This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 191

At first, I was just… happy.

The mere fact that Dogun reached out his hand toward me was like that.

Surely, that was how it was at the start, but as I walked with Dogun towards the nearby mart, I suddenly realized something.

Just how many people were glancing at Dogun.

Was it because of the cast on his arm that stood out?

Is that why they were all staring?

Along with that question, a realization popped into my head.

What if Dogun’s left arm were to be revealed here?

He would have to live his life under such gazes forever, wouldn’t he?

Maybe it was because of that thought.

The behavior of those who kept glancing over here started to bother me more than before.

At the same time, I felt an endless anxiety.

I thought I could somehow prevent his arm from being shown, but what if someone aimed to kidnap Dogun while we were together?

Could I perfectly prevent that too?

…Honestly, I wasn’t very confident.

I wouldn’t have been like this in the past.

But it couldn’t be helped.

I’d long realized that just working hard doesn’t always solve everything.

‘Wouldn’t it have been better…’

When Dogun asked me to go with him before, I should have refused and let one of the other two take my place.

Negative thoughts continued to creep up my body.

And it was no different even after we arrived at the mart.

So, I felt anxious.

What if something I imagined right now actually happened?

What if something went wrong with Dogun?

In that case, it would be undoubtedly my fault.

And would I be able to bear that truth when it happened?

When I thought I had purchased most of what I needed, I urged Dogun that it was time to go back.

In truth, I didn’t want to do that at all, thinking of the other two waiting at home… but it couldn’t be helped.

It was much better than something happening to Dogun.

Although it might be a bit distressing for me… that was something I could endure.

With that in mind, I planned to share the groceries I bought with Dogun and head back home, but—

“Ah, wait a minute.”

“…Why?”

“I forgot to grab something.”

Saying that, Dogun turned back and dashed into the mart before I could do anything.

For a moment, I was taken aback by the sudden turn of events, but with a hopeful heart, I intended to follow Dogun inside, only for him to appear again.

“Okay. I’ve really bought everything now, so let’s go.”

I didn’t ask what he got.

Instead, I began to walk alongside Dogun as we left the mart.

As we walked like that, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Even though living with three women had become a thing, what was Dogun planning for the future?

“Um, you know…”

I paused mid-step to start speaking that way.

“Yeah? What is it?”

“About school… what are you going to do?”

I couldn’t help but think about how while he had no choice in the hospital, he needed to make a decision now that he was discharged…

“Oh, right…”

Perhaps it was the same for Dogun, having overlooked that aspect due to all the chaos.

Dogun stopped walking for the first time.

“Um… to be honest, I kind of want to keep going as is, but…”

He trailed off slightly, but the words he was trying to express were honestly quite clear.

It was likely something like, ‘That might be difficult.’

It couldn’t be helped.

There were far too many issues preventing him from attending school as if nothing had happened.

There was the safety issue while at school, and the possibility that a secret related to his arm might get revealed if he wasn’t careful…

Does that mean?

Ultimately, it boiled down to just one conclusion.

“Well, first… shouldn’t we talk to Chae-rim? Maybe there’s some way we can figure it out.”

“…Yeah.”

Dogun said that right away, but even if we talked, the chances of coming up with a solid solution were slim.

So if this continued… Dogun would naturally end up dropping out.

And if Dogun left school?

The mornings I had once thought would continue would no longer be enjoyed.

Thinking about that made the already sinking feeling in my heart feel even heavier, but I didn’t show it as I entered my home with Dogun.

And just like that, the housewarming party with grilled pork began.

Even though Dogun said he was fine doing things alone until it was ready, not a single person in the room heeded those words.

Perhaps due to that, the kitchen was filled with people checking to see if there was anything they could assist Dogun with.

“Can I wash this?”

“Yes? You can, but if you sit down, I’ll just…”

“I’ll take it.”

“Where will we eat? At the dining table? Or on the living room table?”

“Well, thinking about the cleanup, wouldn’t it be better to eat here?”

“Okay, then I should lay down some newspaper first.”

Unlike when it was just the two of us, the kitchen was bustling.

I didn’t like that hustle.

When it was just the two of us, I had time to appreciate Dogun’s back leisurely, but now that luxury was gone.

Still, it seemed like having more people sped up the meal preparations significantly.

“So then… are we starting?”

As those words left Dogun’s mouth, he lifted a large piece of pork belly with tongs and was about to place it on the grill.

“…Wait a second.”

Before that sizzling piece of meat could even touch the hot grill, an interjection came from right beside him.

“You don’t just put it straight on. It’ll stick.”

It was none other than Chae-rim who seized the tongs from Dogun’s hand.

Having successfully taken control of the tongs, Chae-rim cut a bit of the pork belly’s fat and began to rub it directly on the grill.

Ssszzz—

The sound alone was enough to make saliva pool in my mouth as it echoed through the kitchen.

And following that was the delightful smell commonly found wafting from a pork belly place.

As the pork belly started to cook and fill the air with a delicious aroma—

“Are we grilling kimchi?”

“Of course.”

Well-cooked aged kimchi was now being sliced and made its entrance.

Then, after casually placing the tongs aside, Dogun seized them again with a determination not to leave anything out and placed the perilla leaves, which had been quietly sitting next to the pork belly, onto the grill too.

“Huh? What’s that? Were we grilling that too? Not just for wrapping?”

“Huh? You’ve never grilled pork belly and perilla leaves together?”

Whenever we grilled pork belly, Dogun always made it like this, so I thought everyone else did too, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

Just then, I caught the subtle reactions on the faces of the other two, realizing that they probably never even imagined such a combination.

“Oh, right. I forgot to bring that out.”

Saying that, Dogun rose from his seat.

When he returned, he was holding a small bowl filled with bright red dipping sauce.

“Here.”

He presented it directly towards me.

“Why the sudden dipping sauce…?”

“I mean, why would you dip pork belly in something not sushi?”

To that, both Chae-rim and Dogun reacted vehemently, absolutely unable to tolerate the idea.

Of course, no matter what they said, I was simply happy.

The idea of dipping perfectly grilled pork belly in the oil that came out and then wrapping it with wilting perilla leaves and dipping it in the sauce—that was the method Dogun taught me and my absolute favorite way of enjoying pork belly.

Unlike the two who probably never even tried such a way of eating, they had no way of knowing how delightful it was to eat pork belly this way.

I was reminded of that fact once again.

Suddenly, the mood that had been sinking for so long started to lift a little.

Thanks to that, I finally felt like eating what was before me, but… how long had it been since I started grabbing pieces to nibble on?

“Wait, when did you get the beer…?”

“I dashed out and bought it while you were briefly gone to the mart.”

“When I opened the fridge to pull out the kimchi, there was definitely none…”

“Of course, I hid it somewhere it wouldn’t be seen. By the way, why are you so interested in beer? Huh? Are you curious about what it tastes like?”

And following that line was a subtle voice dripping with temptation, ‘If you want to drink, I could share a glass with you?’

“…I’m good. You weren’t planning to share anyway.”

“Why? I could let you experience a drink, just one would be fine!”

“I’m fine. It’d just make me full for no reason.”

“Hm? How do you know that drinking beer will fill you up if you’ve never had it?”

While Dogun was in the midst of evasively dodging my gaze…

Ding-dong—

The doorbell suddenly rang, reverberating through the house.