Chapter 154

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**Recovery (5)**

“Toya…”

“Yeoreum, you’re awake?”

“…Yeah.”

I was definitely sleeping, but it felt like I hadn’t rested properly for days.

Ugh, my body’s heavy. Or more precisely, my head is.

When I groaned and called Toya’s name, she gently held my hand.

I felt really sorry, thinking I’d only made her worry more.

Toya always worried a lot when I was sick, and yet here I was, bedridden from overexerting myself.

_What am I, an elementary schooler…?_

I couldn’t even lift my face in shame—or well, I was lying down, so it’s not like I could lift it even if I wanted to.

Anyway, I let out a slow breath, avoiding Toya’s gaze as she quietly looked down at me without saying a word.

She was probably trying to let me sleep longer by keeping quiet, but right now, that silence just made everything feel more awkward.

See? I was even being careful with my breathing, afraid it might sound too loud.

“Yeoreum, don’t overdo it.”

“…Sorry.”

“I’m not trying to scold you. I just really don’t want you pushing yourself too hard.”

“…Okay…”

Still, I think this time helped me figure out where my limits are. I probably won’t do it again.

It depends on how my body’s doing, so I couldn’t say for sure—but knowing your limits versus not knowing them makes a surprising amount of difference.

Back when I was still active as Han Yeoreum, I once got so sick from overworking that I thought I wouldn’t be able to stream anymore.

I was younger then, and it was before I joined Straight, so I was desperate and forced myself to stream anyway.

Of course, the stream I did in that half-dead state didn’t go over very well.

“By the way, you and Nozomi seem to have gotten pretty close.”

“Do we…?”

“I didn’t expect her to be so flustered. Really, back when I was sick, she didn’t even glance at me. Maybe siblings are just like that.”

Toya and Nozomi definitely had similarities, even if they seemed different.

Toya was the energetic type, and Nozomi had a quieter presence.

But when they sang or worked out, it was like watching the same person…

Blood ties really are something.

I guess that’s why, the first time I saw Nozomi, she reminded me of Toya.

“Toya… do you still not like Nozomi?”

“Do I not like her…? Honestly, I don’t know.”

A mix of emotions flickered in Toya’s eyes.

She’d severed ties with her family, and even though she’d lived well enough since then, connections—especially family ones—aren’t so easy to break.

When I remembered how broken I was after losing my Straight family, I still felt dizzy just thinking about it.

And my days with Koyuki after that were so blissful they couldn’t even compare.

“Honestly, I never really had bad feelings toward her. But maybe… back then, I just wanted someone to be on my side. I think that made me feel worse.”

I blinked slowly as I listened to Toya’s not-quite-complaint.

What must it feel like to believe no one’s on your side?

Thinking about it now, I realize just how lucky I’ve been.

Every time I was on the verge of falling apart, someone showed up to save me.

Straight, Grandma, V-Spe, Toya, the CEO, Koyuki, even Nozomi.

“…I’ll always be on your side, Toya.”

“I know. I’m only able to be who I am now because you were there for me, Yeoreum.”

“Yeah…”

I think I’m finally starting to understand what she meant.

I never really got why Toya always thanked me, but through this conversation, I could finally see the kind of situation she’d been in—and what I meant to her.

We really did save each other, didn’t we?

Even now—she’s right here, staying by my side while I’m sick.

“So sweet. You two are just dripping with honey.”

“…You’re still here?”

And of course—Nozomi.

“I’m your manager. Of course I’m supposed to stay and take care of you. Come on, I brought porridge. Eat up.”

“Do I really need porridge for a common cold?”

“What if it’s not just a cold?”

I don’t know why, but it felt like they were bickering even more because I was sick.

Well, they always bicker when they see each other, but this time it felt especially intense.

Why can’t sisters just get along?

“Okay, say ‘ah~’.”

“No, if she’s eating porridge, I should be the one feeding her. You take a break, Nozomi.”

“‘Feeding her’ is a _job_ to you now?”

“Oh right, it _is_ a job for you. I’m Yeoreum’s best friend. You’re just her ‘manager.’”

Oof. That’s… intense.

The air between them was so hot, I felt like I might get singed just by being nearby.

I did feel a bit bad thinking they were fighting because of me—but hey, people say you grow closer through arguments, right? So maybe with a little more time, they’ll get along just fine.

**BANG—!!**

“Yah-ho~ Yeoreum! I figured you’d be sick, so I came to visit!”

“…Eh?”

“…Koyuki?”

While those two were still bickering, the door suddenly burst open and a familiar face walked in with dramatic flair.

None other than Sugawara Koyuki. My very own twin. But like—why are you showing up out of nowhere?

As the two were left speechless by her sudden entrance, I somehow managed to sit up.

Whew… my body was so surprised, it was hard to even move.

“What if it was something contagious and you caught it?”

“C’mon, like it’d be a cold. If it _were_ a cold, I’d have just heard about it, not _felt_ it!”

“Yeah, fair.”

Koyuki wasn’t just aware that I was sick—she somehow already understood _why_ I was sick.

Of course, I could read Koyuki pretty well too, so I wasn’t that surprised.

It’s like even when we’re apart, we’re still connected.

Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling so much more emotionally stable lately.

Knowing someone understands you, even from a distance—it gives you more comfort than you’d expect.

“Hey, Koyuki.”

“Heya, Toya!”

Toya was the first to collect herself and greet her, and Koyuki raised her hand with a bright smile in response.

Every time I see her like that, I can’t help but think she looks just like a kid.

Even though I _know_ she’s a fully grown adult with over 20 years of life experience… her appearance says otherwise.

Her sleeves were slightly too long, covering her palms, making her look even more like a child.

Maybe she’s doing it on purpose. I wouldn’t put it past her.

“Ahem, thinking that is kinda rude, you know? I’ve _always_ been like this!”

“I know. Ragu-sensei told me everything.”

“Minori did?! That does it—I’m gonna torment her to death when I get home~!”

If I had grown up with Koyuki, would I have turned out like her?

I tried imagining myself acting like Koyuki, but the image in my head wasn’t me acting like her—it was just _her_.

Maybe it’s because we look identical, but imagining it felt pointless.

Well, twins are kind of seen as the same person anyway, so if I just think of it as there being two Koyukis, that’s close enough.

_Two Koyukis, huh…_

Honestly, it might be a blessing for Ragu-sensei that there’s only one. If there were two of her, Ragu-sensei would probably have chronic migraines by now.

“Ahem! That’s rude too, you know?”

“I was thinking about something else this time.”

“Still rude!”

Koyuki puffed up her cheeks in a pout.

Anyway, it wasn’t long before Nozomi snapped out of her daze and joined the conversation.

Having four people in the house, when it was usually just the two of us, made everything feel so chaotic.

Even though I wasn’t feeling well and barely spoke, it still felt like I was part of the conversation—because Koyuki kept reading my thoughts out loud like it was nothing.

At first it was kind of embarrassing, but… like this, it felt easier than usual to be around people.

Being able to communicate without speaking is more powerful than I thought.

Though Koyuki’s talking rate increased by about 1.5x because of me…

Well, she loves talking, so I’m sure she’s fine with it.

And since I’m not much of a talker, I guess we balance each other out.

“Oh right, Nozomi—you’ve been watching a lot of VTubers lately, haven’t you?”

“That’s right. Now that I’m Natsu-unnie’s manager, I have to learn all sorts of things.”

I recalled how Nozomi had recently started watching VTuber clips, and casually brought it up.

Come to think of it, everyone here is somehow connected to the VTuber world.

Toya and I are VTubers. Nozomi is a VTuber’s manager. Koyuki is… a VTuber’s family?

Okay, that one’s a bit vague.

“She’s just watching because she wants to.”

“I am _not_! You think I’m watching you?!”

“Did you just call me _you_ instead of unnie?!”

Watching the two start bickering again after barely stopping made me smile.

Seriously, I can’t tell if they like each other or not.

Koyuki, seeing me smile, grinned even brighter.

She really likes me too much, that girl.