Ch.139Episode 28. MT (End)

Ah, I’m exhausted.

I had planned to go in separately from Jeong I-yeon to clear my head, but after Yu A-ri’s declaration, things became more complicated and I couldn’t sleep.

Lying there, I think it was the first time I truly contemplated insomnia.

“Haah.”

While I was sighing, I heard rustling sounds beside me. I lifted my heavy eyelids and looked to the side.

There was Gu Yeon-hwa lying on her stomach. Resting her face on the pillow, she smiled broadly when our eyes met.

“Good morning, Instructor.”

“…What is it?”

“Instructor, you look very tired.”

“…Why are you here?”

“Are you excited?”

“Excited about what? I just asked why you’re here.”

I said as I sat up. I pressed the corners of my eyes firmly to relieve the fatigue.

“Hmm. I was bored. For some reason, the others weren’t waking up, so I just came out. Senior Yeonmu-hui is outside swinging her sword.”

She’s training even after coming all the way here…

That’s truly remarkable dedication. Well, I suppose it was that dedication that allowed her to finally defeat Yeonhwaryong.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Senior Yu A-ri was hitting her blanket while saying ‘Ah~ What should I do…!'”

“…I see.”

Knowing the reason why Yu A-ri was hitting her blanket, all I could do was give a bitter smile.

She probably doesn’t know how to face me, does she?

Both Jeong I-yeon and Yu A-ri made quite a few sudden advances last night.

“Alright. We’ll be leaving around lunchtime, so let them sleep a bit more.”

“Okay.”

“Got it. First, let’s… wash up.”

“Yes, sir.”

As I was coming down the stairs with Gu Yeon-hwa, the door opened and I ran into Jeong I-yeon. She looked at me and shyly averted her gaze as she spoke.

“Ah… Instructor Yujin. Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah, I slept fine.”

“No, you didn’t. Your dark circles have come down this far—”

“Shut up, you.”

“Oww! That hurts! It hurts!”

I grabbed the head of Gu Yeon-hwa, who was saying unnecessary things, and pressed firmly on her temple.

Hearing Gu Yeon-hwa’s words, the corners of Jeong I-yeon’s mouth curved into a smile. It was a confident smile that didn’t match someone who had just been acting shy.

“So Instructor… was conscious of it too.”

Damn it. That Gu Yeon-hwa saying unnecessary things…

I barely suppressed a sigh that had risen to my throat and released Gu Yeon-hwa. Instead, I reached out my hand toward Jeong I-yeon.

She thought I was going to pat her head, so she stood still. But what I had in mind for this impertinent girl wasn’t a pat.

Thwack—!

“Eek!”

My flick hit her forehead directly.

“Ow, oww!”

Jeong I-yeon clutched her forehead with a tearful expression. Tears were slightly welling up in her eyes.

“Why, why did you hit me…?”

“Because you were being cheeky.”

It was payback for putting me in a difficult position.

“Ugh.”

Jeong I-yeon probably doesn’t know yet, but last night Yu A-ri declared that she wouldn’t hold back anymore.

Surely, Yu A-ri will use dinner as an excuse to continuously make sexual advances toward me. I questioned whether I could control my desires each time.

I shook my head to clear away thoughts of Yu A-ri. I’ll think about it later. Even Yu A-ri probably doesn’t plan to act immediately.

“I’ll make you some ramen after we wash up.”

Still, I had no intention of resenting them.

After all, this was a situation I brought upon myself, and they are students under my charge.

* * *

They must have really partied hard last night, as most of the students looked like zombies. The ones who were somewhat awake were cooking and eating ramen, but they weren’t in their right minds.

If we departed by bus like this, they’d probably throw up. It seemed like the schedule would be pushed back to the afternoon.

After somehow finishing our hangover soup and cleaning up the pension, we boarded the bus. Or rather, we were about to.

“Instructor. Where are you going to sit?”

Jeong I-yeon and Yu A-ri asked me almost simultaneously.

“Jeong I-yeon……”

“Senior Yu A-ri…?”

The two of them briefly looked at each other. Yu A-ri showed hostility toward Jeong I-yeon, while Jeong I-yeon displayed wariness toward Yu A-ri.

I had no intention of choosing either of them.

If I chose one, the one not chosen would likely become more aggressive out of defiance.

If I was going to be trash anyway, I planned to be “fair” about it.

Having already started acting like a Casanova, conflict was inevitable.

Just as I was about to speak after organizing my thoughts—

“I’m sorry, but could I sit next to Instructor Yujin on the way back?”

Ha Yu-ri suddenly appeared.

Both Jeong I-yeon and Yu A-ri were taken aback by this unexpected outsider.

If it had been an ordinary outsider, they might have ignored the request, but Ha Yu-ri was one of the heroes that all heroes admired. They couldn’t possibly dismiss her.

“Why?”

“I have some things to discuss.”

“……”

But as if proving she wasn’t a special class student for nothing, Yu A-ri confronted the number one hero.

“I have a lot to talk about regarding our sparring match. Do I need to explain every little thing to you?”

Wow, what a nasty personality.

She seemed to be saying that if you’re weaker than me and lower in status, go ahead and criticize all you want.

“…I see. Understood.”

Jeong I-yeon quietly looked at Ha Yu-ri and then bowed her head. Yu A-ri seemed like she wanted to say something more but substituted it with a sigh.

After watching the two board the bus, Ha Yu-ri looked at me, crossed her arms, and smiled.

“They have quite the bad tempers. And they’re already twenty years old.”

“By that logic, I’m already twenty-six.”

“Why do you seem to be getting more childish?”

“That’s because you brought up age, Instructor. And if they’re around twenty, they’re old enough to make their own judgments and act properly. Don’t indulge their tantrums.”

She brought up such a sound argument that I had nothing to say.

“…I know.”

“Good. By the way, I heard you’re unusually weak when it comes to students. It seems that’s true.”

“……”

“An instructor dedicated to students—you’d be a model for all instructors at the Academy. Especially since you’re controlling the special class students, who are said to be difficult to handle even at the Academy.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Hmm. That I’ve taken a liking to you?”

“…Are you joking?”

“Yes, I’m joking. Hehe.”

She tapped my arm as she spoke. Meanwhile, I was dying of seriousness.

“Then, putting jokes aside, let me say one thing seriously.”

“Yes?”

“Be decisive. You’re probably the only one who can control those kids. The more ambiguous you are, the more it will only hurt them.”

“Unexpectedly, you’re quite meddlesome, Ha Yu-ri.”

“What?!”

Be decisive.

I agree with that thought.

Of course, I know her words don’t mean I shouldn’t hesitate to make advances on my students.

She’s probably telling me to act properly so they don’t go astray.

Still, I had no intention of making all decisions right now. I still needed time to sort things out.

By the way, my promise to the Association President that I wouldn’t lay hands on students has already become a lie.

“Then let’s end the conversation here, and I’ll impose on you for a short while on the bus.”

“…As you wish.”

And so we boarded the bus, bringing an end to our eventful MT.

* * *

“No going to the training ground today.”

Yeonmu-hui flinched. This kid, does she really have nothing but training on her mind?

“Rest today. Don’t force your tired body to go train.”

“Instructor! Can I watch anime?!”

Gu Yeon-hwa raised her hand and asked.

“…When have you ever asked before watching?”

“I haven’t.”

“Then don’t ask.”

“Okay~”

While having this trivial conversation with Gu Yeon-hwa, I looked at Jeong I-yeon and Yu A-ri.

I know they’re not on speaking terms, but it’s certainly not my imagination that their relationship has started to deteriorate.

…It doesn’t seem like a good idea to put them together right now.

“Let’s wrap up for today. Everyone go home safely and rest well over the weekend.”

Without dragging things out, I promptly dismissed the special class and went to my dormitory room.

Although I had washed my hair at the pension, I went into the bathroom to shower while clearing my head.

Just as I was about to come out after showering, my phone lit up. It was a message notification. The text on my phone read, “I’m at your door.”

She doesn’t intend to wait for me to sort out my thoughts, does she?

I dried my wet hair with a towel as I went to the entrance and opened the door.

“…What’s up?”

“I’m sorry for coming suddenly… Oh?”

Yu A-ri, who had been leaning against the wall next to the door, blinked when she saw me.

“Were you showering?”

“Yeah.”

“I see… I have something to talk about. Is it okay if I come in?”

“…Why are you suddenly asking for permission? Come in.”

I acted as I always had to prevent our relationship from deteriorating, letting her into the room.

But perhaps that was my mistake.

As soon as Yu A-ri entered the room, she checked that the door was locked. By the time I sat on the bed and took out a hair dryer from the drawer, she had taken off her shoes and come in.

“Instructor. No… Yujin.”

“Yujin…?”

I flinched at the unfamiliar form of address just as I was about to turn on the power. Yu A-ri was now standing in front of me, looking down at me.

“Your way of addressing me…”

“You can scold me for being disrespectful later.”

I asked cautiously, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

“…What do you want to say?”

“I said I was canceling my wish, right?”

“…You did.”

“If Yujin can kiss someone who isn’t in a romantic relationship, then you can do more than that with someone who isn’t your lover, right?”

“…I wonder.”

“You’re not denying it. Then let me ask one last thing.”

“What is it?”

“Do you dislike me, Yujin?”

“……”

Do I dislike her? Do I not dislike her?

Knowing that I wouldn’t say I like her, she deliberately phrased the question this way.

From the beginning, she knew. That I don’t dislike her.

After all, no one shows kindness to someone they dislike.

She cleverly took advantage of that.

“I don’t dislike you.”

“Then it’s okay if I seduce you, right?”

“That’s—”

She no longer demanded an answer from me.

She simply began to undress quietly. The meaning of this was clear without explanation.

“I won’t lose anymore. The first time… is mine.”

There were no brakes now.