Nami

“Nami-chan, wait for me!”

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

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

I shrug and spin on my heels, resuming my way to the school’s main gates, ready to leave. It is Friday, after all, and I cannot wait to get home, eat instant noodles, and sleep.

Shiokawa-san frowns and motions to say something. However, before she can do so, her attention turns to Demon Boy and a cute girl talking nearby. From what I can see and hear, it is one of those love-confession moments I have read about in books.

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

Shiokawa-san chuckles. “It’s the twelfth time this week that Yuu-kun has been the recipient of a love confession. Apparently, all the girls have gotten super excited and hopeful after news of his breakup with Emica spread like wildfire.” She stops walking and looks 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 gaze at the handsome student whom I have been avoiding like the plague ever since I first met him—his tousled hair covers his enigmatic eyes, and his lips form a thin line. With his hands shoved into the pockets of his dark green school uniform pants and his nonchalant posture, his overall breathtaking beauty makes me lose my senses and balance for a moment, especially when he finally smiles at the brave girl before him.

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

The girl hangs her head as her eyes well up, nods, and runs away the next second.

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

My classmate replies, “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 mumble, still enveloped by Demon Boy’s presence.

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

My stomach flutters. “Perhaps he has been busy studying or something.” I turn around and start heading to the gates.

Shiokawa-san follows suit. “Yuu-kun has always been at the top of the school without even studying, that genius bastard,” she grumbles, 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 comment, genuinely surprised.

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

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

He sighs. “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,” taunts Shiokawa-san, laughing again. “Your life is so tragic that I feel sorry for you, Yuu-kun.”

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

My brother Sora visited me the night before and told me that attacks in the Kingdom of Angels had increased considerably over the last few days, and as 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 amongst the angel commoners.

I dare to sneak a glance at Demon Boy while he speaks 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 pause 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 snaps her fingers in front of my eyes, startling me. “You spaced out while Yuu-kun and I were talking.”

I can feel Demon Boy’s burning gaze on me, causing my cheeks to blush involuntarily. “Apologies,” I say, 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 hooks an arm through mine, her action making me feel self-conscious and bashful.

Argh. I hate humans and their displays of affection.

I shake my head. “No, I am not.”

Shiokawa-san pouts. “Why not? You’ve been avoiding us every day and won’t let us be your friends, even though you’re already part of our group. Do you hate us? You hate us, don’t you? Why do you hate us? Is it my hair?” She runs a hand through her hair, then points at Demon Boy. “Is it because Yuu-kun is too handsome?”

I take three steps back, my eyes widening and my ears turning red with embarrassment. “What? No!” I frantically shake 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 remarks, 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 scowl. “Why would I want to revere humans?” I blurt out without thinking, only to regret not being more careful and staying silent. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Demon Boy’s reaction—he bores 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 does not decipher the real message behind my words and laughs 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 presses her hands together in a praying gesture, her eyes reminding me of the puppy I see 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 do not wish to continue this conversation, I choose to lose this 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 have lost a war and am about to be executed, which is not too far from the truth—I have lost a war with this insistent human and have signed my death certificate by agreeing to spend a couple of hours with her outside school on the weekend.

Shiokawa-san starts jumping and clapping her hands together, squealing, “Yay. I can’t wait to see you singing.” She grabs her smartphone from her green shoulder bag and types something. “What’s your number?”

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

Demon Boy chuckles.

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

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

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

I fumble with it, unsure how to find my own number and email address. Speaking of the latter, do I even have one? Did Sora create one for me when he set 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 ask.

I hear Demon Boy chuckle again.

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

I comply, relieved that she is willing to resolve the issue by herself. However, it does not go unnoticed that while my classmate learns some of my personal details, Demon Boy discreetly records them on his own phone, his eyes finding mine briefly as he gives me a mysterious smile. As a result, I feel tempted to object, but I end up pursing my lips and pretending I do not see anything out of the ordinary because, as much as I hate to admit it, a part of me is flattered that he is interested enough to have my number.

Shiokawa-san hands my device back to me, 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,” interrupts Demon Boy.

Shiokawa-san responds, “Photography club. You?”

“Student council.”

Suddenly, Demon Boy’s phone starts ringing. He glances at the screen, scowls, sighs, and shoves it back into his back pocket.

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

Demon Boy ignores her and heads ahead. “My driver is waiting for me,” he says, waving without looking at us, disappearing from our view a moment later.

“Driver?” I gasp.

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

Does that mean he is a demon noble, then?

Shiokawa-san and I make 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 pretend to listen to when, in reality, my brain is blocking most of the words coming out of her mouth. As we part ways at the turnstile, the broad smile she gives me before going to her platform warms my heart for a second, and, unbeknownst to my self-conscious self, my lips return the gesture spontaneously.

* * *