Chapter 14
Chapter 14
It seemed like Yeoreum had calmed down, but somehow it still felt like she had some lingering dissatisfaction.
Maybe that was why.
“Hey, Yeoreum.”
“Yes, mister.”
“… If you’re okay with it, how about we skip school for a day next week?”
—Pause.
Yeoreum’s chopsticks stopped mid-air.
She stared at me for a moment before speaking.
“Isn’t skipping a bit… wrong? I won’t get a perfect attendance award.”
“Yeoreum, you’re still in middle school. You don’t need to worry about that.”
“And the tuition is expensive. You sent me to such a good school…”
“But I’m the one suggesting we skip. Or do you actually want to go to school?”
She hesitated slightly, then shook her head.
“If I can skip… I want to.”
“Good. Then let’s skip for a day. We’ll file it as a field trip.”
“A field trip? Where are we even going?”
At her question, I decided to teach her a harsh truth of adulthood.
“Yeoreum, when paperwork is required, as long as you have proof, the truth doesn’t really matter.”
“… What?”
“I’ll handle the documents, so just think about having fun.”
“… What?”
She tilted her head in genuine confusion—something rare—and it was so cute that I patted her head.
As soon as I did, she quieted down noticeably, almost like she was enjoying it.
Yeah… no matter how mature she seemed, she was still just a kid.
After all, she was only fifteen.
The following Friday, I took a day off just for her.
When I said the reason was “I’m going out with my daughter,” everyone approved right away. I couldn’t help but feel grateful.
“Yeoreum, let’s go.”
“Yes…! Let’s go!”
She rushed outside energetically.
But her outfit made me uncomfortable.
“Uh, Yeoreum.”
“Yes, mister?”
“… Isn’t that outfit a bit too revealing?”
She glared at me and puffed her cheeks.
“This doesn’t even count as revealing.”
As expected of a heroine from a certain kind of game—she was very open about these things.
Still, even considering that, a short-sleeved blouse with hot pants was a bit much for this old man to accept.
“… Don’t you have something a little more modest?”
“… Does it not suit me?”
“No, it’s not that…”
To be honest, it suited her perfectly.
It almost felt unfair.
Yeoreum was, without exaggeration, one of the most beautiful beings in this world.
Even now, at her age, she already stood out.
Her twin-tail hairstyle, something only someone her age could pull off, matched her pure and delicate appearance perfectly.
And in the future… she would only become even more beautiful.
“… Then it’s fine.”
“Yeoreum?”
“If I look pretty to you, that’s enough.”
She smiled softly.
“Today is a day to spend with you, so that’s all that matters.”
… Where did she learn to talk like that?
I walked up to her and took her hand.
“Then, shall we go?”
“Yes.”
I led her to the car and began driving to our destination.
After a while, she looked out the window, then suddenly spoke up.
“… Mister.”
“Yes?”
“Where are we going?”
“Try guessing.”
“Hmmm… I don’t know…”
“We’re almost there.”
I kept driving, and then—
“… Huh? That’s…”
“Can you see it, Yeoreum?”
“Yes…!”
Her voice grew excited.
There was a simple reason.
“… Are we going to an amusement park?”
“Yeah. I realized I’ve never taken you to a place like this.”
“… Thank you, mister.”
“It’s nothing. Let’s just have fun.”
“Yes!”
She answered brightly.
But honestly, I underestimated her.
Even though she would become a magical girl in the future, Yeoreum originally had low stamina.
So I thought she’d get tired quickly.
I was wrong.
At fifteen, she was still full of energy.
“Mister! Let’s ride that next!”
“Sure.”
“Yes!”
She kept dragging me from one ride to another without rest.
It wasn’t that I was physically tired—but mentally, it was overwhelming.
Still, it didn’t matter.
Because—
“Mister~! This one looks fun too!”
It had been a long time since I’d seen her smile like that.
After running around nonstop, I finally felt a bit overwhelmed.
Luckily, it was lunchtime.
“Yeoreum, how about we eat first?”
“Lunch? Okay!”
She looked much brighter than usual, and I felt relieved as I took her to the food court.
There were so many restaurants.
“Which one looks good?”
“… Mister, is it just me?”
“What is?”
“It’s really expensive.”
I decided to teach her another harsh truth.
“Yeoreum.”
“Yes.”
“Prices inside amusement parks are different from outside.”
“… Why?”
“Who knows.”
If you fully understand that, you won’t be a kid anymore.
In the end, we went into a franchise chicken place.
Everything else was too expensive, according to her.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? There are better places outside.”
“There’s no guarantee they’re better.”
“That’s true.”
“And… I’m happy just eating with you.”
“… Yeoreum…”
How did I end up with such an angel?
At that moment, I made a vow.
To cherish her more. To treat her more kindly.
Then she suddenly asked—
“Mister… what should I call you here?”
“Hm?”
“At school or around adults, I call you dad. But here… there are strangers.”
“… Ah.”
“I’ll leave it to you. Call me whatever you want.”
She thought for a moment, then said something unexpected.
“… Hyunmin oppa.”
“… What?”
“Hyunmin oppa. Isn’t that okay?”
Oppa.
Normally, that word would feel… different.
But coming from her—
“Yeoreum, that’s a bit…”
I had raised her for five years. Oppa didn’t feel right.
But she was firm.
“Honestly, ‘mister’ is weirder. With a ten-year gap, ‘oppa’ makes more sense.”
“… That’s true, but…”
“So I’ll call you oppa here.”
In the end, I gave up.
I couldn’t win against her.
We ate chicken, rode more attractions, and spent an incredibly fun day.
After everything, we watched the parade before heading home.
And then—
“Hyunmin oppa… no, mister.”
“Yes, Yeoreum…”
She switched back.
And honestly, I was relieved.
That “oppa” thing was too much for me.
“Mister, thank you. For today. For going along with everything.”
“… No, Yeoreum. If you want, I’ll always do this for you.”
She smiled brightly and nodded.
“Thank you. Always. And… thank you for everything in the future too, mister.”
At that moment, she looked more beautiful than ever.
And from that day on, Yeoreum never once got angry or snapped at me again.
If anything, she became even more affectionate.
… Which, honestly, was much better.