A Quiet Afternoon at the Orphanage
The morning dew had long since evaporated under the rising sun when I stepped into the orphanage. Director Maria greeted me with her usual warmth.
"Oh my, Scarlet! You're here earlier than usual today, aren't you?"
"I woke up a bit early this morning. I got some training in, and I realized it was already this time."
"I see. Phew... well, I’m certainly relieved you’re here early. The children have been so energetic since they woke up at the crack of dawn, begging me to play with them. I was just thinking about how exhausted I was starting to feel."
Ever since I started visiting regularly following the volunteer work Sylvia and I did here, Director Maria seemed much more comfortable around me. Seeing her let out a sigh of relief, I felt glad I’d come by early. At her age, keeping up with the children’s stamina was no small feat. Normally, she only handled the educational side of things, leaving the playtime to the other staff members. But due to some unfortunate family emergencies among the staff, they were currently on leave, leaving her to manage everything on her own.
Perhaps that was why she was so genuinely grateful for my help; it made the volunteer work feel all the more rewarding. As I was lost in that thought, Director Maria hesitated, looking at me with an apologetic expression.
"By the way, while I am truly grateful, I do worry that I’m being a burden by having you come help every single day... If it’s too much, you really don't have to..."
"Please, don't worry about it. I don't have anything else to do while the academy is on break anyway. Besides, I promised Leon I’d come back. I keep my promises."
"Oh, you say such lovely things... You’re an angel, Scarlet. If you ever need anything, please let me know. I’ll be sure to return the favor."
"Ahaha... there’s really no need for that... Why don't you go take a break? I’ll handle the kids."
I didn't have much to do besides my training, so her gratitude felt a bit embarrassing. Regardless, I headed to the playroom to give her some time to rest. The children, whose faces I had grown quite familiar with, greeted me immediately.
"Wow! It’s Robot-Sister! Hello!"
"Hey there, everyone. Have you all been well?"
"Yes!"
As I was busy greeting the children, Leon, who had been drawing in the corner, scurried over and tugged at my sleeve. "Sister. Did you come to see Leon today, too?"
"Of course. I promised, didn't I? I always keep my promises."
"...Hehe, Sister. I’m happy..."
As I patted her head, Leon beamed and hugged my leg tightly. When we first met, she barely showed any emotion, but seeing her become brighter with each passing day made me smile, too. Leon looked up at me while still clinging to my leg.
"Sister. Let’s draw together."
"Together? Alright. Then I’ll draw you, Leon."
Just as I said that, the children suddenly erupted into a frenzy.
"Wow! Waaaah!"
"It’s really Yoon Siwoo-hyung!"
At the mention of that familiar name, I looked toward where everyone’s gaze was fixed, and my eyes met his. *Why is he here?* I thought, waving a hand at him.
"...Long time no see."
"...Yeah, long time no see."
Yoon Siwoo looked just as dazed as I felt, clearly not expecting to run into me here. Immediately after, the chaos began.
"Yoon Siwoo-hyung! Show us that! The shining sword!"
"Please, just one handshake!"
"Yoon Siwoo! Yoon Siwoo!"
"Huh?! Oh, alright, alright! One at a time!"
Yoon Siwoo was quickly swarmed by a sea of children demanding handshakes. As I watched him struggle, with the exception of Leon who was still stubbornly clinging to me, Director Maria sat down beside me and whispered.
"I was so busy earlier, I forgot to mention it. Siwoo said he got some leave today and wanted to drop by."
Come to think of it, he did say he grew up in this orphanage. Hearing the word "leave" made me realize just how much of a full-fledged hero he had become. The higher-ups were clearly trying to promote him, calling him the youngest rising star to join *Astrape*. It was a bit earlier than in the original novel, but seeing him have the luxury of taking leave meant that, thankfully, his division hadn't suffered any major losses in the recent incident. In the original, by the time he joined, they were so short-staffed that he was worked to the bone without a single day off. I wasn't sure if I should call this a relief, but at least the situation wasn't at its absolute worst.
As I watched Yoon Siwoo interacting with the kids while drawing in the sketchbook Leon had offered him, Director Maria smiled.
"Hehe, the kids must have woken up early because they were so excited to see him. He’s quite the celebrity. Since it looks like Siwoo has the kids covered, I think I’ll go take a rest. You should make yourself comfortable, too, Scarlet."
With that, Director Maria went off to rest. I sat quietly with Leon, drawing and watching Yoon Siwoo. Usually, I was the one playing with all of them. It felt a little bittersweet to see them ignore me completely just because Yoon Siwoo had arrived, especially after they’d always told me how much they loved playing with me.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, a few children approached me.
"Oh? Hey, guys. Did you come to play with me?"
I asked, brightening up at the thought that they might have chosen me over Yoon Siwoo, but they replied:
"The line is too long."
"It’s boring to wait. Play with us in the meantime."
"...Right."
It seemed they were just bored of waiting in the long queue to play with Yoon Siwoo. *Right... so that’s all I am.* I felt a sting of relative deprivation, being pushed down the priority list, but I was someone who took playing with children seriously. Even if I was second choice, I’d make sure to give them the most exciting game of all.
"Alright, who wants to go 'High-High'? Line up!"
"Wow! I want to go!"
"High-High!"
At the mention of "High-High"—the nickname for my airplane game—the kids’ ears perked up, and they scrambled to line up in front of me. It was a game where I supported their bellies with my legs and lifted them into the air; my father used to do it for me when I was little. The kids had become addicted to the thrill of feeling weightless, making it the most popular game in the house, usually requiring a long wait.
"Alright, here we go! High-High!"
"Hahaha! Sister! Go higher!"
I lay on my back and lifted the first child into the air. I repeated a series of exhilarating ascents and descents, almost like a roller coaster, and the child on my legs was squealing with pure joy. *Ah, if I put my heart into it, this is nothing...* I was smiling with satisfaction when a child waiting in line quietly muttered:
"Sister, I can see your underwear."
Ah, right. I didn't have any pants today, so I was wearing a skirt. *Well, it’s just the kids, so it shouldn't matter too much,* I thought. But at that exact moment, I heard someone nearby gasp loudly. I turned my head toward the sound and saw Yoon Siwoo, his face turning bright red.
...Right, he was here today. But I couldn't disappoint the kids who were waiting for their turn. I quietly mouthed to Yoon Siwoo:
‘Look away.’
And until the line for "High-High" was finished, Yoon Siwoo couldn't bring himself to lift his head.
After playing with the kids and having lunch, the playroom, which had been so boisterous, fell eerily quiet. The children, who had played even harder than usual because of Yoon Siwoo’s visit, had all fallen into a group nap after their meal. With everyone asleep, the only one awake in the playroom was Leon, who was stuck to my side like glue. She seemed so happy to have me all to herself that she clung to me and said,
"Sister. Let’s play with Leon."
"Sure, what should we play?"
"Hmm... House? You be the mom, and Leon will be the daughter."
"...Alright. So I’m the mom."
I let out a dry laugh. Never in my life did I think I’d be playing house as the mother... but if Leon was the daughter, wouldn't that make it a single-parent household? That felt a bit sad for a game, so I asked her cautiously.
"Hey Leon, how about you play the dad?"
When I said that, Leon shook her head and pointed a finger somewhere else.
"No. The dad role is for that brother over there."
"...Huh?! Me?"
Yoon Siwoo, who had been slumped over as if his soul had been drained by the children, jumped in surprise at Leon’s words. He looked back and forth between me and Leon before replying with a creak.
"Th...that... so Scarlet and I are the married couple?"
Judging by his strange reaction, he didn't seem too keen on playing house. Seeing his subtle hesitation, Leon looked downcast, so I glared at Yoon Siwoo, and he hurriedly shouted:
"No! I don't hate it! I want to! I really want to!"
Leon’s face lit up at that. *You brat, you should’ve just said so from the start.* I nodded, satisfied by Leon’s brightened expression, and Yoon Siwoo hung his head low. Was he embarrassed to play house? Well, I suppose that’s normal at his age, though as an adult, you tend to become indifferent to such things.
"Anyway, Leon, what are we going to do for house?"
"Hmm... actually, Leon doesn't really know how to play house..."
It was cute that she wanted to play a game she didn't even understand. Leon pondered for a long time before her eyes widened as if she’d had a brilliant idea.
"Ah. Since Sister is the mom and Brother is the dad, I’ll draw a picture of us all together. It’s a family portrait because Mom, Dad, and Leon are all there."
At the words "family portrait," I felt a sudden lump in my throat. *...Right, for now, it’s okay for me to be Leon’s family.* I said to her gently,
"...Then do we just have to stay still?"
"I want you to be next to me so I can look at you while I draw."
"She says so. Come over here quickly."
As I beckoned Yoon Siwoo to come over, Leon stopped me. I tilted my head in confusion, and she said with a serious expression,
"Since Sister is the mom and Brother is the dad, Mom has to call Dad 'Honey' when she calls him."
Well, role-playing is important. I nodded and said to Yoon Siwoo,
"Honey, come over here quickly."
"H-Heeek?! O...okay, Honey..."
With a strange shriek, Yoon Siwoo scrambled over to sit next to me as if his feet were on fire. I glanced at him, and his face was truly bright red. He seemed incredibly embarrassed by the role-play. *This is why amateurs...* Usually, if you think it’s embarrassing, it only gets worse, but he didn't seem to know that yet.
"I’m going to draw now, so don't move."
Once Yoon Siwoo sat down, Leon opened her sketchbook and began to draw with intense focus. I’d learned from watching her draw a few times that she didn't always draw those strange things she used to draw when she looked at me. The fact that she was focusing on a normal drawing meant she wasn't seeing anything from me or Yoon Siwoo like she had before. I could finally wait for her to finish in peace.
After a while, Leon put down her crayons. The finished picture showed me and Yoon Siwoo with Leon smiling between us. It was a wonderful drawing; even if it was a bit crooked, she had captured our individual features so clearly that it was easy to tell who was who.
"...You drew that well."
"Right? Didn't I?"
I said, feeling strangely proud at Yoon Siwoo’s comment. He muttered quietly, his face still flushed,
"...Yeah, I wish I had a family like this, too."
A future where Yoon Siwoo could get married, have children, and live happily. *I wish that future would come, too,* I thought. I truly hoped that he—that this world—could reach a happy ending. Even if I wouldn't be there to see it.
After finishing the drawing, Leon must have finally felt the afternoon sleepiness, as she fell fast asleep with her head on my lap. With Leon asleep, it was just me and Yoon Siwoo.
"So, how is the new job?"
I asked him in a low voice, careful not to wake Leon. Yoon Siwoo looked slightly flustered by the sudden question, but soon answered in an equally quiet tone.
"It’s nothing much. Just taking turns standing guard morning and night. And taking leave once a week. It’s simpler than I thought."
He made it sound so easy, but unlike the front lines I’d experienced in the military, this was a terrifying place where the enemy attacked several times a day. Even if he said that, it was obvious that the workload was immense. Of course, the workload wouldn't be a problem for Yoon Siwoo, but...
"Are you having any trouble?"
"...Not really."
Yoon Siwoo hesitated for a moment before answering. That gap of a few seconds told me there was definitely something troubling him. Of course there would be. It was a unit that every hero dreamed of joining, despite how dangerous it was. Since a first-year student had graduated early and been handpicked for a special position, there were bound to be plenty of people who looked down on him. I felt responsible, knowing my opinion had played a part in him getting there. But since this foolish protagonist wasn't the type to complain to anyone, I spoke up to give him at least a moment of rest.
"You’re tired, aren't you? You’ve been working non-stop, and now that you’re on leave, you haven't even had a chance to rest because you’ve been playing with the kids. They’re all asleep now, so why don't you get some shut-eye?"
"No, I’m really fine."
"Forget it, just sleep. When else are you going to rest?"
Yoon Siwoo, who had been stubborn as a bull, finally nodded when I pushed him. He lay down on the floor, intending to sleep. It would clearly be uncomfortable, so I silently grabbed his head and pressed it down. His head settled onto my thigh—a lap pillow, if you will. Leon was using one side, so I could only offer the other, but it was the least I could do for the guy who was working so hard.
What’s the harm in giving a lap pillow to a poor guy who had to give up his school days? I positioned him so his face was turned outward and whispered into his ear,
"It’ll be uncomfortable if you just sleep like that, so use this. Don't refuse."
"..."
I’d said that just in case he tried to refuse, but he didn't answer, falling asleep the moment his head hit my lap—he must have been more tired than he let on. Watching him sleep, I was reminded of my direct subordinate back in my old unit. He had such terrible sleeping habits that during training, he’d always leave his own pillow in that cramped A-frame tent and sleep on my lap instead... I remembered how I’d always wake up with a cramped leg because I wasn't the type to wake up easily, but thankfully, this body was quite sturdy, so I didn't have to worry about it going numb.
As I reminisced, time flew by. Yoon Siwoo, who had been sleeping on my lap, woke up, hung his head, and ran off without even saying a word.
Martina, who had changed her hairstyle during her leave, was full of confidence. She was so sure that Yoon Siwoo would notice her, especially after the famous stylist she’d visited praised her for looking like a student, that she called out to him the moment he returned from his leave.
"Hey, rookie. How was your leave? More importantly, how do I look? Notice anything different?"
Yoon Siwoo replied energetically,
"Ah, Captain Martina! Yes! My leave was great. You look even prettier than usual, maybe because you just got back from your break!"
She should have been happy to be called pretty, but Martina sensed a difference in his tone and asked with a subtle feeling,
"...What’s with you? Did something good happen during your leave? You look incredibly energized."
"S-something good? No! Nothing happened! Ahaha..."
Martina, suspicious of his stuttering and flushed face, whispered to the vice-captain, Kanna, who was standing nearby.
"Hey, what’s up with him?"
Kanna sighed and replied,
"Ugh, can’t you tell? Damn it, some of us don't even have anyone to meet when we go on leave..."
...So he had someone he liked enough to be this energized after just a single day? Martina felt her insides boiling. Was it true that you just couldn't keep up with the youth? She gritted her teeth and asked Yoon Siwoo,
"...Is that so? I guess you met up with that girl you had a prior appointment with, then?"
Yoon Siwoo looked confused as he said,
"Um, Captain? The person I had the appointment with is older than you, so calling her a 'kid' is a bit..."
Martina felt as if the sky had collapsed. *No way...* Was his type not someone younger, but someone older?! Martina swallowed her tears and vowed to herself that next time she went on leave, she would definitely dress in a more mature style.