Chapter 7

Chapter 7

To put it simply, I hadn’t talked to her for almost a month.

From that time on, I sensed something was off and did everything I could to lift her spirits.

She wouldn’t look at this or that. Eventually, when I asked if she wanted something, she said,

“…Draw me a picture.”

So, I drew a picture for her. If I sketched it carelessly, she’d surely throw a fit, so I put in some effort.

“Thanks to Haeun (?), Soyul just stares at the picture at home…”

“Hehe. That means my son’s drawing is that good, right? Sister.”

Eventually, Aunt Jihye came and sighed.

Oh, by the way, my mom and aunt talk informally to each other. My dad also calls her “sister.”

In front of Aunt Jihye, my mom bragged only about me.

I shifted my gaze from the aunts to the front.

“Do you really like it that much?”

Unable to hold back, I spoke up, and the Soyul in front nodded repeatedly.

“It’s pretty. Really.”

Couldn’t she say it’s cool instead of pretty?

I mean, usually boys prefer being called cool rather than pretty or cute.

Well… if you’re satisfied, then that’s enough.

The drawing I made for her wasn’t anything special. I just sketched my own figure.

I drew it with a pencil to avoid being plain and added some shading.

It was a reasonably complete piece of work. But I always feel that self-portraits are quite embarrassing. Is it just me?

Anyway, as soon as Soyul received the picture I gave her, she seemed over the moon. I really don’t get why she’s acting like that.

At least when she visited our house, she would put it down for a moment to look at me.

Does she really like me?

Soyul was playing with my palm while smiling. She looked happy.

“It’s so soft.”

That’s how baby skin usually is. So go touch your own palm. Not mine.

“Isn’t this too close?”

“Hmm? I don’t know.”

I didn’t expect much, but still.

We were so close that it was hard to move.

Hey, at this rate, we might end up kissing.

I glanced at the aunts.

They were smirking.

They’re really enjoying themselves, aren’t they? Ugh.

Looking over here while covering their mouths, they were making little “oh my” sounds. Their eyes were already gleaming mischievously.

They might already be thinking about future grandchildren.

It was a moment that made me sigh involuntarily.

“Hehe.”

Because of her, my sigh got caught back in.

At this point, you might wonder why these kids aren’t going to daycare.

“Alright, fairies. Since we can’t go to daycare today, let’s play!”

Isn’t it usually the opposite, Aunt? It sounds like we should study as much as we skipped academy.

But the aunt really seemed to plan on playing, as she brought out the board games and other toys from last time.

They’re saying they’re staying over at our house tonight. Even Soyul said she’s sleeping with me…

Of all times, a text came from daycare saying not to come today. I only heard from my mom that it’s for some reason. I don’t know the details.

Ah. Why is this so exhausting?

***

Summer passed into autumn.

Autumn passed into winter.

Winter passed into spring, and then summer again.

After going through this cycle three times, I was now seven years old.

Just before the spring syndrome ended, something really big happened to me.

“Hello~.”

“……”

Who is this person, and who’s beside them? Why are they acting like they know me and Soyul while we’re playing?

I figured that out as soon as I saw that kid’s name tag.

Lee Doyoon. Baek Yuseol.

A memory struck me hard.

It’s unbelievable, but who would have thought I’d be reincarnated into a romantic comedy world?

More importantly, why is the protagonist here?

Look at those eyes. That’s definitely a face that screams “I’m the male lead.” Even at seven years old, he’s handsome.

My face, which didn’t rely on looks, felt uncomfortable.

For now, let’s think about this. The fact that Lee Doyoon is the protagonist is based on the illustrations.

Though still young, it seems likely that this kid will grow up to look just like the illustration.

And Baek Yuseol. She’s the childhood friend heroine position for Lee Doyoon.

She also looked very similar to the illustration.

I immediately realized I was in the world of a romantic comedy novel.

But knowing that doesn’t change anything. This isn’t fantasy, and there’s no risk of dying.

In fact, being next to the protagonist means I’ll never run out of dopamine. I can witness a youth’s love story with my own two eyes.

No matter how much I think about it, Haeun and Soyul don’t appear in that novel.

“Characters that don’t even qualify as extras. Just perfect.”

But I still had a question.

Why are they here?

“Excuse me?”

When Soyul and I didn’t respond, Lee Doyoon came over, looking sulky.

It makes sense; having two pairs of eyes staring silently at you can be pretty intimidating.

Baek Yuseol shot a glance at Soyul before wrapping her arm around Lee Doyoon.

‘…Oh my.’

Seeing those two teasing each other made something boil up inside me.

‘But this is a harem story.’

Interestingly enough, with a little twist in the setting, it became possible for the protagonist and heroines to have a polygamous relationship when they become adults.

According to the author’s note, it’s a necessary setting for the side story when they reach adulthood.

‘…Hmm. Maybe I could too?’

But then again, that’s probably not going to happen.

While I was lost in thought, Baek Yuseol was glaring at Soyul.

What’s with her? Is she trying to protect Lee Doyoon from Soyul?

I let out a sigh without realizing it.

“Yeah. Hi.”

I still greeted them. Only then did Soyul wave back.

I don’t know the details of the story’s settings. I don’t know where the protagonist spent their childhood.

But it’s truly a coincidence that it’s at the daycare I attend.

“Hey. What were you doing?”

“I was just playing with puzzles.”

The newly arrived protagonist and Baek Yuseol seemed to attract the other kids, who gathered around.

But in reality, they didn’t get too close.

Lee Doyoon plopped down next to where we were sitting. Baek Yuseol followed suit, sitting quietly while scanning the surroundings.

‘Baek Yuseol is definitely the character of a rich girl.’

I got the same vibe from her as I did from Soyul. However, there was a clear difference.

Soyul was just quiet because she didn’t think much, while Baek Yuseol wouldn’t open her mouth on her own.

I had seen the past stories of the main characters.

That had nothing to do with me.

“Haeun, Haeun. Where is this?”

At that moment, Soyul came over and leaned against me. She showed me a puzzle piece resting in her palm and asked.

Couldn’t she just ask right there? I had given up on understanding her actions a long time ago.

“Even though it looks completely brown, if you look closely, there’s a point where it’s a slightly darker reddish-brown that’s cut off, right? You need to find a piece that connects to that point.”

I still explained it thoroughly. It’s fun to talk about pictures.

When I glanced at Soyul, who seemed to be in a dreamy mood, she was staring at the puzzle piece intently. Can you really tell it’s a stare?

I chuckled softly and fitted the piece in her hand for her.

Unlike last time, this time Soyul smiled and continued.

Doyoon and Yuseol watched us. They had come over but didn’t say a word.

I moved my eyes and saw they were matching a different puzzle among themselves.

Were they considering our feelings?

Suddenly,

‘No way.’

When our eyes met, Baek Yuseol glared at me. What did I do…?

Feeling offended, I tried to ignore her and continued looking for puzzle pieces with Soyul.

“…? What are you doing?”

Soyul raised her head and was looking at the other puzzle, specifically at Baek Yuseol.

Her expression was so expressionless that she looked like a doll. Just as I was thinking that…

Suddenly.

Swoosh.

Soyul made a fist, sticking out her thumb and pretending to cut her neck.

‘……’

Um. At the end, she even twisted her lips in a smirk, making a murder threat.

Baek Yuseol jumped in shock and hid behind Lee Doyoon. He seemed clueless about the situation.

And then she said,

“Now it’s okay.”

She gave me a thumbs up. Ugh.

Should I tell the aunt? That her daughter made a murder threat…

There’s so much to say, but when I looked at her with a complicated expression, Soyul was blissfully laughing, unaware of my thoughts.

‘Yeah… if you like it.’

Since they were the first ones to glare, Soyul wasn’t interested in Lee Doyoon at all. I was just worried that Baek Yuseol might misunderstand…

But seriously, why does my shoulder feel so heavy?

The reason became clear. A haughty cat had put its head on my shoulder as if it were its cat tower.

“Hey, that’s heavy.”

“I’m not heavy.”

I gave up. This isn’t easy.

We continued matching the puzzle pieces like this. Her soft hair brushed against the back of my hand, tickling it.

It wasn’t just my hand that was ticklish. Hmm…

Before I knew it, the puzzle was complete. Except for the first day, I always let Soyul place the last piece.

“Hehe.”

Seeing her happy smile made me let out a chuckle.

The completed puzzle depicted a natural landscape. Green fields with streams running through them and a few trees on the side.

“Draw this for me.”

And every time we finished the puzzle, she asked me to draw it. It wasn’t difficult. I just had to copy it.

The puzzle couldn’t last long. Other kids had to play too.

New puzzles came in every month, so the kids enjoyed it. Soyul, in particular.

She probably just wants to see my drawings.

As I stood up to draw, I suddenly became curious about Lee Doyoon and Baek Yuseol’s progress.

How far have they gotten?

“Um… is this here? Ah. No, it’s not.”

They hadn’t even completed 100 pieces yet. As I watched them for a moment,

Grumble.

I’m hungry. What should I ask for dinner today?