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Chapter 96: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 96



As the morning dew dried in the early sunlight and the day advanced, I entered the orphanage to find Director Maria naturally welcoming me.


"Oh, Miss Scarlet, you're here earlier than usual today?"


"I woke up a bit early this morning. Even after some training, it was still this time."


"I see. Phew... Thanks to you coming early today, I can catch my breath. The kids are so energetic, they've been begging to play since early morning, and I was starting to feel a bit worn out."


Since Sylvia and I began volunteering at this Future Orphanage, I’ve been showing up daily, making Director Maria seem more comfortable around me.


Seeing her sigh in relief, I thought it was good that I came early.


Given her age, it must be hard for her to keep up with the children's energy, so she was originally only responsible for educating them while other staff members played with the kids.


But due to an incident that happened recently, the staff had to take time off because of issues in their families, leaving her to handle the kids alone.


That’s probably why she’s so happy that I’m here to help with the kids, making my volunteering feel even more rewarding.


As I pondered this, Director Maria, looking a bit apologetic, hesitated before speaking.


"By the way, I'm really grateful, but I worry that we might be imposing on you by having you help every day, Miss Scarlet. If it’s a burden, you don’t have to help..."


"Don’t worry about it. I don’t have much to do while the academy is on break anyway. Besides, I promised Rion I’d come back. I have to keep my promise."


"Oh, how sweet... Miss Scarlet, you’re an angel. Please, if you ever need my help, let me know. I’ll repay this kindness."


"Haha... There’s really no need for that. Please take a break. I’ll play with the kids."


Though I didn't have much to do besides training, her being so moved by my offer made me a bit embarrassed.


Anyway, I went to the playroom to give Director Maria a break, and the now-familiar children greeted me.


"Wow! It's the robot sister! Hello!"


"Hey, everyone! How have you been?"


"Good!"


As I was exchanging greetings with the kids, Rion, who had been drawing in the distance, ran over and grabbed my coat.


"Unnie, did you come to see Rion today too?"


"Of course. I promised I’d come back. I always keep my promises."


"Hehe, I like you, Unnie."


As I patted her head, Rion smiled bashfully and hugged my leg. Seeing his brighter expressions each day, I couldn’t help but smile too.


Rion, clinging to me, looked up and spoke.


"Unnie, let's draw together."


"Together? Okay. I'll draw you, Rion."


As I said that, suddenly the children became noisy.


"Wow! It's Yoon Si-woo oppa for real!"


Hearing the familiar name from the children's mouths, I turned to see the familiar figure and our eyes met.


What is he doing here?


Wondering this, I waved at Yoon Si-woo.


"...Long time no see."


"...Yeah, it’s been a while."


Si-woo, looking as surprised as I felt to see me here, returned the greeting with a dazed expression.


Then suddenly,


"Si-woo oppa! Show us the shining sword!"


"Please hold my hand!"


"Si-woo! Si-woo!"


"Uh? Oh, kids, one at a time, please!"


Si-woo was soon swarmed by the children asking for handshakes and attention.


Watching the scene with an amused Rion still clinging to me, Director Maria sat beside me and whispered.


"I forgot to tell you earlier in the chaos. Si-woo said he got a day off and would stop by today."


Come to think of it, I remember he said he grew up in this orphanage.


Hearing he was on leave made me realize that Yoon Si-woo had officially become a hero. 


It seemed like the higher-ups were really pushing him, promoting him as the youngest member of Astrape, a divine entity.


Yoon Si-woo joining Astrape happened earlier than in the original story, but it was a relief that they still had enough capacity to grant leaves, suggesting that they hadn't suffered severe damage from the last incident.


In the original story, by the time Si-woo joined, they were so short-staffed that he had to work nonstop.


I’m not sure if it's entirely a good thing, but at least the situation wasn’t the worst.


While drawing in the sketchbook Rion handed me, I watched Si-woo handling the children as Director Maria smiled and spoke.


"The kids must have been excited about Si-woo’s visit and woke up early. He’s really popular. Since Si-woo is here, I'll take a little rest. Miss Scarlet, feel free to relax as well."


With that, Director Maria went off to take a break.


Following her suggestion, I quietly drew with Rion and watched Si-woo.


Normally, I’d be the one playing with these kids.


Even though they usually said they enjoyed playing with me, it felt a bit lonely seeing them flock to Si-woo without giving me any attention.


Just then, a few kids approached me.


"Oh? Are you here to play with me?"


I asked, thinking they might have chosen me over Si-woo, but they responded.


"The line is too long."


"We got bored waiting. Play with us in the meantime."


"...Okay."


It seemed they came to me because the queue to play with Si-woo was too long.


So that's my place here, huh.


Feeling a bit hurt at being second in line to Si-woo, I still decided to play with the kids wholeheartedly.


"Alright, let’s do the airplane ride. Everyone, line up!"


"Wow! I want to ride too!"


"Airplane ride!"


Hearing about the airplane ride, a few more kids perked up and quickly lined up in front of me.


The airplane ride was a nickname for the game where I supported their bellies with my legs and lifted them in the air, a game my father used to play with me.


It was so popular among the kids that usually, they had to wait a long time for their turn.


"Here we go, airplane ride!"


"Aha! Higher, Unnie!"


Lying on my back, I lifted the first kid who came running up and gave them an airplane ride.


The sensation of rising and falling, almost like a roller coaster, made the kid giggle with joy.


Ah, when I put my heart into it, this is easy...


Smiling with satisfaction, I heard a kid in line quietly mutter.


"Unnie, I can see your panties."


Oh, I wore a skirt today since I didn't have any pants.


Thinking it was okay since there were only kids around, I suddenly heard a loud gulp from somewhere.


Turning to the source of the sound, I saw Yoon Si-woo with a bright red face.


...Right, he was here today.


But I couldn’t disappoint the kids waiting eagerly for their turn.


I mouthed silently to Si-woo.


'Look away.'


And for the rest of the airplane rides, Si-woo kept his head down.


*


After playing hard with the kids and eating lunch, the once noisy playroom became quiet.


The kids, having played even more vigorously with Si-woo around, fell asleep right after lunch due to food coma.


With all the children asleep, the only one still awake in the playroom was Rion, clinging to me.


Enjoying having me all to himself, Rion spoke.


"Unnie, let’s play."


"Sure, what should we play?"


"Uhm... let's play house? You're the mom and I’ll be the daughter."


"...Okay, I’ll be the mom."


I chuckled.


Never thought I’d be playing the mom in a house game...


But if Rion is the daughter, it becomes a single-parent family.


Feeling that might be a bit sad even for play, I gently asked Rion.


"Hey Rion, how about you play the dad?"


Rion shook her head and pointed somewhere with his finger.


"No, the dad will be that oppa."


"...Huh? Me?"


Si-woo, who had been lying exhausted, sat up in surprise at Rion’s words.


Looking between me and Rion, he stuttered.


"So... Scarlet and I are the parents?"


Seeing his strange reaction, I wondered if he disliked playing house.


Seeing Rion starting to look dejected, I glared at Si-woo, making him hastily shout.


"No! I don’t mind! I really want to play!"


Rion’s face lit up at his words.


You should have said yes from the start.


Satisfied with Rion’s brightening expression, I nodded as Si-woo hung his head.


Was playing house that embarrassing for him?


I guess at his age it might be, but adults don’t really mind such things.


"So, Rion, what should we do in the house game?"


"Uhm... actually, I don’t know how to play house very well..."


Wanting to play house even though she didn't know what it was was adorable.


After a while, Rion seemed to have thought of something and spoke with wide eyes.


"Oh! Since you and oppa are my mom and dad now, I want to draw a picture of all of us together. It'll be a family picture with mom, dad, and Rion."


The mention of a family picture made me feel a lump in my throat.


...Yeah, at least for now, I can be Rion's family.


I spoke to Rion gently.


"...So, we just need to stay still?"


"It would be nice if you could stay next to each other so I can see you while I draw."


"Okay. Come here quickly."


"Ah, unnie. You can’t do that."


As I motioned for Yoon Si-woo to come over, Rion stopped me.


Wondering why, I looked at her curiously. Rion, with a serious expression, said,


"Since unnie is mom and oppa is dad right now. Mom should call dad ‘honey’."


Well, role-playing is important.


I nodded and called to Yoon Si-woo.


"Honey, come over here."


"Uh? Ah... alright, honey..."


At that, Yoon Si-woo let out a strange noise and quickly came to sit next to me, as if his feet were on fire.


Looking at him, I noticed his face was as red as a tomato.


He seemed very embarrassed by the role-playing.


Ah, this rookie...


Feeling embarrassed only makes it worse, but he seemed not to know that yet.


"Now, I'll start drawing, so don’t move."


Once Yoon Si-woo sat next to me, Rion opened her sketchbook and began to draw intently.


From watching her draw before, I knew that she wasn’t always drawing strange pictures like the one she had made before. When she was focused like this, she was just drawing us normally.


I could relax and wait for her to finish.


After a short time, Rion put down her crayon.


In the completed drawing, there was a smiling Rion between a drawn version of me and Yoon Si-woo.


It was a bit crooked, but it was a wonderful picture that clearly expressed each person's characteristics.


"...You drew it well."


"Right? It’s good, right?"


Hearing Yoon Si-woo's impression of the picture, I felt proud as if it was my own drawing.


Then Yoon Si-woo, his face still red, quietly muttered,


"...Yeah, I wish I could have a family like this too."


A future where Yoon Si-woo gets married, has kids, and lives happily...


I thought how nice it would be if such a future came true.


I truly wished for that.


Even if I couldn’t see it myself.


*


After finishing the drawing, Rion seemed to finally feel the post-lunch drowsiness and fell asleep on my lap.


With Rion asleep, only Yoon Si-woo and I were left awake.


"So, how’s work?"


I asked in a low voice, not wanting to wake Rion, about how things were going.


Caught off guard by the sudden question, Yoon Si-woo hesitated briefly before answering in a similarly quiet voice.


"Not much. Just taking turns standing guard morning and evening. Getting a day off once a week. It’s simpler than I thought."


Though he made it sound easy, it was a place where enemies attacked several times a day, unlike my time at the front line in the military.


Even if he downplayed it, the work intensity must be immense.


Of course, work intensity wouldn’t be a problem for Yoon Si-woo...


"No difficult situations?"


"...Not really."


He hesitated briefly before answering, and I sensed there was more to it.


Of course, there would be issues.


It's a tough place, but it’s a unit every hero dreams of joining.


A first-year student graduating early and being specially recruited would certainly draw jealousy.


Since my recommendation likely played a part in his being there, I felt responsible.


But this foolish protagonist wasn’t the type to complain about hardships, so I spoke to give him a bit of rest.


"Aren’t you tired? You've been working hard and playing with the kids instead of resting. The kids are asleep, so take a nap too."


"No, I’m really fine."


"Just sleep. When else will you get to rest like this?"


Yoon Si-woo, stubborn as a bull, finally nodded at my insistence.


He lay down on the floor to sleep.


Knowing it would be uncomfortable, I wordlessly grabbed his head and guided it to my lap.


His head rested on my thigh, effectively making it a lap pillow.


With Rion occupying one side, only one side was free, but this was the least I could do for him.


It’s no big deal to give a lap pillow to someone who had to give up his school years.


With his face turned away, I whispered softly into his ear.


"Sleep like this, it’ll be more comfortable. Don’t refuse."


"..."


Despite my concern that he might refuse, Yoon Si-woo, exhausted, didn’t reply as he quickly fell asleep on my lap.


Watching him sleep reminded me of my junior from my old military unit.


He had such a bad sleeping habit that he’d always end up using my lap as a pillow in our cramped A-type tent during training...


He used to fall asleep so deeply that he wouldn’t wake up until morning, causing cramps in my legs. But thankfully, this body was strong enough that I didn't have to worry about that.


Lost in memories, time flew by.


When Yoon Si-woo finally woke up, he quickly bowed his head and left without a word, looking flustered.


*


Martina, who had changed her hairstyle during her vacation, was full of confidence.


Having received compliments from a famous stylist about looking much younger, she was sure Yoon Si-woo would notice her.


Upon seeing him return from his leave, she called out,


"Hey, rookie. Had a good vacation? By the way, how do I look? Notice anything different?"


Yoon Si-woo responded energetically,


"Ah, Captain Martina! Yes, I had a great vacation. You look even more beautiful than usual after the break!"


Though she should have been pleased, Martina felt something off in his tone and asked with a peculiar feeling,


"...What’s up? You seem really cheerful. Did something good happen?"


"G...good? No! Nothing happened. Haha..."


Stuttering with a flushed face, his response made Martina suspicious, so she whispered to Vice-Captain Kanna.


"Hey, what do you think is up with him?"


Kanna sighed and replied,


"Can't you see? Damn, some of us have no one to meet even during vacations..."


...So he has someone that makes him this happy after just one day?


Martina felt her insides churn with jealousy.


Maybe she really couldn’t compete with the younger ones.


Grinding her teeth, she asked Yoon Si-woo.


"...So, did you have a good time with the girl you had plans with?"


Yoon Si-woo responded with a puzzled look.


"Uh, Captain? The person I met was older than you, so calling her a girl is a bit..."


Martina felt like the sky was falling.


Could it be... he prefers older women?!


Swallowing her tears, Martina vowed to style herself more maturely for the next vacation.



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Comments

  1. Martina is just pittifull XD

    ReplyDelete
  2. It wasn't Scarlet, but the director lmao 😂

    ReplyDelete
  3. How innocent and dense MC LOL, Sometimes MC is forget she is a woman now and Poor Martina Hahaha

    ReplyDelete

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