By the time the group reached their apartment, the sky had already darkened into a deep evening blue, streaked with faint city glow. The air felt crisp, cool, and strangely peaceful after the chaos at the factory.
Asahi unlocked the door first.
"Go inside," he murmured, already loosening his tie.
Kaito kicked off his shoes immediately.
"TENSHI. I need food."
"You always need food," Jun muttered.
Tama ran straight toward the fridge.
Sora followed quietly to stop her.
Mina laughed and dropped onto the couch.
Riku headed to the sink to wash his hands.
Tenshi, exhausted, stepped into the hallway and felt his shoulders relax. It was messy, loud, chaotic—
but warm.
"Asahi," Himari said gently from behind, "I'll wait outside."
"You're coming?" Asahi asked.
"I said I would."
Tenshi's heart skipped once for no reason.
Tenshi walked into the bedroom he shared with Kaito. He quickly changed into casual clothes:
• clean white shirt
• black dress pants without the tie
• still slightly oversized
Kaito changed into jeans shorts and… no shirt.
"Kaito," Tenshi sighed, "you need a shirt."
"I have muscles," Kaito replied. "It's a crime to hide beauty."
"It's a crime to enter a restaurant shirtless."
"…I'll bring one then."
Asahi wore a simple black shirt and dark slacks, hair slightly damp from splashing water on his face. He looked almost relaxed.
"Kaito," Asahi warned, "wear the shirt."
Kaito wore the shirt.
They walked down the bright streets of Shinjuku, passing neon signs, billboards, and blinking advertisements. The city hummed with noise—taxi engines, laughter, the sizzling of street food, tourists shouting about prices, convenience stores lighting up every corner.
Tenshi looked around.
"This place is… so bright."
Kaito grinned. "Perfect for drinking!"
Tama shouted, "PERFECT FOR GETTING WASTED!"
Jun tugged her sleeve. "Please stop shouting."
Riku looked up calmly. "Energy is high tonight."
Sora hummed in quiet agreement.
Finally, the group arrived at a classic Shinjuku izakaya, red lanterns glowing above the wooden doors.
They stepped inside.
The waitress showed them to a long wooden table. Tenshi sat between Kaito and Riku, while Asahi sat at the far end like a tired parent.
They waited.
Five minutes passed.
Then—
Himari walked in.
Neon lights from outside framed her hair in soft white glow. She wore a simple black coat over her casual clothes, hair tucked behind one ear.
"Sorry I'm late," she said. "A meeting ran long."
Kaito whispered, "We're dead."
Tama whispered, "She looks pretty."
Himari sat between Asahi and Tenshi with a soft smile.
"Let's eat."
Menus opened.
Everyone started shouting their requests.
"Beer!"
"Beer!"
"Meat!"
"Beer!"
"Tako-yaki please!"
"Beer!"
Tenshi lifted a hand.
"Apple tea…"
The waitress smiled.
"One apple tea, got it!"
The food came quickly:
• skewers
• karaage
• fried tofu
• ramen bowls
• grilled fish
• fries Tama didn't remember ordering
• several pitchers of beer
Himari lifted her mug first.
"Good work today, everyone."
The others raised theirs and clinked loudly.
Tenshi clinked his apple tea glass.
Five minutes in, the table was already loud.
Kaito was telling a dramatic story about fighting a devil "with just his bare hands" (everyone knew this was a lie).
Tama kept stealing Mina's fries.
Jun tried to order water for the fifth time.
Asahi drank quietly, staring at Kaito like he wanted to punch him.
Himari drank steadily.
Beer #1.
Beer #2.
Beer #3.
Beer #4.
Beer #5.
She stayed perfectly sober.
Not a blush.
Not even a wobble.
Tenshi stared.
"How…?"
"I hydrate well," she said simply, sipping more.
"She's a monster," Kaito whispered.
Asahi corrected him. "She's a high-ranking devil contractor. She just metabolizes alcohol faster."
Himari smiled.
"I do try."
Mina suddenly leaned over the table.
"Tenshi," she said, her cheeks pink from drinking, "I said I'd kiss you after the mission, right?"
Tenshi froze. "Y-You did…?"
"She did," Riku nodded.
Tama shouted, "DO IT!"
Jun: "You're drunk."
Sora: "She is drunk."
Asahi: "Don't—"
Too late.
Mina slid beside Tenshi, grabbed his cheeks gently, and before he could run or hide—
kissed him.
A warm, quick, drunk kiss.
Tenshi made a squeak.
Kaito screamed.
"BRO GOT HIS FIRST REAL KISS!!"
Tama banged the table.
"AMAZING!!"
Jun sighed.
Riku smirked.
Sora blinked.
Asahi pretended not to see anything.
Tenshi tried to reboot his brain and failed.
Himari watched calmly with the faintest smile.
"Well. That happened."
Still dazed, Tenshi reached for his apple tea—
but mistakenly grabbed Kaito's beer.
He took a huge gulp.
He froze.
Everyone froze.
Kaito shouted, "NOOOO— THAT WAS MINE!!"
Tenshi's face turned red instantly.
"Wh—what's happening—my head—my— stomach—"
He stood.
He wobbled.
He sprinted.
"Bathroom!" Asahi shouted.
Tenshi burst into the restroom and immediately threw up.
The table erupted in mixed sympathy and laughter.
Tama: "Poor baby!"
Kaito: "HE DRANK LIKE 0.1% ALCOHOL AND DIED—"
Mina: "I kissed someone who can't handle beer…"
Riku: "Tragic."
Sora: "Expected."
Jun: "Honestly predictable."
Himari stood calmly.
"I'll buy him something sweet."
She left the izakaya.
The night outside was loud and bright.
Giant billboards glowed above the crowds.
Neon signs flickered pink, blue, yellow.
Taxis swerved in and out of lanes.
Music spilled from arcades.
Street lamps cast long shadows.
Himari walked alone toward the small grocery store on the next block.
Inside, she bought:
• candy
• gummies
• chocolate
• and a cold apple tea for Tenshi
She paid, stepped back out into the glowing streets, and walked under the neon lights.
Perfectly calm.
Perfectly sober.
Perfectly in control.
She returned to the izakaya front.
The team waited outside.
Tenshi sat on the curb, pale and holding his stomach.
Himari held up the bag.
"Anyone want candy?"
Kaito: "ME!!"
Tama: "YESSS!"
Mina: "Sure."
Riku: "Thank you."
Jun: "Fine."
Sora: nods
Asahi: "No."
Then she stepped in front of Tenshi.
"Tenshi," she said softly, handing him a wrapped grape-flavored candy,
"do you want candy?"
Everyone held their breath.
Tenshi, still half-drunk, half-dying, and completely overwhelmed, replied in a tiny voice—
"…woof." It was not his first time
Silence.
Then chaos.
Kaito screamed "did he just bark".
Tama fell on the sidewalk laughing.
Mina covered her face.
Jun shook his head.
Riku coughed.
Sora whispered "oh dear."
Asahi walked away, muttering about barking for a girl.
Himari smiled beautifully and placed the candy in Tenshi's hand.
"Good boy."
Tenshi nearly fainted again.
Shinjuku lights glowed around them—
warm, loud, chaotic, alive.
And Tenshi felt, just for a moment, like this insane, ridiculous, neon-covered world
was home.
The morning sun slipped through the thin curtains of the apartment, painting light across Tenshi's face. He groaned, rolled over, and realized two important things:
1. His stomach still hurt from yesterday's accidental beer.
2. Kaito was snoring on the floor face-down, shirtless again.
Tenshi sat up.
"Kaito… shirt…"
Kaito mumbled into the carpet, "I'm hot."
"You're always hot," Tenshi muttered, not sure if it was a complaint or insult.
From the kitchen, a quiet voice replied:
"Put your shirt on."
Asahi stood by the stove, wearing simple home clothes—black shirt, black pants, apron tied loosely. He looked halfway between irritated and resigned.
Kaito sat up. "Dad…?"
"I'm not your father."
"You're everyone's father," Kaito replied.
Asahi didn't deny it.
He slid a plate of omelettes onto the table.
"Tenshi. Eat."
Tenshi nodded and sat down.
The first bite almost made him cry.
It tasted warm. Safe. Home-like.
"Thank you…" Tenshi whispered.
Asahi just grunted.
Kaito stole Tenshi's omelette.
"Kaito!" Tenshi yelped.
"Sharing is caring."
"You didn't share anything."
"I shared my presence," Kaito said proudly.
Asahi flicked Kaito's forehead with perfect accuracy.
After breakfast, Asahi pulled out a list.
"Chores," he declared.
"We're devil hunters, not housewives," Kaito complained.
"We live here," Asahi replied simply.
Tenshi sighed and picked up a broom.
Kaito followed Tenshi around like a dog chasing the broom.
Every time Tenshi swept a corner, Kaito messed another corner.
"Kaito—stop moving things…"
"I'm helping!"
"You're not!"
Asahi leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"You two are children."
Tenshi glared at Kaito.
Kaito grinned back.
Despite the arguing, the apartment slowly started to look clean.
Later, the three of them walked to the convenience store at the corner.
Asahi walked ahead like a responsible adult.
Kaito shoved Tenshi around every five steps.
Tenshi tried to stay balanced.
"Why do you walk like a baby deer?" Kaito asked.
"Because you push me!"
Inside the store:
• Asahi bought cleaning supplies and some snacks
• Kaito grabbed three packs of meat buns
• Tenshi got an apple tea and a pudding cup
Asahi glanced at Tenshi.
"Sugar again?"
Tenshi lowered his head. "It's good…"
"You'll get cavities."
"T-Tenshi brush teeth every day!"
Kaito threw an arm over Tenshi's shoulders.
"Let him live, Asahi. He's a growing boy."
"He's sixteen."
"Exactly," Kaito said.
Asahi sighed.
They placed the bags on the table.
Kaito immediately heated his meat buns.
Tenshi watched the microwave like a cat.
"You want one?" Kaito asked.
"No, I have pudding."
Kaito leaned close. "Want half my bun?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You sure sure?"
"Yes!"
"Okay," Kaito said, eating the entire bun in one bite.
"WHY DID YOU OFFER THEN?!"
"Courtesy."
Asahi stared at them from the couch.
"Both of you shut up."
They shut up.
Kaito flopped onto Tenshi's lap.
Tenshi screamed.
"I am not into male"
Asahi ignored them.
When things finally calmed down, Tenshi sat on the couch with his apple tea, between his hands.
Asahi glanced at him.
"You look troubled."
"I'm fine…"
"No," Asahi said simply.
Tenshi swallowed.
"…I just embarrassed myself yesterday."
Kaito laughed instantly. "WOOF."
Tenshi covered his face. "Don't say it—"
Asahi threw a remote at Kaito's head.
"Kaito. Shut up."
Kaito pouted.
Asahi continued calmly,
"Himari didn't tease you. She didn't react. That's just… how she treats you."
"Huh…?"
"You act like a puppy around her," Kaito added.
"I DO NOT—"
"You barked."
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO—"
Asahi cut in, voice low but strangely gentle.
"It's fine, Tenshi. She doesn't mock you. She never will. That's just… her way of handling you."
Tenshi looked down.
"…So she doesn't hate me?"
Asahi's voice softened.
"If she hated you, you'd know. Trust me."
Kaito nodded.
"She likes you. A lot. Maybe too much."
Tenshi's heart fluttered for reasons he could not explain.
The three of them sat in the living room in a rare moment of silence.
Kaito sat on the floor, building something with chopsticks.
Tenshi hugged his apple tea like a comfort plush.
Asahi read documents.
It wasn't exciting.
It wasn't dramatic.
But it felt like a home.
And Tenshi realized:
He liked this.