Side Story 17
Translator: RaidenTL
Side Story 17
“So, is it like a secret letter?”
Ga-yul tilted his head as he asked.
“Yes, that’s right. A secret letter that can only be read on the day childhood ends.”
So-ya answered quickly, worried that the others might not like the idea.
“That sounds like fun!”
“Ooh, that’s a really great idea, Young Lady!”
“So-ya, you’re amazing! How did you come up with such a fun idea?”
“Then I’m going to write a letter to So-ya.”
“...!”
As everyone shouted one after another that it was a wonderful idea, So-ya’s face brightened in response.
A blush crept onto her cheeks—for a different reason than before—and her heart felt warm.
It’s truly strange. No matter what I say, the people of the White Tiger Palace always speak so kindly to me.
So-ya thought to herself as she sat at a low desk, writing her secret letter.
In the past, it would have been difficult for her to voice her opinion in a place where everyone’s eyes were gathered on her. Far from speaking up, she would have spent her time hiding to avoid being noticed.
Because back then, everyone looked at her with nothing but displeasure.
But the people of the White Tiger Palace are different. Everyone is so gentle and warm. That’s why I think I’m starting to find my courage.
She no longer hated having people’s eyes on her. It wasn’t hard to speak her mind anymore. Whenever she was with the people of the White Tiger Palace, So-ya felt her confidence growing.
After the children wrote letters to one another, they gathered them into a small box. So-ya repeatedly warned them that they must never open it, but Ga-yul’s eyes kept flickering toward the box containing the letters.
“Yul-i Brother, you can’t...!”
“O-oh, right!”
Ga-yul shook his head vigorously to snap himself out of it. Beside him, Su-ri also nodded along, looking a bit guilty himself. So-ya giggled at the sight of the two curious boys.
“I’ve learned a really, really fun game.”
At that moment, Ah-rang drew everyone’s attention and proposed a new activity. It was a pillow fight.
“But that’s against bedroom etiquette...!”
So-ya was startled.
“Pillows are always supposed to stay at the head of the bed.”
“What does it matter? This isn’t a bedroom, is it?”
“I suppose so...?”
Hearing that, So-ya felt Ah-rang might be right.
But what if it hurts to get hit by a pillow?
The pillow Yeon-jeong had provided was soft and fluffy, but she was still worried. However, before So-ya had time to deliberate further, the game began.
“Alright. Then I’m joining the fray! Brown Tiger, let’s settle the score today!”
“I’ll take you on anytime! Let’s go, So-ya! You and I are on the same team!”
“Wait, wait! Just a moment, Ah-rang! Waaaah...!”
So-ya was swept along, forced to join the battle with a pillow in her arms.
What started as a simple pillow fight gradually escalated into a chaotic brawl, with pillows flying in every direction. Amidst the madness, So-ya stood fidgeting, clutching her pillowcase tightly with both hands.
Just then, a pillow—no one knew whose—came flying straight toward her.
“Watch out, So-ya!”
Seol-yo quickly pulled So-ya behind him and swatted the incoming pillow away with his own. The pillow spun through the air, soaring all the way to the cave ceiling, where it got caught on a jagged stalactite and burst.
Riiiip—!
The pillowcase tore open, and the cotton and feathers inside showered down like snow.
“Wh-whoa?!”
“What was that?!”
Ah-rang, Ga-yul, and Su-ri, who had been in the middle of a fierce struggle just a moment ago, were so startled that they went Poof! Poof! Poof! and underwent their beast transformations.
Pure white cotton drifted down over their heads. Realizing soon enough that it was just the stuffing from the pillowcase, they all wore sheepish expressions.
Silence fell over the hideout.
“A-a-a-choo!”
When Su-ri’s nose tickled and he let out a sneeze, the cotton and feathers went flying. Ah-rang and Ga-yul scratched their heads with their paws for no reason.
Watching the scene from behind Seol-yo, So-ya found it so funny and ridiculous that...
“Ahahaha!”
She burst into laughter without even realizing it.
“Ahahaha! Everyone looks so funny!”
For a moment, everyone blinked and stared at So-ya. Their faces were filled with surprise. It was the first time they had ever heard So-ya laugh so loudly.
So-ya felt a bit embarrassed when she realized all eyes were on her, but...
“Pillow fights are so much fun! Let’s do it again!”
She soon shouted with a bright, clear smile. This time, So-ya was the first to grab a pillow and dive into the fray.
*
So-ya had the time of her life.
By the time the pillow fight ended, everyone was in their beast forms—baby tigers, a wolf, and a baby bird.
So-ya, transformed into a baby bird, could fly all the way to the cave ceiling, allowing her to dodge every attack. Moreover, since Seol-yo stayed firmly on her side to protect her, no one could defeat her.
Since all the pillows had eventually burst, leaving no one with a pillow to hold, it was debatable whether it could still be called a pillow fight.
“Grrr, grrr. (No fair, Cotton Ball.)”
Ga-yul huffed, unable to catch So-ya as she flew high near the ceiling. Suddenly, So-ya fluttered down and landed on top of his head.
“Peep!”
So-ya went limp, folding her exhausted wings.
“Purr? (C-Cotton Ball?)”
Ga-yul flinched and froze in place.
“Peep, peep. (I’m out of breath from flying so much.)”
Having played so hard, So-ya panted through her tiny beak as she spoke. Every time she exhaled, her fluffy white down—which looked just like her—puffed up and shrank back down repeatedly.
“Grrr? (Th-then shall we rest for a bit?)”
“Peep. (Yes.)”
Ah-rang and Su-ri were already sprawled out on the floor, and Seol-yo had stepped outside the hideout to fetch some water for So-ya.
Ga-yul walked carefully with So-ya perched on his head. He moved with stealthy, light steps, terrified that the Cotton Ball might lose her balance and fall to the floor.
He then lowered So-ya onto the softest cushion.
“Chirp, chirp! (Today was so much fun!)”
So-ya rolled around on the cushion, bubbling with excitement.
“Chirp, chirp... (I want to have another pillow fight tomorrow...)”
Drowsiness began to seep into So-ya’s voice.
“Do you want to sleep for a bit if you’re tired, Cotton Ball?”
Ga-yul, who had released his beast transformation at some point, asked as he crouched in front of her.
“Peep? (Is that okay?)”
“Yeah! Of course! I—your brother—will stay right here and protect you, so don’t worry and sleep!”
“Peep... (Thank you, Yul-i Brother...)”
So-ya drifted off to sleep. It seemed her stamina drained much faster when playing in her baby bird form.
Ga-yul stayed quietly by her side so as not to wake her, lost in thought.
I think Cotton Ball smiles a lot more than when she first arrived. Her laughter earlier sounded so good.
Seeing So-ya, who usually only gave small, silent smiles, laugh so heartily had made his own heart flutter with happiness.
I hope Cotton Ball keeps smiling like she did today, forever and ever.
His father had told him. Before coming to the White Tiger Palace, So-ya had been very sad and hurt because of bad people in the place where she used to live. That she had cried a lot.
Ga-yul still didn’t know exactly what So-ya had gone through before coming here. The adults hadn’t given him a more detailed explanation than that.
But the thought of such a tiny, tiny Cotton Ball sobbing in pain and sorrow made his heart sink, making him feel like crying too.
He hoped So-ya wouldn't be in pain anymore. He hoped she wouldn't have any reason to be upset. He hoped she would always be happy and smiling.
I’m going to protect Cotton Ball’s smile. By playing ball, playing hide-and-seek, and having pillow fights together. I’ll make sure Cotton Ball smiles happily every single day.
Ga-yul made the vow once more as he watched over the softly sleeping baby bird.
Because I’m... Cotton Ball’s big brother.