Chapter 80

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**Even If It’s Not a Dream? (2)**

“Yeoreum! There you are!?”

“Oh, Toya.”

Just as I was chatting with Koyuki and Ragu-sensei, Toya burst through the hospital room door. A doctor followed right behind her.

I blinked at her, surprised, but greeted her happily. She dashed up to me, picked me right up, and immediately began turning me this way and that, inspecting me like an overprotective mom who hadn’t seen her kid in days.

It was kind of funny—like watching a sitcom version of a helicopter parent.

“I _told_ you not to wander off alone! And how did you even know how to get _here_?”

“Uh, well… last night, I got thirsty, went out to get water, and then… um…”

Yeah, I didn’t really have a good explanation for how I ended up in _this_ room.

It just sort of… happened. Like something pulled me here.

As I trailed off, Toya gently squished the top of my head with her chin, like she was trying to press her frustration into my skull.

I wasn’t hurt or anything, but the pressure was oddly heavy.

“I’m sorry, really! I said I’m sorry!”

“Hello, Ragu-sensei.”

“Hi, Toya.”

“Pfft…!”

“Koyuki?”

Watching Toya and Ragu-sensei greet each other, Koyuki suddenly burst into laughter.

She was obviously amused, but I tilted my head in curiosity. Her red eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.

“It’s just funny to hear _Minori_ being called ‘sensei.’ I mean, think about it. Your friend calling someone else _sensei_—that’s so funny.”

“Toya… as a _sensei_…”

I imagined Toya wearing horn-rimmed glasses, all smug, trying to teach someone with that usual sass of hers.

…Nope. Can’t picture it.

Maybe because my memories of Toya mostly involve _her_ learning games from _me_, the idea of her being in a teacher role just wouldn’t compute.

I couldn’t help but snort a laugh.

Ah, oops. I shouldn’t laugh like that.

“Pfft…!”

“Yeoreum?”

Toya looked completely scandalized, like my laughter personally betrayed her.

That only made me giggle more, and Koyuki laughed with me, mirroring the same expression.

What was this feeling?

We hadn’t seen each other for over twenty years, yet somehow… this moment felt so natural. Familiar.

There wasn’t even a trace of awkwardness. It was almost _too_ comfortable.

“…We really do feel like family.”

“…”

I blurted it out without thinking.

Realizing what I’d just said, I quickly shut my mouth, but it was too late. Words don’t go back once they’re out.

“Like family,” huh…

Until now, Toya had been the person who felt most like family to me. After her, maybe the owner of the convenience store.

But this feeling—this thing stirring in my chest—was something more. Something I couldn’t describe.

_So this is what they mean by ‘blood is thicker than water’…_

Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d met a blood relative.

Not just any relative either—a _twin_.

Maybe that’s why my hands were trembling slightly as I looked down at them.

I think I understood now. Why I ended up in this hospital room. Why I’d been pulled here.

I looked up, meeting the eyes of the three people watching me. Took a deep breath. Then I said:

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“…”

“I’ll do anything I can.”

Koyuki’s presence had clearly weakened since the day before.

It was like staying awake just drained her life away.

And if things kept going like this… I might lose her.

But I didn’t want that.

I couldn’t let her go. Not after meeting her—_not like this_.

“I’m… hoo…”

“Ragu-sensei. The reason you called Toya that night… it was because you needed me, right?”

I was certain now.

There’s no other reason she would’ve sounded so desperate on the phone.

Ragu-sensei looked at me, her expression crumpling with pain and guilt.

Everything she’d been bottling up—her fatigue, her torment—it all spilled from her as she looked down.

“I…”

“Minori.”

“…Koyuki.”

Just as Ragu-sensei was about to speak, Koyuki cut her off.

There was something firm in her gaze—like she was silently pleading for her to stop.

_Don’t say any more. I don’t want to be a burden._

Ragu-sensei bit her lip, then bowed her head low. The image of surrender contrasted my own lifted chin.

But she wasn’t giving up. No.

“…Ichinose-san. Please… help us. Help Koyuki.”

“Minori!!”

“I _can’t_…”

“…”

“I can’t live without Koyuki. So this is the only way I know how to ask.”

Toya silently stepped forward and supported Ragu-sensei, who looked like she might collapse to her knees.

Koyuki must’ve hated this—because it meant something might happen to me.

But… isn’t it better than letting her die?

If Koyuki can live… then let _me_ be the one who suffers. Let _me_ be the one in pain.

“…Alright.”

“…Natsu.”

There was no reason to refuse.

I wanted to do everything I could—_everything_—for her.

Koyuki looked at me with sad, uncertain eyes. But once I set my mind to something, I saw it through to the end.

And I wasn’t backing down.

“Koyuki needs surgery, and… she needs blood. Normally, a substitute would be okay, but her condition is too unstable…”

“I’m okay with it.”

If it meant saving her, I could give my blood.

I didn’t know how much they’d need, but even if it was a lot, I could donate it slowly, over time.

Koyuki looked away, anxiety flickering in her expression.

It’s okay. I can handle it. That’s why I’m offering.

“Yeoreum… are you really sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll be okay—because I’ve got you, Toya.”

And besides, if I got sick, there was someone to take care of me.

I felt a little bad about leaning on Toya again, but… this time, I couldn’t help it.

—

**[Natsu’s break just got extended??]**

**[(Ichinose Natsu Break Extension Notice.JPG)
She said she wasn’t feeling well, but I didn’t realize it was this bad;;]**

ㄴ[Are we about to get a graduation notice??]
ㄴ[ㄴ Don’t say that, seriously.]
ㄴ[ㄴ What if she just needs more time? Don’t be dramatic lol]
ㄴ[ㄴWe _are_ being dramatic—Yeoreum vanished once without a word already!]
ㄴ[ㄴRight, this is literally the “Han Yeoreum” forum lol]
ㄴ[ㄴYou made this mess, now take responsibility]
ㄴ[Also, what kind of agency hires someone this sick? V-Spe, what’s going on…]

**[So, what’s wrong with her anyway?]**

ㄴ[Asthma, I think.]
ㄴ[ㄴASTHma or ARM-a?]
ㄴ[ㄴWe KNOW, okay?]
ㄴ[ㄴWhat is happening in this thread lol]
ㄴ[Yeah, if it’s a bad asthma flare, that explains why she can’t stream.]
ㄴ[ㄴCan you even fully recover from asthma?]
ㄴ[ㄴNot really. It can be managed, not cured.]
ㄴ[ㄴSo even if she comes back, she might need more breaks later.]
ㄴ[ㄴThat’s still better than her not coming back at all.]
ㄴ[I just want her to come back healthy.]

**[Toya’s been so low-energy lately.]**

**[Is it because of Natsu? Or is something else going on…?]**

ㄴ[Why’d you say the same thing twice lol]
ㄴ[Maybe Natsu being sick _is_ the thing going on.]
ㄴ[ㄴ(I’m sorry Natsu’s sick, Kon)]
ㄴ[ㄴStop using that Kon, please lol]
ㄴ[Yeah, her streams have been super quiet lately.]
ㄴ[Did something really bad happen to Natsu?]
ㄴ[She doesn’t seem _depressed_, just exhausted.]
ㄴ[ㄴMaybe she’s taking care of Natsu.]
ㄴ[ㄴThat… actually makes sense.]
ㄴ[ㄴIf it was something _really_ serious, Toya probably wouldn’t be streaming.]

**[Toya’s doing a voice-only stream today.]**

**[(Natsu’s Voice on Wisp Voice Live)]
She’s in the hospital but missed streaming so much, they’re doing it like this lol**

ㄴ[Hearing her voice again is so comforting T_T]
ㄴ[ㄴBut she sounds so weak…]
ㄴ[ㄴShe _is_ in the hospital lol]
ㄴ[Even Toya’s energy is higher today, just being near Natsu.]
ㄴ[ㄴShe probably just missed having Natsu around ㅋㅋ]
ㄴ[ㄴHonestly the most likely reason ㅋㅋ]

Fables