Ch.112Episode 23. Comic World (3)

“Instructor. Good morning!”

“…Hey.”

“Yes?”

“What time is it right now?”

I turned on my phone and held it up to Gu Yeonhwa’s face as I asked. She tilted her head and looked at the phone.

“It’s 4:30, why?”

She seemed puzzled, as if wondering what was wrong. I let out a hollow laugh and pressed my eyes shut.

Even with super recovery abilities, sleep was the exception. I absolutely needed at least four hours of sleep.

However, since I had to report to the head teacher on Monday about how I would conduct classes, I had been working on documents until late and fell asleep around 2 AM.

As a result, I was now so tired I could barely open my eyes.

“Instructor, I told you. We need to get up early tomorrow. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait in line for a really long time. And we cosplayers have even more to prepare.”

She scolded me from the early dawn, snorting confidently in her ordinary clothes. I rubbed my face dry and barely managed to gather my wits.

“…Ugh. I’m dying of exhaustion.”

“Should I give you a potion?”

“No need. Why waste a potion on this? Too expensive.”

Does she think potions cost as little as soft drinks?

They start at tens of thousands of won at minimum. What is she, made of money?

“Then hurry and get ready since we need to go. While you’re preparing, I’ll put your uniform in the carrier. I’ve packed everything we need, so you just need to bring yourself.”

She’s incredibly energetic, even though I specially gave her a potion so she wouldn’t get tired like she did two days ago at Comic World.

I nodded as I looked at the small carrier placed near her feet.

“I’m going to shower, so wait a bit.”

“Okay. I’ll wait outside—”

“Wait inside. It’s fine.”

“I-is that okay?”

“You’ve already seen my body anyway.”

Just the upper half, but still.

“No, even so…!”

“If you don’t like it, wait outside then.”

When I tried to close the door, Gu Yeonhwa frantically stuck her arms and legs in the doorway. I couldn’t help but laugh seeing her desperately trying to prevent me from closing the door.

“I-I can’t do that!”

“…You really follow your instincts, don’t you?”

“In-instincts?! That’s not it!”

I let go of the handle. She grunted as she pushed the door open. After safely entering the room, she closed the door.

After hearing the bell sound when the door locked, I continued our interrupted conversation.

“Then you’re not interested in my body?”

“W-what kind of vulgar question is that…!”

“Are you, or aren’t you?”

When I stepped closer and persistently asked, she started to panic.

We were close enough to feel each other’s warmth.

As I moved in until we were almost touching, she didn’t know what to do. Just like when we held hands at the movie theater, Gu Yeonhwa didn’t seem at all used to physical contact.

Probably because she had no experience with men.

“If you don’t answer honestly, I won’t give you what you want.”

“Wh-what I want?”

“Yes. If you don’t answer honestly, I won’t do it.”

“What do you think I want?”

“Hmm. Something like this?”

I took another half step toward her. Now we could even feel each other’s breath. Her chest was just barely touching mine.

“Eep…!”

Fidgeting and trembling, Gu Yeonhwa’s face had long since turned as red as a radish.

Anyway, seeing such cute reactions just makes me want to tease her more.

“So, will you answer honestly?”

“Y-yes! I am! So please…! Stop… P-please move away…”

“Puhah! Why are you taking this so seriously? Kuk kuk kuk!”

I burst into laughter and moved away as she wanted. I also ruffled her hair until it was messy, just for good measure.

“Stay inside.”

“In-Instructor.”

“Hmm?”

“S-so when are you going to give me what I w-want? Wait, do you even know what I want?”

How would I know that?

If I could read other people’s minds, Akcheon would have already been crushed by me.

“Isn’t it having your head patted?”

“Y-you do that all the time anyway!”

“Ah~ Then perhaps you wanted something more than that?”

“N-not particularly.”

“Then that’s that.”

“Ugh… You really are garbage, Instructor! Playboy! Casanova!”

“Listen to yourself. So… do you dislike it?”

Honestly, I didn’t deny it since I was using their emotions to close the distance between us.

Still, I couldn’t just admit it outright.

“Yes. I dislike it.”

“Really?”

“…A little bit.”

If you dislike it, just say so. What does “a little bit” mean?

Even her timid way of changing her words is adorably cute.

“Is that so? I like you though.”

“Huh!”

“Of course, as my student.”

I added that last part to set boundaries, in case she tried to confess. The disappointment was clearly visible in her eyes, but this was enough for now.

“Wait here. I’ll shower quickly and come out. Understood, Yeonhwa?”

“Y-you always call me by name so sweetly when it’s convenient for you.”

Gu Yeonhwa grumbled as she naturally sat down on the bed.

Are you speaking informally to me too? Since my teasing went a bit too far, I’ll let it slide this time.

I took out clothes to change into from the closet. I wrapped my underwear carefully in my t-shirt so she wouldn’t see it, then went into the bathroom.

* * *

This Comic World was being held in Ilsan, and according to the internet, when entering, you show the Comic World app at the ticket booth to receive a wristband along with your pre-purchased ticket.

Also, they temporarily open a special entrance for cosplayers, allowing them to enter about 50 minutes earlier. After 10:30 AM, you have to enter with the general admission crowd.

Gu Yeonhwa explained these details as if reviewing them, and then went on to tell me about cosplay precautions. She talked my ear off the entire car ride.

We finally arrived at the venue where Comic World was being held in Ilsan.

I was shocked once to see dozens of cars already parked in the spacious parking lot, and shocked again to see crowds of people gathering even though it wasn’t yet 7 AM.

“Wow, this is impressive.”

“That’s why I told you we should come early. Not just for the entrance, but if you want to change clothes in the changing room, you have to wait for a really long time.”

“You’re nagging me for being a little late. You could have just passed the time talking with me while waiting. What’s the big deal?”

“W-well, that’s true, but still…”

Seems like she doesn’t mind waiting and talking with me.

“Oh, but I haven’t become famous recently, have I?”

An S-rank hero cosplaying at Comic World…

That seems like a position perfect for ridicule.

I should hope that no one recognizes me today. Just imagining someone recognizing me makes me want to die of embarrassment.

“That’s why you’re wearing a hat and mask. And anyway, once you’re in cosplay, no one will recognize you, right?”

“…Ah, right.”

I finished parking and got out of the car. Gu Yeonhwa followed me out, then immediately frowned at the intense sunlight already beating down.

“Ugh… it’s already so hot! And it’s morning! It’s 7 AM!”

“Talking about the heat makes it feel hotter.”

“Hurry and open the trunk, please.”

I went to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and took out the carrier. She already had a mini fan in her hand.

“But do we have to wait outside with the sun beating down like this? I wonder if the building is open?”

I asked while looking at people lingering near the entrance.

“No. We should be able to get inside the building. Plus, we’ll be using the cosplay-only entrance, so we can get in faster! Though we won’t be able to look at the booths yet.”

“That’s better than nothing.”

We finished preparing and entered the building. We immediately headed toward the cosplay-only entrance.

Perhaps because it was still early, there were many people, but no one was managing the crowd yet.

I heard that people in yellow vests would guide us…

“Yeonhwa.”

“Yes?”

She looked up from her phone where she had been checking what booths would be set up today and what would be sold. Her eyes were full of life when they met mine. She must be quite excited.

“By the way… how many times have you been to Comic Market or Comic World or whatever this is?”

I pulled down my mask despite the heat inside and asked.

“It’s Comic World.”

“Ah, right. Comic World.”

“I’ve only been once. I started attending after the college entrance exam, since last winter. Before that, I had to hold back even though I wanted to go.”

“Why?”

“To get into the Academy, you need good abilities, but you also need to study hard, right? I had no choice but to endure.”

“Really?”

“Yes! But now I’m free, so I’m going to attend every Comic World without fail. I’m also going to the Busan Comic World in two months.”

What freedom? There’s so much she still has to do.

But I decided to let her enjoy herself for now. So she could have fun without any worries.

“Hey, hey… look behind you. He’s so handsome.”

“What? And his physique is insane too.”

I slightly raised my head at the voices coming from beside us and looked at the women lining up in front. I pulled my mask up immediately after making eye contact for about 0.1 seconds. It would be troublesome if they recognized me.

“…”

As I pulled my hat down further and looked ahead, I saw Gu Yeonhwa glaring disapprovingly at the women standing in front.

“Hey.”

I poked Gu Yeonhwa’s cheek. Only then did she turn her head toward me.

“…Yes?”

“Why are you frowning like that? We came all the way here for your wish. Smile a little.”

“No… Instruct—”

“Today I’m ‘oppa,’ remember?”

I said, putting my index finger to my mask.

Every time she called me “Instructor,” it was like announcing to everyone that I worked at the Academy, so I needed to adjust this in advance.

“…R-right. Oppa.”

“What’s wrong? Still not used to calling me oppa? Would you prefer ‘Mr. Yujin’?”

“…I prefer oppa.”

“Oh? You prefer me?”

When I grinned and made the joke, Gu Yeonhwa’s mouth fell open. Her blue eyes began to tremble.

“No…! Th-th-that’s not what I meant!”

When Gu Yeonhwa shouted with a bright red face, almost having a fit, everyone around us—those looking at their phones and those who had been dozing—turned their attention to us.

Looking around, she lowered her head deeply and pressed her lips shut.

“It’s all oppa’s fault…”

She grumbled, hitting my arm lightly while looking completely deflated. I chuckled and accepted it.

“Sure. Let’s say it’s my fault.”

As we continued to bicker and talk like that, it was soon time to enter.

“Shall we go?”

To hell.

“Yes.”

To what must be heaven for her.