Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: My Little Sister at Home
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"Piggy."
"…."
"Oink oink."
"……."
"…Hey, flower piggy."
"……Hng."
"I saw your lip twitch. Answer me."
"……Hmph~♪"
"Aish, Han Sea, answer me."
"Did you call me, oppa~?"
That night.
The moment I got home and saw my little sister, everything that had happened up until then felt like a dream.
Why is my little sister Han Sea, of all people?
Of course, having gone to the same school as her up until last year, I knew she was pretty popular at school.
But from a sibling's perspective, that didn't matter one bit—she was just the pig who secretly swiped my snacks when I brought them home.
"Hey, do you happen to know a girl named Seo Yerim?"
Elementary school around here meant she'd be at the same school as Han Sea anyway, and since they were the same age, I figured she might know her.
Just like how Seo Jinhyuk became known throughout the school the moment he started middle school, there was no way Seo Yerim's looks wouldn't make her famous too.
"Seo Yerim? How do you know her, oppa?"
As expected.
At first, Han Sea's eyes went wide with surprise, like she couldn't fathom how I knew the name.
But then, something must've clicked, because her mouth fell open and she started making these hawa noises.
"Oppa, no way… Nah, couldn't be? You're in middle school now."
"Hey, it's just a one-year difference—what do you mean 'no way'? I only said I might know her."
"Sixth grade and first year middle school aren't just a one-year difference, you know?"
Ah. Shouldn't have asked.
She was making a huge fuss about the enormous gap between us, and I was dying to just call it quits right then and there, but she wasn't about to let me off easy.
"Anyway, are you guys friends? You've got tons of friends."
"…Wow. You're actually interested? I know who she is 'cause she's famous, but no, we're not friends. Never even talked to her."
"I see…?"
"Yeah, and you're looking disappointed. Disappointed? You are, aren't you? Huh? Huh?"
"Ugh, cut it out. It's not like that."
I was disappointed, which just made me even madder.
"I just asked 'cause my friend's little sister is Seo Yerim. Figured since you're the same age, you might know her."
"…Your friend's little sister is Seo Yerim?"
Han Sea stared at me like she couldn't believe it.
"…What's with that look?"
"I kinda know all your friends, oppa, and none of them are that good-looking…?"
"What?"
"No, listen. You might not know this, but Seo Yerim is, like, super pretty. Even I—a girl—go 'wow.' That's why she's famous."
I couldn't help nodding along to Han Sea's words.
Acknowledged.
"So if her brother is handsome enough to match? I know your friends pretty well, and none of them are on that level…?"
What kind of detective logic is this…!
Her reasoning that a pretty sister meant a handsome brother reminded me of what I'd said to Seo Jinhyuk at lunch today.
No wonder they're siblings—their thinking was eerily identical.
Han Sea, I admit it. As sad as it is, we really are blood-related.
"…What's wrong with my friends?"
Even I had no comeback for what she said. Still, loyalty to my bros made me put up a token resistance.
"You want me to say it, oppa?"
"………."
Sorry, guys. Even I can't picture your faces stacking up to Seo Yerim's.
"…Whatever. He's a new friend I made in middle school. Someone you don't know."
"Heh~ Oppa, so…"
"No pics."
"Aww, why not~!"
Why would I carry around pictures of another guy?
Han Sea really seemed to want to see him, smacking my arm repeatedly until she got an idea.
"Profile pic! Does your friend have one on his profile?"
"Profile?"
I think Seo Jinhyuk's profile was mostly scenery…?
Oh.
There was one photo of himself, I think. Probably from his elementary school graduation?
Since I didn't deny it, Han Sea's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"…Hey, showing someone else's pic like that feels kinda iffy."
"You can show him my pic later."
"Why dox my friend?"
"Dox yourself first then?"
"…."
She smacked my thigh like shut up and show me already, looking every bit the thug.
Wonder who she takes after. Sigh.
"Here. Feast your eyes."
"Whoa… I could swear he's a celebrity."
Han Sea, who would've squealed if he was just cute, was quietly awestruck for real this time. Made me realize that siblings really were on another level.
I'd felt the same seeing Seo Yerim: She's really pretty…
"Oppa, you cannot let this guy slip away. Get super close to him. Bring him over here someday. For your little sister's sake. Got it? You do, right?"
"Hey, calm down. And what do you mean 'for your sake'? I'm already tight with him, so you go befriend his little sister."
I kept to myself the thought that maybe we'd all hang out as two pairs of siblings someday.
"Hmm~ With Seo Yerim…?"
She pondered my words, which I'd laced with more than a little—okay, a lot—of ulterior motive.
"Why? You love hanging with pretty girls."
"I only realized how pretty she was after getting to know her? Anyway, it's not like I hate Seo Yerim or anything…"
She fidgeted, like it was hard to put into words.
"…She doesn't have the best rumors going around. You know, like 'beauty is pain' or whatever?"
"………For real?"
"Yeah… She's new to the school, so she doesn't know anyone yet, which probably makes it worse. Even I heard about it from another class."
If only I'd been born a year later.
If only I'd been the same age as Seo Yerim. Hell, even if not, if we'd been at the same school right now.
…I could've been there for her.
Sticking to her like glue every day, plopping down next to her, chatting about her day and what happened.
She might even tell me to buzz off, say I was annoying.
But I'd imagine her looking a little lonely when I left, then smiling as I came back.
I knew it was a pointless what-if, an impossible daydream right now.
But it kept spiraling in my head because…
…I'd seen her stifling sobs alone today.
Now I finally got it. Why she'd been like that.
Recalling her quietly swallowing her sadness made my chest ache.
"…Sea-ya."
"Hm…?"
"Could you… get close to Seo Yerim? Or at least try approaching her? Please."
"…."
I had no idea exactly what Seo Yerim was going through.
But even my super popular little sister would have a hard time approaching her—I could guess that much easily.
And she had no real reason to.
What could I say to convince Han Sea?
That she's my friend's sister?
…Since when do I care about my friends' little sisters?
Truth was, I didn't even know why I was going this far myself. I'd only met her today.
But…
…What can you do?
Yeah, I couldn't just leave it alone now that I knew.
"Mmm~ Okay! I'll try talking to her or whatever."
Her answer came so readily that I was the one caught off guard.
"…You sure?"
"Huh?"
"You might get some bad looks too."
"…You're asking your pretty, precious little sister to do that, knowing full well?"
"……."
Nothing to say to that.
I shut my mouth tight, even if she cursed me out for it.
Then Han Sea grinned and held up three fingers.
"First."
"…?"
"I wanna be friends with her anyway. Never liked seeing such a pretty girl moping around alone."
"…And second?"
"If I befriend her, maybe I'll get to meet that handsome oppa? Gotta make a good impression on my future husband!"
"……………What?"
Ugh.
Kyaak—
Watching her squirm and cover her face in embarrassment nearly made me hurl.
………Gotta hold it in.
I was the one asking a favor, so I swallowed the bile rising in my throat with effort.
"Third…"
As I reeled from the second bombshell, Han Sea spoke up.
"I hate seeing you make that face from earlier."
"……."
Earlier? When I was pleading?
I wanted to tease her about what face I made, but…
She looked at me with warm eyes, like she knew everything.
…Was it that obvious?
Somehow… I felt a little embarrassed.
"Which reason do you like best?"
"…Let's go with the third."
"Heehee, got it."
She turned away with a satisfied smile, then spun back around like she'd forgotten something.
"Oppa-ya."
"What now."
"If I were ever in that situation, you'd protect me, right?"
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
I chuckled and replied.
"…Duh. I'd ditch my uniform and come running."
You're my one and only little sister.
"Heehee, I'll hold you to that~?"
"No need to say it. Now get to bed."
I watched her scamper off to her room with a "Yessir~," praying silently.
May my little sister and Seo Yerim hit it off.
…May Seo Yerim never feel lonely again.