Chapter 23

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Decision and Choice

In front of Grandma’s hospital room.
Because of my height, I couldn’t see through the window on the door,
but I could easily tell who was inside by the voices I heard.

Grandma’s daughter, and one other person.

Was it really okay for me to interrupt them?

I hesitated, unable to go in.
Toya gently pushed my back with a soft touch.

“It’ll be okay. So be brave.”
“Yeah.”

Three deep breaths to calm myself.
A couple light slaps on the cheeks to refocus.
Then I grabbed the handle and, with all my strength, pulled it open.

As the door opened, I saw Grandma, her daughter, and a young woman around Toya’s age.
She looked like she had just entered adulthood—
and she bore a strong resemblance to both Grandma and her daughter.

“Oh, you’re here. My first grandchild.”
“…Hello, Grandma.”

I ignored the wide-eyed look of surprise from the granddaughter and bowed politely to Grandma.
It’s shameless of me, but… I came because I heard you’d woken up.

Mumbling, barely audible.
I crept closer to the bed—
only because Grandma had gestured for me to come over.

“Thank goodness for this one.
She did all the filial duty the rest of you missed out on.”

“…”

Her hand, placed gently atop my head, was wrinkled and rough—
but it held a warmth I’d never felt anywhere else.

I was loved.

I wanted to say something, anything,
but the sudden flood of emotions choked me up.
I’d prepared myself to accept whatever she might say—
and then she said this.

“Wait, did you say first grandchild?”
“That’s right.”

The granddaughter tilted her head in confusion—not because she wondered who I was,
but because she didn’t understand why I was the first grandchild.

True enough.
Anyone would think she looked far more mature than me.

“She’s older than you~”
“Really?!”

“Why would I lie? It’s true.”

Of course, that made sense.
Before the interview, there’s usually a field for birthdate—
so she probably already knew my age.

…And yet she still treated me so kindly?

Even with a body like this, looking far too young for my age… didn’t she find me creepy?

What a pathetic thought.
To someone like Grandma, whether you’re 25 or 15 or 5, you’re all just babies.

“So, the kid outside—is that your friend?”
“Yes. She said she came because she was worried about me.”
“Where’s she from?”
“Japan.”

“Japan? She lives in Japan?”

Well, yeah. She’s Japanese.

Maybe because Toya spoke Korean so fluently,
Grandma didn’t seem to realize she was a foreigner.

Anyway, once she heard the word “friend,”
Grandma’s face bloomed into a warm, peaceful smile.

It was the complete opposite of the pained expression she’d had just moments ago.

“Then I guess I can send you off without worry.”
“…Sorry?”

“These kids were fussing so much,
I figured I’d just check into a nursing home again.”

She tapped her back as she spoke, and I silently bit my lip.

So when she said she could send me off without worry,
she meant she wouldn’t go back into care if I had nowhere else to go.

Of course, this wasn’t a permanent goodbye.
I could visit the nursing home anytime.

“Thank you… for everything.”
“Thank me? If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”

She clicked her tongue at my deep bow
and gently patted my hair.

Maybe this was the warmth I had been craving all along.

Realizing that, I bit my lip again.

Yeah.
This is where I was meant to be.

—

“How did it go? Were you able to talk things through?”
“…Yeah. Thanks for bringing me, Toya.”
“Don’t mention it. That’s what friends are for, right?”

When Yeo-reum came out of the room, she seemed kind of deflated.
Maybe she was finally letting go of all the tension now that Grandma had woken up.

From what I saw through the window earlier,
they really did look like family.

But blood alone doesn’t define family.

“So, what should we do now?”
“I think it’s time for me to head back to Japan.”

Yeo-reum looked at me with wide eyes when I said that,
like it had never even occurred to her that I would have to go back.

She looked up at me like a rain-soaked kitten—
it was so adorable.
But the sense of loss in those eyes… was anything but cute.

Of course it wasn’t easy for me either.
I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay with her.
But the time had come.

‘Mana-chan said the fans are getting mad that I’ve been away too long…’

What was supposed to be a one-week break
had stretched past two weeks while I looked after Yeo-reum.

Naturally, fans online had begun speculating I was graduating.
Even though I posted an update on social media,
if I didn’t return soon, it would become a serious issue.

For my manager, the agency, and my fellow members.

“…I see. So you have to go back to Japan.”
“B-but! I’ll visit often, I promise! I know my way around here now, and we can keep in touch, right? We’ll stay in contact—okay?”

“…”

Yeo-reum didn’t respond.
She just stared at me with unreadable eyes.

But they weren’t sad or negative.
Actually… how do I describe it?

There was something… resolute in her gaze.
Almost heroic, even.

“Yeah.”
“Yeo-reum, seriously, don’t worry. I’ll visit—”

“Toya.”
“…Yeah?”

“I’ll go to Japan too.”

I thought she was about to beg me to stay.
But the words that came out of her mouth were completely different.

Not to hold me back—
But to follow me.

Her eyes were filled with unwavering resolve—
no matter what, she would come with me.

…So that’s it.

We could just go together.

How had I not thought of something so simple?
I really am an idiot.

“Are you sure? You’re okay coming with me?”
I wanted to say, But your family’s here.
But I swallowed that part back.

If I said that, she might change her mind.

It was selfish—I knew that.
But my desire to stay with her was stronger than my guilt.
And I had promised to look after her.

“Toya… is it really okay if you take me with you?”
“Of course!”

She looked so unsure, like she thought bringing her along would be a burden.
I answered with all the confidence I had.

Her health didn’t matter to me.
If she wasn’t well, I’d just be more careful and help her more.

If I couldn’t care for someone as small and delicate as her,
what right did I have to call myself an adult?

…Even if she was an adult, just like me.

“Then I’m okay too.”
“…Ah.”

Her smile in response to my words stunned me for a moment.
It was a smile I’d never seen before.

So bright—
the kind of smile that made my heart pound wildly.

Hey, that’s cheating…!

“Please take care of me, Toya.”
“You too… please take care of me.”

I stared blankly at her outstretched hand,
then slowly reached out and took it.

Let’s take care of each other, Yeo-reum.

—

[Toya Returning Soon!]
[(SNS post apologizing for the long delay.JPG)
She said she returned later than expected due to personal matters.]

ㄴ [It’s so obvious she went to see Han Yeo-reum lol]
ㄴ [Seriously, how badly did they miss each other for Toya to stay over 2 weeks in Korea…]
ㄴ [Han Yeo-reum I’LL KILL YOU HAN YEO-REUM I’LL KILL YOU (x4)]
ㄴ [(Han Yeo-reum is officially the main ship)]
ㄴ [This is totally endgame…]
ㄴ [Toya, you are going to make up for 2 weeks of no streams, right?]
ㄴ [If Toya does a 24/7 stream for a week straight, I’ll respect her lol]
ㄴ [LMAO is someone gonna die or what]
ㄴ [Damn it, Han Yeo-reum… Are you an alpha male because you’re Han Yeo-reum, or is Han Yeo-reum your name because you’re an alpha male…]
ㄴ [So you’re telling me this Japanese girl, Toya, flew all the way to Korea, stayed for 2 weeks, and now is just casually back?]
ㄴ [DELETE THIS DELETE THIS DELETE THIS DELETE THIS]
ㄴ [I’m losing my mind over here…]
ㄴ [The Japanese fans are already in shambles. Everyone’s convinced she went to meet Han Yeo-reum lol]
ㄴ [Toya just singlehandedly crushed all the unicorns at the start of the new year lol]
ㄴ [But what if Han Yeo-reum’s actually a girl? What if she’s like super blue-pilled, like Toya-level??]
ㄴ [ㄴAnd what exactly are you basing that theory on?]
ㄴ [(Han Yeo-reum: “But I’m cute” meme)]
ㄴ [ㄴThat meme should’ve been banned by now…]
ㄴ [Why does the “Han Yeo-reum is a girl” bait keep popping up regularly lol]

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Fables