Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Going Out
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Next morning.
It had been forever since I'd last come to school.
Luckily, since it was vacation, there weren't many people on the way, so I could take my time walking.
Man, I had no idea people were this nosy about others.
In that short distance, I must've been stopped and chatted up who knows how many times.
What an inconvenient body.
And so damn weak, too.
I remembered my legs trembling like a newborn fawn.
Thankfully, my recovery was good—at least by the time the chicken arrived, I was all better.
But above all, my height was way too short now. Super inconvenient.
If I'd taken the bus or subway at this hour with this size, I'd have been squished flat, unrecognizable.
Anyway, classes hadn't even started yet, so why was I out this early in the morning?
Paradoxically, it was because of the break.
During vacation, the department office staff came in late and left early.
But they went to lunch early and came back late.
So if you showed up at an awkward time, the door might be locked, or you'd have to wait forever.
Surprisingly, it was often faster to handle things during the semester.
There were work-study students, and classes were all over the place, so they took turns eating.
I remembered wanting to work as a work-study student during breaks.
But leave-of-absence students weren't allowed.
Lost in these thoughts, I arrived at the department office before I knew it.
"...Hoo!"
'I'll say I'm here as a family proxy to request withdrawal.'
Steeling myself for the lie, I calmed my pounding heart and shoved the glass door open with all my might.
The department office was peaceful.
Everyone still half-asleep, basking in the warm sunlight, lulled into a drowsy haze.
"Hey, check that out. Heh heh."
The teaching assistant in charge of the Gate Environmental Design Department turned at the poke in his side from the one next to him.
The spot the TA pointed to was the office entrance.
Stuck flat against the thick glass were two tiny maple leaves.
"Oh no, what to do."
His half-closed eyes snapped wide open.
All his fatigue vanished in an instant.
The other staff caught on too, one by one glancing at the door.
You could see what looked like chubby cheeks pressed against the glass alongside the handprints.
"Door's too heavy for her, huh? Heh heh heh."
"Hey, Professor Ham, could you get the door?"
At someone's request, the male TA sitting near the entrance stood and opened it.
The owner of the hand was an adorable little girl with light green hair.
Westerner?
Unusual hair color, soft-looking cheeks, big sparkling eyes.
The nervous girl, hands neatly clasped, bowed deeply to the man who'd opened the door in thanks.
A perfect bow from the waist.
(She thought she'd just nodded her head a bit, for the record.)
The invader's sneak attack conquered the peaceful office, eliciting happy squeals left and right.
Startled by the intense reactions, the girl flinched but scanned around like she was looking for something.
Soon, she locked eyes with the TA and approached.
The TA suppressed the urge to clamp his mouth shut with his fist and smiled as kindly as possible.
"What brings you here?"
He ignored the eye-roll from the TA who'd poked him, looking utterly exasperated.
"Um, I'd like to submit a withdrawal form. As, uh, a proxy..."
"Oh, withdrawal? That's tough without the person themselves."
"W-well, my uncle's kinda busy right now..."
Su-hyeon couldn't quite bring herself to call me "big bro."
The TA felt puzzled.
Sending such a young kid alone for withdrawal?
"We need a proxy authorization letter. Got one?"
She was obviously empty-handed. No way.
She shook her head vigorously.
"Hmm..."
Anyone could see this was suspicious.
"Th-then, what about a leave of absence...?"
"Leave needs the person's signature or a proxy letter too."
"Ah."
"You need to consult your advisor prof and get their stamp. Did you?"
"N-not yet. Probably not."
The other TAs were whispering among themselves, sensing something off.
Sending a preschooler to submit withdrawal or leave forms?
'Something's up.'
"Well, we need parental consent too. Anything from your parents?"
The TA figured he'd gently refuse and probe what was going on.
Until the girl blurted out her next words.
"Um... my parents aren't... around."
The office went dead silent, like ice water had been dumped over everyone.
Even the keyboard clacking stopped.
"Uh..."
His mind went blank.
Shoulders hunched like she'd committed a crime.
Face flushed like it might burst into tears any second.
Eyes darting everywhere, fighting back tears.
No, he knew there was a story, but!
"Sorry..."
"W-wait! Hold on!!"
With a shrinking voice, she apologized and fled outside, her oversized slippers flapping.
"......"
"...Whoa."
The TA felt wronged.
Having fled the office, I sat on a bench along the walkway, catching my breath.
'Should've looked it up first.'
I had no idea proxy requests were this strict.
Showing up with zero paperwork? How idiotic did I look?
My face was still burning.
"Whew."
Honk!
!
A sharp honk from somewhere.
Our school's infamous geese flock.
Honk honk honk honk!
Six geese marched straight toward the bench.
"...Eek!"
I scrambled onto the bench in my shoes.
Most people didn't know, but geese are vicious.
And pretty strong.
Farms even used them to guard livestock.
Plus, their beaks were sharp—getting bitten hurt like hell.
I'd approached one cluelessly before and got bloodied.
Honk honk honk honk honk!
The geese were right in my face now.
"Please, don't bite..."
How tiny had I gotten?
Even on the bench, their heads reached my chest.
I raised my hand to swing, then thought better and lifted it overhead.
No joke—with this soft skin, a goose bite would tear my fingers off.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trembling for a bit.
Honk honk honk honk!
?
Nothing happened, so I peeked.
I'd even imagined them yanking my collar and slamming me down.
But the geese just honked with heads turned every which way.
'What...? Not attacking?'
These tyrants attacked everyone but their feeder—the campus apex predators—acting tame?
'Maybe...?'
I swallowed and tentatively reached for the nearest one.
It eyed my slow approach with one beady eye on its side-head, but didn't move.
Poke.
Pet pet.
Stroking its neck, it half-closed its eyes.
A strange sense of conquest washed over me.
Achieving what I'd failed before, voluntary submission from my past foe...!
And with my hand on its neck, I basically held its life in my grasp.
"Hee hee hee."
'Wanna grab its neck with both hands and shake, but...'
Do that, and the other five would lynch me. Shame, but I'd settle for a warning.
'I'm sparing you even though I could end you.'
"Gasp!"
As I petted their necks in turn, a gasp came from behind.
A slim young woman, still with a hint of youthfulness.
Phone on a stick—she was probably streaming or vlogging.
Our campus buildings were pretty, so outsiders often visited.
Even on break, so maybe she was one.
Streamers really are stunning, I thought—then she spoke.
"Hi! Sis is filming a vlog right now—mind if I include you? Oh, babies probably don't know what a vlog is...?"
"Sure, and I know what it is."
Getting treated like a kid was starting to feel normal.
'Gotta play along vaguely and bail.'
The geese flapped at the stranger, startling me a bit, when she spoke again.
"Hey, if it's okay, could sis pet them too?"
Hm?
'Thinks I own the geese?'
She wanted a turn too, huh.
Our school's mascot and all—I had no claim or desire for one—so I nodded.
"Go ahead."
"Gasp! Permission granted, everyone!"
Chattering like to an audience, she approached the bench.
I pulled my hand back to make room and stepped aside a bit.
"Eek?"
"Whoa, so soft..."
The moment her long, slender fingers cupped my cheek,
I realized I'd misunderstood.
'She meant me...?'
Whether I stared in shock or not, she seemed lost in savoring the feel of my cheek.