Somewhere Between Son and Pet
Ara crouched in front of me, trembling.
She wasn't thrashing around in that frenzied state from earlier, but she was still shaking with anxiety.
What am I even supposed to do here…
If I'd ever had any experience with girls, maybe I'd know how to handle this…
Though honestly, saying I've never had any real connection with people in general would be more accurate than just girls.
Anyway, the truth was I was pretty shaken myself, so I couldn't settle down easily either.
I mean, what kind of person bashes their head against a wall until it nearly cracks just because they made a small mistake?
Even now Ara was starting to spiral again in real time, so I pulled her back into my arms.
There's that saying, right? Babies feel emotional security from hearing their mother's heartbeat.
Of course, Ara wasn't a baby, and I wasn't her mother either — but maybe hearing a person's heartbeat would still help a little.
"Ah, I said you shouldn't… Oppa."
She was still saying things like that… Strictly speaking, I was the one who'd been hurt, so why was I the one having to comfort her like this?
Still, I couldn't be harsh with a kid who was clearly not all there right now.
"I told you it's fine. Oh, right. Did you want to touch Oppa's chest that badly? Want me to let you?"
"A-Ah! No!"
"Yeah? Well, just say the word later. This Oppa can do at least that much for our Ara."
"…U-Uh."
I said that knowing full well how it would sound to her.
I just had to flip the perspective a little.
There were two reasons I still said it: one, there was absolutely no sign of Ara calming down. And two, I really could do that much for her.
Being a man from the reversed world, I was the type who liked physical affection from women — and I truly cherished Ara.
Saying that actually seemed to work. Ara started to settle down, which made the whole thing feel worthwhile.
It didn't seem like it was because she could actually touch my chest. More like she'd finally realized I didn't find that kind of thing repulsive.
And once she'd finally calmed down, Ara apologized to me again.
This time without avoiding my eyes.
"I'm sorry…. I — of all people, I shouldn't have done that to Oppa. I must have lost my mind. If you didn't take what I said the wrong way, that's really, truly a relief… but that doesn't erase what I did wrong. I'm really sorry."
This time, I stopped trying to comfort her and accepted her apology.
She'd faced me so seriously to apologize, so I figured the most ideal thing was to forgive her just as seriously.
"Alright, Ara. That's all that matters. When you mess up, you apologize. I don't know how it would've gone with someone else, but we're not just any ordinary friends. We're like family — the kind who can forgive each other and take care of each other even when we mess up. Right?"
"…Yeah."
"Good. Then let's head back. Maru's waiting."
"Okay…."
Ara looked a little dejected again.
She was probably remembering how Maru had been raging like a demon. She must have realized that going back to the room meant she'd get an earful.
I decided to comfort my dejected little sister as her Oppa.
"Ara, don't worry too much. Oppa already talked to Maru about it."
"No…. I did mess up. I've prepared myself for a few slaps to the face…. I just hope she doesn't hit my chest…."
Aigoo….
If Maru had heard that, I could already picture her saying, Why would I slap your face, you crazy bitch! If anyone's gonna hit you, it should be Chan. Oh, right — Chan. Beat her up. As long as she doesn't die, go for it. That's the only way this one learns.
Instead of telling her that, I decided to put on a bit of a big-brother act.
"Ara, don't worry, okay? You think this Oppa would just stand by and watch? If it came to that, I couldn't hit Maru… so I'd just go, 'I've decided to date Ara! Don't hit her — this girl's mine!' Something like that."
"Oppa…."
Ara's eyes looked genuinely moved. I'd properly established my dignity as her Oppa.
Honestly, I still couldn't forget those contemptuous looks I'd gotten earlier….
To overcome that, the quickest fix was to plant respect for me in Ara's heart so she'd look at me with admiration.
I was thinking that when Ara spoke to me in a slightly gloomy voice.
"Oppa, you shouldn't do that…. Lines like that, you should only say them in front of me, okay?"
"…Huh? I don't get what you mean."
"Haa…. I'm gonna have to have a talk with Oppa…."
What? Why was there not a single speck of respect in Ara's eyes?
Rather than looking at someone she admired, it was more like she was looking at a little brother she needed to take care of….
Hmm. I don't like that….
With that uneasy feeling, we returned to Ara's room.
Fortunately, Maru wasn't holding a bat or anything. Though she was still glaring at Ara as she walked in with burning eyes.
"…Did you properly apologize?"
"…Yeah."
"And Chan accepted it?"
"…Yeah."
"Chan, are you sure you accepted it because you're actually okay?"
"I told you I am. How long ago was that? You think I'd still have trauma from it? I want to try dating a girlfriend now too."
"…Fine, whatever."
Then silence.
Ara's eyes darted around as she gauged Maru's mood, then carefully opened her mouth.
"…Is that it?"
"What?"
Maru's snappy reply came right back, a sharp contrast to Ara's tone. Ara spoke even more timidly.
"…Aren't you going to hit me?"
"Chan forgave you, so why would I hit you? Even if someone did, it should be Chan. Well, if you want me to hit you, I won't refuse."
"No, no! I don't want that!"
"…Fine. We'll let it go for today. But if you do it again…."
"…Yeah."
"…Next time, even if Chan forgives you, I'll kill you. If you want to see our family on the news, go ahead and try it again. I'm not kidding. I mean it."
"That's…! I won't. I've reflected a lot too."
"Good. You'd better."
"…Maru, you're freaking scary…."
She wasn't usually like this…?
Maru from the non-reversed world was more serious than Maru from the reversed world on a normal day, but she wasn't this terrifying when she got angry.
…More had changed than I'd thought.
"What are you on about. Stop talking nonsense and let's go downstairs. Dad said dinner's ready."
"O-Okay…."
Down in the living room, the table was so laden with food that I finally understood what people meant by a feast that could break the table legs.
"…You made all of this?"
"Hmm? Oh, not all of it. A few dishes were from a cook I know who helped out."
"…Even so."
"Aigoo~ All you need to do is eat lots and enjoy it. Are we strangers?"
"…Huh?"
"What, is that how you thought of us? That makes me a little sad… I've been thinking of you as a son."
"…I—I think of you that way too!"
"Oh my? Really? That's a relief. Well then, son? Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner~"
"…Yes."
Something about this… something.
My chest felt all warm and fuzzy. It was similar to the first time Master said "our home" to me.
I could feel that they genuinely cared about me.
They must treat me this way because our families were so close. Mom's last will even said please, please take good care of me.
Looking at it myself, it was an irresponsible request — but Maru's family never thought of it that way. They always treated me like family, just as the will asked.
Ignoring my slightly reddened face, Maru and Ara chattered away beside me.
"Oppa, since it's come to this, should we just ask Mom and Dad to adopt Oppa Chan?"
"…Hmm, not bad? No — actually good? Then we'd be family legally too."
"Oh, then would Oppa Chan be the oldest? Ooh, thinking about it, Oppa… no, you feel totally different. Oppa Chan really gives off that reliable, dependable big-brother vibe, but compared to that, you feel more like my little brother?"
"Casual speech…? Talking casually to your Oppa? The household hierarchy is completely dead. Should I ask Hyung Chan to rein you in?"
"…I'm right here. Can you stop…?"
"What's wrong, Oppa?"
"Yeah, Hyung. Good thinking. This punk needs to shut her mouth."
"…Can I just swap you out for Oppa Chan for real?"
"…You? You? You're actually insane. I'm the one who wants to beg. Swap me with Chan, please."
The siblings kept going on and on with that nonsense. Even watching me blush and squirm with embarrassment right next to them, they wouldn't stop.
No — if anything, they seemed to be enjoying my reaction.
Haa… just hold on a little longer. Teacher will be here soon too.
Ah, for reference — Maru's mother was the teacher at the academy I used to attend. Her father worked somewhere farther away.
So inevitably, we'd been stuck together all day since we were kids. We'd meet up before school, walk to school together, take classes in the same room, walk home together to the academy, and after that hang out at Maru's empty house — or with Ara there — until evening before going home. That was our daily routine.
Sometimes I'd even sleep over at Maru's place.
So I figured a meal with this family I'd been through so much with wouldn't feel awkward at all. After knowing each other so closely for so long, they felt like family to me too by now.
Or so I thought……
"Dad, Dad! Let's officially take Oppa Chan into the family!"
"Hmm? We already have, haven't we?"
"No, not like that! Properly!"
"What do you mean, properly?"
"She means we should adopt Chan and make him family legally too. …I'd like that as well."
"Oh, that sounds great. Why did I forget about that option?"
"Right… Why didn't I think of that either? Ooh! Then Chan would really be my son? Hehe, I love that."
Hearing that didn't make me feel bad. If anything, knowing they thought of me that way made me really happy.
Happy — but at the same time, being held in such high regard was…
…seriously overwhelming.
Ugh… I think I'm gonna get indigestion….