Ch.9090. Peach Blossom and Vine (3)

-Splash, splash, splash, splash…

-I caught a sea bass! Hello, sea bass?

“So, you still can’t decide what you want to eat.”

My character, who had been proudly holding up the fish, fumbled around before putting the fish into her pocket.

Now that I’d caught a fish, I cast the bait Yuri had prepared earlier to spawn more fish.

“Hmm… I don’t… really mind whatever you want to eat… Can’t you just choose for me?”

Yuri answered as the sound of another fish being caught came from somewhere.

“I could, but it’s your day… I mean, big sister’s day. Sigh. I’m tired of saying this. I don’t understand why everyone tries to accommodate me… Well, so far I’ve only met you and that crybaby.”

“Hmm… I don’t know… Anyway… I eat pretty much anything… so it’s hard to choose.”

“Sigh. I’m getting tired of dragging out this argument. Usually with these things, I make a suggestion, and then you say ‘I don’t like it for this reason’ or ‘I had that recently,’ and we end up going nowhere.”

“Hmm… So? Why don’t we each just slowly say whatever comes to mind?”

“Alright, I’ll go first. Hmm… I don’t go out around here often, but what I remember is… No, let’s establish some categories first. I think it would be more efficient to start broad and narrow it down.”

“Shall we? Then… Korean? Chinese? Western?”

“Isn’t that something you should decide?”

I gave Yuri a look of exasperation. I noticed her trying to avoid my gaze, deliberately focusing more on the screen to avoid acknowledging my stare.

“…Haa. Fine, it’s my fault for not asking. Un, haa. What would you like to eat, big sister? Korean? Chinese? Western? Personally, I’d prefer not to have Western since we had it yesterday… but if that’s what you want.”

“Heh… Right, you said we had that yesterday… Then… just anywhere is fine…”

“And there it is—’anywhere is fine.’ If you’re going to be like this, let’s just order delivery.”

“That’s fine with me too.”

“…No, how is that… Haa. Fine. How about Japanese then? Sushi wouldn’t be bad, right?”

“Sushi… that’s fine. Heh. Wait a minute… I know a good place. Should we go there?”

“If that’s what you’d like, I don’t mind.”

“Heh… Really?”

Yuri stared at me intently with half-lidded eyes.

Her observant gaze made me a bit embarrassed.

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Hehe… Okay. You look like you want to eat it. Since this big sister has approved this good restaurant… I’ll go make a reservation real quick.”

She tossed aside her controller even though her character had just caught a fish, and quickly disappeared somewhere.

“Where are you going?”

“To make a reservation… I need to call the owner. Mm-hmm. I’ll be right back. Catch lots of fish while you wait? Call me if you catch something like a shark?”

“Why do you need to go elsewhere to make a reservation? It’s not like it takes forever.”

“Well… umm… It’s a secret! I’ll be right back?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

I really don’t understand why she needs to go outside to make a phone call.

And not just to the balcony or something, but actually going out the front door—is it that much of a secret?

A monster’s ears are extremely sensitive; I can hear to some extent even if someone goes outside the entrance.

Judging by the sound of her footsteps getting farther away, she must be aware of this and acting accordingly.

Is there something she needs to say that she doesn’t want me to hear that badly?

Is there a reason I shouldn’t hear it?

It’s just dinner. Could there be information about a dinner reservation that I shouldn’t hear?

…

I’m right to leave in a month, after all.

I feel a dark mood creeping in, contrasting with the game’s bright atmosphere and cheerful background music.

Dark emotions, a feeling of being trapped, overwhelming me more and more.

-Tick… tick… tick…

-!!!

-Splash, splash, splash…

-Kyaa! I caught a coelacanth! I didn’t know these existed!

“Sigh. It’s my fault for almost believing.”

-Tick… tick… tick…

-!!!

-Splash, splash, splash…

-I caught a sea bream! Where did Re go?

“What is this… Sigh. What a sense of humor.”

And so, one fish, two fish.

I caught so many that I couldn’t be bothered to count.

The bait in my inventory disappeared one by one.

I picked up the bait I had thrown on the ground and continued fishing.

Time passed, and continued to pass.

“Sigh… Finally caught… Oh? Ah.”

My character couldn’t put the fish in the inventory because it was full.

“I need to throw something away or release…”

“Ah.”

That’s right.

It’s better to discard tools.

I can always come back to pick them up later.

I don’t know what the developer was thinking, making “release” the only option when your bag is full of fish.

Well, it’s not like anyone will take them if I leave them here.

It’s just a game, after all.

I leave the tools on the ground and go to sell the fish at the shop.

I’ll place the shark I caught earlier on the ground here.

According to Yuri, it’s a difficult fish to catch.

I’ll display it.

It would be a shame to sell it right away.

I sell my catches to those villainous raccoon brothers for money.

Just as I’m about to go back to fishing.

“Bine! I’m back~ Did you catch a lot?”

“Ah, you’re back.”

“Oh? Did you already fill up your inventory? Looks like you’re coming back from the shop?”

“Yes. You were outside longer than I expected.”

“Was I? Sorry, sorry~ I was talking with the owner for a bit…”

“Well, how about it? When should we go?”

“Hmm… around 2? Or 3? I think we should leave later…?”

“What? Leave at 5… Hmm. Considering the time you need to get ready…”

“You…?”

“Ah, big sister.”

“You suddenly changed again… Why…? We agreed to call me big sister today…?”

“Wait, it was a mistake.”

“Heh… Bine doesn’t usually make mistakes like this… Never makes them…”

“Come on, I’m human too. I can make mistakes, right, Yuri sis? Right?”

“Mmm… Okay…”

“I can make mistakes, that’s all. I’m getting older now.”

“…When you say that with that face, that body, it’s a little…”

“Well, I’m the same age as Blanc. And now that I’m not active anymore, my mind is getting a bit rusty.”

“Come on. If your mind is getting rusty, then I…”

“Well, everyone experiences things differently.”

Of course, calling her “you” just now was quite intentional.

“Still, it was a mistake. Big sister.”

“A mistake… I’ll believe you just for today?”

“Well, there’s no question of believing or not. Have you ever seen me lie?”

“…Many times?”

“…Ah, if it’s you, big sister, I suppose that’s possible… Yes. Anyway, this time it’s not a lie.”

“Okay, okay… Shall we fish some more?”

“Sure. That’s fine.”

“Good… Come on, want to come back to big sister’s arms?”

“Why are you bothering me again?”

“…Won’t you do it?”

“…Sigh. You really have a talent for annoying people.”

I had no choice.

Since it’s Yuri’s day with me, I have to go along with what she says.

…Even if I’m not in a good mood, I should maintain basic courtesy.

…Though I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to show that I’m a little upset.

…No, why should I even think about that?

To begin with, Yuri was the one who did wrong.

Yuri doesn’t know yet that I’ll be rejoining Eden in a month. To her, I’m…

…I don’t know what exactly, but there’s an aching feeling in my chest.

“Bine…?”

“Ah, yes.”

“What were you thinking about? Your expression suddenly…”

“You mean my expression?”

“I can tell, you know? Did something happen? Is Elise bothering you? Is Hyewon annoying you? What’s wrong? Is the game not going well? Were you having trouble catching fish while I was gone?”

“…No. No. Yes, if that’s what you want, I should sit there, right?”

“…Bine?”

“Ah, sorry for making you worry. It’s nothing. I just had some ordinary concerns until now.”

“Concerns… Can big sister help solve them?”

“…It might be a bit difficult for you, big sister. This is a personal matter.”

“Is that so? But still… if big sister can help, you can rely on me anytime…”

“It’s fine. When have I ever depended on… Ah, except for the boss, I’ve never depended on anyone. Usually these kinds of worries resolve themselves quickly.”

“Tch. Still going on about that person?”

“That’s my boss. A lifelong benefactor who saved me. You know that well, don’t you?”

“…I have a lot to say, but I won’t say it.”

“That’s right. Usually when conversations go this way…”

“You end up remembering memories you’d rather not recall…”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“…It was Bine’s fault.”

“Is that how it works?”

“So, come here already.”

Yuri patted her thigh, beckoning me over.

“…Haa. Don’t you think this is a bad habit?”

“Come on? Big sister will hug you tight? Two wounded sisters… might feel a little better if we hug each other tight.”

“It’s hot, annoying, and uncomfortable…”

“But there are advantages that outweigh all that, right?”

“…Haa. Fine.”

If I don’t go back into Yuri’s arms… she’ll probably be even more annoying.

…Honestly, I don’t really want to be embraced.

Not after what happened earlier.

Before it gets more annoying… I’ll just give in.

“There, satisfied?”

“Hehe… Soft…”

“Are you going to touch me again…”

“Ah, I won’t… Okay? Trust me…?”

“Sigh. Here’s Yuri’s controller. Let’s just… continue what we were doing. Stop touching me.”

“O-okay…!”