Nami

“Nami-chan, wait for me.”

I glanced behind me, somewhat irritated by the sight of Shiokawa-san running toward me. Unfortunately, I was forced to stay at the school after classes had ended because it was my turn to clean the classroom and assist the homeroom teacher with some papers, alongside five other students whose names I did not remember. 

“Finally,” Shiokawa-san exclaimed when she was in front of me, breathing heavily. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

I shrugged and spun on my heels to resume making my way to the school’s main gates, ready to leave that place. It was Friday, after all, and I could not wait to get home, eat instant noodles, and sleep. 

Shiokawa-san frowned at me and motioned to say something. However, before she could do it, her attention turned to Demon Boy and a cute girl talking nearby. From what I could see and hear, it was one of those love confession moments that I had read about in books. 

“Yusuke-kun, I like you. Please, go out with me,” the girl boldly confessed while extending a hand in his direction, her head low. 

Shiokawa-san chuckled. “It’s the twelfth time this week that Yuu-kun has been the recipient of love confessions. Apparently, all the girls have gotten super excited and hopeful after news of his breakup with Emica spread like wildfire.” She stopped walking and looked at me. “Although it has only been three weeks since the semester began, Yuu-kun has already received several love letters and confessions and has turned every single person down without hesitation. Even those whom he used to go out with sometimes have been tossed aside.”

I gazed at the handsome student whom I had been avoiding like the plague ever since I first met him. His tousled hair covered his enigmatic eyes and his lips formed a thin line. With his hands shoved into the dark green school uniform pants pockets and his nonchalant posture, his overall breathtaking beauty made me lose my senses and balance for a minute, especially when he finally smiled at the brave girl before him. 

“I’m sorry, but I don’t reciprocate your feelings,” Demon Boy said politely.

The girl hung her head as her eyes welled up, nodded, and ran away the next second.

I kept staring at Demon Boy, entranced by his effortless charm. “Has he always been this popular?” I asked Shiokawa-san, my own question taking me by surprise. 

My classmate replied, “Yes, he has. I’ve known him since middle school, and he has always been considered the most handsome and popular student. Although he isn’t a saint and does go out with a couple of girls here and there, as far as I know, he has never had a serious relationship or fallen in love.” 

“I can see why he is so popular,” I mumbled, still enveloped by Demon Boy’s presence. 

Shiokawa-san gave me the side-eye, her lips curving into a mischievous smile as she smirked, “You know, everyone was surprised when he ended things with Emica and stopped going out with his other friends.” She air-quoted ‘friends’. “He’s been acting weird lately, and it all began after he saw you for the first time.”

My stomach fluttered. “Perhaps he has been busy studying or something.” I turned around and started heading to the gates. 

Shiokawa-san followed suit. “Yuu-kun has always been at the top of the school without even studying, that genius bastard,” she grumbled, clenching a hand into a fist. “Meanwhile, Tonkatsu and I kill ourselves trying to understand and memorize the lessons and, even so, barely get the necessary grades to make it to the next grade.” 

“Oh. I was not aware he was that intelligent,” I commented, genuinely surprised. 

“Aimi.” A male voice rang in the air, causing both my classmate and me to glance behind us. “Why are you still here?” Demon Boy reached us, his face expressionless. 

Shiokawa-san pat him on the back and laughed. “Another love confession, huh? You’re a heartbreaker, aren’t you?” 

He sighed, “I appreciate their courage and admiration toward me, but it’s becoming tiring, you know? I can’t get a minute alone without being surrounded by people trying to talk to me.” 

“Boo-hoo, poor you. The most handsome and popular boy in school is suffering because everyone wants a piece of him,” taunted Shiokawa-san, laughing again. “Your life is so tragic that I feel sorry for you, Yuu-kun.”

Meanwhile, I avoided eye contact with Demon Boy at all costs because I did not want any involvement with him whatsoever. 

My brother Sora had visited me the night before and informed me that the attacks in the Kingdom of Angels had increased considerably over the last few days, and as the king, he was extremely concerned that he might not be able to stop them before more angels fell. The Knightly Order was doing its best to track down whoever was responsible for the unreasonable atrocities, but they had not been successful in doing so yet. Souma, on the other hand, was spending his days assisting the families of those who fell and restoring hope among the Angel Commoners.

I dared sneak a glance at Demon Boy while he spoke with Shiokawa-san, my thoughts spiraling out of control. 

What if he is here to kill me? It is too much of a coincidence that we are schoolmates. What if he knows that I am the Angel Princess and am in Tokyo to escape the attacks on the kingdom? What if I am his target?

My eyes paused briefly on Shiokawa-san.

Shiokawa-san is a human, but she is close to Demon Boy regardless. I wonder if she is oblivious to his real identity, which is probably the case. But again, what if she does know who he truly is? What if she is an accomplice of his and is setting me up for my fall? What if their entire group of friends is involved? I need to be careful and stay away from them as much as possible. As my brother Sora advised me yesterday, I cannot let my guard down.

“Nami-chan?” Shiokawa-san snapped her fingers in front of my eyes, startling me. “You spaced out while Yuu-kun and I were talking.”

I could feel Demon Boy’s burning gaze on me, causing my cheeks to blush involuntarily. “Apologies,” I said, my voice low. 

“You’re coming to the karaoke with us tomorrow night, aren’t you? Tonkatsu told me that he invited you, but you didn’t give him an answer.” She hooked an arm through mine, her action making me feel self-conscious and bashful.

Argh. I hate humans and their displays of affection. 

I shook my head. “No, I am not.”

Shiokawa-san pouted, “Why not? You’ve been avoiding us every day and don’t let us be your friends despite you being a part of our group already. Do you hate us? You hate us, don’t you? Why do you hate us? Is it my hair?” She ran a hand through her hair before pointing at Demon Boy. “Is it because Yuu-kun is too handsome?”

I took three steps back, my eyes growing wide and my ears becoming red from embarrassment. “What? No,” I exclaimed, frantically shaking my head in denial. 

“Then why aren’t you willing to give us a chance to be your friends? We’re nice people, I promise,” she remarked, proudly puffing out her chest. “And not to brag, but you’re the only student in Mori Senior High School who doesn’t revere us and spoil us with attention.”

I scowled. “Why would I want to revere humans?” I blurted out without thinking, only to regret not being more careful and not staying silent. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Demon Boy’s reaction—he bored his forceful yet inquisitive gaze into me, the corner of his lips arching into a hint of a smile.

Much to my relief, Shiokawa-san did not decipher the real message behind my words and laughed out loud. “Well, we are very popular, so it’s only natural to be the center of attention now and then.”

As if I care.

“Anyway, you’re going to the karaoke with us tomorrow, aren’t you? Please, pretty please?” She pressed her hands together in a praying gesture, her eyes reminding me of the puppy’s I saw every morning on my way to the train station. “It won’t be fun if you’re not there. Please give us a chance. Please.”

I let out a deep sigh, finding her behavior rude and irritating. However, as I did not wish to continue that conversation, I chose to lose that battle and give in to her demand. “All right. I will join you and your friends at the karaoke tomorrow night.”

What a bother. I was planning on visiting the castle this weekend. Humans are exhausting.

 Judging by my demeanor and facial expression, one could say that I had lost a war and was about to be executed, which was not too far from the truth—I had lost a war with that insistent human and had signed my death certificate by agreeing to spend a couple of hours with her outside school on the weekend. 

Shiokawa-san started jumping and clapping her hands together and squealed, “Yay. I can’t wait to see you singing.” She grabbed her smartphone from her green shoulder bag and typed something on it. “What’s your number?”

I furrowed my brows, confused. “My number? I am seventeen years old.”

Demon Boy chuckled.

“I’m asking for your phone number, silly.” She waved her device in front of my face.

“Oh, my apologies. I misunderstood your question.” I took the smartphone Sora gave me when I moved to Tokyo—according to both of my big brothers, it was important for a teenager like me to be on par with human technology.

“Tell me your number and email address,” Shiokawa-san demanded, looking impatient. 

I fumbled with the thing, unsure of how to find my own number and email address. Speaking of the latter, did I even have one? Did Sora create it for me when he was setting up the device? I should have paid more attention to what he was blabbering and doing instead of reading a fashion magazine.

“How do I… find my number?” I asked.  

I heard Demon Boy chuckle again.

Shiokawa-san shook her head disapprovingly and stretched out a hand to me. “Just give me your smartphone.”

I complied, relieved that she was willing to resolve the issue by herself. However, it did not go unnoticed that while my classmate learned some of my personal details, Demon Boy discreetly recorded them on his own phone, his eyes finding mine briefly as he gave me a mysterious smile. As a result, I felt tempted to object, but I ended up pursing my lips and pretending I was not seeing anything out of the ordinary. As much as I hated to admit, a part of me was flattered that he was interested in me enough to have my number.

Shiokawa-san handed me back my device, pleased. “Thank you, Nami-chan. I’ll text you the address of the karaoke later tonight.” 

“By the way, you haven’t answered what you’re still doing here, Aimi,” interrupted Demon Boy.

Shiokawa-san responded, “Photograph club. You?”

“Student council.”

Suddenly, Demon Boy’s phone started ringing. He glanced at the screen, scowled, sighed, and shoved it back into the back pocket of his pants. 

“Was that one of your admirers?” teased Shiokawa-san, playfully shouldering him.

Demon Boy ignored her and headed ahead of us. “My driver is waiting for me,” he said, waving without looking at us. A moment later, he disappeared from our view.

“Driver?” I gasped.

Shiokawa-san explained, “Yuu-kun has his own driver and lives in a mansion.”

Does that mean he is a Demon Noble, then?

Shiokawa-san and I made the rest of the way to the train station with the former chatting about her favorite music bands, movies, and hobbies, which, by the way, I pretended to listen to when, in reality, my brain was blocking most of the words coming out of her mouth. As we parted ways on the turnstile, the broad smile she gave me before going to her platform warmed my heart for a second, and unbeknownst to my self-conscious me, my lips returned the gesture spontaneously. 

* * *