TDRCB 10

Chapter 10 ….

Haru made a gesture asking Siwoo for help.

Flap, flap.

Siwoo furrowed his brows, quickly turned his head, and ignored Haru. Seeing him resume playing with the blocks, Haru puffed out his cheeks in a sulk.

“Haru?”

At the teacher’s gentle smile, Haru hurriedly came back to her senses and fidgeted with both hands. Her heart went thump, thump. But Haru was a genius, so she could solve this! That was what her mom had said. As long as you had confidence, there was nothing you couldn’t do!

Haru took a deep breath. Then she recalled something.

A false identity!

Hiding things was difficult and exhausting.

Haru became Detective Dodo and carefully observed the teacher. The teacher had just returned after cleaning up the poop Hojun had made, and she really did look exhausted.

Was being a villain a difficult job, too?

Detective Dodo, Episode 39: When You’re in Trouble, Say Something Your Opponent Doesn’t Expect!

After thinking it over carefully, Haru suddenly opened her mouth.

“Teacher, you’re having a really hard time, aren’t you?”

The teacher stopped dead in her tracks.

“I was just saying that you look really tired, Teacher. Haru knows everything, too. You can’t even go to the bathroom whenever you want, and you have to clean up after kids like Hojun.”

The teacher’s eyes wavered ever so slightly.

Haru gently patted the teacher’s shoulder with her little hand.

“But what can you do? You’re doing this to make a living. Haru will always cheer for you, Teacher.”

The teacher silently looked down at Haru. Then she smiled sweetly.

“Oh, Haru. What are you talking about? Teacher loves spending time with you and all the other children!”

Hmm.

Haru stroked her chin with her gloved hand.

“But Teacher, you don’t look happy at all.”

Haru placed her gloved hand firmly on the teacher’s hand and patted it again.

Haru wasn’t afraid of the villainous teacher anymore. The teacher might be a villain, but she looked worn out and exhausted.

“It’s okay. Haru will bring you some delicious candy tomorrow to cheer you up, Teacher. You can look forward to it!”

The teacher gave her a soulless smile.

“Oh, Haru, you have such a kind heart. Teacher will look forward to it.”

That evening.

Haru was curled up deep in the sofa, wearing pajamas decorated with yellow ducks. Kang Taejun, who had just returned from work, loosened his tie and casually called out to her.

“Haru.”

Haru was hugging Gomi so tightly and concentrating so hard that she looked as though she might get sucked right into the television. She seemed to be watching an animated show, as a character wearing glasses was deducing who the culprit was on the screen.

Given his personality, Kang Taejun would have immediately turned off the TV. But he hesitated.

What if my baby starts hating me?

At that moment, Haru, who had been swinging her feet on the sofa, spotted Kang Taejun. She immediately hopped down and bowed politely to him.

“Hello, Mister!”

“Yeah. How was kindergarten today?”

“It was fun!”

“Really? Was there anyone who bullied you?”

“Hmm.”

Haru stroked her chin and thought seriously.

If I behave well, Mom will come back sooner. And if I catch the villains, Haru will become even better! So I can’t give Mister the chance to catch the villains!

“No one did.”

“You can tell Daddy the truth.”

“There really wasn’t anyone.”

“Is that so?”

Haru flashed a bright smile. Since she was a good little detective, she would deal with both Kim Hojun and the teacher herself!

Haru clenched both fists tightly.

That night, Haru wrote in her illustrated diary. Using crayons, she drew a crooked picture of the teacher’s face.

[Thursday, April 16. Weather: Sunny.

Being a villain is a hard job, too. The teacher is a villain, but she looked a little pitiful. I should give her strawberry-flavored candy. Then she might be able to stop being a villain. The same goes for Kim Hojun. Mom said that if you pull out yellow, unhealthy sprouts, healthy sprouts can grow.

Haru is a good little girl, so I can’t let the world rot!

Just you wait, Kim Hojun and Teacher!]

Haru closed her illustrated diary and hugged Gomi tightly.

The next morning.

As soon as Haru got out of the car, Kang Taejun bent down to meet her eyes.

“Haru. I told you yesterday, too, but if anyone ever bullies you, you have to tell Daddy. Understand?”

Haru’s big brown eyes wavered slightly before becoming firm.

“Yes!”

Clutching the strawberry-flavored candy in her pocket, Haru thought to herself.

Today, I’ll definitely deal with them!

Even after Haru sat down, Siwoo didn’t turn his head. He remained focused on stacking his blocks.

“Hmm.”

Haru paid him no mind and reached for a block. Just then, a shadow fell over her head.

Kim Hojun.

Haru’s shoulders stiffened with a start. But she wasn’t the same Haru she had been yesterday!

Detective Dodo, Episode 45: A Detective Never Makes the Same Mistake Twice.

“Kim Hojun!”

Haru sprang to her feet and shouted. Hojun, who had been approaching her, flinched and stopped.

Her bright, sharp eyes scanned Kim Hojun as if investigating him. His eyes were puffier than yesterday! His fists were clenched as though he wanted to hit someone! His mouth was tightly shut!

Hmm.

Haru stroked her chin.

“Did you cry yesterday?”

Kim Hojun’s shoulders trembled.

“W-What?”

“Your eyes are all puffy like a goldfish’s.”

“I-I didn’t cry!”

Kim Hojun’s voice rose by a whole pitch. Haru folded her arms firmly across her chest, tucking her gloved hands beneath her armpits.

“You can’t lie to Detective Haru.”

“Shut up!”

Kim Hojun slammed his hand against the desk. Siwoo, who had been stacking blocks, raised his head. His expressionless eyes glanced at Kim Hojun, then at Haru.

“Why did you cry? Did your mom scold you?”

Kim Hojun regained his composure and sneered at Haru.

“My mom doesn’t scold me.”

“Hmm. Then Haru will scold you instead.”

“What?”

“Kim Hojun. You’re already five years old. Don’t you know that bad children get scolded when they do bad things?”

“You’re so much smaller than me!”

That part was true. Kim Hojun had a size and belly that made him look older than five.

“That’s true. It would be difficult for Haru to scold Kim Hojun. But it’s not because of Kim Hojun’s belly. To scold someone, you have to love them. But Haru doesn’t love Kim Hojun, so it’s difficult for Haru to scold you.”

Kim Hojun opened his mouth. He couldn’t quite understand what she meant. He repeated her words in his head once more.

Love. Scold. Difficult.

For some reason, his chest hurt as if something had pricked him.

“What are you talking about?”

“Mom said that you can only scold someone you love. If you don’t love them, you don’t have to care about them. But if you love them, you scold them because you don’t want them to turn out badly.”

With her arms still folded, Haru looked up at Kim Hojun.

“Kim Hojun.”

“…What?”

“Does your mom scold you?”

“…No, she doesn’t. But my mom loves me! Look! She buys me expensive things and gives me lots of allowance! She doesn’t scold me because she’s busy.”

“That has nothing to do with being busy.”

Haru shrugged.

“Haru’s mom was busy, too. But Haru still got scolded for eating Choco Song Song every day, and for throwing away her gloves.”

Haru added seriously,

“Getting scolded is a good thing. It means Mom cares about Haru.”

“Fine! You’re lucky to get so much love!”

Kim Hojun glared at Haru, fuming with anger, then suddenly shouted. Haru blinked.