episode_0022

“I understand that your family is going through a difficult time, but that doesn’t mean you should go astray.”

The student council office was filled with the musty smell of mold. The student council president, commonly known as Baekda or Baek Da-jeong, did not let me out even when the bell rang for class.

“What Lee Haru is doing right now is not only embarrassing himself, but also embarrassing his friends.”

It felt like I had been hit in the back of my head with a blunt object. My mind was blank, and the only sound I could hear was my heart pounding, so I couldn’t hear what the student council president was saying.

“Do you understand what I’m saying? Get along well while looking after your friends. The headmaster won’t tell you repeatedly. I’m telling you because you, Haru, can still change.”

The student council president, who was trying to make things sound warm after talking nonsense, had a lot to say, but he suppressed it all.

“This is all you need to do for grade management. Just worry about the rest.”

“… Yes.”

Because the Dean of Students was talking about my grades, not me.

The school’s reputation is going down, so let’s be careful. They’re taking special care of you because your grades are good.

The student council president wasn’t even looking at me in the first place.

So, as long as I maintain my grades as the Dean of Student Affairs wants, I will be able to write a decent academic record for the sake of the school’s reputation, and as long as I maintain my grades, they won’t care what I do.

“Okay, now that we’re done talking, go.”

“I’m sorry… .”

I left the student guidance office with a sagging gait and stopped in the empty hallway.

The teacher’s voice heard in the classroom.

A cool breeze coming in through the window.

The sound of leaves rustling against each other.

Things that I usually overlooked were really getting on my nerves today.

“Sigh… .”

I felt like going home like this.

* * *

“Is it hard to have to take all the performance assessments at once? It will be much harder when you go to college. Think of it as practice and prepare hard!”

“Yes… .”

Students rose from their seats one by one, giving answers mixed with resentment.

“Are you a scapegoat? I’ll give you a razor-sharp edge today.”

“Nedab. Can’t we play ranked games together?”

“Oh, there’s a sub-character! He’s a fucking idiot who keeps calling me a ji-ple.”

Heroes of Legend. I headed out of the classroom, mixing in with the boys who were getting excited about the current trending game.

“Hannayeon!”

“You can come slowly.”

“You can’t be late.”

Hanna Yeon was waiting for me, leaning against the shoe rack. Hanna Yeon leaves school so quickly that you could say she was the first to leave.

He said he had no choice but to adjust his work schedule to fit the bus schedule.

“Body.”

“Not bad. I guess I was a little tired.”

I didn’t tell Hanna Yeon what I heard from the student council president.

Not only was it not particularly important, but hearing it would only hurt my feelings, and Hanna Yeon might have a hard time thinking about it too seriously.

“When you get home, take your medicine first.”

“What, what. Are you worried?”

“Yeah.”

When Hanna Yeon answered right away, I felt embarrassed instead. I was really just in a bad mood. It’s the same in Chuchu Land, and sometimes Hanna Yeon comes in and says, “I’m going to do something.”

Usually, it’s like a deflated balloon… .

“It’s not cool at all.”

I muttered absentmindedly. Then I immediately closed my mouth.

Why did I say that? Like a tsundere who says, “You were so cool!” three times. It’s because Hannayeon keeps acting out of the blue. It’s because I’m trying to act cool for no reason!

It happened to me too… .

“Hanna Yeon, are you sick anywhere?”

“… None.”

Hanna Yeon stared at me intently. With eyes that were extremely serious. When I looked at her like that, I seemed like a strange person.

“Why, why… .”

“You look very sick.”

“I said it doesn’t hurt. Why are you making people sick?”

I shook my head vigorously, but Hannayeon’s eyes would not leave mine. Even as we sat in the back seat of the bus and arrived at the next stop.

“Leeharu.”

As I was leaning against the window to avoid those burdensome gazes, Hanna Yeon called out to me softly.

“Why…?”

“Look this way.”

I turned my head obediently. Hanna Yeon was still looking at me. Hanna Yeon suddenly reached out her hand, perhaps not satisfied with just looking at me.

A hand lifted my bangs and touched my forehead. It felt a little cold, perhaps because my hand was outside.

“Did it look that bad?”

“Yeah.”

Hanna Yeon put her hand on her forehead with a long, hesitant expression. But as if that wasn’t enough, she soon brought her face closer.

The calm, calm eyes slowly draw closer. Long eyelashes extend from sharp eyes. A light breath escapes from tightly closed lips and hits the corner of my mouth.

What’s happening now?

Unlike my eyes that were getting bigger and bigger, Hanna Yeon’s eyelids slowly closed. The distance between us became close enough that our noses were almost touching, and the sweet scent of lemon candy came closer.

Talk.

A lukewarm body temperature touched her forehead. Hanna Yeon remained still for a while with her eyes closed.

“You, you, what’s wrong!”

I came to my senses belatedly and hurriedly clung to the window and shouted at Hanna Yeon. However, Hanna Yeon did not panic at all and answered in a calm voice.

“You have a fever.”

“Ah, no, this is…!”

Her cheeks flushed and turned bright red.

Who made you so feverish? You’re the one who made you feverish, so why are you talking so confidently?

“Go to the hospital first.”

“I told you it’s okay. I’ll go if I’m sick.”

“If you go then it will be too late.”

Hanna Yeon is being stubborn today.

I wanted to get angry and say that I was upset because of you, but I thought it would be difficult to answer if you asked me why.

“First, let’s go to the future. If things don’t look good… .”

“Leeharu.”

Hanna Yeon cuts me off. This is the atmosphere that I find the most difficult. Since Hanna Yeon is facing it seriously, I can no longer just run away.

“Yeah… .”

“Listen.”

Even if you tell me to listen, when I get home there’s a mountain of work to do.

First, I have to wash my future, prepare dinner, and then after I finish eating, I have to wash the dishes, clean up, and even do the laundry that’s piled up. I also have to look after my future homework, and prepare for the performance evaluation that’s coming up soon.

“Don’t worry! I’ll text you when I get home!”

The bus just stopped at the stop.

If you’re really sick like Hanna Yeon worried, you should just take a pill and go to bed. It’s great for pain relief and also works well, so it’ll help you get rid of a mild cold.

* * *

“Future, can you put a spoon on the table?”

“Yeah! Ham, I want to eat ham quickly!”

“Do you like ham that much?”

“No, I like anything Mom makes!”

As soon as we got home, we washed up and sat side by side to have dinner.

“Future, get on the sofa.”

“I’ll help you too, Mom! Can I just clean the floor?”

“No, Mom will do it. Will Mirae start with her homework?”

“Can I watch ChuChu when I finish my homework?”

“Of course. Okay, let’s quickly bring the notebook.”

After I finish washing the dishes, I do the cleaning that I couldn’t do in the morning.

“Can I take Mom’s clothes?”

“Have you finished your homework yet?”

“Yeah! Copywriting is now easy!”

“I see? Then can I ask you one thing?”

After cleaning, I turn on the washing machine and tidy up the laundry that was hung on the drying rack.

“Ugh… Mom’s smell is good… .”

“That smells like fabric softener… .”

“Oh, huh? Oh, no! It’s my mom’s smell… .”

“Well, that’s because I wear clothes that smell like fabric softener… .”

“Then it’s your mom’s smell!”

Mirae, who had been rolling around with her face buried in my T-shirt, shouted. Well, if you think about it, it wasn’t wrong. After all, the smell coming from my clothes was the same fabric softener smell.

“Future, then I’ll just study for a bit, so do you want to watch Chuchu by yourself? If you’re sleepy, come in and sleep.”

I woke up after folding the last of the laundry. The clock was already pointing to 9 o’clock. Since Mirae usually goes to bed between 10 and 11 o’clock, I have a lot of free time before then.

After preparing for the performance evaluation and reviving the future, I can sneak out again and continue.

“Yeah, I’ll be watching Chuchu! Mom, study hard!”

“Thank you. If you get sleepy, be sure to call Mom. If you sleep on the sofa, you’ll catch a cold.”

When I turned on Chuchu, Mirae’s eyes were fixed on the TV. Mirae just nodded vigorously. I’ve said this before and fallen asleep on the sofa more than once or twice, so I’ll have to come out and check when it’s time.

I calmed my mind and sat down at my desk.

Even if the volleyball performance evaluation is like that, I want to do well in all the required subject performance evaluations.

Because my goal is to get a job at a guild.

From the salary, welfare, stability, pension, etc., which are different from the general civil servants, when you ask the general public of Stella where they want to work the most, the place that always comes first is the Guild.

Besides, I have original knowledge in the form of organized texts. I have preserved most of those precious assets before I forget them. Not only in handwriting, but also in archives and on my phone calendar.

So the guild isn’t just a dream job. You’ve done well so far, and if you just work a little harder, you can get there. If you just join the guild, promotion is already a given.

“Sigh… .”

But contrary to my resolution, the letters were jumping around excitedly on the book.

In addition, the words of the student council president that I had heard during the day were ringing in my ears, and the events that had happened during physical education class kept flashing before my eyes, as if I was secretly upset.

What did I do wrong to deserve that?

You want to know your friends and date them? Did you try to find out what kind of person Hanna Yeon is? It’s not me who’s swearing at the students, it’s the kids who are spreading strange rumors. Shouldn’t we stop them first?

And what? Don’t be so snarky? How do you know if he has a girlfriend or not? I barely remembered it after hearing her name.

“Haaa… .”

Because I couldn’t concentrate, my mind kept wandering, and because all of those thoughts were so unfair, I started to get very angry.

“My name is Chuchu~ A peace-loving magical cat~”

Maybe that’s why the theme song coming from the living room was so jarring to my ears.

“Future, Mom is studying, so can you be quiet for a bit?”

“My favorite thing is a can of tuna! I like a can of tuna more than peace!”

As I spoke, pressing my throbbing forehead with my thumb, Mirai’s voice, humming the theme song, grew louder. It seems that it was buried in the music and was not heard.

“Future! Be quiet for a bit!”

This time, my voice came out louder than I expected, and I was surprised.

“Sorry for bothering you, Mom… .”

“No, it’s okay. Let’s just be quiet for today?”

“Okay! I’ll be quiet in the future!”

But Mirae didn’t seem upset and answered forcefully.

I feel sorry for Mirae, who is at an age where she needs a lot of attention, but it is true that I have to take care of my grades right now, so there is nothing I can do.

Because we study for the future, to nurture the future without any shortcomings.

For the distant future that I had pictured in my head. So that my dreams for the future would not be shattered. For the happy ending of Mirae and Seo-hoo that was planned.

If I want to protect everyone, I must not become an obstacle.

In order to do that, I have to do my best as a future mother. Childcare, housework, and study. I want to build a stable family as much as possible so that the future can move forward with peace of mind.

─Ugh, the power of peace… so strong.

─It’s only natural because everyone wants to keep the peace! Take this, Chuchu Magic Missile!

─Kuaaak!! I… lost.

Just as I was finally trying to calm my mind and solve the first problem, a loud animation sound bothered me.

The rigid, non-literary sentences were all blown away by the Chuchu Magic Missile. All the letters disappeared and my eyes turned white.

“The future!”

I ended up screaming. It was the first time for me and Mirae to experience such a commotion. Then, urgent footsteps were heard and the door was carefully opened.

“Mom… ?”

My gaze, peeking through the gap in the door, wavers and loses its place. I muttered as I turned away from Mirae, who was standing blankly outside the door.

“Let’s turn down the TV volume a little… .”

“Okay… . Sorry, Mom… .”

Mirae slumped her shoulders and closed the door. Then, as if she had turned off the TV, the sounds that had been lingering in the house disappeared completely.

It was a quiet moment I hadn’t experienced in a while. It was good for concentration, but it was an unfamiliar environment for me.

“Ah… .”

I was sitting quietly trying to calm my mind, but before I knew it, a sigh came out of my mouth.

What have I done now?

Mirae has never asked me to raise her. I just brought her here and raised her. And you say it’s for Mirae’s sake? The time she’s spending with her mother right now is probably the most important to Mirae.

Feeding the future is my responsibility. I shouldn’t pass the burden on to the future.

Mom, you’re disqualified.

I guess I was only thinking about myself in the end.

“The future… .”

I walked out into the living room with heavy steps.

As expected, the TV was off and there was no sign of life inside the house.

“Ugh, ugh, squeak… .”

From a corner of the living room, where there was a window leading to the veranda, a muffled sob was heard.

“Mom, Mom, Hibap, Mi-ah-nae… .”

Mirae was crouching in the corner of the living room, hugging her knees, sobbing. When she raised her head, mucus was sticky between her arms and face.

The arms that were trying hard to hold back the overflowing tears were still too thin to hold anything.

“Future… .”

I took a step forward, staggering. But for some reason, the future didn’t seem to come any closer.

I suddenly got scared because it seemed like the future would become distant forever.

“Mom, whoa, mom, mom!!”

The first person to approach me was Mirae. Even though I was a bad mother who had acted as she pleased, Mirae kept calling me “Mom” and running towards me.

“The future… Mi… An… … .”

But I couldn’t embrace the future.

With a weak voice coming out through dry lips, my vision completely darkened.