"No! No! Let me go!~"
Amid heart-wrenching cries, a man and a woman kept pulling at each other in front of a stall, as if acting out a dramatic life scene.
"Chika, what are you doing?"
Stepping out from the crowd of onlookers, Ruri Gokou gently held the struggling Chika Fujiwara and asked softly, "What happened?"
"Ruri-chan~!"
Turning around to see Ruri Gokou, tears sparkled in Chika Fujiwara's eyes as she threw herself into Ruri's arms.
"Wahhh, Ishigami is bullying me!"
Looking at Yu Ishigami, who froze instantly, Lu Qingfeng walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and asked, "Do you think anyone would believe that?"
Shaking his head numbly, Yu Ishigami sighed, "Who would believe it."
"So, what exactly happened?"
"Weren't you following the President and Kaguya?"
Turning to look at the stall Chika Fujiwara had been struggling to reach, Lu Qingfeng noticed the tuxedo-wearing man sitting behind the stall playing games. His eyes showed a hint of intrigue.
"Senior Fujiwara wanted to buy something dangerous from that stall."
Sighing with exhaustion, Yu Ishigami pointed at the stall labeled 'Cursed Texts Collection,' his face showing unease.
"I don't know why, but even though we've looked at many similar books, only this one made me feel genuinely cold and frightened, as if the knowledge recorded in it were real."
"Ugh! Died again."
"Hey! You humans over there!"
Irritated, Fafnir pushed his red-framed glasses up and said impatiently, "Of course the things I sell are real! Are you buying or not? Stop making noise in front of me, or I'll kill you all for interrupting my game!"
"Oh, so that's how it is."
A voice suddenly came from behind Fafnir. Gabriel had somehow slipped into the stall and squatted behind him, watching him play for quite a while.
Startled, Fafnir exuded a heavy pressure. Slowly raising his arm, he growled, "Angel, why have you approached me?"
"You're the legendary Daishan Takeshi!"
Grabbing Fafnir's raised hand excitedly, Gabriel said joyfully, "I'm the fallen angel who stays up all night grinding materials and completing quests with you!"
"Fallen angel?!"
His aura gradually subsiding, Fafnir couldn't help but relax at Gabriel's beaming smile.
"What proof do you have that you're the fallen angel?"
"Look."
Pulling out her handheld console, Gabriel shook her head helplessly. "Didn't I mention while fighting the boss earlier that I had to guide a friend to buy some games I wanted?"
"I never expected to meet you here, Daishan Takeshi. What a coincidence."
Squatting down, Gabriel squeezed into Fafnir's seat.
"Hurry up! Let's finish that boss fight."
"Hmph!"
"As if you needed to tell me. Logging in."
Pushing up his glasses, Fafnir and Gabriel squeezed together on the same stool, engrossed in the game.
"I didn't expect you to be a dragon, Daishan Takeshi. No wonder you could play continuously for a month. I was even worried you'd collapse from exhaustion, leaving me without a gaming buddy."
"Hmph, same here."
"I also didn't expect the fallen angel to be a real angel. This just got interesting. Stick with me for the next three months' worth of events!"
"No problem. You know what I'm capable of."
"Hmm...?"
Watching the two engrossed in their game, Hiroshi felt a wave of confusion wash over him.
"Gabriel told me about him."
Standing beside Hiroshi, Vignette explained with a hint of helplessness, "That 'Daishan Takeshi' is her gaming buddy."
"Always there, always ready. Ever since Gabriel got hooked on online games and met him, they've been inseparable."
"Every time I visit her place, she's playing with him."
"Ah..."
Seeing the two immersed in their game, Hiroshi could only shake his head. "Looks like it won't end anytime soon. Let's wait a bit."
Turning to the sobbing Chika Fujiwara still held by Ruri Gokou, Hiroshi sighed, "Chika, snap out of it. That's not something you should be touching."
"Ishigami did it for your own good."
"Hmph!"
Fuming, Chika Fujiwara glared at Yu Ishigami running toward Gabriel and Fafnir. "I don't care; I want that book!"
"It has so many interesting things, and that big dummy Ishigami won't let me buy it."
"This is a summer event! It's a place to buy doujinshi! Why can't I buy one?"
"Chika."
Gently stroking Chika Fujiwara's hair, Ruri Gokou softly said, "It really isn't suitable for you. Let's look at something else, okay?"
"Ruri-chan."
Seeing Ruri Gokou, Chika Fujiwara pouted reluctantly. "Since you say so, I'll give up today."
"No coming back later either!"
"Ruri-chan~"
"No!"
"Wah~ You're being mean."
Laughing softly, Ruri Gokou looked around at the gathered angels, demons, and dragons.
"I'll find something more interesting for you next time, so let's leave that book alone, okay?"
"Promise?"
Linking pinkies, Ruri Gokou and Chika Fujiwara made their promise.
"Promise made!"
"Liars swallow a thousand needles!"
"Hehehe."
Revived, Chika Fujiwara beamed.
"Ruri-chan, who are they? Are they your friends too?"
Curious, Chika waved at Vignette and Satania.
"Hello! I'm Ruri-chan's friend and classmate. Just call me Chika."
"Hello!"
Bowing deeply, Satania declared energetically, "I'm Ruri-sensei's new disciple, the great demon Satania! Please guide me, senpai!"
"Oh~"
Eyes lighting up, Chika adjusted her detective hat seriously. "Very good, very spirited."
"I, Detective Chika Fujiwara, acknowledge you as a worthy junior!"
"Yes! Thank you, senpai!"
Standing straight, Satania saluted. "I'll do my best not to disappoint!"
Nearby, Hiroshi leaned toward Ruri Gokou and whispered, "What now? Seeing those two together makes me uneasy."
Scratching her cheek, Ruri Gokou chuckled, "I don't know either."
"Oh, maji yabakune!"