The moment Izumi looked at Eriri's proud, tsundere little face, he couldn't help but smile.
Eriri shifted awkwardly, clearing her throat before speaking.
"Um… about what you said before. Y-You know… joining your party."
Izumi blinked, then let out a small laugh.
"So, you've made up your mind?"
Eriri nodded, cheeks slightly red.
"Yeah. I've thought it through. My parents… agreed too."
Now that caught Izumi's attention.
Oh?
Her parents agreed? Just like that?
"What happened?" Izumi asked, genuinely curious.
"What made them suddenly say yes?"
He distinctly remembered her pushing the topic away every time—
"I'll think about it,"
"I need my parents' approval,"
"Give me time," etc.
And now, after he goes to another world and comes back, she suddenly has full approval?
Suspicious as hell.
Before Eriri could answer, a lethargic voice interrupted.
"Ah, I know the reason. Give me a few coins for lunch and I'll tell you."
It was Gabriel.
Except the Gabriel Izumi saw made him freeze.
Already fallen.
Messy hair. Lifeless eyes. Aura of a professional slacker.
Yep.
This was the post-fall Gabriel.
Eriri immediately snapped at her.
"H-Hey! Don't talk nonsense! And fix your appearance! You're practically a fallen angel already!"
Gabriel yawned, raising a hand weakly.
"Ah, all thanks to you, by the way. As for falling? Relax. That's not happening."
With that, Gabriel summoned her wings and halo.
Except—
the halo was already pitch black.
Several students in class went wide-eyed.
And then came the ultimate shock.
Gabriel casually took the darkened halo off her head, pulled out a cloth from… somewhere, and wiped it clean.
A few swipes later—
golden halo restored.
As she polished, Gabriel commented lazily:
"I don't fall. I'm way more capable than you. Your family's hardcore believers, right? Yet not a single one managed to reincarnate as an angel."
She glanced at Eriri with a devilish smirk.
"Especially you, Kashiwagi Eriri. A girl whose heart is full of tentacle monsters? If you reincarnated as an angel, you'd instantly fall faster than you can draw."
"I'm seriously considering recommending you to Azazel. He'd love someone like you. Might even speed-run your fall."
Izumi burst into laughter on the spot.
Looking at Eriri's red, shaking face, he laughed even harder.
"So that's what happened. The Church rejected you? You actually wanted to become an angel?"
"Hahaha… Eriri, are you trying to kill me so you can inherit my magic?"
"You of all people should know what kind of person you are!"
"Hahaha!!"
His shameless laughter made Eriri's face darken by the second.
Damn it.
The whole class heard it now.
Actually—
they had already known.
Gabriel, desperate for gacha money, had started leaking Eriri's identity as Kashiwagi Eri, famous illustrator.
And then sold her info to other people.
Because, of course, she did.
Eriri regretted everything.
Why. Why did she teach this angel how to play games?
One night, and she became—this.
How was she supposed to face Gabriel's older sister in the future?
Gabriel, meanwhile, extended her hand toward Izumi.
"Thanks for listening. That's 500 yen."
Izumi didn't hesitate.
"No problem. If you hear more funny stories, please tell me. I'm not short on money."
Gabriel's eyes lit up instantly.
"In that case, lend me some money for gacha?"
…
This girl was hopeless.
Just as Izumi prepared to roast her again, Vignette rushed over and dragged Gabriel away.
"Gabriel! Stop bothering Izumi-kun! He just returned to school and you're already causing trouble!"
"Stop pestering people!"
Dragged away, Gabriel still reached out like she was drowning.
"You'll lend me the money eventually, right!? I'll pay you back!"
…
Izumi turned to Eriri again.
"You've made a real mess. You corrupted Gabriel in just a few weeks."
"If her sisters find out, you're dead."
Eriri wanted to die.
How was she supposed to know an angel would fall after playing video games not even one night?
Her parents had already threatened to throw her out.
And she had completely lost face regarding "becoming an angel."
Gabriel wasn't wrong.
She lacked the basic qualifications.
If she reincarnated as an angel, she'd instantly fall.
So—
only one option remained.
Join Izumi's party.
She knew exactly how strong he was.
If she could join and get proper training, reaching B-Rank someday wasn't a dream.
Eriri straightened her back, trying to look dignified.
"So? Can I join your team or not? Give me an answer."
Izumi nodded without hesitation.
"No problem. Welcome aboard."
With that, he smiled.
His team was finally complete.
Next step—training them.
Summer vacation was near anyway, so he'd drag them all out for some serious grinding.
Hearing his approval, Eriri exhaled in relief.
Thank god.
After chatting a bit more, she returned to her seat with a satisfied smile.
The girl sitting beside Izumi—Koneko—finally spoke.
"Congratulations. Your team is complete now, right?"
There was a hint of envy in her tone.
If she could, she'd have joined too.
But she already had her own responsibilities.
Izumi nodded.
"Yeah. Le Fay, Asia, Megumi, Eriri, Rin, Sakura… more than I ever expected."
He chuckled under his breath.
Somehow, without realizing it—
so many people had gathered around him.
What an unbelievable thing.