It was already past eight in the evening when the shinkansen arrived at Tokyo Station.
Natsuki stepped off the train with the flow of passengers and entered the brightly lit platform.
When he checked his phone, the time read 8:10 p.m., and two unread messages were waiting for him.
[Eriri: Are you home yet, Natsuki-kun? I drew something new today, and I want to show you~ (???)]
[Miko: Senpai, I saw the video online! I can’t believe you’re Natsuki-sensei! I’m one of your fans, Senpai!]
Natsuki replied to both of them before slipping his phone back into his pocket and heading through the ticket gates.
Tokyo Station was packed that weekend evening.
He was about to follow the signs toward the subway when a girl standing in front of a vending machine caught his attention.
Her silver-white hair flowed down her back like moonlight, while her gentle amber eyes seemed almost impossibly warm.
She wore Toyogasaki Academy’s uniform, though an elegant feather-shaped brooch had been pinned to her collar.
At the moment, she was tilting her head at the list of drinks, looking both troubled and adorable.
An angel.
That was Natsuki’s first thought.
Not a hopeless shut-in angel like Gabriel after her fall, but the kind of holy, graceful being humans actually imagined whenever they heard the word.
The girl seemed to notice his gaze and turned toward him. Their eyes met, and hers widened slightly before understanding dawned across her face.
“My…”
A gentle smile curved her lips.
“You must be Amamiya Natsuki-kun.”
Natsuki raised an eyebrow. “You know me?”
“Mm~ Gabriel has told me about you.”
The girl approached and gave him a graceful bow.
“My name is Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha. I’m an exchange student from Heaven and graduated in the same class as Gabriel. You can simply call me Raphiel, Natsuki-kun.”
“Raphiel…”
Natsuki remembered the name since Gabriel had indeed mentioned her before.
Raphiel had graduated second in their class, ranking just below Gabriel, and appeared to be a gentle, kindhearted honor student.
In reality, however…
She was an absolute sadist with a terrifyingly mischievous streak!
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Raphiel wore a warm, approachable smile.
“Gabriel said you were a very unusual person, Natsuki-kun, and now that I’ve met you… I can see she was right.”
“Did you come here because you need something from me?” Natsuki asked directly.
“Mm~”
Raphiel clasped her hands together and gave him a pleading look.
“Actually, I was hoping you might help me with something.”
“What is it?”
“Gabriel hardly pays attention to me anymore…”
Her expression became pitiful.
“She spends all day playing games and barely even responds when Heaven contacts her. So I was wondering… would you play with me instead?”
“Play?”
“That’s right~”
Her eyes sparkled with interest.
“Gabriel told me that you know all sorts of entertaining things and can use many fascinating abilities. I’d like to experience some of the human world’s ‘fun’ for myself.”
Natsuki stared at her for several seconds.
“Why ask me?”
“Because Gabriel’s friend is naturally my friend too~” Raphiel answered, her smile never wavering.
“Besides, I can sense the presence of a Guardian around you, and I find that very interesting.”
A Guardian…
There was that word again.
Natsuki narrowed his eyes.
“You know what that means?”
“Of course~”
Raphiel nodded.
“It appears in Heaven’s records, but this probably isn’t the best place to discuss it.”
She glanced toward the darkening sky beyond the station.
“You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you? I know a wonderful restaurant nearby~”
“My treat. You can consider it… a gift to celebrate our first meeting?”
She tilted her head with an expression of perfect innocence, though Natsuki could see a hint of cunning in her eyes.
‘This angel is definitely planning something.’
Still…
“All right.”
Natsuki accepted.
He was genuinely curious about Heaven, and at least on the surface, Raphiel appeared far more reliable than Gabriel.
“Wonderful!”
Raphiel clapped happily.
While Gabriel had about as much presence in the chest department as a flat game board, Raphiel had been blessed with enough curves for both of them.
“Let’s go, then.”
She naturally wrapped both hands around Natsuki’s arm, acting as though they had known each other for years.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow. “Raphiel-san…”
This girl was far too friendly.
She was practically a demon wearing an angel’s skin. If Vignette had traded places with her, no one would have noticed anything unusual.
“Just call me Raphiel~”
She winked.
“There’s no need to be so formal between friends.”
“…”
Natsuki shrugged and allowed her to pull him toward the exit. It was not as though he was the one losing anything.
Still, this angel was clearly more dangerous than she looked.
…
The restaurant occupied the top floor of a building in Shibuya, with enormous windows overlooking Tokyo’s glittering night skyline.
“The desserts here are absolutely delicious~”
Raphiel’s eyes sparkled as she flipped through the menu.
“I’ll have this one… and this… Oh, that one looks wonderful too…”
She ordered seven or eight dishes in one breath, while Natsuki settled for a steak set.
“Raphiel,” Natsuki began while they waited for their food, “the Guardian you mentioned earlier is the same thing Gabriel called a Guardian of Human Order, right?”
“Oh, that~”
Raphiel rested her cheek against one hand.
“They’re essentially the same thing. To put it simply, Guardians are special beings who preserve the balance of the world.”
“When the world faces a serious crisis, they appear and resolve it through whatever means are necessary.”
“For example?”
Gabriel had already told him a little about the subject, but hearing Raphiel’s version would allow him to compare their explanations.
“Repelling invaders from other worlds, repairing spatial rifts, preventing disasters capable of destroying civilization…”
Raphiel counted the examples on her fingers.
“It sounds impressive, doesn’t it?”
“Mm.”
Natsuki nodded.
“Then why do I have the presence of one?”
“Well…”
Raphiel tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Perhaps because you’re already doing the same kind of work?”
“You’ve been dealing with the demons and Cursed Spirits appearing around Tokyo lately, haven’t you?”
“More or less.”
“Then there’s your answer~”
She smiled.
“A Guardian doesn’t necessarily need overwhelming strength. What matters most is taking action.”
“As long as you continue doing what the world considers right, the world itself will begin to acknowledge you.”
Natsuki fell into thought just as the server arrived with their appetizers.
Raphiel’s attention was immediately stolen by the food, and she eagerly took a small bite.
“Mmm~ Delicious!”
Her eyes closed in bliss as holy light began spilling from her body again.
Natsuki hurriedly reminded her, “Raphiel, your aura.”
“Ah, sorry~”
She quickly suppressed it and playfully stuck out her tongue.
“I tend to forget whenever I get excited.”
“You really are like Gabriel.”
“We’re nothing alike~”
Raphiel puffed out her cheeks.
“Gabriel has become a useless shut-in. I’m still a proper honor student.”
“Although…”
A mischievous glint suddenly appeared in her eyes.
“You and Gabriel seem very close, Natsuki-kun~”
“We’re only neighbors.”
“Are you sure that’s all?”
She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“Gabriel talks about you all the time. She says you’re handsome and powerful, and that you’re always taking care of her…”
“And?”
“So I was thinking…”
Raphiel’s smile deepened.
“Perhaps I should give her a little push~”
“…”
Natsuki immediately had a bad feeling.
This sadistic angel was definitely plotting something.
“Raphiel, don’t do anything ridiculous.”
“My, you saw through me~”
Raphiel covered her mouth with one hand and giggled.
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything too cruel.”
“I merely want to see how Gabriel reacts~”
Her eyes gleamed with playful malice.
Natsuki almost felt sorry for Gabriel, but after thinking about it, Gabriel could usually keep Raphiel under control without much trouble.
The person who truly deserved sympathy was Satania, the self-proclaimed future Archdemon who always became Raphiel’s favorite victim.
Their main courses soon arrived, and the two continued chatting as they ate.
Raphiel was curious about nearly everything in the human world, from food and household appliances to cultural customs and entertainment, and Natsuki patiently answered one question after another.
“I see~”
Raphiel nodded.
“The human world really is fascinating.”
“Is Heaven that boring?”
“Terribly boring~”
She sighed.
“Every day is nothing but studying, praying, and handling official duties. There’s hardly any entertainment at all.”
“That’s why I applied to study in the human world.”
“Then I arrived and discovered that Gabriel had already fallen beyond saving…”
She looked genuinely aggrieved.
“She used to be the most hardworking student among us.”
“People change when their environment changes,” Natsuki said.
“That’s true~”
Raphiel smiled.
“Although Gabriel is rather adorable this way too.”
When dinner ended, Raphiel insisted on paying the bill.
“I already said it was my treat~”
She lightly shook her wallet.
“I still have plenty of financial support from Heaven.”
The two left the restaurant and stepped into the cool evening breeze.
“Where should we go next?” Raphiel asked. “I’d like to experience more of life in the human world~”
“What do you want to try?”
“Hmm…”
She considered it for a moment.
“I’ve heard humans visit places called karaoke bars at night?”
“Can you sing?”
“Of course~”
Raphiel proudly puffed out her chest.
“I received an award for singing hymns in Heaven.”
‘Hymns and karaoke aren’t remotely the same thing.’
Natsuki kept the comment to himself.
“Then we can sing for a while.”
“Yay~”
Raphiel happily clung to his arm again.
“You’re the best, Natsuki-kun~”
She had already changed how she addressed him, and Natsuki could no longer be bothered correcting her.
…
Inside a private karaoke room in Shibuya, Raphiel held the microphone and sang a popular love song.
Her voice was ethereal and beautiful, and her technique was flawless.
However…
“Why does this sound like a hymn?”
Natsuki sat on the sofa with a strange expression.
Despite the song being a piece of modern pop music, Raphiel had somehow transformed it into a solemn hymn of praise. The mismatch was almost impressive.
When the song ended, she lowered the microphone and looked at him expectantly.
“How was it?”
Natsuki hesitated.
“…Distinctive.”
“Distinctive?”
Raphiel tilted her head.
“Is that good or bad?”
“It sounded good.”
“Then you should sing one too, Natsuki-kun~”
“I can’t sing.”
“You’re lying~”
She narrowed her eyes with a smile.
“Gabriel told me you have a lovely voice, so I’m sure you sing well too.”
“…”
Natsuki accepted the microphone and casually selected an older song.
The moment he began singing, Raphiel’s eyes widened slightly. His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a distinctive warmth that suited the song perfectly.
“That was wonderful~”
When the song ended, Raphiel clapped enthusiastically.
“You really are talented at everything, Natsuki-kun.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
Natsuki set down the microphone and checked the time.
It was nearly ten.
“We should head home.”
“Eh~? Already?”
Raphiel sounded reluctant.
“We have school tomorrow.”
“All right…”
She pouted but did not argue.
They left the karaoke bar and began walking back toward the apartment.
“I had a lot of fun today~”
Raphiel hummed cheerfully as they walked.
“Thank you for spending time with me, Natsuki-kun.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Then… can we go out together again sometime?”
She turned toward him, her eyes filled with anticipation.
“We’ll see.”
Natsuki deliberately left the answer open.
“Okay~”
Raphiel smiled.
“I’ll come and visit you often, Natsuki-kun~”
“…”
Natsuki suddenly suspected that his peaceful life was about to disappear for good.
When they reached the apartment building, the lights in Gabriel’s room were still on, and faint game sound effects could be heard from inside.
“Gabriel is gaming again…”
Raphiel sighed.
“I’ll go and see her.”
“Sure.”
Natsuki nodded.
“Good night.”
“Good night~”
Raphiel waved and headed toward the neighboring unit.
Natsuki returned to apartment 302 and soaked in the bathtub after washing up.
A lot had happened that day. He had attended the signing in Sendai, fought Sukuna, met Gojo Satoru, and then encountered a sadistic angel on the way home.
“What a busy day.”
He shook his head.
After finishing his bath, Natsuki lay down on his bed, only for his phone to vibrate.
It was a message from Raphiel.
[Raphiel: Gabriel looked absolutely terrified when she saw me. Her expression was priceless~ (￣▽￣)~*]
She had attached a photograph.
Gabriel was standing in her pajamas with her golden hair sticking out in every direction, glaring at the camera with an expression that clearly demanded to know why Raphiel was there.
Natsuki laughed and replied.
[Natsuki: Don’t bully her too badly.]
[Raphiel: I know~ I’m only staying with her for a few days~]
[Natsuki: …]
He could already imagine how miserable Gabriel’s next few days would become.
Gabriel was not particularly afraid of Raphiel, but she was terrified of her older sister.
Natsuki set down his phone and closed his eyes, replaying his battle with Sukuna.
The King of Curses truly was powerful. Even with only one finger’s worth of strength, his instincts and control over cursed energy were far beyond those of an ordinary jujutsu sorcerer.
Moreover, now that the different worlds had been merged and their power systems adjusted to coexist, the overall strength of Jujutsu Kaisen’s world seemed to have increased considerably.