Rehabilitation Exercise (2)
Mom told us to wait a bit and sat Jiwoo and me down.
"Wait a little? You haven't eaten yet, right?"
"Yeees... Ah, I haven't eaten yet......"
"I haven't eaten either."
Jiwoo answered indifferently while looking at her phone.
It might seem a bit rude, but Mom looked at Jiwoo with a slightly apologetic expression, as if she understood everything.
"J-Jiwoo... But in front of Mom......"
"It was important lecture content, sorry, sis."
Jiwoo patted my head emotionlessly.
Seeing that she didn't apologize to Mom, I thought we still had a long way to go.
Mom stood up with an awkward smile.
I sighed as I watched Mom's empty seat as she went to get the gukbap.
"...Jiwoo, ah, are you still a bit uncomfortable......"
"Huh? Umm... a little?"
"Really...?"
Honestly, was it really just a little, or was she saying a little out of consideration for me?
I was so curious, but asking that would make me seem too tactless, so I held back my words.
Then Jiwoo smiled and answered.
"...It's just a little hard to talk while looking at your face. I'm really okay, sis."
"O-Okay... got it."
"I'll try my best to understand Mom's situation too... Honestly, you're the one who's been through a lot, sis, but if you've forgiven her, then..."
Saying that, Jiwoo tightly held my hand.
She must have a lot of wounds herself, but it was nice to see her taking care of me like this.
"...The guy who snatches Jiwoo later will be lucky......"
"Hehe, candidate for a virtuous wife."
"Yeah... hehe."
I think she'll do well when she gets married later.
I hope our siblings don't have to suffer anymore from now on.
While I was grinning for no reason looking at Jiwoo's face, I felt a gaze from behind.
"...?"
When I glanced back, I saw the store owner looking at me steadily.
"......"
"Hik...!"
The owner was looking at me without saying anything.
Thinking I might have offended him, I glanced around nervously, but the owner was just looking at me.
"Um... Owner...? I-Is the gukbap free?"
"No, the lady paid for it."
"Ah......"
'But why then!?'
I asked the owner thinking maybe the gukbap going into my mouth was free, but the owner just smiled and said no.
That's why it's scarier.
What on earth is the reason for treating me like this.
A terrifying sensation flowed through my body.
"...J-Jiwoo, I'm scared."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
Jiwoo tilted her head and hugged me tightly.
With Jiwoo's personality, she might confront the owner.
I couldn't bring myself to say anything about the owner's actions.
Because if I offended him, and Mom works here......
'If Mom gets fired... what do I do... No.'
Because I thought Mom might get fired, I couldn't say anything and just broke out in cold sweat.
I didn't know back then.
That the reason he was looking at me carefully was because he found out my red pill from our server village chief.
Junsu, who was full of thoughts of teasing, couldn't bring himself to tease after seeing Suhyun's condition.
'Bandage on the arm... it really looks like a wound.'
Because it seemed like it would be bad if he teased.
But it was true that he couldn't take his eyes off.
Because Suhyun's appearance was very similar to her avatar.
If he took out his phone and compared it to the photo......
'The real person has more wounds and seems smaller.'
Overall, there were more wounds and she had a cute feeling, but the feeling that it was definitely her was strong.
The way she ate gukbap while being cautious was no different from Mark's appearance.
'I should let her know who I am when we leave.'
Junsu swallowed his laughter inwardly and watched Suhyun's eating show.
The way she ate well, munching away.
'Somehow... feels like a niece.'
With her small stature, she really felt like a niece.
I don't know if it went into my mouth or nose, but anyway, I filled my stomach heartily.
After that, when I stood up, the owner approached me.
"Eh...?"
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
The owner said that with a bright smile, and Jiwoo tightly held my hand.
She must have judged that he wasn't a dangerous person, as she didn't stop the owner.
'...I-Is he not dangerous......'
Thinking that, I nodded timidly.
"Yes... it was delicious."
"That's a relief."
"......"
"......"
A slightly awkward silence.
A slight silence hung between me and the owner.
And that slightly awkward silence made all sorts of thoughts come to my mind.
My mouth, wanting to break the situation even a little, chose one of those thoughts and...
"...B-But why did you keep staring at me?"
...blurted it out.
"Hup...!"
I covered my mouth reflexively.
And I saw the owner's slightly flustered expression.
Did he think I wouldn't notice?
Around the time I thought that was a bit strange.
The owner smiled playfully and said something shocking.
"No, it's because you really look honest... Sorry, it was so fascinating."
"Yes...?"
"What, you didn't recognize me? I even talked to you."
"...??"
A million question marks float above my head.
No, why?
Why do I look honest? Around the time I was thinking that, the owner's words flew in.
"You're Snake, right? I didn't expect you to look exactly like your avatar."
"...!!"
My body froze in shock for a moment.
The owner chuckled as if that was funny too.
And only after hearing that laugh did I remember who the owner was.
"Huh...? V-V-Village chief... sir...?"
It was Kei, the server owner of our Mark server.
The memory came back thanks to the unique laugh.
I looked at the owner with eyes widened in shock.
"You really don't watch my stream at all? I do cam streams."
"R-Really......?"
I had no idea.
No, I saw it last time, but can't remember?
That couldn't be.
Because it was too shocking, as I kept looking at Kei, he smiled and spoke to me.
"It's fascinating so I keep looking, right?"
"Ah... Y-Yes......"
"Me too, that's why I was looking. I should've asked first, is your hair natural?"
Saying that, Kei asked about my hair.
It was a question worth being curious about, so I nodded slowly.
"Yes... that's right."
"Interesting. Must be your mom's genes."
"Yes......"
When I nodded, Kei held out his hand saying please take care of me from now on.
I, who nodded saying I understand, also held out my hand.
"U-Um... I think I won't be able to stream today because it's a break day... Th-The raid......"
"Ah, it's okay. I can do the raid alone, and I'm on break until today too."
"Ah......"
Nodding that it was fortunate, I waved at Mom who came out after finishing the dishes in the kitchen.
"Please go in, ma'am."
"Yes, please be careful on your way in too, sir."
Mom greeted Kei with a bright smile.
Thinking that looked nice, we quickly headed outside the department store.
The place where Mom, Jiwoo, and I arrived was a quiet riverside walking path.
Walking slowly here was my rehabilitation exercise.
Of course, this wasn't the only thing, and I had to go to the hospital for physical therapy too.
Well, that's not important.
Right now, I just need to focus on the rehabilitation exercise.
"First, shall we try walking slowly, sis? Mom, please go over there a bit."
"Okay."
"W-What is this...?"
Mom going far away, leaving Jiwoo and me.
Only after the distance was somewhat far did she look back.
"T-This is...?"
"Sis, it's going back and forth between me and Mom."
"Really...?"
"Yeah, when sis arrives at Mom's side, I'll take 2 steps back."
"Th-Then what next...?"
"I'll slowly increase the distance, so if it's hard, just tell me."
Jiwoo advised not to overdo it and to try hard.
I nodded with a determined expression and slowly approached Mom.
Had I walked about 10 steps?
It was quite hard because I was limping while walking.
My 10 steps were about 4 steps compared to others.
After all, the distance between Mom and Jiwoo felt longer.
But even so, I slowly moved my feet.
If I do this, maybe, just maybe, I can walk normally too.
Or at least, I want to be more comfortable than now.
And above all.
'Now... I don't want to give up.'
I didn't want to give up now.
Even if it's a huge distance, just walking to where Mom is.
I didn't want to give up on this.
Because it's something I can definitely do.
So I walked even more diligently, limping.
As I walked so diligently, before I knew it, I could see Mom's face.
Mom was smiling bitterly.
'Someday... I hope you just smile, Mom.'
I prayed inwardly.
Someday, I really want to see a smile that's truly sincere, without any heartache.
With that thought, I walked a bit more.
Slowly approaching Mom.
"Huff... huff......"
"You're doing well, Suhyun. Just a little more...!"
I heard Mom's voice cheering me on.
At that, I put in a bit more strength and moved my legs.
Sweat was starting to form, and my breathing became rapid, but.
I eventually ended up in Mom's arms.
"You worked hard, my daughter...!"
"Mom...! I-It's hard......!"
I gave up right away because I didn't have the courage to go to where Jiwoo was.
But even so, for some reason, a sense of accomplishment wrapped around my chest.
