Ch.213Side Story – I Became a Heroine After the Pure Love Ending (4)

“Here. I made the formula. Is the temperature okay?”

“Let me see. Can you drop a bit on my wrist?”

Hamin Do gently shook the bottle and dropped a few drops onto my wrist as I held the two babies.

Hmm, it’s not as good as my new sister-in-law’s breast milk, but this rich, creamy milk taste… I can definitely understand why these little ones only want Extreme Gold if they can’t have breast milk.

“Hmm, feels like exactly 40 degrees. Alright, baby Solmi, baby Leon. Stop looking for that pacifier that won’t give you anything and let’s have some proper Extreme Gold formula.”

Hamin took Solmi, and I took Leon, each of us feeding them the freshly prepared formula.

Since Hamin wasn’t very experienced with feeding babies, it was probably much easier for him to feed Solmi, who could hold her head up on her own.

“Wow, you were really hungry, weren’t you, Solmi? You’re drinking so eagerly.”

“She must be tired from all that crying. But she’s calmer than I expected. You haven’t held Solmi much before, have you? She’s usually really shy with strangers.”

“Yeah, I was worried about that too… but I guess satisfying her hunger comes first?”

“She rejected me the first three times I tried… but both last time and now, why does she take to you so easily, Hamin?”

I had been a bit concerned since Solmi was usually wary and afraid of unfamiliar people, but she adapted to Hamin’s arms surprisingly quickly, stopped crying, and accepted the formula from him.

Maybe it’s because she has a warm constitution and likes feeling warmth? Or perhaps she simply finds Hamin unthreatening?

“It feels kind of heartwarming. Seeing Solmi drinking the formula I prepared so well.”

“Mumma!”

“Huh? Are you smiling because it tastes good?”

“Teheng. Daga.”

“…What’s this ominous feeling, like she just said ‘honey’?”

Or maybe there’s a reason she keeps smiling at Hamin’s face while sucking on the bottle? Feeling an inexplicable uneasiness—though surely there’s no way—I closed the distance between Hamin and myself until our shoulders and hips were touching.

“Why, why are you doing that, Doyoung? I almost dropped the bottle.”

“Just making sure my ownership is clear.”

“I don’t really understand what you’re saying.”

“It’s a thing. Anyway. Sigh, raising him to be too handsome is becoming a problem.”

I thought a heroine’s life after achieving the pure love ending would be completely comfortable. But that wasn’t exactly the case.

Ten months after receiving Hamin’s public proposal, and a year and a half after entering high school, Hamin—with my full support—had grown to over 180cm and become so popular that practically everyone at Busa High knew who he was.

First year was still okay. There were many classmates who knew Hamin from his awkward phase, and everyone knew he was the boyfriend of Ban Doyoung, the world’s most beautiful girl, so no one dared to harbor inappropriate feelings for him.

“Senior Hamin! Do, do you have someone you’re dating?”

“You’re Hamin, right? I’m from the third-year class. Can we talk for a moment? It’s, it’s nothing really, just wondering if you’d like to join our study club…! I absolutely don’t have any other intentions!”

Things changed when we became second-years. First-year newcomers who only knew the current Hamin, and third-year seniors who only vaguely knew his story, started testing the waters with him.

Well, ten out of ten, a hundred out of a hundred, they’d see me sitting next to Hamin and lose their confidence and run away.

The problem wasn’t limited to school either. Even the little kids at the children’s center where Hamin and I volunteered would openly ask if he had a girlfriend. When we helped an elderly woman struggling with heavy bags at a crosswalk, she tried to invite him for tea.

The last time we said goodbye at the subway station, I was honestly shocked when those college girls who were trying to recruit for their cult religion asked for his number, saying he didn’t even need to attend their church.

I’d heard from Teacher Miso that there was a girl who approached Solyoung with similar lines at university, but I never thought the day would come when Hamin would hear such things too.

“You’ve really grown up a lot… to think that you’re Hamin…”

“Huh…?”

“Haah… never mind. It’s not like I can tell you to become ugly again at this point.”

Is this the weight of the pure love crown that the official wife must bear?

By choosing to stay by Hamin’s side, I, Ban Doyoung, had naturally chosen a life of having to fend off females trying to freeload on the Hamin I raised, for the rest of my life.

Well, what can I do? Hamin was my choice. I’ll endure with affection and love.

“…Why are you staring at me like that? Am I not supporting Solmi’s head properly?”

“No, you’re doing fine.”

“Then is there another reason you’re looking?”

“Just because you’re handsome.”

To think the day would come when I could tell Hamin he’s handsome without feeling awkward. I found it strange that I was saying such things sincerely now, not as a joke.

“I can’t help but keep looking at you.”

“Wh-what? Last year you said the complete opposite.”

“I’m naturally biased. I’m more generous in my evaluation of what’s mine.”

“So you mean I’m not actually that handsome?”

“What’s this? It should be enough that you look handsome to me. Did you want to look handsome to other girls too?”

“Of course.”

“What?”

“Bwap.”

His unexpectedly firm answer made me jerk the bottle I was feeding Leon.

“What do you mean ‘of course’? You wanted to look handsome to people other than me?”

“That’s the only way I could stand proudly next to you.”

“Geez… you startled me. For a second I thought the protagonist of the pure love world was declaring he preferred a harem over pure love.”

“Th-there’s no way. And what’s this ‘pure love world’ anyway?”

“It’s nothing. If the babies have finished their formula, pat their backs to help them burp.”

Yes, I know. I know very well that you’re not the type to look elsewhere, Hamin.

But try to understand me a little. Even if you don’t look elsewhere, as long as you’re the protagonist of this world, there might always be people who take interest in you.

That’s why I have no choice but to keep my eyes peeled.

“Shuuu.”

“Ah, this little Leon. Looks like he needs to poop. Hamin, can you get a diaper from the drawer?”

“Ah, okay. Just a moment.”

“Bring the baby wipes too! The ones in this container are all gone!”

“Where are the baby wipes? In the same drawer?”

“I don’t know, they should be somewhere similar! Ah, Solmi’s bottom is warm too. Bring one more diaper!”

Even after feeding was done, there was still plenty of childcare left to do. Since it wasn’t yet time to focus on just our story, Hamin and I decided to concentrate on taking care of Solmi and Leon first.

.

.

.

“Pyu…”

“Kul… daga.”

“Phew, finally got them back to sleep.”

“Hamin, be thankful you put your glasses in their case. If you’d been wearing them, they definitely would have been broken while we were playing with them.”

“Ah, I hope they don’t inherit their aunt and grandmother’s habit of breaking glasses.”

“What did you say?”

About two hours had passed. After feeding and changing into fresh diapers, Solmi and Leon had fallen back into deep sleep. Of course, in between there was 1 feeding session, 2 diaper changes, 15 instances of crying and fussing, and 2 attempted assaults during the whole process—but let’s overlook that because they’re babies.

“I understand now why you sometimes come to school looking exhausted. Childcare really isn’t easy.”

“I know, right? Today was better because you were here, Hamin. I didn’t have to hold both at once, and I had time to go buy formula when needed.”

After confirming the children were asleep again, Hamin and I collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. Hamin must have been quite tired too, having come to my house after finishing his summer supplementary classes.

“By the way, when I first heard ‘Extreme Gold,’ I wondered what it was. Turns out it’s a formula brand name.”

“Right? I’m not the only one who thought it was strange?”

“Yeah. For a moment I thought it might be the name of a Kamen Rider or something.”

“…Huh?”

Is this déjà vu? Hearing such a familiar response from Hamin’s mouth made me doubt my ears for a moment.

“I was wondering why you sent me to buy toys for Leon and Solmi instead of formula when they were hungry.”

“…Pfft. Hehehe.”

A smile formed on my lips without me realizing it. Those moments when Hamin’s thoughts and impressions unintentionally aligned with mine just made me happy.

“Hey, Hamin.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Jjijjipong.”

*Pinch*

I snuggled into Hamin’s armpit and pinched his nipple.

“Ouch! Why, why are you pinching me all of a sudden?”

“I just think I’m the best match for you.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“What, don’t you like it? If you have a problem, you can pinch me too. Here.”

“…”

“Pfft, you can’t do it, can you? You don’t have the guts, do you? To think you’re Hamin…”

*Squeeze*

“Hyaaak!”

I couldn’t help but scream at the hot touch that seemed to grip my heart. Hamin’s hand had slipped inside my clothes and was squeezing my left breast.

“…You said it’s yours. Then you should be able to touch it as you please.”

“W-well, that’s true, but…”

This was a somewhat unexpected attack.

“N-not bad, Mr. Hamin! I admit defeat today! Since your attack just now is about to make my panties wet, I’ll retreat to change my clothes…”

Just as I was trying to escape using my usual excuse about wet panties, Hamin pulled me closer to him.

“Don’t go.”

“Uh, uhh…?”

“I decided not to run away even when I’m embarrassed. Don’t run away either, Doyoung.”

“Y-you and I are different! I’m a woman! When women get embarrassed in front of men, they get wet and it’s dangerous!”

“…Then just get wet. Here beside me.”

“I-I’m really getting wet, I tell you! My pants are getting damp! If I keep sitting like this, the sofa will get all wet too…”

“…I accidentally brought three instead of two.”

“W-what?”

“Diapers.”