"…Mom, Gabriel is a friend I've known for a long time. She just arrived in this city and has nowhere to stay for now, so I took the liberty of bringing her here. I wanted to ask if she could stay with us for a few days."
Miko Yotsuya fabricated an excuse, looking at Toko Yotsuya nervously as she spoke apologetically. "Sorry, Mom, I'm causing trouble for you!"
Inside the living room, Miko and Gabriel sat side-by-side on the sofa, while Toko and the spirit of Miko's father sat opposite them.
"Miko, there's no need to apologize. Honestly, having another member in the house will surely make things livelier from now on. That's a good thing."
Toko was quite open-minded. Her first impression of Gabriel was excellent; she genuinely liked this young girl who had come to Japan all by herself from abroad.
Hearing Miko's introduction that Gabriel's parents were no longer in this world, Toko felt a surge of pity for Gabriel's background.
Toko secretly decided in her heart that she would take good care of Gabriel on behalf of the girl's parents far away in heaven.
This child hasn't had it easy.
Seeing that Toko didn't mind, the weight in Miko's heart finally lifted.
"Lively is good, being lively is great. Miko, you should talk with your friends more often in the future. Don't keep everything bottled up inside. You need to be happy from now on, stop frowning all the time..."
Miko's father chattered away earnestly from the side, giving endless instructions as if he were settling his final affairs.
Even though he was already dead.
Miko listened, her heart aching terribly.
Gabriel didn't disturb the father and daughter. Instead, she took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Toko.
It had to be said, Miko's mother was well-preserved and very beautiful. Standing with Miko, they didn't look like mother and daughter, but rather like a pair of sisters.
However, a fellow who couldn't read the atmosphere refused to behave, interrupting Gabriel as she was building favorability with Toko.
Behind the sofa.
The large dog, which took up nearly a quarter of the narrow living room, poked its head out. Currently acting like a curious baby, it muttered while stretching its neck toward Gabriel.
"Friend... Friend...?"
'How ugly. Can you please not lean over here on your own? Why can't you go play with Miko next to me?'
Gabriel's eyebrow twitched slightly. She suppressed the urge to give that big face a massive slap.
Ultimately, she decided to give this dog a small lesson, subtly awakening a portion of the Holy Light within her body.
Hum!
From a perspective invisible to ordinary people, a wisp of radiance rose from Gabriel. Active particles of light instantly enveloped the entire living room.
The Holy Light was sacred and solemn, gentle yet pure, warm yet serene...
Everyone bathed in the Holy Light felt as if they were soaking in a hot spring. Their exhaustion vanished, and they relaxed completely.
Miko's father let out a sigh of pure enjoyment. A faint glow began to rise from the surface of his spiritual body as he murmured, "Ah... so nice... I feel like I'm about to ascend to heaven..."
He seemed to guess his impending fate. His gaze swept longingly over his wife, Miko, and Kyousuke—who was walking over with a bottle of juice—as he smiled in a final farewell.
'Dad...'
Miko couldn't bear to watch and looked away.
She thought her father was about to be exorcised by Gabriel. Even with the comfort of the Holy Light, her heart inevitably felt a sting of sorrow.
But at least it wasn't a "physical" exorcism by Gabriel, so it was somewhat acceptable.
Still, her heart felt a lingering reluctance...
"Hot, hot, hot..."
Under the radiance of the Holy Light, the large dog's entire body felt as if it were being scorched by flames. Plumes of black smoke rose from its form.
In its pain, it quickly retracted its head and scrambled toward the back using all four limbs, rapidly distancing itself from Gabriel.
Once the troublesome fellow ran off, Gabriel finally withdrew the Holy Light.
'With this lesson, this guy should stay honest for a long while.'
Gabriel figured as much.
This large dog with no sense of boundaries probably wouldn't take the initiative to disturb her anytime soon.
Toko felt her body grow light, and the fatigue brought by work suddenly vanished.
However, she assumed it was just a trick of her mind and didn't pay it much heed.
Toko recalled the room layout of her house and said to Gabriel, "How about you stay in the room next to Miko's, Gabriel-chan? That way you can look out for each other. If you don't mind, I'll go tidy up the room for you right now."
"No need to trouble yourself. It's better if I handle tidying the room."
"How could I allow that? You are a guest, after all."
"The fact that you're letting me stay is already the greatest help. Besides, I'm not some pampered young lady; there's no need to look after me like that."
While Toko and Gabriel were going back and forth.
Miko's father looked down at his hands, which were more solid than usual. Seeming to understand something, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly:
"Hahaha, it seems I was being sentimental. I've even indirectly received quite a favor from her. How am I ever going to repay this debt of gratitude?"
He finally realized Gabriel was simply teaching his "old friend" a lesson, not sending him to the afterlife.
'Let me help you repay it!'
The joy of regaining what was lost filled Miko's heart, making her decide to properly repay Gabriel's kindness.
For instance, by taking care of Gabriel's daily needs.
Thinking of this, Miko suddenly raised her hand, interrupting their conversation. Facing the gazes of the two women and her brother Kyousuke, she braced herself and said, "Um, I want to share a room with Gabriel. I wonder if that's okay..."
"This..."
Toko hesitated for a moment, then looked at Gabriel as if asking for her opinion.
Gabriel was also stunned, but she quickly figured everything out. She smiled and nodded in agreement. "There's just no helping you. I guess I'll reluctantly stay with you then, since we are best friends."
She remembered there was an infant evil spirit in Miko's bed, and other spirits popped up in the room from time to time, scaring Miko so much she dreamed of ghosts chasing her at night.
If it were her, she would certainly prefer to live with an angel.
Just to get a good night's sleep.
But this was fine too.
Since Miko had a favor to ask of her, Gabriel could make some "excessive" requests of Miko in the future.
A total profit.
Looking at the smile on Gabriel's face, Miko suddenly had a fleeting illusion that she was being preyed upon.
"Juice, please enjoy..."
Kyousuke walked over at that moment, pouring a glass of juice for Gabriel and the others. He then sat next to Toko, his eyes darting back and forth between Miko and Gabriel.
He had an ominous premonition. His sister seemed to be falling into the clutches of that blonde young lady!