The next day.
Sato went to school as usual with Gabriel and Doma Umaru. When they reached the second intersection in front of the apartment, they did not stop like they normally would, instead continuing forward.
Seeing this, Doma Umaru turned back in confusion. After confirming that this was the usual spot where they waited for Nishimiya Shouko, she could not help but call out, "Aren't we waiting for Nishimiya?"
"No need to wait today."
Sato turned to look at Doma Umaru and said with a smile.
Hearing this, Doma Umaru was completely baffled and instinctively asked, "Why don't we need to wait?"
"Because their whole family went out early this morning."
Gabriel said while yawning.
Huh?!
Why didn't I know about that?
And judging from Tenshi-chan's sleepy appearance, she did not look like someone who had gotten up early either.
Doma Umaru was full of confusion.
Still, since both of them said so, it was probably true.
But even so, it was still strange. Wasn't there school today? Where could Nishimiya's family have gone?
Sato and Gabriel, however, knew the reason. Last night, both of them had heard the commotion from the Nishimiya household. Right now, Nishimiya Yaeko was probably taking Nishimiya Shouko to the hospital for an examination.
The congenital condition that had troubled Nishimiya Shouko had suddenly been cured. No matter how happy Nishimiya Yaeko was, she would still be full of doubt.
And the most direct way was to go to the hospital and get it checked.
"Oh my, you're all here."
Suddenly, a gentle voice slowly reached their ears.
Turning around, they saw Nishimiya's grandmother walking toward them slowly with a cane and a kind smile.
"Grandma Nishimiya, why are you here?"
Sato and Gabriel quickly walked back toward her.
Nishimiya's grandmother steadied herself and smiled at the three of them. "When Shouko left this morning, she asked me to tell everyone that she probably won't be able to go to school with you today."
"It seems you've always accompanied Shouko before. Thank you all so much."
"Grandma Nishimiya, what happened to Shouko?"
Doma Umaru, who knew nothing, asked curiously.
"Well..."
The smile on Nishimiya's grandmother's face deepened slightly as she slowly said, "Shouko suddenly regained her hearing."
Regained... her hearing?
Doma Umaru's mouth fell open in shock. "Nishimiya regained her hearing?!"
If she remembered correctly, that was a congenital condition. How could it suddenly recover after more than ten years?
"It's incredible, isn't it?"
"At first, everyone found it unbelievable. And besides her hearing, Shouko's speech ability is also recovering."
"It must be the blessing of the gods."
Nishimiya's grandmother clasped her hands together and gave a devout prayer to the empty air.
Gabriel, however, looked at Sato and raised an eyebrow.
Did you hear that? They're calling you a god now.
Sato rolled his eyes. You're the god.
"Since I've delivered the message, I'll head back to the apartment now. You should hurry to school."
After saying that, Nishimiya's grandmother waved at them and slowly turned back toward the apartment.
"Grandma, should I walk you back?"
"No need, I'll be fine."
She replied without turning her head. Her light steps seemed to reflect the joy in her heart.
Even though she said that, the three of them still watched until she reached the apartment entrance before turning to continue on their way.
On the road, Doma Umaru walked ahead, talking nonstop. She could not suppress her shock, speaking far more than usual, her words repeatedly filled with disbelief.
...
Not far from the three of them, a figure hidden in an alley peeked out and looked at them as they slowly approached. After estimating the distance, she withdrew her head and let out a mischievous laugh.
"After following them for so long, I finally found Gabriel's route to school. When she comes by, I'll jump out and scare her out of her wits!"
"Ohohoho! I'm so evil! Only a high-ranking demon above A-rank could come up with something like this!"
Satania stood with her hands on her hips, laughing loudly, already imagining the scene of Gabriel being scared to tears.
On the road, Sato suddenly exchanged a glance with Gabriel. Their gazes both shifted toward the alley ahead.
Sato lowered his voice. "It's that demon I met before."
"So it's that idiot Satania."
Gabriel's mouth twitched. "She's probably thinking of some way to defeat me again."
"Are demons all this cute?"
"Vigne is an exception. Satania is just a complete idiot. Don't tell me you're interested in idiots?"
Gabriel looked at Sato with disdain and added, "That's really scraping the bottom of the barrel."
Huh?
"What are you even thinking?"
Sato was speechless. "Does calling a girl cute mean you like her now?"
"Then Gab is so cute, Gabriel is so cute, Gabriel..."
"Damn it, shut up!"
Blushing, Gabriel kicked Sato's calf in embarrassment and anger.
Sato smiled. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a small white puppy walking from the road ahead into the alley.
He raised an eyebrow. "Could that be her natural enemy?"
"What?"
Gabriel turned her head. When she saw the little white dog, she immediately revealed a gleeful expression.
That kind of wicked grin did not resemble an angel in the slightest.
Inside the alley...
"Woof woof!"
"Y-you again! I won't give you my melon bread!"
"Ah! Y-you, don't come closer!"
"Wah! Wuuuu..."
As cries that shifted from tension to wailing came from the alley, it was not long before they saw the little white dog that had entered earlier trot out, carrying a melon bread in its mouth, its steps light and cheerful. The whole thing had taken less than a minute.
Tsk, what a disgrace to demons.
Hearing the wails from the alley, both of them sighed inwardly.