Izumi didn't pay any attention to the gazes around him.
After checking the seating chart on the blackboard and confirming his spot, he walked straight to his desk.
He couldn't help wondering if Rias had arranged this seating plan herself.
Somehow, all the girls around him had been placed together—
and he'd even been assigned as Koneko's seatmate.
Megumi Kato and Asia sat in front of them.
Leifei and Eriri sat next to them.
This arrangement…
was extremely comfortable.
Taking his seat, Izumi immediately pulled out a piece of catnip and handed it to Koneko.
"Good morning, Koneko."
"Looks like we're seatmates from now on!"
Koneko glanced at the catnip—then slapped his hand away without hesitation.
"No. Take that away."
Her expression was pure disgust.
Izumi had thought maybe a few days apart would change her attitude a little,
but nope—
she was exactly the same.
Rejected again, Izumi sighed in disappointment.
He looked around the classroom, clicking his tongue.
"So this is the so-called elite class? Doesn't look that impressive."
A clean sweep of F+ ranks, with a few E-ranks mixed in.
Not bad, but not amazing.
But their talents—
their abilities—
those were actually impressive.
Thinking it through, it made sense.
Students in this world were still stuck around F-rank.
Being F+ already put them among the promising ones.
Gather enough of them, and you could form an elite class.
Izumi's gaze drifted to Yukino.
She was E-rank, with a talent for ice manipulation.
Beside her, the dumpling girl—Yuigahama—was a healer who specialized in buffing allies.
One by one, Izumi examined their abilities.
All surprisingly good.
Then his eyes landed on Totsuka Saika—and his eyelid twitched.
[Totsuka Saika]
Overall Rank: F+
Race: Human
Sex: Male
Talent: Gender Shift
(Can transform into female form. Combat power increases dramatically.
Fighting power increases by 50% in "female mode.")
Holy shit.
Amazing.
Absolutely amazing.
Little Saika had gotten an absurdly powerful skill.
Finally, Hachiman could unite with his true love.
Watching Hachiman happily chatting with Saika, Izumi nodded with deep satisfaction.
Yes.
This was true love.
Seeing Izumi smiling while staring at other boys, Koneko grew suspicious.
She subtly followed his gaze—
—and saw Saika, wearing a boy's uniform but blessed with a girl's face.
Koneko's expression twisted.
…Was Izumi interested in that?
Did he swing that way?
Instinctively, she scooted her chair a little farther from him.
Izumi noticed the movement.
His mouth twitched.
Okay, that was actually offensive.
After finishing his class survey, he shifted his focus.
Before long, the students he'd been watching for—Aiba Asagi and the Gabriel quartet—finally arrived.
Currently, Gabriel still looked like a pure, gentle angel—
her entire presence radiating kindness and grace.
Truly the picture of a good girl.
Of course, Izumi already knew
her fall from grace was only a matter of time.
He was just about to check Aiba Asagi's profile when Eriri suddenly called out—
"Gabriel! Raphiel! Over here!"
Izumi froze.
Eriri… knew Gabriel?
Gabriel brightened at the sound of her name and ran to Eriri.
"Eriri!"
That greeting alone told Izumi they were long-time acquaintances.
Which raised a question—
how on earth did Eriri know Gabriel?
Izumi silently scanned both angels.
[Tenma Gabriel White]
Overall Rank: C+
Race: Angel
Sacred Gear: Horn of the Apocalypse
Abilities: Angelic Magic, …
[Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha]
Overall Rank: C
Race: Angel
Abilities: Angelic Magic, …
Gabriel was stronger than Raphiel—
and she even had a personal sacred gear.
Impressive.
Izumi couldn't help admiring her current state.
Gabriel, for now, was still an elite student.
He wondered when exactly she would fall.
Raphiel suddenly sensed Izumi's gaze.
She looked up, spotted him, and smiled politely as she approached.
"You must be Izumi-sama, correct?"
"Greetings. I am Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha, from the Heavenly Realm. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."
"Lord Michael asked me to deliver his regards."
She bowed flawlessly, every movement perfectly refined.
Izumi stared wordlessly for a moment.
Sure.
Keep pretending.
As if he didn't know how absurdly scheming this girl was.
Despite mentally complaining, he responded politely.
"Nice to meet you."
"Let's get along."
Gabriel, hearing Raphiel's formal greeting, also walked over and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Izumi-sama."
"I am Tenma Gabriel White, also from the Heavenly Realm."
"Please take care of us during our stay in the human world."
Their etiquette was so impeccable that Izumi almost felt guilty.
Soon, scenes like this would vanish forever.
"You don't have to be this formal."
"Just relax. You're making me feel like some big-shot celebrity."
Eriri crossed her arms and added:
"He's right. No need to treat that guy so politely."
"Once you get to know him, you'll find out he's absolutely horrible."
Eriri began ranting without restraint.
She used to admire him—
after all, he did save her like a hero.
But after getting to know Izumi…
She realized his personality was garbage.
Every time they hung out, she ended up grinding her teeth in frustration.
So seeing the two angels acting so polite—
Eriri insisted it was unnecessary.
The angels blinked.
Gabriel didn't seem bothered.
Raphiel, however, nodded thoughtfully.
She ought to observe him carefully.
If Eriri's evaluation was accurate…
then Izumi might indeed be a "good" person.
Raphiel couldn't help being curious.
Before coming to the human world, Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel had all told them—
Treat Izumi with respect.
Their new classmate was exceedingly powerful.
And now… she finally understood why he stood out so much.