Ch.50Episode 10. Comforting the Loners (2)

“Wouldn’t it be boring to be together?”

“I just… feel comfortable when I’m with you.”

I never expected that this kid, who used to kill time sitting alone on the hill behind the school because being with others made him uncomfortable, would say he felt comfortable with another person.

“…I see. Oh, by the way, did you buy a new phone?”

She had dropped her phone when she was hit by a villain on the hill behind the school. Though she eventually found it later, the screen was completely shattered and unusable. In the end, she had to make an unexpected expenditure on a new phone.

“Ah, yes.”

Yu Ari rummaged through the front pocket of her hoodie and pulled out her phone. She showed me a compact black phone.

“Is it the latest model?”

“No. The la-latest model was too ex-expensive for me.”

Come to think of it, Yu Ari doesn’t have anyone supporting her financially, so she works part-time jobs during school breaks.

“Is that so?”

“Y-yes… If I bought the la-latest model, I wouldn’t have any mo-money left for living expenses, so I had no choice.”

“How do you usually earn money?”

“First, I get a sch-scholarship from school, so I don’t have to pay tuition. During breaks, I work de-delivery jobs, at PC rooms, or night shifts at convenience stores.”

“Delivery jobs?”

That was an unusual part-time job for a woman.

“Yes. Jobs where I have to ta-talk to other people are difficult, right? With deliveries, I just need to carry packages, so it’s ea-easier. PC rooms and convenience stores also don’t have many people during ni-night shifts…”

Makes sense. Since she struggles with socializing, serving jobs would be too much for her.

But I had no intention of forcing her to change.

She’s just starting to overcome her trauma, so when she seems ready, I’ll encourage her to try new challenges.

“Then I should pay you for the inari sushi today.”

“N-no, no, nooo!”

When I took out 20,000 won from my wallet and held it out, Yu Ari frantically waved her hands from side to side.

“I didn’t make it to get mo-money! I just wanted to re-repay you for all your hard work, Instructor. It’s e-enough if you just say it’s de-delicious…!”

“If 20,000 won is too much, should I give you 50,000?”

I asked while pulling out a 50,000 won bill from my wallet. She tilted her head in confusion.

“…Why is the amount in-increasing?”

This is what we call the sucker’s calculation method. Financial therapy, so to speak.

I grabbed her outstretched hand and placed the 50,000 won bill on it.

“I don’t have anything to spend money on anyway.”

“If you don’t ne-need it, you should save it! You never know when you’ll ne-need money!”

She protested, looking back and forth between me and the money in her hand. I wrapped both my hands around hers, forcing her to grasp the bill.

“That’s payment for today’s inari sushi.”

“That’s too ex-expensive! It’s not like I’m visiting my grandmother’s house after a long time!”

Her realistic example made me chuckle. So she gets 50,000 won as pocket money when she visits her grandmother?

“Then think of it as your labor cost, about 40,000 won.”

“…When I think about it, In-Instructor, you’re really stub-stubborn, aren’t you?”

“I guess I’m becoming like you guys since I’m living with you.”

I answered indifferently while cleaning up my empty cup. After soaking it in the sink, I stretched.

“Oh, and if you’re ever short on living expenses, let me know. I’ll lend you some.”

I knew she wouldn’t accept if I just offered to give it to her.

“I ca-can’t impose on you like that.”

“I’m lending it to you. Not just giving it away.”

“No, I’m saying I don’t want to bo-borrow it.”

“I’m not lending it because I want to.”

“Then why are you of-offering to lend it?”

“The academy vacation period is valuable time to develop your abilities. If you lose that time because of financial concerns, you’ll fall behind the others. I can’t allow that.”

While her self-taught shadow movement skill was commendable, Yu Ari was currently the most behind in the special class.

Recently, she’s been training during the day and showing signs of trying to catch up, but she was still lacking.

Moreover, if she works part-time jobs, I can’t control all situations. I can’t monitor Yu Ari 24 hours a day.

“Do in-instructors usually go that far?”

“No, they don’t. Who would use their own money to nurture students?”

“Then why are you do-doing it? Are you like the Association President, ex-expecting something from my abilities?”

“I do have expectations, but more than that, I believe you all deserve recognition.”

To add my personal motivation, Akcheon managed to raise their special class students to the level of active S-rank heroes.

In fact, Yeon Muhui entered Akcheon, achieved rapid growth, and defeated Yeonhwaryong in a duel.

If those guys could elevate their special class students to S-rank level, it would be embarrassing if I couldn’t.

I know exactly how those girls grow.

“It’s time to stop being undervalued just because of a bad image.”

“I see.”

“When you become Korea’s top hero, pay me back with high interest. It’s all an investment. An investment.”

“…Alright.”

Though her face still showed skepticism and doubt, she gave me an answer.

“So what do you want to do now? Are you going to stay here all day?”

“Umm. I’ve never done any-anything with other people before…”

“Then should we just sleep together in bed?”

“To-together?! But I think that’s too ea-early…!”

She’s making a fuss, probably letting her imagination run wild.

I was genuinely tired and just wanted to sleep.

After using my full power yesterday, my body was still fatigued. Come to think of it, I don’t know how I ended up having a physical consultation with a parent.

“Why? Afraid I might pounce on you?”

“N-not particularly!”

Ah, her voice cracked. That’s the second time, right?

Hearing her own voice echo in the quiet room, she hung her head low. This reaction was also the second time.

“Then either sleep with me or should we go out? We could go to the training arena, arcade, karaoke… Oh, I think there’s also a small movie theater inside the academy.”

We could go outside if we got a pass, but the academy was so large that it had almost everything we might need.

“Umm… going out is a bit…”

“Why?”

“I won’t be able to sp-spend time completely alone with you, In-Instructor…”

“Then let’s just watch TV.”

Even if I promised not to touch her, sleeping with a student wouldn’t be appropriate.

I climbed onto the bed and grabbed the remote from the top of the drawer. I leaned back against the headboard.

I turned on the television mounted on one wall.

The TV was showing a foreign hero movie on the movie channel.

“Yaaawn.”

I yawned after watching the movie for just one minute.

If I had seen this in the other world, I might have been amazed by the interactions between heroes and villains.

But watching a movie with Yujin’s highly developed dynamic vision made it seem too childish.

“Hmm…”

As I watched the movie with disinterest, drowsiness gradually overcame me.

After blinking a few times, I couldn’t resist the pressure on my eyelids and closed my eyes.

* @ *

“…”

Yu Ari was watching the scene where the hero successfully defeated the villain and rescued the female lead.

They confirmed their feelings for each other with a passionate deep kiss. Their expressions of affection grew more intense, leading to exposure.

The male and female genitals were cleverly hidden in darkness, giving her a subtle sense of excitement.

As the man’s hand moved lower and lower, Yu Ari’s pupils dilated.

She hugged her knees and couldn’t take her eyes off the television.

Then suddenly, she realized there was someone else in the room besides herself.

Startled, Yu Ari darted her eyes back and forth a few times before awkwardly glancing at Yujin.

“In-Instructor, this atmosphere is a bit…”

She had to close her mouth the moment her eyes fell on Yujin. He was dozing off at the head of the bed, hugging a pillow and nodding off.

Yu Ari gulped at seeing this defenseless side of someone who was usually so guarded.

She approached the bed slowly and silently. Moving without making a sound was easy for her.

Yujin remained unaware, still nodding off, lost in drowsiness.

“…”

She wanted to climb onto the bed but held back, afraid she might wake him if she touched it.

“Yujin…”

She carefully whispered his name.

No response. She crouched down and moved a little closer.

She wanted to see his face beyond the black hair that was covering it.

Driven by the desire to see his face, she tilted her head this way and that to find the right angle, then gazed intently at Yujin’s face.

His impression was more rough than gentle.

Even with his eyes closed, he still had a fierce look about him.

But unlike his outward appearance, she knew well that he was a very affectionate person who knew how to care for others.

Plus, he was handsome.

His large eyes, high nose bridge, and soft-looking lips with a hint of color—all his features were in perfect harmony.

“Instructor Yujin… if I ask why you’re so nice to me, you’ll give another strange answer, won’t you?”

Her voice was so quiet it was almost drowned out by the movie.

It was barely above a mumble.

“…You won’t abandon me, will you, Instructor?”

Even knowing it was a troublesome question, she couldn’t help but ask.

He still gave no answer.

Yu Ari imagined what he might say to her question and smiled slightly.

“I won’t abandon you. Even if you fall behind, I’ll drag you by the collar. To make sure you become a proper hero.”

‘Hehe. If it were Instructor Yujin… he would probably say something like that.’

Just imagining it made her feel excited.

“Instructor, if you show kindness so thoughtlessly, I might… ‘misunderstand.'”

But she couldn’t ask him to stop being nice to her now. Yu Ari already knew the warmth Yujin had extended to her.

Without Yujin, who had reached out his hand when she was buried in all kinds of humiliation and couldn’t dare to lift her head, she felt she couldn’t maintain her sanity anymore.

To put it extremely, even if she had to give up everything else in this world, she couldn’t give up Yujin.

She definitely wanted to keep him by her side.

“As you said, Instructor Yujin… if I become a hero, would it be okay for me to stay by your side with dignity? Would you… accept me?”

Her voice was buried under the sound of the television.

Yujin merely continued his even breathing in response to her questions. After quietly watching him, she stood up.

“If your wish for me is to become a hero, I’ll definitely fulfill it. In return, when that happens, will you grant me one ‘request’?”

Yu Ari made a promise to herself as she looked down at Yujin. With just a quiet smile, she silently turned away.

“…Sleep well, Yujin.”