"Mm."
The boy rubbed his stomach.
"I'm full."
"Then let's go."
The woman stood up.
"Since we're already out, where should we go this afternoon?"
"Xuanxuan, is there anywhere you want to go?"
The woman held out her hand to the child.
"The amusement park."
The boy blurted it out.
Before Dad disappeared, he had promised to take him to the amusement park if he ranked near the top on his next exam.
But before he could keep that promise, Dad vanished.
And he had done terribly on the exam.
Still, when Mom asked him where he wanted to go, the amusement park was the first thing that came to mind.
Even without Dad, even though he had done badly on his last exam...
He still had Mom.
The boy tightened his grip on Mom's hand.
When he felt her squeeze his hand in return, the corners of his mouth spread into a grin.
His eyes and brows brimmed with bright, cheerful delight.
He wouldn't do badly on his next exam.
He would get excellent grades.
He would rank near the top.
So, let him claim his reward in advance.
"The amusement park?"
The woman paused, slightly surprised.
Then she smiled.
He really was just a child.
"All right."
"We'll go to the amusement park."
Amusement parks had a way of making people feel happy.
Whether you arrived full of anticipation or weighed down by worries.
Even after they got home, the boy was still excited.
Clutching a cartoon balloon, he wandered around the house, unwilling to let go.
The woman smiled.
"All right, it's already late."
"Even though there's no school tomorrow, you shouldn't stay up too late."
"Mm."
The boy looked a little sheepish.
Was he getting too excited?
He hurriedly