TL/Editor: looloo

    Status: ongoing

    Illustrations: posted in discord

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    The eldest son of a family who always got taken advantage of by his younger sibling''s couple, giving them everything from his liver to his gallbladder, Lee Heeseong, loved his sister''s family very much.

    His younger sister, once she finished her rebellious phase in high school, started treating him more warmly than before. He already liked his family, but from then on, it was safe to say he became completely sister-complex.

    And the man his sister adored, Han Yeonho, also won his heart. Of course, when he first saw them kissing, he was quite flustered.

    But from what he heard from his parents and sister, he had already given Han Yeonho high marks before actually meeting him.

    He liked Han Yeonho''s basic mindset, and above all, he didn''t seem to take his sister''s affection for granted or try to exploit it.

    As time passed, he realized that Han Yeonho was an even better person than he initially thought. Especially when Han Yeonho got injured helping someone on the day of the college entrance exam, it was a shock to him.

    Lee Heeseong didn''t consider himself a bad person, but he knew he wouldn''t be able to throw his body to help someone on such an important day.

    Han Yeonho said it was a reflexive action, but it was clear that he had the underlying intention to help.

    These things piled up, and Lee Heeseong grew to like the two of them more and more, becoming very weak towards them.

    That''s why he never said much. He didn''t mind them treating him comfortably or calling him like Doraemon whenever they needed something.

    Sometimes it could be annoying and bothersome, but deep down, Lee Heeseong was happy. It meant they were comfortable enough with him to treat him that way.

    Even within families, it''s common for siblings to keep their distance, and it wasn''t usual to be close to a sister''s boyfriend.

    Therefore, it was only natural that he became infatuated with their child, Han Sarang. She was very cute, taking after her parents, and more importantly, she was a ''well-behaved, quiet child,'' which was like a mythical creature to him.

    Thanks to Han Sarang, he also began to think more seriously about dating and marriage. The presence of Han Sarang played a significant role in him dating Cha Rin, a cafe? manager he had known for a long time. She made him want to have a child.

    Living happily every day with his beloved family, he was playing with Han Sarang today as well.

    "Sarang-ah. Do you like me or Uncle Sunhoo more?"

    "Uncle Heeseong and Uncle Sunhoo?"

    "Yeah. Think about it carefully. Who bought you the ice cream you''re eating right now?"

    "It''s a secret... Only Uncle Heeseong should know!"

    "Secret."

    "Sarang likes... Uncle Heeseong much more."

    "That''s it!"

    At Han Sarang''s half-flattering answer, Lee Heeseong clenched his fist and cheered. A couple of months ago, Han Sunhoo bought their niece a cat outfit that was ridiculously cute. Han Sarang loved it.

    To make up for the score difference, he bought her more treats than before. He went through a lot of trouble to buy them without his sister finding out.

    Shivering with joy for a moment, he looked at Han Sarang enjoying her ice cream, then turned his gaze towards the living room sofa.

    There sat Han Yeonho, playing with his phone, and behind him, his sister was hugging him tightly, burying her face in his back.

    Seeing his sister holding him without saying a word, he clicked his tongue.

    The reason was clear. Han Yeonho''s enlistment day was approaching. Less than a month was left.

    Despite it being just a few weeks of basic training and then commuting from home, his sister acted like the world was ending. They would only be apart for a few weeks.

    "Heena, do you want some watermelon? I can cut it for you."

    "...No. I''ll just stay like this..."

    "Hmm... okay then."

    Even though Han Yeonho tried to offer something, seeing her unmoving state made him sigh.

    On one hand, it was surprising how she could still be so clingy. From when they first started dating until now, his sister had been consistent.

    Suhwang had returned to school after discharge and was now a third-year student. Yoonsung was a hall manager at a snack bar. Although he called himself a manager, he was essentially a jack-of-all-trades. Other than the part-timers, the only people there were Yoonsung’s mom and aunts.

    Amazingly, the part-timers at that snack bar were still running away every other day. Because of this, the auntie wanted to scout me every time she saw my face, offering a salary that rivaled major companies.

    Of course, I had no intention of entering that hell. Although working there a few years ago was quite a memory, I wanted to leave it as just a memory.

    "There''s nothing special about the military. If you just live as you usually do, you''ll have fun and come out."

    "If your comrades are decent, it will be fun. And ignore it when people ask for your contact info during the discharge ceremony. It all ends anyway..."

    "Oh, that''s real. I got contact info from more than half of my roommates, and none of them ever contacted me. You really make friends at your post. Surprisingly, there are good people."

    "But come to think of it, this guy''s a supplementary service."

    "Right. Like Winnie the Pooh, eating all the honey."

    Why did I meet these guys at lunch just to get insulted? Meeting them was just an excuse to get berated.

    After about 30 minutes of teasing and swearing while talking about the military, Suhwang finally showed some concern.

    However, it wasn''t concern for me, but for my wife and daughter.

    "What will Heena and Sarang do when you go to boot camp?"

    "What do you mean, what will they do?"

    "Hey, last time I saw, they were still clinging to you like koalas. Even Sarang looked for you if she didn''t see you for a moment."

    "Oh... well... I don''t know. I''m worried too..."

    I was really worried. Both Heena and Sarang were so attached to me.

    Thinking about Sarang, with her dimples showing when she smiled, crying her heart out while looking for me made my heart ache.

    And Heena.

    "What about my Heena?"

    Since we started dating, we had never gone more than three days without seeing each other. It seemed impossible, but it was true. Even if it was hard to meet, we at least had video calls.

    Now, for the first time, we were going to be apart for five long weeks.

    She was already gloomy, clinging to my back like a cicada, and I couldn''t imagine how she would react once I was gone.

    Instead of comforting Sarang, they might end up crying together.

    "It''s just five weeks, don''t worry too much. It might be tough at first, but time will fly. Just focus on shooting well when you''re there. And try to have long phone calls."

    "Oh, since we''re talking about it, should we go to a shooting range? I''ve always wanted to try that. Worrying won''t help, let''s clear our heads by having some fun."

    "Sigh... fine. Let''s go."

    We couldn''t just sit around sighing all the time.

    So, we spent some time together. In the past, we might have gathered more friends to play basketball, but that was no longer easy, which was a shame.

    A few hours later, it was time to pick up Sarang, so I sent Suhwang and Yoonsung off, picked up Sarang, and headed home.

    When we got home, I bathed Sarang and listened to her talk about her day at daycare, and soon Heena came home from work.

    As soon as she got home, as usual.

    -Hug

    "Welcome back. Do you want to eat right after you wash up?"

    "...Yeah. But first, just let me hold you for a bit..."

    She was holding me, burying her face in my chest.

    What should I do?

    Author''s Note:

    It''s been so long since I was discharged that my memory is a bit hazy... And I was in the Air Force...