In the spacious living room, the Nakano quintuplets were left staring at one another, as if they'd just woken from a bizarre dream.
After a long while, Yotsuba finally murmured, "He— they… just disappeared like that?"
"Did everything that happened today… really happen?" Itsuki pinched her own cheek; only when it hurt did she confirm it wasn't a dream.
"Angels, demons, a guardian of the human realm…" Nino held her forehead, feeling dizzy from the overload of information.
Ichika and Miku traded a look and saw the same incredulity in each other's eyes.
They never imagined that their ordinary life after transferring schools would be completely upended.
Not only had angels and demons appeared around them—
even that legendary perfect-score prodigy at school turned out to have such earth-shaking status and power.
It was all just too unbelievable.
They needed time to catch their breath.
…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city—
Inside the presidential suite of a top luxury hotel, the air rippled.
Rei Ao, Gabriel, and Satania appeared out of thin air.
Gabriel staggered before she steadied herself.
She glanced around at the extravagantly appointed, absurdly spacious room—then froze at the sight of the oversized bed in the center, draped in velvet.
"W-Where is this?" she asked, a bit lost, looking to Rei Ao. "Weren't you going to take me home?"
Satania also looked around, curiosity piqued; she seemed quite interested in this sort of human luxury.
Rei Ao sauntered over to the bed, then lifted his eyes to the bewildered Gabriel, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips—unconcealed intent with a hint of teasing.
"Take you home? Of course not."
He rose and walked toward her, gaze burning.
"Gab, I just helped you get rid of that troublesome sister of yours—took a big problem off your hands."
"Doesn't that deserve a little reward?"
With that, he reached her and, without asking, took her hand.
Flushed scarlet at both his implication and his touch, Gabriel instinctively tried to pull free, but his grip was firm.
"W-Wait!"
"W-Who said I owe you anything!"
"And that wasn't 'getting rid of her'—you even said I was your… your…"
She couldn't bring herself to say "girlfriend."
Rei Ao ignored her protest. With his other hand, he naturally took hold of Satania, who was still peering around in curiosity.
Only then did Satania catch on. She blinked her red eyes. "Eh? A reward? Master, do I get a share too?"
He looked down at her, his smile deepening. "Of course—witnesses get a share. And, Satania, you lost that bet when you challenged Gabriel. Isn't it time to make good on it?"
Satania froze. She remembered that, to have Rei Ao act as a witness earlier, she really had promised him a small favor.
She looked at Rei Ao's roguish grin, then at the mortified Gabriel and the luxurious bed; a belated sense of dread crept in, and her cheeks tinged pink.
"W-Wait! What are you going to do?!"
Gabriel began to struggle, but how could she match Rei Ao's strength?
Holding one in each hand, an unmistakably domineering smile on his face, he drew the protesting Gabriel and Satania along.
"Why, to collect my reward— and my wager."
…
Morning sunlight spilled warm patches through the classroom windows.
Rei Ao strolled in at the tail end of the warning bell, unhurried.
As always, his arrival drew some attention, though most had grown used to his singular ways.
"Good morning, Rei Ao." A calm, gentle voice sounded.
By the window, Megumi Kato looked up and greeted him. Beside her, Michiru Hyodo smiled and gave a little wave.
"Morning, Megumi, Michiru."
He reached his seat, his gaze lingering on Megumi with the faintest hint of a smile.
Casually, he asked, "Megumi, how's your sister Hiromi today?"
Megumi's fair cheeks tinted pink. She shot him a sidelong look and, lowering her voice with the faintest hint of a scold, said:
"Thanks to a certain someone, my sister didn't go to work today either. She says she's not feeling well and needs a day of rest."
She phrased it tactfully, but the "not feeling well" and the faintly reproachful look said enough—
clearly, Kato Hiromi was still worn out from the previous night's trio time with Rei Ao.
Michiru Hyodo clearly heard the subtext; her face turned bright red as she ducked her head and pretended to straighten the books on her desk.
Catching Megumi's slightly aggrieved glance, Rei Ao showed no hint of apology; if anything, his smile deepened, a touch of mischief in it.
He was about to say more when the bell for the start of class rang.
Their homeroom teacher—Shizuka Hiratsuka, a young woman in a white lab coat whose crisp air carried a trace of languor—entered on the chime.
…
She clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention.
"All right, class, settle down."
"Before we begin, I have an announcement."
Teacher Hiratsuka swept her gaze around the room, pausing for a heartbeat on Rei Ao.
"Today our class is welcoming a new transfer student. Please give her a warm welcome."
A transfer student?
A small buzz swept through the room. The boys especially craned their necks toward the door.
Under their expectant gazes, the door eased open and a figure stepped in.
The moment they saw the newcomer's face, the classroom fell into an uncanny silence—then exploded into chatter louder than before!
She was a young woman with sun-bright golden hair, combed perfectly back to reveal a smooth, full brow and flawless features.
Her blue eyes were as pure as a glacial lake—clear, yet tinged with an inhuman remoteness.
Even in a fitted school uniform, she radiated a sanctity that felt untouchable.
Her posture was straight, her steps graceful, as if each one had been measured to an ideal.
"Oh?" Rei Ao raised an eyebrow.
The newcomer was none other than the angel who had caused an uproar at the Nakano home last night before leaving with no choice—Zelel White!