Father, I Won’t Do Anything

During the Magic Tower’s busiest afternoon hours, Mikael remained holed up in his room, brooding melancholically over recent events.

‘Why did I grab that fool’s collar back then?’

‘Ah, but why did Jaina dislike that so much?’

‘Doesn’t she realize her own importance?’

Though his inner monologue rambled incessantly, it inevitably culminated in the same conclusion.

‘I only exacerbated matters by recklessly intervening.’

Curling into a dejected ball, Mikael wallowed in frustration.

Of course, he had yearned for the familiar intimacy of being addressed as ‘Big brother.’ Yet he had never intended to provoke Jaina’s embarrassment to such an extent.

‘All that effort, only to achieve the opposite outcome.’

As Mikael contemplated tearing out his hair, a knock sounded at his door.

‘Damn it, who dares disturb me while I’m utterly distraught?’

Burrowing deeper under his blankets, Mikael snapped irritably:

“Noisy!”

Knock, knock.

“Did you not hear my demand for silence?”

Knock, knock.

“Are you ignoring my words?”

Initially intending to ignore the intrusion, Mikael’s vexation mounted as the incessant knocking persisted.

‘How dare someone persist after I have expressed my annoyance?’

Diamid would have simply used a communication crystal whenever he required Mikael’s presence, never disturbing him with knocking.

Logically, the individual beyond that door held a subordinate status.

Have they concealed their heart in the depths of a mountain? To defy my words so brazenly?

‘In my already foul mood, this couldn’t have arrived at a more inopportune time.’

Exuding an ominous aura, Mikael flung open the door with a menacing scowl.

Creak-

“You…!”

However, rather than some impudent magician oblivious to his fearsome presence, Mikael found a meek young woman gazing up at him.

“I came because I was concerned that you’ve been skipping meals, Brother.”

Jaina – the very individual who had refused to leave his thoughts throughout this self-imposed seclusion.

“Skipping a meal or two won’t kill me.”

The rude retort escaped reflexively, prompting Mikael to flinch inwardly.

‘Have I lost my senses?’

After agonizing over their growing distance, rather than responding graciously, he had lashed out in annoyance?

Yet Jaina seemed entirely unfazed by his words.

“Well, as an accomplished magician, missing meals occasionally should pose no significant issue for you, unlike ordinary people.”

“Obviously. Who do you think I am?”

“However, you mustn’t neglect your health so carelessly.”

As Jaina chided him with a stern countenance, Mikael fidgeted restlessly.

In truth, he was deeply touched that Jaina had sought him out due to her concern.

‘Even after I embarrassed her, she still came to find me…’

Chiiing, a warmth blossomed within his chest.

“Will you leave me standing here like this?”

“C-Come in.”

Beckoning Jaina inside with a snap of his fingers, Mikael illuminated the dimly lit room, revealing its utter disarray in the sudden brightness.

“…”

“…”

Though only a few days had passed, the room’s state was appalling.

A desk piled haphazardly with tomes, the floor littered with miscellaneous clutter.

The scene laid bare the extent of Mikael’s inner turmoil.

As Jaina surveyed the scattered documents strewn across the floor, she began rolling up her sleeves, evidently preparing to tidy the space.

“Oh, no need. I can manage alone! It would be improper to have a guest clean it.”

“You detest allowing even maids into your room, don’t you? It will prove far more efficient if we collaborate.”

“N-No, that won’t be necessary. With magic, this will be resolved swiftly. I have a specific cleaning spell developed precisely for such occasions.”

Flustered, Mikael snapped his fingers repeatedly, ashamed to have his slovenly habits exposed.

Wheeeeing–

As papers fluttered about, one particular sheet caught Jaina’s eye.

[Why does Jaina address me as ‘Brother’? Am I making her uncomfortable?]

[BrotherBrotherBrotherWhyBrother?WhynotBigBrother?WhyamIuncomfortable?WhyamIaburden?]

[She finds me embarrassing? I should just end it all.]

“Pfft.”

Jaina’s suppressed laughter prompted Mikael to turn with a bewildered expression.

“Aaack!”

In his agitated state, he had scribbled his innermost thoughts verbatim without incinerating the evidence, it seemed.

Utterly mortified by this exposed vulnerability, Mikael leapt back, his face flushing crimson as he rushed towards Jaina.

“You saw? You saw? You saw? Please, even if it’s a lie, say you didn’t see!”

Alas, Jaina lacked any talent for deception.

“I heard the story from Hilvenzia. Were you truly concerned over me addressing you as ‘Brother’?”

“Aaaaahk! Aaahk! Ahk!”

Mikael’s complexion deepened to such a vibrant scarlet hue that distinguishing between a tomato or strawberry proved impossible as he stammered:

“Th-Then do you also know why I participated in the orphanage event and volunteered for the recruit orientation?”

“Yes.”

“Aaaahk!”

Flinging himself face-first onto the plush mattress, Mikael enveloped his head beneath the blankets, grumbling muffled protests.

“I seem to have suddenly fallen ill. Please, leave me be for now. We’ll converse another time.”

“If that’s what you prefer, I suppose I’ll address you as ‘Big brother’ from now on.”

Sitting upright abruptly, Mikael stared at Jaina in a daze.

“…What?”

“I had been using that form of address casually, without any particular intent. I never realized it concerned you so deeply, Brother Mikael. Going forward, I shall refer to you as ‘Big brother Mikael.'”

“…”

Rendered speechless, Mikael could only gape incredulously.

So she had meant nothing by it. All his agonizing over this matter now seemed utterly senseless.

“In fact, I don’t even recall why I started calling you ‘Brother’ in the first place. I suppose it simply became a habit over time.”

So he had anguished, fretted, and succumbed to melancholy over a complete non-issue…?

As Mikael sheepishly rubbed his nape, Jaina settled beside him on the bed, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.

“I ‘m sorry if I caused you any distress, big brother Mikael.”

Regardless, the crux of the matter was that Jaina had never intended any distance or discomfort towards him.

The perpetual frown that had creased Mikael’s features gradually softened into a tentative smile.

“…Since you’re addressing me so familiarly, perhaps you could drop the formalities entirely?”

“You would prefer that? If that is what you want, Brother Mikael – no, Big brother – then I’ll do that.”

For Jaina, this marked her first attempt at such casual interaction with anyone she held dear.

Though the sudden shift from formalities to familiarity felt somewhat awkward initially, what truly mattered to her was the emotional proximity, not mere superficial conventions of address or speech.

With her estranged relationship with Diamid now fully mended, Jaina found herself in an unprecedented state of emotional equilibrium.

This sense of inner peace enabled her to get closer to Mikael.

“While my perspective is significant, I must also strive to consider the viewpoints of others.”

Mikael regarded her with a stunned expression, astonished by the ease with which this issue had ultimately been resolved. Far more simplified compared to his excessive ruminations.

Ordinarily, he might have petulantly protested such simplicity. Yet recognizing the courage Jaina had mustered, he could only scratch his head sheepishly in acquiescence.

“Damn, I can’t even tell who the adult is anymore.”

“Surely that would be me, without a doubt.”

“What?”

“I’ve been the mature one ever since we first met, so pay it no mind, Big brother.”

That remark struck Mikael as a thinly veiled insinuation of his chronic immaturity, prompting a brief flicker of indignation. However, he could hardly refute the statement.

“Just because I permitted the casual address, don’t get too full of yourself.”

Playfully pinching Jaina’s cheek, eliciting an adorable pout as her pliant skin stretched, Mikael countered teasingly.

“Though… I’m not as mature as you might assume.”

“Oh?”

“Actually, I felt jealous when you were so amiable towards the children and new recruits.”

Averting her flushed face from Mikael’s gaze, the embarrassed Jaina swiftly turned away.

Stunned speechless, Mikael could only gape at her in bewilderment.

‘So Jaina is admitting to feeling jealous over me…?’

Never could he have anticipated such candid words from her lips. He found himself fixating upon Jaina, dumbfounded by her words.

“If I truly cherished Big brother Mikael, I should have rejoiced at seeing your social circles expand…”

Jaina mumbled self-reproachfully, her reddened cheeks betraying her lingering childishness despite her mature demeanor. The prolonged silence, coupled with Mikael’s silent, unwavering stare, only exacerbated her mounting embarrassment.

“I’ve said what I wanted to say, and verified your health, so I’ll take my leave now…”

As Jaina made to depart, Mikael’s booming voice halted her abruptly.

“You foolish girl! Whether children or new recruits, did you truly believe I would spare them a moment’s attention unless it directly involved you?”

Leaping from the bed, Mikael scooped Jaina into an exuberant embrace, whirling her about gleefully.

“Huh-? Whoa!”

His heart brimming with elation, Mikael found himself unable to contain his jubilation any longer.

‘Jaina felt jealous over me… I’m grateful to be alive and witness such a day!’

The typically arrogant, self-assured mask had utterly crumbled, his features radiating unrestrained delight.

Where merely yesterday Mikael had wallowed in despondency over his perceived transgressions against Jaina, in this moment, his countenance shone brighter than ever before.