Morning sunlight streamed across the corridors of Toyogasaki Academy as Natsuki entered the school building, only to hear a despairing cry from around the stairwell.
“My melon bread—!”
He turned and saw an orange-haired girl crouching on the floor with both hands clutching her head.
She wore the same school uniform as everyone else, though a bat-shaped brooch decorated her collar and a pair of fake demon horns sat on top of her head.
“That white dog stole it again…” she wailed, her voice trembling with grief. “It was my precious limited-edition honey melon bread…”
Natsuki recognized her immediately.
She was another exchange student from Hell—Kurumizawa Satania McDowell, though she always insisted that everyone add “the Great Archdemon” before her name.
In reality, she was merely a dramatic chuuni with far too much confidence and far too little common sense.
“Do you need some help?” Natsuki asked as he approached.
Satania abruptly raised her head and stared at him for several seconds before springing to her feet and planting her hands on her hips.
“Hmph! Mortal, have you come to offer your services to the great Satania-sama?”
She tried her hardest to look proud and imposing, but the tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes ruined the effect completely.
Natsuki chuckled. “I was only passing by.”
“Passing by?”
Satania tilted her head before suddenly remembering something.
“Wait… You’re Gabriel’s neighbor, Amamiya Natsuki!”
“You know me?”
“Of course!” She puffed out her chest. “The great Satania-sama has already investigated you! Gabriel has been mentioning you all the time lately.”
She moved closer and examined him from head to toe.
“You look… fairly ordinary.”
“My apologies for disappointing you.”
“Still, if you managed to catch Gabriel’s attention, you must have at least some value.” Satania folded her arms and nodded decisively.
“It’s settled! I’m going to conquer you!”
Natsuki raised an eyebrow.
“Conquer me?”
She was undeniably cute.
Unfortunately, she was also an idiot.
“That’s right!” Her eyes shone with excitement. “Once I make you one of my followers, it will prove that I’m stronger than Gabriel!”
‘What kind of logic is that?’
Natsuki quickly understood what was going through her head.
Satania considered Gabriel her greatest rival, even though Gabriel barely acknowledged the competition.
Now that Satania had learned Gabriel was close to him, she had decided to interfere simply to score some imaginary victory.
It was a perfect example of chuuni reasoning.
“I refuse.”
Natsuki turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Satania hurriedly stepped in front of him.
“Why?”
“I’m not interested in playing make-believe with you.”
“Th-This isn’t make-believe!” Her face turned red. “It’s the grand conquest plan of a mighty demon!”
Natsuki simply walked around her and continued toward his classroom, but Satania quickly followed.
“Hey! What would it take to make you agree?”
“Nothing. I’m not agreeing.”
“You…!”
She stomped after him with puffed cheeks, resembling an angry cat with its fur standing on end.
When they reached the entrance to Class 2-G, Natsuki stopped.
“I have class now.”
“I have class too…” Satania muttered. “I’m a first-year…”
“Then go back to your own classroom.”
“No!” she declared stubbornly. “Until my conquest is complete, I shall remain by your side!”
Natsuki could no longer be bothered responding and walked into the classroom.
Eriri was already seated at her desk, her eyes brightened when she saw him.
“Good morning, Natsuki-kun—huh?”
She noticed Satania peeking into the room from behind the doorframe.
“Who’s that?”
“A passerby.”
Natsuki placed his schoolbag on his desk.
“I am not a passerby!” Satania protested. “You may address me as the great Satania-sama!”
Eriri frowned.
“A chuuni?”
“A demon!” Satania corrected her indignantly.
“Yes, yes. A demon.” Eriri waved dismissively. “Class is about to start, so could you leave?”
“Hmph!”
Satania glared at her before reluctantly retreating into the hallway.
She did not go far, however, and instead stood beside the corridor window, staring into the classroom.
Eriri leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“Natsuki-kun, what’s wrong with her?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But…”
“She’ll get bored soon.”
Natsuki opened his textbook.
Their first lesson was mathematics.
While the teacher explained functions at the front of the room, Natsuki listened attentively and occasionally glanced toward the window from the corner of his eye.
Satania was still there.
She kept changing poses in an increasingly desperate attempt to attract his attention.
First she held her fingers above her head like demon horns, then pretended to cast magic, and finally began delivering an impassioned monologue to empty air.
Every student who passed gave her the same look they might have offered a complete lunatic, but Satania remained blissfully unaware as she immersed herself in her fantasy.
‘She really is persistent…’
When the bell rang, Natsuki stepped into the corridor, and Satania immediately rushed over.
“Natsuki! Have you made your decision?”
“I haven’t considered it.”
“You!” She gritted her teeth. “I am a Great Archdemon! Show me some respect!”
“Does a Great Archdemon usually have her melon bread stolen by a dog?”
“Th-That was an accident!” Her face instantly turned crimson. “That white dog is obviously an assassin sent by Heaven!”
Natsuki laughed and headed toward the vending machine, where he bought himself a can of coffee.
Satania followed so closely that she nearly stepped on his heels.
“What exactly do you want?” Natsuki asked, turning toward her.
“For you to become my follower!”
“Choose something else.”
“Then…”
Satania thought hard for a moment.
“Play with me!”
“What do you want to play?”
“A demonic game!” Her eyes immediately lit up. “For example, we could begin our conquest of the world by taking over the school!”
Natsuki took a sip of coffee.
“I’m busy.”
“Why are you like this?!” Satania stamped her foot. “What does Gabriel even see in you?”
“You could ask her.”
“I refuse!” She turned her head away. “That would make it seem like I’d lost!”
Footsteps approached from the opposite end of the corridor, and Gabriel appeared with Vignette beside her.
“Satania, what are you doing here again?” Vignette asked helplessly. “You skipped class earlier, and the teacher already called you out by name.”
“Vignette!”
Satania reacted as though her savior had arrived.
“Help me convince this mortal!”
Gabriel yawned.
“Amamiya-kun, has she been bothering you?”
“A little.”
“Sorry about that. She’s always like this.” Gabriel waved dismissively before looking at Satania. “Go back to class.”
“No!”
Satania immediately hid behind Vignette.
“I’m going to conquer him today!”
Vignette pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Please stop causing trouble…”
“I am not causing trouble!” Satania peeked out from behind her. “This is a serious conquest campaign!”
Gabriel rolled her eyes before stepping closer to Natsuki and lowering her voice.
“Just ignore her. She’ll forget about it in a few days.”
“Hopefully.”
“Speaking of which…” Gabriel suddenly remembered something. “Are you free after school today, Amamiya-kun?”
“Why?”
“I want to buy a new game, but I’m a little short on spending money…” She looked away awkwardly.
“Could you lend me some?”
“You spent it all on microtransactions again?”
“My pulls were terrible…” Gabriel’s face crumpled in misery. “I did a ten-pull and got nothing but R-ranks…”
Natsuki sighed, took several bills from his wallet, and handed them to her.
“Thank you!”
Gabriel instantly returned to life.
“I’ll treat you to dinner next time!”
“Remember to pay me back.”
“I know~”