This Is the Illustration for Your Novel, Oppa...?
I decided that as long as I didn’t get caught, everything would be fine. My calculation was that there was no way a single illustration could identify my novel. Of course, if someone really wanted to find it, they probably could. But I couldn’t imagine my computer-illiterate ‘little sister’ doing that, so I confidently showed her the cover.
“Ah…”
A somewhat scantily dressed woman in a degenerate art style, striking a sensual pose. Her breasts had slightly swollen nipples. Still, this was the tamest one I had carefully selected from the bunch.
“Th-this is… the illustration for your novel, O-oppa…?”
“…Gulp.”
I must have been too straightforward. My ‘little sister’s’ trembling eyes kept darting between my phone and my face.
“Uh, yeah…”
I should have just claimed it was someone else’s work or done whatever it took to show a more innocent illustration. It wasn’t that I hadn’t considered it, but as the author, I couldn’t bring myself to falsely claim someone else’s creation as my own.
“…So, this should clear up the misunderstanding, right?”
“……”
I doubled down on the boldness, showing zero embarrassment. I quickly slipped the phone back into my pocket.
“So please… let’s stop with that ridiculous bullshit about me secretly photographing you and doing all that perverted crap with them, okay?”
Even misunderstandings should have their limits. That absurd suspicion had me seething with anger. It even drove me to the insane idea of just revealing the truth.
Tap. Tap.
“If you got it, go wash up already. The chicken’s here.”
I patted my unresponsive ‘little sister’ on the back and pushed her forward. Then, trying my best to act nonchalant, I practically shoved her into the bathroom.
Thankfully, she obediently let herself be pushed inside.
Bang!
“Whew…”
It had been an incredibly tough call, but after three years of being a shut-in at home, revealing that I wasn’t actually a NEET lifted a weight off my chest. I consoled myself with the thought that I wouldn’t have to be so cautious around her anymore.
Thud.
A misunderstanding was just a misunderstanding, and it was fortunate I hadn’t escalated things further. Even if it had been true, it wasn’t like she’d go around spreading rumors… but still, it was better this way.
“Ugh…”
A groan slipped out. I felt like I’d aged ten years. I sat there in a daze, staring blankly at the TV that I couldn’t even focus on.
“……”
She should’ve been out by now, but her shower was taking longer than usual. Maybe I was just reading too much into it. Normally she never exceeded twenty minutes, but now it had already passed thirty. The chicken I’d ordered had even arrived in the meantime.
Knock. Knock.
“…The chicken’s here.”
I was about to leave it, but I felt bad and knocked on the door. From inside came only the steady sound of the shower running.
Bang. Bang.
I knocked harder.
“I said the chicken’s here!”
“…Yeah! I’ll come out soon. Go ahead and eat first.”
The response was a bit delayed, but I followed my ‘little sister’s’ instructions without complaint. I was getting hungry anyway. I’d just act like normal, like always.
So I removed the plastic wrapping, opened the chicken box, took out the pickled radish and drained the liquid into the sink. I grabbed a cold can of beer from the fridge and sat down, picking up a drumstick.
The savory, crispy, greasy flavor filled my mouth. With my short nails, I struggled to open the can with a tick-tick before bringing it to my lips.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
The cold, tingling carbonation slid down my throat.
“Krruu…”
I felt much better. I tore off more chicken. Drank more beer. I was just opening my second can when—
Creeeeak—
The bathroom door opened with an oddly chilling sound. Thick steam poured out. And out came my ‘little sister,’ wearing her usual bathrobe.
“Ha, haaa…”
Was she exhausted? She sighed the moment she stepped out. Her feet carried her straight to the sofa. She sat on the floor across from me, back facing the TV.
“Where’s mine?”
“Ah, drink this one. I haven’t touched it.”
“…No more?”
“I didn’t take it out earlier in case it got warm.”
Her long shower had left her face and exposed skin flushed red.
Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp…
“Hey, hey… slow down, drink slowly.”
She seemed to be chugging the beer to cool off her body heat.
“Huuuu…”
She set the can down with a clack and clenched her fist, crushing the empty can.
“…Give me another one.”
“Ah, got it.”
I tried to keep my cool, but the words stuck in my throat. At her commanding request, I went back to the fridge for another beer.
Tick— Crack!
With a crisp sound, she opened the can in her hand. Once again, she downed it in one go, clearly displaying her discomfort toward me.
“Huu…”
“…Hey, what’s with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t even drink well normally.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
She shook the last drops into her mouth. Whether from the alcohol or the heat, her face was flushed as she stared directly at me.
“Do it.”
She spoke in a low whisper.
“…Do what?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Do what?”
“You said you wanted to take photos. So let’s take them.”
“…Take them?”
“Yeah. It’s not like you’re using my pictures to jerk off. You said it was for reference to make the cover, right?”
“Uh… yeah.”
“I’ll do it. It’s not that hard.”
My ‘little sister’ extended her hand toward me, wiggling her fingers in a gesture for more beer.
“Ah, uh, then I’d really appreciate it. H-here.”
For me, it was two birds with one stone. The misunderstanding was resolved, and my ‘little sister’ was agreeing to help with my original goal. There was no reason not to hand over the beer in my hand.
“There’s more beer, so please drink slowly.”
“Hmph… I’ll drink however I want.”
She answered and immediately brought the can to her lips again. I carefully read the room and spoke up once more.
“…When do you want to take the photos?”
“Gulp, gulp, huu… Why are you so impatient?”
“Actually… the project is already underway. But it keeps getting stuck.”
“…Why? Is the artist complaining?”
“No, it’s not that… The picture I received is just too different from what I imagined. And since I can’t draw, I can’t explain it properly. So I thought I’d take some photos as reference material at least.”
“Oh… heh, hehehe… So that’s why you made your little sister do the cat posture?”
“Yeah, well… something like that.”
There was a certain edge to her words. Without anyone declaring it, it felt like our relationship had shifted into a clear power dynamic.
“Ah, but… if you’re really going to model, I’ll pay you a proper modeling fee.”
“Oh… You must be loaded. I’m expensive, you know.”
“Heh, well, how much? I’ll pay whatever.”
The mood lightened a little. I mimicked a famous line from a drama I’d once heard.
The corner of her mouth curled up slightly. Paying a formal fee like this would prevent any unnecessary complaints or accusations of abuse of power, I thought.
“I’m telling you, I’m expensive.”
“And I’m telling you I’ll pay. So how much—”
“Ten million won.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t that realistic? For ten million won?”
“That’s not realistic at all. Even a professional model wouldn’t charge that much for one photo.”
“Then go hire a professional model.”
It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford it. It was just clearly a waste, so it wasn’t a deal I absolutely had to make.
“Jeez, you’re charging an arm and a leg.”
“I’m not overcharging. I really am expensive.”
“Ah~ I see.”
My brief excitement faded. Since we were on the topic, I considered looking for a real model, but the body type I’d envisioned was far too similar to my ‘little sister’s.’ I wondered if I could even find someone comparable, and whether I’d be satisfied with just “similar.”
“No, but I said I’d do it for free. Why are you so obsessed with paying? Hey, are you that rich?”
“…It’s not that…”
“Ah, whatever.”
My ‘little sister’ clapped her hands together loudly. Then she turned around and assumed the same cat posture as before.
“See? Like this. Is this correct?”
“Ah, uh… yeah, it is, but…”
“I’m expensive. So take the pictures while it’s still free.”
This was an unexpected boon. I quickly grabbed my phone, turned on the camera, and pointed the lens at her. My ‘little sister’ appeared in the small screen.
But the bathrobe was covering her entire body, so her figure wasn’t visible.
“Hey, if you’re going to do it, do it right. The robe’s in the way. Take off your clo—”
“Like this, then?”
It happened in an instant. A flash of white fabric fluttered down. Beneath it was skin even fairer than the robe, flushed a deep red. The dizzying curves took my breath away and blurred my vision.
“H-hey!!”
I whipped my head away. It was only one can of beer, yet my body burned as if I were completely drunk.
“Huu… That feels better.”
I didn’t know if this was drunken behavior or what, but since it was the first time, I was genuinely flustered.
“Take the picture! Hurryyy!”
She was drinking way more than usual. The alcohol must have hit her all at once; her words were slurring badly.
“Haaaa…”
What the hell was going on? When I sneaked a sideways glance, her pure white naked body was still collapsed forward.
“Hey, hey, hey!”
“Hngg… Take the picturrre…”
She was completely smashed. Because of that, the stiffness from before was gone. She wriggled like a mollusk.