Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 5. Lee Ha-yoon Wants to Be Treated Like a Big Sister (2)
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"Right now, you can just keep doing whatever you've been doing—lazing around aimlessly. No problem."
"Yes."
"Once the semester starts, you'll be swamped anyway. You'll have to work the students even harder."
"Ah."
They say you get more talkative as you age.
I crumpled the empty paper cup in my hand and nodded as I walked down the hallway with the principal.
Damn it. Mentioning to the principal that I was looking for a new place to live had been a mistake.
I should've just found some cheap one-room apartment on my own. Why did I open my mouth trying to save a buck, only to get stuck with him for hours?
...Does this guy have nothing better to do?
"By the way, do any students come by the health office?"
"...For now, just one or so. Two if you count the kid who stopped by out of curiosity."
"Just one... Probably Lee Ha-yoon, right?"
"Yes. That's correct. You knew."
"Of course I did. I'm the principal."
"......"
Do principals usually memorize all their students' names?
At least not at any of the elementary, middle, or high schools I went to.
We hardly ever even ran into the principal in the first place.
"That student was still too inexperienced with her abilities to go out on practicum. Her potential and utility are top-notch raw material, but polishing it properly is tricky..."
"......"
As I zoned out for a moment, the principal's voice droned on.
This is driving me crazy.
To exaggerate a bit, my ears were starting to ache from fatigue.
I was getting tired of humoring the old man, but if he'd just let me go already.
How long was he going to ramble on about the academy, the students, his glory days, and his life goals?
It felt like I'd stirred up a hornet's nest.
"Still, Lee Ha-yoon's hardworking attitude holds up even compared to the current student council president. Baek Seo-yeon was a low-ranker when she first enrolled, but through sheer effort, she eventually..."
"Phew..."
Well, whatever.
At least I'd learned one thing from all this.
Seok Jae-hwa, the principal, was as serious about running the academy as his sturdy build suggested.
From the students' meal plans on down to exactly what the practicum kids were doing at the hero office—he kept tabs on everything.
Put nicely, he was thorough, overseeing every detail personally. Or overly serious about even the small stuff.
Put harshly, he was rigid, only satisfied when everything was under his thumb...
But since he'd gone out of his way to help me, I set aside the negative thoughts for now.
"Anything else you need? I'm a bit worried since we rushed to set up the health office."
"Nothing in particular yet."
"Snacks or something... Like, if you need a coffee machine, I could take the one from my office. I don't like it anyway."
"I'm good. This is plenty."
I crave a smoke.
I'd quit cold turkey since coming back in time, but dealing with this chatty old-timer was making my fingers twitch.
Still, I'd endured his stories for quite a while now, so a bit longer and I could finally rest.
Respect your elders. Respect your elders.
I swallowed a sigh and opened the health office door with the principal.
"Ah. How's the chair? It's supposed to be high-end."
"No idea. I'm not much of a connoisseur."
"Me neither. I just funded it. What about the bed? Tried lying on it?"
"...Who knows."
The room was getting stuffy from the heater I'd turned on earlier, so I lowered the temperature. Seok Jae-hwa, in his bulging muscle suit, casually lay down on the bed.
It looked ridiculously small like that.
It was a standard size, big enough for one student no problem.
"Seems a bit small. Should I replace them all with one... no, two sizes bigger?"
"......"
That's because it's you.
I swallowed the words bubbling up and nodded a couple times.
Bigger beds are always better.
"Laptop's drawing power fine."
"......"
"Ventilation... Oh, you have a diffuser. Still, open the window 10 minutes a day. Even if it's cold."
"Yes..."
"Lights are good. Heater works well..."
Is he finally leaving?
Seok Jae-hwa got up and circled the health office.
He ran a hand through his white hair streaked with black, styled in a slicked-back do,
fiddled with his wild, trimmed beard,
circled around.
"Hm. If anything's inconvenient, text me anytime, Woo-jin. No—Teacher Seo Woo-jin."
"...Yes......"
"This is the only academy in the country with a healing-type Transcendent. Gotta treat you right as best I can."
With that, the principal grinned, flashing his gums proudly.
I'd thought he was passionate from our first meeting. Guess he doesn't tire from talking.
It's getting scary now.
"Anyway, I think I've said all I wanted. Lunchtime soon—how about some jjajangmyeon together..."
"......"
I'm screwed.
That thought filled my head just then.
A basic ringtone blared from the principal's pocket.
He raised a hand slightly as if asking to be excused.
Checking the screen, he answered and stepped out of the health office.
Urgent call, it seemed—he gave an awkward smile like lunch was off.
...Thank goodness.
"Haa..."
From now on, unless absolutely necessary, I won't let the principal spot me.
Lesson learned. I moved to close the door properly.
Grabbed the handle and pushed firmly.
"...?"
But the door didn't budge, rooted in place.
Something stuck in the gap?
I looked down—nothing but the plain health office floor.
No call sounds. So not the principal pranking like a kid.
Pondering with the handle in hand, I swung the door wide the other way.
And that's when.
"Mmph..."
"...?"
A girl standing right there tumbled straight into my arms.
Familiar ponytail and all.
Deep into my chest.
"...What are you doing, noona?"
"......"
No reply.
Instead, Lee Ha-yoon regained her balance and carefully pulled away from my embrace.
Glancing around furtively, she stretched a foot back and firmly shut the health office door.
She could've just used her hand. Why bother...
...Ah.
"Looks like your arm's hurt this time."
"......"
"You walked here yourself, so lower body's fine. Arm or hand injury, probably."
"...F-finger."
"Ah. Finger."
Short answer done, Lee Ha-yoon hesitantly extended her right hand toward me.
Pale and dainty, just like her.
"Which finger? Index?"
"...Pinky."
I can treat this and grab lunch after.
Rough schedule in mind, I gently grasped her finger, careful not to hurt.
Visually, no injury.
No broken bones, dried blood, swelling, or scratches.
Just a pretty finger.
So pretty you couldn't tell where it hurt.
"Pinky, right? Right hand pinky."
"......"
I asked again to confirm, and her bangs fluttered.
No matter how I looked, it wasn't injured...
Still, I carefully channeled mana.
"...?"
But the result was as expected.
Not hurt at all—perfectly healthy, even.
If there was damage, mana would stall there, but rummaging through her pinky found no blocks.
In other words, Lee Ha-yoon.
Wasn't hurt.
Yet, Lee Ha-yoon.
Wanted treatment from me.
Lee Ha-yoon.
Perfectly fine, no injuries, came to the health office because she 'wanted treatment.'
A moment later.
Still holding her finger, I slowly traced up her skin with my fingertips.
To the base of the finger.
Or the webbing, you could say.
Pressed my thumb there, massaged her pinky, and slid back to the tip.
Her nails were short up close.
Habit of clipping them close—tiny cherry blossom-like nails on every fingertip.
Yojora's nails, seen last night carrying her home, were deliberately grown long for scratching.
Brief thought, stroked a nail, then lightly gripped her finger again.
...All the while.
Lee Ha-yoon, insisting it was hurt, stayed utterly quiet.
Even as I manhandled the finger she'd offered for treatment, not a single whimper.
Just acting nonchalant,
one hand stuffed deep in the pocket of her white fleece over her uniform hoodie, standing obediently.
Not even pretending to be a patient?
Or too nervous to act?
Brief guess over.
Gripping her finger tight, I.
"......"
"......"
Holding her finger,
like kids pinky-swearing promises, intertwined,
without a word,
led Lee Ha-yoon to the clean white health office bed.
...She hesitated, peeking at me, then sat on the bed—her cheeks flushed faintly.
I'd figured out why Lee Ha-yoon was acting like this, what her plan was.
"...Still hurts?"
Admiring her reddened cheeks, I played it cool.
"Next class when?"
"...I-in an hour..."
A few light questions, then I passed by her toward the door.
...The door.
Better lock it for a bit.
Just for one hour.