Worry Consultation (1)
After streaming, I played EoW for a long time. I wanted to forget everything. My mouse moved quickly, and I hammered the keyboard. The chat had been muted ages ago, so nothing reached my ears.
"…Hic!"
Even so, the tears came. So many that I wondered if I might die of dehydration if I kept crying like this.
"Ah… I got that one." I kept playing through the tears. I hadn't wanted to, yet I couldn't let go. Even I didn't really know why. It felt like I was just playing out of habit. Whenever I wanted to escape reality, my hands found the keyboard.
"Why am I always like this…?"
My mouse clicks grew faster. More enemies appeared, but my control never wavered. The more that happened, the more my mind began to shake. Even the game couldn't pull my attention away. When I realized that, I was already clenching my teeth.
Four hours passed that way. From eleven in the morning until three in the afternoon, I played without stopping—until Jiwoo and Maman showed up at the house.
Jiwoo had started grilling samgyeopsal first thing in the morning.
"That smells good."
"What, you're cooking meat?"
"Yeah, we're taking it over to Unnie's place later."
Jiwoo sighed as she watched Minwoo scratch his protruding belly.
"…You're not coming?"
"I want to." Minwoo smiled awkwardly and scratched his cheek. Jiwoo, who had been untying her apron and letting down her hair, tilted her head at him.
"Then come. Do you have something else to do?"
"I'm busy today. Got work."
Minwoo said he'd started a part-time job at a convenience store. Jiwoo puffed out her cheeks and gave him a look that said he was hopeless.
"Unnie's going to want to see you. And the police academy tuition is free, right?"
"…They don't cover rent for the eldest sister's place. She's already struggling enough, studying and earning tuition at the same time."
Minwoo made a sulky face as he spoke, whining like a child that he wanted to go too. To Jiwoo, though, he just looked admirable.
'The guy who used to chase after his noonas all the time is actually being responsible.'
Minwoo let out a long sigh and turned serious again.
"Haa… Anyway, I can't. I need to earn money so I can buy you guys an air conditioner."
"My part-time job starts tomorrow."
"Lucky. Tutoring?"
"Yeah, tutoring."
Jiwoo handed Minwoo some samgyeopsal as she spoke.
"Got it, then."
"Is Big Sis doing okay these days?"
"Yeah, she's getting a little better."
Minwoo answered while shoveling rice into his mouth, saying that was a relief.
"That's good."
"By the way, I heard she has a friend now. Did you know?"
"A friend?"
Minwoo tilted his head like this was brand new information. Jiwoo frowned as she watched him nearly spit out his half-chewed rice.
"Chew your food before you talk. Want me to teach you some manners?"
"…Are you my noona or my dad?"
"Hey."
Jiwoo scowled and smacked the top of Minwoo's head with the side of her hand.
"Forbidden."
"…Sorry."
"If you ever say something like that in front of Unnie, I'll ban you from approaching her just like that guy."
"Okay. I'm sorry."
Jiwoo smirked at Minwoo's sincere apology.
"Haram's going too. Too bad for you, Part-timer."
"…Ah."
"You like her that much?"
"…Sh-she's pretty."
"……."
Jiwoo sighed in disgust at the sight of Minwoo's reddening face. It had been years, and they were still just circling each other.
"Just confess already."
"……."
"She'd probably say yes."
"…Not yet. I don't even know if we're actually a thing."
"Hopeless. I'm leaving."
"Have fun."
After wrapping up all the meat, Jiwoo fixed her clothes and left the house. The air outside was humid and unpleasant.
"Hmph! I might just smack Haram once!"
Jiwoo muttered as she stepped outside, and before long she successfully met up with Haram. Haram was waiting in a comfortable hoodie with only light makeup on.
"What are you wearing?"
"Minwoo's not here."
"……."
"What?"
"Where's our Unnie?"
"Ah."
Haram's face went pale as she realized her mistake, but the taxi had already left. They arrived in front of Suhyun's house.
"…I want to change clothes. Can I borrow yours?"
"What are you saying? Your chest will stretch them out."
"That's too much…!"
Haram kept chattering noisily beside her, but Jiwoo ignored her and knocked on the door.
"Unnie~"
-Thud!!
A loud crash came from inside, followed by the sound of things toppling over. Then the door opened.
"…!!"
"…!!"
"Hello……"
Suhyun peeked out with clear tear tracks on her face and gestured for them to come in.
"Uh… Unnie, did something happen?"
"…Nothing."
Suhyun mumbled and limped inside, rubbing her backside as if it hurt.
"…Unnie, you're not wearing pants."
"Ah… I'm sorry."
Suhyun apologized, but Haram only gave her a sly grin.
"Eheheh."
"…?"
"Hey."
"Gyah!"
Jiwoo punched Haram in the side with a disgusted look. Suhyun had already disappeared back to her EoW game, so she didn't notice Jiwoo hitting someone.
"Ow…"
"What kind of eyes are you looking at our Unnie with?"
"But she's cute."
"……."
"You agree, right?"
"…Whatever."
Jiwoo turned her head away. Haram smirked and walked into Suhyun's room, plopping down on the bed.
"What are you doing, Unnie?"
"…I-I was playing EoW. Just give me a moment."
Haram smiled as she watched Suhyun nervously pounding away at the keyboard with tense concentration. Those tiny hands moving so busily were incredibly cute.
[Pentakill!]
"…Huh?!"
Of course, that skill level was anything but cute.
'She got a p-pentakill with that garbage champion Suika?'
Bronze 4. According to Suhyun, even a cat with no gaming sense would be shocked by a human playing like this.
Before I knew it, I'd won. I had no idea why a single tear rolled down my cheek.
"Ah."
"Unnie, you're crying!?"
"…Eeh."
Maman looked startled and quickly tore off a tissue to wipe my face. Her brows were furrowed with worry.
"Um……"
"Are you okay? Want a hug?"
"I-I'm fine. You're already pretty… soft right now."
"Ah… I'm glad you like it!"
Maman said, glancing at her own chest and blushing before smiling. When I gave her an awkward smile in return, she looked genuinely surprised.
"Y-you smiled…?"
"S-sorry, was that unpleasant…?"
"No! Please smile more!"
"Eeh?"
"Smiling a lot makes you happier."
Maman asked me to smile with a bright expression. I smiled again.
"Cute…! I'm taking a picture!"
"S-suddenly?"
"It's a memory."
Maman's eyes sparkled. I couldn't refuse, so I sat on her thigh and awkwardly held up a peace sign.
'First photo in a million years.'
I worried it might look awkward since it had been so long, but—
"Pfft…! Ah, sorry. It came out really well."
"……."
'It really is awkward…!!'
Maman giggled and said it was cute anyway. Since the person who wanted the photo was satisfied, that was enough. Thinking that, I smiled too.
In the meantime, Jiwoo had already finished setting everything up and was staring at us with a thoroughly displeased expression—specifically at Maman.
"Hey, Lee Haram, attention. You're going to eat the most like a pig anyway, so how does it make sense that I'm the only one setting up?"
"Eek?!"
"…J-Jiwoo, don't get mad."
Jiwoo looked furious. We could only break into a cold sweat.
After calming Jiwoo down, we sat in a circle and started eating the grilled samgyeopsal.
"Unnie, ahh."
"Ahh."
"Tada."
Jiwoo wrapped a ssam and fed it to me. My mouth felt like it might burst, but I chewed hard and somehow managed to swallow.
"Is it good?"
"Y-yeah, it's really good…hehe."
"I'm glad you eat well."
Jiwoo patted my head as she spoke. In the past I would have been scared and run away, but not anymore.
"Hey, Lee Haram, eat in moderation. Unnie can't eat that much."
"…I skipped meals because you said there'd be meat."
"……."
"Hehe…"
"Money-grubbing… I mean, money-making girl."
Jiwoo scolded Haram, who just snickered. I stared blankly at Maman and suddenly remembered something I'd read on the community board.
'She said she and Yeon-a were virtual sisters, right?'
That meant Maman, who was right in front of me now, knew both me and Yeon-a.
'If I go through Maman, I could naturally get in touch with Yeon-a…!'
The thought occurred to me, but I lacked the courage to bring it up first, so I only hesitated.
Just then—
"Unnie, I want to hear more about your friend."
"…!!"
"…Is that not okay?"
Jiwoo brought it up at the perfect timing.
"Ubbub! Ubbubbubbub! (Me too! I want to hear!)"
Maman raised her hand and said she wanted to hear too.
'Nice timing, Jiwoo……'
After silently thanking Jiwoo a thousand times, I steadied my breathing and glanced at the two of them.
"Y-you want to hear?"
"Yeah, I want to hear."
"I want to hear too…! I even watched the stream."
At their requests, I hesitated while watching their reactions, then spoke up.
"Then… how about we do a worry consultation together?"
"…!!"
"…!!"
When I said that, both Jiwoo and Maman flinched and stared at each other blankly. Worried something was wrong, I was about to take it back when they both answered positively.
"Sounds good…! Thanks, Unnie!"
"Anytime! It's an honor."
"Eeh? I-is it that big of a deal?"
I tilted my head at their reactions, wondering what was so special about a simple worry consultation.