I've Decided on You, Juju
"Didn't think they'd let us go that easy, sir."
Outside the gymnasium, on the path back toward the dorms, Juju tossed the words out with a playful grin.
"Figured he'd put up more of a fuss."
"If things escalated any further from here, it really might've blown up. He was just covering his own hide."
Once Lee Hwiseong had come back to his senses, he'd worn a terrifying expression — but he'd let the two of them walk away all the same. Thanks to Juju offering to see the exhausted Lua home, Lua ended up strolling the darkened academy campus at her side.
The tree-lined night path was far from dark, lit by the streetlamps overhead. Because of that, Lua could see Juju clearly — the girl who had saved her today.
"Yu Juju."
"Huh?"
Almost without meaning to, Lua spoke the thought that had been turning over in her mind.
"I've decided on you."
"…Decided on what, sir?"
She meant the tank position, of course.
In the final battle, she had originally planned to put Lee Hwiseong in the tank slot. Now she was putting Juju there instead.
Better to fight alongside Juju — even if her skill fell a little short — than to recruit Hwiseong, whose personality was garbage and who had pulled a stunt like today's.
No. Her skill doesn't fall short at all.
In the sparring match against Hwiseong, Juju had beaten him. However much of an opening he'd left her, the fact that she'd dropped someone whose base physicals outclassed hers by that much was enough to force a full reevaluation of her potential.
It's different from the game.
In the game, Yu Juju missed the special class by a single rank, edged out by the protagonist. Because of that, she stayed hyper-aware of him and never quite managed to find her confidence.
But the Juju standing here was different. She had access to the private lessons and facilities reserved for the special class, and she already had the experience of clearing a gate with real self-belief behind her.
That a Juju like this would outperform her game counterpart was, maybe, only natural.
On top of that, she even overcame her skill recoil with pure physical grit.
The consecutive skill activations she'd fumbled through in practice, she'd pulled off cleanly in the spar. That meant she still had room to grow.
If Lua just kept tossing her the right words, the way she had today, the tank named Yu Juju would make explosive strides.
"I'm going to raise you."
"……!"
A breeze slipped between Lua, who had stopped walking, and Juju, who stood facing her. Cherry blossoms that had bloomed along the roadside trees scattered wildly through the air.
"Me… sir? You're going to raise me?"
"Yeah. I'm going to make you the best tank there is."
Lua said it without hedging.
"As thanks for saving me today."
"……."
Juju fell quiet for a moment and studied Lua's face. What thoughts were moving behind that expression, Lua couldn't tell.
"Heehee."
Then Juju laughed.
"Sounds good, sir! If you're saying it like that, I'll trust you on it."
"Y-you will? Really?"
The answer was so clean and immediate that even Lua hadn't seen it coming.
"When you get serious about something, sir, there's gotta be a reason. And trusting you doesn't cost me anything, does it?"
"Yeah…"
"Besides. I want to stay by your side, sir."
"By my side?"
Juju nodded.
"This might sound weird coming out like this, but… you've got this uneasy side to you, sir."
"I'm not a kid…"
"Nah, it's not like that. I don't really get it myself, but it feels like you're carrying something heavy all on your own."
"……!"
Lua startled, just a little. She hadn't told a soul about the final battle — and yet Juju had picked up on something just from watching how she acted.
"Th-that's just my gut talking, sir. If I overstepped, I'm sorry."
"…No. It's fine."
Lua smiled.
"Thanks. For looking out for me."
"W-well… looking forward to working with you, sir."
Juju scratched the back of her head, clearly embarrassed.
There was something unexpectedly cute about the gesture, and before she quite meant to, Lua let slip the words she'd been holding onto for a while now.
"Um… maybe I should try working out a little too? Could you help me with that?"
"……."
"I-if you don't want to, that's totally fine."
"I don't not want to, sir!"
Juju lit up and bounced in place.
"That's a great idea! Never thought you'd take an interest in training, sir!"
"Y-yeah."
It was something she'd been mulling over ever since the physical fitness test a few days back. Helping the students was one thing — but if she wanted to pull her weight as a healer, she needed to build up her own stamina too.
"Then I'll be your personal trainer, sir!"
"Huh?"
"No — wait! I'll teach you how fun working out can be! Squats, bench press, leg day…!"
Eyes sparkling, Juju grabbed Lua's hands and shook them. Somehow, this felt like she'd poked the wrong bear.
I was just thinking of maybe going for walks…
"They say moving a lot during your growth years is good for you, sir."
"……."
"So how about we start first thing tomorrow morning?"
"Huh? I-isn't that a little soon…?"
Now that it was actually happening, her motivation was plummeting fast.
"I-I've got room cleaning to do… and laundry… and dishes… and lying in bed… and I've still got snacks left… and that movie I was watching…"
"…Sir, a few of those don't belong on that list."
—Tap-tap-tap!
Juju sprinted ahead and skidded to a stop in front of a signpost that read Faculty Dormitory.
"They say you've gotta strike while the iron's hot, sir."
She clenched a fist for emphasis.
"Best to act the second you decide. I'll be waiting right here at six tomorrow morning! We're starting with a jog!"
"S-six o'clock…!"
Wasn't that the middle of the night? The sun wouldn't even be up yet, and she wanted them out running?
I never should've said anything…
But she was the one who'd asked. She couldn't exactly turn it down now.
"A-all right. Six o'clock…"
"That's the spirit, sir!"
And just like that, Juju had become Lua's trainer.
"Um, sir — in exchange, I guess? There's one thing I'd like to ask of you—"
"Hm?"
Juju sidled closer, scratching her head with a hesitation that was nothing like her usual self.
"This weekend… would you maybe go shopping with me?"
"Shopping? With me?"
"I, uh… wanted some advice, sir."
Lua tilted her head. What kind of advice did you need for buying things?
On weekends, Lua would have preferred nothing more than to hole up in her room — but she'd asked Juju for a favor first. She couldn't very well refuse.
"Sure. Okay."
"Thank you, sir!"
The moment the two of them clasped hands—
"—How nice."
"?!"
At the sudden third voice, Juju and Lua both jumped and whipped their heads around.
Under a streetlamp, having appeared without so much as a sound, Himari stood in her school uniform.
"Eek!"
"H-Himari? What are you doing here?"
"I was waiting for you, Teacher."
—Click. Click.
The sound of Himari's shoes striking the pavement carried a strangely heavy weight.
"You've worked hard, staying out so late. On your instructions, Teacher, I devoted myself to written study today."
She bowed neatly.
"Y-yeah. Good job."
"As an unworthy moon, I regret that I could not remain at your side. Nothing… untoward occurred, I hope?"
"……."
Lua exchanged a glance with Juju. Better not to mention what had happened earlier. Bringing up something already over would only worry Himari for nothing.
"Yeah. It was a pretty ordinary day."
"That is a relief."
Himari's gaze drifted toward Juju.
"Ah — hey there, Himari."
"Yes. Thank you for seeing Teacher this far, Juju."
Now that the misunderstanding between them had been cleared up, the two of them didn't seem to be on bad terms at all.
Thank goodness. Looks like they made up properly.
"Teacher. You said you would be… exercising."
"Ah, y-yeah. Juju's going to help me with it."
Himari nodded.
"A wise decision. In that case, I shall also meet you here at six."
"H-hold on a second."
Juju cut in.
"You're planning to join us too, Himari?"
"Of course. I am Teacher's moon."
Himari said it so matter-of-factly that it almost sounded like she was the one who should be confused. Juju crossed her arms over her chest, looking distinctly unimpressed.
"This is the nurse's personal training, y'know. She made that promise with me."
"I have a duty to remain at Teacher's side."
Himari didn't budge either.
"I anticipate that adding one more person to a workout will make little difference."
"You don't need to be running first thing in the morning, do you? Your stamina's already more than enough."
"This is not for my own exercise. It is to attend to Teacher."
A faintly uncomfortable air settled between the two of them.
"U-um… girls?"
Lua tried to step in and mediate, but it was hopeless.
"Teacher asked me, not you, Himari."
"Teacher prefers to run with me."
Picking a side was impossible. Lua glanced between them, then took a quiet step backward.
If she stayed here any longer, she was definitely going to end up in an awkward spot.
Time to bolt!
"Teacher, if you would just say—"
"Sir, what are you going to—"
By the time Juju and Himari turned back to where Lua had been standing, she was already scurrying up the stairs.
"Hah… hah… huaat."
"Not huaat — hooo, sir! Two breaths in, one breath out!"
"Hah… hah… huaaang."
6:10 a.m.
On the running track built along the edge of the artificial island, Lua, Juju, and Himari ran side by side. Lua had already worn herself out barely after starting, but Juju's morning training schedule still had a long way to go.
"Juju. Teacher is exhausted. She needs rest."
"What? It's only been ten minutes!"
Himari, of course, looked completely unbothered.
"Teacher. If you wish to stop, please say so at any time."
"…Well. Pushing too hard on day one isn't great either, I guess."
Encouragement — or something like it — came from either side. But Lua steeled herself.
I can't just sit still either.
Now that the dealer and tank positions were locked in, her own stamina mattered every bit as much as their growth.
If the healer becomes the weak link and we lose because of it… nothing would feel more unfair than that…!
"Yaaah!"
With a timid little battle cry, Lua pushed herself forward.
"Oh! You're hanging in there, sir! That's what I like to see!"
"Th-that's wonderful, Teacher!"
—In the end, Lua managed to finish the schedule Juju had set. It had been a real struggle, but the sense of accomplishment was something she hadn't felt in a very long time.
"You did great, sir!"
Juju held out a water bottle, beaming.
"Keep this up and the next fitness test won't be a problem at all!"
"Haaah… hah… Really?"
"Really, sir!"
Lua barely managed to pull herself together and started walking back toward the dorms. Juju and Himari fell in beside her. There was still plenty of time before the workday began, and the academy — the whole artificial island — lay quiet.
"Teacher. The special class dormitory is nearby."
"Hm?"
As they walked, Himari spoke up out of nowhere.
"If you wouldn't mind… would you like to rinse off the sweat in the shower room before you go?"