Pretty Underwear Regret
Today was the day of the regular exam. The day when the results of the bet I'd made with her would be decided.
The bet that she'd take first place in both the monthly evaluation and the regular exam. She'd already claimed first in the monthly evaluation, so all that was left was the regular exam.
"She must have gotten her scores by now."
The regular exam usually ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., so Yoo Ara's Class D would have tested from 2 to 4. Once even the last Class D exam wrapped up, the results were tallied and posted immediately.
Her expression would tell me everything when I got to her place.
"No lesson today, I guess."
It was best to rest on exam days like this. They'd pushed hard up to now, after all. I knew full well that a proper break could be great fuel for pushing forward.
With work done, I headed to her house.
Ding-dong!
"Ah, Teacher... Just a sec."
There was a clatter from inside, and soon the door swung open.
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing. I just... haven't cleaned up since I've been alone. Forgot you were coming today, too."
I looked at her. Her eyes were red and puffy.
Did she cry?
Her scores must've been bad. That'd be a problem. My plan to teach tons more students through her success hinged on her doing well.
How bad was it? Surely not dead last? Maybe exam nerves kept her from performing.
Tch. Should've gone myself despite the risk.
Thinking wouldn't reveal the truth. Time to cut straight to it.
"Scores are out, right?"
"Y-yes, they are. You always know everything, Teacher."
"Of course. I've taken plenty of exams myself."
"...Hang on."
Yoo Ara fidgeted, then grabbed her report card from the desk.
Before taking it, I checked her stats.
Stamina, Agility, and Mana had surged during the exam. Now I got why her latent potential was rated S. Her growth was beyond imagination.
She definitely improved.
With the tips I'd given her, she could've taken year-top first for sure.
Some monster in Class A, maybe.
Every year, Class A had at least one freak who shattered norms. Back in my day, there were five—the ones now called the five supernovas of the hunter world.
Yoo Ara might've run into one.
The bitter taste of defeat hurts.
I took the report card from her.
"Second in the regular exam, huh."
"...I'm sorry. I couldn't get first."
Her voice cracked with tears as she spoke. She bit her lip hard, and tears spilled from her eyes.
She'd been crying nonstop.
Second place. Yoo Ara, who until recently was dead last on the verge of expulsion, had beaten out the top students from flashy Class A to claim it. Insane results. She'd even snagged the top scholarship.
And still, she was crushed. Because she could've done better—first was right there, slipping away.
They say second hurts more than third.
"Who got first? Class A kid? If so, you might still be stronger since you didn't clash head-on..."
"Same Class D... same group."
Ah. That'd hit harder.
Same class meant... They fought tooth and nail to leave one last victor.
I gently stroked her hair. She burst into sobs and burrowed into my chest.
"Waaah! I lost at the end. I did everything you taught me, but nothing worked. I endured the shame in practice, trained desperately... but nothing got through to that Lee Hye-ri!"
Her tearful outburst dripped with frustration. At her defeat. At not being stronger. Regret at her own shortcomings.
"I should've worked harder..."
This bitter loss would surely propel her higher.
Better this way.
Arrogance from first in freshman year was worse than stumbling here once. I'd believe that.
Cheap lesson.
Failure in real combat meant death—but no saying that to the crushed loser.
I patted her back until the sobs stopped. Tears and snot soaked my shirt, but... whatever. I charged plenty for tutoring.
I wasn't rotten enough to kick a kid when she was down over a loss.
"Rest up today. You've cried a ton and the exam wore you out."
"Teacher..."
Yoo Ara pulled back, looking up at me. Her face was a mess of tears and snot, but somehow... it wasn't bad. Pretty faces just look prettier crying, huh.
"No reward for me, right?"
"You didn't hit 100% on the challenge."
"Hng..."
"What'd you want for a reward anyway?"
"W-well..."
She mumbled, then forced it out.
"More Mana Rotation Massage."
"Mana Rotation Massage?"
"Y'know, the one from the first day."
Oh.
"That?"
"Yeah. I can't get that feeling no matter how hard I try alone."
"Obviously. That sensation came from forcibly opening your meridians and mana gates."
"S-so... I can't feel it anymore?"
"Well, not exactly..."
This girl, seriously.
I glanced at the last line in her status.
Fetish: Masochist – Feels pleasure in masochistic situations.
That's why?
Made sense. Most writhed in pain from forced mana gate openings, but she'd felt pleasure.
Thought it was a unique constitution.
Her masochism, huh.
"You felt that during it?"
"Y-yes?"
"Massage felt that good? Enough to beg like this?"
"N-not like that..."
She wiped her face and averted her eyes. Sweat beading confirmed it.
"Really not?"
"..."
"You didn't get first in the regular exam, but you did in the monthly—so yeah, I'll do it."
"R-really?!"
"If that's your reward."
Defeat fueling drive was good, but no need for needless moping. A fitting reward would help.
Monthly first, regular second. Not low at all. Next semester, she'd jump to Class B for sure.
If she keeps this up through the second regular eval next month, straight to Class A.
Yeah. That was my goal for the semester: Get Yoo Ara to Class A.
"How's this?"
I wiggled my fingers. Kinda pervy, but she didn't mind.
"Please do it."
She undid her shirt. Glancing down, her face flushed crimson.
"W-wait a sec!"
"What?"
"C-can you wait in the bathroom?"
Period? Nah, she'd go herself then.
"Why?"
"J-just... something! Hurry!"
She shoved me into the bathroom.
Thud! She slammed the door and warned sternly.
"Don't open it till I say!"
What the...?
"Crazy. I'm crazy."
Lifting her clothes slightly, Yoo Ara eyed her ratty old house panties. She'd never dreamed of a reward, so she'd thrown on the grungy ones.
If she'd known Teacher Siu would give one, she'd have worn something pretty.
"G-gotta change quick."
Better to show off cute ones if she had to. Pride on the line. Massage in shabby undies? Mortifying.
Exposing herself to a guy was embarrassing anyway, but...
It felt good.
She could handle that shame.
She pulled out sky-blue lingerie with flower-petal embroidery. Delicate lace trim—nothing embarrassing to show.
Changing, she replayed her final duel with Lee Hye-ri, the one who'd claimed victory.
No openings.
Lee Hye-ri was faster than expected. Overwhelmed others without a single skill. Unpredictable moves nullified Yoo Ara's evasion drills. Even flicked away her maxed telekinesis at the end.
No matter how she simulated it, she couldn't win.
Yoo Ara felt the overwhelming gap.
She wanted revenge. To win somehow. Her competitive fire blazed.
A hunger she'd never felt as a repeater.
Next time, I'll crush her and take first.
But first... massage time.
Her body heated up.
Knock knock.
"A-all changed."
"Lee Hye-ri, you said."
Waiting on the toilet lid, I pondered her signal.
Lee Hye-ri. Rang a bell.
Where from?
"Ah."
Got it.
"World-class tanker Lee Kang-san's little sis is Lee Hye-ri."
Rumored to have historic close-combat talent. Real combat with her bro even before enrolling, back in high school.
Tough matchup. No wonder Yoo Ara lost.
"Wasn't in Class A when I checked the roster... In D? Why?"
But no time for more thought.
Knock knock.
"A-all changed."
I stepped out. There stood Yoo Ara in matching sky-blue bra and panties, face beet red.
"J-just lotus position... right?"
"Cute underwear."
The words slipped out. Model fan in me?
Ahem.