Ch.87Episode 18. Preparing for Vacation (2)

“Instructor, your dress shirt is dirty.”

That’s what Yeon Muhui said as she approached the gazebo and looked me over.

“Yeah. I know.”

I replied while casually brushing off the stained area with the back of my hand. It got dirty yesterday when I beat up a few guys and sent them to the police station.

“Did something happen?”

“What could happen in this backwater? More importantly, how was it? Sleeping at your grandmother’s house after so long?”

“Nothing special. I just slept well.”

A curt response. Hmm. She seems back to her usual self.

Did she adapt so quickly overnight? Or has her excitement subsided?

Either way, it was disappointing for me, as I’d grown fond of chatting with the bouncy Muhui.

Is there anything I can do about this?

“Muhui.”

“…What?”

“Just wanted to call your name.”

She looked down at me expressionlessly as I sat in the gazebo. Her lips twitched slightly, suggesting she had something to say, but she kept hesitating.

I patted the spot next to me.

“Don’t just stand there. Sit here. The driver will be here soon.”

“Okay.”

I expected her to plop down carelessly, but surprisingly, she sat down demurely. Her expression remained stubbornly stoic, but she kept glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

What a bland kid.

“…Did you talk with your mother a bit?”

“A word?”

“I told you yesterday to speak at least five sentences on the phone.”

“What could I do? I could see she was uncomfortable.”

Though not completely back to her usual self, her facial muscles twitched with each exchange.

For reference, her brow is furrowed right now. Her lips are also pouting.

Even her scowling is pretty. I like it.

“Besides training, you need to keep making an effort to talk to her.”

“I know.”

“Knowing but not doing is bad.”

“…I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know? Can you explain so I can understand?”

Muhui glares at me with a sulky face. One more word and she might unleash three curses. I should ease up.

“I’m joking.”

“…You’re mean.”

“You’re not calling me ‘nasty’ anymore? I rather liked that tone.”

“Stop teasing me.”

“I’m not teasing. I really liked it.”

“W-what?”

“Maybe because it came from you?”

When I gave her a slight smile, she started blinking rapidly. Not knowing how to meet my eyes, she glanced at me awkwardly.

“…Don’t smile. It’s annoying.”

“Really?”

“What?”

“Is it really annoying?”

“No… why are you taking this so seriously?”

Ah, how cute. It’s fun teasing her.

If I push further, I might actually have to apologize, but that would be too much.

What I want is to become close with her.

If we become close, her trust will increase significantly, and she’ll believe most things without suspicion.

“I’m joking.”

“Hmph.”

Now she’s looking at me with obvious displeasure. It’s funny how she snorts but seems relieved at the same time.

“Still, thank you.”

“…For what?”

“Honestly, healing in the countryside yesterday felt good.”

“What’s there to thank me for? If I hadn’t been so stubborn at the drinking party… you wouldn’t have had to come all the way here. You could have relaxed somewhere nicer.”

Her tone was self-reproachful. She seemed to think I couldn’t rest properly because of her, having to come to this rural area.

“That’s nonsense. I’m the one who brought you here.”

“That’s not what I mean…!”

It’s not like you need a five-star hotel for good rest. Modern motels have such nice beds these days.

“Quiet. If I say it’s good, then it’s good.”

“You’re so unreasonable.”

“Yes. I am unreasonable.”

Seeing Muhui faintly smile despite being annoyed at my attitude, I yawned and lay down in the gazebo.

“Is it okay for you to be like that?”

“Is this the academy? Besides, the instructor is off duty today.”

“Then on your day off, can I call you Yujin?”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

Was that a slip of the tongue?

After being stunned for about three seconds, she seemed to realize what she’d said and started waving her hands frantically.

“No, no, no! I didn’t mean that!!”

She’s even using formal speech now. She must be genuinely flustered.

Her face is bright red too. Even more than when I helped her with the seatbelt yesterday.

“I haven’t said anything yet?”

“Well… well, this is…”

“…A wish?”

I thought about teasing her but decided to be considerate and not embarrass her.

Seeing me take it calmly, she hesitated then nodded her head exaggeratedly twice.

“If it’s a wish… w-will you let me call you that?”

“Yeah. But add ‘Mr.'”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then ‘Sir.'”

“I don’t want that either.”

“What would be good then?”

“Yujin.”

“Do you like me that much?”

At my words, she was dumbfounded once more. Looking down at me lying there, she urgently shouted.

“N-no, no! That’s not what I meant!!”

“Haha!”

“You’re really mean! Seriously!”

As I burst into laughter, she raised her voice even louder and hit my arm.

“But still, that…”

Just as Muhui was about to tell me something, the driver approached and spoke to us.

“Were you here?”

“Eek!”

Startled by Shin Sangho’s sudden appearance, Muhui let out a cute scream. She turned around with a jerky movement. After making eye contact with Sangho, she fidgeted and threw a glance at me.

As if asking if I was going to help her with this too…

“Did I interrupt a good moment?”

Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere between us, he scratched his head awkwardly. I sat up abruptly.

“No. Shall we get going now?”

Having enjoyed our vacation, it was time to return to our main duties.

So we got in the car and went back the way we came. By the time we arrived at the dormitory, it was early afternoon.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not at all. You made it very comfortable for me. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Just before turning away, he looked back and forth between Muhui and me, then whispered:

“You two look good together.”

My, how mischievous.

I brushed it off with a smirk, but Muhui couldn’t overcome her embarrassment.

With her face flushed red and biting her lower lip, her eyebrows formed a frown. She looked almost tearful.

She stood still like a statue until Shin Sangho drove away with a smiling gaze.

“Muhui?”

When I touched her shoulder, she jumped in shock and moved about 3 meters away from me.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing… it’s nothing.”

Having barely found her composure, she tries to maintain her calm. However, her bright red face made her indifferent attitude look merely comical.

“…Tired? You’ve been through a lot.”

“Y-yeah. Yes.”

“If it bothers you that much, next time we could go to an amusement park for a real vacation and have fun?”

“Next time…”

“It might be good to go with all the special class students this time.”

“Oh… all together?”

“Why? Did you want to go just the two of us?”

When I leaned in with a grin at her obvious disappointment, she flinched and backed away.

“When did I ever!”

“I’m just saying. But if you really want to go that way, win another wish ticket later. Ah, I’ll raise the bar now? All C+ won’t cut it anymore.”

“Then what do I need to do?”

…She seems serious.

“Well, I’ll have to think about it. I’ll tell you during roll call when I figure it out. I’ll be going now.”

After patting her arm, I turned around. As I started walking toward the boys’ dormitory, my jacket was grabbed.

“Um, Yujin!”

“Yes?”

When I turned around, Muhui took a deep breath.

“Th-thank you.”

I tilted my head at the sudden gratitude, then realized a beat later. It was what she couldn’t say earlier in the gazebo when Shin Sangho appeared.

“Sure. Don’t forget to send your regards to your mother. While you’re at it, show her some videos too.”

“That’s… I’ll handle it myself.”

“Whatever works.”

Having said what she needed to say, she released my jacket.

“I’m going. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Yujin.”

It seems she really intends to call me by my name on days off. I don’t mind since becoming closer makes things more convenient in many ways.

I entered the dormitory building without giving it much thought and headed straight to my room. There was some urgency in my steps.

It was because someone had left a message saying they would be waiting for me as I returned from Taean.

When I arrived at my room, I could see a familiar woman wearing a black hoodie.

“Yu Ari.”

“Ah, Instructor!”

She was looking at her phone but stood up quickly when she saw me.

“Why are you waiting here? I told you to go to your room and rest.”

“More importantly, did you go on a trip with Muhui?”

“I told you it wasn’t a trip, but a home visit.”

“Do home visits last for two days and one night?”

Look how sharply she’s probing.

I had nothing to say. When I slightly averted my gaze, she stared at me like she was going to devour me. I felt like I might get cut by Yu Ari’s gaze.

“W-well, it can happen.”

I cleared my throat and opened the door.

“Did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Sex.”

“Pfft!”

The straight hook made me dizzy.

“Hey…”

“Did you do it or not?”

“Sigh. You must have been lonely without me.”

“…Yes. I was lonely.”

I tried to change the subject, but her straightforward answer left me speechless.

Unlike Muhui, she charges ahead aggressively with just one word, and I didn’t know how to react.

“Alright. Alright. Since we have time, do you want to come in for a bit?”

“I want to come in.”

“Staying overnight is not allowed.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“…Yes.”

I was dumbfounded by Yu Ari’s reluctant response. She’s someone I can never let my guard down around.

If I hadn’t pressed her for an answer, she would have insisted on staying overnight, claiming I never said no.

“So did you do it?”

“…”

She asks even as she closes the door behind her.

Look at this obsession…

I sighed and said:

“No, I didn’t.”

“Good.”

What’s good about it? Nothing’s good at all.