Chapter 11
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 11. That's Not It, Actually...! (3)
Anyway, the fortunate thing is that Soi's and my interests aligned.
I want to get close to Chaeyi for personal reasons.
In a different way from the original work. Not wanting Chaeyi to blindly rely on me, but just hoping she becomes a close friend, or if I have to specify the degree, one of the best friends I hang around with.
Not simply because she was one of the two people Seo Lua dragged around in the original work, but as a childhood friend.
"Ughh, I absolutely can't stand this!"
And for Soi, it was a kind of obstinacy.
As a friend collector who had never, ever failed to become friends with a kid she met for the first time!
At first, having such a Soi felt truly reassuring.
But I quickly realized that it wasn't as easy as it sounds.
"H-Here. Do you want to eat this?"
"Why should I?"
Even when I brought various things to eat and handed them to her, Chaeyi always coldly refused.
The Chaeyi from our childhood definitely used to love sweet things immensely.
Isn't she still too young for her palate to have changed?
Even when I purposely bought the kind of snacks Chaeyi liked best and handed them over, Chaeyi didn't fall for it.
Thinking about it, it might be a given. When we were at the orphanage, we ate snacks the teachers bought or snacks that were donated, and choosing from within that, the variety was naturally bound to be limited.
Having been adopted into a hero's family of all things, she can probably eat whatever snacks she wants to her heart's content, let alone regular snacks.
"Chaeyi, do you want to play after school?"
"I don't have time."
Soi spoke with a wide smile, but froze over at Chaeyi's words.
Her eyebrows twitched and trembled. How should I say it, it's like a cartoon.
The book Chaeyi had laid open on her desk was absolutely not a workbook an elementary schooler would read. I don't know what kind of family her adoptive family is, but they seem to be a family that immensely cares about things like grades.
If that's the case, it's a given that she wouldn't have time after school due to tutoring or academies.
Besides, Soi's approach method might also have a slight problem.
When approaching kids, Soi had a tendency to strike up conversations thinking that the kid would naturally follow what she said.
Because it had always been that way up until now.
Soi doesn't know how to treat someone who doesn't like her from the start!
Furthermore, there was another problem—
"What's with her?"
"Why is she ignoring what Soi says?"
"She could at least say it differently."
"Poor Lua..."
That's right.
The more Chaeyi rejects Soi's and my words, the more her reputation among the surrounding kids continues to drop.
Soi is, well, a top-tier popular kid that at least everyone in the same grade knows, to the point where she even has quite a few friends in other grades.
And I am the younger sister who always sticks by that Soi's side. Because my reputation was that I have excellent looks, know a lot of things, and have a good personality.
You could visibly see that the very act of repeatedly rejecting our words and making us sad was continuously chipping away at Chaeyi's reputation.
"...Soi, let's stop this now."
Eventually, before Chaeyi's reputation plummeted so much that she wouldn't be able to make a single friend, I said that to Soi.
"Huh? Why? No way. She's almost fallen for it."
Umm, Soi. It would be a bit better for you to develop some tact...
No, if you're a hero, is it also a bit weird to be too tactful? I wonder if that's why Chaeyi ended up like that too.
Even so, I didn't want to ruin Chaeyi's school life.
Even if not now, there will definitely be an opportunity later at the academy anyway.
In any case, Chaeyi's personality becomes kind of like that, right? I don't know why on earth it happens, but wouldn't it be okay to aim for that time?
"Ughh..."
But did my somewhat timid-sounding words actually ignite Soi's temper instead?
"B-But, Soi. If we keep doing that..."
When I inevitably voiced my thoughts, Soi went 'Umm' and sank into thought for a moment. Honestly speaking, it wasn't a particularly convinced expression, but,
"Fine. I got it. Because Lua is smart."
...She answered like that for now.
It seems she understood it for a slightly different reason than what I was thinking, but going into further detail here would be a bit much, so should I just move on?
However, separate from my relief, Soi had another idea as well.
"Then we just have to seduce her somewhere the other kids aren't watching."
Where on earth did she learn the word 'seduce'? Shorts? They are strict parents in their own way, but since they have an excessively lenient side regarding how Soi plays. Wouldn't it be okay if I just control her to some extent?
...No, well, that doesn't really matter right now.
First of all, I thought Soi's idea itself sounded plausible.
"Somewhere they aren't watching?"
"Yeah."
Soi giggled with a somewhat evil aura. Does she think this is quite fun in its own right?
Even though she made such a frustrated expression, it seems she ultimately thinks making friends is enjoyable.
We are 4th graders in elementary school. In other words, we can be called 'upperclassmen'.
And being an upperclassman also meant being at an age where we no longer needed an adult's help to go to school.
In 1st and 2nd grade, we went to school by car, but actually, the elementary school we attend isn't that far from home. Even at our pace, it's about a 20-minute walk.
Even though it's a house located in an expensive residential area rather than an apartment, since the distance to school was only that much, it felt even closer. Should I say it feels like it's almost right there if you just come down to the neighborhood and cross one main street?
Since we were always walking to and from school together holding hands like that, we had enough time after school to follow behind someone.
"What if Chaeyi takes a car home?"
"Then it can't be helped!"
It was a truly clear-cut answer.
Following Soi's plan, Soi and I came out of the building as quickly as possible the moment school ended.
Fortunately, kids from other classes were also just pouring out, so by running fast, we were able to come out first.
Soi and I waited near the school gate for the kids to come out, and then,
"Ah, over there."
We spotted the kid with the eye-catching pink hair and followed her from afar.
"See? She's not taking a car."
"Uh, yeah."
"I told you there's nothing to lose by listening to your older sister, right?"
Seeing Soi raise her nose with a triumphant expression made me feel somewhat frustrated, but surprisingly the method was working, so I had nothing to say.
Even though we hadn't really hidden and were just standing next to the school gate.
Then again, if she didn't specifically turn her body toward us, it's natural she wouldn't know...
As we were walking behind her feeling a bit anti-climactic, strength went into Soi's hand holding mine.
"Over there."
Hardly any kids remained around Chaeyi.
When school lets out, kids come out in groups of three or five, but when heading home, everyone scatters to their respective homes one by one.
Furthermore, Chaeyi had been alone without grouping up with anyone from the moment she first came out.
For reference, since we were already celebrities at school, we greeted an incredible number of kids on our way here.
And yet, for her to not look back even once, does she truly have no interest in the kids, or is she forcefully ignoring them?
Not having friends is an incredibly sad thing. I know because I experienced it in my past life.
Especially at a young age, there's nothing as sorrowful as not having friends.
So Chaeyi, too, must definitely.
"Let's go."
Confirming that there were almost no kids left to greet us either, Soi grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
"Chaeyi!"
When Soi called out loudly, Chaeyi, who had been walking ahead with her head slightly bowed, had her shoulders flinch greatly.
Startled, Chaeyi turned around and widened her eyes.
"Let's play together!"
Soi said that and abruptly linked her arm through Chaeyi's.
"Wh-What?"
"Huh? School's over, right."
"Uh?"
"Then we should play."
"Uh-huh?"
Without even giving her the chance to firmly reject like before, Soi sharply pulled Chaeyi's arm toward us.
"Ice cream!"
"Uh?"
This time I was flustered.
"Let's go eat ice cream!"
A young child's energy with truly no context whatsoever.
Chaeyi looked at me with extremely bewildered eyes, but I couldn't say anything to that Chaeyi.
No, even I find this a bit bewildering sometimes, okay?
Though this is something I instigated.
Anyway.
With one hand tightly holding mine, and her other arm tightly linked with Chaeyi's, Soi led the two of us toward the ice cream shop.
When I said 'ice cream' when I was young, it usually just meant ice cream sold at a supermarket or convenience store. Or soft-serve ice cream from a fast-food joint.
Because any other ice cream was expensive.
I've almost never bought ice cream scooped into a large cup at an ice cream franchise like this with my own money.
But Soi does that. Because she has a lot of money.
Actually, I could do that too, but I've never really tried. Because usually the person who brings me to a place like this is Soi, and she briskly picks the flavors and pays for it before I can even do anything.
Even if I say it's my money, it's still Soi's parents' money anyway.
"..."
And, Chaeyi's expression looking at the ice cream in front of her is,
Somehow, it seems no different from when we were at the orphanage.
Is she perhaps not eating well at home? That shouldn't be the case. If her adoptive parents are heroes, they wouldn't be able to abuse her even just out of fear of how others would look at them.
Besides, Chaeyi doesn't exactly give the impression of having starved. Rather, it was a healthy appearance where the slightly thin figure from her orphanage days was completely gone.
Gulp.
Chaeyi, who swallowed her saliva without realizing it, belatedly went "Gasp!" and was startled.
And then she glared fiercely.
"E-Even if you buy this."
She tried to say something, but stuttered and closed her mouth.
As expected, an elementary schooler is an elementary schooler.
I picked up one spoon and scooped deeply into the ice cream. Strawberry flavor ice cream.
And as I moved it toward Chaeyi—
"Ah!?"
—Hearing a gasp of shock from beside me, I turned my head to look.
Soi was looking at me with an incredibly shocked expression.
An expression as if to say, 'You don't usually do that for me!'
But if she looks at it like that, I feel a bit unfairly treated too.
Because normally I almost never have the chance to do that for Soi. When the two of us come to a place like this, Soi generally tries to put this and that into my mouth.
"Hmm..."
After deliberating for a moment, I moved the spoon toward Soi.
"Ah..."
Chaeyi, whose eyes were fixed on the ice cream, let out a regretful sound, so I stopped midway with that too, but.
"Ahhh."
Of course, Soi doesn't just let an opportunity like this slip by. Before I could move the spoon again, she quickly opened her mouth and ate it.
"Ah..."
Chaeyi's expression crumbles again.
"Here, let's eat, let's eat."
Soi, who had received a bite from me, immediately picked up a spoon with an elated expression, then picked up another one and handed it to Chaeyi.
"Uh? Uh?"
Chaeyi, who had somehow broken down from the moment she entered the store, bewilderedly accepted the spoon Soi handed her.
"If you're late, it'll all be gone."
Soi said that, then with her eyes sparkling brightly, she scooped a large spoonful of ice cream and put it in her mouth.
"Haa."
And a melting face.
Chaeyi looked at me with eyes demanding some sort of explanation, but what explanation is needed.
Originally, when ice cream is right in front of you, there's no need for that kind of thing. Ice cream is meant to be eaten in the first place.
Watching blankly as I also scooped a large spoonful of ice cream and put it in my mouth, Chaeyi soon glared fiercely again.
And then, she too combatively. With an expression saying she didn't want to lose for some reason, she scooped a large spoonful of ice cream and put it in her mouth.
"Haa...!"
And she made a melting expression just like Soi.
"It's delicious, right?"
"Ugh."
But as if she didn't want to agree with those words.
She glared at Soi once.
Then another large scoop.
At that sight, Soi and I met each other's eyes again.
Soi grins.
As if to say this was the right answer all along.
And, as always, her nose raised high as if asking, 'Aren't I amazing?'
But what could I say to that.
Since it really turned out this way.
When I turned my gaze back, Chaeyi, who had been blankly staring at the two of us again, suddenly snaps to her senses.
The three of us diligently scooped up the ice cream.
Although we didn't have any conversations or anything midway.
Still, for now, that was enough.
The anomaly occurred when we had almost emptied the ice cream cup.
Chaeyi's smartphone rang.
Startled by the vibration sound, Chaeyi checked her smartphone and her face turned pale white.
And she hurriedly answered the phone.
"...Yes."
Even before Chaeyi could speak first, a quite loud voice could be heard from across the phone. I couldn't hear the contents accurately, but just from what I could hear, I could already tell the other party was quite angry.
It sounds like an adult's voice.
Soi and I looked at each other this time, slightly gauging each other's mood.
This, we did something wrong.
Because even though it's very rare, whenever we broke something while playing at home, we would simultaneously look at each other.
Furthermore, the atmosphere was a much stricter one than that.
"...Yes. Yes. Here..."
Chaeyi explained where the store was.
And after hanging up the phone, she slumped her shoulders as if she were crestfallen.
Both Soi and I felt like we had become sinners, no, not that we had become sinners, but just that we were no different from sinners. We just carefully gauged Chaeyi's mood.
"I, I have to go."
Chaeyi said that and stood up from her seat.
As if she didn't even have the energy to get mad at us, she grabbed her bag while keeping her head slightly bowed again.
Soi and I also slowly got up from our seats. Soi swiftly placed the ice cream cup on the tray, returned it, and came back to Chaeyi's side.
However, since the atmosphere wasn't one where we could strike up a conversation, we just kept exchanging glances as we left the store.
How on earth it arrived so quickly I don't know, but a car stopped in front of the store.
A very large, black sedan with an atmosphere different from the domestic car Aunt Yujin and Mister Dohyun drive. The brand is also a foreign brand. With an aura that makes it feel like you could buy a house just with the price of the car.
The back door of that car swung open, and an aunt who looked slightly older than Aunt Yujin got out from inside.
"Chaeyi, you—"
The aunt, who was about to strictly scold Chaeyi as she got out of the car.
"Ah!"
Her eyes widened at the sound of Soi's surprised gasp.
"Blue Phosphor! It's Blue Phosphor!"
I was a little flustered by that shout.
"Ah, hello!"
When Soi, who had shouted abruptly, bowed deeply at the waist just as abruptly, even the thought of getting angry must have completely flown away, as she blinked. She blinks her eyes.
"...Oh my, is it Soi?"
The aunt called Blue Phosphor asked with a suddenly softened voice.
Blue Phosphor.
Of course I know her. Because she's one of the famous heroes. Probably one of the famous and highly popular heroes that no one wouldn't know. Though she's not as famous as Aunt Yujin.
Because... if I recall my faint memories, there is something like a Hero Association in this world too, and within it, there are smaller gatherings of heroes grouped together again, and Aunt Yujin belongs to a place among those gatherings that is incredibly famous and where you can only enter by proving your skills.
Blue Phosphor wasn't to that extent.
A beautiful swordswoman who brilliantly wields a sword blazing with blue flames to defeat villains. I've seen her on TV a few times. For reference, Blue Phosphor isn't a name, but a kind of alias, like Aunt Yujin's 'Meteor'.
"Uh, do you know me?"
Soi asked innocently with her eyes sparkling.
"Of course I do. We met once before. You probably don't remember because you were young, though."
And that gaze heads toward me.
"Ah, hello..."
When I bowed nervously, Blue Phosphor looked back and forth between me and Soi before smiling brightly.
"I see. Our Chaeyi made some friends."
"..."
Chaeyi bows her head deeply.
I peeked back, but it doesn't seem to be out of embarrassment. Rather, an expression that looks slightly distressed.
"You should have told me first that your friends were Soi. I would have understood if you did."
Blue Phosphor said that, then bent her waist slightly, met eyes with Soi, and said.
"Please take good care of our Chaeyi."
"Yes, of course!"
Soi said that, and then looked at me with a grin as if she had succeeded.
And the thought I had while watching that sight was.
Umm, I don't think this is something we should just blindly be happy about, is what I thought.
Honestly, isn't it too transparent?