Song Do-yun's Request
Song Do-yun stepped into the room and stood there in silence, her eyes drifting across every corner. It was an utterly ordinary space, nothing special to speak of.
“Sit down.”
Han Min-ha pulled out a chair for her, then settled herself on the edge of the bed. They sat facing each other, yet Han Min-ha had no idea how to begin. After all, it had been Song Do-yun who suggested they talk.
Song Do-yun stared wordlessly at Han Min-ha’s desk for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Did you spend the break well?”
“Yeah. I went over to Hee-won’s place. We swam, watched movies, and… ah….”
Realizing her slip, Han Min-ha cut herself off. Song Do-yun’s face remained blank.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“What do you mean, it doesn’t matter?”
“Yoo Hee-won. She’s irrelevant to me now.”
Han Min-ha couldn’t make sense of it. Song Do-yun had been Yoo Hee-won’s right hand. More than that, she had been sexually attracted to her. That obsession was the entire reason she had tormented Han Min-ha and eventually faced her in the PVP Combat Evaluation. Everything had stemmed from those feelings for Yoo Hee-won—so how could they suddenly not matter? What exactly had happened during the break?
When Song Do-yun offered nothing more, Han Min-ha ventured cautiously, “Did… did you have a good break?”
“After they discharged me from the clinic, the break was already over.”
“Ah……”
The reason Song Do-yun had spent the end of the semester wrapped in a full-body cast inside the academy clinic was because of what Han Min-ha had done to her during the PVP Combat Evaluation. This is getting awkward… Han Min-ha was beginning to regret inviting her in.
“That’s not why I came. The fact that I lost to you remains unchanged, and I don’t hold it against you.”
“I… I see.”
Then why had she come? Han Min-ha couldn’t begin to guess.
“How has your team been lately?”
“Huh? Our team? Just me and Hee-won? We’re doing fine. The professor guides us very diligently.”
“I see.”
Once again, Song Do-yun fell silent, staring at the wallpaper. At this point Han Min-ha even entertained a ridiculous fantasy: maybe Song Do-yun had transferred her fixation from Yoo Hee-won to her. Truly, nothing else could explain why the girl had barged into her room only to waste time and spout nonsense.
After another long pause, Song Do-yun asked, “Isn’t it hard forming a team with only two people?”
“Hard? I’m not sure. So far we haven’t had any problems. Hee-won is incredibly talented, and our abilities match well. Most importantly, the professor taught us how to fight effectively even with just the two of us.”
“I see.”
The same flat reply, followed by more silence. Finally Han Min-ha asked, voice barely above a whisper, “So… what exactly did you want to talk about…?”
“I want to join your team.”
The answer was so sudden that Han Min-ha’s mouth simply fell open. Song Do-yun, having delivered the bombshell, once again wore an indifferent expression—this time fixing her gaze on Han Min-ha’s ankle. It wasn’t fascination; she simply seemed to need somewhere to look.
“Um… you want to join our team? But the academy assigns all the teams…”
“Transfers are possible if the homeroom professors reach an agreement.”
“Really? Hmm. Then what did your homeroom professor say?”
“She said if it’s what I want, she won’t stand in my way.”
Song Do-yun’s homeroom professor was Yu Hyeon-ju. Given how cool-headed she was, it made sense she wouldn’t try to hold her back. I wonder what Professor Kyo would say if I told him I wanted to switch teams? He’d probably answer in that same unreadable tone, ‘If that’s what you want, Student Min-ha, then go ahead. I’ll speak with the others.’ It’s hard to picture him trying to stop me. Hehe. That’s exactly what makes him so charming. Oh, right—she was still talking with Do-yun.
“So?”
“So I was hoping you might speak to Professor Kyo on my behalf.”
“Hmm. Wouldn’t it be better if you asked him yourself?”
“Professor Kyo seems to like you very much.”
“Ehh?!”
Han Min-ha felt her face burn. She slapped both hands to her cheeks in a panic. Professor Kyo likes me…? No, that can’t be right. He treats both me and Hee-won fairly and simply does his best as a teacher, doesn’t he? But…
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
“I said Professor Kyo likes you very much.”
She had pretended not to hear, yet now she had heard the words twice. That the professor liked her. Han Min-ha herself had never noticed, but if someone as unrelated as Do-yun could see it so clearly, then perhaps it really looked that way to outsiders. Exactly what part of their interactions had given her that impression? She wanted to know, but how was she supposed to ask?
While Han Min-ha spiraled through a whirlwind of internal panic, Song Do-yun asked bluntly, “Will you do it?”
“Uh… I can mention it. But I think the professor will want to know exactly why you want to join our team. If it’s because you want to be with Hee-won again, he probably won’t allow it.”
“As I said earlier, Yoo Hee-won is irrelevant to me now.”
Song Do-yun’s reply was icy. The chill in her voice was so sharp that Han Min-ha instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. Song Do-yun’s gaze settled on the generous swell of Han Min-ha’s chest spilling over her folded arms.
“First, I don’t like my current team. I don’t know about the professor, but the other students aren’t on my level. It’s impossible to accomplish anything together.”
“But… aren’t they all upperclassmen too…?”
“Second,” Song Do-yun continued, ignoring the mutter, “you were nearly at the bottom, yet you defeated me overwhelmingly. I understand it was thanks to Professor Kyo’s guidance. That’s why I want to learn under him as well.”
“Hehe. The professor really is a good teacher.”
“And third.” Song Do-yun’s eyes remained locked on Han Min-ha’s chest as her voice gained a touch of intensity. “I decided it would be good to be on the same team as you.”
“Ehh? Me? Why?”
“After watching you fight during the PVP Combat Evaluation, I felt that if we stayed together as a team even after graduation, I at least wouldn’t die a pointless death.”
“There are plenty of people far more capable than me…”
“I could also serve as your sparring partner.”
“What? Sparring partner all of a sudden?”
But Song Do-yun offered no further explanation.
“So please put in a good word for me. Professor Kyo will probably listen if you ask.”
“Why do you think that? The part about the professor liking me, I mean.”
Han Min-ha asked with carefully hidden hope. Song Do-yun answered as if it were nothing.
“There’s affection in the way he looks at you. It’s different from that cement-like expression he wears during normal lectures.”
The word “affection” sent a sweet shiver racing up from the pit of Han Min-ha’s stomach. But she couldn’t very well squirm and rub her thighs together in front of Song Do-yun, so she clenched her teeth and forced the feeling down.
“Th-then I’ll try speaking with the professor. If those are your reasons, I think he’ll find them reasonable.”
Han Min-ha accepted the proposal so readily for more than just a desire to help a struggling classmate. The far bigger reason was the possibility that Professor Kyo truly did like her and looked at her with affection. Would he really grant such a troublesome request? If he did, it would prove Song Do-yun was right, and Han Min-ha was desperate to find out. She wanted to sprint to the faculty dormitory right that instant. Of course, she would have to leave out any mention of “affection” or “liking.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Song Do-yun rose and extended her hand. A flustered Han Min-ha took it, and they shook.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Y-yes! I understand!”
“So that’s what she said.”
Han Min-ha’s eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously. Beside her, Yoo Hee-won twisted her face in open disgust.
“That bitch is seriously deranged. The way she talked about me being ‘irrelevant’ makes it sound like she actually wants to join us.”
“Right? Since it probably won’t cause any unpleasant complications with you, maybe we can consider it positively?”
“Why are you the one considering it positively? It’s the professor’s decision.”
Han Min-ha turned to me, eyes brimming with expectation.
“If every reason Student Song Do-yun gave is true and she has no hidden motives, then I have no particular objection. Cooperative combat is more effective with three than two, and her wind manipulation ability would be useful in many situations.”
“H-huh? You’re really giving permission?!”
Han Min-ha was practically hyperventilating.
“Yes, I permit it. On the condition that both Student Hee-won and Student Min-ha agree… Catch her!”
Han Min-ha’s eyes rolled back as she fainted. Yoo Hee-won and I lunged at the same time and managed to catch her just before she hit the floor.
“Hehe… The professor… gave permission… Do-yun was right… As expected, the professor really does…”
“What the hell is this crazy girl babbling about?!”
And so Song Do-yun was added to our Golden Viper and Gray Mold team. Funnily enough, she technically belonged to the gray mold category as well. Yoo Hee-won really did have an uncanny talent for naming teams.
After leaving Han Min-ha’s room, Song Do-yun did not return to her own. Instead she leaned against the door, staring at nothing.
She had given three reasons for wanting to join the team, but one decisive reason remained unspoken.
During the PVP Combat Evaluation, when Han Min-ha’s one-hit kill had struck true, Song Do-yun had been briefly enveloped in her opponent’s embrace as the girl charged forward. In that instant she had felt it—Han Min-ha’s chest, impossible to conceal even beneath the training suit. The overwhelming softness had lingered in her memory ever since.
If she could just feel that embrace one more time…
That was why she sought to join the team. That was why she had even offered to become a sparring partner.
Song Do-yun lifted the hand she had shaken with Han Min-ha, pressed it to her nose, closed her eyes, and drew a long, slow breath.
Yoo Hee-won is irrelevant to me now… From now on, my main wife will be Han Min-ha…