Chapter 104

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ ​Ｋａ​ｔＲｅａｄ​ｉｎｇＣ​ａ​ｆｅ

**Good News and Bad News (2)**

“Yeoreum, Yeoreum? Yeoreum, it’s morning.”

“Mmmnnngh…”

When I gently shook her sleeping body, Yeoreum let out a faint groan.

Yeah, I figured waking up early would be a challenge.

The more I shook her, the more her face scrunched up, and I let out a small sigh.

Ugh, this feels like I’m bullying her or something.

I can’t believe _I’m_ the reason her face looks like that.

“Yeoreum, if you don’t get up now, I’ll go by myself.”

“Uhh? Uuuh… I’m getting up…”

At those final words, Yeoreum slowly opened her eyes and began groggily struggling to sit up.

With her arms weakly flailing as she tried to push herself off the bed, she looked… honestly like a newborn lamb learning to walk.

“So… up now…”

“Pffft, your hair’s a total mess.”

“…Morning, Toya.”

“Morning, Yeoreum.”

Still half-asleep, she greeted me with drooping eyes.

I smiled as I gently began brushing her wildly sticking-up hair.

Maybe I should’ve dried it properly before she went to bed last night.

She’d gone straight to bed after her bath, insisting she needed to sleep early to wake up early—and now her hair was a disaster.

Not that I minded. Even this messy look was cute.

“…Did you eat breakfast?”

“I probably won’t. If I move around with something in my stomach, my tummy hurts…”

“…I see.”

“What about you? Do you want something to eat?”

“Mmm… No. If Toya’s not eating, I won’t eat either.”

I laughed again as she slowly shook her head.

Still, it’d be nice if she just said she was hungry when she was.

At some point, Yeoreum started refusing to eat unless I ate too.

Not always, but often enough.

Still, it’s healthier to eat something in the morning.

“Waking up early is tough, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

“Were you like this even before your body changed?”

“…Yeah.”

I gently supported her as her head drooped, and surprised by the feel of my hand against her forehead, she quickly looked up.

She could’ve gone back to sleep if she was that tired.

It’s not like I wasn’t taking her with me—I just thought maybe she could rest a bit longer while I got ready.

Ugh, maybe I should’ve let her sleep a little more.

When she realized the thing touching her forehead was my hand, she slowly lowered her head again and started dozing off against my palm.

“You look really tired.”

“…”

“Yeoreum? Are you asleep?”

“…I’m not sleeping.”

“You look like you are.”

Her breathing became slow and steady, followed by a tiny voice.

Yeah, she was _totally_ asleep just now.

I laughed and gently moved my hand.

Yeoreum’s head, which had been leaning forward, tilted back with a little flop.

Her face that had been pointed toward the floor was now facing the ceiling, and her eyelids flinched in response to the light above.

After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes.

“…Good morning, Toya.”

“We already said good morning, Yeoreum.”

“…Really? I thought it was a dream.”

I giggled as I looked into her eyes, now just a little brighter.

Still not fully awake, huh?

As she rubbed her eyes, I reached out a hand.

When you’re sleepy, pinching your thigh usually helps. Let’s see if it works on Yeoreum too.

I enjoyed the soft sensation beneath my fingertips and gave her cheek a little pinch with my thumb and index finger.

“Don’ pull…”

“You don’t want me to pull?”

As I stretched her squishy cheek, Yeoreum mumbled something nearly incomprehensible.

Well… I _did_ understand it, so I guess it was understandable?

At least she seemed more awake now, so that was a win.

I was already fully ready to go, so now it was just a matter of getting Yeoreum prepped too.

“Alright, time to get up and head to the office. You _did_ say you wanted to come with me, remember?”

“…I’m coming.”

With a little grunt, Yeoreum sat up and began changing out of her pajamas.

I’d bought her those PJs after feeling bad that she was always sleeping in one of my oversized T-shirts.

At first, she’d refused to wear the frilly, airy pajamas.

She was so against it back then, and yet…

I glanced at the soft curve of her exposed shoulder peeking out from the pajama top, and Yeoreum tilted her head.

Her expression seemed to ask why I was spacing out.

And… wow. If I hadn’t steeled myself, I might’ve jumped her right then and there.

“Want me to help you get dressed?”

“No thanks. How long are you planning to treat me like some helpless wreck? If you do everything for me, I’ll seriously turn into a useless human being.”

“Well, I mean… Yeoreum’s a big girl now who can get dressed all by herself.”

“…What’s with that tone? Like I’m some kid.”

Sharp words, but her eyes were far too dull to match.

Alright, alright, I’ll help anyway~

She huffed indignantly through her nose as I soothed her into letting me help her change.

Sorry, Yeoreum, but we promised to be there by 8, so we might be late if we don’t hurry.

Not that I’d say it out loud, but she _did_ tend to take her time getting dressed.

“I used to be fast at changing clothes, okay?”

“Mmhm, I know. You tell me that every day.”

“I was really fast! I could do it in thirty seconds!”

Her pout was so adorable I couldn’t help but smile.

Maybe I tease her just to see that expression.

Usually she acts so mature, but the moment I poke a little fun, she becomes a total baby.

Who wouldn’t want to tease her?

Of course, I know how to keep it in moderation—Yeoreum _is_ an adult, after all.

“All done.”

“Then let’s get going?”

“Yup, let’s go.”

Once she was dressed, had sunscreen on, and her hat properly in place, I grabbed her hand and we headed out.

Guess we’ll be commuting together like this for a while.

The smooth, slightly slippery feeling of sunscreen on her palm felt weirdly nice.

As long as I’m with Yeoreum, I don’t mind sunscreen hands.

Severe case of Yeoreum addiction.

—

“Good morning, Nagakawa-san~”

“Good morning!”

“By the way, is the person next to you your little sister?”

“Ahaha… Does it look that way?”

“Good morning.”

I bowed politely to the staff member who came up saying how cute I was.

I wasn’t her sister, but I didn’t really mind being mistaken for a kid.

It’s not like I was proud of being an “adult” or anything.

Besides, I hadn’t been to the office many times, so it was natural they didn’t know.

“Well then, have a great day~”

“Thanks~”

As the two of them waved and walked off, I stared after them and then tugged Toya’s hand.

Toya blinked at me like she was wondering if I had something to say.

If someone treats me like a child, you could at least _correct_ them, you know?

I gave her a meaningful look, but she just tilted her head.

_sigh_… Guess she’s not like Koyuki.

“By the way, everyone here calls you by your surname, huh?”

“Yeah, usually. Since we sometimes have outside visitors.”

“So if I call you Toya here, is that a problem?”

“Hmm, it should be fine once we’re in the elevator.”

Apparently, the first floor is off-limits, but from the second floor up—where only employees were—it’s okay.

Suddenly, I had a realization.

Toya calls me by my real name… but I just call her “Toya.”

Not that I was planning to change it now or anything.

But if she ever asked me to call her something else, I’d definitely consider it.

“Do you… prefer me calling you Toya?”

“Why? Do you want to use my real name?”

“Well, not really…”

“I actually like being called Toya. Especially when it’s by you.”

She smiled at me with a face so full of happiness it was almost blinding.

Honestly, I still didn’t understand the full story.

I didn’t know what “Yatogami Toya” meant to her—but it was clearly something very important.

“Oh, and this is your first time going to the practice studio, right?”

“Yeah, I don’t really have a reason to sing or dance.”

If it weren’t for tagging along with Toya like this, I’d probably _never_ go there.

Even if my health got better, I doubt I’d be able to sing or dance like others.

Humming was doable, but singing seriously? Not really.

Even now, talking too long makes me run out of breath and start coughing.

“Well, I’ll show you around then!”

“I don’t really need a tour…”

Toya grabbed my hand and excitedly pulled me along.

Looks like calming her down was going to take a while.