Watching the slothful angel hopelessly addicted to her game, Vignette shook her head.
She still couldn't believe that the "perfect angel" who once said, "My dream is to make everyone happy," had become this lazy.
The human world really is something.
"Gab, I've got things to do, so I'm heading out. I'll take this bag of trash down for you while I'm at it."
"Thanks, Vigne," Gabriel said with a grin, and kept on gaming.
After opening the door and heading downstairs, Vignette happened to run into Hayashi Maki, who was also stepping out with a trash bag.
"Yo, what a coincidence. You're taking out the trash too, Vigne?" Hayashi Maki greeted her with a smile.
"Yeah—total coincidence."
Vignette's expression turned a little odd the moment she saw him. Hayashi Maki really ought to thank her; otherwise that lazy angel had been ready to silence him.
"Since we're both out, want to walk together?"
"Sure."
…
After tossing the trash and then going for a run with a handsome guy, Vignette felt… complicated.
"Um… Vigne, about those panties this afternoon…"
"Stop. Don't say it. Let's pretend it never happened. I know nothing, and you'd better not mention it to anyone either!"
Vignette waved her hands to shut him up, her face blazing red.
Hayashi Maki just smiled calmly. "So they really were Gabriel's, huh? Was she trying to send her panties to school in her place? That's… certainly an idea."
"What's 'certainly an idea' supposed to mean?! And I said don't talk about it!" Vignette snapped, then frowned. "What exactly do you know? Why would you think it's Gabriel?"
Hayashi Maki shrugged. "I'm a great demon, remember? Of course I know Gabriel. Even Satania calls me 'senpai.' So Gabriel's actually an angel, right?"
Vignette stared at him, surprised. But after carefully sensing it, she detected none of the netherworld's demonic aura—no magic signature at all.
She rolled her eyes. "If you're a great demon, then I'm an angel. Don't take Satania's nonsense seriously, Hayashi Maki. Treat what happened this afternoon as a paranormal incident, okay?
"It also has nothing to do with Gabriel, got it? And you don't have to think about returning that to its owner, either. Let's just say… I doubt the other party wants it back."
Hayashi Maki nodded, thoughtful. "Got it. I'll keep it as a collectible."
"Collectible?" Vignette muttered, giving him a look she couldn't quite put into words.
Did she misjudge him? Was Hayashi Maki actually a massive perv?
Hayashi Maki, perfectly matter-of-fact: "Well yeah, what else? I can't wear it myself. Do you want it, Vigne? I could give it to you."
Vignette shook her head frantically. "Absolutely not!"
She was a woman, thank you very much—what kind of development involves accepting panties from a guy? And they'd been worn by Gabriel—that'd be even weirder.
Hayashi Maki shrugged. "If you don't want it, I'll just keep it. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
Vignette nodded reflexively, though her gaze only grew stranger. It… sort of made sense. But if you think about it, collecting girls' panties is exactly what a pervert would do! Yet Hayashi Maki didn't look like one at all.
The air turned a little awkward.
Before long, they reached the door. Hayashi Maki smiled and said goodbye to the kind little demon.
"Well, I'm home. See you around, Vigne."
"Mhm, bye."
Watching his back, Vignette touched her burning cheeks and suddenly panicked. She sprinted home.
Why do I get nervous around Hayashi Maki?
Am I… in love?
No way. I'm a demon—how could I have feelings for a human? Demons live a long time; we don't choose short-lived humans as partners. She'd never once considered dating on Earth.
But… there weren't many demon men from the underworld she liked, either. Their values were different to begin with.
I'm obviously just seeing Hayashi Maki as a friend. Yes, that's it—he's just… really gentle.
Vignette quickly talked herself around, smiled in relief, and calmed down.
"But it seems like Hayashi Maki's guessed Gabriel's identity. Did Satania say something?"
"No, that doesn't add up. With Satania's personality—always calling herself a demon—even if she said it, nobody would believe her."
Lost in thought, Vignette found herself getting curious about Hayashi Maki without realizing that curiosity is where the fall begins.
Back on Hayashi Maki's side, he returned to his room, booted up his computer, and started typing. He'd discussed light-novel plot points with Kasumigaoka Utaha, but he still had more to write. If he wanted financial freedom, he had to spend the time and grind out the chapters.
Shiina Mahiru and the others, meanwhile, went to their part-time jobs at Saionji Youko's shop as usual.
…
After work, Nibutani Shinka and Kato Megumi headed home together.
Megumi's eyes couldn't help drifting to the necklace around Shinka's neck. Noticing the glance, Shinka's cheeks turned faintly pink.
It was a gift from that big jerk Hayashi Maki.
To be honest, Shinka still didn't know what she felt about him. He'd threatened her with her chuunibyou black history, and he was always hugging and kissing her.
And he was a flirt—he already had a super-cute girlfriend like Shiina Mahiru, yet he still made moves on her.
She ought to hate this scumbag.
But for some reason… she just couldn't.
Maybe because he was too handsome? Or because he was the first man to kiss and hold her?
Thinking how even Mahiru didn't have a necklace, while she had a gift from him, Shinka felt a secret, guilty little thrill.
What she didn't know was that Hayashi Maki was already preparing materials to craft Bracelet v1.0 for sweet angel Mahiru.
And not just bracelets—there would be rings in the future, too.
Every "follower" would get one.
"Nibutani, your necklace is really pretty. Where did you buy it?" Megumi Kato couldn't help asking.
Girls have a hard time resisting pretty accessories—when someone else has one, you want one too.
Shinka shook her head a bit self-consciously. "It wasn't bought—it was a gift. I'll ask where it came from for you next time."
"Thanks."
"Heh, no need to be polite with me. By the way, we made a bit of pocket money today. Want to ask Shiina to go shopping with us this weekend? There's something I've been meaning to buy."
If that big jerk gave her a present, she couldn't not show anything in return—she had to prepare a gift back.
~~~
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