Chapter 225: Thanks for the Treat
At precisely three-thirty in the afternoon, the school bell rang sharply, echoing through the hallways and signaling the sweet call of freedom. Students flooded from classrooms like an unstoppable tide, laughter and chatter filling the air.
Gabriel clutched her bag and slipped quietly into the moving crowd, shoulders hunched as if trying to disappear. Her golden hair caught the sunlight, shimmering as she tiptoed toward the back door like a professional escape artist attempting a prison break.
"Gabi-chan, where do you think you're going?" Vigne's calm yet firm voice drifted behind her like divine judgment.
Gabriel froze mid-step, back stiffening. "Uh… I-I'm thirsty!" she stammered, glancing over her shoulder. "I was just gonna go buy some water at the convenience store!"
"I'll make you tea in the clubroom," Vigne replied evenly.
"B-but my stomach hurts!"
"Then endure it." Vigne closed the distance in a few quick steps and caught Gabriel by the wrist, her grip firm as iron. "You're coming to the clubroom. No escaping."
Gabriel sagged helplessly. "Ugh, my daily quests… they'll reset before I can finish them!" she whined as Vigne pulled her along. Her shoulders drooped, her steps dragging like a condemned soul.
Ever since Shizuka declared that every club must hold at least one hour of activity per day—or risk losing their clubroom—Gabriel's peaceful after-school gaming time had become a thing of the past. Unlike the other Go-Home Club members, she couldn't dodge her responsibilities. Vigne had appointed herself as Gabriel's personal warden, ensuring the lazy angel never escaped again.
When they arrived, Vigne opened the curtains and windows, letting the warm afternoon sunlight pour in. Golden beams painted the room in soft light, catching the dust motes floating lazily through the air. The atmosphere felt relaxed—too relaxed.
Unlike the classroom, the clubroom felt like a sanctuary of idleness. The faint smell of tea mixed with the scent of sun-warmed paper. Cushions, open notebooks, and snacks littered the room. The lazy peace was almost enough to make Gabriel forget she'd been dragged there by force.
"Sigh Vigne-chan, I want a pineapple bun!" Satania announced dramatically from her seat near the window.
"No snacks right now," Vigne said with practiced patience. "You can have one when you get home. Finish your homework first."
Satania puffed her cheeks. "There's barely any homework today! I'll finish it in two minutes."
"Then do it," Vigne replied, raising an eyebrow. "Remind me—who's the one that always gets stuck doing extra cleanup duty because of unfinished homework?"
"T-that's because I wanted to!" Satania declared proudly. "The great Satania McDowell would never bow to the tyranny of homework!" She paused, eyes darting toward Gabriel. "But wait—why isn't Gabriel doing hers?!"
"Gabi-chan?" Vigne turned toward the angel, her voice carrying quiet suspicion. "Because I think there's still hope for you," she said finally.
"Eh? What's that supposed to mean?" Satania blinked.
"Nothing. Just do your work," Vigne said smoothly, returning to her tea.
Meanwhile, Gabriel had already pulled out her handheld console. Her attention was fully consumed by the bright glow of the screen.
Homework? What even was that? Some mortal nonsense. She was an angel—knowledge came naturally to her. And even if she didn't do it, Vigne's notes were always there tomorrow. Why waste precious energy?
Across the room, Rikka sat quietly at her desk, scribbling diligently. She'd started strong, her pen moving quickly, but the moment she reached the math section, her pace slowed. Her head bobbed once… twice… and she nearly faceplanted into her notebook.
After much effort—and Vigne's patient tutoring—Rikka managed to finish. She stretched her arms high above her head, then scurried to the other side of the room. From her bag, she produced a worn black notebook and a calligraphy pen. Kneeling, she began drawing strange circles across the floor with intense focus.
"Rikka, what are you doing?" Vigne asked curiously.
"Summoning a demon," Rikka said with perfect seriousness.
Satania blinked. "Ehh? But that's wrong! We wouldn't respond to that kind of circle—"
Before she could finish, Vigne gently pressed a finger to her lips. "Good luck, Rikka-chan" she said with a serene smile.
Since the club had yet to define its official purpose, boredom quickly spread. After helping Alice review her notes, Raphiel's eyes lit up. "Why don't we play that game from yesterday again? It was super fun."
"No!" Vigne blurted instantly, her voice cracking slightly. "Never again!"
That game… the horror of spontaneous confessions, random relationship generators, and worst of all, the cohabitation event! It was enough to haunt her dreams.
"I'm not playing either," Gabriel muttered without looking up. "You tricked me last time."
"Tricked?" Raphiel chuckled softly, spinning a strand of her silver hair around one finger. "Come now, I just suggested something everyone online loved. Maybe we can test it again?"
"Absolutely not!" Gabriel's cheeks flushed as she crossed her arms stubbornly.
Yesterday, Raphiel had tempted her with an absurd secret—a supposed method to make her chest grow bigger.
Not that Gabriel cared! But… she'd been curious. A little. Just for research.
The method, however, involved "assistance." Physical assistance. From a boy.
She nearly self-destructed just hearing it. There was no way she'd let Raphiel live that down.
As Gabriel's aura darkened with silent fury, Kouya finally looked up from his phone. "What's with that glare?"
"Pervert!" Gabriel snapped, turning crimson.
Kouya froze. "What did I do?!"
...
By four-thirty, the day's club activities wrapped up. Vigne gathered her things and headed to her café job. Though she didn't need the money—Hell's stipend was generous—she couldn't bring herself to quit. The kind old café owner always smiled when she arrived, and besides, the extra pay helped buy treats for Kanna.
Satania and Rikka left together, cheerfully declaring their mission to hunt down the last pineapple buns before the store closed.
Kouya and Raphiel lingered behind. As they exited the building, they crossed paths with a tall girl with silky black hair. She seemed to have just finished her own club activity, but the moment her eyes met theirs—especially Raphiel's—her expression changed completely.
Her face went pale. Her body stiffened. Then she turned and bolted down the hall like a terrified animal fleeing a predator.
"..." Kouya sighed, rubbing his temples. "Why does she always act like that? Do we look that dangerous?"
...
My name is Machiko.
Class 1-2's class representative.
Not long ago, I stumbled upon a terrifying truth while visiting my grandmother…
Kouya and Gabriel were on a date! Behind Vigne's back! I saw them with my own eyes!
Then, they even went shopping together—at an eroge store! Clearly, they were studying those games for… unholy purposes.
If I refused to follow Gabriel's "orders," they might drag me into the gym storage room for… unspeakable acts!
So scary! So terrifying!
And Raphiel—sweet, perfect, always-smiling Raphiel—is the most dangerous of all. She looks innocent, but she's a chest-groping monster! Her angelic grin hides the soul of a pervert!
Now they're together. All three of them. Plotting something terrible. I have to run!
Heart pounding, Machiko sprinted away, but panic made her clumsy. Her foot caught on the floor, and she stumbled forward—only for Raphiel to appear in front of her in a flash, catching her with supernatural grace.
"Whew, thanks," Machiko said, sighing in relief.
Then realization struck. Raphiel's hands were… not where they should've been.
"D-don't touch there!" she squeaked, trembling.
"Oh my" Raphiel said playfully, withdrawing her hand with a serene smile. "They've grown again, huh? Thanks for the treat, Machiko-chan."
Machiko's face went crimson. With a shriek of mortification, she grabbed her bag and fled down the hall at lightning speed.
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Thanks for the treat, huh? Seriously, Raphiel…"
No wonder Machiko's scared to death of you. You're basically a chest-groping menace disguised as an angel.
...
As Kouya neared his apartment complex, the amber glow of sunset filled the sky. The air was warm, touched with a faint scent of asphalt and blooming flowers. That's when he noticed a familiar figure by the vending machines.
Her golden hair gleamed under the setting sun as she pounded the machine's side with growing frustration.
"Damn it! Come on! I gambled all my coins—spit it out already!" she shouted.
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