The World After God's Death
The world had not been the same since the death of God. His final breath was more than just the end of an era—it was the unraveling of everything. The heavens, once orderly and pristine, now felt fractured. The sun seemed to flicker weakly in the sky, and the very air felt empty. Mortals and immortals alike trembled in the aftermath of His passing. And though many tried to ignore the void He left, some, like Rael, knew the weight of His absence far too well.
Rael had been close to God in His final moments. He had been there when the Creator gave His last command, His final whisper of instructions to His most trusted servant: "Save this world." And Rael, even with the crushing emptiness in his heart, had accepted the charge. He had to. There was no other choice.
His six wings unfurled with an eerie grace, rippling with a celestial energy that made the atmosphere around him seem to quiver. The very world seemed to bend as he appeared—unsettling, yet undeniably powerful. His eyes remained closed, tears—black as night—trickling down his face. His expression never changed, always neutral, as if nothing could touch him, as if nothing truly mattered.
Rael didn't understand humans. They were so frail, so imperfect, caught in cycles of fear, hope, and suffering. He knew his mission, but the task felt too heavy for an angel who had been so close to a God who had once promised an answer to all the world's pain. "I have been sent to save this world," he murmured, almost to himself. But what did that really mean? And could he even live up to that promise?
The night was thick with tension. Denji stood frozen, his chainsaw revving in his chest, staring at the girl in front of him. Reze—the bomb girl. The one who had come to kill him, and the one he had almost killed in return. But for a moment, Denji hesitated. He couldn't do it. Despite everything, despite the violence, there was something about her that made him stop.
Just then, a presence filled the air—a presence that bent reality around it. The sky darkened, and an unnatural chill swept over the rooftop.
Rael stepped into the scene, his six wings unfolding behind him, casting dark shadows on the ground. His form was imposing, yet there was something ethereal about him. He moved like an angel, calm and detached, but there was something unsettling about him, something that made even Denji's heart race.
Without a word, Rael moved between Denji and Reze. His cold gaze lingered on the bomb girl, and then, with a voice that echoed with divine authority, he spoke: "Her fate is not yours to decide."
Reze, trembling but still defiant, looked between Denji and this new figure. She didn't know who he was, but she could feel the overwhelming power radiating from him.
Before Denji could even process what was happening, Rael raised a hand. The temperature dropped even further, and the air seemed to freeze. A flicker of light formed in the sky, crackling with divine energy. This being—this angel—was no ordinary entity. He was something else entirely.
As if on cue, Makima appeared from the shadows, her figure stepping into the tension with a smile that could freeze hearts. Her eyes locked onto Rael, her calm demeanor not faltering. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked, her voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. There was no fear in her, but something about Rael made her pause.
Rael did not respond immediately. Instead, he simply stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there was a silence—a silence pregnant with the weight of their opposing forces.
Makima's eyes narrowed. "You are not of this world. What is your purpose here?"
Rael's eyes remained closed. His voice, when it came, was low and almost mournful. "I have come to fulfill the will of the Creator."
And with that, the calm before the storm broke. Makima's powers surged, her control seeping through the air, but Rael—unaffected—stepped forward. His purpose was clear. And as much as she controlled the world around her, the divine power that Rael wielded made him impervious to her manipulation.
Makima took another step forward, her eyes locked onto Denji, her control already reaching for him as her fingers twitched. The moment she neared Rael, a sudden shift in the air made her pause. At first, it was imperceptible, a quiet hum, but then it became oppressive, like a weight pressing against her chest.
Rael stood unmoving, his six wings unfurled behind him, each feather seeming to shimmer with an ethereal light. His eyes remained closed, his black tears silently streaming down his face. Despite his calm demeanor, his presence radiated an overwhelming force—Judgment Aura—filling the space with an invisible but palpable energy.
Makima's fingers stiffened as she attempted to assert control over Denji again, but something was wrong. She tried to push her influence further, but the aura around Rael was pushing back, and with every attempt she made to move forward, she felt as though something was stopping her. The world around her felt different—twisted, alien—as though the laws of her control were no longer in effect.
She frowned, her serene composure slipping for the first time in front of this strange new force. "What is this?" she muttered, her usual calm giving way to irritation. "I don't know who you are, but you'll regret interfering."
Rael didn't even flinch, his voice calm but filled with an undeniable weight. "This is your judgment, Makima. You cannot control everything."
The Judgment Aura pulsated, filling the space with a divine presence, like the very concept of fate was being rewritten. Makima could feel the pressure mounting—her control slipping away with every passing moment. The closer she got to Rael, the harder it became to move, her power nearly fading against the divine energy surrounding him.
She took a step back, regaining her composure. "You may have the power to interfere, but that doesn't mean you can defeat me." Her fingers curled, preparing another attack, her eyes burning with resolve.
Rael's eyes remained closed, his tears flowing silently. "I don't need to kill you, Makima. I only need to remind you that some forces cannot be controlled."
Makima's hands clenched into fists, her calm returning, though now tinged with caution. She understood. For now, she couldn't overpower him. But she wouldn't back down. "You're a fool if you think this ends with you. You may have stopped me for now, but I'll always come back."
Rael tilted his head slightly, his wings folding behind him. "We'll see."
After the confrontation, the tension in the air was palpable. Rael's Judgment Aura gradually faded, but the space around them still seemed to hum with a divine pressure, as though the laws of reality were hesitant to return to normal.
Makima stood still, her fingers still twitching with the remnants of her control, but she was no longer moving forward. Her expression was one of frustration, but underneath it lay something else—an intense curiosity, the kind that only arose when she encountered something truly formidable.
Rael didn't move. His wings folded behind him, the soft rustling of feathers the only sound in the silence. His eyes remained closed, his tears still staining his face. Despite the overwhelming force of his aura, there was an unsettling calmness to him, as if he were simply waiting for something—waiting for Makima's next move, or perhaps the world itself to reveal its next step.
Makima's lip curled into a small smile, though it lacked its usual warmth. "You have a lot of power," she said, her voice softer than before, still carrying the weight of authority. "But you're naïve if you think this is over. You've only delayed the inevitable."
Rael didn't respond, but the intensity in the air didn't wane. Instead, it became heavier, almost suffocating. Judgment Aura had left its mark on Makima, and although she hadn't been broken, she knew that this encounter had changed something—perhaps even altered the course of fate itself. The question was whether she would fight back immediately or let the moment pass. One thing was certain: she wouldn't forget Rael's interference.
"Go back to where you came from, angel," Makima said finally, turning on her heel. "I have other matters to attend to." Her voice was colder, almost dismissive, but Rael could sense that it was more out of necessity than true indifference.
As she walked away, Rael remained standing still. There was a brief, haunting silence before he spoke, his voice barely a whisper in the now-quiet space. "You are judged, Makima. Whether you accept it or not."
She didn't respond, but the faintest shiver passed through her as she disappeared into the shadows, her figure vanishing into the distance.
Rael didn't pursue her. He knew that the confrontation wasn't over—not by a long shot. There were too many forces at play in this world, and Makima was a part of that. But for now, he had done what he came to do. The world would continue, and he would continue his mission to bring salvation—even if it meant facing beings like Makima who reveled in controlling it.
The weight of judgment, however, still lingered in the air, and Rael could sense that this was only the beginning of a much larger conflict.
As the dust settled from the chaotic battle, Rael remained in the shadows, his wings still and silent. The world around him was heavy with the aftermath of violence, but he saw through it all—every strike, every movement. He had watched Reze fall, battered and bloodied, knowing that she had chosen death rather than betray Denji. But it wasn't meant to end like this, not while Rael still had breath to spare.
With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, Rael stepped forward. Time seemed to slow, the air thick with tension, as if the very universe held its breath.
He knelt beside Reze, his dark tears staining the ground as they continued to fall. His hands hovered just above her, and with subtle force, he summoned his Judgment Aura—not to bring judgment, but to shift the course of fate itself. The divine energy crackled around him, warm and strangely calming, as it enveloped Reze's battered form in a radiant light.
Her breathing steadied, and the blood and bruises on her body began to fade. The frantic panic in her eyes slowly turned to confusion as she felt the warmth of Rael's power. She was no longer at the mercy of Makima's wrath—she was alive, though still weak.
Rael's voice broke the silence, quiet but firm. "You were never meant to die like this. Not by her hands."
Reze's eyes fluttered open, disoriented, but the comforting power surrounding her was undeniable. Her words failed her for a moment, her throat tight with disbelief.
Rael stood, his wings unfolding fully, dark and massive. He looked down at her with his usual neutral expression, unmoved by the chaos that had unfolded. "Get up. You're not done here. There is still a place for you in this world."
Reze looked up at him, wide-eyed. "Why? Why save me?"
Rael's frown deepened, his gaze unwavering. "Because I bring judgment, not death. Your fate is not for Makima to decide."
The words lingered in the air, and Reze felt a strange, humbling sense of clarity. There was more at play here than she had ever understood. As Rael stepped back, he gestured toward the horizon. "Go. Leave this place. This world has more to offer you than just death."
Reze struggled to stand, using the wall for support. Her body ached, but she was alive. She could feel Rael's presence behind her, but now, it was the thought of Denji that fueled her.
She stumbled toward him, finding him standing not far away, his face showing the confusion and relief that mirrored her own. He didn't know what had just transpired, but he saw her standing. Alive.
Rael's voice echoed in her mind, "You owe me nothing. But now, go live."
Reze reached Denji, her heart pounding in her chest. He was here. She was here. Alive.
And with that, Rael vanished into the shadows, leaving them behind—Reze and Denji, two souls bound by fate, free to walk their own path now.
Rael stood tall, his wings unfurling as they stretched against the stormy sky. With one last glance toward Reze and Denji, he hovered above them for just a moment, his dark form a stark contrast against the light of the heavens. Then, with a gust of wind, Rael ascended into the sky, vanishing into the distance, leaving nothing but the echo of his presence.
Reze and Denji stood in the aftermath of the battle, still reeling from what had just happened. The air was thick with silence, the weight of the moment heavy between them. Reze, though healed, still felt the sharp sting of her mortality—the fragility of her existence now made even more apparent. She stood there, her body trembling not from injury, but from the chaos of the world around them.
Denji, equally unsure, glanced over at her, his expression unreadable. The events had unfolded too quickly, too violently. He could still feel the remnants of Makima's power, the tension in the air, and now... now they were left in this strange, quiet limbo.
Neither of them knew what to say or do. There was no instruction, no guide for what came next. The world had changed in an instant, and they were left standing at the crossroads, caught between the past and whatever uncertain future lay ahead.
Denji scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. "So... uh... what now?"
Reze looked down, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of everything. She had been saved, yes, but for what? Was there a place for her in this world? Would Denji still want her now that the danger had passed?
"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice soft and uncertain. "I thought I knew what I was doing... But now?"
The silence stretched on, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. The sound of Rael's departure still lingered in the air, as if his presence had left a void that neither of them could fill.
And so, they stood there, together, yet lost. What would come of them now? Only time would tell.
As Reze turned to leave, still processing everything that had just happened, she paused. Her body had healed, her thoughts were clouded with uncertainty, but a strange quiet had settled in her chest. She had survived, yes, but what now?
Denji, still standing at her side, watched her movements, unsure of what to say. His mind raced, but only one thought emerged clearly, something simple yet important. He couldn't let her slip away—not like this, not when they both had so much to figure out.
"Hey, Reze," Denji called, his voice a little awkward but sincere.
She stopped in her tracks, looking back at him. "What is it?"
Denji hesitated for just a moment, but the words came out before he could second-guess himself. "How about we, uh, go out sometime? You know, to that cafe you work at? I think I owe you a coffee... or maybe more than that."
Reze blinked, caught off guard by the suddenness of the question. Her heart skipped a beat, a brief flash of warmth rising in her chest. She hadn't expected this. Denji had always seemed reckless, wild, but there was something genuine in his words now, something real.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but she didn't respond right away. Denji, his usual cockiness replaced with a hint of nervousness, shifted on his feet.
"Well, you don't have to, but... it's just... well, you saved me. And I don't want to leave things like this," Denji added quickly.
Reze let out a soft laugh, her expression softening. "You know, I think I might like that," she said, her voice quieter, a touch of warmth in her tone. "Maybe it's time I take a break from all this chaos."
Denji grinned, relieved, as Reze finally started walking back toward him. For the first time in a while, both of them felt like maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.
After Reze accepts Denji's invitation and gives him a small smile, she turns to walk away, her figure slowly disappearing into the distance. Denji watches her for a moment, a strange mix of excitement and uncertainty running through his chest. But before she can vanish completely, Denji yells after her, his voice carrying on the wind.
"Wait! What time? When should I show up for the date?"
Reze doesn't stop, but her voice floats back to him, playful and teasing. "I'll let you know," she calls, the hint of a smile still evident in her words. "Don't be late."
Denji stands there for a moment, grinning to himself, not quite believing what just happened. Reze, the girl he thought he'd lost, was going to give him a chance. A real chance.
With a satisfied chuckle, Denji spins on his heel and starts heading back to where Aki was waiting, his heart a little lighter. He had no idea what the future held, but for once, he wasn't so worried about it.
fter Denji's departure, Reze arrives at her apartment. The place is small, sterile, and uninviting—an apartment that has no sign of the woman who once lived there. It's a place meant to be temporary, a facade of a home, but it lacks any personal touch or warmth. The walls are plain, with no pictures, no decorations, just the bare necessities: a bed, a table, and a few items scattered around, a reflection of the life she's led until now—one of isolation and disconnection.
She sets down her bag by the door, her thoughts racing. Her mind drifts back to the encounter with Denji, that unexpected moment when, for once, someone had reached out without an ulterior motive. He had seen her not as a weapon or an enemy but as a person.
Reze moves toward the window, looking out at the dark city skyline. The faint glow of neon lights flickers outside, but the room she's in feels cold, devoid of life. She sighs, shaking her head, unsure of what to make of the strange connection she's felt, the strange pull toward Denji that had seemed to exist even before the fight.
Her fingers brush against the edge of the windowsill, tracing the cold metal, and for a moment, she wonders if she's been running from something deeper than just Makima or the life she's known. Maybe, for the first time, she had a chance at something different. Something real.
But it's hard to know what to do with it. There's still so much she doesn't understand. And yet, the thought of that coffee with Denji lingers in her mind, a small spark of hope in an otherwise cold world.
The night stretches on, but Reze remains at the window, lost in thought, as the city hums softly beneath her.
Reze couldn't sleep. The events of the day churned endlessly in her mind. Deciding to distract herself, she drew a bath, letting the water rise before stepping in. As she sank into its warmth, a thought pierced her calm: I failed my mission.
For a moment, guilt began to weigh on her, but it quickly melted away, replaced by thoughts of Denji. Despite everything, a small smile crept onto her lips. Denji… She couldn't think of anything else. Her happiness eclipsed her sadness, at least for now.
Far from her, Rael wandered through the aftermath of his own battle. Blood soaked his once-pristine white robe, the crimson staining him a reminder of the devils he had slain. Yet, his path forward remained unclear. How was he supposed to save the world? For now, he decided to remain hidden, blending into the human world.
As the first rays of sunlight touched his face, he squinted, muttering to himself, "I wonder what time it is?" With speed faster than any plane, Rael soared through the skies, searching for a supermarket to find new clothes.
After a while, he landed outside a small store. But then, a critical realization struck him. "I HAVE NO MONEY!" His frustrated rant echoed in the quiet street, cursing the complexities of human life.
Suddenly, a small girl walking nearby heard his outburst. Her head was bowed as she walked, but the sight of the towering, bloodstained figure startled her into a scream. Rael turned, his black tears still staining his cheeks.
Kneeling slightly to appear less intimidating, he spoke gently. "Hello there."
The girl let out a nervous yelp, her knees trembling. "My name is Rael," he continued, softening his voice. "Could you tell me what time it is?"
"It-it's 7:30," the girl stammered, barely audible.
Rael tilted his head in silence for a moment before asking, "And what is your name?"
"K-Kobeni," she managed to squeak, tears still streaming down her face.
Rael frowned. "Do you have any cash?"
Some time later, Rael walked out of the store, now dressed in a completely different style. He wore an oversized black shirt emblazoned with a skull, baggy black cargo pants cinched with two belts—one black, the other gray with white accents—and accessorized with several rings and a silver cross necklace. His black boots were partially hidden beneath the loose fabric of his pants, completing the look.
He pulled his long black hair into a messy half-up style, the disheveled strands framing his face. The transformation was striking, giving him the appearance of an emo boy straight out of a manga panel. His somber expression and dark aura suited the look perfectly, blending him into the world of humans more seamlessly than one might expect.
Rael glanced up as the first rays of the sun peeked through the horizon, casting a soft glow over the city. The time had slipped away from him, and he found himself standing at the edge of a quiet, empty street. The bustling energy of the city had yet to wake, leaving him in a rare moment of solitude. His eyes scanned the sky for a moment, the early morning mist still lingering in the air.
His thoughts drifted as he walked, aimlessly. The silence was calming, but it didn't bring the peace he needed. He couldn't escape the weight of the world on his shoulders—the mission to save humanity, the task he had been given by God. And in all that weight, there was one thing he couldn't shake: Elias.
Rael's wings, now hidden beneath his tattered, oversized shirt, felt heavy against his back as he walked through the streets. He needed to clear his mind, to reflect on everything that had happened, but it felt like he was getting further from understanding the answers. He needed space, time to breathe before he returned to the chaos below.
Rael found himself near the edge of the city, where the rows of houses gave way to a peaceful hill on the outskirts. The graveyard stretched before him, its endless rows of simple crosses lined up in neat, unbroken succession, as far as the eye could see. Each cross marked a life lost, a name carved in stone. Most of these graves belonged to the brave devil hunters who had fallen in the war against the Gun Devil, their sacrifices lost to time, but never truly forgotten.
Rael stood at the entrance, the weight of the world pressing down on him, and took a deep breath. The hill seemed to carry an eternal sorrow, a reminder of how many had died to save those who still lived. The crosses were a testament to the brutality of the ongoing war, each one a story of a life cut short. Yet, there was a quiet, almost solemn beauty in this place, the sun rising over the horizon, bathing the graves in a soft, golden light.
Rael sat down near the base of one of the larger trees that grew in the graveyard, its branches stretching upward like the wings of angels. He closed his eyes, leaning back against the bark, as his mind drifted to another time, another place.
A memory surged within him—Heaven. The perfect garden where he had once stood with Elias. Under the shade of a great tree, with flowers blooming around them, Rael had always found comfort in the stillness. But Elias, with his golden hair and hidden wings, had always looked at him differently. He had always cared in a way that Rael couldn't return, not because he didn't appreciate Elias' friendship, but because he couldn't afford to feel anything more. There was too much at stake. Too much he had to do.
Rael closed his eyes as the wind whispered through the tree branches. The image of Elias, the soft glow of his golden eyes, remained in his mind. Rael wasn't sure when he had first realized how much Elias loved him, but it had always been there, silently, like a constant in a world that kept shifting around them.
Rael reached up, brushing his messy hair out of his face. He couldn't stay in Heaven forever. He couldn't hide from his task. The world needed saving, and he had to find a way to do it—on his own.
But for now, in this quiet graveyard, beneath the rising sun, he could remember a time when life was simpler. And maybe, just maybe, he could make peace with the things he had lost.
As Rael sat quietly in the graveyard, far away, Denji and Reze found themselves standing under the soft light of the early morning sun. The day felt new, but their thoughts were far from fresh. The brief but intense encounter with Rael had left them both uncertain of their place in this chaotic world.
Reze, still wearing the same simple clothes she had on before, adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, her gaze wandering toward the horizon. Denji stood a few steps away, hands jammed into his pockets, his usual cocky demeanor muted by the weight of everything that had happened. His mind drifted between thoughts of their next move and his upcoming date with Reze. It felt surreal—something so simple, yet so big compared to everything they'd been through.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Denji's voice broke through the quiet, his eyes softening as he glanced at Reze.
She gave him a small, hesitant smile. "Yeah. It's... it's just going to take some getting used to." She paused, glancing over at Denji, meeting his gaze. "I guess we're both trying to figure out what comes next, huh?"
Denji nodded. "Yeah... I guess so. But, uh, if you're really okay with going to the cafe later, I'll be there. Maybe it'll make everything feel... normal again?" His voice trailed off, unsure, as if the thought of normalcy seemed out of reach.
Reze looked at him for a long moment, something soft flickering in her expression. She nodded slowly, her smile growing a little more genuine. "Normal sounds nice."
With that, they lingered in the moment, unsure of where to go from here. The next steps felt uncertain, but in that stillness, both of them knew that they weren't alone anymore. Their paths, though shaped by chaos and uncertainty, had crossed—and maybe that was enough for now.
Denji had arrived early, waiting at the small café where Reze worked. It wasn't the most glamorous spot, but it felt comfortable—simple and relaxed. He ordered a coffee, but his mind wasn't entirely focused on the drink. He had been thinking about what he wanted to say to her, though he hadn't given it much thought until now. This was his first real attempt at something that felt normal—something resembling a date.
Reze arrived as usual, her presence filling the small space with a calm elegance. She greeted Denji with a warm smile, one that didn't need to be forced. She went about her duties with ease, and Denji watched her, feeling a strange sense of admiration and nervousness that he hadn't expected. She was always confident, always composed, and he, on the other hand, was fumbling his way through this.
After she set down a cup of coffee for herself, she sat across from him, her gaze gentle but steady.
"So," Denji began, trying to sound casual. He had an idea in mind, but he wasn't sure how to phrase it. "You like movies?"
Reze raised an eyebrow at him, amused. "I'm not sure if I'm the movie type, but I'll watch one if you want to." She took a sip of her coffee, leaning back in her chair.
Denji hesitated. It wasn't as if he'd been planning this—he hadn't thought about it at all. But now that he had the chance, it seemed like the right thing to do. "Well, how about we go see one? I know a good place." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "It's... a Russian movie, actually."
Reze's eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity. She was from Russia, after all, so a movie in her native language wouldn't be a problem for her. "Russian, huh? I can understand that. What's it about?"
"I don't really know much about it," Denji admitted with a sheepish grin. "But I heard it's about this soldier going home to see his mom, and on the way, he meets a widow who lost her husband. They have this... connection. It sounded interesting, I guess."
Reze smiled softly. "It sounds like something with a lot of emotion."
Denji nodded. "Yeah... I think so. I figured it might be a good one to watch. Want to come with me?"
Reze studied his face for a moment, a soft smile forming at the corner of her lips. She could see through his attempt to be nonchalant. He was nervous, though trying hard to hide it.
"Sure," she said. "I'll go with you."
The two of them finished their coffee, and as they walked to the theater, Denji couldn't help but feel a little lighter. They didn't need to say much to understand each other's presence. For now, the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—it was just a part of the day. Something about it felt right, even though they were still figuring things out.
When they arrived at the theater, Denji bought the tickets, glancing over to make sure Reze was still with him. She didn't seem bothered by the lack of other people in the theater—it didn't matter to her. As the movie began, Reze offered to translate the parts Denji couldn't understand, and he appreciated it more than he let on.
As the film played on, it became clear that the soldier's journey and the widow's loss hit them both harder than they had expected. Denji didn't cry, but there was a weight in his chest, something he couldn't quite shake off. Meanwhile, Reze's stoic demeanor faltered for just a moment when the widow's tears became too much for her.
As the credits rolled, the theater was nearly empty, the lingering silence settling in around Denji and Reze. Denji, still processing the emotions the film had stirred in him, couldn't stop thinking about how it mirrored his own struggles—reaching out only to lose something important in the end. He turned to Reze, but before he could say anything, he noticed her wiping away a tear.
"I didn't expect it to hit me like this," Reze said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Denji nodded, trying to find the right words, but nothing came. Instead, he just sat there, feeling the weight of the moment, unsure of what to do next.
Reze, sensing his hesitation, leaned in gently and kissed him on the cheek. The softness of her touch made Denji freeze for a moment, his heart racing as if time itself had paused. She pulled away, her voice low but meaningful. "Sometimes... we just need to feel."
Denji, still lost in the unexpected tenderness of the moment, could only whisper back, "Yeah... we will."
As she stood to leave, Denji watched her walk away, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. His throat felt tight, but somehow, he didn't feel as alone anymore. It was a small moment, but it made him wonder if this connection, fragile as it was, might be something real.
Before she completely disappeared from view, Denji yelled out, "Hey, um, see you tomorrow?"
Reze smiled over her shoulder. "I'll be there," she said softly, before walking away, leaving Denji in the stillness of the theater, not quite sure what had just happened, but somehow feeling it all the same.