“Gyeoul, remember, we’re here to rest, so don’t run around too much or exert yourself, okay?”

“Yes…”

We are in a children playground, what could possibly require me to exert myself?

Sighing, I stepped onto the stairs and climbed up to the top of the slide.

Standing at the highest point of the playground, I surveyed the area. Only a few people were in sight.

From a child gleefully climbing the jungle gym to a mother pushing her child on a swing.

As diverse as the people were, there was an entity that seemed out of place in this playground.

An adult about to slide down a slide meant for children.

If those who knew me saw this, they would undoubtedly sneer.

“Haah.”

How did it come to this?

Sitting on the slide with a heavy heart, unfamiliar legs came into my view.

It wasn’t as if time had reversed, yet my legs had somehow shrunk twice over.

It was troubling in many ways, but I tried to think positively.

After all, I was experiencing something no one else ever had.

‘Maybe I’ll live longer now that I’ve become younger.’

Lost in my own rationalizations, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

Startled by the sudden contact, I flinched and shrank back.

“Wh-what?!”

Turning around, I saw a young boy blinking at me.

His innocent appearance brought a sense of relief.

“Excuse me, I want to go down the slide.”

“Uh, okay.”

I must have been blocking his way, waiting behind me.

Feeling apologetic, I hurriedly moved to slide down when the boy suddenly asked a question.

“But why are your ears on top of your head? Are you a cat?”

“I-I don’t know!”

Ahhhh~~

I let out a long, echoing sigh as I slid down the slide.

Being shorter made the ride seem longer than usual.

Not that it was any fun.

“Haah.”

Why did the girl bring an adult like me to a playground?

Was it just to embarrass me?

As I got up from the slide and sighed, the girl approached me.

“How was it? Not fun?”

Her feigned kindness and smiling eyes seemed detestable.

Now, I was certain of it.

She had brought me here to mock me, she must have wanted to treat me like a child, given my younger appearance.

What a wicked witch.

I suppressed my displeasure and clapped weakly.

“Wow…”

Clap-

Clap-

Clap-

I clapped at a slow pace, and the girl visibly flinched.

Clearly, she was surprised by my show of defiance.

It was a strategy I learned from the girl herself, appearing kind on the outside while being cunning on the inside.

“Did-did you not enjoy it?”

The girl looked flustered.

Feeling slightly better knowing I had gotten back at her, I decided to show a bit more defiance.

“I’m not sure if it was fun…”

I looked up at her with an expression of uncertainty.

It was my way of saying I didn’t want to play anymore.

“Oh… Then, how about trying that?”

“That?”

I followed the direction of the girl’s finger.

There was a small swing, seemingly designed for children, at the end.

“Yes. Have you never tried it? I’ll push you from behind, want to sit on it?”

“Y-Yes…”

From the slide to the swing.

She really was relentless in her torment.

I trudged over and climbed onto the swing.

“Ready?”

“Yes…”

I nodded weakly, and the girl began to push me from behind.

Each time her hand touched my back, my body shivered slightly.

‘What is this…’

Was she being careful not to knock me off with her gentle and soft pushes?

Even though she was pretending to be kind, her touch felt warm.

Even I, aware of her true identity, was almost fooled by it.

“How is it? Fun?”

“Yes, y-yes…”

It had been years since I felt such a kind touch.