After spending an afternoon discussing manga with Eriri, they narrowed down a few genres for her to consider. She'd try drawing some samples before settling on one.
On the way back to his apartment, Sato bought some groceries from the shopping street and made himself a modest dinner at home.
Later that evening, he got a call from his family asking about his plans for Golden Week.
In Japan, several holidays are clustered around early May, forming a longer vacation period.
After informing them that he'd be coming home during Golden Week, Sato ended the call.
Weekend
Aoyama Apartments, Fourth Floor
"Saitama bro, left! Go left!"
"Ah! I am pressing it but this controller's busted!"
"No, no, you're pressing the wrong button!"
GAME OVER
As the screen faded to gray and those dreaded words appeared, Sato sighed and set down his controller.
Next to him, the bald man looked at his controller awkwardly.
"Haha… guess we'll take it from here!"
Seeing their failure, Kobayashi and Umaru smiled and took over, picking up the controllers with practiced ease.
The game started up again.
The two girls worked together way better than Sato and Saitama. Where the guys struggled to stay alive, the girls breezed through effortlessly.
Saitama scratched his head. "Sorry, Sato. I suck at this."
Sato smiled, brushing it off. "No need to apologize, Saitama bro. It's just a game, we're here to have fun."
"Kobayashi! Left, left!"
"Got it!"
"Umaru, be careful. There's a ninja ambush on the right."
"Mm."
Watching their smooth gameplay, Sato couldn't help feeling a little impressed.
Kobayashi being good was expected but how was Umaru, who looked so refined and composed, this good?
Her expression was calm and serious as she played, hands steady and precise. Every jump and attack was fluid and sharp. She controlled the character like it was an extension of herself.
"Amazing!" Saitama stared wide-eyed at their coordination.
Looking at him, Sato couldn't help but think, "He's awful, but he's addicted."
"Sato!"
"Y-Yes?"
Sato sat up straight, startled for a second. Thinking Saitama might've read his mind.
Saitama gave him a puzzled look, wondering why he suddenly looked so serious.
But he didn't press it. Instead, he asked curiously, "Didn't a girl move in next door to you? Haven't seen her around lately."
Aoyama Apartments was an old building, and its small size meant neighbors frequently bumped into each other.
"Huh?"
Not around lately?
Sato paused and started thinking.
He did see Gabriel every morning, they walked to school together, after all.
But aside from mornings…
Sato's expression shifted.
Aside from that first week, he realized he hadn't really seen much of Gabriel outside of school. This past week, other than their school commute, he hadn't seen her at all.
Though he had heard frequent food deliveries next door.
So he knew she was home but where was she?
And lately, she'd looked increasingly sleep-deprived in the mornings.
Could something be wrong with her?
Sato's expression darkened. His brows furrowed with concern.
Gabriel lived alone, no family nearby, no friends visiting… Could she be getting bullied at school?
But then, a sudden thought struck him like lightning.
Wait a minute… she's an angel!
Would an angel even be bullied?
Still, when he returned home and stood at his door, Sato couldn't help but glance at the apartment next to his.
Should he… check on her?
Standing outside her door, he faintly heard some noise from inside.
What was that?
He hesitated. Should he listen in?
But… wasn't eavesdropping kinda shady?
While he debated, a voice burst out from inside the apartment—loud, furious, and unmistakable.
"Damn it! What's wrong with this healer?!"
"And the tank, can't you get your butt up front?!"
"Where the hell did they find these teammates?!"
"I swear, if I had the trumpet of the apocalypse, I'd wipe the whole lot of you out!"
Sato: "…"
His expression shifted from confusion, to shock, to… fear.
That voice... was Gabriel's.
And she was rage-quitting… over a video game?!
Cold sweat broke out across Sato's forehead.
He started to recall the past.
Back when she first arrived on Earth… had he, perhaps… installed a few games for her on her laptop?
At the time, Gabriel was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, pure and clueless about Earth's entertainment. She had no idea what games even were.
But now…
Gulp.
Sato's face turned pale.
Could it be?
He had turned a pure angel into a gamer gremlin.
Gabriel now sounded exactly like one of those game-addicted shut-ins, completely consumed by rage at her digital teammates.
In other words, that innocent angel had… fallen?!
Oh no!
Would God punish him for this?
He never knew if "God" existed… but after meeting a real angel, it was clear that a divine being might actually exist.
And if so... wouldn't that divine being definitely punish the guy who corrupted an angel?
For the first time, Sato felt truly terrified.
He looked nervously at Gabriel's door, guilt creeping into his eyes.
Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and hurried back to his own door.
Unlock.
Step inside.
Click.
O Lord… please forgive me!