Ch.79Episode 16. Annual Event (3)

“……It’s hot.”

Yeon Muhui muttered as she climbed the uphill path to the village.

Although it was only June, the sun was as hot as midsummer. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand as she climbed one step at a time.

In her hands were an ice cream cake and carnations that she needed to give for Parents’ Day.

Normally, she would have climbed quickly and rested in the shade, but right now her mind was filled with thoughts about the person she was about to meet and what conversation they would have.

‘Will there be anything to talk about…?’

Once she finished climbing the hill, the village came into view. She hurried forward, staring straight ahead without glancing at any of the other houses.

The grandmothers gathered in the pavilion watched her, fanning themselves.

“She came this year too.”

“Who’s that young lady?”

“Oh, you know. The Jin family living in that house with the blue roof over there. I heard she’s their granddaughter?”

“Ah~ Is that so? But why’d she come all the way here?”

“I don’t know much, but I heard Jin’s daughter’s husband is a famous hero. They don’t get along well and are living separately?”

‘So noisy. They don’t even know what they’re talking about.’

The wrinkles between Muhui’s eyebrows deepened at the grandmothers’ tactless conversation. She moved quickly until their voices could no longer be heard.

Soon she arrived at the wall with the blue roof.

It was her grandmother’s house. Standing in front of the country house gate, she stared at the doorbell for a long time.

‘I can’t think of what to say…’

Though Muhui was uncomfortably sweaty from the heat, she hesitated for a long time before pressing the doorbell.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell she finally managed to press rang loudly. At the sound, Muhui squeezed her eyes shut, suddenly overcome with anxiety.

It wasn’t that she had nothing to say to her mother, but she was afraid that seeing her might trigger an episode.

“Who is it?”

Just as sweat—whether from the heat or from nervousness, she couldn’t tell—began to form and trickle down Muhui’s face, the door swung open.

“…Ah. It’s me, Grandmother.”

“Muhui?”

“Yes. I’m visiting you again this year.”

Muhui came to her senses belatedly. She hurriedly bowed in greeting.

“…That’s right. You’ve been through a lot because of those two good-for-nothings. Was it hard coming in this scorching heat? Come on in.”

“You’re still as healthy as ever, Grandmother.”

She said to the grandmother with sparse white hair in tight curls.

“My back is all bent, saying such things won’t get you anything.”

“Haha…”

She laughed weakly. But for someone who didn’t know how to smile, even lifting the corners of her mouth was an ordeal.

She entered the house through the yard. Worried that the ice cream cake she was carrying might melt, she went straight to the kitchen and put it in the refrigerator.

“What’s that?”

“Ah… it’s an ice cream cake.”

At her grandmother’s question, she opened the refrigerator door again, took out the box, and showed it to her.

“Ice cream cake? There’s such a thing?”

“These days, ice cream cakes seem to be preferred over regular cakes.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Please enjoy it with Mom later. It’s delicious.”

“Alright.”

“…Oh, and these are carnations. I should have visited on Parents’ Day. I’m sorry.”

“I know full well you’re at that Academy thing, so don’t worry about it. You called to check in. That’s enough.”

Though she dismissed it with a wave of her hand, she accepted the carnations.

“And… um…”

“Your mother?”

“…Yes.”

When Muhui hesitated, her grandmother pointed toward a room with her chin.

“She’s in her room.”

“…I see.”

“Are you not going in this time either?”

Muhui stared blankly at the firmly closed wooden door, opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again.

‘I want to go in. I want to talk while seeing her face. But I can’t.’

She touched the red area around her eyes.

Looking at the room where her mother was, Muhui had to taste a terribly bitter feeling, but she couldn’t show her gloominess after coming all this way.

She shook her head vigorously to shake off her emotions.

“…Is Mom healthy?”

“She’s healthy.”

“That’s good.”

She moved her steps slowly. Standing in front of Jin Subin’s door, she took a deep breath and knocked.

“Mom. I’m here. Muhui.”

Muhui. She deliberately omitted her surname. She knew her mother would shudder at the name Yeon.

“…Muhui, is that you?”

A woman’s voice from beyond the door.

It was a voice she had heard countless times in her life, but now, hearing it only a few times a year, it felt more unfamiliar than a stranger’s.

“Yes. Muhui is here.”

‘Why is it? Whenever I stand here, I have nothing to say. Why?’

With a wooden door between them that she could probably break down if she wanted to, the two couldn’t even think of facing each other, let alone figure out what to say.

“…Are you doing well at the Academy?”

Jin Subin, who was in the room, asked cautiously. Muhui, who had been inwardly reproaching herself, hastily opened her mouth.

“Ah, yes. I’m doing well. Um… I’ve improved a lot thanks to a new instructor who came this year.”

“Instructor?”

“Yes. There’s an instructor who desperately leads our special class. Instructor Yujin…”

Muhui thought of Yujin and tried hard to think of more to say.

“Yujin… I see. So this time, someone came who guides our Muhui well?”

“Yes. She’s an amazing person. She’s… very strong and kind.”

‘I wish she had been my father instead…’

Muhui recalled how Yujin perfectly embodied the educational philosophy she had always wished for.

Although so far she had focused on developing physical abilities, she always checked on everyone’s condition and focused her teaching on what each individual could accomplish to promote growth.

She also continuously provided direction and advice for personal skill development.

Sometimes when they were tired and struggling, she would bring them something they wanted to eat, or have light conversations to help them regain their strength.

In contrast, Yeon Hwaryong’s teaching was violence beyond suffering. He didn’t hesitate to use violence when someone couldn’t perform.

Of course, it was effective, but because he stimulated and demanded growth so thoroughly, countless talented heroes dropped out. Including herself.

That’s why she felt resentful in a way. Why Yujin had that educational philosophy instead of Yeon Hwaryong.

She couldn’t help thinking that if Yeon Hwaryong had such an educational philosophy, their family would still be happy now.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t compare.

“If she’s someone you speak of like that, I can trust her with you.”

“Yes. So you don’t need to worry about me.”

“That’s a relief. Really.”

Muhui was disappointed that she couldn’t see her mother’s face, but she had already resigned herself to it, so she wasn’t too sad.

“…Mom.”

“Yes?”

“Happy birthday.”

“…Thank you. For always coming to celebrate my birthday like this.”

“It’s nothing.”

“I hope you have a good day too, Muhui. If you always come on my birthday, there’s no one to celebrate yours.”

‘That’s not true…’

At Jin Subin’s words from beyond the door, she swallowed what she wanted to say.

“Yes. I will.”

“I’m always sorry. I should have taken you and left that place. But I gave up everything…”

“No. It’s okay. Have a good day with Grandmother, Mom.”

‘That’s not what I want to hear… Mom.’

Muhui desperately bit her lower lip. Feeling like the emotions she had suppressed might burst out, she took a deep breath.

But unable to manage her expression, she could only turn away with a tearful face.

* * *

“Yeon Muhui. You’re late?”

It was already almost ten o’clock. For someone who was expected to return after just a few words of conversation, she had taken quite a long time.

“Instructor…?”

She looked a bit surprised, not expecting me to be at the school gate.

“Why are you here?”

Curiosity settled in her tired red eyes.

“Just out for a walk.”

Actually, I was with Yu Ari until just now. I barely managed to detach her after she complained that I wasn’t hanging out with her these days.

“You weren’t waiting for me? In case I might not come back.”

Her words were unusually sharp. Did the conversation not go as expected?

“I’m a problem child, right?”

This was simply her “throwing a tantrum.”

She wanted to spend her birthday as she wished, but since that wasn’t possible, she was frustrated.

Of course, taking it out on me was wrong.

But it couldn’t be helped. At this point, I was the only one she could rely on.

“Yes. You’re a problem child. One who doesn’t listen well.”

“…What?”

Her lips jutted out, as if she had wanted to hear a different answer from me. Is this what they mean when they say you shouldn’t take a woman’s words at face value?

“But still…”

I approached her and patted her head.

“You’re my precious student. It’s only natural that I would ‘worry’ when you didn’t return.”

I emphasized the word “worry.”

“I sweated a lot today. It’s not good to touch me.”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Not really…”

Judging by how she steadfastly accepted my touch even though she could have avoided it, she didn’t seem to dislike it.

“Muhui.”

“…Yes?”

“Happy birthday.”

I stopped patting her head and held out an ice cream cake box to her.

Happy birthday.

The words Muhui had wanted to hear from her mother every year.

I thought she might have finally heard them this time, but judging by her not-so-good expression, it seemed certain she hadn’t.

“…You knew?”

“Of course.”

I then took out a small box.

“This is a gift for you.”

“What is it?”

Her gaze shifted from the cake box to the small wrapped box. She immediately took it and opened it. Inside was a red ribbon hair tie.

“Your hair tie is worn out from using it for so long, right?”

I pointed at her hair, which was tied up today as well.

Since she always used the same black elastic hair tie, I bought one according to my own taste.

“I got it in red, similar to your eyes.”

“…A ribbon hair tie is uncomfortable for activities. Besides, I don’t like red. I actually hate it.”

“Really? I like your red eyes.”

She slowly raised her head from looking at the ribbon. She looked at me with eyes wider than usual. Her pupils trembled, revealing her agitation.

“If you really don’t like it, you can change it to black. Or to something other than a ribbon.”

“…Why do you like them?”

“Hm?”

“My red eyes… why do you like them?”

I hesitated momentarily at her persistent questioning. Come to think of it, this kid’s mother hated the red eyes that looked exactly like Yeon Hwaryong’s.

“…Because they’re pretty.”

“Huh?”

She blinked repeatedly, as if my answer was unexpected.

“Why? Did you think there would be some grand reason?”

“No, that’s not it…”

She had a somewhat unsettled expression.

Originally, liking something starts from small details. Those small things gradually become more likable until you start liking other things too.

Whether it’s an object or a person.

I hope you’ll like this hair tie.

“Well, never mind that. Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy it for your birthday.”

“……”

She remained silent with her lips tightly closed.

It seemed she was concerned about the late hour, past ten o’clock. It would be tough to wake up tomorrow morning if she ate and went to bed now.

“If you’re worried about it being too late, tomorrow—”

“…I want to drink alcohol.”

She spoke after a long silence.

“Alcohol…?”

“Yes.”

What’s this about? She doesn’t even drink much.

“Is that not okay?”

“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Why wouldn’t it be? If that’s what you want.