This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 3

Honestly, what are the chances that this little kid I accidentally got to know is actually someone who just moved in next door a few days ago and is in the same Kindergarten class?

Thinking about it logically, it can’t be very likely at all.

Is that why?

“This is totally like a novel.”

They say reality is stranger than fiction, and it turns out that’s exactly the case.

So, am I going to get all tangled up with this kid cliché-style now?

And eventually end up in a friend-turned-best-friend relationship?

“But does that mean childhood friends are destined to fail?”

I never expected to get mixed up with this little one like this, and while I ponder useless thoughts, the bus we’re on squeezes into a familiar alley and comes to a stop.

“Okay, then, how about Dogun and Yoonseo?”

As the bus came to a complete halt, I unbuckled the annoyingly tight seatbelt and followed the teacher off the bus, with the puffer fish kid who had been sitting in the corner trailing behind me a bit late.

The real problem arose after we got off the bus.

“Hmm? Where’s Dogun’s mom… not around?”

What’s there to say?

The issue was, simply put, the absence of the person meant to pick us up.

We’re not talking about a three or four-year-old—by seven, most kids can manage by themselves.

Especially since we stopped near the house.

With today’s height, it would take about ten tumbles to find my way home, so getting lost here would be really weird.

Yet, the Kindergarten refused to let the kids go off alone.

Thinking about it, that does make sense.

If they sent a kid alone and they took a wrong turn or something happened during that short trip, what would they do?

So, it’s become an unspoken rule between the Parents and the Kindergarten that someone shows up at the bus drop-off when it’s time to pick up the kids—

“But sometimes, there are exceptions…”

It’s not like my mom has any bad intentions or anything.

More likely, she just lost track of time because she got absorbed in her work.

It happened a few times before too.

When I was making a clueless face expecting to see my mom, the teacher had already put her Mobile Phone to her ear.

“Oh, yes! Is this Dogun’s mom? Really? Oh, okay. She will be right out?”

Yeah, she probably lost track of time because she got too wrapped up in her work.

Anyway, that matter concerning me got resolved—

“Oh, hello. Is this Yoonseo‘s father? The thing is…”

That side seems to be having trouble.

“Oh… yes… yes… then…”

As the conversation dragged on, I could see the teacher’s face starting to look increasingly uncomfortable, so it’s definitely something like that.

Could something very urgent have come up that prevented them from picking up their child?

“We don’t… have an afternoon program, so… um, could you tell us how long it will take you…”

Glancing away from the teacher whose face was now fully plastered with awkwardness, I turned slightly and noticed that the puffer fish was pouting sadly, as if the realization that no one had come to pick them up had left them in a state of disappointment.

It’s not like it had just happened yesterday; I still had a clear image of the puffer fish looking all anxious in my mind.

Seeing their face like a deflated balloon, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.

“Shall we head home now?”

I grabbed my mom’s jacket tightly, who was busy gasping for air because she rushed out.

“Huh?”

For just a moment, my actions left her puzzled, but as I discreetly pointed to Yoonseo, her eyes widened in surprise.

It was as if she was thinking, “Why is this girl here?”

But that was short-lived; the moment her eyes landed on Yoonseo‘s downcast face and the distressed teacher clutching the Mobile Phone, she must have instinctively sensed something was amiss.

“Uh, teacher?”

“…Yes?”

“Is there some kind of problem?”

“Oh, that is…”

I guess, since it involved someone else’s house, she was hesitant to spill the beans, but perhaps realizing there wasn’t a viable solution, she eventually spoke up.

“Originally, Yoonseo’s father was supposed to come pick her up…”

From what I gathered, there was some pressing emergency that led him to be away from home unexpectedly.

They were asking if the Kindergarten could look after Yoonseo until everything was settled.

“Hmm… is that so? If it’s not too much trouble, could I speak to Yoonseo’s father briefly?”

“Uh? Ah! Yes!”

Maybe my mom felt a glimmer of hope for a problem-solving opportunity in this statement.

She offered the Mobile Phone she had pressed to her ear as though she was handing over a rare treasure.

Once my mom secured a talking medium, it essentially turned into her one-woman show.

“Hello? Is this Yoonseo’s father?”

It started off pretty ordinarily.

“Yes, I’m Dogun‘s mom, who attends the same Kindergarten as Yoonseo. We met yesterday; do you remember?”

Fortunately, it seemed he still had some memory of her.

Given the faint brightening of my mom’s expression, that must have been the case.

“Yes, yes, that’s not it…”

Having only heard that much, I turned my gaze back to the little one who still looked all pouty and disappointed.

Despite being all gloomy, it seemed they couldn’t dismiss their curiosity about what would happen to them now.

Those adorable, small ears peeking out from their brown hair twitched slightly.

No matter how tough they tried to act, they still looked like a little kid.

Seeing their usual sulky face now made them seem unexpectedly cute due to the contrast.

It felt almost like witnessing a little one trying to play pretend.

So, without realizing it, I wore a content smile, only for our gazes to suddenly meet.

“…Eek!”

Had I been too obvious in watching them?

The moment our eyes locked, those squishy cheeks flushed bright red, and they ducked their head, letting out a tiny hiccup.

“Oh dear…”

As I chuckled at their cute reaction, my mom, finally done with her call, approached us.

“Uh… Yoonseo?”

“…”

“Your dad wants to talk to you?”

In conclusion, Yoonseo ended up waiting for her dad at our House rather than the Kindergarten.

I don’t know why, but my mom seemed quite happy about that.

“Do you like cookies, Yoonseo?”

“…Y-yeah.”

It’s like she couldn’t maintain her grumpy attitude against my mom, who was only trying to help her with pure goodwill.

As if the space of someone else’s house made them awkward, the little one perched nervously on the edge of the couch, fiddling with her fingers while nodding earnestly.

Then she suddenly bowed her head down, as if the situation was too embarrassing.

What on earth could be making her feel so shy? I had no clue.

For a moment, while my mom was busy preparing snacks and Beverages under the pretense of providing hospitality, I observed the little one’s exceedingly awkward demeanor.

“Ah, speaking of which, I was supposed to send the documents quickly…”

Suddenly taking on a noticeably weird act, my mom started to back away slowly.

“Dogun, I’m in a bit of a rush. Do you want to hang out with Yoonseo and have some snacks?”

“Um, wait, Mom?!”

Before I even had a chance to stop her, she slipped out of the Living Room.

Once left alone with just the two of us, I could only feel troubled.

I get why my mom wants to help her son gain early experiences in relationships, but… isn’t seven a bit too young for that?

“Though, I’m also seven…”

But seven is still too young, right?

Not to mention, leaving just a seven-year-old alone in an unfamiliar space didn’t sit well with me, so I cautiously offered up some snacks.

After all, in my thirty-four years of life experience, I’d never seen a kid who didn’t like snacks before.

“Um… don’t you want a cookie?”

Given that it was her, I became increasingly careful.

It’s a bit awkward to say, but it felt like offering food to a stray cat that had scarcely had human contact.

Fortunately, it seemed this little one wasn’t averse to snacks; she quickly glanced my way once before cautiously reaching for a plate of cookies.

Then came the shock of unwrapping the treat.

With a little piece of cookie snapping in half, she brought it to her mouth while sneaking looks at me now and then…

“Is there something on my face?”

She kept glancing at me so often I barely could help but wonder.

Eventually, Yoonseo, twitched and looking so adorable, took a big bite out of a cookie, her expression transforming as she munched on it.

Crunch, crunch—

She looked completely enthralled, her eyes lighting up with a sparkle.

But that wasn’t the most heart-melting part.

Suddenly, Yoonseo froze mid-bite, her cheeks flushed scarlet as if she realized the sound she made while chewing had embarrassed her.

On the other hand, my feelings about this were…

Completely justifiable, I thought.

That’s because kids who get curious don’t stop eating just because it’s time for a meal.

Thanks to that, she had barely touched the lunch that had come out; naturally, she couldn’t be starving.

“What do I do now…”

If all she eats is snacks on an empty stomach, she’ll get a tummy ache…

But it’s a bit awkward to suddenly whip something up… if I got caught making something with fire or a knife, my mom would come down hard on me.

Of course, I’d be fine with it, but my mom wouldn’t know that, and from her perspective, it would look like her precious son was having risky fun near flames.

Yet, it didn’t feel right to leave her like that…

“Ugh, whatever!”

Caught in a dilemma, I raised my body from my seat.

If I just avoided using fire or knives, that was all I needed to do.

As long as I steer clear of those two, I’d only get scolded for messing up the kitchen later.

“Hey, come with me for a second.”