I used to change my underwear once a day, and that didn’t change even when my body changed.
I looked at the pile of clothes in the laundry basket and thought. Haru or Bora usually does my laundry, but maybe I should try doing it myself today? It felt a bit embarrassing to let someone else handle my underwear.
And it’s not like laundry is hard. I’ve watched them do it—just toss in detergent and fabric softener, give it a spin, and that’s it.
I picked up the laundry basket. Today, I even planned to wash my dinosaur pajamas. They’ve been worn so long that the tail part was already covered in dust. Probably from dragging it on the floor.
Carrying the basket to the bathroom, I couldn’t see well in front of me. The washing machine was outside the room, so I had to go out to do the laundry. Huffing and puffing, I managed to make it out and headed to the room with the washing machine.
It was tucked in a corner of the hallway, a space employees rarely visited. With the sun setting, it gave off a creepy vibe. It felt like a ghost might pop out any second. It was terrifying, but ghosts are just illusions.
Unless you can’t solve the theory of the horizon coordinate system, ghosts aren’t scary anymore. I used the laundry basket as a shield and entered the room. The lights were off. I put the basket down, turned on the light, and the room came into view.
“Phew…”
Of course, there was no one in the room. I approached the state-of-the-art washing machine. But there was a big problem—it wasn’t a front-loading machine, so I couldn’t open the lid.
What the heck!
I wasn’t happy with my short height. Being short had no advantages, only disadvantages. I was a sad creature because of my height.
I looked around quickly, searching for something to step on. I found a suitable stepping stool. It had wheels, though I had no idea what it was originally for.
“Ugh…”
Placing the stool in front of the washing machine, my view opened up. I opened the lid and tossed the laundry from the basket into the machine. After shaking it out, the basket was empty.
I grabbed the powdered detergent and poured in enough to make plenty of bubbles. Then, I added fabric softener to finish it off. I was perfect, as always.
Pressing the wash button, the machine roared to life. Water started gushing out. I pulled out my phone and waited for the laundry to finish.
Come to think of it, I needed to put the detergent back. It was still sitting on top of the washing machine.
*Rumble rumble*
I placed the wheeled stool back in front of the machine. Then, I reached my hand as far as I could to grab the detergent.
“Ugh! Just a little more!”
It was pushed too far back, so my hand couldn’t reach it. I stood on my tiptoes and stretched my hand further. Finally, I grabbed the detergent.
“Ah!”
But losing my balance on tiptoes, I slipped and danced on the stool. Like in a cartoon, I flung the detergent into the air.
Since I had already cut the top of the detergent bag, powder rained down like snow, filling the room.
“Uh…”
The room was a mess, covered in white powder. It looked like a snowy landscape. All the detergent had spilled out. I stared blankly at the empty bag.
This was… a disaster. I quietly slipped out of the laundry room. Then, as if nothing happened, I headed back to my room.
My body was already covered in white powder, so there was no hiding it. I decided to quickly disappear down the hallway. Whatever happened in the laundry room wasn’t my doing. I’d just say it was the ghost’s fault.
Safely back in my room, I locked the door. I did nothing.
Perfect.
Now, all I had to do was wash up, and it would be the perfect crime. Feeling triumphant, I walked into my room—only to freeze. Haru was there.
“Hana, have you seen the laundry basket…”
Haru looked at me and spoke. I screamed in surprise.
“Ah!”
Haru, startled, came closer.
“Hana! What is this?!”
Seeing me covered in white powder, Haru was shocked. Honestly, I looked like a white grim reaper covered in detergent powder.
I raised my hands to scare Haru, hoping she’d run away in fear.
But Haru didn’t react as I expected.
“Wait… Hana? Is that you?”
Haru seemed to be getting angrier, and I slowly deflated. Sure, I messed up, but…
Haru grabbed my hand and led me into the room with the washing machine. As we walked step by step, my face grew paler the closer we got to the room. There was no way Haru would just let it slide once she saw the state of the room.
Eventually, we arrived in front of the room with the washing machine. Haru opened the door, took one look inside, and covered her mouth with her hand.
The room was covered in white detergent powder. I sneakily glanced at Haru’s expression as I tried to sidestep away. But Haru had a tight grip on my hand, so there was no escaping.
“Hey, Hana… Did you do this?”
I looked at Haru with teary eyes, doing my best to appear pitiful. Then, in a defeated voice, I replied. I had to play it low-key for now.
“Yeah…”
“Sigh…”
Haru let out a big sigh. Thankfully, it wasn’t Bora, so I didn’t get a spanking, but I did spend hours cleaning up the room. Laundry really isn’t my thing. I’ll do it when I’m taller, I guess.
The only sound in the room was the noisy washing machine.
—
Kim Sehee was working in the CEO’s office when someone knocked.
“Come in.”
“Boss.”
But the person who opened the door and walked in wasn’t an employee. It was Hana.
“Huh? Hana, what are you doing here?”
Shouldn’t Hana be in the building? Kim Sehee was puzzled but decided to let it go.
Getting up from her chair, Kim Sehee picked up Hana, who had come to visit. Hana was incredibly light. Kim Sehee took a candy out of her pocket and gave it to Hana, who smiled and unwrapped it.
“Who does Hana take after to be this cute~”
As she said this, Kim Sehee rubbed her cheek against Hana’s. Hana’s cheeks were soft and squishy, so addictive that she could touch them all day without getting bored.
While enjoying this healing moment, another knock was heard. Kim Sehee, slightly annoyed at being interrupted while playing with Hana, narrowed her eyes and prepared to glare at whoever entered.
But when she saw who it was, Kim Sehee couldn’t help but be shocked.
“Uh… uh…?”
Kim Sehee could only stare with a dumbfounded expression. The person who entered the CEO’s office was another Hana.
It was a Hana who looked exactly the same, to the point where Kim Sehee wondered if she was hallucinating. She looked at the Hana she was holding. It matched the Hana she saw every day. But the Hana who had just entered the room was slightly smaller.
If the Hana she was holding now was 10 years old, the Hana who had just entered was 9 years old.
The smaller Hana who entered the room stared at Kim Sehee and then came running over. In a fluster, Kim Sehee picked her up with her other hand.
Now holding a Hana in each arm, Kim Sehee felt her mind go numb from the incomprehensible situation. But soon, both Hanas started laughing and tugging at Kim Sehee’s cheeks.
“Ah, whatever~”
Kim Sehee decided not to think too hard about the sudden increase in Hanas. She decided to enjoy the moment. As she alternated kissing the cheeks of the Hanas in her arms, more Hanas started pouring in through the open door.
“Oh my, oh my!”
Now there were over ten Hanas. Kim Sehee regretted only having two arms. Not being able to hold all these adorable Hanas was a disaster.
“Boss!”
The Hanas crowded around Kim Sehee and started clinging to her. Kim Sehee was overwhelmed with happiness. She wished this happiness could last forever.
—
“Ha!”
Kim Sehee opened her eyes. Her hands felt empty. Only then did she realize that what had just happened was a dream.
It was such a wonderful dream, filled with so many Hanas… Getting out of bed, Kim Sehee decided to visit the building where Hana was today.
She felt like she’d regret it immensely if she didn’t see Hana. After picking out some gifts for Hana, Kim Sehee got ready for work.
