This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 5

“Um… have you ever played with clay?”

Looks like you have!

Maybe it was in the kindergarten you attended before moving next door.

Well, anyway, since you’ve got experience with clay, it shouldn’t be too hard to explain.

“Basically, it’s pretty much the same thing.”

With that said, I began demonstrating how it’s done to Yoonseo, who was looking all confused about what was the same.

“First, like this…”

I tore off a piece of rice just enough to fit in a single bite, then squeezed it tightly with my hands to stick the grains together.

“And then you roll it into a ball like this…”

And voilà, a rice ball is complete!

“So? Not too hard, right?”

It would’ve been nice to have some soup or something on the side, but since we can’t use the fire, we’re stuck with this.

Guess we’ll have to make do with this!

By the way, it seemed like Yoonseo was pretty impressed by the rice ball that had magically come together in such a short time.

Just look at her sparkling eyes!

I mean, even if she pretends to act cool and indifferent, at this age, curiosity is practically a second nature for them.

She might have seen her parents cook before, but it’s probably her first time witnessing the process up close.

“Hm… Want to try one?”

With how impressed she looked, it was as if reality struck her when I casually asked.

Her little shoulders, which were considerably smaller compared to an adult’s, perked up cutely, and the fierce look in her eyes began to sharpen once again.

Separate from that, her throat made a little gulp sound as if she was wrestling between pride and instinct.

But in the end, a kid is still a kid.

She couldn’t resist for long and ended up nodding.

‘Kinda cute…’

Is this why everyone gets soft for their daughters?

While I had such thoughts, feeling slightly bashful myself, I carefully offered the freshly made rice ball to Yoonseo, who was shyly shaking her head down.

“Here you go.”

And what happened next?

Well, it goes without saying—it was a complete success.

‘How could it possibly not taste good with this combo?’

Just having some stir-fried anchovies and pickled radishes would have done the trick, but honestly, once you add furikake and seaweed, the game is practically over.

I guess that’s why it suited my taste quite well too.

‘Hmm…’

Since it’s come to this, should I let my mom, who’s probably in the middle of a struggle, have a taste too?

That thought crossed my mind for just a moment, worried she might scold me, but the dilemma didn’t last long.

So, I quickly got a plate and piled the rice balls I shaped onto it… but it seemed Yoonseo really liked the flavor because she suddenly stopped stuffing her face.

She was munching away right after making them, while I was just stacking them on a plate, so perhaps she was finally realizing something?

“…Oh, aren’t you eating?”

So it seemed, as she cautiously stole glances at me while asking that.

“Yeah? I was… going to take some to Mom too.”

When I answered casually, perhaps not wanting to lose, she suddenly said she wanted to share with both Dad and Mom too.

Did she want to show off the rice balls she made to her parents and get compliments like “Our girl’s all grown up”?

“Go for it then.”

Anyway, with Yoonseo helping, those round rice balls started piling up on the plate.

And there was someone stealing glances at the two of us building our little tower with a face full of warmth—

‘Oh dear…’

That person was none other than Dogun’s mom, Yoonjeong.

I thought it best for the adults to step back, but since something had happened between the two yesterday, I was a bit worried they might start bickering if left alone, so I quietly kept an eye on them.

Who would have thought I’d end up witnessing such a scene?

Honestly, when Dogun headed towards the kitchen earlier, my foremost concern was how dangerous that place could be.

Considering that Dogun was only seven, it made me even more anxious.

So, I was prepared to rush out and stop him if he did something risky or tried to touch sharp objects or flames… but maybe he sensed my thoughts because he didn’t even glance in that direction.

And what followed was a continuous stream of surprises.

That tiny body of his was crafting what looked like a pretty decent meal.

Thinking back to when I was seven, it was unbelievable.

Back then, I barely ate what others prepared—never once thought to make anything myself.

‘Is my son… somehow a genius?’

The thought crossed my mind, leaving me awestruck.

Of course, considering how harsh this society is on boys, it made me slightly bitter.

But aside from that, Yoonjeong felt incredibly proud of Dogun.

It wasn’t just that he was managing everything on his own, but he was doing it all for his friend Yoonseo, which touched her deeply.

‘My boy’s really growing up…’

It felt like just yesterday he couldn’t even open his eyes properly and was just a little crying bundle. When did he become so big?

Is this how they gradually transition into adulthood?

‘By the way… kids these days learn stuff like this too…’

I suppose it makes sense; I’ve heard that even at Taekwondo dojos, they teach not just Taekwondo but also subjects like English and math these days.

Watching her son skillfully mold rice balls, Yoonjeong suddenly felt the world had changed a lot since she was little.

At that moment, hiding behind the wall, Yoonjeong cautiously stepped forward.

They seemed almost done, and she thought it’d be a disaster if they spilled those while holding them.

“Hey? What are you two doing right now?”

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‘Oh! Wow… that startled me!’

Mom’s sudden appearance made me jump without realizing it, but that was all.

I was told it could be dangerous, but that was the extent of it.

After that… we ended up devouring the wonderful rice balls alongside some quick Japanese miso soup Mom whipped up since it wouldn’t do to have rice balls this good all alone.

“Wow…! What to do? Dogun’s rice balls are too delicious!”

“No, it’s not… like that…”

“From now on, I need to ask Dogun to make rice balls whenever I’m hungry while working.”

She was probably joking, but somehow it didn’t sound like one!

Anyway, we were bantering like that when suddenly, I felt a jealous gaze directed at me from right next to us.

‘Geez…’

Kids will be kids, huh?

Just watching me and Mom, it seems Yoonseo started thinking about her own parents. Not long after, the sound of the doorbell echoed, and soon it brought her parents.

“Hey? Looks like Yoonseo’s dad has arrived.”

I thought we’d taken good care of her, but I guess at this age, nothing beats having both Mom and Dad around!

As soon as those words left Mom’s lips, Yoonseo’s previously gloomy face brightened up immediately.

Then, her tiny body practically bounced as if ready to dash for the front door, and she couldn’t resist following Mom as she hurried to the entrance.

‘If someone saw this, they’d think we bullied her.’

I might have cooked for her tirelessly, but seeing her sprint for her dad without a second glance felt a bit hurtful… but hey, kids will be like that.

Look at her now.

She’s taking the rice ball container she had been cherishing all this while without forgetting it!

Sigh…

So, grabbing the container, I made my way over to the entrance. In that brief moment, I could see Yoonseo in her dad’s arms, expressing all her disappointment over being late.

“Ah, Dogun’s here too! What good timing! Dogun, Yoonseo’s heading home now, so let’s wave her off.”

Waving goodbye would be nice, but we have to hand over things too, right?

Noticing that Yoonseo was too busy burying her face in her dad’s shoulder to pay attention to what was going on, I poked Mom’s leg—

“Ah.”

That made my Mom’s face light up with joy when she finally noticed the rice ball container I had brought along.

“Uh, Mr. Yoonseo’s father? Would you like to receive this?”

“Uh? What’s this…”

Surprised, he widened his eyes and quickly reached for the lunchbox.

Then, perhaps wanting to ask how this all came about, he turned his head toward his daughter, who was still in his arms…

But, sadly, it seemed Yoonseo had no intention of providing an answer.

Her ears turned crimson, peeking through her fluffy hair, as if she felt embarrassed at being watched.

Or maybe it was just that Mom and I were there?

“Ah, anyway… I’m so sorry for bothering you today. And thank you once again.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Our Dogun’s really excited to have a friend over…”

“Hahaha…”

As the adults continued their small talk, Yoonseo’s dad grew a bit restless, clearly realizing it was time to leave.

“Alright, say goodbye to your friend now.”

“…See you tomorrow.”

“Yoonseo, say goodbye to Dogun too!”

It wasn’t until after Yoonseo’s dad said that line that she reluctantly lifted her head, only to immediately turn it away again.

“Hahaha…”

And thus, her father found himself in an awkward situation.

“Um, anyway, I should get going.”

“Yeah, take care.”

So after sending off Yoonseo’s family, when Dogun and Yoonjeong turned back toward the kitchen to clean up, a wave of unexplainable feelings washed over Gyeongwan, who had just exited their house.

Of course, it was all because of the tiny plastic container he was holding.

To think it was rice balls made by none other than his daughter, Yoonseo!

What on earth could have happened while he was away due to an urgent matter?

What on earth happened to make his little girl’s arms feel so strong just a moment ago?

“Yoonseo, did you really make these rice balls?”

When he asked his daughter, who still had her head buried in his shoulder, that tiny head bobbed adorably as she slowly nodded up and down.

“Really? Did Dogun’s mom help?”

He asked, figuring that must have been the case, but what came back was something entirely different.

She didn’t get any help!

“So what do you mean?”

“…Him.”

“Him? Oh, Dogun? So you made these together?”

“Yeah…”

Seeing his daughter nod slowly and affirmatively, Gyeongwan felt a wave of relief wash over him.

Despite her appearance and personality so much like his beloved wife, people often perceived her as having a naturally cold temperament.

That had often made it difficult for her to make friends with kids her age.

Given that his wife’s sudden transfer had separated her from the few friendships she had, she had been sulking since moving day.

But now, she was so quick to respond, showing not only her mood had brightened but also that she had made a new friend!

Sure, that friend being a boy did raise some eyebrows—

‘But they’re just kids…’

It’ll be fine.

So, to fully resolve her earlier sulking feelings, Gyeongwan eagerly began asking his daughter about her new friend Dogun… and through that, he realized naturally.

That today, this boy named Dogun, who had become his daughter’s first friend at their new place, was surprisingly mature and kind for a seven-year-old.

‘Isn’t that amazing?’

It’s remarkable that her first friend after moving in is someone she met during a brief neighborhood stroll yesterday, who just happens to live next door.

Could this be fate?

If that’s the case, then let’s hope they become good friends!

“Looks like Dogun wants to be friends with Yoonseo.”

Gyeongwan had no idea.

It was just an innocent comment, not realizing it would plant misunderstandings in his daughter’s head.