Chapter 10
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Little Sister Comes Storming In
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That day, Mi-so seemed to be in a foul mood for some reason.
She was quieter than usual, her expression sour.
And for some reason, she kept glaring at me when she thought I wasn't looking.
But whenever our eyes met, she'd pointedly look away.
"Hmph."
Maybe something annoying had happened outside.
Even at dinner, Mi-so didn't say a word.
The atmosphere at the table was pretty awkward because of it.
Mom and Mi-so were both busy people.
Chances to eat together like this weren't all that common.
Even if something had pissed her off, she could at least hold it together for a meal.
Mi-so just poked at her food with a dissatisfied look on her face.
"You two fight or something?"
Mom finally asked, noticing Mi-so's attitude.
"No."
I shook my head.
I hadn't fought with Mi-so or anything.
But it seemed like she saw things differently.
"Hmph!"
Mi-so set down her spoon and stormed back to her room.
She never ate much anyway—barely a bird's tear worth—but tonight, she hadn't even touched it.
This really made it look like we'd fought.
Mom, watching from the side, seemed to think the same.
"Oh dear. Did you really fight?"
"It's... not exactly like that."
That said, it wasn't like I had no idea what was going on.
Lately, on big sis's orders, I'd been keeping my distance from Mi-so.
Especially before this tournament, big sis had made me promise over and over.
She said she'd check if I kept my word while she was gone.
Because of that, I stopped initiating conversations with Mi-so.
Even when she talked to me first, I'd give short, curt replies.
If she tried any skinship, I'd make excuses and bolt.
From Mi-so's perspective, I'd suddenly turned cold for no reason.
She might be mad about that and ignoring me in retaliation.
"Hee-hee. I don't know what happened, but give her a little slack, Sun-hu. She doesn't get to relax much, so when she comes home, she just wants to act spoiled."
Mom's words hit me right in the chest.
Mi-so was an idol.
Idols had to smile through everything, no matter how much they hated it.
Every little action was under scrutiny.
People were always watching.
The only time she could unwind was back home.
But if I was neglecting her even here, the stress must have built up.
Even if big sis had told me to do it, I was still in the wrong.
"Yeah... I'll talk to her."
Mom looked at me with a pleased smile for some reason.
After dinner, I was lounging on the sofa, watching TV.
I wanted to catch the highlights from big sis's tournament.
You could watch that stuff on a PC or phone these days, but nothing beat the big screen.
Same went for Mom's dramas or Mi-so's shows—I always watched those on TV.
...And Mi-so had been hovering around me ever since.
She was still in a bad mood after dinner.
But instead of holing up in her room, she wandered the living room with a sulky expression.
And she kept shooting me glares, which I couldn't ignore.
"Uh, Mi-so?"
I hesitated but tried speaking first.
"...What?"
Mi-so fixed me with a scary glare that didn't match her name at all.
"...Nah, nothing."
"Hmph."
I mumbled awkwardly, suddenly at a loss for words.
Mi-so looked even more pissed, stomping off to her room... only to come right back out to the living room.
Then she plopped down in the corner of the sofa where I was sitting.
"......"
"......"
...The silence hurt.
Only the TV sounds echoed through the living room.
I should probably say something first, right?
That's what I thought, but the words wouldn't come.
Maybe because I hadn't had a real talk with her in days.
There was the promise to big sis, sure, but even without that, it felt awkward.
While I sat there frozen, Mi-so got up.
Finally giving up and heading to her room?
I secretly sighed in relief, thinking I'd get some peace.
But instead of her room, Mi-so came over to me.
And this time, she didn't sit on the sofa—she planted her butt right on my lap.
"Mi...?!"
The soft pressure on my thighs.
The fragile weight leaning against my chest.
Her shiny hair blocking my view, carrying the scent of shampoo.
And yet Mi-so didn't say a word.
Her eyes stayed fixed straight ahead, not even glancing my way.
What the hell was she thinking?
Caught off guard, I froze solid.
If Mom saw this, she might get the wrong idea.
I decided I had to get out of there somehow.
"Ah~ it's getting late already? Better hop in the bath before it gets any later~."
I'd never make it as an actor like Mom.
After that painfully obvious mutter, I slipped my hands under her armpits and lifted her off gently.
Mi-so squirmed like it tickled.
But she stubbornly didn't make a sound.
I set her down lightly and bolted to the bathroom like I was escaping.
I could feel her eyes boring into the back of my head.
"Phew......"
I retreated to the bathroom and filled the big tub.
I usually just showered, but tonight I wanted to soak in hot water and unwind slowly.
If I got out too soon, I'd run into Mi-so again.
It wasn't that I hated Mi-so.
But I didn't like this awkward tension between us.
Maybe big sis was right—we'd gotten too close.
It might seem normal to us, but to outsiders, it probably looked weird.
That's why big sis had said something.
If we could just naturally drift apart and become like regular siblings—distant and polite—that'd be ideal.
But Mi-so was a total brat.
And the problem was, I was the only one home who indulged her.
If stepdad hadn't divorced and left, things might've been different.
He was never good to me, but maybe big sis and Mi-so needed a dad figure.
"Haa......"
I finished showering and sank into the tub.
The fatigue melted away in the hot water.
Was it all the stress lately?
I'd been feeling worn out easily.
I was young now, so it was fine, but maybe I should exercise more like big sis.
As I lay back in the tub, relaxing...
I spotted a shadow in the adjoining changing room.
Weird. I was sure I'd locked the door.
Didn't something like this happen before?
"Someone's in here."
Maybe it didn't latch properly.
She probably thought it was empty and came in by mistake.
That's what I figured, but the shadow didn't leave.
Rustle rustle—I could hear clothes coming off.
"Huh?"
By the time it felt off, it was too late.
The shadow flung open the bathroom door and strode in.
"Whoa!"
I yelped in surprise.
But she ignored me and marched right into the bathroom.
It was Mi-so.
Even after I announced I was here.
Mi-so stepped in completely naked.
"Mi, Mi-so......"
Even seeing how startled I was, she didn't care.
She acted like I wasn't even there and headed straight for the shower stall.
Shwaaa...
Then Mi-so started washing under the falling water.
Mi-so wasn't a kid anymore. She was already twenty.
She knew better than to bare herself in front of others.
Even if I was her brother, I was still a guy.
There was no way seeing a grown woman's body wouldn't stir something.
A long, toned figure full of elasticity.
The refined face she'd inherited from Mom, and those big breasts.
Combined with her own hard work, Mi-so had sculpted the ideal idol physique.
The body of Mi-so, adored by so many.
It wasn't something for my eyes to defile.
I quickly turned my gaze to the wall.
And started mumbling some half-assed Buddhist sutra.
Prajna Paramita, Prajna Paramita.
I saw nothing. I saw nothing.
Mi-so would finish up and leave, right?
I'd been ignoring her, so she was protesting out of anger.
It was a bit extreme, but I'd started it—I was at fault.
I'd apologize properly once I got out.
Just leave big sis out of it, though.
I'd come up with some excuse.
With my eyes shut, I waited for Mi-so to go.
Squeak.
Finally, the shower turned off.
The sound of water dripping stopped.
She's leaving now, right?
I let out a secret sigh of relief.
...Come to think of it, didn't something like this happen before?
Splash splash—the sound of wet footsteps approached.
But they weren't getting farther; they were coming closer.
No way.
It couldn't be.
Mi-so, please no?
Just leave already. My bad, okay? Please.
I prayed desperately, but the heavens were indifferent.
Splash.
Someone entered the tub.
"It's lukewarm."
Mi-so's dissatisfied voice came from right in front of me.
I cracked my eyes open to check.
Mi-so was bent over, turning on the hot water.
With her butt facing me.
Her white cheeks and the vertical slit below them were right there in front of my eyes.