<h4>Volume 1, Chapter 9 - Gather Heaven, Earth, and Hell</h4>
A clock ticked with perfect regrity.
Clocks were science incarnate. The world was ruled by time and man had built clocks to rule over time. They were proof that man used springs to oppose the world that god had created.
That was why the girl loved this old clock.
Leaning on it was enough to rx her. The ticking of the second hand was especiallyfortable. Its regr rhythm felt like the beating of a heart, reminding her of her mother’s heartbeat. It brought her back to her time as a fetus.
The girl was human, so that was where her memories of peacey.
And the girl was human, so it was only natural to rely on science.
“Miss A, I have a report from Miss E who contacted that boy.”
A mechanically synthesized voice cut in. The girl frowned at having her rest disturbed and she looked upwards.
The clock was a pocket watch with a leather strap and it hung around a white rabbit’s neck.
Light reflected from the rabbit’s red eyes which wererger than the girl.
“She seeded in procuring the boy’s sperm. He is definitely Adam, the core of our n. However, it seems the cells can’t be imnted for artificial insemination. She also failed to request his cooperation. He is already working with the angels.”
“I see. I suppose Machina…Miss E is too poor a talker.”
The girl got up from the old clock and ced her tall leather heels on the floor which was entirely covered with countless ying cards.
“Not a problem. We can correct this scenario.”
She parted her blonde hair.
“Maintain the current situation so we can make our next move against the angels and demons on a moment’s notice. It hurts that they got the first move in, but all three factions are still lined up alongside each other. If he’s leaning toward the angels, that gives us a slight advantage.”
“Understood.”
The girl gave a small sigh.
“The time of rivalry has arrived.”
Despite the girl’s appearance, she gave a deep, deep sigh that seemed to hide a thousand years of life behind it.
“If we cannot break through destiny, nothing remains for us. We need him to break it for us.”
“Yeah, that’s right, mama. I broke through a piece of destiny.”
There was darkness.
It was too dark to tell which way was up and which was down, but Luciay there.
Or was he really lying down? He might have been standing or he might have been falling.
Regardless, he seemed to be using the darkness as afortable bed.
“I was toote to make the first move, but I made up for it this time. Didn’t I tell you I could manage even against an angel?”
He opened his pale, cloudy eyes.
A woman was there. She had long blonde hair and a beautiful yet somehow inhuman devilishness to her.
Her gently drooping and maddeningly bewitching eyes were just like Lucia’s.
“I’ll move to the next stage soon. …Heh heh heh. I’ll be taking another step closer to Mutsuki-kun.”
The mention of “Mutsuki-kun” was enough for both the boy and the woman’s cheeks to melt.
Theyughed obscenely like they were drunk on sweet wine. And…
“All three factions are lined up alongside each other now. It’ll take us some preparation to achieve our goal, so we might be falling a little behind. Well, we’ll make up for it soon enough.”
He jumped down to arge clock.
“After all…”
Hended on Megutono Academy’s clock tower.
“I’m the one that loves Mutsuki-kun the most?”
A ce far closer to the sun than the earth was filled with never-ending light.
The humansmonly called it “above the clouds” and both the floor and walls were as white as clouds. The reflecting light dazzled Micha after her time in the dimmer human world.
But unlike on earth during the summer, this ce was nice and cool.
She narrowed her eyes and stretched her back.
She faced…a mass of wings. Something had six pure-white wings wrapped around itself like a cocoon.
“Thank you for the report. So you are certain it is him?”
Someone spoke from within the wings. The voice was too muffled to tell if it was male or female.
“There is no mistaking it.”
“Then…you and the maiden of blue fire are to prioritize protecting Adam rather than the Serpent’s Eye holder. I will pass the report on to the higher ups.”
“Understood. And ording to the report, one of Mutsu-…one of the boy’s ssmates is a member of FeTUS. At Ange’s current level, I believe she would have trouble opposing them.”
“That is not a problem. We have already taken measures against that. We are all on equal footing, which is not the best situation, but as long as the humans and demons stay put, this should be fine.”
“Understood.”
Micha gave a quick bow with her back still straightened.
The winged individual finally lowered its voice like a living creature with actual emotions.
“Gather heaven, earth, and hell and you will have everything. …Who would have thought they would be gathered in such a small ce?”
The six wings slowly opened.
“ording to Genesis, the world was created from discord.”
It was not clear what or who was there. It was as bright as the sun, so Micha could not even look at it after growing ustomed to the dim human world. But she did know one thing.
“Human history is a history of discord. Ever since they were created from the dirt of the earth, they have never forgotten conflict. And the same can be said of us angels and the demons. After all, god is the only perfect being.”
This being was superior to her.
“But…”
The light spoke.
“If some form of harmony does in fact exist…”
“Listen, Mutsuki.”
“Y-yeah?”
“She got away yesterday, but we’re definitely getting that girl to talk today. I doubt she would talk even if we threatened her, so you talk to her. Get her to tell us what’s going on inside FeTUS and what she’s doing.”
“But…I wouldn’t know what to say.”
“Think about it. You were getting along so well yesterday. Just get her to tell you about FeTUS as a continuation of your pillow talk. Simple, right?”
“I-I wouldn’t call it getting along…”
“Here shees!”
It was eight thirty the following morning.
Ange and Mutsuki looked out the window and spotted Machina slipping through the school’s gate at thest second like a machine.
“Morning, Fujita-kun, Jiyuuni-san. You left early yesterday, but are you oka-… What is it?”
“Ah…ah ha ha. Good morning. It’s nothing.”
A deadly look came over short-tempered Ange who was already prepared to fight, so Saya and their other ssmates looked shocked.
“Anyway, you need to get her talk by force. After what you did yesterday, you should be able to do that.”
“Qu-quit mentioning what happened yesterday.”
The eager girl made Mutsuki blush and grow frantic.
This time yesterday, Machina had been a ssmate he was happy simply watching from the sidelines. He did not know what kind of distance to keep from her after the previous night, but…
“…”
At the same time, it was useful to have a way to find out about FeTUS. Ange would be providing backup and there was a lot he wanted to ask about: what kind of organization it was, why they were after him, and…
About yesterday.
“Here she is.”
He looked up at Ange’sment and saw Machina enter the ssroom.
Mutsuki and Ange’s desks were next to and behind hers, so she naturally approached them with her usual doll-likeck of expression.
“C’mon, say it.”
“O-okay. Um, Ibekusa-san…”
Once she was within earshot, he hesitantly spoke to her.
She walked past him, ced her bag on her desk, and then spoke.
“What?”
She turned only her eyes toward him.
“…Um.”
“?”
“Um…”
What was her connection to FeTUS? Was she after his Serpent’s Eye? Was she okay after what happened yesterday? He wanted to ask so much and it all swirled around his head.
And he ultimately managed to get out a single word.
“G-…”
“…”
“Good morning.”
“…Good morning.”
A smile naturally rose to his face and he had a feeling her expressionless look had softened when she replied.
Ange, on the other hand, copsed onto her desk behind the girl.
“You are useless! That’s enough. Hey, Ibekusa! We need to talk!”
After kicking her roommate in the butt, she approached Machina.
But time was already up.
“And this is our ssroom. …Hey, Mutsuki, you here?”
The friend he had not seen yet today entered the ssroom.
“What is it, Sakae?”
“Well, we’ve got another transfer student today. I was showing him around the school, but he ims to know you.”
“Mutsuki-kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun?????”
Someone pushed passed Sakae and dashed toward Mutsuki.
It happened too suddenly for Mutsuki, Ange, or Machina to react. The transfer student jumped right into Mutsuki’s chest.
“Eh heh heh~ I couldn’t resist, so I came here. I’ll be in your ss from now on~?”
The boy’s smile may have been cuter than any of the girls in the ss as he rejoiced like a puppy.
“Eh? Wah. Wait. You. Lu-…”
For some reason, he was wearing the same Megutono Academy boy’s uniform as Mutsuki.
“Lucia-kun?”
Mutsuki’s mouth hung open.
“—————!”
Ange was just as shocked and she quickly pulled her wing pendant from her chest. She prepared to summon the divine sword that could respond to this demon’s surprise attack, but…
“Stop. No fighting in the ssroom.”
“Gh…”
Machina stopped her with a hand.
Even if Ange had the upper hand against a demon, she had to be cautious of the FeTUS girl, so she was forced to stop.
Lucia continued rubbing against Mutsuki’s chest and stuck his tongue out toward the other two.
He also showed no sign of fighting.
“U-um. Why?”
Once Mutsuki’s mind finally caught up, he hesitantly moved away.
“Satowa Lucia here is transferring in today,” introduced Sakae. “Looks like he really does know you, Mutsuki. Anyway, Satowa, I’m the Tomono Sakae, ss rep and the man who will one day stand at the center of the world. Nice to meet you.”
“What are you talking about? The most you’ll ever manage is the center of this ss.”
The other ssmates gathered around.
“Um, Satowa-kun? Wow, you’re so cool?”
“Damn, I was hoping for another cute girl, but it’s just a guy. …Wait, that is a guy, right?”
“Ha ha. Looks like we’ve got a new friend? I’m Kurikara. Kurikara Saya. You can call me Saya.”
Lucia was surrounded in no time.
He fully pretended to be a transfer student and pleasantly said “nice to meet you all”.
The androgynous and coquettish boy had stolen the hearts of every girl in the ss (and of a lot of the boys), so Ange could not touch him. She red at him but had to put away her pendant top.
“Hey, you! What’s the meaning of this!?”
She knew she had to be cautious, so she shouted angrily at him.
“Eh heh. This is Mutsuki-kun’s scent~”
Lucia ignored her and rubbed up against Mutsuki some more.
“…”
Machina did not seem to care and sat in her seat.
Ange: a short-tempered angel that protected Mutsuki with blue mes and arge sword.
Lucia: a hedonistic demon boy whomanded creepy demons and opposed the angels.
Machina: a mysterious ssmate who imed to be one of the FeTUS Witches.
Gather heaven, earth, and hell, and it was said you would have everything.
And ording to Genesis, the world was created from discord.
But when one ssroom’s worth of the world was gathered…
“Eh heh. I finally get to be with Mutsuki-kun~?”
“Mutsuki! How long are you going to cling to him! Get away from him!”
“I-I’m not clinging to him. He won’t let go.”
“…Phew.”
Strangely, it felt no different from a normal lively morning.