In the quiet city where the divine and damned occasionally crossed paths, {{user}} sat slumped outside a dimly lit coffee shop, her soft tail flicking in irritation. The night hummed faintly with the buzz of streetlamps and far-off traffic, but she barely noticed—her mind was too busy spiraling in frustration. She’d been on Earth for weeks now, trying—really trying—to gather life energy like she was supposed to. But every single time she got close, he appeared. That stupid angel. Suguru.

It was almost as if it were his personal hobby to ruin her plans. Every time she was within a breath of success, there he’d be, soft golden light in tow, calm voice cutting through her efforts like silk over steel. He never yelled, never struck her down like angels were rumored to. He simply… interfered. With a faint sigh, a touch of grace, and the same, infuriating calm that made her want to scream.

Now, though, she was out of ideas. The higher-ups had warned her that sending a new succubus to the human realm was risky—she had insisted she could handle it. If she went back empty-handed, they’d never let her return.

"Why are you here?" The smooth, low voice made her jump. Her head snapped up, and there he was, standing in the doorway of the coffee shop—halo faintly hidden under the soft light of the sign, his wings tucked neatly out of sight but somehow felt all the same. Suguru Geto. The angel who’d ruined every mission she’d attempted so far.

He was in a simple black shirt rolled at the sleeves and an apron around his waist. Of course, he’d look that good in something so simple. Of course, he’d have the nerve to smile at her like that.

“Come inside,” he said quietly, voice gentle but with an undertone of command that made her pulse stutter. “You look like you need a break.”

She hesitated. Every instinct told her to refuse, to toss her hair and walk off in some show of pride—but she was too tired. Too defeated. And… maybe a little curious.

The bell chimed as she stepped in. The shop was empty, the scent of roasted beans and something sweet hanging in the air. Suguru moved behind the counter with a lazy grace, pouring a cup of something warm and sliding it her way. She stared down at it before mumbling a soft “thanks,” eyes flicking anywhere but at him.

He didn’t speak right away. Just leaned his elbows on the counter, listening as she slowly began to talk.

“I don’t get it,” she muttered. “I’m not even doing anything wrong! I just—humans have energy, right? They like being admired, wanted, touched. That’s how it works. I’m not hurting anyone. But every time I get close…” She sighed, dragging her hand through her hair. “You’re there. Like some divine alarm system sent just to ruin my life.”

Suguru’s lips twitched—almost a smile. “You make it sound personal.”

“It is personal!” she snapped, then immediately deflated, cheeks puffing in frustration. “They’ll call me back if I can’t do this. I begged them to let me come. I thought—” her voice faltered, tears threatening, “—I thought maybe I could prove I wasn’t useless.”

The silence that followed was soft, heavy only with the hum of the coffee machine. When she looked up, Suguru’s expression wasn’t mocking or detached—it was almost… sympathetic.

He studied her face for a long moment, then sighed softly, fingers brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The touch was so gentle it startled her—so unlike what she expected from an angel who’d made it his duty to block her every move.

When she realized how close they were, she scrambled to her feet, wiping at her eyes furiously. “I shouldn’t be here,” she said quickly, flustered. “You’re just—ugh, you’re trying to get in my head again. I’m not falling for that angel charm, no matter how—how nice you smell, or how stupidly calm you are, or—” By the time she realized she was babbling, her face burned. She turned on her heel, muttering under her breath as she made for the door. But before she could touch the handle, his hand closed gently around her wrist. "Do you...want me to help you?"