A few weeks passed.
And somehow… things went almost too smoothly.
Max got closer to Loona. Closer to Millie. Little touches. Lingering looks. Late-night conversations in the office when Blitzø wasn't paying attention. It wasn't rushed, but it wasn't slow either. It felt natural. Which honestly scared him more than resistance would have.
Of course, Blitzø eventually noticed.
He always did.
Max had just finished helping Millie clean blades when Blitzø stormed into the office, eyes narrowed.
"Okay! That's enough!" Blitzø snapped, pointing dramatically between Max, Millie, and then toward Loona's desk. "I will not have my employees forming some weird poly-sinner cuddle cult in my workplace!"
"It's not—" Max started.
"OUT!" Blitzø barked.
He actually tried to drag Max by the collar before Loona smacked his hand away.
"He pays rent," Loona said flatly. "And he's useful."
Blitzø squinted suspiciously but eventually threw his hands up.
"Fine! But I'm watching you, wolf-boy."
Even so, the tension lingered. It wasn't sustainable. Max knew that. He needed to move the timeline forward before Blitzø escalated things.
And he still hadn't met Cherry again.
Or her sister.
But he finally got a tip.
Cherry and "another one like her" had been seen near a rival gang's building in Pride. Explosives were involved. Obviously.
Max said his goodbyes to the girls and the team, keeping it casual.
"Be back later," he told Loona.
"Don't get blown up," she muttered, pretending not to care.
He shifted into his incognito form once he was out of sight—trench coat, shadowed face, aura dulled.
"Things are going well," he muttered as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop. "One more significant date and Loona and Millie should lock in. Then I can fast-forward to Bee."
He landed on the roof of a massive warehouse building packed with sinners inside.
Moments later—
Boom.
Cherry vaulted onto the roof like she owned gravity itself.
Right beside her…
Poppi.
Same body type. Same chaotic posture.
But darker clothes. Neon purple highlights running along the seams. Her single eye glowed slightly more violet than Cherry's hot pink. The grin was similar… but sharper. More curious than reckless.
Cherry spotted him first.
"Better watch out you—" She paused. "Oh hey! It's you. What are you doin' here, trench coat?"
"Just wanted to ask your sister something," Max replied calmly. "I assume you're about to demolish whoever's inside."
Cherry grinned wide.
"Got that right. Won't erase 'em, but it'll hurt their rep." She tossed a bomb lazily. "As for my sister? Sorry mate, don't think she swings your way."
"It's not like that," Max said evenly. "Just a conversation."
Cherry shrugged.
"Sure. I'll set charges. Don't die."
She hopped off the edge, heading to plant explosives along the building's structure.
Poppi walked closer, eye narrowing slightly.
"So," she said, hands on hips. "What do you want?"
Max studied her for a moment.
She felt… different.
"Just wondering if you'd be interested in meeting some friends of mine," he said. "Loona. Octavia. Beelzebub. Millie. Charlie. Vaggie. Around the hotel in Pentagram City."
It was subtle.
But intentional.
Poppi's eye scanned him top to bottom.
Then she shoved him.
Hard.
Max went straight off the roof.
"Be right back, sis!" Poppi called casually as she jumped down after him.
Max landed in a pile of junk and metal scrap below, coughing slightly as Poppi dropped beside him.
She offered him a hand.
"Okay, wow," she said excitedly. "You're another reincarnate like me!"
Max blinked.
"Well. That was fast."
She grinned wider.
"Obviously. The vibe is different. You're not normal."
He stood, brushing off debris.
"Mind telling me your story?"
"Only if you tell me yours," she shot back.
Max summoned two simple chairs from compressed shadow. She plopped into one immediately.
"Alright," Poppi began. "Terminal illness. Hospital for three years. Huge Hazbin fan. Season two ended. I died two days later. Asked to be Cherry's sister. Got no pain, full immortality—angelic weapons can't kill me—and basically premium Hell access."
She spread her arms dramatically.
"Best deal ever."
Max nodded slowly.
"Admin gave me everything," he replied. "Powers. Harem effect. Brother of God. But he was trying to get fired, so the setup was messy."
Poppi laughed.
"Typical overpowered protagonist."
Max glanced around, then erected a small barrier to muffle sound and conceal them. He dropped the incognito form.
Poppi leaned forward.
"Oh, that's better. The trench coat was creepy."
"I had an accident," Max said. "Got thrown into the past. Mission from God: make the girls love me deeply again. Engagement happens in two years. But my body can't handle the divine upgrades anymore. Using high-tier skills damages me."
Poppi studied him.
"So the names you dropped are your harem."
"Yes."
"And me?"
Max summoned the phantom ring.
It hovered between them, glowing faintly purple.
"This is the harem effect mixed with my mission. It originally targeted Cherry. Redirected to you. If you don't want this, crush it with intent and I'll disappear from your life completely. I won't ruin your fresh start."
Poppi stared at the ring.
She reached toward it. Her hand passed through.
She leaned back.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
She was quiet for almost a full ten seconds.
Then she smirked.
"Absolutely not."
Max blinked.
"What?"
"You are way too interesting to ignore," Poppi said. "Plus, best dating pool in Hell. And I get to hang out with powerful demon women? That's elite."
She flicked the ring back toward him.
"Deal."
Max actually looked surprised.
"You're sure?"
"Very."
She stood up, dusting herself off.
"But I want a date soon. Proper one. Not this rooftop interrogation stuff."
Above them, Cherry shouted.
"POPPI! I'M ABOUT TO PRESS IT!"
Poppi grinned.
"Gotta go. Chaos waits."
She leapt upward toward the rooftop.
Max stood there for a moment, watching.
"…Well," he muttered.
One more ring began to glow.
He smiled slightly.
"Guess I better plan a date."
[AN: Sorry for the delay. I had like half a chapter completed on each of my stories. But here is a completed chapter. Have fun]
