Ch.144Episode 30. Responsibility (1)

“Instructor!”

Just as I was taking a short break after the lecture, Gu Yeonhwa approached me.

Immediately, Jeong Iyeon and Yu Ari’s gazes turned toward us almost simultaneously. Look at how vigilant they are.

I pretended not to notice their stares and spoke to Yeonhwa.

“What is it?”

“My mother mentioned having a meal with you, Instructor. When would be a good time to schedule it?”

“With me?”

I pointed at my face as I asked. Yeonhwa nodded up and down.

This was unexpected. Wasn’t I disliked by Michel?

Could Michel’s personality be of the tsundere variety?

Considering how she consistently fulfilled her parental duties while keeping Yeonhwa at a distance, it seemed plausible. Anyway, what an honest person she is.

“Why are you smiling?”

Yikes. I must have smiled without realizing it.

“I was thinking that Ms. Michel… I mean, your mother might be opening up since she suggested having a meal with me.”

“Ah, that could be it. Maybe she liked the birthday celebration? I didn’t expect my mother to suggest a meal first either.”

“Right?”

“Hehe.”

We looked at each other and grinned.

Later that evening, when I called Michel with my hope circuits firing at full capacity, I was met with a thunderbolt.

“I only suggested a restaurant because I have something to discuss, and I didn’t want to shout like last time if I invited you home.”

“That’s a lie. You actually suggested the meal because you were concerned about us, right?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

How could this be? My happiness circuit…!

No, not yet.

“Hmm. You’re not being honest. You can just say you want to see Gu Yeonhwa.”

“…Who’s not being honest here?”

I could sense her wavering through the phone. So she really did want to see Yeonhwa?

“Aren’t you being tsundere? That’s what Yeonhwa said.”

“What nonsense are you spouting about tsundere?”

Why are you trying to hit me when I’m just repeating what Yeonhwa said?

“You two get along so well. Why don’t you just get married already?”

“That would be too hasty an engagement—”

“Do you really want to die?”

The growling sound coming through the phone made me shrink back a little.

“I’m sorry.”

It seemed like it would still be a while before Michel and I could get along.

“It was all just a joke to lighten the mood with you, Ms. Michel. Was it funny?”

“Oh, shut up.”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue internally as I listened to Michel putting up her walls.

“Come to the restaurant we went to before with Yeonhwa this Saturday evening. Understood?”

“This is more like a unilateral notification than an appointment—”

Click!

The call ended.

Right. Cold city women are popular these days.

I shook my phone glumly before putting it in my pocket.

But what could she be thinking?

If she wanted to talk with Gu Yeonhwa, there was no need to call me. They could have spent time together as mother and daughter.

Yet she called me… Does that mean she’s still uncomfortable meeting Yeonhwa alone?

Come to think of it, she had ignored Yeonhwa for a long time, so that could be the case. Though Yeonhwa herself didn’t seem to mind.

I’d find out about this when I met Michel in person.

More importantly, I needed to let Yeonhwa know that we had set a date.

* * *

“So you even had a meal at Mom’s favorite restaurant? I’m jealous! She hasn’t taken me there since I was little!”

Yeonhwa chattered as she walked beside me. Judging by her high-pitched voice and bright expression, she seemed quite excited.

It made sense, really.

Several months had passed since Michel’s birthday. She was bound to be happy about meeting her mother after so long.

“Oppa, oppa! Let’s hurry!”

Yeonhwa naturally grabbed my arm and pulled me along. To others, it might look like we were arm in arm, but she seemed too preoccupied with thoughts of meeting her mother to notice.

“We can take our time. We still have plenty of time.”

“Ah, then should we buy a gift for Mom?”

“She might find that burdensome. They say the best gift for parents is their children. You can go empty-handed.”

“Then you buy a gift, Oppa. Include my feelings too.”

“…Do you have any shame?”

She makes such outrageous statements so boldly.

“I’ll grant you a wish instead. Hmm~ How about a kiss? What do you think?”

“What do I think? No thanks.”

“Ah. Why not!”

“We’re not buying gifts today.”

Do I need to bring offerings every time we meet?

I wouldn’t even do that for a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Gifts are effective only when given occasionally; if you give them every time, they lose their impact.

“But doesn’t it feel empty to go empty-handed?”

“If we meet again another time, you can give a gift then. You, of course.”

I said, lightly pushing her forehead. Yeonhwa rubbed her forehead and clicked her tongue glumly.

“Then what does Mom like?”

“How would I know? She’s your mother, not mine.”

“But… you seem to know a lot about my mother.”

That’s not wrong.

She was described a few times in the novel, and I read it.

But I don’t know her in detail. Supporting characters always get limited coverage, and information that isn’t essential is often omitted.

“Come to think of it, when you helped me meet Mom… you were so confident. I was just desperate for her attention, I didn’t even have the space to think about what she might be thinking…”

“I just got a feeling when I talked to her on the phone. When I found out she was financially supporting you, I thought she hadn’t completely let you go.”

“Really?”

She questioned, as if surprised.

“Yes.”

“But instructors don’t usually get involved in students’ family matters, right?”

“It’s not that they usually don’t—they don’t at all.”

I’m the special case here. Being a transmigrator already makes me special.

“Then why did you get involved?”

“Because you’re my student. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“…”

The smile disappeared from Yeonhwa’s face. I wasn’t sure how she interpreted my words, but she seemed to be contemplating something.

Belatedly noticing my gaze, she cleared her throat awkwardly to change the atmosphere.

“Ah, ah… ahem! I, I see.”

“Anyway, we’re not buying gifts.”

“Hmm. Okay…”

She looked like she wanted to, but reluctantly decided to give up, nodding her head.

We got into the rental car. I was still using a rental since my newly ordered car hadn’t arrived yet.

With less than a month until the expected delivery date, I was already looking forward to it.

As I fastened my seatbelt, I looked at Yeonhwa, who still had a lingering look of regret on her face.

“Still… if your mother comes wearing the perfume you bought her, it would be okay to give her another gift later.”

That meant she was at least willing to accept gifts.

At my words, Yeonhwa’s eyes widened and then curved into a smile.

“You’re right!”

“By the way, you’re wearing perfume again today? Smells nice.”

“Eep! Y-you’re wearing the k-keyring well too, Oppa!”

When I brought my nose slightly closer to her, she flinched and hastily replied. It was just an adorable act of defiance.

“Of course. You gave it to me, didn’t you?”

“Ugh! T-that’s unfair…!”

“What’s unfair about it?”

I asked with a grin. The more I teased, the more her pale face turned red. Feeling embarrassed, she suddenly shouted.

“Enough! Give me your hand!”

“Hand?”

“I want to hold it…!”

Ah, has holding hands in the car become a habit now?

“You like holding hands, huh?”

I willingly flipped my hand that was resting on the gear shift and extended it toward her.

“Not particularly…”

“No? If you don’t like it, then there’s no need to hold it.”

I mischievously pulled my hand back and grinned. Yeonhwa bit her lower lip and frowned.

“Argh! Y-you’re so mean…!”

I wanted to keep teasing her, but I decided to stop before she really got upset.

“Hehe. Alright.”

I took her hand, which had been hovering in the air after I pulled mine away.

“Is this better?”

Despite me taking the initiative to hold her hand, she still looked dissatisfied. Then she suddenly moved her hand to interlock our fingers.

“You prefer it this way?”

“…I do.”

Yeonhwa, pouting her lips yet answering honestly, was incredibly cute.

Come to think of it, I am enjoying this situation, just as Jeong Iyeon said. Me too.

It seemed wrong to deny that I was trash at this point. Not that I was planning to anyway.

* * *

“I don’t look strange, do I?”

She was wearing the academy uniform.

I heard that Michel had specifically requested to see Yeonhwa in her uniform.

It felt fresh to see her wearing the academy uniform outside.

“You look pretty.”

I said as I tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. She flinched at my gentle touch but didn’t pull away.

“T-thank you.”

The shy thanks was a bonus.

“Ah… what should I do? I’m nervous about meeting her after so long.”

Yeonhwa fidgeted with the hand she had been holding until just before getting out of the car.

“No need to be nervous. I’m right here with you.”

“…That’s reassuring.”

Just as she took a deep breath with a faint smile,

“What are you two doing there?”

A blonde woman approached us with the click-clack of her heels, having just parked her car in the parking lot.

It was Michel’s arrival.