Vol 7 Chapter 29

After Master went in, Master's wife stepped forward with eyes full of curiosity and admiration.

"You're really handsome. Do you perhaps work in TV or something..."

"No, I don't."

Despite his firm denial, Master's wife looked like she found it hard to believe. Well, even Kapros had thought at first that Je-hwan had a face suited for being a movie actor. His face had a harmony that was neither completely Western nor Eastern, rarely seen in ordinary people, which made him seem even less like a regular person.

"Since you've done kendo, we can lend you a uniform. Which would you prefer?"

"I'd be grateful to borrow one."

"Hoho. Good. The staff changing room is in that room next door, so go in first and change."

After looking at Kapros briefly and receiving his nod, Je-hwan obediently went to change clothes first. As soon as Je-hwan closed the door and went in, Master's wife revealed her hidden worried expression while caressing Kapros's face.

"What's happened to your face? You've gotten even more gaunt than before being discharged.... Sigh."

"I'm fine."

"How is this fine in any way? A child who still can't remove his finger cast... Are your neck and head okay now?"

Kapros had carefully covered the scabbed areas with his bangs so Master's wife wouldn't worry, and put flesh-colored bandages on his neck. Though his hand still hurt a bit when bent wrong, it was certainly not unbearable.

"Yes."

"When did you make this friend? University?"

Master's wife asked while glancing at the changing room where Je-hwan had gone. Kapros thought for a moment about how to answer before opening his mouth.

"No.... Well. We somehow became friends because we had the same hobby..."

"Hobby?"

Master's wife opened her eyes wide before nodding in understanding, probably remembering Je-hwan's mention of doing kendo.

"I see. It's been so long since you brought a friend here..."

"..."

Kapros could guarantee that both he and Master's wife were thinking of the same person at that moment. After all, the last friend who had come here with him was Jeong Seung-jo.

"...Je-hwan is a good person."

"Yes. That's good, that's good. Of course he must be good if you brought him. Oh my. I'm getting sentimental with age. Mu-heon, go in and change clothes now. You absolutely must not overdo it today. Just don't do anything."

Though he wanted to respond that he couldn't do nothing when this was supposed to be his part-time job, he swallowed his words, knowing Master's wife would really send him straight home if he did. Leaving Master's wife still looking worried behind him, he entered the changing room where Je-hwan, who seemed to have found and put on something that roughly fit from the uniforms hanging by size on the rack, was just turning around while tying his belt.

"You... did kendo?"

Kapros asked about the fact that had surprised him considerably, though he hadn't shown it when he heard it earlier. Je-hwan quietly nodded.

'So it was true...'

For a moment, feeling an indescribable emotion, Kapros silently looked at Je-hwan. What had briefly flashed by was... a sense of kinship? Gladness? Or...

"Get changed."

"Okay."

While watching Je-hwan step aside from the front, Kapros shook his head to clear his thoughts and opened his dedicated locker. As he took out the neatly folded kendo uniform and changed into it, he somehow felt a gaze from behind. When he turned around, Je-hwan opened his mouth with blank eyes and a strange expression.

"You...?"

"What?"

"Perhaps, before... have I seen..."

"..."

"No, it's nothing. Sorry."

Acting like he was going to ask something important, what a fickle guy. Kapros let out a hollow laugh as he walked forward. Since limping while wearing the uniform felt twice as unpleasant as usual, he moved slowly but without stumbling.

Je-hwan followed behind with a serious expression the whole time, only raising his head after entering the spacious training hall. Being early, the dojo was filled with the noisy sounds of elementary school children.

Among them, In-woo and Se-jong, famous for being the loudest, spotted Kapros and came running while shouting as if the floor would cave in.

"It's Master!"

"Why haven't you come all this time!"

While Kapros was briefly worried about what would happen if they crashed into him since they were running so hard, Je-hwan stepped forward with good timing and stretched out his arm to block them. Thanks to this, In-woo and Se-jong who stopped in their tracks looked up at Je-hwan with expressions full of wariness.

"Who's this mister?"

"Master's friend. But you two, did you finish what you were told to do?"

"Ack! Friend!"

Not answering the question, the boys looked back and forth between Je-hwan and Kapros's faces with shocked expressions as if they'd been hit.

"He says friend..."

"Master, you had friends?"

Just what kind of person was he in these kids' minds that they were so surprised by the mere mention of having a friend? Kapros smiled slightly as he placed both hands on their heads. He would normally grab them, but couldn't because of the cast.

"You'll get in trouble if you're noisy. Go do 100 downward strikes."

"Ugh... yes."

The boys who had already tasted bitterness from him many times withdrew their attempt to make more noise and immediately backed away and disappeared. Physical discipline really works on boys indeed. As Kapros was watching their retreating figures while nodding, Je-hwan quietly spoke.

"How's your body?"

"It's fine, why?"

"Your complexion doesn't look good."

"Mine?"

Kapros frowned and felt his face at these completely unexpected words, but still couldn't feel any difference.

"Seems normal..."

"...Yeah."

Je-hwan muttered "Then that's good" so quietly it was barely audible, then turned back this way, seemingly having finished looking around the dojo.

"I can't imagine you working here."

What a thing to say after looking around.... Kapros scratched the back of his head and pointed to the practice swords.

"If you can't imagine it, I'll show you directly. Pick up any one."

"Is that allowed?"

What wouldn't be allowed about it? He was the one who had been walking around this place since he could toddle. When Kapros nodded, Je-hwan somehow put strength in his steps as he approached where the practice swords were gathered, picked up and examined several before selecting one and bringing it back.