A Promise

Lately, Cheondo has been acting strangely.

"Brother… Would you like to have this?"

She shyly offered a ripe water peach.

As I took it, Cheondo suddenly grabbed my hand holding the peach and gently stroked the back of my hand.

'The physical contact has increased too much.'

She's been clinging to me more than before. Even her voice had become more childlike.

Cheondo, with her face flushed red, turned away so I couldn't see it and leaned her head on my shoulder.

"..."

Her body clung to me tightly even though she avoided my gaze.

It's an overly assertive behavior that's almost burdensome.

"Cheondo."

"Yes?"

"Is something wrong?"

Cheondo shook her head and moved closer.

Now, with no more space to close, Cheondo's shoulder was pressed firmly against me.

"...Do you have any worries?"

"No, I don't."

She stopped mid-sentence as if pricked, then smiled calmly.

Cheondo's eyes, looking at me, shone with an age-inappropriate light.

'What's gotten into her? Could it possibly be about the night she spent with her sisters?'

Although not certain, this could be a serious problem.

Given how much she's clinging to me, she might be greatly disappointed if I were to disappear. My heart felt uneasy.

Someone as pure as Cheondo would definitely fall into deep sorrow.

'World Tree of Time.'

[Yes?]

In a corner of my mind, I slowly began to search for a solution.

-Cheondo, listen well? You need to win over brother.

That night, Cheondo reminisced about the precious stories shared in the bedroom.

'…His hand is warm.'

The key was to lightly bounce and then subtly stick close.

'Hand.'

The 101 ways for a woman to captivate a man.

Hwangdo had thoroughly taught her every tip, which was now firmly embedded in Cheondo's mind.

'Brother's hand…'

-Are you listening, Cheondo?

The Hwangdo in her mind nagged loudly.

Unaware of even that, Cheondo was fully consumed by memorizing every sensation she felt at her fingertips.

Staying still like this, it felt as though she would come up with a new martial arts technique.

'So rough.'

The sensation of another's touch flowing over the surface of her fingers.

Even the familiar feeling of a hand began to feel different as she became aware of her emotions, almost to the point of finding her previous self who refused to follow Hwangdo's advice laughable.

-…How can you do such embarrassing things?

-You shouldn't be embarrassed, really! It's not like you're carrying tofu to them!

Create a private place just for the two of you.

It was perfect since her brother always came at night.

Get closer than usual, act cool and nice.

Cheondo didn't quite understand what acting 'cool' meant.

As the situation progressed to this point, Cheondo was losing her rationality as well.

Ignoring what the brother had once said about having someone special.

-…Are you serious?

Baekdo, who had created an uncomfortable atmosphere, covered her forehead with her hand, lying down for a while before eventually offering her support to Cheondo.

-I'm really at my wit's end. Cheondo likes him, but what am I supposed to do?

-Baekdo, do you want to look for someone like that too?

-…I'd consider it if they liked hard peaches.

-You won't find anyone like that~

-Do you really want to get in trouble?

-Kyaa~

The sisters united in spirit. Cheondo waited for her brother, encouraged by their cheer.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Her heart was beating in real-time.

Keeping a uniform rhythm beside the person she adored.

'He couldn't possibly hear it, could he?'

Fanning her flushed face, Cheondo thought this.

'I hope he can hear it. Even the words in my heart.'

Only touching one shoulder. Logically, with the distance between them, he shouldn't be able to hear.

Realizing her heart could make such loud noises, Cheondo moved her shoulder even closer.

Startled, her brother's shoulder trembled.

In the room filled with stuffy air, cheeks flushed and holding a peach in her hand, Cheondo secretly conveyed the sound of her heart to her brother.

'Brother.'

She wanted to know his real name.

Would he tell her without hesitation if they really got close?

'…Brother.'

In a room barely three pyeong large, a door covered tightly with paper screens.

A white bed with a red cotton quilt on top, a lacquered wardrobe, and a bedside table next to the bed.

A handheld mirror and earpick on the table.

Seeing the reflection of just the two of them sitting on the bed in the mirror, Cheondo's heart strangely fluttered.

Even a single strand of black hair fallen on the floor would become a memory at this moment. Something to laugh off became a reason to smile broadly.

Peach blossoms bloomed in layers.

Alone, they couldn't fully emit their beautiful charm.

Two peach blossoms hung precariously at the end of a branch. A mismatched pair of black and crimson, just looking at them seemed incongruous.

'Ah.'

That was a bit cheesy.

The cheesy lines that she sometimes disliked and thought were tacky were now popping up in her mind.

Let's stop thinking about it.

Right now, she just wanted to feel this moment. It's regrettable that she couldn't use the tips Hwangdo taught her, but she didn't know how to from the start.

Enjoying the moment quietly wasn't too hard.

Even if her shoulders were tense, the smile didn't fade.

"..."

'Brother sometimes… has a serious look.'

And he did now.

Awkwardly scratching his cheek, then suddenly wearing a face lost in bitter thoughts.

Just looking at him, he seemed like someone with loose screws.

Like her master, he seemed to carry many scars and looks like he might leave at any moment.

Such a pitiable person.

'There must be a reason he can't tell me his name.'

Why wouldn't he tell her? Was she not helpful?

Without realizing, Cheondo reached out and wrapped her arms around her brother's arm.

Her upper body pressed firmly against his arm.

"Brother."

"Hm?"

His serious expression softened at her words, a look he reserved only for her.

Even when lost in deep thought, seeing her made his expression gentle.

She understood.

A glimmer of eagerness shone in Cheondo's eyes.

"Lately, you haven't… hugged me, have you?"

As she spoke, he gazed at her with a hint of surprise.

Cheondo lowered her gaze. Did she say something strange?

While she was internally concerned, it didn't take long before strong arms encircled Cheondo's body.

"Is that so? You didn't mind being hugged, did you?"

"…I'm not sure."

It's comforting.

Her forehead grew warm, causing Cheondo to cover her face with her hands.

Unseen by her, Shiheon's expression became troubled.

'What should I do… I feel like I might not see her face again.'

Suddenly!

They collapsed together, landing on the bed.

"Should we sleep? Perhaps it's time for me to leave?"

"Don't go."

In confusion, as Shiheon attempted to rise, Cheondo, still lying down, seized both his arms.

Like a knot around her waist, she firmly held his hands at her sides and tapped the back of his hands, signaling him not to let go.

Then she pulled up the blanket.

Under the shared blanket, they embraced.

Cheondo, swiftly burying her head under the covers, finally rested her face against Shiheon's stomach.

"Can't we just stay here and sleep?"

"Is that all right?"

Instead of replying, Cheondo tightened her hold on Shiheon, keeping him close.

Feeling the warmth of his body in her hands brought an indescribable sense of contentment.

Though they didn't meet each other's gaze, being together felt nice.

"Fine, then."

Pat, pat.

As Shiheon casually patted her, Cheondo nuzzled her forehead against his hand.

His scent filled her senses.

The thumping of Cheondo's heavily beating heart seemed to reach him.

Thud and roll.

A peach fell from the bedside table and rolled onto the floor.

"…Oh, the peach fell."

"Just leave it."

Her excited heart felt as if it could fly away in a winged garment.

Her trembling fingers clutched tightly at the back of Shiheon's shirt.

Like a wet mouse trembling, but her face was relaxed and comfortable.

"Brother Dowon."

"Hm?"

"…Even if I become the Cheonma, will you stay with me?"

As if the answer was already decided, the words Cheondo hoped for sprung from Shiheon's mouth.

"Hehe."

For the first time since her training began, Cheondo laughed like a child with a cheeky face.

It was the night one week before the Young Demon's death.

Time passed.

Cheondo's changed attitude significantly boosted the time we spent together.

'What do I do now?'

[What do you mean what… Isn't this the path you've chosen?]

'That's true.'

Cheondo, holding my hand and walking through a garden filled with peach trees.

She looked at me and shyly laughed, hoo hoo. Such a pretty face.

'But, there was no way from the start.'

Hwangdo, or even Baekdo, might have been one thing, but I never thought Cheondo would harbor such feelings for me.

And now, the day to die and return to the present was not far off.

Even for me, it's inevitable to be concerned about Cheondo.

'She likes me too much.'

[Isn't that a good thing? To become someone's memory.]

'I might also give her a terrible memory. What if it traumatises her?'

Slyly interlocking fingers and attaching a fallen peach blossom to her hair, she grinned and asked how it looked.

"Brother, there are so~ many flowers!"

Her expressions were becoming increasingly varied.

The tone of her voice kept changing. I thought Cheondo's tough voice was natural.

"Brother?"

The voice sounded emotionless enough to wonder if she was angry.

"Brother~♪"

But now, anyone would spontaneously say it sounded cute.

It's as if, by me becoming the Young Demon, she's picking up things she'd left behind one by one. Her smile has become more varied than before. It felt like Cheondo's emotions were gradually coming back to life.

'…To think I'm engaging in a pseudo-relationship with a child.'

I felt a sense of self-disgust, but seeing her smile, all those thoughts disappeared.

[Does age difference really matter?]

'I have my principles.'

[I see.]

Still, I was trying to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Excluding the times I planned things with Cheonma, I was always with Cheondo. It's somewhat enjoyable to be with the young lady of Dowon.

"Brother!"

Brother, brother, brother.

Hearing it continuously made me feel like I was really going to die.

"Hm?"

"Why do you keep spacing out?"

Was I too lost in thought?

I relaxed my expression and stroked Cheondo's head.

Cheondo moved the hand from her crown to under her arm, forcing my arm to wrap around her.

"Let's go, quickly."

"Why the hurry? Got something hidden?"

"There is something hidden."

What could be so hidden that it took two hours to walk from DoWon?

Half curiosity, half obligation led me to a wide-open garden.

"This is where I always played when I was younger."

The cascading waterfall and the winding stream.

A rock jutting out in the middle of the river.

This magnificent view was encircled by sprawling peach trees.

-Swooosh!

Flower petals flowed along the river water.

From afar, it felt like watching a pink river.

"It's so beautiful, isn't it?"

"Right? Come over here."

"What now?"

Cheondo pulled my arm and led me to a certain rock.

With a beaming smile, we reached a rock where an unknown flower ring was placed.

"I'll give this to you."

Deep pink.

A ring made of sharp-tipped peach blossoms, with the ring part made of green grass, fragile enough to fall apart with a little force.

"This?"

"I used to make these often and give them to my master… I wanted to give one to brother too."

Cheondo, while smiling, glanced at me and then offered the ring as if entrusting it to me.

"Is it a bit childish?"

Thinking about the children of Dowon, if it suited their age, I didn't find it childish.

[…Hmm?]

'What?'

[No, it's nothing. It's a joyous occasion.]

What joy?

I took Cheondo's ring and tried it on my finger for show.

Cheondo, looking delighted just by that, beamed at my hand holding the ring.

'It's nice.'

The ring was made by Cheondo with peach blossoms.

Lifting my hand towards the sky, it seemed to shine even brighter in the sunlight.