Partner (2)
Chapter 02Partner (2)
After the friendly match with Jang Su-won was decided, I returned home and immediately sat down at my computer to browse the internet. However, as I stared at the monitor, I wasn’t sure where to start searching.
…Hmm, what should I search for?
After pondering for a while and tapping on the keyboard, I decided to just go with whatever came to mind.
[My child is dull]
...Is this how I should search for it?
Click-
As soon as I pressed the search button, a flood of information appeared, and one post caught my eye.
[How to guide a dull child…]
“Oh…”
I skimmed through the post and found it contained the information I was looking for. The internet really is great. Though it was somewhat summarized, the content was easy to understand.
“…I see, so there’s a reason for everything…”
I leaned back deeply into my chair, comparing various cases of other children with Min So-yeon’s situation. There were many similarities.
...Should I look a bit more?
*
The next morning, on the way to school.
…I'm tired.
After spending last night looking up various things for So-yeon, I went to bed a bit late. I didn’t sleep well either, as I had a somewhat draining dream.
It was a dream about the day partners were chosen during my school days. A girl approached me, asking to be partners. At the time, I was dumbfounded by the sudden proposal, and my wife, Joo Yeon-hee, who was watching, interrupted our conversation by pulling me aside.
In the end, the girl couldn’t hold back and started a fight with my wife. It ended with my wife’s one-sided victory, but in the dream, it was an even match.
My wife was strong, then and now.
“Haaah...”
I yawned widely and slowly made my way to school, recalling the information I learned from the internet.
“…Hmm?”
Suddenly, a musty smell wafted past my nose.
Coming to my senses, I looked around and found myself near the alley where I first met So-yeon.
...No way.
Driven by a hunch, I quickly approached the alley.
“….”
Sure enough, she was there, leaning against the wall and smoking.
It was Min So-yeon.
As I stared blankly, she seemed to notice my gaze and brought the cigarette to her lips, looking straight at me.
In that moment of eye contact, a heavy silence fell over the narrow alley.
Despite feeling a bit intimidated by her cold gaze, I quickly recalled what I learned yesterday and cautiously approached her, speaking softly.
“Hi.”
But she didn’t respond.
So-yeon stared at me before putting the cigarette to her lips and saying quietly,
“...Get lost.”
...Ugh.
Being cursed at first thing in the morning promised a delightful day.
Ignoring her words, I leaned against the wall opposite her. She turned her gaze away and inhaled deeply, seemingly determined to ignore me.
Sssss- Hoooo-
The smoke filled the narrow alley as she exhaled deeply, like a sigh.
The acrid smell of cigarette smoke filled my nostrils, making me grimace.
So-yeon glanced at my expression before turning away again, focusing on her smoking. I just watched her silently.
I felt an urge to rush over and extinguish the cigarette right away. But I couldn’t do that. Right now, I am neither So-yeon’s parent nor her friend. I am just someone she barely knows.
“….”
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I filled my lungs with the pungent smell of smoke.
Alright. I steadied myself and spoke again.
“…Is that… tasty?”
Even as I said it, it sounded odd. No matter how good it might taste, cigarettes and deliciousness don’t go together.
So-yeon glanced at me before tossing her cigarette to the ground.
It was the usual disregard.
Reminding myself of my resolve, I spoke to her nonchalantly.
“…I’ve been thinking about trying one too. Can you lend me one?”
So-yeon stomped on the cigarette butt and replied without looking at me,
“…It’s bad for you.”
With that, she left the alley.
Knowing it’s bad for her, why does she keep smoking? It’s a question I can’t answer right now.
*
On my way back to school after parting ways with So-yeon, I felt numerous eyes on me for some reason.
“…Isn’t that him?”
“I heard he’s fighting the guy from Class B because of Min So-yeon. His parents are A-rank hunters…”
“…That handsome guy?”
Without even trying to hide it, they openly whispered about me.
...Has the rumor already spread?
It hasn’t even been a day, but I didn’t expect this much attention. Is it because of So-yeon’s reputation? Feeling a strange sense of pride, I walked confidently as if nothing was amiss.
Arriving at the classroom, I took a seat in an empty corner, feeling the stares of the surrounding students. As I prepared for class, someone approached me.
…Huh?
I turned my head slightly to see a group of three girls looking down at me. One of them, standing in front, cautiously spoke to me.
“…Uh, Ji, Ji-hwan… Good luck with the friendly match today…!”
Huh? Suddenly?
An unexpected cheer. I never imagined there would be a student cheering for me. Thinking I should respond to her kindness, I smiled brightly and thanked her.
“Thank you.”
She blushed and seemed extremely shy, looking at me as if she was facing a boy she liked. Then, she thrust something she had been hiding behind her back into my arms and shouted shyly.
“T-This, I made some snacks, so enjoy them!!”
Then she hurried off to the other side of the classroom with her friends.
...Cute.
I glanced at the small shopping bag in my arms. It seemed she had put some thought into the cute design. Inside the shopping bag was a small paper box, and through the transparent lid, I could see bite-sized muffins.
Oh, they look delicious. They looked quite appetizing, as if she had put a lot of effort into them, with slightly uneven sizes giving off a homemade feel.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had homemade desserts. When was the last time I had something like this?
My wife wasn’t particularly good at cooking, so I usually cooked or we bought food. Lost in memories of the past, I was brought back by the homeroom teacher’s voice from the front of the class.
“Hello, everyone!”
Class had started. I quickly put the shopping bag aside and prepared for the lesson, glancing around the room. And…
…She made it to school.
In the opposite corner, I spotted Min So-yeon staring blankly at her desk. The morning classes were mainly theory subjects, so there wasn’t much to them. Since it was all information I already knew or very basic theories, it wasn’t particularly helpful to me.
Recalling the materials I had read on the internet yesterday, I spent the time reflecting, and before I knew it, the morning classes were over.
After a quick lunch, I tried one of the muffins the girl had given me.
…It’s sweet. Maybe because it was my first dessert in a while, it felt a bit too sweet. But appreciating the effort, I finished them all and went over to thank the girl for the delicious snack. She beamed with joy, which was a lovely sight.
After lunch, the moment finally arrived.
“Alright, are both students ready?”
Im Cha-kyung, who was acting as the referee today, spoke to us.
“Yes! I’m ready!”
Jang Su-won, dressed in combat gear, rolled his shoulders as he replied.
Likewise, dressed in combat gear, I told Im Cha-kyung I was ready too.
“…Good. As I mentioned earlier, there will be two buzzers.”
Im Cha-kyung continued to explain the rules. Jang Su-won and I glared at each other, listening quietly. After confirming the rules once more, Im Cha-kyung stepped back and wished us luck.
“I hope both of you do your best.”
With those words of encouragement, she left the field.
As I started to create distance according to the friendly match rules, Jang Su-won, who had been glaring at me, casually spoke.
“Yoo Ji-hwan. I hope it’s a good match.”
It would have been better if he was outright rude, but his ambiguous good-natured demeanor made it more uncomfortable. I gave him a suitable reply and turned to take my starting position.
Standing on the white mark on the ground, I looked at Jang Su-won, who was standing far away.
A peculiar tension filled the room. As we held our breaths and glared at each other,
BEEP-
The buzzer signaling the start of the match echoed through the room.
At the same time, Jang Su-won adjusted his stance.
Turning to the side, he lowered his posture, raised both fists to eye level, and pointed one fist toward me.
It was a familiar stance.
…So, those impressive parents of his were that woman?
There was a female hunter who made a name for herself using martial arts as an A-rank hunter. had met her a few times for work...
Would Jang Su-won know that she had made advances toward me when I was Min Seong-jae?
“…”
I smiled slightly and took my stance.
Since Jang Su-won was using martial arts, he probably had a body-enhancing ability similar to his mother’s.
Hunters’ battles are simple.
You quickly gather mana, use your abilities, and swiftly take down your opponent. Giving time to a seasoned hunter is like revealing your weakness. Especially for a rear-line fighter like me, the longer the battle drags on, the worse it gets.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to an opponent like Jang Su-won, who just awakened his abilities. At that moment, Jang Su-won, seemingly annoyed by my relaxed demeanor, moved quickly. Gathering mana, he dashed toward me.
“…Haa!”
He closed the distance in an instant and threw a punch. He had obviously practiced a lot, as his form was clean. But he was too slow.
Judging where his fist would land, I quickly condensed my mana to create a small shield.
Thunk!
A dull sound echoed through the room. Even though it had been a while, my skills hadn’t rusted.
“Grr…”
Jang Su-won seemed a bit flustered that his initial strike didn’t land. After putting some distance between us, I lowered my stance and rapidly gathered mana.
Whoosh-
Mana flowed through my body, gathering in my right hand. With a popping sound, the gathered mana ignited, and flames burst from my right hand.
It was the magic So-yeon loved the most as a child. The one we created together.
Named...
[ Fire Punch! ]
As I shouted the technique’s name and thrust my fist, the mana surrounding my hand burst out.
Whoooosh-!
Jang Su-won, taken aback by the approaching flames, quickly dodged but lost his balance in the process.
Now!
Seizing the opportunity, I rapidly gathered mana and approached him. His stance was already broken, making it easy for me to close in.
Thwack!
I aimed a kick at Jang Su-won’s weight-bearing leg, causing him to lose balance and fall with a thud. Standing over the fallen Jang Su-won, I spoke quietly.
“…Sorry.”
Lying on the ground with a blank expression, Jang Su-won soon closed his eyes and admitted defeat.
“…I lost.”
The buzzer signaling the end of the match sounded as he acknowledged his loss.
BEEP-
I had won.
But as the match ended, even though I had won, I felt strangely unsatisfied. It didn’t feel right to celebrate beating a kid. It felt like I was bullying someone who didn’t know anything.
At that moment, cheers erupted from the students watching outside.
—Wow! Wow!
I turned slightly and waved, causing the students to cheer even louder.
Quickly scanning the crowd, I found Min So-yeon sitting among the students, and though the distance was quite far, our eyes met.
…Huh?
Was it my imagination, or did her gaze hold an emotion I couldn’t quite understand?