Chapter 180: The Exclusive Triple Combo
"Can't bite... can't bite through it..."
"Maybe if I lick it... but the flavor's so faint now?"
Gabriel blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering as confusion spread across her face. She finally tore her gaze from the glowing computer screen filled with explosions and victory banners. Her head tilted slightly downward, and then—
Her sky-blue eyes widened in an instant, like two crystal orbs catching the light.
The room froze. Time itself seemed to hesitate.
The hum of the computer, the faint buzz of the ceiling light, even the soft rustle of air from the fan—all faded into an eerie stillness. You could have heard a single pin drop onto the floor.
"The chocolate sticks ran out just now. I was about to tell you," Kouya said casually, his tone steady, almost nonchalant. He spoke as if what had just happened was completely ordinary. As he withdrew his finger from her lips, his expression didn't even flinch. He simply grabbed a tissue and wiped it dry, completely unfazed.
Gabriel's brain took a moment to reboot. Then—like a warning siren flaring red—her entire face went crimson. She looked like an overheated machine about to explode.
Without saying another word, she leapt to her feet, nearly tripping over the tangle of cables at her desk, and bolted into the bathroom.
"Splash, splash, splash!"
Water burst from the tap as she furiously rinsed her mouth, spluttering between breaths.
"You—you actually put something that disgusting in my mouth... ptoo, ptoo, ptoo!"
Kouya sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It was just my finger. What's disgusting about that? You were the one eating happily a second ago."
"Idiot! Hentai! Disgusting pervert!"
"Really? Those same three again?" Kouya groaned, half amused, half exasperated. "You seriously need to upgrade your insult vocabulary. It's getting old."
So that was it—the holy trinity of insults. Her exclusive triple combo. If there was an award for the most recycled curses, she'd win first place without competition.
He rubbed his temples. "I swear, if I have to hear that combo one more time—"
"This isn't over, you perv!" Gabriel shouted from the bathroom. Her voice bounced off the tiled walls, blending with the splashing water. A moment later, she stormed out, cheeks still burning. Her golden hair clung to her face in messy strands, shining faintly under the warm light. Her small frame practically vibrated with indignation.
"It wasn't my fault," Kouya said, shrugging slightly. "You're the one who bit down."
Her eyes widened again. "How dare you say that!!" she shouted, launching herself at him like a furious kitten. "I'll execute you in the name of divine punishment!"
Kouya barely moved. He reached out one hand and pressed it gently against her forehead, keeping her at arm's length with ease. "You really want to do this? Because you'll lose badly."
"Then I'll take you down with me!" she growled, swinging her fists aimlessly while her feet barely moved. It was an adorable, if ineffective, display of rage.
Watching her struggle, Kouya sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck. "Keep this up, and I'll kiss you."
Gabriel froze like a statue, her eyes widening, her brain once again crashing completely.
The silence lingered for a second—then her face turned beet red.
"Idiot! Hentai! Disgusting pervert!!" she screamed, completing the sacred triple combo.
Kouya couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "There it is again."
"Get out! Get out! If you stay one more second, I'll kill you!" Gabriel pointed furiously at the door, wings twitching in frustration.
Kouya raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'm leaving."
He slipped out before she could throw something at him, the corners of his lips twitching upward as he heard another muffled "Hentai!" from behind the door.
...
Monday morning came sooner than expected.
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, warm and golden. Kouya woke up at his usual time, stretching with a soft yawn. The scent of morning dew drifted through the window as he brushed his teeth, packed his things, and stepped out of his apartment.
Just as he locked the door, another door creaked open beside him. Gabriel stepped out, wearing her school uniform with one sock half-pulled and a faint yawn on her lips. Despite her lazy expression, she looked oddly composed compared to last night.
Her eyes met his briefly. No shouting, no blushing—just a faint scowl of annoyance that quickly faded.
Without a word, the two started walking toward the complex gate. Their footsteps echoed softly in rhythm. The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint aroma of bread from a nearby bakery.
"Morning, Gabi-chan, Hero~" came a cheerful voice.
Takanashi Rikka waved from ahead, standing under the shade of a streetlight. Her schoolbag was slung loosely over her shoulder, and her mismatched socks screamed 'chuunibyou' energy. She looked like she hadn't fully woken up yet.
"Morning," Kouya said.
"Morning," Gabriel muttered, half-heartedly.
The three began walking together, the peaceful rhythm of their steps matching the light chatter of the waking city. Birds flitted between telephone wires, and the faint shimmer of the canal reflected the soft morning sun.
At the bridge, they found Vigne waiting for them, looking as bright and proper as ever.
"Did you stay up late again?" Vigne asked Gabriel, eyeing the faint shadows under her eyes. "And stop sitting around playing games all day! You should move your body once in a while."
Gabriel yawned, waving a dismissive hand. "Turtles live for centuries because they don't move. Lions run around every day and die young. So clearly, rest equals longevity. Exercise is for idiots."
"Gabi-chan!" Vigne's stern voice cracked the air, hands planted firmly on her hips.
"Yeah, yeah." Gabriel waved again, expression blank.
...
A few streets later, they bumped into Satania and Raphiel. Surprisingly, Satania wasn't shouting or laughing. She walked quietly, her brows furrowed in deep thought.
"What's wrong, Satania?" Vigne asked gently.
"I know," Raphiel said with a playful glint, raising one elegant finger. "Lady Satania is contemplating the age-old question: what came first—the chicken or the egg?"
"Eh? That question again?" Vigne murmured, looking genuinely intrigued. "Now that you mention it, I'm not sure myself..."
Gabriel snorted. "You could always take a trip to Uganda."
Satania blinked. "Huh? Why Uganda?"
Rikka leaned forward eagerly. "Wait, is that where the dark magicians live!?"
"Of course not," Gabriel said dryly. "But that's where you'll find plenty of mountain gorillas. Try sumo wrestling one of them—maybe a revelation will hit mid-slap."
Satania's eyes sparkled. "That's genius!"
Kouya groaned. "That's suicidal..."
Unknown to them, the question of the chicken and the egg already had a scientific answer—British researchers had proven the chicken came first. But apparently, logic had no place among these idiots.
Their chaotic chatter carried all the way to the school gates.
As they entered, they spotted a familiar face—a shy girl with long, straight black hair clutching her books tightly.
"Good morning, Machiko!" Vigne greeted cheerfully.
"G-Good morning!" Machiko stammered, bowing nervously.
"Walk with us?" Vigne offered kindly.
"N-No, it's okay! I have to... talk to a teacher!" Machiko said quickly before scurrying away.
Vigne sighed. Kouya just smirked.
Can't blame her. Apart from Vigne, not one of them looked remotely normal.
Satania was the resident loud idiot.
Rikka was an eyepatched chuunibyou who declared herself a warrior of darkness.
Gabriel was the laziest angel alive.
And Raphiel... well, Raphiel was a smiling sadist who found joy in flustering other girls.
Yeah, poor Machiko had every reason to run.
...
Inside the classroom, chaos reigned as usual. Students were hunched over desks, scribbling furiously, trying to finish homework before the first bell.
"Did you guys finish yours?" Vigne asked.
Satania froze. "N-no... not yet."
Vigne sighed deeply. "I reminded you yesterday. What happened this time?"
"I got distracted by the shopping channel," Satania admitted sheepishly. "They were selling limited-edition sticky gum and bubble cola!"
"Unbelievable," Vigne muttered. "Hurry and finish before class starts." She turned to Rikka. "What about you?"
"I finished Japanese and English," Rikka said proudly, puffing her chest. "But I didn't do math."
"Why not?" Vigne asked.
"Because I scored ten points last time! Ten! That's way better than that white-haired, bearded foreigner who only got one!" Rikka announced proudly.
Kouya sighed, his eye twitching. "You mean Einstein, right? The guy whose one point meant excellent in the German grading system?"
Rikka blinked. "Eh? Really?"
He facepalmed. "Forget it."
Then Gabriel appeared beside Vigne, stretching out a hand. "Hey, Vigne, lend me your homework."
"No," Vigne said instantly. "I told Kouya to remind you. Why didn't you write it yourself?"
Gabriel thought for a moment. "Because one hand's on the mouse, and the other's on the keyboard. No hands left for the pen."
Vigne's brow twitched dangerously. "Gabi-chan!"
"I'm sorry!" Gabriel said quickly, pressing her palms together, her big blue eyes shimmering with faux innocence. "Vigne's the kindest! You'd never abandon me, right?"
Vigne's face turned pink. "T-that won't work this time!"
"Please~ Without you, I'll perish... just one merciful act for this fragile girl?" Gabriel whimpered pitifully.
"Don't do that..."
"Meow~" Gabriel even made a tiny, tearful kitten sound.
Vigne's resistance shattered instantly. "Fine! Take it!"
Kouya rubbed his temple, groaning. "Unbelievable. The mighty moral compass of our group—taken down by a pout."
Gabriel grinned victoriously, already back in lazy mode, copying the homework with a hum.
So much for discipline—and once again, the exclusive triple combo had won.