SRS 53

His straight fingers touched Yohan’s chest, pressing against his sternum as he met Yohan’s gaze.

“…You mean I can take your punishment away?”

Yohan could barely speak after a long pause, the conversation was too much to process. Mikael stood from his seat.

“Not exactly take it away. It’s closer to neutralizing it. I’ll still bear the punishment, but the wounds and pain that come after tearing my wings, you’ll be the one to heal them.”

“But I already failed.”

Yohan had already tried to heal Mikael twice and failed both times. He felt anxious at the thought of hoping for something that was already impossible, but Mikael didn’t care. He stepped closer until he was right in front of Yohan and reached out his hand.

He grabbed the back of Yohan’s chair. When Mikael leaned forward, his white hair brushed Yohan’s face.

“Your divine power is far greater than you think, Yohan. It’s beyond what any human should be allowed to have. That’s why even that angel professor is interested in you. Same for me. I may look like this now, but I was still an angel once.”

“……”

“The last time you failed to heal me, it wasn’t because you lacked power. It was because you couldn’t draw all of it out. You didn’t have the control yet, that’s all. Do you understand what I mean?”

Mikael’s voice was gentle but certain. His unwavering eyes gave weight to his words. Since an angel was speaking so confidently, Yohan couldn’t bring himself to deny it and just opened and closed his mouth without being able to say anything.

“Of course, it won’t be easy. Not now, maybe not even next year. But the important thing is that it’s possible. Right?”

“…Yes.”

The natural lead made Yohan agree before he even realized it. Mikael smiled, his eyes softening.

“This is what I’m asking of you, Yohan… Yohan Herse. I want you to neutralize my curse, at least a little.”

His clear voice struck Yohan’s ears with each distinct word. Mikael finally laid down his cards. He had revealed the intention he’d been hiding all along.

Yohan looked at him, taken aback by the side of Mikael he was seeing for the first time since enrollment. The student before him looked far too fierce to be called an angel, yet too divine to be mistaken for a demon. With the vengeful energy coiled inside him, Mikael felt more like a beastman than anything else. Cold sweat ran down Yohan’s back, but he didn’t show it and spoke calmly.

“…I’ve never broken a promise in my life. Not once. Until today.”

He looked down at the finger pressing against his chest, then wrapped his hand around Mikael’s and pushed it down.

“And I don’t plan to break one twice.”

Mikael blinked slowly, as if confirming that the person before him was really Yohan, then he smiled.

Pfft.

The next moment, Mikael burst out laughing. The clear sound was brighter than any laugh Yohan had ever heard from him.

Bending over in amusement, Mikael finally let go of Yohan’s chair, his face lit with genuine cheer.

“You’re hard to get tired of watching.”

“……?”

Yohan blinked, he was bewildered by the unexpected remark. Mikael straightened his back and looked at Yohan’s chest, as if measuring his divine power.

“Alright. I’ll believe in you.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t even realize what it means that I’ve decided to trust you.”

“…I do.”

“……”

Mikael tilted his head in disbelief, wondering why Yohan would even say that, then shook his head. Yohan brushed his knees and stood up from the chair.

“You’re someone who was betrayed by a human, and now you’re choosing to trust one again. Since I was reckless enough to ask about your past, I don’t want to be careless again after this. I’ll treat your trust with the weight it deserves.”

People who make one mistake become even more careful not to make another.

Looking at his friend, who wore a calm smile as if he’d long since buried all his pain, Yohan blinked once, then extended his fist.

It was something Suhyeok had taught him, a simple way to exchange trust.

Mikael stared at the hand for a moment, then chuckled and bumped his fist against Yohan’s.

“No one wants to be freed from God’s punishment more than I do, so I know you’re not saying this lightly. I’ll treat your theory as truth and try my best.”

If Mikael had asked him to lift God’s wrath itself, Yohan would’ve given up. How could a mere human undo the will of God? It was impossible, even blasphemous. After long thought, he would’ve refused.

But helping his friend endure the pain of divine punishment was different. And Yohan wanted to do that.

If the pain of tearing off his wings still lingered, then at least Yohan wanted to ease the agony that followed. After hearing Mikael’s story, he couldn’t help but feel compassion.

When Yohan said he’d do his best, Mikael’s expression turned strange. Just as Yohan wondered why, Mikael spoke.

“Don’t think I took interest in you because of your divine power, Yohan. Even without that, you’re more than enough to draw my attention.”

“……?”

“I like you, just as you are. I told you from the start.”

That you’re pure.

Mikael added calmly, without any change in expression. That made his words sound all the more sincere, without exaggeration, and Yohan felt a little embarrassed. He hadn’t expected to hear, from someone else’s mouth, the reason behind his own stubbornness back in the commercial district.

Only after hearing Mikael say that did Yohan realize why he had been irritated with him then. Not knowing how to respond, he just stood there. Mikael watched his expression for a moment, then softly laughed.

“It’s hard for beings of Heaven not to fall for those with pure souls.”

Sounding every bit the angel for once, Mikael slowly closed his eyes and opened them again.

“Shall we go, Yohan?”

He extended his hand, looking refreshed.

The student, calm and kind again, with that familiar touch of mischief, was back to his usual self. Thinking back on their long talk, Yohan took his hand.

“…It’s like you have two personalities.”

His honest remark made Mikael laugh. It was already the second time that day Yohan had seen him laugh so freely, and he sighed.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d chosen the wrong person to keep at his side, but there was no point regretting it now.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“Yohan! You’re way too late! Are you planning to repeat the year or what?”

By the time Yohan and Mikael returned to the dorms, the general education classes were already over. Their conversation had ended around the start of the fourth period, but Mikael’s bleeding hadn’t stopped, and the process of tearing his wings had taken too much out of him, leaving them no choice but to rest.

Thanks to that, Yohan now understood firsthand why Mikael disappeared for almost a full day whenever he vanished. As he adjusted the freshly cleaned clothes Mikael had helped him with, Yohan apologized to Suhyeok.

“I am sorry. The conversation took longer than I thought.”

“I was the one being a bit stubborn.”

Mikael quickly added, earning himself a glare. Standing side by side, Suhyeok and Kylus both gave them looks so piercing that Yohan almost flinched. He tried to subtly avert his gaze, worried that Suhyeok might notice something, but then a hand brushed against his back. It was Mikael.

Even without looking, Yohan could guess what he meant. He sighed and looked back at Suhyeok, their eyes met.

Suhyeok’s jet-black eyes flicked between the two of them, as if weighing their guilt, then slowly closed.

When Suhyeok finally sighed, Yohan felt relieved. That was the sigh he only made when he decided to let something go.

“Usually, it’s just one of you who vanishes, but this time both of you disappeared. Do you know how much I had to sweat coming up with excuses? I told the professors and everyone else that you two solved the spring task and ended up sick afterward. Since it was a request the headmaster handed down, the professors said they won’t deduct attendance. It’s an excused absence.”

“Suhyeok…”

“…You’re amazing.”

It was a thoughtful cover story. Even a fifth-year senior couldn’t have handled the situation better.

Yohan was moved, and Mikael was simply impressed by Suhyeok’s tact.

Suhyeok clicked his tongue at the two of them. He put his hands on his hips and raised his chin.

“You two owe me some praise after all that trouble. Getting praised by the two most ‘divine’ students on campus would make anyone feel godlike, you know? Come on, say it…ow!”

As Suhyeok shamelessly demanded flattery, Kylus smacked the back of his head.

“Hey!”

“…Welcome back. Looks like you’ve settled things.”

Ignoring Suhyeok’s protest, Kylus gave both Yohan and Mikael a pointed glance. Yohan scratched his cheek awkwardly and smiled.

“…Yes. We made up.”

“Good.”

Kylus nodded, grabbed Suhyeok by the collar, and dragged him toward the beds. Yohan was grateful that neither of them pried any further.

They really were remarkable friends.

He couldn’t stop himself from making mistakes, but Suhyeok and Kylus never seemed to.

“…Thank you.”

Maybe it was because of their professors, but Yohan sometimes thought they were really admirable people, even if they did lose their composure now and then. When he raised his voice a little and thanked them, the two bickering students suddenly froze and looked back at him, wide-eyed.

Then, at the same time, they grinned, raised their thumbs, and struck a proud pose.

Yohan couldn’t help but chuckle.