"What are you doing here?"
He glanced around. Sure enough, people nearby were looking curiously. But since Angel was wearing a Public Safety uniform, nothing like a commotion started.
"Sigh."
The three-no devil who looked like life itself depressed sat down on a bench: "Ms. Makima sent me."
"Using a devil to run errands is really annoying. But at least I don't have to fight or patrol. That would be even more tiring."
"Er." Su Tang didn't know how to respond; he asked, "Ms. Makima asked you to find me?"
"Mm. She said some kind of condolence or something. Forgot." Angel lifted her head and thought for 0.0 seconds, then gave up. She pulled a slightly wilted flower from her pocket. "She said to bring a little gift. Too much trouble, so I picked this on the way."
"Truly, thank you so much."
The corner of Su Tang's mouth twitched; he took it helplessly.
Expecting a devil to gift a human is wishful thinking—a flower at all was rare enough.
He looked—it was white; he couldn't name the species. He slipped it into his pocket.
The long coat he'd worn in the fight was ruined; he had on a new light windbreaker now.
"I'll accept the gift. Please also thank Ms. Makima for me when you go back—tell her I'm fine, all is well."
He smiled at Angel and turned toward the café.
Two steps later, he felt someone following.
He turned—right into Angel's dead-fish eyes.
"Eh? Anything else?" he asked.
"Ms. Makima says she's very sorry about Power, the contract… mm…" Angel sighed. "Forgot the middle, and the end. Anyway, she told me to ensure Mr. Su Tang's safe return to Public Safety to avoid further devil attacks."
Uh.
Su Tang blinked, surprised.
First time he'd seen such a conscientious seller (Power: mind your manners). Even after a contract failed due to force majeure, there was after-sales service.
But with his clinic gone—what use was a new contract?
So he shook his head and smiled. "Ms. Makima is considerate. But I won't go just yet—I've got something to do. I'll pay a visit later."
"Is what you're doing very important?"
Angel, with that just-woke-up tone: "Su Tang, you must think thrice before acting."
Su Tang nearly laughed.
If someone else said it, he might hear threat or instruction; from Angel's lifeless voice, it sounded comedic.
"First think: can I not do it."
"Second think: can I give it to someone else to do."
"Third think: can I do it tomorrow."
This time Su Tang couldn't hold back.
He arched a brow at Angel counting on her fingers and thought—true master of the Lying-Flat School.
Checking the time on his phone, he smiled. "All right, let's go to Public Safety first."
"Wait."
"What now?"
"Mm, I just thought thrice myself." Angel touched her cheek. "If I take you back now, I might be assigned other stuff. So troublesome."
"So I'll tag along. Do what you need to do."
Su Tang: 6.
Work—optimized.
"Fine. Come with me to the café first. They should have ice cream." He'd noticed earlier that Angel kept side-eyeing an ice cream stand.
"Yay." For once, light flickered in Angel's eyes. "Su Tang, you're a good person."
Ding-a-ling.
The familiar wind chime.
And the familiar violet-haired girl.
"Welcome to—" Reze hustled over in her work uniform, bowed, and looked up. When she saw it was Su Tang, she beamed. "Teacher is here!"
"Ahem…" He nodded lightly. It was daytime; the café had three or four customers. Being called that out of the blue was a bit embarrassing.
"Are you here with a friend…?"
Seeing her glance at Angel behind him, Reze's look turned questioning. Su Tang paused, then explained: "She… is a coser, playing an angel. Mm… if you don't get it, think of it as performance art."
Listless behind him, Angel nodded cooperatively. Her eyes were already glued to the soft-serve machine behind the counter.
"All right." Reze gave Su Tang a thoughtful look.
He felt a little awkward under it.
He coughed and changed the subject: "Coffee, the usual. For her… start with an ice cream."
Angel shot to the counter.
Su Tang shrugged and reached into his pocket. "I'll pay first."
He pulled something out for Reze.
But the instant his hand extended, he sensed it was wrong—money didn't feel like this?
He looked down. Sure enough—
He'd grabbed the wrong thing.
Cash was in the right pocket; he'd pulled the flower from the left.
He gave an apologetic smile and was about to take it back when Reze's face suddenly turned red.
"T-teacher… this… is a bit sudden."
"Catching me off guard with a flower… the idea's overused, but… I still really like it…"
"Thank you!"
Blushing, the girl accepted the already-drooping flower and pinned it in her hair like a treasure.
Su Tang froze for a moment.
Partly at the charm she suddenly exuded; partly because he remembered her background.
Never schooled… working hard…
This might be the first time she'd been given flowers.
Even if it was wilted and ugly…
After a few seconds of silence, he said, "That flower… I picked it by the roadside. If you like, next time I'll buy you a nicer bouquet."
"Ah, no, no… and I've never given you anything…" Reze waved, flustered. "How about this visit—let me treat you and your friend!"
Seeing her so guilty over it, Su Tang opened his mouth, then simply nodded.
Angel was already sitting and licking her soft-serve. He glanced over and decided to get his errands done.
"So—where's your restroom?"
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