"Must be lonely," he says, "living in Old Home, with no real men around."

The haibane girl lights a cigarette.

"Wouldn't know," she says. "Never met one."

The self-styled ladies' man coughs on the smoke in his face.

"We're off limits to humans, you know."

"That's what I hear." Wouldn't he have something to tell the boys tonight…

"Anyone ever tell you why?"

"We could talk about it…at my place…"

The cigarette hits his chest—

Light. Pain.

"Thought they were…permanently attached…"

His angel looks down from Heaven, spinning her erstwhile weapon on her finger.

"That's why," she says, and leaves.