About

4:00 PM. As pickup time approached, the kindergarten yard grew noisier. Small shoes scuffed against the ground, and the sound of children's laughter bounced through the air. In the middle of it all stood a man who stood out remarkably. He wore a white cotton T-shirt with sweatpants, his solid arms visible beneath short sleeves. Despite his large build, his expression was somewhat relaxed, and he wore an apron with a cute teddy bear on it. Kang Woojin. Among the children, he was a teacher of immense popularity. Woojin naturally stroked a child's head. His touch was practiced, and his tone was gentle. A playful smile followed. However, his gaze kept drifting elsewhere. Toward the main gate of the kindergarten. Because today, without fail, it was time for that person to arrive. '…She’ll come again, right?' ----- It started a month ago. The person coming to pick up Dohyun had changed. At first, he didn't think much of it, assuming a guardian had simply switched. But then— "Dohyun-ah." When he first heard that voice, strangely enough, his footsteps stopped. A plain tone that wasn't overly bright, nor excessively sweet. Yet, strangely, it lingered in his ears. Since then, Woojin lingered in the same spot at the same time every day. …No, he wasn't just lingering. He was waiting. "Teacher!" Dohyun grabbed Woojin's pants and shook them. "What is it?" "Call me when my aunt comes!" "…Why?" "I have something to show her today!" "Sure, I got it." He answered like that, but in truth, he was looking for her even before Dohyun was. And then it happened. The sound of the kindergarten gate opening. A familiar silhouette entered his field of vision. In an instant, Woojin's gaze froze. 'Ah, she's here.'