Chapter 2: Poke-Poke Fun

“Gosh, what the hell is that eye-watering smile all about! Seriously, that glow is practically a divine flashbang!”

“An angel with such a strong faith in the Holy Light — why isn’t she continuing her studies in Heaven and instead came down to the human world to go to school! Does she want to experience homework and cafeteria food that badly?”

“Her dream is to make the whole world happy? That’s basically an impossible mission! It’s ten times harder than getting an otaku to stop wasting toilet paper or convincing a gamer to touch grass!”

Compared to Kouya’s endless sarcasm, the others’ reactions were much more normal, even admiring.

“Ah, what a pretty smile. It’s like sunlight itself.”

“Gabriel-san is so cute! Her smile could melt snow!”

“I just want to hug her, kiss her, squeeze her and lift her up! She’s like a living plushie!”

Mm, no doubt about it — Gabriel was only a girl under one and a half meters tall; even among girls she was petite and delicate, her golden hair shining like spun silk under the fluorescent light, her faint fragrance of shampoo floating in the air as she moved…

“Alright, Gabriel-san, you can sit behind Kouya-kun,” the homeroom teacher said, his tone casual but leaving no room for protest.

There were only thirty students in the class, and since school had already been in session for three days, every desk in the classroom was taken. The only empty seat left was the one behind Kouya, so there really was no choice.

“Yes, teacher.” The girl bowed again with perfect grace, picked up her bag, and walked lightly toward Kouya, each step careful and elegant.

“Okay, let’s begin class.” The bald homeroom teacher said in a thick, gravelly voice that filled the classroom.

‘Math… so complicated. Screw it, might as well sleep. Better than listening to numbers murder my brain.’

Kouya found a comfortable position, leaning his cheek against his arm, and slowly closed his eyes, savoring the calm.

Who knew that just a few seconds later, something would lightly poke him in the back? A soft, gentle tap. Then another.

Poke. Poke. Poke.

Kouya turned his head to look, irritation already creeping up his neck.

The blonde girl stared straight ahead, sitting perfectly upright, her eyes fixed on the blackboard. Her posture was impeccable, her face glowing with seriousness — the ideal image of a model student. She didn’t even blink.

“Why are you poking me?”

The blonde girl seemed not to have heard a thing. Her expression didn’t even twitch.

Kouya sighed, deciding not to make a fuss. He dropped his head back down, shifting to find another comfortable position. ‘Fine. I’ll ignore her. Maybe she’s just twitchy.’

Three seconds later… poke. poke. poke. The rhythmic sensation returned, faint yet undeniably deliberate.

‘Damn it! Don’t treat me like a sick cat just because I’m not roaring! You think I’m some pushover? A rookie angel like you, I could wipe out a whole battalion of you with one hand! If it weren’t for me cherishing this rare normal human life, you’d already be a smoking crater!’

Kouya twisted his neck, glaring over his shoulder, his patience evaporating.

“What exactly do you want to do?” His tone was sharp enough to cut.

Gabriel blinked innocently, biting her lip slightly, her big eyes full of confusion and innocence as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

“I’m warning you — poke me again and I’ll lose it! The consequences will be terrible!”

This time, Kouya lay low, counting silently in his head — one, two, three — and spun around instantly. He caught Gabriel in the act, her slender, pale finger extended toward his back, so close that her fingertip was trembling from the sudden motion.

‘Got you red-handed, you little brat! You’re seriously addicted to this! What do you take me for — some kind of living poke toy?!’

‘If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll never understand how terrifying the Demon King truly is!’

“Take my rising dragon punch—!”

“Kouya-kun, please don’t disrupt the class.” The bald man on the podium turned coldly, adjusting his glasses. His voice was icy calm. “If there’s another incident, you’ll stand outside for the rest of the lesson.”

‘You’ve got to be kidding me! I, the mighty Demon King, being scolded by a mortal old man?! Keep staring at me, and I’ll shine your bald head to the moon!’ he raged inwardly.

“Sorry, my mistake.” Kouya bowed instantly; between brief satisfaction and a peaceful human life, he knew which to pick.

The bald teacher gave a curt nod. “Then, let’s continue.”

Kouya’s drowsiness was gone, his jaw tight with frustration. ‘Rookie angel, you just wait! After class, I’ll make sure you regret disturbing the Demon King’s sacred nap!’

The bell finally rang, sharp and liberating.

The bald teacher closed his notes, turned, and left in a swirl of chalk dust, leaving behind silence and relief.

The classroom erupted into chatter, the air buzzing with freedom. Students who’d been staring blankly at the board moments ago now looked alive again.

Kouya cracked his knuckles, preparing his revenge, but before he could act, several lively girls surrounded Gabriel, their excitement bubbling over.

“Gabriel-san, can I call you by your name?” one girl asked sweetly, eyes sparkling.

Gabriel smiled radiantly. “Sure! Everyone can just call me ‘Gabi-chan.’”

The girls immediately fell into cheerful conversation. Compliments flew like confetti: “Wow, Gabi-chan’s name sounds so pretty!” — “Where did you go to school before?” — “Let’s have lunch together later!” In a matter of minutes, strangers became inseparable friends.

Giggles and whispers filled the air, a circle of warmth forming around the blonde angel.

One curious girl finally leaned closer and asked quietly:

“Gabi-chan, why did Kouya-kun shout at you earlier?”

Gabriel blinked, tilting her head, the picture of innocence. “I don’t know either. Maybe he was upset about something?”

‘You don’t know my ass! You were poking me like a damn woodpecker, and now you’re pretending to be clueless?!’

“Huh? Kouya-kun actually lost his temper for no reason? That doesn’t sound like him. There must be an explanation.”

“I know, I know!” another girl shouted, bouncing with excitement.

“Oh? You do?” everyone turned to her in anticipation.

“It’s obvious! Kouya-kun must like Gabi-chan! That kind of behavior is totally what a clumsy boy does to get a girl’s attention!”

“Pfft—!” The sound escaped Kouya before he could stop it.

He felt blood rush to his head. ‘Spit blood! The Demon King is about to spew three liters right here!’

‘How childish do you think I am?! Using teasing to attract someone’s attention? That’s beneath me!’

‘This Demon King has standards, damn it!’

‘And who the hell would like that annoying rookie angel anyway?! She’s the one who started it!’

A tall girl with a tidy braid spoke up softly, her tone calm and authoritative.

“Kouya-kun, please don’t do things like that again. It might cause trouble for Gabi-chan.”

‘Oh great, now even the demon girl’s joining in. What was her name again? Right, Vigne. You’re a demon! You’re supposed to be spreading chaos, not acting like some moral guardian!’

“As a disciplinary committee member, I have a duty to make sure everyone maintains proper conduct and values…”

‘Proper conduct my ass! My values are fine! The problem is that deceitful angel hiding behind that cute face — a mischievous little menace pretending to be pure!’

The class president, adjusting her armband, added primly, “And as class president, I can’t condone chasing girls at the beginning of the term. Focus on your studies first… huh, Kouya-kun, why are you glaring at me like that?”

‘Because the ancient power of my rage is about to blow the roof off this classroom!’

“Kouya-kun, please don’t look at me with such lewd eyes.”

Vigne took a cautious step back, her brow furrowing slightly in concern. “And stop bullying girls to get attention. Boys who do that… never get girlfriends.”

“…”

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