Chapter 33: Where Do Angels Live?

Three days passed in a flash. During this time, Ye Chen accompanied Kanade Tachibana and Bai Ji every day to watch Iwasawa’s rehearsals. After all, once they parted this time, it would be a long while before they’d meet again. At first, when Kanade joined them, Iwasawa’s friends harbored some hostility. But after Iwasawa’s mediation and gradual interaction, Hisako and the others realized Kanade was actually easy to get along with.

Eventually, everyone learned the true purpose behind Iwasawa’s performance and supported her decision. During those days of practice, they worked especially hard. Just before the show, Miyuki Irie was the first to break down in tears, unable to bear the thought of parting. She wrapped her arms tightly around Iwasawa’s neck; her tears immediately set off everyone else’s emotions, and they all clung to Iwasawa, as if letting go would make her vanish.

“Come on, it’s not like we’ll never see each other again. I’m just going ahead to get familiar with the new environment. Soon, we’ll reunite and revive the GDM band!” Seeing how unwilling Miyuki and the others were to let her go, Iwasawa comforted them softly.

“Kanade, I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you in the past. Thank you!” As she prepared to leave this world, Iwasawa felt most apologetic toward the girl who had always tried to help her, only for her efforts to be thwarted time and again. Her apology and gratitude were deeply sincere.

“It’s all right!” Kanade’s usually emotionless face blossomed with a beautiful smile at Iwasawa’s thanks. For someone who had always quietly supported everyone, a simple word of appreciation was the greatest reward. The faint grievance she’d felt from the harsh treatment by the Battlefront melted away.

“Ye Chen, don’t you think Kanade is too easily satisfied? Such a pure person is bound to be deceived,” Bai Ji remarked, her smile radiant. Even Iwasawa and her friends, all women themselves, were momentarily stunned by Bai Ji’s overwhelming charm.

“If Kanade weren’t pure, she wouldn’t be Kanade at all. That’s what makes her so lovable. Would you really want a scheming, manipulative Kanade? Just the thought is absurd!” Ye Chen was hardly affected by Bai Ji’s allure. Now that she’d assumed her human form, her charm was even greater, but back when she was still in her original form, her natural charisma was much more overpowering. Ye Chen, therefore, showed no sign of losing composure.

After bidding farewell to her teammates, Iwasawa glanced at Ye Chen, then quickly looked away. She feared that another moment’s gaze would make her reluctant to leave. She couldn’t understand how she’d come to like him in such a short span of time.

“So few.” Night had fallen, and already some NPC students had arrived at the gymnasium with posters, waiting for the concert to begin. Yet for the Afterlife Battlefront, whose goal was to attract nearly the entire academy, it was still too small an audience. Yusa pulled aside the curtain and peeked out.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yuri and her team were preparing to infiltrate the so-called Angel’s Domain. After explaining the operation’s details, Yuri scanned the group and noticed the absence of their strongest member. She asked, “Does anyone know why Ye Chen isn’t here? Doesn’t he realize how dangerous and crucial this mission is?”

“Ye Chen said this operation would go smoothly, so he won’t take part. He asked me to help him ask for leave—he’s off to watch Iwasawa’s concert.” With his friend about to depart, Ye Chen naturally wanted to see her off, so he had Otonashi pass along his message to Yuri. He also handed Otonashi an envelope, instructing him to open it if they encountered trouble; it would solve everything.

“Why does this feel like some secret strategy? But this is just an ordinary envelope, isn’t it?” Otonashi muttered, his lips twitching as he stared at the envelope. He felt an urge to open it immediately, but recalling the scar left across the academy last time, he couldn’t help but indulge in a bit of fantasy: “Could this be a magic scroll sealed with a skill? Very likely! With Ye Chen’s abilities, magic isn’t out of the question!”

“We can take leave for a mission? And for such a reason!” The Battlefront’s group was utterly shocked. Only Ye Chen would dare such a thing; if any of them tried, Yuri would’ve killed them a hundred times over.

“Heh, is that so? If he likes concerts so much, let him go. Let’s move out!” Yuri forced a smile, her face dark with anger and a vein bulging on her forehead. If only she could beat that guy, she’d do so without hesitation!

No one dared provoke Yuri at that moment. The group quietly followed her toward their target.

“Are you ready? We’re watching from the VIP seats, you know!” As members of the concert’s organizing committee, Ye Chen and Kanade naturally sat in the best seats, waiting for the show to begin. Ye Chen asked Iwasawa, who was clutching her cherished old guitar.

“Absolutely. This time, I’ll give you a performance you’ll never forget!” Iwasawa smiled confidently. At this moment, she was at the peak of her abilities, ready to deliver her best in every song.

“It’s time. Come on, let’s give it our all!” Iwasawa said to Hisako and the others, picking up her guitar.

Her fingers danced swiftly across the strings, releasing music that ignited the audience’s passion. The entire venue erupted in cheers. The concert had been advertised three days beforehand, and the NPC students had prepared enthusiastically, waving glow sticks in their hands. Not only students, but many teachers had come to watch as well, a testament to the band’s fame in the academy.

With full approval from all the teachers, Yusa broadcasted the concert throughout the school, so everyone could hear Iwasawa’s music. The sudden burst of guitar startled the Battlefront members, who were nervously sneaking into the girls’ dormitory. They raised their guns and axes, aiming at their surroundings, convinced they’d walked into an ambush.

“What’s going on? What’s that sound—is it an enemy attack?” Noda spun his twin-bladed axe in the air, shouting loudly, eager to draw everyone’s attention.

“Shh, keep it down! This is the Angel’s Domain—are you trying to attract everyone here? We can’t attack ordinary students!” Yuri kicked Noda to silence him, nervously scanning the area. Seeing nothing unusual, she muttered suspiciously, “Did Angel set a trap to lure everyone away?”

Yuri didn’t know that, thanks to the teachers’ support, the music had attracted nearly the entire academy to the gymnasium to hear Iwasawa’s performance. The girls’ dormitory was virtually empty.

“Don’t you all find this music familiar?” Ever since entering the dormitory, Otonashi had worn a look of exasperation, his lips twitching as he remarked.

“It does sound familiar,” several members agreed, though none could place it until Shiina commented, “How shallow... This is GDM’s music!”

“That’s it! By the way, do any of you remember the exact location of the Angel’s Domain?” Yuri slapped her forehead, recalling, but then realizing another problem: Where exactly does Angel live...?