Summer Break (3)
The smoking area outside the research building. "Fuck." Even with my Mental Barrier active, I couldn't help but flinch slightly at the curse that slipped from Professor Yu Hyeon-ju's lips. She pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and muttered another muffled swear. "Shhit."
Professor Yu Hyeon-ju rummaged through her pocket for a lighter, glanced at me, then shoved it back in. "Must be nice, Professor Kyo. Having only two students."
A short one-week break. And over twenty thesis students scattered across the country, each requiring a home visit. It was impossible not to curse.
"It just turned out that way. This must be exhausting for you."
"If they'd given us notice even a month in advance, I wouldn't be this pissed." Professor Yu Hyeon-ju chewed on her cigarette filter and grumbled under her breath. The lean muscles of the close-combat specialist flexed visibly beneath her thin summer shirt.
"Professor Yu. The cancellation fees must be brutal," Professor Jin Se-yeong interjected carefully, reading the room.
"Cancellation fees?"
"Professor Yu... you booked an overseas resort for this vacation. You were supposed to leave tomorrow..."
"Ah, damn..." She really must be furious.
"What about you, Professor Jin? Don't you have a lot of students too?"
"I do. That's why I was thinking of requesting a special flight permit."
Heroes couldn't fly long distances recklessly. They risked being misidentified by anti-air radar or causing accidents by overlapping with flight plans. Of course, short-range emergency scrambles didn't require such procedures. But visiting every student's home meant long-distance travel, so a special flight permit was necessary.
"That sounds good. I'll get one too and wrap this up as fast as possible. Not that my overseas trip hasn't already gone up in smoke."
"I don't understand why this is happening all of a sudden. Home visits by thesis advisors instead of management TAs..."
Professors Jin Se-yeong and Yu Hyeon-ju sighed in unison. Watching them, Professor Heo Tae-hyeon—the expert in information gathering and covert operations—chuckled.
"That's what happens when you're too famous. People like me with nothing going on have it easy at times like this."
"Of course it's easy for you, Professor Heo! You're a former spy!"
At Jin Se-yeong's words, Professor Heo Tae-hyeon snickered and lit his cigarette.
"Professor Kyo is right here! How can you smoke in front of him?!"
"It's fine. Professor Kyo Suhyeon doesn't even cough anymore."
"No, it's not! The smoke will make him start coughing again!"
In a flash, Professor Jin Se-yeong's hand shot out and neatly snapped the tip off Professor Heo's cigarette.
"Whoa... that's terrifying..." Professor Heo laughed hollowly at the cleanly severed cigarette.
"Anyway, how do you think the practical training site assignments will go next semester?" Professor Heo changed the subject as he tucked the ruined cigarette away.
Academy students went on experiential practicums during the second semester of their first year. Hero agencies and the Management Bureau that observed the PVP Combat Evaluation would select desired interns, and the students would choose where to go. Since most ended up joining the same place after graduation, it was more accurate to call it a 'draft' than simple training site assignment.
"Won't Yoo Hee-won probably sweep all the votes? She's overwhelmingly superior to the others, and her family background is enormous. Everyone will be scrambling to build connections with her."
Her father was the Management Bureau's Advisory Chairman, an S-class hero. One of the three people who truly controlled the Bureau alongside the Director and Deputy Director. On top of that, Yoo Hee-won had displayed skills on an entirely different level from her classmates during the PVP Combat Evaluation.
"Don't you think Han Min-ha will be impressive too?" Professor Yu asked, looking at me.
"Han Min-ha, you mean."
"Yeah. She doesn't even have a unique trait, yet she defeated an upperclassman in a completely unexpected way. If we're only talking about that duel, Han Min-ha is actually drawing more attention than Yoo Hee-won."
"That makes sense."
Professor Jin Se-yeong's eyes sparkled as she looked at me. "Both of them are your students, Professor Kyo. You're truly amazing..."
"Professor Jin, you look exactly like a dog staring at its owner holding a treat right now."
At Professor Yu's words, Professor Jin jumped in surprise and quickly averted her gaze.
"How can you call someone a dog like that..."
"I didn't say you were a dog. I said you were cute. Right, Professor Kyo?"
"Haha. Yes."
I smiled faintly. But a home visit to Han Min-ha's house... how should I handle this...
The blazing midday heat of summer. A vivid blue sky and white cumulonimbus clouds drifting far away. The entire drive to Han Min-ha's house, my mind had been racing with thoughts.
First, Han Min-ha had no parents. So ultimately, I'd have to go there, talk with her, and leave. We'd already spent several weeks training together for the thesis meetings and the end-of-semester evaluation, so there wasn't much left to discuss.
Second, I was worried about seeing traces of Han Tae-woo and Seo Ji-ah in her house. If my Mental Barrier collapsed like before, I'd end up showing an unsightly scene in front of her.
Lost in these thoughts, I finally saw the signboard up ahead. I was almost there.
The place where Han Min-ha lived was a small provincial city about a two-hour round trip from the academy. It was a quiet, peaceful town with no particular distinguishing features. Moderate population, moderate infrastructure, and moderate natural scenery. It suited Han Min-ha perfectly.
I passed through the sparsely populated, quiet streets and entered the residential complex where she lived. The navigation ended in front of a particularly small and modest two-story house among the row of homes. This must be it.
As I tried to get out of the car, the front gate burst open with the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Professor...! You're here?"
Han Min-ha, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, opened the door to greet me.
"Have you been well, Student Min-ha? Though it's only been a few days."
"Ah, yes...! I've been well! Thank you for coming all this way. Um... please come in. I'll get you some cold juice."
"That sounds good."
As I stepped into the narrow yard, Han Min-ha scampered ahead and opened the front door for me. The cool air from the air conditioner greeted me inside.
"Is it cool enough? Please wait in the living room for a moment. I'll bring the juice right away. Um... what do you like?"
"What do you have?"
"Grape, orange, aloe... I have everything. I didn't know what kind of drink you'd prefer, Professor, so I bought one of each."
"Orange is fine."
"Yes...!"
While Han Min-ha clattered around getting a cup, I paced the living room and looked around the house. It was spotlessly clean, without a speck of dust. But there was a certain atmosphere to it.
Loneliness.
The house was clean because no one had lived there during the semester, so there was nothing to dirty it. And since Han Min-ha had only returned for summer break less than a week ago... that meant she'd been living here all alone until now.
Yet strangely, I couldn't see even a single family photo.
"Professor. Please don't stand there—have a seat on the sofa."
Han Min-ha brought the juice on a tray. When I sat down, she handed me the glass and then sat on the floor herself.
"You must be tired from the heat."
"Not at all. I came by car. More importantly..." I took a sip of juice and continued. "I was thinking on the way here. Normally, a home visit is more about meeting the parents than the student."
"Ah, yes. That's right..."
"But... in a way, meeting with Student Min-ha's parents... Just a moment."
My phone vibrated in my pocket. When I took it out, I saw it was Yoo Hee-won calling. I'd clearly told her I'd visit this afternoon—why was she calling already? She really was impatient. I rejected the call and kept speaking.
"As I mentioned before, your parents and I were on the same team. They were my only friends."
"Your only friends..."
"I'm similar to you in personality, Student Min-ha. I don't open up to people easily."
When I smiled, Han Min-ha smiled back brightly in response.
"So... even without a formal meeting, I can roughly guess what they would have wanted."
"You mean making me S-class."
"That's right. I will protect that promise no matter what. Even if you don't want it, Student Min-ha."
"I've changed my mind too."
Han Min-ha spoke while maintaining her smile.
"At first, I was just lost and alone. When the Management Bureau said they'd let me into the academy, I jumped in without thinking. That's why I gave up so easily and tried to drop out. But now it's different."
Han Min-ha looked at me with determination in her eyes.
"Because you took me in as your student, Professor. And because Hee-won helps me. Just like my parents were your only friends, Professor, you and Hee-won have become..."
Just as she was about to say something touching, Han Min-ha suddenly stopped and fumbled in her pants pocket.
"I'm sorry... the phone suddenly..."
"It's fine."
Han Min-ha took out her phone, checked it, and gasped. "P-Professor... Professor Kyo..."
"What's wrong? Who is it?"
"It's... it's Hee-won... She's calling...?"
Han Min-ha showed me her phone. The screen displayed 'Hee-won:)'.
"What should I do...?"
It would normally be polite to call a friend back later if they phoned during a thesis advisor's home visit. But if it was Yoo Hee-won, the situation changed. She'd just called me, and when I didn't answer, she called Han Min-ha. Since I'd mentioned visiting Han Min-ha's house this morning... if neither of us picked up, she'd probably cause a scene.
"Student Min-ha. I think it would be better to answer it."
Han Min-ha flinched, her hand trembling. "Me...?"
"Isn't that your phone?"
"Ah, right... yes..."
With a trembling hand, Han Min-ha answered the call.
"H-Hello...?"
"Eek?!"
Yoo Hee-won's voice was so loud it could be heard through the phone. Han Min-ha flinched violently and looked at me.