Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The Monster Attended the Magical Girl’s Observation Class
A parent observation class.
An event where parents come to school, observe the teacher’s lesson, and watch their child.
If a parent doesn’t come, the child gets deeply hurt. For some, it even becomes a lasting trauma.
In the original story, around this time, no one would have come for Yeoreum.
Just thinking about it made my chest tighten.
So no matter what, I would go. I would wave at her, make sure she never felt the absence of her parents. I would use any means necessary.
But… how should I act when I get there?
What am I even supposed to do?
I thought about it endlessly, but in the end, I came to only one conclusion.
First, I need to get the day off work.
I had to. Somehow, no matter what.
Even though I worked the dawn shift, that didn’t mean I was free during the day. If there were vacancies, I could be called in at any time.
I knew that.
And yet, I had already made a promise to Yeoreum.
A promise I might not even be able to keep.
“Yeoreum, I’ll definitely come.”
“Really…?”
“Yeah. I will.”
“Hehe… thank you, mister…”
Seeing her smiling as she hugged her hamster plush tightly made me feel better.
But at the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking.
What am I supposed to say at the Special Response Team?
How do I make them say, “Sure, just go see the kid”?
While I kept running simulations in my head, night had already fallen.
“Mister, please be careful…”
“Yeah, Yeoreum. I’ll be back. You sleep well too, okay?”
“Yes…”
She bowed her head slightly and went into her room, quickly falling asleep.
I watched her for a moment before heading to work.
And the moment I arrived, I went straight to the team leader.
“Um, sir.”
“Goo Hyunmin, what is it?”
“…Next week, could I be completely excluded from morning duty for one day?”
“Reason.”
Short and direct.
He didn’t want a long explanation.
“…I have to attend Yeoreum’s parent observation class.”
Flinch.
The team leader, who had been writing something, suddenly froze.
“…Sir?”
“Hey, Hyunmin.”
“Yes…?”
“…Do you have clothes to wear to a parent observation class?”
“…What?”
Before I could even process it, the team leader suddenly shouted.
“All team members with kids, stand up!!”
Several members immediately stood.
Most of them were senior staff.
“Teach this rookie how to dress like a proper parent! Exclude him from duty today!!”
“Sir…?”
Ignoring me, the team leader said something unbelievably dramatic.
“Kid, remember this.”
“…What is it?”
“A parent observation class… is war.”
“…What?”
He suddenly threw me a question.
“I’ll ask you. What does a parent observation class mean to you?”
“…Isn’t it just watching Yeoreum’s class and greeting her?”
“Absolutely not!!”
He raised his voice and began explaining something I could not understand at all.
“It’s a battlefield. Parents size each other up, compete, and establish dominance.”
“Even if you’re young, even if age is on your side, never let them look down on you!”
“If they look down on you, that child suffers. So don’t get eaten alive out there.”
My head filled with question marks.
Then the other team members approached me.
“Hyunmin, you’re handsome, so whatever you wear will at least be decent.”
“Do you have a suit? If not, buy one. Or should I lend you mine?”
“Isn’t his size too small? Hyunmin is taller.”
“Hey, minimalism is trending these days.”
“Really?”
“Not really…”
What kind of conversation is this?
I couldn’t follow it at all.
But one thing was clear.
…I had gotten myself into something serious.
I was just planning to wear a simple shirt and pants.
But ignoring my opinion completely, they started picking out clothes for me.
Since I couldn’t try them on, they just eyeballed everything.
“Hmm~ I think this would look good on you.”
“This one’s nice too.”
“A simple suit would work, right?”
“With your proportions, a suit would look great.”
“Man, youth is a cheat. Total cheat.”
As the chaos continued, I seriously started missing Yeoreum.
I’d rather be with her than listen to this headache-inducing nonsense.
Yeoreum, save me. Someone save this monster.
Morning came, and mister woke up.
Even though he worked until dawn, he didn’t look tired at all.
I bowed my head slightly in greeting, and he patted my head.
“Yeoreum, today’s the observation class, right?”
“Yes…”
“I’ll definitely come. Okay?”
Mom and Dad always came.
They called my name and waved at me.
I want that.
I want mister to come and wave at me like they did.
But… he must be very tired.
Even sleeping a little less makes people tired, but he worked all night.
So…
“Mister… you don’t have to come…”
“Hm?”
“You’re tired… you can rest…”
I hope he doesn’t come.
I hope he doesn’t push himself while exhausted.
I don’t want him to suffer because of me.
So don’t come.
No… come.
Please come.
No, don’t come. What if you collapse?
What if you leave me too?
As I struggled with those thoughts, he gently patted my head.
“Yeoreum, want to eat first?”
“…Yes.”
“Alright. And I’m definitely going, okay?”
“Don’t come… really, you don’t have to…”
He smiled as he said that, but I still hoped he wouldn’t come.
It’s better for him to rest than suffer.
If he collapses… if he leaves me…
“Alright, let’s eat~”
“Yes… thank you for the meal…”
I started eating.
The rice was stickier than Mom’s.
The seasoning didn’t quite match.
But it was made with care.
So I couldn’t complain.
Because he cares, I can’t say it tastes bad.
He’s not my parents.
He could leave me anytime.
So I shouldn’t act spoiled.
At school, everyone seemed more excited than usual.
As expected, the boy next to me nudged my arm.
“Yeoreum, are your parents coming?”
Parents…
They can’t come. They’re not here anymore.
I felt like crying.
But I can’t.
No one here knows.
They don’t know I don’t have parents.
They don’t know I live with a police officer.
“…They can’t come.”
“Really? Why?”
“They worked all night… they’re tired…”
“My parents are coming.”
Hearing that made my chest hurt.
I miss Mom and Dad.
I want mister to come.
At first, I really wanted him to come.
I asked him to.
But this morning, seeing how tired he looked…
I couldn’t anymore.
I shouldn’t be stubborn.
He works hard to protect people.
If I insist…
If I whine…
He might collapse.
He might leave me.
He might get tired of me.
He might leave me alone.
I don’t want that.
So I’ll endure it.
He doesn’t have to come.
I just don’t want him to leave me.
Before I knew it, second period began.
Parents started entering the classroom one by one.
The boy next to me waved at his parents.
And among them…
…he wasn’t there.
Yeah.
He didn’t come.
That’s good.
He must’ve been really tired.
It’s good he’s resting.
He has work again today.
Yeah… this is for the best.
So it’s okay.
I opened my book and prepared for class.
Even if it’s observation day, class is still class.
…
…
…
Just as I finished preparing—
“Yeoreum~!”
A voice I couldn’t believe.
I turned my head sharply.
And there he was.
Mister.
Wearing a suit, looking even more handsome than usual.
And when I saw his bright smile—
Drip… drip…
“Sniff… ugh… mister… misterrr…”
Before I knew it, tears were falling.
Thank you for coming, mister.