Chapter 108

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**I’m More Grateful**

Yeoreum is adorable.

From the half-closed, sleepy expression to the way her lips stay gently shut just before speaking—there’s not a single feature that isn’t endearing.

Whenever someone plays a little prank on her and that expression crumbles in an instant, it’s just too cute to handle.

Maybe it’s because we’re twins—sharing the same blood—that I feel this way.

Or maybe it’s just affection for the person who saved my life.

“Yeoreum, are you asleep?”

“…”

People say twins are so similar, they could be considered the same person—but in the little things, we were a bit different.

For example, Yeoreum likes singing and listening to music, while I’m just… indifferent.

That probably stems from how we grew up.

Yeoreum was raised in an orphanage and lived alone after becoming independent. She often felt lonely, she said.

So when she came home, she always turned on music first. Listening to songs every day became a habit, and eventually, she started to enjoy it.

As she kept listening, she memorized the lyrics and naturally began to sing along—that’s what she told me once.

“…If only Yeoreum had come with me from the start.”

Then maybe we could have been even happier than we are now.

Not that Yeoreum’s life until now was all misery or hardship.

At the same time, my life wasn’t exactly easy either.

But… that’s just how it is with twins.

Even just being together now made me feel this happy—how much more joyful would it have been if we’d been together from the very beginning?

“I really wanted to play with her all day, but she got tired and just fell asleep on me…”

“…”

If I’d known it would be like this, maybe I shouldn’t have taught her _so_ many songs.

Yeoreum said she preferred listening over singing, but from what I could see, she clearly loved to sing.

It was just a children’s song, yet she looked so lively.

Her eyes, which should have been the same shade and tone as mine, sparkled so brightly.

I got so caught up in that glow that I couldn’t even think to stop her—just kept clapping excitedly along.

…Which, well, is how we ended up in this situation.

“Still… does this mean I have to take care of two people now?”

Originally, Yeoreum and I were supposed to take care of Toya, but now I’m the only one left watching over both of them.

But maybe I didn’t feel uneasy because Yeoreum was here next to me.

Even though she had the exact same face as me, it felt strange and fascinating.

I mean, it’s a face I can see any time in the mirror…

“Ei.”

“Mm…”

I poked her pale cheek with a single finger, and it sank in with a soft squish.

Of course, the texture was… heavenly.

“This is weird… It doesn’t feel like this when I poke my own cheek…”

Comparing her cheek with mine, there was definitely a slight difference in feel.

What is it? Would it feel different if someone else poked it too?

Curious, I kept poking and playing with her cheek for a while.

Maybe because her skin was sensitive, her face started turning red after just a bit.

Okay, enough of that. She might wake up.

“Did I sing too many songs? My throat’s dry…”

My throat felt a little scratchy—maybe because I’d been unusually passionate with the songs.

Ahem. Aaah. Cough…

Honestly, I really wanted some water, but both of the homeowners were off in dreamland, so I didn’t feel right moving around on my own.

Ugh, seriously. I came to help, and now the person I was supposed to be helping is sleeping on the job!

I grumbled a little and squished Yeoreum’s cheek a few more times out of mischief.

The way she frowned and turned her head away was… incredibly cute.

“Should I go home and get a drink—no, no. What if something happens to Yeoreum while I’m gone?”

That was a big no-no. Absolutely not.

…Well, then, I guess I had no choice.

I didn’t like rifling through someone else’s fridge without permission, but hey, humans can’t live without water.

With a soft grunt, I stood up and walked toward the fridge—

Or, I _tried_ to.

_Creak—_

“Ugh…”

“…Toya?”

The door next to the living room opened, and a familiar face stumbled out.

Whoa, her hair’s a total mess.

Must’ve gone to bed with wet hair—her strands were all tangled in every direction.

But more importantly… Yeoreum told me Toya would be asleep all day, so I didn’t need to worry.

Well, I guess you never really know when someone might wake up.

_Shff, shff—_

“Yeo~reum, good mor—”

“….”

A hand reached out toward the top of my head. I almost pulled away out of reflex, but when I realized Toya wasn’t fully awake, I let it happen.

Normally, I don’t like giving special treatment to anyone, but this was Toya.

Honestly, if you asked me what Toya meant to me, I wouldn’t really know how to answer—but she was someone precious to Yeoreum, so I couldn’t help softening a little.

While Toya gently patted my head, I asked,

“So, why are you up?”

“Thirsty…”

“Ah. In that case… mmm—here you go. This okay?”

“…Thanks.”

She handed me a bottle of sports drink. The blue color was really eye-catching.

Definitely better than plain water.

As I accepted it and said thanks, Toya giggled.

That bright laugh made me wonder if she was fully awake, but one look at her face told me otherwise—she was clearly still exhausted.

“Right… Hey, wanna sleep with us? Yeoreum’s been getting up early lately—she’s probably tired too.”

“Ahh… I’m good.”

I wasn’t Yeoreum, after all—and I’d been getting a solid ten hours of sleep every day. Healthy body, healthy mind!

While Toya continued her sleepy rambling, I tried opening the drink.

Hmm. It’s not opening. Am I too weak?

“Pfft, weren’t you just super proud about opening a bottle the other day?”

“…I _can_ open it.”

I couldn’t.

Just because Yeoreum opened it didn’t mean I could.

I guess we’re not _completely_ the same, huh… I glared at the bottle like it had insulted me.

Should’ve done some weight training or something…

_Click—_

“There. Just for today, I’ll open it for you.”

“…Thanks.”

I took the bottle Toya opened and drank it down in big gulps.

Yep, guess I _was_ really thirsty.

As I stared at the now-empty bottle, Toya chuckled again.

She really does laugh every time I move…

It felt a little different from Minori, though.

Minori tends to just _look_ quietly without laughing.

Of course, I knew that was just a personality thing.

I’d lived with Minori long enough to understand that.

Honestly, Minori was way more intense than Toya—hard to explain, but yeah. In many ways.

“I’m really glad Yeoreum and I met.”

“…Yeah?”

“Yeah. Thanks to her, I’ve made it this far.”

“…I see.”

“Thanks, Yeoreum.”

Even if she was half-asleep, those words were packed with real emotion.

The affection in Toya’s voice…

It felt a lot like the love I got from my adoptive parents, who took me in even though we weren’t related by blood.

A boundless, unconditional love.

And in that moment, it hit me like a hammer.

_To Yeoreum… Toya is family._

Thinking that Yeoreum would’ve been happier if she’d been with me all along… was just my own arrogance.

She’s already living happily now. Why had I assumed she was missing something?

Yeah… that’s right. Yeoreum already _has_ a family.

As those feelings settled, gratitude bubbled up.

“I’m the one who’s more thankful, Toya.”

“…”

Thankfulness.

For protecting my twin, my family, my other half from loneliness.

I wasn’t good with words, but I poured all my sincerity into that one simple phrase.

It was never about whether Yeoreum and I had met.

This meeting only happened _because_ Toya was there for Yeoreum in the first place.

“Go ahead and sleep more if you’re tired.”

“…But I’ll be lonely if I’m alone.”

“I’ll be fine. You getting rest is more important.”

Of course, what I meant was—it’s more important _for Yeoreum_.

And I had no intention of correcting Toya that I wasn’t her.

No point in making both of us flustered with something like that.