Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: New Phase (5)
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!
"Waaah!"
As I rolled across the floor, I could feel the sturdy material beneath me. Smooth surface, hard texture. Thinking with my clever brain, this floor was definitely made of stone.
"Gonna do it again?"
It had been a week since I'd resolved to reform that girl, but far from reforming her, I couldn't even lay a finger on her. I was starting to think my plan had gone completely off the rails.
To reform her, we had to get close first, right? And to get close, we needed to talk.
But that girl showed zero interest in me. She was like a fighting machine. When Saburo called, she'd appear on cue, fight when told to fight, and leave coldly when I admitted I couldn't go on.
Even when I tried forcing a conversation, Saburo would step in first, separating us and giving feedback on my performance that day.
"Not sure if your skills have improved. You fight too honestly. The world isn't won just by being strong. Use your head a bit more. Hey, you're a girl whose body is a weapon. Even thrashing around ugly-like can be a threatening attack. Poke the eyes or throw sand, and you can smash your opponent."
His grumbling put-downs aside, the feedback was surprisingly practical.
"Don't think it's cowardly. What we're learning isn't a sport. It's violence to finish the opponent for good. There's no referee to end the match if you cheat. The one who panics loses. The winner takes all—that's the truth of this world."
Saburo's feedback was worth committing to memory. Once you've decided to play the villain, you can't cling to petty manners forever. True method acting means embodying the villain down to your bones.
Saburo was, after all, a true pro villain in combat and crime.
"Can I talk to her for a sec?"
"What's the point of chatting with your sparring partner? Fight's over—go home!"
He didn't seem to know much about making friends, though.
"...Your grades are looking kinda dangerous, aren't they?"
But for an elementary schooler like me, reforming a human weapon girl or studying dirty fighting wasn't as pressing as the sudden pop quizzes and plummeting academics piling up.
My friend Yumi, who'd been letting it slide as "good is good," couldn't even fake a smile anymore at my rapidly dropping scores. Wasn't it weird for an elementary school friend to seriously worry about my grades?
"Serika, this score definitely needs some studying. The test was easy, so I thought you'd do well. Quite surprising."
Hwayoung said that looking at my test paper, and I shook my head firmly.
"...No, this is plenty average! Average. See, 50 out of 100 is exactly half, right? That's 50%. Half of 100 is 50%, so average."
But both Hwayoung and Yumi just shook their heads at my logic.
"Serika, if you use averages and stats like that, your business-parent family will get mad. I can't bear to see my friend repeating grades or failing from elementary school."
Hwayoung said that, then stared at me thoughtfully. She stroked her chin with her fingers, gazing at me like someone pondering lunch options. When I tilted my head, she tilted hers too, then finally spoke as if resolved.
"No, I can't let this slide. Serika, we're forming a study group."
"Study group?"
A study group? I was already getting thrashed by the prosthetic-legged girl at the facility, enduring harsh training, and now I had to use my brain too?
Using my body wasn't enough—I had to use my head too?
Wasn't that too harsh? Why use my brain when I'm already strong?
I was already doing my best for the world. I shook my head at Hwayoung's proposal.
"...No, listen. My dad's a big-shot CEO. Even if I'm a little bad at studying, it shouldn't matter, right?"
I hadn't told Hwayoung, but I was gently rolling retirement funds and they'd pile up nicely. With some future knowledge, solving my issues meant a smooth ride ahead.
But Hwayoung's face grew even colder as she shook her head.
"You can't rely on family wealth, Serika. Seeing that makes me want to tutor you even more."
Yumi chimed in, clearly thrilled at the idea of us hanging out.
"Yeah, yeah! My dad says you gotta earn your own money fair and square. And I think study groups are great!"
"Study group, Yumi."
With them pushing this hard, I had no choice.
Plus, Yumi was on board, and she was a friend I'd need to keep on good terms with. Better to nod along than flatly refuse.
Sure, it'd eat into my free time, but if my grades kept tanking, this casual group might turn into parents shipping me off to real cram school.
Hwayoung grabbed my hesitating hand and said,
"Serika, I want to graduate with you."
"...My scores aren't failing yet."
Still, we decided to do the study group.
The study group spot was set for the city library.
Two main reasons.
They had rentable rooms where we could chat and study freely, and the cafe next door was pretty famous.
The library rooms were soundproof glass enclosures with conference-style tables and chairs clustered together. Wide open on all sides, but so well-insulated that even shouting inside just looked like mouth-flapping from outside.
"I like places like this."
"Huh? Why? You hate studying, Serika."
"Being here makes me feel like a hotshot venture capitalist."
Hwayoung pursed her lips like she was fighting a smile, eyelids fluttering. Yumi, clueless about venture capitalists, just tilted her head and nodded vaguely.
Such rooms lined a wide space, some already occupied by serious-looking groups in meetings. Mostly high schoolers or college kids on group projects— a few glanced our way when we showed up.
"Whoa, check this! You can yell inside and no sound comes out!"
Yumi, fascinated by the soundproofing, hopped in to test it. She grinned innocently, flapping her mouth, but only muffled noise leaked out—impossible to make out.
Hwayoung smiled warmly.
"Yumi, you shouldn't play around like that in the library. Too noisy and people might complain. Even in a private room, let's keep it somewhat quiet."
Yumi blinked wide-eyed, tilting her head, then opened the glass door.
"Sorry, what'd you say?"
"...Let's study."
Hwayoung looked a bit embarrassed.
"Then that's it for today. Serika, you have the basics down, so you'll improve fast with study."
Hwayoung's tone brimmed with optimism. The first session wrapped without issue, and her enthusiasm suggested I was smarter than even she thought.
"Serika's smarter than I thought, so we finished today's lesson quick!"
Yumi said cheerfully, closing her book.
"Yes, good thing."
Hwayoung nodded to Yumi, sighing in relief with a beaming smile.
....Praise, right?
It felt oddly prickly, but since they called me smart, I'd take it as a compliment. People feel better living simply.
Yumi packed her books.
"Oh, then I'll buy drinks today! First day of our study group!"
"Stu... No, let's head to the cafe quick."
Hwayoung started to correct her but followed along. I trailed the chattering duo out of the room.
The city library at lunchtime was brighter and sunnier than ever. Yumi turned mid-stride, joking at me. I laughed at the silly pun; Hwayoung, not getting it, tilted her head.
Yumi explained, and Hwayoung awkwardly smiled and nodded in realization.
Our laughter echoed down the library's central stairs. Strolling passersby glanced; even the crutch-using girl exiting the library eyed us.
"Hm?"
The girl with purple eyes and copper skin gripped her crutches, staring fixedly at us.
Her expression was unreadable.
But her eyes held intensely complex emotions as she watched us for a long moment.
Startled by the sudden encounter, I blinked. Our eyes met, and she turned and left like she hadn't been staring.
What was that?