Expiration Date

Chitose was in a library filled with books, yet it had no doors or windows.

Shelves were everywhere, above and beside her, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

“Hello!”

Her voice echoes through the library, and many voices respond.

“Hi!”

“Anybody here?”

“Everyone is here.”

The voice responds.

“Where are you!?”

One voice response, then another, then another.

“Walk forward! Walk forward! Walk forward!”

As she walks forward, the library shakes.

“What was that!?”

“Keep moving forward! Keep moving forward! Keep moving forward!”

She takes another step, and a bookshelf collapses behind her.

“What’s happening?”

“Don’t look behind, keep forward!”

Chitose follows the voice, and as she takes another step, a book falls from the shelf behind her. Step by step, she walks faster and faster until she is running, as the library collapses behind her.

“Keep running, Harbinger, keep running!”

The voice starts to distort, shifting from children's voices to a deeper tone.

Chitose keeps running and running through the endless library. Until the library stops collapsing, yet she keeps running. Until she notices the library stop collapsing, the voices are gone.

She was panting and stumbled into a table, where she found a mysterious book. It was open.

“Read it.”

The children’s voices had returned.

Chitose froze.

“Read it! Read it! Read it!”

Chitose stared at the book.

“…No.”

She stepped back.

“I don't trust you anymore.”

“Read it. Read it. Read it.”

“No.”

Chitose turned around.

She was about to leave when

Her right hand moved.

“…Huh?”

Her arm slowly lifted.

“Wait.”

Her fingers reached for the book.

“No, no, no.”

Chitose grabbed her right wrist with her left hand.

“Stop!”

Her hand kept moving.

“Wait, wait, wait!”

She struggled against herself.

“I'm not doing this!”

Her fingers trembled.

Slowly reaching the page.

“NO!”

Her fingertip touched the book.

BOOM.

Her head exploded.

---

Chitose suddenly opened her eyes.

“Haaah—!”

She gasped for air.

Her hand immediately went to her head.

Nothing.

Her head was still intact.

She looked around.

Her bedroom was dark.

The moonlight barely slipped through the curtains.

“A dream?”

Chitose slowly sat up and looked beside her.

Kazuha was sleeping peacefully.

“Kazu-kun…”

He didn't move.

Chitose smiled faintly.

She placed her hand on his head and gently brushed his fur.

“You make me worried…”

Kazuha only twitched his ear.

Chitose looked toward the clock.

3:00 AM.

“Three in the morning?”

She sighed.

“Of course.”

Her throat suddenly felt dry.

“I need some water.”

She carefully got out of bed.

The room was silent.

She walked toward the bedroom door.

Click.

Her hand turned the doorknob.

The moment she opened the door—

She stopped.

The Eye of Order activated.

Something stood in the kitchen, near the refrigerator.

Its presence was unmistakable.

Type: Liberality

An angel.

A tall figure stood on two pairs of skeletal legs. Its body was entirely bone, with a pair of arms hanging loosely at its sides. Its head was an empty porcelain wine cup. Where its stomach should have been was a dark portal. Several pale hands emerged from within it, offering a glowing, crystallized teardrop.

Chitose stared at it.

The angel stared back.

Neither moved.

The angel ignored her.

It turned back toward the refrigerator.

“…?”

Chitose blinked.

The angel opened the refrigerator door.

It carefully examined the food inside.

A carton of milk.

Some vegetables.

A container of leftover curry.

A package of meat.

It seemed to be checking every single item.

Chitose tilted her head.

“There's an angel?”

She rubbed her eyes.

“Or a demon?”

She looked again and saw the broken halo above its cup.

It was an angel.

The angel continued with its business.

It picked up a container.

It looked at the expiration date.

Then, placed it back.

It picked up another.

It checked it.

Then another.

Chitose stepped slowly into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

The angel didn't answer.

It simply placed it near its stomach.

One hand emerged from the dark portal.

In its fingers was a small crystal teardrop.

The hand placed it above a container of food.

Chitose's eyes narrowed.

“Wait.”

The angel released the teardrop.

Plink.

It landed on the food.

Nothing happened.

For a second, then

A strange smell filled the kitchen.

Chitose's eyes widened.

“It spoiled.”

She looked at the container.

The expiration date printed on the label has passed its due date.

Chitose stared.

“…You made it spoiled?”

The angel tilted its wine cup head.

Then it moved to another item.

Chitose followed it with her eyes.

“Wait.”

The angel reached for a carton of milk.

“Don't tell me…”

It checked the date.

The milk still had several days left.

The angel produced another crystallized tear.

“Hey.”

It dropped the tear.

Plink.

The milk curdled instantly.

Chitose's mouth fell open.

“You're making everything spoil!”

The angel continued.

Plink.

Vegetables.

Plink.

Bread.

Plink.

Leftover curry.

One after another, the food reached the end of its expiration date.

Chitose watched in disbelief.

“Why did you make almost everything spoil?”

The angel finally stopped.

It turned its porcelain cup toward her.

For a moment, the kitchen fell silent.

The angel slowly pointed toward the refrigerator.

Chitose looked at it.

Then at the food.

Then back at the angel.

"You don't like food that's about to expire?”

The angel stayed silent.

Chitose thought for a moment.

“So, you're letting them spoil.”

The angel nodded, and Chitose realized it.

“So, I wouldn’t eat them?”

Another nod.

Chitose stared at the angel.

---

It was four in the morning, and the Angel was still checking her refrigerator.

She sighed.

“I guess that's…”

She paused.

“…actually, kind of considerate?”

The angel reached for another container.

“Wait!”

Chitose hurried over and snatched it.

“This one is still good!”

The angel froze.

Chitose held the container against her chest.

“I was going to eat this today.”

The angel slowly lowered its arms.

Chitose looked at the container.

Then at the angel.

“Actually, I'll eat it now.”

She opened the container.

The angel watched in silence.

Chitose took a bite.

“Mmm.”

She smiled.

“Still good.”

The angel tilted its head.

Chitose pointed her chopsticks at it.

“So don't let my food spoil before I eat it.”

The angel stared at her.

Then it nodded.

Chitose smiled.

“Good.”

She took another bite.

This angel looks harmless despite its appearance. Should I take it down?

Chitose, look at the angel while the Eye of Order is still active.

I don’t think it was necessary to take it down.

---

Several hours later, Miyo woke up and went through her daily morning routine. It was eight in the morning.

She seems to be talking on the phone in loudspeaker mode while doing her morning routine.

"To be honest, I'm a little nervous. I don't know how to approach her. I don't want her to feel awkward."

Miyo said

"Don't worry. She's very easy to approach. She's been with different customers, after all."

Nao said on the phone

"So, how's your visit with her?"

"As always, she's amazing. When I arrived at the building, she was fighting a demon. I could see she was struggling, but she is doing great as a Harbinger."

"Really? You didn't help her."

Nao realizes.

She laughed awkwardly. "I don't want to just reveal myself as a prophet, you know. I think you should do that too. Shiizaa will eventually invite her into the mansion anyway."

"But didn't she think we are untrustworthy for keeping secrets from her while we know her secrets?"

Nao gets silent for a while "..."

"You're probably right. If that's what you think, I have faith in you. Just don’t surprise her all of a sudden. If she's in real danger, you can probably help her."

"Yippee, I'll be visiting her before lunch, she just said."

---

It was ten in the morning. Chitose was standing in front of the refrigerator.

She looked inside, then looked at the angel.

The angel was still there, still checking the food.

Chitose sighed.

“You really stayed up all night…”

The angel nodded. Chitose closed the refrigerator.

“Well, I have to go grocery.”

The angel stared at her.

“We’re almost out of food.”

She glanced toward the living room.

“And Kazu-kun needs food, too.”

Kazuha slept peacefully on the couch.

Chitose smiled.

“I’m going to buy some more.”

Ding dong

Chitose stopped.

“Hm?”

“Who could that be?”

She walked toward the door.

Kazuha lifted his head from the couch.

Chitose opened the door.

“Good morni—”

“Chi-nee!”

A girl appeared in front of her.

Light blue eyes, a blue jellyfish haircut, and a huge smile.

"Miyo-chan"

“Good morning!”

Chitose blinked.

“Miyo!?”

Miyo smiled brightly.

“I came to visit!”

“Oh!"

I almost forgot she's going to visit the day after Nao.

Chitose stepped aside.

“Come in.”

“Thank you! Coming in!”

Miyo removed her shoes and entered the apartment.

Her eyes immediately wandered around the room.

"You have a good place!"

Then she saw the angel standing beside the refrigerator.

She stared at the broken halo and the porcelain cup.

Liberality Angel

Miyo’s fingers curled slowly.

Chitose didn’t notice.

Why is she not taking the angel down!?

“I’m actually going grocery shopping.”

Miyo immediately turned back toward her.

“Really?”

“Yeah. We’re running out of supplies.”

Miyo’s smile returned.

“Can I come with you?”

“Of course.”

Chitose grabbed her bag.

“Give me a sec.”

She walked back toward Kazuha.

“Zuzu, we’re going shopping.”

Kazuha looked at Miyo and wagged its tail.

Miyo crouched down.

“Aww! Good morning, Zuzu! You are just as before.”

For real, you are the same as before. Hoping you won't turn into a dog completely.

Miyo giggled.

“Still adorable.”

Chitose smiled.

“Okay, let’s go. After the grocery, can I take your measurements?”

Miyo stood up, smiling.

“Sure! I'm your model, after all!”

They walked toward the apartment door, while Kazuha followed them into the entrance, and the angel watched them leave.

Chitose opened the door.

“After you.”

Miyo quickly put on her shoes, stepped outside, and looked back.

The angel stood in the living room.

As soon as Chitose crouched down to put on her sandals.

Miyo smiled, then she gave the angel a playful wink.

The angel tilted its head.

Miyo raised a finger.

A tiny blue light appeared at the tip.

Fwoosh.

The light didn't do anything, but it remained in front of the Angel.

The air behind the apartment suddenly warped.

Something enormous passed through the sky.

A colossal spirit whale emerged from the distortion.

Its body was translucent, glowing softly as if it were made of moonlit water.

It opened its enormous mouth.

The angel looked up.

The whale swallowed the Angel whole, along with the blue light.

WHOOOOOM.

The distortion vanished, and the whale disappeared.

Everything fell completely silent.

Miyo lowered her hand as Chitose had, wearing her sandals.

She smiled innocently, then closed the apartment door.

"We'll be right back, Zuzu."

The dog watches them leave.

Click.

---

Chitose looked at her.

“…Miyo?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you hear something?”

Miyo tilted her head.

“Nope!”

Chitose looked back toward the apartment door.

The eye of order was gone; had the Angel left now?

She shrugged.

“Never mind.”

Maybe it leaves.

Miyo smiled.

“Let’s go!”

“Yeah.”

They began walking down the hallway.

Chitose glanced at Miyo.

“You seem really excited.”

“I am!”

Miyo smiled brightly.

“I’ve never been to a grocery store with a friend before!”

Chitose laughed.

“It’s not exactly exciting.”

“It is!”

“Really?”

“Yep, yep, yep!”

Miyo’s smile widened.

She looked back at the apartment door once more.

Her expression stayed innocent, but her thoughts were still on the Angel.

I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Zuzu while we weren't keeping an eye on the Angel.

Chitose realizes something.

"Wait! I didn't have a grocery list."

Chitose sighed, and Miyo smiled in response.

“When my mom and I go grocery shopping, we just see what we need when we get there. I think we should do that too, for now”

“I think that's a good idea. Let's see what we need when we get there.”