Chapter 20
Lee Seojin was utterly baffled, not only by the three of them suddenly gazing at him with moved expressions but also by Yu Se Eun's words. He'd just tidied his hair a bit and shaved his beard—going from "mister" to "oppa" over that? And he hadn't expected Han Sujung to join in with her agreement.
"Wait a sec... Oppa? You're kidding, right?"
Suspecting it might be a prank, Lee Seojin asked with a forced grin, but he couldn't hide his awkwardness. The sisters, however, were too focused on his overflowing charm to notice, shaking their heads with sparkling eyes.
"No way! That's how I'm gonna call you. No—I will call you that."
"M-me too...! I want to call you oppa instead of mister!"
Their plea carried such strong determination that Lee Seojin grew even more flustered. He scanned for someone to help, and luckily, Han Sujung snapped out of her momentary daze, calming the sisters before turning to him.
"Ahaha... Girls, calm down. Calm down. Sunbae just looks too cool after the makeover; you're all losing it."
"Huh? You think so too?"
Lee Seojin asked Han Sujung, who was stammering nervously. She toyed with her lips, her face turning shy as she looked away, nodding slightly without meeting his eyes—like she'd just met her ideal type—and murmured softly.
"...Yeah. Um. Really..."
The sisters watched with mild dissatisfaction but nodded understandingly, saying nothing.
"Hmmm... I don't really get it."
To a man who'd spent 34 years ignoring his looks, it meant little. He brushed it off as just shaving and throwing on a suit—nothing special. If anything, he wondered absurdly if others didn't do the same.
The shop owner, amused by the scene, felt it was too fun to end as a mere mishap and made a suggestion.
"Come on now~ Since your group seems pleased, why not try on some other outfits?"
"Huh? Other clothes?"
He'd only reluctantly tried the suit at their insistence—what more was there? He opened his mouth to refuse, but the three were already moving ahead of him.
"Sounds great!"
"I think so too!"
"Other outfits... I can't wait to see what sunbae looks like."
"N-no. Hold on...!"
Their smiles brimmed with ulterior motives, laced with earnest longing. At a loss for words, Lee Seojin couldn't withstand the pressure and gave in.
"...Bring some other clothes."
※ What followed was an impromptu Lee Seojin fashion show, against his will. Photos were snapped, group shots taken, and the four spent a joyful time together. For Lee Seojin, it was a novel and utterly exhausting ordeal that didn't suit his temperament at all. The show only wrapped up in the late afternoon as the sun began to set.
"Hmm... I'm not sure I should accept all this."
"It's fine~! We finally got to see sunbae looking so cool; this is our way of saying thanks, right?"
"No, I feel like I should be thanking you..."
"If you insist, think of it as a token of appreciation for spending the day with us."
He'd planned to treat them, but hearing the word from her lips stirred an odd feeling.
"Isn't this a bit much?"
"You said you had no clothes anyway? Consider it a gift."
Han Sujung had bought everything that suited him—shoes, dress shoes, coats, shirts, you name it. Thanks to her, Lee Seojin was laden with bags and plastic carriers in both hands. The sisters clutched their own bundles too, but those were gifts from him.
"Alright. I'll wear them well. Not sure I'll actually go out in stuff this nice, though..."
"You have to wear them! Penalty if you don't! And keep up with the beard maintenance!"
"Ugh... Got it."
His hair was one thing, but the beard definitely needed regular trimming now—he resolved that deeply as he nodded.
"See you later, then."
"You head home safe too."
Han Sujung carefully balanced her bags to avoid dropping them as she bid farewell to Lee Seojin and the sisters.
※ Only after watching them leave completely did Han Sujung get in her car and head home. The moment she entered her room, she flung herself onto the bed.
"...Hehe. Hehehe...!"
Face buried in the sheets, she let out a meaningful chuckle, replaying the day's events. Lee Seojin's unexpectedly handsome face. The sisters pretty enough to rival her. Joy and frustration mingled with various thoughts and emotions, but her feelings for Lee Seojin tipped positively.
Suddenly, old memories surfaced. He'd always had that unkempt beard from neglecting self-care, looking downright homeless at worst. She'd nagged him about it, and he'd trimmed it somewhat after... but the beard had lingered.
Bearded or not, his fondness for her hadn't changed. She'd thought the beard gave him a mature charm, but clean-shaven, he'd be even cooler.
Now, shaved, she realized her past guesses had been laughably off.
"...Hehe. Sunbae~ What am I supposed to do when you turn out this cool~?"
Grinning goofily, Han Sujung sat up and went to her desk, covered in photos of Lee Seojin. Team commemorations, post-mission dinners with the group—various shots. One stood out: the two of them, where he clearly hadn't wanted to pose.
She pulled out her phone, comparing it to today's lovingly captured duo pic. Smiling, she hoped for more such times ahead, just the two—no, now four—of them.
※ Back home, Lee Seojin started sorting the new clothes. Luckily, his wardrobe was sparse, so everything fit. After tidying up, he stepped out for water and heard Yu Sua calling from the kitchen.
"Ta-da~ What do you think, oppa?"
"Huh? Oh... that's..."
"Hehe. How's it look? Suits me, right? Good thing you bought it for me?"
Yu Sua beamed in the apron he'd gotten her, a shy smile playing on her lips. She seemed a tad anxious if it suited her, but it looked perfect, so he praised her quickly.
"It suits you amazingly!"
"Hehe. Really? Phew..."
Pleased by the compliment, she blushed with a bashful smile. Lee Seojin hadn't known why she'd wanted the apron—this was it.
...But do these girls even cook? They'd spent little time together, and he'd never seen them at it, so it was a mystery.
"Oppa! How about me? Does it suit?"
"Huh?"
As he complimented Yu Sua, Yu Se Eun rushed over, leaning forward expectantly.
"Oh...!"
"Hmmm~ You don't have to say it; I can tell. It suits, right?"
"Yeah, it does."
"Hehe..."
Like her sister, Yu Se Eun ducked her head shyly.
"But why'd you get those anyway?"
"Why? To cook from now on, obviously!"
"C-cook?"
"What's wrong? Don't you trust us?"
"N-no, it's not that... Just, I've never seen you cook."
"Hehe. Knew you'd say that. That's why we're showing you tonight—for dinner."
"Dinner? It's still early..."
"Prep time! We have some thinking to do too, oppa."
Yu Se Eun exuded confidence, Yu Sua grinned ear-to-ear. He felt a bit puzzled. Had they even had time to learn cooking? If so, since when? He wanted to ask but decided to trust them for now.
...And yeah, they were really calling him oppa now. Fine... whatever. Mister, oppa—it's just a name.
"Alright. Looking forward to it."
Lee Seojin nodded with a smile, and the sisters pumped their fists enthusiastically. As evening approached, they bustled about. Dinner turned out to be curry—but not ordinary curry.
Peppers, carrots, potatoes, meat—all perfectly chopped. The aroma was mouthwatering, restaurant-quality. He couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
"You two... made this?"
Staring in shock, they smiled proudly.
"Heh! We can handle this much~!"
"We've had to cook for ourselves since we were little. Got better over time. Hehe."
"I see..."
Simple words, yet heavy with meaning.
"Dig in, oppa."
"Hurry, hurry!"
"Got it. Here goes..."
He clasped his hands in thanks, then took a spoonful. Spicy yet sweetly savory. Veggies and meat melded perfectly with the curry, the fluffy rice creating harmony.
"Whoa... this is incredible! You really made this?"
"Yep. Hehe."
"We have our talents too!"
Instant praise had them averting shy gazes.
"You two eat too. It's seriously delicious."
"Okay."
"I'll eat well~!"
They sat across from him and started eating.
"Oh, right."
He eyed them thoughtfully, then fetched two neatly wrapped boxes from his room and set them on the table.
"Sua-ya. Se Eun-ah."
"Yes? What, oppa?"
"Yeah?"
"Nothing much. Gifts."
"G-gifts...?"
"Yeah. Christmas presents."
Their first-ever Christmas gifts puzzled them as they took them. They glanced at him questioningly—could they open? He nodded okay, and they tore into the wrapping eagerly.
Inside were... scarves.
"These are... scarves."
"Scarves out of nowhere?"
"It's winter, and you didn't seem to have any. Picked them thinking of you—okay?"
The embroidery matched each sister's eyes and hair perfectly. They caressed them, staring quietly. Emotions swirled; much unsaid, but they settled on one thing, speaking in unison like they'd planned it.
"Thank you!"
Their eyes shimmered with near-tears as they looked at him. He smiled, ruffling their heads.
"Let's get along from now on."
"Yes!"
"Yeah!"
December 25th. Christmas. The 15- and 13-year-old girls born into misfortune and raised in despair were gone. A new beginning dawned for the 16- and 14-year-old sisters.
※ In a rundown building deep in the slums, heroes and police had it cordoned off. Already remote, this spot was so hidden it was practically unknown.
As someone approached amid the guards, a hero greeted him.
"Ah, Team Leader Kim Hoyeon. You're here."
"Yeah."
Hero Association buildings were spaced by district, one per area, divided by teams with ranks. Team 1 was top, then 2, 3, 4... Team Leader 1 was second only to HQ chief—Kim Hoyeon was this district's number two.
"Situation?"
"Not good."
"Still bad inside?"
"Yes. It was rough from the start; even after cleanup, it's obvious."
Kim Hoyeon donned the gas mask he'd brought at the hero's words.
"Let's go in."
"Yes."
Guided inside, they descended basement stairs. The moment they entered, Kim Hoyeon couldn't hold back his shock.
"Urk!"
"You okay?!"
The hero checked frantically, but he waved it off.
"Fine. Just gross. Deathstorm, you good?"
"Yes. I'm a hero; A-rank handles this fine."
"Good."
Deathstorm smiled brightly; Kim Hoyeon patted his chest and pressed on.
"So, the situation?"
"Yes. As reported—no major differences. We investigated, fought one villain who escaped, but..."
"This place... no, lab... it's a horror show."
Poison gas stench, hazy air. Lines of bodies hung upside-down like a slaughterhouse. Glass-enclosed isolation cells like prisons. Darkness everywhere, but human experimentation traces littered vividly.
"What a fucking mess..."
Kim Hoyeon sighed shortly. This stemmed from the sisters' father's testimony.
'Traded people for bracelets?'
'Y-yes...'
'Damn... worse than I thought? And this wasn't just you—it's common?'
'Yes. They take anything for money... so they kidnapped for bracelets.'
'...Proud of it, you bastard?! Get over here! You need a beating!!'
During interrogation, he'd learned: a group traded people for goods. No mere rumor—he investigated, confirmed slum folk routinely offered up victims secretly.
Even knowing slums were society's outcasts rife with issues, he'd never imagined this severity. He reported urgently, launched pursuit, but results were this carnage.
"Heroes okay? S one, A three, B five deployed—B wiped, two A severe, S minor injuries."
"..."
"Haa..."
Shaking his head, Kim Hoyeon turned as if done looking.
"Gonna be busy for a while."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Gotta report up again."
"Report... what kind?"
After a pause, Kim Hoyeon murmured his answer gravely. Deathstorm's face tensed visibly.
"EX-rank operation change report."