Treat Her Like a Female and She Becomes One
"Alright, everyone worked hard again today. Go home and get some rest."
I closed the attendance book as I finished the end-of-day homeroom.
In the end I had spent the entire day stuck to Kang Heeji, sitting in on her classes, but thanks to that I got a clear look at just how diligent and impressive a student she really was.
Picking up a little resentment from her fan-club friends along the way was simply unavoidable.
Not that I particularly wanted to get close to a pack of girls who already treated me like some cutting-in bitch anyway.
"Haneul, get home safe."
Still as taciturn as ever, Woo Haneul gave me only a slight nod as she passed without a word.
After our aloof student-council president had gone, Jeong Sohye approached.
Our wolf friend was already pretty tall, but this one deserved the word enormous.
When the cow girl who stood a full head above me closed the distance, I couldn't help feeling a little pressure.
"You too, Sohye… take care."
"………."
I gave her an awkward smile and a little wave. Jeong Sohye shot me a sidelong glance and sailed past with a prim little air.
If I were still a guy I wouldn't have found her scary at all… no, I probably still would have.
"Why are you all hunched up like that?"
"Ah—no, it's nothing…."
Kang Heeji ambled over with a goofy grin, addressing my slightly cowed posture.
"Is it because of Sohye? Even when she looks like that she doesn't hit people, so don't worry. Though I can't promise what happens if you get on her nerves."
"…Really?"
"Obviously I'm kidding. Kidding."
When I glared at her with pure resentment, Kang Heeji snickered as if nothing in the world could be more entertaining.
"Anyway, are you free this afternoon?"
"Afternoon? Yeah, I don't really have anything planned. Why?"
"Why else? …Gotta take my girlfriend on a date."
Kang Heeji whispered right against my ear.
Her face flushed a shade close to her red hair at calling me her girlfriend, yet she showed zero intention of dropping the title.
Something that had started as a joke was beginning to drift in a weird direction… that odd feeling was growing, but suddenly flooring the accelerator myself and sternly declaring "Teacher is not your girlfriend" would have been just as strange.
Either way, she had spent the whole day going the extra mile to impress me, so lending her the afternoon seemed fair enough.
And since we only "looked" like two girls, there was no risk of anyone thinking it improper.
"A date? Where are you taking me?"
"Whoa, you're actually going to date me?"
"Would I have asked if I wasn't planning to?"
"No, no! I—I really do want to go on a real date with you, Yeoeun-ssaem!"
Just one little push and the girl taller than me was flailing. It was ridiculously cute.
…Guess that means I really have to go on this date now.
As a delighted Kang Heeji stood there, Yang Hyein walked past behind her. I smiled and quietly waved her off.
Yang Hyein, however, looked between me and Kang Heeji with a stiff face, then left the classroom without even a greeting.
She had seemed fine this morning. Maybe she was still sulking because her run hadn't gone well.
I was worried, but I was mid-conversation with Kang Heeji… and sometimes a person just needs time alone.
"Yeoeun-ssaem, so where should we go?"
"Mm, honestly Teacher doesn't know this area very well…. I'd like you to take the lead."
"Perfect. Leave it to me."
"I'll just finish up a few things in the faculty office first, so wait for me at the main gate. And call home, okay?"
"Yes!"
I parted ways for a moment with Kang Heeji—whose face was practically shouting how thrilled she was to hang out with me—and hurried to the faculty office.
After racing through the end-of-day paperwork I reached the main gate, where Kang Heeji stood leaning against the wall with her bag slung over one shoulder.
Boyish looks, a chest that was anything but, and long white legs stretching out beneath her short uniform skirt….
Even though she was my younger student, just looking at her made the word cool spring to mind all by itself.
"Yeoeun-ssaem, you made it."
"Y-yeah…."
Feeling like someone caught staring at something she shouldn't, I shuffled awkwardly toward her.
A pleased little smile tugged at Kang Heeji's lips at the sight of me.
"You look exactly like someone on their first date, Yeoeun-ssaem."
"…Because it actually is my first."
"Not only no exes—you've never even been on a date?"
"That's possible. …What, have you been on lots of dates, then?"
My mischievous counter made Kang Heeji jump and scramble to deny it.
"I-I'm a first-timer too! I've hung out with friends, but I've never gone with anyone like that…."
"Really? Looking this pretty and handsome?"
"…I look like that?"
"Well, a little."
I hadn't meant it as a compliment, but watching how much she liked it just made me feel petty.
Which only made Kang Heeji's grin deepen.
"Anyway—being your first student and your first date partner… I'm so honored."
"I'm honored too, getting to date the prince of Lily Academy."
"Wh-where did you even hear that—ah, just please don't call me that…!"
"Okay, okay, calm down."
Watching Kang Heeji leap about in pure disgust was fun, but she genuinely seemed to hate it, so I let it go.
"Yeoeun-ssaem, shall we head out? Or wait—should I be calling you Yeoeun-ah right now?"
"…Kang Heeji. You want Teacher to scold you?"
Kang Heeji let out a delighted shriek and bolted, then turned back with a huge smile and waved me over.
……Being called by my name in casual speech felt weirdly unsettling.
I tucked the little flutter away and hurried after her.
"Ahhh—that movie was great. Yeoeun-ah, what about you?"
"…Yeah, I had fun too."
"We grabbed tickets last-minute, so I'm glad you liked it."
Walking the nighttime streets together, Kang Heeji beamed at me.
She… had finally committed to casual speech with me.
And ever since the theater she had been holding my hand tight without so much as asking.
I had thought of this as a teacher and student just hanging out, but this girl was treating her teacher like an actual girlfriend with zero restraint.
I kept telling myself "do whatever you want," yet I couldn't help wondering if this sort of thing only felt natural because we were both girls.
It was dizzyingly different from how things felt with Yang Hyein.
"………."
I gave the hand laced with Kang Heeji's a little extra squeeze.
Maybe because the tall girl was walking right beside me holding my hand, it almost felt like she was the one protecting me.
I was the teacher, the older one—I should have been the guardian… so what was this sense of safety?
"Yeoeun-ah, what are you thinking about?"
"Just, uh… how dark it's gotten already?"
A hasty cover, though it was true that by the time we left the theater the sky had turned properly dark.
All we had done was kill time at a café and watch a movie, but that was that.
There wasn't really anywhere else nearby to hang out, and it was about time I sent this girl home.
Kang Heeji seemed to realize it too; she checked her phone with a faintly regretful face, then glanced at me.
"Then… want to rest somewhere for a bit before we go?"
"…You are actually insane."
"Aha, ahahaha—♬"
Caught completely off-guard by the dirty joke, I stared at her, and she clutched her stomach laughing.
Seriously, what kind of thing do you say to your teacher?
Her peals of laughter drew looks from people around us.
Those gazes felt like they were crawling over Kang Heeji's face and body with something less than pure, so I cleared my throat and tugged her hand.
"Anyway… I'll cover the taxi fare. Just take a cab home."
"What are you talking about? Of course I have to walk my girlfriend all the way home."
"…Hate to break it to you, but you're a girl too."
"Ah, right. I was, wasn't I?"
Even after saying "I was, wasn't I," Kang Heeji still held my hand and insisted on escorting me all the way back to the academy.
When I told her that was enough and she should go home, she flatly refused, claiming she wouldn't feel safe until she saw me into the dorm—and simply followed me.
Wondering who on earth could ever break this stubborn streak, I finally threw up my hands and surrendered.
"…Hey, then at least let go of my hand?"
"Aha, are you embarrassed?"
"It's not embarrassment… what if people look at us weird?"
"Nobody cares, though."
True… not many people wandered the academy grounds at this hour, and no one was even glancing our way.
Making a big deal out of it would only look stranger.
I shot a sharp glare at Kang Heeji, who was smiling prettily, then took her hand again and walked to the front of the dormitory.
…She's matching her stride to mine.
I hadn't noticed until now because it felt so natural, but walking the quiet grounds side by side suddenly made Kang Heeji's steps stand out.
Come to think of it, even though she was taller and longer-legged than me, I hadn't felt the slightest discomfort walking together all date long.
She had been quietly adjusting the entire time so I wouldn't have to struggle.
…………What is this feeling?
"Yeoeun-ah… no, I should call you Yeoeun-ssaem again, right? Yeoeun-ssaem, we're at the dorm."
"Ah, yeah…."
"Then I'll be going…."
Arriving at the dorm where I lived, Kang Heeji reluctantly released my hand and stepped back.
I… without thinking, reached out and grabbed her retreating hand.
Then, stumbling over the words, I managed:
"A-aren't you hungry? We… haven't had dinner yet. Because of the movie."
"Huh? Ah, that's true, but…. It's fine, I can just eat at home."
"Then, um… want some ramen before you go? You walked me all the way here, so Teacher can at least treat you to that much."
Right. A teacher couldn't send a student home hungry.
Kang Heeji's green eyes went wide at my offer; her face turned bright red as she hesitantly laced her fingers with mine again.
"Th-then… sh-shall we go up?"
"Yeah. It's upstairs, so of course we have to go up."
"R-right, of course. Ahaha…."
I held Kang Heeji's hand firmly and led her into the dormitory.
It was a little late, but we were both girls, and a teacher was offering to feed a student—no big deal.
As we rode up to my floor, the elevator filled with a strange silence.
Kang Heeji, who had been chattering nonstop until now, suddenly went quiet, and the awkwardness made me unable to say anything either.
"Ah, um… my hand's getting sweaty, so maybe just for a second…."
"It's fine."
"No, I'm the one who's not fine."
"I said it's fine."
I tightened my grip on Kang Heeji's damp hand.
The atmosphere was already awkward; letting go would only make it worse.
A moment later a soft ding sounded, the doors opened, and we walked side by side to my room number.
Until I punched in the code and opened the door, Kang Heeji stayed completely silent.
"Come on in."
"E-excuse me…?"
"There's no one here, so you don't need the formalities."
I followed Kang Heeji as she stiffly shuffled inside like a broken wooden doll.
"Want to wash up first? You looked like you worked up a sweat walking."
"Wash… up?"
"I've got spare clothes, so don't worry."
Kang Heeji swallowed hard while staring at me, then suddenly took a deep breath and strode quickly into the bathroom.
…Alright, then I should change too.
Having a big chest was nice and all, but the problem with these formal clothes was how fast they started to feel stifling.
I went into the bedroom, peeled off the blouse and tight skirt, and stripped down to comfortable underwear.
But isn't it getting way too late…? Maybe it would be better just to let her stay the night.
The thought struck me before I put anything else on.
By the time I fed Kang Heeji ramen, chatted a little, and sent her home, it would already be the middle of the night.
I had already let Yang Hyein sleep over here once, so there was no reason I couldn't put Kang Heeji up for one night too.
"Heeji, want to just stay over with Teacher tonight?"
"What? Ah—uh—waaah—?!"
"You okay? Did you fall?"
"I-I'm fine…!"
I hurried to the bathroom at the racket and called through the door; thankfully she didn't seem hurt.
Really, she needed to be more careful.
I was still standing outside the bathroom, just starting to relax, when the doorbell rang from the front entrance.
"…Who at this hour?"
I went to the door and peered through the lens. Standing in the hallway in her uniform was Yang Hyein.
What was she doing here this late…? Had something happened?
"Hyein, what's wrong?"
"Yeoeun-ssaem, I ran out of shampoo, so…."
The instant I hastily opened the door and came face-to-face with Yang Hyein—
—from behind me appeared Kang Heeji, damp and naked save for a towel.
And… Yang Hyein's golden eyes.
They flicked back and forth between me in my underwear and the barely-covered Kang Heeji.