Chapter 15: THE ANGEL OF WAR’S SECRET

Kai ran down the corridor with Iris still in his arms, his feet moving quickly and rhythmically like a soldier carrying a wounded comrade from the battlefield. He didn’t notice that Iris’s face was growing redder, that Iris was trying to say something but her voice was too soft to hear, that Iris wasn’t actually sick at all, she just wanted attention, and now she was getting it in a way she didn’t want.

"Sir, I—" Iris whispered in a voice barely audible, her cheeks still red, her eyes looking down in shame. "I—"

"Don’t talk, Iris!" Kai interrupted with a panicked voice, his eyes still focused ahead, searching for the way to the infirmary. "Save your energy! We’re almost there! Don’t waste your energy talking!"

"But, Sir—"

"We’ll be at the infirmary soon! Reina will take care of you! She’s the best! She can save anyone! Trust me!"

Iris gave up. She closed her eyes, letting herself be carried by this strange new teacher, and hoped no one would see her in this terribly embarrassing state. Her face was still red, and she could feel heat spreading throughout her body, from the tips of her hair to the tips of her toes. This isn’t what I planned, Iris thought. I just wanted a little attention. I just wanted him to notice me. I didn’t expect him to carry me like this. I didn’t expect him to panic like this.

Finally, Kai arrived at the infirmary door, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat covering his entire face. He didn’t waste time knocking—he opened the door forcefully, so forcefully that it hit the wall and produced a loud BANG echoing throughout the room, making several bottles on the shelf rattle.

Inside the room, Reina was sitting behind her desk, reading a notebook with a serious expression, her eyes focused on pages filled with handwriting. The sound of the door opening forcefully startled her—so much so that she let out a slightly strange sound, half-surprised, half-annoyed, half-angry, half-amused. Her book nearly fell from her hands, and she stared at Kai with wide eyes.

"KAI!" Reina shouted in a voice still sounding slightly startled, her hand on her chest like she was calming her rapidly beating heart. "What the hell—why do you always enter like this?! Can’t you knock first?!"

"Reina! Iris has a stomachache!" Kai interrupted with a panicked voice, his eyes wide and sweat streaming down his forehead, dripping onto his cheeks. He was still carrying Iris, and showed no signs of putting her down, like he was afraid if he put her down, she would disappear. "She said her stomach hurts! Like something is stabbing! I don’t know what to do—is it serious? Is she—"

Reina let out a long sigh, staring at Kai with an expression between annoyed and pitying, like a mother seeing her child too innocent for this world. She stood from her chair, walked toward Kai with calm steps, and looked at Iris who was still being carried with a red face and closed eyes. Reina didn’t need to be the school head nurse to know Iris wasn’t sick—she had seen many people fake illness on the battlefield, had seen many soldiers pretend to be wounded to avoid combat, and this was one of the most obvious, least convincing examples she had ever seen.

"Lay her on the bed," Reina said firmly, pointing to one of the foldable beds in the corner of the room. "Gently, don’t let her fall."

Quickly, Kai laid Iris on the bed very gently—so gently that Iris barely felt the impact, like he was handling the most precious fragile object. He looked at Iris worriedly, then at Reina with hope, his eyes full of questions he couldn’t voice.

"Alright," Reina said in a voice beginning to calm, taking the stethoscope and thermometer from the desk with efficient, practiced movements. "Now, you go back to class."

"But, Reina—" Kai tried to protest, stepping forward as if wanting to approach Iris again.

"Back to class, Kai."

Kai stared at Reina with an expression showing he didn’t want to leave, that he wanted to stay here, that he wanted to make sure Iris was okay. His hand reached for Reina’s hand, trying to plead with his worry-filled gaze. "But Iris—she looks so sick, I can’t leave her—"

Reina pushed Kai’s face—which was too close to hers—with her hand, pushing him back gently but firmly, her warm palm touching Kai’s cheek. "She’s here with me, Kai. I can handle her. Don’t you trust me?"

Kai fell silent. His eyes stared at Reina, and for a moment, he saw the same woman he had seen on the battlefield years ago—the woman with a syringe in her hand, the woman with eyes that never showed doubt, the woman who saved his life. Reina. The woman who saved my life. The woman who stitched my wounds without anesthetic. The woman who was always there for me. If there’s one person I can trust in a situation like this, it’s Reina.

"But... I’m worried," Kai said softly, still looking at Iris lying on the bed with a red face, her eyes tightly closed as if sleeping. "I don’t want—I don’t want to lose anyone again—"

"You don’t need to worry, Mr. Kai," Reina said, this time in a softer tone, a voice that calmed Kai slightly, the same voice she used on the battlefield to calm panicking soldiers. "I’ll take care of her. She’ll be fine. Now, you go back to class and continue your lesson. Later, when the break bell rings, come straight to my office. There’s something I want to talk to you about."

Kai was confused by the last instruction, but he just nodded, not daring to argue. He looked at Iris once more—the girl was still lying with her eyes closed—then turned and walked out of the infirmary with slow steps, closing the door gently behind him.

Behind him, Reina let out a long sigh and stared at Iris with a disbelieving look, her eyes narrowing with an expression showing she already knew everything. "You know, Iris, if you want attention, there are better ways than pretending to be sick. Ways that don’t make you look foolish in front of your friends."

Iris opened her eyes, her face still red, her cheeks still hot. "I-I didn’t—"

"Enough," Reina interrupted in a voice showing she already knew everything, that she wasn’t fooled in the least. "Rest here until the break bell. Next time, don’t play games with your new teacher. He’s still innocent. He doesn’t know you’re just pretending."

Kai walked slowly down the corridor toward Class IX-9, his steps no longer as fast as before, no longer as panicked as before. His mind was still filled with worry about Iris—was she alright? Could Reina handle her? Was there something more serious than he knew? He tried to push away those dark thoughts with the reality that Reina was there. Reina, the woman nicknamed the Angel of War, the woman who could save lives under any condition, the woman who never failed to save anyone she treated. If there’s one person I can trust, it’s Reina.

Kai took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm himself, trying to stop his still-slightly-trembling hands. Calm down, Kai. Iris is in good hands. Reina will take care of her. I have to go back to class and continue the lesson. I can’t leave them too long. I can’t show that I’m panicking.

He returned to Class IX-9, opening the door gently, and eight pairs of eyes immediately fixed on him. The students looked at him with various expressions—some curious, some confused, some amused, and one—Ella—with an expression that said "I knew this would happen," like a fortune teller who never made mistakes.

Kai walked to the front of the class, stood in front of the blackboard, and let out a long sigh. "Sorry, everyone. Iris is being treated in the infirmary. She’s... she’s fine." He paused, trying to find the right words. "Let’s continue the lesson. Open page 32 again."

He took the chalk and began explaining again about poetry, about figurative language, about metaphors and personification. But his mind was still divided—part in the classroom, part in the infirmary, thinking about Iris, thinking about whether she was really okay, thinking about whether Reina would scold him again for panicking too much. He explained in a voice no longer as enthusiastic as before, with eyes that sometimes stared blankly at the blackboard, with movements no longer as confident as before.

Time felt slow. Every minute felt like an hour, every second felt like a year. Kai kept teaching until the break bell finally rang—a long sound echoing throughout the school, signaling that the first lesson period was over. Kai let out a relieved sigh, put the chalk down on the blackboard, and turned to face the students.

"Alright, take a break. We’ll continue after recess."

The students began to rise from their seats, some leaving to find food, some staying in the classroom. Kai immediately hurried out, walking quickly toward the principal’s office on the third floor. He descended the stairs with quick steps, passed the second-floor corridor now bustling with students on break, and walked along the first-floor corridor at a speed he never reduced. As he passed the regular classroom corridor, some students greeted him with friendly smiles.

"Good afternoon, Teacher!" greeted a girl with short hair and a wide smile.

"Good afternoon to you too," Kai replied with a slight smile appearing on his face, though his mind was still busy, his eyes still searching for the way to the principal’s office. "Make sure you fill your stomachs before break ends. Don’t be hungry during the next lesson."

He kept walking, climbing the stairs to the third floor, and finally arrived in front of the principal’s office door. He knocked softly, waiting for an answer from inside.

"Come in."

Kai opened the door and entered. Reina was sitting behind her desk, her hands folded on the desk, her eyes watching Kai with an expression he couldn’t read—a mixture of seriousness and curiosity, of firmness and gentleness. The room was silent, only the sound of the wall clock ticking softly in the background, like a heartbeat in a quiet night.

"What did you call me here for?" Kai asked in a casual tone, trying to hide his restlessness, trying to sound calm even though his heart was beating fast.

"I just wanted to make sure of something," Reina replied in a flat voice, her eyes unblinking.

"Oh, how is Iris?" Kai asked, his voice slightly louder due to worry he could no longer hide. "Don’t tell me you called me here because Iris’s condition is worsening? Is she—is she—"

"No, it’s not about that," Reina interrupted quickly, dismissing Kai’s question before he panicked further, before he started running to the infirmary again. "She’s fine. Just a little... embarrassed. That’s all. She’s not sick, Kai. She just wanted attention."

Kai let out a long relieved sigh, like a heavy burden suddenly lifted from his shoulders. "Thank goodness. I was so worried."

"You’ve definitely met my little sister, right?" Reina asked, and now she stood from her chair, her eyes watching Kai sharply, like an eagle eyeing its prey.

"Yes, I’ve met Leina," Kai answered in a casual tone, trying to sound indifferent even though he sensed something strange in the air. "I was a bit surprised after learning that Leina is your little sister. But she’s kind. Friendly. I’m glad to have met her. She’s like... like you, but brighter."

"Then this conversation will be quick," Reina said, and she began walking toward Kai with slow steps, her eyes unblinking, her smile gone replaced by a serious expression. "So, this morning, what were you trying to do with someone else’s little sister, huh?"

Reina was already standing very close to Kai—so close that Kai could feel her breath, could see the dark brown of her eyes, could see every detail of her face that was both firm and beautiful at the same time. Kai’s face flushed slightly, and he quickly stepped back, moving away from Reina, his heart beating faster.

"It’s not like that!" Kai said quickly, his hands raised in a defensive gesture, like he was facing a sudden attack. "It’s not what you think! I—"

"Then what is it?" Reina asked, still staring at him sharply, not giving room to lie.

Kai tried to calm himself, regulate his breathing, and speak in a calmer voice. "Do you remember why you became a mercenary?"

Reina blinked, confused by the question. Her eyes changed from sharp to puzzled, and she tilted her head slightly, like she was trying to understand the direction of this conversation. "What does that have to do with my question, Kai? Don’t change the subject."

"So when I asked you that," Kai continued in a soft voice, his eyes watching Reina sincerely, "you said that there was someone you wanted to protect."

Reina fell silent. Her eyes began to drift to the past—to the moments when she was still a nurse on the battlefield, when she saw endless suffering, when she decided to join the Grim Reaper because she wanted to protect someone. Someone she loved. Someone who kept her going. Someone who was the reason she woke up every morning.

"Reina? Reina?" Kai’s voice called her, and she felt his hand gently holding her shoulder, warm and reassuring. "Are you alright? You seemed lost in thought."

Reina blinked, returning to the present. "It’s nothing," she said in a soft voice, gently brushing Kai’s hand away, not wanting to show she was affected. "Continue."

"So," Kai continued in a calmer voice, "after I found out that Leina is your sister, I was very happy. So all this time, my efforts to end the war weren’t in vain. I was too happy, and I almost hugged your sister, Reina. That’s all. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just... happy."

He looked at Reina with a sincere gaze, and Reina could see that sincerity in his eyes—sincerity she rarely saw from Kai, sincerity that made her soften slightly, that made her heart feel warm even though she tried to remain firm.

"All this time," Kai continued in an increasingly soft voice, "seeing you try so hard when you were still a soldier made me want to end the war quickly at that time. I wanted all of this to end, so that people like you wouldn’t have to fight anymore. I wanted... I wanted to protect the people who are important to you. I wanted you to be able to live peacefully."

Reina fell silent. Her previously firm face began to soften, her previously sharp eyes began to soften, and she felt something warm in her chest—something she couldn’t ignore, something that made her want to smile even though she tried to hold it back. So that’s the reason, Reina thought. He’s not interested in Leina. He’s just... happy. Happy because the war is over. Happy because I don’t have to fight anymore. Happy because I’m still here.

"Oh... I see," Reina said in a voice beginning to calm, the anger in her eyes starting to disappear, replaced by relief she didn’t show clearly. "I thought you were trying to flirt with my sister." She sighed, slightly embarrassed by the misunderstanding, by the fact she almost got angry for no reason. "I saw you from the principal’s office window. You tried to hug her. That’s why I wanted to hear your explanation."

Kai nodded, relieved that Reina finally understood, that he didn’t need to explain further. "I would never do that, Reina. She’s your sister. I respect you too much to do such a thing. I would never hurt your feelings that way."

Reina turned and walked back to her chair, sitting quietly, her eyes looking out the window, watching the schoolyard filled with students playing and chatting under the bright midday sun. "Alright. You may leave now."

Kai looked at the back of Reina’s chair, still facing the window, his eyes unable to see Reina’s expression, unable to read what she was thinking. "Alright. I’ll go back to class."

He turned and walked toward the door, his hand reaching for the cold doorknob, but before he left, he paused for a moment and looked back. "Reina."

"Yes?"

"I’m glad you’re here."

With those words, Kai left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

Inside the room, Reina still sat with her face toward the window. Her hands, previously folded on the desk, were now in her lap, her fingers interlaced, and she heard the door close with a soft click. Slowly, a small smile began to form on her lips—a smile she couldn’t hide, a smile that made her face look younger, a smile that made her heart feel light, a smile that made her feel like a little girl who had just received the best gift in the world.

He’s here, Reina thought, and the warm feeling began to spread in her chest, like sunlight breaking through thick clouds. He survived. He’s still alive. And he’s here, with me. He still remembers everything we went through together.

All this time, Reina thought Kai liked Leina—her beautiful and friendly younger sister, her sister who always smiled and never hid her feelings. She felt jealous, felt uncomfortable, felt like something was being taken from her. But it turned out, Kai wasn’t interested in Leina. He was just... happy. Happy because the war was over. Happy because Reina didn’t have to fight anymore. Happy because he could see Reina living peacefully.

I thought he liked Leina, Reina thought, and her smile grew wider, harder to hide. But it turns out... he just cares about me. He just wants to protect me. He just wants me to be happy.

She looked at the sky outside the window, a clear blue sky without clouds, like a canvas painted with perfect colors. The gentle morning breeze came through the window crack, carrying the scent of grass and flowers from the school garden, a scent that made her feel fresher, more alive. Reina took a deep breath, and she felt calmer than before, more peaceful than before.

He doesn’t like Leina, Reina thought. He just... cares about me. That’s all. Nothing more than that.

But deep in her heart, there was a feeling she couldn’t ignore. A feeling she had buried long ago, a feeling she thought had died after the war ended, a feeling that made her want Kai to stay close to her, a feeling that made her want Kai to smile at her like he smiled at others, a feeling that made her want to be more than just an old friend to Kai.

But I can’t, Reina thought, and the smile on her lips began to fade, replaced by doubt slowly creeping in. He’ll never see me that way. I’m just... the Angel of War to him. I’m just the person who saved his life. I’m not... I’m not anyone special. I’m just an old acquaintance he met on the battlefield.

But even so, she couldn’t help the warm feeling still spreading in her chest, couldn’t help the small hope beginning to grow in her heart, couldn’t help the desire to see Kai again, to talk to him, to be near him, to hear his calm voice despite his occasional panic.

I like him, Reina thought, and for the first time, she admitted it to herself. I like Kai. I’ve liked him since the first time I saw him on the battlefield, when he was still a war machine who knew nothing. I’ve liked him since he was young and foolish and full of guilt. I’ve liked him since he looked at me with eyes full of fear and hope at the same time. I like him... and I can’t tell him.

She let out a long sigh, looking at the blue sky outside the window, and let that feeling remain in her heart—without being expressed, without being spoken, without being acknowledged by anyone. She let that feeling grow, like a flower blooming in spring, without fear of wilting, without fear of dying.

Outside the room, Kai walked down the corridor toward his classroom, his steps lighter than before, his mind calmer than before. He didn’t know what was happening inside that room. He didn’t know that Reina liked him. He didn’t know that Reina was silently holding back feelings she had long buried. He didn’t know that Reina was smiling thinking about him at this very moment. He only knew that today, he had done something right—he had protected someone, he had been a good teacher, and he had made Reina smile.

He didn’t know that inside the room he had left, Reina was smiling thinking about him, feeling a feeling she couldn’t express. But if he knew, perhaps he would pause for a moment, look back, and see the woman who was always there for him—the woman who saved his life, the woman who kept him alive, the woman who might love him without his knowledge.

But he didn’t know. And he kept walking, leaving that room, leaving Reina, and continuing his days at a school full of surprises and mysteries, unaware that behind the closed door, there was someone waiting for him, someone who loved him, someone who hoped that one day, he would look back and see her.