Chapter 4: Supermarket Encounter
At exactly 3:30 in the afternoon, the school bell rang, its clear sound echoing down the hallways and spilling out through the open windows.
Outside, the sunlight had softened into a warm, amber glow. The air carried that faint scent of chalk dust and youth, the kind of atmosphere that lingered at the end of a long day. Most of the students in the classroom didn't rush home—they lingered, chatting with friends or gathering their things for after-school club activities.
Since the school had far more girls than boys, the variety of clubs leaned heavily toward feminine interests—flower arrangement, tea ceremony, art, and drama. For the boys, there were only a few lonely options like soccer and basketball.
Kouya, however, had zero interest in sweating among a group of grunting, hyperactive guys.
He, instead, belonged to the prestigious and peaceful "Go-Home Club."
Ever since he had come to this world, Kouya had sealed away his powers, deciding to experience what it truly meant to live as an ordinary human. No divine aura, no omniscient awareness—just the quiet, imperfect rhythm of daily life.
Once he sealed away that godlike might, even the simplest things became fascinating. The sound of footsteps on the pavement, the way the wind brushed through his hair, the vibrant color of the sunset—all of it felt new. He could finally experience things he had once overlooked when omnipotence dulled his senses.
To walk without teleporting, to tire from running, to eat not for need but for taste—these were the things that gave life texture.
Those former days, when he could see across millions of miles and hear the unspoken thoughts of every being, were hollow and gray. There was no challenge, no surprise, no thrill. Living among mortals, stripped of power, was paradoxically more divine than his existence had ever been.
The original Kouya's parents had been dreamers. When he started high school, they left on a journey around the world—two souls chasing freedom. But fate had been cruel. They perished in an accident, leaving him only a modest inheritance. Enough to live, but not enough to live lavishly. If he wanted comfort, he would have to work, like everyone else. In Japan, part-time jobs were considered a healthy rite of passage anyway.
Though he didn't lack money, Kouya found the idea of labor oddly intriguing. To earn one's own way in this limited world… it was something he'd never done before.
He remembered his mother mentioning once that he had a cousin living in the same city—a red-haired girl with glasses and a flat chest, working as some sort of programmer. Maybe a code monkey or a system developer? Either way, she hadn't reached out to him, even after all this time.
She'd probably forgotten about him entirely. Not that he minded.
In fact, breathing in the cool, grassy air and basking in the mellow afternoon sunlight was already enough. This quiet existence was a gift he wouldn't trade for anything.
...
Time slipped by unnoticed. By the time Kouya realized, the sky outside had darkened, and the city below shimmered in a sea of electric light. Neon signs flickered, and the gentle hum of passing cars filled the streets.
He stretched lazily as he strolled, feeling the air cool against his skin. It had that faint scent of rain from earlier in the day.
"What should I eat tonight?" he murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
He grinned to himself. "Hmm, maybe I'll stop by the supermarket. Cooking once in a while—that's a man's romance."
Japan's convenience stores were famous for their efficiency, but the supermarkets had their own charm—wide aisles, bright lights, the comforting sound of plastic baskets clicking together. Even in a smaller city like this, the shelves were filled with everything from cheap snacks to high-quality cuts of meat.
Kouya grabbed a shopping basket and began browsing. He picked up a few vegetables, some eggs, and a pack of noodles. He walked without hurry, letting himself drift between aisles, appreciating the simple normalcy of it all.
As he passed the household goods section, something odd caught his attention—two middle-aged men huddled together, whispering in suspicious tones.
The man with glasses spoke first, dead serious: "So, which one do you want? The threaded one? The ultra-thin one? Or maybe the serrated type?"
Kouya froze. 'Wait, what the hell are they talking about?' His thoughts spiraled instantly into the gutter. In broad daylight, in public, and in a supermarket of all places?!
The balding man flushed red. "Keep it down! Don't say things like that out loud. There are people around!"
"Come on, we're all men here. What's there to be embarrassed about?"
'Even among men, there should be limits to this kind of conversation!' Kouya thought, clutching his basket. His imagination painted a series of very wrong mental images.
The man with glasses then said, completely straight-faced, "Why don't we buy a few and try them all out? We can compare which one works best."
The other nodded solemnly. "Yeah, that makes sense."
Kouya nearly dropped his basket. 'What did I just hear?! Try them out—together?!' His mind screamed. 'This is it—the fall of civilization. Two degenerates caught red-handed planning sin itself!'
Just as he was about to step forward and "purify" the perverts, the two men reached out and each grabbed… a washboard.
"Keyboards break too easily when kneeling. Washboards are sturdier and cheaper," one said casually.
The other sighed, defeated. "Yeah, I've already gone through three keyboards this month."
Kouya stood frozen. The tension drained from him so fast it almost hurt.
He sighed. 'You two idiots. I almost erased you from existence over that ridiculous conversation.'
Still grumbling under his breath, he turned toward the snack aisle. Maybe something sweet would calm his nerves.
As he turned the corner, a faint glow brushed against his senses—a warm, gentle light that carried the signature of Heaven itself. A familiar energy.
He glanced over—and saw her.
A small figure stood by the shelves, dressed in the same school uniform as him, though hers had a softer, neater touch. Her golden hair cascaded down her back like sunlight, gleaming under the fluorescent lights. The tips shimmered faintly, catching every color of the spectrum.
Gabriel.
The little blonde angel was on tiptoe, straining to reach a bag of snacks on the highest shelf. Her fingertips grazed the edge, but it slipped out of reach every time. Her lips pursed, her face scrunched up in the most adorably helpless expression imaginable.
Kouya sighed internally. 'Seriously? An angel, defeated by snacks? You have literal divine power. Use it!' He could almost feel his irritation bubbling again. 'Or jump! You have wings for crying out loud!'
After several failed attempts, Gabriel let out a soft, pitiful sound. "Uuuuh~~" Her shoulders drooped as if the entire world had betrayed her.
Just then, someone reached past her with effortless ease and plucked the bag from the shelf.
Gabriel turned, bowing politely without even looking. "Thank you so much, kind stranger!"
A familiar voice replied, dry and amused. "Who said I was giving it to you? I saw it first."
Gabriel blinked and looked up—and froze.
"Y-you're…"
Kouya smirked. "That's right. It's me." His eyes glimmered with mischievous satisfaction—the face of a man savoring his revenge. After enduring a whole day of poking, teasing, and lost sleep, fate had finally given him this moment.
"Um… what was your name again?" Gabriel asked sheepishly.
Kouya nearly dropped the snack. 'You've got to be kidding me.' After all that, she didn't even remember his name? She was either the most clueless creature alive or the most infuriating.
"Ah, right! You're Kouya-kun." She slapped her forehead lightly, then stuck out her tongue. "Sorry~! It's just that I met so many new people today, and after club activities, I totally forgot."
Her apology came with a bashful smile and a slight bow that made it hard to stay mad.
Then, she tilted her head upward, eyes wide and shimmering. "Kouya-kun, could you please give me that bag of snacks?"
Kouya looked down at the package. Through the transparent section, he could see colorful animal-shaped crackers—giraffes, pandas, monkeys, and tiny peacocks. Simple, childish treats.
Gabriel bit her lip and looked away, her cheeks tinted pink. "I-I saw some kids eating it earlier. It looked cute… and smelled really good, so I wanted to try it too."
Her shy tone, that faint blush—it all chipped away at Kouya's irritation. Against his better judgment, his heart softened.
There were plenty more bags on the shelf. Making a big deal out of it seemed pointless.
He sighed, handing it over. "Fine. Take it."
Gabriel's face brightened instantly. "Thank you!" she said with a sparkle of pure joy, hugging the bag like a precious treasure.
Kouya turned away, pretending not to notice how oddly warm her smile made him feel. He muttered, half to himself, half to the empty aisle, "You still owe me for the poking, though. I'll get you back one day."
He didn't see her small grin behind him—an innocent yet knowing smile.
And somehow, for a brief moment, the supermarket felt a little brighter.