Why Is an Adult Home at This Hour?
"You said you're an adult, so why are you home at this hour?"
Bora drove a nail straight into my heart. "...Then, unnie, you don't clean?"
I had been about to do a good deed worth every bit of those 22,500 won, only to receive this in return. Of course, one look at Bora's bright, sparkling eyes made it obvious her words held no malice—they were nothing but pure curiosity. Yet that only made the sting sharper.
Still, if anyone thinks I simply nodded and accepted her blunt observation, they would be dead wrong. No. Honestly, it felt unfair. It's not as if I never vacuum or take out the trash. No matter how lazy I get, I run the vacuum at least once every two days, and on collection days I always sort the recycling perfectly before hauling the bags downstairs.
In other words… everything in my house has a reason for being here.
"Um… Bora? Miss Bora?"
"Huh? You can just call me Bora!"
"Ah, well. It's not that I don't clean…"
That's right. I don't skip cleaning—I skip organizing. The stuff scattered everywhere isn't trash; it's simply within easy reach.
"I suppose the things over there have their reasons for being there…"
"…But it still looks messy! Mom says you have to fold clothes you don't wear and put them away neatly!"
"These are clothes I wear at home…"
"Mom said you still have to tidy them up before you go outside…"
But such excuses were useless against a six-year-old who still saw the world as only right and beautiful. The guilt stabbed deep.
"Want me to help you clean, unnie? I clean by myself every day at home, so I'm really good at it!"
"I-I'll do it myself…"
Bora's eyes shone as she made the offer, but something told me that accepting real help would mark me as a completely hopeless adult. Not that I was exactly a model grown-up to begin with…
Anyway, under her watchful gaze I quickly folded a few clothes and tidied some items, then spread the chicken across the table. It had cooled slightly, but the warmth was still there. The savory aroma that always makes your mouth water, paired with the cola fizzing beside it—truly a perfect combination.
"C-can I really eat this, unnie…?"
"Yes. Eat until you're full."
"Even all of it?"
"Yes. It's fine."
Of course, this chicken was supposed to be my food supply through tonight at the very least. Even though I said that, I secretly hoped at least two pieces would remain.
…Well, I don't eat much to begin with, and Bora is still little, so she probably couldn't finish it all. At least two pieces should be left, right?
"Thank you for the food!"
We started by each taking one drumstick. Watching Bora chew with her tiny mouth, I savored the taste of chicken I hadn't eaten in ages. Sweet, salty, savory… The flavor of chicken after so long was, without needing explanation, the taste of health points steadily dropping.
It's so good… I feel like I might actually cry…
But I couldn't let a child see me weeping pathetically over fried chicken. In moments like this I had to look composed… I needed to show her my generous spirit, as if sharing chicken was the most natural thing in the world…!
"I-is it tasty?"
"Yeah! It's super delicious! Thank you, unnie!"
I was relieved she liked it. Of course, it might not actually suit her palate and she could have been saying it out of politeness. Still, the fact that she would consider the feelings of the person who bought it meant she had been raised very well.
"I ate well!"
Just as I expected. After boldly declaring she would finish everything, Bora surrendered after her third piece, and I stopped at four. So much for hoping two pieces would remain. A whopping nine pieces were left. That would easily last me until tomorrow morning.
"Then it's about time to head back home…"
"Unnie. Mom gets home at six—can I stay with you until then?"
I had been about to offer to walk her home when Bora looked up at me with that pleading expression.
"Uh, um… I don't think that's a good… No. It's not that you can't, but I don't really have anything planned…"
"We can just talk together!"
Did she realize that was the single hardest thing for me right now? Probably not. Yeah…
"It's fine with me… but, B-Bora? Miss Bora might find it boring…"
"I told you, just call me Bora!"
"Ah, yes…. I'll try…"
I attempted to send her on her way, but those sparkling eyes full of interest finally made me surrender.
"Oh, that's right! I've been curious about something since earlier. Can I ask?"
"Ah, yes…"
"Why do you wear a hat and sunglasses even inside the house, unnie?"
Because of you. I probably shouldn't say that. I want to be kind to children, after all.
"It's… fashion…"
"Really?"
"Yes, it is."
"Doesn't it feel uncomfortable wearing them at home?"
"…A little, yes."
Well, it was probably fine to take them off now. I'd worn both in hopes of avoiding people's stares, but there was no need to keep them on in front of just one little girl. Definitely not because her gaze felt burdensome. And not because she seemed to be eagerly waiting for me to remove them. I wasn't yielding to her energy. Yeah. I really did think they were uncomfortable. Really.
"Hmm…"
"Whoa…"
The moment I slowly removed my hat and sunglasses, Bora let out a gasp of amazement.
As expected, it must look strange. Both silver-white hair and red eyes aren't exactly common. Adults would probably think I looked like a delinquent, and to a child's eyes it would seem even more unusual. So I had already resigned myself to the possibility that Bora might be startled or scared.
"You're pretty, unnie!"
"…Pardon?"
But what came back was the most unexpected answer.
"You're incredibly pretty!"
"R-really…?"
Bora's nodding eyes sparkled like stars. They told me her words were completely sincere.
…Thank you. My self-esteem had taken a serious hit lately, but this made me feel like I'd recovered at least a little.
"Hehe…"
"By the way, unnie. Can I ask one more thing?"
"Ah, yes! Ask me anything!"
It was the first time anyone had complimented my appearance so directly. Honestly, I think my current looks are quite striking, yet somehow people around me always find them alien. Well, I can't exactly blame them. If I looked at myself objectively, I'd probably be shocked too—in more ways than one.
Anyway, since it was Bora who had praised my looks, I could answer any question she had…!
"You said you were twenty earlier, right? So you're an adult?"
"Ah, yes…. An adult? Yes, I'm an adult."
If we were being precise, my actual age was sixteen, but that wasn't worth mentioning. In my previous life I'd lived to twenty-nine and was always told I was mature for my age. Besides, my ID already listed me as twenty, so there was no need to complicate things.
"As expected, you're a real adult, Lene unnie!"
"Yes. Are you curious about what being an adult means?"
The moment I thought that at her age she might be wondering about such things—
"But if you're an adult, why are you home at this hour?"
"…Huh?"
Once again, Bora drove a nail straight into my heart.
"Dad said adults have to work hard outside except on Saturdays and Sundays."
"Ah, that. Uhh. Uh. Um. Ah…?"
The combo attack continued. With only those two sentences, my spirit was left in tatters. Was the earlier compliment just setup for this strike…?
But I couldn't simply take a beating from a child far younger than me. It was time for my carefully prepared counterattack.
"I-I'm the type who works from home, not outside…"
Hmm-hmm. That wasn't a lie at all. It was a job I could do perfectly well while lying in bed.
"But unnie. You're not working right now."
"T-that's because I'm spending time with Miss Bora right now…"
"Ah, I see…. Sorry, unnie!"
"It's all right since you understand…"
"Then can I watch you work?! I'm curious!"
"Ah…. That is…"
The moment I thought I'd managed to get past it, Bora's next question left me completely speechless.
How was I supposed to answer? That it was hard to show because I earned money selling items from a game? Or should I just say it was a job difficult to explain to her? Was it all right to tell such a lie to this pure, innocent child…?
Inside my head, conscience and pride collided without either giving ground.
"Actually, I… I'm currently unemployed. A complete NEET…"
And the final victor was… though I hadn't wanted it, conscience prevailed….
While I was getting thoroughly pummeled by the weapon known as a child's curiosity, time had somehow reached six o'clock. It was time for Bora to head home.
"If our daughter caused any trouble, I'm truly sorry."
Bora's mother was incredibly kind. She didn't show the slightest surprise at my appearance and even bowed deeply to me—someone much younger—while promising to repay the favor later. Thanks to her, the heart that had been beaten black and blue by Bora began to heal.
"It's fine. It was actually a rather enjoyable time for me too…"
"Yeah! I played with Lene unnie!"
"This child, honestly! You shouldn't talk to unnie like that!"
It's okay. Everything Bora said was completely true… I have no friends, no job, and no money, yet Bora played with me… Yeah. That's exactly what happened…
"Haha…"
At my hollow laugh, Bora's mother bowed once more. Beside her, Bora smiled proudly, looking both adorable and slightly infuriating.