Episode 515. Temporary Daily Life (3)

“Mmm… This is tough.”

“You should be used to it by now.”

“I’ll be discharged soon, so why should I get used to it?”

Im Sol removed the medical devices dangling all over her body, stretched, and finished her check-up.

Since they said Im Sol was almost recovered, I thought the check-up would be short, but that was completely wrong.

I never expected to wait nearly an hour.

Lee Hoyeon, who had been sitting beside them peeling an apple while waiting, approached the two whose check-up was finished.

“Is it finally over? That took longer than I thought.”

“I know, right? Even though I’m fully recovered, this kind of check-up is so inefficient.”

“Tsk. If you don’t, it’s only your loss, Sol-ah. You missed the magic cube last time because of that.”

“Why are you bringing that up…?”

Baek Ahyoung spoke to Im Sol as if teaching a child.

Usually, Baek Ahyoung seems childish, but when she’s at the hospital, she shows a serious side.

Actually, since I also remember seeing Im Sol collapse from overexerting herself, I agree with Baek Ahyoung.

She doesn’t know her own physical condition well.

“But I’m fully recovered.”

“You can only get this kind of treatment because you’re a VIP. There are so many people dying from illness in the world; you should be grateful.”

“It’s unwanted VIP treatment.”

What were they even fighting about?

Lee Hoyeon approached Baek Ahyoung and Im Sol, who were bickering.

“There are so many people who’d want the VIP status at Victoria Academy, why say things like that? Stop fighting, everyone, and have some apple once you’re done.”

“Ah-.”

“I tried cutting it into the shape of a rabbit, but that was difficult.”

Lee Hoyeon personally fed the apple to Im Sol, who had opened her mouth.

The rabbit-shaped apple Irene cut was incredibly neat, but the rabbit I cut looked like it had rolled around quite a bit in the wild.

Omnyomnyom.

The grumbling Im Sol chewed the apple and closed her mouth.

“Ah…”

“Have some too, Ahyoung-ssi.”

Nyamnyam.

While clearing away the medical check-up equipment, after giving a piece of apple to Baek Ahyoung, who had made a heartbroken expression seeing Im Sol accept and eat the apple, the hospital room was filled with the sounds of eating apples.

‘Peaceful and nice.’

How wonderful would it be if everyone could be happy just by eating apples.

Lee Hoyeon ate up the earless rabbit while having useless thoughts.

Although it had no ears, the apple was still delicious.

Just then, Baek Ahyoung, having finished her apple, opened her mouth.

“Right. Speaking of VIPs, it reminded me, Hoyeon, you’re now a VIP of the Academy too.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“A recommendation came up this time. Suppressing the Academy terrorist attack, achievements at the Wizard Association, and what else… Was it being the top student in the first year? Anyway, you received several recommendations. Since there’s no one particularly opposing it, approval is certain.”

Lee Hoyeon blinked at the sudden remark.

Becoming a VIP was actually plausible.

I’d done an incredible number of things.

However, there was the issue of still being a first-year, and the Academy hadn’t given any hints, so it was quite sudden.

“Being a VIP is good, but… who recommended it first?”

“Probably the student council president.”

“Ah.”

Hearing that Surin noona did it made my doubts and questions disappear immediately.

In fact, if I needed anything, I could just ask Moon Surin, so I was like a VIP anyway.

I actually even got a VIP room.

Still, becoming a VIP on paper will make things more convenient.

Moon Surin probably had that thought when she did it.

I should go later to at least give my thanks.

“Now my disciple will get to know the sorrows of being a VIP.”

“…Such things don’t exist.”

“It’s the sorrow of not being able to refuse treatment.”

“That’s just you being strange, Sol.”

“Ugh.”

Lee Hoyeon shook his head and put a piece of apple into Im Sol’s mouth.

Seeing her say it several times since earlier, she seems genuinely upset.

She’s not a child, so why is she acting like this?

“S-Sol?”

Meanwhile.

Baek Ahyoung, who had been listening to their conversation with a faint smile, froze at the word “Sol.”

She knew well what it meant for Im Sol to allow someone to call her Sol.

The prickly Im Sol only allows that nickname to someone she has completely opened her heart to.

It wasn’t strange.

There were few people she allowed to call her Sol, but there was no reason Lee Hoyeon wouldn’t be among them.

Even though my head understood, seeing it right before my eyes made me feel somehow uncomfortable.

It felt like getting punched out of nowhere?

Since I got hit once, shouldn’t I be allowed to hit back just once?

Baek Ahyoung stuck close to Lee Hoyeon’s side and opened her mouth.

“…Honey. Feed me an apple too.”

“Huh? Here.”

“Ah.”

Nyamnyam.

Lee Hoyeon fed Baek Ahyoung an apple as if it were nothing.

It was so natural that he didn’t even notice the slight change in address.

“…Honey?”

However, Im Sol, lying in bed, opened her eyes wide at the term “Honey.”

“Honey” is usually a word used only between married couples.

It’s an awkward term for Baek Ahyoung to use.

‘The term “Honey” comes so naturally to her lips.’

Im Sol frowned and asked Baek Ahyoung.

“Ayoung-ah. Did you just call him ‘Honey’?”

“Huh? Ah, sorry. It was a slip of the tongue.”

“It seemed too natural for that to be just a slip. Could it be that you call him that when you’re alone together?”

“W-well, what’s wrong with that? You call me Sol too.”

“Those two things are completely different!”

Im Sol was shocked that her guess was correct.

I did allow them to call me Sol.

But “Honey”… isn’t it too sweet?

For the first time in my life, I felt like I could die of envy for Baek Ahyoung.

“Ayoung, you…”

Seeing Im Sol’s reaction, Baek Ahyoung casually averted her gaze.

I didn’t want to fight with Im Sol.

I got hit once, so I just threw a counter-punch.

“What the heck? We were getting along so well just moments ago, why are you both acting like this?”

“”…””

Glaring at each other, Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung shut their mouths and looked away as if nothing had happened the moment Lee Hoyeon intervened.

*

Fortunately, their fight wasn’t serious, as they quickly made up as time passed.

Baek Ahyoung continued chatting after that, and only got up after three apples were gone.

“I have things to do, so I’ll be heading off soon. Hoyeon, when will you be going back?”

“Once Ahyoung-ssi leaves, I’ll probably leave soon too, right?”

“Hmm. Okay. See you next time.”

Once I carefully hugged Baek Ahyoung, who spread her arms wide, she headed out of the hospital room carrying the equipment with a satisfied smile.

“Bye. Ayoung-ah.”

“Yeah. I’ll come again later.”

After Baek Ahyoung left, having been seen off by Im Sol.

Lee Hoyeon received Im Sol’s burning gaze.

“Hoyeon-ah. Are you calling each other ‘Honey’?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not angry. Can you tell me how it became like that?”

“If I were to explain the reason, it’s a bit complicated.”

We went to do volunteer work, and while playing house, that term became fixed.

Of course, many things happened in the meantime… but anyway, that’s how it was.

Lee Hoyeon explained it as indirectly as possible, saying it just stuck while he was playing with the children during volunteer work.

“Hmm…”

“Sol, do you want me to call you ‘Honey’ too?”

“That’s not it. I was just curious.”

Even if I called you “Honey” from now on, it would just be a copy of Baek Ahyoung.

I wanted to get closer to Lee Hoyeon in a different way.

‘The mood has become so down.’

Lee Hoyeon sat down on the edge of the bed, seeing the gloomy Im Sol.

“Sol-ah.”

“Yeah.”

“Shall we continue what we were doing earlier?”

Lee Hoyeon placed his hand on Im Sol’s thigh, and Im Sol quickly understood his intention.

“Right now…? Ayoung just left.”

“There’s nothing else to do, right? Just until she gets back. You don’t like it?”

“…It’s not that I don’t like it.”

If she looks upset, I should make her feel better.

I need to let her know that she is loved too.

Lee Hoyeon smiled and lay down next to Im Sol.

*

Glad she seems cheered up, it’s a relief.

After the passionate encounter ended, Lee Hoyeon came out of the hospital room and checked his smartwatch.

An alert on the smartwatch read that he had been selected as a VIP of Victoria Academy.

“Maybe I should go see Surin noona.”

I need to thank her for the VIP status, and there were things I wanted to ask.

About the trends of the Pandemic and what to do about Lucifer.

Personally, I wish they’d focus more on the investigation into Lucifer… but things in life don’t always go as planned, so let’s not expect too much.

Relying too much on others leads to failure even for things that could work out.

I must approach it with the mindset of solving it myself.

Lee Hoyeon headed to the student council room on the top floor of the club building.

Since I didn’t cast a rune barrier, so many gazes were drawn to me; it was quite burdensome.

Lee Hoyeon, getting off the elevator, greeted the student council members he hadn’t seen in a while and approached the president’s office.

Knock knock knock.

“Surin noona. I’m here.”

“Yeah! Just a moment!”

A clattering sound was heard, and soon the student council room door opened.

“You can come in.”

Inside the student council room, a desk piled with documents was visible, as always.

Looking at the scattered clutter nearby, it seemed like there was still a lot to do.

“Surin noona. You seem busy, did I come at a bad time?”

“It’s fine. It’s always the same whenever you visit. This just needs to be finished today. Ah, sit there, Hoyeon-ah. I’ll make you some tea.”

Moon Surin welcomed Lee Hoyeon with a smile and had him sit down.

At the same time, the clutter lying on the floor rolled away into a corner, and teacups and a teapot flew over.

It was Moon Surin’s specialty, telekinesis.

“Thank you, Noona.”

Lee Hoyeon received and drank the tea Moon Surin gave him.

The aroma of the high-quality tea, different from Im Sol’s taste, lingered in his mouth.

Moon Surin watched Lee Hoyeon, drinking tea, with worried eyes.

“Is your body okay? I was really worried.”

“Yes. Now…”

Lee Hoyeon, about to answer without much thought, suddenly remembered.

‘Maybe it would be good to speak comfortably to Surin noona too.’

I had received permission to use informal speech with Moon Surin too.

It’s awkward, so I don’t use it often, but just like Im Sol liked it, wouldn’t Moon Surin like it too?

“…I’m okay now. You don’t have to worry.”

“Heh… That’s a relief.”

Moon Surin listened quietly to Lee Hoyeon’s words, then smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder.

‘Fortunately, she seems to like it.’

The way she rubbed her head back and forth like a pet seeking affection was cute.

If I receive this much affection just for speaking a bit more informally, isn’t it a profitable trade?

Even if it’s awkward, I should endure it.

“That’s why I suggested promoting Hoyeon to VIP, but they said being a first-year is too early…”

Sticking close to Lee Hoyeon, Moon Surin chattered away, continuing the conversation.

The content was basically that she worked hard for my sake.

“Surin noona. Speaking of which, there’s something I wanted to ask…”

“Right. I have a document prepared for you, Hoyeon. Want to take a look?”

Chak chak chak.

Moon Surin used magic to pull the document, carefully placed on the desk, over to Lee Hoyeon and presented it.

“Hmm… What is this?”

Lee Hoyeon tilted his head, looking at the document Moon Surin presented.