Ariel descended from the sky in a beam of light.
She landed gracefully on the rooftop of a tall building, her white wings folding behind her. Her halo shines gently above her silver hair.
She check her glowing scroll.
Mission: Guide Human #45821
Name: Daniel Mori
Status: Emotionally unstable.
Priority: High.
Ariel smiled confidently.
"Don't worry, Daniel," she whispered.
"Heaven has sent its best."
A slow clap echoed behind her.
"Well, that's embarrassing."
Ariel froze.
She turned slowly.
Leaning against the rooftop door was a tall man with messy black hair, crimson eyes, and a smirk that wants to cause trouble. Dark smoke surround him.
Small black horns poked out from his hair.
Ariel's eye twitched.
"You."
He grinned. "Miss me?"
"Lucien."
Lucien gave a dramatic bow. "The one and only. Hell's finest. Unfortunately."
Ariel narrowed her eyes. "Why are you here?"
Lucien pulled out a burning-red contract.
"Same reason you are, feather princess."
She snatched the paper from him.
It read:
Assignment: Corrupt Human #45821
Name: Daniel Mori
Status: Vulnerable.
Priority: High.
They stared at each other.
"You can't be serious," Ariel said.
Lucien shrugged. "Looks like Heaven wants to save him. Hell wants to tempt him. And we both got stuck with the job."
Ariel looked horrified.
Lucien looked delighted.
"Oh this is going to be fun."
Thirty minutes later, they stood in front of Daniel's apartment door.
Ariel inhaled deeply. "We will handle this professionally."
Lucien leaned close to her ear. "Define professionally."
She elbowed him.
He didn't move.
"First rule," Ariel said. "No unnecessary chaos."
Lucien raised his hand but Ariel didn't care.
"Second rule," she continued. "No emotional manipulation."
He raised another hand but same as before, he got ignored.
"Third—"
He knocked on the door loudly.
Ariel gasped. "What are you doing?!"
The door opened.
A tired young man stood there, messy hair, dark circles under his eyes.
"Yes?" Daniel asked.
Lucien smiled brightly.
"Hi! We're your new roommates."
Ariel's halo flickered.
"Roommates?!" she whispered furiously.
Lucien leaned casually against the doorframe. "Budget cuts in the afterlife."
Daniel blinked. "I… don't remember agreeing to this."
Ariel forced a polite smile.
"We're exchange students."
Lucien nodded. "From very far away."
Daniel stared at their identical luggage.
"…Why do you both look like you hate each other?"
They answered at the same time.
"I don't hate him."
"I absolutely hate her."
They turned slowly toward each other.
Daniel sighed. "This is going to be a long year."
He had no idea how right he was.