Chapter 13

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Sis, It's Me... Siwoo.

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1.

Sis's request nearly made my lips curl up, but I stopped myself. I was happy, but guilt washed over me at the same time.

"...Shouldn't have sniped her."

Everyone was laughing, but I noticed. Sis was breaking down right now. I could tell without her saying a word.

"Sis always forced a smile whenever things got tough."

The screen showed her Virtual YouTuber character instead of her face, but I could see it. That forced smile. Just imagining it made my chest ache terribly.

"Hoo..."

She was only two years older, but Sis had always been my breakwater. Standing in front of me, shielding me from the crashing waves of the world.

So I hadn't realized.

That Sis was still young too. That she wasn't an adult. That she struggled just like I did.

I was too young to understand back then. And Sis had grown up way too fast.

I only realized it after I became an adult. By then, she had already dropped out of college and was working at a factory. The girl who had always ranked in the top five of her school.

So I made a vow.

I'd succeed no matter what. I couldn't change the past, but I'd make it up to her going forward.

"And then, of all times, that goddess dragged me away..."

Anger surged up, and I clenched my fist tight. Even thinking about it now, it was such bullshit.

I'd survived that hellish otherworld solely to return here. I had to repay Sis. That was the only thing that kept me going.

"I'll start making it up now."

That was the reason I'd come back here.

Her voice from the broadcast snapped me back to reality. This wasn't the time for this.

Replying in chat wouldn't work anyway—she probably wouldn't see it. So I sent a friend request.

And Sis accepted it.

[Noir: Hello. You're Carrier, right?]
[Me: Hello. Yes. Carrier here!]

I steadied my trembling hands and typed. My heart was pounding like it would burst.

"Calm down."

There was no need to rush. Making contact like this meant we could keep talking from now on.

[Me: Is this conversation being broadcast right now?]
[Noir: No. I wanted to talk to you first, so I put it on standby screen.]

I glanced at the broadcast. It was true.

Gulp.

"What should I do?"

Was it right to reveal my identity over chat? I wanted to say it face-to-face if possible.

That I was back.

That I'd suffered hell in the otherworld but endured day by day thinking of Sis.

That I'd missed her... so much.

I wanted to tell this to the real Sis, not the one on the screen.

"But that's impossible."

If I suddenly asked to meet in person, how would she react? She'd be wary. She might even block me.

Besides, she was a Virtual YouTuber. Real-life talk was bound to be sensitive.

"Can't blow this chance."

But at least, I wanted more than just casually dropping it in chat. I wanted a real conversation. That was my wish.

[Me: Could we talk by voice instead of chat? And please don't broadcast it.]
[Noir: Got it.]

Sis granted my request without hesitation. What a relief.

The viewer count had grown even more. Probably rumors spreading on the community sites.

"Not the best situation considering Sis's state."

For now, it looked like I needed to shake off the casual viewers. Most were just wolves chasing drama and dopamine anyway.

"Finally..."

I hadn't expected to connect this quickly. I took a few deep breaths and joined the call.

"Hello."

"Ahem. Hello..."

Seeing Sis appear and hearing her voice choked me up. I wanted to run to her and hug her right then, but I held back.

"I-I'm really sorry...!"

What should I say? How should I react? As I pondered, Sis suddenly bowed deeply to me.

"W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

Her unexpected action threw me off. This wasn't the reunion I wanted...

"B-Because I reported you, and you might get banned... I heard from viewers you're planning to stream soon, but because of me, you might not be able to..."

"It's fine! I was the one who openly said I'd snipe you on stream! If anyone's at fault, it's me. You're the victim here, Noir!"

"Still... If you get banned and can't stream, viewers will trash you..."

"I really don't care. I just won't log into the community for a month. And honestly, not being able to stream isn't a big deal! So please stand up. Please..."

The fact that Sis was acting this way toward me was shocking in itself. What the hell had happened while I was gone to change ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her like this?

"...Thank you."

Only after my desperate plea did she slowly lift her head. Seeing her force a smile made sorrow well up inside me.

"Why are you so nice like an idiot..."

It would've been better if she'd cursed me out. If she was selfish and bad like she seemed on stream.

"...Nice? How can you say that when I blocked your path forward? I'm just weak... Maybe I'm not cut out for streaming after all..."

"With all these viewers, what are you talking about?"

Most people streamed for years without breaking a hundred viewers.

Sis had only been at it for a year and already had hundreds watching. How could someone like that lack talent?

"No. I'll tell you first since it's you, Carrier. I'm thinking of retiring."

"W-Why?"

"Standing in front of people scares me... Faking smiles is exhausting... And above all, I'm tired. I just want to disappear quietly now..."

Her words made my heart sink. It didn't sound like she was just quitting streaming.

"Sorry for saying something weird. Why am I telling this to Carrier, who I just met today... I'm being a burden again. Sorry..."

I clutched my chest at her forced smile.

Truth be told, I planned to reveal myself once we got closer. She seemed unstable, and it might shock her too much.

"But it might be too late."

Sis was precarious right now. Like someone barely hanging off a cliff. If I let this go, who knows what might happen.

"I can't let that happen."

After finally meeting like this, after finally returning, I couldn't just watch. That couldn't happen.

"...Noir, you have a little brother, right?"

"L-Little... brother..."

Sis bit her trembling lip, lowered her head slightly, and exhaled a shaky breath.

"Th-That's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why I'm retiring. Doesn't suit me, so I'll quit. And go find my brother."

I couldn't hold back anymore. My vision blurred, breath caught in my throat.

"There's something I want to say."

"...What is it?"

"What I'm about to say might sound completely insane. You might think I'm crazy. But I have to say it now..."

Curiosity flickered across Sis's face. I licked my lips, swallowed, and glanced at her reaction, eyes darting.

Silence stretched on. Sis sighed and spoke.

"So what is it you want to say?"

"......"

Trembling, I finally uttered one word.

"...Sis."

"Huh? Sis? Why all of a sudden..."

Sis furrowed her brow slightly.

"Sis, it's me. Siwoo."

I said that much and watched her reaction anxiously. I swallowed hard.

"......What did you say?"

Noir—no, Sis—asked with a blank expression.

"What... did you just say?"

A faint twitch crossed her face. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Like someone hearing the unthinkable.

"Don't joke about this..."

Her eyes shook. Her voice trembled, but she was trying to stay calm.

"My brother, Siwoo, is dead. I even held the funeral."

"You didn't actually see the body."

"He's been missing from the bridge for over a year. We checked every CCTV and dashcam around, but no trace."

Sis moistened her dry lips with her tongue and met my gaze. Eyes full of anger.

"This joke... I really... really can't forgive it. You've crossed the line."

Yeah. I expected she wouldn't believe me. Who would, if a random person showed up claiming to be her brother?

"Remember your first birthday at the orphanage? You stuck a single candle in a cupcake and sang happy birthday. Said birthdays aren't just one day, so let's celebrate for two. You gave me your birthday..."

"That..."

"When I cried every night looking for Mom, you sang lullabies, saying we'd meet her in dreamland."

"How could you..."

"Who else would know that? Only you and me."

At that moment, Sis's eyes wavered.

"......Impossible."

"It is possible, Sis."

I caught my breath.

"It's me, Siwoo. Your little brother Siwoo. I'm back... It took a while, but I'm back..."

Suffocating silence followed.

"......Is it true?"

A tiny voice leaked from her lips.

"......Siwoo? For real?"

She reached out and cupped my cheeks with her hands.

"Yeah."

"Th-Then......"

Her voice cracked.

"Why now... Why only after I've given up on everything..."

Her shoulders began to tremble faintly. Her body shook. Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice broke in an instant. The held-back tears burst forth.

"......Siwoo."

Sis poured out all her emotions, relieved she wasn't alone anymore. Hidden loneliness, pain, regret, longing—all flowed out as tears.

"......Sorry, Sis. I'm really sorry......"

Seeing her like that, I wrapped her in a tight embrace and cried too.

"You're back...... You're back......"

Her sobs collapsed. Shaky breaths. Emotions more certain than words proved this moment.

"Yeah. I'm back. Back to your side... I'm back..."

Finally, I had returned to where I belonged.