Chapter 80, Something Completely Different

Chapter 80, Something Completely Different

Things had been going well for Kreig.

Especially so in his private studies where his progress had been staggering to watch, in all likelihood due to his immense drive to learn. Of course, this did vary from subject to subject, but as a whole, he viewed his studies more or less as an extension of his free time, even though he personally had no real concept of work-life balance. To him, work was life.

As such, he held no distaste for working even when he would usually read or paint.

In other words, he did very well while studying, even without Erica present. Though, as might be expected, with her present, he worked as hard as he possibly could. It was rare that he asked her things nowadays. This was not only out of an irrational desire to show her that he knew what he was doing but also because he had learnt how to find his answers on his own, even when it seemed a bit unclear.

It was on one such afternoon, during a break that Erica had almost demanded they implement (otherwise Kreig would simply burn himself out on work), that the two of them found themselves on the couch, each cradling a mug of coffee with differing amounts of sugar and cream in it. Unlike their common arrangement, Erica had made it herself as Kreig had never had coffee in the other world.

The pastries lying somewhat haphazardly on the coffee table, however, were all made by Kreig. Stretching her arm over the open pages of her book, Erica grabbed one such pastry before stuffing it into her mouth. This tutoring job was totally worth taking even if Kreig had turned out to be a horrible kid - the food was just that good.

She glanced over at Kreig. Of course, his presence was also very worth it. If hed been some spoiled little government-raised brat she might just have thrown the books in his face the second he tried something. Luckily, Kreig wasnt like that. He was just a guy. A supremely strange and mysterious guy, but a guy to be sure. Hed been growing quieter as of late, but that was only because he was more focused on his work. He really was doing exceptionally well.

Anytime she brought him a test or anything he just flew through it. Well, sometimes he got so nervous he couldnt even put the pen to paper, but she learnt pretty quickly that if she just talked to him a little first about the subject, hed loosen right up.

What a strange guy.

Her hypothesis on his condition remained shrouded in mystery, though she had accepted the idea that he was some sort of secret painter or something. In all honesty, even though she was the curious type in every regard, as of right now, she couldnt think of any possible answer that would make her leave. Well, maybe if he was a secret terrorist or something, but she didnt think so. Kreig was nice. He was also a good student.

Erica thumbed her lip. Hmmm, well, yeah, I guess you could call them brave Noticing that Kreig was staring at her, she quickly waved her hands dismissively. No, No, I just Well, I worked there for a short period of time when I just finished college. Painstone, right? Yeah, Id recommend you try to get into some other school. I know this city needs an international school or two, but working willingly at one of them is Its admirable, I guess?

Kreig was still staring at her. I-, I just Look, Im gonna be honest. When I worked there, every single kid I met was a dick. Straight as that. I know its different from year to year, but literally every kid I met was just a total dick. And then I switched to another school, and it was the same thing there! Dicks to me, dicks to each other, dicks to their family I couldnt stand it. Just-, just look out for it okay?

I don't think theyre That way anymore. Kreig seemed to genuinely be trying to search his memories for any evidence of them acting like the dicks Erica knew they were. Forgive me, I cant seem to remember any such occurrence. Even more so, I am rather close with one of the students, whom I can say for sure is not Like that.

Yeah, sure. Like Erica could believe that. That school couldnt change if you hit it with a mortar shell.

While Erica mentally thought about bombing a school, Kreig seemed to have thought of something. In what mental state were you when you began teaching?

Huh? What sorta question was that? Of course, she was absolutely exhausted. She could remember wanting a five-year break but only being able to spend a few days in relaxation before having to work again. In fact, just three days after her graduation, she had sought a job as a teacher for a few summer courses. Few attended the courses she held, but each and every one of them would much rather have been anywhere else. Of course, during this time, she also had two part-time jobs that drained her of time and energy.

Then she began working full-time at Painstone. Calling her tired would be a grave understatement. No, shed felt like a zombie who just crawled out of the grave and was forced to work customer service at a DMV.

Shed wanted to die. Thats for sure.

Kreig, who had only been watching her until now piped up. Were you in any state to comprehend the personalities of students?

Of course-, she wasnt. It was only now that she had a semi-stable job and could think about it in this clear state of mind that she could even consider it. Shed been distressingly overworked. Working full-time as a teacher and part-time as whatever was open. Why, if shed met Kreig as she was then, shed probably think he was a dick too: barely talking, making her job harder by hardly asking questions, not understanding things as quickly as she would have liked

Anyone can be a dick if youre tired enough.