ReLife Player

[When the Fox Rain Stops].

Parents’ Day was approaching.

In elementary school, students wrote letters and made carnations for their parents, just like every year. Eunha also prepared his grandmother’s share.

But this year, his dad was too busy to visit his grandmother.

[It’s a letdown!]

«What? What did you say?»

[«Sam… Sam Hemington! He came to our neighborhood with his Bentley a while ago! No Eunha, haven’t you seen a celebrity?]

Jin Parang quickly changed the topic.

Eunha couldn’t hide his disappointment.

«Anyway, it seems like I won’t be able to go this time, so please take care of Grandma, hyung.

We’ll send the carnations and letters we prepared via delivery service, so please receive them well. If you throw them away, you know what will happen, right? I’ll send you plenty of cookies, thinking of you, even if you forget…»

[What? Cookies? What cookies?]

Eunha couldn’t believe his ears when he heard Jin Parang talking about cookies.

Somehow, he felt like he would devour the cookies and ignore the letters and carnations.

«I told you. If you forget… You know, Acrobatic Gymnastics number 8, right? I’ll visit during Chuseok, so look forward to it.»

[…Aren’t you going overboard with this? Do you realize how annoying it is every time you mention Grandma, who takes care of me, feeds me, and puts me to sleep, while I endure it?…]

«Just make sure you do well, and don’t neglect your mana control and telepathy training. I’m only saying this because I’m worried about you.»

[Are you saying that out of concern for me?! You can’t even touch me…!]

«Bye.»

Eunha pressed the red handset button, not really listening to what Jin parang was saying.

After returning the phone to his mom, who was working in the kitchen, he turned to Eunae, who was waiting at the front door.

«Oppa, did Parang finish his call?»

«He’s just finishing up now. He sounded healthy by the sound of his voice.»

«I wanted to call him too….»

«Why? What did you want to call him about?»

«Bathe well and take care of the house!

…My oppa said something similar.»

Eunha grabbed Eunae’s hand, who smiled brightly.

Eunae treated Jin-parang like a big dog.

When she found dog food at the discount store, her eyes would light up as she would say, «Food for Parang!»

«Now let’s go.»

«Yeah!»

A few days earlier, Eunhyuk had mentioned that he was tired of handing his parents letters and carnations every Parents’ Day.

So the kids decided to bake cookies under Seona’s guidance.

Eunae, who was present at the time, decided to join in.

«Why are you so late, I thought I told you to be on time?»

«I’m only 5 minutes late….»

«Don’t you realize that’s longer than a drama commercial?»

«No, I don’t.»

«Hello, unnie!»

«…Hi, Eunae.»

Min-ji, who was waiting with her arms crossed, couldn’t say anything about Eunae.

Eunha walked past a frustrated Minji and headed for the bus stop.

Eventually, Minji caught up to him, grumbling.

«Hey, guys, welcome home.»

«Hi, Eunae, you’re here too, huh?»

We arrived at Cafe Happiness not long after getting off the bus.

As they walked through the door, they were greeted by Jung Seok-hoon in an apron and Min Su-jin at the counter.

Min Su-jin’s belly has swelled considerably in the past few months.

She’s expecting a baby by the end of the year.

«Hello, baby, how are you?»

«When Café is born, will Eunae take care of the baby like with Avernier?»

«Yes! I can’t wait to see the baby»

«Really? Café wants to see you too.»

Eunae hugged her stomach with her short arms.

Min su-jin smiled as she looked down at her swollen belly.

«By the way, is the baby’s name Cafe?»

«…Huh? Umm, it happened by accident. Doesn’t it suit us well?»

«Well, yeah.»

Eunha shrugged.

In the life he remembered, there were no children between Jung Seok-hoon and Min Su-jin.

There were only baseless rumors that she had difficulty getting pregnant.

Eunha hoped that Hayang’s sibling would be born safely.

May this happiness continue for her.

«What are you doing not coming in?»

«That’s right, captain, hurry up to the kitchen!»

«You’ll be in trouble if you keep us waiting.»

Hayang poked her head out of the kitchen and puffed up her cheeks.

In the kitchen, preparations to make cookies were in full swing.

Eunha tied the straps of his apron, glancing at Seona as she gave Eunhyuk instructions.

Eunae also received help from him in wearing her apron.

«You do this, Eunha.»

«I just need to stir it, right?»

«Don’t let the butter and eggs separate!»

Wearing a white bandana on her head, Seona moved around the kitchen, assigning roles to the children.

Eunae took on the role of mixing flour, baking soda, and baking powder with Minji.

Eunha and Eunhyuk had to use a mixer to make the cream from the ingredients inside the bowl.

Seona was working hard.

She didn’t hesitate to mention that she used to make cookies for children at church.

In a soothing voice, she instructed the kids who didn’t know what to do.

«But what kind of cookies are we making?»

«Chocolate chip cookies.»

Making the cream was unexpectedly difficult.

Eunha, who was also making the cream, asked Eunhyuk, who was similarly focused on his task, while getting cream on his nose.

He asked while pulling him closer to make sure he didn’t miss a spot.

«Chocolate chips?»

«Why, Eunha, don’t you like them?»

«No? I like everything sweet.»

Eunha answered as he chopped walnuts beside him.

He couldn’t resist anything sweet.

Of course, he also liked chocolate chips.

When eaten with milk, there was no better snack.

The reason he perked up at the mention of chocolate chips was that it reminded him of the time Baekryeon used to enjoy them as a snack.

That was when she was in elementary school.

Not just in elementary school.

She had retained her childlike taste even as she grew older.

Of course, also when she had just entered adulthood.

«Who are you thinking of right now?»

«…No one.»

«Liar.»

Eunha turned his head away from Hayang, who was asking with her chubby cheeks.

They had to make the cream.

Eunae and Minji were also waiting for the amount they prepared.

«Come to think of it… Do you guys know this? I read it in a book last time, but chocolate chips were made by a restaurant owner who accidentally put chocolate in cookie dough.»

As she was chopping walnuts, Hayang spoke up as if she had just remembered something.

The children had to hear about the birth process of chocolate chips as their hands moved.

«…I know that!»

Eunhyuk suddenly changed the subject.

«Speaking of chocolate chips! In the land of non-moist chocolate chips, there lived non-moist chocolate chips. In the land of moist chocolate chips, moist chocolate chips looked at the non-moist chocolate chips…»

«Eunhyuk, that’s not how you do it. It’s like this. In the land of non-moist chocolate chips, non-moist chocolate chips living in the land of moist chocolate chips saw moist chocolate chips…»

«You guys are making me hate chocolate chips.»

Eunha’s head was spinning from hearing the words moist and chocolate chip flying everywhere.

If he went home at this rate, he’d be muttering about the chocolate chip land in his sleep.

He decided to stay away from the kids who were playing with the wordplay.

Finally, he finished his work.

«No Eunha! Where are you going? We still need to make the dough!»

«That’s your job, Mukminji. I’m too tired to do it!»

«Captain! Don’t you know what you’re doing? Did you forget? If she does it…!»

Eunhyuk, who had been competing with Seona, grabbed Eunha in surprise.

Only now did Eunha realize it.

Handing it over to Minji wouldn’t convey gratitude to their parents; it would imply something else.

«Now, after putting flour, baking soda, and baking powder into the butter, add chocolate and mix…»

«Seona, why don’t you add salt to this, don’t you think it would be nice to have a sweet and salty flavor?»

«Huh? If you do that, then….»

«Uh! I have a great idea now! Hayang, don’t you have cheese in the cafe?»

Kim Minji, who seemed to suddenly remember something, spoke joyfully as if shouting ‘Eureka.’

Eunae also felt happy, following her.

«…Just staying quiet is enough to complete half. But why does she always have to make a fuss?»

«Captain, look at Kim Minji’s face right now. Her expression is like she’s already found the One Piece!»

«No, it’s more like she can’t differentiate whether what she’s trying to do is poop or soybean paste.»

Eunha and Eunhyuk gossiped.

Seona and Hayang were panicking when they saw Minji searching the kitchen for cheese.

«Hey, Minji, stop with the theatrics!»

«What? Don’t stop me. Just taste my cookies and get ready to cry.»

«Hey, Kim Min-ji, why don’t you make those tears now?»

«What’s up with Choi Eunhyuk again?»

Minji ignored the two of them as if they weren’t worth the trouble.

She was determined to find the salt and cheese no matter what.

«Wait, but aren’t you supposed to just divide the dough?»

«Exactly, Captain!»

«Jung Hayang, how many bowls do you have for the dough?»

«Um…, four!»

Jung Hayang shouted after checking the number of bowls available.

The children, who were in different places, locked eyes as if they had made an unspoken agreement.

Wouldn’t it be enough if Minji made it alone?

Hey, how about Minji, Seona, and I make them together?

You two, Jin seona, Jung hayang, don’t you know what Minji is like?

That’s right! Do you think Min-ji will stay quiet?

Unnie! Oppa! Eunae can’t wait to eat!

«…There are only 4 bowls? And only 4 oven pans? This won’t work then…

How many of the century’s great discoveries do I have to make for people to notice… At least, I want to make enough for two people…»

Did you hear that? Minji is that kind of person! She’s going to drag at least one person with her. I don’t want to! I don’t want to send the nuns to heaven!

Jin-seona, you finally spoke your mind! But you said it well! I want to see my mom and dad until the day I die!

If we make a new batch of dough now… No! We’re out of ingredients!

Unnie! Oppa! Eunae can’t wait to eat!

It was a total mess.

The children didn’t want to destroy Minji’s illusion.

To be more precise, they didn’t want to deal with the aftermath of destroying Minji’s illusion.

For me… I have my noona and Eunae. I don’t want to make my noona and younger sister cry.

Me neither. I have a younger sibling who will be born this year. I want to be happy.

I have to take care of the children at church.

Me too… Me too, just like you! I have a puppy at home!

Unnie! Oppa! Eunae wants to eat quickly!

«Hey! Wait a minute!»

The children fought to protect each other.

It was a fight that seemed like it would never end.

If it weren’t for the insight flashing through Eunha’s mind…

«We could have just made the dough with Eunae and baked them together. Just give Minji one piece of dough.»

«Captain, you’re the best!»

«That’s true!»

«Thank you, Eunha!»

The children shouted in excitement.

Eunae jumped around, not understanding what was going on.

Meanwhile, Minji, who was taking out salt from the cupboard─

«─Why are they like that? They’re really weird kids. Ugh, if I don’t play with them, who will…?»

She clicked her tongue as if to express her contempt.

☆

Parent’s Day has passed.

The children expressed their gratitude to their respective parents.

Grandma, who received a package, sent a message saying she enjoyed the cookies.

In the photo sent through his mom, there was Jin parang, standing at the front door with a cookie in his mouth. Four paper carnations were hanging above Jin parang.

Grandma seemed to want to show off the paper carnations he made for the neighbors this year too.

«Eunha, Minji, hello.»

«Hello.»

«Hey Hayang, hi»

As Eunha walked to school today, he listened to Minji’s nagging again today, and met Hayang at the shoe rack.

Hayang was waiting for the two to change into indoor shoes.

«Hello, everyone! I’ll go first!»

At that moment, Choi Eunhyuk rushed over.

Out of breath, he just took off his shoes anywhere.

«Why is he like that?»

«I don’t know. Maybe he’s on duty today or something.»

«Maybe he overslept.»

The children commented on Eunhyuk, who climbed the stairs without looking back.

«But Minji, I was curious since earlier, what are you holding in your hands?»

«…»

Jung Hayang pointed to the bag Minji was holding.

Eunha shook his head.

He discreetly stepped back and killed his presence.

There were things in the world that didn’t need to be known.

Eunha didn’t really want to know.

He decided to go upstairs, leaving the two behind.

«This? Leftover cookies from giving them to our parents yesterday. I brought them to share with the kids. Do you want one?»

«…Uh? I’m okay…»

«Come on, eat it. It’s sweet and a bit salty, it’ll be delicious.»

«…Thank you.»

Hayang looked around.

Eunha wasn’t there.

Looking sad, she could only stare down at the cookie in her palm.

«Hayang, Minji, hello.»

«Hello, Seona. Do you want a cookie too?»

«Cookie? …I’m okay. I had breakfast not too long ago.»

She was a quick-witted fox.

Entering the shoe rack, Seona, upon seeing Minji holding the bag and Hayang crying, quickly put her wit to use.

She slyly changed the topic to prevent Minji from offering the cookies.

«…Huh?»

«Why are you like that?»

«Why? What’s going on?»

Seona opened the shoe rack.

There were no indoor shoes.

«That’s strange… I should have put them here yesterday…»

Seona, her triangular ears twitching, pursed her lips.

She pondered, moving her tail back and forth, but couldn’t find an answer.

«Who could have taken them?»

«Who would take your indoor shoes? Maybe you put them in the wrong place?»

«I doubt it…»

«Should I go to the teacher’s office and borrow slippers?»

Even after searching the nearby shoe racks, she couldn’t find indoor shoes with Jin Seona’s name on them.

They reluctantly decided to borrow slippers from the teacher’s office.

«Where could my indoor shoes have gone?»

Minji and Hayang went up the stairs.

Wearing slippers much larger than her feet, Seona, who was wearing them, stopped following the children.

She turned around.

She searched her memory.

But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t recall losing her indoor shoes.

«Jin Seona! Aren’t you coming?»

«Seona! You’re late!»

«…Sorry! I’ll come right now!»

Upon hearing someone call her, Seona shook her tail and hurried her steps.