Ch.136Episode 28. MT Trip (7)

As evening arrived, the barbecue party continued.

Long wooden tables were arranged with grills placed around them for cooking meat.

For reference, I was currently using one of those grills.

Somehow, I’d ended up in the position of grilling the meat. I was in the same position when I bought ribs for everyone before.

“Yujin.”

“…What?”

While I was grilling the meat at the front of the grill, inhaling all the smoke, Yeon Muhui approached. She waved away the smoke heading toward her face and spoke.

“That match earlier, you won, right?”

“…I told you it was a draw. Why can’t you believe me?”

“That’s a lie. There’s no way Yujin would lose to Miss Ha Yuri Hero.”

“Is that so.”

I responded indifferently while flipping the meat, then suddenly turned my head toward Muhui, bothered by a particular word.

“…’Miss’ Ha Yuri Hero?”

“…What about Miss Ha Yuri Hero?”

“Hey. Why do you use honorifics with Ha Yuri but not with me?”

“…”

Muhui blinked several times at my words. Her head, which had been looking up at me, slowly turned to the side.

“…I don’t use them.”

“You’re lying!”

“So why are you lying about it being a draw?”

“Don’t change the subject. Why don’t you speak formally to me?”

“With Yujin, it feels… kind of weird.”

“What do you mean ‘weird’? You did it just fine during the home visit. Should I tell your mother about this?”

“W-what?!”

At the mention of her mother, Muhui rarely raised her voice. Perhaps unable to manage her expression like during the home visit, she frowned.

“That’s low.”

“Speak formally to me. Then I’ll tell you the result of the match.”

“…I’m not particularly curious.”

“Then don’t listen.”

“Ugh! Yujin is so petty.”

“Yes~ I am petty.”

“…Instructor, you’re really pathetic. Arguing with a student— Owww! That hurts…!”

I pinched the cheek of Gu Yeonhwa, who had butted in tactlessly.

“Gu Yeonhwa, do you want to die?”

“You’re already pulling my cheek…!”

Yeonhwa frantically hit the back of my hand, pleading to be released. I shook my head and let go of her cheek. She rubbed her cheek with teary eyes.

“Don’t act up. There’s fire here.”

“If it’s fire, I have that too!”

Already recovered, she proudly displayed black flames blooming in her palm.

“Don’t use your ability, idiot.”

“With my black flames, I can grill meat in an instant!”

“You mean burn it.”

“Yujin, so who won? Tell me now.”

With both of them chattering on either side, it was impossible to focus on grilling. Just as the noise was becoming unbearable, Jeong Iyeon and Yu Ari approached the grill.

“I’ll grill it.”

“I’ll grill it.”

The two of them extended their hands almost simultaneously. Jeong Iyeon and Yu Ari looked at each other. A strange atmosphere formed between them as they stared at each other without saying anything.

“Senior, I’ll do it. You can sit down and enjoy the meat.”

“No. I’ll do it.”

“…I see. Alright.”

Jeong Iyeon smiled and spoke, then returned to her seat. I could see her licking her lips in disappointment as she turned her back on Yu Ari.

“Please give me the tongs.”

“I said sit down and eat.”

“It’s fine. More importantly, are your injuries okay?”

“I’m fine. They’ve already healed.”

I spoke while looking at the torn part of my t-shirt where the ice crystal had cut. The wound on my palm had also healed nicely once the cold sensation disappeared.

“R-really? That’s a relief. I was worried because there was blood on your clothes.”

“Is that so? Thanks.”

After patting Yu Ari’s head, I handed her the tongs. She squeezed the tongs, making clicking sounds, and flipped the meat.

She even took the scissors from my hand and skillfully began cutting the meat.

Her meat grilling showed the skill of someone experienced in cooking. As I watched quietly, Yu Ari pointed to a chair.

“Please sit down. I’ll, I’ll grill it deliciously for you. But…”

She leaned in slightly closer to me and whispered.

“Keep the seat next to you empty. I’ll sit there.”

“Alright.”

I nodded with a slight smile at her blatant appeal.

As I settled into the chair, Muhui persistently followed and spoke to me.

“So who won?”

“‘Who won’ is informal speech.”

“…Sir.”

“Say it properly.”

“…Who won, sir?”

Though it was reluctant formal speech, making Muhui speak formally gave me a sense of satisfaction. Enjoying the satisfaction, I tapped her arm and said.

“Good. From now on, speak formally when asking me something.”

“…”

She looked at me with displeasure but didn’t argue back, perhaps knowing that she was supposed to use formal speech in the first place.

“So you asked who won?”

She nodded.

“Well—”

I leaned toward Muhui and whispered in her ear. I wanted to tease her once more, but if I did, she might never speak formally again.

“—I won.”

“I knew it!”

Muhui raised her voice after hearing my answer, as if she had expected me to win from the beginning.

“I thought so.”

She smiled softly, seemingly having her curiosity completely satisfied.

“There’s no way Yujin would lose to anyone.”

I chuckled at her confident voice.

“Is that so. Don’t go around telling people.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t have anyone to tell.”

…Are you proudly saying that?

I was so dumbfounded by her statement, which was beyond absurd and almost sad, that I forgot to even argue back.

* * *

A drinking party—an essential part of MT.

While the students were enjoying drinking games, the special class was having light drinks and chatting.

“To beat the instructor, I need to be faster.”

“Was there a part where the combination didn’t work?”

“There were some rough spots. When the timing for pressing the attack was off, Yujin was able to find an opening for counterattack.”

“I see. It would be better if I could press the attack more…”

You guys are planning how to beat me even in a place like this?

“Phew… This feels good…!”

Meanwhile, Bin Yuni seemed to have a low alcohol tolerance; after drinking one bottle of soju, she was staggering and smiling broadly.

“Instructor~!”

“What? I’m not dealing with drunken antics.”

“Hmph! I wasn’t going to ask you to!”

Her cheeks puffed up as if she was sulking, and her chest heaved with each movement of her body. Just how big are those breasts?

“Well, well. Your sentences are getting shorter? Are you becoming like Muhui? You shouldn’t learn bad habits from your senior.”

“…I don’t appreciate being insulted so directly.”

“Caught me.”

I stood up to send away the person who was starting to get drunk. It would be troublesome to handle if she started causing a scene.

“Don’t get drunk, you guys. We’re in charge of cleaning up afterward.”

“…I think I’ll get drunk.”

“Oh, suddenly feeling sleepy…!”

“You disloyal bunch.”

I was exasperated by Muhui and Yeonhwa’s pretend staggering. I approached Bin Yuni.

“Hey. Let’s go to bed.”

As I grabbed her arm and half-forcibly lifted her up, she giggled and said.

“Heheh. Are you going to carry me on your back like before?”

“Yeah. I’ll carry you.”

“I’d love that!”

I carried Bin Yuni on my back with practiced ease. She naturally leaned her body against my back. I headed straight for the pension.

“I’ll take her back and return soon, so keep eating.”

“Okay.”

I could sense the others’ disgruntled expressions, but I pretended not to notice and walked away.

Entering the pension, I headed toward the room where Bin Yuni’s luggage was. I sat on the bed that was visible as soon as I opened the door.

“Hey, let go. I need to get back quickly.”

If I lingered here, the special class students wouldn’t stay quiet.

Besides, other instructors and students had seen me carrying her into the pension, so if I didn’t leave quickly, misunderstandings would inevitably pile up in real-time.

“Instructor…”

“Let go first, then talk.”

“Popular instructor.”

“…?”

“If you weren’t so popular… I could have had you all to myself.”

Her intonation and pronunciation were quite clear for someone drunk. Was she pretending to be drunk?

“You—”

Just as I was about to turn around to look at her, the arms wrapped around my neck moved down to my waist. She hugged me from behind, pressing her face against my back.

“But I don’t want to fight with other people. If it’s fighting… I’ve had enough of that already.”

“…”

Was she talking about her family?

Considering her family history filled with discord, it made sense that she would be reluctant to fight with those close to her.

“But it’s okay to be a little greedy, right? After all, you’re not in a ‘special’ relationship with anyone yet, Instructor.”

“What do you mean by greedy…”

When I turned my head slightly using a bit of force, Bin Yuni’s face was already close to mine.

Chu.

A strange sound echoed in my ear.

It took considerable time to understand the sensation of soft touch against my cheek.

“Bin Yuni… you…”

“I really wanted to do this. But… something so embarrassing… I couldn’t do it unless I was drunk…”

“Why?”

“…Don’t ask when you already know.”

She tapped my back and whined. She slowly released the strength in her arms that were wrapped around my waist and let me go.

“You should go now. If you’re late… they’ll misunderstand… I’m tired and going to sleep.”

“Thank you.”

Even after saying it, I wasn’t sure what I was thanking her for. It was just something I said because I couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say.

I really am awkward in these situations.

“…I should be the one thanking you.”

But she didn’t seem to mind as she crawled around looking for a pillow.

“Sleep well.”

“…Um.”

“Yes?”

Just before I went outside and closed the door, she began to speak.

“…If you want to receive my kisses in the future, just let me know. I’ll, I’ll do it specially… for you, Instructor.”

I slowly closed the door while looking at Bin Yuni, who was speaking in a shrinking voice.

“Alright. Sleep well, Yuni.”