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

Christmas or New Year at the orphanage hadn’t been bad. The teachers did their best to dress up as Santa and handed out gifts they had prepared with sincerity. They weren’t anything grand—no game consoles or smartphones, just small toys. We all played with them together, and eventually it became unclear whose was whose, so they always ended up in the orphanage toy bin.

We ate tteokguk on New Year’s Day. Of course, since we were kindergarteners, we didn’t stay up all night to greet the new year. Still, on January 1st, we all said “Happy New Year” together. It wasn’t bad, but since all those events were part of group activities, it felt more like a kindergarten celebration than something shared with family.

“Merry Christmas!”
“Presents!”

That was why hearing a family say “Merry Christmas” to me the moment I woke up felt so new.

I had already been an adult in my previous life. I’d started treating Christmas as just a day off sometime in my early twenties, so it had been nearly ten years since I’d heard a heartfelt “Merry Christmas.” Maybe I exchanged a few messages with family or friends, but that was it.

“Oh.”

There was more that felt new besides hearing “Merry Christmas” at home. The fact that there was a Christmas tree inside the house was surprising enough, but the many gift boxes under it were even more surprising. When I was little, my sibling and I each got only one present. I assumed other families were the same. I never thought I’d see something straight out of a Western Christmas movie.

“Rua.”

While Soi sat on the floor tearing open a huge present, Auntie Yujin gestured for me to come over. The anticipation on her face looked even bigger than Soi’s as she opened her gift. Well, giving presents is supposed to make the giver happy too.

I hesitantly sat beside her and looked at the presents. Since she didn’t say “This one is yours,” was I really allowed to open anything? Maybe they were doing what they always did when Soi was an only child, or maybe they wanted us to share since we were practically sisters now.

Feeling a bit pressured by the sparkling, expectant eyes of the two adults, I picked up a large gift wrapped like a candy bag instead of a box. It felt soft through the wrapping—maybe a teddy bear?

I carefully unwrapped it, and inside was a huge rabbit plushie, almost as big as I was. It didn’t look cheap at all, with incredibly soft fur.

Hmm.

What was I supposed to do with this?

In my previous life, I’d been a man, and I never really played with dolls. When I was little, I played with transforming robots, and when I grew up, I played with computers and game consoles, not toys.

I wondered how to look like I liked it, and decided hugging a plushie my size was probably the best option. I buried my face in it and hugged it tightly—click. I heard the sound of a camera shutter and jerked my head up.

“Oh, sorry! Did I startle you? But you looked so cute…”

Maybe because Soi was next to me with her face buried in a teddy bear too, Auntie Yujin looked at us like she was seeing the cutest beings in the world. From a little distance away, Uncle Dohyun was smiling warmly as well.

This should be enough, right? I shouldn’t get greedy for other toys. These were originally meant for Soi anyway.

Still… it was soft and felt nice. I could use it as a cushion on my bed. And I had a feeling Soi’s plushie would always end up on the bed with us too.

“Okay, okay, look over here~”

Auntie Yujin called again, and I turned my head. This time, Soi held up her hand to make a V sign and then—

“Hey!”

She suddenly lunged at me and hugged me with one arm. Maybe because both her parents were heroes, she was much stronger than me despite being so young. Holding her plushie in one arm and me in the other, she laughed happily.

Yeah. As long as she’s happy.

Soi’s smiling face had a strange power that made me think everything was fine. Without realizing it, I smiled a little too.

*

For Christmas, we went out to eat somewhere fancy. Even with memories from my past life, the restaurant’s cursive name was hard to read. Judging by the dots above the letters, it was probably a French place.

The kids’ steak was incredibly delicious—almost enough to make me feel guilty. It wasn’t normal to feel guilty about eating food bought for a foster child. Kids my age shouldn’t have to worry about things like that… or be in situations where they have to.

You’re supposed to learn about things like modesty and restraint when you’re older.

Judging from how things were now, Auntie Yujin didn’t seem to have any intention of sending me elsewhere. Uncle Dohyun had even called me their second daughter when he saw me at home, so they were probably thinking about adoption.

If that was the case, I could act more confidently, like I really was their daughter—

“It’s delicious!”
“Yeah, it’s good.”

But even when eating something this tasty…
Even when walking around the department store afterward, looking at things…
Even when buying snacks with money that could’ve bought a cheap meal at the food court…

I kept thinking about the orphanage.

Soi was born into this family, so that was fine. But was it really okay for me to receive this kind of kindness? And I kept thinking a little about Chae‑yi, whom I hadn’t seen in almost a year.

Still, I tried not to show it. It was Christmas. The best day adults prepare for children. Maybe they put even more effort into it because it was the first Christmas with both me and Soi.

After spending the whole day out, we returned home later than a typical child should. Soi was already limp in Uncle Dohyun’s arms. I was more well‑behaved than Soi, but I was still tired from walking everywhere.

I wanted to sleep right away, but—

“Rua, can we talk for a moment?”

Auntie Yujin called me gently, looking a little worried. Had she noticed what I’d been thinking all day?

“Do you have something on your mind? Anything bothering you?”

“…”

She sat me on the sofa and asked seriously. I hesitated for a long time.

“It’s okay. You can tell me.”

Seeing her gently stroke my shoulder, I finally opened my mouth.

“…I want to visit the orphanage again.”

Right. I should see it at least once. I’d be entering elementary school next year. I knew Chae‑yi probably wouldn’t remember, but we’d promised. We said we’d go to the same school. I wanted to talk about that, even just a little.

“The orphanage? I see.”

As if she sensed something in my words, Auntie Yujin closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded.

“Okay. Then shall we go together sometime soon?”
“R‑really?”
“Yes. It’s fine.”

She didn’t add any unnecessary comments. She reached out as if to hug me, then simply patted my head gently.

“It’s late. Shall we go to bed?”
“Yes.”

She stood up, took my hand, and led me to Soi’s room, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Maybe every one of her actions was her way of hoping I would truly feel like part of their family.

*

Before the New Year, she must have gotten permission, because Auntie Yujin took me out of the house. Only Soi went to kindergarten. She looked a bit shocked to be going alone for the first time in a long while, but Uncle Dohyun coaxed her and took her.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to show Soi the orphanage. I just said I wanted to go alone. I didn’t want to stir up the feelings of the kids still living there.

And the orphanage I hadn’t seen in so long—hadn’t changed at all. That was a good thing. It was a shame it hadn’t improved, but the last time I saw it, the ceiling had collapsed.

“Teacher!”

I ran toward the teacher who had come out to greet us. She smiled brightly and hugged me.

“Rua, you’re here. Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been well.”

When I smiled widely, she nodded and patted my head.

“We’ve been well too.”
“Is Chae‑yi here?”

Ah. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked so abruptly. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

At my question, the teacher’s expression dimmed slightly.

“Hm, sorry. Chae‑yi is somewhere else now.”
“What?”
“Well, like you, she also…”

Ah.

Right. In the original story, Chae‑yi was also an awakened child.

“…Oh.”

My strength drained a little. Should I think of it as fortunate or unfortunate? At least it meant she had a family now. She had somewhere to rely on, without needing to cling to me.

“Is it possible to know where she went?”

Auntie Yujin, who had come closer, asked quietly.

“Ah, I’m sorry. Being from an orphanage is sensitive personal information… so by policy…”
“No, I understand.”

Auntie Yujin pressed her lips together, looking troubled.

I felt strange. I shouldn’t have any reason to worry anymore. If she had a family, she wouldn’t need to rely on a child like me.

So why was I so uneasy?

Was it because of the original story? Chae‑yi had relied on Seo Rua so intensely. If we were separated this early, when did they meet again, and what made her cling so much?

“Rua, do you want to go see your friends? Would that be okay?”
“Ah, yes. I’ll… wait here.”
“Then I’ll take you to the staff room.”
“Thank you.”

In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to ask more. I agreed that it was sensitive information. If another orphanage kid suddenly appeared, it might interfere with her settling into her new family.

So, holding the teacher’s hand, I entered the orphanage—without Chae‑yi.

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Pub: 04 Mar 2026 07:26 UTC

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