She was no different from a beast

Chapter 26

—–CROW—– 

“Here. A present.”

“Huh? What’s this?”

After a heartwarming breakfast with Mom and Dad, I arrived at school, and Jeongwoo, who was already there, casually handed me a small, beautifully wrapped gift box from his bag.

What’s this? Why is he giving me a present?

We’re somewhat close, but…are we close enough for gifts?

I tilted my head, looking back and forth between the gift box in my hand and Jeongwoo, confused.  He shrugged.

“Mom told me to get you a present since last week.  It’s for your birthday, and…well, in the dramas Mom watches, they call it a bribe? Yeah, a bribe.  So you’ll keep helping me study.”

“Pfft! A bribe? What the…”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpectedly adult word coming from the mouth of an 8-year-old.

‘Is this what Dad was talking about?’

Hmm. It’s a bit ambiguous, but Jeongwoo does act more mature than other kids his age since he started hanging out with me.

He’s been learning from me with Yuri, and since the body-slam incident, he’s become…well, more thoughtful, I guess? Instead of crying or acting weak.

Compared to the other little kids in my class, he’s incredibly mature.

8-year-olds are usually busy just saying what they want, arguing about who’s right and wrong, and screaming.

It’s an age where they prioritize themselves over others, are honest about their feelings, and lack life experience.

They rely on adults but aren’t aware of it, only seeking them out when needed and otherwise acting like they own the place.

It’s a time when they learn from and imitate the adults around them, shaping their own personalities.

“…Did he become like this because of me?”

Wow.  Unintentionally, because he’s classmates with this super-elite elementary student, Han Yuna, and sees me on weekends, he’s naturally learning from me?

I’ve somehow ended up helping him not only with his personality but also with developing a proper sense of self! I’m amazing!

“What bribe? I was going to keep helping you study even if you didn’t give me this.  But thanks.  How did you know it was my birthday, though? I never told you.”

“My mom heard it from your mom, I think.”

“Aha.”

It’s true that the two of them seem to keep in touch.

I should repay him somehow for this.

Gift-giving is all about give and take.

I should visit Jeongwoo’s mom soon and carefully ask, “While I’m tutoring Jeongwoo, would it be okay if I also provided some character education with a touch of physical discipline?”

It would make his mom happy, and Jeongwoo, who’s showing enthusiasm for his studies, would be happy too… It’s a perfect solution where no one gets hurt(?).

“Also, the Master asked if you’re free this week.”

“?? Me? Suddenly?”

Why him? Is he still trying to scout me?

I clearly refused, saying I wasn’t seriously interested in learning and that the distance was too far. Is he more persistent than he looks?

This is tricky. Even though I’m interested, I’ll be busy taking care of my soon-to-be sibling growing in Mom’s belly, tutoring Yuri and Jeongwoo, so it won’t be easy to find time for Taekwondo.

Plus, when winter comes, I’ll be busy moving coal briquettes, helping with kimchi-making, repairing the elders’ roofs, and earning some allowance.

“We have final exams in June. He asked if you could come and help the kids study sometimes.”

“Aha.”

It’s May, the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

I saw the school schedule before, and strangely, this school finishes exams early and goes on field trips, picnics, and school excursions before the summer break.

It’s more convenient for both teachers and students.

It’s better to finish everything quickly and enjoy outings without worrying about studying.

“Then come today.  It’s not hard to just help out for a bit.  But are you okay with that? You’re better at studying than me.”

“…Since I started learning from you, schoolwork has become so easy that class is boring.”

“Oh dear.”

He’s not particularly bright, but he’s not dumb either, so with a bit of encouragement and some playful teasing, he absorbed everything I taught him.

That’s why I taught him four-digit arithmetic and second-grade material with Yuri.

Honestly, I was half-teasing and trying to give them a hard time, but…he must be reviewing what he learned at home because he knows more than Yuri when we meet the next day.

“Still, it’s better than falling behind.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

It’ll all be helpful later!  And it’s helpful now too.

Like they say, bitter medicine is good for you.  You’re doing well on your midterms, and classes aren’t difficult anymore, right?

‘…I’m getting a bit ambitious.’

Yuri is all enthusiasm, but Jeongwoo, while not a genius, is a hard worker…so I feel like teaching him properly.

Couldn’t I teach him all the elementary school math before the end of first grade?

Well, if he can’t do it, he can’t do it, but if he masters it all, it’ll be incredibly helpful for him.

I should bring it up sometime.

“Hello, Master!”

“Yuna! Long time no see! Haha! How have you been?”

“I’ve been well! But I heard from Jeongwoo that I just need to help with studying…what do I need to help with?”

Jeongwoo and I rushed to the Taekwondo dojang as soon as school ended.

I sat politely in the Master’s office, smiling, but tilted my head and asked cautiously.

I readily agreed to help Jeongwoo, but even a super-elite gifted elementary student is just an 8-year-old who’s a little better at studying than others in the eyes of others.

The Master’s wife runs an abacus academy in a study area at the back of the dojang…what does he want me to help with?

If it’s just tutoring Yuri and Jeongwoo like last time, it’s fine, but he wouldn’t have asked if I had time just for that.

Even back then, Yuri asked me personally; the Master and his wife didn’t.

“Well, you see…could you come once a week and…tutor the kids?”

“Jeongwoo and Yuri? I already agreed to help them.”

Well, I was going to do that anyway.  It doesn’t take long to meet them briefly on the weekend.

Yuri’s grades would plummet without me.

“No, no. It’s good that you’re helping Jeongwoo and Yuri, but…I mean the kids who study at the dojang.”

“…?”

Huh? Them? Me? Uh, well…why?

As I blinked, the Master gave a wry smile and explained the situation apologetically.

In short, Jeongwoo and Yuri’s parents bragged to everyone they met that their kids were getting something like private tutoring from a friend, and lo and behold! Both of them were in the top 10 in the whole school.

Hearing this, the other parents’ eyes lit up, and they sought out the mysterious elite teacher, Han Yuna.  They ended up offering the Master extra money to ask me for help.

‘Is this right?’

They want to pay me, a little kid, for tutoring?

Of course, even in this age of private education boom, no parent would throw money at an ordinary 8-year-old just because they’re good at studying.

Unbeknownst to Yuna, parents are not that simple or foolish.

While intrigued by the rumors from Yuri and Jeongwoo’s parents, they carefully investigated Yuna.

They visited the school and asked Yuna’s homeroom teacher about her, and subtly observed Yuna, who had become quieter after the body-slam incident.

The result?!

The new homeroom teacher, overwhelmed by the influx of parents, stammered and mechanically showered Yuna with praise.

They said that when Yuna was with Jeongwoo and Yuri, she smiled readily, and unlike other kids her age, she seemed not just mature, but like a real adult!

Her calm demeanor, unbelievable for an elementary school student, the homeroom teacher’s evaluation, her own top grades, and the improved grades of Yuri and Jeongwoo…plus, her striking appearance compared to other kids!

It was a combination of factors that led them to think, ‘Ah, I should get my kid tutored by her and have them become friends with Yuna!’

A pretty and capable friend is more valuable than anything in life.

Improved grades would be a bonus…the real goal is to create an opportunity for their children to become friends with Yuna, the perfect model student in the eyes of adults.

It’s a somewhat materialistic and absurd idea, buying friendship with money, but…in a capitalist society, most things can be solved with money, right?

“Um, Master. I’m sorry, but I’m not that close to the other kids, and I don’t have much experience teaching…”

“Oh, really? My wife said we should give you all the money we receive when you tutor. Well, I guess I’ll have to return it to them.”

“…I might not have experience, but everything is a learning experience! I’ll come every week and do my best!”

Ah, the story changes when money is involved, Master.  You played your cards right.

I’ll put on a spectacular show for you!

Money is meant to be taken when offered.

—–CROW—– 

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