Meeting (4)
Night deepened, and it was time for bed. Fortunately, even though my past self had lived like a mess, the apartment was set up normally, so there was a bed in the room. I gave the bed to the sisters and decided to sleep on the living room sofa.
"Good night, mister."
"Yeah."
Yu Se Eun buried her face in the pillow, hugging it tightly, clearly pleased with the soft bedding. It made me feel relieved that she liked such an ordinary sleeping arrangement. But at the same time, a nagging unease settled in.
What had happened to separate them? Why had they become enemies? Why had the older sister become the hero of heroes, while the younger became the hero of villains? The questions bubbled up, but I pushed them aside for now—those could wait. Instead, I focused on something more immediate.
"Um... Sua, right?"
"Yes. What is it, mister?"
"Oh, it's nothing big, but there's something I couldn't say earlier. If it's okay with you, maybe we could keep—"
Our relationship seemed a bit better after exchanging names, so I thought about broaching a deeper conversation about helping them out... but it failed. Just as I started, Yu Sua subtly shook her head, careful not to alert Yu Se Eun.
I knew exactly what that meant.
...Why on earth was she refusing? They must be living in terrible conditions if they were getting chased out onto the streets. If she'd just said it was some slum experience or an act for pity, even if it hurt my feelings, I'd feel relieved. But her expression, her eyes, her gaze—they held not a shred of deceit, which only made my chest tighten more.
"It's fine, mister. We're already so grateful just to sleep in a nice place like this."
"It's not that great..."
"No, it is. We hardly ever get to sleep on a bed this soft. Hehe."
"...Okay."
The more we talked, the more it felt like my heart was being carved out. Was it because of the deep debt I owed the Hero in my previous life? Memories surfaced of her always by my side, shining brightly and enveloping me. She'd approached me when I had nothing, the sole salvation in my empty, hollow life.
In a way, it was a debt. Even if not, having received such grace gave me every reason to repay it—I wanted to help. But to persuade or ask for anything, we needed to talk. With conversation impossible, it was just frustrating.
"Get in bed. I'll turn off the light."
"It's okay. I'll do it."
"Nothing's more annoying than getting up after lying down. Hurry up and lie down."
"Alright, then..."
Yu Sua straightened the bedding around Yu Se Eun, who was buried in the bed, then lay down beside her. She pulled the covers up to her face, peeking out only her eyes. I turned off the light and said good night.
"Sweet dreams."
"You too, mister."
"Good night, mister!"
I closed the door after seeing Yu Se Eun's bright smile. Heading to the sofa, I lay down to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come. I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Was it because today's events were so unbelievable? Thought dead, yet regressed. Encountering the Hero and Demon King as children. And they were sisters, no less.
...If I'd said this during the war, they'd have laughed it off as madness. The Hero might smile outwardly, but inwardly it'd unsettle her.
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped me. I wanted to help, but had no way. No—they kept refusing. To do anything, I needed to know the problem, but they clearly didn't want to talk...
So, the only option was to investigate on my own in secret. Sorry, sisters, but I couldn't just stand by after seeing this.
On the other hand, there was a vague hope. What if... just what if they never parted? If all the bad things were resolved? Would the Hero and Demon King cease to exist? Would that prevent the war?
"...War..."
A war between superhumans was literal hell. People died like bugs, buildings exploded like wet clay, peaceful cityscapes turned to ruins overnight. Familiar faces became cold corpses buried in the earth. Allies turned enemies, forcing us to fight... hell.
At first regression, war seemed inevitable. But now, seeing the sisters at its core, helping them might avert that hell.
"This is turning into something not easy, huh."
Suddenly, it felt like invisible threads were tangling and knotting. A baseless premonition that today's events were fated. Even the regression seemed sent to stop the war. Was it because these absurd things were happening?
Overthinking would just loop endlessly without conclusion. I decided to stop and try to sleep.
The next morning at dawn, the bedroom door creaked open cautiously. The sisters emerged quietly, scanned the living room, and approached Lee Seojin, who was sleeping.
"...Uncle Seojin."
Yu Sua smiled softly. His unshaven beard made him look older, but somehow attractive. His peaceful sleeping face seemed cute; she slowly reached out and brushed his bangs aside.
"Hey, no fair, sis. Me too..."
Yu Se Eun quickly brushed aside a strand of his hair, half-worried he'd wake. But Lee Seojin, deprived of deep sleep by war for so long, was lost in slumber. After a few tries confirming nothing would wake him, the sisters began stroking and brushing his hair freely.
"...He's really a good person. Right?"
"Yeah. That's why... I wanna see him more."
"...Me too."
As they took turns brushing his hair, wearing wistful smiles, Yu Se Eun murmured a quiet wish.
"...I wish Uncle was our dad."
"He can't be. He must have someone he's seeing."
"Tch. I know. But he doesn't seem popular! That's why I said dad."
Pouting, Yu Se Eun grumbled, seeming a bit disappointed. But she brightened quickly, gazing at him with a smile.
"...Or a brother, teacher, director... I just want him close. You too, right sis?"
"...Yeah. Uncle's... the first good person we've met."
"...Hehe. Yeah."
At Yu Se Eun's words, Yu Sua seemed troubled, her smile turning more pitiful as she sank into deep sorrow. She stopped brushing his hair and stared at her own outstretched hands, then slowly reached for his.
Large and rough, yet warm and gentle. She interlaced fingers, caressed it, then guided his hand to her face, rubbing her cheek against his palm—as if he were stroking her. Imagining a warmth she'd never felt, she rubbed slowly.
"Sis, no fair. Hogging the good stuff."
"Hehe. Sorry."
"My turn. Uncle Seojin's hand feels nice."
Not to be outdone, Yu Se Eun rubbed her cheek against his hand too. Like affectionate gestures, the sisters secretly acted without noticing each other, the mood turning strangely intimate, their gazes shifting.
"...Mm..."
"He'll wake. Stop."
At his sleep-talk, they hurriedly placed his hands neatly. But their gazes remained filled with longing—obsessive, even—as they stared at his face. Vowing never to forget, etching him into their minds.
It might seem their bond deepened in a day, but no. They just wanted to remember this first warmth forever. Knowing this meeting was the last. Such luck wouldn't come again. They knew no more warmth would be afforded them—a luxury.
One day, but too warm. Suddenly, a memory surfaced for both.
'You brats are cursed! You disasters! Get out! Die somewhere!!'
Words they'd heard since birth. They were misfortune itself, despair and sorrow. They didn't want to pass it to the warm man before them. So, they left final words and departed.
"Thank you, Uncle Seojin."
"Uncle Seojin was a really good person."
With unheard farewells, the sisters left the house.
Morning broke. Lee Seojin murmured in his sleep, slowly opening his eyes.
"Mm..."
Sunlight streamed through the window, warming his face. No alarm needed—it woke him naturally. And he'd slept deeply for the first time in ages. His body felt refreshingly light. Fatigue must affect mind and body equally.
Anyway, did the sisters sleep well? He turned to check—
"Huh?"
The door was ajar, just a tiny gap that tricked the eye. Rushing in, he found the bed neatly made, sisters gone.
"...At least say goodbye."
Regret and unease lingered, but he shook it off. Just a temporary parting. He'd see them again soon, he vowed.
More importantly, he'd pondered all night since yesterday. How to help the sisters. Fortunately, an answer came.
The next day had arrived—he'd act immediately. Starting preparations busily that morning.
For work? Partly, sure. Heroes do plenty: aiding police with traffic or security, catching petty criminals—but that's low-rank stuff. At my rank, smashing villains was main duty.
Villains rarely stirred mornings, so heroes could ease into the day... but that wasn't why I was rushing.
"Alright. All set."
He neatly packed documents into a small paper envelope and wrote boldly on it.
Resignation Letter.
Yes. The reason for his busy morning was one thing.
"Damn. Perfect weather for quitting hero work..."