Chapter 10: Be ignored by your child

A child doting on another child.

How many scenes in the world could be more adorable, enough to draw gasps of admiration from onlookers?

“So cute~ So cute~”

“……”

If I hadn’t been in that situation myself, I would have reacted similarly to the people standing beside me.

I would have definitely been covering my mouth or smiling contentedly.

‘Th-this feels a bit strange….’

My vision swayed uncontrollably from side to side at the Japanese Angel’s touch, and I thought that.

Being constantly “cuted” in real-time, complex and subtle emotions were gradually emerging within me.

Then, this time, the Japanese Angel suddenly pulled my cheek.

“Ugh…”

A weak voice escaped me without resistance at the sudden action.

The Japanese Angel smiled brightly, seemingly satisfied, and said.

“Ehh! So cute!”

Seeing her so delighted, for a moment I even thought it would be fine to just keep letting her do this.

‘So this is why everyone has been so nice to me….’

Thanks to that, I realized it belatedly.

That unrealistic appearance must surely be included in people’s endless kindness.

I hadn’t realized it when looking in a mirror, but facing it in person, I felt it keenly.

An angel’s “appearance” was just like a weapon.

‘Everyone, everyone has been seeing this every day…?’

I felt my heart pound and swallowed hard.

Then, the Japanese attendant beside me spoke.

“Uhm~ Angel~?”

“Hmm?”

As the Japanese Angel tilted her head, the attendant continued.

“Korean Angel came today to learn from you, didn’t she~?”

“Learn? Hmm~? Was that it?”

“…… Yes, yes~! It was! You promised to teach her telekinesis, didn’t you? As an older sister!”

For some reason, the attendant emphasized the word “older sister” tremendously.

At that, the Japanese Angel’s seemingly bored expression brightened noticeably.

“Oh, that’s right! Right, right~ Of course, I, as your older sister, should teach you. I’m good at it~!”

“Of course~! Who else would she learn from if not you, Angel~!”

What, this is scary.

Th-these people are strange….

Listening to their conversation, that thought naturally occurred to me.

It was an alien and unnatural conversation, as if watching a play.

So, when I subtly glanced to see if Lee Hyejin and Park Gyutae thought the same, the expressions on their faces were completely different from what I expected.

‘Huh…?’

For some reason, both of them were looking at the backs of the Japanese attendants’ heads, filled with pity.

Why…?

My head tilted unconsciously in bewilderment.

At that moment, I was suddenly led by the Japanese Angel’s hand, moving as if being dragged somewhere.

‘Here…?’

The place we arrived at was a space I had seen… no, used in Korea.

It was a test room with one wall made entirely of glass.

‘Oh… it’s starting already…?’

Thanks to that, I was flustered again.

I had no idea it would start so immediately.

‘C-can’t I just rest for half a day…?’

I subtly rolled my eyes, trying to gauge the Japanese Angel’s mood.

Of course, the Japanese Angel, who naturally had no way of knowing my thoughts, said.

“Alright~ Watch what I do carefully~?”

The girl immediately stretched out her hand towards the steel ball placed in the center of the desk.

The distance from the desk was about 5 meters.

It was not a distance where one could pick up the steel ball by stretching out a hand.

But still.

Float-

The steel ball floated into the air as if by magic.

“W-wow…!”

Thanks to that, I was startled and exclaimed in admiration, clapping my hands.

Unlike hearing about it, seeing it in person was incredibly amazing.

“A-ahem!”

In response to my reaction, the Japanese Angel put a hand on her hip with a very satisfied expression.

She looked very proud.

Oh…? She seems like an easy-to-handle type…?

That thought suddenly occurred to me.

Like a Lee Hyejin with an even purer brain, perhaps….

Anyway, the girl said to me.

“Alright~! Youngest, you try it too!”

“Huh…?”

Uh… How do I…?

At the sudden request, I stared blankly at the girl like an idiot.

If I could have done it just by being told to, I wouldn’t have had to come to Japan in the first place.

In short, this was an absurd demand….

T-teacher… Shouldn’t you explain how a little…?

I’m here to learn for the first time today….

I nervously fidgeted with my hands as was my habit, gauging the girl’s reaction.

Then I saw the girl tilt her head, and she asked with a puzzled expression.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I don’t know how…”

“Hmm?”

At my answer, the girl tilted her head even more.

It seemed she completely didn’t understand why I couldn’t do it.

No…, if that’s how you teach, how am I supposed to learn…?

I felt somewhat wronged.

If I said I came to learn, shouldn’t she assume I can’t do it already?

“Hmm…”

Regardless, the girl stared intently at me with her arms crossed.

What in the world should I do with this? That was the vibe.

“……”

Thanks to that, my mood rapidly started to sour.

The girl’s gaze held that much power.

A power that made me feel incredibly foolish, like an idiot who couldn’t even do such a simple thing.

Because of that, I slumped my body and hung my head low.

Feeling dispirited, I idly fiddled with the hem of my dress, when,

Click.

The sound of the test room door opening was heard.

“Oh~ A-angel~? Korean Angel is still young~ so she’s not as amazing as you, older sister~! Shouldn’t you teach her a bit more kindly~?”

The identity was the Japanese attendant.

It seemed she thought things couldn’t continue like this.

However, despite that, the Japanese Angel was resolute.

“Hmm, but if you’re too much of an idiot, I can’t teach you, can I?”

Thump!

I was greatly shocked by the girl’s words.

I never imagined that a child, actually five years old.

An appearance of a ten-year-old, would seriously call me an idiot.

“I won’t do it…”

I pouted immensely, opened the test room door, and trudged out.

Then I found a corner and collapsed.

Now, I didn’t want to do anything.

Experiments aside, even such fundamental questions started to arise.

‘Why do I even need to use telekinesis in the first place…!’

I curled my body like a fetus and hugged my legs.

Lee Hyejin’s worried voice came from beside me.

“Angel, are you crying…?”

“……”

I’m not crying.

And if you’re going to comfort me, could you choose your words better…?

Anyway, as I remained unresponsive, her words continued.

“Aw~ Angel, it’s fine! What if you can’t use telekinesis? It’s enough if you’re just cute!”

… No, excuse me.

Are you trying to comfort me? Or are you trying to tease me at this opportunity?

For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I almost got up involuntarily.

If this was her intention to wake me up, it was quite an effective method.

“Hey, hey! D-do you call that comforting…!?”

Park Gyutae belatedly stopped Lee Hyejin urgently.

“Huh? Of course. It’s obviously comforting.”

“You, you better never comfort anyone in your life again… Seriously….”

“Huh…? No, why! That’s rude.”

“Angel is probably feeling worse…?”

The two of them started bickering, leaving me there.

Excuse me… Both of you, focus on me first….

I’m sad….

I was left on the floor for a long time, and eventually fell asleep, allowing the day to pass vaguely.

‘Mmm….’

I woke up from my sleep.

I hadn’t opened my eyes yet, only my mind was awake.

However, for some reason, I felt something heavy on one side of my body.

It struck me as odd that I woke up without anyone waking me, and it seemed something was amiss.

So, as I slowly opened my eyes…

‘… Huh?’

The Japanese Angel, sleeping while hugging me, immediately came into view.

Softly breathing.

I felt the girl’s breath against my skin.

Wh-what is this… This extremely dangerous situation…?

White, long eyelashes, a sharp nose, skin like porcelain.

Being so close, all those details came into sharp focus.

I felt my heart pound and swallowed hard.

Then, very suddenly….

Very, very suddenly, the Japanese Angel’s eyes “flashed” open.

“Hkya!”

Thanks to that, I screamed in surprise.

It was like a horror movie.

Bang!

At my scream, the door burst open, and I heard the sounds of the care attendants rushing over frantically.

“Wh-what’s wrong!?”

“Is something happening!?”

“N-n-no…”

I endured my heart pounding as if it would burst and sat up.

Afterward, I slowly explained that it was nothing serious.

Then the Japanese Angel, who had been silently staring, spoke.

“The youngest is really strange~! You’re different from the other older sisters!”

“……?”

… What does she mean…?

The “other older sisters” would naturally be the Angels from other countries who awakened first.

Since I had never met them, I naturally couldn’t guess the meaning at all.

So I tilted my head, and the Japanese Angel tapped my head again and said.

“Cute! You’re an idiot, but cute!”

“……”

C-could you leave out… that part at the end….

My mood turned gloomy from the morning.