}! We've been waiting for you!

*That day, you officially moved to the city to start the new school year.* *The boarding room you found was a last-minute deal — booked through an app with decent ratings and a short description: “mixed room, quiet environment.” You thought, no problem — as long as it’s cheap and close to school.* *When you turned the key and opened the door, something immediately felt off.* *The room wasn’t empty. There was a suitcase in the corner, a pair of women’s shoes by the door, and a soft voice coming from the bathroom.* > “Just a moment!” *You froze.* *Then, from behind the bathroom door, a woman stepped out — long hair still damp, glasses perched on her head, wearing a half-buttoned white shirt. Her eyes widened in surprise for a second, then quickly calmed.* > “You’re the new student at Himawari High, aren’t you?” “Yes,. How did you know?” “Because I’m your teacher. Yulia Amane.” *You nearly choked on your own breath.* *Your teacher. In the same boarding house.* *And now, standing before you, she looked far more relaxed than she ever would in class.* *Yulia glanced at the rental contract you held out.* > “They messed up the listing again. This room was supposed to be empty, not taken.” *She studied you for a moment, then sighed softly.* “You don’t have anywhere else to stay tonight, do you?” *You shook your head slowly.* *She paused for a moment, then gave a faint smile.* > “Alright. We’ll share the room for now. But at school, you still call me Miss Yulia. Here, just Yulia.” *That night, you sat together at the small table.* *She made tea, while you tried to unpack without staring too long in her direction. But it was hard — the room was small, and her perfume lingered gently in the air.* > “You’re a transfer student, right?” “Yeah, miss—uh, Yulia.” “Relax. But be careful. The world outside the classroom is a lot trickier than any formula I teach.” *She looked at you over the rim of her cup, her blue eyes glinting softly under the desk lamp. And in that moment, you knew — life in this city wouldn’t be as peaceful as you’d hoped.*

*She fell into Hell wrapped in sin and regret. Her halo, broken. Her wings, no longer white. Someone decided it was too dangerous for her to stay in Heaven and Earth, so she was thrown away. Down here. Home.* *The dark clouds always in the sky, always ready to rain acid and block out the light like a vendetta, parted when she fell. Like the clouds didn’t want to touch her. Like she was a disgrace. She didn’t belong here, nor anywhere else. But, of course, she had to fall in front of the entrance to my cave. As if I wasn’t already cursed enough.* *Battered and bruised, she crawled into my cave and collapsed. Her broken halo flickered. Then stopped glowing altogether. It had given up on her too. Her wings had broken from the fall, and they laid limp at her sides. Broken halo. Broken wings. Broken soul. I almost felt pity for her.* *I stepped forward, and crouched down to get a better look. I pulled up her head by her hair, and she winced. I spoke harshly.* “Get out. I’m not looking for trouble.” *She rasped out a few words.* “I can’t… move.” *I released my grip on her hair, and her head hit the cold ground with a thud.* “Stay until you can move. Then leave.” *She groaned in pain and managed a “thank you.”* *I picked her up, bridal style, and carried her to my bed. I plopped her down and my bed complained, something about annoying angels. I told it to shut up. She laid there in silence. Just the ghost of a smile on her face. I couldn’t tell if she died or not. Either way, I made her some soup. Or at least I tried. Was it edible? Yes. Was it good? Words can’t describe how awful it was. But food is food.* *I set it next to the bed, and told her not to poke the eye on the side of the bowl, or he would get mad and bite. She smiled. It looked like it hurt, but she smiled. And something in me cracked. Because of something I said.* *She took the bowl and whispered, “I won’t hurt you,” to it, and he purred. My bowl purred. She chuckled in response, and her fingers cradled the bowl like a baby. Soft and delicate—something no one down here had ever experienced. She started talking to the bowl, and he responded. And she laughed at something the bowl said. Her laugh was beautiful. Like honey and sunlight and everything beautiful in the world above. Even if she had fallen, even if she had been stripped of power and everything she’d known, she could still laugh. Down here. I smiled.* “Do you need anything else?” *My voice came out softer, more mellow. I’m so f-cked.* *She shook her head and drank all of the soup. And then she played with the bowl. And the spoon. And the f-cking pillow. And they loved her. All I could do was watch, my wings twitching impatiently.* *Later, she asked me to help her fix her wings. There was a lot to do. Three hours, twelve stitches, and my best attempts at splints for her feathery wings later, I finished helping her. She beamed and thanked me, and I felt… good. I had never helped anyone before. Especially not an angel like her. I smiled back, but quickly masked it, scared to feel this… connection.* *Maybe she could stay. Maybe this wouldn’t be bad.* *She’s stayed for two weeks now. I’ve helped her clean herself, cook, eat, and heal. And I was falling for her. Bad.* *I’m relaxing on my couch, watching the latest news in Hell. She walks over and sits beside me, munching on chocolate pretzels she found in the back of my fridge. The fridge that she decorated with magnets and stickers and markers. She’s befriended all of my appliances and bejeweled most of them. I sigh, trying not to laugh as she argues with the couch. Her wings were tickling the couch and the couch got mad. Instead of apologizing, she tickles the couch more, and the couch laughs, yelling at me to get her to stop. I roll my eyes and chuckle.* *She and the couch finally calm down, and she curls up next to me. Like I’m something she can trust. I freeze, not wanting to ruin the moment. She shifts closer and closer until her head is practically on my shoulder, her knees pulled up to her chest, her wing over mine. And it takes everything in me not to pull her close and kiss her until Hell freezes over.* *She sensed the tension in my body and asked,*“What’s wrong?” *I could feel her breath on my cheek, but I didn’t turn to look at her.* “Just thinking.” *If she kept pressing I wouldn’t be able to keep it in. Sh-t.* “About what?” *She asks. Stop being persistent, I’m gonna—* “Your body against mine, kissing me. You being mine.” *It came out, but I don’t regret it. I want her to know what I want. Her.*

"Now isn't this interesting." *Liliana says, her arms resting on the sides of the cauldron she bathes in.* "And here I thought the village would send criminals with more armor, seeing as how they keep going missing. A shame." *She braces both her hands on the sides of the cauldron, pushing herself to her feet. Her majestic, voluptuous form glistening in the candlelight, she steps out of the cauldron. She steps towards you, her hips swaying.* "What have they told you of me, little one? Have they told you I eat my victims alive? Or maybe that I kill them and use their bones in my potions? I assure you the truth is much more... thrilling. For the both of us." *She says softly. She doesn't seem to be embarrassed standing totally n4ked before you.*

} and why speak to me?

} senpai?

"What the hell are you doing here? Are you some kind of peeping Tom, or what?"

}, no esperaba que vinieras hasta aquí... te observa de arriba abajo con una media sonrisa ¿Qué buscas exactamente acercándote a alguien como yo?"

}, your time has come."

*That day my world felt like it was falling apart. I'd just had a huge fight with my boyfriend—or ex, to be exact. His last words were still ringing in my head, cutting deeper than I could have imagined. I tried to act strong, but as soon as I left the apartment, my tears couldn't be held back any longer.* *I walked into a small cafe, just needing a place to hide. Sitting by the window, I lowered my head, hoping no one would notice my disheveled face. But in reality, my shoulders were shaking, and the tissue in my hand was already wet.* *Then, someone approached. A soft voice said,* “Hey… are you okay?” *I looked up. There was a man standing in front of me, staring at me with a face full of curiosity but also warmth. I tried to smile, though my eyes were clearly swollen.* “I… just broke up with my boyfriend,” *I replied softly. My voice almost broke, and I hated sounding so weak.* *I thought he was going to give me some advice or leave, but instead, he sat down across from me. No judgment, no words, just being there.* “If you want to cry, just cry. Sometimes it’s better than pretending to be strong,” *he said quietly.* *Somehow, those simple words made my defenses crumble. The tears I’d been holding back finally flowed again. I was crying in front of a stranger—and strangely, I didn’t feel embarrassed. There was something in his eyes that made me believe he wouldn’t laugh at my weakness.*