Ch.13Academy Admission? (2)

My teacher and I sat across from each other at the table.

With tea set on the table, it was naturally tea time.

I left my teacup untouched while continuously rubbing the swollen bump on my head with my palm.

It was wrong of me to peek into a woman’s closet, but I didn’t do it with impure intentions.

I just wanted to buy my teacher an outfit.

But I needed to know what clothes she already had, so I had no choice but to open her closet.

My teacher is practically family to me—why would I look in her closet just to peek at her underwear?

If asked whether I saw them or not, well, I did see them.

But that wasn’t my purpose.

My teacher deliberately set her teacup down with a click.

She clearly didn’t approve of my behavior.

“What are you so proud of that you keep rubbing it?!”

“No, I’m not rubbing it because I’m proud—I’m rubbing it because it hurts.”

“Who told you to do something deserving of a hit?!”

As I slowly lowered my hand, my teacher sighed deeply and picked up her teacup again, taking a sip of tea.

“So when are you going?”

“To buy clothes, you mean?”

“Yes, what else would I be talking about?”

“Well… whenever is convenient for you, Teacher.”

My teacher put down her teacup and furrowed her brow.

She always used to furrow her brow like that whenever she was troubled.

Her appearance had changed, but her habits remained the same.

I couldn’t help but smile as the image of middle-aged Riano overlapped with the young woman before me.

Indeed, even with her changed appearance, she’s still my teacher.

Though I wish she’d stop hitting me.

“If nothing comes to mind, shall I decide?”

“No, wait a moment.”

When my teacher closed her eyes, the valley between her brows deepened.

This usually meant an answer was forthcoming.

Soon enough, she opened her eyes with a flash and gave her answer.

But her answer was unexpected.

“Now.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go now, my disciple.”

What’s with this decisiveness?

Though surprised by her sudden suggestion to leave, I didn’t mind.

“Then, let’s get ready right away.”

* * * * *

In truth, when I was young, I was always with my teacher.

When going to the market, when delivering potions, even when sleeping.

This street we’re walking on now—we’ve walked it together dozens of times.

What remains the same is my respect for her.

Both my younger self and current self equally respect my teacher.

What’s different is…

I turned my head to look at my teacher’s face.

Now I don’t need to look up—I can just turn my head to see her face.

My teacher noticed my gaze and turned to meet my eyes.

“Boy, what are you looking at?”

I wished her words had changed a bit from those days, but my teacher is still my teacher.

How does she say exactly the same things without missing a single syllable?

“What am I looking at? I’m looking at you, Teacher.”

“Should a disciple be making eye contact with their teacher?”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with it, is there?”

“You’re getting older, but why are your manners worse than when you were young? I don’t think I raised you wrong.”

My teacher grumbled and quickly turned her head to look forward.

Her ears, peeking through her hair, were visibly flushed.

She must be embarrassed to be out with her fully grown disciple.

To tease her, I moved closer. I didn’t hold her hand or link arms, but being close enough that our shoulders nearly touched was sufficient to tease her.

“Y-you! Why do you keep sticking so close?!”

“What’s wrong with a disciple wanting to be close to his teacher?”

“No, you crazy…”

My teacher stopped mid-sentence and stared at me intently.

Her red eyes sparkled beautifully in the sunlight, but the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.

The expression she wore was similar to the day she first held my hand.

As if she felt sorry for me, but also relieved.

She slowly raised the corners of her mouth and spoke in a low voice.

“I’m glad it seems like nothing’s wrong.”

“What? What do you…”

Understanding her meaning belatedly, I couldn’t continue speaking.

My teacher was worried about me.

Her disciple who had left home suddenly returned—naturally, she would have expected something had happened.

She must have wanted to ask.

Why I came back, what had happened.

But my teacher never asked until the end.

Out of consideration for me. Afraid I might recall painful memories.

With a heart full of respect and apology, I bowed my head to my teacher.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“It’s fine. My legs hurt. Let’s just hurry up and go.”

I raised my head and stood beside my teacher.

My teacher wore her usual bored expression, but the corners of her mouth were twitching.

As if she was trying hard to hide her happiness.

I stuck close to her again.

This time sincerely.

In response, my teacher panicked and started running forward.

Is being young really that good?

“Ah! You crazy disciple, what’s wrong with you today?!”

“Don’t run away! Accept your disciple’s love!”

“Get lost! Where did you learn to be so sly?! Your teacher is disappointed!”

After chasing my teacher for a while, I stopped in front of a certain store.

A clothing store. One with lots of feminine clothes on display.

My teacher, noticing I wasn’t following anymore, came back to me, breathing heavily.

“What? Why did you stop?”

“Why? Do you want to keep running since your knees are fine?”

“Ah… I surrender. I can’t argue anymore today.”

“Wow, since you’ve lost, does that mean I become the teacher starting today?”

At my ridiculous joke, my teacher clenched her fist. But seemingly without energy, she soon sighed deeply and shook her head.

This time I really won.

Of course, it was a joke, and I have no intention of becoming the teacher.

I don’t have confidence I could do as well as her anyway.

“Shall we go in?”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

My teacher turned her head slowly to observe the inside of the store, then shook her head in disbelief.

Of course, I knew what she was thinking.

When buying clothes, my teacher prioritizes efficiency above all.

Whether it’s not too expensive, durable, effectively protects the body.

But even I could see that the clothes in this store were far from such considerations.

“Are you crazy?”

This reaction was to be expected.

But this time, I had no intention of giving up either.

Honestly, objectively speaking, my teacher is pretty. No, “pretty” doesn’t do her justice.

As her disciple, I couldn’t help but feel it was a waste to cover such looks with shabby shirts, pants, and a hooded cloak.

And since I’m paying, efficiency?

There’s no need to consider such things.

“Let’s go in, Teacher.”

“I won’t go even if I die.”

“Come on, I’m the one paying!”

“Boy, do you dig up money from the ground? Do you think a teacher can spend her disciple’s hard-earned money on luxuries?!”

My teacher was stubborn. But I had a secret weapon.

Teachers are weak against their disciples.

“I want to see my teacher wearing clothes like these. Please, just this once with your generous heart…”

My teacher sighed deeply.

The meaning was clear.

This was my victory again.

“This is the last time. I’m never coming to a place like this again.”

“Yes, since it’s the last time, I’ll buy everything for you.”

“I never said that… Hey, let go! I’m going back!”

I forcibly dragged my teacher who was trying to escape into the store.

To be honest, I didn’t expect her to agree.

But since she said it was the last time, I couldn’t waste this opportunity.

Once inside the store, my teacher stopped resisting, probably not wanting to lose face. She started looking around.

I always thought she was a weirdo who only pursued efficiency, but her eyes changed noticeably—she’s a woman after all.

Then her eyes stopped on a sky-blue dress decorated with pure white frills.

Since she seemed to like it quite a bit, I forcibly put the dress in her hands and pushed her into the fitting room.

I was surprised she went in so obediently, which made me feel a bit strange.

I’m not committing a crime, am I?

After a short while, the fitting room door opened.

“This is really weird. I feel so awkward I can’t stand it.”

Seeing my teacher, I gulped.

It seems bringing her here was definitely a success.

Can a person look so different just by changing clothes?

“Disciple, how do I look to you?”

My teacher’s tone softened, as if conscious of the employee’s gaze.

I quietly gave her a thumbs up.

Excellent. Teacher, you’re unbelievably beautiful.

I wish you’d keep talking like that. Please.

My teacher blushed in embarrassment and closed the fitting room door.

When she came out, she was back in her original outfit, but I heard the welcome words:

“I’ll… buy this.”

“Yes, but that’s not all, right?”

“You… let go! Stop handing me clothes!”

“Just go in and try them on.”

When we left the store, both our hands were full.