Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 265
Chapter Title: 87. The Reason for Smiling (3)
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Why on earth is she smiling like that?
The kids found that the most puzzling thing of all.
On their way out to the playground, the scary adult's phone rang. He told Winter to go on ahead for a moment, and the friends who had been watching him sidled up to her, whispering worriedly.
"Winter."
"...Yeah?"
"You're not in any kind of trouble, right...?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Like, some bad guy suddenly kidnapped you or something? Nothing like that... right?"
"Y-yeah. If something's wrong, just tell us. We'll help you..."
Winter tilted her head, still looking like she had no idea what they were talking about.
Just then, Yoo Ji-tae finished his call and approached. The startled kids quickly put some distance between themselves and him again. They decided to keep watching Yoo Ji-tae and Winter. No matter how they looked at it, there was a huge disconnect between the 'dad' from Winter's description and the adult standing right in front of them.
The first class for parent participation day: PE.
The guardians could either watch the kids play or join in at their level. So Yoo Ji-tae watched to see what Winter usually did during PE.
"Alright. Free time today."
The homeroom teacher tossed out a ball. The kids mixed together in groups of twos and threes, some playing dodgeball, others heading off for basketball or soccer.
In the midst of that, Winter was assigned to the bench.
So he had no choice but to sit on the bench with her.
"Why don't you go out and run around?"
"...I hate exercise."
"Why."
"...Scared I'll hurt someone."
The subject she'd omitted there was probably 'someone'.
Winter, whose mana control was still clumsy, lived as cautiously as possible. She didn't want to accidentally hurt anyone with her strength.
"Ever made a mistake?"
"...Mm."
From her explanation, it sounded like she'd nearly messed up once at the beginning of the semester, and hadn't done anything since.
"Don't you get bored just watching every day?"
"...I have friends."
"They're not here right now."
Winter pointed off to one side. Three girls who'd been sneaking glances at them from earlier.
"Then play with me today."
"...Huh?"
Yoo Ji-tae stood up slowly, and Winter got up to follow him. The two headed out to the playground.
By then, Winter's friends watching from afar focused on their movements.
The scary adult headed to the jungle gym with Winter, ball in hand.
The jungle gym at a public elementary school was a composite playset—pull-up bars, cloud ladder, slide, all connected together.
What were they planning to do there? A dangerous spot like the jungle gym didn't suit Winter. As the kids worried, Yoo Ji-tae hoisted Winter onto his back and climbed up. Then, atop the precarious steel framework gaps, he tossed the ball to her. That seemed odd too. Winter hated playing with balls.
"Huh...?"
But Winter smiled brightly as she tossed the ball back and forth with him. It wasn't just tossing—it was like dodgeball, aiming for each other's bodies.
The amazing part was how the ball stuck to Winter's hand like a magnet.
"Eh...?"
"What's going on?"
The adult tossed the ball at Winter's head. She caught it easily and threw it back haphazardly, forcing him to twist unnaturally atop the jungle gym to keep it from falling. It was so funny that Winter burst out laughing, "Kyaa~!"
Soon, Winter's throw hit the adult square on the head.
It really was dodgeball. As punishment, he carried her across the cloud ladder. When they slid down the slide together, Winter threw her hands up high and grinned ear to ear.
Suddenly, one friend recalled what Winter had said about her 'dad's kind side'.
No, it still didn't quite match the image in her imagination. This scary adult looked more like a big dog reluctantly playing with a kid who kept pestering it.
It was surprisingly gentle compared to first impressions...
But it still wasn't enough to explain why Winter was smiling, from the kids' perspective.
"The second parent participation class is art time."
The surveillance and observation continued into the next class, art.
The two drew pictures together. Neither was good at it.
"Hey. Why'd you paint that black?"
"...Why?"
"That's a tree."
"...Burnt tree, right?"
"Burnt?"
The painting's theme changed. Winter giggled. When the adult drew red around the tree, she started painting yellow below it.
"Hey. Why yellow under the tree?"
"...Ice cream cone."
"What?"
"...Strawberry matcha ice cream."
"What's this black stuff?"
"...Choco bar?"
Whenever the adult tried to do something, Winter kept interfering. The resulting picture went from tree to ice cream, ice cream to a clown-suited person, then Winter slathered black over it all, turning it into something unrecognizable.
"Winter."
"...Yes?"
"What happens to everything we drew before?"
"...Rift."
"The clown we drew went into the rift?"
Then Winter put her hands to her cheeks, looking at Yoo Ji-tae.
"...You imagined it like that?"
"What?"
"...Cute."
Winter burst into laughter again, and the adult shook his head in disbelief.
'Having a blast, huh...'
The kid with glasses muttered.
They looked like they were having fun even from the sidelines.
'Maybe he's not as scary as he looks?'
'Eh? His voice is super gruff too...'
'But he hasn't done anything bad, right?'
'Yeah, would he act up in front of everyone while playing with his own daughter?'
'Isn't that treating him like a criminal...?'
By now, the kids' opinions were starting to split.
He doesn't know yet. vs. He's a good guy.
That was when the kids were murmuring about the adult and Winter during break time.
The classroom's back door burst open, and a boy strode in.
'Huh? It's that guy from earlier. The one who gave Winter the flowers.'
The boy, staring at the floor with his long legs, charged toward Winter's seat—until he spotted the burly adult. He jolted in surprise, pretended not to see, turned around, and casually exited through the front door.
Winter's gaze lingered on the boy a bit longer than usual, so Yoo Ji-tae asked.
"Why. Who's that?"
"...The one who gave me flowers."
"He gave you this?"
Yoo Ji-tae pulled the money-made flower bouquet from the drawer.
"...Yes."
"Why don't you give it back?"
"...By myself?"
"Then. Want me to come?"
"......"
Winter blinked at him blankly.
"Have you ever done this before?"
Winter shook her head. There had been similar things before, but never receiving a public bouquet in front of everyone.
Yoo Ji-tae looked at the note tucked into the bouquet. A name and phone number were written on it.
"Why do you think he gave this to you?"
"......"
"Maybe he's trying to get on your good side?"
"......"
"It's your business, so you should handle it yourself. I don't come to school like this every day."
"......"
"There might be more situations like this in the future. Better to experience it now while I'm here than your first time later. If there's a problem, I'll help."
"......"
"Tying things up neatly is important too. He might be waiting."
"......"
"So go. I'll be right here."
"......"
"Huh?"
Winter just stared straight at Yoo Ji-tae without responding.
The kids watched the adult and Winter tensely.
Yeah, playing happily for a bit was no big deal. But now his words seemed reasonable, and they could understand Winter's reluctance to go alone.
'Is Winter gonna get scolded?'
'This isn't something to scold over, right...?'
'But the scary guy's words make sense too...'
Yoo Ji-tae closed his mouth and met her gaze.
The kids shrank back in fear. He seemed even scarier with his mouth shut than when they were chattering away.
But Winter didn't look away.
She just reached out and gripped the sleeve at Yoo Ji-tae's wrist tightly.
Winter's hands were smaller than her peers', and Yoo Ji-tae was bigger than most adults. Her hand grabbing his long-sleeve cuff felt tiny.
Their gazes locked tensely. When Winter didn't back down,
"Alright... I get it. Let's go together."
He stood up reluctantly, and only then did Winter's face brighten.
Winter grabbed the bouquet and toddled off, with him matching her steps with his long strides. Her friends stealthily stood and followed behind.
The boy was in the hallway. A bit more mature than his peers, he was going through puberty—leaning against the wall, staring blankly.
The boy still held out hope since Winter hadn't thrown away the flowers. She likes money. Maybe she'll at least message the number.
That's when Winter came out, looked around, spotted him, and held out the bouquet.
"Wh-what? What's this?"
"...Giving it back."
"N-no, it's fine!"
He wouldn't take it, so Winter lightly tossed the bouquet at him. He caught it reflexively as it arced down.
"Uh, um. Then... can I have your number?"
"...Huh?"
"Give me your number."
Winter hesitated a little then.
It had been easier with Myeong-jun, whom she knew well. But confessing from a stranger was new, and she didn't know what to say.
But like Yoo Ji-tae said, better to end it cleanly.
"...Um."
"Y-yeah?"
"...I’m not interested in you."
"Wh-why? I have money. I'm tall. Good at piano..."
Winter thought again, then answered.
"...Not interested in money or height or piano."
"Ah. Uh. Then? What should I do?"
"...No. I just have no interest in you. ...You don't need to do anything."
"......"
"...Sorry. Bye."
Winter waved and turned back to the classroom. Only then did the boy realize his confession had failed completely.
The boy gave up and returned to his own class.
Winter's friends watched the boy's retreating back.
Surprisingly, it had resolved cleanly.
'Good for her...'
'Yeah... right?'
Kids their age sometimes threw tantrums after rejection, badmouthing out of spite. But the boy seemed fully resigned.
Back in the classroom, Winter hugged Yoo Ji-tae, who had been waiting by the door. He asked if she'd done well, and said she had.
The kids felt like they somewhat understood the kind dad Winter had talked about.
But something still felt off.
They couldn't grasp why Winter was smiling so brightly.
"The final class will be creative experience activities. Gather in groups and make a cake together."
But as the last class began, the kids finally realized.
"H-hi... We're Winter's friends."
"Yeah."
At Winter's request, the kids teamed up with Yoo Ji-tae.
The kids whipped cream with the adult vigorously.
Sliced the bread vertically for layers.
Spread cream between them.
Decorated the top with strawberries and jam.
In the process, Winter kept splattering whipped cream on the adult's face, giggling nonstop. He'd retaliate by smearing some on her face in exasperation.
Similar to the drawing class earlier.
Seeing it up close, it felt incredibly natural to her friends.
'Winter's dad is surprisingly pure...'
'Yeah...'
'Like, fun to tease? That kind of adult...?'
'Tease him? Even if Winter's gutsy, I couldn't...'
As they muttered, one girl realized.
'Hey, hey! I think I get it.'
'Huh?' 'What?'
'That scary uncle's been playing for real with Winter this whole time...!'
'For real...?'
Fourth graders. Precocious kids starting to see the world through their own lens. At this age, they distinguish self from others clearly, understand others, and grasp how they appear to them. They learn how adults play with kids.
Adults play with kids.
This 'play with' doesn't mean playing together. They let the kids play.
Within the clear boundary of adulthood. Pretending to play, matching the child's level. One step behind. Just enough consideration to keep the child happy.
As kids mature, they understand that consideration. That's when true mutual play becomes hard. Adults accommodate kids' moods out of consideration, but now kids start accommodating adults' moods too. All-consideration playtime can't be fun.
In that sense, this scary adult was unique. He didn't seem thrilled. Wasn't playing super hard. Yet in drawing, he followed Winter without pretense. Questioned her ruining it genuinely.
And more. He didn't try to draw well. Didn't scold her for messing up his work.
'For real...'
'He's genuine... Just enjoys playing.'
Even now.
He seemed to have no thoughts on cake-making or the activity's purpose.
The cake was a mess, but he didn't judge it.
In the chaotic drawing or cake-making times. The adult and Winter were sincere, and that made Winter happy.
It was funny watching up close. When Winter tried feeding Yoo Ji-tae a small strawberry but shoved it up his nose, onlookers chuckled softly.
His genuine exasperation was hilarious. The friends naturally immersed in the scene. Laughter grew. When Winter trolled by cutting the round cake square, they couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"Yaaah! It's ruined!"
"Kyahahaha!"
"Yoo Winter! Why'd you cut it so badly!"
By then, Winter was clutching her stomach, laughing hysterically.
Parent participation day ended. The scary adult waved goodbye and left. The kids waved back.
Only after the hazy time passed did they realize.
"I think I get it."
"Me too..."
They'd thought Winter wasn't the type to smile easily, so her smiles must have special reasons. But Winter didn't need special reasons to smile. Just like how they'd started laughing freely at some point. By then, analyzing reasons had vanished.
So looking back now, the reason Winter smiled around her dad was simple.
She just felt like smiling.