While Nozomi was holding Suo Yuki in his arms, enjoying the soft warmth of her embrace, somewhere far above in the divine realm, a very different event was unfolding—the grand graduation exam of the Angel Academy was in full swing.
"Congratulations, Gabriel! You've ranked first in the Angel School's final evaluation."
The radiant headmaster of the Angel Academy stood before two angelic figures glowing with celestial light. Her voice echoed like a hymn through the marble halls, reverberating with divine authority.
"You and Raphiel, as the top two graduates, are hereby authorized to descend to the human world for your official trial mission—guiding and observing humanity."
"Remember," she continued, wings spread behind her like golden veils of light, "we angels are symbols of love and purity. Your purpose is to fill the world below with hope and compassion."
Gabriel White, the girl with long golden hair and eyes that shone like starlight, beamed with pride. Her pure smile seemed capable of cleansing even the deepest despair from the hearts of all who saw it.
"Leave it to me, Headmaster. I'll shine brighter than the morning sun and fill every corner of Earth with joy!"
Raphiel Ainsworth Shirahah, who stood beside her with an elegant composure and a subtle smirk, nodded with grace. She maintained her angelic front, but the glint in her eyes hinted that her thoughts might not be entirely as holy.
"Fufu… Gabriel-chan can take the lead. I'll follow close behind."
"Alright, I'm off first, Rafi!" Gabriel chirped.
"Go ahead, Gabu~, I still need to pack up."
Gabriel's heart fluttered with excitement. She had worked tirelessly to achieve this rank and finally earned the right to descend and explore the human world. Even the mischievous Raphiel, who had ranked second, was coming along. As for the third-place candidate… well, she'd been caught cheating so badly she had to retake the entire term.
...It also kind of hinted that maybe there were only three students in the whole class?
Anyway!
Far beneath the heavens, the Demon Training Academy in Hell had also selected its two top students. Their mission: to descend and sow fear instead of love. As light and shadow began to move toward Earth, a new chapter was beginning.
Back in her celestial apartment, Gabriel had returned home after being lovingly teased and encouraged by her older sister Zelel White Tenma, an archangel of high rank. Her confidence now glowing as radiantly as her halo, Gabriel gleefully pulled out her luggage and began packing.
First priority? Underwear.
She threw in extra sets, her golden eyebrows furrowed with determination. The panty thief who had struck last time remained uncaught. Not even Zelel White Tenma could sniff out the culprit.
"Better safe than sorry!" Gabriel muttered, her cheeks puffed in a pout.
Once her essentials were tucked away, Gabriel knelt beside her suitcase, clasped her hands, and gently closed her eyes in prayer. A warm light enveloped her as a shining halo materialized over her head. Its brightness was more than ornamental—it was a gauge of her heavenly performance.
Every good deed she performed, every heart she lifted, would feed into this glowing crown. The more she made people smile, the brighter it became—and the more monthly allowance she'd receive from the Celestial Treasury.
Yes, angels needed pocket money, too.
Money in the human world wasn't exactly rainbows and clouds, after all. Gabriel would need to blend in, and that meant being financially self-sufficient.
As she rose with newfound purpose, her wings unfurled in a burst of holy light.
"I, Gabriel, have descended to the human world!" she announced to the sky.
Wings spread wide and halo shining brilliantly, Gabriel descended from the heavens like a shooting star wrapped in divine radiance. She touched down on Earth with grace, her long golden hair flowing behind her like stardust.
A true angel had arrived.
After settling into her modest apartment in the human world, Gabriel carefully unpacked, laid out her belongings, and glanced at her new school uniform. Tomorrow, she would report to a real human high school.
"What kind of place will it be, I wonder…?" she whispered, eyes glittering with curiosity.
After wrapping up a bit of her settlement errands, Gabriel skipped over to the nearest ATM with her salary card in hand. Her wings weren't out now—angels had to blend in when walking among humans—but the gentle light in her golden eyes still radiated her purity.
"Alright! Time to get some funds and prep for Operation Neighborly Angel!" she cheered internally.
Once her card spat out the fresh bills, she made her way to the convenience store. She needed to pick up some small gifts to give her neighbors—an act of goodwill she'd learned from her top-ranking etiquette class at Angel School. Nothing fancy, just enough to show appreciation.
Yes, the Gabriel of today was polite, pure, and brimming with virtue!
Let us all treasure this version of Gabriel, whose soul hasn't yet been devoured by MMORPGs and endless gachas.
cough
Back to the story.
While walking past a quiet intersection, Gabriel's sharp eyes caught sight of an elderly lady hesitating at the sidewalk, peering nervously at the flow of cars.
As she passed a crosswalk near the intersection, Gabriel noticed an old lady standing at the edge, peering hesitantly at the speeding cars. The angel's heart swelled with purpose.
"Let me help you, obaa-san!" she said with a gentle smile that sparkled like sunlight on a spring morning.
With the old lady in tow, Gabriel carefully guided her across the street, her gentle aura making it feel as though time slowed and the very air had been blessed.
Once they reached the other side, Gabriel waved happily and continued on her way. However, behind her, the old lady blinked in confusion and mumbled:
"Wait… I just came from that side..."
Turns out, the road-crossing kindness had caused a minor detour in the poor woman's errands. But Gabriel, unaware of her well-meaning misfire, was already entering the convenience store, spirits high.
She picked out an assortment of cute, individually packaged sweets—colorful mochi, pudding cups, and panda-shaped cookies. She knew gifts didn't have to be expensive; it was the thought (and taste) that counted. Besides, forming bonds with the locals was part of an angel's duty while stationed on Earth.
Just then, she stopped in her tracks, eyes catching on a radiant figure a few aisles down.
A girl with flowing golden hair stood quietly examining a row of delicate pastries. Her posture was elegant, her aura calm and sincere. Gabriel's breath caught in her throat.
"W-What the... this human girl… she's glowing... like an actual angel?!" Gabriel whispered to herself.
Of course, she didn't mean the girl literally had celestial blood, but her presence... it was astonishingly pure. Her name? Shiina Mahiru.
Gabriel's inner angel senses flared. She could feel it—Mahiru had the potential. She could become someone truly dazzling. Maybe even… an honorary angel?
Clutching her gift basket close, Gabriel softly raised a hand and chanted a silent blessing in her heart. Her halo shimmered briefly above her head as she cast the divine grace.
"Girl, we will meet again," she whispered with a hopeful glint in her eyes.
Gabriel wasn't just here to observe. The Earth was full of both light and darkness. For every potential angel like Mahiru, there were countless souls being whispered to by demons. But Gabriel wasn't afraid. With every blessing, she pushed back that darkness.
Meanwhile, Mahiru—still unaware of the heavenly surveillance—felt a sudden lightness in her body. Her chest lifted with a small, inexplicable relief.
"Strange… but kinda nice," she murmured, glancing around as if searching for a breeze.
Back home, the evening settled over the neighborhood.
Ding-dong!
Sumireko Sanshokuin opened the door and blinked at the golden-haired girl standing before her. Dressed neatly with a gift box in hand, Gabriel sparkled like a living doll.
"Excuse me for the sudden visit! I'm Gabriel White, your new neighbor. I just moved in and wanted to say hello. Please take care of me!"
"Ah, welcome! I'm Sumireko Sanshokuin. It's great to meet you!"
After handing over a carefully wrapped assortment of sweets, Gabriel exchanged a few warm pleasantries, then politely bowed and left.
As Sumireko watched her disappear down the sidewalk, her brow twitched slightly.
"...With that face, that glow… Nozomi is definitely going to notice her. That hopeless playboy won't miss a girl like that."
****************
Ding ding;
If you haven't connected the dots already, the new characters are from Gabriel DropOut. In this series, angels graduate from a school in Heaven and are sent to Earth to learn about humans and guide them toward the righteous path. However, the protagonist, Gabriel White Tenma, the top student in her class, becomes addicted to video games upon arriving on Earth and turns into a "fallen angel," neglecting her duties. Despite this, she remains kind-hearted beneath her lazy and gruff demeanor.
Attached is Gabriel and Raphiel.