Ch.7979. Unintended.

Still in the dusky dawn.

The sun had risen, but it was that time when the red morning and blue night intertwined, winding the world’s clockwork.

It was the time when people were getting up to go to work, and when trains around the city began their first runs of the day.

At this early hour, I found myself awake.

Well, it had always been my routine to wake up at this time, finish various tasks in advance, and prepare breakfast.

But why did I feel strange despite waking up early as usual?

Was it because I went to sleep last night after being lectured by everyone?

Everyone who came by told me to rest and sleep in for once. Do these people even realize how difficult it is to break an already established routine?

No, more than that, I think the problem is that I slept more than expected yesterday, so now I can’t fall back asleep.

I had barely managed to get Hyewon, who lives without planning, to tell me when to wake up. It’s too much that there’s a four-hour difference between the promised time and when I actually woke up.

But I’m too alert now to go back to sleep.

And sitting idly in bed wasting time seems too inefficient.

So I chose to do the things I couldn’t finish yesterday.

Even though people say this is when they’re waking up, more people are still asleep at this hour. I’ll postpone noisy tasks like laundry and cleaning…

Though they said they cleaned up after eating yesterday, it wasn’t to my satisfaction, so I’ll start by cleaning that area first.

I was gradually tidying up small pieces of trash and emptying garbage bins around the living room, starting my day productively, when—

“Unnie…?”

“Arin…? Why are you up at this hour instead of sleeping more?”

“Well, I couldn’t sleep, and it’s almost time for school anyway, so it’s awkward… No, more importantly, didn’t I tell you to sleep in and not wake up early?!”

“Ah, habits are really difficult to break. Since waking up early is considered a positive habit, it seems even harder for my body to change. Arin, you should go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up later.”

“No, you need to go back upstairs and sleep more. Stop what you’re doing and go up right now.”

“That statement feels really strange… but I’m fine, really.”

“Unnie, does this look like a request? Go upstairs now.”

“Arin…?”

I was working in the dark to avoid disturbing others who were sleeping, so I couldn’t see Arin’s expression.

From her silhouette in the familiar darkness, I could tell she was angrier than I expected.

I can at least understand that Arin is upset because she was tired this morning and I wasn’t listening to her, continuing to work instead.

I’m not that oblivious…

And I know how troublesome things would get if I insisted on my stubbornness and refused to go upstairs. Plus, I don’t even want to imagine what might happen on the day I’m supposed to spend time with Arin.

“…Um… Arin, this might sound like an excuse, but I have something to tell you…”

“What is it? If you’re planning to make excuses about not resting or trying to stall until I leave for school, you’d better give up now.”

“No, it’s just that… *sigh*… I slept too much yesterday.”

“You can’t sleep? If you lie down, you’ll fall asleep.”

“No, I really can’t sleep.”

Perhaps thinking I was going to make more excuses, she stopped listening to me, grabbed my hand, and dragged me to my room.

Eventually, led by Arin’s hand, I was forcibly laid down on the bed and covered with a blanket before she finally spoke.

“Go to sleep.”

“But, um…”

“Go. To. Sleep.”

“Okay. Are you going back to sleep too?”

“No? I have to go to school.”

“But Arin, you’re a growing child… You should go back to sleep too.”

“…Are you making fun of me for being short?”

“No, it’s the truth. I’ve already grown as much as I’m going to. This height comes with so many inconveniences. Please go and sleep a little more.”

“I’m not short, you know…?”

“I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who fought Blanc for a long time with this height. The disadvantages in daily life outweigh the advantage of having a smaller target area…”

“I said I’m not short! Among my friends, I’m average… well, not quite, but anyway, I’m not short!”

“I used to have a fairly tall height. Living with a height just under 180cm and then living with this height, there are so many inconveniences. Arin, please go back to sleep.”

“No, I’m not sh— *sigh*, fine. But I’m going to sleep next to you.”

Grumbling that she wasn’t short, Arin pushed me slightly to one side and boldly claimed a corner of my pillow.

“Um, Arin…? Weren’t you supposed to go to your room…?”

“No. I’m sleeping here.”

“Hmm… Arin, I’ll wake you up then. I’ll set an alarm.”

“Okay. *sigh*… Unnie, your blanket is warmer and cozier than I expected. Is it because you’re next to me?”

“Yes, yes. Go to sleep.”

“Unnie, can I hug you?”

“What?”

“I need something to hug when I sleep to fall asleep.”

“Arin, how many times have I seen you sleeping? Just close your eyes and go to sleep.”

“Tch.”

With that final word, silence fell.

Light leaked through the gap in the blackout curtains that were blocking the rising sun.

I felt Arin moving beside me.

“…”

Was she trying to leave quietly?

If so, I quietly took Arin’s hand.

Interlocking our fingers to prevent her from leaving.

“…?!”

“Arin, don’t think about sneaking out. Go to sleep.”

“Ugh… okay.”

Only then did Arin’s breathing change.

When Arin’s breathing and heartbeat began to play the music of sleep, I was finally able to fall back asleep too.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep, but perhaps because I was holding Arin’s hand, the bed became warmer and made me drowsy.

And so, I drifted off to sleep.

How deeply must I have fallen asleep?

I only woke up when the alarm had already reached its second verse.

I tried to wake Arin, who needed to get up for school.

“…Why is Hyewon here?”

“It’s my day so I came early, but Arin was already here.”

“…Didn’t you say you’d come after 10?”

“What can I do if I woke up early?”

“…Let’s get Arin to school first?”

“Sure. But I’m a bit disappointed. I was hoping you’d focus just on me.”

“I’m not good at refusing people.”

“*sigh*… Arin, wake up. Don’t you have school?”

“Mmm… Unnie… just a little more…”

“Your day is another time. You’ll be late if you keep this up.”

“…Late. Ah, what?!”

Startled by the word “late,” Arin looked at the clock in the room.

Whether she couldn’t properly read the clock with its minute and hour hands, or whether her confused mind and morning drowsiness clouded her thinking, Arin stared at the clock for a long time before asking me the time.

“Unnie, what time is it…?”

“It’s still 8 o’clock. Earlier than when you usually wake up.”

“Ah… What?! 8 o’clock? Aah…”

“Why are you drooling like that?”

“Aah… a little longer… *sigh*, never mind. Thank you for sleeping with me. I’d better get up now. If I stay here any longer, Hyewon unnie will scold me.”

“Yes, Arin, go get ready for school. Bine, let’s talk for a bit?”

Hyewon sent Arin away.

Arin hurried downstairs to prepare for school.

“What is there to talk about?”

“How did you end up sleeping with Arin? I’m sure she went to her room last night.”

“I woke up at dawn, and coincidentally, Arin was also awake. She dragged me in, saying I needed to sleep more. But I couldn’t fall asleep, so I was just pulled along, laid down, and eventually fell asleep.”

“You didn’t do anything else, right?”

“You’re being overly protective of her. Even I wouldn’t touch a child like Arin.”

“Ah, well… never mind. So, what do you want to do today?”

“That’s what I should be asking… shall we have breakfast first? I’ll prepare it quickly. Arin will need to leave soon too.”

“Breakfast… let’s just have cereal today and head out.”

“I don’t think many places are open this early.”

“Unnie said she wants to see you.”

“…You mean Citrus? Why would she suddenly want to see me…?”

“I mentioned it to her yesterday, and she immediately said she’d make time. She said she’d leave the bakery to her part-timer and wait for us.”

“*sigh*… Really, what trouble am I going through because you can’t play the little sister role properly?”

“You know that’s your karma, right?”

“Why would it be— Oh.”

“Just accept it. Think of it as atonement for making unnie lose her leg, and just play the good little sister role.”

“I’m not a good person. I remember always fighting roughly with Citrus during combat.”

“You fought so roughly that unnie lost her leg, right?”

“Ugh, really. Even the person involved doesn’t say anything.”

“Do you know I became a magical girl thinking only of that one thing? After capturing you. *sigh*, now’s not the time for this conversation. I’ll tell you later. For now, go get ready. I’ll take out the cereal.”

“Oh, you’re taking it out? Please get the Cocoa Balls from the inside for Arin. We ran out of Oreo O’s the day before yesterday. I forgot to buy more.”

“We’re going to the department store today, so we can buy some there.”

“Department store… Ah.”

“What, do you hate going on a date with unnie that much?”

“…Is it a date? Who goes on a date with three people? Setting aside the improper purpose…”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Hurry up and get ready.”

The day with Hyewon had just begun.

No one could have thought that this day would become a new turning point in their relationship.