Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Frontline (6)
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Late at night, I returned home.
Though my parents urged me to stay the night, there was something I wanted to discuss with Myth.
'Oh yeah, I wonder if she's streaming.'
Just in case, I turned on the stream, and sure enough, Myth was in the middle of an intense mafia game with other Nutubers.
Despite Myth's desperate pleas, the streamers mercilessly voted for her execution.
I chuckled as I watched Myth's character ascend the pyre.
"She's having a blast."
Judging by the stream time and the flow, it looked like it might end soon.
Contacting her mid-stream would just make Myth uncomfortable, so I'd knock on the neighbor's door once it wrapped up.
I lay down on the bed.
Sorry, Myth, but I turned off your stream, which was in full swing, and sorted through today's events in my head.
Older Sister, Myth, Christmas, Father, Mother.
It all felt tangled up, but the conclusion was simple.
"Older Sis, are you an idiot...?"
The curse slipped out before I knew it.
Well, yeah, she might deserve it, but cutting off all contact and holing up in Europe over something like that? What was that about?
For argument's sake, I'd been beaten black and blue by Father and Mother almost daily as a kid.
'No, Seol?! You deleted Dad's work files?!'
'Yeah!'
'Yeah?! What do you mean yeah?!'
...She kinda had it coming. Thinking back, I was pretty wild as a kid.
Anyway, given our parents' personalities, Older Sis had it coming too.
As a kid, she was diligent and mature beyond her years, never causing much trouble. Good grades too. That's why she rarely got hit. But this was different.
No matter how stressed or upset you are, you don't grab an innocent kid by the hair.
Considering Father's usual temperament, he probably would've smacked her even without the booze.
Older Sis. What the hell was that about?
I tossed the question around in my mind.
I didn't have many memories with Older Sis.
Adolescence is turbulent—every day holds immense value, and a year can completely flip your relationships.
Last year's close friend feels distant next year.
Human connections are that fragile.
In such a whirlwind period, memories of a sister I hadn't seen in three years weren't going to loom large.
'I guess I don't know Older Sis as well as I thought.'
Trying to brush it off as "that's just sibling relationships" felt hollow because, hey, she's family.
Siblings sharing blood and a home, yet knowing so little about each other—it was bizarre.
'Seriously, what the hell was that?'
No matter how hard I strained to understand her inexplicable behavior, no answers came.
For all I knew, there weren't any.
Maybe she was just nuts.
That's when the door to my room creaked open.
On pure instinct, I yanked the blanket over my head, covering myself completely.
Some primal urge to hide from this sudden, unidentified intruder.
"Uwaaa... I miss Seol so muchhh..."
Myth shuffled in like a zombie, her body limp, and plopped down right next to me—actually, on the bed, straddling the edge.
The jolt made me stifle a scream, and I stayed hidden under the covers.
"We've never tried love before, that's why. When we're together, a day feels like a second, but apart, a second drags like a day. That's love."
"I thought I was going insane. Actually, I was already half-mad. How many times did I collapse mid-stream? Ten?"
"Ahaha! That many? I don't remember the collapses well. Must've been more over seven years."
Uh oh, this feels like something I shouldn't be hearing.
But crawling out now would be awkward as hell.
More importantly, why the heck was she doing this here?
"Ah, I miss Seol."
"Woo woo, just listen a bit."
"Seol's busy today. Went to see family."
"Hmm, then can you hear me out on a hundred of Seol's good points?"
"Fine, fine. Goodnight then."
Hmm.
I heard Myth stretching, her joints popping faintly.
She rolled around on the bed before suddenly burrowing in with a poof.
Should I get out now?
Getting stuffy in here.
Even with breathable fabric, bunching it up like this crushed the blanket's weight right on my nose.
I was frozen to avoid detection, but seriously, why was I even hiding?
"Hng... I hope Seol wasn't too hurt."
Myth finally rummaged under the blanket covering me.
She tugged the oversized blanket—big enough for two—and slipped her body inside.
'Hey, you crazy—.'
Suddenly, flesh filled my vision.
Streaming from home, plus summer creeping in—navel-baring crop top and hot pants. Myth's comfiest outfit, one she'd never shown publicly.
The provocative look stung my nose; I swallowed hard.
Cherry-strawberry body scent invaded thickly, dizzying my senses.
Heat rushed to my face—I couldn't hold out anymore.
"Seolllaaaang..."
Myth let out a needy whine, searching for me.
Now's the time.
I quickly poked my head out from under the blanket.
"...You called?"
"------Huh."
In the dark room, faint moonlight filtering in, our eyes met.
Myth's face flushed red under the moonlight.
Uh, um.
Chewing on emotions beyond words, Myth breathed heavily.
Calming her pounding heart.
This feeling wasn't just surprise.
Ha. Ah.
Finally steadying her heart, Myth forced her mouth open.
"You... heard all that...?"
Obvious question. Obvious answer.
"Yeah."
"...Thought you were asleep."
"Oh, that. I had stuff to talk about with you, and—"
Sharing the blanket, I gently pulled Myth closer.
Her light body pressed against mine without resistance.
No—tighter than I'd intended. Chests touching, the squish of her soft form against mine crystal clear.
My heart raced, but I couldn't back down now.
"I missed you too."
It wasn't just her feeling wistful after one day apart.
Heart to heart.
Myth's mouth fell open.
A first—lost for words, maybe shocked.
Her head crashed into my chest with a thud, a bit forceful.
Instead of words, she nuzzled my chest in reply.
"Whoa, extra bold tonight."
"Am I? Feels the same as always."
"You... said you missed me."
"Did I?"
Myth lifted her head from my chest.
Lying down, her height and position made it feel like she was looking up at me.
Her slightly misty eyes gazed at me as she whispered.
"...Just words?"
God.
What an ridiculously cute girlfriend.
My head lowered; hers tilted up.
Under the moonlight slipping through the curtains, our lips met.
"I told you no hickeys."
"Wuuu. This is Seol's fault for being too cute. I'm innocent."
Over twenty uncountable kisses.
Not satisfied with lips, red marks trailed down her neck, shoulders, even chest. I stuck out my tongue in disbelief.
Band-aids or patches would look like a mess.
At least 2-3 days stuck at home for sure.
"Or you could give me some too."
Myth slyly slipped her top off her shoulder, baring her pale neck.
The moonlight on her skin was mesmerizingly seductive; I gulped involuntarily.
Desperate to kiss it right then, but starting again might cross the line, so I held back fiercely.
"...Talk go okay?"
"Heard it all."
I stroked Myth's crown absentmindedly.
Older Sis yanked her hair hard, she said. Luckily, no bald spots or thinning.
Clueless, Myth just giggled, enjoying the touch.
"Can't figure why Older Sis did that. Honestly, doesn't make sense."
"Yeah?"
"The sis I knew wouldn't."
Myth smiled.
Nodded with a grin.
"I think so too."
"Huh?"
"Just lost control for a moment. That's—."
Totally unexpected agreement.
I hadn't even sought it, making it more bewildering.
As her hand touched my cheek, her face drew near.
Kiss again? No.
She stared into my eyes, searching for something.
Digging for emotional fragments.
"Hehe, but I shouldn't say. Anyway, your big bro doesn't seem bad. Hmm... a bit over the line, maybe."
Myth stuck out her tongue playfully.
Cute as usual, but recalling that tongue exploring my mouth moments ago felt weird.
To shake it off, I flicked her forehead.
"Ow?!"
"You got your hair yanked and you're still saying that?"
Being nice has limits.
I ruffled her hair wildly. Normally she'd complain, but pre-bed vibes? She just took it silently.
Silky strands slipping through my fingers—addictively soothing.
"Plus, I met big bro separately and got his apology. No point griping more."
"You got an apology?"
"Oops."
Myth panicked big time.
She'd cut off contact with parents completely, yet got a separate apology from Older Sis?
Weird.
I stared deeply into Myth's eyes.
Avoiding at first, guilty maybe, then reluctant, eyes met, dodged, met again.
Repeating the dance.
"Tell me."
"N-no. It's a promise between me and big bro. Can't tell anyone."
Myth refused flat-out.
She'd casually spill company secrets to me, but this desperate rejection? First time.
"Really can't...?"
Time for aegyo, embarrassing as it was.
No, Legend, don't think embarrassed. This is for family peace.
I hugged her tight, eyes locked, pleading.
Myth's face burned red, then she whipped her head away.
"N-no...! This is between me and big sis...!"
Her staunch refusal sparked my stubborn side.
How to breach those defenses?
Then, as if divine intervention, moonlight spotlighted one spot.
Myth's neck.
'Or you could give me some too.'
Her teasing voice from earlier echoed.
"W-wait?! Seol?!"
Didn't think I'd actually do it? Myth resisted fiercely.
...Or pretended to. Put some strength in those arms, Myth.
Well, she seemed okay with it.
Nom.
"Eek?!"
First time tasting that skin I'd only scented.
A light nip with a hint of grudge.
Moments later.
"You'll tell me now, right?"
"Y-yeah, I'll tell you..."
Myth, melted in joy and bliss, began her tale.