CH 1.4

“So I shift my attention to you,” she continued, “There were other suspects, but you are the most likely. I gathered every rumor when someone had confessed to someone, then compared to your behavior. For half a year.”

“Half a year…” I repeated.

Her suspicion was more deliberate than I thought. This is not some fluke guess, but a more elaborate scheme of unmasking me.

I kept my gaze on the tuft of grass at my foot, but she just continued.

“I noticed a particular pattern in your behavior, that is, touching other people’s faces. Practically all of them are involved in the confessions, one way or another.”

Hey, hey. Isn’t that too much? Are you insane? What is this beauty trying–

“Sometimes accidentally, some by lending an earphone, the rarer one being wiping smudge on the face. Maybe I was just imagining things, but it was still too often.”

She even noticed my special technique? How perceptive can she be?

The smudge wiping was the best method in my arsenal. But due to the suspicion it raised, I haven’t been using it much.

“And if the rumors were true, then the Angel of Kuze High would have a mysterious power. Normally, I wouldn’t believe that kind of nonsense. I can’t fully believe something like that…”

My eyes fixed on the grass.

“But. If there’s no fire, then there won’t be any smoke. It’s worth a try.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Yeah, I’m ridiculous. That’s why I can just joke it off if I’m wrong,” despite her statement, she has no slightest shadow of doubt.

What she had said was an investigation based on a rather unreasonable theory.

But to think that someone would carry it out… There’s no way I can see this coming.

“But what happens when you touch someone’s face? Observation alone wasn’t enough. Information transmission? Knowing something about them? That, I didn’t know. Until yesterday, when you touched my face.”

The identity of the Angel being known was still manageable, something I had prepared countermeasures already. But my power, it was unrealistic anyway, no one would believe it, was what I thought.

That was what I believed. And I don’t think I was that laxed. It was strange to assume that someone would come at me with that persistence and outlandish reasoning in the first place.

And at the school gate, she said, “I finally found you.”

Why would she go that far to get me, no, the Angel to…

She ignored my troubled expression and continued yet again.

“You seemed to be fine, but yesterday, you were shaken all of the sudden. In short, I am different from other people, a major difference, from your reaction.”

Yeah, you’re different, completely different.

Yeah, I was shaken.

“My hypothesis is that, ‘Akashi Io can tell who the person likes, down to the number of the people they like, by touching their faces.’ The difference between me and other people is there.” Yuzuki huffed out a heavy breath. Her brows furrowed, her eyes grim.

Is this woman even aware of what she’s doing?

But for the final blow to be dealt like this…

Honestly, I should just come clean. There was no point in trying to hide it anymore.

I have thought a little of what I should do when I come to this. But still, the fact that this is the worst possible situation is still the same.

But there’s still one thing I don’t understand. To make sure of that, I asked.

“If that’s the case, what are you going to do?”

“If that’s the case, I think you already know it,” she parotted back.

But yeah, I kind of understand what she meant.

That Yuzuki was able to arrive at this conclusion was because of her precise deduction, but above all, because of her unusual obsession with the Angel.

Moreover, she was aware that she likes several people.

For someone like that to come to me and say, “I finally found you.”, that means–

“I want you to cure me from this cruel Falling-in-love Peculiarity.” Her determined face and her hopeful request no longer surprises me.

In short, this girl was also after Angel’s love advice. That was why she was so desperate.

With that in mind, her cautiousness makes sense.

“I see… I have a rough idea of your situation.”

“S-so… you are the Angel, after all,” she gulped.

“Yeah. And your hypothesis is correct; I have that absurd power you mentioned. I use it for my Angel activities. And the one who started the rumor about the Angel was me.”

“Is that so…” Yuzuki seemed to be shocked.

Well, of course, when someone in front of you admitted that they have a supernatural power, that would be the normal reaction. Rather, she took in quite promptly.

I now understand her situation, her purpose. My true identity was also unveiled.

But I’m sorry, Yuzuki Minato.

“As the Angel of Kuze High, I decline this request.”

This is the final verdict.

“Ha? What? Why?!” She stood up, her face anxious.

That face was so painful that my resolve wavered. Can you stop that…? I’m really sorry about this.

“I help my clients in taking the plunge so that they can confess their feelings. That’s the only thing I can do. That’s all I want to do. Who will be my consultant, I decide that by myself. I can’t help you.”

“But…”

“Besides, that kind of thing, it’s better to consult with your friends than a complete stranger like me. I’m sorry, but I can’t take on this.” To make my decision clear, I repeated it one more time.

I can’t do everything related to love. I have my own specialty, and I am not going to get involved in something other than that.

“What if…” Yuzuki whispered.

I tilted my head.

“What if I tell everyone your little secret? About your power, about the Angel. Does that sit well with you?”

“Ugh…!”

Being hit where it hurts, I leaked out a pitiful voice. Damn, I was cool just a moment before…

So you’re using that to the fullest in this negotiation, huh?

She’s surprisingly devious…

“If you do that, then I’ll too. I will reveal who your crushes are. All of them.” I punctuated. “Does that sit well with you? If not, I beg you, turn back now.”

“Then we are going down together. I don’t really care. If you don’t accept, then I’ll do that for real.”

Hey, hey. Do you really know the consequences of your actions?

No, she was just that desperate…

Our eyes locked on each other for a while. Her lips were pressed thin, and were quivering a little.

Her will was too firm. That glimmer in her eyes was enough to tell me that she was serious.

Mutual destruction, the most foolhardy option. No gain for anyone.

This is legit blackmail, she had thought this through. Is every top student this scary?

But… Yuzuki.

“Okey-dokey. Got it.”

[TN:What a con man]

“T-then I…”

“Yup, do whatever you want. I won’t help you anyway.” I shrugged.

“Eh?”

Yuzuki’s eyes widened in disbelief. I guess my response was the exact opposite of what she had expected

But yeah, seems like none of us can’t back down.

“I can’t take on a request with an ambivalent mind. Especially with how serious you are,” I explained.

“But… Wouldn’t it mean trouble for you if your identity is revealed?”

“Yep, troubling. Disastrous, even. Do you know how much effort establishing the rumors about the Angel took? And for it to take root?”

A feat of extreme prudence where you couldn’t be wary enough

No, this conversation is for later.

“But yeah. If it comes to that, then I’ll be skipping school for a while. When I’m gone, people won’t be interested anymore. And I don’t really have to go to school to continue working as the Angel. This is an online era now, you know?”

Chat rooms, voice change, and all that civilized stuff.

[TN: Change the title to Online Angel please]