Independence 4

After lunch, the afternoon begins.

Han Seoyeon decided to continue shopping with Han Suho.

Food and housing were somewhat settled.

Then all that’s left is clothing.

“Come to think of it, do you have any clothes?”

“No. I don’t have many clothes, just the Academy uniform I’m wearing now is all.”

“…Oh.”

As obvious as it may be.

Han Suho didn’t bring anything except the bare necessities.

This, of course, included clothes.

Was this the situation Michaela was in earlier?

Han Seoyeon felt like she was looking at herself from a few months ago.

Penniless, with nothing to her name.

So it gives those who see her a sense of precariousness.

It makes one think.

Absolutely, she mustn’t be left like this.

“Our next destination is decided – the clothing store!”

She who had received help from her senior was now helping her younger sister.

“It’s fine. I’m okay.”

“What are you saying? You said you only have your uniform. Clothes.”

Indeed, sisters are sisters.

Her behavior was no exaggeration to say it was like Han Seoyeon’s image reflected in an old mirror.

“The uniform is enough, isn’t it? We’re students after all.”

“…”

Han Seoyeon’s mindset was similar.

She too didn’t have much interest in clothes other than the uniform when she first came to the Academy.

Even now, she wasn’t particularly interested.

She only wore what her senior had bought for her.

There was a reason.

The Academy’s uniform is provided for free, and it’s a masterpiece made by processing the highest-grade monster leather and the highest quality magic stones.

It not only demonstrates the best defensive capabilities in battle, but also has functions such as automatic washing and temperature control.

In the original work, it was described as over-technology to the extent that an AI-equipped city wall took the form of a uniform.

As long as it doesn’t get damaged, there wouldn’t be much problem living in just the uniform.

“I don’t want to.”

As mentioned repeatedly.

A refusal is a refusal.

“No way. I’m buying you clothes no matter what! Let’s hurry to the clothing store!”

“But still…”

It was fine for Han Seoyeon herself to wear clothes carelessly.

But not for her sister.

“Don’t feel burdened. If you’re really concerned, just pack me delicious lunches.”

“…Okay.”

“Great!”

Taking her hesitant sister’s hand, they head towards a nearby clothing store.

“Now, choose whatever you like! Today, your big sister’s treating!”

Han Seoyeon’s wallet situation has some leeway.

She can afford to buy her sister a few outfits.

Even though her wallet would be emptied after buying a few outfits for her sister.

If she thought of it as the cost of lunch boxes, it would be plus-minus zero.

“…”

Han Suho didn’t move easily.

Despite Han Seoyeon’s spirited exclamation.

Stiffly frozen.

“What’s wrong, spacing out?”

“…”

“I told you not to feel burdened… Or, are there no clothes you like?”

Han Suho is the daughter of a wealthy family.

The clothes she wears are naturally only the highest quality.

Commoner clothes might not suit her taste.

“It’s not that. It’s just.”

Han Suho strongly denied.

“This is my first time choosing clothes with my own hands. Until now, the servants did everything for me. So I don’t know what’s good, what suits me, or what’s cheap…”

This wasn’t a matter of taste, but of common sense.

Han Seoyeon had overlooked this.

Her younger sister is not the protagonist of the original work.

Although her pushover personality remains, the life she’s walked is completely different.

The current Han Suho is a lady overflowing with naivety when it comes to everyday aspects.

“…How can sisters be so alike? Ah, is it because we’re twins?”

Han Seoyeon also didn’t know much about clothes.

Despite growing up in such different environments, why were they so similar?

“Sisters, twins…. Yeah. Indeed.”

It was a troublesome story.

Han Seoyeon didn’t know much about clothes either.

“Is there something troubling you, customers?”

A passing store clerk addressed the sisters.

“Did you two sisters come shopping for clothes together?”

“Yes!”

“You’re close sisters, aren’t you.”

Close sisters.

An expression she would have immediately denied in the past.

Han Suho pretended not to know to protect Han Seoyeon from Han Joon-hyuk,

Han Seoyeon pretended not to know to avoid being a burden to Han Suho.

But.

Now.

“Of course! By the way, I’m the older sister…”

Standing proudly with her shoulders straight.

Han Seoyeon introduced to the unnamed clerk.

“…And this is my younger sister!”

All along, until now, she had only been hiding it.

As if it were something shameful.

Not anymore.

From now on, she’ll proudly tell others.

“Ah…”

Han Suho.

Her proud younger sister.

“I see…”

Now she doesn’t have to hide from others.

She can proudly be by her sister’s side.

“Why, why suddenly! Did you get dust in your eye?”

“I’m happy, sis…”

Because she’s happy.

Because she’s so happy about it.

Because that one word makes her unbearably happy.

“I’m happy, I’m happy! Huu, huaa…!”

Not caring about the place.

Han Suho ended up crying.

“Sniff, s-sis…!”

“Hey, hey! Why are you crying on a day like this!”

Why was it?

“If you cry like that, Suho…!”

Today was supposed to be a happy day.

“I, I too! Will end up crying…!”

The sisters cried looking at each other.

Shedding tears and snot, so unsightly.

Looking at each other like that, it seemed they laughed while crying.

The sea of tears was brief.

The sisters continued shopping.

Following the clerk’s guidance, Han Seoyeon had her sister try on various clothes.

The theme of the coordination was the upcoming summer.

Practical yet clean-looking on the outside.

A safe combination was a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black slacks.

Little exposure, but clearly showing the outline of the volume.

Jeans are a must.

Tight-fitting skinny jeans transform the already thin legs to be even more attractive.

The white blouse, synonymous with purity, goes without saying.

Personally, it would be good to wear with wide pants.

A dress for winning should be prepared for a fresh start.

So that when her sister gets someone special, she can go on a date anytime.

However.

“This, this is not allowed!”

…Hot pants are not allowed!

Hey, hey, sexy things should be done at least when you become an adult!

“Phew…”

An hour passes like that.

“It’s tiring…”

This was the first time she had done proper shopping proactively.

Han Seoyeon sat exhausted on a bench in the shopping mall.

“Are you okay?”

“No. Honestly, it’s tough…!”

There’s a stereotype that women take longer to shop than men.

Han Seoyeon thought it was somewhat true.

With such a pretty sister, she couldn’t end the shopping quickly even if she wanted to.

It just accumulates fatigue in the body.

“You’re skilled. At looking at clothes.”

“Not really to that extent.”

Certainly, her eye for fashion had opened up more than before.

But that wasn’t Han Seoyeon’s own foresight.

“You know, before, my senior bought me various things. I tried choosing based on that experience. How is it, not bad, right?”

“…I see. Senior Wittelsbach did.”

Is this really the fashion-illiterate Han Seoyeon?

Even she thought her chest was swelling with pride.

“…Ah, right.”

Suddenly, Han Seoyeon remembered.

“Didn’t you form a team together before? You and the senior.”

“…Yeah. We did.”

The first practical evaluation.

Michaela and Han Suho were in the same team.

At Han Suho’s suggestion, too.

“Was there any particular reason you wanted to team up?”

“…Well.”

It bothered her a little.

A conversation between her sister and her lover (※wishful thinking), how could she not be curious?

“I asked her to take care of you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You didn’t have many friends back then, sis.”

“Well, it’s not wrong, but…”

A heavy Fact-rior missile hit its mark.

Han Seoyeon’s composure crumbled.

“Looking back now, I wonder if it was unnecessary meddling.”

“It’s okay! These things happen!”

Older sisters are supposed to be generous.

Enough to be unfazed even when hit with the fact of having no friends.

Wait, why am I…

Why are tears…?

“Even if I hadn’t said that, Senior Wittelsbach would have taken good care of you. The senior seemed to like you a lot.”

“Did it look that way…?”

“Yeah.”

Han Seoyeon asked back in surprise.

It’s one thing for her to say she likes the senior one-sidedly, but to hear that the senior seems to like her?

Even if it was just empty words, she felt like jumping for joy.

“…But. It might be a bit disappointing? Not being able to monopolize you.”

“Tch. Your sister isn’t your toy.”

“I know. Because you’re a good person, sis, I hope you find your own happiness soon.”

“…”

Words and actions that are morally impeccable.

A personality that could never be imitated even by a twin.

In other words, it means she’s a pushover, but.

“Well, I guess this is enough clothes?”

“No.”

Han Suho shook her head.

“I don’t have any.”

“What?”

“Underwear.”

“…Under, wear?”

Han Seoyeon’s mind went blank.

What did she just say…?

“What I’m wearing now is all I have. I don’t have any spares.”

“No, you, you…!”

“So, you know.”

In a somewhat strange voice.

“Can you… choose underwear for me too…?”

“What─!”

Han Suho whispered into Han Seoyeon’s ear.