Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Difference in Hugs
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After finishing the dishes, we returned to the living room and were greeted by an incredibly cute sight.
-Kuuuul… Kuuuul…
Dasom was fast asleep on the living room floor.
"Dasom's asleep…?"
Just to be sure, I asked Seol-i, who smiled brightly and nodded slightly.
"Yeah, she's sleeping."
I smiled back at Seol-i's whispered response and decided to sit down for a bit.
Thud. Sitting next to Seol-i, I grabbed the remote and flipped through TV channels before looking at Dasom.
Dasom, smiling in her sleep, was utterly adorable.
It bothered me a little that she hadn't brushed her teeth, but I decided to let it slide with a chuckle. Everyone has off days like that.
As I gazed at the peacefully sleeping Dasom, Seol-i spoke to me in a gentle voice from beside me.
"Haneul, thanks for doing the dishes."
"What do you mean 'thanks'? You helped with cooking too."
"No, dishes are more annoying and tiring. Besides, we did the cooking together."
She had a point; I had nothing to say to that.
So, I changed the subject.
"Should we study then?"
"Yeah, let's do it."
Seol-i jumped up from her seat and dashed to my room to grab her bag.
I followed her, picked up my books, and came back out.
A workbook and an English vocabulary book—simple, but a solid combo.
Seol-i and I hadn't gathered just to hang out today.
We were preparing for the upcoming final exams.
Seol-i seemed satisfied with her last scores, fired up with determination to "at least match last time!"
I was reasonably pleased too.
My scores were a bit below my target, but my rank was satisfying enough.
Second in the whole school—not first, but a great result.
"Are you aiming for first place this time, Haneul?"
"I wonder if I can…?"
I wasn't sure. I'd find out when the time came.
I lacked confidence because, up through middle school, I'd breezed by on prior knowledge.
But now in high school, the limits of that knowledge were showing.
As those limits appeared, the gap with others was closing, and by second or third year, they might surpass me entirely.
It was all downhill from here, so to speak.
That's why I was studying hard—to delay that decline as much as possible.
"You'll do it, Haneul. I'm sure of it."
Seol-i's earnest gaze filled me with a confidence I didn't even know I lacked.
Of course, it was just a mood boost, but that was enough.
"Yeah, thanks."
I nodded, and we began studying together.
…Or tried to.
-Squeeze
Seol-i pulled a stuffed animal from her bag and hugged it tightly.
And it was a very familiar one.
"Seol-i? That stuffed animal, don't tell me…"
"It's Teddy Bear~ Teddy~"
Seol-i grabbed Teddy Bear's arm—the one she was hugging—and shook it.
Her cute actions combined with the bear made it even cuter, but first, I had a question.
"Why'd you bring that…?"
"Hmm~ To hug it like this!"
Seol-i beamed while squeezing Teddy Bear tight. She was adorable, but I had no idea how that related to studying.
She'd never done this before… What kind of new tactic was this?
I didn't dwell on it. No point.
"…As long as it doesn't bother you, it's fine."
"Hehe, hugging this makes me so comfy~"
Seol-i spoke while clutching the bear.
She looked so blissfully happy that any urge to argue vanished completely.
"Yeah… If you like it, that's what matters."
"Hehe."
Seol-i grinned and dove into studying, still hugging Teddy Bear.
She was so cute it was hard to focus at first, but luckily, after about 30 minutes, I settled in.
-Scratch scratch, scratch scratch
-Tap tap, tap tap tap tap, tap tap
Soon, the sounds of mechanical pencils and pens filled the living room.
-Snooore… Snooore…
And as a bonus, Dasom's cute snoring ASMR.
Every time Dasom snored, Seol-i would giggle softly.
Watching that, I felt certain I'd made a great friend.
A friend who cared for my little sister this much? One in a million.
I glanced alternately at Seol-i and Dasom, then refocused on studying when I heard a rustle from Seol-i's side.
She'd changed how she was holding Teddy Bear.
Before, it was loosely in her lap; now, she had it pressed fully against her chest, chin resting on its head as she studied.
At this point, curiosity got the better of me.
"Hey, Seol-i."
"Yeah? What?"
"Is the stuffed animal that comfy?"
"Super comfy! Just the right squishiness to lean on!"
Again, nothing to say to that.
I nodded vaguely and tried to refocus, but…
"…Wanna try hugging it, Haneul? Teddy Bear."
Seol-i made the offer.
I knew Teddy Bear was soft; I'd hugged it a few times before at her insistence.
So, I politely declined.
"I'm good. I've hugged it a few times already."
"True, but… hugging it now might feel different, right?"
Her question had some persuasive pull—I found myself nodding.
"Wanna… try it once…?"
Unable to resist, I nodded again and extended my arms.
"…Hand it over for a sec?"
"Okay…!"
Beaming, Seol-i passed me the bear, and I gave it a light hug.
But, this might sound weird…
……It wasn't as satisfying as I'd expected.
Previously, it felt softer, more fragrant, better texture.
This sensation wasn't much different from before. She'd taken good care of it, sure.
But the satisfaction was way lower.
If before was 100, this was like 60.
Why? Same bear, same hug—why less satisfying?
Habituation? No, definitely not.
Pondering the reason for this lacking fulfillment, I glanced at Seol-i.
Seol-i was warm, soft, tender. Beyond compare to Teddy Bear.
Hugging that small, soft, warm, gentle body—what heavenly bliss that would be. Like the brief hug before entering the house earlier…
At that thought, I handed Teddy Bear back to Seol-i.
Then turned away sharply and buried myself in studying.
I sensed Seol-i's bewilderment, but it didn't matter. What mattered was clearing these intrusive thoughts dominating my mind.
I shook my head and kept studying; Seol-i said nothing and joined in.
About an hour later.
-Beep beep beep beep
The front door lock chimed.
Dasom bolted awake at the sound, and Seol-i and I stood up from our studies.
Heading to the entrance, we saw Mom and Dad coming in, as expected.
"Haneul~ Dasom~ Dad's home~"
"Oh? Seol-i's here too~ Hi~"
"Auntie, Uncle, hello…!"
"Mooom~! Daaad~!"
Dasom ran to Mom and Dad, hugging them both. Seol-i and I watched warmly.
"Thanks so much for studying and watching Dasom."
"No problem, she just slept quietly the whole time…"
"Still, you looked after her. Thank you."
Seol-i fidgeted shyly at Mom's thanks, smiling, while I took their bags and got to work.
As Mom and Dad settled in and time grew late…
"Haneul, walk Seol-i home."
"Sure~"
I ended up escorting Seol-i.
I helped pack her things, and we headed to the bus stop.
"Unnie! Don't gooo~!"
"Dasom, I'll come back~"
Seol-i and Dasom waved frantically goodbye. Leaving the heartwarming scene behind, Seol-i and I stepped outside.
Now, it was just the two of us.
As if waiting, Seol-i spread her arms.
I knew exactly what that meant, so I lightly opened my arms too.
-Squeeze
Seol-i slipped into my embrace, and as I hugged her back, I thought.
Yeah, Seol-i feels way better than Teddy Bear. Incomparably so.