Chapter 43 Part 4: Awesome Amy

After playing with the rubber ball with Shine for a while, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and sat down on the floor, holding my trembling legs.

“Jeff, let’s play some more.”

I gave an awkward smile to Shine, who was nagging me next to him, and let out a deep sigh.

Wasn’t Shine tired?

Unlike me, who was already exhausted, Shine kept urging me to keep running and playing, even though he was out of breath.

“Sorry. I’ll rest for a bit.”

Shine let out a deep sigh at my words.

Then, as if doing me a favor, she sat down next to me and fiddled with the rubber ball.

“It seems like the conversation is going on for a long time.”

“Yeah.”

Shine and I said this while watching Amy continue her conversation with Victor.

The conversation between the two seemed endless.

I blankly stared at Victor, then recalled Shine’s attitude toward Victor and asked her.

“Does Shine hate Victor?”

“Yeah.”

The immediate answer came from her.

Her voice was firm, without even a moment of hesitation.

“Why?”

“You hit Jeff.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

I recalled my past memories.

Back then, not long after I met Victor, I had scribbled on his face, right?

After that, I got caught scribbling and got punched by Victor.

“Ugh… That’s true.”

I frowned.

My memory was vague.

I clearly remember getting punched by him, but I couldn’t remember what happened after that.

“What?”

“Anyway, I hate Victor.”

Shine turned her head away as if she didn’t want to answer any more.

Her expression seemed to be angry for some reason.

I smiled awkwardly and poked her cheek.

Her soft cheek was pressed into the shape of a finger.

Shine turned her head and looked at me.

“Do you hate it when I talk about Victor?”

“Yeah.”

Shine answered while rubbing her face against my hand.

The distance between us was gradually narrowing.

I felt a little burdened.

I sat down slightly, slightly increasing the distance between us.

The moment we sat apart, Shine’s eyes strangely sank.

A strange goosebumps appeared at that sight, and I ran my arms.

“Jeff! Shine!”

At that moment, Amy’s voice came out at the perfect timing.

I got up from my seat in a hurry and held out my hand to Shine.

“Let’s go!”

“Yeah.”

Shine put the rubber ball she was holding on the floor and grabbed my hand.

Her hand dug between my fingers as if she wouldn’t let go, and she held my hand tightly.

Shine and I ran side by side and stood in front of Amy.

“Are you done?”

“Yeah. Did you play hard?”

“Yes.”

Amy took out a handkerchief and wiped my and Shine’s faces.

The sweat that had remained was wiped away, cooling the empty space.

“Then shall we go back?”

I nodded at Amy’s suggestion.

However, Shine still looked at the place where she had put the rubber ball with a look of regret.

She seemed to want to play a little more.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

However, Shine shook her head and answered.

She shook off her regret and grabbed my hand and led me out of the room.

I waved to Victor as I was dragged along.

“I’ll come next time!”

“Goodbye.”

Victor also slightly raised his head to greet us.

Only Shine didn’t look at Victor.

“I’ll have to take a shower when I get back.”

Amy said right after leaving Victor’s personal space.

She smiled, stroking our sweaty hair.

“Shower?”

I checked the time.

If I went back now, I would be able to watch the rerun of The Little Witch’s Great Adventure.

If I showered, I would definitely miss it.

I rolled my eyes and thought.

“I’ll do it last.”

I nodded and answered.

It was a pretty good idea.

“We’re all going to wash together?”

But Amy’s next words shattered my plan.

I nodded weakly.

Even though I couldn’t watch the rerun, I still had my computer.

Since I hadn’t used the computer even once today, I had plenty of time left.

If I finished showering, drank some cold milk, and watched the Little Witch’s Great Adventure movie, it would at least slightly soothe my disappointment at not being able to watch the rerun.

On the way back to the room with Amy, there were unfamiliar people in the familiar hallway.

Their eyes flew at us.

From me to Shine, and finally to Amy.

I looked at them too.

A man with glasses.

A muscular man.

And a girl with a similar body type to Shine.

Her blonde hair sparkled with slightly wavy ends.

When I looked at her with a puzzled look, she also looked at us with a puzzled look.

“Amy, who is that?”

“Huh?”

Amy’s gaze dropped for a long time to check the short girl.

“Amy!”

A high-pitched voice suddenly came.

Startled by the voice, she hid behind Amy’s legs.

The girl who had shouted from afar ran towards Amy with a look of delight.

“Rain?”

Dadadada.

The sound of small footsteps was loud.

It was just like the sound of Shine and I running vigorously.

“Are they them?”

Peek, peek.

The blonde girl looked like a chick.

She looked at Shine and me while running around as if she was excited.

Shine also hid behind Amy’s legs with a wary expression at her sudden action.

“Hi! I’m Rain!”

Rain spoke while puffing out her chest.

I carefully opened my mouth.

“I’m Jeff.”

“Nice to meet you!”

I made a tired expression at the sight of the energetic girl.

Her sparkling eyes flew towards Shine.

With eyes filled with great anticipation, Shine also slowly opened her mouth.

“Shine.”

“Nice to meet you!”

“Rain, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah, it was easy.”

The girl said, making a V-sign with her hand.

Her fangs were slightly visible at the corner of her mouth.

I grabbed Amy’s pants, looking like I wanted an explanation.

“As you just heard, my name is Rain. I’m the team leader of Team Raincoat.”

“Raincoat?”

Amy continued her explanation, patting my head with a look of disbelief.

“That’s a colleague who does the same job as me.”

I looked at Rain with an expression of disbelief.

“She’s so small?”

“About the same as me and Jeff?”

I slowly slipped away from Amy’s legs and examined Rain closely.

Shine did the same.

“Hmm… Even though she looks like this, she’s the same age as me.”

“That means she’s older than you guys!”

Rain continued to speak energetically.

“Is there anything you want to eat? Tell me! This older sister will buy it for you!”

As expected, it was too burdensome.

I turned my head to avoid Rain’s gaze.

Shine seemed to think the same, as she held my hand tightly.

“The kids are burdensome.”

“Oh… Sorry… I guess I got too excited because it’s been a while since we’ve been juniors.”

“What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about, Amy? Didn’t they just enlist?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Huh?”

“They’re still young. They haven’t even received proper training to control their powers.”

At Amy’s words, Rain’s gaze turned to me and Shine’s arms.

“Ahhh…”

Rain’s shoulders slumped weakly.

But soon she regained her energy and opened her mouth with sparkling eyes.

Beep, beep.

Behind Rain, the shape of a chick swayed as if it were visible.

“Still! Still! There’s hope, right?”

“Hmm…”

Amy smiled awkwardly at Rain’s sparkling eyes.

“You’re both high-level electric power users, right? Then, of course, you’d be a good fit for our Raincoats, right?”

“It hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Our team lacks firepower!”

“Let’s go, guys.”

Amy ignored Rain, who was excitedly opening her mouth, and grabbed our hands and walked forward.

Two men who seemed to be Rain’s group bowed their heads to Amy.

“I’m sorry.”

Rain, who was jumping up and down excitedly on her own.

The man wearing glasses grabbed Rain and hung her on his shoulder.

The sight of her hanging like a burden and swinging her arms and legs seemed somehow familiar.

“Ah! Not yet! Guys! Don’t forget me! You have to come to our team!”

Peep, peep, peep.

Rain’s voice in my ear sounded like a chick’s cry.

I returned to the room, grabbed by Amy’s hand, dragged her to the shower, and was washed.

Heat rose from my warm skin.

I was lying on the bed like a soft rice cake, and opened my mouth to Amy, who was leaving with Shine.

“Amy.”

“Yeah.”

“I want to do what Amy does too.”

“No.”

Amy spoke firmly and took out a cold milk from the fridge.

Sitting next to Shine, I drank the milk and asked, “But Rain is doing it.”

“Rain’s an adult.”

“I’m an adult, too.”

“Why is our Jeff so stubborn?”

Amy smiled wryly and rubbed my head.

“Does Shine want to do it too?”

“Yeah.”

Shine nodded as well.

“Um…”

Amy crossed her arms and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Jeff, you promised me, right? You’d think about it again when you were older like me.”

“But…”

“If you don’t keep your promise, Santa won’t give you presents next time, right?”

“Ouch…”

I fiddled with the large cup, watching Amy’s expression.

I was worried that she might tell Santa about today’s events.

“Anyway, I haven’t told you yet.”

I nodded weakly.

I wanted to be as cool as Amy.

“Please give me more milk.”

I said, holding out my cup.

I drank the large cup full, but it wasn’t enough.

Shine, who was sitting next to me, also held out her cup as if she couldn’t lose.

Amy poured us a glass of milk.

The white liquid filled the cup and gave off a delicious aroma.

I sat down in front of the computer with the cup full of milk.

I decided what video to watch today.

Unfortunately, I’ll have to watch the Little Witch’s Great Adventure video next time.

I immediately searched How to Grow Taller in the search bar.

Videos appeared all over the place.

I clicked on the one with the most views.

The video was simple.

Go to bed early.

Drink lots of milk.

Eat eggs.

I took out a small notepad next to my computer desk and held up a pen.

“What are you doing, Jeff?”

“I’m looking for a way to grow taller.”

Shine seemed interested in what I was saying and came over to sit next to me.

“If you do that, you’ll grow taller.”

“Yeah.”

I stroked my chin as I replayed the video.

The video showed a tall woman stretching.

“Should I do this?”

“I think so?”

Shine and I got down from our chairs and started playing the video.

After that, we started doing the same movements as the woman in the video.

The movements were simple.

We followed the video diligently, stretching our arms and legs.

“What are you guys doing?”

“It’s an exercise to grow taller.”

Amy took out her phone at my answer.

When I looked at her with a puzzled look, she answered, “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it and finish it.”

Amy raised the phone to eye level.

The corners of her mouth twitched greatly.

It was as if she was holding back a laugh.

What were you doing?

“Jeff, hurry up.”

“Oh… Yeah.”

I turned my head at Shine’s urging and started stretching again.

Could it really be true that I would grow taller if I followed this?

Anyway, it was a no-brainer.

I followed Shine’s stretching diligently.