The Second Failing Student (8)

"Selena."

Lying to my sister was pointless; she would see through it in no time. Her observational skills were simply too sharp. It felt like she could pierce straight into my thoughts.

"That girl again?"

"Ahem. One thing led to another and I ended up spending the night at Selena's place."

"Hmm."

"I must have collapsed while I was training her."

"Collapsed?"

"I mean… it was entirely my fault for overdoing it."

"Stay still."

She approached with both eyes narrowed in a way that genuinely frightened me. Then her pale, pretty hand rose into view.

"You've got a bit of a fever."

"Ah, really?"

"Yeah. Eat something and take medicine."

"Got it."

Her cool fingertips traced across my forehead before gently cupping my cheek. The atmosphere was pure yandere, yet the gesture itself was so tender that it left me feeling strangely unsettled.

"Haa. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I wish you wouldn't push yourself so hard."

"Yeah. I'll be more careful next time."

"You sacrifice yourself far too easily."

"Come on, no way. I'm plenty selfish."

She folded her arms, glared at me for a moment, then let out a soft snort of laughter.

"True. That selfish attitude of yours is what saved me once."

"Hm?"

"Never mind. Let's just eat."

"Okay. I'll wash up and get ready quick."

"No. I'll take care of everything today."

Her careful hands pressed against my back and I found myself being gently ushered away. The moment my body crossed the threshold into my room, Yuhwa offered an awkward little smile and closed the door.

"Here. Fever reducer."

"Thanks."

"If it gets worse, take tomorrow off."

"No, no. It's not that bad."

"It's okay to be honest sometimes."

"Still, I can't just rest."

"Why not?"

"The work I've been given is really important."

If I want to avoid that ending that's coming for us soon…

"Helping the failing students?"

"Yeah. Exactly."

"But I wish you wouldn't do that job."

"The chairman assigned it to me, though??"

"I'll talk to Metis about it."

"Yuhwa. You don't need to do that."

"Sion."

We had been sitting a reasonable distance apart on the sofa. Without a sound she shifted closer until she was pressed right up against my side.

We used the same body wash, yet somehow the scent rising from her was especially nice.

Resting her chin on my shoulder, she spoke in a calm, almost coaxing tone.

"I want to spend time with you."

"Huh? Oh… yeah?"

"I already told you I like you. You."

"Ah."

"Is that not allowed?"

The soft side of her breast pressed firmly against my arm. Our thighs were flush together, and her warm heat seeped into me.

With an unusually docile gaze she waited quietly for my answer. She looked like a well-trained hunting dog.

"Noona."

"Mm."

"I… I really am a transmigrator. The person inside this body isn't your real little brother."

"That's exactly why it doesn't matter."

"Even so, I grew up looking at you as my sister."

"And I've been looking at you as you."

She quietly reached out and stroked the back of my hand. Because she kept staring up at me the whole time, the nape of my neck started to ache.

She was beautiful, and strictly speaking we weren't blood-related.

But Yuhwa was still Yuhwa. I had grown up seeing her as my older sister; I had never once looked at her as a woman.

So why does she keep getting under my skin like this?

"Do you hate me?"

"No. I like you. I respect you."

"As family?"

"Yeah."

"What about as a woman?"

"What?"

"No, I mean… what type do you go for?"

"I've never really thought about it."

"Someone like Selena?"

My breath caught hard in my throat. Maybe I…

"I see. That tells me enough."

"No, no. I don't look at my students that way."

"But you did it. Sex."

"That…"

Should I just tell her?

"I… I think I might be an Ability User."

"You?"

She flinched and pressed her hand against my inner thigh. Closing the distance even further, her lips nearly brushed mine.

"Through… sex. I can make other Ability Users stronger."

Yuhwa's expression hardened. She had always been stoic, but now she looked completely frozen by the shock.

For a long moment she stayed perfectly still, as if time itself had stopped, then finally turned her face straight ahead.

"I see. So even though the odds are lower than for women, men can become Ability Users too."

"Sorry ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for not saying anything sooner. I only found out recently myself."

"Who else knows besides me?"

"Selena. Lavi."

"That girl again. And Lavi? Why her?"

"It just… happened with Lavi as well."

One pale cheek slowly puffed out. The sharp look she shot me made me shrink back a little.

"What about me."

"Huh?"

"What about me."

"What about you…?"

"I liked you first. So why won't you do it with me?"

"We're siblings."

"If we're siblings, we should do it even more."

"Why??"

"Because I love you."

She clung to my arm and pushed out her red lips in a pout. The sight of her acting spoiled was so unfamiliar I had no idea how to respond.

"You can practice on me."

"No, no. No matter what, not with you, Noona."

"Not your type?"

Before I knew it she had seized my wrist and forced my hand onto her chest. For the first time in my life I was touching my sister's breasts.

The sensation wasn't gross or creepy. It was devastatingly soft, molding perfectly into my palm, and I found myself wanting to keep touching them.

"You're not wearing a bra right now??"

"Mm."

"Why?"

"Because this is my house."

"Well, yeah, but…"

"I'm ready whenever you are. As long as you're okay with it."

"Okay! That's enough!"

I shot to my feet and put distance between us. Yuhwa looked disappointed, her expression turning sulky.

Why does she look so cute all of a sudden? Anyway…

"I see. So that method is the only way, then."

"Huh?"

"I'm going to take measures so you stop paying attention to those stray cats."

"Huh? No. No crimes!"

"Crimes?"

As if human emotions and ordinary morals meant nothing to her—like a complete psychopath—she tilted her head, then quietly rose from her seat.

Even though her hands were empty, I could have sworn she was holding a thick kitchen knife.

"Wait just a moment."

"Noona?"

"It'll only take a second."

I panicked and hurried after her as she strode purposefully toward her room. Grabbing her slender wrist, I asked,

"What are you planning to do?"

"A present for you. No—more accurately, a present for that girl."

"It's nothing dangerous, right?"

"It will be dangerous. But with this, I'll be able to play with you."

Her strength was strangely overwhelming. I knew she wasn't an Ability User, yet she was so physically gifted that I couldn't stop her from entering the room.

"What do you think?"

"What is this?"

"Selena's exclusive weapon. It's called the Odd Lantern."

"You made this?"

"Of course. It's my specialty."

"Ah, right. That's true."

In the center of the room sat a small sphere shaped like a lantern. Inside it, soft sky-blue and crimson flames—reminiscent of Selena's odd eyes—flickered gently.

A chain connected the sphere to a rod lying beside it. Overall, the whole thing looked like a mace.

"If she uses this, she'll become much stronger."

"Is that so?"

"By channeling energy into the sphere she can cast healing over a wide area, and she'll be able to apply debuffs as well."

"Oh ho?"

"In other words, she won't need your guidance anymore."

Her voice was firm yet somehow petulant as she continued in that same calm tone.

"Which means the time you can spend with me will increase."

"What do you even want to do that you'd go this far…"

"A d-date."

"What."

"I worked hard. So go on a date with me."

Her terrifyingly cold face flushed bright red. Whether from embarrassment or something else, her fingers fidgeted restlessly.

"Is there somewhere you want to go?"

"Not really."

"Something you want to do?"

"Just… watching Netflix at home with you?"

"Aren't you asking for too little?"

"But I don't want you to feel burdened."

"I already feel plenty burdened, though."

"And also…"

"Yeah?"

Blushing shyly, she grabbed the hem of her short-sleeved shirt and pulled it straight down. Her full breasts flattened slightly, and her nipples stood out clearly.

Did she forget she's not wearing a bra?

I quickly averted my eyes to the wall. One corner of that wall was covered with a huge photo of me.

When did she even take that?

"It's my first time, so I'm a little scared too."

"Huh?"

"So… when we eventually do it… be gentle with me♡"

She swayed her hips lightly from side to side. My gaze drifted down to her unnecessarily long, bare legs.

Has my sister always been this cute?

"Anyway. Since you helped me… a date should be fine."

"Really??"

She closed in at once, eyes sparkling. Watching her look excited while remaining completely expressionless gave me a serious case of cognitive dissonance.

"If there's anywhere you want to go or anything you want to do, just tell me. Let's do it this weekend."

"Hehe. Okay. Thank you, Sion."

"I'm the one who should thank you for making Selena's exclusive weapon."

"Mm. So stop the guidance now."

"Can I at least keep going until she can stand on her own?"

"Fine. It seems like she still needs real combat experience."

The awkward upward curl of her lips reminded me exactly of a nice-boat ending.

I looked at my sister—cuteness and chill coexisting in the same face—then quietly turned away.

"Good night, Noona."

"Good night, Sion."

Wait. This didn't solve anything at all. My goal was to reject her feelings.

Am I just a sucker for cute begging?

"Was today's guidance hard? Here, some water."

"Yes. Thanks to you, Teacher Sion."

"Ahem. Glad to hear it."

"Then shall I clean the office for you?"

"No. I actually have something to give you today."

"To me?"

Selena tilted her head. Her face, flushed and damp with sweat, looked so alluring I couldn't bring myself to look at her directly.

"Lavi too! Lavi too! Give Lavi something tooooo!!!"

"Sorry, but there's nothing for you."

"You're playing favorites with just Selena, aren't you??"

"Yep."

"Why!! I'm such a cute and sexy genius girl!"

"Alright then, Selena. Close your eyes for me?"

"Don't you dare ignore me, you loser!"

She obediently shut her eyes and held out both hands. I placed the metal case containing her exclusive weapon, the Odd Lantern, into them.

"It's awfully heavy for a present."

"There's a good reason for that. You can open your eyes now."

"What is this?"

"Go ahead and open it."

I was looking forward to Selena's reaction. Even Lavi, who had been sulking, was peeking curiously around her.

Click.

The latch released, revealing something shaped like a magic staff. Selena's exclusive weapon, convertible between mace form and staff form.

"Eh."

"It's your exclusive weapon. The name is Odd Lantern."

Selena jerked her head up to stare at me, eyes wide with shock. Her pupils, swimming with bewilderment, trembled helplessly.

"A gift for a hardworking honor student."

"No… I'm not… that impressive."

"You are impressive. My guidance must have been tough, yet you followed every instruction without a single complaint, and you actually got stronger, didn't you?"

"That's all because of you, Teacher Sion…"

"Would any of this have happened if you hadn't been willing?"

"Teacher… Sion…"

Suddenly tears began rolling down Selena's cheeks one after another.

"Selena??"

"Hic… Thank you… uk… hnnngh…"

"Aww, come on. Why are you crying?"

"I'm just… so… black… so grateful… nngh… something like this… uuugh… is a first for me…"

"There, there. Is that so?"

Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs, and before I knew it my own eyes were stinging.

Lavi stood nearby watching us with a dazed expression. Turning away from her wavering pupils, I gently wiped Selena's tears.

In the end she cried in my arms for a long time before exhaustion finally claimed her. I carefully lifted her and laid her down on the office bed.

"Hey. Ssaem."

"Yeah?"

"Me too. I want to do it too."

"Got your eye on an exclusive weapon, huh?"

"Wrong!! It's just… if it's you, Ssaem… I feel like it would be different."

"Different how?"

"Ugh. F-fine, you pass! I'm specially granting you permission to guide Lavi!"

"Haha. What an honor."

Lavi's face was flushed deep red. She looked ready to shout something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more, then swallowed it down. And then, little by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠little, she began taking off her pants.