3. A Bond Formed in Childhood

Life in kindergarten was full of colors for Kang Joon-hyuk, Kim Mi-jin, Lee Zin, and Seong Yohan. Every day, they spent time together, playing, laughing, and exploring the world in their own way. Even though they were still children, their friendship began to develop with unique dynamics.

Among all his friends, Mi-jin was the one who most often invited Joon-hyuk to play. She was always full of energy and exciting ideas, from playing house to going on "treasure hunts" in the schoolyard.

"Joon-hyuk! Let's play house!" Mi-jin shouted one day, grabbing Joon-hyuk's hand and pulling him to the play area.

"Huh? Playing house?" Joon-hyuk frowned. "What are we supposed to do?"

"You be the dad, and I'll be the mom!" Mi-jin said excitedly.

Joon-hyuk tilted his head. "Why do I have to be the dad?"

"Because you're the strongest!" Mi-jin grinned. "If a monster comes, you can protect me!"

Joon-hyuk was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, then I'll be a strong dad!"

They began role-playing, pretending to cook in the little plastic kitchen, feeding their dolls, and even pretending to go to work.

"Okay, I'm going to work now!" Joon-hyuk said as he walked away.

Mi-jin pretended to cry. "Don't take too long, okay? The kids and I are waiting at home!"

Joon-hyuk scratched his head, feeling weird about the game, but he still tried to be serious. "I'll come home quickly!"

Mi-jin laughed happily. She loved spending time with Joon-hyuk because he always went along with her games, even if he didn't fully understand what they were doing.

One day, while they were playing in the yard, an older boy suddenly came over and snatched a doll from Mi-jin's hands.

"Hey! That's mine!" Mi-jin shouted, trying to take it back.

The boy just laughed. "I grabbed it first, so now it's mine!"

Mi-jin started to get upset, her eyes welling up with tears. She looked around, hoping someone would help her. Zin and Yohan were far away, busy with their own games. Joon-hyuk, who was nearby, saw what was happening and immediately approached them.

"Hey, give Mi-jin's doll back!" Joon-hyuk said firmly.

The boy scoffed. "Why should I? I want to play with this now. Besides, she's a girl. She should learn to share her toys."

Joon-hyuk clenched his fists. "But it's hers! If you want to play, you should ask for permission, not just take it!"

"Why should I listen to you?!" The boy pushed Joon-hyuk roughly.

Joon-hyuk nearly fell, but he quickly got back up. He didn't like fighting, but he also didn't want to let his friend get bullied. With an unusual level of bravery for a child his age, he snatched the doll back from the boy's hands and handed it to Mi-jin.

"Let's go, Mi-jin," Joon-hyuk said, taking Mi-jin's hand and leading her away.

Mi-jin hugged her doll tightly, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you, Joon-hyuk..." she said softly.

The boy looked frustrated, but seeing Joon-hyuk standing his ground, he eventually gave up and walked away.

From that day on, Mi-jin started seeing Joon-hyuk differently. She didn't just think of him as an ordinary friend but as someone she could always rely on.

In the following days, she became even closer to Joon-hyuk, more than ever before. She often pulled Joon-hyuk's hand to play together, asked him to sit next to her during lunch, and even always looked for him first when she arrived at school.

"Joon-hyuk! Today, let's play adventurers!" Mi-jin said excitedly.

Joon-hyuk nodded. "Alright, but we need a map first!"

Mi-jin drew a map on the ground with a twig. "We have to climb this mountain and find the treasure there!"

They both laughed and started exploring the schoolyard as if they were on a real adventure in a vast world.

Meanwhile, Lee Zin began to feel uneasy about their closeness. He liked Mi-jin and wanted to be the one closest to her, but Mi-jin always chose Joon-hyuk without realizing it.

"Why do you always play with him?" Zin asked one day, frowning.

Mi-jin smiled. "Because Joon-hyuk is kind and strong! I love playing with him."

Zin sighed and crossed his arms. "I'm strong too! Why don't you choose me?!"

Mi-jin just giggled, unaware of how serious Zin's feelings were. On the other hand, Joon-hyuk remained completely oblivious to Mi-jin's growing affection for him. To him, Mi-jin was just a cheerful and fun friend to play with.

However, without them realizing it, the small feelings that began in childhood would continue to grow over time.