Unusual Gabriel
"There's actually a buffet that allows you in." Nino said quite dramatically in response.
"What do you mean? Am I not allowed to go to the buffet?" Itsuki asked discontentedly.
Even though she could eat a bit better than ordinary girls, she hadn't descended to the level where she couldn't even enter a buffet.
"I'm just worried the restaurant will lose money." Nino said, and Ichika next to her nodded in agreement.
"How do you see me among you all?" Itsuki refuted, "Even if I can eat well, I wouldn't cause losses to the restaurant."
"Then are you still having dinner now?" Nino asked casually.
Since we've been discussing Ichika, dinner has been postponed until now.
"Itsuki just finished the buffet..."
Just as Yotsuba was about to remind Nino, Itsuki walked into the kitchen, washed her hands, took a plate and chopsticks, and sat in her chair.
"Since you said that, let me eat a bit."
"Didn't you just finish the buffet?" Yotsuba asked with a surprised expression.
Itsuki whispered, "I'm not full yet."
"Exactly, you got kicked out of the restaurant for eating too much!" Nino complained.
A bit excessive, not being full even after a buffet.
But for some reason, it strangely made sense if something like this happened to Itsuki.
"No, I just went with my classmates, so I felt embarrassed to eat too much. I only ate a little."
Aware that her speech could be misunderstood, Itsuki quickly defended herself.
She went to the restaurant with Ren. If she, a girl, showed a bigger appetite than the guy, it would definitely affect how he saw her.
Therefore, she had to restrain herself as much as possible and not eat too much.
However, the price was that she hadn't eaten enough, and now she needed to eat again.
"You don't need to explain, we understand."
Ichika patted Itsuki's shoulder understandingly.
"No, you'll never understand."
Itsuki didn't believe Ichika's words. If she didn't explain, they would surely think she had finished all the food in the restaurant and still wasn't full.
Although she didn't know if they believed her explanation, she didn't care and started eating without further ado.
After dinner, Itsuki returned to her room, sat at her desk, and carefully took out the white kitten figurine she had exchanged with Ren from her bag and placed it on the table.
After being placed for a while, Itsuki finally found a satisfying position and adjusted the position of the white kitten figurine, which would be the newest member of her desk.
Anyway, it was just a small figurine and didn't take up much space.
"Okay, let's start studying."
After setting the mood, Itsuki took out her practice book and started working on the exercises.
But not long after doing so, she lifted her head again and looked towards the kitten figurine.
She didn't know why she always had the illusion that the kitten was watching her study.
Even though the figurine was said to be sleeping.
"Don't sleep, I'm still studying."
Itsuki gently poked the kitten figurine with her finger and said harshly, trying to wake it up.
"It seems I'm a bit silly."
After staring at it for a moment, she suddenly realized the issue and hurriedly grabbed her pen and continued working on the exercises.
"Studying, studying is the most important thing right now."
...
At the same time, in front of Gabriel's house.
Knocking on the door quite skillfully, Ren waited calmly.
After going to the restaurant with Itsuki and escorting her home, he hurried back as fast as possible, but he returned later than usual today.
He hoped Gabriel wouldn't be angry about this.
Of course, he was also prepared to apologize.
The door soon opened slightly, and Gabriel's figure hiding behind the door was vaguely visible.
"Sorry, I'm back late."
Seeing that Gabriel didn't open the door fully like before, Ren offered the apology he had prepared for a long time.
It was clear that Gabriel was angry. When angry in the past, she would only open the door a bit to prevent him from entering.
"It's okay, Kamikawa, you can go back to your house to sleep tonight."
After hearing the first part of the sentence, Ren thought Gabriel had forgiven him, but after hearing the second part, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
In the past, Gabriel never forced him to leave like this.
"... I understand, sorry."
After a moment of silence, Ren accepted this reality.
Gabriel had no reason to always forgive him for making mistakes; it was normal.
He had no opinion.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Gabriel's voice sounded.
"Don't forget your promise tomorrow... Remember to wake up early tomorrow and wait for me at the door at 10 am."
Ren was a bit confused about Gabriel's intention.
If she were angry, she might cancel tomorrow's plans, but if she wasn't angry, why didn't she let him in and allowed him to go home?
He really didn't understand.
Nevertheless, he still agreed, "Yes, I will do that."
"Don't forget it."
After emphasizing it again, as if afraid Ren would forget, Gabriel closed the door.
"Oh."
Ren didn't understand why Gabriel did this, but he had no choice but to return to his house.
He placed the black kitten exchanged from Itsuki on the table and prepared to sleep.
...
The next day, at 10 am.
Ren appeared in front of Gabriel's door on time and waited calmly.
Not long after, the door opened, and Gabriel came out.
"Good morning, Kamikawa."
After closing the door and approaching him, Gabriel smiled and greeted him.
"Good morning."
Ren hesitated for a moment before answering.
Something was wrong with Gabriel today, very wrong.
Before, Gabriel's hair was a bit messy, with many strands sticking out. But now, her hair was extremely smooth, neat, and shining with a brilliant golden light.
Her dress was a very simple white gown, but it made her look divine, emitting a dazzling holy light.
There was no laziness on her face, replaced by a thin smile, and she looked very approachable.
What's wrong with her?
Is she sick?
The last time Ren saw Gabriel like this was shortly after she moved here.