Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: 12. School Reopening (3)
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Clothes in modern society aren't worn just for health and hygiene reasons.
Who wears underwear to absorb sweat from their skin,
or outer clothes to keep dust off their skin?
Those are just bonus perks that come with wearing clothes.
To reveal one's personality.
And to let others easily distinguish one's social status—that's what clothes are for.
After agonizing over it for a while, I awkwardly spoke into my phone.
"...Um, Principal."
"Yes."
"...Wouldn't it be better to wear a suit instead of the uniform...?"
"Even though it's called the Health Committee, the job is basically just a school nurse."
Saying that, I let out a soft sigh so the principal wouldn't hear.
Among outfits for public occasions, nothing was as convenient as a suit.
Be it a joyful event like an entrance ceremony,
or a somber one like a funeral,
just putting on a suit covered at least half the dress code.
And lastly...,
I'm not a student anyway.
What the hell is this uniform nonsense.
"I think the uniform would suit you fine? You're the same age as the new freshmen to begin with. A suit and uniform don't look that different."
But what came back was Principal Seok Jae-hwa stubbornly insisting on the uniform.
I hated myself for ever finding that passion-packed voice somewhat appealing.
It was just pigheaded stubbornness.
"Wouldn't it look a bit off if someone in a uniform is sitting in the nurse's office?"
"Unique is good, don't you think?"
"Wearing a uniform around won't give off school nurse vibes."
"Just throw a gown over the uniform. That's pretty good too, right?"
"...When chatting with the other teachers, my uniform might confuse them..."
"Everyone knows Teacher Woo-jin's face anyway, so no mix-ups."
"......"
"Plus, with the gown on, even strangers will spot you right away."
Thirty years old—what uniform? Embarrassing as hell.
I couldn't say that straight out, so I rattled off excuses for five full minutes, but none of them landed.
This is why talking to old folks is exhausting...
"......"
...Just concede.
Even if it's embarrassing, I'll get used to it eventually.
I'd been lying on the bed taking the call this whole time. Rubbing my tired eyes, I replied.
"...Then I'll wear the uniform."
"Great! Oh, and about the entrance ceremony—Teacher Woo-jin, you won't be with the students. You'll be at the back of the platform..."
"Pardon? Oh... sure."
Awkward.
"......"
The uniform after ten long years felt utterly awkward.
The pitch-black tie,
the navy vest,
the blazer draped over the back of my chair because of the gown,
all of it so damn awkward.
It absolutely wasn't high school memories bubbling up or anything.
Just awkward from not wearing one in ages. Definitely not...
"......"
And apparently, I wasn't the only one thrown off by the sight.
"Noona. Not going to see your friends?"
"Came by since it's on the way. But..."
Thirty minutes before the entrance ceremony kicked off.
Lee Ha-yoon, the second-year senior who dropped by the nurse's office as naturally as ever, eyed me in her usual hoodie getup.
Above the zipper pulled chin-high, her mouth working faintly.
Judging by the slightly mushy speech, she was probably sucking on a piece of candy.
"Why are you in a uniform?"
"...Beats me..."
"......?"
I didn't even know the reason—did she?
Hands stuffed in my doctor's gown pockets, I spun lazily in the chair.
At least it wasn't as embarrassing as I'd feared. Small mercy.
Probably because it wasn't all that different from my actual high school uniform.
Come to think of it, the academy uniform Ha-yoon wore looked just like what girls from nearby high schools had on.
So if I just pretended I'd gone back to my high school days...
"Ha..."
I'm twenty...
I'm twenty years old...
An age where uniforms don't feel off.
An age where obsessing over outfits every single day—not just weekends—is a total hassle.
An age where you finally realize a shirt and suit is the comfiest combo...
Lost in those melancholy thoughts while spinning blankly, Ha-yoon sidled up and stopped the chair herself.
"Anyway, it suits you. The uniform."
"...Yeah?"
"Yep. Only ever saw you in civvies, but it goes with the gown way better than I expected..."
"......"
"...I gave you a compliment—why the reaction?"
"...Just wondering if a uniform's really right for me."
"If it suits you, that's what matters. No need to overthink it."
"You think?"
"Yeah."
Simple take.
Simple reply.
But hearing it all, a hollow chuckle slipped out of me unbidden.
Like how I'd picked up speech quirks from Ji-yoon after late-night gaming sessions every day, I'd apparently caught something from Ha-yoon too.
Her personality, or whatever you call it.
Yeah. Whining that I didn't wanna wear the stupid uniform wouldn't change a thing.
As I started smirking with a lighter heart, Ha-yoon quit chomping her candy and grinned right back.
"The clothes too... Now you finally look like a little bro."
"Guess I seemed like the big bro before?"
"Ah, no? I mean... like same-age. Yeah."
"...Wanna try that again like last time? Calling you 'Ha-yoon' all casual, acting like your third-year senior?"
"Don't! That!"
"Ha-yoon..."
"I said don't!! Geez..."
"Oof, okay, won't—stop grabbing. You're getting noona's fingers all slobbery."
"...We even kissed—what's this...?"
Ha-yoon and I traded goofy banter amid stifled laughs for a bit.
But with the entrance ceremony about to start, I left the nurse's office. Ha-yoon took the lead like the big sis she was, promising to guide me to the auditorium, and we strolled across campus.
Beyond her swaying ponytail, the hallways—which had stood empty all break—now brimmed with unfamiliar faces.
Prospective male heroes I couldn't care less about,
even female heroes whose names felt vaguely familiar.
Hmm... Still too young?
Or is it the makeup?
Or maybe aiming for hero caliber like Ji-yoon or Su-ah has jacked up my standards so high I've forgotten the mid-tiers?
Put 'em in hero costumes and I'd probably peg exactly who they are...
Spotting them on sight isn't as easy as I'd thought.
Ah, that girl's familiar too.
Same with the one holding hands with her friend, heading into the bathroom.
That girl around the corridor corner—she's gotta be one of the A-rank heroes for real.
...She has a boyfriend? Damn.
While rubbernecking like some wide-eyed country boy in the big city as we walked the halls,
"......"
Maybe because of the gown over my uniform,
or the uniform peeking under the gown,
or because I'd been ogling everyone way too creepily without realizing,
the sidelong glances I'd felt since earlier were ramping up.
"Hmm..."
...Mostly from girls, so probably the third reason.
Well, I had been staring pretty openly.
Just got carried away seeing so many familiar faces...
To hook big game like Su-ah, better nip any bad rumors in the bud.
I swept my eyes around once, cleared my throat for no reason, then quietly fixed my gaze on Ha-yoon's ponytail.
Hello.
Yes, yes—nice to meet you.
First time, right? Seo Woo-jin here.
The uniform? Ah, the principal insisted.
Not a student—teacher. For now, anyway. A nurse teacher still counts as a teacher...?
Feel free to use whatever's comfy. 'Woo-jin-ssi' probably works best.
Age? Graduated last year—twenty.
Why not a student?
What could a one-trick healer like me even learn here? Haha...
A few teachers I'd glimpsed over break,
a few brand-new faces today.
I'd stepped into the broadcast-booth-looking spot behind the platform and traded brief greetings with them.
Earlier, some decently known heroes had been lined up on the stage proper—turns out they were back here too.
These folks must be the less seasoned heroes.
Here's hoping this hello doesn't mean constant drop-ins to the nurse's office.
...Should've played it cooler? Hmm.
"Woo-jin-ssi."
"Ah, yes."
A voice called out right on cue.
I turned to see a somewhat frail-looking guy thrusting a few sheets of thin paper at me.
One of the teachers, but being a guy, I hadn't bothered memorizing his name or power.
"You get the heads-up? Short intro spiel to present yourself to the students."
"Yeah, Principal mentioned it. Yesterday."
"He does tend to wing it his way... Kidding. Anyway, it's roughly like this."
I flicked my eyes down to match his words.
There: congratulations on enrolling, plus a short combo of sentences introducing who I was.
I got the point of this exercise, sure,
but the phrasing felt so stodgy and stiff.
Like something straight out of an old principal's playbook.
Oh well. If I'm told to read it, I read it.
"So later, I just go up and read this?"
"Yep. Order's probably... after the student council president's bit? ...Wait, no—after the principal's welcome address."
"Got it."
"Head up when they signal."
Didn't realize the academy even had a student council.
...Thinking back, I vaguely recalled the principal mentioning it last time he visited the nurse's office.
Baek something... not a famous hero, anyway.
Should've paid better attention instead of tuning out.
As that regret wrapped up,
"......S-sorry. Nerves got me hiccuping..."
Hic,
a hiccup blared through the auditorium speakers.
Followed by someone's apology—and with that, the entrance ceremony began.
That crazy bitch.
Why the hell is she here?
"......I pledge my unwavering loyalty."
The student council president powered through the national rites, somehow holding her composure.
Baek Seo-yeon's gaze stabbed like a needle at one girl in the front row of freshmen.
Yojora.
Why was that massive-titted psycho planted in the academy auditorium like this?
Did the 'company' finally greenlight planting a spy?
No way. They don't have the bandwidth.
Besides, this is a pledge to the Korean flag. You're Japanese, you lunatic—why are you following along so eagerly?
...And her.
Who's that brown-haired chick right next to you, already buddying up?
She a villain too?
"......"
...Dizzy.
For real.
So damn dizzy I might hurl...