As I walked down the road, a line from a game came to mind.
[Why are you eating gukbap? With that money, you could buy several packs of ramen.]
It wasn’t as if Noa disliked gukbap. It was simply that we didn’t have enough money to afford it.
In fact, when we ate at a gukbap restaurant, a CG scene would appear. It featured Noa happily enjoying the gukbap.
Noa’s soul food is indeed gukbap.
Most importantly,
‘How can he dislike it with that expression?’
The body is always honest. Even if one lies with words, the body doesn’t lie.
I glanced at Noa who was following me cautiously from behind. Although he kept his distance as if on guard, his expression looked bright.
Now Noa was even whistling.
‘Look at that face. It’s definitely the expression of a girl excited about a date!’
‘It looks more like the expression of someone who loves gukbap and is excited to eat it.’
I lightly countered Kkomkmu’s comment and approached Noa.
The kid suddenly straightened up his expression.
“Because I’m really just here to eat rice.”
In a somewhat affected voice, Noa turned his face away.
I wonder if he’s not following some bad uncle. Though, isn’t the current situation not much different?
Thus, an awkward atmosphere flowed.
Then Noa, who had been following from behind, spoke up.
“So? Is it really that delicious?”
“Yeah. It’s the best place I’ve been to.”
“I’ll look forward to it then.”
We walked into a market alleyway under the dark night sky. A large pot greeted us.
According to the owner, this restaurant is one of the oldest in the market. Although I don’t know exactly, the owner might be around Noa’s age.
Steam was rising from the pot, and the cloudy broth was boiling.
For two weeks, four times… no, now it’s five times. This restaurant has become a regular spot for us.
“Let’s go in.”
“…”
Noa’s footsteps froze.
A startled sound escaped from Noa, who had become as rigid as a rock.
“Did you mean to come here?”
“Yeah.”
“Umm…”
He seemed a bit troubled.
“It’s a bit run-down, but it’s tasty.”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Pork gukbap not your thing? Want another kind of gukbap?”
“Well…ha…it’s fine. Since we’ve come this far, I’ll just eat and go.”
Noa carefully entered the restaurant. He moved as cautiously as a thief sneaking in to steal something.
Then soon,
“Aigoo, welcome!”
Caught by the kind-hearted owner.
“Hello.”
“Young man came?”
“Yes. Two servings of gukbap and one serving of braised meat, please.”
“Alright. Hmm? Seems like you brought a friend today.”
At being found out by the owner, Noa hid behind me.
It was strange behavior. We weren’t close enough for him to act this way yet.
However, it seemed the owner had figured it out.
The owner spoke.
“…Are you a student?”
“…”
“Noah student.”
“…”
“Why, didn’t you used to come often with your father until last year? Long time no see.”
“…Ha. Yes, hello.”
It seems this place was also a regular spot for Noa.
To the extent that the owner recognized him.
“This student’s father used to come here often. Always had pork gukbap with a glass of soju.”
“Ah, I see.”
The owner’s gaze returned to Noa.
“Where’s your father, and why are you here with this young man?”
“…My dad…is a bit sick, so…”
“Oh dear…”
“And this person is…”
Noa stared at me before continuing.
“Just some weird uncle.”
“Hey, weird uncle?”
“That’s right. Weird uncle.”
“Weird, yes, but not an uncle! I’m still twenty-one!”
“With that face?”
“…This guy?”
Not a word was exchanged.
While staring at us intently, the owner chuckled, “Hehe,” and guided us to our seats.
A corner seat in the restaurant.
It seemed like a good spot for conversation.
“Wait here. I’ll give you something extra.”
“No need-”
“In return, next time bring your father along.”
“…Yes.”
When the owner left, the kid reverted to his usual blank expression.
Looking at that expression, I felt a strange sense of alienation.
It was as if emotions rarely seen were painted on his face.
Noa looked somewhere between sad.
Perhaps…
‘Thinking about his father, huh.’
Noa’s father was an important motive in the story.
Initially, Noa became a magical girl to enter the association and earn money.
‘Maybe it was for his father’s medical expenses.’
Perhaps that money was used for his father’s treatment. Thinking about it that way, everything seemed to fit.
Noa living alone. Working hard to make money. Being extremely frugal.
If you think it’s to pay for his father’s treatment, it makes sense.
“Be careful, it’s hot~”
The owner arrived with a steaming bowl. Inside was a milky broth.
The rich broth made by slow-cooking various parts of the pig. Without any off-putting smell, it exuded a savory fragrance.
Whenever I smell it, I can’t help but start eating immediately.
“…Noa?”
“…”
Meow.
Noa sat there without picking up his spoon, gazing off into space. He kept looking down at the gukbap.
“…Noa?”
“…”
“Noa!”
“…! You startled me!”
“Daydreaming, so I called you. Was something wrong?”
“Just…”
“That’s not a ‘just’ face.”
“You’re persistent, Uncle.”
Noa sighed. Then he picked up the spoon and swirled some shrimp paste around.
Adding the shrimp paste, he quickly wrapped the rice and started eating. Only then did Noa begin his meal.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Try some of the braised meat too.”
“…It’s okay.”
Is it really okay?
I felt slightly uneasy about the quiet Noa.
I wanted to see the CG-like smile while he enjoyed his meal. But Noa’s expression looked lonely. It must be because of his father.
A place filled with memories of his father.
Coming here probably made him miss his father even more.
No matter how much of a magical girl or protector against evil he is, Noa is still a sixteen-year-old girl.
An age where it’s difficult to fully withstand the world’s storms.
“Thinking about your father?”
“A little… Just… um…this.”
Noa picked up a piece of liver and dipped it in salt.
“It’s what Dad liked.”
Putting the liver in his mouth and chewing, Noa soon said,
“…It’s not very good.”
After that, a long silence followed.
Somehow, it feels more suffocating than when we came here.
I thought for a moment.
“…Owner, one soju, please.”
“Yes~”
I ordered soju.
Although drinking in front of a child is a bit odd, I feel like I might actually suffocate if I don’t drink something.
Noa might like it too.
Rather than watching him eat silently, having him do something else will ease the uncomfortable feeling.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
Pouring the soju into a glass and swallowing it, the bitter taste of alcohol spread through my mouth.
Bitter.
Lifting my head after sipping the broth, I felt Noa’s gaze.
“Was wondering, but this isn’t allowed.”
“I know. Just…”
“Just?”
“Just because I’m thinking of Dad.”
Speaking of which.
“Your father used to drink soju here often, right?”
“Yes.”
After pondering for a moment, I asked Noa.
“Noa, can you tell me what happened?”
“What?”
“About…your father.”
“Why should I tell you?”
“You never know. Maybe I can help somehow.”
At my question, Noa paused for a moment. Enough time passed for the braised meat to cool slightly.
“Alright.”
Noa pointed at the soju.
“If you give me one cup of that, I’ll tell you.”
“…Hey, you’re underage.”
“Don’t want to? Then forget it. I won’t say anything either.”
So that’s how it is.
It’s inappropriate for a minor to ask for alcohol. Of course, I shouldn’t give it to her.
But why does my heart waver?
It’s partly because I want to find out about Noa’s situation, but…
Could she be trying to mimic her father?
Children often imitate adults. In Noa’s case, it was her father.
I wiped the glass with a napkin and filled it with soju, just slightly over half.
“Only one cup.”
“Yes.”
“After drinking, you’ll tell me what happened, right?”
“I understand.”
Noa stared at the glass for a moment.
Glug!
And she swallowed the soju in one gulp.
I was a bit worried. If Noa, who has no experience with alcohol, drinks too quickly…
“…!”
Of course, it’s natural that she couldn’t handle it. I placed a well-done piece of pork in her mouth that was making clicking sounds.
Noa quickly accepted it.
Under normal circumstances, she would have scolded me for what I was doing, but the hurried Noa didn’t seem to have time for that.
After chewing and swallowing the meat, Noa complained.
“Ugh, why do adults like this stuff?”
“Right? I don’t get it either.”
“Then why does Uncle drink this?”
“For any reason? To get drunk.”
Noa wore an expression of not understanding.
Looking at that, I definitely thought she’s still a child.
With the hope that she wouldn’t understand why adults drink all her life, I looked at Noa.
“Then now it’s your turn to tell me.”
“Ew… Are you really going to listen?”
“Of course. It’s a promise.”
At my words, Noa wore a complicated expression.
Noa’s slightly reddening face. Eventually, Noa seemed to resign herself.
“…Dad was a hero.”
“Your father?”
“Yes. Do you know WhitePaw?”
WhitePaw. A name I knew.
Definitely a top hero in the hero industry who retired after an accident.
That WhitePaw…
“Is your father?”
Noa nodded. Around this point, Noa’s eyes began to redden slightly. She seemed to be thinking about her father.
“…He was a great person. He raised me alone after Mom passed away giving birth to me.”
“I see.”
“While doing that, he was also a great person who saved the world. That was my father.”
His voice carried admiration. However, precisely because of that, my expression couldn’t help but stiffen.
I drank another glass of soju. The burning sensation swept through me.
“But why…hospitalization…”
“He was attacked by a demon.”
“Ah…”
“Has it been about half a year now… Dad became a vegetative state.”
Mother passed away, father became a vegetative state.
And Noah, sixteen years old, left alone in the world.
“Hospital fees, medicine costs… caregiver’s salary… I’m paying with the money Dad earned and the money from selling our house, but honestly, I don’t know how long it’ll last. So I’m trying to save as much as possible.”
Saying those words, Noa smiled.
“Dad used to say…”
“What did he say?”
“That a hero is someone who smiles even when it’s tough and becomes the hope of people.”
“…”
“That’s why I smile too.”
“Do you honestly tell me, aren’t you scared since becoming a magical girl and fighting those monsters?”
Noa laughed even louder.
“Yes, I am scared. Seriously, I could die, right?”
“…”
“But since joining the association, I can earn money for Dad’s treatment.”
“…”
“It’s better to be popular too. Think about it. Between someone who always frowns and someone who smiles, who would be more popular?”
Noa kept smiling endlessly.
By this point, something seemed strange. Noa’s face started to loosen strangely.
“Noa.”
“Yes~?”
“If you’re tired, it’s okay to cry. It’s alright for you.”
“Why~?”
“You’re still a child. You’re still at the age where it’s okay to be spoiled. If nothing else, cry when you’re with me.”
“When I’m with Uncle~?”
“I’m not such a useless guy that I can’t even comfort you when you cry. I’m not.”
“Huh~ Strange~”
Strange?
Noa has been swaying her body back and forth since a while ago, like a metronome.
Seeing that, a sudden unease crept in.
“Noa?”
“Yes~?”
“Are you drunk?”
“Nope~”
A creeping sense of foreboding rose. Noa’s purple eyes started to waver.
Clearly, she’s drunk.
Who would have thought she’d get tipsy after just one drink?
Still, it should be fine at this level. As long as she doesn’t cause trouble.
After swaying her body for quite some time, Noa continued to smile and said,
“Uncle~”
“Hm?”
“Can I really cry?”
That’s a bit problematic.
Think about it. Bringing a middle schooler to a gukbap shop late at night and making her cry. I’d definitely be labeled as a suspicious person. For the sake of my reputation and social image, it would be better to tell her not to cry.
But…
“…Do as you please.”
Noa smiled so brightly.
As if she were the happiest person in the world.
Pat-pat.
As I gently patted Noa’s head,
…
“Hmm…”
“Noa.”
“Hmm…Hmmuuu…”
“Crying isn’t a shameful thing.”
“Dad… I miss you…”
“Fleeing isn’t shameful, but it helps, right?”
“I’m so tired…Hmmang…Don’t die…Dad…”
“Then cry. Run away as much as you want.”
Soon, Noa burst into tears. The fake smile from earlier completely disappeared, and large tears streamed down her cheeks.
Now Noa was completely hunched over, sobbing loudly.
And thus, my title changed.
From “The uncle who lures middle school girls to a gukbap shop,”
to
“The uncle who lures middle school girls to a gukbap shop, gets them drunk, and makes them cry.”
But.
“You know nothing.”
I took off my coat and draped it over Noa. It was her small escape route.
A small, dark world. Inside it, she could cry and feel sad as much as she wanted without anyone saying anything.
Inside there, Noa would surely turn away from reality and feel incredibly sad.
But I, as an adult, cannot do that.
“Aren’t you the one making the kid cry?”
“…”
“You’ve been suspicious from the start. Why are you dragging a kid around so late at night? Won’t do. Kid! Get out-”
“Shut up.”
“What?”
“Shut up and leave. Unless you want trouble.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t hear me? Leave the kid alone.”
Glaring at him like I wanted to kill him, the nosy person backed off. The others around also watched silently, their suspicious gazes abundant.
People are like that. People’s thoughts are that narrow.
Once they latch onto an idea, they can’t think beyond it.
In their minds, I’m probably trash by now.
I endured those gazes and sat back down. It was unpleasant.
Dozens of gazes fixed on me. All of them sending hostile stares.
I wanted to run away.
How nice would it be to escape from those gazes.
However, I held my ground even more firmly.
Children can run away.
“Noa.”
“Hmm…Hm…Yes…Yes~?”
“It’s okay. You can keep crying.”
“Hmm…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Uncle’s here. Uncle’s not going anywhere. Understand?”
Because I, as an adult, cannot run away.
No matter how painful or embarrassing it is, especially when this young child is crying, I cannot.
So Noa cried for quite some time, and I kept patting her head until my hand grew numb.
Until Noa got tired and fell asleep.
