Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: It's Not a Self-Deprecating Broadcast
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“Why are you like that?! Can I come in?!”
Shin Ara shouted urgently and cracked the front door open just a sliver.
Even though she and Victoria had become like sisters, she couldn’t just barge in without permission.
Of course, even peeking in like this could be considered rude.
But the events from last night flashed through her mind, and her worry overrode any sense of etiquette.
The trash bag she’d disposed of on Victoria’s behalf, the black incendiary grenade residue that had stained her hands in the process.
As a psychological counselor, she didn’t want to admit it, but anyone could see it was clear evidence of a suicide attempt.
Victoria must have tried to take her own life before seeking counseling.
That thought had been nagging at her since last night, so she couldn’t help but be startled by the girl’s desperate cry.
“Are you really okay? Can’t I come in right now—?”
“—Nyaaaah!!!!”
As soon as she peeked through the door and asked if everything was alright, a cute scream rang out, followed by the sound of something clattering to the floor.
Shin Ara desperately fought the urge to fling the door wide open.
Soon after, once everything had settled, Victoria quietly called out to her.
Only then did Shin Ara fully open the door and check on Victoria’s condition.
“Um, sorry... I’m totally naked right now....”
“Eek! Sorry!”
Victoria was peeking out from the bathroom, her head only.
She looked both startled and embarrassed, her face flushed red as an apple.
Thankfully, it didn’t seem like an emergency, but Shin Ara felt awkward for overreacting.
She hurriedly closed the door again and apologized once more.
“I’m really sorry! I’ll wait outside, just let me know when you’re done!”
“No, it’s fine! Come in!”
“Huh? It’s okay to come in?”
“If the stalker shows up, it’d be dangerous. Just come in and wait.”
“You sure I can really come in?”
“Yeah, but please don’t look around too much....”
“Okay, got it.”
The kind-hearted Victoria didn’t get mad and allowed her inside.
Then she shouted, “I’ll just wash up and come out!” before ducking back into the bathroom.
It seemed Shin Ara had shown up right in the middle of her undressing to shower.
Feeling awkward about it, Shin Ara hesitated before stepping inside.
After closing the front door and turning on the lights, the now-familiar studio apartment came into view.
In the best light, it had a sleek vibe; in the worst, it felt stark and barren, with its monochrome wallpaper and furniture.
“Baby scent....”
But the fragrance wafting from every corner of the place was utterly girlish.
Sitting down on the bed sent a soft puff of that scent into the air, reminiscent of a child’s cozy, milky smell.
Yet today, there was a faint, oddly tantalizing aroma mixed in.
It wasn’t an unpleasant stink by any means, but it made her body tingle uncomfortably.
Victoria had asked her not to look around, but her eyes were drawn to the source of the scent: the VR gear.
Beneath the leather sofa, freshly cleaned and gleaming, she spotted a scorch mark she hadn’t noticed before.
‘So that’s where she lit the incendiary grenade....’
She must have tried to use the VR unit’s airtight seal for it.
Thankfully, it had failed, but the suspicion she’d hoped wasn’t true had now solidified into certainty.
Of course, she knew it was all in the past.
And now, she believed Victoria wouldn’t try it again.
Still, thinking about the pain Victoria must have felt made her chest tighten.
Why hadn’t she reached out sooner? Why hadn’t she asked for help earlier? Her eyes stayed glued to the VR gear.
“Um... Ara sis....”
How long had she been lost in thought?
The sound of running water from the bathroom stopped, and Victoria peeked out again.
Shin Ara, who had been staring at the VR gear the whole time, jumped in surprise.
She felt guilty for seemingly ignoring the request not to look around.
Victoria soon pointed at the wardrobe with her dripping wet hands.
In a timid, creeping voice, she shyly made a request.
“Could you... grab some clothes for me?”
“Oh, yeah! Just a sec!”
Shin Ara shook off her stray thoughts and headed to the wardrobe.
Even though Victoria had attempted something extreme, consistent counseling would help her recover.
But she’d already crossed the professional boundaries she was supposed to maintain as a counselor.
In a way, she’d lost her credibility as a professional, so it might be better to care for her as a big sister now.
She may have failed at being a good counselor, but she was confident she could be a great sister.
The center director would probably smack her upside the head if she saw, but it was a gaming-related issue anyway, making it hard to seek advice.
“Wow! So many cute clothes!”
With her thoughts sorted, Shin Ara started picking out Victoria’s outfit.
The wardrobe itself was drab and plain, but the clothes inside were adorable and girly.
It was a shame she always wore Adidas tracksuits despite having all these pretty options.
Thinking that, Shin Ara quickly put together a homewear coord.
“This is super cute. A pajama dress?”
“No, just sweats are fine....”
“Huh? All the sweats are in the washer. Were you gonna dig them out and wear them again?”
“Oh, no!”
Fortunately, Victoria accepted the clothes Shin Ara handed her without complaint.
Truth be told, Shin Ara’s fashion sense wasn’t top-tier either, so they settled on cute underwear and the pajama dress.
Soon, Victoria emerged from the bathroom in the outfit, fidgeting shyly.
The cute girl in the pure white dress looked like an angel.
Of course, she wasn’t wearing a bra again.
But since Victoria always went braless, Shin Ara respected her preference and didn’t comment.
“Did you... see?”
“Huh? See what?”
“That....”
Victoria’s face flushed red as she asked.
At first, Shin Ara thought she’d been caught peeking at the no-bra situation, but Victoria was pointing not at her chest—at the VR gear.
She must have been worried her suicide attempt had been discovered.
Shin Ara knelt down in front of her and answered honestly.
“Yeah, sorry. I saw it.”
“Oh....”
Victoria’s face turned even redder at the response.
Clutching her dress, looking lost and helpless—it was both cute and pitiful.
Maybe she should’ve just lied and said she hadn’t seen.
With a wry smile, Shin Ara watched as Victoria murmured in a gloomy voice.
“Sorry for showing you such a disappointing side... You’re right, sis. I really am just a kid. Someone who can’t even handle this much can’t be an adult....”
“No, I’m not disappointed at all. And what does age matter? As long as you’re okay, that’s what counts.”
“I’m not okay... Honestly, I just want to die...”
“Don’t blame yourself like that. You didn’t do anything wrong. I believe you won’t repeat it. That’s enough.”
Victoria hung her head, fists clenched tight.
She thought her weakness had been exposed, her self-esteem in the gutter.
Shin Ara stroked her damp hair, trying to convey not to worry.
But the girl’s deep wounds showed no sign of healing yet.
“I don’t trust myself. I’ll definitely mess up the same way again. I can’t control my body.”
“I’ll always keep an eye on you. Wouldn’t that be okay?”
“N-No, don’t. I don’t want you to see....”
“If it’s too hard, trying medication wouldn’t be a bad idea. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Huh? This is something medication can treat?”
“Yeah, lots of people are already doing it.”
“R-Really? No way...”
“Yeah?”
Something felt off.
The conversation was veering in the wrong direction.
It seemed Victoria had been thinking of something other than the incendiary grenade.
Shin Ara grabbed her soft cheeks, locking eyes, and the cute girl teared up in embarrassment as she spoke.
“So... if I take the meds, the squirt won’t come out anymore?”
“Uh, yeah? Squirt?”
“You just said we should try medication.”
“Uh....”
Shin Ara suddenly realized and glanced at the VR gear.
The leather sofa gleamed as if freshly mopped.
Come to think of it, there had been that weird, tantalizing smell.
With an awkward smile, Shin Ara asked Victoria directly.
“Did you... squirt while gaming, by any chance?”
“Huh? Wasn’t that what you were talking about?”
“I meant something else....”
“Oh....”
“I-It’s fine, don’t worry about it! It’s kinda cute, actually, very you.......”
“.......”
Victoria’s expression filled with shame and betrayal.
Her cheeks puffed out, her lips forming a duck pout.
She was clearly mad, but she was so adorable it wasn’t scary at all.
However, her next words hit like a gut punch.
“I hate you.”
The word “hate” came from Victoria’s mouth.
Not in Russian, but in Korean—the worst thing she could think to say.
“I don’t wanna talk to you anymore, Shin Ara.”
She deliberately didn’t call her “sis.”
The cute little bedwetter was seriously pissed off now.