Chapter 4 Arc 1 — "The Fallen Angel / Devil"

“Hey.... Hey bro… Wake up…”

—No… not yet…

“Please… I don't want to die yet…”

Sasaki was confident he was hearing an angel's voice, calling upon him. He wasn't ready to ascend to Paradise yet.

But the thought of Paradise had yet to be struck on Sasaki's mind. Was he so deserving of such a chaste reward?

Well, he'd killed countless people there and here, but have they forgiven him for so convincing the angels that he should ascend to the pearly gates?

—No!

“Eek! ”

Sasaki had jolted up from what seemed to be a nightmare. Though being called upon a peaceful land of gold isn't that much of a nightmare itself. Maybe he'd much rather be struck down to hell instead.

He opened his eyes to see that he was lying down on the yellow hardwood floor of Momo's bedroom.

He sighed heavily in relief. He still wasn't ready to face the people he'd killed after what he'd done to them.

“Uh… Hey, did you have a nightmare? ”

It was the same angelic voice Sasaki had heard in his dream. The eloquence and elegance of the tone had struck a memory inside his brain. It couldn't be-

He turned to his left, seeing a girl sitting beside him as she was timidly squeezing the soft fabrics of her curtain-like dress in a graceful fashion. Though it wasn't intended, it was graceful!

It was so charming that even the bright sun couldn't match the radiance he felt whenever he was in her presence. She was the serene moonlight that shines during the inky night. She was the pure white snow that cleanses the impurity laid upon us in this world, she was-

“Miyuki! ”

Filled with joy, he jumped to her with a wide smile on his face. One that could only be made by such a special person.

He hugged her tightly,

“Stop it, bro, you're breaking my ribs.”

Letting go for a moment, as he began squishing her squirrel-like cheeks and chuckled in satisfaction.

“Stop it, bro, my face is getting numb.”

He let's go yet again, placing his hands on her underarm to lift her. He threw her up to imitate her in a flying motion. For the third time, he chuckled in satisfaction.

“Stop it— bro, my head is— hitting the— ceiling.”

Sasaki dropped her down after a while, as Miyuki stared into him with the same lifeless eyes he emits whenever he's debt collecting.

“My turn.”

“Huh—”

Miyuki wrapped her soft, tiny arms around her brother. Though they were soft and thin, for some unknown reason, she was twenty times stronger than her brother.

“Gah! T-t-t-time outtttt! ”

“No.”

She squeezed him tightly, it was so tightly that you could compare it to being crushed by a hydraulic press.

He held his chest and started coughing in a dry manner, uncontrollably, as his lungs were being pressed tightly by his ribs. If this were any normal person, they might've suffocated from the sheer pressure alone.

She let go of Sasaki, as he dropped down like a twig. Half-conscious, he tried to look up, seeing Miyuki's lifeless face emit a terrifying presence.

“No… please.”

They may call these things they do to each other family bonding. To their eyes, it's wholesome and lovely. But to the eyes of a sane being-

“Noooooo!”

The customers were frantic yet again. One of them raised their hand to call out for Momo at the counter, who was calmly washing the dishes.

“Momo-san—”

“Don't worry about it, they're probably just watching a horror movie.”

Momo smiled, knowing well that they can't even afford a television. Although that lie had reassured the customers from the screams of pain coming from above.

—Damn it Sasaki... I'm gonna kill you after this!

She was so irritated, she pressed into one of the dishes too hard as she was washing them, causing them to be so clean, you could practically see your own reflection.

“It hurts it hurts it hurts! ”

Miyuki was gripping his throat tightly, lifting him with her superior strength despite her small physique. His breath becomes raspy, kicking his feet in the air as she eyes him with her bland jade eyes.

Krngg… Krngg…

The phone rang from his pocket. Miyuki dropped him on the ground as he inhaled a lungful of fresh air. Talk about being saved by the bell. Anymore longer would kill him.

“I admit defeat…”

Sasaki raised his hand, gasping for air as he fumbled in his pockets in search of his flip phone.

Miyuki smiled proudly as life came back into her bright jade eyes.

“Well, let's see, the score is ninety to zero! ”

“At least give me a score…”

Ninety times. Ninety times, he was manhandled by his own sister. It was embarrassing to say the least, but he was more concerned than embarrassed.

How and when did his sister even gain such superhuman strength? Despite her charming features and slim body, for some unknown reason, she was stronger than him.

It was strange to say the least, but after the time he'd spent with her, it just became a natural everyday occurrence among the two siblings.

“Hello—”

“Yo Sasaki! Has Kouji died yet? I'm waiting for you by the river right now! ”

The same static tone yet filled with mad enthusiasm. Sasaki's expression was tiring. He didn't want to deal with any of the shenanigans he'd had in mind again.

If he was to offer him a bonus job right now, he'd probably try to decline it. But that is if he has a choice to decline or accept.

“Kouji actually paid this time. I told him to come over to your location right now. He might take his time getting there, considering his legs.”

“Oh yeah yeah, completely understood! ”

“Oh, and by the way, where's my—”

“I'm hanging up, bye! ”

The phone clicked yet again. He didn't even get to finishing asking about his salary. He stared blankly into the vast abyss on his head.

—Did he just rip me off…

“Miyuki, Sasaki, get down here and eat dinner! ”

“Coming! ”

The two walked down the narrow stairs, heading over to one of the empty tables in the restaurant.

Miyuki sat down, crossing her arms as she repeatedly fluttered her feet, waiting for the food to arrive. While Sasaki however…

‘Hey… what happened to that guy? ”

“I don't know… maybe he's a masochist…”

“Weirdo…”

The customers were whispering to each other while casting slight, timid glances at Sasaki's hapless state.

—It's quite the opposite...

His wounds and bruises were slightly visible as they were covered by his gray jacket. But even so, he couldn't cover the purplish bruise encircling his neck.

Momo was holding a large tray with three large bowls placed on it. She eyed the customers, noticing their anxious presence, and she approached them.

“Uh, excuse me-”

“Ah! Y-yes Momo-san?”

“I couldn't help but notice. Is everything alright here? ”

The woman looked down for a moment, as the people sitting with her eyed her down, expecting her to make a reply.

“Uhm… What happened to that guy? We saw him walk to your room earlier.”

She pointed in Sasaki's direction. Sasaki, still looking like he came out of a torture chamber. His jaw rested wide open, and his eyes were slightly open.

“Oh, Sasaki? Well, he got stuck on a washing machine an hour earlier. I suppose you should give him a break.”

“That's harsh… I feel sorry for him.”

“I don't! ”

The customers paused for a moment, staring frankly at Momo, doubting her words about Sasaki being stuck on the washing machine earlier.

—Did I say that out loud?

She'd spoken out of her mind again. It's a bad habit of hers, and she is embarrassed that she talked aloud during such a crucial moment. What if they don't come back? What if their opinion of her changed?

“What's that? ”

“I know, right? - Well, if you don't have any problems, I'll be right there! ”

Her face was ripe after she jumbled her words out of nervousness and embarrassment. Her palms were shaking as she walked by Sasaki's table holding the tray of gyudon, placing it in the middle of the table.

[T/N: Gyūdon, also known as gyūmeshi, is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with beef and onion, simmered in a mildly sweet sauce.]

“What's up with you?”

“Shut up and eat!”

Sasaki had faced another negative answer after asking nicely. If it weren't for the aromatic bowl of beef, his motivation to live would've been crushed into pieces.

Sasaki clasped his hands with his eyes closed, with a faint smile on his face.

“Well then, thank you for the—”

“Sasaki! ”

—That voice… It's so annoying and familiar.

He turned behind him to see a tall man dressed in an all black suit. His white hair slicked back in formal fashion, and his face looked very mature, his tone was eloquent and implied that of power.

His grin was devilish, and his eyes were shaped like a fox's eyes. Those eyes that would seem trustworthy for those who hadn't lived a life like Sasaki. But for those who'd been born in the slums, they knew what was up-

“You… Why are you here? Uncle! ”

To Be Continued...