Ch.109Good grief, Ojou-sama (2)

“Student Kim Haejo. All these items are prohibited. I already informed you about this.”

“Ah, well…”

“Everything confiscated will be returned after the field trip is over.”

“Ugh, I worked so hard to get those…”

“No, alcohol is not necessary for an enjoyable field trip.”

“…Yes.”

“Student Lee Dancheong! Bring out what you just hid under that tree!”

“Eek! I’m sorry.”

Before boarding the bus to the airport, the first-year homeroom teachers were inspecting their students’ belongings, sorting out items that couldn’t be taken on the trip.

Though Bulsa High was known for its incident-free reputation, it was still an academic high school after all. Naturally, baggage checks to prevent misconduct at the destination were absolutely essential before the trip.

Well, students sneaking in forbidden items is something that happens regardless of the era.

“May I open this potato chip container?”

“Ugh… yes.”

“One, two, three, four… goodness, so many. With this amount, you’d be caught at the airport security anyway. Leave them all here, understood?”

“Understood…”

“Teacher Miso is like a ghost hunter, catching every student who brought alcohol or cigarettes.”

That refreshing, confident adult gaze and unhesitating hands. Teacher Miso caught all the small but significant transgressions hidden in the suitcases of these delinquent teenagers who dared to prematurely step into adulthood.

“It’s amazing. I thought Teacher Miso would be clueless about where students hide alcohol since she seemed like the type who only studied during her school days.”

“Why is there a clear liquid in a plastic bag inside your thermos of coffee? Explain yourself!”

“Hiiieek!”

What was somewhat unexpected was how remarkably good Teacher Miso was at finding hidden contraband like alcohol.

That’s especially surprising since I heard this was her first time as an official homeroom teacher for our class. Which means this must also be her first time as a field trip supervisor.

“Surely a homeroom teacher like Miso won’t be that strict about catching us.” Perhaps because of such shallow thinking, quite a few students from our class were caught.

“What the hell? Hey, Dancheong. I hid everything exactly like you said, but Teacher Miso caught it all.”

“This is weird… My brother graduated from Bulsa High and said teachers would never find out if we did it this way. He and his friend discovered this method and fooled all the teachers… Damn, where did the information leak from?”

At first, I thought her high success rate was due to help from other more experienced teachers.

“Teacher Yeo Miso! Come check our female students’ luggage too! They refuse to be inspected by male teachers!”

“Yes! Just a moment! I’ll be right there!”

However, the difference between the number of prohibited items found by Teacher Miso and other homeroom teachers was too significant for that to be the case.

The fact that other teachers were asking for her help in the first place meant that the source of her information couldn’t have been advice from other teachers.

“Teacher Yeo Miso, you’re amazing. Is it because you’re from Generation MZ? How do you find what the students have hidden so well? It’s like you’re hovering right above their heads.”

“Ahaha…”

“Did you perhaps do this a lot when you were in school?”

“Ah, no. I didn’t know much at first either, but I picked up some tips from someone.”

“Hmm… You must have had an excellent informant.”

Watching Teacher Miso with her strangely accurate detection rate, as if someone had told her exactly where students hide their secrets,

‘Listen to your teacher. Don’t cause unnecessary trouble there and stress out your teacher.’

I suddenly recalled those words spoken by someone who had returned from staying out overnight somewhere. Those words from the eldest son, who was supposedly known as “Bulsa High’s Cha Eun-woo” and incredibly popular among both students and teachers.

“Well, I was a bit worried, but your bag is clean, Student Doyoung.”

“I prefer cola over alcohol.”

“Hehe, very good. Students are most admirable and beautiful when they act like proper students.”

“Then adults must be most admirable and beautiful when they act like proper adults. No wonder you seem especially radiant today, Teacher.”

“Radiant, not shiny…? Well, anyway, thank you for the compliment, Student Doyoung.”

“Does this have anything to do with my eldest brother not coming home last night?”

“Eh…?”

Teacher Miso’s bright, intelligent gaze quickly began turning red.

“Like, did you two do something that only adults can do?”

“Wh-wh-what are you saying, Student Doyoung!”

“Does it really bulge up there? Doesn’t it hurt much?”

“No, rather than painful, it’s a bit heavy and warm… Ah, no! That’s enough, hurry up and get on the bus!”

“Tsk, so now he won’t share a table with virgins? I guess you should sit next to the teacher, class president.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

In the end, I failed to hear her thoughts and claimed a seat at the back of the bus. I was the first to pass Teacher Miso’s baggage check.

“Well, I’ll be damned. I was certain you’d be among those getting their soju packs confiscated from their suitcases, Ban Doyoung.”

Sahyang and Hyerang also entered the bus behind me. Both seemed to have easily passed Teacher Miso’s inspection.

“Why would I need alcohol? There’s someone more fun to play with while sober.”

“Sure, whatever you say.”

“Hehe, then we should sit in the front. We shouldn’t take the seat next to someone who’s fun to play with.”

Sahyang and Hyerang didn’t even attempt to sit next to me. As if someone else was already destined to take that seat.

“Phew, barely made it. Repacking my luggage this morning was exhausting.”

“How did it go for you? Did you manage to keep anything?”

“No, I didn’t think she’d even check the canned drinks. It was a custom can I had my mom’s café make.”

“Sigh… I thought we’d easily pass with Teacher Miso.”

“Let’s check later at the lodging to see how many items survived from our roommates.”

“Okay.”

As students who had their luggage lightened by the inspection began filling the bus seats,

“Well, no problems here as expected. Please go ahead inside.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Teacher.”

The owner of the seat next to Ban Doyoung finally boarded the bus, having effortlessly passed Teacher Miso’s inspection.

“Phew, hey Do Hamin.”

“Ah, hello everyone.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you in casual clothes.”

“Well, at school I only wear uniforms or gym clothes… haha.”

“True, we don’t really run into each other in the neighborhood.”

“Um, can I move to the inside seat?”

“Oh, sure. Let me just put my bag up.”

Do Hamin exchanged light greetings with the students who had boarded earlier. No one forgot or mispronounced his name anymore like before.

While chatting casually with the students who greeted him, Hamin gradually made his way toward the innermost seat.

“Yo, Hamin.”

“Ah, hello Sahyang. Hyerang too.”

“Good thing you didn’t wear your uniform. I’ve heard sometimes the studious kids accidentally wear their uniforms even on field trips.”

“I-I’m not that bad. I prepared properly.”

“Since you just arrived, I guess you normally get to school around this time too. Did you come straight here after getting off the train?”

“Yeah, so it’s my first time seeing so many students at this hour. And everyone’s in casual clothes too. Hehe.”

Having spent more time together with Sahyang and Hyerang, and them knowing what kind of person Hamin was before others did, they conversed comfortably with each other.

“Go on in, we saved your seat.”

“O-okay.”

After finishing their conversation, he took a deep breath while clutching his left chest, then stepped up onto the slightly elevated floor of the back seats.

As if he had never considered any other seat from the beginning, there might have been slight hesitation or pauses, but he never stopped walking.

“Hello… Doyoung.”

“…Hehe, so you came.”

“Yes, I did.”

And now, Hamin stood before Ban Doyoung, having passed by all the other students.

“Don’t tell me that’s the outfit you told me to look forward to? If so, I’m a bit disappointed. It’s no different from what you wore when we went to get glasses together last time.”

“It’s in my bag. I didn’t want it to get wet or torn beforehand… I’d prefer to wear it after tonight’s event.”

“Hooo…”

So he’s not going to show it right away, huh? Fine by me. I’ve prepared a few things for you too, Hamin.

*Gesture*

Hamin raised his index finger, pointing to the empty window seat next to me.

“Could you move in one seat?”

“Move in? Why?”

“…Because I’m going to sit next to you.”