Classroom Duty
After the eventful performance evaluations passed, we returned to our usual school routine.
It had only been about a month since the entrance ceremony, but so much had happened.
I reunited with Pina on the day of the entrance ceremony, ran into some strange people, and even managed to get a little closer to her.
I'd say it was a pretty eventful month. Yeah, I did good.
"Pina is this week's classroom duty. Pina, please take good care of us for the week."
"Yes."
Pina was our class's weekly duty officer this week. Unusually, our class decided who got the duty by random draw.
Every Monday morning, we drew names. Those who had already been chosen had their names removed from the pool. Other classes just went in order of student numbers, but it seemed Hamtory Teacher enjoyed these little events.
For the record, neither Kim Dahi nor I had been picked yet. Park Sung was the very first one chosen. Unlucky bastard.
As I've mentioned before, my favorite subject is Korean.
Maybe it's because I love books, but I genuinely enjoy reading the texts in the Korean textbook.
Whether it's fiction or non-fiction.
On the flip side, my least favorite subject is English.
I mean, does a Korean really need to learn English? I know, I know. That's just nonsense.
The reason I'm suddenly bringing up school subjects is because it's currently English class.
"Now, who would like to translate this part... Miss Dahi?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Could you translate this for us, please?"
"Uh... well..."
"Oh, wonder! How many wonderful creatures are gathered here! How beautiful mankind is! Oh, brave new world, that has such people... in it!"
"Yes, that's correct! Next, Mr. Park Sung?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Park Sung, please give us the verb form of the English word that means 'creation'."
"The English word for creation is 'creation'. The verb form is 'create'."
"Mr. Park Sung is also correct! Class 1-3 is overall very good at English."
"I'll be looking forward to Class 1-3's grades on the midterm exams."
The English teacher is great and all, but she always pressures us about exams in every single class.
"Today, we will review Newton's Third Law, which we learned in the last class."
"Is there any student who can tell me what Newton's Third Law is?"
"..."
"I don't really like calling on students randomly."
Then please don't call on us, Teacher. How is it that you say that every single time, yet you always end up calling on someone?
"Miss Ha Pina, could you answer?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"Newton's three laws of motion are the law of inertia, the law of acceleration, and the law of action and reaction."
"Correct. Then, could you explain action and reaction in a bit more detail? Mr. Lee Hanbyul."
Teacher, did you really have to call on me here?
Look at that. Look at the relieved, idiotic expression on Kim Dahi's face.
But Pina, why are you staring at me so intently too? You're going to drill a hole right through me.
"When Object A exerts a force on Object B, Object B simultaneously exerts a force on Object A that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. That is the core concept of the law of action and reaction."
"Class 1-3 has an excellent attitude toward learning."
"This teacher is highly satisfied."
After school, I was on my way to the judo gym with Sung.
In the past, both of us went to the gym every single day,
but now that I've lost a bit of interest in judo, I don't go every day.
It feels like we only go together on the days I decide to show up.
"Hey~ Sung-ah~"
"What is it?"
"I'm bored."
"And?"
"What do you mean 'and'? Your friend is telling you he's bored."
"Make me laugh or something."
"Hmm~ Let's spar today. It's been a while."
"Sir, I have no desire to die today."
"Aw, come on. You won't die."
That was a lie. A one hundred percent lie.
I couldn't let myself be fooled by that bright smile of his.
Just look at him now. Those incredibly innocent-looking eyes and that toothy, beaming grin. I couldn't fall for it. If I sparred with him, I would literally die.
"Don't be like that. My tournament is just around the corner."
"Why on earth are you preparing for a tournament with me?"
"Ask the director. I'm just an ordinary guy who did a bit of exercise."
"Oh, come on. Sparring with you is the most comfortable."
"...Why is it comfortable?"
"Because I can throw you without worrying about the aftermath?"
"Hey!"
"What are friends for, right?"
"You've got to use your friends at times like this."
Look at this guy. He casually talks about 'using' his friend. He completely treats me like a tool.
Honestly, maybe Park Sung is the scariest guy of all.
"Sigh, fine. Just for today, got it?"
"Okay, okay, got it. Thank you."
"I'll buy you food after the tournament."
"I'm going to eat something crazy expensive."
"That's the only way to make it worth my while."
"Haha, do whatever you want."
I seriously thought I was going to die all week.
I clearly said 'only yesterday,' but he dragged me to the gym from Monday to Thursday as if he had no memory of it.
He threw me around like I was his mortal enemy.
When I went home and checked later, my back was covered in bruises. Yesterday was the first time I realized a back could bruise that badly.
And yet, he still had that bright, innocent smile on his face.
"That bastard Park Sung really squeezed every last drop out of me."
So today, I'm skipping judo. I'm going straight home, reading a book, and lying down.
With that resolution in mind, I was heading home when—
"Huh? It's Pina."
Across the hallway, I saw Pina struggling to carry a load of supplies.
She was stubbornly hauling a stack of boxes piled higher than her own height.
It was probably because of her classroom duty, but she was trying to move it all at once without any strategy.
"Hey, Pina!"
"Huh? You..."
"Where does this need to go?"
"What are you doing? I never asked for your help."
She always complains even when someone tries to help. The moment I took the boxes from her hands, she glared at me.
But maybe because I'm relatively taller than her, her glare just looked like a child pouting, which was quite cute.
"I'm doing this because I want to help."
"I told you, I don't need your help."
"If I don't help, I'll be the one in a tight spot."
"What?"
She tilted her head, looking even more like a child.
"That's just how I was raised. If you see a girl in trouble, you help her out first."
"I might not be perfect, but I try to keep my manners and follow what I was taught at home."
"Do you honestly think that makes sense..."
"Why not? It's my family's rule."
"Seriously... We just need to take them to the first-year teachers' office."
With those final words, Pina walked ahead of me.
She wasn't pouting, was she?
Even I had to admit I went a bit overboard.
"Pina~ Wait up~"
"Hurry up."
After dropping off the load at the teachers' office, we headed back to the classroom to grab our bags.
Standing side by side like this, the height difference was quite noticeable.
I could see the crown of her head right below me. Pina wasn't short, but there was probably about a twenty-centimeter difference between us.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
Pina asked, her expression slightly cold and aloof.
Hmm, even her aloof expression is cute.
"Oh, nothing at all."
"You weren't thinking of something rude, were you?"
Pina asked, narrowing her eyes.
How is her intuition so sharp?
"N-No, of course not. What would I even be thinking?"
"Hmm..."
"..."
"I'll let it slide for now."
After that, silence hung between us until we reached the classroom.
Alright, time to go home and read a book~
I wonder what web novels are updating today~
Just as I reached for my bag with those thoughts in mind, Pina spoke to me.
"Excuse me!..."
"Yeah?"
"Um... can I ask you something?"
"If it's something I can answer."
"Why do you care about me so much?"
"Huh?"
"I mean! Why are you being so nice to me?!"
"Uh..."
"I'm not stupid. I know you're being unusually nice to me, and I know I've been pushing you away to the point of rudeness."
"So tell me. What do you want from me...? Are you somehow different from other people, or are you just like the rest of them..."
Pina's face flushed red as she spoke.
She was asking what I wanted from her, why I was being so nice to her.
But to my ears, it sounded different. It sounded as if she was asking, Can I trust you? Can I trust another 'person'?
So, there was only one thing for me to say.
"Pina, I've never wanted anything from you."
"What? What do you mean..."
"I don't expect anything from someone I want to be friends with."
"...What do you..."
"Huh?"
"What do you even know?!"
"What do you know about me to say you want to be friends, or that you don't want anything from me?!"
Pina's voice echoed through the empty classroom.
It felt like a child screaming for their parents, crying out to be saved from an empty void.
If we're not careful, the teachers in the office next door might hear us.
"I do know."
"Know what..."
"I know, Pina."
"I know that you're actually kinder than anyone, that you want to trust people more than anyone, and that your smile is more beautiful than anyone else's."
"I know because I was saved by you. How could I not know?"
"Saved..."
So this time, I'll save you.
"That's why I want to be friends with you this time, too."
On the day I couldn't trust anyone,
"Just like you helped me trust again,"
when you showed me how to trust.
"I'll make sure you can trust, too."
"That's all I want."
Is my face okay? I feel like I'm blushing furiously.
I didn't mean to go this far.
But it's fine. No matter how red I am, I can't possibly be redder than the apple standing right in front of me.
"...Can I really trust you?"
"Yeah. I will never betray you."
"Even without knowing why I'm like this?"
"Whatever the reason, I will never betray you."
"Thank you for helping me today."
"Let me know if you ever need my help again."
"Okay. Get home safely."
"You too, Pina."
Today was Monday. It had been three days since I parted ways with Pina on Friday.
Aaaargh, how am I supposed to look her in the eye?
Someone please kill the me from two days ago...
There was Pina. No matter how embarrassed I was, I had to greet her.
"Hey, Pina. Did you have a good weekend?"
"Yeah, hey."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
No, no, you shouldn't be the one looking confused.
It was shocking enough that she accepted my greeting, but she used informal speech?
What is going on...? All our classmates turned to look at us in shock.
Hey, hey, stop whispering over there.
"Pina, what did you just..."
"I just said hey... Did I say something wrong?"
"Or does it bother you that I'm speaking casually all of a sudden?"
"No! It's not that. It's just... I'm a bit surprised that you finally accepted my greeting after a whole month, and hearing you speak casually for the first time caught me off guard."
Hey, hey, don't suddenly blush like that. It makes things weird.
I've thought this since last time, but Pina is incredibly cute when she blushes.
"You said it last time. That you wanted to be friends with me."
"And... that you'd make me trust you..."
"So, I'm going to try and believe your words."
"That's why... I want to be friends with you too!"