The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend

Looking at the straight, strong gaze, my sadness dissipated a little. Perhaps, it wasn’t a lie. Still, the fact that my teacher suddenly stopped being my teacher came as a shock.

“Is it impossible at all? If it’s because you’re busy, I can fit Teacher’s time.”

I wanted to continue learning from Mr. Hafterry even if I had to adjust the class time. It had already been 10 years since I’ve been taking classes with Mr. Hafterry. I didn’t know that the class would end so quickly.

I didn’t realize it when I was young, but the relationship between the teacher-student was a little more intimate. It wasn’t that the academy didn’t exist. Still, since the lessons were more private rather than a mass class, the master’s transmission of knowledge felt more vivid. One good disciple became a great career for a teacher.

There was a bond built up over the years as a teacher-student relationship, so this was a very unexpected declaration from Mr. Hafterry. I didn’t know that he would stop the class like this.

“I’m glad that Aren said that.”

It’s sad to know the meaning of rejection in sweet words. Mr. Hafterry must have been crueler than I thought, to cut me off so resolutely with such a soft face. Am I the only one who was sad about having to part?

I was so sad that I became sullen. I pursed my lips, afraid he was about to say something mean. However, Mr. Hafterry was still looking down at me with a gentle gaze despite my complaints.

“I also want to teach Aren more.”

Mr. Hafterry opened his mouth as if to comfort me, because I was probably showing too much sadness. The desire to say ‘then why don’t you teach me more’ filled up to the tip of my chin. However, I couldn’t explain this complex feeling, so instead, I just pouted with my tightly closed lips.

“I have to leave the principality.”

What was this again? The feeling of surprise and sadness disappeared. Unless there was a war, migration was not common. Even if they move, they move quietly, but to say that means that he was moving far away. Where to?

“You’re leaving? Where?”

“I got a call from my teacher asking for help. So I ended up going to the imperial capital.”

My mouth fell open. My teacher’s teacher, it’s like having the great-grandfather.

Even though Mr. Hafterry was young, his teacher was distant to me, and if I were to measure the height of respect, it would have been closer to a grandfather than to a father. As a result, I naturally felt that Teacher’s teacher was higher.

But then, the imperial capital? That far? Even though I knew that Mr. Hafterry was from the Empire, I didn’t know he would go back.

“That far?”

“Yes.”

So, with a bitter smile that meant that he couldn’t teach anymore, I felt disappointed that I couldn’t continue learning from Mr. Hafterry. My shoulders droop and all my will is gone. Suddenly I hated reading. It was only natural that if Mr. Hafterry left, his relationship with me would be severed.

“I’m sad that you’re suddenly going so far.”

Mr. Hafterry was someone I didn’t have to pretend to be okay with, so I didn’t hide my disappointment and regret.

“Aren, if there is a chance, would you like to continue learning from me?”

“Yes. Of course.”

These were not empty words. I felt it more desperately while studying with Kir. It’s not that Mr. Jeremy can’t teach. I like Mr. Jeremy, but Mr. Hafterry was a really good teacher. His field of knowledge was wide, and his explanation was easy. When asked something, he was unstoppable.

When he explains an event, he does not teach one-sided content, but teaches me to read and judge the content of both sides’ point of view. So I got into the habit of thinking twice or three times, that sometimes Father nags me for thinking too much.

Mr. Hafterry stared at me calmly. We were both happy and confused, and our eyes emitted a strange light.

Just when I felt the piercing stare at me was burdensome, Mr. Hafterry opened his mouth.

“Then, Aren, won’t you come to the capital with me?”

I was dumbfounded because I never dreamed that I would hear such an offer.