Dohee was dangling from Hyunseung.
“Playyy! Plaaay!”
Like a baby monkey, really.
“Flaming‑Mask Man’s off duty today.”
“No such thiiing!”
“Even heroes need a day off.”
Manager Kim watched the two squabble and thought,
Maybe their mental ages are about the same?
Still, it was fortunate that the girl who had wailed like a steam train only a moment ago hadn’t cried once since meeting Hyunseung.
Thinking back to earlier still makes my knees weak.
He remembered Director Park ordering him to calm Dohee; the memory alone brought cold sweat.
A man with no children or siblings… asked to soothe a crying kid… He had only made her bawl louder.
Taking a nothing‑to‑lose gamble, he’d whispered that if she stopped crying, she could meet the hero who protects LS City, “Flaming‑Mask Man.”
Miraculously the tears dried up. Barefoot, she’d trotted off in front.
And now, she snuggled against Hyunseung as though she’d never cried, her eyes sparkling.
Hyunseung looked slightly annoyed, but still…
Thanks, Flaming‑Mask Man…
To Manager Kim, Hyunseung really did look like the hero who saved LS City.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the studio door.
“Manager Kim, Composer! Sorry to bother you!”
Dojun burst in, bowing repeatedly.
“Oppaa!”
Dohee leapt from Hyunseung’s arms and ran to her brother.
Tsk.
Hyunseung shoved his suddenly empty hands into his pockets.
Leaving me that fast. Kids…
“Were you having fun, Dohee?”
“Mm‑hm! Playing with Flaming‑Mask Man!”
“Everyone here’s busy; let’s go hang out with Oppa now.”
“Already?”
“I’ll show you the TV station! You can see people from TV!”
“Nooo! I wanna play more with Flaming‑Mask Man!”
She shook off his hand and dove back into Hyunseung’s arms.
“Hey, go to your brother.”
Grumbling, he still supported her so she wouldn’t slip.
Then Manager Kim asked, startled,
“Dojun, you’re taking her along to the schedule?”
“It’s a burden to keep asking favors, and I’m uneasy leaving her far away.”
“Still, bringing a child to the station is a bit…”
“I already cleared it. She can stay in the waiting room.”
“That’s good but handling your artist and a kid. Won’t that be rough?”
“It’s my sister; I should handle her.”
Steadfast, Dojun stepped closer to retrieve her.
“Kim Dohee, let’s go.”
“Don’t wannaa!”
“You promised to behave today.”
“But I still wanna play with Flaming‑Mask Man!”
“Sigh, being stubborn won’t help. He’s a very busy hero, he can’t keep playing.”
Her shoulders drooped. “O‑okay…”
“Actually, not true.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m free today.”
He held her tight so she couldn’t slip away.
Delighted, she chimed in, “Right! Flaming‑Mask Man said he’s off todaaay!”
Pressing the helmet down again, Hyunseung said,
“If it worries you, just bring her to the station with us.”
Manager Kim and Dojun spoke together.
“The composer, to the station?”
“Hyunseung, seriously?”
The hero guarding LS City nodded grandly.
“I’ll watch the kid. You focus on your artist.”
A true hero’s line.
Inside the station’s waiting room.
Manager Kim, citing errands, had tagged along.
All the way there:
“Kid, let me rest. Go play over there by yourself.”
Dohee clung like she’d been glued on. Didn’t she feel hot?
“I’ll just sit riight here and be super quiet!”
Though he told her to leave, he seated her on his knee and placed his phone in her tiny hands.
“Then watch this.”
Clearly, he didn’t intend to set her down.
—Baby shark living in the deep blue sea!
Manager Kim’s pupils dilated. He knows the cheat code!
On‑screen played the children’s smash “Baby Shark,” famous for letting parents eat in peace.
—Pretty mommy shark in the deep blue sea!
How does he know this?
He must like kids more than he lets on.
—Handsome daddy shark in the deep blue sea!
Thanks to the cute animation, she sat calmly.
—We’re a happy shark family! Doo‑doo‑doo!
Or so it seemed.
“Mmm…”
Restless, she set the phone on the table.
“Flaming‑Mask Man…”
She pinched his sleeve, lips trembling.
“What now, kid.”
He met her gaze.
“Bored?”
“Yeah… Shark family’s no fun…”
She looked sad: moist eyes, quivering lips, on the verge of tears.
“Shark family’s no good? How about a lion family?”
“Nooo…”
“Then a cute penguin family?”
Maybe penguins were the issue—
“No‑ sniff‑ noo…”
Finally…
“Waaah!”
She burst into tears.
“Hey, crying again?”
“Hyunseung, why make her cry?”
“When did I?”
“Skip it. Just soothe her!”
He stared at her tearful face and patted her back, skilled.
Pat, pat.
But the tears wouldn’t stop.
He raised the rainbow visor, locked eyes, and…
“P‑peekaboo…”
The room went ice‑cold.
Shiver…
Manager Kim hugged himself. What did I just hear?
Dohee hiccupped instead of crying.
“Hic! Hic!”
“Cry again and I’ll throw you out.”
Flushed, he snapped the visor shut. At least the tears had stopped.
“Flaming‑Mask Man…”
She craned her neck up.
“What?”
“Are all heroes handsome?”
“Probably?”
“Woooow!”
Kids. She’s already giggling.
“My oppa’s handsome too. Can he be a hero?”
“I’ll interview him. If he passes, I’ll take him as my junior.”
“Okay! I’ll tell Oppaa about the innnterview! Thank you!”
Tapping her red cheeks and nose, memories surfaced.
Hyuna cried a lot at this age too.
Once she had complained that in “Three Bears,” Daddy, Mommy, and Baby Bear all lived together. She hated it. He’d ignored her till she cried all night, then rewrote it as Daddy Bear, Brother Bear, Baby Bear.
Wait.
Maybe this kid cried for a similar reason.
“Hey, kid.”
“Yeah?”
“Which shark bothered you: Mommy, Daddy, or Baby?”
She fiddled with her chubby fingers.
“Daddy shark… I don’t have a daddy, so hearing it makes me sad…”
Seriously, why do kid songs always cram the whole family together and make kids cry?
“Kid, lend me your ear.”
“My ear?”
She tucked hair back, cupped her ears.
Finding it cute, he whispered,
“I’ll play you a song later with only Mommy, Brother, and Baby. No Daddy.”
“Wow! That exists?”
Excited, she spoke loudly; he put a finger to his lips.
“Shh. Only heroes can hear it. It’s a secret between us, got it?”
Kids love secrets.
“Mm‑hm!”
She nodded solemnly, then glanced at Manager Kim.
“Even that mister?”
With a smirk, he answered loudly,
“Yeah, even that mister.”
Manager Kim squawked,
“Why am I mister?!”
Truthfully, it hurt more to be left out of the secret than to be called “mister.”
Next door, Lee Young‑ah rushed over on news that HS had arrived.
Before a child, anyone drops their guard.
“Sweetie, how old are you?”
“F‑four…”
“Eee, like a doll!”
“Mm…”
Thankfully, her attention stayed on the child.
But a misunderstanding arose.
“So HS‑nim, you’re a dad?”
“What are you talking about.”
“Isn’t she your daughter?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“Staff member’s sister.”
“Oh, I see!”
Her momentarily dark face brightened.
“She seems shy, yet she clings to you like chewing gum. I thought she was your daughter.”
Manager Kim added,
“Exactly. Anyone would think you’re father and daughter.”
“Really,” Hyunseung muttered, gazing at Dohee.
“Oh! Boxed lunches arrived. Did the child eat?”
“No.”
“I’ll have the manager buy a kids’ lunch.”
“No. Just give me one. We’ll share.”
Manager Kim stared, shocked.
“What? You’re sharing food?”
“Why the face?”
“Be honest. You love kids.”
“No. If she cries again, it’s annoying, so I’m forced to hold her.”
Yet his arms wrapped around her like vines. His words and actions don’t match.
“Most call that ‘holding,’ you know.”
“Same thing. Anyway, I can’t stand kids.”
He opened a spoon wrapper and placed it in her hand.
“Here, kid—hold the spoon.”
“I don’t wanna eat…”
“Why?”
“I hardly eat outside…”
“Still gotta eat.”
“Nooo…”
He sighed then a staffer shouted,
“Shoot starts soon!”
“Hyunseung, can you handle the kid alone? I have to see the producer.”
“Go. Ms. Lee, you too.”
Alone together, he scooped a small bite.
“This is Boeing 747, descending from 17,000 feet.”
Making airplane sounds, he swooped the spoon.
“Shyooooo—”
Just before it reached her mouth—
“HS?”
He turned.
“Uh…”
Jayble stood there.
“M‑Ms. Lee isn’t here…”
As though he’d seen something forbidden, Jayble fled.
How much did he see? The shyoo? The Boeing 747? Whatever—it was seen.
“Ah.”
“Aaaahhh.”
Dohee thought that meant open, so she opened wide.
She took the bite and chewed.
“Food tastes the best when Flaming‑Mask Man feeds me!”
Well…
Yeah…
That’s enough.
A strange mix of gloom and joy washed over Hyunseung.
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