Outside the mansion, Minjun paced back and forth impatiently, grumbling to himself in frustration, while one of Daiki's men watched him and thought privately how ridiculous the whole situation was.
Eventually the man told him it was time to go inside, because it was getting far too cold. Minjun glared at him silently, wondering whether the man honestly believed he would try to run away. The truth was that if he ever escaped, it would only be to go looking for Thomas.
The guard, sucking casually on a lollipop, went on watching him and tried to reassure him. The boss would never do anything to Thomas, he said. Minjun was worrying for no reason.
Minjun refused to believe him. Irritated, he insisted that he did not trust any of them. Before he could go on, the man's stern expression stopped him, as though he were being silently warned not to say another word.
Trying to calm him down again, the man explained that only ten minutes had passed since the last phone call, and that it would take about an hour to reach the place where Thomas was.
Still restless, Minjun begged him to call again and let him speak to Thomas. Annoyed, the man refused. Minjun glared at him so intensely that he finally gave in and made the call.
When someone answered, the man asked whether Thomas was asleep, and explained that Minjun wanted to speak with him. Before he could finish, Minjun snatched the phone out of his hand.
His voice trembling, he called out to Thomas. The little boy answered immediately by calling him mama. Through tears, Thomas confessed that he had done something wrong.
His heart tightening with worry, Minjun reassured him gently that there was no need to cry, and promised that he would do anything for him.
Tears filled Minjun's own eyes as he silently vowed that he would wait for Thomas, no matter what happened.
Still crying, Thomas asked him to promise that he would do everything he had promised. Although Minjun was not entirely sure what the boy meant, he agreed without hesitation.
After ending the call, he found himself wondering what exactly he had just promised, and then complained quietly about his situation all over again.
Several days later, Minjun found himself dressed as a woman.
During his training, his instructor corrected his posture by tapping him with a training stick whenever he moved incorrectly. Each strike made him complain in pain.
His instructor, Mrs Misa, grew frustrated. She pointed out that he could not even hold the proper position for thirty seconds, and wondered aloud whether that was going to become a problem for Shinpei's plan.
Collapsed on the floor, Minjun protested that it was simply too difficult.
Mrs Misa replied firmly that his biggest obstacle was his own mindset. She ordered him to think of himself as a woman, and to get back on his feet immediately.
That same day, after Thomas returned home, Minjun learned that he would have to appear before the head of Daiki's family as a woman.
He refused immediately and demanded to know where they were going. Overhearing the objection, Daiki watched him quietly.
Growing more agitated, Minjun argued that a fight between rival yakuza groups could break out at any moment. If that happened, there would be bodies lying everywhere. Even though he was a nursing student, he admitted, he could not stand the sight of blood.
His biggest concern, he said, was that he would have to hide Thomas if anything dangerous happened.
Daiki replied calmly that Minjun had watched far too many movies if he believed real life worked that way. He added that if Minjun truly did not want to go, nobody would force him.
Then, after a brief pause, he reminded Minjun to think carefully about the promise he had made to Thomas.
Confused, Minjun asked what promise he meant.
Daiki explained that Thomas had told him happily that Minjun would be accompanying him to his grandfather's house, because he had promised to do so. Looking directly at him, Daiki asked quietly whether Minjun intended to lie to a child.
Those words left Minjun speechless.
Training with Mrs Misa resumed soon afterwards. She ordered him at once to sit properly.
Already aching all over, Minjun complained silently that he could not take much more. Standing beside him, Thomas copied Mrs Misa's posture and declared proudly that he could do it too.
Seeing Thomas trying so hard to encourage him, Minjun pushed himself forward, determined not to disappoint the little boy.
Mrs Misa went on correcting him. Sit upright. Straighten your back. Lower your hips onto your heels.
Despite the pain, Minjun struggled to hold the position. He could not help thinking how ridiculous it was that, despite not even having breasts, he still had to wear a dress.
Unable to endure it any longer, he collapsed onto the floor.
Mrs Misa called him weak. Concerned, Thomas rushed over to help. Grimacing in pain, Minjun explained that his leg had cramped.
Just then Daiki came into the room, instructing his men to remain outside. Seeing Minjun in pain, Thomas begged his mama anxiously not to die.
Daiki approached and asked what had happened. Mrs Misa explained that Minjun had suffered a severe leg cramp, and then criticised him again, pointing out that he could not even sit properly for thirty seconds and worrying aloud about whether he would be ready in time.
Tears forming in his eyes, Minjun insisted that the pain was unbearable.
Daiki knelt beside him and took hold of his foot gently. Startled by the pain, Minjun begged him not to touch it. Ignoring the complaint, Daiki carefully flexed the foot to stretch the muscle, which made Minjun cry out even louder.
Realising that Daiki intended to treat the cramp himself, Mrs Misa picked Thomas up and suggested that they leave the room.
As they stepped outside, Minjun went on complaining while Daiki ordered him firmly to stop making so much noise. Outside the room, Daiki's men exchanged uncomfortable glances at the sounds coming from inside, wondering exactly what was happening in there.
Patiently, Daiki continued massaging his leg. Still trembling, Minjun asked him to be gentler.
Outside, Maya heard the noises as well, and could not hide his discomfort. When he tried to open the door, Kenta quietly took hold of his arm and stopped him. Startled, Maya looked at him. Kenta said nothing at all.
Once the cramp had eased, Daiki helped Minjun to his feet and asked whether he could stand now.
After taking a deep breath, Minjun finally confessed that he did not think he could do it. He admitted that he was not a woman. But because he had promised Thomas, he intended to do his very best.
Daiki brushed a hand gently through his hair. The unexpected touch made Minjun's heart race.
Leaning closer, Daiki told him calmly that he had always known. He had never asked Minjun to become a real woman.
Moving closer still, he promised quietly that he would stay by Minjun's side throughout the entire event.
Minjun's heartbeat grew faster. For a brief moment it seemed as though Daiki was about to kiss him.
Just before their faces met, a knock sounded at the door, and Thomas's voice called out for his mama.