Chapter 13: The Ever-Positive Angel Is in Charge of the Magical Girl's Mental Care

What a Magical Girl Desires

While Yoo Seo-ah was in the bath, I struggled to figure out where and how to begin this conversation.

Should I just bring it up directly?

Even married guys do that all the time, right?

That it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

So maybe I should just keep quiet for now, sneak out to visit Magical Girl Blue, then come back and apologize...

"Hey!!!"

Are you seriously thinking of leaving another wound in Yoo Seo-ah’s heart when she’s just beginning to heal?!

You promised from the start you wouldn’t go anywhere, told her not to worry, said you were her one and only angel—and now you’d disappear without a word?!

Don’t you even care about how much that would hurt her?!

Even deceit has its limits!

You’re the one who chose her! You’re the one who said those words!

Push through! Endure it!

"Ugh…"

I slowly peeled off my halo pressing on my head like a vice and let out a sigh.

Seriously… I have no idea where to even start.

‘And if I wait until Black is completely okay before making a move, the other magical girls might fall into serious condition…’

Maybe I could spend the daytime with Blue while Yoo Seo-ah’s away, and come back here in the evening when she returns home?

With my abilities, that might actually work…

…No, no. That’s not right either.

I might get away with it for a day or two, but sooner or later she’d definitely find out.

‘I don’t want to hurt her like that.’

If I leave Yoo Seo-ah’s side now, I’d be snatching away the warmth she just started to learn.

But if I stay, the other magical girls’ wounds will only deepen.

If I hadn’t learned of their existence, I wouldn’t be having this dilemma at all, but I already know about them through the story.

I’ve realized that they’re hurting too, suffering all alone.

"Ugh…"

I want to make the magical girls happy.

I want them all to be happy.

Is this because I became an angel upon entering this world?

Or maybe my desire to make them happy was always just this strong?

‘I have so much love to give, but only one body to give it with…’

What’s the point of having infinite love, if there’s only one outlet to pour that love into?

I let out a deep sigh, my wings drooping helplessly—

—when I suddenly felt something touch my wings and turned to look.

Snow-white long hair. A pair of angelic wings. A glowing halo over the head.

Eyes that drooped ever so slightly, pupils glowing softly in a golden hue.

An angel who looked exactly like me was staring straight at me.

“...?”

“...??”

When I frowned slightly, the other one frowned too.

When I tilted my head, it tilted its head too.

“…Disappear.”

Whoa, no, no no no. That’s definitely not okay.

I shook my head firmly, and with a soft poof sound, the angel in front of me disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“…A living puppet? That’s just the worst…”

Is this supposed to be some kind of ‘Here, play with this instead of me’ thing?

Seriously, even I think that’s the worst.

After hesitating for a long while, unable to do this or that, I finally came to one conclusion:

To be honest with Yoo Seo-ah.

“Haa…”

Honestly, I’m not thrilled about this method either…

But if everything ends up hurting her anyway, then at least it’s better not to lie.

Just as I braced myself and waited for her to come out—

The bathroom door opened, and Yoo Seo-ah stepped out with a towel wrapped around her head.

“Sorry, did you wait long?”

“Nope, it’s fine! I’m used to waiting!”

I answered with a bright smile, and Yoo Seo-ah gave a faint chuckle and nodded.

Just a few days ago, she couldn’t even smile properly, let alone express any emotions, but now she’s smiling.

Is it really okay for me to leave her like this?

“What’s with the face? Something wrong?”

If I said “nothing,” that’d be a lie.

But I wasn’t mentally ready to be honest either.

After a split-second of hesitation, I chose the coward’s route—changing the subject.

Although even that felt like a lie, I quickly turned my body toward the kitchen and replied:

“It’s nothing! Come on, let’s eat!”

“It’s nothing, huh.”

I flinched at the touch of her hand on my shoulder.

Yoo Seo-ah grabbed my shoulder and gently turned me to face her.

“That’s not a face that says ‘nothing.’ What’s going on?”

Even though she must be hurting herself, she’s worrying about others first.

How noble of a heart is that?

“…”

I bit down on my lip, forcibly closing my mouth that was trying to blurt out useless words.

With both hands, I pressed down on my sparkling halo tightly so no light could leak out.

Yoo Seo-ah silently observed me, then gently placed her thumb on my lips.

I couldn’t possibly bite her hand, so I released the tension in my mouth.

“Don’t bite your lips like that. Lip wounds hurt the longest.”

Overcoming the pain of the past and using that experience to care for others.

Isn't that also a beautiful heart?

“One hundred points… One hundred points...”

“Pfft. What is?”

“Kindness. Nobility.”

At my words, Yoo Seo-ah’s eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled softly and shook her head.

“Thanks for saying that, but I still feel like you haven’t told me the most important part yet. What happened to make you look so troubled like that?”

“T-that’s…”

I awkwardly avoided her eyes and mumbled, and she let out a faint sigh and stepped back.

“Judging by your reaction, I guess it’s not something you can talk about just yet.”

“I’m sorry…”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for. Everyone has their own secrets, and whether or not to share them is their choice. Just because someone asks doesn’t mean you’re able to tell, right?”

Her words made my halo shimmer again.

Maybe it’s because I’d been pressing down on it earlier, it didn’t flash this time but softly glowed with small clusters of stars circling around it.

“You’re more of an angel than I am, Seo-ah.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m just doing what you taught me.”

“...Huh?”

When did I ever do that…?

As I blinked, Yoo Seo-ah chuckled softly and shrugged.

“When we first met, you said you wanted to talk. But instead of prying into things, you just waited quietly until I was ready to speak.”

— Your pain, your suffering, everything that’s been hurting and tearing you apart. I wanted to hear about them so I could help you.

“Ah… I guess it could have come across that way.”

“Well, thoughts belong to the one who has them, but words belong to the one who hears them. Whatever your intention was, that’s how I heard it.”

Yoo Seo-ah replied while setting dishes and side plates on the table.

Watching her in silence, I quietly went to get the rice and utensils.

“Grab yours too. Let’s eat together today.”

She already knew I’d said before that just watching someone eat was enough to make me feel full.

So asking me to eat with her must mean something else.

Maybe… she’s picked up on something.

“…Okay, sure.”

After hesitating for a while, I nodded, got my own portion, and sat down.

For a moment, we just faced each other at the table, until Yoo Seo-ah picked up her spoon first.

I followed her lead, and we both began eating in silence.

“Hey, angel.”

“Yes, Seo-ah?”

She called for me but didn’t say anything right away.

After a long pause, she gently set her spoon down and looked at me.

“You’re planning to leave, aren’t you?”

It wasn’t a question, it was a certainty.

I couldn’t say anything in response.

I looked into her eyes, fearing she might lash out or react like she had before.

Contrary to my worries, there was no obsession, no twisted affection, unlike that time. Her eyes only held quiet loneliness and a trace of sadness.

That made me feel all the more thankful—and even more guilty.

I said I would shower her with love, and now I was running away from that promise irresponsibly.

Yes… guilt.

That’s what kept weighing on my heart.

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize. I kind of saw this coming, and I was sure of it after seeing your reaction today.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I said you don’t have to apologize, didn’t I? Sheesh.”

Yoo Seo-ah pressed a finger to my forehead, tilting my head up.

As I lifted my head and met her eyes, she smiled mischievously.

“I’m okay, so just speak freely. Why do you want to leave?”

Her gentle voice nudged me to answer, and I carefully opened my mouth.

I told her about the news I'd seen recently about Magical Girl Blue, and the reason I descended to this world.

“So, you want to make all magical girls happy… That’s a nice dream. And that’s why you’re going to see another magical girl?”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing again?”

“Because I told you I was your angel. Only yours. That means I lied to you…”

“You said you were my angel ‘for now,’ remember? Honestly, hearing you say it that way helped me prepare for this a little. If you think about it that way, it’s not really a lie. Saying ‘for now’ meant that someday you might not be just my angel anymore.”

She rested her chin in her palm as she spoke.

“But still… Saying you’re only mine and then suddenly running off to another magical girl the moment you see them? To me, that’s kinda annoying.”

She looked at me with her sulky expression, and after thinking for a moment, I hesitantly opened my mouth.

“Then before I go, I’ll do anything I can for you. If there’s something I can do to ease your heart, even a little, then—mmph.”

Before I could finish, Yoo Seo-ah pressed her index finger against my lips.

As I blinked at her, she let out a bitter chuckle and shook her head.

“Don’t say things like that so easily. You will do anything? What if I told you not to leave?”

“Then… I…”

“Don’t worry. I won't ask you to do that. But instead—”

Yoo Seo-ah stood up from her seat and gave me a faint smile as she looked down at me.

“Just for today. No, actually, three days. Do whatever I ask you to do during that time. Then I’ll let you go.”

Three days… That wasn’t such a long time.

“Yes, okay.”

“Good. Deal’s made then?”

I nodded, looking at Yoo Seo-ah as she spoke with a smile.

For the next three days…

I would do anything she desires.

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