Vol 7 Chapter 56

Je-hwan answered immediately without hesitation. Kapros nodded while wiping the sweat flowing from his forehead with his sleeve. Though he hadn't moved much, his body was already sticky.

"Today's time is over now, so we can clean up and go to Master's house. You go ahead. I'll clean up and come."

"I'll help."

"It's originally my job, so it's fine."

He didn't want to give his work to someone who was already helping with all sorts of chores at the dojo despite being a student. When Kapros waved his hand telling him to go quickly, Je-hwan frowned his manly straight eyebrows.

"..."

Regardless of Je-hwan's reaction, Kapros was eager to clean up and go, so he quickly started folding and stacking the scattered mats. Perhaps he had walked too much today, as there was a dull pain in his right knee.

'I should apply a hot towel when I get home.'

Since all the students had gone home now, there was no particular need to be careful about limping less. After picking up some scattered practice swords and returning them to their original places, he found Je-hwan hadn't left but was pulling and stacking other mats.

'Even though I told him to go...'

Still, he felt grateful seeing him help silently. Kapros finally stopped saying anything more and focused only on cleaning. Thanks to that, by the time Master called saying preparations were done and to come, the cleaning was all finished.

"Mu-heon, Je-hwan-gun. Sit over there."

When they entered Master's house, located a little distance past the back garden from the training hall, the savory smell of beef stung their noses. Master's wife, holding a basket of vegetables that seemed freshly picked from the garden, welcomed them warmly.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Everyone, eat plenty."

Master's wife smiled brightly, not hiding her joy at eating together after a long time. Though Master didn't show it, his eyes were quite soft too. Though Kapros used to eat here almost every time before, he hadn't been able to lately, and he felt sorry as it occurred to him that the two of them must have felt quite lonely.

"Je-hwan-gun, does the food suit your taste?"

"...Yes. It's delicious."

"Haha. It's meat I got from a friend who raises livestock."

As soon as Master laughed, seemingly satisfied with Je-hwan's answer, Master's wife put several more pieces of meat on top of Kapros's rice bowl.

"Mu-heon, you need to finish everything too without leaving any. Why are you so thin? You're not skipping meals because cooking at home is bothersome, are you?"

"No..."

It became somewhat embarrassing when they suddenly started talking as if he couldn't even eat rice porridge. Though he was definitely eating all his meals properly, even he couldn't understand why he kept getting thinner these days.

When Kapros silently put the meat Master's wife had piled up into his mouth, this time Master placed another piece as if he had been waiting.

"Eat this too. What kind of forearms are those for a young man?"

Though clicking his tongue, seeing Master's face full of worry, Kapros couldn't refuse to eat. Just when he thought he might be okay after finishing what Master had given him and tried to take a breather, more meat was placed on his rice. Je-hwan opened his mouth firmly as soon as his expressionless face met Kapros's eyes.

"...Eat a lot."

'You too now...'

Having just continuously eaten only meat, his stomach felt quite heavy. As Kapros glared at Je-hwan while reluctantly moving his chopsticks, Master praised generously with eyes that seemed very pleased.

"That's right. That's how a friend should be. Je-hwan-gun, when we're not around, if you see Mu-heon often, please check if he's eating properly. I'm so worried he might collapse somewhere staggering around. His face is getting worse and worse..."

"Yes, Mu-heon. Since you got hurt, your face has become so rough, it's so upsetting... Even if you go back there again, you should at least take care of your body..."

"...Ahem, hem."

For a moment, a cold silence hung over the dining table. Though Master quickly cleared his throat, realizing immediately what "there" meant, words already spoken couldn't be taken back.

"Ah... I should get some more water for a moment."

Master's wife hastily stood up and left her seat. Kapros momentarily rolled just his eyes to glance at Je-hwan. Though Je-hwan must have noticed the atmosphere at the table becoming strange for a moment, he showed no particular reaction.

'...That's fortunate.'

"Master."

Kapros casually spoke to Master, who showed unmistakable signs of worry.

"Yes?"

"These mushrooms are delicious."

"..."

Master, who had blinked in surprise for a moment at Kapros's somewhat abrupt words, soon seemed to understand his intention and smiled while shaking his head.

"This kid. Saying that thinking I'll pack some for you. Eat plenty here, here."

Right. For now, he should just pretend nothing was wrong, pretend not to know. Because he had decided not to think about Jeong Seung-jo and just focus on healing until all the wounds on his body healed.

'It's fortunate that Je-hwan isn't the type to ask about things like this.'

Thinking that, Kapros pushed another piece of meat into his mouth. Though he couldn't taste the salty and savory flavor of the meat at all, he kept chewing and swallowing anyway.

The pain that had been intermittently throbbing in his right knee since cleaning the training hall kept feeling like ice piercing between bone fragments. Kapros smiled silently at Master, Master's wife, and Je-hwan, like someone who should be happy eating delicious food.

After finishing the meal, he left the dojo to go home. Je-hwan approached pulling his bike.

"...Get on."

"After agreeing not to do this, why get on again?"

Despite Kapros's words, Je-hwan didn't smile at all. He just pointed to the back seat again with a cold face while looking at Kapros's face.

"I said get on."

"I said I'm fine."

"Your leg. It hurts, doesn't it. ...Just get on."

Kapros pressed his lips together for a moment, forgetting what to say in response. Though the spaces between his patchwork kneecap hurt like being stabbed with a knife, he thought he hadn't shown it much on his face. Even Master and Master's wife hadn't seemed to notice until he left, yet Je-hwan knew?

"...How did you know?"

"How could I not know when I'm watching you?"