"Actually, there is a request today," Yukino Yukinoshita replied, picking up where he left off.
"Oh? What kind of request is it?" Hozuki Nozomi's interest was immediately piqued. "Another supernatural incident?"
Yukino shook her head. "No, nothing like that."
She set the white cat down gently on her lap before continuing. "It's a rather peculiar person, exactly like that 'chuunibyou' you've described before. His name is Zaimokuza Yoshiteru. He apparently envisions himself as some kind of great general and speaks in the strangest tone imaginable. He wanted to commission us to read his novel and provide feedback."
She paused, a slight frown crossing her elegant features. "I rejected his request."
Hozuki Nozomi immediately flashed her a thumbs up, a broad grin spreading across his face. "Excellent decision! Good rejection!"
He had specifically warned Yukino about this beforehand. If someone named Zaimokuza came knocking with a request, she was to turn him down without hesitation. Why? Because the novel this guy wrote was absolutely atrocious—reading it was nothing short of literary torture. He had no desire to see Yukino waste her precious energy on such a disastrous piece of writing. The fact that she actually listened to him so attentively filled him with a warm sense of satisfaction. If they hadn't been surrounded by other club members, he would have pulled her into a tight hug right then and there.
With no active requests to handle, the Service Club settled into a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere. The girls, completely captivated by the fluffy felines Hozuki Nozomi had brought, indulged themselves in the simple joy of petting and cuddling. They had collectively forgotten, or perhaps simply chosen to ignore, that bringing cats onto school grounds was technically against the rules. But really, who was going to enforce that? Girls, as a rule, had an innate fondness for soft, adorable creatures, and these cats were no exception. Their enthusiasm was boundless.
During this leisurely time, Yui Yuigahama steered the conversation toward the age-old debate: cats versus dogs. She passionately advocated for the canine side, using her own dachshund, Saber, as a prime example. She even suggested that Yukino could come along for a walk with Saber sometime, trying desperately to win her over to the world of dogs.
Yukino Yukinoshita's expression immediately turned frosty. She stated, in no uncertain terms, that she had absolutely no interest in such an activity. Was Yui joking? How could she, a person who froze in terror at the mere sight of a dog, possibly agree to walk one? Perhaps it stemmed from a traumatic childhood experience—her indoor shoes had been carried off by stray dogs not once, but several times during elementary school. Whatever the reason, her aversion to dogs was deeply ingrained.
Asuna Yuuki, meanwhile, found herself a little envious of Yui's situation. Her family was far too strict; keeping any kind of pet was absolutely forbidden in the Yuuki household.
Undeterred by her failure to convert Yukino, Yui Yuigahama promptly turned her persuasive efforts toward Hozuki Nozomi. "Nozomi-kun, what about you? Would you be interested in walking a dog sometime? You even saved Saber before—I'm sure you two would get along famously!"
Hozuki Nozomi, ever the diplomat, had no intention of admitting that he wasn't particularly fond of dogs, especially pampered pet breeds. Instead, he offered a gentle smile and a noncommittal response. "Sure, I'll give it a try sometime."
Compared to dachshunds and other small lapdogs, he much preferred Chinese pastoral dogs. They were fiercely loyal, never accepting food from strangers, and possessed a dignified independence that he admired. Besides, in his experience, it was often those yappy little pet dogs that were the most aggressive biters.
His vague agreement, however, was all the encouragement Yui needed. She immediately latched onto him, chattering away excitedly about dog care, feeding schedules, grooming tips, and a dozen other canine-related topics. Hozuki Nozomi felt his soul slowly beginning to leave his body. Was this what they meant by death by a thousand cute cuts?
Across the room, Yukino Yukinoshita covered her mouth with her hand, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. Now you understand how I feel when Yui gets fixated on me, don't you? her expression seemed to say.
Desperate for an escape, Hozuki Nozomi proposed a trip to the vending machine for drinks. It worked—temporarily. The moment he stepped out, Yui immediately redirected her boundless energy back toward Yukino.
Yukino Yukinoshita: "..."
She wanted to interrupt, to firmly state once again that she had zero interest in dogs, but she couldn't bring herself to crush Yui's bubbly enthusiasm. Trapped, she resorted to a tactical diversion: academics. She began discussing study strategies and upcoming exams.
Yui Yuigahama, who had a rather checkered history with test scores, immediately felt a headache coming on. The tables had turned completely. Now it was Yui's turn to endure Yukino's gentle but relentless lecturing. Yukino's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she spoke; she felt she had finally discovered the perfect countermeasure to Yui's overwhelming dog-themed persistence.
Arriving at the vending machines near the club room, Hozuki Nozomi encountered an unusual scene. A petite red-haired girl with two looped pigtails was eagerly thrusting her wallet toward a blonde girl in the same school uniform.
That blonde girl was Gabriel—the angel who had descended to the mortal world to experience human life. Judging by her slightly disheveled hair and rather casual, almost lazy approach to her uniform, she had fully embraced the concept of "sloth" since her arrival.
The red-haired girl, practically vibrating with barely concealed glee, declared in a tone she clearly believed was cunning, "Haha, Gabriel! I lent you my money, so now you can buy me a drink!"
Hozuki Nozomi blinked. This girl had just willingly handed over her entire wallet... just to have someone else treat her to a single drink? The logic was baffling, yet oddly endearing in its sheer foolishness.
Gabriel regarded the red-haired demon—Satania—with a flat, suspicious stare. Something was definitely off. Nevertheless, she accepted the wallet, fed coins into the machine, and calmly retrieved a can of drink.
Satania's face lit up with barely suppressed triumph. Inside, she was cackling maniacally. Heh heh heh! Once you drink that special vending machine beverage from the Demon World, Gabriel, you'll become my absolute slave, obeying my every command!
"Here," Gabriel said flatly, holding out the drink. "I'm treating you."
Satania froze. "Um... why is there only one? Aren't you having one?"
"No." Gabriel's expression remained utterly blank. "I'm just treating you."
Satania, flustered, attempted to recover her dignity. "W-Well, you should drink it, Gabriel! It's rare that you're treating me, it would be far too awkward if only I—"
"Shut up and drink it."
Gabriel moved with surprising efficiency. Before Satania could react, she had popped open the can, grabbed the demon's cheeks, and was pouring the contents directly into her open mouth. Satania's protests were swallowed along with the mysterious beverage.
"Ahhh! Gabriel, how could you?!" Satania wailed, tears springing to her eyes. "Nooo! Now I'm going to become a slave who obeys your every command! I need to spit it out!" She gagged dramatically. "Ugh, it's too late! I can't spit it out!"
She was practically sobbing now, until she felt a dangerous aura emanating from behind her. Slowly, stiffly, she turned to face Gabriel.
"So," Gabriel said, her voice dropping to an icy purr, "drinking this makes one a slave who must obey others, Satania?"
"G-Gabriel... I'm sorry! I was wrong! Please, please forgive me!"
The demon girl's pitiful pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. "Hmph. Too late."
Gabriel was about to issue some humiliating command when her gaze fell upon Hozuki Nozomi, who had been watching the entire scene unfold from nearby. Instantly, a switch flipped. Her cold expression melted away, replaced by a warm, friendly smile.
"Ah... that, Hozuki Nozomi! What a coincidence! Are you here for a drink too?" Her voice was sweet, her demeanor transformed completely.
Satania's jaw dropped. Was this the same cold, infuriating angel who had just been terrorizing her? She was actually being... nice? To a human?
Hozuki Nozomi, slightly amused by the rapid transformation, smiled back. "Yes, what a coincidence, Gabriel. I came to grab a drink as well."
His gaze shifted to the stunned red-haired girl. "Is this your classmate?"