borrowed a pen and paper from Jhin to write two applications, then used divine magic to submit them. Moments later, two stamped applications drifted down before her in a soft glow of holy light.
Raphiel covered her small mouth with her hand, speaking in utter surprise, "No way... it actually passed?"
Gabriel didn't bother thinking about why it passed; as long as she could join the Antarctica trip, that was enough. She excitedly stowed away the application, dug out her pink suitcase, and started stuffing clothes into it.
Seeing their application approved, Satania hurriedly urged Vignette to submit an application to the Demon Realm. Unsurprisingly, their application was also approved.
Does Jhin have connections in both Heaven and the Demon Realm?
Raphiel was well aware of how low the success rate was for applications regarding non-school-organized trips. The fact that Heaven agreed to their participation was one thing, but for the Demon Realm to also allow Vignette and the others to go... it was hard not to suspect that Jhin was a "connection hire" with influence in high places.
"Originally, we needed consent forms from your parents, but since Heaven and the Demon Realm have already agreed, whether those are signed or not doesn't matter." Jhin grabbed the back of Gabriel's collar as she continued stuffing things into her suitcase. "Gabriel, we don't set off until December. It's useless to pack now."
"What? We aren't leaving right now?"
"I can see you really don't want to stay in school, but I regret to inform you that it's not time to depart yet."
"Tch, understood. Hurry up and let me go. If you're done talking, you guys should go home; I want to play games."
Faced with Gabriel's eviction order, the other three went home promptly. Only Jhin remained leisurely standing in the room. Just looking at his appearance gave Gabriel a foreboding feeling in her heart.
"Miss Maid, your Master has returned after a long time. Shouldn't you fulfill your obligations?"
Sure enough... this guy just doesn't want to let me play games in peace.
Gabriel ground her teeth in anger but was helpless. She could only honestly follow Jhin to his house to change into a maid outfit and serve tea and water.
*
"Ikuyo, we cannot sign this consent form." Mr. Kita pushed the document back in front of Kita Ikuyo with a serious expression.
Mrs. Kita advised her with earnest words and good intentions, "Letting you participate in that band was already our biggest concession. Now you want to leave school for three months? What about your grades? Playing in a band has no future. It's better to study honestly, pass the civil service exam, and get a stable job—that's better than anything."
"But there will be people there to tutor us!"
Mr. Kita kept a stern face as he rebuked his daughter's naive thoughts. "How could an Antarctic scientific expedition team possibly have people more professional than school teachers? Don't let a moment of impulse affect the development of your entire life."
"We are doing this for your own good. You child, why don't you understand?" Mrs. Kita looked worried. Her daughter, who had always been so well-behaved, had suddenly become so stubborn. "Ever since you joined the band, you've changed completely. If you continue like this, Mom will have to make you quit the band."
"Indeed. Perhaps that is the only way to pull you back onto the right track." Mr. Kita nodded in agreement.
Kita Ikuyo lowered her head, gazing at the consent form before her. Tears of grievance swirled in her eyes. Her parents had always been like this—only hoping she would become what they expected, without considering her feelings in the slightest.
Seeing his daughter remain silent, Mr. Kita chose to end the topic. He stood up and issued his final decision. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will go to your school, find that Jhin, and tell him you are quitting the band. It's truly nonsense, dragging my daughter to travel to Antarctica without caring about her future. Hmph!"
"Jhin-san is not the kind of person you say he is!" Kita Ikuyo stood up abruptly, loudly refuting her father. "He values our future more than anyone! He has been silently supporting us from behind, and even established a record company for us in advance! Dad, you're the one who doesn't understand anything!"
"Ikuyo! You actually talk to me like that?!"
"I'm not wrong!"
Mr. Kita laughed out of extreme anger. "What kind of bewitching potion did that Jhin feed you? It seems I need to talk to his homeroom teacher first."
"Dad, you're simply unreasonable!" The resentment Kita Ikuyo had accumulated over a long period of being misunderstood by her parents exploded in her heart at this moment like a lit powder keg. She threw down those words, turned around, and rushed out of the house, crystal-clear tears flying from the corners of her eyes into the air.
The gloomy sky began to drizzle with rain. Kita Ikuyo walked down the street in a daze, letting the rain soak her. She didn't know what meaning there was in running out in a fit of pique, nor did she know how to face tomorrow.
*
Jhin, who was enjoying a maid shoulder-massage service at home, received a call from Nymph.
"Master, Kita Ikuyo has run out of her house into the rain."
"I got it. Send me her location."
____
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