Promise-1

“How’s your body?”

“I’m okay. My recovery is good, because of magic.”

“Magic is convenient.”

“That’s why it’s magic.”

“I guess so.”

An awkward silence fell, and Kim Sung-ah scratched her cheek and averted her gaze.

“Um… can I sit and talk?”

“It’s your house.”

“Ah, right, it is… I forgot.”

She sat opposite him, laughing exaggeratedly.

They faced each other across the table. He wondered what expression to wear, feeling both glad and awkward.

“How have you been? Did you at least have a place to stay?”

“I was sleeping on the streets.”

“Sleeping on the streets!?”

“It wasn’t hard. There were plenty of empty boxes and newspapers in the neighborhood parks.”

He recalled the chilly night air and spoke wistfully.

“That must have been tough.”

“Not really, it was actually nice.”

“You liked sleeping on the streets?”

“There’s something about it.”

He recalled his memories of wandering the wilderness. Seeing dry branches, making a fire, and sleeping with hay as a blanket.

“I have a question, can I ask?”

“If I say no, you won’t ask?”

He playfully retorted, and Kim Sung-ah gaped.

“Just kidding, what is it?”

“When I was active as a Magical Girl, you were nearby, weren’t you?”

“You noticed. I thought I was hiding pretty well.”

“You’re surprisingly easy to spot, Inho.”

Kim Sung-ah smiled, her tension easing.

She twisted her damp hair with her fingers and leaned forward.

Her bare skin flashed between the gaps of her loose shirt, and Kang In-ho leaned back and briefly looked up at the ceiling.

“Anything else you’re curious about?”

“…When were you able to transform?”

“Not long ago. Two days after leaving the house? Since I had so much free time sleeping on the streets, it was easy to train.”

“Easy, huh? You were well-suited to street life, must have been nice.”

Her face quickly fell.

Seeing how obviously upset she was, Kang In-ho simply shrugged.

“How have you been? Judging by the state of the house, not so good.”

At his question, something welled up in Kim Sung-ah’s chest.

It wasn’t quite anger, not hot enough, and brighter than sadness.

“I must have eaten something wrong, I was sick. And I had no time to sleep.”

It was sorrow.

“That must have been hard.”

He handed her a cup of warm tea he had somehow gotten, replying nonchalantly.

“It was hard. I don’t think I’ve had such a hard few years.”

She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned back like him.

She tried to put on a bright face, but strangely, the corners of her mouth wouldn’t move.

Kang In-ho brought his own cup of tea to his lips, studying her face.

She looked tired and lonely.

“But… what was really hard was that you weren’t here, Inho.”

“……..”

“Inho, can’t you come back home?”

“……”

“Please. I’m begging you. Your absence is too big.”

“It’s true we were together a lot, but when you think about it, it wasn’t that long….”

“It’s not about time!”

Kim Sung-ah slammed the table. It was similar to how they looked when they fought.

“I just need you.”

“Whether we spent a day together, a week together, or a month together, that’s not important. What’s important is what you gave me!”

“Because you’re here, I look forward to tomorrow morning.

Because you’re here, I eat delicious food.

Because you’re here, the house brightens up.

Because you’re here, I look forward to coming home.

Because you’re here, I can rest.”

Despite her passionate appeal, his face remained like a calm lake.

“So… don’t you think the same thing will happen? Do you think you and I won’t fight again?”

He cut her off coldly.

“I’ll do anything. I’ll do whatever you tell me to. Just stay by my side.”

“Seong-a.”

“I won’t skip school. I’ll study hard. I’ll even try to go to college. So, so….”

“Can’t you just stay by my side?”

Her face twisted, she gritted her teeth.

“Seong-a, why are you going this far for me?”

Kang In-ho’s face remained expressionless. Or perhaps that was just how she perceived it.

“I, I…!”

Kim Sung-ah’s eyes widened at some emotion that welled up.

Ah, so that’s what it meant.

Kim Sung-ah finally recalled what Kang In-ho had said about ‘that’.

“I…!”

Even so, she opened her mouth. She felt like she wouldn’t be able to hold onto him unless she said this.

Her mouth trembled. Her stomach churned, and her head spun.

Was the shock of the battle finally hitting her? She felt like the blood was draining from her fingertips.

‘I have to say it!’

Even so, she had to say it.

“I like you, Inho!”

It was a truly tense confession, and she worried about what would come next.

“…In the end.”

Kang In-ho pressed his fingers into his throbbing head.

Even with the pressure, his head didn’t feel any better.

“I told you clearly last time.”

His voice was full of fatigue.

“B-But still.”

Kim Sung-ah shifted her gaze, like a scolded student.

Her face flushed red belatedly, and embarrassment washed over her.

“Yeah. Well….”

“…But you’re not surprised.”

Kim Sung-ah grumbled, sounding dissatisfied with her face as red as a beet, and Kang In-ho belatedly realized and made excuses.

“Ah, well… that’s true. Um, yeah.”

“What’s with that reaction?”

Kim Sung-ah muttered, and Kang In-ho blankly stared for a while before shaking his head.

“Ahem, I’m just too surprised.”

“If that’s the case, then whatever.”

Kim Sung-ah accepted the hastily made excuse.

Silence settled on the table. The whirring of the refrigerator could be heard.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“I told you before. Don’t love me. I can’t reciprocate your feelings.”

“If people’s hearts were so easily controlled, half the world’s problems would be solved.”

“Suddenly you’re so eloquent.”

“So what exactly are you hoping for? It’s not like you’re asking me to date you.”

“I guess it’s not possible yet. Well, I expected as much.”

Kim Sung-ah leaned forward, bringing her face closer.

“I want to change the condition we set last time.”

“You break the agreement and make a new one as you please, you’re completely selfish.”

“Can’t you just let it slide?”

Kim Sung-ah narrowed her eyes. Kang In-ho slightly averted his gaze at her sharp glare.

“Fine, just say it. What’s the condition?”

“First of all, I’ll attend school diligently. I’ll never skip.”

She said in a serious voice.

“That was already a condition. Don’t act like you’re making a big concession.”

Kim Sung-ah clicked her tongue at Kang In-ho’s remark.

“Come to think of it, the college entrance exam is coming up soon, let’s do this. I’ll diligently prepare for the exam and take it.”

“…Okay.”

“Alright, anything else you want to propose?”

“I want to remove the condition that I can’t love you.”

“…Okay.”

“You’re surprisingly willing to agree.”

“If I said no, would you obediently back down?”

“No.”

“See? It’s not like you won’t love me if I tell you not to. And it’s not like you’re asking me to love you.”

“You’re so straightforward. Is this what it’s like to be an adult?”

“Since you changed the conditions on your end, can I add something too?”

“Yes. I can do the dishes, or I can clean the living room or the yard.”

Kim Sung-ah said, counting on her fingers, and he shook his head.

“Until you take the college entrance exam, I’ll stop the evil forces.”

“…Huh?”

“That’s the condition. Take it or leave it.”