Chapter 236: Tokyo Is Really Small
After finishing the book, Sakurai Saki brought it to the counter and bought it right away.
Chika, while listening, had unknowingly fallen asleep. Saki simply held her quietly in his arms, reading through the whole morning.
The girl carried a faint, gentle fragrance; aside from being a little warm in summer, holding her felt very comfortable.
"Sorry~ I accidentally fell asleep." Chika mumbled in explanation.
Clearly, the atmosphere just now had been very soothing, but after listening to his voice for so long, she naturally felt sleepy.
"It's fine."
By noon, Sakurai Saki planned to take Chika to the café where he used to work part-time.
His coffee brewing skills were all learned from the owner there—a very kind man.
...
Location: Nakano Ward.
In front of a delicately decorated café.
"This is the place?" Chika looked quite curious about the café where Sakurai Saki had once worked part-time.
The door was pushed open.
Sakurai Saki suddenly froze in place.
"Welcome dear customer~" A faint, listless greeting echoed inside the café.
Chika glanced over and, seeing him remain motionless, asked: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Sakurai rubbed his eyes, confirming he wasn't seeing things.
"Aki, what are you doing here?" A blonde angel rubbed her head, her face weary, asking.
Gabriel: ⁽⁽ଘ(* ´ ﹃｀*)ଓ⁾⁾
It was obvious she had been "grinding" for several nights in a row without sleep. Only thanks to Gabriel's strong body had she not collapsed yet—if it had been a normal person, they might have already dropped dead.
"This is the place I used to work part-time." Sakurai sighed and stepped inside.
What rotten luck. Taking a girl out on a date, only to run into this game-addicted angel.
Then again, this was Nakano Ward, not far from Gabriel's apartment, so running into her here wasn't strange at all.
And that part-time job Gabriel had mentioned before, turned out to be café staff?
"Tenma-kun, did you meet a classmate?" The kind voice of the café owner came from behind the counter.
"Owner, it's me." Sakurai replied.
Then he walked fully inside.
Fujiwara Chika sneaked a few glances at Gabriel.
"So cute… she feels no less cute than Miko-chan."
Moreover, judging by their conversation just now, this girl must be a friend of Saki-kun.
"Hello."
"Hello." Gabriel answered briefly.
Their very first exchange, surprisingly short.
"Sakurai-kun, did you bring a friend today?"
"Yes."
Sakurai nodded, saying: "It's been a long time since I had the owner's blend coffee."
Hearing that, the owner smiled faintly, feeling a touch of pride inside.
In truth, he had a particular faith in the blend coffee he brewed with his own hands.
"Two cups of blend coffee?" the owner asked.
Sakurai Saki nodded.
"Chika, come here."
He called out to the door, where Fujiwara Chika was still staring at Gabriel, then sat down on the chair beside him.
Today was Saturday, but aside from him, there wasn't a single other customer in the café. Maybe it was the time of day?
Sakurai recalled the days he used to work here…
Well, truthfully, there were never that many customers to begin with.
But the owner's skills were truly outstanding, and the coffee beans were of excellent quality—it was just a pity about the scarce number of customers.
Sakurai had really liked the quiet working environment, so back then, he had come almost every weekend to help out.
He just hadn't expected that after he quit, the one to replace him would be Gabriel.
After sitting down, Chika glanced at Gabriel not far away, then softly asked: "That cute girl, is she your friend, Saki-kun?"
"Her name is Gabriel, a friend I met online. She studies at Muten High, just nearby." Sakurai answered.
As for Gabriel being an angel… best not to let Chika know. It wasn't necessary, and it might even make her jealous.
Chika was usually a little airheaded, but when it came to matters like this, she was extremely sensitive.
"Oh… You two seem pretty close." Chika probed subtly.
"Chika, do you think I'd be interested in a game addict like that? Look at her dark circles, she's about to turn into a panda." Sakurai chuckled, teasing.
"Pandas are cute, I really like pandas." Chika replied, her thoughts jumping instantly in another direction.
It was unclear whether she was truly being carefree, or deliberately changing the subject.
At the entrance, Gabriel peeked outside, confirming there were no customers about to enter.
She walked straight toward Sakurai.
"Aki, is this your girlfriend?" Gabriel asked bluntly.
"No."
"Oh."
Then that's fine!
If she wasn't his girlfriend… then being a little intimate shouldn't be a problem, right?
Recently, Gabriel was in serious financial trouble. The reason, of course, was because she spent too much on gacha games. Out of the 365 days of the year, at least 200 were days she was completely broke.
No money for food! In this situation, who cared about pride anymore!?
This was a matter of survival, time to use her most powerful weapon—her flawless body!
Gabriel had already made up her mind.
"Aki~" Gabriel immediately leaned in close, wrapping her arms tightly around his arm, pressing her nearly non-existent chest lightly against him.
Gabriel: ⁽⁽ଘ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)ଓ⁾⁾
"What are you trying to do?" Sakurai Saki felt goosebumps all over.
Honestly, he preferred the usual useless Gab-chan. This version of her now felt completely wrong.
"…Eh? Saki-kun, you and Gabriel-san sure are close." Fujiwara Chika's lips curved into a faint smile.
Chika: (♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈)▬ι═ﺤ (˚☐˚")
Hearing that, Sakurai Saki felt a sting like needles on his back.
This kind of bizarre 'shurafield' situation—please spare me! I beg you!
"Gab-chan, let go." Sakurai Saki tried to push Gabriel away.
But this girl actually used angel strength!!?
"I'm a bit short on money lately."
"I know, I'll lend you some."
"Really?" Gabriel blinked, surprised he agreed so readily.
"Then, about that sponsorship deal, don't you want to reconsider?" Gabriel couldn't help recalling that 300,000 yen per month "sponsorship" fee.
As the two leaned close together, Chika's expression across from them was truly remarkable.
"Sponsorship?"
ʰᵘʰ (ꐦ○_○）✧
Were they really just online friends?
At that moment, the café owner finished the coffee and called out: "Tenma-kun, bring out the coffee."
"Yes!"
Gabriel released Sakurai Saki and went to serve the coffee.
Sakurai Saki let out a breath of relief.
This shurafield had finally ended.
Just as he relaxed—
"Cling-clang~"
The wind chime above the door rang.
A silver-haired girl stepped inside.
"Gab-chan, I came to visit you… Ara, isn't this Sakurai-san?" Raphiel covered her mouth in feigned surprise.
She had only met Sakurai Saki once.
But for him, nearly every angel who descended to the human world knew him well.
Because Sakurai Saki was a top-level surveillance target in Heaven, so even if angels didn't actively befriend him, they also wouldn't dare oppose him—otherwise, the next morning, they might wake up to find their house gone.
Fujiwara Chika had just taken the coffee Gabriel handed her, and before she could even sip, she heard another girl calling Sakurai Saki's name.
She glanced at Raphiel, then turned back to Sakurai Saki.
Her eyes seemed to say: "And this one is who exactly?"
"..." Sakurai Saki was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Raphiel, long time no see."
This girl was the type who loved to tease.
Just now, when she saw Chika's expression, it was as if she had found a brand new toy.
Raphiel sees Chika: ( ≖ ‿ ≖ )