The First Flag
“Owww~”
My cheek stretched out, stinging with pain.
“Don’t pinch.”
“You awake now?”
Kim Hayan, who’d lightly pinched my cheek, grinned and stroked it with her hand.
“S-stop… petting me.”
“Hehe, acting all shy. Why do you think I’m here? To wake up our Taeyang, of course.”
My sister smiled gently. Her long black hair contrasted with her snow-white skin, her dark eyes warm as she gazed at me, a cute beauty mark on her cheek. Her pretty nose and alluring pink lips were captivating enough, and if I mentioned her figure, the big-boob crowd would be thrilled. Even without past-life memories, anyone asking if my sister was a beauty would get a resounding yes from me.
The problem was, now that I did remember my past life… it was the same. She matched perfectly with ‘Kim Hayan,’ the heroine from that yandere visual novel I’d played last.
“Come on, eat breakfast and let’s head to school. It’s your first day transferring, so I’ll make you look nice.”
I nodded and shooed her out, saying I’d come down soon.
“Haa~ Let’s sort this out first.”
I didn’t get up, just leaned against the bed’s headboard.
“So, my always-sweet sister ends up killing us later?”
I’d lived with Kim Hayan for nearly 16 years. I’d never known a kinder, more homemaker-like sister. Siblings, especially with just a two-year gap, usually bicker a lot. But we almost never did. If immature me coveted something, she’d just give it; if I snatched her food, she’d give more or cook my favorites herself. Once, I teased her too much and made her cry. After that, guilt hit me hard, and I vowed to treat her better.
So it didn’t add up. My sister, kinder to family than anyone, doing that? No way. She’s family—let’s trust her once. Unlike the game, I’d lived this life firsthand.
I shook off the unease and headed to the living room. Nothing was happening right now, anyway.
“Toast, huh.”
“Yeah, no ingredients at home.”
“It’s fine—your toast is the best, Sis.”
I sat across from her at the table. One compliment, and she beamed.
Maybe it was the past-life memories mixing in, but she looked even prettier.
“Really tasty?”
“Yeah. You always take care of me—I gotta enjoy it.”
Mom left early for work and got home late, so Sis always made meals. Gotta eat gratefully, no complaints.
“Oh my~ Our Taeyang saying stuff like that…”
Amazed, she pretended to wipe tears, cooing, “Our Taeyang’s all grown up~”
That much emotion? A sister this soft and kind turning into a yandere killer later? No chance.
Reaffirmed, I bit into the toast.
“Taeyang, you know that?”
“Hm?”
I paused mid-bite and looked at her. She wiped jam from my mouth with a smile, then said,
“I saw on the news—over 7 billion people live on our planet right now.”
“Yeah…”
“So the odds of you and me being family? Like, one in 7 billion.”
“Is that right?”
“Hehe, feels like fate, doesn’t it?”
No fucking way! That was exactly what Kim Hayan says to the male lead, Seonwoo, at the end!
The toast stuck halfway down my throat. I chugged milk to clear it.
“Ah, spilling again… So clumsy.”
‘It’s just ‘cause your words shook me up.’ Yeah, couldn’t say that. I waved off her wipe and cleaned it myself.
I’m not a kid—how long is this gonna go on?
The awkward meal—for me alone—ended.
“Go wash up. I’ll fix your hair.”
“...Sis?”
“Yeah?”
“You… won’t kill me, right?”
“What’re you even saying?”
Shit, anxiety made me blurt my real thoughts. She laughed in disbelief.
“If you don’t hurry and we’re late, then I might.”
“Eek!”
She said it playfully, but I couldn’t take it as a joke—bolted off.
———
The mirror showed the same old me. Natural blonde hair. Natural tanned skin. Opposite of Sis’s black hair and pale skin.
FYI, we’re blood-related. I just took after Dad strong; she took after Mom.
Until yesterday, I didn’t think much of it. Just puzzled why friends hid girlfriends around me or avoided me once they had one.
Past-life memories explained it now. In the game, Kim Hayan’s little brother ‘Kim Taeyang’ was a deliberate comic character by the devs. His look screamed to players, ‘This guy looks shady lol, NTR ending incoming?’ He was a full-on meme in the Love Chain forums.
In-game, girls mentioned his looks alone could steal boyfriends. Even the male lead, Choi Seonwoo, gets wary in Hayan’s route.
I’d never once thought of stealing anyone.
“Kim Taeyang, how long you gonna dawdle?”
Staring in the mirror, Sis tapped her chair impatiently.
“Ah, sorry.”
She fussed over my hair forever before releasing me. Now neat, I shouldered my bag and left with her.
“Know the way? Can’t walk you.”
“I’m in third year middle school now. Quit babying me.”
“Then grow taller first.”
She smirked mischievously. Too pretty to get mad at.
True to her words, I had to look up at her—my height only reached her chest. Growth spurt incoming.
If this is the Love Chain world, I’d tower later. Middle school me was total shota bait; high school, explosive growth. Buff enough to make Seonwoo wary. Peak Geum Taeyang mode.
Yesterday, height talk would’ve pissed me off. Now? Meh.
“Hm?…”
No reaction from me puzzled her.
“Whatever, let’s go. You’ll kill me if I’m late, right?”
“Oh yeah. Can’t have our Taeyang dying, so hurry.”
Such an innocent scary line, sunny as ever.
We split after the first crosswalk—our schools were opposite ways.
———
“Haa~ I’m dying of anxiety here.”
Walking to school, paranoia gnawed at me. If this is the game, today—transfer day—Choi Seonwoo and Sis bump into each other by “fate.” He picks up her dropped accessory; she falls for him.
I don’t meddle in romance, but if my life’s at stake? Different story.
Cherry blossoms bloomed in early semester warmth. My body shivered cold with dread.
After agonizing, I stopped.
“Haa… fuck it, let’s go.”
No choice. I turned and ran.
———
I roughly knew Sis’s school route from clearing the VN multiple times—guessed buildings along the way. Male lead’s path only, but simple enough from our split point.
Please haven’t met yet. Please…
Praying desperately, I ran.
“There!”
Into the residential alleys—long black hair ahead. Safe, no meeting yet.
But right after spotting her, the collision alley loomed. Stop her before!
I charged, grabbed her arm without thinking.
“...Huh, Taeyang?”
“Huff… huff…”
“What? Scared me half to death! What’s up?”
Fair—sudden grab from behind startles anyone. She looked troubled, glancing around.
Then, behind her, a guy in her school uniform peeked from the alley.
“Whoa!… What?”
“S-Sis!”
I yanked her arm before she saw. Her eyes went to me instead.
“Taeyang, something wrong?”
The guy peered over. Damn—distract quick.
“Um… I… don’t know the way.”
“What?”
Ultimate humiliation.
“Can’t you come with?”
“You said you could go alone… at your age.”
“Can’t you… walk me?”
I begged in my whiniest voice. Hated myself, but endured.
She eyed me awkwardly, sighed deeply.
“All grown up, my ass… Fine. But if I’m late, you’re dead.”
“Okay!”
Forced an innocent nod, gripped her hand tight, veered toward middle school.
Haa… fuck, better than dying.
Middle schooler holding Sis’s hand? Mortifying. But beats death.
“I see.”
Sis chuckled suddenly, nodding.
“Aww~ Our Taeyang’s scared to go alone, wants Sis with him~?”
“Stop.”
“No helping it—you’re still a baby. Hold tight, I’ll protect you.”
Should I just die? Maybe better than baby treatment. Kill that Seonwoo now?
No—stay rational.
Face burning, I yanked my hand free.
“I can go from here!”
“What? I’ll take you to the gate. Don’t wanna chase you again if you get lost~”
“I c-can! Won’t happen again.”
“Hee~ For real?”
Total teasing mode. Didn’t expect my cool-guy act to bite back.
“F-for real! You’ll be late too. I’m going.”
“Still time… Oh, Taeyang!”
I bolted back. First flag averted.
Bonus if this keeps her from befriending Seonwoo.
Embarrassed yet relieved, I fled.
But my escape halted after a few steps.
“Huh? You guys…”
A girl in Sis’s school uniform appeared ahead, facing us—acting like she knew us.