With minute changes such as grown-out hair or tanned skin accumulating in a single classroom it felt a bit like walking into a strange world half a step removed from their normal life
Ah Mutsuki-ku n
Good morning Lucia Ah
There were some bigger changes too
Someone who had already arrived called out to him Satowa Lucia in the seat next to Ange’s on the back row
He himself had not changed In fact he lacked even the minute changes since he was not human and thus his hair did not grow and his skin did not tan
But Mutsuki was shocked when he saw the classmate sitting in the next seat forward
Good morning Niki
Ahsorry
That was Mutsuki’s desk so the classmate got up after noticing him there After a quick word to Lucia she left
Lucia responded normally but he lost interest in her the instant she left and then smiled at Mutsuki Mutsuki set his bag down and asked a question
What did Niki want
Hm Oh she’s performing with a band for the cultural festival and she wanted to know if I would join her
The seat was a little warm when Mutsuki sat down He felt oddly restless and looked toward the girl
Niki Hozumi She was well known for wanting to stand out Her hair had only been a little bleached during the 1st term but now it looked like it had been gilded
She must have been trying out a new look for her post summer break debut
Mutsuki noticed a lot of their classmates stealing glances her way so he was not the only one shocked by this
She had likely decided to renew herself for the new term and then tried inviting Lucia as the most visually interesting classmate
She said something about gathering today for a planning meeting but I wasn’t really listening
Her attempt had apparently not been very successful
More importantly school is finally starting back up Eh heh heh It was hard finding chances to see you over the break because a certain stupid angel kept getting in the way
Lucia ignored their classmate’s new look and only expressed any interest in Mutsuki
That’s right We can see each other every day now
Mutsuki nodded
They had known each other for 4 months now Mutsuki had not known what to do about this boy’s affection at first but he had started accepting it recently And
Well excuse me for being a third wheel
No um that wasn’t what I meant
Ange must have heard him because she put on a lopsided frown
What he had ended up saying may indeed have been rude so he smiled bitterly and apologized But
Huh So you knew you were getting in our way
What did you say
The demon’s comment ignited the angel
Even after 4 months and even after going on a camping trip together these 2 still did not get along
But luckily
Ki-pon sure does stand out now
When Saya walked over after leaving her things at her desk the 2 of them lowered their tone
They do say summer can change a girlWhat’s the matter
Ange sat back down and Lucia did not provoke her any further
Those 2 were always fighting but they had a tacit understanding that they could not fight in front of normal people who were ignorant of angels and demons
That likely meant they had grown accustomed to the human world over the past 4 months
Saya did not notice the dangerous mood and sat in the seat in front of Ange while still focused on Niki’s new look
Maybe I should dye my hair too But if I go too far sensei will get mad at me
She tugged on her hair which was a little messy today
What do you think Lu Do you think I should get it dyed
Hmm I think looks fine the way it is Your natural hair color is brown so adding any weird colors would probably stand out too much
She began speaking with Lucia entirely naturally
Those two had apparently found a lot in common during the summer break camping trip so they were getting along really well recently Saya even called Lucia Lu
Maybe so But Saya turned toward Ange I kind of want to try out red hair
Like Ange
Yawn Wh-what are you doing Saya
Saya grabbed some of Ange’s long hair and rubbed her cheek against it
Eh heh heh heh Your hair is so great Ange It’s so silky and smooth
How do you take care of it
Nothing special I just wash it and dry it like normal
And you get this Ohh it’s like a miracle I’m so jealous
W-wait I get it so don’t sniff it
Those 2 also got along now Ange was unsociable to the core but she no longer treated Saya like a nuisance and Saya now approached Ange like they were friends
Eh heh heh heh heh heh Sniff sniff Eh heh heh heh heh It smells so good
Saya
Uweh heh heh heh heh heh
Although Saya sometimes did things that seemed to go beyond mere friends
I agonized over it for half a month but I’ve made up my mind Ange I’ll stay true to you
No more wavering Maki-nyan might be incrediblybut I’ll stay on a path I can believe in
Saya seemed to have made some kind of decision
She muttered something in the middle that the others could not quite make out
Ange could only tilt her head at this friend who had been acting a little oddly since the camping trip
But it really is so silky I’m jealous I practically have to fight mine every morning
More than just smell it she also ran her fingers through the silky red hair and then felt her own hair for comparison
She had not fought sufficiently this morning so it was sticking out in places
This isn’t very good And on the 1st day of the new term too
It apparently bothered her so she started combing it with her hand
However that was not going to help much
Ugh I should have brought a brush Hey does anyone have one
She was not the type to wear makeup or mess with her eyebrows so she did not even have a brush with her So she asked
Unfortunately Mutsuki Ange and Lucia all shook their heads so she looked across the classroom in search of someone else to borrow a brush from And
It was precisely 8 30 Machina arrived just as the bell was about to ring
They had gotten in the habit during the 1st term so she greeted Mutsuki when he called out to her Lucia showed no sign of greeting her but it did look like Ange exchanged a brief glance with her
Her seat was in front of Ange so Saya started to get up But Machina shook her head said not to worry about it and only set her bag down on the desk
Saya settled back down and
Hey hey Machi-nyan do you have a hairbrush or a comb
My hair’s kind of messy and I can’t go to the opening ceremony like this
Wait
Machina searched through her bag
From his angle Mutsuki could see her grab a pen
She briefly stuck it back in the bag and then pulled out a plastic comb
Here one is
Yay
Thank goodness Let me borrow it let me borrow it
Saya reached out her hand but
Machina ignored that and circled behind her
Stay still
Huhhh
Machina began combing the brown hair that was sticking out all over the place
Ohoh ohh
Saya had not expected this so she froze up
Machina continued thoroughly combing down the brown hair
The gentle massage sapped all strength from Saya’s shoulders
I’m so unfaithful
For some reason her face grew as slack as her shoulders
This was the 1st day of the new term
Their school life was starting back up and Mutsuki’s cheeks relaxed at finding it even better than he had hoped
Ange Machina and Lucia were gathered together and it all felt natural
Anyone who saw them would only see a group of friends spending their morning together
No one would ever imagine that 3 of the 5 were representatives of 3 different deadly and ruthless groups That made him happy
Even if a change was approaching fast
Mutsuki
Lucia noticed the sudden cloud that fell over Mutsuki’s expression as he watched the 3 frolicking girls
He immediately smiled to hide his thoughts but it was too late and the girls looked his way too