6) Chapter 2. You don't recognize me...? (1)

Why do some people, when describing a wealthy character, insist on adding strange details? Things like, “Living all alone in such a big house must be lonely; it was better back when the whole family lived together in a tiny place,” or “Even without money, it’s nicer to live cozily with loved ones.” I mean, I get it. Even rich families can be unhappy. But the truth is, happiness isn’t really determined by money. Someone who’s happy will be happy even with a lot of money, and someone who’s unhappy will stay unhappy even without it. There’s no single right answer.

I became certain of that after seeing Soi’s family.

Their house is big—honestly, maybe too big for just one child. But a big house also means lots of space to run around. Soi would grab my hand and drag me all over the place. We even pitched a tent in the front yard and slept there together. Her parents, maybe to make up for the times they were away, would sometimes hold barbecue parties in the yard. And on Soi’s birthday, they invited so many people that I wondered if a birthday party was supposed to be that extravagant.

They were such a warm, loving family. Maybe that’s why Soi grew up without a single crease in her smile. And maybe that’s why her uncle disappearing from this house must have been such a huge blow.

“Rua.”

“……”

“Rua!”

“……Huh?”

I had been spacing out, lost in thought, and only snapped back when Soi called me.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Mm.”

Thinking… I was really just zoning out. Ever since learning the truth about myself, I couldn’t help worrying about my situation. Maybe it’s because I’m still just a kindergartener. I’ll be in elementary school next year, but even so, being placed in a foster home for children with abilities didn’t mean I was getting any special training.

Well, not every child with powers gets moved to a different home. I only came here because I was from an orphanage. They wouldn’t take a child out of a normal family just because they awakened powers. So I guess the law exists because regular orphanages don’t have the capacity to care for kids with abilities.

And the more fun I had here, the more guilty I felt.

I kept thinking of Chae‑yi, who used to cling to me just like Soi does. Chae‑yi is also an ability user—just not awakened yet. But even if I said that, I’d just sound like a kid lying because she wants to live with her friend.

“Huh?”

Soi tilted her head when I didn’t answer again.

“It’s just…”

Whenever I thought of Chae‑yi, I wanted to see her. I used to think she was just a clingy, anxious kid. But now I wonder if the reason I never felt the need to seek affection from others was because she was always beside me.

Well… in the end, we were both just little kids.

At first, I thought it would be simple. I’d tell Auntie Yujin that I wanted to visit the orphanage, and she’d take me right away. But if I said that, wouldn’t she worry too much?

Both Auntie Yujin and Uncle Dohyun are heroes. In this world, “hero” means someone whose job is to fight villains. They risk their lives. Not all heroes are the same, but most of them are kind-hearted.

Everyone who came to Soi’s birthday party was nice, too.

Auntie Yujin already treats me with so much care. If I said I wanted to go back to the orphanage, wouldn’t she think, “Ah, I’m not doing enough”?

Uncle Dohyun is even harder. He’s gentle and treats me well, but being close to him brings back memories I don’t want to remember, so it’s hard to approach him. He knows it too. If I asked him to take me to the orphanage, what would he think?

So even though I only wanted to visit, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. And almost a year passed like that.

“It’s okay.”

While I was lost in thought again, Soi wrapped her arms around my head and patted my back.

“It’s okay.”

She was probably copying her mom—comforting a daughter who woke up from a nightmare. I really didn’t want to admit it, but her gesture was a huge comfort. It didn’t erase my guilt, but it made me feel like maybe… maybe it really was okay.

“No! It’s not!”

Hearing Soi shout, I rushed over and found her arguing with another kid, her face bright red. The other kid was a boy—a mischievous one who often made girls cry. Well, “mischievous” in the cute way kids that age are.

“Rua!”

She spotted me and immediately called for backup. Her eyes were already brimming with tears, so I patted her back as she clung to me.

“What happened?”

“Hmph.”

The boy lifted his chin proudly. Ah, right. Kids like him—who think they’re cool because they make others cry.

“Believing in something so childish.”

“What’s childish?”

I asked automatically, then paused. Wait. This is kindergarten. Everyone here is literally at the perfect age for childish things.

“You still believe in Santa Claus.”

My eyebrows twitched. Oh, right. It’s winter now. Christmas is next month. Soi had been bouncing around excitedly, saying she couldn’t wait for Santa. Auntie Yujin and Uncle Dohyun had decorated the house for her—there was even a big Christmas tree in the living room.

“Why wouldn’t Santa exist?”

I asked while holding Soi close. She peeked up at me, and the other kids gathered around.

“What, you believe in him too?”

“It’s not that.”

I tilted my head innocently.

“Why wouldn’t he exist?”

“Huh?”

The boy blinked.

“Because he doesn’t!”

“Why?”

He stammered, flustered.

“B‑because there’s no way an old man flies around on a sleigh!”

“Soi’s mom flies around just fine.”

My one sentence completely sank his argument.

“Huh?”

The kids blinked. The boy’s face turned red as he scrambled for another point.

“T‑then he’d have to be super strong to carry all those presents…!”

But even he didn’t sound convinced. There are heroes with incredible strength, after all.

“And he’d have to be super fast to deliver them everywhere…”

And of course, there are heroes famous for their speed.

The kids’ eyes turned to him. His face was about to explode, and the mood had shifted—now everyone thought Santa might actually be real.

“Why wouldn’t he exist?”

I tilted my head again. This time, he had no answer.

Actually… thinking about it, Santa really could exist. Maybe not someone who visits every Christian household in the world, but something like a “Santa service”—heroes dressing up as Santa and delivering gifts.

Well, whether it exists or not, I was just saying whatever to support Soi.

“He does exist!”

Soi puffed up her cheeks and shouted from my arms.

“N‑no…”

“Why do you say he doesn’t when he does!”

The boy looked utterly frustrated, but the kids were already convinced. At this point, he wasn’t going to win. Kids want Santa to be real. Insisting he isn’t is basically asking to be the villain.

“Ugh…!”

Finally out of arguments, the boy stomped away angrily.

“Hmph.”

Soi lifted her chin proudly, looking victorious.

I stared at her expression and asked,

“Soi, were you crying?”

“Huh?”

“Because if you were—”

“I wasn’t! I wasn’t crying!”

She quickly rubbed her damp eyes with her sleeve.

“Mom! Mom!”

Soi ran to Auntie Yujin, who came home late today because of work, and leapt into her arms like a koala.

“Mom, Santa Claus is real!”

“Hm?”

Auntie Yujin blinked, then smiled brightly.

“Is that so? Can I ask why you think that?”

“Mm‑hm!”

Soi nodded eagerly.

“Because I already got my present this year!”

She shouted happily and turned to look at me.

Auntie Yujin looked at me with the exact same expression as Soi, and I turned away, embarrassed.

Edit

Pub: 03 Mar 2026 12:09 UTC

Views: 27