TL/Editor: looloo

    Status: ongoing

    Illustrations: posted in discord

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    In the days following Heena''s surprise gift of a game console, we were undeniably happy.

    Even without gaming, I''d been content simply being greeted by my daughter upon returning home and welcoming my hardworking wife. The console injected new vitality into our lives. The games I started after so long were genuinely fun - every single one.

    Yes, it was fun. Incredibly so.

    Yet before I knew it, I found myself apologizing to Heena.

    "...I''m sorry."

    Heena, clearly displeased, pointed at the console.

    "Honey, remember. From now on, games are limited to one hour a day."

    "Okay..."

    I had no defense.

    How did it come to this?

    ---

    Raei Translations

    ---

    After receiving the Switch, I began playing games we could enjoy together, as Heena had hoped. We started with exercise games.

    These involved holding a circular device about the size of a steering wheel and mimicking on-screen poses. Despite its simplicity, it proved surprisingly fun and offered a good workout. Though we only had one controller, everyone else joined in from the sidelines.

    "Damn, this is intense. Maybe I should work out too."

    "You really should, bro. Want me to get you a gym membership?"

    "What gym? I''ll just use this."

    Even Heeseong hyung, usually disinterested in such things, found it entertaining enough to participate.

    "Mommy! Is this how you do it?!"

    "Hehe, Sarang is so flexible~ You''re doing great!"

    "Mommy too! Mommy try too!"

    "Will Sarang teach Mommy?"

    "Yes!"

    Sarang mimicked my movements with peculiar gestures. Heena cheered her on, clapping.

    "Phew~ This is tough~"

    "Oh my... They have things like this nowadays?"

    "They sure do~"

    As we occupied the living room, my in-laws joined in after returning late from work. We pushed the tables aside, and the whole family immersed themselves in exercise.

    This was exactly what Heena had hoped for - everyone enjoying the game together. Her satisfaction was evident.

    I approached the workout competitively, gripping the device with determination.

    "What the hell! I did that pose correctly!"

    "Han Yeonho, are you even trying?!"

    "Ugh... My leg won''t go up...!"

    It wasn''t just exercise; the game involved defeating monsters through precise poses and repetitions, adding an adventurous element.

    The challenge surprised me. Despite my gym experience and current yoga routines with Heena, fatigue set in quickly.

    But with monsters constantly appearing on screen, I couldn''t ignore them. Driven by stubbornness and competitiveness, I persevered until exhaustion nearly won.

    "Wow... I really can''t go on. No more..."

    -Brrrrr!

    As I explored the village, learning the system, Heena called.

    "Hello?"

    [Ah, honey. I have a work dinner today, so I''ll be late.]

    "Oh? Should I pick you up later?"

    [No, it''s okay. I''ll stay briefly and taxi home. Is Sarang asleep?]

    "Nope~ We''re playing Animal Crossing."

    [Sarang must love it~ Playing the game with Daddy.]

    "She does. Be careful coming home. I''ll be awake, so call if anything happens."

    [Okay! I''ll call before leaving!]

    "Alright~"

    -Click. It was one of Heena''s occasional department dinners. These days, without forced drinking, I wasn''t overly concerned.

    The atmosphere can be influential, but Heena manages herself well.

    "When is Mommy coming?"

    "Mommy said she''ll be late. She''ll come when Sarang is fast asleep."

    "I wanted to sleep with Mommy..."

    "Are you sleepy? Should Daddy put you to bed?"

    "Yes!"

    Despite her sparkling eyes watching the kitties, Sarang had been waiting for Heena.

    I quickly wrapped up the game and took Sarang to bed. She must''ve been exhausted, falling asleep almost instantly.

    After gently stroking our sleeping angel''s face, I quietly left to avoid waking her. Returning to the living room, I sat lost in thought.

    What to do until Heena returns? Having studied English earlier at the university, more studying didn''t appeal.

    As I idly messaged friends, wondering what to do, Heeseong hyung texted first.

    "Is Sarang asleep?"

    "Yeah."

    "Hmm... You''re saving Animal Crossing for Sarang, right?"

    "Probably. I''m restraining myself because of her. Alone, I''d have started building stuff already."

    "Then want to try this?"

    He handed me a famous open-world action-adventure game I''d heard of but never played, due to the lack of a Switch.

    As I contemplated the cartridge, hyung added persuasively:

    "Play it when you''re alone. No need to connect to the TV."

    A significant advantage. While I could justify monopolizing the TV to play with Sarang, keeping it connected constantly felt wrong.

    Besides, I had time to kill until Heena''s return.

    "Alright, I''ll try it. Is it fun?"

    "Buying a Switch means committing to that game."

    "Well, I didn''t buy it myself, but... Okay. Installing now."

    "Figure it out yourself without guides. If you''re really stuck, ask me."

    "Okay~"

    His confident recommendation piqued my interest. Though our gaming tastes differed, his past suggestions had been fun.

    And so, the game I started playing - the one I''d intended to briefly try while waiting for Heena - ultimately...

    Became the source of Heena''s anger.