“This year is already coming to an end…”
I said while looking at the calendar. As I said, the year was about to end. It felt like a bullet train, speeding by because it was such an eventful year.
Come to think of it, it feels like just yesterday I became that strange girl at the gate… But now, I’m living a completely different life. I’m living a life even more luxurious than a lottery jackpot winner. I don’t particularly want to go back to my old self. Back then, I was weak, had nothing, and no money.
By the way, I’m now in the 4th grade of elementary school. It’s still a long way to adulthood. I really want to grow taller. Living with this tiny height is just so inconvenient. I mean, I used to be tall once. Maybe that’s why being short feels even more uncomfortable. I guess you could say I’m experiencing reverse dysphoria.
While looking at the calendar, I made plans. The first thing I’ll do on January 1st is watch the sunrise, despite the cold weather. In a way, it’s obvious. Watching the sunrise on New Year’s Day just feels like it’ll bring good luck for the whole year. Plus, it’s school vacation, so it’s not a bad idea to go watch the sunrise when I’m bored.
I immediately took action. I didn’t need to tell the office staff right away. They always say, just let them know a day before. Or even on the same day, as Maru said, which made me feel reassured. They promised to make anything I want happen.
Of course, as long as it’s not something impossible like wishing for a star. That kind of wish probably won’t be possible until thousands of years later when technology is super advanced. Giving someone a star just doesn’t make sense.
We’re still in an era where we can’t even launch spaceships properly, so grabbing a star light-years away is impossible.
Anyway, I sent a message to Jiyu and Yumi. I asked if they wanted to go watch the sunrise on January 1st next week. I really hoped Jiyu and Yumi didn’t have other plans. I really wanted to watch the sunrise with my friends on New Year’s Day. Of course, the office staff aren’t bad, but the age gap makes it a bit awkward.
[I’ll go too!]
[Me too, me too!]
Jiyu and Yumi responded positively to my sunrise proposal. I couldn’t help but giggle at their replies. Watching the sunrise with friends would be absolutely perfect. I immediately ran to the office. Since the number of people was decided, all I had to do was inform the office. The sunrise trip plan would be submitted as a document at lightning speed.
Of course, the boss would have to review it last. I did want to watch it with the office staff, but Starlight Food had a policy of not calling people in for work on holidays. It would be so sad to spend precious January 1st watching the sunrise with the bosses because of some superior’s order.
Thinking about it, I wondered if I was being a bit selfish. Maybe I’m starting to think like those workplace superiors. Would Bora, Haru, or Maru also want to spend time with their families?
I guess I’ve grown a lot too. I’m now able to think about others like this. I decided not to tell the office staff. Just Jiyu, Yumi, and I—three of us would be enough to go watch the sunrise. After all, South Korea is known worldwide for its safety.
I mean, there are people jogging at dawn. Foreigners might think it’s suicidal. In many countries, going out at night means you’re likely to run into robbers. Of course, not all countries are like that, but even in the U.S., a developed country, going out at night in most cities is considered suicidal.
And they even have guns. Not just knives or clubs with short range, but lethal weapons that can threaten people from a distance.
But in South Korea, you don’t have to worry about that. South Korea is a country where gun ownership is banned. So, I stopped heading to the office and went back to my room to plan the sunrise trip. Since we had to move the day before, thorough planning was crucial.
And so, I spent the whole day in front of the computer, planning how to get to see the sunrise. First, going the day before and waiting was a must. We had to go to Gangwon Province, where the sun rises the earliest in South Korea.
There were many ways to get to Gangwon Province, but what I wanted most was to take the train. Riding the train with friends, chatting along the way—that journey sounded so fun. I couldn’t help but feel excited. Jiyu, Yumi, and I…
I probably got the permission too. Nothing could stop me. I waited for the day before the sunrise trip like that.
—
*Flash!*
—
My eyes just opened. I looked outside. It was a very clear day with not a single cloud, especially for winter weather. The weather forecast said that tomorrow would be perfect for watching the sunrise. I cheered. I was worried that even if the weather was good today, what if it turned bad tomorrow? There could be fog or clouds so thick that the sun wouldn’t be visible.
I quickly changed my clothes. I dressed extra thick to prepare for the winter weather, and to make sure no wind could get in. Winter was cold, after all.
Then, I stopped by the office before heading out.
“I’m going out to play with my friends!”
“Okay? Got it~”
I probably got the permission, and without hesitation, I stepped out of the building. The cold winter weather couldn’t stop me. I walked to the apartment where Jiyu and Yumi were waiting. It wasn’t far from here, so it didn’t matter. As I walked, I avoided stepping on the red pavement blocks. If I stepped on them, I might melt like I was in lava.
From a distance, I could see Jiyu and Yumi. When they saw me, they waved and came closer. I also ran toward them. Even though I saw them just last week, it felt like it had been a long time.
“Jiyu! Yumi!”
“Hana! Over here!”
Having successfully met up, we headed to the train station. Our destination was Gangwon-do.
We decided to take a taxi to the train station. Although the station wasn’t far, taking a taxi seemed better than taking the bus. I felt excited thinking about chatting with Jiyu and Yumi on the train. Living with the chatty Jiyu and Yumi, I felt like I was becoming a chatterbox too. Or maybe it was because of this child’s body. When I was originally a man, I wasn’t this talkative.
In fact, I was rather quiet, not the type to join in on Jiyu and Yumi’s conversations. But now, it was different.
—
In the pitch-dark night, Kim Sehee was planning something great. It was a surprise party for Hana, who had worked so hard this year. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of meeting Hana, Kim Sehee was thinking of spending January 1st with her.
Of course, she didn’t tell Hana. It had to be a surprise party. Telling her in advance would ruin the fun. Then, Kim Sehee heard that Hana was going out with her friends. It wasn’t a bad idea for Hana to spend the day before January 1st with her close friends. After all, it was a good way to wrap things up.
Of course, Hana would probably come back to the company before dawn on January 1st. Little kids wouldn’t stay out overnight. And Hana had never stayed out overnight before.
But still, Kim Sehee felt uneasy.
Then, Kim Sehee’s phone rang. It was an unknown number. It wasn’t spam. Kim Sehee cleared her throat and answered the phone.
“Yes, this is Kim Sehee.”
[Hello, Manager Kim Sehee. I’m the manager at the Starlight Hotel in Gangwon-do…]
In summary, he said he was the manager working at the Starlight Hotel. Kim Sehee couldn’t understand why he was calling. Why would the Starlight Hotel in Gangwon-do call her?
But the manager’s next words made Kim Sehee jump to her feet.
[There’s a child named Hana here at the hotel. Do you know her…?]
“Hana!?”
The plan was ruined. She had no idea why Hana was in Gangwon-do.
