After the Uni Trip ended, the summer vacation began not long after.

The sound of cicadas chirping came from beyond the window. To escape the heat, Si-hyun was cooling himself with the air conditioner while diligently searching through his wardrobe and drawers.

"There's more than I thought..."

A Sky Blue Album filled with photos they took together.

A dolphin-shaped keychain given during their date at the Aquarium.

Even the wallet he got on his birthday and various other things.

Si-hyun looked at the medium-sized box packed with these memories with a complicated expression.

‘It's probably time to throw them away, right?’

Wanting to consider Ye-rin’s feelings seriously, Si-hyun decided to erase traces of his first relationship.

Despite the frequent arguments, there were also some good memories. Now that he thought about sorting them out, it felt strangely bittersweet.

‘No, some of these things are quite expensive. Maybe I should just return them.’

From what Si-hyun read on a breakup forum, there were cases where an ex-partner asked for the gifts they had given back.

It felt quite pathetic, but what if she asked for them later and he had already thrown them away? That would be awkward in its own way.

‘I guess I'll keep them for now and deal with them when I start a new relationship.’

Si-hyun sighed and used his foot to push the box into the corner of the room.

Feeling conflicted, he lay down on the bed. As he closed his eyes, he heard the ticking of the clock.

As he concentrated on the sound, his consciousness gradually faded.

(Si-hyun childhood)

Si-hyun’s parents run a Chinese restaurant.

It's not the kind of restaurant that's bustling with customers to call it a success, but it’s well-known for its delicious fried rice, which keeps a loyal customer base.

As their only child, Si-hyun would roam the restaurant alone whenever his parents were busy. With his small frame, he would carry water jugs to serve the customers.

"Si-hyun, are you helping your parents today as well?"

"No... I'm just doing this because I'm bored."

Young Si-hyun received lots of affection and pocket money from the patrons, but since he wasn't greedy for money, he would always slip it into his parents' pockets.

It was just a normal day. After dinner, when the restaurant quieted down and his parents were about to take a break.

Ding-dong~

A girl around Si-hyun's age walked into the restaurant alone. She had naturally brown hair, and her adorable chubby cheeks stood out.

Si-hyun's mother greeted her.

"Where are your parents?"

"I came alone."

"What?"

Clearly, the girl looked like a kindergartener, or at most, an early elementary school student. Eating alone at this late hour?

Sensing something was off, Si-hyun's mother decided to feed her first.

"What would you like to eat?"

"A double portion of fried rice."

"A double portion? That's a lot of food. Are you sure you can eat it all?"

"I can eat it all!" the girl shouted confidently. Whoever her parents were, it made Si-hyun's mom curious to meet them.

Besides, who could charge such a young girl for food? Sighing at the thought of leftover food, she went to inform her husband about the order.

Meanwhile, Si-hyun, who had been wandering around the restaurant, approached the girl. Sitting on the chair across from her, he poured her some water and said:

"Did you come by yourself?"

The girl ignored him and gulped down her ice water. Once her cup was empty, Si-hyun refilled it, and at that moment, his mother arrived with some pickled radish and onion.

"Si-hyun, she looks to be around your age. Keep her company, alright?"

Given there were no customers, Si-hyun, who was quite bored, agreed. However, the girl snorted at the idea of 'playing together' and nibbled at the pickled radish while staring at the TV.

"Where are your parents?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"I was just curious since you're here alone."

Frowning, the girl asked, "Isn't it my business whether I eat alone or with someone?"

"That's true. I also eat alone when my parents are busy."

The girl's gaze shifted from the news on TV to Si-hyun. With an indifferent look, she tapped her water cup and said, "You could ask your parents to eat with you."

"By the time we're ready to eat, a lot of customers come in. Even if we start eating together, they end up having to work midway."

The girl gave Si-hyun a meaningful look as he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

Just then, the food they ordered arrived. The girl received a double portion of fried rice, while Si-hyun got a bowl of fried rice.

"Si-hyun, I'll be in the kitchen doing the dishes, so eat together, okay?"

Si-hyun nodded obediently. The girl, who seemed dissatisfied with this, picked up her spoon and stared at the fried rice topped with a fried egg.

"I heard the fried rice here is really good. Is that true?"

"I eat it so often I’m not sure, but that's what the customers say."

Nodding, the girl broke the yolk of the fried egg.

At that moment, she mixed the black bean sauce well with the rice and took a big bite.

"Wow!"

Smiling brightly, she started stomping her feet in delight. She then began devouring the food without stopping, to the point where Si-hyun was left staring at her, stunned.

"You eat really well."

Whether Si-hyun was impressed or not, the girl would drink water when her throat got dry and balance the taste with the onions.

"That was delicious..."

Having cleaned her plate, she rubbed her belly and flashed a blissful smile.

On the other hand, Si-hyun, who was too busy watching her to eat, handed her a tissue and said,

"You’ve got some sauce on your mouth."

"Where?"

Even when he told her where it was, she couldn’t wipe it off properly. Si-hyun, unable to watch any longer, took the tissue and wiped it off for her.

Surprised by Si-hyun’s unexpected action, the girl's eyes widened, and just as she was about to speak,

"Oh my goodness... You really ate it all?"

His mother, who had just finished washing the dishes, approached with a surprised look. The girl had finished a double portion typically too much even for an adult man.

"You must have been very hungry..."

"I usually eat this much."

The girl tilted her head, puzzled by the mother's sympathetic gaze, and praised the fried rice's taste, to which the mother responded with a pleased smile.

"Where do you live? It's dark outside, so let me walk you home."

"Oh, it's okay. My house is nearby."

Even though the girl refused, the mother was adamant about walking her home. Regardless of the circumstances, it wasn't right to let a child come to a restaurant alone.

If there were parents at home, she intended to have a word with them.

Thump. Thump.

In the end, his mother held Si-hyun’s right hand and the girl’s left hand, walking together. After about five minutes through a narrow alley, they arrived at a modest detached house.

Seeing that all the lights were off through the windows, she wondered if no one was inside. The thought that the girl might be alone this late at night saddened her, so she gently stroked the girl's hair. Before long, the girl flinched.

"Oh, I forgot to pay... I have a card, but I can't use it outside, right?"

As the girl nervously talked about needing to return to the restaurant to pay, his mother comforted her in a gentle voice. Then, she warmly wrapped her hands around the girl's and said,

"It's okay if you don't pay. Just come to our restaurant whenever you're hungry."

"Really? But..."

"It's fine. Instead, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

While hugging Si-hyun, who was clinging tightly to her leg, she said,

"When you eat, would you mind eating with my son? My husband and I are often busy and can't always take care of him."

The girl quietly looked at Si-hyun, who was just standing there blankly. She felt a sense of kinship with the boy, who seemed to understand what it felt like to often eat alone.

Knowing the loneliness of being by herself...

"I'll definitely come again tomorrow!"

She nodded with a resolute expression.

Ding-dong! Ring-ring!

The sudden loud ringtone brought Si-hyun's consciousness back bit by bit.

'It felt like I was dreaming about something nostalgic...'

Still groggy and unable to think clearly, he fumbled around his bed to find his phone and answered the call.

"Hello?"

[Were you sleeping?]

It was Ye-rin's voice.

"Yeah."

[Haha, you've gotten really lazy ever since the break started.]

Since the Uni Trip, just hearing Ye-rin's voice made Si-hyun's heart race. He cleared his throat and replied.

"Maybe it's because of the hot weather. Anyway, why did you call?"

[Um... I need to ask you a favor.]

"What is it?"

In a slightly dejected voice, Ye-rin explained,

[My grandma needs help with the farm work. She needs someone strong, and the only guy I know who can help is you, Si-hyun...]

"Of course, I'd be happy to help."

[Really? But her place is on the west coast, so it's quite far. We'd have to stay there for a few days.]

"That's fine. Just let me know the dates."

[Okay! Thank you, Si-hyun. I really like you!]

Ye-rin made a smooching sound into the speaker before hanging up. Si-hyun leaned back against the wall, smiling wryly.

‘Thank you, more like I'm the one who's grateful.’

To understand his true feelings, Si-hyun needed to see her in person. But once he became conscious of his feelings for Ye-rin, he felt shy to ask her out just for fun.

He was happy to meet her this way, even if it was for work.

'I hope through this meeting, I can be sure of my love.'

Determined, Si-hyun began to carefully pick out clothes that would impress Ye-rin.