Main Quest, This Bullshit # 5
Main Quest, This Bullshit # 5
"I said, shut your damn mouth!"
But damn, this guy's got a serious case of male tsundere. Thinking that, I added to the judge.
"Looks like he's just acting like this because he's embarrassed. Anyway. Since I'm the victim, we've come to an agreement of sorts. And I've received an apology. I'll state my intention to forgive the offender, Ryu Cheon-hwi. That's my opinion, so please take note. Also, Instructor Lee So-ra? I think you need to calm that Ryu Cheon-hwi down."
"It does seem necessary."
—Sliiink.
Instructor Lee So-ra immediately moved to stand beside Ryu Cheon-hwi.
"Ryu Cheon-hwi? It would be best if you quieted down a bit."
"You damn—...!"
Even when I say I'll forgive him, it's all bullshit. Pure bullshit.
Anyway, he's not that bad a guy. When he stomped on my back, I thought he was a total motherfucking son of a bitch and came right out swinging with the family insults, but seeing him like this makes me a little sorry.
But a family insult once spat can never be taken back. That's true of all words, but a family insult sticks around forever.
Even if you regret it later, you can never undo it. Not that I have any intention of taking it back anyway. At the time, that was the right call.
And who knows?
Maybe my family insult is what snapped him to his senses. No... wait. When I think about it like that, all the pieces fall into place. Could it be that my family insult rehabilitated Ryu Cheon-hwi? A kind of shock therapy.
And that's the thing—even with words you can never take back, sometimes they lead to a positive outcome. Just thinking about that warmed my heart.
Because even if you sow recklessly, beans are still gonna grow.
"Heh heh heh, truth is, I also said some stuff about his parents and all, so it's mutual, really. Please avoid an excessive punishment, Judge. What's a friendship without a little roughhousing? I mean, the knife thing... was a bit much! But I forgive him!"
I shall forgive him with the overwhelming power of meal tickets!
"You bastard...!"
The moment I spoke those words of forgiveness, Ryu Cheon-hwi's face went completely beet red.
Watching that.
"Huh. So, Kim Geun-cheol. You're truly forgiving him."
"Yes. Kids fight at school sometimes, don't they? And that Ryu Cheon-hwi, he's all big talk, but when you look deeper, he doesn't actually seem like that bad of a guy."
"I see."
At my words, Instructor Lee So-ra cracked a smile. A good conclusion would suit her just fine as an instructor too.
Ryu Cheon-hwi really isn't that bad a guy. I mean, he actually went and asked Leona what I'd gotten that made me so damn happy.
And I haven't been harmed since then, either. He never rounded up a gang to try and wreck me, so it's all forgivable. Getting jumped for real fucking hurts. It hurts so bad you end up in the hospital, and since he didn't pull that bullshit, I forgive him for all of it.
"Cadet Kim Geun-cheol. We've heard your statement. Your intention to forgive as the victim. Can you confirm it once more?"
"Yes. I'll forgive him."
After I said that, the judges started murmuring amongst themselves. They're probably thinking of having a brief discussion.
"Well now, Kim Geun-cheol? That's quite manly. Even after receiving an apology, forgiveness is still a separate matter."
"I've let go of the grudge. That's enough."
"Ohoh. You have convictions too. Kim Geun-cheol, you're such a man's man, I must say I like it."
—Ruffle ruffle.
Instructor Lee So-ra placed her hand on my head and vigorously ruffled my hair.
My hair's gonna be wrecked.
"Heh heh heh, I'm quite fond of you too, Instructor. A true adult of this age! A heavenly martial artist possessing both beauty and intelligence, that's Instructor Lee So-ra...!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Yep."
Anyway.
What'll the ruling be?
"Then I shall deliver the verdict. As the victim, Cadet Kim Geun-cheol, has expressed forgiveness, the punishment for Cadet Ryu Cheon-hwi... shall be set at 20 hours of school community service. Ryu Cheon-hwi will serve 2 hours after school starting today. Report to the Student Council Room. That is all."
And with that, the Disciplinary Committee adjourned.
Even so, they still smashed him with 20 hours of school service for picking a fight.
That's basically delaying his dismissal time by 2 hours a day.
"Instructor Lee So-ra. Is it alright if we go now?"
"You may do so. Ryu Cheon-hwi. You follow me."
"Grr, how long do you intend to keep messing around, you damn bastard...!"
Look at the grudge on this one.
Anyway, so we stepped out into the hallway.
"You."
"What."
Ryu Cheon-hwi called out to me and said.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I never apologized to the likes of you, nor did I ever wish for your help. It was entirely your own doing, going on about forgiving me or whatever. Do you honestly think I'd accept such pity?"
"Next, Meal Ticket Man."
"You son of a—...! Shut your mouth! That was merely compensation! Even speaking about it further is repulsive! Now get lost!"
"Our classroom's the same way, though?"
"No, seriously, this bastard...!"
Just tease him a little and the look on his face is priceless.
"Heh heh heh."
Still, he knows I'm not the kind of guy he can just hit.
"Just you wait! I'll make you pay for this insolence!"
"Hey. Fuck. Quit your yapping, seriously. How the hell are you gonna make me pay? You want another round with the Disciplinary Committee? Ah. Instructor Lee So-ra. You can head back now, it's fine. We're just gonna talk a bit, the two of us."
"Go ahead."
Instructor Lee So-ra immediately turned around.
"You think I fear something like a disciplinary punishment? Ha. And the instructor has left as well. Where's your protector now? That Si-hoo character or whatever isn't here either."
The moment the instructor was gone, Ryu Cheon-hwi got all self-important, glaring at me as he spoke. His eyes were just blazing, absolutely burning.
"Ha. You wanna try it, then?"
I engaged in a staring contest with him, and the guy started getting ready for a fight.
Of course, I've got no business with this prick.
—Step.
I walked right over to the vending machine in front of us.
"You. What the hell are you do—"
—Clunk.
I tapped my card and got two drinks.
"Yo."
"What?"
"Drink this."
It's the Zero Cola I always drink.
I held one out to him.
"What is this?"
Ryu Cheon-hwi glared at the cola with an expression like he was looking at something completely baffling. He's acting like he's seeing a cola for the first time in his life.
"It's cola."
"It's unpleasant just to look at. Do you think I'd consume such commoner food?"
"Huh? Not taking it? Then should I throw it away? Throw it awaaay?"
"I won't take it!"
—Whap!
In a flash, the bastard smacked my hand!
—Clang!
And with that, the canned cola crashed to the floor...!
No, what the fuck!
He just smashed my gesture of reconciliation like that!
"Ah... fuck."
"Ha. Cola or whatever. A miserable end befitting a low-grade canned drink for commoners. A truly fitting sight."
"Hey. Are you seriously throwing it away?"
"What?"
"I thought you were a guy who at least had your own proper standards. So I thought you came here to admit your mistakes and apologize, and you're not gonna take my cola?"
When I said that.
"That is."
He tried to say something. This bastard... his pride is no joke. If I could, I'd want to stay on good terms, but if not, then that's that.
"Fine. Whatever. Do what you want. I'm leaving."
The moment I turned around.
"Tch!"
"Hm?"
I heard a 'tch' from behind me.
"Don't let me ever catch sight of you again! You infuriating bastard!"
And just like that, Ryu Cheon-hwi stormed off in the other direction.
Even though the classroom is this way.
"Bastard."
The cola that had been lying on the floor was gone.
"Male tsunderes. Hate 'em like fire."
Total bastard with not a shred of honesty.
* * *
Ryu Cheon-hwi didn't come back to the classroom. Looks like he's skipping again. Well, anyway, I walked in and sat down in the middle of class.
And when break time came.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Where exactly did you go off to?"
Leona came over to me and asked.
"Guess."
"The only things a Kim Geun-cheol would get up to are going to the school karaoke room to practice screaming, or hitting up the welfare center to scrounge up food. Did your screaming practice and food farming go well? You Undernourished Screaming Monsterkin, Mr. Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Hey! Why are you laying the damage on so thick! Are you gonna keep disrespecting the Undernourished Kid! You're an angel, is this how an angel acts!"
And what's this Screaming Monsterkin crap!
"Who said anything about disrespect? Anyway, stop sassing your class president and just tell the story, won't you?"
Looking genuinely curious, Leona said it primly.
"What exactly did you do that made you walk out during class? I need to write in the Class President Observation Journal, so answer quickly."
Class President Observation Journal?
Is that like a squad leader observation journal?
Then I better answer.
"Went to the Disciplinary Committee with Ryu Cheon-hwi."
"What did you say?"
As I was talking, Ken and Brian. And even Si-hoo came crowding over. Well, so I told Leona and, at the same time, explained it to everyone.
I gave them a simple rundown of what happened, the Angel Ryu Cheon-hwi tale from today, and the Disciplinary Committee story just now.
"Oh my. So you went and coolly forgave him, then?"
Leona said, her mouth dropping open as if surprised.
"Yeah. I'd already gotten an apology, so no need to hold a grudge. So I just said I forgive him and came back. But he still got school community service."
If I hadn't forgiven him, he would've gotten community 'execution' though.
This motherfucker owes me his life.
"Good heavens... this is unbelievable."
"What's so shocking?"
"Kim Geun-cheol, you actually had some magnanimity in you? It turns out that just because the body falls into a state of starvation doesn't mean the spirit has to. Mhm. Exactly. That's why our Kainus Family operates charities to aid the impoverished."
"What did you say?"
This woman?
"Ah, right. So that's why Ryu Cheon-hwi asked me about it earlier. My goodness. Was he actually not a bad guy after all?"
"Hence. Miss Angel Leona? I was thinking of returning the meal tickets."
"Ugh."
"I got a ton from Ryu Cheon-hwi. So just take 'em back. Holding onto tickets I can't use is just a burden, man."
"Wait! Kim Geun-cheol!"
Suddenly she's yelling at me.
"No. What now."
"You gladly ate up Ryu Cheon-hwi's meal tickets, am I to understand you're ignoring the grace of the Kainus Family? This cannot be explained as anything but a slight against me and my family!"
"Hey! How does that track! What you gave me was a genuine pure kindness, and Ryu Cheon-hwi gave his as a gesture of apology! I gotta distinguish between what to take and what not to!"
"Hmph! Bullshit! I'll just be leaving now! Hmph!"
—Click-clack!
"Hey, punk!"
Leona, radiating sulkiness, click-clacked her heels and walked right off!
"Scream Man. Looks like you've gotten awfully close with Leona, huh?"
"Oooh! Screamer Man! That's amazing~! Are you two dating!"
"Cut the bullshit...! Si-hoo! Hey?"
But when I looked.
"..."
Si-hoo was looking at me with a strange expression.
"Si-hoo?"
"Huh? Oh. Geun-cheol. Class is about to start. Let's sit down."
"Right. Ah, anyway. When school's over today, you wanna hit the gym again?"
"No, why do you like the gym so damn much!"
"Gotta build up my stamina. Are you seriously bailing today too? I was gonna crush some gym and then hit the bathhouse together."
"This Bathhouse Monsterkin-related screeeeam!!!"
"Aaargh!"
Why are you calling me a monsterkin too!
Ah shit, I gotta do the gym alone again!
That's so unfair!
* * *
Taking off the uniform.
—Slip.
I unwind the heated bandages.
"Haaah."
A sense of liberation washed over me, and a sigh escaped unbidden. The bandages felt more stifling by the day.
"Why does he keep asking me to go to the bathhouse. Is he seriously some kind of bathhouse monsterkin?"
In the end, I didn't go to the training ground or the gym today. I came straight back to the dorm the second school let out. If I'd gotten caught, I'd have been dragged right along.
With the bandages off, Lee Si-hoo sighed again while struggling out of the uniform pants around the hips and rear.
"How can I go to a bathhouse with a body like this...!"
Changing clothes at the gym... if I time it right, maybe I could manage without any trouble. But going to a bathhouse? Should I go at a time with no people? When it's just the two of us, should I wrap myself in a towel before going in?
Impossible.
There's no way that would work.
I've never even been to a bathhouse in the first place.
"Haaah."
Thinking those thoughts, Lee Si-hoo entered the shower room. Click. And while letting the warm water hit, she showered.
"...Geun-cheol."
He's an extremely peculiar guy.
A peculiar friend.
"He's gotten really close with Leona..."
The thought came to me for no reason.