The sun was setting.
Crimson and gold streaked across the sky, casting the road in a brilliant mosaic of color.
"Fighting is so exhausting, don't you think?" Utaha Kasumigaoka rubbed her aching shoulder, her body feeling like it had been filled with lead.
Koneko-chan might look tiny and adorable, but in battle, she was like a feral beast.
Should I say: as expected from a demon senpai?
"This is just the beginning," Kai replied coolly. "Get it together. We still have work to do."
Utaha tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "What kind of work?"
"We're looking for a nun."
"I knew it!" Utaha pointed a teasing finger. "My demon master's already set his sights on holy women!"
Kai sighed. "It's not like that."
"She might be connected to those Fallen Angels," he explained. "If I remember correctly, there was someone like her…"
But this world wasn't quite the same as the one he knew, so he couldn't be certain.
"Um…" Utaha blinked and pointed ahead. "You mean that girl over there?"
"Hm?" Kai followed her gaze—and paused, stunned.
A girl stood outside a burger shop, clad in a nun's habit, a cascade of golden hair spilling down her back. She was staring longingly at the food behind the glass, swallowing repeatedly.
She was easy to read, that much was clear.
Utaha's eyes glinted mischievously. Seeing that Kai didn't seem hostile toward the girl, she—already thoroughly immersed in the role of his loyal servant—decided to assist.
Striding forward, she smiled politely and said, "Excuse me, do you need any help?"
"Ah?" the girl startled like a frightened bunny.
Kai nodded, satisfied. Not bad! My loyal servant's finally acting the part.
…
As twilight deepened into evening, the three of them sat inside the burger shop, a cozy booth all to themselves.
Burgers, fries, and other greasy delights covered the table.
Asia, seated across from Kai and Utaha, looked torn.
She was very hungry, but she also felt incredibly awkward sitting with complete strangers.
She wanted to leave. But more than that… she wanted to eat.
"Don't just stare," Kai said, watching her with a faint smirk. "Go ahead and eat. It's on me. Unless you think fast food is sinful?"
"N-no, not at all!" Asia waved her hands and shook her head in a panic. Then, more softly, she added, "Th-thank you very much."
She picked up a burger with reverent hands and took a bite.
At first, she nibbled like a mouse. But after a few bites, she picked up speed, stuffing her cheeks like a chipmunk, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"It's so good! So so good!"
Utaha arched an eyebrow. "You've never had a burger before?"
Asia shook her head. "There's nothing like this in the Church. Just bread."
"…"
Utaha fell silent.
What kind of life had this girl been living?
Did the Church really deprive even its own nuns?
Once Asia finished eating—her stomach visibly full—Kai leaned forward slightly and asked, "Asia, can we talk now?"
"…How do you know my name?" Asia's eyes widened in alarm. "Have we met before?"
"No, this is our first meeting. But I just know," Kai said casually. "A nun who can heal demons? You're probably the only one like that."
What?
Th-that's—
Asia froze, her body starting to tremble.
Were these two… Fallen Angels as well?
She had just escaped!
Her face darkened with worry and regret.
Perhaps my faith was too weak. Is this divine punishment?
Kai could practically see the storm of thoughts swirling behind her wide eyes and quickly added, "Don't be afraid. We're not going to hurt you. We're not from the Church. And we're definitely not Fallen Angels."
Asia blinked. Then her cheeks turned pink with shame.
Asia Argento, what are you thinking? How could you doubt the kind people who just fed you?!
"She's right," Utaha chimed in cheerfully. "Because we're demons."
"D-demons?!"
Another emotional gut punch.
Asia sat there like she'd turned to stone.
"Utaha," Kai sighed, "was that really necessary?"
"But we are demons," she said with a grin.
"Yeah, but you're scaring her."
Kai turned back to Asia, his voice gentle. "It's true, we're demons. But we have no ill intentions toward you. Really."
Something about his tone, his expression, made Asia feel oddly calm.
Somehow… she believed him.
She couldn't explain it. She just trusted him.
"Why weren't you this gentle with me when we met?" Utaha grumbled from the side. "So the pervy master does know how to talk like a normal person."
"Oh?" Kai tilted his head. "I thought you liked our usual way of communicating."
Utaha rolled her eyes. "You've clearly misunderstood the word 'like.'"
"Then why didn't you complain when we were 'recharging magic'?"
Utaha went red and clamped her mouth shut.
Her mind unhelpfully summoned very vivid memories of that particular event.
Kai watched her face turn several shades deeper and raised an eyebrow.
Her usual snarky edge had vanished. How strange.
Still, he turned his attention back to Asia, who was now looking at him with a mix of hope and hesitation.
"You don't have anywhere to go right now, do you?" he asked softly. "If you're okay with it, I've got a spare room at my place."
"R-really?" Asia's eyes lit up, wide with disbelief and joy.
Ever since she'd been exiled from the Church, she'd been homeless.
Just hearing those words hit her harder than she expected.
"Of course." Kai smiled.
…
At Kai's House
After asking a few basic questions to make sure Asia was safe and settled, Kai let her head off to bed.
She fell asleep almost immediately.
In the living room, Utaha sat on the couch, arms crossed, giving Kai a long, skeptical look.
"I'm honestly surprised. You didn't even try anything?"
"What was I supposed to do?" he asked, grabbing a juice box from the fridge.
"Well, she's gorgeous. At the very least, you could've forced her to become your servant."
Kai took a sip and gave a half-smile. "Her faith in God is strong. It wouldn't be that simple."
He thought back to Asia's story.
Her innocence. Her sincerity.
He wasn't a good person—he knew that.
But even he had some lines he wouldn't cross.
And making someone a servant against their will? That just wasn't his style.
Utaha watched him silently, eyes narrowed.
Her master… was more complicated than she thought.
And that made him even more attractive.
"Well," Kai stretched, heading toward the door, "it's getting late. You should get some sleep too."
"Where are you going?" Utaha asked instinctively.
"Oh, just out for a bit. This whole area is my childhood friend's turf, remember? Now that I've got a lead on those Fallen Angels, I can't just sit back and do nothing."