The rooftop conversation had ended, but its weight lingered.
Haruto Amakawa leaned back against the cold chain-link fence, his gaze fixed on the sky. The warmth of the setting sun painted the clouds in streaks of rose and amber, yet the conversation with Gabriel and Raphiel replayed in his mind like an echo.
Heaven wanted him. Not as a soldier. Not as a savior. But as a gamble.
To Gabriel and Raphiel, his growth was proof enough—humanity had birthed something unusual. The "first awakened." A potential deterrent strong enough to lighten the burden Heaven, Hell, and even the Afterlife carried.
Haruto had called it for what it was, and their silence confirmed it.
"I won't make promises I can't keep," he had told them, his voice casual but firm. "Protecting the whole human realm? That's not me. But… the people close to me, the life I've built here—those I'll protect with everything I've got."
It wasn't the heroic declaration they had hoped for, but still, the angels seemed relieved. Even Gabriel's usual seriousness had softened into something almost grateful.
Before leaving, they had given him a way to contact them. And with that, the rooftop once again fell into silence, broken only by the faint rattle of the fence in the evening wind.
At the stairwell entrance, a figure had paused—a girl with black hair and stockings, carrying a notebook pressed against her chest. She had hesitated at the voices drifting up from the roof, then quietly turned away. For someone who sought inspiration for her light novels, noise and divine radiance were hardly helpful. Without a word, she descended the stairs, leaving Haruto and the angels to their talk.
---
Classroom – Later That Day
The afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows, scattering light across rows of desks. The steady scratch of chalk on the blackboard and the murmur of the teacher's voice made the air drowsy, almost heavy.
Haruto sat slouched in his seat near the window, one arm propped lazily under his chin, while Kato Megumi, from a few rows behind, kept sneaking glances at him.
Her fingers hovered over her chat screen, and after a brief pause, she typed into the group chat.
---
[Group Chat]
Megumi: Haruto-kun… those two girls earlier. Are they really angels?
Haruto: Yeah. Met them before.
Frieren: You're only realizing that now? Remember when you first joined the chat, Haruto? Didn't two winged girls with halos show up in your house?
Frieren: Instead of confirming what's obvious, maybe we should talk about something truly fascinating—like the rituals of human reproduction. It's rare to find a subject worth studying.
Stella: …Excuse me?! Could you not bring that up here?!
Frieren: What? It's natural. Long-lived races like mine rarely get the chance to study it up close. It's a shame you're so easily embarrassed.
Stella: There are plenty of other topics! Why that one?!
Haruto: Hah. If you want to argue with her, Stella, prepare yourself. Frieren doesn't let go once she's hooked onto something.
Saeko: So, you've crossed paths with those two angels again, Haruto-kun?
Haruto: Yeah. Glad to see you awake, Saeko. How's your body holding up?
Saeko: Recovered. I just needed time… and a little replenishment.
Stella: Can we please focus? This is important!
Haruto: Relax. I'm checking in on one of my women. You want to keep nagging, Stella? I can mute you for the day.
Stella: …You wouldn't dare!
Haruto: Try me.
Akame: Has Saeko already become your wife, Amakawa?
Saeko: Not wife. I am the blade that cuts down his enemies. That alone is enough.
Ayame: And I will serve Haruto-sama for as long as I draw breath. That is my devotion.
Akame: This group… gets more complicated by the day.
Mai: …Tch.
Her irritation was palpable, though she didn't type more than that. Others watching silently—Miura Yumiko, Saya, and the subgroup members—felt the same unspoken frustration.
Haruto: Alright, enough posturing. Back to the point.
Haruto: Those two angels—Gabriel and Raphiel—are transfer students now. They'll be at our school from here on out.
Megumi: So it wasn't just a rumor… I thought people were exaggerating when they said they looked like angels.
Haruto: No exaggeration. Their presence is the real deal.
He explained what he had learned from the rooftop—about the parallel realms, the cracks, and the monsters slipping through.
In the middle of class, Miura Yumiko nearly shouted aloud at her desk.
Yumiko (subgroup): Monsters that eat people?! Seriously?!
Several classmates turned to look. Flustered, she stood abruptly, excused herself, and darted out toward the bathroom, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.
Megumi: Man-eating monsters… I can't picture it. It doesn't feel real.
Haruto: Whether you can picture it or not, it's happening. That's why I'm telling you to be careful. You too, Yumiko.
Stella: Wait—Yumiko? Who's Yumiko? I don't see anyone here by that name.
Akame: Nor do I. Is someone hiding their identity?
Frieren: Could be someone using an alias. Wouldn't be the first time.
Megumi: He's talking about Miura Yumiko. Class 4. She's in the subgroup, isn't she, Haruto?
Haruto: That's right. Forgot to mention—I've got the authority to grant "sub-group" access. They can't chat, but they can see our messages and use the functions.
Ayame: I know about that. Kajika, Yukina, and Mumei are sub-group members too.
Saeko: Rei and Saya also mentioned it to me.
Frieren: So there are people silently watching all this? How fascinating.
Stella: Ugh. That's… so embarrassing.
Haruto: You'll live.
The classroom's steady drone of the teacher's lecture barely touched Haruto as he tapped out his final message, lips curved into a faint smirk.
Haruto: Megumi. Yumiko. If you ever find yourselves in danger, don't hesitate. Use the trading function. No matter where you are—I'll be there.
A pause.
Megumi: …You say that like a wolf circling his prey, Haruto-kun.
Haruto leaned back, eyes half-lidded, his smirk deepening. Maybe I am, Megumi. But wolves guard their own just as fiercely as they hunt.
The sunlight slanted further across the classroom, gilding his desk in gold. Outside, the world seemed peaceful… but Haruto knew better. Cracks were forming, and the real storm hadn't even begun.