Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Friend's Younger Sister - 1
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"Hey, isn't my little sister kinda special?"
During lunch, as I was shoving food into my mouth like a maniac, my friend's out-of-the-blue comment made me nod carelessly.
"My little sister—well, our family's little honey—is special even to my mom."
In my eyes, she's nothing but a snack thief.
Isn't that how siblings usually are?
Weren't we programmed to fight from the moment we were born?
This guy must be one of those rare cases with a close sibling bond.
The moment I tried to pick up my spoon again to finish eating, he waved his hands frantically and blurted out.
"No, I don't mean it like that. She's really special. Different from other kids."
"...? Yeah, sure, if she's your sister."
Seo Jinhyuk.
The guy in front of me was a friend from elementary school. After we all scattered to different middle schools, he approached me amid the unfamiliar environment and sea of strange faces where I was floundering.
...Honestly, if he hadn't spoken to me first, I might not have even thought to befriend him.
And that makes sense—he still had that childish elementary school vibe, but even among kids in slightly oversized uniforms, he stood out as ridiculously handsome.
Now, almost a month into the semester, rumors had spread across the whole school. From classmates to seniors, he was getting confessed to at least once a day. Damn bastard.
The guy himself looked disgusted every time he had to go deal with a confession, but from my spot watching on the sidelines, it was just the whining of someone who had it all.
Anyway, if she's the sister of a guy like this, it's obvious even without seeing her.
How special could she be? If she's got standout looks like the guy in front of me, that's special enough.
He'd curse me out if he knew what I was imagining, but for a second, I pictured Seo Jinhyuk as a gender-swapped version in my head.
His features softening a bit more femininely, hair a little longer...
Oh. Yeah, that works.
I hated how the phrase "as long as it tastes good" popped into my mind unbidden.
Tsk, if our house pig had looks like that, I'd have pampered her.
My mouth felt bitter for no reason.
"...? What're you talking about? That she'd be special just 'cause she's my sister?"
"Doesn't she look like you?"
"Of course she does. She's family."
"Then your sister must be pretty like you. That's what makes her special, right? You building up to brag about her or what, you siscon?"
"Even as family, yeah, she's pretty... No, that's not it, you punk. Listen. My sister's eyes are special."
"Her eyes?"
What, does she shoot beams from them or something?
Honestly, it wasn't intriguing enough to put off my meal, and the classic guy question "So, is she pretty?" was on the tip of my tongue. But Seo Jinhyuk's expression was too serious for that.
I nodded for him to hurry up and spill what was so special. He looked a bit tense as he spoke.
"The color of her eyes..."
"The color?"
"...changes. Depending on her emotions at the time."
"What?"
Her eye color changes with her emotions?
I almost snorted and told him to quit joking, but his face was dead serious.
...No way it's real?
"...How do they change? Like, red when angry, blue when happy? Flashing like a traffic light?"
"...That's kinda accurate, but calling someone else's sister a traffic light is a bit much, don't you think?"
"Sorry..."
Felt like a spot-on analogy, though.
I felt a little wronged, but figured I'd get smacked if I said it out loud, so I shut up.
"It's not like they switch dramatically. Normally, they're just plain black, but when she feels a strong emotion, they change—like turning red when she's angry, like you said."
"Oh..."
This is for real?
Deep down, I wanted to call bullshit right then, but if it was a lie, shouldn't I play along out of respect for the effort?
Hmm. So blue when sad? Or maybe purple?
I crossed my arms and clamped my mouth shut, mentally mixing a rainbow palette in my head and letting my imagination run wild. Somehow, Seo Jinhyuk looked tense watching me.
After a moment of silence, he gave me this awkward look like he got it.
"Kinda weird, right? I shouldn't have said anyth—"
"Huh? What're you talking about? Sounds cool as hell to me."
"Huh?"
His eyes went wide, like he'd never even dreamed of hearing that.
...What's his deal?
"If her eye color changes with her emotions, you can tell exactly what she's feeling. And..."
"...And?"
"Even just on a basic level, isn't it freaking awesome? Like, turning gold or something?"
Pretty and special to boot? Lucky bastard, I muttered. Suddenly, Seo Jinhyuk burst out laughing, shoulders shaking.
"...Why're you laughing like that, you psycho?"
"No one's ever put it like you did. Yeah, that's exactly what I think. Cool and special."
"What's with the little sister brag buildup? If my sister and I had eyes like that, we'd probably just see red every time we looked at each other and never know if we were changing."
"Pfft, you maniac..."
It's true, though.
That's why guys with good sibling relationships are like this.
I shoveled the last spoonful into my mouth while eyeing the guy doubled over laughing, head bowed.
......Please, no.
Why'd this punk have to bring this up during the one joy of my day—lunchtime?
—It's cold now...
The cold rice texture on my tongue made my eyes sting a little.
"Yawn..."
On the long walk home after enduring the endless school day.
About a year ago around this time, coming home from elementary school always meant the sun blazing overhead.
Now, watching the sunset dip low over the streets made me feel the flow of time.
This is... what it means to be a middle schooler...?
The uniform that felt awkward at a size too big back in April was starting to feel familiar now.
Hmm... Did I grow into it? Or did I just grow up?
I felt a swell of pride as I headed home, when a little girl standing by the crosswalk light up ahead caught my eye.
Petite, coming up maybe to my chest. White dress, pink bag with a cute cat print.
Just from looks, she seemed about my little sister's age—an elementary kid like that.
Normally, I'd be glued to my phone, ignoring any kid and passing by without a second thought—hell, I wouldn't even notice.
But my gaze was drawn to her involuntarily. Just because...
I heard a stifled sniffle, like she was afraid someone might overhear.
She was hiding her face, not wanting others to see her cry, but her slender shoulders kept shaking.
And the way she trembled, barely standing at the crosswalk—it looked like she'd collapse any second.
By the time I snapped out of it, I was already talking to her.
"...Hey, you okay?"
Too sudden?
She flinched hard, like she hadn't even noticed anyone approach.
...Shouldn't have said anything?
Seeing her startled, I wanted to rewind five seconds before I spoke.
"...S-sniff, who... are you...?"
"........."
My name and a flood of ways to describe myself flashed through my mind.
But what did any of that matter to the girl in front of me? I wiped it all away.
I just prayed I didn't look like some middle school creep in uniform bothering an elementary kid.
"Me. Uh..."
"......"
"Just... passing by, and thought maybe you were lost or something~. If it's cool with you, wanna let me walk you home? What do ya think?"
My rarely used, rusty brain kicked into gear, and I came up with a decent excuse.
This is it! I scratched my head and ventured carefully.
—...Or not?
Suffocating silence stretched out.
Shoulda just gone home, damn it...
Just as cold sweat started beading and regret crashed over me like waves,
A sniffle escaped, and her pink lips parted softly.
"...Why?"
"Huh?"
...Didn't expect her to ask for a reason here?
For a second, I thought about bolting home right then. But I barely shoved the idea aside.
Yeah, why? We're total strangers today.
Your quietly crying figure...
It looked just like my little sister crying while searching for me.
Sure, I could pick up my sister, pat her back a few times, and stop her tears.
But I couldn't do that with this nameless girl.
If I couldn't hug her, maybe just staying by her side would help, I thought.
I knew how to comfort my crying sister, but not some random crying girl.
"Just... just felt like it. I've got time."
But I couldn't explain all that in detail.
The repackaged feelings spilling from my mouth came out lame and plain.
After saying that, I waited for a reply. The silence was so bitter it felt like the lunch rice would come back up.
...Was that too much?
I steeled myself to head home for real and turned to go.
Then, the tiny hands that had been covering her face parted slightly at the fingers.
Through the slender gap, I saw pink...
Huh?
Pink?
The moment our eyes met—those moist, sparkling pink eyes—I didn't think "what a cutie," but remembered my lunch chat with my friend.
"...You're Seo Jinhyuk's sister, aren't you?"
"...!"
If this were a manga, there'd be a "whoosh" sound effect or something—she backed away from me in an instant.
And that reaction alone confirmed my two guesses.
One, she really was Seo Jinhyuk's sister.
Two...
Ha, that jealous punk Seo Jinhyuk. Total siscon.
My friend's little sister was special.
...In every sense of the word.