A Precious Existence
Once I calmed down a little, Reina stroked the top of my head. She kept smiling, murmuring that I was adorable, but I couldn’t shake my worry. I asked carefully if we shouldn’t go to the hospital, but she only chuckled again.
“Yujin~ That wasn’t urine.”
“Huh?”
“It’s called semen.”
My mind went completely blank. So what I’d thought was urine was actually… because I didn’t know any better? And it wasn’t urine at all?
“!?”
The moment I heard that, my face burned. Semen was a protein-rich fluid containing sperm—something that could make a baby. She stroked my head once more and laughed softly.
“Looks like our Yujin needs another round of sex education. Don’t tell me you don’t even know what semen is?”
“I-I do know! It’s just… I mean…”
I wasn’t sure how sex education worked these days, but when I’d received it, the lesson had only shown sperm meeting an egg inside the body. The risqué anime I’d watched recently had been a mistaken download anyway.
“Hehe, I like that even better! In a way, I got to be Yujin’s first, didn’t I? Hehe, I’m so happy~”
This time she pressed her cheek against mine and rubbed it gently. Every time her soft skin touched mine, my heart pounded harder. Thankfully, nothing down below was tenting like before. Still, I couldn’t help worrying—if sperm had gotten inside me, wouldn’t it fertilize an egg the way the video had shown?
“Um, noona…”
“Yes?”
“Then… did I… get you pregnant?”
“What?”
“I mean… if sperm goes inside… it meets an egg and… makes a baby. That’s what I heard…”
Even as I voiced my concern, she only laughed and patted my head. When she asked, almost teasingly, what I planned to do about it, I answered at once.
“Of course I’ll take responsibility! I-I don’t have money, but I’ll earn it!”
“Pfft! Ahaha! What? Hahaha! You’re really—!”
She burst into full laughter and pulled me back into her arms, thumping my back lightly before thanking me.
“N-Noona?”
“Don’t worry~ You can’t get pregnant that way, no matter how many times we do it.”
“Really? You’re sure?”
“Mm~ Besides, Yujin is so kind and responsible. If we really did have a baby, I think I’d be truly happy.”
I couldn’t understand what she meant, but she genuinely seemed grateful. Barely holding back her laughter, she hugged me tighter and asked in a gentle voice,
“If we really had a baby, would you take responsibility?”
“Of course!”
“Even if it was the child of a bad woman like me?”
“What? What are you saying! Why would you be a bad woman? Don’t say things like that! You’re precious to someone too, you know!”
Honestly, when she first kidnapped me I’d thought she was either crazy or a terrible person. Now I suspected there was more to her story, or that she was simply eccentric. Maybe I was starting to like her a little. Without thinking, I flicked her forehead.
“Yujin?”
“If you say something like that again, I’ll do this! Got it!?”
“Huh? O-Okay… I’m sorry…”
Feeling oddly guilty, I gently rubbed the spot I’d flicked. Her soft cheek flushed pink.
“Why do you worry about me so much? Can I ask?”
I hesitated at the sudden question. I didn’t fully understand why I’d flicked her either, but right now it had felt necessary.
“I have to live with you here, don’t I? So in a way, we’re like family… Hearing a noona who’s basically family say things like that just… doesn’t feel right.”
The moment the word “family” left my mouth, something in my chest fluttered. I wasn’t used to the word, yet it somehow suited her perfectly. I’d almost said “acquaintance,” but that felt too distant, so I’d chosen “family” instead. As an orphan, I’d never had one, and the atmosphere between us right now felt strangely familial.
Reina’s crimson eyes widened. She stared at me in a daze.
“Noona? Did I… say something wrong?”
“No! When you called me family… I just… got so happy I couldn’t help it…”
“Huh? Whoa!”
She pulled me into another hug. Because of our height difference, my face was buried straight into her chest. The soft, pillowy sensation pressed against my nose and mouth. It wasn’t perfume or cosmetics—just the pleasant scent of her skin. Her voice sounded like she might cry, so I patted her back and apologized for flicking her earlier.
Time passed as we asked each other questions and talked about hobbies and daily life, gradually growing closer. When evening came, Reina stood up from the sofa and took my hand. Her beautiful silver hair swayed as she stepped in front of me, hiding her lovely face from view. Even her revealing outfit no longer felt indecent.
“Ahem! Our Yujin! Time for dinner. Noona prepared something special for you! Let’s go!”
She led me by the hand, then suddenly stopped, glanced sideways, and pinched my cheek.
“Ow, what was that for! Why so suddenly!”
“Hehe~ I just wanted to check if this was a dream! Your cheeks are so warm~”
Her inexplicable action only made me more curious about what was going on inside her head. As we strolled leisurely down the corridor, I noticed the same terrifying items still framed on the walls. The house really was mansion-sized. Instead of eating in the kitchen or living room like usual, we entered a separate dining room. A long European-style table was set with an array of appetizing Western dishes—mostly steak and pasta.
Reina pulled out the chair beside hers and seated me first, then took the seat at the head of the table.
“Um, noona.”
“Yes?”
“Do you… not like rice?”
From what I knew, Japan ate rice as a staple just like Korea, yet there wasn’t a single grain in sight. Instead, a basket held freshly baked bread.
“Rice? Of course I like it! But~ today I specially asked the chefs to prepare Western dishes.”
She grinned and explained that they ate this kind of food on special occasions. The earlier atmosphere of tears and laughter had vanished like a lie; the dining room now felt peaceful. I’d never eaten such high-class cuisine before, so I felt a little awkward, but she’d gone to the trouble for me. It would be rude to refuse. After thanking her, I picked up the knife and fork in front of me and tried to cut the steak.
Damn… why won’t this cut?
The meat was clearly tender, yet cutting it proved harder than expected; instead of slicing cleanly, it just mashed. I’d cut tonkatsu before, but this was the first time I’d seen top-grade steak outside of TV. Watching me struggle, Reina chuckled and gently took my hand.
“Give it here. Noona will cut it for you so it’s easy to eat~”
“Huh? Oh… Th-thank you…”
With practiced movements she took the knife, her expression serious as she sliced the steak. Somehow, this side of her looked even more mature—like a wealthy young lady rather than a syndicate boss. She speared a piece with the fork and brought it to my mouth.
What the—holy crap…
The meat melted on my tongue so smoothly that an involuntary curse almost slipped out. I finally understood what people meant when they said meat “melted in your mouth.” The other dishes beside it were just as delicious—on a completely different level from anything I’d eaten before.
“Hehe, even the way you eat is cute! Is it that good?”
“Yes, yes! It’s really delicious! Wow! I’ve never had anything like this before!”
Without realizing it, I smiled brightly and kept stuffing food into my mouth. Reina told me to eat slowly and handed me the water from her wine glass. Back at the orphanage, I’d only eaten proper meals very rarely—snacks and side dishes even less so. Once, ten of us had shared a single pizza.
“Yujin.”
“Mmmph, yes?”
“To me, you’re a precious existence now. So if there’s anything you want to eat or need, just tell me. All right?”
I stared at her blankly for a moment. Somehow, I got the feeling she’d said this because she knew I was an orphan. She tilted her head.
“Hm? Is there something on my face?”
“N-no! It’s just… you seem so mature and cool, noona…”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Reina cocked her head again. From the atmosphere to her maturity and leadership, I could see why she was the boss of the Kurotsuki Syndicate.
“Ahem! I don’t just seem that way—I am the boss of the Kurotsuki Syndicate! B-but! In front of you, Yujin, I want to be seen as just an ordinary woman… so don’t feel pressured, okay?”
“Yes… Thank you, noona.”
Reina said “That’s right!” and used the napkin beside her to wipe sauce from my lips. As her hand drew close, my heart beat faster. For some reason, I regretted using the word “family” earlier.
I want to be closer to her than family.
It was a feeling I’d never experienced before, so I didn’t fully understand what “closer than family” even meant. Still, if I stayed with her from now on, maybe I’d figure it out. Smiling at that thought, I enjoyed the rest of dinner with her.