The Next Year, and the Year After That
Once their parents started spending time together, the two of them could meet far more often than before.
With permission, they could go out on weekends or in the evenings. And whether they liked it or not, Sihyun and Riya only had each other as friends. For both of them, that was more than enough. So wherever they went, they always went together.
Christmas, at the very end of the year, was no exception.
"Son, you're meeting Riya soon. Excited?"
"Yeah. I am."
They spent Christmas Eve with their families and Christmas Day together. The gathering was at Riya's house—no special reason, just that her family had invited his. And so he, his mother, and his father Baek Seonwu were on their way there now.
"I was hoping to drink for at least one day..."
"We have two kids here. What are you talking about?"
"I want to drink with Yujin. We've been too busy to meet lately."
Yujin was Riya's father. A Russian man whose looks might have been different, but whose personality was strikingly like hers—quiet, a little blank-faced. His one real distinction was that he loved to drink. That was why he got along so well with Sihyun's father, who was the same way. Of course, both men knew how to keep things proper in front of the children.
"Alright, we're here!"
Riya's house was a detached home not far from his own. It was only a twenty-minute walk, but when the whole family was going they took the car.
Ding-dong—
They rang the doorbell, and a moment later the door opened. Choi Harin and Riya stood there.
"Welcome! The food's ready, so come on in."
"Welcome."
The instant she stepped outside, Riya said that and came straight over to take his arm. Holding his arm had become a kind of habit. He didn't know when it had started, but whenever they were together she held on to him.
"Let's go in quick."
"Cold?"
"Yeah... cold."
Inside, the first thing that met them was the food. Dishes crowded a large table until there was barely room left, filling the air with their scent. With six people to feed, they had clearly cooked a great deal.
"Ah, welcome, you two."
"Yujin, no drinking for us today."
"Haha... next time, then."
Yujin was already waiting at the table and struck up a conversation with Sihyun's father the moment they arrived. Both being drinkers, the first thing out of their mouths was talk of alcohol. After the greetings were done, everyone sat down. Next to him, of course, was Riya. The second she settled into her seat she held out her small hand.
"Sihyun, phone."
"To exchange numbers?"
"Yeah."
The Christmas gifts from their parents had already come the day before. As both a Christmas present and a celebration for starting elementary school, they had each received a phone. Riya had gotten one too, so they traded contacts the moment they met.
"Here."
After saving the number, Riya handed the phone back and spoke almost like she was giving an order.
"On days we can't meet, call me."
"Got it. I will, no matter what."
When she was with him, Riya talked a lot more. Still far less than other kids her age, but it was huge progress all the same.
Not that there'll be many days we need to call.
They were together almost every day of the week except one, after all. With that settled, they began to eat. His favorite was anything with chicken. He liked pretty much every chicken dish there was.
Except chicken breast.
Today's main was grilled chicken. Not delivery—Yujin had made everything himself at home. The man was surprisingly good in the kitchen.
"Here."
Riya didn't have particular favorites. She had no strong likes or dislikes; nothing she refused to eat, nothing she especially loved. If he had to choose, maybe the noodles or the bread he was offering her now?
"Sihyun, here."
"Ah... thanks."
"Dad made lots of chicken."
Riya kept pausing her own meal to give him pieces of chicken. Not just setting them on his plate—feeding him with the fork she had been using herself.
"You eat too. Don't just give it all to me."
"I'm fine. Not hungry."
"Here, eat this."
He couldn't keep taking without giving something back, so he speared a piece of bread nearby and held it out to her. She hesitated a moment, then popped the whole thing into her mouth. It was big enough that her cheeks puffed out round.
"Mmmph..."
"Finish chewing first."
"It's good..."
"Here, drink some milk too."
The sight of Riya with her cheeks stuffed, chewing away, was almost too cute.
So cute.
Two adorable kids feeding each other—it was almost too much. By the end they were so busy feeding one another they barely ate themselves. They quickly forgot the adults and slipped into their own little world.
They're a perfect match. They look so good together.
That was the shared thought of both mothers, Choi Harin and Yu Seoa. So, so cute. Only a year ago both children had been quiet and friendless, so the mothers' feelings swelled even more.
"Yujin, isn't it time to give them?"
"Ah... I'll go get it."
While Sihyun and Riya were lost in each other, Choi Harin spoke up, and Yujin rose from his seat and went somewhere.
"Oh, we need to bring ours too."
"I'll get it."
Baek Seonwu stood as well and brought something over. What Yujin carried was long, like a stick; what Baek Seonwu carried was thick, like a board. Both were wrapped, so the contents stayed hidden.
"Riya, come here."
"Ah... okay."
At Choi Harin's call, Riya left their conversation and went over. Then Sihyun's parents handed her the gift they had brought first.
"Merry Christmas!"
"A Christmas present...?"
"Yeah, of course we should give you one too."
You're like a daughter to us, after all.
Choi Harin swallowed the rest of the thought and held out the gift—something that looked like a thick board.
"Open it."
At her words, Riya tore open the wrapping. It had been made easy to open; a little tug and it came right off.
"Colored pencils...?"
The gift was a set of oil-based colored pencils. A high-quality set that cost nearly sixty thousand won. Lifting the metal lid revealed pencils of every color lined up inside.
"You said you like drawing. Do you like them?"
Receiving the gift, Riya's expression brightened more than it had in a long time. Hard for a stranger to read, but her face was clearly lit with happiness. Then she hugged the pencils carefully to her chest and bowed her head.
"Th-thank you..."
"Keep drawing lots of pictures!"
Clutching the gift, Riya hurried to her room to put it away. Then it was his turn.
"Sihyun, you come here too."
At Choi Harin's words he stood and went over. His gift was probably that long package. He had a pretty good idea what it was.
"Here, your present. Open it now."
Choi Harin handed him the long package. It had a bit of weight to it. Tearing off the wrapping revealed exactly what he had expected.
"A bamboo sword. Do you like it?"
It was a bamboo sword—specifically, one for children. The reason for the gift was simple: he had recently started taking an interest in kendo.
More accurately, started again.
He had liked kendo even before reincarnating. He had been good at it, too. He had started a little late, so it had never quite been enough to make a career of it. Why the interest now? In the seven years since coming to this world, he simply hadn't been in a position to care about kendo.
Meeting Riya gave me the breathing room.
After meeting her and finding some ease in this world, about a month ago he had started getting interested in kendo again. He was still too young for a dojo, but both sets of parents knew he was into it.
"Yes, I like it."
"Riya picked that out. Spent a whole hour by herself."
"Really?"
And it was a better quality bamboo sword than he had expected. No way he wouldn't like it. More than anything, the fact that Riya had chosen it herself made him happiest.
I'll swing it to my heart's content later.
Of course, it was still too heavy for him to swing properly yet.
"Sihyun, cool."
"I just picked it up."
"Still cool."
What was so cool about it? Sometimes Riya would praise him for doing nothing at all. He only learned later that it was because she was awkward with people and just praised whatever came to hand.
"Thanks."
Praise was praise, so he said that to her and went back to his seat with the bamboo sword in his arms.
"Are you going to keep holding the bamboo sword?"
"You picked it out, right? So I should keep it with me."
Honestly, he really did like it—and it was from Riya. He planned to hold onto it until they left.
"Ah..."
"Riya?"
"Eat this..."
At his words, Riya suddenly flushed and speared a piece of meat with her fork, pushing it into his mouth. Her face still a little red, she spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"Sihyun. You're going to stay with me forever, right?"
Next year, and the year after that. You'll stay with me?
The answer had been decided from the start.
"Yeah. Always."
With that, the two families went back to their meal. Aside from Yujin and his father getting caught drinking in the study and scolded for it, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day.
The next year.
And the year after that.
A day he always wanted to spend happily together.
Like that.