After the interview, the child was led to his assigned room. It wasn’t a large room, but it was furnished with a single bed on each side of the wall and a large window directly ahead. The window was covered with a white curtain that, despite a few stains, could be considered clean. Sunlight filtered through the curtain, brightening the room and reaching down to the child’s feet. The caretaker who guided the child pulled back the curtain, and the room seemed to be bathed in white light. Through the window, one could see the entrance of the orphanage and the landscaped trees decorating it. Beyond the trees, a path, a major road, and a small village were visible in the distance.

As the child looked out the window, the caretaker spoke.

“This is your room now. You’ll be living here with a friend who is the same age as you. You’ll get along well, right?”

The child turned to look at the caretaker. She had brown hair, thin and dark eyebrows, and eyes as round and gentle as a kind puppy’s, giving her a benevolent appearance. She wore light makeup, which the child, unfamiliar with such things, simply perceived as a young and pretty woman with skin as smooth as his younger sibling’s. He briefly thought of his mother’s rough skin, which pained his heart, but he suppressed his gloomy feelings and responded.

“…Yes.”

“That’s good, you answer well too. Now, wait here… oh, actually, it’s almost lunchtime, so let’s go to the cafeteria together. You must be hungry, right?”

The caretaker led the child out to the back of the orphanage where a single-story prefabricated building stood. Inside, a large space was filled with several tables and chairs, and many children were already seated. The child and the caretaker joined a line attached to the wall and, after receiving their meals, sat down to eat. Despite the caretaker’s efforts to explain various things, the child’s expression remained somber, which didn’t particularly please the caretaker. However, she knew it wasn’t unusual for some children to exhibit such behavior.

The real issue wasn’t the child’s expression; it was his overly cautious actions and his subdued appearance, worrying the caretaker about his potential difficulty in adjusting to the facility. Even now, as he cautiously tasted the food on his tray and continuously scanned his surroundings, it was clear that his anxiety was considerable. The director had hinted that the child might have been severely abused.

Despite the caretaker’s concerned glances, the child was incessantly filled with wonder and confusion. Unfamiliar with the concept of a ‘cafeteria,’ he was initially overwhelmed by the strong smells of food that almost made him nauseous. Continuously observing and tasting the food on his tray, he even wondered if this place might be ‘heaven.’ He had already been enraptured by the taste of the juice the director had given him, and the array of abundant food in front of him boasted a richness in color, scent, and taste that he had never experienced before.

The child felt he should perhaps eat these noble foods with respect, considering that such meals might be reserved for the urban elite. Yet, observing his peers around him, there was no particular decorum or formality; they were merely busy shoveling food with their spoons. Some were eating so hurriedly he wondered if there was a time limit, but as adults gently encouraged the children to eat slowly, he realized that wasn’t the case.

The children’s expressions were generally cheerful. Watching them talk or play jokes on each other across the tables made him feel an urge to cry. His life, though short, felt particularly poignant at that moment. He remembered times when he had to share a stew with his sibling because they were unsure of the next meal, filling his backpack in hopes of securing enough food.

“Why so? Is the food not to your liking?”

The caretaker across from him asked with sympathy. The child shook his head and took another spoonful of the clear soup, feeling a tingling at the tip of his nose.

Meanwhile, the director was discussing matters in his office with the administrative director and the secretary after their meal. Taking a sip of freshly brewed coffee, the director began the conversation.

“This new child, I’m worried he might not integrate well with the other children due to possible psychological abuse. We need to be a bit more vigilant about safety management.”

The lean administrative director, removing his glasses to clean the lenses, responded.

“That part will be the responsibility of our safety management officer. Mr. Kim is very conscientious, so you don’t need to worry, Director.”

“Hmm. Yes, I think so too, but Director, please look into anything that might be necessary. Besides, the child will turn eight next year, and he’ll need to start school. There’s not much time left, so the paperwork won’t be easy.”

The administrative director put his glasses back on and picked up his coffee.

“I’ll take care of that too. I worry you’re losing weight from all the stress, Director.”

“Ha, I’ve been quite concerned since we got a new child after a long time.”

The director glanced at the administrative director’s stern eyes, then shifted his gaze back to his coffee.

Anes Orphanage had a good reputation in the region, largely due to the director’s careful management and good relations with the welfare foundation’s board. It hadn’t needed much media play to be a popular venue for volunteer activities, attracting local students for service projects. However, as fewer children were placed in the orphanage, the size of the grants hadn’t increased significantly. With the national economy not faring well, the inflow from the foundation was also diminishing, causing the director growing concern.

Furthermore, the administrative director, who had been recommended by a board member, wasn’t easy to communicate with due to his sometimes prickly demeanor. It seemed he relied solely on his connections, somewhat belittling the position of director. The director was secretly determined to replace him at any opportunity, hoping it would also fatten his own and his allies’ wallets.

As the director pondered these dynamics, the secretary, who had been quietly sipping coffee, slowly began to speak.

“We should also revise the stepping-stone accounts again. They seem a bit messy lately.”

Stepping-stone accounts were set up to aid children in achieving independence after leaving the orphanage, collecting donations that could be accessed by the children at any time. While the main donation management account required meticulous auditing due to the significant sums involved, the stepping-stone accounts, though smaller, also needed careful attention. These accounts were particularly useful since they fell under less scrutiny and could be conveniently utilized. However,

“It’s almost the end of the year, so it’s time to organize. Please take care of it, Secretary.”

The secretary, who managed his physique to some extent and was one of the few people the director felt could communicate effectively, was trusted for handling essential but subtle responsibilities, such as preparing for the year-end audit and selecting internal renovation contractors. In contrast, the administrative director was less favored, seen as pretentious and ostracizing those not in his clique.

As the office dynamics thickened, the child finished his meal and headed back to his room. Alone in the room, he sat on the bed and finally let out a deep sigh, relaxing his tense body. From morning till now, he had been pulled along by adults into this bizarre new world, nearly breaking down under the strain. Now, finally alone, he had time to gather himself.

In fact, there was nothing to organize. He had arrived in this world with nothing but old clothes, which were promptly replaced upon his arrival here. The only thing truly his was the pendant around his neck.

“…”

Looking at the pendant only intensified his feelings of surreal disorientation. The object from his dream, now real and hanging around his neck, seemed to emit a warmth when he grasped it with his small hand.