Ch.123Episode 26. Aquarium Date (1)

After course registration, there was a clear difference in the expressions on the faces of first-year and second-year students.

First-years generally had more choices and flexibility in creating their schedules, so they looked happier. Of course, those who failed at registration like Bin-yoon were exceptions.

In contrast, second-years like Yeon Mu-hee and Yu A-ri had darker expressions because their schedules were extremely tight with more required courses than electives.

It was unavoidable since practical training was crucial for taking the hero certification exam in their third year.

“This is un-unfair! With such a packed schedule, I’ll have less time to spend with you, Instructor.”

That’s quite a personal complaint.

“Yujin, this shows no respect for time. I need to get stronger as quickly as possible, and other people’s lectures aren’t even helpful. Why should I have to attend them? Can’t we just do things like last semester?”

I thought these kids had reformed, but were they just behaving in front of me?

…No, they’re not exactly well-behaved even in front of me.

“As I’ve said before, that’s not possible. If you skip lectures as you please, I won’t see you outside of class hours anymore.”

“Ugh! That’s too harsh!”

“Yeah, that’s too much.”

Since when did you two get along so well?

You didn’t seem particularly close just a few months ago. Has some kind of comradeship developed from struggling together?

If that’s the case, I’d be genuinely happy.

When you become heroes, you’ll eventually have to fight together, so it’s good to build relationships early.

“I don’t want to attend lectures…”

“Lectures are boring…”

This is ridiculous. So they just don’t want to attend classes? Picky eaters, these kids.

“It’s only a year and a half. No, since you’ll be doing practical training in the second semester of your third year, it’s about a year. If you can’t endure that much, forget about getting stronger.”

“But…”

“Mu-hee, if you attend all the lectures, you can defeat Yeonhwaryong.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, so stop complaining.”

“Alright…”

I calmed Mu-hee down and looked at A-ri beside her.

This one spends almost every evening in my room yet complains about having less time.

I wonder if she realizes she’s the one who spends the most time with me?

I glared at her with that meaning, and she mumbled a response while lowering her head.

“I understaaand…”

After resolving the second-years’ complaints, I turned to the first-years.

“You’ll do better next time.”

“Haha! Bin-yoon! Is that all you’ve got? You’re weak! You’ll never defeat me like that!”

“Shut up, Yeonhwa.”

The first-years didn’t seem to need any special attention.

They were huddled together, chatting among themselves.

I couldn’t help but smile wryly watching Jeong I-yeon comforting Bin-yoon, who had messed up her course registration, while Gu Yeonhwa teased her.

I haven’t seen them talking much before, but they seem quite close too.

“By the way… you all managed to register for my class?”

“Of course! Your lectures are like an oasis in the desert, Instructor!”

“I appreciate that, but let’s not say that in front of other instructors, okay?”

They might grade you very harshly.

“Anyway, even if you attend my lectures, the content won’t be much different from what you’re doing now. Students from other classes probably don’t have your level of physical fitness, so I’ll focus on building stamina. So understand if I can’t pay much attention to you during class.”

These potential S-class students had different physical capabilities from the start, which is why they could keep up with my regimen so far.

I’d have to see how students from other classes would fare.

Since the story has been progressing from I-yeon’s perspective, I might have missed talented students in other classes.

“Wow! Are you saying students from other classes are more important than us?”

“No, you’re more important.”

“Ah! Is that so!”

When I answered Yeonhwa’s question without hesitation, their expressions softened slightly. They all grinned happily, except for Mu-hee.

No, looking closely, even Mu-hee was savoring a small moment of joy with the corners of her lips turned up.

“Still, we’d like you to pay attention to us during lectures too.”

I-yeon raised her hand and appealed.

“Of course I’ll help when needed. But my principle is to match the pace of students who struggle with the lectures. However, that pace would be too slow for you, which is why I said I’d give you individual regimens.”

“I see.”

“Well, that’s all for now. Do a thorough thirty-minute stretch and then we’ll start today’s training.”

At my words, everyone stood up as if they’d been waiting.

Bin-yoon still seemed completely unmotivated, probably still shocked about failing her course registration.

“Bin-yoon.”

“Yeees?”

“It’s okay.”

I patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear.

“Come to my room next time. I’ll help you so you don’t fail.”

“R-really? Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe. Alright. I’ll bring delicious donuts next time too.”

“Sure.”

I stroked her head as her expression brightened a bit, then turned away.

“Maybe I should have failed my registration too…”

I chuckled at the murmurs of the others who had apparently overheard my whisper, and prepared for training.

* * *

“Oh? You’re still here?”

I-yeon, who had just finished showering, spotted me sitting in the stands and approached.

“Yeah. I was waiting for you.”

I spoke while watching some students who were still intensely training in the arena.

The auxiliary training hall was quite far from the main building and smaller than the main hall, so it wasn’t very popular. It was mainly used by people who wanted to train or spar quietly.

“What?”

She sat down beside me, looking puzzled. A strong scent of milk wafted from her. It gave me a warm, cozy feeling.

“Didn’t you see my text?”

“Text?”

She tilted her head and pulled her phone out of her shorts pocket. After checking my message, her expression changed to one of realization.

“Oh, you sent a message saying you’d wait in the stands.”

“Just figured that out?”

“Haha… When I use up all my energy, my mind gets a bit fuzzy.”

I had to be understanding since she was training intensely every day to the point of exhaustion.

I knew how hard it was because I watched them train all the time.

“If you’d done something wrong, I might have waited all day.”

“Would you really wait all day for me?”

“Yeah. I’d wait if necessary.”

“Really? A hero waiting for a fan… That’s quite a rare sight.”

“It is. I couldn’t do that unless it was a personal relationship.”

“Fufu. That means you care about me, Instructor Yujin. Being fan number one really is great.”

“I wouldn’t say great…”

I laughed as I-yeon spoke with her hand over her mouth, looking serious. Come to think of it, she exaggerates too much.

“What about the others?”

“Ah… they showered before me and left. They must all be exhausted, so they’re probably back at the dormitory by now.”

“I see.”

They usually return immediately after training, so they probably thought I had gone back to the dormitory too.

“I-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“I reserved aquarium tickets for tomorrow.”

“Oh… I should have done that!”

“They were having a sale, so I got them cheap.”

Even though it was just a day in advance, there was a discount of 5,500 won. I felt like I’d gotten a good deal and bought them right away.

“H-how much was it?”

She asked while opening her banking app, seemingly intending to transfer money. I turned off her phone screen and said:

“I don’t take money from students.”

“Still…”

“If you’re concerned, just wear something pretty tomorrow.”

“Clothes?”

“You look pretty no matter what you wear, but put a little more effort into it. It’s a date, right?”

“Y-yes. A date…”

She mumbled with a troubled expression. She seemed to be already worrying about what to wear.

“Shall we head back to the dormitory then?”

“Was this what you were waiting to tell me?”

“Yes. If I tried to tell you at the dormitory, other students might show up.”

“Come to think of it, other students and seniors often visit your room, don’t they?”

“They do.”

Mostly A-ri, though.

“Do you… perhaps… h-have feelings for any of the students?”

She stammered cautiously, as if this was quite a sensitive question for her.

“Why? Jealous?”

“W-what!”

I-yeon gasped and fidgeted in her seat.

From our recent conversations, I’d noticed that her reactions were so earnest that it would be difficult to pretend not to notice.

“Hehe. Just kidding. You asked if I have feelings for them?”

“Yes…”

“Of course I have feelings. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have bothered training you all this much.”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

“I know. You’re asking if I see any of you romantically, right?”

I-yeon’s head nodded slightly. I looked at her quietly for a moment, then lightly touched her finger.

“Eep!”

She flinched and quickly curled her fingers.

“It seems like you’re the one with feelings, not me.”

“Ugh…”

She couldn’t say anything. The fact that she didn’t deny it could probably be interpreted as confirmation.

She must be wondering whether she wants to be a fan or a lover.

“Hehe. Just kidding. Shall we go?”

“…Yes.”

As I stood up straight, I-yeon also lifted herself from the seat.

Her expression didn’t look particularly good. She probably felt unsettled because I had evaded the question.

Women tend to prefer clear answers.

But I had no intention of giving them the answer they wanted, even though I knew what it was.

At least not until they became heroes.