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Have you ever dreamed of seeing an angel? Have you ever been visited by one?
The answer to the second question is probably no, so you shouldn’t be surprised with Mafuyu’s reaction when a winged creature with a halo landed in front of her gracefully.
In this post-apocalyptic reality, seemingly abandoned by God, a divine presence was certainly an unexpected one. Mafuyu was sure she was hallucinating out of hunger, that it’s a mirage, her mind playing tricks on her once it’s seen sun after weeks of rain. But if that’s the case, why did the white-haired girl seem so… real?
Mafuyu didn’t gasp or take a step back, she was too tired to. She just stared at the being. Was it one of God's messengers, this type of angel that led children into Heaven? Has her time come? Was today the day she’ll finally find peace?
Maybe I’ll see mum again, she thought. Maybe I’ll see Shizuku and Mum again, she thought. Foolishly so, but what did she have left if not hope?
Greetings… - The long-haired girl did a bow of respect. It made Mafuyu remember just how disheveled and tired she looked, like someone with one foot already in their grave. Being bowed to in such a state felt humiliating.
The angel didn’t seem to mind, though. She continued with her greeting.
My name is Kanade. I was sent by the Father to help you.
Whoever this “Kanade” was, she didn’t specify who the “Father” is. Not like she had to.
- …Hi. - Mafuyu tried to say, but it sounded more like a dry whisper. Ah, right, she forgot just how much the lack of hydration affects speech. She once again felt humiliated in front of this so-called godsend.
The girl, once again, didn’t seem to mind. She just smiled slightly.
You don’t have to tell me your name if you don’t want to. I can remember you just fine without this knowledge… You are quite too pretty to forget.
Mafuyu found herself nodding unconsciously. She was too exhausted to ponder the out-of-nowhere flattery.
Kanade seemed to notice that, her wings twitched slightly as she took a few steps closer.
- Ah… right, food. I’ll gladly help you find something that can be turned into a meal.
After a few minutes of looking, Kanade has found a hare in the bushes.
As she held it by its ears, she looked it up and down.
- This one seems quite suitable. Although I’m not sure how are we supposed to make it stop mov-
The angel girl didn’t even finish her sentence before Mafuyu snatched the hare and stabbed it in the throat with her dagger. The animal let out a last pained, breathy whimper before going limp in Mafuyu’s hard grip.
The girl didn’t seem to notice a gasp from Kanade through her hazed, hungry mind. She looked like she was about to bite into the animal on the spot.
- C-comrade, let’s cook it first! - Mafuyu suddenly felt her arm being shaken by Kanade. As she raised her gaze at the godsend, the girl seemed to shrink in herself slightly. Maybe she was feeling intimidated. Maybe she finally saw just how beyond saving Mafuyu is.
Mafuyu’s grip on the hare loosened slightly.
Y-yeah. Let’s cook it.
After a few minutes, Kanade has set a campfire secured with stones(how does she know how to do that….?) and found a wire that she impaled the hare on later. Right now they were sitting on the opposite sides of the fire while Kanade adjusted the hare on it, poking it with a stick.
She tried to strike a conversation while Mafuyu’s meal was being roasted.
How old are you? - she asked.
18. - Mafuyu answered. - And you?
17… I suppose. Where I’m from we don’t really count years.
Heaven’s residents don’t count years? - This was getting interesting, Mafuyu thought.
Kanade sighed and looked away. She looked pensive.
Yeah, not really… We’re usually too busy playing and having fun to count time…
Mafuyu thought about the answer she was given. Then she asked a question that’s been nagging her ever since she first saw Kanade.
Why… travel all the way down? To the Earth, I mean. Why abandon the carefree life in Heaven to descend?
Kanade’s blue eyes lit up.
Because I want to help people! To share that joy I’ve been feeling since Father created the world. I want people to be saved…
So you aren’t the most… selfish type, I see.
I-I’m trying not to be!
Kanade took the hare from above the fire and started to cut it into pieces with the dagger borrowed from Mafuyu.
- Helping mortals is why we, cherubins, were created, no? - She continued her answer with a smile on her face. - I want to save as many people as I can… Even in trivial things. Like meals! - She gave Mafuyu the roasted hare’s leg, as if to accent her words.
Mafuyu didn’t waste any time - She straight up grabbed the dead animal and bit into it like the starving person she was. She didn’t care about the yet another gasp from her new-found angelic companion as she pushed the meat into her mouth greedily.
After she was finished with the leg, she stole a glance at Kanade while licking her fingers. The angel looked like she felt a mix of shock, disgust and fascination. This kind of morbid curiosity you feel when you see an interesting bug.
- D-do help yourself. - The girl muttered, still staring.
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