A New Beginning (1)
For a moment, Seojin and the sisters simply held each other. They glanced up at him with hopeful eyes, clearly enjoying the gentle head pats. Aware of this, he kept stroking their hair until they had fully regained their composure. No words passed between them. They just clung tightly, as if they weren't ready to speak yet.
How much time passed like that? When the noise from outside grew louder, he stopped petting them and sat up slightly.
"Shall we stay here a bit longer, or head out?"
"Out... side?"
"Yeah. Seems like things are wrapping up."
The sisters still felt a twinge of anxiety about what had happened to their father, but Seojin's smile eased their worries. It'll be fine, they thought. They nodded in unison and stood up together.
"Don't worry. No need to be tense. It's all over now."
Seojin patted their heads once more for reassurance, and bright smiles bloomed on the sisters' faces. If he was saying it like that, there was no more reason to fear. Even if something scary happened, they believed the man before them would protect them. With that faith, they took one step, then another.
The scene outside was one of crowds milling about, conducting investigations. As the three emerged, someone spotted them and approached with a groan of irritation.
"Haah. Lee Seojin, you bastard. Hey, kid! I get beating up villains—that's fine. But pounding civilians like this? Not cool, man. Not cool! You turned 'em into mush. Gonna have to clean up the bodies tomorrow?"
"Civilians my ass. They're criminals. Those guys were involved in child sex trafficking, and this place ties into villains too."
"What? What?! Hey, is that true? Villains are involved?"
"Of course. You ever seen me lie, hyung?"
Kim Hoyeon had approached half-jokingly, half-seriously to rib him, but Seojin's words hit with real gravity. Villain issues were always a hot topic—unpredictable threats that struck anywhere, anytime, and some even ran organized operations. Sensing this could escalate badly, he pondered deeply before turning back to Seojin.
"Hey, tell me more about—"
That was before he noticed the sisters huddled right against Seojin, staring blankly.
"What's with these kids?"
"Victims of this crime. And... the ones I wanted to save."
"...Damn."
Looking down at the sisters with a mix of emotions, Kim Hoyeon let out a soft sigh of admiration. Just a few months ago, this guy had been like a wild beast who didn't understand people at all. Now he was starting to care. He didn't hate the change—not one bit. Sniffing and rubbing his nose, he approached the sisters.
"Yeah? So these are your princesses, huh... Hi there, kids?"
Grinning warmly like a friendly uncle, Kim Hoyeon tried to play nice. But right now, the only outsider the sisters would allow near them was Seojin. They edged back warily, like daughters hiding behind their dad.
"...Who are you?"
"...Go away."
"Wha?!"
Sensing the sharp glint in their eyes, Kim Hoyeon floundered awkwardly. The sisters didn't drop their guard, relaxing only around Seojin. Guessing Seojin's involvement, he flashed a cheeky grin and pointed at him.
"Uncle's not a bad guy~ He's friends with that uncle over there."
"...Friends?"
"...For real?"
"Yup~ He came to help you guys out. See? Over there and there—those collapsed guys?"
Following his gesture revealed a shocking sight. Outside the door, several bloodied figures lay on stretchers as ambulances provided emergency care. Most eye-catching was the father—mangled beyond recognition, whether man or corpse. His face was burst open, limbs twisted grotesquely like a broken doll. His fists, especially, were pulverized, trembling uncontrollably.
"Ha, damn. No matter how pissed you were, kid, is this hero behavior? That's gotta be dead!"
"He's retired anyway. And he won't die from that. I know how much it takes to kill a person."
"Aigoo~ Is that so? You're a real pro now. Fine, handle it yourself, oh great Lee Seojin~?"
"C'mon, hyung, why you gotta be like that? Even retired, I can clean this up. Can't you help a guy out? Pretty please~?"
"Hey, idiot! That's the problem—you're retired! The Association watches ex-heroes even harder. Supers are nothing but trouble. This? You'll probably end up in jail!"
Kim Hoyeon wagged a finger scoldingly, but it was all brotherly banter. No real punishment awaited—not with child sex trafficking and villain ties in the mix. As close as blood brothers, they bickered playfully. The issue? The sisters took it seriously.
"J... Jail...!"
"Uncle's going to... jail?!"
They'd been glued to Seojin's side moments ago, but now they rushed to Kim Hoyeon, pleading desperately.
"U-Uncle, please. Don't send him to jail."
"W-What do I have to do? Please don't send Uncle to jail... Please...!"
The sudden clinging pleas flustered him. He hadn't bantered like this in ages, but Seojin's changes had lulled him into old habits. Seeing them take it to heart, he felt both awkward and pitying. Seojin had briefed him briefly on his retirement and the sisters before requesting the investigation. Digging deeper himself, he'd learned their tragic lives.
"Ahaha... Looks like our cute little ladies misunderstood. It's not like that."
"I-It's not?"
"Then what... is it?"
They stopped pleading and stared puzzled. He hurried to explain.
"Just a joke. A joke! This Seojin uncle used to be super~ super~ stoic and cold. But now he's all soft, like he ate some rat poison or something. So I teased him like old times."
"A... joke..."
"...That's too much! What kind of joke is that?!"
"Ahaha... Sorry about that."
He shot Seojin a sheepish look and an you handle this glance, but Seojin just shook his head. Luckily, the topic didn't drag on. Listening earlier had sparked a new curiosity in the sisters.
"Anyway... Uncle, was he really that stoic?"
"Cold?"
"Oh? Yeah~!! Don't even get me started. He was like—"
Relieved the awkwardness passed, Kim Hoyeon beamed. But Seojin cut in, shaking his head firmly and pressing a finger to his lips in a silent don't you dare.
"Ahem. Uh-hum! Ask Seojin uncle about that. People change sometimes, so don't worry too much."
"Mm... Okay."
"Hmmm... Curious, but I'll hold back."
They eyed him like interrogators, then scampered back to Seojin, hugging him tightly as if on cue. They gazed up curiously, but his later hand signal made them grin happily instead.
"Anyway, thanks, hyung. For rushing over on my request."
"Pfft, enough already. You're giving me goosebumps... What're brothers for? This is nothing."
"...Yeah? Guess you're right. I'll help you anytime too—just say the word."
"Shut it. Just behave from now on. This is your first slip-up and you're getting off easy. Next time? No mercy."
Kim Hoyeon swung mock punches, glaring playfully. Seojin chuckled awkwardly.
"Get going. Nothing for you to do here. I'll fill you in later."
"As expected from my capable hyung. HQ chief soon?"
"Quiet. Even as chief, you think I'd ditch team leader? Got a troublemaker like you on the loose."
"Haha... Thanks. For real."
"No sweat. Scram, kid."
Waving him off as he pulled out a cigarette, the three left the scene behind.
※
Back home, the sisters bounded inside with radiant smiles.
"Waaah~! We're back!"
"This place is the comfiest. No more leaving!"
They'd clung to Seojin the whole ride, showing no sign of letting go. But once inside, they detached happily. Now they knew. He really wouldn't abandon them. His promise to stay by their side meant they'd live together from here on out.
But Seojin had other thoughts.
The place is too rundown...
The location was bad enough, but it was cramped and shabby. Just one room too—living here long-term would get uncomfortable. He'd care for them at least until they grew up, met someone, married, and moved out. Time for a bigger place.
Money wasn't an issue. B-rank hero pay plus villain bounties had fattened his retirement fund nicely.
That aside, the priority now was...
"Yu Sua, Yu Se Eun. Good is good, but let's wash up first."
Their hygiene. They'd been wearing his clothes while wandering outside endlessly—bound to be filthy. A good rest required a clean body. Bath time first.
...Thinking like this really showed how much he'd changed.
"Yes, Seojin uncle."
"Got it."
On the ride home, crammed in the narrow car, they'd chatted about everything. Future plans, their wants, how to interact, what to call each other, daily life—stuff like that. Not in depth, given the short time, but they'd figure it out gradually, adapting as they went.
Wait—hold on.
"Hey! Kids! Undress inside! Inside!!"
Lost in thought, he'd missed the sisters starting to lift their shirts right in front of him. They'd stripped in the room fine at first meeting?! Flustered, he covered his eyes and barked. They glanced around, then apologized.
"Ah... Sorry."
"Ehehe... Didn't think about that. Sorry."
They quickly lowered their shirts. Peeking through his fingers until they were decent, he dropped his hand.
Polite and innocent big sister Yu Sua. Innocent, confident, mischievous little sister Yu Se Eun.
A hunch that their days ahead would be eventful hit just then—as his phone rang.
♬~♪~♩♩
"Huh? One sec."
Fishing it out, he saw it was Han Sujung. Probably tipped off by Hoyeon hyung? Smiling instinctively, he answered.
"Yo, Han Sujung~! What's up?"