Finally, Yoon Si-woo, who had eagerly awaited the holiday, was soaking up the excited atmosphere early in the morning, looking as cheerful as a kindergarten child on a picnic.

Although he hadn’t even arrived home yet, his heart was happily racing with anticipation for the date, and his steps quickened just as much.

“Mom, look at that guy! He’s smiling so much.”

“Right? Maybe something good happened to him.”

While passing by, he caught a snippet of conversation between a mother and child, realizing just how much he was grinning, which made him blush. But what could he do? The happiness just made him smile even more.

Still, he felt a bit shy about showing too much excitement to Scarlet, so he managed to calm his expression just moments before arriving home.

“Did you come? You’re earlier than I expected.”

“…Yeah, I’m back.”

“Have you eaten breakfast? Just in case, I prepared some food for you. Want to eat?”

“……I’d like to.”

As he walked through the door and saw Scarlet welcoming him, it was no easy task to suppress the grin that wanted to break free.

Having someone to greet him in a home that was often empty, especially when that person was a girl he liked and with whom he was about to go on a date, was overwhelming happiness for Yoon Si-woo.

“What’s up? Aren’t you going to eat, Scarlet?”

“…I’m not really hungry. I’ll just get ready to go, so call me when you finish your breakfast.”

“Ah… okay.”

Sitting at the breakfast table, there was only one pair of utensils set out.

When he asked her why she wasn’t eating, and she said she wasn’t hungry, he recalled the conversation he had with Sylvia.

Scarlet is really on a diet, huh?

Could it be she’s trying to look good for me…?

As he absentmindedly stared at the door that Scarlet had gone through to get ready, his face reddened as he buried his head on the table.

After cooling his head for a moment in that position, Yoon Si-woo quickly finished his breakfast and decided to get ready to leave as well.

Standing in front of the closet for a while, he hesitated, thinking that if he dressed too flashy, it might overwhelm Scarlet given her personality, so he chose something moderately neat to wear.

While looking into the mirror, he realized something.

It wouldn’t be good if anyone found out that he was going on a date with Scarlet.

To be honest, he didn’t mind people knowing he was involved with Scarlet, but she might feel burdened by being the center of attention.

Moreover, although it wasn’t known to the public, there was a history of him being interrogated, so being in the spotlight could cause issues.

So after a moment of thought, he let out a sigh and reluctantly put on a hat and mask to cover his conspicuous hair color and face.

Wondering if it was right to go on a date while wearing a hat and mask, he thought it was the right choice considering Scarlet.

“I’m ready, do you need more time?”

Having finished getting ready, Yoon Si-woo knocked on Scarlet’s door.

“……No, I’m all done too.”

When the door opened and he saw Scarlet, he couldn’t close his mouth.

She was wearing a white dress that radiated femininity, an outfit she would never normally wear.

Her unfamiliar attire seemed to make her nervous, and her cheeks slightly flushed as she hesitated, resembling a beautiful painting.

Yoon Si-woo couldn’t help but be entranced, gazing at her blankly.

“……I must look weird wearing this to go out, right?”

“Ah… not weird at all. Not one bit.”

He wanted to tell her that she looked great, but his heart was beating so fast that he couldn’t get the words out, so that was all he could muster.

Her outfit seemed to be deliberately chosen to match the idea of a date with him, causing his lips to betray him with a smile.

Maybe it was this added thought that made Scarlet look even prettier than usual.

Was it just his imagination, or was she subtly wearing makeup…?

Without realizing it, Yoon Si-woo found himself asking her.

“Did you… put on makeup?”

Immediately after asking, he thought that could sound a bit embarrassing, making him flinch reflexively.

But, honestly, he hoped she had put on makeup.

That would mean, as Sylvia had said, she was conscious of him.

Scarlet answered the question in a blunt voice.

“Do I really need to say that myself?”

Her reply seemed to imply that he should have noticed how much makeup she had on without needing to ask. For a moment, he wanted to scold himself for being so clueless, but the rising intense feelings made him thankful he wore a mask.

Without it, that silly smile he couldn’t suppress would have definitely been visible to Scarlet.

“Let’s go if we’re all set. The zoo opens at nine.”

“……Okay.”

Even on the way to the zoo, that smile didn’t leave his face.

Going on a date with Scarlet alone felt like a dream come true.

That feeling made everything he saw on the way to the zoo look beautiful.

And the smile that had been lingering on Yoon Si-woo’s lips,

“Over here! This way!”

“Scarlet, here!”

Disappeared in an instant upon arriving at the zoo and seeing the children from the orphanage and the director waving at them as if waiting.

“What are you standing there for? The kids are waiting. Let’s hurry.”

However, seeing Scarlet approach the kids, smiling slightly to reassure herself, made Yoon Si-woo realize something.

He was truly living in a sweet dream all along.

*

After staying up late for a few nights, I realized something.

Staying up late naturally gives more time to fall into my thoughts.

Isn’t it said that people become emotional as dawn approaches?

Perhaps that led me to ponder thoughts I wouldn’t normally entertain.

For instance, I began to think philosophically about how I would live the remainder of my life.

Of course, the background of that thought stemmed from the looming idea that the day I could cease being me might not be far off.

Which brought to my mind a sort of bucket list.

A bucket list is essentially a list of things one should do in life to avoid regrets.

Asking myself what I would regret the most led me to think I would regret not keeping promises, which naturally reminded me of the promise I made to Leon to visit the zoo together.

Moreover, I had been planning a picnic for the children at the zoo after consulting with Director Maria, so it seemed like the most feasible promise to fulfill soon. I wondered when we should go.

“Tomorrow. If you don’t mind, would you like to go out with me somewhere?”

Yoon Si-woo asked if I wanted to go somewhere.

It was the only day off in the week, yet he suggested going out without resting.

Hearing that stirred a sense of sympathy within me.

I suddenly recalled how, in the original work, Yoon Si-woo disliked being at home due to having no family and often felt profoundly lonely.

He had even missed making friends at the academy due to graduating early.

So, the only person who could play with Yoon Si-woo was me.

Considering his heart-rending circumstances, I willingly agreed to his plans.

He was so thrilled to have made plans, it almost broke my heart.

After making the plans with Yoon Si-woo, I coordinated with the director to move the zoo trip to coincide with his day off.

We could have gone separately, but I thought being surrounded by the lively company of everyone would be more enjoyable for someone as lonely as Yoon Si-woo.

Not informing him in advance felt like a little surprise.

Given the many things I owed him, I wanted to brighten his day with this small event.

Anyway, the day of our plans arrived. After preparing a light breakfast for Yoon Si-woo, I returned to my room to get ready, when the director’s phone rang with a video call.

“Hey, big sister! Can you see me? The director bought me a pretty dress to wear for the picnic! Look, it’s like a princess dress!”

“Yeah, it looks great on Leon. It’s pretty.”

“Hehe, I got complimented!”

As the director was filming, Leon appeared on the screen.

Was she eager to show off? Dressed in what appeared to be a new white dress, she spun around happily, making me smile like a proud parent.

“Big sister, do you have a dress that looks like mine?”

“Uh, um… I do, actually…”

I answered Leon in a somewhat hesitant voice.

Yes, I did have a dress that somewhat resembled it.

It was a dress that Sylvia had made me buy when we went shopping because she insisted I would look great in it.

Though it felt too feminine for me, so I had stuffed it in the closet without ever wearing it…

“Big sister, I have a favor to ask…”

“What’s the favor?”

In that instant, I sensed an ominous feeling from Leon’s request and hoped it wouldn’t be what I feared, but it was exactly what I dreaded.

“Could you wear that dress when we go out today?”

Hearing those words made me feel dizzy.

Oh my, why must the gods put me through such trials…?

For a moment, I resentfully thought about how unfair it was to give me such a burdensome trial. But then I realized that this world inherently lacked dreams and hopes, and my expression hardened.

Noticing my reaction wasn’t reassuring, Leon hesitated and spoke.

“Ah, big sister, uh… if you don’t want to, it’s okay. You don’t have to worry about it; wear something else instead.”

Though she said she didn’t mind, it was pretty clear she’d be disappointed if I showed up wearing something else.

But Leon, who had grown more mature, would probably say it was fine while smiling.

I didn’t want to see that side of her.

I gritted my teeth and opened the closet.

Before me hung the white dress.

Yeah, what’s the big deal about wearing a dress?

Back when I was in the military, I danced in a mini skirt and crop top in front of all my comrades during a cross-dressing competition on my day off.

Think about it; if I hadn’t gotten a day off and never saw my mother again, I would have regretted that moment for the rest of my life.

So, if I didn’t wear this dress and went out, seeing Leon’s disappointed face would surely lead to regret.

I repeated in my mind.

I am a man. A real man.

And a real man doesn’t make a child sad.

So, a real man swiftly changed into the dress and showed Leon the result.

Seeing Leon ecstatic in her matching couples outfit made me forget all about my embarrassment.

At least, that’s what I thought, but standing in front of Yoon Si-woo felt a bit different.

His gaze, wide-eyed in surprise, seemed to scold me as if saying, “Wow, how can you wear a dress like that?”

Moreover, Yoon Si-woo took it up a notch by adding insult to my injury, even asking,

“Did you… put on makeup?”

That question, reminiscent of the mocking words of my fellow troops comparing me to a goddess of war after the cross-dressing contest, made me throw him a sharp glare.

“Do I really need to say that myself?”

With an edge to my words, I made that clear.

Remember this, Yoon Si-woo.

A real man doesn’t wear makeup.

Regardless, after heading out with Yoon Si-woo and arriving at the zoo, the expected reactions unfolded.

“Wow! Big sister and Leon are in matching outfits!”

Leon bounced around with excitement, her joy spilling everywhere.

“……So it wasn’t just the two of us going out.”

“Yeah, it’s my little surprise. The people from the orphanage are practically family, so I wanted to create a memory for you of going out with family. How’s that? Are you happy?”

“……Yeah, I’m happy.”

Seeing Yoon Si-woo somewhat moved, with his eyes glistening a bit, made me feel truly satisfied.