Ch.92Episode 19. Making a Move (3)

“Phew……”

Even though I’d been exercising regularly, it seemed like nothing was as intense as running.

Since I’d memorized the setting that relying solely on abilities makes it impossible to grow to one’s limits, I always made a point to exercise. Even in normal circumstances, the body and abilities are integrated, but since they have separate energies, the body needs to support the abilities for maximum efficiency, or something like that.

Anyway, because of that setting, I had advised those kids to do running and strength training during their vacation.

After returning to the dormitory, taking a shower, and having a quick lunch, I headed to the training hall.

Even though it wasn’t one o’clock yet, the special class students were already gathered there, warming up. They were stretching their shoulders like they were yawning and doing splits to make their legs flexible. I could understand why the others might be flexible since they mainly use their bodies, but I didn’t expect Gu Yeonhwa to be so flexible too.

I quietly marveled at her as she bent forward with her legs spread almost 180 degrees until her chest touched the floor.

“You’re here?”

At Jung Iyeon’s call, the others looked at me too. Seeing them trying to stop their stretching and stand up, I said:

“Keep going. Make sure to warm up properly. Today’s going to be intense too.”

As I approached them and started warming up lightly, Gu Yeonhwa finished her stretching and jumped to her feet.

“Great!”

She spun around and ran toward me. I was absentmindedly watching her while raising my arms to stretch my shoulder muscles when she suddenly threw herself at me.

“…What are you doing?”

“Stay just like that!”

While I was bewildered by her unexpected behavior, she pulled back slightly and wrapped something around my chest. It was a measuring tape.

“Your chest is quite big! As expected of the ultimate weapon produced by the agency. Hmm… 119 centimeters.”

“…You haven’t given up?”

“Hehehe! Why did you think I’d given up?!”

With this level of determination, it seemed better to just let her do as she pleased. I thought she had given up on her cosplay ambitions when she put away the measuring tape, but apparently not. At this point, it seemed right for me to take a step back.

She truly has the strongest mentality of any character I’ve ever seen. Well, I suppose you couldn’t maintain a chuunibyou concept without that kind of mentality.

“Alright, alright. I’ll do the cosplay. Happy now?”

“Really?”

“But stop measuring me now. I’ll let you do it later. And I’m not going to say anything when I’m there.”

“Hehehe! As expected, even you can’t resist me, instructor! From now on, bow before me! For I am the one who rules over the darkness, raised in the abyss!”

“Shut up, you.”

“Gack!”

I flicked her forehead as she was shouting triumphantly. Just as I was trying to detach her as she clung to me with a tearful expression:

“Gu Yeonhwa, what are you doing?”

“What are you doing?”

Yeon Muhui and Yu Ari, who had approached without me noticing, confronted Gu Yeonhwa. They seemed displeased that she was hugging me.

“Why are you hugging Yujin?”

“…Wait, Muhui. Why are you calling the instructor by his name, like yesterday?”

“Because it’s our day off.”

“What?”

“Muhui asked me to call her by name on our days off.”

I explained, hoping to mediate in case they started fighting. The atmosphere was quite tense. There was a subtle hostility flowing in the gazes they exchanged.

“Muhui…?”

Yu Ari looked at Yeon Muhui with confusion. It was a reaction that suggested she hadn’t known Muhui had feelings for me. The light in her eyes dimmed slightly. She seemed to be regarding Muhui with caution.

“…You didn’t break your promise, did you?”

“No.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Yu Ari let out a small sigh.

“Gu Yeonhwa, let go now.”

“Ugh. It hurts…”

Gu Yeonhwa didn’t seem to want to keep clinging to me either, so she released me obediently.

After rubbing the spot where I had flicked her, she glared at me once and then snorted, saying, “I’m letting you off because you promised to cosplay!” I considered flicking her again.

“Promise? Yujin, what did you promise Ari?”

“It’s nothing.”

Yu Ari cut off Muhui’s question sharply and glanced at me. She was pressuring me not to say anything. Looking at her black eyes glaring at me, I chuckled and nodded.

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Muhui looked back and forth between me and Ari with a sullen expression before turning away.

I wasn’t so tactless as to not realize that the strange tension between the two was because of me. I was just maintaining neutrality since I had brought this upon myself.

If they ever formally confessed to me, I would have to make a choice. I just hoped that by then, all of them would have become heroes.

“Instructor.”

“What.”

“You’re quite popular.”

Jung Iyeon approached like a busybody and giggled, which somehow annoyed me.

“…It just turned out that way.”

“They’re like obsessive fans, aren’t they? That kind of excessive attachment isn’t good…”

She sounds like she’s talking about sasaeng fans.

“But when did you make them like that? They seem completely different from how they were in the first semester.”

“There’s a reason.”

“Saying ‘there’s a reason’ makes it sound so mysterious.”

I flicked the forehead of Jung Iyeon as she raised her eyebrows and looked at me intently.

“Ow!”

“Go prepare for training, you.”

“Fine. I understand.”

After sending Jung Iyeon away too, I resumed stretching. These kids seem to be in a lax mental state, so I should work them harder today.

* * *

“Gu Yeonhwa.”

“Yes.”

She answers well despite being sprawled out. Judging by the strength in her voice, she must have slacked off during today’s training. Or maybe she was overproducing adrenaline because I allowed her to do the cosplay. She’ll probably collapse on her bed and fall asleep as soon as she gets back to the dormitory.

“Do you have plans on July 11th?”

I asked while drinking water. She rolled over once and lay on her stomach on the training hall floor. Even though the cleaning staff and apprentices manage the training hall, it must be dirty, yet there she is.

“Hehehe. I always have an abundance of plans! I dare say my schedule is so hellish that every day is filled with tremendous appointments.”

Sounds like a typical homebody’s excuse.

“Watching anime? I see.”

“Hey! It’s bad to dismiss me before I’ve even explained properly!”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“July 11th is… still undecided!”

I thought I heard her make her own sound effects like “drum roll” in the middle. I picked up a water bottle and approached her, saying:

“Then keep that day free.”

“Hmm. That might be difficult. Why?”

She asks as she gets up and takes the water bottle. She would probably keep July 11th free for most things, hoping that Michelle might contact her to have a meal together.

I thought about what to say and checked the others’ reactions. They seemed to think I was giving advice to Gu Yeonhwa, as they were sprawled out, drinking water and catching their breath.

“Hmm. Want to go on a date?”

“What…?”

Spending all day with that sensitive person might be a bit much. I’ll need to buy a gift too, though I’m not sure what she would like.

Besides, this question had a purpose. If she responded positively, it would mean her dependence had shifted significantly toward me, which was a question I needed to ask eventually. It didn’t necessarily have to be a date, but nothing else was as good for gauging her feelings.

“A d-date? Isn’t that something only couples do?”

“Does it have to be couples? Anyway. Yes or no? We could get an outing permit and go shopping for subculture goods you like, or watch a movie. That would be nice.”

“I-it’s not that I don’t want to. But…”

There’s hesitation. This kind of hesitation gives me a reason to ask further.

“What’s special about July 11th? Do you have plans?”

“Ah, yes… It’s… my mom’s birthday.”

“Is that so?”

A brief silence falls between us. Since I know about her family situation, she seemed to feel awkward.

“But as you know, instructor… I probably can’t meet her.”

“Is that so?”

Maybe I should make the meeting with her mom a surprise. From Michelle’s perspective, suddenly meeting Gu Yeonhwa might be burdensome, but Gu Yeonhwa would be happy just to see Michelle.

I think they could have a good time if I just act as a lubricant between them.

“I’d like to, but… somehow, if I go out with y-you on that day, it feels like I’m betraying my mom…”

I can sense a strange shyness in her tone. She wasn’t embarrassed at all when inviting me to her room, but she seems a bit conscious now that I mentioned a date.

“Then how about we go out briefly while buying a gift for your mother?”

“What?”

“Why not? Even if you don’t meet her, you can still send a gift by delivery, right?”

“That’s true. But since I’m not in a position to earn money… isn’t a gift bought with mom’s money meaningless?”

“I’ll lend you some.”

“Hmm. Then could you wait a bit? Since it’s vacation, I’ll get a part-time job and work to pay you back.”

“No skipping training for part-time work, okay?”

“Why not! There was nothing like that in the school rules!”

Oh, she’s read the school rules. She must really hate getting penalty points.

“Because you need to become a hero.”

“I don’t think doing a little part-time work will prevent me from becoming a hero!”

“Then pay me back after you become a hero.”

“Is that okay? But won’t that take too long?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Hmm… Then I’ll pay you back generously after becoming a hero! After all, this world will need me! The citizens of South Korea will be protected by my darkness and enjoy the greatest peace and security!”

“I look forward to that.”

I wonder where that confidence comes from…

Still, the outcome of the conversation wasn’t bad. Gu Yeonhwa answered that she “didn’t dislike” me. This could be considered a great achievement.

I’ll help make this meeting successful, but if problems arise and the two of them don’t get along, Gu Yeonhwa will rely entirely on me.

Then, even if the association’s heroes fail to protect Michelle from villains, she won’t fall apart. Of course, it would take a long time of devotion to help her recover, but that would be better than her becoming a villain.

Anyway, I was very relieved that the plan seemed to be progressing smoothly without disruption.