TL/Editor: looloo


    Status: ongoing


    Illustrations: posted in discord


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    Everyone, including myself, the hairstylists, and other customers, was taken aback when Heena suddenly burst into tears.


    We''d already been drawing attention as the pretty young mom with her adorable little girl, but her unexpected crying fit really threw us for a loop.


    I managed to regain myposure quickly. Perhaps deep down, I''d anticipated this reaction from Heena. If not now, I figured she might break down once we got home.


    "I apologize. Could you process the payment?"


    "Ah, yes! I''ll take care of that for you. Would you like a receipt—""No need for a receipt. Thank you! Take care!"


    I hastily settled the bill, then scooped up Sarang and grabbed Heena''s hand as we headed outside. We ducked into a secluded alley behind the building, where I set Sarang down and pulled out some tissues to wipe Heena''s tears.


    She was probably just overwhelmed by a sudden rush of emotion. Even as she sniffled, Heena took the tissue from me and softly thanked me.


    Meanwhile, Sarang stood beside us, her face scrunched up in concern at the sight of her mother''s tears.


    "Mommy... Don''t cry... Does it hurt? Sarang will blow on it..."


    I nearly burst outughing at Sarang''s adorable attempt tofort her mother. Our daughter is just too cute, I swear.


    All I could do was wait for Heena''s emotions to settle and make sure Sarang didn''t start crying too.


    But how could I not help when our daughter wanted to blow on mommy to make her feel better?


    "Sarang, do you want to blow on mommy? Daddy will help you."


    "Yes..."


    I lifted her up again, and Sarang reached out to gently stroke Heena''s hair.


    "Pain go away! Mommy, does it hurt a lot?"


    "No... *sniff* No, it doesn''t. Thank you. Mommy''s not in pain."


    "Santa won''t bring presents if you cry. Mommy shouldn''t cry."


    Thankfully, Heena seemed to have calmed down enough to answer with a soft smile between sniffles. Sarang also appeared more at ease, seeing her mother''s smile return.


    As Heenaposed herself, I held Sarang, and Sarangforted Heena.


    After a while, Heena finally looked up at us with a bright smile, her eyes still slightly red.


    "I''m okay now. Sarang, were you worried?"


    "Yes... When mommy cries... Sarang wants to cry too..."


    "Mommy feels better now because Sarangforted her. Thank you~"


    "Really?"


    "Yes. Mommy only has our Sarang~"


    After reassuring Sarang, she met my eyes and apologized.


    "I''m sorry, honey."


    "Are you alright?"


    "Yeah. When I saw your haircut, tears just started falling... I''m sorry for worrying you again. I''m fine. I''ve mostlye to terms with it.


    After all, we only have to wait five weeks."


    "That''s right. My Heena is so good."


    I didn''t fully believe those words were 100% sincere, given she had just been crying. But at least she was trying to stay positive. As her husband, I figured I should offer some praise, so I stroked her hair too.


    She leaned into my hand like a cat, asking for more.


    "Pet me more."


    "Just a little more. It''s time for us to eat, you know? Sarang must be hungry."


    "Daddy!! Me too! I want to pet mommy too!"


    "Daddy''s petting her now, so why don''t you pet daddy instead?"


    "Okay! Ouch! Daddy, it''s prickly!"@@novelbin@@


    Sarang pulled her hand back in surprise the moment she touched my head. Heena saw this and chuckled, cing her own hand on my head.


    Then she started gently stroking it.


    "You''re right. Daddy''s head is really prickly."


    "Sarang wants to pet daddy... But it hurts..."


    "Pfft, I guess that won''t work~ But it''s kind of cute. You''ll have this hairstyle for the next two years, right?"


    "You didn''t have to confirm it like that... My poor hair..."


    "It''s cute, I''m telling you. You look handsome no matter what hairstyle you have."


    Heena''s assessment of my appearance is the most unbelievable thing in the world. I mean, I don''t think I''m ugly, but her scores are way too generous.


    Then again, as long as Heena thinks that way, I don''t really care what others think.


    Anyway, I internally breathed a sigh of relief. Heena had been extremely unstable for the past month. But today, despite her brief crying spell, she quickly bounced back and was smiling like this.


    I wasn''t sure how she''d react when I actually left, but there was no point in worrying about that now.


    Despite the brief hup, we enjoyed our family outing as nned from that point on.


    First, we headed straight to a family restaurant since we hadn''t properly eaten breakfast or lunch.


    There was no need to deliberate over the menu. I ordered the pork cutlet set, Sarang got the hamburger steak, and Heena chose a sd.


    "Hamburger! Sarang loves this so much!"


    "How many times should you chew before swallowing?"


    "Thirty times!"


    "That''s right. If Sarang chews well and eats everything, we''ll go for ice creamter."


    "Okay!"


    As I cut Sarang''s hamburger steak into tiny pieces, I took a bite here and there. We''d probably end up eating about half of it ourselves.


    Even though Sarang enjoyed trying different foods, she didn''t actually eat that much. Her taste preferences were like mine, but her appetite was the spitting image of Heena''s.


    "Honey, try some of this. It''s delicious~"


    "Hm? Ah~"


    I asionally tasted the sd Heena fed me. When I slightly opened my mouth, she put a forkful of sd in.


    Come to think of it, I''ve been eating more of these leafy greens thanks to Heena. Whenever we came to ces like this, she usually ordered mostly sds.


    Maybe with one or two side dishes?


    "Sarang, have you finished what''s in your mouth? Ah~"


    "Ah~!"


    Heena also fed a bite to Sarang. Our daughter, who loves meat, snacks, and ice cream, eats sd well too.


    I''m not sure if she actually likes it, but at least she doesn''t refuse it.


    After sharing our dishes and feeding each other, we finished our meal and headed to a famous ice cream parlor.


    As soon as we saw the array of ice cream vors lining the entrance, Sarang let out a joyful shriek.


    "Daddy!! There''s so much ice cream! Sarang can''t eat it all!"


    "The fact that your first thought was about eating it all is impressive..."


    "One pint should be enough, right? You don''t eat much ice cream either, honey."


    "Let''s do that. If it''s not enough, we can get another cone on the way out."


    "Sounds good~"


    Since Sarang was too short to see the ice cream properly, I held her up as we looked at each vor.


    ces like this with too many choices can cause decision paralysis. Well, I wasn''t the one choosing anyway.


    "Sarang, pick three vors you want to eat."


    "Three! Can Sarang really eat three?!"


    "We''ll share with daddy and mommy."


    "Then! Sarang wants chocte!"


    Each ice cream had a name, but honestly, they were so oundish that it was hard to guess the vor just from the name. Sarang seemed to be choosing based on the ice cream''s color too.


    "And I want the sky blue one!"


    Sky blue? Don''t tell me it''s mint chocte?


    I panicked for a moment, but fortunately, what Sarang pointed at wasn''t mint chocte. Well, mint chocte is more of a light green than sky blue anyway. But I''m not sure what this one is.


    "Pistachio almond? Excuse me, what vor is this?"


    "Yes, customer~ It''s simr to mint chocte in feeling, but the taste ispletely different. It''s sweet and refreshing like mint chocte, but sweeter... The taste is pistachio, so it''s a bit hard for me to exin."


    "Ah~ Um, Sarang, do you want to eat that?"


    "The color is pretty! I want it!"


    "Is that so? We''ll order then. We''ll take this chocte, the pistachio almond, and strawberry vor, please."


    "Alright, understood~"


    After paying and receiving our ice cream, we went upstairs to find a seat. As soon as we sat down, Sarang and I started eagerly scooping up the ice cream with small spoons.


    Heena was busy wiping Sarang''s spills.


    The chocte and strawberry were pretty standard vors, but this pistachio almond that Sarang chosest had quite a unique taste.


    It was definitely different from mint chocte, yet simr. It''s hard to describe the feeling. But it was quite ptable.


    "This is tasty. Heena, ah~"


    "Ah~"


    While she doesn''t particrly enjoy this kind of thing, she never refuses when I offer to feed her or share my food.


    Heena tasted what I fed her, then her eyes widened.


    "You''re right! I really like this!"


    "Oh, really?"


    But Heena liked it more than I expected. She usually just watched us eat, but now she might join us for ice cream too.


    It wasn''t just feeding – from that moment on, she actually started eating with her own spoon.


    Seeing that, I subtly put my spoon down. Sarang was eating enthusiastically, and now that Heena was joining in, I thought it might not be enough.


    Still, seeing them both enjoy it so much warmed my heart.


    "Sarang, is it delicious?"


    "So yummy!"


    Sarang answered with a bright smile. That''s right, we won''t be able to go out together like this for a while, so I should engrave this smiling face in my memory. Of course, I''ll take lots of photos too.


    After focusing intently on the ice cream for a while, Sarang spoke up with a happy face just as the cup was nearly empty.


    "It''s so fun ying with daddy and mommy! I hope we can y again next week!!"


    "Um..."


    Next week at this time, I won''t be here.


    I couldn''t bring myself to lie and say, "Sure, let''s do that," not when faced with that innocent smile.


    Heena seemed at a loss for words too, quietly wiping Sarang''s mouth with a tissue.


    It would be difficult to exin enlistment urately to a four-year-old Sarang, so we had no choice but to keep quiet until the day I left.


    Looking at Heena, I could tell she might cry even if she understood why I had to go.


    As my worries about Sarang grew...


    The day of enlistment approached.