"This is infuriating!"
Gabriel stared at her screen, the seeds of anger taking root in her mind.
Should I just track him down and beat him up in person? No, I can't waste my divine power on something like that.
She tried to hold onto the last shred of her angelic dignity, but the seed had been planted. It was only a matter of time before it sprouted.
.....
Sakano Academy
The next morning, Kawashima Toya finished his morning routine and made his way toward the academy.
His refined, scholarly appearance made him an instant focal point. The female students watched him pass with interest, whispers following in his wake.
"The guy in the white coat... is he the new health teacher?"
"Looks like it. He's definitely a step up from the guys we usually see around here."
"Way better looking than Ito Makoto was, that's for sure. They aren't even in the same league."
Toya caught fragments of the chatter and felt a brief pang of irony. The boy once dubbed "The Legend" by some had met a grim end before his notorious reputation could even truly begin.
Being single has its perks, Toya mused privately.
After offering a silent reflection on the fallen student, Toya slowed his pace to listen for more details. However, by the time he reached the infirmary, the rumors remained vague.
The only solid detail is that it was a gruesome scene. Apparently, he was found looking like a mummified corpse.
Mummified, huh? That opens up way too many possibilities.
Toya rubbed his temples. A vengeful spirit, a yokai, or some localized curse could have drained the life out of him. It was impossible to pinpoint the cause without more data.
I guess I'll just wait for things to develop, he decided. Eventually, the truth would surface.
.....
Infirmary
At noon, Toya sat at his desk, opening his bento. A soft, hesitant voice drifted from the doorway.
"Kawashima-sensei... would it be alright if I ate here?"
"Please, make yourself at home," Toya replied with a welcoming smile.
Katsura Kotonoha stepped inside tentatively, clutching her lunch. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, Sensei."
She found a seat and began to eat, her movements as cautious as a small animal.
Toya didn't force a conversation, focusing instead on his own meal. After a while, Kotonoha stole a glance at him, her heart fluttering.
Eating here with Sensei... it feels remarkably peaceful.
Unable to handle the silence for much longer, she was the one to break it.
"It's very quiet in here, isn't it?"
"I suppose so," Toya agreed.
The students at this academy were notoriously mature, and almost any corner of the campus could become a "hotspot" for trouble.
Now that he was in charge of the infirmary, he was determined to keep it from becoming one of those places.
He set his phone down and asked casually, "Katsura-san, those girls haven't been bothering you again, have they? If you need help, don't hesitate to speak up."
"Thank you, Sensei," she said, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and relief. "Actually, I'm fine. I think if I just stay out of their way, they'll eventually leave me alone."
Toya's brow furrowed slightly. "If you say so."
That was her nature—gentle and submissive. He could help her once or twice, but he couldn't protect her forever. By intervening earlier, he was also indirectly preventing the bullies from digging their own graves.
I hope those girls have the sense to back off. If Kotonoha ever truly snapped and entered a yandere state, her combat potential would skyrocket.
He knew she practiced Iaijutsu and was reportedly skilled enough to slice a falling raindrop.
Toya leaned back in his chair. "I have to say, the faculty lunch is actually quite good."
Kotonoha let out a soft giggle, hiding her smile. "Sensei, most people say the school food is terrible. Almost all the students prefer to bring their own."
"Really? There were quite a few decent ingredients in mine."
"Yes, but many students find the taste lacking," she said softly, a slight blush on her cheeks. She had always brought her own lunch to avoid the crowds—and the people who targeted her.
"I haven't actually tried the student cafeteria, so I wouldn't know."
Toya laughed. "It must be a misunderstanding, then. Or perhaps the cafeteria is just too expensive for most. For the school nurse, however, it's complimentary."
The brief exchange made Kotonoha feel significantly more comfortable. At the very least, she no longer felt the instinctive fear she usually felt around men. Talking to Toya was relaxing—even pleasant.
When the afternoon bell rang, she stood up, her face flushed. "Kawashima-sensei, I... I'll see you later."
She practically bolted out the door, as if those few words had required every ounce of her courage.
"Was 'see you later' really that big of a deal?" Toya shook his head, puzzled. "Well, time for some gaming."
Just as the room settled into silence and Toya reached for his phone, a large, muscular man walked through the door. Toya's expression flattened. He looked at the burly man and let out a cold snort.
"Are you the muscle Kato Otome sent to settle a score?"
He hadn't expected her to go this far, hiring muscle for a petty grudge. However, sending just one man seemed like an insult to his capabilities.
The man froze, watching Toya prepare for a fight, and waved his hands frantically. "Wait! Sensei, what are you talking about?"
"I'm the PE teacher, Imaizumi Ryohei! I'm not a delinquent!"
"I came here to ask if you could cover my classes for a week. I have to go in for an emergency appendectomy."
Oh, a colleague. Toya realized his mistake and felt a wave of awkwardness. "My apologies, Imaizumi-sensei. I completely misunderstood."
"Cover your classes? Sure, just give me the schedule."
He couldn't really blame himself. Imaizumi Ryohei was built like a brick wall and had an intimidating face to match. Based on looks alone, he looked more like a yakuza enforcer than an educator.
Imaizumi didn't seem to mind the misunderstanding. He handed over a sheet of paper. "I appreciate it. My workload isn't too heavy—just four classes this week. Most of the time, the students just claim they're 'sick' to get out of it anyway, so it's pretty relaxed."
After the PE teacher left, Toya looked over the schedule.
"I have a class this afternoon? Class 1-3?"
He checked the clock. The class was scheduled to start in half an hour.
"A PE class... what am I even supposed to teach?" Toya looked at the notes Imaizumi had left behind and nodded.
"Just have them run a few laps and then let them do whatever they want? That's surprisingly easy."
As the minutes ticked by, the time for the class finally arrived.