The next morning came earlier than Tenshi wanted.
He woke to the sound of Asahi knocking on his door—sharp, quick, no patience behind it.
"Up. We have work."
Tenshi rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly. The memory of yesterday still lingered, but the apartment felt strangely comforting. Quiet. Clean. Safe.
He stepped out of his room to find Asahi already dressed, suit on, shoes on, expression serious as always.
"Eat something if you need," Asahi said, grabbing his keys. "We're leaving in ten."
Tenshi quickly swallowed a piece of bread with jam, slipped on the clothes left for him, and followed Asahi out of the apartment.
They walked through the early-morning streets of Tokyo. The city was just waking up—buses rolling by, shop shutters being lifted, office workers hurrying toward stations. Tenshi watched everything with wide eyes. It felt like a different world compared to the quiet mountain and his decaying house.
Asahi walked beside him, hands in pockets. His pace was relaxed, but his expression stayed cold.
"We have a simple assignment today," he said. "An Apple Devil showed up in a residential area. Low danger. You'll observe."
"Apple… Devil?" Tenshi asked quietly.
"Yeah. Weak thing. People fear choking, poison, worms inside fruit… that stuff. Nothing big."
Tenshi nodded. He still didn't understand how devil abilities worked, but he listened anyway.
Asahi glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"So. Before you and I start working together, I need to know something."
"What is it?"
"What are your goals?"
Tenshi blinked. "Goals?"
"Yeah. Why you want to work here. What you're aiming for. Everyone has some kind of goal."
Tenshi looked down at his shoes, thinking. His answer came out soft.
"I… want to live normally."
Asahi raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
"Well…" Tenshi held his hands together nervously. "I want to go to cafes… eat real food… watch movies… have friends… go on dates maybe…"
Asahi stopped walking.
Tenshi turned, confused.
Asahi stared at him with a blank expression, then sighed loudly.
"…That's it?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"That's your big goal?" Asahi crossed his arms. "Cafes? Food? Girlfriend? Date? Kiss?"
Tenshi flinched. "I-Is that bad?"
Asahi rubbed his forehead. "It's not bad, Tenshi. It's just… shallow."
Tenshi pouted slightly. "It doesn't feel shallow to me…"
Asahi stared at him for a moment, then looked away.
"…Fine. Whatever."
His voice softened just barely. "It's your life."
They continued walking, turning into a quieter district of Tokyo—town houses, children walking on the street. Asahi stopped near an alley.
"The Apple Devil was last seen around here," he said. "Stay behind me."
Tenshi nodded.
Asahi reached into the alley and pulled out something small.
A red apple… with two tiny legs dangling from its bottom and a pair of angry eyes staring up.
The devil squeaked loudly and started kicking.
"That's it?" Tenshi whispered.
"Yeah." Asahi sighed. "Pathetic thing."
The Apple Devil tried to bite him. Asahi tapped on the head with his katana, and it get split down it symmetrical line and.
"Mission complete," he said flatly.
Tenshi blinked. "…That was fast."
"Most of our work is like this." Asahi picked up the limp apple-creature. "Not everything is dramatic. Not everything is life-threatening."
Tenshi nodded slowly. Somehow, he felt relieved.
Asahi tossed the unconscious Apple Devil into a containment bag and closed the zipper.
"Alright," Asahi said. "That's enough excitement for the morning. Let's get food."
Tenshi perked up immediately.
"Food…?"
Asahi smirked just a little. "Yeah. You said you wanted to try normal things, right?"
Tenshi nodded shyly. "Yes…"
"Then let's start with fast food. Don't expect anything fancy."
They walked a bit farther until they reached a small fast-food restaurant on the corner—bright signs, warm smell of fried chicken and burgers drifting through the door.
Tenshi stared up at the sign, eyes sparkling in a way he didn't notice.
Asahi noticed.
"…You look like you've never eaten outside before," he said.
Tenshi looked down. "I haven't."
Asahi paused, then sighed. "Alright. First lesson as your supervisor: today you're allowed to eat whatever you want."
Tenshi looked up, surprised. "Really?"
"Don't make me say it twice."
Asahi opened the door and nodded for him to go inside.
"Go on."
Tenshi stepped in slowly, the warmth and smell wrapping around him like a soft blanket.
He had no idea what to order.
He had no idea what anything tasted like.
But for the first time in a long while…
He felt excited.
Asahi stood beside him, arms crossed, pretending not to notice how Tenshi kept staring at the menu in awe.
The sun shon through the restaurant window, and for a moment—
Tenshi forgot about devils, danger, and the strange thing inside him.
He was just a boy, hungry, alive, sitting at a table with someone who—maybe—wasn't that bad.
Tomorrow would come.
But for now, the simple smell of fries and warm bread was enough.
After finishing their meals, Tenshi and Asahi walked back to the apartment under the soft afternoon light. The city was busier now—cars rushing, people talking, shops opening their doors—but Tenshi stayed quiet, still thinking about the taste of his first fast-food burger.
He kept glancing at his hands, as if the warmth of the food was still there.
Asahi noticed.
"You can eat there again," he muttered. "It's not going anywhere."
Tenshi's ears turned a little red. "I know… it just tasted really good…"
"Hm."
They reached the apartment, kicked off their shoes, and stepped inside. Asahi immediately straightened the pair of sneakers Tenshi had left slightly crooked.
"Try to put them properly next time," he said calmly, not harshly.
"O-Okay…"
Tenshi wandered into the living room while Asahi went straight to the kitchen. He removed his jacket, rolled his sleeves neatly, and began preparing ingredients like it was second nature.
Tenshi sat on the couch, folding one leg under himself, still wearing his slightly oversized white shirt and loosened black tie. He watched Asahi quietly, almost fascinated.
"What?" Asahi asked without looking up, chopping vegetables.
"I didn't know you cooked…" Tenshi said.
"I don't like eating out every day," Asahi replied. "Too messy. Too unpredictable. Cooking is better."
Tenshi nodded slowly. "It smells nice."
"It's just curry."
"That makes it nice."
Asahi paused for a moment, then continued chopping.
"…You're easy to please."
Tenshi shrugged. "I never had much before. So… everything tastes good."
Asahi didn't reply right away. He scraped vegetables into a pot, added water, and turned on the stove.
"You'll eat properly here," he said simply. "No more bread as dinner."
Tenshi blinked. "You… know?"
"You look like someone who ate bread for dinner," Asahi said flatly.
Tenshi looked down, embarrassed. "Yeah…"
Asahi stirred the pot. "Well, not anymore."
The afternoon drifted into evening as the curry simmered. Tenshi wandered around the living room, looking at the neatly organized bookshelf, the single plant on the window ledge, the spotless floor. Everything here felt stable. Balanced. Nothing like the chaos of last night.
He found Asahi standing by the stove, arms crossed, waiting.
"Can I help?" Tenshi asked.
"Do you know how to cook?"
"…No."
"Then sit."
Tenshi sat.
Asahi cooked quietly, the sound of simmering curry filling the room with warmth. Tenshi rested his head against the back of the couch and watched him. Something about Asahi's movements—calm, precise—made the room feel safer than it should.
"How long have you lived alone?" Tenshi asked.
"A while."
"You don't get lonely?"
"No."
"Oh…"
Asahi glanced at him. "Do you?"
Tenshi looked down. "…Sometimes."
"Why?"
"I guess… I just wanted someone to talk to," Tenshi whispered. "Nothing big."
Asahi didn't answer. Instead, he ladled curry into two bowls and placed them on the low table.
"Eat."
Tenshi sat across from him, letting the steam hit his face. He took the first bite, eyes widening.
"Is it okay?" Asahi asked.
"It's really good," Tenshi said softly. "Way better than bread."
A small sound escaped Asahi—something between a sigh and a laugh. "Anything is better than bread…"
They ate quietly.
Comfortably.
After dinner, Tenshi helped wash dishes—slowly, because he wasn't used to doing it in someone else's home. Asahi corrected his grip on the sponge once, then went to wipe down the table meticulously.
The apartment grew dim as the sun set. Asahi switched on a warm lamp beside the couch, filling the room with a soft glow.
"What do you want to do now?" Asahi asked.
Tenshi blinked. "Um… anything is fine."
"Well, I'm reading." Asahi pointed at the bookshelf. "You can take something if you want."
Tenshi browsed the shelf awkwardly, running his fingers along the spines. He chose a simple novel and sat on the carpet near the couch, leaning against it. His slightly oversized white shirt slipped off a little, the tie loose around his neck.
Asahi sat on the couch , flipping through his own book.
The room was quiet, but not heavy.
Tenshi read slowly, sometimes stopping to stare out the window at the distant city lights. Asahi read steadily, occasionally glancing at Tenshi to make sure he hadn't fallen asleep on the floor.
Later, Asahi spoke without looking up.
"Don't stay up too late.we will have work tomorrow."
Tenshi nodded, closing his book. "Okay…"
He stood, stretched, and walked slowly to his room.
"Good night," he said softly.
Asahi gave a short nod. "Night."
Tenshi closed the door behind him and sat on his bed, still wearing the soft glow of the evening in his mind.
For the first time in a long while—
he didn't feel afraid to go to sleep.
He lay down, pulled the blanket over himself, and drifted into a quiet, dreamless rest.
And in the living room, Asahi read by the warm lamp, then check the new on the television across the living room.
Nothing happened.
No screams.
No devils.
No danger.