Warm Sunlight and a Loafing Cat
Today was a day with a few customers.
Was this what people called an opening boost?
As lunchtime drew near, most of the guests were ordinary people rather than hunters. There was nothing especially distinctive about them, but the simple fact that they wore suits was enough to tell they weren’t awakened.
“Is that your daughter?”
“Yes, she’s my daughter.”
“Wow. She’s incredibly pretty.”
“Isn’t she? She could be a celebrity.”
If Seia hadn’t been there, the customers would have finished their meals with blank expressions, paid with the same empty looks, and left without a word. At least, that was how Jungwoo imagined it. Still, judging by the few reviews praising the food’s flavor, some might return.
With every advance in civilization, people seemed to lose their expressions as if it were an inevitable side effect. Now that hunters had appeared, those with powers risked their lives daily, while ordinary people without abilities fought fiercely to keep their places in the world.
Though today was their first visit, the people who stepped into Seona’s Restaurant could forget that harsh reality, even if only for a little while.
“Little boss, want to try some of this?”
“Really?”
Whenever a customer offered Seia a bite, she would glance at Jungwoo with those exact words. Only after he let out a soft chuckle and nodded would she accept the food with delight.
They served several more groups, but the customers’ faces all carried the same softened look by the time they left.
As lunchtime drew to a close, the once-bustling Seona’s Restaurant settled back into peaceful quiet.
It was break time. In truth, this was usually Seia’s nap hour. Yet after tasting so many different dishes, her eyes still sparkled with lively energy.
“Seia, aren’t you sleepy?”
“Nooo. Seia doesn’t want to sleep.”
Her little belly looked noticeably round. Seia must have noticed his gaze, because she gently covered it with her small hands.
“Pfft. Looks like someone’s tummy is very full.”
“N-no it’s not…!”
Just as a palm cannot hide the sky, her little hands couldn’t quite cover her entire belly. The way it peeked out was so adorable it seemed like it might pop if he gave it the slightest poke.
“Seia.”
“Yes?”
“Want to step outside with Dad for a bit?”
“Where are we going?”
“We ate, so we should help our food settle.”
“Okay!”
They couldn’t go far, but Jungwoo had already placed a small chair right in front of the restaurant. It wasn’t originally meant for this, and some might call it counting chickens before they hatched, but he had prepared it just in case customers had to wait. More than that, he wanted to create a spot where anyone—customer or not—could sit and rest for a moment. Sometimes simply having a place to sit brought real recovery. People often lacked even that small comfort.
After finishing the cleanup, Jungwoo took Seia’s hand firmly and stepped outside. The sunlight, warm and pleasant after the lunch rush, greeted them both.
There was one small chair and one regular one. The smaller had been custom-ordered at a height where Seia’s feet could touch the ground. She instinctively recognized her seat, climbed into it, and basked in the gentle rays.
Her legs still couldn’t quite reach the floor. They swung lightly, brushing the ground with each motion—a clear sign of good spirits. With a full belly and warm sunshine, it was no wonder.
Jungwoo sat beside her, sharing the same golden light. Father and daughter side by side, eyes closed, faces turned skyward. No one had told them to do it; they simply matched each other perfectly. Passersby found the scene quietly moving.
“Is that the restaurant owner?”
“Looks like it.”
“The child beside him must be his daughter.”
“They look happy.”
That they looked happy was what mattered. That others envied the sight was even more important.
The gazes that had rested on the pair soon drifted upward to the sign.
Seona’s Restaurant.
They took in the small, cozy diner with their eyes, tucked the image into memory, and continued on their separate ways.
They had been soaking up the sun for about ten minutes when a rustling sound came from in front of them. Jungwoo slowly opened his eyes. A cat had approached and now sat staring at them with wide, curious eyes.
“Seia,” he called softly, careful not to startle the visitor. No answer came. Instead, he heard the soft, steady sound of breathing. In that brief moment, the little girl who had insisted she wasn’t sleepy and didn’t want to nap had slipped away to dreamland.
“She would have loved seeing you,” Jungwoo murmured.
Seia adored cute things—while remaining the cutest creature of all. That was why she carried her white rabbit doll everywhere. She had to leave it at home while at the restaurant, but whenever they were upstairs, she always held it tight in her arms.
“Up we go.”
Jungwoo carefully lifted Seia before her nodding head could drop any further. With the practiced, tender touch of a father, he stroked her back and held her close while continuing to enjoy the sunlight.
The cat, which he expected to leave soon, did the opposite. When Seia’s chair became vacant, it leaped up and settled into the classic loaf position.
Its fur was a warm brown, exactly like fresh bread.
“Did a little cheese cat come to visit?”
He would have liked to pet it, but Jungwoo was a chef. From a customer’s perspective, it might seem unhygienic. He felt the same way, so he simply enjoyed the sight.
Still, holding one adorable creature while watching another was always a source of quiet happiness.
“Hungry?”
As if it understood, the cat gave a small “meow” while maintaining its loaf.
“Wait just a little. I’ll bring you something.”
After all, this was a restaurant. The fridge held plenty of suitable food for cats.
Each time Jungwoo stroked her, Seia burrowed deeper into his embrace. The weather wasn’t cold at all, yet she instinctively sought her father’s warmth.
At some point the cat on the chair had also closed its eyes. Seia and the cat, both sleeping peacefully side by side beneath the warm sunlight. It had been like this before, but lately Jungwoo often found himself wishing time would simply stop in moments like these.
After the lunch hour, no more customers arrived. It made sense; the place had only been open for a day, so few people knew about it yet.
“Hmm… Maybe I should think about promotion.”
The main reason he had opened the restaurant was to create time he could spend with Seia. There were plenty of jobs available nearby, though most would have been part-time at best. Working with Seia in mind added countless complications.
A convenience store might have allowed him to keep her nearby with decent hours, but they almost exclusively wanted night shifts. Even then, the maximum was usually two to four days a week. The very thing that let him stay with Seia paradoxically reduced the time they could truly share. He couldn’t rest freely, and taking time off when she was sick would be difficult.
The next option had been a café. A place of pleasant atmosphere and leisure. Yet that very atmosphere made it impossible. Cafés sought quiet. A young child constantly present would likely be unwelcome to both owner and customers. Jungwoo didn’t want Seia exposed to such looks. He hoped people would see her exactly as she was and respond with warmth.
So he had poured every won he possessed into opening this restaurant. Here he could stay with Seia, make time for her when needed, and if business grew, he could do even more for her while keeping her by his side.
“Where would be best for promotion?”
Promotion would naturally bring more customers. More customers meant he would need extra hands. That meant hiring part-timers or staff.
“Let’s not think too far ahead. I’ll just keep it in mind for now.”
He was happy as things stood. Rent for both the restaurant and their home would be tight, but Jungwoo seemed blessed with good people in his life. Both his previous landlord and the current building owner had been generous with his circumstances.
“Hmm? Aren’t you Mr. Jungwoo?”
“Oh, hello, sir.”
The building owner happened to be passing by. He appeared to be around the same age as the previous landlord, yet he looked far younger—clearly a man who took excellent care of himself.
“Where are you coming from?”
“Hehe. Just returned from exercise.”
“Wow… that’s impressive.”
“Impressive? I have too much free time and get bored, so I have to exercise at least. And this… is your daughter?”
“Ah, yes. She’s my daughter.”
When they first met, Jungwoo had been too nervous to notice, but the owner was much larger than he remembered. The burly man approached carefully and gazed at the sleeping Seia with warm, gentle eyes.
“Hehe. She sleeps so soundly.”
“It’s her usual nap time.”
“Indeed. Naps are important at that age. Ah, I was just thinking about having a meal. Is it possible to order now?”
“Yes, of course.”
When Jungwoo started to rise, the owner gently pressed his thick, solid hand on Jungwoo’s shoulder.
“Take your time. We wouldn’t want to wake the princess.”
“Haha… Yes. Thank you.”
“I’ll come back shortly.”
“If you tell me what you’d like in advance, I can prepare it.”
“Anything is fine, but be sure to include plenty of protein.”
“Understood.”
Those impressive muscles hadn’t appeared by accident. The owner, having ordered a meal that suited his physique, disappeared down the street. The cat that had been sitting beside them had also vanished at some point.
“Did the cat run off because it was startled by the owner?”
Jungwoo had planned to bring it food. Well, they might meet again. If it was meant to be.
Since the owner said he would return soon, Jungwoo decided to savor this time with Seia. To him, she was like the rabbit doll she cherished so much—holding her brought him peace.
About thirty minutes passed while he held her.
“Mmm…”
“Did our Seia wake up?”
“Yes. Did Seia fall asleep?”
“Hehe. Yes, you were sound asleep.”
“Ugh… I didn’t want to sleep.”
A full belly brought heavy drowsiness. Seia still had yet to learn that particular truth.
“Oh, right. While you were sleeping, a cat came to visit.”
“Huh…! A kitty…!”
“We’ll see it again next time. It seemed to like your chair.”
“Hmm… I don’t want to share, but… if it’s a kitty, it’s okay.”
Someday, would he see a cat resting comfortably on Seia’s lap? The image made Jungwoo smile as he carried her back inside the restaurant.