Chapter 269 Gabriel, You Can't Do This…
"Th-this is bad! Gabriel must be mad because I caught her on a date!" Machiko muttered, clutching her bag nervously as sweat formed at her temples.
"She might even use the same punishment she used on Satania!" she whimpered, imagining the dreaded divine fist crashing down on her skull.
Her overactive imagination immediately pictured Gabriel, her eyes glowing with fury as she shouted, "Punishment from Heaven!" before launching a punch that sent Machiko flying through the air. The mental image alone made the poor girl tremble so hard she almost dropped her phone.
When she saw Gabriel walking toward her with that lazy but unmistakably annoyed expression, panic set in. She turned on her heel to bolt—but barely made it two steps before a firm hand grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Why are you running?" Gabriel frowned, looking more puzzled than angry.
"B-because you were chasing me first…" Machiko stammered, glancing up at her like a mouse cornered by a cat.
"..."
Machiko stood about 165 cm tall (5'5), her posture timid but decent, while Gabriel barely reached 150 cm (4'11). The contrast should've made Gabriel look harmless—but somehow, the aura around her screamed authority. The shorter girl's gaze alone made Machiko freeze.
One looked like a defenseless bunny; the other, a delinquent angel who'd long given up on Heaven's discipline. It wasn't even a fair comparison.
Even though Gabriel had to tilt her chin up, the intimidation was palpable—as if she were looking down from a throne of sloth.
"You saw, didn't you?" Gabriel said flatly.
Machiko waved her hands frantically. "N-no! I was just passing by! I didn't see anything! I swear on Heaven and Earth!"
"It's fine. You saw it. Just don't tell Vigne or the others," Gabriel said, waving lazily.
"O-okay… I won't tell anyone, Gabriel." Machiko exhaled in relief, then hesitated, her conscience nagging her. "But… what you and Kouya did behind Vigne's back isn't right."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she crouched down and covered her head with both arms, expecting divine retribution.
Gabriel sighed, shoving her hands into her hoodie pockets. "Yeah, I know. It's not right. But I didn't have a choice, okay? I had to."
Machiko gasped, eyes wide. "W-wait! Don't tell me—Kouya forced you?!"
Gabriel blinked, then sighed again. "No, no. Nothing like that. It's complicated. You wouldn't understand anyway. Just… don't tell Vigne about this, all right?"
The truth—that she bought couple shirts to make money—was a humiliation she'd never live down.
"But paper can't hide fire forever…" Machiko murmured dramatically, her eyes filled with tragic determination. "Someday, the truth will explode… like a ticking bomb."
"Huh?" Gabriel tilted her head. "You're exaggerating."
"I am not!" Machiko said, pouting. "You two are basically dancing on a live grenade!"
Gabriel blinked twice, completely lost, but nodded anyway. "Sure, sure. Whatever. So, what are you even doing here?"
Machiko blushed and rubbed her arm shyly. "I came to buy underwear… I think I've, um, grown again. My bra feels a little tight lately."
Gabriel's expression darkened instantly.
Traitor. Absolute traitor.
So that's what she'd noticed during swim class—the "innocent" Machiko had been hiding behind the guise of modesty. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Another defector from the Flat Alliance.
Gabriel clicked her tongue and forced a grin that was anything but kind. "Hey, Machiko. Come with me. I just had a great idea."
…
"G-Gabriel! You can't do this!"
The desperate voice echoed outside the fitting room. Machiko's face was bright red as she tried to resist.
She had one hand clutched over her chest and the other pushing weakly against Gabriel's arm—but the angel's grip was ironclad.
"Relax, it'll be fine. You'll be done before you know it," Gabriel said in a suspiciously sweet tone. "Who knows, maybe you'll even like it."
"But this isn't right!" Machiko protested, her voice trembling. Her soft black hair brushed against her cheeks as she looked up with pleading eyes, like a helpless rabbit caught by a mischievous fox.
Kouya stood nearby, glancing up once before returning to his phone, pretending he didn't see a thing.
"Excuse me, could you bring her one of these shirts too?" Gabriel asked the sales clerk as if nothing strange were happening.
"Of course, miss." The woman smiled politely and went to fetch another matching blouse, clearly amused by the interaction.
When Machiko saw what was handed to her, her blush deepened to scarlet. "W-why do I have to wear a couple shirt too?! I was just passing by!"
"It's just for comparison," Gabriel said seriously, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Don't worry about it."
Machiko opened her mouth to object—but then a faint snapping sound echoed.
She froze, her soul leaving her body.
"What happened?" Gabriel asked, tilting her head.
"M-my bra clasp… it snapped!" Machiko stammered, voice breaking as she covered her chest with both arms, face blazing with humiliation.
She'd noticed lately her chest had grown again, and the old bra had become too tight. She'd come to buy new ones—but of all possible times, it broke now. The timing was cruel.
Kouya looked away, his jaw tightening as he fought the urge to sigh.
Gabriel's lips twitched. "Didn't you come here to buy new ones anyway? Go change into the shirt first. We'll grab you a replacement after."
"B-but—"
"Fine then. Stay here without a bra if you want," Gabriel said casually. "We're leaving."
"N-no! I'll change!" Machiko squeaked, shaking her head rapidly.
Just the thought of walking around braless in public made her want to faint. No way. Never.
As Machiko retreated into the fitting room, Gabriel turned to Kouya. "You go buy the bra."
"What?!" Kouya blinked. "Why me?"
"Because I'm busy. And I can't go out dressed like this. You changed too early—it's your fault," Gabriel said matter-of-factly. "Besides, you've done it before."
The nearby sales clerk paused mid-step, glancing curiously at Kouya. Her polite smile twitched as she clearly tried not to laugh.
Done it before?
Buying women's underwear?
This boy must live a very… interesting life.
Kouya's face darkened. He glared at Gabriel, mentally screaming, 'You think I wanted to?!' The things he'd been dragged into by this lazy angel could fill volumes.
Gabriel stretched her arms lazily. "Come on, hurry up. I've got games waiting for me back home." Then she called toward the fitting room, "Machiko, what size again?"
"Uh… I was a C before… maybe a little bigger now," came the embarrassed, muffled reply.
Gabriel clenched her fists. "Unbelievable! Even her measurements are mocking me!"
Even as a fallen angel, some pride still burned in her chest—and nothing stoked her wrath more than seeing someone else's "growth."
"Fine. Any preferences? Price, color, style?" she grumbled.
Machiko's voice cracked. "White's fine! Anything's fine! Please just hurry! I'll pay you back later!"
Gabriel sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Change quick. Kouya, go."
Kouya groaned but obeyed, heading out into the mall.
After a short walk, he spotted a lingerie shop ahead. The pink sign glowed softly, mocking him.
"Welcome!" a cheerful clerk greeted him immediately. "Are you shopping for lingerie today, sir?"
Her voice was polite, but her gaze held unmistakable curiosity.
Kouya coughed into his hand, trying to find words that didn't sound ridiculous. Before he could speak, though, he felt a familiar chill.
A pair of wide eyes were staring at him.
He turned slowly—and froze.
A petite girl in a frilly gothic dress stood near the display, clutching a bra in her tiny hands. Her big eyes blinked in horror.
It was that legal loli—the one always using detection magic.
"Oh no!"
Igarashi nearly dropped the lingerie. "I just came for tea! Maybe a little shopping! Why—why did it have to be him?!"
Her thoughts spiraled instantly. 'Is he here to catch me? He must be!' There's no way he's here for normal shopping. No way a boy like him walks into a lingerie store casually!
"What do you even do when you run into a boss while shopping for bras?!" she panicked internally. 'Someone send help! Urgent!'
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