Sisters' Archaic Antics and Fried Rice
Style Completion
"How have you been faring splendidly all this time, my lord?"
Seo Joo-hwan stared at his little sister with a utterly baffled look on his face. Was speaking in this archaic, stiff tone the latest trend these days? He didn't bother hiding his bewilderment as he replied.
"Uh... need some pocket money or something? Or should I guest on your stream again?"
"Aigoo, no, that's not it~ Joo-hee just admires her big bro so much..."
"Stop right there!"
"Eep?"
He reached out and clamped a hand over his sister's mouth. Goosebumps prickled across his skin—he couldn't take it anymore. At this rate, she might be possessed by a demon or something.
"Mmmphh!"
Seo Joo-hee smacked at his forearm in protest. Finally, she seemed to snap out of it. Only then did he let go of her cheek.
"Cough. No, why're you making such a fuss just for saying thanks... I mean, why'd you do that, oppa? It hurts~."
"Cut it out, seriously. Before I kick you out."
"Tch. Thought you'd like it."
"...What on earth made you think that?"
"That light novel you were reading? Seemed like you were into little sister stuff. The title was definitely My Little Sister Is Too Cute or something..."
"Hey! I only bought volume 1, and there wasn't even a volume 2!"
He did have a book at home titled My Little Sister Who Is Too Adorable. He'd picked it up back when he was bingeing light novels because it was popular. But it wasn't his taste, so he hadn't bought more—and he'd even shoved the first volume in a corner.
Wait a second. If she'd seen that, it meant Seo Joo-hee had been snooping in his room.
He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.
"Did you rummage through my room?"
"Eek. Uh, um... sorry. I just wanted to read some novels."
Seo Joo-hee apologized readily. He wasn't planning to make a big deal out of it, so he let it slide. But the word "novels" caught his attention. Seo Joo-hwan blinked as if he'd heard something odd.
"Novels? You don't read books."
"Well, yeah. But now that you're seriously writing, I got curious what kinda stuff you write."
She'd been trying to check out his writing. Seo Joo-hwan shook his head.
"Mine aren't in print."
"Huh? Then what? I thought My Little Sister was yours."
"You're gonna get us in trouble talking like that. You're my sister—think I'd write something like that?"
"Tch. Coulda been about Su-ah."
"Uh, me?"
Han Su-ah, who'd been quietly listening, pointed at herself and blinked. For some reason, her cheeks flushed as if embarrassed. Before any weird misunderstandings could arise, Seo Joo-hwan flicked Seo Joo-hee's forehead.
"Enough nonsense and get inside already. It's cold—close the door quick."
"Sheesh. You always pick on me. I was just trying to say thanks."
From what he gathered, this weird behavior stemmed from the laptop he'd gotten her for her birthday as an editing gift. He'd splurged on the latest sleek model without checking the price-to-performance ratio, and now here they were. Shouldn't have given her something so nice—now he'd seen this cringe show.
"Oh, right. Oppa, Mom sent this over."
"Me too! Mom said to give it to Hwan oppa!"
The two little sisters thrust forward the bags they'd brought, stuffed full. Inside were all sorts of side dishes.
"Was just about time to buy more banchan anyway. Su-ah, tell your aunt thanks... Nah, I'll call her myself."
He dialed right away.
"Hello? Thanks so much for the banchan. Huh? When am I getting married? Aigoo, I told you last time—five years from now."
"Mom! Stop with the weird talk!"
Some things never changed. Han Su-ah stomped her feet, face beet red, as the conversation leaked out.
After calling his own parents too, Seo Joo-hwan headed to the kitchen.
"Whatcha wanna eat?"
"Huh? You're cooking?"
"Look at that reaction. Starve then."
"No, no! We were gonna do it."
At that, Seo Joo-hwan paled and plopped them both down in seats.
"Just sit. Who're you trying to assassinate?"
"Hwan oppa's too mean!"
"Let's see how good you are!"
He snorted at the sulky Han Su-ah and the grown-ass Seo Joo-hee. Cooking was one thing he absolutely wouldn't trust to them. For some reason, neither had inherited their parents' skills. He had no appetite for food poisoning.
On the other hand, Seo Joo-hwan had confidence in his own cooking, honed over years of solo living. Nothing fancy, but basics were solid. Probably inherited from Dad. Not listed in his status window, but he'd guess around C-rank.
Hmm. Missing stuff.
Groceries were low since it had been a while. He grabbed ham, kimchi, and green onions to whip up fried rice.
Tak tak tak tak.
He chopped the green onions with practiced knife work. From behind, gasps of surprise came from Seo Joo-hee and Han Su-ah. He chuckled—getting worked up over knife skills was ridiculous.
Sizzle.
After drawing out green onion oil, he stir-fried ham, rice, and kimchi, then seasoned with cooking oil, sugar, soy sauce, chili powder, and sesame oil. Topped with a perfectly fried egg, and kimchi fried rice was done.
"Made too much?"
Portions for three had gotten out of hand. Scratching his brow awkwardly, Seo Joo-hwan scooped some into a bowl.
"Leftovers? I'll just eat 'em later."
Once set up, he called the two over.
"Whoa. You made this, oppa?"
"Hwan oppa's good at cooking...?"
With the banchan they'd brought, even simple kimchi fried rice felt like a feast.
"Quit the flattery and eat."
"I'll dig in."
"Itadakimasu~."
*
The "too much" rice vanished clean. Seo Joo-hee and Han Su-ah grumbled about why it tasted so good and vowed to practice cooking. Seo Joo-hwan decided to avoid them for a while.
Han Su-ah handled dishes, and Jjeomsoon cleaned the house. Once done, the cat chirped energetically.
"Let's go!"
"Where?"
"Hongdae, duh. We said we'd buy you clothes today."
That was why Seo Joo-hee and Han Su-ah had shown up. Thankful for his stream help last time, they'd insisted on buying him outfits—and wouldn't take no for an answer.
"You haven't hit monetization yet, right?"
YouTube had subscriber thresholds for revenue; Tricky had none but probably wasn't payout time yet.
Han Su-ah pulled out a wallet with a bear print, grinning.
"Hehe. Saved this month's allowance for oppa's clothes. Got last month's leftover too."
"Busted my piggy bank."
Seo Joo-hwan felt proud yet guilty—should he let "snot-nosed kids" buy his clothes? But their next words erased the doubt.
"Oppa starts college tomorrow, right? Go in your usual stuff and you'll be a total loner."
"Yeah, Hwan oppa. No friends in uni would suck."
They looked dead serious, not teasing—which pissed him off more.
"You brats."
"Aww, don't get mad. We're really worried."
"Honestly, your style is kinda..."
"What about how I dress?"
They just shook their heads silently.
"Fine. Let's go."
No guilt now—he'd fleece them clean.
*
They headed out for clothes but skipped Hongdae. Today was the grand opening of Style Completion, the shop he'd meant to hit before meeting Choi Mi-hwa.
Strolling 1st Street, Seo Joo-hee and Han Su-ah couldn't stop staring. Seo Joo-hee blinked repeatedly, puzzled.
"Why's your outfit fine? You bought that yourself?"
"Told ya."
"Weird. No way you pick stuff that matches..."
Seo Joo-hwan was wearing clothes curated from the fashion gallery. Her words stung, but he brazenly claimed credit.
...Won't buy solo anymore.
He'd thought gallery users overhyped it, but even his blood sister and Han Su-ah said no—his fashion sense sucked. Time to become a regular at Swan's famed shop.
Nearby, Han Su-ah tugged his sleeve.
"Hwan oppa."
"Yeah?"
"You got taller."
"Oh, noticeable? 177 now. 180's close."
He grinned proudly. Recent item had added 1cm, mostly legs—proportions improved. Hit 180 and he'd be golden ratio.
"This the place you wanted?"
"Yup."
"No one's here...? Can't we go elsewhere? Hongdae's got tons."
Seo Joo-hee pouted at missing Hongdae. Fashion = Hongdae mindset? He half-agreed but found it too quirky.
"Let's check it out first."
He opened the door.
Ding-a-ling.
"Welcome!"
A bell chime and shout rang out as a woman dashed forward. Seo Joo-hwan stepped back instinctively.
...Should we bail?
Her outfit was wildly bold to him: crop top exposing collarbones, leather jacket over it, ripped black jeans with fishnet peeking through to her midriff. Green-tinted hair? What kinda punk fashion was this? Even fashion noob him knew it was too much.
Swan, right?
Wall logo confirmed Style Completion. Right place.
But his sisters' reactions were odd.
"Whoa, unnie's style slays."
"Yeah! So cool."
They whispered excitedly, eyes sparkling at him—now he got why he'd picked here. Kinda creepy.
Am I the weird one?
Then the woman was right in his face.
"C'mon in! What style you after? I'll hook you up head to toe. Oh, first customers—buy three or more, get free accessories under 10,000 won. Rings, necklaces too."
Opening day VIPs, huh. She rapid-fired with flawless diction—better than most rappers, every word crystal clear.
She scanned them quick, then grabbed Seo Joo-hwan's hand. Thought he was the wallet?
"Wow, handsome guy. Dresses well too? But my picks'll level you up. Legs so long, anything works though."
"Haha... thanks."
Too close—back off. Explained why he liked self-serve shops.
But Seo Joo-hee and Han Su-ah trusted her vibe.
"Unnie, style this oppa up. We were gonna pick, but you seem better."
Unnie already? She took it in stride, beaming.
Target switched—she dropped his hand.
"Cute sisters? How old?"
"High school senior."
"Whoa, senior? Skin's flawless."
"Talk casual. Feels like we'll be regulars."
"Sure thing?"
Chat flowed too fast. Were trendy kids always this quick? Sis-ing after minutes.
"The guy... boyfriend?"
"Nah. Blood sis, she's... uh."
"J-just close sis-friend."
"Hmm~."
"A-anyway, Hwan oppa starts college tomorrow, so please. Can't be a loner!"
"What? Pfft. S-sorry."
Not sorry at all. She'd clocked he had no say. Sisters hooked already.
Seo Joo-hee chimed in.
"Something edgy? Leather like unnie's. Stand out, dodge loner."
"......"
Seo Joo-hwan thought: Just leave me alone. Wanna go home.