Ding-dong.
The bell signaling the end of class rang. Once the teacher left the classroom, the young JKs, who had long been unable to suppress their curiosity, swarmed Gabriel and began asking all sorts of questions.
It was only under Miko Yotsuya's rescue that this group of highly inquisitive JKs finally quieted down.
"I really didn't expect to be this popular."
Gabriel couldn't help but marvel; this was treatment she had never received in her previous life.
She casually tore open a pack of snacks provided by a kind soul.
Then, she reached into her desk and pulled out the Game Console she had borrowed from Kyousuke Yotsuya.
"This Game Console..."
Miko Yotsuya moved her stool over and sat down. Seeing the Game Console in Gabriel's hands, she asked in surprise: "What method did you use to get this from Kyousuke? He usually treasures this Game Console very much."
Hana Yurikawa also moved a stool over and sat down, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Gabriel, who resembled a porcelain doll.
She looked even cuter seeing her from such a close distance.
"I promised to lend him that Spare Phone you gave me to play with, so he didn't hesitate at all to lend me the Game Console. It's clear he really likes that Machine Spirit."
Gabriel explained.
It seemed Kyousuke Yotsuya had felt the warmth of paternal love after a long absence and had become somewhat addicted to it.
Since the one controlling that phone was Uncle Yotsuya, Gabriel couldn't very well ask for it back; after all, Uncle Yotsuya needed that phone to work for her.
So, she used someone else's gift to do her own favor, playing Kyousuke Yotsuya for a fool to get a Game Console for free, and he even thanked her in the end.
Miko Yotsuya also understood the truth of the matter.
She hadn't expected Kyousuke to already be played like a fiddle by Gabriel, to the point where he'd help count the money even if he were being sold.
Thinking of this, Miko Yotsuya stopped focusing on that issue and instead introduced her best friend beside her to Gabriel: "This is my friend, Hana Yurikawa. After finding out we knew each other, she wanted to meet you since yesterday."
"Hello, Tenma-kun."
Hana Yurikawa gave an enthusiastic greeting.
"Don't be so formal. Just call me Gabriel directly, like Miko does."
Gabriel nodded slightly, pushed the snacks on the desk forward, and then asked the two: "Do you want some?"
"Is it really okay?"
Hana Yurikawa's foodie trait was activated.
"Don't be polite with me," Gabriel said generously.
They were freebies anyway.
At the same time, outside the classroom door, Yuria stealthily poked half her head out, cautiously looking at Gabriel inside the classroom.
"I accidentally made eye contact at the school gate just now and ran away immediately. I hope I didn't leave a bad impression..."
Yuria felt a wave of worry in her heart. She glanced at Miko Yotsuya again and began to speculate: "No wonder she suddenly possessed such powerful spirit expulsion methods yesterday. She must have recently succeeded in Becoming a Disciple under Tenma-kun and obtained powerful Exorcism Tools from her. It must be that..."
"I—I have to work hard too! Both Miko Yotsuya and I can see them, so I have a certain chance of succeeding in my apprenticeship. Next, I just need to find the right timing..."
Yuria kept cheering herself up in her heart.
To make herself look less suspicious, Yuria pulled her head back unobtrusively, pretending she hadn't found the person she was looking for, and left naturally.
She planned to wander around a bit and then come back.
This sort of thing could be done twice at most; any more and she'd be exposed.
A few minutes later.
Yuria once again "coincidentally" passed by the classroom where Gabriel was and arrived at the back door.
She turned her head toward the classroom, attempting to find Gabriel's figure.
But an accident caught her off guard.
Inside the classroom, Gabriel had vanished without a trace at some point. Only Miko Yotsuya and Hana Yurikawa were chatting and laughing with each other.
"Strange, where did she go?"
Just as this thought arose, a premonition of disaster suddenly surged in Yuria's heart.
"Classmate, could you please accompany me to the restroom? I just transferred here and am not yet familiar with the place."
Gabriel's voice, as crisp as a lark's, rang out from behind her. Yuria froze on the spot, a drop of cold sweat sliding down her forehead.
She... she was discovered!
What did Gabriel mean by that?! Did she think I was spying on her, so she's inviting me out alone, preparing to use terrifying Magic to interrogate me?!!
Yuria swallowed hard, broken into a cold sweat by her own speculation.
Now that Gabriel was right behind her, running away was impossible.
She could only face reality.
Although she was terrified of the upcoming interrogation by Gabriel, this might be a great opportunity for her apprenticeship!
Yuria gathered her courage and slowly turned around, looking with a stiff expression at Gabriel, whose height was roughly level with her own.
"Is that a no?"
Gabriel looked at Yuria with a smile, asking again.
This loli had been secretly observing her, and now that she had caught her, she certainly couldn't let her off easily.
At the very least, she had to find out exactly what the girl's purpose was.
Is this a warning?!
In Yuria's eyes, Gabriel's smile was filled with killing intent at every turn.
She felt that if she refused, she might not see the sun tomorrow.
Yuria took a deep breath. After forming her Resolve, she nodded forcefully: "Ye—Yes, let me lead the way for you!"
With that, she turned around and took the initiative to lead the way.
Although Gabriel didn't know what the girl was imagining, it didn't hinder her purpose, so she followed.
Inside the restroom where no one usually came.
Gabriel locked the stall door behind her and then stared with a scrutinizing gaze at the trembling Yuria in front of her.
"You were peeking at me just now, right? It was the same at the school gate."
Yuria held her chest with both hands. Even though she had done plenty of mental preparation on the way, she was still startled by this direct question.
"That's right..."
Yuria didn't dare to lie. Her voice trembled uncontrollably, but she still gathered her courage to state her purpose: "I saw it—that scene at the school gate. So I want to succeed in Becoming a Disciple under you. I want to become a powerful Psychic just like you and protect this world together!"
Gabriel: "..."
This Chuunibyou is quite severe. She even shouted the phrase 'protect the world' without feeling any shame at all.
Take a disciple? Just thinking about it felt like a hassle...
Besides, mortals have no way of learning the Divine Arts of Heaven.
Gabriel pondered for a moment, and a fun idea suddenly rose in her heart. She asked with feigned coldness:
"What is your name?"
"Yuria, Yuria Niguredou!"
Seeing that there was still a chance for things to turn around, Yuria became instantly excited.
Gabriel spoke with feigned ruthlessness: "Yuria, since you can see just like Miko Yotsuya, you are qualified to know my purpose. The reason I came to this world is to destroy all of humanity!"
"Wha—?!!"
Yuria's eyes widened in disbelief, and her body instinctively shrank back.
She simply couldn't believe her ears.
"So, Yuria Niguredou, let me see the potential of humanity! Try to stop me together with Miko Yotsuya, before I personally destroy all of humanity."
Gabriel gazed into Yuria's eyes and asked softly:
"Oh, right. I once invited Miko Yotsuya to witness The End of the World with me, but she refused. What do you think about that, Yuria Niguredou?"
"I, I..."
Yuria's brain stalled.
Her only thought now was to immediately go find Miko Yotsuya and find out if what Gabriel said was actually true.