I didn't take long to understand what "let's go down and talk" meant.

After all, the moment those words were spoken, I started falling downward.

Wait, is this really going down or just falling?

I thought about saying something, but decided against mentioning it to Hyun.

Surely Hyun wasn't just letting us fall without a plan.

Thankfully, my faith wasn't misplaced—Hyun kicked at the air periodically to slow our descent.

So this is actually going down, not falling. Though my stomach lurches whenever we slow down, I can handle this much.

*This is high...*

It was incomparably higher than the 20th floor of the courthouse where I'd gone back and forth rescuing people.

Could I climb this high on my own? Probably, if I really wanted to?

My wings twitched with baseless confidence, but I quickly abandoned the thought.

If I were alone, maybe, but spreading my wings while in Hyun's arms would throw off our balance and cause chaos.

Anyway...

"That's amazing..."

How can Hyun fly so well without wings?

I'm not sure if kicking through the air to move counts as flying, but...

...well, we're in the sky, so let's call it flying.

The ride up and down might be rough, but he moves more freely than I do, even though I have wings.

*Should I practice flying too?*

As I was thinking this, Hyun's voice reached my ears.

"What is?"

The warm breath touching the tip of my ear made me shiver.

He wasn't whispering. His breath just naturally touched me since he was speaking next to my ear.

But it feels weird. No, it's... ah, whatever.

I flapped my ear to shake off the lingering warmth and frowned deeply.

"Hey! Your breath is touching me!"

"Sorry. I asked earlier but you didn't answer, so I thought maybe you couldn't hear me over the wind."

Looking at Hyun, who left me speechless, I let out a deep sigh.

Chuckling at whatever he found amusing, Hyun spoke again.

"So? Didn't you say something was amazing earlier?"

"...I just meant it's impressive how you fly better than me without wings. That's why I said it was amazing."

Hyun gave a bitter smile at my answer.

"It's not amazing, it's just because of my ability."

Ability...

Come to think of it, he did mention something about that.

With everything happening one after another and so much to think about, I'd forgotten.

"What's your ability?"

"Technically, an S-Class Hero's abilities are classified as state secrets... but since it's you, I'll tell you."

The moment I heard that, I covered his mouth with the back of my hand.

Or rather, I hit him. And given the size of my hand, I ended up hitting his nose instead of his mouth.

"Oof!?"

"Oh, s-sorry!"

I was worried I might have given him a nosebleed, but fortunately I hadn't hit him that hard.

Hyun, still holding me with one arm, rubbed his nose with his free hand.

"Why did you hit be all of a sudden?"

"No... if it's something that important, I think it's better not to hear it."

While this was part of the reason, the real reason was different.

The possibility that I might not be Yu Sia and...

My connection to Harmageddon.

*Just in case...*

"I see."

Hyun seemed to understand my feelings and increased our descent speed.

The speed was faster than I expected, giving me a tingling sensation.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Hyun, but the feeling of my knees weakening was so unpleasant that I pressed myself closer to him to minimize it.

"I'm holding you so you won't fall, so don't get so close. It's creepy, dude."

Normally, I would have snapped back with something like "I don't like it either, jerk, if it's creepy then let go or let me fly."

But somehow, hearing that made me feel both angry and a little sad. I fumbled with my words before pouting and turning my head away from him.

"...Fine. I'll go down by myself. Just let me go."

...Wait, what did I just say?

Though the words came from my mouth and the reaction was from my body, my mind couldn't comprehend the situation.

My reaction had come out before my thoughts could control my body, and belatedly, my body tried to piece together what had happened.

I told him I didn't like it and to let me go, but I pressed myself closer to him, afraid he might actually do it. Though I wasn't conscious of it, my body was definitely closer to him now.

After reviewing the mental video, I concluded that I looked like a sulking child throwing a tantrum, and I was stunned by the realization.

"..."

This is embarrassing. Seriously embarrassing.

What the hell is this?

Hyun must have had the same thought, because he just stared at me without saying anything.

Being so close, I could feel his gaze filled with various emotions, making my face burn hot. My face was probably bright red from my ears to my cheeks.

I couldn't see it, but the coolness of our surroundings made the heat in my face even more noticeable.

Hyun must feel it too. We're so high up that the wind is freezing cold—how would it feel when my face touches him? Wouldn't it feel burning hot?

I almost wish he'd say "Ouch, hot!" and let me go. I'd rather free-fall with my own wings at this point.

Just in case, I glanced at Hyun's face and saw his lips twitching, as if he was trying not to laugh.

As if I wasn't embarrassed enough already, the thought that Hyun was watching me made my head spin. Trying to look away from him, I muttered:

"Wh-what are you looking at, you jer—"

Ah, my voice cracked.

At that moment, his body shook. Not mine, but Hyun's.

I turned my head like a broken machine and met Hyun's eyes as he was bouncing his shoulders as if dancing.

"Pfft, no... nothing at ahh—! Pffhaha...! Hoo... pfft! I'm not, looking at anything...?"

What do you mean you're not looking, you jerk, you're clearly laughing.

I stared at him with half-closed eyes, and Hyun shook his head and looked up at the sky.

"Ahem! Uh, it's a bit hot..."

We're still high in the sky, though lower than before. The sun is even hidden behind clouds, casting shadows.

And he says it's hot? That's nonsense.

Actually, it's not nonsense. Of course he'd be hot after holding back laughter until his face turned red, damn it.

"Hot? Then let me cool you down."

At that moment, my anger and irritation surpassed my embarrassment and shame.

I gritted my teeth, glared at him, and twisted my body.

"...Let go."

"Pfft..."

With embarrassment, shame, anger, irritation, and every curse word imaginable mixing together, I twisted my body to escape his hold.

"Hey, hey! Don't move, you'll get hurt if you fall!"

"What do you mean hurt! Shut up! Do you think my wings are just for show!?"

"I'll get hurt, I will! Stay still!"

At the mention that Hyun might get hurt, I clenched my teeth and curled up.

Only then did Hyun sigh in relief and adjust his hold on me.

The way he did it looked exactly like someone rocking a crying baby, making my cooled face heat up again.

"Hey, I'm sorry for laughing. But you—"

"Shut it."

"Yes, yes."

Despite my irritation and cursing, Hyun smiled as if pleased and continued descending.

It felt strange. Sometimes it seemed wrong, but other times it felt natural.

I wondered if it was okay to treat someone who saved me like this, but at the same time thought, what's the big deal between friends?

But I'm not Yu Sia.

If I am Yu Sia.

Hope and fear shook me simultaneously.

Soon this confusion would be resolved.

"We're here."

At those words, I looked down and swallowed hard at the familiar roof below.

But how would we land? Surely he wouldn't do a superhero landing? If he landed in that movie pose from our current state, my back would definitely break.

My foolish worry was just that—foolish.

Somehow, with incredible control I couldn't comprehend, Hyun reduced our speed a few more times in mid-air and landed perfectly on the railing he'd jumped from earlier.

I thought flying through the sky without wings was impressive, but his landing was perfect too.

Even though I have wings, I can't control them properly and end up crashing into walls... he's really amazing.

Well... after flying around for nearly ten years, it's not strange that he flies so well.

Hyun set me down on the balcony, then followed me inside.

"Now then—..."

Here it comes.

I knew the conversation was coming, but I didn't expect it to start immediately after landing, so I swallowed nervously.

"I am Yu Sia—"

"—Let's wash our feet first."

What?

Now of all times...?

"Why? We just came in from outside, so we should wash our hands and feet first."

Hyun was stating the obvious, but I couldn't say anything.

Somehow I felt foolish for being so tense, so I quietly followed behind him to wash my feet.