New Friend
"You feeling a little better?"
"Yes, thanks to you… Thank you."
Her eyes were still red-rimmed and her voice still cracked, but at least some life had returned to Seol-hwa's tone. I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The whole new-friend plan had fallen apart thanks to those lowlifes.
I rolled my eyes sideways without a word.
She was putting on a brave face, but anyone could tell it was an act at a glance. She was terrible at lying, after all.
Bouncing right back after something like that would have been the strange part.
So… what now?
I was turning over the friend idea, or any way to cheer Seol-hwa up even a little, when a crying sound reached my ears.
"What's going on?"
"It seems to be coming from the park over there…"
"This place…"
Following the sound, we arrived at the park where I had first met Seol-hwa.
In the middle of the empty park, a little girl who looked about kindergarten age was crouched down, crying.
"A lost kid…?"
I hurriedly scanned the surroundings, but no one who looked like a parent was in sight.
This is a mess…
I clicked my tongue, fretting over what to do, when Seol-hwa carefully approached the little girl.
"It's okay not to cry. There, there."
Watching her crouch down to match the child's eye level and soothe her, I figured there was no room for me to jump in, so I stepped back a little and simply watched.
Two or three minutes passed. The noisy crying gradually quieted down.
"Good job. What's your name? Can you tell me?"
"Yu Min-i…"
"Wow, what a pretty name. Do you know where your parents are?"
"I don't know…"
I went over and crouched beside Seol-hwa as she soothed Mini, who looked ready to burst into tears again.
"Kids like this usually have a name tag with an address or something…"
"Waaah—!!"
"Hey, wait…! What did I even do to make you cry all of a sudden?!"
"You look scary…!!"
"Hey, let's just go."
The kid's remark cleanly wiped away whatever pity or sympathy I'd been feeling. My facial muscles twitched as I started to stand—
Seol-hwa said, "She's just a little kid, so let's be patient…" and caught my arm to stop me.
"You shouldn't say things like that to someone you've just met, okay?"
"Okay. Um, that is…"
"Yu-seong. And this is Seol-hwa."
When I told the hesitant Mini our names, she carefully bowed her head.
"I'm sorry, Yu-seong…"
"It's fine. Just don't do it next time."
Seol-hwa looked Mini over this way and that, then shook her head with a sigh.
"Nothing? No name tag or anything?"
"…Looks like it."
"This is awkward…"
Normally it would be on their belongings or clothes… but it seemed we couldn't count on that kind of luck.
"Best we can do is take her to the nearest police box, I guess."
We had no choice but to change course from home toward the police box. Luckily it wasn't far from here, so we would arrive soon.
"By the way, you're pretty good with kids."
"Uh… am I?"
"She's following you really well, isn't she?"
Indeed, Mini, holding Seol-hwa's hand, was walking along with a bright smile—hard to believe she had been crying loud enough for the whole neighborhood just moments earlier.
I vaguely remembered from some TV documentary that people who never had smooth family relationships tended to be awkward with little kids and that sort of thing.
But not everything on TV holds true, apparently. I had a living counterexample right in front of me.
"…I just thought I'd like someone to do this for me, that's all."
"…What?"
When I asked back with a "what do you mean" tone, Seol-hwa scratched her cheek with a finger, looking embarrassed, and opened her mouth.
"When I was little… I never got this kind of help. I didn't go outside much, so I never got lost either… but even if I disappeared, they probably wouldn't have cared.
The ordinary families I'd see in passing… I just watched them vaguely. And I'd think things like… I'm jealous… or I wish someone would do that for me too…
I just did those things… That's all. I was worried I might mess something up, but Mini liked it, so I'm glad… Um, um… why are you suddenly patting my head?"
"Just felt like you did a good job."
"I-I only did what was natural…"
"There are more people than you'd think who don't find that natural."
Putting yourself in someone else's shoes, they call it.
These days, with people so cold-hearted, folks who think that way are rare.
I felt a bitter taste at Seol-hwa assuming her family wouldn't look for her, and at the same time I thought it was admirable that she could still say and do this much.
By the time her words sank in, my hand had already moved on its own.
Seol-hwa flinched but didn't really resist, so I carefully stroked her hair.
At first she looked flustered, not knowing what to do. But after a moment she broke into a shy smile, and I smiled too.
In comics they stroke heads a lot, but I don't really get what's so good about it…
Well, whatever.
If something this trivial can make her smile like that, the cost-performance is excellent, so once in a while should be fine.
"Big sis and big bro get along so well~"
""…Euk!""
The voice we heard.
Only then did we realize we weren't alone. I hurriedly pulled my hand from Seol-hwa's head.
"Are you two lovey-dovey?"
"Whaaat?!"
"…Where the heck did a little kid learn words like that?"
Probably from comics or dramas… Witnessing the side effects of overly advanced modern culture, I covered my face with my palm and sighed.
"It's not like that."
Even if she's a little kid, we can't have her getting ridiculous ideas. I mean, I think she's a good person… but that's all.
I've never felt anything more than that, and I shouldn't. Not knowing your place only makes things hard for both sides.
More than anything…
The words wouldn't come out of my mouth. Like they were stuck in my throat.
At the same time another headache hit… I shook my head discreetly so the two wouldn't notice and worry. Mini pouted and grumbled, "Ehh, boring—"
I glanced at Seol-hwa, who for some reason looked downcast as she cautioned Mini, "You shouldn't make Yu-seong-ssi uncomfortable."
After that little episode, we arrived at the police box before we knew it.
"If you wait quietly here, your parents will come, okay?"
Seol-hwa gently patted Mini, who looked regretful as she thanked us.
We were about to leave after asking the officer to take care of her when—
"Ah—!!"
I flinched at some unnecessarily loud shout and turned around.
A girl who looked about our age was pointing this way… no, at Mini, and running over.
"Eun-haaa…!"
"Mini—!"
Mini shot out of Seol-hwa's arms like a bullet, and the girl called Eun-ha threw her arms wide and scooped her up.
"I was so worried! …Geez, even hide-and-seek can be a problem if you try too hard."
"I'm sorryyy…"
"Really, next time when I call, come out right away, okay? Everyone was looking for you forever."
The girl soothing the sniffling Mini in her arms finally noticed us and trotted over, bowing as she offered her thanks.
"You're the ones who helped Mini, right? Thank you so much."
"Ah, no. We just did what anyone would."
"…Yu Eun-ha?"
Were they competing in politeness or something?
Watching the two of them bowing repeatedly in silence, I went "Ah" and made a gesture of hitting my palm with the side of my fist.
"…? Do you two know each other?"
"Not really. Just know the name."
Yu Eun-ha.
If you go to Seongun High, you've heard the name at least once.
It's a childish expression, but she's the school idol.
She helps anyone, smiles a lot, and has terrifying social skills that let her get close to anyone.
Famous for her long wavy blonde hair and blue eyes that make her look like a cute doll… apparently, so she seems pretty popular at school.
I hear she even has a fan club, so that says it all.
A girl who already looks good with her basic style, and if she works hard on self-care, this is the result.
If Seol-hwa is like an uncut gem of a beauty, this one feels like a finely polished jewel.
Apparently she even gets model offers sometimes… though she turns them all down.
Even I, who threw away human relationships at school, know this much.
Honestly I didn't care and it was none of my business so I'd forgotten, but seeing her in person, you can't help but remember even if you don't want to.
Eun-ha, who had no way of knowing those rude thoughts, stared at me, then made the same gesture as if trying to copy me.
"Oh, come to think of it, you're Han Yu-seong?"
"…You know me?"
"Of course. You're famous, right?"
…In a bad way, I bet.
Without saying that out loud, I gave a weak smile that contrasted with her face that never dropped its bright grin.
"By the way, the rumors were true. That Han Yu-seong is going around with someone, and a girl no less."
"That's…"
I had no choice but to trail off awkwardly. Had those bastards' nasty rumors reached her?
If so, making friends was really impossible. I was about to give up when Eun-ha hugged Seol-hwa tightly.
"And such a cute girl at that…!!"
"What?" "…Huh?" At the unexpected reaction, Seol-hwa and I both tilted our heads, and Eun-ha laughed "Ahaha" with an expression that felt annoyingly like she'd succeeded in a prank.
"It's fine, it's fine! I'm the type who only believes what I see and hear!"
As if she'd read what I was thinking in that short time, Eun-ha, who had been rubbing her cheek against the thoroughly flustered Seol-hwa, gave a little wink as if to say don't worry.
So this is why she's popular…
Seeing that, I was about to let out a sigh of relief mixed with—
"You two are secretly dating, right?! Don't worry, I'll take this secret to the grave..!"
"Not even close."
—almost did.
Looking at Eun-ha, whose eyes were sparkling with sound effects like she was about to shoot lasers, I canceled all the thoughts I'd had so far and cut her off.
I wondered where her little sister learned that stuff, and the source was this girl.
"Hmm~"
Should I call it an expression that reeks of something bothersome? I turned my eyes away from Eun-ha, whose eyebrows were twitching, and glanced at Seol-hwa still in her arms.
Maybe she was thoroughly flustered by the sudden skinship.
Her cheeks were so red they looked ready to burst, to the point you could almost see white smoke coming out of her head.
"You're gonna crush her." When I said it like "take it easy," Eun-ha said "Oops, she's just so cute I couldn't help it," with a bashful smile and let Seol-hwa go.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Yes… probably."
I looked silently at the wilted Seol-hwa, thought for a moment, then pushed her back toward Eun-ha.
"This one here. She's currently recruiting friends, you know?"
"Yu-seong-ssi?!"
Seol-hwa turned to me urgently as if to say what are you talking about, but I ignored her and continued.
"As you can see, she's a bit passive, but that's because she's never properly had friends before. She's a good kid, so if you're okay with it, Eun-ha, I'd like you to be her friend."
"Ehh~ No."
Eun-ha refused flat-out without a moment's hesitation, and even I, who hadn't expected this reaction—including Seol-hwa—froze for a second.
At the same time, as Seol-hwa's face started to crumple like she'd been shocked, Eun-ha gently took her hand with a kind smile.
"That's just Yu-seong asking on his own, right? Friends are something~ if you make them that way, they don't last long?"
"…I guess so."
"Making me jump like that." I sighed, and Eun-ha smiled mischievously. "That's how it is~♪"
Still not understanding the situation, Seol-hwa still looked dazed as if her soul had left her body.
At that, I couldn't help but lose strength and laugh.
"I don't want 'please be my friend,' but… if she herself says 'I want to be friends!' then I'll gladly do it!"
"You sure know how to say embarrassing things."
"Hehe. This is the secret to making a hundred friends. Watch and learn."
"I'm good. Pass it on to her."
"Um, um… someone like me…"
Before I could stop Seol-hwa's negativity that came out again, Eun-ha stepped ahead and instead yelled, "What are you talking about?!"
"Friends are just! Something you do! If you want to! Got it?"
Overwhelmed by the momentum, Seol-hwa couldn't even speak, and Eun-ha showed a smile sparkling like the Milky Way itself, true to her name.
"Shall we start introductions over? I'm Eun-ha! Yu Eun-ha! And you?"
"Yu… Yun Seol-hwa."
"Seol-hwa! What a really pretty name! By the way, aren't we the same age? Why have you been using honorifics this whole time?"
"Well, I've never used anything but honorifics…"
"Huh?"
Oh crap.
Eun-ha tilted her head as if she didn't get it, so I silently swallowed my breath.
(I'll explain later.)
It's true that honorifics between peers isn't normal. I hadn't thought that far.
But I couldn't suddenly bring up that heavy family history, so I patted Seol-hwa's back to stop her and sent Eun-ha a gesture with my eyes.
She somehow got it, and sent back the same thing with a bit more of a bright grin: (You better explain later!)
"Then let's try it from now on! Casual speech!"
"Yes… Yeees?!"
"Starting is what's important for anything. The first step of friendship is closing the distance!"
"B-but all of a sudden…"
Seol-hwa glanced at me repeatedly as if pleading for help, looking troubled, and I said "Isn't it fine?" cutting it off cleanly.
Then Seol-hwa's face became one that would fit a "kuuung" sound effect if this were a comic.
"I agree with Eun-ha. You overthink everything too much. Just do it, right?"
"Come on, come on! The guardian has agreed too, so hurry! I want to be friends with Seol-hwa~ What about you, Seol-hwa?"
As Eun-ha and I stared at her, Seol-hwa, who had been still with her head bowed deeply, started opening and closing her mouth.
"I-I also… no, I… if it's okay with you…! I-I want to be… friends!"
It was a smaller, more spaced-out way of speaking than usual that could seem frustrating, but still, Seol-hwa worked hard and clearly conveyed that she wanted to be friends.
Then Eun-ha said "Then it's decided!" and hugged Seol-hwa tightly again with a squeeze.
"E-Eun-ha-ssi?!"
"Sii—?"
"Give up, Seol-hwa. Our big sis is stubborn at times like this."
Mini, who like me had been sticking to spectator mode, spoke up.
The way Mini said it, with an expression like a little kid who'd seen it all like an old man who'd lived through the world, made me feel a bit sorry thinking she'd suffered quite a bit too.
Well, as a third party watching from afar, it was just an amusing sight.
"Yu-Yu-seong-ssi…!"
This time really sending a rescue request as if asking for help, Seol-hwa—
"Wow, nice weather."
"Yeah~"
Completely in spectator mode, I answered half-heartedly with "Fighting—"
"Hehe, I won't let go until you call me Eun-ha-Eun-ha~ with affection!"
"Wh-what, hasn't the difficulty gone up a bit from earlier?!"
"I wooonder~ Eun-ha-ssi doesn't really know?"
"…Eun-ha-Eun-ha!"
"Wow, she actually did it."
"Big sis is funnyyy."
As Eun-ha started rubbing her cheeks against her, Seol-hwa, who had been on the verge of sinking, shook her thoroughly reddened cheeks and finally raised the white flag and shouted.
If she'd just said Eun-ha~, she would have let go, but she's diligent in weird ways, this girl.
"Ahem, since it's the first time, I'll let it go with this for now!"
"Th-there's a next time… no, is there…?"
In contrast to Seol-hwa who was looking a bit haggard, Eun-ha who seemed to be glowing said "That's for then~" and changed the subject.
It didn't seem like something to change the subject on, but I didn't need to pick a fight over it.
"Anyway, we should finish properly!" Saying that, Eun-ha beamed and held out her hand to Seol-hwa.
"Looking forward to it from now on, Seol-hwa!"
"L-looking forward to it… E-Eun-ha!"
She's got a long road of hardship ahead, in many ways.
But the dark shadow that had been cast over Seol-hwa's face during the day was nowhere to be found now.
At that sight, I felt relieved inside.
Let's just think that what turned out well turned out well.
Looking contentedly at Seol-hwa's happy smile, I decided to silently cheer her on for now.