S Chapter 44

“What are you?”

“I’m so depressed.”

“…?”

“I said I’m depressed, didn’t I?”

“So what…” As Shin Jukyeong stared blankly, the little kid glared fiercely.

“Why are you staring? Aren’t you going to comfort me? Don’t you know you’re supposed to console someone who’s crying? What’s wrong with your social skills?”

“Oh, damn it… I almost flinched. This kid, no matter how I look at him, he has a talent for handling people.” Shin Jukyeong retorted with a displeased voice.

“Why should I do that? Go tell your brother.”

“I don’t have a brother. He died a few seconds ago.”

Is there an elementary schooler who erases their family member from the family registry just because they’re upset?

“And we’re super~ close, right?”

“No? We’re not super~ close.”

“Don’t nitpick over small things. Arcade friendship forever.”

“Are human relationships so easy?”

“Elementary schoolers don’t know that. And you have the face of someone with no friends, so accept it gratefully when someone offers to be your friend.”

“…!”

A skull bomb exploded with a bang on Shin Jukyeong’s face. He was frustrated by the reality that he couldn’t refute it because it was true. Ugh.

‘I don’t have friends, but I have three adorable younger brothers! Of course, little mammal, I won’t tell you. Because we’re not friends! Because they’re my treasures…! Haha!’

「Shin Jukyeong. That’s not very mature of you.」

‘Ugh.’

To make matters worse, even Eve chimed in! His pride was thoroughly bruised. However, he couldn’t abandon a little mammal, who had just learned to wash its own hair, on the street just because he was annoyed. That was a separate matter.

Shin Jukyeong felt quite sorry for himself. Ah, if only he were a little less conscientious. Being too perfect also causes problems.

“Unlike you, I don’t have time. Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“No way. As of today, I’ve decided to live on my own. That’s what a man does.”

“Oh. Right. Then goodbye.”

“If you ask two more times, my answer might change…”

What a cheap resolution. Shin Jukyeong sighed, looking at the little kid who was pouting and staring at the floor.

‘Well, he must have had something that upset him in his own way to act like this.’

He wasn’t interested at all, but he had to soothe this clingy child to go home. Truly, he had no choice. Ah… my pathetic life. Shin Jukyeong clicked his tongue, then gestured with his chin to one side. It was an ice cream shop.

“I’ll buy you one cup, then you eat it and go home, okay?”

“…Your kindness, sniffle, gratefully, sob, I shall accept…”

“Right. Thaanks.”

‘I want to go on a date with my brothers, not this kid,’ he grumbled internally, but still held the little mammal’s hand tightly. Because they had to cross the crosswalk.

The little mammal, who had promised to eat one cup, broke his promise and ordered three cups.

“This one! That one! This one!”

It didn’t matter. He was going to charge it all to that monster kid anyway.

‘How is that kid gobbling down ice cream like that?’

It really felt like watching a baby animal. Our Gong Eun eats daintily with his small mouth.

‘I miss Gong Eun.’

‘I miss my brothers, not someone else’s.’ Contrary to his gloomy thoughts, his body diligently took care of the little mammal. Was that kid eating it or smearing it? Shin Jukyeong frowned and handed him a tissue. “Wipe your nose and mouth.”

“Wow! Yum, mm! As expected, the Hunter’s Alien is the tastiest. You should try it too, hyung~ How about this, Money Money Four Dollars?”

“Why are all the names like that?” Shin Jukyeong shook his head, saying no. Then the little mammal… no, Yang Ji-ho, who had finished introductions, expressed his dissatisfaction.

“My brother eats with me.”

His sulky expression made Shin Jukyeong snort.

“So, just go back nicely to your brother.”

“No~ way.”

Stubborn again. He distinctly remembered him bragging a lot about his brother in the arcade, didn’t he?

‘What did he say? …I don’t remember.’

As Shin Jukyeong, lost in thought, stared silently, Yang Ji-ho flinched. The excited spooning slowed noticeably. The child glanced cautiously at Shin Jukyeong and hesitantly asked,

“Are you angry?”

Ah… Shin Jukyeong awkwardly touched his face. His cold-looking expression, when he kept his mouth shut, must have scared the child. He was annoyed, that was true, but he hadn’t intended to scare him.

Instead of saying no, Shin Jukyeong slowly ate the ice cream. Actions are always more meaningful than words. Did he think the famous saying “Just Do It” existed for no reason?

“…It’s edible.”

“Gasp! Right?! Ehehehe!”

Sure enough, the child brightened and wiggled his bottom. He had only eaten ice cream together. Even if he pretended to be mature, a child was still a child. Shin Jukyeong let out a chuckle for no reason. It was because another stubborn little kid, who also pretended to be an adult, came to mind. Although, unlike this one, the scale of trouble he caused was immense.

Shin Jukyeong chuckled softly.

“So? Tell your super close friend. Why did you fight with your brother?”

“…Uhng.”

“Are you going to feel hurt? You said we’re friends.”

“Um… my… my brother…”

“Your brother?”

“…Ah, damn it!”

Yang Ji-ho rolled his eyes around, then soon picked up the ice cream cup and gulped it down (X) drank it (O). He had the aura of a middle-aged man in his 40s who had made a big decision. Is this his alcohol substitute, he wondered?

“Don’t think my brother is a completely bad person after hearing this. Sometimes things like that happen in life, you know. Of course! I was re~ally hurt, um, but…”

“Uh-huh.”

Even so, he’s laying the groundwork for his family member. Is it “if anyone’s going to badmouth him, it’s me”?

“My brother.”

The kid looked around, then came closer and whispered. How important could it be?

“Uh-huh.”

Shin Jukyeong also lowered his body and listened intently.

“He forgot my birthday.”

…Wow. Click. He stood up without hesitation.

“If you’re done eating, let’s get up.”

“Ugh! Is this how you treat a close friend?!”

“Hey. It’s just a birth—”

Shin Jukyeong, who had been replying with cold, unenthusiastic eyes, paused.

‘Huh? Now that I think about it, do I know my brothers’ birthdays? Have I ever celebrated them even once?’

It felt like he’d been hit in the back of the head. Even after thinking hard, nothing came to mind. In his previous life, he had deposited money every month, but that was strictly living expenses. And always on the 1st. It wasn’t a day with any special meaning.

…Damn it. This wasn’t the time to curse that monster kid. Nor was he in a position to look down on the little mammal. The most pathetic one was himself.

‘I’m learning another lesson like this.’

Shin Jukyeong realized his own indifference anew.

“He’s a bad guy.”

Words he hadn’t consciously thought of spilled out. It was a stone thrown at himself. How could he curse that monster kid as if he were better, when he was equally disqualified as a brother? It was embarrassing.

“No, he’s not a bad guy! My brother is just busy! I know… I know, but… even though I know…”

Yang Ji-ho hurriedly defended his brother. However, his dejected expression couldn’t be hidden. Soon after, he even sniffled, wiggling his chubby fingers. It seemed that voicing it himself had doubled his hurt.

Shin Jukyeong sighed and wiped the child’s eyes. Suddenly, his stomach churned, wondering if his own brothers had felt this way. He had no idea what his brothers’ birthdays had been like under an indifferent father and a selfish older brother.

Did they shed tears of disappointment like this kid? Or did they just pass it off as nothing? Either way, it was the worst. An overwhelming wave of apology surged within him.

“Don’t cry. Why cry because of a guy like that?”

Here, “a guy like that” wasn’t that monster kid, but Shin Jukyeong himself. He was, without realizing it, substituting his own brothers for the child.

“Sniffle, don’t call him a guy like that… Hmph, don’t curse my brother.”

“Alright. I’m sorry.”

Shin Jukyeong picked up the child. The child, in a familiar posture, wrapped his arms around Shin Jukyeong’s neck and snuggled in. It wasn’t the first or second time he had acted spoiled. He clearly looked well-loved.

“Sniffle… sniff.”

“Actually, I really like my brother.” Shin Jukyeong let out a soft laugh at the child’s whisper. “That’s a relief.”

After playing for another hour, he was finally able to send the little kid back. How he knew, Shin Jukyeong didn’t know, but that monster kid had come looking for his brother all the way to their location. The child held his brother’s hand tightly and trudged along with a grumpy walk. Then he turned back several times to wave at Shin Jukyeong.

“Bye bye~”

The clear voice was quite pleasant to hear. Shin Jukyeong waved back. He would see him again this weekend anyway, so the farewell was quite long.

Ah, the reason he’d be seeing him this weekend was to buy some birthday presents for his brothers. Just regretting it in words meant nothing. It didn’t matter if their birthdays had already passed. Since he hadn’t celebrated them before, he would make up for it twice over. Once now, and once on their actual birthdays.

However, contrary to his plausible idea, the old and tired thirty-year-old man, who didn’t know what kids liked, needed someone to ask for advice. He settled on the little kid right in front of him. Children would know children’s minds better.

Of course, there was a bit of an age gap with Yang U-dam and Cha Jae-min, but even so… hmm, he was sure that the little kid would be better than himself.

After returning home and finishing dinner. An unexpected person stopped Shin Jukyeong, who was about to go back to his room.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

It was Yang U-dam. Shin Jukyeong was surprised by his appearance, yet also pleased.