"Miko-chan, you have to help me!"
Yurikawa Hana clung tightly to Yotsuya Miko, rubbing her teary cheeks against her chest in desperation. The sudden intimacy made Miko's cheeks glow with embarrassment.
"I know, I know," Miko sighed, gently patting Hana's back. "I'll ask Master Nozomi for you. Maybe he'll be willing to take you on."
At that, Yurikawa sniffled, her crying subsiding just a little. The fear from earlier that night still clung to her like a second skin.
She remembered how, when walking through empty alley, she'd always feel an eerie chill crawl down her spine. Back then, she'd brushed it off as the night wind. But after seeing that terrifying evil spirit with her own eyes, everything had changed.
Now she knew—thanks to her best friend—that she wasn't imagining things. Her body emitted a kind of natural vitality, a glow to which these spirits were drawn like moths to flame. And once they found her, they fed.
The realization had shattered her sense of safety. If she didn't do something soon, she'd end up just like Miko had once been—trapped in a world of fear she couldn't explain to anyone.
Miko could relate all too well. She'd once been paralyzed by fear herself. The things she'd seen… the things she still saw. It wasn't a life she wanted anyone to experience, least of all her best friend.
And so, she messaged Nozomi. It was his idea to drag Yurikawa along, after all. He had to take responsibility. Surprisingly—or perhaps not—Nozomi replied casually:
"One disciple, two disciples—it makes no difference. I'll take her."
Miko showed Yurikawa the message, and just like that, the tension drained from her face. Hana let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and clutched Miko's hand tightly.
"I won't be afraid anymore... Master Nozomi will protect me, right?"
Miko handed her one of the spare amulet charms from before. "Just keep this with you until your training starts. It should keep the worst spirits at bay."
--
The next day, bright and early.
Kousaka Daisuke, ever the efficient officer, handed over the reward bonus to Nozomi for handling the spirit exorcism. True to form, Nozomi didn't keep it all to himself. He split a portion with both Miko and Hana.
Later that morning, Nozomi stood in his cluttered apartment, staring at a sparkling treasure chest floating in the air. It had been a while since he'd opened one, but the ritual was the same: potato chips in, bizarre reward out.
He tossed in two bags of spicy seaweed chips, and with a shimmer of light, the chest opened.
Inside was... a pair of panties.
Nozomi's expression twitched. A dainty piece of pink fabric tied with a frilly bow lay atop golden light, completely out of place.
"Again with this nonsense... What kind of reward system is this?"
--
Meanwhile, in the celestial realm of Heaven—
The angel Gabriel was furious.
"These damned perverted thieves are getting out of hand!" she shouted, stomping her foot. Her golden curls bounced with every movement.
"Three bras gone! And now my panties too? Who the hell dares steal from me?!"
She paced back and forth, steam practically billowing from her halo.
"Don't let me find out who's doing this! I'll rain divine punishment down like it's Judgment Day!"
A knock sounded at her door.
"Gabby-chan, are you up? It's time for the academy entrance exam."
Opening the door with a grumble, she was greeted by the bubbly smile of Raphael. Silver-haired, baby-faced, and… very well-endowed.
"Rafael, you won't believe it! I've been robbed! Again! My underwear—gone!"
Raphael gasped and instinctively hugged herself. "No way… I lost a bra too the other day. Do you think it's the same thief?!"
Gabriel gritted her teeth. "In Heaven, only someone with high-ranking divine authority could sneak in without leaving a trace. It's gotta be another archangel—or worse… a devil."
Raphael, trying to lighten the mood, gave a giggle. "C'mon, let's just take the exam. If we place in the top three, we'll get permission to descend for the angel trials!"
Gabriel nodded. "Fine. But after this, I'm starting a full-blown celestial investigation."
The two angel girls extended their dazzling white wings, halos shimmering faintly above their heads, and pressed their hands together in a sacred prayer gesture.
"Divine movement—take us to the Angel Training Academy!"
In the celestial realm, angels were nearly omnipotent. Among the many divine techniques in their arsenal, "Divine Movement" was one of the most essential—a teleportation spell so refined that it could instantly deliver its caster anywhere in heaven or the mortal world. For an angel, it was as basic as walking.
But today... something was definitely off.
As soon as their feet touched down at the holy school gates, Raphael's expression twisted into one of despair. With a soft whimper, she hugged her chest.
"Ah! Gabby-chan!" Raphael clutched her chest in horror. "My bra... it's gone again!"
Gabriel blinked in disbelief at the sight of her companion's watery eyes and trembling lips.
"Raphael! You too?! Did the thief strike again?!"
With tears welling in her eyes, Raphael nodded furiously.
"I'm completely exposed now! This is the third time! I'm not even safe during divine movement anymore!"
Gabriel's jaw dropped.
Unforgivable.
This thief—no, this pervert—wasn't just bold. They were brazen beyond belief!
--
Meanwhile, back in the human world…
Nozomi whistled softly as he examined the two latest items from his treasure chest.
"Jackpot. Two angel blessings in one draw today."
He sniffed the air playfully.
"Mmm. Heavenly aroma."
The moment the treasure chest had burst open, a pair of delicate, celestial undergarments had fluttered into his hands—lace-trimmed and impossibly soft, imbued with divine energy. Blushing slightly, he tucked the holy artifacts into his drawer and gave a satisfied grin.
Sure, these rewards were... a little unconventional. But every item that came out of the treasure chest carried a unique skill or enchantment. And he knew these weren't just ordinary garments.
Now he just had to decide who to give them to.
--
Back at Sobu High School, the cafeteria buzzed with its usual noon chatter. At one particular table, Yuigahama Yui leaned in close to Yuuki Asuna, peering at her intently.
"Yuuki-san, I almost called you 'Mom' when I first saw you," Yui said, completely serious.
Asuna sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yuigahama-san, I keep telling you, I'm just a high schooler. I'm really not your mom."
"But you look so much like her! Maybe we're related or something?"
Asuna chuckled. "I suppose anything's possible. This resemblance really is something."
"Right?! My mom actually asked me to invite you over this weekend. Want to come meet her?"
"That sounds nice. I'm free this weekend."
"Great! Then it's a date!"
Asuna nodded with a warm smile. Truthfully, she was curious too. Meeting someone who looked like her might offer answers… or just raise even more questions.
Nearby, Nozomi leaned on the table, watching the conversation unfold with a raised eyebrow.
"Yui, what's your mom's name, if you don't mind me asking?"
Yui paused, then looked a bit hesitant.
"Well... it's not a secret or anything, but promise you won't freak out?"
"No promises," Nozomi replied with a small grin.
"Okay... my mom's name is Asuna."
Yuuki Asuna froze.
"Wait—what?"
Nozomi blinked.
Was this some cosmic joke?
Yui's mother... was named Asuna?
And the girl standing in front of him was also named Asuna?
Nozomi narrowed his eyes.
Could it be… fate? Or just the anime gods playing their usual tricks again?