Episode 1
Episode 1
The childhood friends often depicted in various media typically share a special bond.
For example, they might have promised to marry when they were little, or been so inseparable you'd think they'd die without each other.
Whether they're the same gender or not, it's common to see them being close, taking baths together or playing around all the time.
I have a childhood friend like that too.
Well, to be more precise, it's correct to say I had one, but only until elementary school.
"Son, what are you up to?"
"Not doing anything in particular."
"Well, Da-eun from next door seems to have some kind of body ache or cold, and she's groaning all by herself. Could you go over and take care of her a bit?"
That child's name is Im Da-eun.
When we were young, to exaggerate a bit, you could say we lived in the same house—she was the girl from next door, whom I spent so much time with that
"Right now?"
After middle school, for some unknown reason, she started avoiding my gaze and speaking less, so our conversations almost completely stopped. She's my childhood friend.
I tried my best to start conversations, but since Da-eun unilaterally shut them down, lately we've barely exchanged any words.
"Personally, I'd like to go myself, but since you two have been close since you were little, wouldn't it be better if you went?"
"What about her family?"
"Since last month, they had travel plans for her maternal grandmother's 70th birthday celebration, so they couldn't cancel the plane tickets now."
Besides being childhood friends, we were also neighbors living next door, so our family and Da-eun's family weren't just acquaintances—they were on close terms.
Considering our moms often went shopping together and our dads frequently went out for fishing or billiards, you'd think we were close relatives.
"Besides, Da-eun's parents said Da-eun would be happier if Garim-young went personally. They said they could trust and entrust her to you."
"...."
"Da-eun also said she wanted to see your face."
"Da-eun did?"
Whether it's unfortunate or fortunate, both sets of parents think Da-eun and I are still on good terms.
In truth, if you look closely, lately we just exchange greetings, so we're in a situation where we don't know anything about what the other is up to.
"Now, get up quickly. Take the side dishes I made, go give her some food, and help with anything she needs. Try to come back before dinner if possible."
If possible, I'd really like to avoid this situation.
There's nothing in the world as uncomfortable and awkward as being left alone with a childhood friend you've grown distant from.
"....Yes."
Unfortunately, there was no way for me to avoid this situation.
Letting out a deep sigh, I grabbed the bag Mom packed and hurriedly stepped out of the house.
'I should just go quickly, hand over the side dishes, and come right back.'
Going quickly, taking care of business, and leaving is probably the best approach for both her and me.
I ran straight to the next-door house and knocked on the front door.
Knock knock-
It's not that I don't know the front door lock code, but even though I came with a purpose, I thought it would be impolite to just barge in by opening the door.
If by any chance Da-eun was in good enough condition to open the door, I could just hand over the bag I was holding and leave.
I stood there quietly, knocking a few times and waiting, but the entrance remained as silent as a mouse.
Waiting longer like this probably won't mean much.
'What was the house entrance code again....'
Beep-
It's been so long since I opened the door myself that my memory of the code came back in fragments.
Right as I was racking my brain some more
"Our house code is my birthday! Dad always tells me he'll definitely set it to this! Garim-ah, you memorize it too, so you can come over to play anytime~"
Suddenly, a conversation we had when we were little came to mind, and I immediately moved my fingers to tap in the number.
Beep beep beep-
Ding-dong!
'They still haven't changed it...'
November 4th, Da-eun's birthday.
It's probably been years since I properly celebrated it, but perhaps because we spent so much time together, I still remembered her birthday.
We were really close back then...
Whoosh whoosh-
I pushed the thoughts far away and moved my body inside the house after opening the door.
The slightly worn-out floor, the wall with height marks made while growing up, and so on.
A house so familiar it felt like home unfolded before my eyes.
Pushing aside the old memories that surfaced as I looked around, I walked up to the door that was once the most familiar but now felt awkward.
Knock knock-
"Da-eun-ah, are you awake?"
Just in case, I knocked first and then called her name, but
"Ga, Garim... is that you?"
A response laced with obvious panic came back.
Well, coming to her room suddenly now that we've grown distant, it's understandable.
"Yeah, it's me. Mom said you were sick and asked if I could come take care of you. Can I come in?"
I stated my purpose for being here as politely and non-intrusively as possible.
Even by my own standards, that seemed okay.
"Just, just wait a moment...!"
But whether my intention got across or not, after that one line from inside the room, all I could hear were sounds of her busily moving around.
And that was for several minutes at a time, too.
'...Maybe I should have just given her the side dishes and left.'
For a moment, I thought that, but if I had turned back right away, it's quite possible that instead of side dishes, I would have been the one on the dinner table tonight.
Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.
I wonder how many more minutes passed like that.
"Y-you can co-ome in..."
I finally succeeded in getting permission to enter her room.
If I had waited a little longer, my legs would have been really sore, so it's a good thing.
The room of my childhood friend, which I was entering after such a long time... was, surprisingly, not particularly different at all.
The desk where we used to study together, the game consoles we often played with... it was to the point where not a single thing had changed from the room's layout in my memory.
"Hi..."
While I was briefly surveying the room, a small voice greeted me from the bed.
Shifting my gaze toward the sound,
"Oh, hi."
I saw Daeun lying down, her face red as she pulled the covers over herself.
She said she felt really sick, and seeing her bright red face, it seems she has a high fever.
"How are you feeling? Are you feeling really bad?"
"Mmh... I do feel bad, but... I think it's bearable...?"
What on earth does it mean to feel bad but bearable?
"My mom packed some porridge and the braised beef ribs you like for you."
"Ah, she didn't have to go that far... Cough."
"You look really unwell. Did you take any medicine?"
"Mmh, I just took whatever was available a little while ago, so I took it right away."
Well, it's a relief she at least took some medicine.
She probably won't eat the porridge and braised ribs right now, so I should put them in the refrigerator.
"Was I interrupting your rest?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Do you need anything?"
Even though things were a bit awkward between us, perhaps because she's my childhood friend, or maybe because seeing her sick softened my heart...
Contrary to my previous thought of leaving right away, I now thought I could at least help with one thing she might need.
"Mmm... my throat hurts, so... could you maybe... just get me a glass of water?"
"That's no problem. Just a moment."
As soon as she made the request, I left the room and went to the kitchen, familiarly searching for a cup.
Maybe because I practically lived here, I could find what I needed right away.
'Hmm... Would tea be better than just giving her warm water?'
Seeing the citron tea placed on the water purifier, I hesitated for a moment.
Clatter-
I decided to give her a cup of warm tea.
Since forever, apart from anything else, she always loved drinking citron tea when she had a cold, so she probably wouldn't dislike it if I brought it.
Stir stir-
'Should I have made it a bit stronger?'
Trying to recall her preferred method as much as possible, I finished making the citron tea and returned to her room.
"Here, be careful, it's hot."
"Thanks... Huh, what's this...?"
Perhaps because it was something other than the water she asked for in the cup, she looked slightly flustered.
Was I being presumptuous...?
"You've always liked drinking strong citron tea when you had a cold, remember? You said it was sweet and warmed your body."
"Mmhh..."
Daeun, bowing her head deeply, just stared at the contents of the cup.
Her head was bowed so low it looked like she might bump her nose on it.
It probably wasn't to her liking after all.
"I brought it instead of water because I remembered that... If it's hard to drink, should I get you some warm water instead?"
"Oh, ah... N-no!!"
Daeun suddenly shouted sharply.
For a moment, I was left dumbfounded by the loud sound that came out of nowhere.
To the point of shouting...?
"I-It's... I like this."
"You do? That's good then..."
I don't know why she shouted, but she didn't seem to really dislike it, as Daeun started sipping the citron tea like a cat right after she finished speaking.
She made pleased expressions in between sips.
'Well, I've done what I can. Maybe I should let her rest now.'
"I've done what I came to do, so I'll just put the things I brought in the fridge and head back."
"Huh...?"
"You don't need anything else, right?"
"Mmhh..."
I went ahead and opened the door,
"Get some good rest. I'm leaving."
and tried to leave the room with a simple farewell.
At that moment,
"Hey, hey. Garim-ah...!!"
I felt a tug on my sleeve along with the voice calling me.
"Yeah, what is it? Do you need something?"
I asked again, and Daeun began to hem and haw.
What on earth does she want to say after calling me like this? I waited for her a little while.
How many minutes did I wait?
Taking a deep breath, Daeun...
"...Can you wait for a moment?"
Suddenly got up from her spot and began rummaging around her room.
It seems like she wants to give me something, but what could it possibly be...?
"Ah, found it... Garim-ah, take this."
Daeun found a certain white notebook and quickly came back, handing it to me.
A pure white notebook with no markings, illustrations, or even letters on the front or back. What on earth could this be?
Curious, I immediately opened the first page right there, and inside was written:
[Gumiho User Manual]
...words in a script I couldn't understand.