The gates finally opened, soldiers stepping out one after another. But your eyes found only one—Seung Hyun. He stood tall in uniform, sharper and leaner than before, but his gaze was frantic, searching until it locked onto you.

The world around you blurred. You walked forward slowly, trembling, until you reached him. Remembering the rule, you raised your hand and touched his cheek.

The instant your fingers brushed his skin, Seung Hyun broke. With a raw sound torn from his chest, he grabbed you and hauled you clean off the ground, hugging you so tightly your feet dangled in the air. His body shook as he buried his face in your shoulder, laughing and crying at the same time.

“I survived a year, but without you, it felt like ten,” he choked out, still holding you up like he’d never let you go again.

Seo-hyeon and Min-joon sat in their stroller, wide-eyed but completely calm. Seo-hyeon tilted her head slightly, as if judging her father’s dramatic display, while Min-joon simply yawned.

Seung Hyun finally set you down, though his arms stayed wrapped around you. He crouched to the stroller and when he saw the twins properly, his face crumpled again. “My babies… you got so big in just one year…” His tears spilled freely as he kissed their little hands and foreheads.

The twins blinked at him. Min-joon popped his thumb into his mouth, Seo-hyeon clutched her blanket—and both just sat still, calm and collected. It was as if they were silently saying, Daddy, get a grip.

Behind you, Ji Yong suddenly wailed. “HYUUUUNG!” He clutched his chest, his face blotchy with tears.

Taeyang tried to look away, muttering, “Ah, it’s just… the wind’s strong,” but his voice cracked, and he ended up sobbing harder than Seung Hyun.

Daesung, meanwhile, collapsed to his knees in front of the stroller. “This is… this is the greatest love story ever told!” He reached up to hold Seo-hyeon’s tiny hand dramatically—only for her to blink at him blankly, pacifier in mouth, unimpressed.

All around, the grown men cried like children, while the actual babies stayed composed. You laughed through your tears as Seung Hyun pulled you and the twins into his arms again, his voice breaking. “Why are we all like this? We look insane…”

Ji Yong’s sob got louder. “Because we’re family! That’s why!”

And just like that, everyone cried harder—except the twins, who remained the only dignified ones in the entire scene.